Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Reward

Dark Moon Academy.

"Ah Yao, you cannot lose the next match," Kong Sha admonished Lu Yao earnestly.

If Lu Yao loses, it would mean the Dark Moon Academy is inferior to the Saint Star Academy.

Lu Yao nodded gravely, "Master, rest assured, I won't let you or the academy down."

"Brother Lu Yao, you must defeat Mu Chen and vindicate us!" a student said, pumping his fist at Lu Yao.

Kong Sha frowned and sighed softly, "Mu Chen's inscription technique hasn't even reached the fourth level, Xia Qingyan has made him avoid Lu Yao."

Knowing that Lu Yao's opponent wasn't Mu Chen, Kong Sha had secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He always had the utmost faith in Lu Yao. Yet, Mu Chen is such an unpredictable element, making him inadvertently doubt his disciple.

"It's a pity. If Brother Lu Yao defeated Mu Chen, those from Saint Star wouldn't be so arrogant."

"Exactly. At least they knew their place."

"No matter how skilled Mu Chen is, against Brother Lu Yao, he's destined to lose."

...

"Enough! With such competition results, you still have the nerve to speak." Kong Sha scolded the students, his face a picture of discontent.

The previous five matches had ended in a tie, and the last one seemed destined for a similar outcome.

In Kong Sha's eyes, the Saint Star Academy was a declining institution. Yet, their academy was neck-and-neck with them. If other empire academies heard of this, they would surely laugh at them.

The students all wore expressions of embarrassment upon hearing Kong Sha's words.

Tong Yaoyao lowered her head, offering a wry smile. She had underestimated the Saint Star Academy and Mu Chen. The world is vast, filled with hidden talents everywhere.

Kong Sha sighed softly, "This batch from Saint Star Academy has truly produced many talents."

Mu Chen's skills are extraordinary for his age, reaching the master level in several domains. Ye Shi's performance was exceptional, with the rumored Spirit Rune Eye.

Mu Chen is a jack of all trades, and while he's currently outstanding, his future path remains uncertain. However, Ye Shi is different. With his Spirit Rune Eye, most individuals could become grand array masters. Considering Ye Shi's level-eight talent, his potential is boundless.

In the final inscription match, Lu Yao effortlessly defeated the Saint Star Academy's second-level inscription master.

With Mu Chen's previous outstanding performance, Lu Yao's level-four inscription demonstration failed to cause much sensation.

Mu Chen had narrowly defeated the Dark Moon Academy's level-three inscription master. Compared to his previous matches, his inscription skills seemed average.

…………

Ye Shi's villa.

"The academy is so stingy! I won two competitions and secured four spots for the academy, and all the headmaster gave me is this shabby garment!"

"This attire looks so peculiar, almost like it's made for a woman. I've heard the headmaster is a royal-class expert. Do all royal-class experts pinch pennies this much?" Ye Shi grumbled, holding a blood-red silk robe.

Xin RuGe retorted impatiently, "Younger brother, you're overlooking its value! This is a Grade-5 Blood Silkworm Robe. Blood silkworms produce silk only once every ten years. I can't even imagine how many years' worth of silk went into this robe."

"Wearing this robe, you'd survive a blow even from a martial king. It's a prized possession of the headmaster. If not for the impending mystical journey, that stingy old man wouldn’t have given it away..."

With a hint of jealousy, Xin Ruguo shot a glance at Ye Shi.

Ye Shi rolled his eyes thoughtfully, commenting, "Really? Is this thing so great? I can't see it."

"Shi ZiYu also wanted it. He initially intended it for Zhuang Yu, but your master snatched it right out of his grasp," Xin RuGe exclaimed, clenching her fists in excitement.

"Shi ZiYu wanted it? For Zhuang Yu?" Wide-eyed, Ye Shi threw himself onto the robe, savoring its texture, "Ah, indeed a treasure."

Xin Ruguo rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Of course, it's valuable."

Initially, the dean was inclined to award the Blood Silkworm Silk Robe to Shi Zi Yu. However, Jing Chiyang made a strong case, pointing out that Ye Shi had won two matches and had contributed more than Zhuang Yu. The dean of the formation academy praised Ye Shi's achievements, after careful consideration, decided to give the robe to Ye Shi.

Ye Shi grinned smugly, thinking: If something attracts Zhuang Yu's fancy, it must indeed be valuable. He felt elated thinking he had outwitted Zhuang Yu.

Looking at Ye Shi, Xin RuGe remarked with a wink, "Little brother, you seem quite wary of Zhuang Yu, don't you?"

Xin Ruguo frowned and said, "I have a feeling that he is destined to be my arch-nemesis, and he might vie for the same man as me."

"He can't compete with you," Xin Ruguo replied with a dismissive smile.

It's said that to know who holds a man’s heart, one must see where he's willing to spend his money. Mu Chen is usually quite stingy, but he’s frequently spared no expense for Ye Shi.

Ye Shi nodded, believing he wouldn't lose to Zhuang Yu. Yet, subconsciously, he always felt overshadowed by Zhuang Yu, fearing he'd lose everything to him someday.

Although Ye Shi found this idea laughable, he couldn't shake off the feeling.

"It'd be better if Zhuang Yu were dead," Ye Shi couldn't help but think darkly.

"By the way, what did the headmaster reward Mu Chen with for his five wins?" Xin RuGe inquired.

Mu Chen was truly rising in prominence. Her younger female disciples trembled with excitement just mentioning him.

Xin Ruguo scolded them, "Those foolish girls, speaking of advantages in proximity! Maybe they should try the old ox eating tender grass analogy."

Ye Shi, with a hint of disdain, replied, "The headmaster granted him two days access to the academy's secret library. Nothing else."

The academy's library was divided into the public and secret sections. The public section was rather generic, but the secret section was the academy's cornerstone, filled with priceless tomes. Given Mu Chen's photographic memory, two days were ample for him.

"The dean is so generous!" Xin Ruguo couldn't resist saying.

"It's just a temporary glimpse, not a gift. The old man's trying to get something for nothing," Ye Shi retorted dismissively.

Xin RuGe shook her head, pitying Ye Shi's inability to appreciate the gesture. She mused that, given Ye Shi's dull intellect, two days in the library would be a waste on him.

...

"Take this Cloud Silkworm Armor," Shi ZiYu handed it to Zhuang Yu.

Zhuang Yu's expression shifted. Shi ZiYu had mentioned a Grade-5 Blood Silkworm Robe that the headmaster treasured. It was believed that wearing it would grant one a fighting chance even against a Nine-Star Martial Spirit.

Shi ZiYu had promised to persuade the headmaster, but now all Zhuang Yu received was a Grade-4 Cloud Silkworm Armor. This armor was decent, but paled in comparison to the Blood Silkworm Robe.

"Regrettably, Jing ChiYan claimed the Blood Silkworm Robe. With that robe, you'd have stood a better chance against high-tier beasts in the mystical realm," Shi ZiYu lamented.

Zhuang Yu knitted her brows, asking Shi Zi Yu, "Master, are you saying that Jing Chiyang wants to take the Blood Silkworm Silk Robe?"

Shi ZiYu nodded, "Indeed."

Clenching his teeth with rising jealousy, Zhuang Yu thought: Jing ChiYan, and by extension, Ye Shi, were infuriating. Why must they always compete with him? Zhuang Yu had been confident of obtaining the robe, especially after the headmaster's hints. But Jing ChiYan swooped in, derailing everything.

Jing Chiyang is truly too much! Just as excessive as Ye Shi.

"Ayu, prepare well. The mystical realm opens in five days," Shi ZiYu advised.

Zhuang Yu nodded, "Understood."

"Many have risen to greatness in the mystical realm. If you're fortunate, not only can you catch up to Ye Shi but surpass him," Shi ZiYu motivated.

A hint of determination flashed in Zhuang Yu's eyes as she thought: she was already far behind Ye Shi, and during this secret realm expedition, she couldn't let him outdo her again.

"Ayin, Lan Ruofeng will also be attending the secret realm expedition," Master Ziyu said.

Zhuang Ayin's expression subtly shifted, and she replied, "I understand."

Thoughts of Lan Ruofeng prompted a light sigh from Zhuang Ayin. Despite Lan having a more promising start than Mu Chen, the latter was now a fourth-grade pill refiner. Lan struggled even with the third-grade elixirs. The gap between seventh-grade and eighth-grade talents was indeed vast.

…………

"Master," a young man dressed in black silently appeared in Kongsha's room.

Kongsha looked at the young man with a hint of pride in his eyes. Though average in appearance and reserved, the youth had reached the eight-star Martial Spirit level.

"Zong, your primary mission in the secret realm is to eliminate Mu Chen and Ye Shi. Understand?" Kongsha said, a trace of malice in his eyes.

Raising an eyebrow lazily, the young man replied, "Only Mu Chen and Ye Shi? I heard there's also someone named Zhuang Ayin from the Saint Star Academy with eighth-grade talent, isn't there?"

Kong Sha replied dismissively, "That one, don't kill. Keep her alive."

"Oh," was the youth's indifferent response.

"You've never seen what Mu Chen and Ye Shi look like. I'll provide you with their portraits."

The youth grinned with a hint of madness in his eyes. "No need, Master. If I kill everyone from the Saint Star Academy, Mu Chen and Ye Shi will inevitably be among them, right?"

Seeing the bloodthirsty look in the youth's eyes, Kongsha couldn't help but feel a tinge of helplessness. In his youth, he had a thirst for blood, but this disciple surpassed him in that regard.

"Zhuang Yu, do not kill," Kong Sha reiterated.

The youth smirked with an undeniable arrogance, "I've heard of the rare beauty with the Heavenly Yin physique. I'm curious if it's as magical as the legends suggest. I'd love to taste it." He said with a sinister lick of his lips.

Kongsha responded, "That will depend on your abilities."

"Master, I heard our academy performed poorly in the inter-academy competition," the young man remarked with a mock smile.

A shadow crossed Kongsha's face.

The youth remarked nonchalantly, "Master, don't worry. So what if more from the Saint Star Academy are entering the realm? The more of them that go in, the more will die. It's nothing, really."

Kong Sha sighed, "Be careful. Don't get ahead of yourself."

He chuckled dismissively, "The strongest contender from Saint Star Academy is merely a novice in the Martial Spirit realm named Mu Chen. He's no match for me."

…………

Lan Ruofeng sat in his room, a distant look in his eyes.

Landa looked at the dispirited Lan Ruofeng with a touch of impatience.

"Enough self-pity. Our family has invested so much in you. We didn't do it to raise a quitter," Landa said with a steely tone.

Lan Ruofeng lifted his head and gave a bitter smile.

It had been a while. Zhuang Ayin hadn't even bothered to visit him. She must have given up entirely.

With Zhuang Ayin's absence, the women who once professed their love for him were nowhere to be seen.

In the eyes of the academy students, only Mu Chen was the hero now.

In all fairness, Mu Chen was impressive with fourth-grade alchemy, seal records, and formation skills. Plus, he was a Martial Spirit. Lan Ruofeng thought with a hint of self-mockery that if he were a woman, he would choose Mu Chen too.

When they first met, Mu Chen seemed like a young master he wouldn't take seriously. Now, he had fallen far behind Mu Chen.

He wasn't without the desire to catch up. But the gap was so vast. The more he tried to bridge it, the more unattainable it felt, the more despair he felt.

Landa sighed, "I've secured a spot for you in the secret realm. If you're fortunate, you might find an opportunity there to surpass Mu Chen."

Lan Ruofeng looked up, determination in his eyes, "I'll go."

Landa said, "Prepare well."

Though the secret realm had many opportunities, it was also fraught with danger. Among those entering, Lan Ruofeng was, unfortunately, one of the weakest.