Chapter 26: Formation Momentum

Xiao Yan rushed over to ask Xiao Yu about the Strange Fire at Jia Nan Academy, but unfortunately, Xiao Yu didn't know the details either—she'd only heard rumors.

She'd only heard that the reason Tian Fen Lian Qi Ta inside Jia Nan Academy could accelerate cultivation was because of a Strange Fire, but she didn't know which one specifically—she'd merely heard the rumor.

"What's the matter? I thought you didn't want to go," Xiao Yu crossed her arms, tilting her chin up as she looked at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yu had once asked Xiao Yan if he wanted to enter Jia Nan Academy, but his answer had been evasive, leading her to believe he didn't want to go.

Xiao Yu returned to the clan this time specifically for the upcoming Jia Nan Academy recruitment, to see how many clan members were scheduled to take the exam so she could help them get through backdoors.

As the Young Clan Leader, Xiao Yan's talent and cultivation realm were unquestionable; even though Xiao Zhan hated to let him go, he understood the saying that rivers are wide for fish to leap and skies are high for birds to fly—Wutan City was simply too small.

Xiao Yan also knew he must leave Wutan City to seek his fortune in the outside world, that only by reaching more prosperous cities could he grow stronger, which was why he'd devised a series of plans to eliminate the two major clans.

"Come on, I'm an Alchemist—wanting a Strange Fire is only natural. If Jia Nan Academy has one, I'm definitely going."

Xiao Yu was startled and quickly said, "Don't you dare do anything reckless, you little lecher! Jia Nan Academy isn't Wutan City—if you cause trouble, no one can protect you."

"The Strange Fire in Tian Fen Lian Qi Ta is just a legend, and even if it exists, it's Jia Nan Academy's property—not something anyone can just take."

Seeing Xiao Yu's tense expression, Xiao Yan patted her shoulder and adopted the demeanor of a transcendent master: "Relax, I've got it under control. Even in Jia Nan Academy, I, as the Young Clan Leader, will protect my clan members. I've got your backs."

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye; gazing at the suddenly much emptier clan grounds, Xiao Yan sighed helplessly—today, the Jia Nan Academy recruitment team would arrive in Wutan City.

Even those in the clan who knew they lacked qualifications had mostly rushed over to watch; by now, the city gates of Wutan City were surely completely blocked by crowds.

"These guys, Jia Nan Academy's trials aren't something you can pass just by watching," Xiao Yan muttered, shaking his head as he slowly walked toward the city gates.

When Xiao Yan arrived at the center of Wutan City's Guang Chang, he pressed his temples—he'd never seen so many people, never such madness. Even the city garrison had been deployed to maintain order, fearing any conflict might erupt.

Xiao Yan had inquired about Jia Nan Academy's recruitment process: the first step was lining up for cultivation level and age verification—Jia Nan Academy only accepted students under twenty, and their Dou Power must be at least Dou Qi Seven Stages.

The notion of "teaching without discrimination" doesn't work on the Dou Qi Continent.

Every year, a huge crowd of people come just to sneak through.

"Hmph, stuck now? Even our super-talented Young Clan Leader has no way out," Xiao Yu, who had arrived early at the Guang Chang and was responsible for gathering clan members to explain the situation, let out a smug little sniff.

After being back so long, she'd finally seen this little lecher get flustered—her mood was beyond delightful!

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and ignored her.

"Sister Xiao Yu, you must have a way, right?" Xiao Mei grabbed Xiao Yu's sleeve, pouting.

Xiao Yu lifted her pert nose, patted her now well-developed chest, and smiled sweetly: "Follow me."

As she walked, Xiao Yu boasted: "The head of this year's recruitment team here in Wutan City is my Mentor—I already told her ahead of time, as her favorite student."

Watching Xiao Yu stride ahead, lifting her sensual long legs toward the side, Xiao Yan helplessly shrugged at Xun Er, who covered her mouth and giggled softly.

It was indeed rare to see Xiao Yan flustered—this was a rare sight.

"Let's go—I don't like crowds either."

Hearing this, Xun Er smiled gently and nodded, following closely behind Xiao Yan.

Although they called it a backdoor, not every Xiao Clan member could follow—they could only bring the four with the highest talent: Xiao Yan, Xun Er, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Mei.

The other clan members who barely met the criteria had to line up and take the test like everyone else.

The four followed Xiao Yu to the back of the Guang Chang, where fully armed soldiers stood in two or three layers, their weapons gleaming coldly under the sunlight.

Xiao Yu instructed Xiao Yan and the others, then stepped forward alone, pulling a jade-green token from her bosom and speaking quietly with a soldier resembling an officer; after a moment, she waved to Xiao Yan and the others, signaling them to come over.

The middle-aged officer's sharp gaze swept slowly over Xiao Yan and the others; after a long moment, he waved his hand and barked: "Clear passage!"

Click-click-click-click—the sound of armor clashing rang out in unison as the soldiers obeyed the officer's order, slowly revealing a narrow path just wide enough for one person to pass.

Xiao Yu entered first, followed closely by Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning, with Xiao Yan and Xun Er bringing up the rear.

"Huh?" The instant Xiao Yan stepped onto the path, his skin grew cold; the faint stench of blood emanating from the expressionless soldiers created a suffocating pressure that made the four, who had never witnessed such a scene, struggle to breathe.

"Is this Formation Momentum?" Xiao Yan recalled a book in his storage ring describing this—armies returning from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, after honing their will, could emit a Formation Momentum that oppressed the Spiritual Soul.

Xiao Yan and Xun Er, with their high cultivation realms, felt no issue, but Xiao Ning, Xiao Mei, and even Xiao Yu—all with lower cultivation—trembled, their faces pale as paper.

The distance of barely ten meters felt like hundreds or even thousands to Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning.

Xiao Yan frowned and released his powerful Soul Force. After all, Xiao Yan was now a Second Grade Alchemist, capable of refining high-rank Two-Rank Elixirs, and carried a strand of Bone Spirit Cold Fire within him.

Xiao Yan's Soul Force carried both coldness and heat.

The instant Xiao Yan released his Soul Force, every soldier felt a sudden clash of cold and heat, staggering back two steps—even the lead officer took half a step backward. The entire Formation Momentum pressure shattered in an instant.

Feeling warmth behind them and the icy chill vanishing, everyone turned to look at Xiao Yan—there was no doubt this was his doing.

All the soldiers stared at Xiao Yan in shock—his Formation Momentum had been shattered by a teenager!

"Why are you all staring at me? Keep moving—what are you blocking the path for?" Xiao Yan feigned ignorance, speaking calmly.

Only then did Xiao Yu snap out of it and quickly lead Xiao Ning and the others out of the narrow path, turning to the middle-aged officer: "Senior Student Ke, are you trying to torment us?"

The middle-aged officer only smiled apologetically, then looked at the calm-faced Xiao Yan and bowed respectfully: "You must be the Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan. What just happened was duty—I apologize for the intrusion."

Xiao Yan returned the bow: "No need for apologies—I'm the one who should be sorry."

Watching Xiao Yan and the others depart, the middle-aged officer smiled: "Looks like this year, Ruolin's Mentor will get some excellent students."