During this one month preparation period, Curo was buried in paperwork. In addition to the regular paperwork he needed to do to help maintain the proper functions of the Foreign Affairs Department, he also helped Instructor Sheng with forming the Roaming Dragon Division.

It may have seemed easy at first but when they had all of the lists of duties they needed to perform, their budget, he people assigned to the Division and so on, it became harder and harder. When they had finally figured out how many people per squad was the most optimal and who was in what squad, they started dealing with the matter of finding replacements for the people that had been put into the Roaming Dragon Division.

They had to assign replacements for the people that had been reassigned from the Foreign Affairs Department. This in itself was another head ache and required a week of sleepless nights to finally manage to sort it all out. During that month, the two practically lived inside the office. At night, they sat down and cultivated for a few hours to rest their body before starting it all over again before the first rays of the sun even shone out.

During this month, Qing Zhao and the Chief Mu from the Enforcement Hall visited them at least once every day to either help them out or offer some ideas on how to assign the merits and squads and so on. Since Curo’s name had disappeared from the Rankings and he had also disappeared from sight by being holed up in the office, people gradually forgot about him. He was still discussed but his name was overshadowed by the exchange.

Some Student’s even asked their Instructors on what happened to him and whether he would be taking part in the exchange. Their Instructor’s could only sigh and say that he was a bit of a special case and as of now, he wasn’t going to participate in the exchange. While most people sighed in regret, some people felt happy that he wasn’t going to participate.

However, Curo was oblivious to all of the things that were going on outside as he and Instructor Sheng were currently discussing on how long each Squad was to remain in an Affiliated Clan before they were rotated out. Finally, they agreed that being in the Affiliated Clans and Schools would be a mission that people Squads could take. The period of time they spent in the Clan would be determined upon taking the mission. As for the time frame, they decided that it would be between a year and five years. However, the Squad Leader has to tell them how long they want to undertake this mission for the moment they want to accept it.

After that was agreed upon, both Curo and Instructor Sheng stretched. They had managed to work out nearly everything with some rules needing tweaking here and there. With the replacements being decided as well, the two could relax a bit. Just as they were thinking of enjoying the warm cup of tea in their hands, a knock sounded on the door. Hearing the knock, both of them flinched. During this past month, every time they heard the knock, it never meant anything good. It always meant more work for them, so they began to dread the knocking.

When the door opened, Qing Zhao walked in and said, “Today is the first day of the exchange. You two need a change of pace as well, so how about you guys come and observe the sparring between the Students and Meng Clan Juniors?” Hearing this, Instructor Sheng nodded his head hurriedly. However, the moment Qing Zhao turned around, his gaze turned malicious as he muttered, “And whose fault is that we haven’t been able to set foot outside of this office for a month?” Although the mutter wasn’t loud, both Curo andd Qing Zhao heard it. Curo just smiled faintly while Qing Zhao let out a small whistle and played dumb.

Over this last month, he had grown used to these kinds of exchanges between the two and to the endless rambling of Instructor Sheng. At times, even Curo felt sorry for the man before remembering, he was in the same boat as him. Curo quickly downed the cup of tea and followed Qing Zhao and Instructor Sheng towards the Dragon Arena.

The Dragon Arena was a special place that was only used for Academy wide Assemblies or Academy Tournaments. The exchange between the Hidden Dragon Academy and The Meng Clan would also take place here. Since word of this exchange had spread far and wide, several other powers sent their Elders, also some Juniors to observe the event. Knowing the bad blood between the two, it was obvious that this wasn’t going to end in a friendly manner, so many Alumni also arrived to attend.

Should the Academy need it, they would lend a helping hand. When Curo and Instructor Sheng arrived at the Dragon Arena, the place was already packed with people from all around. In the fighting area, the top 50 Students from each Ranking were gathered outside the Fighting ring. They glared at the Meng Clan people on the other side of the Arena with malicious gazes as they wanted to wipe away the humiliation their Academy had suffered the last time. The behaviour of the Meng Clan people however left the entire Arena feeling shocked. The taunts, jeers and outright mocking of the Hidden Dragon Academy’s Students made even the various neutral observers frown.

When Curo heard the Meng Clan people, his face turned cold. He hadn’t been in the Arena for even 10 minutes and he already had the urge to slap half of them to kingdom to come. Suppressing his murderous intent, he just gave the Meng Clan people a cold glance before walking behind the Instructor Sheng’s seat.

When the people from the Meng Clan felt the cold gaze pass over their bodies, they immediately shut up and looked towards the source of the gaze. When they saw Curo’s cold eyes, they shuddered lightly. However, some eyes from the Meng Clan lit up when they saw Curo. All of the people present also directed their gazes towards Curo when they saw that the Meng Clan had been silenced with but a gaze. The boy didn’t seem any older than the rest of the Junior Student’s and he also wore the Student’s Robes. After Curo had silenced them once, no more taunt or jeers came from the Meng Clan side. They all recognized that gaze, it was the same gaze their Meng Clan’s Number One used to look at them, a gaze of indifference as if they were nothing more than ants.

Unconsciously, they all released a breath of relief when they saw Curo walk towards the spectator area. They had a feeling that if they were to fight him, they would lose miserably. When Curo had arrived behind Instructor Sheng, both Qing Zhao and Instructor Sheng gave him a solid nod for his actions. All of the Student’s however had an awkward face on. The name of Ji Curo had spread far and wide in the Academy and there was no Student that didn’t know his name. On the Entrance Examination he ranked First on the Human Ranking. On his first day in the Academy, his Battle Score exceeded that of the Earth Ranking Number One. They all couldn’t help but wonder how much his strength had grown this time.

However, they didn’t have a long time to mull over it as a Referee announced from the middle of the ring, “Since all parties are present, let us commence this Pointers Exchange. Crippling or otherwise maiming attacks are forbidden. As fists don’t have eyes, try to hold your strength back a little.” Everyone present could see that the second sentence was directed at the Meng Clan Juniors. However, this also brought many haughty smiles to their faces. Seeing this, the Referee sighed and said, “Since the Meng Clan is the challenger, you guys send up your first contestant.”

A youth with crimson red hair jumped up and landed in the middle of the stage. On his face, there was arrogance written all over it. He then cupped his hands in and said in a mocking tone, “Meng Gu, 21 years of Age, who wishes to come and exchange pointers?” He then released his cultivation and the people from the Hidden Dragon Academy paled. Instructor Sheng’s eyes also narrowed as he said, “81 Top Grade Qi Springs.”

As the Juniors looked at each other is dismay, the could only sigh as a young man jumped on the stage. He cupped his hands and said, “Fang Zhe, 23 years of age.” He then also released his cultivation but all the people present could only shake their heads. Although, he had 83 Qi Springs, from the purity of the Qi it was obvious that they were only High Grade Springs. Meng Gu only sneered and the moment the Referee started the fight, he charged out. It only took one palm and Fang Zhe was sent flying off the stage leaving only a trail of blood. Seeing this, the Instructor’s face turned cold as the Healing Hall Master appeared next to him and evaluated his injuries.

With a grim face she turned towards Headmistress Xi and shook her head. Headmistress Xi then coldly stated to to the man sitting next to him, “Seems like your Meng Clan still is as strong as ever. I honestly wonder how you raise such strong yet unruly juniors….” Hearing these sharp words the whole arena sucked in a deep breath. The strength behind that palm was an obvious and literal overkill. He knew that his opponent would not be able to handle this and would have serious injuries due to it. However, he still used it and the smile on his face showed that he didn’t regret it either. The man next to Headmistress Xi however just let out a soft chuckle and said, “That Junior still has a lot to learn, he got scared of the opponents 83 Qi Springs and he accidentally used too much force behind his palm.”

As he slowly shook his head, Instructor Sheng’s eyes turned cold as he lightly tilted his head and said, “Curo, would you be up for some exercise?” Without saying a word, Curo disappeared from his spot and appeared next to the person that was just about to jump on stage. When he put his hand on the latter’s shoulder to keep him from jumping up, the youth turned around with a malicious gaze. When he saw that it was Curo, he gritted his teeth and said, “Let me go, that was my brother he just crippled.” Curo didn’t even look at him, he kept his eyes on Meng Gu. Curo coldly stated, “You are no match for him.” After saying so, he removed his hand and walked up to the stage. T

he whole arena turned quiet as Curo walked up. Meng Gu’s face was filled with ridicule as he said, “Seems like the Hidden Dragon Academy truly has run out of talents. To even send a baby boy like this up to the stage to fight.” Hearing this, the Student’s eyes grew complicated as they looked at each other. This peculiar atmosphere didn’t escape the notice of the crowd as they wondered why they all had such awkward faces on. Curo cupped his hands and said, “Ji Curo, 16 years of age.” After saying so, he released all of his cultivation and when Meng Gu detected it, his face paled. The people all around the arena sucked in a deep breath, “73 Top Grade Qi Springs.”

The Referee coughed lightly and raised his hand. “Start!” The moment his hand fell, Curo disappeared, when he reappeared, a sickening crunch echoed out as Meng Gu shot off the fighting ring like a cannon ball and embed himself into the stone wall of the arena. Blood burst out from his mouth as he hit the stone wall.

When everyone were looking at the scene with open mouths, Curo said in a cold tone, “Oops, I overestimated you.”