Farewell and Arrival at Jia Nan Academy

The third day marked the official end of Jia Nan Academy's recruitment. It also meant Xiao Yan had to leave.

Xiao Yan barely had a moment to catch his breath that day.

First, he went to bid Xiao Zhan and Su Wan a proper farewell. His mother held him back for a long round of advice.

Then he visited Little Purple and carefully went over the Xiao Clan's safety with her once more.

After that, he stopped by Qing Lin and her mother's residence to give them a few instructions.

Xiao Yan had already asked his father to prepare the resources they needed for cultivation. He had also sent Hai Bodong to personally capture the snake Magical Beasts Qing Lin required. They had enough for the time being, at least.

Leaving their courtyard, Xiao Yan went to Xiao Yi Xian's residence and once again used the Talisman to restore the balance within her body.

He made sure she could cultivate normally while he was away without her Poison Body erupting.

When he finished, Xiao Yi Xian blushed and began reminding him, word by careful word, "You little pest, Xiao Yan. Be careful while you're away, and..."

She looked exactly like a wife reluctant to see her husband off on a journey.

Xiao Yan's heart softened. He could not resist brushing a finger over the tip of her nose. "Don't worry, my little worrywart."

Xiao Yi Xian's face turned bright red, and she balled up her fist and gave him a hard thump.

Xiao Yan turned to leave with a smile, but Xiao Yi Xian caught him off guard. Rising onto her toes, she quickly pressed her soft pink lips to his left cheek.

The kiss lasted only an instant. Her surprise attack complete, she did not dare look at him again. She shoved him out of the courtyard and slammed the gate firmly shut.

Xiao Yan touched his left cheek, feeling the lingering warmth and faint fragrance. Remembering the blush on her face, he smiled and shook his head.

Next, he went to Xun'er's residence.

There followed another reluctant farewell.

At the end, as though the two girls had planned it in advance, Xun'er blushed and launched a surprise attack on Xiao Yan's right cheek, leaving a shy kiss in just the right spot.

Watching from the shadows, Ling Ying felt his old heart clench. He looked to the heavens and sighed. It's over! It's all over!

Xiao Yan left Xun'er's place with a kiss on each cheek and a smile he could not suppress.

Yao Lao had seen everything from within the Storage Ring. All he could do was marvel at the boy's extraordinary luck with women. It was enough to make anyone jealous.

And that was not all.

Xiao Yan made one last trip to the Mittel Auction House to tell Ya Fei he was about to leave for Jia Nan Academy.

The alluring head of the Auction House was bolder still. It took Xiao Yan quite some effort to free himself from her soft, full embrace.

Only after leaving the Mittel Auction House did Xiao Yan head toward Jia Nan Academy's camp.

As soon as he reached the entrance, he saw a graceful, mature figure in green standing there, watching for him.

It was Ruo Lin.

At the sight of Xiao Yan, she visibly relaxed. Relief spread across her gentle face.

"Xiao Yan, if you'd taken any longer, I would have gone looking for you myself." Ruo Lin hurried over, her voice carrying a hint of unconcealed reproach.

She had finally recruited a genius like him. She had genuinely feared he might change his mind at the last moment.

"Something held me up," Xiao Yan said, scratching his head with an embarrassed smile.

"It's all right. You're here now." Ruo Lin smiled brightly and, without another word, took him aboard Jia Nan Academy's Flying Magical Beast.

Once aboard, Xiao Yan soon found Xiao Yu waiting in the cabin. They had only chatted for a few moments when the Flying Magical Beast slowly beat its wings and rose, flying steadily toward Jia Nan Academy.

Watching Wutan City recede beyond the window, Xiao Yu felt a sudden, powerful reluctance to leave. Her eyes reddened despite herself.

After all, this was her first time leaving Wutan City and her family for somewhere so far away. She would have been lying if she said she was not sad.

"What, feel like crying?" Xiao Yan chose that moment to lean over and ask with an impish grin.

"N-no! It's the wind!" Xiao Yu hurriedly rubbed her eyes, blushing as she stubbornly denied it.

Xiao Yan did not call her out. Smiling, he patted her shoulder and spoke with rare gentleness. "Don't worry. You've still got me, haven't you? Once we get to Jia Nan Academy, I'll look out for you."

At the reassuring smile on his face, the ache of parting in Xiao Yu's heart gradually eased.

But her competitive streak soon resurfaced. She tossed her head stubbornly. "I don't need that! I can cultivate on my own!"

She had always been fiercely determined. Reaching Dou Zhe so quickly was not solely thanks to the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. More than that, it came from her own relentless effort, day and night.

"All right, all right. Then I'll have to count on you to look out for me, Boss Xiao Yu!" Xiao Yan played along, putting on the air of a well-behaved little follower.

His performance made Xiao Yu burst out laughing, and that laughter swept away the last of her homesickness.

Their long journey seemed to shorten as the two laughed and bickered.

Several days later, the Flying Magical Beast finally arrived at Jia Nan Academy. The grand institution stood on the vast lands of the Black-Corner Region, stretching farther than the eye could see.

Its stately old buildings and peaceful atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the brutal chaos of the Black-Corner Region beyond its walls. They seemed like two entirely different worlds.

The Flying Magical Beast slowly landed in one of the academy's squares.

Under Ruo Lin's guidance, the new students filed off in an orderly line.

Xiao Yan looked around and saw several other Flying Magical Beasts parked in the square. Their groups of new students appeared to have arrived only recently.

Once all the students in their group had disembarked, Ruo Lin handed each of them a map of the academy and told them to explore the grounds on their own.

After the other students had dispersed, Ruo Lin walked up to Xiao Yan with a smile.

"Come along, Xiao Yan. I'll show you your own residence."

Jia Nan Academy provided accommodation. After all, the Black-Corner Region lay just outside its walls. Letting students find places to live out there would be far too dangerous.

A genius like Xiao Yan naturally enjoyed special privileges. His residence would certainly be far better than those of ordinary students.

To show how much she valued Xiao Yan, Ruo Lin chose to take him there personally.

"Then... I'll be going," Xiao Yu said, tactfully preparing to leave on her own.

What business did she have following him to his private residence?

"It's fine. Come with me. The place should be pretty big anyway." Xiao Yan's gaze swept over Xiao Yu's lovely legs as he tried his best to look respectable.