Ch 124

Chapter 124: Borrowing Help

Artifact Refining Academy

"Dean, what do you think about this competition?" Pan Xingguo asked anxiously as he looked at Lei Cheng.

Lei Cheng gave a bitter smile. No matter how he looked at it, none of the students in their academy had advanced to third-level refining master. No matter how anxious he was, it wouldn't help!

Mingyue Academy was coming in strong, and if the Artifact Refining Academy couldn't win even a single round, the academy would lose six spots!

"What are the other academies planning?" Lei Cheng asked his vice-dean, Pan Xingguo.

"I heard that the Pill Academy, the Fu Academy, and the Array Academy all went to the Inscription Academy to borrow people," Pan Xingguo replied.

Lei Cheng frowned in confusion.

"Borrowing people from the Inscription Institute? I understand why the Pill and Fu Academies would do that, but why would the Array Court go?"

Pan Xingguo shrugged and said:

"Dean Hao is probably desperate. He had no choice but to go look for Mu Chen. But if Mu Chen really wants to represent the Array Court, he'll have to pass the court's evaluation first."

Lei Cheng sighed and said:

"It's a pity there's no rumor that Mu Chen knows how to refine artifacts."

If there were, he'd definitely want in on the fun too.

Mu Chen had learned alchemy, talismans, inscriptions, and even formations—so why not artifact refining too? It was such a promising profession!

"That brat Mu Chen, why isn't he interested in refining weapons? Doesn't he know our academy's students are all strong and muscular? He doesn't know how popular that is with the girls." Lei Cheng complained bitterly.

Pan Xingguo lowered his head and thought to himself:

Nowadays, girls prefer pretty faces.

The tall, rough, sweaty boys in the refining school aren't exactly popular.

---

At the training grounds

"Junior Brother Ye!" Xin Ruge stood beside the training platform and called out to Ye Shi.

Seeing her, Ye Shi immediately smiled:

"Senior Sister, you're here?"

Xin Ruge smiled back. Her junior brother was getting more and more handsome.

He was living well now—his meals were all ordered directly from Tianxiang Pavilion, so extravagantly high-end it was absurd.

They said eating from Tianxiang could not only boost your strength but also enhance your looks. Judging from Ye Shi's increasingly fair and smooth complexion lately, that rumor might actually be true.

Too bad she couldn't afford it. Having a fiancé who could earn like that… she couldn't help but be a little jealous!

"Junior Brother, I heard you've been training hard lately."

Ye Shi had already been promoted to a nine-star martial artist, keeping up with Mu Chen's pace.

Ye Shi nodded and said:

"Yes! Master said the people from the Orchid Empire are coming to cause trouble, so I'll fight."

Xin Ruge thought to herself:

The students were all fired up. Based on how seriously the academy's top brass was taking this, the challengers definitely weren't going to be easy.

She glanced at Ye Shi's hand and frowned:

"You're injured?"

Ye Shi smiled casually and said:

"It's nothing."

Most of the new students weren't his match.

He'd been frequently challenging the older students lately—injuries were inevitable when the fights got heated.

Xin Ruge looked at Ye Shi and narrowed her eyes slightly.

So few students were as talented, hardworking, and passionate about real combat as him.

"Senior Sister, when will the Orchid Empire people arrive?" Ye Shi asked.

"Ten days," Xin Ruge replied calmly.

Ye Shi cracked his whip, bared his teeth in a grin, and said excitedly:

"When the time comes, I'll show them how powerful we are!"

Seeing Ye Shi's high spirits, Xin Ruge's expression turned serious.

The people from the Farland Empire were not to be underestimated—and no one knew how many secret realm slots would be stolen this time.

---

Elsewhere

Mu Chen looked at Xia Qingyan in disbelief.

"Dean, you want me to take part in the competitions for the Martial Arts Academy, the Pill Academy, the Fu Academy, the Inscription Academy, and even the Array Academy?"

He had only signed up for six competitions in total—and he had to participate in five?

Xia Qingyan nodded and said:

"Yes! Those who are capable must work harder. The academy lacks talent, so I have no choice but to rely on you."

Mu Chen smiled wryly:

"There are so many deans. They're all looking for me…?"

Only a few people even knew he could use formations.

"There aren't many talents in the Array Court, and I heard you're proficient in formation spells, so they came to you. Hao Tu is probably desperate by now. But if you want to represent the court, you have to pass the evaluation first," Xia Qingyan explained.

Mu Chen narrowed his eyes. A cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

An evaluation? Like he had that kind of time.

"Dean, just push it through for me."

Xia Qingyan frowned and said seriously:

"Mu Chen, the competition with Mingyue Academy is directly tied to how many people we can send into the Luoyou Secret Realm. And the number of people entering that secret realm will affect the future of the entire country. If you have the strength, don't hide it. The greater good matters most."

Mu Chen gave a shy smile and said:

"Dean, I really haven't studied formation spells much. If I go, I'll only embarrass myself. It's not that I don't want to help the academy—it's just my abilities are limited."

That "greater good" had everything to do with him.

Xia Qingyan sighed lightly:

"Fine. If you won't enter the Array competition, then don't—but for the rest, you must win."

Mu Chen replied helplessly:

"Dean, you're expecting too much of me. The opponents have a fourth-level inscription master and two martial spirits!"

"I know," Xia Qingyan said.

"The plan is to use the 'Tian Ji horse race' strategy. You don't need to beat the fourth-level inscription master—just defeat their third-level one."

Mu Chen nodded.

"I understand."

"You carry a great responsibility."

"I understand," he repeated.

---

Array Court

"Xia Qingyan turned us down?" Hao Tu frowned.

Di Han nodded:

"Yes, she said Mu Chen hasn't studied formation spells in depth and isn't qualified to compete."

Hao Tu frowned again:

"Not studied much? I've heard Mu Chen's formations are incredibly powerful! That woman—she's definitely hiding something."

Di Han shook his head:

"Given the stakes—three slots in the secret realm—Xia Qingyan wouldn't hide anything."

Hao Tu sighed:

"Seems like if we want something done right, we'll have to do it ourselves. Focus on training the strongest formation students we've got."

"Dean, they're still far from Mingyue Academy's level," Di Han said with a frown.

Hao Tu sighed helplessly:

"We don't have any talents. What else can we do?"

---

Mingyue Academy

Zhuang Yu leaned against Lan Ruofeng as they sat atop a high pavilion, enjoying the night view.

Under the night sky, Zhuang Yu looked picturesque and breathtaking.

She tilted her head and looked at Lan Ruofeng.

"You're going to participate in the competition?"

Lan Ruofeng nodded seriously:

"Yes."

"Are you confident?" she asked softly.

"Of course," he replied.

"I heard Mu Chen is also joining the Pill competition," Zhuang Yu said with a frown.

Lan Ruofeng nodded again:

"Yes."

Not just the Pill Academy—Mu Chen would also compete in Martial Arts, Inscriptions, and the Fu Academy.

The Array Court had wanted him too, but Xia Qingyan had apparently refused.

The upper management clearly had high hopes for Mu Chen.

The Pill Academy dean trusted Mu Chen more than him.

Lan Ruofeng clenched his fists. He had to win this competition—no matter what.

"I heard there's a 15-year-old student from Mingyue Academy who is a two-star martial spirit and a fourth-level inscription master. Amazing!" Zhuang Yu murmured in awe.

A trace of jealousy flashed in Lan Ruofeng's eyes.

There were so many geniuses in the world.

As if Mu Chen weren't enough—now there was Lu Yao.

"Yes," he said. "If Mu Chen runs into him, it could be a headache."

Zhuang Yu frowned with concern:

"If Mu Chen encounters that person, the chances of winning won't be high."

Lan Ruofeng nodded:

"Yes."

---

On a cloudbird in the sky

"Still nine days until we arrive at Saint Star Academy! I'm going to faint stuck on this bird," Liu Xueyan said lazily.

"Right? After we reach the imperial capital of the Xuanfeng Empire, I just want to rest. But honestly, this empire is so barren. I haven't seen any spiritual energy-rich mountains. It's way worse than our Farland Empire…" Tong Yaoyao pouted.

Xue Kaiqi laughed:

"Well, Xuanfeng is just a small country. How can it compare to Farland?"

"This academy only produces wine sacks and rice bags."

"Dean, it looks like we're competing against Saint Star Academy students. How could they possibly be our match?"

"I heard they negotiated with the president of Saint Star Academy to let twenty of them participate—and each win will earn them three secret realm slots."

"With our strength, Saint Star Academy will definitely be eliminated."

"Exactly! That academy is outdated. Just give us all 60 slots and spare them the embarrassment."

"Yeah, how can they compare to us!"

"Still… no matter the opponent, we'll give it our all. Don't underestimate Saint Star Academy." A middle-aged man in black with a cold expression walked out.

When the students saw him, they quickly quieted down.

"Dean!" they greeted respectfully.

Kong Sha looked over Lu Yao and the others.

"You're allowed to lose up to five matches in the competition against Saint Star Academy. Understand?"

"I won't lose," Liu Xueyan said confidently.

Kong Sha gave her a cold glance.

"Don't get cocky. Saint Star Academy isn't as weak as you think."

The students exchanged uneasy looks.

---