Yan Zhen didn’t sleep that night. Instead, he entered the Crystal Stone Space, swallowed a Minor Yuan Pill, and sat cross-legged in meditation next to the Beautiful Female Master.
Having awakened his spiritual power and learned spiritual sense, Yan Zhen followed her guidance and attempted internal vision.
He could see the mystic power in his dantian gathering into a cluster around the center in thin strands, resembling the atomic model from a physics textbook.
To advance a star rank, one had to infuse more mystic power into that cluster. The process grew harder the further along it went, since the mystic power farther from the center struggled to form regular circulation patterns.
But for someone with spiritual power, it wasn’t all that difficult. As long as mystic power and spiritual power were plentiful enough, a person could even charge straight up to nine-star in one go.
Of course, that was just theory. In reality, human endurance had its limits—unless one stopped being human altogether.
After cultivating through the night, Yan Zhen’s cultivation showed faint signs of progress. At this rate, he’d advance to Seven-Star Mystic Practitioner in at most a month.
Still not fully satisfied, he ended his session, left the Crystal Stone Space, freshened up, and headed to the dining hall.
Mentor Yu Xuan and Yan Meng’er were preparing breakfast together.
At the table, Mi Xue’er and Yan Ruyu sat side by side, while Xiao Xinyan occupied the seat farthest from them. The air between the two sides wasn’t exactly friendly, but they weren’t openly glaring either—they simply pretended the other didn’t exist.
Mi Xue’er and Yan Ruyu chatted and laughed, apparently discussing the summer relief products recently released by the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce. Xiao Xinyan, meanwhile, cradled a book as she read, her cheeks rosy and her expression focused. Clearly, she’d bounced back emotionally.
Yan Zhen paused for a moment.
Right—this woman was staying here for a few days.
When he arrived, Mi Xue’er greeted him with even more enthusiasm than usual.
“Good morning, Little Brother Yan Zhen!”
Yan Zhen responded mildly. “Good morning. You’re all up early today.”
They usually didn’t show up until breakfast was ready.
Mi Xue’er leaned forward dramatically, propping her chin on her hands atop the table as she gazed wistfully at him. “Sigh. Starting today, Little Brother Yan Zhen, you’re an Advanced Class student. We won’t be in the same class anymore, so our time together is limited to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We have to cherish every moment.”
She paused, then added with exaggerated melancholy, “You won’t be calling me senior sister anymore… How about just calling me big sis instead?”
Upon hearing that, Yan Ruyu playfully smacked Mi Xue’er’s fair arm. If Yan Zhen started calling her “big sis,” wouldn’t that make Xue’er closer to him than his own cousin?
Pfft.
A deliberate snicker rose from nearby, dripping with mockery.
Mi Xue’er shot a cold sideways glance but decided not to engage.
Yan Zhen smiled faintly. “Even if I’m in Advanced Class now, I can still call you senior sister. You’re three years older than me, after all.”
Mi Xue’er’s lingering annoyance shattered under that sweet, obedient smile. She cupped her burning cheeks and said shyly, “Little Brother Yan Zhen, you’re too sweet. I want to marry you.”
Yan Ruyu rolled her eyes at her best friend. Xue’er and her shameless mouth—what wouldn’t she say?
Heh heh.
The sound came from Xiao Xinyan again, this time from behind her book. It carried a clear note of deliberate provocation.
She’d been quiet enough before Yan Zhen showed up, but now she seemed determined to remind everyone she existed.
Mi Xue’er slapped the table and shot to her feet. “Hey, Xiao! What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Xiao Xinyan set her book down, revealing her stunning face—carefully made up today—and replied coolly, “I laughed at the book. Got a problem?”
“You can laugh out loud reading a Mystic Technique cultivation manual? Why aren’t you dead from it yet?”
“Hmph. Mind your own business.”
“Alright, Xue’er, simmer down,” Yan Ruyu said, tugging her friend back into her seat. She turned to Xiao Xinyan with a helpless but sharp look. “And you—say less. You’re a guest under someone else’s roof. Acting like this just puts Mentor Yu Xuan in an awkward spot.”
Xiao Xinyan, who’d been looking rather smug, froze. She sneaked a glance at Yan Zhen and saw his own exasperated expression. Hurriedly, she lifted her book again to hide her face and fell silent.
By the time Mentor Yu Xuan and Yan Meng’er brought breakfast over, the mood had returned to its usual liveliness.
After the meal, they set off for school—but this time with one extra person, which drew even more stares along the way.
“That’s Yan Zhen? Beat a Nine-Star Mystic Practitioner, Lan Ke, with just six-star cultivation and took his third-place spot on the Nine Stars Ranking. Way too strong!”
“A six-star Mystic Practitioner landing third on the Nine Stars Ranking? First time in academy history, right? That’s insanely broken—broken as hell, dude!”
“No wonder he has ties to all four Golden Flowers in the academy. Damn harem king. I’m so jealous!”
“Wait—hold up. Isn’t that the Xiao Family’s Eldest Miss walking next to him?”
“Xiao Xinyan is Mentor Yu Xuan’s disciple too, so it’s normal for them to walk together. Don’t spread nonsense, or you’ll get beat. She’s gorgeous, but her temper’s nothing like our four Campus Belles.”
“Huh? You mean… those beautiful feet of hers stomping us flat? Yeah? Slurp~”
“…”
“Hey, bro, dial back the creep factor.”
Yan Zhen was utterly speechless.
I often feel out of place because I’m not perverted enough.
At the academy gates, the group split into three.
Yan Meng’er headed to the beginner class.
Yan Ruyu and Mi Xue’er went to Intermediate Class.
Mentor Yu Xuan led Yan Zhen—with Xiao Xinyan tagging along—to Advanced Class.
“Yan Zhen, after discussion among the mentors, you’ve been assigned to Class 1. You’ll be in the same class as Xiao Mie and Xinyan.”
Yan Zhen nodded.
Advanced Class consisted of only three subclasses: Xiao Mie in Class 1, Yu Yue in Class 2, and Lan Ke in Class 3. One top student per class—it had been perfectly balanced.
Yan Zhen’s arrival shattered that balance. After all, he was the top-tier talent who’d defeated Lan Ke and could rival Xiao Mie himself.
Putting him in Class 1 was the academy’s way of sparking competition between him and Xiao Mie—honing each other into the ultimate student.
Yan Zhen had no issue with the arrangement. In fact, it suited him perfectly.
Once he advanced to Seven-Star Mystic Practitioner, he’d challenge Xiao Mie!
When the three arrived at Advanced Class 1, the homeroom teacher was already there.
Class 1’s teacher was Xiao Mie’s own mentor: a square-faced middle-aged man surnamed Fang.
One hand on his hip, he sized Yan Zhen up from both sides and chuckled. “Six-star beats nine-star, eh? Impressive kid. Mentor Yu Xuan’s got a good eye. But my Xiao Mie ain’t a pushover—you won’t beat him easily.”
Mentor Yu Xuan gazed warmly at Yan Zhen, patted his head, and smiled softly. “I believe Yan Zhen will win.”
Yan Zhen smiled shyly. Teacher Fang boomed with laughter. “Pretty bashful, aren’t ya? Can’t have that—a real man puffs out his chest and owns it!” With that, he clapped Yan Zhen hard on the shoulder.
Mentor Yu Xuan departed. Teacher Fang then escorted Yan Zhen into the Class 1 classroom and had him step up to the podium for a self-introduction to the seated students.
Yan Zhen cleared his throat, gazed down at his new classmates, and declared loudly, “Young City Lord of Martial Tang City: Yan Zhen. Sixteen years old. Six-Star Mystic Practitioner—soon to be seven. Anyone want a spar? I’ll take you all on!”
The classmates gawked in shock.
Xiao Mie remained stoic.
Xiao Xinyan blinked in surprise.
Teacher Fang looked dumbfounded.
This kid had totally faked that act in front of Mentor Yu Xuan!
