1 Million Gold Coins, Jia Nan Academy

With Liu Xi dead, the Jia Lie Clan could no longer turn things around.

After their remaining Rejuvenation Powder sold out, their popularity plummeted, leaving their doors practically deserted.

Meanwhile, the Xiao Clan's business achieved a resounding victory in this commercial war, reaching an even greater height than before.

That night, Xiao Yan found Liu Xi's Storage Ring, and there were actually 1 million gold coins inside.

It turned out that nearly ninety percent of the profits from the Rejuvenation Powder previously sold by the Jia Lie Clan had gone to Liu Xi.

With so much money, Xiao Yan bought up all the low-grade medicinal ingredients at the auction house.

He wanted to use the remaining time to refine a large quantity of pills for the Xiao Clan, maintaining the flow of customers through the Xiao Clan marketplace.

For three months, Xiao Yan had constantly been refining medicine, producing huge quantities of first- and second-grade pills.

Yes, Xiao Yan was already capable of refining second-grade pills and possessed the skills of a second-grade alchemist.

However, he had not gone to the Alchemist Association for certification and was still a Fifth-Rank Alchemist.

During those three months, although Xiao Yan had not cultivated, pill refinement was the best form of cultivation. He successfully broke through to become a Five-Star Dou Zhe.

That day, Xiao Yan emerged from the cave where he refined pills and found his father, Xiao Zhan, carrying a Storage Ring.

"Father, my teacher is taking me away to train through adventure. Inside are some pills my teacher and I refined."

"Use a limited-purchase model to sell them. They should last for a year."

Xiao Yan handed the Storage Ring to his father as he spoke.

In truth, Xiao Yan had refined all those pills himself, but he did not want to cause too much of a sensation, so he included Yao Lao in the story.

Xiao Zhan patted his son's shoulder proudly and smiled.

"Yan'er, you've grown up. No one can erase the contributions you've made to the Xiao Clan. I'll remember them all for you."

"Here are 1 million gold coins, the profit share from the Blood Coagulation Powder. Pass them on to your teacher for me. We'll calculate the remaining share together when you return."

Xiao Yan accepted the Purple Gold Card. With a flick of his hand over the black ring, the card was stored inside.

"Yan'er, Jia Nan Academy's entrance examination is in a few days. Don't you plan to give it a try?"

Xiao Zhan asked hesitantly.

"I'll apply, but I might skip classes for a year or two."

Xiao Yan had long since made plans, and it was also Yao Lao's intention.

He was going to Jia Nan Academy not for its resources, nor for a graduation certificate.

It was because Jia Nan Academy possessed the Heavenly Flame known as the Fallen Heart Flame. He had to make a trip there.

Xiao Zhan froze. "Skip classes for a year or two? Will Jia Nan Academy's teachers agree to that?"

Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "If they don't agree, then I won't take the exam."

"Jia Nan Academy may be excellent, but they can't help me surpass... Nalan Yanran in less than two years."

Hearing that name, almost taboo in his son's heart, Xiao Zhan's face twitched slightly. He fell silent.

With a smile, Xiao Yan slowly left the hall.

When he reached a rear garden, a familiar young woman stood gracefully amid the flowers.

Though the flowers were beautiful, they paled in comparison to her face.

Seeing that figure, a trace of tenderness appeared in Xiao Yan's eyes as he slowly walked over.

"Brother Xiao Yan, are... are you leaving?"

Before he reached her, the young woman's somewhat sorrowful voice reached Xiao Yan's ears.

Xiao Yan paused briefly, then quickly took several steps forward and stood beside her.

Turning his head, he saw Xiao Xun'er's delicate, gloomy little face. He reached out and stroked her soft black hair, chuckling lightly.

"Xun'er, it's not like we're parting forever. Why are you making it so sad?"

"There are simply some things I must do, so I have no choice but to leave."

Xiao Xun'er raised her pretty face and looked at Xiao Yan reproachfully. "Are you going to find Nalan Yanran?"

Xiao Yan's face darkened. He lightly flicked her jade-white forehead and said with amused exasperation.

"What are you thinking? I'm going to fulfill that agreement with her, not to go on a date."

"You don't want your Brother Xiao Yan to be looked down on forever, do you?"

Xiao Xun'er bit her lip and hesitated.

"Brother Xiao Yan, actually... if you came with Xun'er, Xun'er has a way to help you defeat Nalan Yanran within the agreed time."

Xiao Yan smiled, affectionately taking the young woman's tender, fair hand as he said gently.

"Xun'er, there are some things I want to accomplish through my own efforts. Only then will my heart be at ease."

"Don't worry. I'm confident that in a little over a year, I'll ascend Misty Cloud Sect and defeat Nalan Yanran."

Xun'er wanted to say more, but Xiao Yan domineeringly pulled her into his embrace. A captivating blush immediately crept across the young woman's exquisite face.

Especially her small earlobes, white tinged with red, made Xiao Yan want to lean down and take a bite.

However, he restrained himself.

Soon, the day of Jia Nan Academy's admissions arrived.

One of Wu Tan City's plazas was already packed with people.

The City Lord's Residence also attached great importance to Jia Nan Academy recruiting students in Wu Tan City and dispatched a guard unit to maintain order.

Therefore, although there were many people, the scene was not chaotic.

With so many people taking the entrance test, it would take at least ten days to finish.

Xiao Yu said smugly, "The person in charge of recruitment this time is my instructor. As her prized student, I naturally have my ways. Follow me."

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. Although he did not get along with her, he still followed her to avoid waiting in line.

Xiao Yu led several members of the Xiao Clan to the rear of the plaza. The captain of the guards stationed there was actually also a graduate of Jia Nan Academy and Xiao Yu's senior.

Jia Nan Academy graduates were spread across the three surrounding nations.

Therefore, getting into Jia Nan Academy and having the identity of one of its graduates would offer enormous convenience when traveling through the three nations in the future.

Xiao Yu led them to a large tent.

Inside the tent, several young women saw Xiao Yu and immediately surrounded her with smiling faces, chattering and laughing nonstop.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. He had not expected this hot-tempered young woman to be so popular at the academy.

"Xiao Yu, long time no see."

At that moment, a man's voice suddenly rang out. A young man in grayish-white clothes was looking at Xiao Yu with a broad smile, his eyes full of admiration.

Upon hearing the young man's voice, Xiao Yu frowned. She apparently did not like him.

The young woman affectionately linked her arm through Xiao Yan's and said indifferently to the young man, "Rob, long time no see."

When the young man named Rob saw Xiao Yu holding Xiao Yan's arm, a flash of coldness and anger immediately flickered in his eyes.

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yu speechlessly. How could he not know that she had dragged him out as a shield?

Still, since she had brought him in through the back door, he decided not to argue about it this time.

Sure enough, Rob began making things difficult for them.

After pretending to use a crystal ball to test Xiao Yan and the others, confirming that they had passed, he told them to wait outside.

The sun outside was scorching. Although Dou Zhes like them would not suffer heatstroke, the blazing temperature would certainly make them uncomfortable.

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yu with amusement and teased, "Xiao Yu, it seems you aren't doing very well at the academy. You don't even have a little privilege."

"According to the rules, we aren't Jia Nan Academy students yet, so we can't stay in this tent. Xun'er, let's go."

He took the young woman's hand and was about to walk outside.

Xiao Yu was so angered by Xiao Yan's disdainful gaze that her chest heaved. She spread her arms to block him and said, "You don't need to go outside."

She turned to Rob and said coldly, "These people were brought in by me. If anything happens, I'll explain it to Instructor Noreen myself. What you're doing will only make me look down on you even more."

Rob's mouth twitched. Faced with Xiao Yu's blunt words, he did not dare refute her, so he vented his anger on Xiao Yan instead.

"These are the rules."

"But for your sake, the other ladies don't need to go out. Let him represent them alone. He's a grown man, so he won't be afraid of getting tanned."

Xiao Yan looked at the young man. Faced with that inexplicable jealousy and deliberate provocation, he found it only amusing—and pitiful.

He could tell that the young man liked Xiao Yu, but Xiao Yu clearly had no interest in him.

Xiao Yan turned around, intending to leave, but Xiao Yu became anxious. Taking one long stride, she blocked his path.

"Rob, I said Xiao Yan doesn't need to go out. Get lost. If there's anything to explain, I'll speak to Instructor Noreen myself."

She looked at Rob, a trace of disgust flashing through her eyes as she spoke coldly.

"Brother Rob, it seems there's a bit of a problem on your side?"

As they were entangled in the dispute, a group of young men emerged with grins from a shadowy corner of the tent.

"It's nothing. This new student simply doesn't want to go outside and enjoy some sun."

Seeing those people, Rob casually smiled.

"Heh, such an arrogant new student? Brother Rob, do you need our help?"

A young man with a golden star embroidered on his chest grinned at Rob, his smile carrying a hint of ingratiation.

Rob looked at Xiao Yu's icy face and knew he could not continue like this. He smiled. "There are so many new students watching outside. If he doesn't go out, they'll all have objections."

"How about this? Spar with Ge Ci. If you can last twenty exchanges against him, you'll be considered outstanding and granted the privilege of staying in the tent."

Ge Ci was the young man who had spoken up for Rob, and he possessed the strength of a One-Star Dou Zhe.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and shrugged noncommittally.

He was perfectly happy not having to stand outside in the sun.

The two stood facing each other in an open space within the tent. A match was about to begin.

Seeing the impending fight, the surrounding people gathered around with interest.