Chapter 27: Going Too Far! (Happy New Year)

A new year has come—may everyone's spirit feel a year younger! May all your wishes come true!

——

"Senior Xu? How on earth did you manage to reach the advanced level of Star Grade Two in such a short time? Come on, tell us a little, just a hint. Or is it that... geniuses really do exist in this world? Senior, don’t be so silent. About last time, we were in the wrong. Just let it go, all right? Be the bigger man and don’t hold it against us little girls... Please, tell us?"

The persistent questioning and chatter from Xiang Nan made Xu Wen start to regret his earlier decision to join the team for the hunt of the Star Grade Two high-level magical beast.

"Fine, I admit it—I’m a genius."

Ignoring her stunned expression, Xu Wen quickened his pace and moved past her to the front of the group, finally putting an end to Xiang Nan’s endless chatter.

Xu Wen’s helplessness and Xiang Nan’s frustrated look brought knowing, friendly smiles to the faces of the others in the group. Even Shiya and Jinyu, who were as close to Xiang Nan as sisters, exchanged a glance and smiled, not at all surprised by Xu Wen’s refusal to reveal anything about his training.

There was fierce competition among the cohort of registered disciples. This was hardly the time for anyone to lend a helping hand to a competitor during the race to the top.

Xie Zhan glanced back. Seeing Xiang Nan trailing behind the group, fuming, he shook his head. "She must be really upset now."

"I’m the one who’s upset! What’s your relationship with that tomboy?" Xu Wen shot him an annoyed look.

Startled, Xie Zhan realized he’d been overly concerned. A flush of embarrassment crept across his usually stoic face as he waved his hands in denial. "What are you talking about? What could I possibly have to do with her? Tch! Seriously!" Noticing Jinyu and Shiya looking over as well, he grew even more flustered, finally turning his head away in defeat.

Oh? There’s definitely something going on here.

Since there were no monsters on the road to interrupt, Xu Wen was in the mood to tease him a little further...

Just then, Jinyu’s voice sounded in his ear.

"Of course he’s concerned! Don’t you know, Xiang Nan and Xie Zhan grew up together as childhood friends?"

"What?"

Xu Wen was genuinely surprised. He glanced at Xie Zhan and thought to himself that he’d never have guessed.

"Childhood friends? Don’t listen to her nonsense! We just happened to live in the same courtyard, and only for the past two years. She’s wild as can be, barely says three words to me a day, always running off somewhere!" Xie Zhan hastily clarified, even giving examples.

Xu Wen finally began to sense the truth and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Living in the same courtyard? That’s a pretty close relationship."

"Exactly! Exactly!" Xiang Nan, seeing Xu Wen’s tone soften, immediately perked up and drew closer. "Senior Xu, you and Xie Zhan are good brothers, so you’re my brother too! Among good brothers, there’s no need to be so calculating, right?" The girls nearby couldn’t help but marvel at her shamelessness.

"Brother?"

Xu Wen lifted his chin, deliberately letting his gaze sweep over her slightly rounded chest, his expression full of doubt.

Xiang Nan reacted instantly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Pervert!"

"Now you see that the word ‘brother’ doesn’t quite apply to us, does it?" Xu Wen laughed, completely unfazed.

Jinyu and Shiya exchanged wry smiles once again. Truly, every pot finds its lid. Xiang Nan, who was usually unbeatable among her peers, never seemed to get the upper hand with Xu Wen.

"Senior Xu," a pleasant voice interrupted their laughter as Jinyu spoke up. "I heard from Senior Sister Mixue that after joining the inner sect, you also plan to compete for a place at Azure Cloud Academy?"

"Yes," Xu Wen nodded.

"Then, are you clear on the rules of the competition?"

"The rules?" Xu Wen was caught off guard by the crafty look in Jinyu’s eyes.

"Yes. Every year, many inner disciples wish to enter Azure Cloud Academy... but the Hortonklin family, to avoid infighting and unhealthy rivalry, has established a special rule."

"Each year, the inner disciples of the same cohort must form their own teams by peak and compete together. Only the winners will have the chance to study at Azure Cloud Academy! This not only avoids direct competition under the same roof, but also fosters mutual support and teamwork among the inner disciples, so they’ll maintain good cooperative relationships when they enter the academy."

Xu Wen nodded in sudden understanding.

The Hortonklin family certainly has its share of talent!

"Wait a minute," Xu Wen looked up at Xie Zhan, then at Jinyu, whose smile was as sweet as ever. "Disciples of the same age form their own teams? That’s not what Senior Sister Mixue told me."

Jinyu smiled. "Senior Sister Mixue was just trying to motivate you—so you’d work even harder. In fact, the family sends two groups to Azure Cloud Academy each year: one group under eighteen, and another under fifteen. We’re lucky; we only need to compete with our fellow inner disciples." Unintentionally, the girl revealed both her longing for a place at the academy and her confidence in becoming an inner disciple.

Xu Wen had no doubt that Jinyu would become an inner disciple. With Xie Zhan, who was already at Star Grade Two, Level Five, their five-person competition team still had two vacancies...

"Damn, among the registered disciples, who else is most likely to qualify as an inner disciple? I don’t know many people well... I’d better prepare for this in advance... Huh?"

Before he could finish, he felt four searing, angry gazes boring into him.

Needless to say, the owners of those looks were Xiang Nan and Shiya, both determined to claim the last two inner disciple spots!

After several minutes, the three girls joined forces—even Xie Zhan became a lobbyist—before Xu Wen was finally convinced that these two really did have the best chance among the remaining candidates.

Now that their team of five was ‘set,’ Xu Wen, at the girls’ urging, stopped being secretive and revealed his ‘training secret’ to them.

"Awakening Pills?"

"Pfft, we already knew that."

The three girls looked disappointed—it was clear they’d already been using Awakening Pills with fire techniques in their training.

"My Awakening Pill regimen is different from yours," Xu Wen said with a slight smile, having expected their reaction.

Their interest was immediately piqued again.

"How long do you spend each day making Awakening Pills?" he asked.

"Uh... almost half the day," one replied.

"Exactly. I only need half an hour."

"Liar!" "You can make, what, six pills in half an hour? That’s not nearly enough for training!"

The three girls didn’t believe him. They knew pill refining was time-consuming—at least ten minutes to produce a single batch!

"Why not? I can make ten at a time, can’t I? Refining them myself also trains my mental strength. All told, I get much more practice time than you do in a day. That’s how it is." Xu Wen’s explanation shattered their doubts, leaving the girls speechless and the rest of the team equally astonished.

Self-refining! Multiple pill refining!

That was said to be attainable only by those whose alchemy skills were above average!

Everyone stared at Xu Wen with skeptical eyes, which he found quite exasperating.

Just as he was about to explain, a wave of strong, inexplicable foreboding surged within him!

His expression hardened, and he suddenly stopped, eyes fixed on the depths of the forest!

The others sensed his change and halted as well.

One look, and Xu Wen’s heart immediately tightened. His gaze swept rapidly over his surroundings—when he’d finished, he drew a sharp breath.

Damn it!

The environment... and these unfamiliar trees, all so strange!

"This is bad!"

At that moment, faint sounds came from the forest ahead, and a strong sense of danger welled up inside him. Sweat began to bead in his palms—even he, a veteran of seven days and nights in the Blackwater Mountains, had never been here before. Could it be... they’d gone too far?

Distracted by chatting, with no monsters along the way to break their focus, they’d wandered unknowingly into the most forbidden of forbidden zones!

As for the others, they’d never even been near a Star Grade Two high-level beast’s territory before. With no mishaps along the way, they’d been oblivious, not realizing where they’d ended up.

"Send up the rescue flare!"

Xu Wen’s face turned ashen. Without pausing to identify the beast emerging from the forest ahead, he lowered his voice to the group. With no response, his tone shot up eight notches:

"Damn it! If you don’t want to die, send the flare!"

"Right away!!"