Ch 123
Chapter 123: Quota
Six enormous Fire Cloud Birds flew through the sky.
On top of each Fire Cloud Bird was a beautifully crafted attic.
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"Mr. Lu, why has the principal placed so much importance on the Luoyou Secret Realm? Isn't it just a secret realm?"
Liu Xueyan asked in confusion.
Lu Yao replied:
"Many people who exited the Luoyou Secret Realm became powerful. It is said that Lian Chengkong, the principal of Sacred Star Academy, also entered the secret realm back then. He managed to break through to emperor level there and greatly benefited from the realm. There are many treasures."
Lu Yao explained calmly, as if telling an old tale.
"So that's how it is!"
Liu Xueyan nodded, clearly impressed.
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Lu Yao is handsome, powerful, humble, and skilled in inscription arts. No one knows how many girls at Mingyue Academy are fascinated by him.
He's focused on cultivation and has no time for romantic flings, which only drives those girls even crazier.
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"Sacred Star Academy hasn't produced any talent in recent years. Once they see you, Mr. Lu, those so-called talents will surely feel ashamed," said Tong Yaoyao with a smile.
Lu Yao responded disapprovingly:
"It seems Sacred Star Academy's freshmen this year are all eighth-grade talents. They say one of them is especially skilled in inscriptions, very remarkable."
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"I've also heard that," Liu Xueyan said calmly.
"They say he's an unmatched genius, incredibly extraordinary! His inscription skills are enough for a lifetime of study, but he still works so hard. I truly admire him."
Lu Yao chuckled.
"Don't bite off more than you can chew. That guy just learned a lot. He's not really proficient in anything. He's just showy. Sooner or later, he'll be found out. How could you admire someone like that, Mr. Lu?"
Liu Xueyan said a bit annoyed.
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Even though there aren't many third-level inscription masters in the Mingyue Empire, Lu Yao, a fourth-level inscription master under the age of twenty, stood at the top.
Lu Yao became a fourth-level inscription master at just seventeen. The president of the Mingyue Inscription Master Guild personally called him a genius.
He's also the youngest elder of the Mingyue Empire's Inscription Master Guild.
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"I heard he passed the third-level mage certification of the Alchemist Guild from Xuanfeng Empire. Both Fulu Guild and Inscription Master Guild acknowledged his incredible strength."
A faint glow shone in Lu Yao's eyes.
"Still, I'm not as good as you, Mr. Lu."
Tong Yaoyao smiled sweetly.
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Lu Yao said disapprovingly:
"There are always people stronger than you, and there's always a sky above the sky. We can never get complacent."
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"Junior Liu received the prize."
Lu Yao smiled at Liu Xueyan.
"I heard that Sacred Star Academy recruited two girls this year with eighth-grade qualifications. Their strength isn't bad," said Shi Yanfeng, lazily fanning himself.
Liu Xueyan looked at Shi Yanfeng and sneered:
"Mr. Shi, are you interested in those twin girls?"
Shi Yanfeng blinked at Liu Xueyan:
"Those who know me know I'm also interested in Junior Liu."
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Saint Star Academy
The four Martial Kings and heads of various colleges gathered, each with a serious look.
"Principal, what are people from Mingyue Academy saying?"
Jing Zhiyan asked anxiously.
Lian Chengkong had a dark expression:
"That old bastard wants 60 slots. That's too much."
Jing Chiyan crushed his teacup in his hand and said darkly:
"That's too much."
There are only 100 total slots, yet Mingyue College demanded 60, more than half. It was obvious they weren't taking the negotiation seriously.
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Lian Chengkong narrowed his eyes. He was furious, but there was nothing he could do. Mingyue Academy was coming in full force. If they were weak, they'd get slaughtered!
"It's too much. The Luoyou Secret Realm is on our land. Does the French Empire want to steal it from us?"
Xiong Wei said coldly.
Shi Ziyu let out a sigh of relief:
"Their strength is not as terrifying as others! It's impossible for Kongsha to bring such people."
Xiong Wei clenched his fists, his face flushed red.
If he could break through to Martial Emperor, maybe things would be different, but unfortunately, Mu Chen is only fourth-level.
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"Principal, were you looking for me?"
Mu Chen entered the principal's office and asked.
Xia Qingyan nodded seriously:
"Mingyue Academy is here. They demanded 60 slots to enter the Luoyou Secret Realm."
Mu Chen froze for a moment, then frowned:
"Sixty? The principal won't agree to that."
"Of course not." Xia Qingyan said.
Mu Chen narrowed his eyes.
Mingyue College was being greedy, and Sacred Star Academy's Principal Key had agreed to none of it.
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"They proposed a competition."
Through competitions, the number of people entering the secret realm would be determined.
Mu Chen asked with interest:
"How will the winners be decided?"
Xia Qingyan:
"Ten students under 20 from each of the five departments — Pill Academy, Talisman Academy, Inscription Academy, Formation Academy, and Weapon Refining Academy — will compete. Every time Mingyue College wins, they get three spots. If Sacred Star Academy wins, they also get three."
If Mingyue wins all the rounds, they'll get the full 60 slots.
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Mu Chen narrowed his eyes and muttered:
"Mingyue Academy… they must be very confident."
Xia Qingyan nodded:
"In our academy, the only third-level alchemist under twenty is Lan Ruofeng. Unlike Lu Yao, Lan Ruofeng is just barely qualified, and our Weapon and Inscription Academies only have one third-level master under twenty. Mingyue Academy has several."
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"And let's not forget, Mingyue Academy has a four-star inscription master."
Xia Qingyan didn't plan to let Mu Chen face Lu Yao directly.
Even after defeating another second-level inscription master, Ye Shi was determined to defeat the third-level master from Mingyue.
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In short, the Inscription Institute can only win one round.
Thus, Mu Chen had to do better to beat the third-level master from Mingyue.
Lu Yao's fame pressured Mu Chen slightly.
Still, Mu Chen responded with a light smile — he liked challenges, especially good ones.
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Mu Chen narrowed his eyes.
If the rumors were true, even Lan Ruofeng would have no chance of winning!
Winning two matches means six slots, which isn't bad.
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Danyuan
Several high-ranking officials had gathered.
"What do you think of Mingyue College's challenge?"
Lu Han asked.
"They clearly look down on our academy."
Yan Wu said angrily.
Lu Han sighed softly.
Historically, Sacred Star Academy lagged behind Mingyue.
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"I've done some research. Mingyue Academy has three third-level alchemists under 20. We only have Lan Ruofeng. Even though his talent is good, the chances of him winning aren't great. After all, the opponent is still a third-level alchemist."
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If Lan Ruofeng loses,
he'll lose the only spot Sacred Star has. That'll be humiliating.
"Maybe we can borrow someone from the Inscription Institute."
Tai Shuming thought aloud.
Lu Han nodded:
"I agree."
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"There are few talents! I investigated and found that Mu Chen sold all kinds of pills at Danding Pavilion, and all of them contained the fire attribute. Meaning, all third-level pills were refined by Mu Chen. That proves his alchemy is above Lan Ruofeng's."
"Mu Chen, will you participate in the Inscription Institute competition?"
Yan Wu asked seriously.
Mu Chen nodded and said:
"It's not a problem. The inscription and alchemy contests are staggered, so I can do both."
"Dean, what should we do?!" Huang An looked at Song Chengdao anxiously.
Song Cheng said indifferently:
"What should I do? Go to the Inscription Institute and ask to borrow someone!"
"To count on those people to win over the people from Mingyue Academy is absolutely impossible."
Huang An frowned and said:
"Xia Qingyan can lend someone?"
"That woman has always been very stingy!"
"It's related to the overall situation—she has a sense of proportion."
"But she owes that woman favors, and inevitably, she'll be manipulated by her in the future."
"It's just that…"
"Just what, Dean?" Huang An asked.
Song Cheng gritted his teeth and said:
"It's just that even if Mu Chen wins one round, we still have no chance of winning the other."
"Winning one round isn't bad. Mingyue Academy really has a lot of masters," Huang An said jealously.
"Who says it's not!" Song Cheng said helplessly.
Mingyue Academy places much more importance on the School of Arts than Saint Star Academy does, and their talisman heritage is also more complete than theirs.
"Sister, what are you thinking about?" Xia Qingli asked as she walked into the room.
"Just now, the Martial Arts Academy, the Dan Academy, the Fu Academy, and even the Array Court came over," Xia Qingyan said with a wry smile.
"Why are they here?" Xia Qingli frowned in confusion.
"What else could they be doing? Borrowing someone." Xia Qingyan narrowed her eyes and said.
Xia Qingli nodded with understanding and said:
"Wuyuan, Danyuan, and Fuyuan are all understandable, but what's the Array Court doing here?"
Xia Qingyan shrugged and said:
"Rumor has it that Mu Chen understands formations."
Xia Qingli squinted slightly and said:
"I've heard the rumors too, but they seem to be just that—rumors."
Mu Chen's alchemy, inscription, and talisman skills were officially certified by the guilds, but there had been no sign of him mastering formation spells.
"Those guys are probably just trying a last resort." Xia Qingyan narrowed her eyes.
There were no third-level formation masters under the age of 20 in the Array Court, and a second-level formation master going up against a third-level one was a lost cause.
"What has Mu Chen been doing lately? I haven't seen him around," Xia Qingli said.
Xia Qingyan sighed.
Mu Chen was extremely talented, but far too carefree. Still, she couldn't control him. In many aspects, Mu Chen had already surpassed her.
For a genius like Mu Chen, he couldn't be taught—he could only be allowed to grow freely.
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