The draw for the seed quota tournament had ended, with the groups arranged as follows:
Group one: Mu Chen against Huo Yun, Tang Qian'er against Hong Ling. The winners would compete for a seed quota.
Group two: Su Qing received a bye, while Chen Fan faced Mo Ling. The winner would compete against Su Qing for a seed quota.
Draw, grouping, withdrawal.
That was the true portrait of Chen Fan's participation in this seed quota tournament.
When he saw Su Qing's name in his group, he raised his hand to forfeit, then left the arena without looking back.
Fight? Fight, my ass!
Compete? Compete for what, damn it!
Time to give up. I can't beat him anyway.
Beside him, Mo Ling, who had received a bye, also forfeited, having exhausted himself while climbing back up through the losers' bracket.
Master Mo watched helplessly as both students grouped with Su Qing forfeited, then simply announced that Su Qing had won a seed quota.
In the arena on the other side, Tang Qian'er and Hong Ling forfeited outright, while Huo Yun believed he still stood a fighting chance against Mu Chen.
Yet Mu Chen defeated Huo Yun soundly.
Huo Yun sighed, lamenting that the Mu Family's two outstanding talents were unstoppable.
Thus, Su Qing and Mu Chen secured the seed quotas.
The quota tournament that had drawn everyone's attention finally came to an end. Compared with its opening rounds, this final contest for the seed quotas had rather started with a tiger's head and ended with a snake's tail.
Still, both had earned their places, and no one had any objections.
Under everyone's gaze, Mr. Hao swept onto the main platform and waved his hand. The seven students who had won quotas stepped onto the platform in turn.
"All the quotas in this tournament have now been decided. You are the pride of this region, and you are also the future of the Five Great Academies."
Mr. Hao smiled as he looked at the seven students.
"Now, please choose the academy you wish to join."
Chen Fan and Huo Yun exchanged a glance, then chose the Azure Spirit Academy in unison.
Hong Ling deliberated for a moment before choosing the Myriad Phoenix Spirit Academy.
Mo Ling, however, did not hesitate. He chose the Sacred Spirit Academy, which had consistently ranked first in recent years.
Tang Qian'er chose the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy.
She had already discussed this with Su Qing, who had told her that, barring any surprises, he would choose the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy.
Then Mr. Hao turned his gaze to Su Qing and Mu Chen. As recipients of seed quotas, whichever academy they entered would presumably devote far more attention and resources to their development than to ordinary students.
As expected, Su Qing chose the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy.
Beside Su Qing, Mu Chen took a deep breath and asked respectfully, "Mr. Hao, may I ask you for some information?"
Mr. Hao smiled and nodded.
"I'd like to ask about two people," Mu Chen said softly. "Mr. Hao, which Spirit Academy did Ji Xuan go to?"
"Ji Xuan received a 'King' rating during his trials on the Spirit Road and earned a core quota for the Five Great Academies."
"He went to the Sacred Spirit Academy, and its senior leadership recruited him personally."
Mr. Hao gave Mu Chen a searching look as he answered.
Mu Chen pondered for a moment and glanced at Mo Ling.
Then he hesitated, and the faint killing intent in his eyes quietly softened.
"The second person I'd like to ask about is named Luo Li."
"Luo Li?" Mr. Hao gave Mu Chen an odd look, then spoke evenly.
"Luo Li also received a 'King' rating during her trials on the Spirit Road, along with a core quota for the Five Great Academies."
"She chose the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy."
"Apparently, the headmaster of the Martial Spirit Academy originally invited her to join in person. However, she declined the invitation and chose the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy."
At those words, Mu Chen froze for a moment, conflicting emotions in his eyes.
Then he said, "I choose the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy."
Mr. Hao looked at Mu Chen with a broad smile and a hint of teasing in his eyes, then nodded to accept his choice.
The Five Great Academies' recruitment at the Northern Spiritual Academy was now complete: three students for the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, one for the Myriad Phoenix Spirit Academy, one for the Sacred Spirit Academy, and two for the Azure Spirit Academy.
After Mu Chen finished choosing his academy, Mr. Hao addressed them all.
"You have two months to prepare. In two months, I will send you from the Northern Spiritual Academy to the preliminary stations of the Five Great Academies. There, you will meet fellow new students from all corners of the world."
"At the same time, a trial set by your chosen academy will await you there. If you perform poorly, you may even have your quota revoked."
"So do not squander these next two months. Work hard to improve yourselves further."
"All right, today's quota tournament ends here. You may arrange the rest of your time as you please. Just remember to return to the Northern Spiritual Academy on time in two months."
Mr. Hao waved his hand, then turned and leisurely walked away.
After Mr. Hao left, Su Qing draped a hand over Mu Chen's shoulder, hooked an arm around his neck, and asked beside his ear.
"Who's this Ji Xuan? Don't tell me you found someone else on the Spirit Road besides Luo Li? Not bad! That's my little brother for you!"
"Brother, don't talk nonsense."
Mu Chen spoke helplessly.
"He's my enemy."
"Really?"
"Really."
Mu Chen spoke with absolute conviction.
"Oh..."
Su Qing sighed, putting on a disappointed expression.
Dark lines seemed to appear across Mu Chen's face, and he countered, "Big brother, when are you going to find me a sister-in-law?"
Su Qing paused, instinctively turned his attention inward, and glanced at the Nine Nether Sparrow lying atop his spirit wheel. "When fate brings her along."
Mu Chen struck while the iron was hot. "What do you think of Sister Qian'er?"
Su Qing withdrew his hand from Mu Chen's shoulder and stroked the nonexistent beard on his chin. "Tang Qian'er? She's quite pretty, but I think of her as a little sister."
"I still remember when the three of us competed as kids to see who could blow the biggest snot bubble."
"Now I remember too," Mu Chen said speechlessly. "Talking a girl into blowing snot bubbles with you... you really were something, big brother."
"Hey! You say that as if you weren't blowing them right alongside us."
Behind the two brothers, Tang Qian'er quietly watched them joke around.
When she heard Mu Chen ask Su Qing when he would find him a sister-in-law, she could not help growing nervous. Although the answer disappointed her a little, she let out a breath of relief.
But the next question suddenly sent her heart racing and blood rushing to her head. Utterly nervous yet utterly hopeful, she watched with light flickering in her eyes.
Tang Qian'er stared blankly at Su Qing's profile, waiting for his answer.
"I think of her as a little sister."
*...*
A little sister.
Ha.
A little sister, huh.
Tang Qian'er said nothing. She merely walked over, stood behind Su Qing, and silently wrapped her arms around him.
Feeling a familiar body press against his back, Su Qing did not think much of it, assuming it was nothing more than their usual interaction.
Until a damp patch appeared on the back of his clothes.
Only then did Su Qing turn around and see Tang Qian'er's lovely face, like pear blossoms drenched in rain.
Even as Su Qing turned, Tang Qian'er did not release her arms from around his waist.
After lifting her head to glance at Su Qing, Tang Qian'er buried her face in his chest again, greedily savoring his scent.
A little sister...