16 Chapter 16: Not Well-Regarded
On the arena, the battle was intensifying.
Huo Lan, fully focused, was watching the match when he suddenly noticed someone standing beside him.
It was another teacher, robust in stature, resembling a walking brown bear.
"Ge Mu, what are you doing here? I'm not in the mood for banter right now," Huo Lan frowned, his gaze returning to Lin Xiu on the platform.
Standing nearby, Ge Mu followed his line of sight, also looking towards the arena.
Two students were engaged in combat, after a brief stalemate, Lin Xiu suddenly unleashed his strength, pushing his opponent down to claim victory.
"I heard from Ruo Lin that you found some promising student" Ge Mu crossed his arms, "Is that kid the one you have your eye on? Doesn't seem that impressive, still not breaking through to Dou Practitioner at eighteen. Are you really pinning your hopes on him?"
"My affairs have nothing to do with you. Stop prying," Huo Lan said without looking away.
"We're colleagues after all, just chatting," Ge Mu persisted.
Noticing Huo Lan's indifference, Ge Mu shrugged, "From what I know about you, you've set up a test for that kid, haven't you?"
Turning his head to face the silent Huo Lan, Ge Mu continued, "Let me guess, the goal you set for him isn't to be the top in this year's entrance exam, is it?"
Huo Lan turned to look at him, expressionless.
"I guessed right, didn't I? Well, even though it's below the level of Dou Practitioner, with Wu Hao there, none of the newcomers this year can snatch the first place from him."
As Huo Lan's expression worsened, Ge Mu's voice grew louder, a faint smirk appearing on his lips.
"Have you said enough? If you have nothing else, please leave," Huo Lan refused further conversation.
His face bore a heavy expression of concern.
Because of Ge Mu's words, it was exactly what he was worried about.
If he couldn't get the first place, as long as he could hold out against Wu Hao for a little longer, I'll consider it as you passing the test. Come on, kid.
Although there was no change in expression on his face, Huo Lan was actually feeling uncertain inside.
Some things can be seen from birth.
Although Lin Xiu showed outstanding talent in Dou Technique learning, unfortunately, he was just a servant from someone else's family before, with hardly any exposure to Dou Technique.
On the other hand, Wu Hao had the advantage of innate Dou Qi, and his family's conditions in the Black-Corner Region were also quite good. Since childhood, he had undergone a lot of training to suppress his peculiar Dou Qi.
Both in the richness of Dou Technique and in combat experience, Lin Xiu simply couldn't compare.
"Still fixating on that little thing, Huo Lan, I advise you to give up hope," Ge Mu threw out a final remark before leaving Huo Lan behind.
On the other side,
Xiao Mei stepped down from the platform, and immediately, elder sister Xiao Yu came forward to greet her.
"It's okay to lose. After all, you've just arrived at the Academy. Work hard in your cultivation, and there will still be a chance to catch up," Xiao Yu comforted Xiao Mei, who had lost the match. She had walked this path before and could empathize with Xiao Mei.
"Don't worry too much about the assessment. Class placement may have some influence, but as long as I'm here, elder sister will look out for you."
Walking beside Xiao Mei, Xiao Yu kept talking.
Because she had just come out from the family, Xiao Mei still didn't know how vast the world was. While she excelled in the family, at the Academy, she couldn't even make it to the middle ranks.
However,
After speaking for a while, Xiao Yu realized that Xiao Mei wasn't even listening to her. Her attention was focused in another direction.
Following Xiao Mei's gaze, Xiao Yu soon saw a figure she didn't want to see.
On the platform, Lin Xiu once again dealt with his opponent and walked off the platform, slightly out of breath.
"This guy is really lucky to hold out until now," Xiao Yu's first reaction was that Lin Xiu hadn't encountered a strong opponent.
"Elder sister, he's not relying on luck, but on strength," Xiao Mei subconsciously retorted upon hearing Xiao Yu's words.
She paid more attention to Lin Xiu. The scenes of Lin Xiu practicing Dou Techniques continuously these days had appeared before her eyes many times.
'Could it be that Xiao Mei had really developed feelings for Lin Xiu?' Xiao Yu's thoughts flickered as she stared earnestly at Xiao Mei for a moment.
That Lin Xiu was just a servant from another family. Such a background destined him to be incompatible with their Xiao family. How could someone like him attract attention on the surface?
"Xiao Mei, did that guy say something to you privately? That's why you're defending him like this," Xiao Yu casually probed.
"He doesn't even want to talk to me," Xiao Mei's face flashed with a hint of sadness as she recalled Lin Xiu's attitude during this time.
That consistent sense of distance, several times she almost mistook Lin Xiu for her cousin, Xiao Yan.
"Well, at least he's got some sense," Xiao Yu lightly snorted upon learning that Lin Xiu had actively distanced himself from Xiao Mei. "Xiao Mei, just watch, Lin Xiu is about to lose."
"What do you mean?" Xiao Mei felt that Lin Xiu's physical energy consumption wasn't that significant; he still had plenty of fighting spirit left.
Following Xiao Yu's raised hand, Xiao Mei saw a teenager walking down from the platform.
He was fifteen or sixteen years old, about the same age as her cousin, Xiao Yan. There was no smile on his face, and he exuded a coldness that repelled people from miles away.
"His name is Wu Hao. He has some connection with the Academy's Law Enforcement Team. After the entrance exam ends, he will definitely join the Law Enforcement Team."
While studying at the Academy, Xiao Yu had also heard some news. "I heard that due to his Dou Qi, Wu Hao's family had never allowed him to enter the Academy. I didn't expect him to enroll this year."
"Elder sister, is Wu Hao even stronger than Lin Xiu?" Xiao Mei felt that Xiao Yu seemed to have a high opinion of Wu Hao.
"Let me put it this way. Before I returned to the Xiao family, I heard that Wu Hao went hunting Magic Beasts with some people. During that time, it seems he had a conflict with individuals from the Black-Corner Region, and he killed a 3 Star Dou Practitioner," Xiao Yu said in a tone of amazement.
It's worth noting that she was only a 3 Star Dou Practitioner herself.
Considering that Wu Hao hadn't even become a Dou Practitioner yet, he might have been an Eighth or Ninth Grade Dou Disciple before. Despite such a significant gap, he managed to kill a 3 Star Dou Practitioner.
"Is he really that strong?" Xiao Mei's mouth dropped open in surprise.
In her limited impressions, there seemed to be only Xiao Yan, her cousin, who was as strong as these peers.
"Do you think we're still in Wu Tan City? This is Jia Nan Academy and it's full of geniuses. Stop fixating on that Lin Xiu. When the formal enrollment begins, if there's someone you're interested in, I'll introduce you," Xiao Yu nodded solemnly.
Automatically ignoring the rest of the words, Xiao Mei looked at Lin Xiu with a hint of worry in her eyes.
On the platform, a teacher announced the names. Lin Xiu and Wu Hao stood up, walked to the center of the platform, stopped five meters apart, facing each other.
"Lin Xiu."
"Wu Hao."
They both bowed with fists, and after the courtesy, they assumed fighting stances.
Wu Hao exuded confidence, and a sense of relaxation could be felt all over him.
He didn't attack immediately.
During the intervals between his battles with others just now, he had also been observing Lin Xiu. Although Lin Xiu had won several matches in a row, most of them were won by knocking his opponents out of the platform.
This person probably has quite a bit of strength. Unfortunately, if it were someone else, they might still be able to continue winning. But facing me, they should prepare in advance to be dissapointed.
Looking at the charging Lin Xiu, Wu Hao's gaze remained fixed on his shoulders, ready to dodge at any moment.
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