The morning sun cast long, golden rays over the massive iron gates of Wu Tan City, illuminating a scene of rare, fragile unity.
For this, the Patriarchs and elite elders of the Xiao, Jia Lie, and Ao Ba clans were standing in the exact same plaza without hands resting on their weapons. The underlying tension was still palpable—a thick, invisible friction in the air—but the auspicious nature of the day kept the hostility firmly leashed. Today, the future generation of Wu Tan City was leaving the nest.
Teacher Ruo Lin stood near the front of the gates, her elegant blue academy robes fluttering in the morning breeze. Behind her stood a dozen senior students, and beside her were the seven successful recruits.
Yoriichi stood quietly near the edge of the Xiao Clan's designated area. Unlike the other youths who were burdened with heavy, bursting travel packs slung over their shoulders, Yoriichi's hands were entirely empty. His Katana rested securely in the dark sash at his waist, and on his right index finger gleamed a plain, dark-silver ring.
It was a low-grade spatial storage ring. In a border town like Wu Tan City, such an item was an absolute luxury, usually reserved for Patriarchs or Grand Elders.
However, by quietly selling a few of his meticulously crafted Tier 1 and Tier 2 weapons through a proxy in the mercenary markets over the past month, Yoriichi had amassed enough wealth to purchase it from the Premier Auction House.
It currently held all of his travel provisions, clothing, and the heavy luggage Xiao Yu had packed. He hadn't been able to find a second ring for his sister, but he planned to procure a higher-quality one for her once they reached the prosperous cities near the academy.
"Xiao Yu, remember to boil your water if you camp in the outer forests. And do not let those arrogant brats push you around. You represent the Xiao Clan!"
First Elder Xiao Lu was currently hovering over his granddaughter, his usual stern, commanding demeanor entirely replaced by the anxious fussing of an ordinary, worried grandfather.
"I know, Grandpa, I know," Xiao Yu sighed, adjusting the collar of her academy uniform, though a fond smile touched her lips.
The First Elder finished his checklist and turned to Yoriichi. The old man stepped forward, placing a heavy, wrinkled hand on Yoriichi's broad shoulder. His eyes, usually sharp and critical, softened with genuine emotion.
"And now, the young eagle also goes to fly," the First Elder murmured, his voice thick with a sudden melancholy. He let out a long, highly dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "Sigh... the clan will be so quiet. Who will take care of this old man in the future? Both of my grandchildren are flying away. I do not know how time passes so rapidly. I will be all alone in that big, empty courtyard..."
Xiao Yu rolled her eyes, instantly seeing through her grandfather's theatrical guilt trip.
"Ah, Grandpa," Xiao Yu interjected with a wicked, teasing grin. "If you really cannot manage your terrible loneliness, we can always welcome a new Grandma into the estate! Should I check the almanac to see which auspicious day is best for your second marriage before I leave?"
The First Elder's face instantly flushed a brilliant shade of crimson. He sputtered, his dramatic sorrow completely evaporating into sheer embarrassment.
"Y-You brat!" Xiao Lu scolded playfully, waving a finger at her. "Your grandfather is a righteous, dignified elder of the clan! And your mind is full of these nonsensical thoughts instead of your academy studies, huh? Get out of here before I ground you!"
The surrounding Xiao Clan members burst into light, genuine laughter. Even Yoriichi's lips curved into a faint, warm smile at the familiar sibling banter.
As the laughter subsided, Patriarch Xiao Zhan stepped forward. He had already bid a long, heartfelt farewell to Xun'er, instructing her like a fiercely protective uncle. Now, the towering Da Dou Shi stopped directly in front of Yoriichi.
Xiao Zhan did not look at Yoriichi like a Patriarch looking at a junior. He looked at him as an equal.
Xiao Zhan raised both of his large hands, placing them firmly on Yoriichi's shoulders. The Patriarch's eyes were incredibly serious, swimming with deep, unspoken respect for the youth.
"Good lad," Xiao Zhan said, his voice a low, emotional rumble meant only for Yoriichi's ears. "I will say this one last time. Do not ever forget what you are. The light I have seen within you... someday, it will burn brighter than anything this continent has ever seen."
Xiao Zhan squeezed Yoriichi's shoulders tightly. "Walk your path. Shine like the sun, and protect us all."
Yoriichi's crimson eyes widened by a fraction of an inch. The Patriarch's words echoed the deepest, most fundamental truth of his soul. He nodded, his expression shifting into absolute, unyielding seriousness.
"I will, Patriarch," Yoriichi promised, his voice carrying the weight of solid iron. He then offered a reassuring, respectful nod. "Take care of yourself. And do not worry about the future. I am certain Cousin Xiao Yan will return to make you prouder than you can imagine."
Xiao Zhan's eyes crinkled with unshed emotion. He smiled, offering a silent, heavy nod of agreement before stepping back.
Standing a few paces away, Gu Xun'er observed the exchange with razor-sharp intensity.
'Uncle Xiao Zhan just spoke to him with the reverence of a man speaking to a guardian spirit,' Xun'er thought, her golden eyes narrowing slightly in contemplation.
'He values Xiao Ning as much as his own son. What exactly happened between them in the shadows? Just how deep does this Xiao Ning's power truly go?'
Before she could ponder the mystery any further, a sudden, massive shadow fell over the sunlit plaza.
A fierce, chaotic gust of wind violently whipped through the crowd, kicking up clouds of dust and forcing the weaker commoners to shield their eyes.
"Look! Up there!" a mercenary shouted, pointing toward the northern sky.
Descending rapidly from the clouds were four massive, terrifying silhouettes. As they broke through the morning mist, the crowd gasped in sheer awe.
They were Four-Winged Gale Griffins. Three of them were massive, measuring forty feet across, radiating the oppressive auras of Rank 4 magical beasts.
But the beast leading the formation was an absolute monster. It was nearly double the size of the others, its feathers gleaming like polished steel, possessing the terrifying, crushing pressure of a Rank 5 beast—a creature equivalent to a human Dou Wang.
Teacher Ruo Lin stepped forward, raising a specialized, glowing jade token. Recognizing the signal, the elite beasts flared their massive wings, decelerating rapidly before landing in the clearing outside the city gates with a deafening THUD that shook the cobblestones.
The beast tamers, elite members of the Jia Nan Academy, saluted Ruo Lin from the saddles.
"Teacher Ruo Lin," a senior student gasped, his eyes wide as he looked at the Rank 5 behemoth. "The academy sent an King-class mount? But we are just picking up outer sect recruits!"
Ruo Lin smiled proudly. "This recruitment is special. I used my spirit jade to send an emergency priority message to the outer academy headquarters. When I informed them I had secured an 'A' rank and an 'S' rank potential, the elders authorized maximum protection and expedited transport."
The crowd of Wu Tan City citizens stared in absolute, trembling reverence at the sheer logistical power of the Jia Nan Academy.
"Alright, everyone! Time to board!" Ruo Lin announced, her voice magically amplified to cut through the wind.