He exhaled softly while looking toward the large green tent not far away.
There was a considerable distance between the crowd and the tent, with several open passages leading toward it. In each passage stood young members of Canaan Academy, holding fist-sized red crystals used to test the cultivation of the applicants.
Xiao Feng calmly walked over and joined the line of one of the passages.
His appearance quickly drew the attention of a youth standing nearby.
Looking at the rather young Xiao Feng, the youth couldn't help but feel puzzled.
This kid looks no more than ten years old… surely he doesn't think this is some kind of game?
Out of goodwill, the youth leaned slightly closer and spoke.
"Little friend, you've got the wrong place. This isn't a fun event—this is the recruitment test for Canaan Academy. You should go home before the instructors see you, or you'll get scolded."
His words quickly attracted the attention of others nearby, and several people turned their heads.
"Whose kid is this?"
"Wow, he's pretty young…"
"Hey kid, go home. Don't get in the way."
"Hahaha, look at his calm face. Don't tell me he actually came here to take the test?"
"At that age? Reaching the 8th Dou Disciple would already be impossible!"
"Yeah… who does he think he is? Wutan City's famous genius from the Xiao Clan?"
"…Wait."
One of them suddenly narrowed his eyes.
"Those clothes… aren't those from the Xiao Clan?"
The surrounding chatter paused for a moment.
"Could he actually be someone from the Xiao Clan?"
"Don't tell me… he's that genius everyone talks about?"
"I heard the Xiao Clan has a monster talent recently…"
"But I've never seen him before."
Xiao Feng remained completely indifferent to the discussions around him.
He had expected this kind of reaction long ago.
Ever since his talent became known within the clan, he rarely left the Xiao Clan compound. Even when he did go out into Wutan City, he usually disguised himself to avoid attention.
Because of that, his reputation had spread widely throughout the city, yet very few people actually knew what he looked like.
And that was exactly how Xiao Feng preferred it.
But now that he had come to participate in the recruitment of Canaan Academy, it didn't really matter if his identity was exposed anymore.
So, Xiao Feng waved his hand in thanks to the youth who had kindly warned him: "Thank you for the reminder. I am the Xiao Family's Xiao Feng. I'm not here to play; I'm here to take the test."
"Oh! It really is him! I didn't guess wrong."
"I didn't expect Wutan City's number one Genius to look like this. He's a bit cute."
"A Two star Dou Practitioner at the age of ten years old—he should be called the Empire's number one Genius!"
"I wonder what his strength is now."
"..."
Hearing the discussions around him, the youth realized he had made a blunder, his face flushing red. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were Xiao Feng. I've caused you trouble."
The people who had spoken rudely earlier also shut their mouths one after another.
Xiao Feng waved his hand to show he didn't mind.
After this little interlude, Xiao Feng felt that the gazes sizing him up while waiting in line had increased.
Despite the sea of people outside, this wasn't the first time Jia Nan Academy had recruited, and the conditions had already spread. Currently, the number of youths of the right age who were confident enough to come for the test wasn't actually that many; the sea of people outside were truly just there for the spectacle.
"Failed, next."
Before long, it was Xiao Feng's turn.
Benefiting from the previous commotion, the female student conducting the test didn't look down on him. Instead, she handed over the red crystal in her hand with a smile.
"Little brother, this testing crystal is very simple. Inject your Dou Qi; as long as your strength has reached the 8th-stage Dou Disciple , it will automatically light up. If it does, you've passed the preliminary test."
"Mm." Xiao Feng nodded in understanding, stepped forward, and placed his palm on the crystal ball for a moment. Once the crystal glowed, he withdrew his hand.
It... it really lit up!
Although the female student had already guessed as much, she still couldn't help but be a bit shocked.
After all, Xiao Feng's age was truly far too young.
"I passed, right?"
Xiao Feng's voice snapped her back to reality. "You passed. Go on in."
Xiao Feng walked slowly toward the tent.
Entering the large green tent, he saw more than ten men and women gathered in several small circles chatting in the pleasant shade. Seeing their relaxed expressions, they were likely students of Jia Nan Academy, just like the ones testing people outside.
Outside the shade, over a dozen young men and women were sitting on the ground under the scorching sun. Although sweat was pouring down their faces due to the high temperature, their expressions were full of restraint. It seemed they were new students who had just passed the outer test.
One of the new students saw Xiao Feng and shouted in surprise: "Cousin Xiao Feng, come over here!"
Shifting his gaze, Xiao Feng found a Xiao Family disciple waving at him, drenched in sweat.
His shout undoubtedly attracted the gazes of many others, especially the new students staying with him.
Ignoring the curious looks from others, Xiao Feng walked over to the Xiao Family members.
"Are you the only ones from the Family who passed the test?" he asked, looking at the group.
Actually, four of them had passed, though Xiao Feng still felt there should have been more. He sized them up as they gathered under the blazing sun.
Xiao Chen, eighteen years old and having recently stepped into the 1-Star Dou Practitioner stage, would likely be placed in D Class if he passed the selection.
Xiao Lou, nineteen years old, had not yet fully stabilized his breakthrough. His cultivation was still at the 9th Dou disciple, meaning he would likely enter as an E Class student.
Xiao Xan, the youngest among them at seventeen, was also at the 9th Dou disciple stage, making him another probable E Class candidate.
The only girl among them, Xiao Mei, had slightly better luck. Having reached 1-Star Dou Practitioner not long ago, she would most likely be classified into D Class upon admission.
"Seems like all of us have passed the preliminary test," Xiao Chen said, wiping sweat from his brow. "But I still thought more of the Family would come… especially those a bit younger who should have been ready."
Xiao Feng nodded, feeling the same. "Passing isn't everything. I just hope more of our Family shows up next time. We can't let Canaan Academy have too few representatives from the Xiao Family."
Xiao Lou grunted in agreement. "It's not that easy to meet the requirements, though. Even among us four, only Xiao Chen and Xiao Mei have reached the 1-Star Dou Practitioner stage recently."
Xiao Xan frowned slightly, rubbing his arms under the sun. "Still, being E Class isn't bad. It's better than failing outright."
Xiao Mei, looking a bit tired but determined, added, "Let's just focus on making the best of this chance. Canaan Academy isn't going to wait for anyone."
Xiao Feng looked at them all, a faint smile forming. Despite the few numbers, the Family had potential. "Alright, then. Let's go in together and see where we all end up."
"Ah, it's so hot!"
Hearing Xiao Chen's constant muttering beside him, Xiao Feng felt a bit helpless.
"If it's hot, just go into the tent," Xiao Feng said.
"I want to, but I can't beat those seniors," Xiao Chen replied miserably.
It wasn't that no one had resisted earlier to try and enter the green tent, but they were quickly thrown out by the senior students and were still feeling depressed even now. With his strength, wouldn't Xiao Chen just be asking for trouble?
"Sigh, forget it. Come with me; I'll take you inside," Xiao Feng said calmly.
"What? You're going to make a move?" Xiao Chen asked, his voice a mix of excitement and disbelief.
Xiao Chen knew that Xiao Feng had made a breakthrough to Dou Practitioner early on and had no doubts about his strength. In his eyes at that moment, Xiao Feng's small stature seemed almost grand.
"Yes," Xiao Feng replied, a faint smile on his face.
Xiao Lou, Xiao Xan, and Xiao Mei were nearby, wiping sweat from their foreheads and nervously glancing at the tent. Xiao Feng called out to them: "Come on, all of you. Let's go in together."
The four of them exchanged glances. Xiao Lou, nineteen and still stabilizing his breakthrough at the 9th Dou disciple stage, muttered, "I hope we don't embarrass ourselves…"
Xiao Xan, seventeen and also at the 9th Dou disciple stage, added, "Better than standing out here in the sun."
Xiao Mei, the only girl from Xiao family who just stepping into the 1-Star Dou Practitioner stage, nodded timidly but with determination.
Together, the five of them moved toward the green tent. Just as Xiao Feng stepped forward, a deep male voice rang out from within:
"Everyone, come in. Time's up!"
Hearing this, the new students immediately pushed themselves up, dusted off the sand and sweat from their clothes, and walked nimbly toward the tent.
Xiao Feng quickly guided the four Xiao Family members inside.
"Hahaha, it seems my luck is good this time; I've recruited a Prodigy!" As soon as Xiao Feng entered the tent, he saw a burly man with a thick beard staring at him as if he were a treasure. The students around him called him Instructor Ge Hu.
"Instructor," Xiao Feng said politely, nodding.
"Mm, wait a moment. I'll record your talent Rank S." Ge Hu nodded with satisfaction at Xiao Feng's politeness. To be able to enter at this age, his talent certainly wouldn't be bad, and he didn't look like a spoiled brat. Not bad, not bad at all.
One thing had to be said: although Canaan Academy's method of dampening the newcomers' arrogance was somewhat cold-hearted, it did have some effect.
At the very least, the arrogance of the new students, who were dripping with sweat from the scorching sun, was significantly more subdued than when they first arrived. Those who entered with Xiao Feng were all shrinking into the shaded corners, their eyes constantly scanning the interior of the tent.