Chapter 100: Lianyan Starston
"Senior Xiong actually accepted Mu Chen as his disciple?" Murong Yan said in surprise.
Several tutors from the Pill Academy had also been intending to take Mu Chen as a disciple, but Xiong Wei got there first. With Xiong Wei backing him, anyone else who wished to approach Mu Chen would now have to think twice.
Murong Yan narrowed his eyes and thought to himself: Mu Chen is indeed highly sought after. Hua Shu tried to take him as a disciple and failed. Now, even Xiong Wei has made his move.
"That's... the Lianyan Starstone?! How can that be?" Lan Ruofeng exclaimed in shock upon seeing what Mu Chen held.
Zhuang Yu, noticing Lan Ruofeng's expression, asked curiously, "Ruofeng, what's wrong? Is there something special about that stone?"
"Of course there is!" Lan Ruofeng replied through clenched teeth.
Murong Yan explained, "That's a Lianyan Starstone. It's used to enhance the quality of rare spiritual flames."
Zhuang Yu blinked. "Mu Chen has the Sun Essence Flame in his body, right? So Senior Xiong gave it to him for that?"
Murong Yan shook his head. "Most likely not. The Sun Essence Flame is fine for crafting fire talismans, but it's weak and very difficult to cultivate. Still, it's a decent choice for those without a flame of their own. But... for Xiong Wei to gift such a treasure, Mu Chen must have another type of spiritual flame."
"Mu Chen... has another flame?" Zhuang Yu looked stunned. "But he's never shown it!"
"Mu Chen is a cautious person," Murong Yan said, eyes narrowing. "How could someone like him reveal his cards without a guarantee of protection? Now that he has Xiong Wei as a backer, no one will dare touch him lightly."
Lan Ruofeng clenched his jaw. The last time Mu Chen blocked Shi Ziyu's palm, he had felt an unfamiliar, fierce spiritual flame. So it hadn't been his imagination after all!
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Headmaster's Office
"Enough, Song Cheng," Lian Chengkong said sternly. "Mu Chen has already transferred to the Inscription Academy. There's no going back to the Pill Academy."
He sighed. Those two tigresses from the Inscription Academy are not people to offend lightly. If I help Song Cheng now, I'll risk both my face and life.
"I've heard about Mu Chen," Lian Chengkong added. "He's an outstanding talent. I originally planned to recruit him as a disciple, but Xiong Wei got there first."
"Dean! Mu Chen's talent in talismans is too great. If he stays in the Inscription Academy, it'll be wasted!" Song Cheng said anxiously.
"Oh? If he was so talented, why did you keep him in the Yellow Class all this time?" Lian Chengkong snapped. "He left because of your own incompetence. You brought this upon yourself."
Song Cheng retorted, "Dean, if you hadn't locked Mu Chen away in the stone quarry, I would've promoted him to Tian Class long ago!"
"So now it's my fault?" Lian Chengkong glared coldly.
"No, no, I wouldn't dare…" Song Cheng chuckled awkwardly.
Lian Chengkong waved him away and had him thrown out with a scowl.
---
Medicinal Hall
"Dean, why did Mu Chen join the Inscription Academy?" Tai Shuming asked Lu Han, clearly confused.
Lu Han growled, "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask!"
He cursed under his breath. That Jing Zhiyan—sly old fox—confused everyone with his half-truths. Took so many treasures from me and still had the face to smile about it!
"Why did Xiong Wei accept Mu Chen as his disciple? Mu Chen was supposed to be my disciple!" Tai Shuming complained.
Yan Wu snorted, "Even if Xiong Wei hadn't accepted him, you wouldn't get the chance anyway."
Tai Shuming gave him an indignant glare.
Lu Han sighed deeply. "It seems our Pill Academy has no fate with Mu Chen…"
Landa, silent on the side, clenched his fists. If he had known Mu Chen would rise this high, he would've never supported Lan Ruofeng in suppressing him.
"That thing Xiong Wei gave Mu Chen… that really was the Lianyan Starstone, wasn't it?" Tai Shuming asked.
Lu Han nodded. "Yes. I heard rumors that Xiong Wei had one, but I never expected it to be true."
Ever since being poisoned with Cold Marrow Ice, Xiong Wei had searched for a fifth-grade spiritual flame to detoxify himself. The Lianyan Starstone was something he valued greatly—yet he gave it to Mu Chen.
"Could it be that Mu Chen truly possesses a strange flame?" Yan Wu murmured.
Lu Han frowned deeply. A rare flame was every alchemist's dream. If Mu Chen really had one, he would soar far above his peers.
---
Fu Yuan Courtyard
Crash! A pile of low-grade items shattered on the floor. Song Cheng paced furiously.
"Dean, don't be so angry…" Huang An tried to calm him.
"Bastards! All of them! That brat dares steal people from my courtyard! And that shameless woman—no wonder she's still unmarried!" Song Cheng roared.
"Dean! Lower your voice. What if Dean Xia hears you?" Huang An whispered urgently.
Song Cheng huffed. "She steals from my courtyard, and I can't even complain?"
"She won't listen to you anyway," Huang An muttered awkwardly.
"And that damned Fan Li!" Song Cheng snarled. "He ruined everything."
Huang An silently held his tongue. Fan Li already wrote a letter apologizing and asking to be transferred back, but now… it's useless.
---
Back at the Quarry
"You're here, Teacher," Mu Chen greeted respectfully.
"Heh, and you too, little stone. Miss me already?" Xiong Wei grinned at Ye Shi.
"Miss you? Don't flatter yourself!" Ye Shi rolled his eyes.
"Apprentice, are you sure you want to stick with this one?" Xiong Wei teased Mu Chen.
"You picking a fight?" Ye Shi raised a fist.
Mu Chen sighed. "Master, a man of your stature shouldn't waste time with teasing."
"Hah, for your sake, I'll let him off," Xiong Wei chuckled.
"Now, let's begin the fusion," he said.
Mu Chen nodded and began releasing the Qing Ming Flame. As the flame emerged, the sky above the quarry turned green, and the temperature soared.
Seeing the unusual fire, cultivators nearby rushed over.
Xiong Wei stood tall and released his pressure. The newcomers all respectfully retracted their auras.
"This your disciple, Xiong?" Shi Ziyu asked.
"He's advancing his Heavenly Flame," Xiong Wei replied proudly.
"Not the Sun Flame, though?" Shi Ziyu frowned.
"No. It's Qing Ming Flame," Xiong Wei answered.
"He kept it hidden well…" Shi Ziyu murmured.
Xiong Wei smirked. "Discreet, just like his master."
Shi Ziyu rolled his eyes. This shameless old man…
Lu Han and Song Cheng arrived shortly after, their faces darkening upon seeing the flame rise to fourth rank.
"Qing Ming Flame…" Lu Han muttered. He really hid it all this time…
Song Cheng clenched his fists. "What a loss… what a massive loss…"
Xia Qingli and Xia Qingyan stood at a mountain peak.
"It's Qing Ming Flame," Xia Qingli said.
Xia Qingyan smiled radiantly. "What a treasure I've found!"
Lan Ruofeng stared at the sky, a hollow ache in his chest. That should've been mine…
As Qing Ming Flame merged with the Lianyan Starstone, its power surged. It advanced to fourth rank, and Mu Chen's cultivation rose—three consecutive levels—becoming an Eight-Star Martial Artist.
Ye Shi looked over in shock. "Mu Chen's progress is insane!"
Xiong Wei laughed, "Of course! He's my disciple, after all! But Little Shi, don't slack off. Even if you have eighth-grade aptitude, my disciple will leave you in the dust if you're lazy."
Ye Shi clenched his fists. "I'll work harder!"
Xiong Wei grinned. "Good. That's the spirit."
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