Seven days later.
Today marked the conclusion of the Vermilion Bird Academy freshman exchange event.
Vermilion Bird Academy Central Plaza.
Morning light pierced through the clouds.
Freshmen stood in neat formations, their crimson academy uniforms billowing like waves in the wind.
Before the towering honor monument.
Ye Hongyu stood atop the elevated platform, her posture erect and dignified.
She appeared to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, her features not possessing a maiden's tenderness but rather a sharp beauty tempered by time.
Her eyebrows were sharply defined like knife cuts, with eyes that slanted slightly upward at the corners.
Her flame-like hair wasn't tied up but instead cascaded freely down to her waist.
It swayed gently in the morning breeze like crimson flowing light.
Unlike the standard uniform worn by ordinary students.
Her attire was more structured, with the vermilion bird patterns appearing exceptionally vivid and lifelike.
Most striking was the crimson feathered cape draped over her shoulders, which accentuated her extraordinary presence.
"Hey, that's our Vermilion Bird Academy dean—it's my first time seeing her."
Liu Ziming stood on tiptoes, whispering to his teammates while keeping his eyes fixed on Ye Hongyu atop the platform.
"Dean Ye Hongyu looks so young!"
Xu Hao murmured in awe.
Liu Ziming immediately perked up, leaning in with a mischievous grin: "Hey, didn't you know? Dean Ye Hongyu was part of the very first class at Vermilion Bird Academy. Just calculate how old she must be now..."
Before he could finish.
Xie Xi already had his ear firmly pinched: "Looking to die? You dare discuss the dean's age?"
"Ouch ouch ouch! Let go!"
Liu Ziming quickly begged for mercy: "I'm just stating facts! The dean... I mean, Her Excellency truly was from our academy's first cohort..."
Surrounding freshmen shot them disapproving looks.
Clearly they were being too noisy.
Xie Xi finally released her grip.
Liu Ziming rubbed his reddened ear, finally falling silent obediently.
Xie Xi gazed at Ye Hongyu with eyes full of admiration.
Su Zhan noticed this and tentatively said: "Xie Xi, what do you think of Dean Ye Hongyu..."
Xie Xi didn't even let him finish, openly declaring her admiration for Ye Hongyu.
Su Zhan felt somewhat surprised.
But upon reflection, it made perfect sense.
After all, a proud girl like Xie Xi would only idolize someone who could genuinely earn her respect.
And Dean Ye was precisely that kind of person.
Liu Ziming scratched his head, his eyes lighting up, "But seriously, the dean's presence is just too powerful, right? Look at that feathered cape—so cool..."
Feng Jue interjected: "According to records, those feathers come from mist creatures—crimson feathered beasts. Their level... is Calamity-class."
Calamity-class?
Su Zhan raised an eyebrow slightly.
Based on his current knowledge, Calamity-class represented the highest tier of mist creatures.
To be able to kill such mist creatures and keep them as trophies.
Ye Hongyu's strength had clearly reached the pinnacle of human capability.
"Stop thinking about cultivation all the time."
Liu Ziming rolled his eyes: "Is that the point? The point is, I heard the dean is still single!"
Xie Xi immediately pinched his ear again.
"Ouch ouch ouch! I was wrong, okay!"
Liu Ziming grimaced and begged for mercy.
Su Zhan shook his head helplessly.
Obviously, Xie Xi idolized Ye Hongyu, and you specifically made jokes about Dean Ye—wasn't that just asking for trouble?
No need to intervene then.
"Students of Vermilion Bird Academy, greetings!"
Ye Hongyu stood atop the platform, her fiery red hair swaying gently in the wind, her voice clearly carrying across the entire plaza through spiritual energy.
"Greetings, Dean!"
The freshmen responded in unison.
"Fifty years ago, to balance the national combat power structure, Daxia specially established Vermilion Bird Academy in the south.
This academy carries not only the mission of cultivating powerful individuals but also the heavy responsibility of protecting hundreds of millions of common people."
Ye Hongyu's gaze swept across the freshmen below, finally settling on Su Zhan's group of five:
"During this exchange event, although Starlight Academy cannot match Vermilion Bird's profound heritage, they remain among the top institutions in the southern region.
This record sufficiently proves your worth, enough to carve your names into Vermilion Bird's historical honor roll!
As her words faded.
Hearty applause erupted.
As Su Zhan's group of five stepped onto the platform, the bluestone beneath their feet seemed to turn into cotton, each step feeling light and buoyant.
The collective attention made the very air feel scorching hot.
Su Zhan glanced sideways at his teammates.
Feng Jue stood tall with chest out, looking straight ahead without deviation.
Liu Ziming walked at the front, the corners of his mouth harder to suppress than an AK.
Xu Hao walked to Su Zhan's right, straightening his slender chest, each step taken with utmost seriousness.
Xie Xi deliberately adjusted her pace, finally stopping at the position closest to Ye Hongyu.
When Ye Hongyu's eyes swept over her, this usually proud girl's fingertips actually trembled slightly.
The five stood firm before the honor monument, facing the burning gazes of their peers.
This moment.
Su Zhan also felt somewhat lightheaded with elation.
Vermilion Bird Academy, where tens of millions of examinees desperately competed to enter each year.
Those nearly 300 freshmen below—any single one pulled out would be a renowned local genius.
And now.
These heaven's favorites were collectively looking up at the five of them.
In Daxia's most prestigious academy, standing in the most dazzling position, receiving the highest recognition.
Not afraid to sound ridiculous.
This thrill, no matter how much they tried to suppress it, simply couldn't be contained.
Soon, a teacher approached from the side and handed something to Ye Hongyu.
Ye Hongyu walked forward slowly, holding a red sandalwood tray with both hands, on which eight brocade boxes were neatly arranged.
"First presentation: Mist Calendar Year 300 Vermilion Bird Academy Exchange Event Best Group Medal."
All five simultaneously straightened their backs.
Ye Hongyu walked before Xie Xi, taking a dark red brocade box from the tray.
Xie Xi immediately bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle, receiving it reverently with both hands.
Through the partially opened lid, one could see a bronze-based vermilion bird medal inside, its wing sections inlaid with finely crushed crimson crystals.
Next was Liu Ziming.
This guy nearly stumbled during his bow, frantically catching the brocade box.
Opening it revealed the same medal.
Feng Jue, Xu Hao, Su Zhan—each received identical ones.
Each displayed utmost respect, their attitudes exceptionally humble.
"Next presentation: Mist Calendar Year 300 Vermilion Bird Academy Exchange Event Five Consecutive Victories Medal."
This time Ye Hongyu only took out three gilded brocade boxes.
The box surfaces featured subtle engravings of a Vermilion Bird spreading its wings to fly, each feather clearly visible.
Curiously, he gently opened the lid.
The vermilion gold medal shone particularly brilliantly in the sunlight.
The main body featured a spreading-winged vermilion bird design, its twin wings inlaid with seven small rubies, while the tail feathers were crafted from special spiritual energy metal.
Reportedly, they would subtly undulate with the wearer's breathing, as if alive.
Feng Jue's expression remained unsmiling, but his actions showed full respect.
Finally, Xie Xi.
When Ye Hongyu stood before Xie Xi.
Xie Xi straightened her spine, extending both hands forward as if receiving a sacred relic.
Ye Hongyu's elegant brows lifted slightly as she spoke: "Five battles, all victories. I've watched your combat footage—quite impressive performance."
Saying this, she handed over the brocade box.
Xie Xi received it with both hands, her movements crisp and efficient.
The next second.
Her right hand fingers pressed together and straightened, swiftly and powerfully lifting to near her right temple.
Fingertips approximately two centimeters from eyebrow corner, palm slightly turned outward twenty degrees, wrist straight without bending.
This military salute was textbook perfect enough to be included in training manuals.
"Thank you for Dean Ye's guidance and cultivation!"
Xie Xi shouted loudly.