Chapter 99 – Mu Chen's Choice
"It's really unexpected that Mu Chen chose the Inscription Academy." Cheng Wanbai said in shock.
Xie Danyan watched the scene, clenched her teeth, and angrily shook her sleeves. "That man really holds a grudge!"
Just because Danyuan and Fuyuan targeted him, Mu Chen didn't choose either and instead went for the declining Inscription Academy. That guy is so petty, it'll be hard for Grandpa to get along with him.
"Mu Chen is quite temperamental!" Cheng Wanbai said.
Xie Danyan rolled her eyes. "Temperamental? He's just cheap. It's really rare for a man to be this petty."
Hua Shu stood to the side, watching with great interest. "It's truly unexpected that Mu Chen chose the Inscription Academy! That old fox Jing Chiyan… it looks like Lu Han and Song Cheng were tricked."
"Mu Chen seems to hold grudges!" Lan Ruofeng frowned.
"You can't blame him. Danyuan and Fuyuan really did treat him unfairly before." Hua Shu shook his head.
"Mu Chen, I know you were wronged at Fuyuan. If you stay, I'll immediately transfer you to Tianban and give you the treatment of an elite student. I'll even open up resources for you!" Song Cheng hurriedly approached Mu Chen and said.
Mu Chen bowed respectfully and said indifferently, "Dean, I studied inscriptions and found that inscriptions are what truly interest me. So, I'm sorry, but I can't stay in Fuyuan."
"Mu Chen, it's fine not to stay in Fuyuan, but there's no need to go to the Inscription Academy! Believe me, the Alchemy Academy is your best choice. Among all techniques, alchemy is the right path. Inscription is just an unpopular side path!" Lu Han pushed Song Cheng aside and spoke to Mu Chen.
"Enough, you two shameless old men, get lost! Mu Chen is now part of our Inscription Academy and has nothing to do with you anymore. Lu Han, are you looking for death, saying inscriptions are unpopular?!" Xia Qingyan stood with hands on her hips and glared fiercely at Lu Han and Song Cheng.
Lu Han laughed awkwardly. The two heads of the Inscription Academy were known for their beauty, and Ye Shi was known for his sharp tongue.
Xia Qingyan turned her face and gently spoke to Mu Chen, "Student Mu, don't listen to those two old men. We really need talented students like you in the Inscription Academy. Also, the atmosphere here is much better — we're not polluted like Danyuan and Fuyuan. You can rest assured." She then gave Lu Han and Song Cheng a sharp glare.
"Of course, I believe in the depth of inscription techniques. I've recently become fascinated by them and am willing to devote my life to inscriptions," Mu Chen said with a smile.
"Yes, yes! Great eye. Focus on inscriptions — alchemy and talismans are nothing special. Only short-sighted people don't understand their value." Xia Qingyan said coldly.
"Xia Qingyan, even if Mu Chen wants to transfer to your academy, he must pass your academy's evaluation." Song Cheng stepped forward.
"I absolutely believe in Mu Chen's talent, so he is exempt from the test!" Xia Qingyan replied coldly.
"That's not allowed! You can't break the rules!" Song Cheng said urgently.
"Shizun Xia, let me take the test like the other students. I'm confident in my strength," Mu Chen said with a calm smile.
Seeing Mu Chen's confident expression, Xia Qingyan raised her brows. "If that's what you want, then it's up to you."
Mu Chen followed Xia Qingyan to the Inscription Academy's examination area.
Song Cheng glared in their direction, gritting his teeth. "That beauty trap! So cunning."
Lu Han nodded. "Exactly."
The Inscription Academy's test was simple: just complete a level one inscription.
Mu Chen could already draw second-level inscriptions with ease and even some third-level ones. Drawing a level one inscription was barely a challenge.
Originally, Xia Qingyan thought if Mu Chen couldn't pass the evaluation, she'd open a back door for him. Who would've thought he'd finish the inscription in one go, and so quickly that people were stunned.
"Elder sister, Mu Chen is at least a second-level inscription master," Xia Qingli whispered in Xia Qingyan's ear.
Xia Qingyan's expression changed. She had thought Mu Chen chose inscription only out of spite against Danyuan and Fuyuan, but now it seemed Mu Chen was truly skilled.
When the word "Passed" appeared next to Mu Chen's name on the screen, Song Cheng jumped up in frustration.
"Xia Qingyan, you're cheating!" Song Cheng scowled.
Xia Qingyan sneered, "Dean Song, don't blame me. It was your Fuyuan that liked to cheat!"
"When Mu Chen was admitted to your academy, Fan Li swore he couldn't awaken the Spring Breeze and Rain Talisman he had drawn. Fortunately, Senior Jing Chiyan was there at the time. Otherwise, a genius like him would've been expelled. What a loss that would have been. Thank goodness our Inscription Academy got him in the end." Xia Qingyan said mockingly.
Song Cheng's face darkened. That Spring Breeze and Rain Talisman incident had indeed caused a stir.
Later, he looked into Mu Chen's test and found that Fan Li had tampered not just with the results but also with the talisman itself.
At the time, Mu Chen must've noticed the issue and created a new structure...
To pass that test under those circumstances, Mu Chen had to have keen observation, a calm demeanor, and creative talent — and Fuyuan actually pushed away such a genius.
"No matter what, Mu Chen can't transfer to your Inscription Academy." Song Cheng said, face gloomy.
Xia Qingyan narrowed her eyes, aura flaring. "Song Cheng, I give you a little face and now you think you can open a dye shop with it? Mu Chen passed the Inscription Academy evaluation. He belongs to us now!"
Song Cheng's expression changed. He cupped his hands and forced a smile, "Dean Xia, please, I beg you. Mu Chen is just angry right now. Once he cools down, he'll regret it. His talent in talismans is amazing — he should be part of our Talisman Academy."
Xia Qingyan sneered. "Dean Song, you're mistaken. What's most impressive about Mu Chen isn't his talisman or alchemy skills — it's his astonishing ability to learn. I heard it was because of a mistake that he was placed in Fuyuan and only then picked up talismans."
Song Cheng's face twitched. Indeed, there had been rumors that Mu Chen learned talismans in just one day, but he hadn't believed them. Now, it actually seemed possible.
"Congratulations on passing." Ye Shi walked up to Mu Chen and said.
Mu Chen crossed his arms and shrugged, "Nothing to congratulate. It was expected."
"True enough." Ye Shi smiled.
Suddenly, a strong scent of alcohol wafted over.
When Xia Qingyan turned around, she saw Xiong Wei.
"Elder Xiong, why did you come out?" Xia Qingyan asked, surprised. Xiong Wei had been in the quarry for years and rarely appeared unless buying wine.
"They were trying to steal someone from our academy." Xiong Wei said casually.
"Nonsense! You clearly used underhanded tricks to steal someone from Fuyuan!" Song Cheng snapped.
Xia Qingyan's expression darkened. "You can't attract talent and want to blame us for not looking down on your academy's own students?"
"Mu Chen should've entered the Pill Academy," Lu Han added.
"Shut up!" Xia Qingyan and Song Cheng shouted in unison.
Lu Han sighed helplessly. His relationship with Danyuan had now completely soured.
"Auntie, please do me a favor and let him go!" Song Cheng said with a bitter face.
Xia Qingyan crossed her arms. "Don't try to act pitiful. I don't want to be anyone's aunt!"
Xiong Wei looked around and said, "Seems like my disciple is quite popular!"
"Your disciple?" Xia Qingyan looked at Xiong Wei in confusion.
Xiong Wei nodded. "Yeah! Disciple, what are you doing over there? Hurry up and come greet your shizun."
Ye Shi blinked, puzzled. "Who is he calling?"
Mu Chen frowned. "I don't know."
"You don't know something? Looks like he's calling you." Ye Shi said with a smile. "Though… maybe not?"
Mu Chen narrowed his eyes. He had a feeling Xiong Wei was calling him — but Xiong Wei had never taken him as a disciple!
"You brat, you don't even recognize your shizun anymore?" Xiong Wei appeared in front of Mu Chen in a flash and slapped his shoulder. Mu Chen felt his whole body go numb and almost collapsed.
"Come on!" Xiong Wei gave him a sharp look.
Mu Chen took a second slap, then obediently called out, "Shizun."
Xiong Wei's hand gently landed on his shoulder. "Disciple, you're quite popular! Becoming this old man's disciple is the right decision — everyone loves you, flowers bloom at your sight. I've got a good eye!"
Mu Chen gave an awkward smile. "Shizun, you flatter me."
"Here, for you." Xiong Wei handed Mu Chen a red crystal.
Mu Chen's eyes narrowed — what Xiong Wei gave him was a Lianyan Star Stone, which enhanced the quality of heavenly fire. His Qingming Flame had reached mid-third level, and with this, it could rise to level four!
"Thank you, Shizun." Mu Chen bowed gratefully.
He thought: So he knew I had a strange flame? These old foxes really have sharp eyes...
Ye Shi stepped up and protested, "Elder! Why are you giving Mu Chen such a precious thing as a meeting gift?! That's cheating! He's too popular — everyone wants to take him as disciple."
Xiong Wei rolled his eyes. "Disciple, why did you find such a blind thing?"
Ye Shi gave Xiong Wei a fierce glare at that remark.
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