Chapter 48: Monster! Hodge: You Don't Know a Thing!

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The test was held inside a room.

When Cang Hun arrived, there was already a line formed inside, which surprised him a little.

“Didn’t expect so many people, huh?” Huo De said with a smile.

Cang Hun nodded.

Huo De glanced around and, after a slight nod to a few familiar instructors, explained, “Since the founding of Canaan Academy, the standard has been a five-year system, with new students joining every year. So, there’s no shortage of challengers aiming for the Inner Courtyard.”

Each instructor has the chance to recommend their own students, but the number of spots varies according to the instructor’s rank—Xuan or Huang grade.

For example, Huo De himself only has two spots each time.

Unfortunately, none of his students have shown outstanding talent for a long while, so he hasn’t recommended anyone for the mid-term Inner Courtyard evaluation in quite some time.

Because the mid-term assessment is more demanding than the annual one, accepting only the top ten performers each time.

Cang Hun roughly glanced over the list—there were at least three hundred applicants. The competition was indeed fierce.

“This round will filter out more than half, don’t worry,” Huo De noticed Cang Hun’s subtle unease and encouraged him.

Cang Hun was momentarily taken aback. When did I get nervous? I’m just curious.

Before long, it was Cang Hun’s turn.

“Old Huo, looks like it’s been half a year since you last recommended a student,” an instructor leaned over to Huo De, puffing out his chest as if worried Huo De might not notice the Xuan-grade instructor badge pinned there.

Huo De chuckled, “Xino, don’t get cocky. I’ll have one soon enough.”

Xino smiled, “So confident in your student? I heard he’s been at Canaan Academy for less than two months.”

“So what?” Huo De crossed his arms and gave him a sidelong glance.

Xino was momentarily speechless, deciding to keep quiet and watch closely to see what kind of skills Huo De’s student had to inspire such confidence.

“Just place your hand here,” an instructor said as they approached an unremarkable stone tablet.

Cang Hun nodded slightly, placed his hand on it, and immediately felt his inner fighting energy being drawn.

Should I suppress it? Cang Hun hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided not to. Since he wasn’t aware of the test conditions ahead, hiding his strength and accidentally getting disqualified would be quite a mess.

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“Nineteen years old, Seven-Star Grand Fighter, not bad. You may leave now,” the instructor recorded the result, handed Cang Hun a jade token, and told him it was his permit for the assessment.

Relieved to have passed, Cang Hun turned and waved to the stunned Huo De as a greeting before leaving the scene.

“Old Huo, what’s with that expression? It’s just a Seven-Star Grand Fighter. That’s nothing special here at Canaan Academy,” Xino said, noticing Huo De’s shocked look, a bit annoyed.

After all, the three disciples Xino recommended this time were all Peak Grand Fighters, with one even showing signs of breaking through to the Dou Spirit level.

Yet, even so, Xino hadn’t seen Huo De wear such a naïve, provincial expression.

“You don’t know a damn thing,” Huo De snapped back, shooting him a fierce glare before walking away.

Outside, Huo De couldn’t help but take deep breaths and muttered quietly, “What kind of monster have I brought into Canaan Academy?”

He admitted to himself that, as a middle-aged man who unwinds with a cup of red jade goji tea after dinner, his memory was still sharp.

The last time he saw Cang Hun was just over a month ago in Peace Town, and back then, he seemed to be just a Fighter, right?

Now, in the blink of an eye, he’s a Seven-Star Grand Fighter? At this rate, if he participates next year, won’t he be at least a Dou King, or even a Dou Emperor?

“This speed of cultivation isn’t right,” Huo De shook his head repeatedly. No previous prodigy in the academy had ever advanced so rapidly.

Should I report this to the school?

The thought flashed through his mind as he stepped forward, but then hesitated. “No, I’m just one spot shy of becoming a Xuan-grade instructor. If I miss this chance, when will the next come?”

Better to leave it be. With so many old-timers in the academy, one person like Cang Hun shouldn’t cause much of a stir.

After all, Canaan Academy didn’t possess many treasures worth coveting. The only thing attracting attention recently was the Falling Heart Flame beneath the Tianfen Refining Tower.

That thing was so difficult that even Han Feng, the Medicine Emperor from Black Horn Domain, couldn’t take it away. Could a Grand Fighter like Cang Hun manage it?

Huo De shook his head. The aftereffects of his midday drinking were hitting hard; he was getting a bit carried away.

Soon after, he eagerly shared the joy of his impending promotion to a Xuan-grade instructor with his wife, fully putting the matter out of his mind.

...

Leaving the test site, Cang Hun headed toward his small courtyard residence.

Although Canaan Academy was renowned across the continent, he really had little interest in sightseeing.

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Training, strengthening his abilities, and claiming the Falling Heart Flame were the most important things at the moment.

Speaking of the Falling Heart Flame, Cang Hun had a worry: if it sensed the various foreign flames he had devoured, would it act preemptively?

After all, the earlier the flame, the stronger its spiritual awareness.

Especially since the Falling Heart Flame was imprisoned in the Tianfen Refining Tower. According to the usual storyline, by the time Xiao Yan encounters it years later, the flame already has consciousness and form. Even Han Feng, a half-step Dou Zong, suffered greatly at its hands.

“It should be fine. I’ll take it one step at a time. Once I’ve recovered to Dou King level, I can give it a try.” Cang Hun was confident about dealing with the flame, but what worried him more was how to escape after obtaining it.

As he pondered while walking, a figure stumbled hastily from a distance behind him, followed by seven or eight people with fierce expressions.

“Stop!”

“Don’t run!”

The group shouted loudly, paying no attention to other passing students.

In fact, the other students, upon seeing them, scattered like they’d seen ghosts.

“Move aside, move aside, get out of the way!” At this moment, Xiao Ning’s lips and nostrils were bloodied, and his clothes were torn.

His only thought now was to find Instructor Ruo Lin immediately.

Tomorrow marked the last day of his promise to that senior. Despite not having a magic core yet, he unexpectedly received a message demanding that Xiao Yu go to the southeast corner of the forest to fight Chen He; if victorious, he would be given a magic core.

Moreover, Xiao Mei had to accompany him.

Although Xiao Ning tried hard to stop them, it was useless. Xiao Yu resolutely went forward, determined to help his brother retrieve a Shadow Leopard magic core. Xiao Mei, feeling responsible, was willing to assist.

Unable to persuade them, Xiao Ning waited anxiously, but when they didn’t return, he went out to search. He was blocked by several of Luo Ling’s henchmen, from whom he learned it was all a scheme by Luo Ling.

Frantic, Xiao Ning broke through the encirclement, intending to seek help from the academy instructors.

“Instructor Ruo Lin cares deeply about my sister; she’ll surely be willing to help,” Xiao Ning held a flicker of hope in his heart, but then collided with a figure and fell heavily to the ground.

Looking up, he was stunned and exclaimed, “Lord Cang Wang?”