Chapter 96

The economic confrontation between the two major families in Wutan City finally ended with the Xiao family's victory. As the losers, the Jiali family's influence rapidly shrank, making it difficult for them to regain their former glory.

After the intense competition between the two major families had been the talk of Wutan City for nearly a week, the fickle people gradually shifted their attention to another significant event—the enrollment of the Cana Academy.

As one of the renowned advanced institutions on the continent of Dou Qi, Cana Academy is a holy place in the hearts of almost all young people. Graduates from the academy have a bright future ahead, not only returning home in glory but also becoming highly sought-after talents by various forces.

Cana Academy is located at the border where the Jia Ma Empire meets two other major empires. In this no-man's land, Cana Academy has almost become a small country in its own right. Logically, the three major empires would not ignore such a neutral force in the border area, as it could be swayed by an opponent and pose a significant threat to the empire's border defense.

Of course, this is only true if the force in the border area is weak. If the force has grown strong enough to rival the three major empires, the empires would instead quietly stop all their schemes, allowing Cana Academy to remain like a giant dragon, perched at the edge of the empire, which no one dares to provoke easily.

Through years of development, Cana Academy has not only become a renowned advanced institution on the continent of Dou Qi but also gained even greater prestige among the people of the three major empires due to some covert collaborations with the royal families of these empires.

A significant reason for the three major empires maintaining nearly a century of peace is the covert control and mediation by Cana Academy.

All these factors have made Cana Academy's reputation even more illustrious in the three major empires. Every year, Cana Academy sends a large number of mentors to recruit outstanding young talents with exceptional cultivation potential within the three empires.

The royal families of the three major empires unanimously support Cana Academy's recruitment efforts. After all, the academy is not a sect and does not have much binding power. After graduation, most successful students choose to return to their home countries, indirectly strengthening their nations. The royal families of the three empires would not refuse such a measure to enhance their national strength.

In a few days, the recruitment mentors from Cana Academy will arrive in Wutan City. Therefore, all the attention in Wutan City has shifted from the two major families of the past half-month. This shift has allowed the Xiao family, which has been in the spotlight recently, to breathe a sigh of relief.

Cana Academy's recruitment focuses on cultivation potential rather than social status. Those without sufficient talent find it difficult to step through the door that symbolizes a bright future. Of course, there are exceptions. If you have a powerful force backing you, Cana Academy would not mind having one more wealthy benefactor who contributes a large amount of tuition annually.

Because Cana Academy's recruitment is blind to status, even young beggars and thieves in Wutan City are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the recruitment mentors. If they can pass by sheer luck, they can escape their lowly and despised professions and become respected fighters.

Under this influence, the atmosphere in Wutan City has become even more lively than during festivals. Every day, people wait eagerly at the city gates.

...

Compared to the eager anticipation of these people, Xiao Yan has been extremely busy. Due to his impending journey, he has been working tirelessly to refine healing potions. Seeing Xiao Yan's determined efforts, Old Medicine Master, though pained, had no choice but to help him. With the assistance of this unknown-level alchemist, a large number of healing potions were continuously produced and stored in the Xiao family's warehouse. With this stock, the Xiao family could sell for a year without running out of inventory, and they would likely reap substantial profits.

This intense alchemy, though exhausting, has made Xiao Yan's control over his Dou Qi increasingly proficient, and his ability to control the temperature of the flames has become more adept. These improvements, combined with his soul perception, which even Old Medicine Master praises, have raised Xiao Yan's success rate in refining Blood Coagulation Powder to about 60%, a high success rate that only experienced second-rank alchemists can achieve.

In addition to his alchemy skills, Xiao Yan's own strength has steadily improved with the help of some spiritual liquids carefully prepared by Old Medicine Master. During his last cultivation session after the final alchemy, the Dou Qi in his body naturally converged and broke through to the Four-Star Fighter level.

Xiao Yan was delighted by this unexpected gain, realizing that intense alchemy also has a significant boosting effect on strength.

Of course, while alchemy has some boosting effects, it is extremely draining. After completing the last batch of medicinal materials, Old Medicine Master stopped him. Considering the sufficient inventory, Xiao Yan did not insist and spent a whole day sleeping in his room. Life became leisurely and relaxed again.

...

Walking slowly through the family compound, Xiao Yan looked at the suddenly crowded training grounds with a hint of helplessness.

In various training areas, many young clan members were sweating profusely, diligently practicing. They all hoped to meet the recruitment criteria of Cana Academy in the last few days.

Standing at the edge of the training ground, Xiao Yan lazily glanced around and then turned away, bored. He had little sympathy for these people who only started practicing hard at the last minute. He himself, even after recovering his talent, often felt as exhausted as a dog. These people, with low talent, always relied on their family's influence to indulge in frivolous behavior, which made Xiao Yan somewhat disdainful of them.

Cana Academy's recruitment standards are not low; one must reach the Eighth Rank of Dou Qi before the age of eighteen. This stringent condition has shattered many people's dreams. From Xiao Yan's perspective, there would not be more than two people on the training ground who could meet the recruitment criteria.

With his hands behind his head, Xiao Yan dismissed these people from his mind. It was none of his business how many of them would be admitted. Shaking his head, he turned into a small path and walked to a garden in the backyard. There, a familiar figure of a young girl stood gracefully among the flowers, looking extremely beautiful.

Narrowing his eyes, Xiao Yan gazed at the perfect figure and a gentle smile appeared on his face. He chuckled softly and slowly approached the green-robed girl staring at the willow tree.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you... you are leaving soon?" Before he could get close, a slightly sad voice reached his ears.

Pausing his steps, Xiao Yan nodded helplessly, walked up, and stood beside Xun Er. Turning his head, he saw her delicate face, slightly gloomy, and smiled, reaching out to pat her head, then gently stroking her smooth black hair, feeling a sense of comfort that made him a bit intoxicated.

"Are you not going to Cana Academy?" Xun Er asked softly, allowing Xiao Yan to fondly play with her hair, which no other man had ever touched except her.

"Um." Nodding, Xiao Yan smiled and said, "I have my own things to do."

"Is it because of Nalan Yanran?" A strange coldness flickered in her eyes, and Xun Er bit her lip, speaking softly.

Xiao Yan's hand paused, and he shrugged, smiling faintly. "I accepted the challenge in front of so many people; I can't back out. If I did, even you would look down on me."

Xun Er's eyebrows furrowed, and she sighed softly, muttering to herself, "I shouldn't have let her live back then."

"Ha ha, don't worry. After I finish my business, I will come to Cana Academy to find you. At most, in a year and a half, no, a year..." Seeing Xun Er's suddenly pained expression, Xiao Yan quickly corrected himself with a smile.

"Brother Xiao Yan, actually... if you follow me, I can help you defeat Nalan Yanran within the agreed time." After a long hesitation, Xun Er finally said, biting her lip.

Xiao Yan laughed bitterly, shook his head, and said with a self-deprecating sigh, "Sometimes, what you say makes me feel a bit ashamed."

"I know Brother Xiao Yan wouldn't think I'm offering charity," Xun Er said with a sweet smile.

Xiao Yan chuckled, shook his head, and took a deep breath, smiling. "Don't worry. I have confidence. In a year, I will climb the Yunlam Sect and challenge Nalan Yanran!"

Seeing Xiao Yan's sudden burst of confidence, Xun Er shook her head helplessly. Just as she was about to speak again, Xiao Yan suddenly turned, stretched out his arms, and abruptly hugged Xun Er's slender waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace.

A gentle breeze blew through the garden, and the willow branches swayed. The young man tightly held the young girl, their bodies fitting perfectly together, as if they were one.

Startled by Xiao Yan's sudden action, Xun Er's ears turned red after a moment. She struggled slightly but then stopped, her face blushing.

"Xun Er, in a year, I will come to Cana Academy to find you. Wait for me."

Burying his head in her smooth black hair, the young man's promise finally made the somewhat flustered girl nod obediently.

(Rolling on the ground for votes, please vote and recommend)

(To be continued)