In the office of Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan, Instructor Ruo Ling pced some of Xiao Yan's information on the desk.

  "Oh? An 8-star Dou Practitioner?" Hu Gan was very surprised when he saw Xiao Yan's student information.

  It was worth noting that his own granddaughter was the same age as Xiao Ya, even with his guidance, she had only reached the 6-star Dou Practitioage.

  After reag the Dou Practitioner realm, one could use medial pills to aid their cultivation. This would greatly speed up one's progress. But it was rare to see someone so young reach the 8-star Dou Practitioage.

  Instructor Ruo Ling nodded seriously and tinued, "Aye, and this student named Xiao Yan also possesses strong bat abilities. During the recruitment, he had a flict with a first-year student ith the recruiting team. As a result, he swept through more than a dozen students ranging from 1-star to 4-star Dou Practitioners with a single move."

  "Hmm?!"

  Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this. To be able to defeat more than a dozen low-level Dou Practitioners with a single move, his strength must have reached the Dou Master realm, and that was only possible by using a Xuan Css Dou Teique that had been cultivated to at least a minor level of mastery.

  "To possess such strength at the age of sixteen is indeed an outstanding talent."

  Even the Deputy Headmaster ented as such. One could imagine how incredible Xiao Yan's strength was.

  Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan stroked his beard and ughed, "I'm afraid he'll be able to pass the Inner Academy examination aer the Inner Academy after just one year of cultivation. Hehe, it's been a long time since a first-year studeered the Inner Academy."

  Jia Nan Academy was divided into an Outer Academy and an Inner Academy. udents could participate in the annual Inner Academy Qualifying petition ohey reached the Dou Master realm and only the top fifty were qualified to ehe Inner Academy.

  The Inner and Outer Academies were entirely different worlds. Frankly speaking, the Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy was merely a pce for learning and even just a trading ptform. All the resources had to be earned by the students through tasks to ears.

  Only by entering the Inner Academy did one bee a true core disciple of the Academy and receive its support.

  "However... that child has made a request," Instructor Ruo Ling said with a hint of embarrassment. After all, although Xiao Yan was a genius, it was somewhat inappropriate for him to make demands right after enrolling.

  Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan raised his eyebrows and smiled helplessly while shaking his head, "Really, making demands right after enrolling... Kids these days. Let's hear it, what is his request?"

  "He wants to experiehe Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower."

  Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan stroked his beard, pondered seriously for a moment, and uedly nodded in agreement, "His wish is uandable. With his talent and strength, nothing ier Academy really attract him. It's only logical that he wants to see if the Inner Academy's trainihods and resources meet his needs."

  He didn't find Xiao Yan's request unreasonable. After all, with Xiao Yan's talent, the only thing that could really appeal to him was the Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower of the Inner Academy.

  "Are you saying that you agree, Deputy Headmaster?!" Instructor Ruo Ling didn't hold much hope initially. Although Xiao Yan was a genius, the rules of the academy couldn't be disregarded for him.

  Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan's eyes twinkled as he revealed a meaningful smile, "The Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower is a resource for the students of the Inner Academy. Even though his talent is extraordinary, we 't bend the rules just for him."

  "However, it is indeed our ht that newly enrolled students ot participate in the Inner Academy Qualifying petition."

  Instructor Ruo Ling's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she asked softly, "Deputy Headmaster, are you suggesting..."

  "As long as Xiao Yan prove that he indeed qualifies to ehe Inner Academy, then we'll go along with his request," Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan resembled a ing fox at this moment.

  Instructor Ruo Ling sighed inwardly. The older ones were ihe most ing. It seems Xiao Yan might not have it so easy after all.

  …

  Early the m, after Instructor Ruo Ling introduced all the basiformation of the Outer Academy, she let everyone choose their own tasks acc to their strength to ears issued by the academy.

  "Xiao Yan, e here for a moment."

  "What is it, Instructor Ruo Ling?" Xiao Yan's heart had a rough idea of what it might be.

  Instructor Ruo Ling's slender fingers gently brushed aside a strand of hair on her forehead as she softly said, "The Deputy Headmaster has agreed to let you experiehe Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower beforehand but has one dition."

  Xiao Yan wasn't the least bit surprised. He did not think that his casual request could actually bend the rules.

  "Please tell me, Instructor."

  "As long as you defeat a Xuan Rank css student, the Deputy Headmaster will grant your request to ehe Inner Academy early to experiehe effects of the Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower."

  Xiao Yan's css was a Huang Rank css, while the Xuan Rank css was also known as the re-examination css. It was for students who had previously participated in the Inner Academy Qualifying petition but failed and were preparing to retake the examination.

  All the students promoted to the Xuan Rank css were Dou Masters without exception, with most being 4-star Dou Masters her. The majority of them were third-year students. If third-year students in Huang Rank csses didn't pass the examination, they would graduate directly without a ce to ehe Xuan Rank css.

  The students in the Xuan Rank ot only had high cultivation levels but were also seasoned veterans who had participated in the Inner Academy Qualifying petition. Having been ier Academy for two years, they were highly profit in their Qi Methods and Dou Teiques.

  In essence, most of the students in the Xuan Rank css were expected to ehe Inner Academy in the petition. Hehey were often referred to as the preparatory students of the Inner Academy.

  Xiao Yan smiled calmly and nodded without hesitation, "No problem. The sele of the didate is up to the instructor."

  Seeing Xiao Yan's expression so posed, Instructor Ruo Li like he was taking it lightly. She warned, "Little genius, I must remind you. Everyone in the Xuan Rank css is a Dou Master, starting as high as 4-star Dou Masters. You are essentially challenging across a major realm."

  "I know."

  "Moreover, the gap between a Dou Master and a Dou Practitioner isn't as simple as the differeween high and low-star Dou Practitioners. Dou Masters use their Dou Qi to form a protective energy cloak, which will signifitly diminish the effectiveness of your Dou Teiques."

  "I know."

  "You...! Fine, I'll pick a tough one for you to uand." Instructor Ruo Ling was quite irked by Xiao Yan. Would it kill him to show a little weakness?!

  After Instructor Ruo Li in a huff, Xun Er walked up to Xiao Yan and asked, "What's wrong, Xiao Yan ge-ge?"

  "Nothing much. I have to defeat a senior Dou Master to ehe Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower," Xiao Yan shrugged. Regardless, he had to ehe Bzing Sky Qi Refining Tower no matter what, so he had to accept this challenge.

  …

  Shortly after the sun dipped below the horizon in the west, a pale red glow enveloped the Outer Academy square, casting a thin red carpet upon the ground.

  This was a rather secluded dueling ground withier Academy, one of many such areas provided within the academy for students to settle their disputes.

  A cool breeze blew across the square, giving Xiao Yan a slight chill as he stood there.

  Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and Instructor Ruo Ling were also present on the sidelines watg the match. Besides the three of them, some bystanders had noticed the duel and sat nearby to enjoy the spectacle.

  Uhe watchful gaze of the onlookers, Xiao Yan smiled slightly and cupped his fists toward a young man standing in the middle of the square, "Please go easy oer, senior brother."

  Lu Xing showed a mog smile as he looked at Xiao Yan and said, "Although bullyiudents is not my style, sihe academy has issued such a mission, I guess I have to relutly do it this time."

  To ensure fairness, the Deputy Headmaster did not designate a specific student for Xiao Yan to challenge. Instead, he issued a task withier Academy, and whoever accepted the task would be his oppo.

  "That guy has always been like this, never knowing when to ease up a bit, always choosing to make things difficult for himself! Lu Xing is a 6-star Dou Master, and he's only an 8-star Dou Practitioner. How is he supposed to fight?" Xiao Yu stomped her foot in frustration, though her eyes betrayed a hint of helpless .