"Lin Shan, age seventeen. Dou Qi: Eight-stage."
"F-Rank."
"Heishi, age eighteen. Dou Qi: Ninth-stage."
"E-Rank."
…
Most of the newly admitted students who passed the evaluation were still below the rank of Dou Practitioner.
Of course, some of them had previously reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi but had failed to break through to the Dou Practitioner realm, resulting in a drop back to the eighth stage.
Xiao Yun's turn was coming up soon. So far, the best anyone had scored was a One-Star Dou Practitioner with a D-Rank potential. Even the twin brothers, Xiao Long and Xiao Hu, had already completed their tests—with both assessed at E-Rank potential.
Xiao Yun had no intention of concealing his strength. He understood the rules at Jia Nan Academy all too well: the more impressive your performance, the better the resources you were granted. There was no need to hold back.
"Xiao Yun. Age: seven. Cultivation: One-Star Dou Practitioner."
The moment his voice fell, everyone inside the tent fell into stunned silence. Mouths opened involuntarily. A sharp collective gasp swept through the space.
Xu Ning nearly snapped the brush in his hand in excitement. He had assumed Xiao Yun's level was, at best, at the ninth stage of Dou Qi. He'd expected the boy to only break through after entering Jia Nan Academy.
But now? Not only had Xiao Yun already made the breakthrough, he had stabilized at the One-Star Dou Practitioner level—all at just seven years old.
Lowering his head, Xu Ning stared at Xiao Yun with a fiery gleam in his eyes, even more intense than before.
He'd hit the jackpot.
Such a genius would certainly earn him high praise once he reported back to the academy.
"Good, good! A seven-year-old Dou Practitioner… S-Rank potential!" Xu Ning beamed, unable to stop smiling.
Once all the evaluations were complete, Instructor Xuning addressed the group.
"You've all passed. Go home for a few days, enjoy your last moments of leisure, and properly say goodbye to your families."
"Three days from now, return to this very spot. Jia Nan Academy will send its designated magical beasts to escort you to campus."
_____
After the selection ended and Xiao Yun returned home, news of him being the only S-rank talent in Wu Tan City to be accepted into Jia Nan Academy spread like wildfire. It instantly cemented his reputation as the city's number-one prodigy.
In the following days, the news reached nearby cities and towns, causing quite a stir. It wouldn't be long before the name "Xiao Yun" was known throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire.
Three days later, with a packed travel bag slung over his shoulder, Xiao Yun stood at the gathering point alongside his cousins Xiao Long and Xiao Hu. A group of Xiao clan members had come to see them off.
"Little Yun," said Xiao Zhan, clapping his nephew's shoulder, "you must be careful out there. Stay vigilant and never act recklessly, or you might end up being used by others as a pawn."
Xiao Zhan was pleased with everything about Xiao Yun—his talent, demeanor, and determination. The only thing that concerned him was the boy's young age. He worried that an inexperienced heart might fall prey to cunning schemes.
He turned to Xiao Long and Xiao Hu. "The two of you, watch over him in the academy. You're family. Yun is still young and might not fully understand the stakes in some situations. Make sure to guide him."
The clan leader's words were not to be disobeyed. Xiao Long quickly nodded and swore to fulfill the task. Xiao Yun also nodded. "Uncle Zhan, elders, don't worry. I'll take care of myself in Jia Nan Academy."
With the farewells said, the trio walked toward the group led by Instructor Xu Ning and boarded the flying magical beast.
It was a massive avian creature known as the Azure Stone Roc, a tier-three magical beast. While its speed couldn't compare to a Dou King, it was still far faster than traveling on foot.
Once everyone had boarded, Xu Ning guided the beast into the sky, flying toward Jia Nan Academy.
On the creature's back was a room where all the new students were gathered. There, Instructor Xu Ning began to introduce them to the academy and its surrounding region—the Black-Corner Region.
The Black-Corner Region was a lawless land sandwiched between the Jia Ma Empire and two other major empires. Because of its unregulated status, it had become a haven for criminals, fugitives, and mercenaries from all over the Northwest Continent.
"Listen up!" Xu Ning warned sternly. "Inside the academy, your safety is guaranteed. But once you step outside the gates, you'd better open your eyes wide. In the Black-Corner Region, don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong."
"Even old men, women, and children might be trying to take your life. Mercy has no place there."
Whether or not the students took his warning to heart was up to their own awareness. Fortunately, students were only allowed to leave the academy for training after years of cultivation and reaching a bottleneck. In most cases, the academy dispatched enforcement teams—composed of instructors and senior students—to guide and protect those venturing out.
After finishing his speech, Xu Ning waved his hand and dismissed everyone back to their rooms. There were still several days left in the journey.
During those days, Xiao Yun stayed in his room, quietly cultivating. His progress bar, visible on his mysterious interface, had already passed the halfway mark. He was determined to break through to the second-star Dou Practitioner before arriving at the academy.
Except for meals, he dedicated all his time to training. His persistence paid off. On the night before they reached Jia Nan Academy, he officially became a two-star Dou Practitioner.
Time passed as everyone trained in silence, until finally, on a crisp morning, the flying beast began its descent.
Xu Ning roused the students. Through the window, Xiao Yun saw the outline of an enormous city—Jia Nan City.
Compared to this place, Wu Tan City looked like a rustic village.
The beast landed at the flight terminal inside the city. Xu Ning led the new and returning students off the beast and into the city.
They stepped onto a wide street paved with blue stone. The surging crowd made Xiao Yun click his tongue in amazement.
The lively atmosphere reminded him of the day Xu Ning had arrived in Wu Tan City for recruitment. No wonder Jia Nan Academy was hailed as the oldest institution on the continent—its name alone drew countless aspiring youths.
Without lingering in the streets, Xu Ning led them through twists and turns for nearly half an hour before they arrived at the academy's main gate.
Standing before it, Xiao Yun was awestruck. Even in his past life, he had never seen such an imposing entrance. Above the gate, a massive plaque bore four bold characters:
Jia Nan Academy!
Xu Ning took the new students to a large plaza. The older students who had helped with recruitment had already left to claim their contribution points.
Before long, only the new students remained, awaiting their class assignments. The recruiting instructors had priority in selecting promising students.
Xu Ning dismissed the others to the enrollment office and kept Xiao Yun by his side.
"Xiao Yun, how about joining my class?" Xu Ning offered directly. "I'm currently a nine-star Dou Grandmaster and a Black-rank instructor. You'll get better resources with me. I'm confident I'll break through to Dou Spirit within a few years. When that happens, I can give you even more."
He didn't mince words—everything he had, he'd offer, if Xiao Yun joined his class.
Xiao Yun nodded. That was exactly what he came to the academy for: better resources. With a capable instructor offering full support, why refuse?
"I'd be honored to join your class, Instructor. But I also want to pursue alchemy. When I was tested back home, my Dou Qi affinity was primarily fire, but there was also a hint of wood."
"Oh?" Xu Ning raised a brow. "Didn't expect that. You've got talent for alchemy too. What a pity—I only have fire affinity myself. If I had dual affinity back in the day, I might've become a Dou Spirit by now."
"You can take alchemy classes," he added. "The schedules don't conflict with combat training. Since you're interested, I'll show you around the Alchemy Division and help you enroll."
Without delay, Xu Ning led him toward the Alchemy Division, explaining as they walked.
"There are dedicated instructors here who teach alchemy. Every week, students receive free materials for practice and assessment."
"But keep in mind," he cautioned, "this division doesn't care about combat talent. Only your alchemy skill matters. If you want resources here, earn them with top scores in the weekly tests."
They soon arrived at the Alchemy Division's building. Outside sat a young man dozing off at a registration desk.
"No need to wake him. Follow me," Xu Ning said, leading Xiao Yun inside. On the first floor, he found a familiar instructor to help test Xiao Yun's affinity.
The instructor produced a crystal orb and had Xiao Yun place his hand on it. Within moments, it glowed with red light tinged faintly with green.
"Excellent," the instructor nodded. "Looks like we've got a new recruit for the Alchemy Division."
He processed the paperwork swiftly and pulled Xiao Yun along to show him the facilities.
"You'll choose your class times tomorrow. Make sure they don't conflict with your main curriculum. Each day, a third-grade alchemist will give lectures."
"My advice: stick to one instructor for now. You're a beginner. Listening to too many styles will just confuse you."
"Memorize the Herb Compendium, basic techniques, everything. When you're ready, the academy provides low-grade herbs for hands-on practice."
"We also hold an annual alchemy competition. Top three get rare pill formulas—your best chance at acquiring them."
"Your rank as an alchemist matters too. Raise it, and the academy rewards you with more formulas. Otherwise, you'll need contribution points."
"Alchemy demands resources—herbs, money, time. And without solid fundamentals, you risk injury. Each year, overconfident students blow up their cauldrons and cripple themselves."
The instructor's tone turned heavy. "Remember that. Build a strong foundation."
Xiao Yun nodded seriously, committing every word to heart.
He had never studied alchemy before. In his past life, it was just a fantasy. But here and now, he knew the truth: on the Dou Qi Continent, not every strong person is an alchemist, but every alchemist lives well.
Becoming one, however, wasn't easy. It required not only specific elemental affinities and spiritual power, but also vast sums of gold and ingredients.
To put it bluntly, even as one of Wu Tan City's three major families, the Xiao clan might go bankrupt trying to raise a second-grade alchemist.
As for Xiao Yan's rapid rise to master alchemist status? He had the continent's top alchemist guiding him personally and still burned through countless resources—not to mention, his talent was the best of the best.
Xiao Yun knew his only real shot was Jia Nan Academy. Neither the Xiao clan nor his own ten thousand gold coins could support him otherwise.
Not long after he left, the instructor who'd helped him register sent a message to someone important.
"A seven-year-old Dou Practitioner with alchemy talent... Such a monstrous prodigy isn't something you see every day. I have to let Elder Huo know. If he's pleased and takes the kid in as a disciple... oh, the benefits I'll reap..."