Refusing to Compete

"Drop out? No, no need." Mu Ye waved a hand. "Even if you've become my disciple, you'll still need some time to build a foundation. I also need to prepare a few things. Come find me when you're on break, and I'll properly work out a training plan for you then."

To Mu Ye, Yun Chen was an exceedingly rare treasure. He had never undergone the Body Sect's brutal secret-method tempering, yet his body was hardly inferior to A Ruheng's, even after such tempering. With such a foundation, Mu Ye believed Yun Chen might have even greater potential than A Ruheng.

What Mu Ye looked forward to most now was Yun Chen's martial soul. He felt that Yun Chen's current martial soul manifestation might not be complete, because he could sense hidden power still slumbering within him. If that power could be awakened, it would certainly make Yun Chen stronger.

However, Mu Ye had yet to determine when he should help Yun Chen awaken that power, because he was unsure just how great a change it would bring to Yun Chen.

After eating and drinking their fill, Mu Ye and Mu Chen saw Yun Chen and Mu Xi out of the Blacksmith Association together. Before they left, Mu Ye gave Yun Chen his Soul Guidance Communication number. He told him to come to the Blacksmith Association and find him during his next break. He would remain in East Sea for the near future and would leave only after completing the first phase of training.

After the two had left, Mu Chen asked, "Is that kid really that good?"

"He's even better than you imagine!" Mu Ye sighed. "I have to admit, there really are people in this world blessed by heaven."

Mu Ye's words made Mu Chen nod silently. At their age, their experiences and insight were far beyond what young people could compare with. They saw many things clearly, especially talent. They had an even deeper understanding of it, despite being among those standing at the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent.

After returning to Eastsea Academy, Yun Chen and Mu Xi went their separate ways. Before parting, Mu Xi reminded Yun Chen not to neglect his forging. In her mind, forging was more important than cultivation. Yun Chen held the opposite view on that matter.

But Mu Xi meant well, so Yun Chen did not argue with her. They agreed to practice forging together during their next break, and Yun Chen even said that he hoped Mu Xi could give him more guidance then.

Although Mu Xi, like Yun Chen, was currently a Level 2 blacksmith, she had spent far more time at that level. With her Saint Craftsman father personally teaching her, her theoretical knowledge was far more extensive than Yun Chen's. Therefore, Yun Chen felt there was nothing wrong with studying alongside Mu Xi.

Tang Wulin was also a Level 2 blacksmith, just like the two of them, but he had already been cast to the back of their minds. Before Yun Chen, Tang Wulin, who had always been somewhat insecure, truly seemed to have become a nobody.

In a cultivation room at Spirit Pagoda headquarters in Shrek City, Phantom Brain Douluo Han Tianyi was in a very bad mood. He had tried many times, but he simply could not get through to Mu Ye's Soul Guidance Communication.

After who knew how many attempts, Han Tianyi gave up. He rose and walked to the window, gazing at the scenery of Shrek City as he muttered to himself, "For Mu Ye to give such high praise, the child Vice Tower Master Leng recommended must be quite talented. But that brat Mu Ye actually dared to snatch someone from under my nose. Next time, I'll have to let him experience his martial uncle's methods."

Although he was thinking about how to teach Mu Ye a lesson the next time they met, the corner of Han Tianyi's mouth curved upward on its own. Clearly, his mood was not all that bad.

Since the Body Sect's decline, many people had left the sect and joined other organizations. Yet most of them, like Han Tianyi, still cared deeply about the sect and secretly supported it. However, the continent's current order had long been established. It would not be easy for the Body Sect to rise again, reclaim a position, and regain its voice.

Elsewhere, in Qiangu Dongfeng's office, he silently pondered the intelligence his subordinate had delivered.

After a long while, he made his decision and said to the subordinate still waiting in the office, "Do not interfere with the vice tower master's affairs. Since she personally granted that core disciple slot, the child must be qualified."

The staff member accepted the order and left Qiangu Dongfeng's office. Once he was gone, the other young man in the office finally asked, "Grandfather, haven't you always been secretly targeting the Leng Family? Why are you being so generous this time?"

"What do you know?" Qiangu Dongfeng glared at his grandson. "The Qiangu Family and the Leng Family have factional differences within the Spirit Pagoda, but in terms of the overall direction, we are both working for the Spirit Pagoda's development. No matter how fiercely we fight, we cannot affect the Spirit Pagoda's growth. That is the principle. Remember it well, and put away those immature thoughts of yours, or don't blame me for breaking your legs!"

Upon hearing Qiangu Dongfeng say that, Qiangu Zhangting shrank back slightly, but he was rather indignant inside. After all, who in the Qiangu Family did not know the things Qiangu Dongfeng had done? He was still putting on this act before his own family. Qiangu Zhangting thought his grandfather was rather hypocritical. No wonder Leng Yaozhu looked down on him.

Of course, he only dared to think those words. He would never dare say them aloud. Otherwise, Qiangu Dongfeng's Panlong Staff really would come down on his legs.

The following day.

In class, Ye Yingluo brought up the Class Promotion Tournament again. This time, she listed every team combination she had arranged and wrote them on the blackboard.

Looking at the groups on the blackboard, Wei Xiaofeng, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi were not in very good moods. Although they had made an agreement with Yun Chen, whether Ye Yingluo would approve was another matter.

Just then, Yun Chen raised his hand. "Teacher Ye, I don't want to participate in the Class Promotion Tournament. I'm about to break through Rank 30, and I don't want to waste time on this."

Ye Yingluo's brows lifted when she heard Yun Chen. To be honest, she did not particularly like him as a student. In some respects, he did not seem to respect her as his teacher.

"Yun Chen, the Class Promotion Tournament is also for the class's honor. Besides, with your cultivation, you should..."

Before Ye Yingluo could finish, Yun Chen sat back down. He had already guessed what she wanted to say: that for the class's honor, he should sacrifice his personal wishes, and that his cultivation was so high that competing would not waste much of his time.

Although Yun Chen's body was only nine years old, his soul had long been that of an adult. He had already had his fill of this kind of inspirational drivel used to fool children in his previous life. Now Ye Yingluo wanted him to swallow more of it? Not a chance!