164 One Month of Plot
After leaving the cliffside building, Yan Zhen took Long Ying back to the Grand Elder’s residence. After making some preparations, he informed Grand Elder Yu Yan that he was going to the Great Forest outside the academy for cultivation. Having received her approval, he set off.
He brought Long Ying along because, in the script, it was by listening to her dragon roar that he comprehended the Heavenly Dragon’s Eight Tones.
With Long Ying’s help, Yan Zhen mastered the “First Tone” of the Heavenly Dragon’s Eight Tones in just three days. Combined with the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire, it was powerful enough to affect the minds of even Mystic Generals.
He then spent another four days practicing, mastering the “Second Tone,” which could even influence Mystic Kings.
Upon returning, Yan Zhen heard that Wu Tie, the leader of the Black Horn society, had publicly challenged him, seeking revenge for his subordinates.
Wu Tie was ranked ninth on the Rising Star List, while Yan Zhen, after the monthly update, had replaced Bai Ao at thirty-third.
Challenges from higher-ranked students to lower-ranked ones were rare, as it was considered shameful, and the latter could refuse. However, Wu Tie’s public challenge made it difficult for Yan Zhen to decline.
Yan Zhen ignored him and focused on his own development.
In the script, Yan Zhen, having to support a gluttonous little loli—because he coveted her divine blood—struggled financially and had to resort to his old profession: alchemy!
So, he bought a large quantity of Tier 3 materials from the Inner Academy Exchange and began refining Tier 3 pills.
His soul cultivation having reached “Hidden-Midst-Manifest,” the fourth realm, refining Tier 3 pills was easy, his success rate over ninety percent.
He then sold the refined pills at the Exchange. Because his prices were slightly lower, and the quality of his pills was excellent, they were quickly bought up by Mystic Master realm students.
The female students, in particular, loved his beauty-enhancing pills and fragrant oils.
After making a small fortune, under Beautiful Master’s urging, Yan Zhen bought Tier 4 materials and began refining Tier 4 pills, easily mastering the process.
He then attempted to refine Tier 5 pills.
Without Hidden Realm soul cultivation, refining Tier 5 pills was difficult, but not impossible.
The pill market in the Inner Academy Exchange was currently monopolized by the Medicine King society, one of the top ten societies. Yan Zhen’s presence threatened their business and their authority. However, his pills were undeniably good, so some members of the Medicine King society approached him, giving him two choices:
Either join Medicine King, or stop selling pills.
Yan Zhen told them to get lost.
The smart move would have been to buy his pills and resell them, maintaining their control over the market.
Unfortunately, these youngsters lacked business acumen, thinking Yan Zhen, a freshman with no strong backing and a tendency to show off, was easy to bully. He had already offended two of the top ten societies, Broken Mirror and Black Horn, and also antagonized many senior students. Therefore, they didn’t even consider a partnership. Seeing his refusal to join them, they challenged him to a pill refinement competition, hoping to drive him out of business!
After defeating two of their alchemists, the leader of Medicine King, also the gatekeeper of the Rising Star List, finally stepped forward to challenge Yan Zhen directly.
This person wielded the eighty-eighth ranked Extreme Flame, the “Wood-Born Fire,” and refined a high-quality Tier 4 Mystic Pill.
Yan Zhen, however, assisted by the Great Crimson Skyfire, refined a near Tier 5 Mystic Pill.
There was no need for a judge. The winner was obvious.
Their alchemy skills were comparable, with Yan Zhen perhaps even slightly inferior, as alchemy wasn’t his focus. But he possessed a better Extreme Flame.
The Medicine King leader lost. As agreed, not only did Yan Zhen claim his Tier 4 pill, but he also gained a designated stall in the Exchange, free from interference.
Fortunately, the leader was a good sport and honored the agreement.
However, Yan Zhen didn’t continue refining and selling pills. After completing the system mission, he moved on.
After a month of alchemy, Yan Zhen’s cultivation smoothly reached seven-star Mystic Master, the previous sluggishness from rapid advancement gone.
Among the nine stars of each major realm, one to three were considered low-star, four to six mid-star, and seven to nine high-star.
Having become a seven-star Mystic Master, Yan Zhen’s Mystic Power increased significantly, now comparable to a Mystic General. Combined with his Extreme Flames, he could even hold his own against a three-star Mystic General—in a purely power-based confrontation without any techniques!
A seven-star Mystic Master, with his Natal Sword, Tier 4 physique, and Tier 4 soul cultivation, was more than a match for a seven-star Mystic General.
So, in the middle of his third month in the Inner Academy, Yan Zhen publicly challenged Wu Tie, ranked ninth on the Rising Star List!
His ranking hadn’t changed this month, still thirty-third.
When a lower-ranked student challenged a higher-ranked one, the latter couldn’t refuse unless they had already accepted another challenge that month.
Wu Tie naturally accepted.
The entire Inner Academy was buzzing with anticipation for this duel.
Most students were indignant that a freshman was ranked among them, believing Yan Zhen was courting death. The top ten on the Rising Star List were on a completely different level. Wu Tie, a seven-star Mystic General, was a veteran powerhouse of the Inner Academy. Yan Zhen, a mere seven-star Mystic Master, was destined to lose!
However, some more rational students, although not optimistic about Yan Zhen’s chances, still believed he had a chance, considering his impressive victory against a four-star Mystic General as a four-star Mystic Master.
The duel took place in the Inner Academy’s Grand Dueling Arena. Over half the Inner Academy students were present, eager to witness the clash between the rising star and the established powerhouse, to see how Wu Tie would teach this arrogant freshman a lesson…
The result, however, shocked them all.
Initially, Wu Tie, using his armor-type Mystic Skills, transformed into a humanoid tyrannosaurus, dominating Yan Zhen and forcing him to retreat. Until Yan Zhen unleashed his flame sword.
The young man clenched his hand, and gold and silver flames converged, forming a complete greatsword.
Flames danced across the blade, the crossguard burned like a raging inferno, and a dragon coiled around the hilt. The sword exuded a powerful metallic aura, completely different from the previous ethereal form.
Whether it was the spectators or Wu Tie himself, they would never forget this scene:
The young man, wielding the sword with both hands, drew upon the power of heaven and earth, a nearly ten-zhang long sword beam erupting from the blade.
He slashed downwards, and a wave of fiery energy, infused with the power of heaven and earth, surged forth, incinerating all of Wu Tie’s defenses, then slamming him into the arena wall, where he became embedded, charred black and unconscious.
In his third month in the Inner Academy, Yan Zhen had decisively defeated the ninth-ranked student on the Rising Star List, taking his place.
The crowd erupted in cheers!
Long Ying, in a corner of the arena, cheered the loudest, clapping her little hands, her face beaming with pride.
Huangfu Wenqing and Zi Xunyi also smiled, their eyes filled with affection as they gazed at their fiancé/future husband.
Even Grand Elder Yu Yan was present, her eyes narrowed in a smile as she nodded with satisfaction.
“That boy… he reached the top ten so quickly.” Cousin Yu Die couldn’t help but mutter, “At this rate, he’ll surpass me within six months.”
“Defeating a seven-star Mystic General as a seven-star Mystic Master… this Junior Brother Yan Zhen is a monster.” Ling Fei scratched his head. “Is he another freak like Gu Tiange? Sigh, I hope I’m not next~”
“…”
Wen Canglan’s face darkened.
Yan Zhen’s progress was far beyond his expectations. Although he wasn’t a threat yet, if he continued to grow at this rate…
He had to eliminate him before that happened.
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