138: Chapter 138 Genius? Not even close to meeting me.

"This..." She hadn't expected the Vice Dean to personally come to inquire, and the words died on Instructor Ruo Lin's lips.

In the end, she had to bite the bullet and say, "Student Xiao Ting has encountered a fortuitous opportunity and has requested leave for a few days before coming to register."

Leave? Hearing this term, countless people at the scene looked at each other in dismay.

They had only heard of enrolled students taking leave for various reasons. This was the first time they had heard of someone taking leave just for the basic registration, before even participating in the official assessment.

It was likely that he was arrogant due to his talent and wanted to hold out for a better offer, which was why he made up such an excuse.

The Vice Dean would surely be very angry upon hearing this news.

"Leave?" Hu Gan had not expected to receive such an answer.

However, he immediately smiled. "Encountering a fortuitous opportunity is a good thing; naturally, one must seize it first."

"If he needs leave, then let him have it. Did he say exactly how long? How about I issue him a one-year permit? As long as he arrives in Peace Town during this period, he can immediately take the flying ship to the Outer Academy."

Everyone: ?! So, those with talent really can do whatever they want.

"This..." Instructor Ruo Lin couldn't say exactly how much leave to grant, so she turned to look at Xiao Yan. "Student Xiao Yan, you said that Student Xiao Ting would try to make it by the official assessment. In your opinion, how much more time does he need?"

Xiao Yan felt helpless. He didn't know how much of a benefit Xiao Ting had received at the Cloud Mist Sect's Gate of Life and Death, nor how much time he specifically needed.

It wouldn't be good to say too long, lest people think Xiao Ting was an arrogant person relying on his talent, but saying too little risked Xiao Ting not arriving in time.

"Teacher, how long should I say for Brother Ting? Should I just go along with what the Vice Dean said and ask for a year?" Xiao Yan asked internally.

"Little Yanzi, you don't need to worry anymore." Yao Lao's voice rang out with a smile and a hint of teasing. "Your Xiao Family has produced a peerless prodigy."

Xiao Yan was stunned, and before he could react, a sonic boom came from the sky.

Many people instinctively looked up and saw a purple streak of light sweeping down from the sky.

"Swish!" Almost no one saw clearly what the streak of light was before it had already landed beside Xun'er. An invisible pressure spread out, whipping up a gust of wind.

Everyone turned to look and discovered that the newcomer was a "young man" with a tall and straight posture, handsome features, and a pair of attractive peach-blossom eyes that were very captivating. The corners of his mouth held a faint, indistinct smile, and his face still carried a touch of youthful innocence. In terms of appearance and temperament alone, he surpassed any other male present.

Many girls at the scene had glowing eyes...

"Someone is actually flying within Peace Town!?" Many others showed expressions of shock.

It was a rule of Jia Nan Academy that flying was prohibited within a hundred-mile radius of Peace Town; only members of the Law Enforcement Team and academy elders could fly under special circumstances. This restriction was even greater within the scope of Peace Town.

Furthermore, everyone entering Peace Town needed to consume a pill specially made by Jia Nan Academy to detect murderous intent and killing aura; if anyone were to fight or cause trouble in the town, they would immediately be discovered by the Law Enforcement Team.

Flying in directly meant he likely hadn't taken such a pill at all.

"Swish!" Sure enough, after only a few breaths of time, several strong members of the Law Enforcement Team stationed in Peace Town appeared in mid-air.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a determined expression, radiating a terrifying aura.

"Flying is prohibited within a hundred-mile radius of Peace Town. Anyone who enters Peace Town without consuming the pill will be treated as an enemy." The middle-aged man locked his gaze onto the "young man" and waved his arm, causing a blood-colored saber to appear in his hand.

"Peace Town has such a rule?" The young man showed an embarrassed expression and turned to look at Instructor Ruo Lin. "Instructor Ruo Lin, I am a student of Jia Nan Academy, so I shouldn't be held accountable, right?"

"Xiao Ting!" Instructor Ruo Lin's eyes widened, revealing a pleasant surprise, and she immediately said to Hu Gan, "Vice Dean, he is Xiao Ting, the talented student I mentioned just now."

"Talented is not enough to describe Student Xiao Ting." Hu Gan vaguely sensed Xiao Ting's cultivation, and while he was incredibly shocked, he was even more delighted.

A top-tier student, rarely seen in a century, had delivered himself to their doorstep—how could he not be happy?

"Commander Wu, it's fine." Hu Gan looked up and said to the middle-aged man in mid-air, "This is a new student of the academy who didn't know the academy's rules. He was rushing to come for the assessment registration; it's forgivable since he didn't know."

"Don't let it happen again." Hearing Hu Gan's words, Wu Tianlang put away his blood-colored saber. His Dou Qi wings flapped, and his figure vanished in an instant.

Wu Tianlang had long guessed Xiao Ting's identity; otherwise, no enemy would be foolish enough to charge alone in front of Hu Gan and the others.

However, duty-bound, he had to come forward to make his stance clear and state the situation.

"It definitely won't happen next time." Xiao Ting smiled faintly and reached out to take Xun'er's small hand. "Xun'er, I haven't seen you for over half a month; I've missed you very much."

Being held intimately in public, even though Xun'er was as calm as an orchid, a blush rose on her beautiful face at this moment.

But she didn't pull away; instead, she called out in a sweet voice, "Brother Xiao Ting, you've come just in time."

"It is now the turn of the students recruited by Instructor Ruo Lin to undergo the assessment."

Crack. Xiao Yan heard the sound of countless hearts breaking on the ground. He smiled on his face while observing the expressions of the boys around him.

Just a moment ago, he had been curious about what expressions these people would have when they found out Xun'er was taken. He hadn't expected to see it immediately, just as he had wished. It was truly spectacular.

"Young Master Xiao Ting." Qing Lin greeted him in a cheerful tone.

"Young Master." The smile on Xiao Yi Xian's face grew even brighter, her gaze locked tightly onto Xiao Ting.

Crack! Crack! Another group of people had their hearts broken all over the floor.

Xiao Ting seemed unaware that he had destroyed the dreams of many young men, and smiled at Instructor Ruo Lin. "Instructor, then let me proceed with the assessment. What do I need to do?"

"Go there first and place your hand on it to measure your bone age." Hu Gan took the initiative to act as a guide, leading Xiao Ting to the first test stele.

Xiao Ting placed his hand on it and immediately felt a strange energy sweep across his body.

[Fifteen years and four months] A few large characters appeared on the stele.

Immediately, the instructor in charge of registration shouted, "Xiao Ting, age fifteen years and four months."

"Next is strength." Hu Gan brought Xiao Ting to the second stele, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Xiao Ting raised his hand and placed it on the Magic Test Stele, injecting his own Dou Qi into it.

[Two-Star Dou Wang] These simple four characters appeared, yet it seemed as if the time at the scene had pressed the pause button.

After a long while, sounds of gasps echoed throughout the entire square.

Many people rubbed their eyes or pinched themselves to make sure they hadn't misread it or weren't dreaming.

After confirming repeatedly, they discussed it in shock.

"Two-Star Dou Wang, hehehe, am I hallucinating?"

"At the age of fifteen years and four months, he is actually a Dou Wang expert. This is outrageous."

"Is this reasonable? This isn't a genius; this is a monster."

"Ordinary geniuses are just ordinary in front of him."

"Could the Magic Test Stele be broken?"

"..."