Watching Xiao Yan approach with that unhurried stride, Ge La let out a sinister chuckle. He'd seen plenty of troublemaking new students before, and most of them ended up in very sorry shape. Breaking the newcomers' spirits during recruitment was practically an unwritten rule at Jia Nan Academy. After all, anyone who made the cutoff was generally talented, and people with talent tended to grow up pampered in their little hometowns, rarely facing ridicule or mockery. Bringing that kind of mindset into an academy teeming with exceptional fighters was a recipe for unnecessary conflicts. So, during enrollment, making sure new students understood their place—and grinding that fresh-out-of-the-nest arrogance out of them—was considered an important, if harsh, reality.
Even some of the Academy's instructors didn't oppose this unwritten tradition, which was why it had persisted for so many years.
Ge La tightened his fist, Dou Qi coating its surface in a thin sheen. He grinned darkly. When he'd first entered Jia Nan Academy, he'd tried to fight back too, relying on his own talent. But the senior student—a Two-Star Dou Warrior at the time—had finished him with a single punch, sending him scurrying out into the scorching sun for half an hour. That humiliating experience had left a lasting mark, and now, every time he saw a new student, he felt a twisted pleasure in tearing that brash confidence right out of them.
The approaching young man finally stopped before him under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
"Yu'er, why didn't you stop him?" The girls around Xiao Yu whispered anxiously. "Standing in the sun is better than getting beaten up!"
Standing beside Xiao Yu, Xue Ni recalled what Xiao Yu had said about Xiao Yan earlier. Her bright eyes blinked with curiosity as she studied the boy who wore that same indifferent smile. She really wanted to know—was this Xiao Yan kid truly as terrifyingly talented as Xiao Yu claimed, capable of rivaling that monstrous prodigy?
She pressed her red lips together, arms crossed over her chest—her generous assets pressed into a deep, eye-catching crevice by the posture. A glimmer of anticipation flashed in her eyes.
The blush on Xiao Yu's face hadn't fully faded yet, making her look absolutely stunning. She stretched her arms lazily, her figure—though not the most voluptuous—still presenting an impressive silhouette. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and glanced at the young man's back, murmuring casually, "We'll see who ends up suffering."
Outside the tent, the twenty-odd new students standing under the blazing sun also turned their curious gazes toward the scene. They hadn't chosen to bake in the sun without a fight—every single one of them had tried to resist, and every single one had been crushed by the overwhelming force of the senior students. Now, seeing someone else dare challenge that authority, they watched with a sense of schadenfreude, eager to see how this newcomer would humiliate himself.
"You ready, kid?"
Ge La was thoroughly enjoying the attention. His grin widened as his narrow eyes swept over Xiao Yan. "Starting to feel nervous?"
"Let's just get this over with," Xiao Yan said, lifting his chin. His flat tone caught everyone off guard.
"Heh, got some nerve," Ge La said, slightly surprised. Then anger surged through him. Was this arrogance? A deliberate insult?
Xiao Yan let out a soft breath, too lazy for more words. His gaze drifted lazily over Ge La's face, which was already tinged with rage.
"Fine then!"
The kid's calm composure was a direct hit to Ge La's pride. He let out a cold snort, lunged forward, and drove his right fist toward Xiao Yan's head. Dou Qi condensed on his knuckles, and the force of his punch sent a gust of wind howling through the air.
The surrounding crowd frowned. Using this much force against a new student was excessive.
Xiao Yan raised his eyelids slightly, watching the fist swell in his vision. He gave a subtle shake of his head. Just before impact, his palm shot forward, catching Ge La's fist dead-on.
The block was utterly effortless. Ge La's powerful punch—brimming with force—was swallowed up as if it had been aimed into an abyss. Not a single tremor ran through Xiao Yan's arm.
"Slow speed. Weak punch." Xiao Yan lifted his face and shook his head. "Are you really a student of Jia Nan Academy?"
The quiet mockery in his voice left the crowd stunned. Every eye fixed on the point where fist met palm. It was almost impossible to believe—a new student had just blocked a One-Star Dou Warrior's attack as though it were nothing.
Luo Bu's previously beaming smile slowly darkened. His gaze turned icy as he fixed it on the smirking youth. He'd misjudged this one. He should have sent someone stronger.
"You little bastard! You're asking for it!"
Being humiliated publicly by a newcomer flushed Ge La's face crimson. With a roar, he aimed a vicious kick at Xiao Yan's abdomen.
Xiao Yan's expression didn't change. His idle left hand swatted down with the casual ease of someone swatting a mosquito. A sharp crack rang out as his palm struck Ge La's ankle, and a dark bruise immediately bloomed on the skin.
"Hssss!"
The searing pain from his ankle made Ge La suck in a breath through his teeth. His rage only deepened. He stumbled back, yanking his fist free, then pushed off the ground with his right foot, launching himself into the air. He spun, Dou Qi coalescing around his leg in a pale green glow—a phantom-like arc of light that resembled a wind blade, wrapping around his shin. With a furious yell, he slashed his leg down at Xiao Yan's skull.
The crowd gasped. This wasn't just a lesson anymore—Ge La was going for real damage.
But Xiao Yan stood perfectly still, watching the descending leg with a detached expression. At the last possible instant, he raised his left arm. A crisp crack echoed across the square as his forearm met Ge La's shin.
Ge La screamed. The force of the collision threw him backward, his body tumbling across the ground before he skidded to a halt, clutching his leg. His face was pale, his eyes wide with disbelief and pain.
Xiao Yan lowered his arm, completely unscathed. He looked down at Ge La with something that might have been pity. "I told you. Slow. And weak."
The entire square fell deathly silent. Every new student, every senior, every guard—all of them stared at the scene in stunned disbelief.
Xiao Yu's mouth hung open. She'd known Xiao Yan was strong, but this... this was something else entirely. She'd expected a struggle, perhaps even a loss. What she hadn't expected was for him to dismantle a One-Star Dou Warrior like a child pulling apart a toy.
Xue Ni's eyes were wide as saucers. "He... he just..." she whispered, trailing off. She looked at Xiao Yu. "You weren't kidding. He really is a monster."
Xiao Yu could only nod, her mind still reeling.
Luo Bu's face had gone from cold to something far more dangerous. His eyes narrowed to slits as he studied Xiao Yan. The mockery was gone. In its place was something sharp—a predatory focus. He'd thought the boy was arrogant but ultimately harmless. Now, he wasn't so sure.
Xiao Yan turned, about to walk back to the tent, when Luo Bu's voice cut through the silence.
" impressive performance, newcomer." Luo Bu's voice was smooth, almost pleasant, but there was an edge beneath it. "But beating up a One-Star Dou Warrior doesn't make you special. At Jia Nan Academy, you'll find plenty of people who can put you in the ground."
Xiao Yan paused but didn't turn around. "Is that supposed to scare me?"
"It's a fact." Luo Bu stepped forward. "The Academy isn't some small-town dojo. The stronger you are, the bigger the target on your back. And you just painted yours in bright red."
Now Xiao Yan did turn, his dark eyes meeting Luo Bu's cold gaze. "Then I suppose you'll be first in line?"
Luo Bu's smile didn't waver. "I'm just giving you friendly advice. You should learn to listen."
"Thanks," Xiao Yan said flatly. "I'll keep that in mind."
He turned and walked back to the tent without another word. Luo Bu watched him go, his expression unreadable. Then, he glanced down at Ge La, who was still groaning on the ground.
"Pathetic," Luo Bu muttered. He turned to the other seniors. "Get him medical attention. And someone tell Instructor Ruolin what happened."
As the seniors rushed to help Ge La, the new students began to whisper among themselves. The mood had shifted entirely. What had started as a routine hazing had turned into something else—a display of raw, undeniable talent that none of them had expected.
Xue Ni sidled up to Xiao Yan as he leaned against the tent pole. "You know," she said, her voice low, "most new students would have played it safe. Gone outside, tanned for a bit, and avoided making enemies. But you..." She shook her head. "You're different."
Xiao Yan shrugged. "I don't like being told what to do."
"Clearly." A grin tugged at her lips. "But you just made an enemy of Luo Bu. He's not someone you want on your bad side."
"He was already on my bad side the moment he opened his mouth."
Xue Ni laughed despite herself. "Fair point."
Inside the tent, a soft voice spoke. "All right, everyone. The assessment will begin shortly. Please form a line outside."
The crowd of new students began to shuffle into position, but their eyes kept drifting back to Xiao Yan. Whispers followed him like a shadow.
"That's the kid who beat Ge La."
"I heard he blocked the attack like it was nothing."
"Who is he?"
Xiao Yan ignored them all. He stood at the edge of the group, hands in his pockets, his expression calm. The sun beat down mercilessly, but he didn't seem to notice. His mind was elsewhere—on the challenges ahead, on the strength he still needed to gain, on the promise he'd made to Nalan Yanran.
Beside him, Xun'er stood quietly. She hadn't said a word during the entire confrontation, but her eyes had never left Xiao Yan. There was no fear in her gaze—only a quiet, unwavering trust.
"You didn't have to do that," she said softly.
Xiao Yan glanced at her. "I know."
"But you did it anyway."
He smiled faintly. "Yeah. I did."
Xun'er looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. She didn't say anything else, but the corner of her lips curved upward.
The assessment continued under the blazing sun. One by one, new students stepped forward, their names and talents announced. Some were impressive; others were mediocre. But none of them sparked the same reaction as Xiao Yan.
When his name was finally called, the crowd fell silent. Xiao Yan stepped forward, his expression unchanged. The examiner studied him for a long moment, then nodded.
"Xiao Yan. Dou Warrior, Four-Star. Potential rating: S-class."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. S-class. The highest possible rating. It was rare—almost unheard of for someone so young.
Luo Bu's eyes narrowed further. He'd expected a high rating, but S-class? That was beyond anything he'd anticipated.
Xiao Yan returned to his spot, ignoring the stares. He leaned against the tent pole once more, eyes closed, as if nothing had happened.
Xue Ni shook her head in disbelief. "S-class," she whispered. "You really are a monster."
Xiao Yan didn't respond. He was already thinking about what came next.
The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the square. The assessment was nearly over. New students filtered back toward the Academy, their faces a mixture of excitement and anxiety. But Xiao Yan remained where he was, watching the horizon.
Xun'er stood beside him, her silhouette framed by the dying light. Neither of them spoke. They didn't need to.
Tomorrow, the real journey would begin. And for Xiao Yan, that journey would lead him to places he couldn't yet imagine—places where his strength would be tested in ways he'd never dreamed of.
But for now, he was content to stand in the fading sunlight, with the one person who had always believed in him, and let the world spin on.