CHAPTER 104: CHAPTER 103: ADVANCEMENT

The pre-selection originally scheduled for seven days was announced to end two days early due to the intervention of the Golden Swallow. In the end, only eleven teams, including the "Defiance Squad," returned to the finish line with the badge in hand.

All the teams advancing were of the full coverage type with martial, symbol, and healing professions, fully proving the efficiency and practicality of this professional configuration.

After a short three-day rest, the advancement competition began. The "Defiance Squad" did not disappoint and was selected as the representative team of Harssas, ready to participate in the military academy competition in half a month with the top score.

At the same time, the other three major military academies submitted their respective lists of participants to the Elder Council and the Military Department:

Tianyi Institute sent the Tianyi Team, led by Chu Yunyi, without dispute. The team representing Xi Yuan Academy was also an established team — Desert Ship. The participating team of Cold Smoke Pavilion this year — Tu Ling Team, like "Defiance Squad" of Harssas, was a dark horse composed of new faces.

While other students went home for vacation, Ye Qingting and the other three not only couldn’t rest but also had to undergo special training.

Luo Jun, Zhou Song, and Jin Hua led their respective elite teacher teams, putting in their utmost effort, eager to impart the essence of their lifetime learnings in this period before the competition.

The special training for Ye Qingting and Cui Tianxiao was relatively better, as they only had to deal with the martial master department led by Luo Jun.

Qi Ming had a much harder time, as according to the plan, he was to be developed into a double cultivation talent in both martial and symbol skills.

Li Xing had it the worst, being cultivated as a triple skill combined apprentice. Three groups of people drilled him in turns, but fortunately, Jin Hua’s training was relatively gentle, allowing Li Xing some time to catch his breath.

After finishing a day’s training, Li Xing finally had time to browse the light-brain and relax a bit. Just then, the communication bell rang, it was a call from home.

"Uncle Li, Aunt Anna!"

Anna’s complexion now was much rosier than it was a few years ago, and she also looked much plumper, all thanks to Li Xing’s elixir conditioning.

Li Yi beamed with a smile, "Xiao Xing, congrats on representing Harssas in the competition, you truly are my daughter, well done!"

Seizing the opportunity, Li Xing praised him, "Of course, without your meticulous nurturing, how could I achieve what I have today? Once I get the trophy, I’ll definitely give it to you!"

Thinking of having the military academy competition trophy on his desk, Li Yi felt inflated, "Ha ha ha, it’s settled then!"

Due to Yang Zhou’s strong recommendation, Li Yi is now the principal of Datang Academy, thriving in his work. Under his efforts, the teaching environment and faculty strength of Datang Academy have seen substantial improvements.

Even the newly appointed City Lord had to show him some reverence. With a burgeoning career, he looked more vigorous, appearing even younger than a few years ago.

Anna forever only cared about one thing: "Xiao Xing, why have you become thinner again? Have you been too tired recently, not eating well?"

Li Xing replied, "No, not a single pound lost." Yet, neither had it increased. Though Li Xing’s stomach wasn’t a bottomless pit anymore, it still couldn’t gain weight even with constant eating.

Each time Anna called, she would say Li Xing had become thinner. To put it plainly, it was a mother’s compassion for her child, essentially akin to saying, "My dear, I miss you."

Li Yi commented, "I suppose even if Xiao Xing were two hundred pounds, you would still say she was thin."

Anna jokingly slapped Li Yi.

Li Yi chuckled, "Xiao Xing, you haven’t been back for a semester, Anna misses you so much she can’t sleep well. Since you’re on holiday now, let her visit for a few days, cook for you, and wash your clothes. I have to participate in a training with the teachers and can’t spare any time to accompany her. I’ll send her to the Teleportation Port tomorrow, you go and pick her up."

"Okay!"

Knowing Anna was coming, Ye Qingting, Cui Tianxiao, and Qi Ming insisted on tagging along. The four of them begged and persuaded for a day off to go to the Teleportation Port together with Li Xing to receive her.

The Element Testing Instrument event put Datang City in the limelight, and the high-level teleportation port applied for decades got approved within a week. Now, over ninety percent of cities from Datang to Qianyuan Continent can be reached directly.

Anna never expected that it wasn’t only Li Xing who came to pick her up, but also three handsome, elegant boys that looked like they were from noble families.

Cui Tianxiao, with honeyed words, said, "You must be Aunt Anna? Liar! So young, we should call you Sister Anna! Sister, Datang City must have great water and soil to breed beauties, right? Otherwise, it’s too coincidental that you and Xing Er are both so good-looking!"

Qi Ming shyly presented flowers, "Sister, welcome to Ha City!"

Ye Qingting graciously took the luggage, "Sister Anna, let’s go have dinner first!"

With Anna surrounded by three handsome guys as they walked out, Li Xing followed behind, feeling uneasy: I call you ’Aunt’, they call you ’Sister’, clearly taking advantage!

During the meal, they all learned it was Anna’s first time leaving Datang for another city.

Ye Qingting immediately arranged a seven-day luxury free trip for her, hiring a professional guide to accompany her, all expenses covered by the Ye Family.

But this proposal was declined by Anna, who had a simple purpose for coming — just to see Li Xing. The city’s sights and food were not as important as her daughter.

So Li Xing took Anna to the "Yijian Shop" and settled her in her exclusive room on the second floor.

In the following days, while the four underwent special training, Anna stayed at the shop handling the house chores, washing and cleaning.

When they returned to the "Yijian Shop" in the evenings, Anna had already prepared a table full of food, even Yang Dawei got to taste the long-missed home-cooked meal. Unfortunately, before Li Xing’s training ended, Anna prepared to return.

On the day of sending Anna to the Teleportation Port, Li Xing, holding her hand, said guiltily, "Aunt Anna, it’s hard for you to come once, and I couldn’t even take you out, my apologies..."

Anna gently adjusted Li Xing’s stray hair and said, "It is I who should apologize. Knowing you’re busy with special training, yet I came to disturb you. These days, you four had to accommodate me, running back and forth between school and outside, it must’ve been hard."

Ye Qingting, Cui Tianxiao, and Qi Ming hastily shook their heads. Anna, being a kind wife and mother, caring for them like a mother, gave them the rare experience of familial warmth, a thing generally experienced by commoners but rare for young masters from noble families. They, more than Li Xing, were even more reluctant to see Anna leave.

Anna, looking at Ye Qingting and the others, showed a content smile, "Our Xing Er has been independent since childhood, with learning and working taking up most of her time, she hasn’t had any friends."

"Before coming to Ha City, I was worried she’d be lonely at school, but seeing you, I realized my worry was unnecessary. Meeting you is her blessing. Xing Er is a good child, but like her adoptive father, she’s very stubborn. Once she sets her mind, not even ten oxen can change it! If she ever does something wrong, give me a call, and I’ll talk to her!"

The three quickly nodded; finally, someone in authority over stubborn Li Xing!

Once everything had been said, Li Xing spent money to have local specialties from Ha City packed and shipped back, then pulled Anna aside to softly say:

"Aunt Anna, I think your health is adjusted well enough, it’s time to give me a few younger siblings!"

Anna’s face turned red as a flame.

Li Xing took out a small bottle, stuffed it into her hands, and continued, "The ’More Blessings Elixir,’ eat it for a week each month after your period, within six months, I guarantee you’ll have good news!"