Rules Were Made to Be Broken

If everyone else knew, how could Han Yue not know?

Fortunately, not many people knew about her relationship with Wu Bai. Most had only heard his name and had never seen him in person.

Otherwise, she might not have made it back so quickly today.

"Oh? What happened? You brought dinner straight back?"

Wu Bai froze when Han Yue came in carrying a food box.

He still had no idea how much attention he was drawing at the academy, so he did not understand why she had done this.

"Don't go out for the next couple of days. So many people are talking about you. I'm afraid those girls will steal you away from me."

"Huh? Is it really that bad?"

"I'm not exaggerating at all. Listen..."

Han Yue took a sip of water and told Wu Bai exactly what a stir the two "bombshells" had caused across the academy today!

She might have exaggerated some parts, but the girls wanting to steal Wu Bai away was absolutely real.

She would not have been surprised if girls from the Inner Academy showed up to confess their love in a few days.

Wu Bai blinked. He was not particularly smug, though. If anything, it did not sound so bad.

"I can stay in for the next couple of days. I do have something to do. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"Come closer and I'll tell you."

Curious, Han Yue leaned in. Wu Bai planted a quick kiss on her cheek.

Her face instantly flushed, and she agreed to his request in a tiny voice.

"Mm."

Fortunately, Han Yue's fears did not come true. The senior girls from the Inner Academy did not rush out to fight her over Wu Bai.

Two days later, the Inner Academy Selection Tournament began. To keep Inner Academy students from coming out and causing trouble, its gates were placed under particularly strict control. The girls could not get out at all.

Meanwhile, with the tournament underway, talk of Wu Bai in the Outer Academy quickly died down.

The change was obvious. People no longer slipped "Wu Bai" into every other sentence.

Wu Bai used those two days to replace his flame without a hitch.

Powerful as Seventh-tier Beast Fire was, it was not one of the Heavenly Flames. With everything prepared, there was little danger, so the process hardly bore mentioning.

The day of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament soon arrived, and the atmosphere throughout the Outer Academy changed.

The tournament had little to do with most ordinary students, but the anticipation leading up to it had still spurred many ambitious students to train hard for a while.

However one looked at it, that was a good thing.

That day, the Inner Academy Selection Tournament officially began.

Nearly every student arrived early and gathered with their class, waiting for this "academy-wide exam" to begin.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Wu Bai and Han Yue left a little later.

Wu Bai followed Han Yue to her class's section. The academy elders were already seated.

Though their seats were fairly far back, the two could still watch the students fighting on the arena platforms.

Only then did Wu Bai realize how little combat experience he had.

Damn. Am I going to get beaten by a Dou Zhe when I'm already a Dou Shi?

He had done nothing but train on his own, without ever truly fighting anyone. It troubled him.

With that thought, he watched even more closely.

Watching was no substitute for doing, but it was better than nothing.

Beside him, Han Yue noticed the change in Wu Bai. His intense focus was plain to see.

Only then did she realize that the man beside her had shortcomings too. He was not flawless after all.

Come to think of it, Wu Bai was only fifteen. Becoming a Fifth-Rank Alchemist at that age was astounding enough.

If he had also kept up his Dou Qi cultivation and gained a wealth of combat experience, could he still be called human?

"Monster" would have been a better word for someone like that.

Thinking this, Han Yue felt that the person beside her seemed more human.

The first day's matches came to an end at dusk.

Han Yue's Mentor had already spotted the two of them in the crowd, but he had said nothing.

Only after the day's matches ended did he come over.

"Thank you. And you too, Han Yue."

He was referring to the two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills. Wu Bai had practically helped him for free, and he had come out far ahead!

"No need to thank me. You're Yue'er's Mentor, which makes you half a Mentor to me too."

Wu Bai smiled, showing no trace of arrogance.

Han Yue's cheeks warmed at his words. She had not expected him to speak so openly about their relationship.

"Haha... Good, good! You two make a perfect pair. If you ever need anything from me, just say the word."

"I hope you're right. Heh."

After a few more pleasantries, Wu Bai took Han Yue by the hand and headed toward the dormitories.

They had not gone far when Wu Bai suddenly changed direction.

Elder Huo stood at a quiet corner.

"Wait for me a moment."

After speaking to Han Yue, Wu Bai hurried over.

He followed Elder Huo around the corner and discovered that Vice Dean Hu Gan was there too.

"Greetings, Elder Huo. Dean."

"Hey, Vice Dean. Vice Dean."

Hu Gan waved a hand with a smile. He could not get the better of that old fellow, so he had to settle for being called Vice Dean.

"Vice Dean."

"We called you here for something important. Stop fussing over what you call that old fellow."

Elder Huo cut off their banter and looked at Wu Bai seriously.

Wu Bai straightened at once, ready to listen.

"Wu Bai, you became a Fifth-Rank Alchemist at fifteen, setting a record for both the Alchemy Department and the academy. After discussing it, we have unanimously decided to send you to the Inner Academy ahead of schedule."

Wu Bai looked conflicted. "Elder Huo, I'm only at the Dou Shi Realm, and I have hardly any combat experience. If I go to the Inner Academy, I'll just get beaten up."

"Hahaha... You're overthinking it, Wu Bai. Which Inner Academy student would be crazy enough to attack a Fifth-Rank Alchemist?"

Hu Gan could not help laughing. This boy truly had no idea how much influence he had!

"What Old Man Huo means is that we'll let you cultivate in the Inner Academy early to raise your Dou Qi cultivation. You won't have to fight. We've prepared everything you'll need there."

"Huh? Are you sure that's all right?"

Wu Bai hesitated. Could he really accept such treatment?

"There's nothing wrong with it. Anyone who objects can try becoming a Fifth-Rank Alchemist at your age."

Elder Huo gave a haughty snort, his voice full of disdain. "Rules can be broken, especially for a once-in-a-generation talent like you."

"Come on, boy, stop dragging your feet. You'll enter the Inner Academy with this group of students."

"Yes, I understand."

Wu Bai turned and left without asking whether Han Yue could come along.

The two elders were clearly making an exception for him alone. Asking to bring someone else would be pushing his luck.