Battle Through the Heaven: Purple Heaven

Jia Nan Academy, a renowned advanced institution in the Dou Qi Continent, sat at the intersection of three empires.

Its presence had maintained centuries of peace among these empires, earning the academy unparalleled prestige. Each year, it dispatched numerous instructors to recruit talented students from the three empires.

Unlike sects, the academy imposed few restrictions. Most graduates returned to their homelands, so the empires' royal families welcomed its recruitment efforts.

The Jia Ma Empire was one of these three, and today was the day Jia Nan Academy held its recruitment in Wu Tan City.

"Brother Bai, wait for me!"

As Xiao Bai, Xun Er, and Xiao Yi Xian headed toward the recruitment plaza, an urgent shout came from behind.

Turning, Xiao Bai saw a black-clad youth hurrying toward them.

"Brother Bai, you're signing up for Jia Nan Academy, right? Let's go together!" Xiao Yan said, grinning enthusiastically.

Xiao Bai nodded with a smile. "Come on, then."

The group reached the Xiao Clan's main gate, where they ran into Xiao Yu, accompanied by Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei.

"Xiao Bai, Xun Er, you're signing up too? Perfect, let's go together!" Xiao Yu said with a smile, then pursed her lips at Xiao Yan, ignoring him entirely.

Xiao Yan muttered under his breath, annoyed at crossing paths with her.

"Who's this?" Xiao Yu asked, her gaze settling on Xiao Yi Xian with a flicker of admiration. The girl's ethereal, gentle aura was unlike anything she'd seen.

"Her name's Xiao Yi Xian," Xiao Bai said casually, then added, "Let's go."

"Alright." Sensing he wasn't elaborating, Xiao Yu suppressed her curiosity.

The group arrived at the recruitment plaza, only to be met with a sea of people, the crowd overwhelming.

"This is way too many people!" Xiao Yan shook his head, dismayed. He'd thought they'd arrived early, but as the saying went: No matter how early you set out, there's always someone earlier.

Xiao Bai remained unfazed, confident that someone would clear the way for them.

Sure enough—

"Hmph, follow me!" Xiao Yu said, tilting her nose proudly. "The recruitment leader is my mentor. As her prized student, I've got this handled!" With a wave, she strode off, her long legs leading the way.

The group trailed her to the plaza's rear, where she stepped forward alone, presenting a jade-green token to a middle-aged officer guarding the area. After a brief exchange, she waved for the others to follow.

As they approached, the officer's stern gaze swept over them. After a moment, he barked, "Let them through!"

A clatter of armor rang out as the wall of iron-clad soldiers parted, revealing a narrow passage.

The officer led the way, and the group followed. Xiao Bai's sharp senses picked up a faint pressure as they entered.

A battle formation? he thought, then shook his head. No, not quite. It's just the collective will of soldiers forged in blood and battle, exerting a soul-deep oppression on those with weaker resolve.

Xiao Bai walked calmly, unaffected. Xun Er, naturally, was fine. Xiao Yi Xian, gentle yet resolute, showed no strain. Xiao Yan's strong soul force held up well.

But Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Mei—lower in cultivation and less seasoned—trembled, their faces pale. The short ten-meter passage felt like a thousand.

Xiao Bai considered for a moment, then flicked his sleeve. A breeze of soul force swept through, dispersing the soldiers' oppressive aura.

Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Mei looked at him in shock. They'd seen it clearly—Xiao Bai had merely waved his sleeve, and a gentle breeze had lifted the crushing weight, leaving them light and unburdened.

"Xiao Bai, you…" Xiao Yu stared, wondering if it was a fluke. Could a ninth-stage Dou Zhi Qi pull that off?

"Let's go," Xiao Bai said, his expression calm. Passing the stunned officer, he gave a faint nod.

"Heh," Xiao Yan snickered at their astonishment, hurrying to catch up.

Xiao Yu caught Xiao Yan's mocking glance and glared before leading Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei, still shaky, out of the passage. She turned to the officer, grumbling, "Senior Ke, you did that on purpose!"

The officer gave a wry smile. "Duty calls—it's Instructor Ruo Lin's orders. But I didn't expect…"

He glanced at Xiao Bai's retreating figure, his expression heavy. "He's from your Xiao Clan, right? I never imagined your clan would produce someone like him. Instructor Ruo Lin's in for a surprise!"

Xiao Yu followed his gaze, her eyes complex. Waving off the officer, she pulled the wobbly Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei along to catch up.

At the plaza's center, a large open tent came into view. As the group approached, a red-clad figure lunged at Xiao Yu, playfully swiping at her legs. "Jade, let me check—have you gained weight?"

"Pervert, get off!" Xiao Yu shoved her away, then introduced her to the group. "This is Xue Ni, my good friend from Jia Nan Academy. Four-star Dou Zhe!"

The group turned to the woman in red. Though not as striking as Xiao Yu, her fiery figure drew covert glances from nearby young men who'd passed the initial tests.

Xiao Yu linked arms with Xue Ni, introducing everyone.

"Wow, your clan's got some beauties! They'll have the guys at the academy tripping over themselves!" Xue Ni teased, then whispered in Xiao Yu's ear, "That cold-faced hunk who went in—you didn't introduce him. Too precious to share?"

Xue Ni had noticed Xiao Bai earlier but felt restrained, not out of infatuation but because his commanding presence silenced her usual playfulness.

"He's… ugh, I don't know how to explain him," Xiao Yu said, her lips curving bitterly. Xiao Bai felt like a stranger now, far from the person she once knew.

Meanwhile, Xiao Bai led Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian into the tent. Inside, a dozen or so academy students lounged in small groups in the shaded corners, their relaxed demeanor marking them as Jia Nan Academy veterans.

In contrast, about twenty young men and women stood under the blazing sun, sweating and visibly nervous—likely new students who'd just passed the outer tests.

Xiao Bai scanned the scene, then led the two women to an unoccupied table in the shade, sitting down calmly.

He pulled a tea set from his storage ring and began brewing tea.

The academy students and nervous newcomers all stared, their expressions odd, at the trio acting as if they were at home.

"They're new students… right?" Both groups thought, uncertain.