Walking along the small path, Xiao Yan shook his head with a helpless smile as he observed the suddenly deserted clan compound. Today, the recruitment team from Jia Nan Academy was arriving in Wutan City, and nearly half the clan had rushed out to watch. Right now, the city gates were probably packed with people.
"A bunch of crazies," he muttered to himself. "Like watching them will make it any easier to pass the test."
Shaking his head, Xiao Yan strolled leisurely toward the back mountain. This time of day was his cultivation period—rain or shine, he never missed it.
Although the recruitment team had stopped in Wutan City, they were also responsible for several nearby cities. So, when Xiao Yan and the others arrived at the designated testing square the next day, they were stunned by the sea of people stretching as far as the eye could see.
The enormous square was filled with a deafening roar. Countless young people were desperately pushing their way inside. If not for the city guard maintaining order at the square's edge, the excited crowd would have stormed in without a second thought.
Xiao Yan stared blankly at the human ocean for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh. He shook his head, his face full of frustration. At this rate, there was no way he'd pass the test today.
"Hmph, stuck, are we?" Seeing Xiao Yan's dejected expression, Xiao Yu, who had been chatting with Xun'er and Xiao Mei behind him, let out a smug little laugh.
Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and couldn't be bothered with her. "Cousin Xiao Yu, do you have a way?" Xiao Mei asked with a smile, trying to defuse the tension before the two could start bickering again.
"The person in charge of the recruitment team here in Wutan City happens to be my mentor," Xiao Yu said, lifting her chin proudly. "As her favorite student, of course I have a way." She waved her hand. "Follow me."
Watching Xiao Yu stride toward the other side of the square on her long, graceful legs, Xiao Yan spread his hands at Xun'er with a helpless look. "Fine, let's not lower ourselves to her level."
Xun'er smiled and nodded gently, following along with Xiao Yan.
The group trailed after Xiao Yu as they circled halfway around the massive square, finally stopping at the western edge. They were now at the rear of the square, where fully armed soldiers had formed two or three layers of defense. Their gleaming weapons reflected the sunlight in sharp, cold flashes.
Xiao Yan's eyes swept over the stern defenses. Xiao Yu gave them a brief instruction, then stepped forward alone, pulling a green badge from her pocket. She exchanged a few quiet words with a military officer, then waved them over.
The middle-aged officer's sharp, cold gaze swept over Xiao Yan and his companions inch by inch. After a long moment, he raised his hand and barked, "Let them through!"
At his command, the iron wall of armored soldiers shifted with a synchronized clatter of metal, opening a narrow path just wide enough for a person to pass through. Xiao Yan smiled gratefully at the officer, tucked the green badge away, and then gave Xiao Yu a triumphant nod before stepping forward.
Following Xiao Yan, the others stepped into the corridor of soldiers. The moment they entered, they felt a chill on their skin. The emotionless soldiers around them radiated an aura of blood and violence that made Xiao Yan and the others—none of whom had ever faced such a sight—nearly unable to breathe.
"So these are soldiers who've survived the battlefield?" Xiao Yan exhaled slowly. His exceptional willpower allowed him to gradually push down the oppressive feeling in his heart. He licked his lips, and his slightly trembling feet steadied once more. Regardless, with his current strength at the Four-Star Dou Warrior level, he was already stronger than most of these soldiers here. Though he might not match them in sheer murderous aura, at least he wouldn't embarrass himself.
The ten-odd meters felt as long as a thousand. When they finally took the last step out of the corridor, they realized their palms were drenched in cold sweat.
Xiao Yu's face was slightly pale as she shot the officer a reproachful look. "Senior Ke, are you deliberately trying to torment us?"
The officer's expressionless face broke into a faint smile. "This was Instructor Ruolin's orders. If you want to take the back door, you have to pass a little test first. You did well—every one of my men here has slept next to corpses on the battlefield. Anyone with weaker nerves wouldn't have made it halfway before collapsing."
Xiao Yu gave him an exasperated wave, then pulled Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning—who were practically walking on jelly legs—and hurried into the square.
When they reached the center of the square, a large green tent came into view. From here, they could already see the massive crowd outside. Through several aisles, young men and women who had passed the preliminary test were making their way into the square, their faces flushed with excitement.
"Yu'er!" The moment they approached the tent, a woman's laughter rang out. A red figure darted forward and wrapped Xiao Yu in a tight embrace, her hand slipping around Xiao Yu's waist with a teasing grin. "Let me feel—have you put on weight?"
"Get off me, you shameless thing," Xiao Yu laughed, pushing the girl away. She turned to Xiao Yan and the others and introduced her. "This is my good friend from Jia Nan Academy. Her name is Xue Ni, and she's already a Four-Star Dou Warrior."
Xiao Yan and the others turned their attention to the woman in red. Her pretty face wore a brilliant smile, and her chestnut hair was tied back in a casual ponytail. Her figure was nothing short of spectacular—full curves, a slender waist, and an impossibly round rear end. Though her looks were a fraction less refined than Xiao Yu's, her fiery, voluptuous body was enough to make any man's heart skip a beat.
Xiao Yan could already see that among the young men who had passed the test, quite a few were stealing glances at the curves straining against Xue Ni's red clothing.
Xiao Yu held Xue Ni's arm affectionately, the ease between them showing just how close their friendship was.
"These are all my family members. This is Xun'er—gorgeous, isn't she? But don't even think about it, she won't be interested. This is Xiao Mei, also very lovely. And this is my little brother, Xiao Ning. And this one..." When her gaze fell on Xiao Yan's lazy expression, Xiao Yu leaned in and whispered in Xue Ni's ear, "That's the cousin I told you about—Xiao Yan."
Xue Ni's eyes swept over Xun'er and Xiao Mei first, lighting up as she gasped, "Wow, your family's got some serious beauties! If they get into Jia Nan Academy, those boys are going to lose their minds."
Then she suddenly froze. "Wait—Xiao Yan?" She looked at Xiao Yan with wide eyes. "This is the cousin you said was stuck at the third stage of Dou Power? He's pretty handsome."
"What?" Xiao Yu's mouth twitched. She pinched the big-mouthed woman hard, then turned to Xiao Yan with an awkward smile. "I didn't go around telling everyone about you. I just happened to say something in my sleep, and this sharp-eared woman overheard it."
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "You dream about me? When did we get so close? I seem to recall back then it was just a matter of—"
"Shut up!" Xiao Yu's face flushed with embarrassment, and she kicked at Xiao Yan's leg.
Xiao Yan sidestepped lazily, then spread his hands. He'd made his point and didn't need to push it further.
"Shut up? What did he touch? Don't tell me it was Yu'er?" Xue Ni's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but before she could press further, Xiao Yu pinched her hard.
"Yu'er, you're so cruel—attacking your old lover like that!" Xue Ni rubbed her reddened wrist, her eyes glistening with mock tears.
"Enough of that. I still need to take them to the test," Xiao Yu said, pushing the theatrical woman away with a helpless laugh.
"Fine, fine, come on—I'll take you there." Xue Ni's tears vanished as if by magic. She was about to turn when she suddenly paused, her head tilting with a smile. "Oh, right—almost forgot to tell you. Luo Bu is on this recruitment team too. And word is, he's advanced to the Four-Star Dou Warrior level on the way here."
Xiao Yu's smile immediately darkened. "That annoying guy? Why is he here?"
"Isn't it obvious? To see our gorgeous Yu'er, of course," Xue Ni teased. "He's been thinking about you day and night the whole way here."
Xiao Yu's teeth clenched. After a moment of indecision, she suddenly turned to look at Xiao Yan.
"What are you looking at me for?" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed, already knowing what she was thinking. "Don't expect me to play the doting boyfriend in front of some stranger. I'm not interested, and I won't pretend." Without waiting for her furious glare, he sauntered off toward the tent.
Xue Ni watched his retreating back with disbelief. "Uh... Yu'er, did your charm take a hit? You know, girls would kill for this chance at the Academy, and this kid just brushed you off?"
Xiao Yu gritted her teeth. "That guy's a freak. You can't judge him by normal standards. Except for that terrifying prodigy back at the Academy, have you ever heard of anyone jumping from the third stage of Dou Power to a Three-Star Dou Warrior in a single year?"
Xue Ni's mouth fell open. The playful expression on her face was replaced by pure shock. She had never expected this seemingly mild-mannered young man to possess such terrifying talent. Was this really the family "waste" that Xiao Yu had once described?