Ruo Lin: "...?"
Ruo Lin's first reaction was that she had misheard. A fifteen-year-old One-Star Dou Ling, and also a Fifth-Grade Alchemist?!
Even novels wouldn't dare to write it like this, right?!
"This is my Disciple," Xiao Xue said, pulling Xiao Yi Xian over to introduce her.
"Eighteen years old, a One-Star Dou Ling, and a Second-Grade Alchemist. Her future is full of promise."
Ruo Lin's eyes twitched wildly, and she could barely maintain her smile.
She could overlook the Dou Ling part; after all, Dou Qi cultivation could be boosted through other means, like spending a fortune on Medicinal Pills.
If they were 'medicine jars' who stacked up to One-Star Dou Ling in their teens, it... wasn't entirely unacceptable?
But if she remembered correctly, the head of the Alchemist Department, Fire Elder, was also only a Fifth-Grade Alchemist, wasn't he?!
You, a fifteen-year-old Fifth-Grade Alchemist, came to enroll in Jia Nan Academy? Are you here to challenge us?!
Good heavens, while I'm lecturing up there, I'd be afraid she'd suddenly throw a brick at me from below, saying I'm misleading the students.
"...You should head back for now. Your situation is unique, and I don't have the authority to handle it. I must report this to the academy," Ruo Lin said.
"I see..." Xiao Xue nodded understandingly and then asked, "How long will it roughly take?"
"Given your situation, the Head of the Outer Academy will likely come in person," Ruo Lin said after a moment of thought.
"Including the time it takes to send a message back to the academy, it should take... well, about a month."
"Alright." Xiao Xue nodded. "Instructor, I have one more thing."
Ruo Lin: "...Speak."
"My brother, that one over there, has some business and would like to request a leave of absence first." Xiao Xue pointed at Xiao Yan. "Brother, come here!"
"A leave of absence?" Slightly startled, Instructor Ruo Lin's brows furrowed slightly as she turned to look at Xiao Yan.
"According to the rules, new students don't have any other holidays except for specific festive breaks."
Xiao Yan smiled somewhat awkwardly. "I'm sorry, Instructor, but I really have something very important to do."
Seeing that Xiao Yan didn't seem to be lying, Instructor Ruo Lin furrowed her brows and pondered for a long while before finally nodding slightly.
"Fine. How long of a leave do you need? If it's not too long, I can use my authority to secure it for you."
Looking into Ruo Lin's gentle eyes, Xiao Yan suddenly felt his face flush. "Perhaps... about a year."
As soon as these words were spoken, the tent fell silent. Numerous astonished gazes instantly turned toward the sheepishly smiling youth.
About a year? At this moment, everyone seemed to think their ears were playing tricks on them.
It wasn't that they hadn't seen people request leave, but requesting a whole year right after enrolling... such a thing seemed to be a first since the founding of Jia Nan Academy.
"Yu'er, this guy from your family... has quite the appetite, doesn't he? A year? Could he be intentionally trying to avoid going to Jia Nan Academy?"
Staring at Xiao Yan in disbelief, Xue Ni spoke to Xiao Yu in shock.
Hearing this, Xiao Yu shook her head with a wry smile. She was also somewhat confused about what Xiao Yan was trying to pull.
Instructor Ruo Lin shook her head and said softly, "This leave is simply too long. I cannot make that decision."
"You should ask for less. With your potential, you will surely receive the best training at the academy. Why waste your own time?"
Listening to Instructor Ruo Lin's persuasion, Xiao Yan gave a wry smile. "Instructor, this is already the most conservative estimate."
Unlike in the original story, although Xiao Yan didn't have the pressure of the "Three-Year Agreement", the evolution of the Flame Mantra still required Heavenly Flames.
And the combination of the "blood lotus pill" and the ice spirit cold spring that Yao Lao could currently prepare for Xiao Yan could only refine Heavenly Flames ranked fifteenth or lower.
Without a Heavenly Flame, relying solely on that yellow tier low grade Flame Mantra, Xiao Yan would never be able to grow.
Although Jia Nan Academy possessed the Fallen Heart Flame, its rank was too high and it even possessed intelligence. Xiao Yan currently had no ability to take it.
Therefore, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao planned to go out and search for a Heavenly Flame. Whether they could find one within a year was still an unknown.
It just so happened that Yao Lao had previously heard that traces of a Heavenly Flame had appeared in the Tagor Desert of the Northwest Continent.
Since Xiao Yan also needed experience, Yao Lao thought of taking him there to try his luck.
With Yao Lao's help, even if Xiao Yan didn't join Jia Nan Academy, his cultivation speed wouldn't be slow.
Instructor Ruo Lin gently rubbed her smooth forehead with her fair hand. This little fellow Xiao Yan hadn't even officially become her student yet, and he had already brought such a headache-inducing problem.
"...You and your sister should head back first. Later, you can talk to the Head of the Outer Academy yourselves."
Ruo Lin waved her hand, dismissing Xiao Yan.
"Alright." Xiao Xue nodded, agreeing to the arrangement.
Then, Qing Lin also chose not to go to the academy for the time being, wanting to go with her Senior Sister Xiao Yi Xian instead.
Regarding Qing Lin's request, Instructor Ruo Lin was somewhat helpless but agreed to it.
In the end, only Xiao Xun Er was left to go to Jia Nan Academy first with Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Mei.
"Hehe, let's end today's registration here. We will remain here for another seven days."
Putting away the registration forms, Instructor Ruo Lin said with a wry smile.
"To the new students registered today, congratulations. From now on, you are members of Jia Nan Academy."
"I hope all students can have everything ready within seven days. In seven days, a flying convoy from Jia Nan Academy will arrive at Gama Emperor City."
"At that time, we will be able to fly directly to the academy."
After the registration ended, everyone returned to the Xiao Residence.
The next day, Xiao Yan visited and brought two poe pills for Xiao Xue.
Xiao Xue had given Yao Lao two sets of ingredients, and Yao Lao actually didn't pocket one; he gave her two pills instead. This made Xiao Xue cry out in her heart that she had lost out.
Xiao Yan had likely spoken with Yao Lao as well. Regarding Yao Lao taking the initiative to find Xiao Xue and exposing his existence, Xiao Yan didn't say much.
After all, if they could truly get in touch with the Pill Tower, it would be of significant benefit to Yao Lao, which was something Xiao Yan was happy to see.
Xiao Yan was a person who valued loyalty. The reason he chose the Flame Mantra was, firstly, to become stronger.
Secondly, Yao Lao needed three types of Heavenly Flames to refine a new body for his resurrection.
Xiao Yan wasn't like the guy next door; as long as you helped him when he was down, he would remember your kindness.
Therefore, for things that benefited Yao Lao and didn't harm his own interests, Xiao Yan would naturally agree.
Xiao Xue also quite admired this aspect of Xiao Yan's character.
When Xiao Yan came to deliver the pills, Xiao Xue even asked him to call Yao Lao out, and the three of them had a drink together.
Of course, what she prepared for Yao Lao wasn't tea, but some "spiritual liquid" refined from Medicinal Pills that were beneficial to the Soul.
The seven illusory green spirit saliva was gone, but there were still many other medicinal herbs. Although their effects were far inferior to the seven illusory green spirit saliva, they were better than nothing.
After chatting a bit more about the Pill Tower and other matters, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao took their leave, and Xiao Xue began making her next arrangements.
It would take at least a month for the Head of the Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy to arrive in person, and Xiao Xue naturally wouldn't waste this time.
Conveniently, Xiao Yan had also handed the poe pills to her.
During this period, it would be quite appropriate to make a trip to Stone Desert City to bring Hai Bodong over.
That way, the next time she went to the desert, it would be her third trip.
But then again, good things never come easy; perhaps there would be some unexpected surprises during the next trip to the desert.
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