Whenever the battle in the Misty Forest came up, teachers and students alike wore expressions of admiration, showering Chen Xiaojun's intelligence and strength with praise.
Zhuang Mocheng sighed with feeling. "Chen Xiaojun, you possess not only extraordinary wisdom, but exceptional strength as well. You fought a Wolf Bandit lord single-handedly, and you have an unyielding heart."
"In those moments when life and death hung in the balance, you kept your composure and led everyone out of danger time and again. That is a truly rare and precious quality."
Chen Xiaojun smiled modestly. "I only did what I should have done."
"With our lives hanging in the balance, every one of us gave it everything we had. For the academy, and for one another, we were willing to sacrifice anything."
"The credit isn't mine alone. It was the result of all of us working together."
Zhuang Mocheng nodded, approval filling his eyes. "Yes, yes, you're right. Still, your leadership was the key."
"With you here, we can rest easy about this year's Continental Advanced Elite Tournament."
"You're the divine needle that steadies our seas!"
Listening from the side, Chen Cong could no longer bear it. He curled his lip and said, "Come on, Old Zhuang, stop piling laurels on his head. This brat has made plenty of mistakes too. Don't praise him into a blooming flower."
The words had barely left his mouth before Chen Cong changed tack. "Old Zhuang, you must have other business here today, right? Don't tell me you only came to praise Chen Xiaojun. That's not your style."
Chen Cong's remark left Zhuang Mocheng looking a little sheepish. He rubbed his nose and said, "Heh, you know me best, Dean."
"I heard that a young female Soul Master from your Chen Clan went along this time. Not