Bu Wuchen could feel that the dean's attitude was utterly sincere.
And that was indeed the case-
Zhou Wan'en was unwilling to let such a prodigy of the pill Dao slip away, no matter what!
The youth gave a bitter smile, then leaned close to his ear and frankly told him that he was "never to return without an imperial summons or heaven's selection."
However, that imperial decree was all he told Dean Zhou about.
As for the specific causes and consequences, he mentioned not a word.
He still needed to maintain a basic guard against others...
Bu Wuchen had thought the man would recognize the difficulty and back down.
After all, this was the decree of Great Liang's emperor!
However much influence Dean Zhou possessed, could it possibly outweigh that imperial decree?
Yet, to his surprise, a gleam instead sprang into the thin, small old man's eyes after he heard this. "Ha! If that's true, you have even more reason to join the Pill Hall!"
"You've at least heard of our Great Liang Kingdom's triennial Hundred Schools Tournament, haven't you?"
"Yes, I have."
Bu Wuchen nodded.
It was one of Great Liang's few nationwide grand events, and its name was renowned!
When the time came, the Mystic Qi academies of every city and town in the Great Liang Kingdom would send their strongest students to compete in the tournament.
After successive rounds of competition, the top hundred who distinguished themselves would all receive exceptional admission to the highest institution of learning, the Imperial Capital Academy!
If a student could seize a place in the top three of the Hundred Schools Tournament, that would be even more extraordinary-
Given time, soaring to success would be no problem;
Even becoming a general or being made a marquis was not impossible!
At this thought, Bu Wuchen's eyes suddenly lit up. "Wait, the top hundred? The Imperial Capital Institute?"
Zhou Wan'en broke into a smile. "Hehe, judging by your expression, you've already thought of it, haven't you?"
"That's right. As long as you can rank among the top hundred in the Hundred Schools Tournament;"
"You'll fulfill the 'heaven's selection' part of 'an imperial summons or heaven's selection.'"
"When that happens, no one will be able to stop you from setting foot in the imperial capital!"
Just then-
"Ding-dong! God-Level Choice System successfully triggered. Host, please choose from the following options." "Option one: reject Dean Zhou's request and grow wild, following your own whims." "Reward for this option: one pair of 'Just Playing Around' brand skate shoes."
"Option two: agree to Dean Zhou's request, represent Blood Dragon City Academy in the Hundred Schools Tournament one month from now, and ultimately rank among the top hundred." "Reward for this option: one low-grade Mystic-tier cultivation technique and one low-grade Mystic-tier mystic skill."
"Option three: represent Blood Dragon City Academy in the Hundred Schools Tournament one month from now and seize a place in the top three!" "Reward for this option: one surprise gift package."
Bu Wuchen's heart leaped with delight. Ha! I've got to choose the third one. That's how confident I am!
Huh?
I've already made my choice. Where's that promised "surprise gift package"?
"Ding-dong~ Special notice: for options of this type with specific objectives, the system will only issue the reward after the host achieves the corresponding objective."
So that's how it works.
Understanding dawned on Bu Wuchen;
He then nodded to Dean Zhou, whose eyes were brimming with anticipation. "All right, I'll join the Pill Hall."
"Good, wonderful! Hahahahaha..."
Zhou Wan'en could not help clapping his hands and laughing, as happy as a child!
Only after a while did he turn serious. "With your attainments in the pill Dao, ranking among the top hundred shouldn't be difficult."
"But don't become arrogant or complacent. Remember, beyond every great person stands someone greater, and beyond every heaven lies another heaven."
"Almost every tournament sees favored seeded contestants fall from their pedestals;"
"And unknown nobodies transform into dark horses that work miracle after miracle!"
"In short, as far as this old man can see, there is absolutely no problem with your strength in pill cultivation;"
"Just guard against arrogance and impatience, and compete with an even mind!"
In response to the old dean's earnest teachings, Bu Wuchen merely smiled politely and nodded. No one knew what he was really thinking...
Just then, a clear, lovely voice rang out-
"Hey, you still have time to stand there grinning like an idiot?"
"Don't tell me you've forgotten your agreement with this grandaunt?"
Only then did Bu Wuchen come back to his senses, grinning. "Hey, I'm a First-Class Special-Talent Student of Blood Dragon City Academy now!"
"From now on, we're good comrades of equal rank, got it?"
Xia Nuoyi rolled her eyes with a beauty that could bewitch all living beings. "Tch~"
"Even if the city lord of Blood Dragon City stood before me, I'd still call myself his grandaunt if I felt like it;"
"What does a First-Class Special-Talent Student like you have to show off about?"
At these words, Dean Zhou's expression shifted several times. As though afraid the girl in green silk would practice on him first, he hastily found an excuse to slip away.
Zhou Wan'en knew that little Demoness's temperament all too well!
If the Demoness really called herself his "grandaunt" in front of all the teachers and students just to prove her words true, wouldn't his old face shatter to pieces?
"Hmph, that old fellow sure ran fast."
How could someone as clever as Xia Nuoyi fail to see through his little schemes?
Next, her gaze swept toward the other three vice deans, whose status equaled hers, as well as Li Quhe and Sun Jinwang, the two Pill Hall masters.
After that, everyone the green-silk-clad girl's gaze touched sprang up as though electrocuted and hurriedly took their leave.
Even as Song Hechuan fled, he did not forget to call loudly, "Our Song Clan Pill Workshop awaits your honored visit at any time, Master Bu!"
"Uh, why did they all slip away so fast?"
The girl in green silk stamped her foot, somewhat displeased.
Beside her, Bu Wuchen found it privately amusing and also waved goodbye. "See you."
Xia Nuoyi hurried after him. "Let's go together. This grandaunt happens to have more questions for you..."
After leaving Blood Dragon City Academy, the girl in green silk strolled down the street beside Bu Wuchen and praised him with a smile-
"Boy, your performance on the martial stage earlier was pretty good~"
"This young lady doesn't just mean your pill refining, but also the backbone you showed when facing Lin Yunba."
"Hehe, really?"
Bu Wuchen answered somewhat absently, and there was no telling what he was thinking.
Beside his ear, Xia Nuoyi's pleasant voice sounded again. "Hey, why don't we talk about your master?"
"My master?"
Bu Wuchen's face was full of question marks.
"Yes, your master. The one who taught you pill refining."
Xia Nuoyi said with great certainty, "Don't think you can fool this grandaunt again with nonsense like 'I pondered hard for one night and suddenly comprehended the pill Dao'!"
Bu Wuchen said mildly, "I don't have a master. That's the truth."
"Do you need me to swear an oath?"
"Tch, forget it if you won't tell me. Who cares!"
"Oh, then why did you ask?"
"You!!"
Xia Nuoyi was thoroughly infuriated, her chest rising and falling.
Normally, if anyone dared speak to her like this, she would have sent them flying with a kick long ago!
Even the girl in green silk could not understand why she always had such extraordinary patience when facing Bu Wuchen...