The heavy wooden doors of the 'C' rank classroom remained propped open, allowing the warm, golden light of the afternoon sun to spill across the polished stone floor.
Behind the main podium, Instructor Lin's grading pen slipped from his fingers, clattering softly against the oak desk. His jaw was slightly slack, his experienced eyes locked onto the tall, dark-robed youth standing before him.
As a seasoned Da Dou Shi, Instructor Lin's spiritual perception was acute, and the sheer, compressed density of the milky-white Dou Qi radiating from the boy was impossible to misread.
It had only been two months. Two months since this youth had been evaluated as a one-star Dou Zhe at the recruitment square.
"Take a seat, Xiao Ning," Instructor Lin managed to say, gesturing to the wooden chair placed in front of his desk. He took a slow, deep breath, forcing his professional composure back into place.
Yoriichi offered a polite, shallow bow and calmly sat down, his posture perfectly straight, his hands resting lightly on his knees.
"I must admit, I am profoundly surprised," Instructor Lin began, his voice carrying a mixture of genuine shock and deep respect.
"When Instructor Ruo Lin informed me you had requested an independent study leave, I had severe reservations about a freshman managing their own time. But to sit before me as a solid Three-Star Dou Zhe... I must formally congratulate you on your breakthrough. Your foundation is terrifyingly stable."
"Thank you, Teacher Lin," Yoriichi replied, his voice a calm, even rumble. "The tranquil environment of the academy's outer sectors and the nearby landscapes have been highly conducive to my cultivation."
Instructor Lin nodded slowly, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers. "Strength is the primary pillar of a cultivator, but a sharp blade is useless if the mind wielding it is dull. You were instructed to memorize the theoretical curriculum independently. Let us proceed with your evaluation. We shall begin with geography and monster lore."
For the next twenty minutes, Instructor Lin fired off a relentless barrage of complex theoretical questions. He asked about the shifting territorial borders of the Black-Corner Region, the anatomical weak points of a Rank 3 Gale Wolf, the fundamental differences between Wood and Fire-attribute Qi methods, and the precise extraction process for a dozen low-tier alchemical herbs.
Yoriichi didn't even blink. He answered every single question with the flawless, mechanical precision of an ancient archive. His eidetic memory, honed in the Xiao Clan's library, allowed him to effortlessly recite concepts that bordered on the advance curriculum.
Just as Yoriichi was detailing the exact temperature required to safely harvest an Ice-Spirit Leaf, heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway.
A senior student strolled into the classroom. He was a youth of normal, athletic build. His name was Kuo, and he had recently achieved a major milestone: breaking through to the 2-Star Dou Shi realm.
Kuo had entered the classroom midway through the evaluation with a specific administrative query he wanted to ask Instructor Lin. However, his footsteps slowed to a halt as he listened to the ongoing exchange.
He looked at the junior sitting in the chair. He immediately recognized the striking, highly gossiped gradient of black and radiant crimson hair cascading down the boy's back.
'So this is the famous black-red haired genius,' Kuo thought, his eyes narrowing as he listened to Yoriichi flawlessly answer a question regarding meridian pressure limits. 'The one who doesn't interact much, but is supposedly incredibly powerful. The absolute center of all the freshman gossip.'
A bitter, ugly seed of dissatisfaction rapidly sprouted in Kuo's chest.
When Kuo had finally condensed his Dou Qi into a liquid state a month ago and broken through to the 1-Star Dou Shi realm, he had expected his life in the academy to drastically change. He had envisioned other juniors whispering his name with reverence. He had expected the female students to swoon over his advancement, and the inner faction leaders to recruit him with heavy resources.
Instead, he was met with the crushing, brutal reality of the Jia Nan Academy's hierarchy. In this gathering of monsters, an Initial Dou Shi was nothing more than an average, unremarkable senior. There were Da Dou Shis roaming the inner rings who could crush him with a single finger, and fierce competitions among geniuses that left him entirely in the dust. The spotlight he craved never materialized.
And yet, every time he sat in the dining pavilion, all he heard were fearful, awe-struck whispers about a puny, stoic Dou Zhe freshman. He had even heard absurd rumors that a few of the Core Department Halls had actively tried to poach this boy.
'I didn't even get a fraction of those special privileges when I broke through!' Kuo seethed internally, a hot flash of fury warming his chest. He masked his rising anger with a facade of polite urgency and stepped forward, intentionally interrupting the evaluation.
"Instructor Lin, excuse me for the intrusion," Kuo said loudly, offering a cupped-fist salute. "I have a few pressing queries regarding the upcoming faction tournament registrations."
Instructor Lin frowned, clearly displeased by the sudden interruption. He glanced at Kuo, then back to Yoriichi.
"You will wait for some time, Kuo," Instructor Lin commanded firmly. "I am currently in the middle of checking Xiao Ning's monthly progress. The theories and concepts take precedence. Sit down until we are finished."
Kuo's jaw tightened. He forced a stiff nod, walked over to a nearby wooden bench at the side of the classroom, and sat down heavily. His eyes bored invisible holes into the back of Yoriichi's head.
'Why are they giving so much attention to this puny guy?' Kuo thought, his fingernails digging into his palms as his fury spiked again. 'I am a Dou Shi! I possess liquid Dou Qi! I am objectively stronger and better than him in every measurable metric. Naturally, I need to receive that kind of priority and respect!'
From behind his desk, Instructor Lin easily caught the dark, resentful glare Kuo was directing at the freshman. As a veteran of the academy, he could read the bruised ego of a newly minted Dou Shi like an open scroll.