chapter 13
Boom!
On the morning of the third day, a sudden explosion of energy erupted from within the secluded chamber. Spiritual energy surged outward like a storm, shaking the very walls of the Lu mansion's inner courtyard.
Outside the chamber, Yun Li and Yun Mu—who had been quietly standing guard—stumbled back in shock, their expressions filled with awe.
A mighty aura washed over them, sharp and overwhelming. It pressed down upon the soul like a mountain.
"This… this is the aura of a Fifth-Level Warrior!" Yun Mu gasped, her voice trembling.
"He advanced in just three days…!" Yun Li whispered, eyes wide with admiration and disbelief.
Inside the chamber, amidst the swirling currents of spiritual energy, Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes.
His pupils glowed faintly, like twin stars in a night sky. A quiet smile touched his lips—cold, calm, and full of confidence.
He could feel it—his power had risen dramatically.
The Fifth Level of the Mortal Realm, achieved in only three days with the support of a Saint-level cultivation technique and his supreme Chaos Body. No genius in the Western Region could match such speed.
With a thought, a translucent blue panel appeared before his eyes:
---
[Personal Status Panel]
Name: Lu Chen
Age: 20
Physique: Chaos Body
Cultivation: Fifth Level Warrior
Inventory:
• 7th-Level Sword
• 8th-Level Spirit Elixir
• 2 million Low-Grade Spirit Stones
System Points: 2,000
---
Lu Chen let out a deep breath.
"Not bad."
He still needed 8,000 more points to activate the lowest-tier system lottery, but with Chen Fan, the so-called Son of Destiny, arriving at the Royal Academy today, the opportunity was near.
A faint smirk curled his lips.
"Chen Fan... your destiny was never yours to begin with. It's mine now."
And with that thought, Lu Chen rose, his robes fluttering around him as he stepped out of the chamber.
---
As the doors of the cultivation chamber slowly opened, a gentle gust of spiritual wind swept out. From within, Lu Chen emerged, his robes lightly fluttering, his presence vastly transformed. His aura was calm—yet beneath that calm lay a silent, terrifying strength.
Yun Li and Yun Mu, who had stood loyally outside for three full days, looked up the moment they sensed his presence. Their eyes widened, hearts racing with joy and pride.
"Master has broken through to the Fifth Level…" Yun Mu murmured, her voice full of reverence.
Yun Li nodded, her face glowing with happiness. "Before, Master wasted time trying to please Chu Ming... Now, he walks the path of true greatness."
They both stepped forward and knelt respectfully. "Congratulations, Young Master!"
Lu Chen smiled faintly, his expression calm, though his eyes carried a sharpness like unsheathed steel.
"No need for formality," he said. "Prepare the carriage. We're leaving."
"Yes, Young Master!"
The two maids quickly set off, their movements swift and graceful.
Lu Chen stood at the edge of the courtyard, gazing toward the horizon. The rising sun cast golden light across the land, and the distant peaks of the Royal Academy loomed like giants awaiting his arrival.
---
Just as Lu Chen stepped through the grand gates of the Royal Academy, a familiar voice caught his attention.
His steps slowed.
From a short distance away, in front of a towering stone building adorned with cultivation runes, a small commotion was taking place.
There, standing in the middle of the walkway, was Chu Ming—her arms crossed, face flushed with anger—as she argued fiercely with an academy instructor.
"I don't understand!" Chu Ming snapped, her voice rising. "Why is my name not on the list? I've always had access to the special cultivation chambers!"
The instructor, calm but firm, held a jade scroll in his hand. "Lady Chu, the list is correct. Your name has been removed."
"Removed? But I was already approved last month! This room has the densest spiritual energy in the entire outer courtyard—cultivating here increases speed tenfold!"
"I'm aware," the instructor said dryly. "However, you were only placed on the list due to your previous connection to Young Master Lu Chen. Now that your engagement has been annulled… you no longer qualify."
Chu Ming froze.
Her face turned pale, then red with humiliation. "So you're saying—just because the engagement was broken off, I'm no longer worthy?"
The instructor didn't even flinch. "The special cultivation rooms are reserved for talents who hold either exceptional merit or elite family backing. Without Young Master Lu's support… you no longer meet the requirements."
Lu Chen watched from a short distance, his expression unreadable.
He remembered how Chu Ming had once walked proudly at his side, mocking others, looking down from her borrowed pedestal.
And now… her pedestal was gone.