Chapter 142: Applying for a Position
Although strength isn't the foremost criterion for becoming a teacher at Jia Nan Academy, a complete lack of it would clearly disqualify one from mentoring the many talented youths. After all, the academy's admission requirements were quite strict and based on its own set of standards. Anyone who didn't meet those standards, regardless of background, had no right to study there.
Jia Nan Academy was renowned across the Dou Qi continent precisely because of this. Most students who graduated from it went on to become strong figures in their own right. Unlike other sects or factions, Jia Nan Academy imposed no restrictions on its students—they could come and go freely, a rarity across the continent.
Investing so many resources into training students without binding them in any way was akin to running a charitable organization.
Yet, it was precisely because of this that the academy enjoyed such a stellar reputation across the continent. Even some imperial clans paid close attention to it.
Upon hearing the question from the young man wielding a spear, Yao Yan paused to consider before softly saying, "Strength? I'm currently a five-star Dou Wang. I believe that should be sufficient to serve as a teacher at Jia Nan Academy."
Five-star Dou Wang?!
As soon as Yao Yan's words fell, gasps of shock echoed around them. Many passersby looked visibly surprised—it was clear they hadn't expected this seemingly young man to be a Dou Wang-level expert. For them, a Dou Wang was already a major figure.
Even in the Black-Corner Region, a Dou Wang had a certain degree of authority and could not be trifled with.
The spear-wielding young man's expression also turned more solemn. Looking at the calm Yao Yan, he replied seriously, "I am Mu Yun, captain of the Jia Nan Academy Enforcement Team. I cannot approve your request myself. Whether new teachers are being hired is something that must be decided by the deans of the inner and outer courtyards."
He paused for a moment.
Then he continued, "However, since you're a Dou Wang, I trust you're familiar with Jia Nan Academy's rules. I'll need your name and background—this will make it easier for me to inform the deans."
Mu Yun showed a degree of respect toward this unfamiliar young Dou Wang.
Respecting the strong was never shameful.
Yao Yan nodded slightly and replied gently, "My name is Yao Yan. I come from Central Plains. I've heard of Jia Nan Academy since I was young and have always found it quite fascinating. Now that I've passed through here, I thought I'd take a look. If things go well, I'd like to stay for a while."
"Central Plains?!"
As a member of the Enforcement Team, Mu Yun was naturally familiar with the Central Plains. Many among them even dreamed of going there someday. That prosperous region was where true Dou Qi cultivators belonged, both in terms of resources and opportunities—far beyond what any other place could offer.
"Since you were young?!"
Mu Yun looked Yao Yan over and couldn't help but ask, "How old are you?"
"Almost eighteen~"
Yao Yan did a quick calculation and answered.
The moment his words landed, silence fell. This time, no one gasped—they were simply stunned. Most instinctively thought Yao Yan must be lying. How could someone become a Dou Wang at such a young age?
Fortunately, the Enforcement Team members were no ordinary people. Many knew just how extraordinary the Central Plains was. That region occasionally produced monstrous geniuses who reached Dou Wang before the age of twenty—rare, but not unheard of even within Jia Nan Academy.
"…I'll send someone to notify the Outer Courtyard Dean. Whether your request is granted will depend on his decision."
Mu Yun paused in thought before replying, his tone subdued.
Facing a Dou Wang younger than himself left him feeling helpless. Despite being older by several years, the gap in their strength was massive. A Da Dou Shi was still a full realm away from Dou Wang, and when factoring in minor levels, the difference could span over a dozen stars.
That gap was hard to overcome, even with the help of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower.
The tower could accelerate the condensation of Dou Qi, but it couldn't change a person's innate talent.
He once thought himself a genius too, but after entering Jia Nan Academy, Mu Yun realized he was nothing special and gradually faded into the crowd. That was why he had taken the role of Enforcement Squad captain. Even after becoming a Da Dou Shi, his cultivation slowed, and bottlenecks he once thought didn't exist began to appear.
It was like a water jug—every person's capacity was different. Some could contain mountains and seas, others barely a single bucket of water.
One had to admit—people were not the same.
Yao Yan, unaware of Mu Yun's internal thoughts, simply nodded and smiled warmly. "Alright. I'll wait for his reply."
As Yao Yan and Mu Yun entered Peace Town, whispers began to spread among the onlookers.
Even among the Enforcement Team members.
"Is that for real? A five-star Dou Wang under eighteen? Could he really break the inner courtyard's cultivation records before turning twenty?... Wait, he's from Central Plains. He's never even used the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower!"
Someone gossiped aloud, suddenly realizing something. His expression shifted slightly.
"Don't be so shocked. Maybe he had access to similar resources in Central Plains. Jia Nan Academy isn't the only place with special cultivation methods. I'm more curious about the deans' attitudes. If they do recruit him, will he be a Yellow Rank or Mysterious Rank teacher?"
"Yao Yan? I don't recall any major clan with the surname Yao in the Central Plains…"
"Alright, enough chit-chat. Let's get moving—people are waiting!"
…
In a courtyard within Peace Town.
Yao Yan met with Huo De, a Yellow Rank instructor overseeing Peace Town. He appeared to be in his early thirties and was likely a five- or six-star Dou Ling. After hearing Mu Yun's report, his expression turned to shock. He studied Yao Yan carefully and couldn't help asking, "You're really eighteen this year?!"
Yao Yan nodded, too lazy to quibble over a few months. Age meant nothing to him. He hadn't come to Jia Nan Academy to actually teach. His true goal was to deal with the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Jade and to devour the Fallen Heart Flame along the way.
"…I understand your request. I'll send someone to notify the dean. In the meantime, stay here. It shouldn't be long before he arrives."
Huo De swallowed hard and tried to compose himself as he responded calmly.
"No rush. I can wait." Yao Yan replied with warmth and courtesy. He was always friendly with strangers.
Huo De personally served tea with a smile. "Since you're waiting anyway, have some tea~"
"Thank you."
Yao Yan responded politely.
As Huo De looked at this composed young Dou Wang, he couldn't help but think: No wonder he's a genius nurtured by a major clan—his demeanor is extraordinary.
As for the idea that Yao Yan might have achieved this alone… that never even crossed Huo De's mind. Without a powerful backing, even the most talented couldn't possibly reach the Dou Wang level by eighteen. The resources required were simply astronomical.
As a teacher at Jia Nan Academy, Huo De understood this well. Without the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, the academy could never afford to offer free education.
After a moment's thought…
Huo De asked curiously, "May I ask which family in Central Plains you belong to?"
"Not convenient, sorry."
Yao Yan shook his head, instantly putting an end to Huo De's curiosity.
Some things simply couldn't be shared. Knowing too much might even get someone killed. Among all the powers on the continent, none could rival the major imperial clans. Like it or not, those clans dictated the continent's fate. The rest were just well-known names—like the Black List in the Black-Corner Region.
Huo De wasn't offended. He nodded quietly and sat nearby to wait with Yao Yan for the academy's dean.
About half an hour later—
Hu Qian appeared in the courtyard. He came alone, and the moment he landed from the sky, his gaze locked onto Yao Yan—the only unfamiliar person in the room. Clearly, this was the rumored Dou Wang genius under eighteen.
"Dean! Yao Yan, this is the Outer Courtyard Dean of Jia Nan Academy. Whether or not you can become a teacher depends on his approval."
"Enough. This no longer concerns you—leave us. I'll speak with him privately."
Hu Qian waved his hand to dismiss the others.
Then he turned his bright eyes on Yao Yan, the corners of his mouth forming a faint smile. "Yao Yan? Why haven't I heard of any influential clan in Central Plains with the surname Yao?"
"Is it possible… your level simply isn't high enough to know?"
Yao Yan looked calmly at the temperamental old man, stating a simple truth. Among the imperial clans, Inner Academy Dean Su Qian should be aware of them. In the original story, he had dealings with the Gu Clan, so he likely had some understanding.
Of course, it couldn't have been very deep—otherwise Su Qian wouldn't have spoken so boldly.
After all, not just anyone had the courage to stand up to a Dou Sheng.
It's like launching a startup and discovering your biggest competitor is Tencent—you'd probably panic too.
"…Kid, you really know how to talk!"
Hu Qian twitched his lips and squeezed out a sentence between clenched teeth. He had been in a foul mood lately, and now this brat had to push his buttons. What did he mean by "not high enough level"? He was a peak nine-star Dou Huang, just one step away from Dou Zong! Even in Central Plains, he wasn't considered weak!
Yao Yan simply smiled, choosing not to argue with this "ignorant" old man. He hadn't come to the academy to pick fights.
Hu Qian didn't press the issue further. Instead, he looked at Yao Yan and pointed to his own eyes. "Take off the mask. If you want to be a teacher at Jia Nan Academy, you can't be hiding your face. Or do you have something to be ashamed of?"
"Not really. Just trying to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Yao Yan shook his head, then removed his mask, revealing an extraordinarily handsome young face.
Hu Qian fell silent after one look, then acknowledged Yao Yan's point. He raised his hand and said, "Put it back on. If the female students saw your face, it'd cause a lot of trouble."
Hearing this, Yao Yan replaced the mask. He hadn't worn it to hide from the Yao Clan or the Hall of Souls—it was simply because his face was too attractive and tended to attract unwanted attention from both men and women. Compared to that, he much preferred snake women like Hua She'er and Yue Mei.
"With your strength, becoming a teacher here is fine. But… do you have any experience teaching?"
Hu Qian asked a critical question.
"I'm a Tier 5 alchemist."
Yao Yan said modestly. He didn't reveal his true identity as a Tier 7 alchemist—that would be far too shocking and could throw both the academy and Black-Corner Region into chaos. Worse, it might draw the attention of the Hall of Souls and Hun Xuzi. If that happened, even Yao Lao might end up imprisoned.
Hu Qian froze, then suddenly leaned closer in shock. "You said you're a Tier 5 alchemist?!"
Poof~
Without further explanation, Yao Yan raised his hand and summoned the Green Lotus Core Flame. The pale golden-tinged azure flame flickered in his palm, radiating almost no heat due to his control—appearing almost illusory. Only the distorted space around it proved its authenticity.
"This is…" Hu Qian stared at the flame in disbelief.
"The Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame list."
Yao Yan clarified. There was no need to keep it a secret. He would eventually need to refine pills publicly. Plus, this helped ease Hu Qian's suspicions. Everyone knew an alchemist couldn't possess two heavenly flames at once. And as an outsider, especially an alchemist, he needed to lower the academy's guard.
"A real heavenly flame…"
Hu Qian murmured to himself. This was only the second heavenly flame he had ever seen. Rumor had it that Han Feng had obtained the Sea Heart Flame, but Hu Qian had never met him and didn't know what it looked like.
"With my skills, I don't think I'll have any problem teaching alchemy."
Yao Yan said quietly.
"Very well. I accept. Come with me to the Inner Academy—we'll meet with the Grand Elder. If he agrees too, then it's settled!"
Hu Qian took a deep breath and nodded firmly. He had no reason to refuse.
(END CHAPTER)
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