13: Don't make trouble

Top five? Hidden Scripture Pavilion?

Hearing Huo Lan's words, Lin Xiu himself was startled, thinking, 'Teacher, you're really overestimating me.'

What the future held was an unknown for Huo Lan.

But for Lin Xiu, it was different.

Two years later, Xiao Yan would arrive at Canaan Academy, and that year's Inner Academy assessment for the top five spots would be extremely fierce.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er would occupy two spots. Among them, the little demoness would take one spot, and the remaining two also possessed considerable Strength.

With his stat panel, Lin Xiu was confident he could compete, but the pressure would be immense.

"Teacher, isn't it a bit too early to be telling me this now?" Lin Xiu felt he hadn't displayed anything too abnormal.

An eighteen-year-old at Dou Qi eight-dan merely met the standards of Canaan Academy; he certainly wasn't considered an outstanding Genius.

"I trust my judgment." Huo Lan's eyes were firm, gleaming with the light of seeing unpolished jade. He seemed to see the hope of his own further advancement in Lin Xiu.

"Teacher, I can only do my best." Lin Xiu didn't understand what made him shine, but he chose to agree.

Advanced Cultivation Techniques were indeed very appealing. Another reason was that choosing items from the Hidden Scripture Pavilion was purely a matter of luck. If he didn't get what Huo Lan needed then, he couldn't be blamed.

"Don't get too happy too soon. Although you've agreed, the Cultivation Technique won't just be given to you. You need to achieve a sufficiently good ranking in this new student entrance assessment."

Huo Lan's test for Lin Xiu was clearly not over yet.

Lin Xiu wasn't surprised by this. A Profound Rank mid-to-Advanced Cultivation Technique could sell for hundreds of thousands of gold coins in the outside world.

They were merely acquaintances. If Huo Lan were to give it to him so easily, Lin Xiu would have to question his true motives.

Huo Lan told Lin Xiu some things about the entrance assessment. After they chatted for a while, Lin Xiu left the room.

"Good thing I didn't practice those Fighting Skills in the ring."

Glancing at the closed door, Lin Xiu went downstairs and returned to his own room.

He rested for a night.

In the morning, clamor emanated from all around. Lin Xiu finished his Cultivation and walked out of his room.

In the square, massive flying Demonic Beasts were parked on the ground, and many students began boarding them.

As noon approached, Huo Lan and Ruo Lin counted the students and led them onto a flying Demonic Beast.

The Demonic Beast's back was very spacious, with wooden houses fixed upon it.

After spending a few days on the Demonic Beast's back, the howling wind gradually subsided, and a vast academy appeared in their sight.

"Lin Xiu, Xiao Ning..."

After disembarking from the flying Demonic Beast, Lin Xiu saw a senior student call his name and walked over.

This senior student called out eight people consecutively, then led them into the academy.

Along the way, he introduced the surrounding buildings to Lin Xiu and the others, such as places for classes, meals, and learning Fighting Skills.

After walking for about half an hour, they arrived outside a building.

"This is the dormitory for you eight. Your class is Yellow Rank Class 2. You can communicate amongst yourselves for the rest. I've already told you what items you need to buy on the way here."

Taking out eight tokens, the senior student handed them over, then turned and left the room.

Inside the room, besides Lin Xiu, the other seven were all from Wutan City.

"Since we'll be living together from now on, let's choose a leader. I think I'm quite suitable. Who here agrees and who objects?"

With his luggage on the ground, Xiao Ning crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping over the others.

The dormitories were assigned based on each person's information, meaning those who could live together had all tested around eighteen years old and Dou Qi eight-dan.

The others had no objections.

"What about you, Lin Xiu?" Xiao Ning walked up to Lin Xiu, who was making his bed.

"As long as you don't stir up trouble for no reason, I don't care." Lin Xiu only wanted to quickly obtain a Cultivation Technique, Breakthrough to Fighter, and then quietly Cultivate and become stronger.

"You fellow, you're clearly just a Family servant, but why do I feel like you're even more arrogant than me?"

Reaching out his hand, Xiao Ning prepared to grab Lin Xiu's collar.

However.

Someone was faster than him. Lin Xiu reversed his grip on Xiao Ning's wrist and applied a little force, causing Xiao Ning's face to show pain.

"Let go! Are you trying to twist my hand off?" Xiao Ning didn't dare to resist, fearing his wrist would break.

"I know your Xiao Family is one of the three major Families in Wutan City, but that's useless here. This is Canaan Academy."

Pushing Xiao Ning away, Lin Xiu continued to tidy up.

He didn't pay attention to Xiao Ning's attitude, because soon, Xiao Ning would encounter big trouble.

This was all because of Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Mei, and a few other women.

Especially Xiao Xun'er. In Lin Xiu's opinion, she was indeed a woman with some charm, but he couldn't understand why she could attract the pursuit of all the male students in the Outer Academy.

Perhaps it was related to him not being a character in the book.

Lin Xiu had deliberately distanced himself from Xiao Mei before, precisely because he didn't want to get into trouble.

The academy was a place to become stronger, Cultivation was key, and petty squabbles were children's games.

Inside the room, the other few people held Xiao Ning back, essentially giving him an excuse to back down. Xiao Ning didn't say anything further.

However, a hint of malice lingered in his eyes, as if he planned to give Lin Xiu a hard time during the new student entrance assessment competition.

Xiao Ning was clearly very confident about competing. As a Family disciple, he had learned Fighting Skills since childhood and mastered many of them.

Compared to Lin Xiu, Xiao Ning felt that if they truly fought, his chances of winning were very high.

After tidying his belongings, Lin Xiu took his identity token and walked out of the dormitory.

On the way there, Lin Xiu had memorized all the road signs. Following the location provided by Huo Lan, he spent some time and successfully found Huo Lan's residence.

Standing outside a small courtyard, Lin Xiu called out twice and saw Huo Lan walk out from inside.

"There's still some time before the entrance assessment. I'll teach you two more Fighting Skills: one for defense and one for movement."

Huo Lan opened the door and led Lin Xiu inside.

The entrance assessment was divided into several sections, based on Strength. Above Fighter, one to three stars was one segment, four stars and above was another, and the rest was below Fighter.

Huo Lan's requirement for Lin Xiu was to achieve first place among the newcomers below Fighter.

Knowing Lin Xiu's background, Huo Lan knew that Fighting Skills were Lin Xiu's weakness, and decided to help Lin Xiu improve his defense and movement before the competition began.

As for offense, having witnessed Lin Xiu kick a Black-spotted Leopard down, Huo Lan felt that among those below Fighter, few could withstand Lin Xiu's attacks.

"Time is too short, so I'll teach you two Yellow Rank low-tier Fighting Skills to make it easier for you to master them quickly. Although their Rank isn't high, I think they're enough for you to contend for first place."

Huo Lan first explained to Lin Xiu, then demonstrated them several times.

After practicing a few times, Lin Xiu's stat panel's abilities section gained two new names.

【Ability: Shadow Step lv1 (5/100)】

【Ability: Strength lv1 (5/100)】

"You really learn Fighting Skills quickly. Practice diligently. If you can get first place, I will give you a Cultivation Technique that will not disappoint."

Seeing Lin Xiu's practice take initial shape, Huo Lan nodded in satisfaction, his eyes filled with anticipation.

With a powerful Cultivation Technique and a rich array of Fighting Skills, Lin Xiu's future combat Strength would definitely be extraordinary, and he had great hope of securing one of the top five spots in the Inner Academy assessment.