Trapped in the watery net, Xiao Yan realized brute force would no longer work.
A cunning light flashed in his eyes. Instead of retreating, Xiao Yan suddenly lunged forward, directly into the path of the whip. Just as the water was about to bind his arms, Xiao Yan violently shifted his weight, using a bizarre, highly unpredictable footwork technique he had learned from Yao Chen.
He slipped past the binding strike by a hair's breadth, closing the distance to Ruo Lin in an instant. With a fierce roar, he launched a devastating, fiery palm strike directly at her shoulder.
Caught off guard by his sudden, suicidal aggression and unpredictable angle, Ruo Lin was forced to retract her whip and manifest a solid water shield to block the blow.
BANG!
The explosive force of the fire actually pushed the suppressed Da Dou Shi a full step backward, her boots sliding slightly in the dirt.
The clearing was dead silent. A newly advanced Dou Zhe had just forced a Da Dou Shi to retreat.
Ruo Lin looked at the boy, her eyes wide with genuine astonishment. She let out a long, defeated breath, the water shield and whip dissolving back into ambient moisture.
"Twenty," Ruo Lin said, a complex mixture of annoyance and profound approval in her voice. "You have deflected all twenty attacks."
Xiao Yan dropped his fiery aura, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his forehead. He offered the teacher a deep, respectful bow.
The crowd of senior students erupted into genuine, thunderous applause. Their previous mockery was entirely replaced by deep, unadulterated respect. The boy was a true monster.
Yoriichi stood quietly in the crowd, clapping his hands together in a steady, measured rhythm. He nodded in silent approval. 'Aggressive, yet remarkably cunning. He knows how to adapt and change his rhythm to shatter his opponent's expectations. A highly effective combat style.'
"Fine. You win, you stubborn brat," Ruo Lin sighed, massaging her temples again, though a fond smile tugged at her lips. "I officially grant you a one-year leave of absence. But you had better return to the academy stronger than you are today, or I will personally drag you through the mud."
Xiao Yan and Xun'er immediately celebrated, the fiery youth letting out a loud, victorious cheer. Standing nearby, Xiao Yu also let out a breath of relief, a proud smile finally gracing her face despite her cousin's sheer audacity.
With the dramatic duel concluded, the atmosphere in the clearing returned to a state of excited normality.
"Alright, that concludes today's affairs," Teacher Ruo Lin announced to the seven successful candidates. "You have exactly one week. Make your preparations, bid your farewells to your families and your homeland. In seven days, we depart for the Jia Nan Academy."
A senior student stepped forward, quickly distributing thick, parchment booklets to each of the new recruits. The booklets contained detailed maps, academy lore, and the extended rules of the institution.
With the final instructions given, the youths eagerly dispersed, heading back to their respective clans to share the glorious news.
Yoriichi, however, did not immediately leave. He remained near the academy tents, waiting patiently while Xiao Yu finished packing up the recruitment ledgers.
"Do you require assistance with those?" Yoriichi asked mildly as he approached her table.
"No, I've got it, brother!" Xiao Yu smiled brightly, stacking the heavy books with ease. She looked around, her eyes catching a group of her female colleagues from her classes walking toward them.
"Oh, perfect timing! Xiao Ning, come here," Xiao Yu ushered him forward, her tone shifting into that of a proud older sister showing off a prized sibling.
She turned to the group of three older, attractive senior female students.
"Girls, I want to formally introduce you. This is my little brother, Xiao Ning," Xiao Yu announced proudly.
The three senior girls stopped, their eyes immediately locking onto Yoriichi.
They took in his tall, perfectly proportioned, athletic build. They noted the striking contrast of his deep crimson eyes and the a vibrant red tip in his long black hair. But most importantly, they felt his aura. Unlike the fiery, loud arrogance of Xiao Yan, this youth possessed a profound, cold, incredibly mysterious tranquility that felt like a deep, bottomless ocean.
A collective, subtle flush crept up the seniors' cheeks.
They immediately leaned their heads together, completely ignoring standard social etiquette, and began whispering excitedly like a flock of startled birds.
"Heavens, Xiao Yu wasn't lying. He is incredibly handsome..." one girl whispered loudly, her eyes roaming over his sharp jawline.
"That aura is so intense. He feels like a seasoned mercenary, not a sheltered young master," another giggled, twirling a lock of her hair.
"Well, he only got a 'C' rank, so his potential might not be as terrifyingly good as that Xiao Yan kid," the third reasoned, though she didn't look away from Yoriichi. "But honestly? With a face and a stoic vibe like that, who even cares about ranks? He will be sure popular in the outer sect."
Standing a few feet away, Xiao Yu's mouth began to twitch violently.
A sudden, highly protective, and deeply annoyed vein popped on her forehead. She loved showing her brother off, but hearing her academy friends openly drool over him and reduce him to his looks grated on her last nerve. She let out a sharp, frustrated sigh, turning to look at Yoriichi to see if he was uncomfortable.
Yoriichi was a brick wall.
He completely brushed off the blatant, whispering gossip. In his past life, he had been oblivious to the romantic attentions of an entire village; three academy students were nothing.
He simply offered the girls a polite, flawlessly measured nod of greeting, his crimson eyes remaining entirely impassive as he calmly answered a few of their stammering, basic questions about his cultivation routine, completely ignorant of the fact that he was already breaking hearts a full week before even setting foot in the academy.