C20 Xiao Juncai

"Chen Xing! Stop right there, wait up!"

Luo Shuining ran up from behind, trying to catch him.

"What's up? Class monitor, is something wrong?"

Chen Xing blinked and turned around. Being so outstanding had its downsides; he always seemed to have a beautiful shadow trailing him.

"How on earth did you win just now?" Luo Shuining panted softly, her cheeks flushing in a way that was quite becoming.

"I just did." Chen Xing shrugged.

"That's ridiculous!" Luo Shuining pouted, "That man is the Chess Saint! He's incredibly famous throughout all of Udrealor. If the Purple Wind Empire could secure his allegiance, our nation's strength would increase substantially! How could you possibly defeat someone of his caliber?"

Chen Xing spread his hands and flashed a secretive smile.

"And about that Spiritual Weapon, the Chess Saint mentioned you had already found it. Did you discover it on your last visit to the Stargazer's Tower?"

Luo Shuining's powers of observation were impressive.

Chen Xing spread his hands again, offering another enigmatic smile.

"You've been acting rather strange lately. Have you stumbled upon some rare opportunity?"

Chen Xing simply spread his hands once more, his smile unwavering.

"Never mind!" Luo Shuining huffed, stamping her foot. "If you don't want to talk about it, then don't."

It was common for individuals in the Cultivation World to have their little secrets.

But after caring about him for so long, he remained an enigma, becoming ever more elusive, which left Luo Shuining feeling inexplicably disappointed.

"Come on, class monitor, no need to get upset. Anger leads to wrinkles, you know. And remember, you're still trying to outdo me. Once you beat me in an exam, I might just share some of my secrets with you."

Luo Shuining stopped in her tracks, a spark of determination in her eyes, but then she sulked again, "You'd better put in the effort! I doubt you'll be able to keep your secrets for much longer!"

With that, she strode away, as light and swift as a swallow.

Chen Xing allowed himself a slight smile and then headed for the classroom.

......

Monday arrived.

The day for field training.

"Uncle, I'm leaving the Chen family's business in your hands for the next few days!"

Chen Xing gave his uncle a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Don't worry. If these 20,000 gold coins don't lead to any progress, then all my efforts with the Chen family will have been in vain!" Chen Lingran nodded, his laughter echoing with confidence.

In just one week, Chen Xing had managed to produce an additional 10,000 gold coins! The feat was so astounding it left Chen Lingran speechless.

He could feel it—the Chen family's future was looking brighter by the day!

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Chen Xing's smile was easy and confident. Recently, the Golden Ruyi Auction House had begun drumming up excitement for the Rank-6 Jadefire Nectar. Jin Qiaoyan herself had appeared on posters, lending her personal touch to the promotion.

This had led to a spate of poster thefts, which had become the talk of the town, much to everyone's amusement.

The news that the Rank-6 Jadefire Nectar would be available at the Golden Ruyi Auction House had spread like wildfire throughout Traessey and was quickly reaching every corner of the Purple Wind Empire.

The outlook was incredibly promising!

If all went well, upon his return, he could simply sit back and watch the profits roll in.

"Well then, I'm off."

Chen Xing waved goodbye.

"Take care on your journey. And remember, wherever you are, you're the head of the Chen family. Your safety is paramount!" Chen Lingran cautioned.

"Yes, young master, please be careful! We can't have anything happen to you! Taotao will be waiting for you at home!"

Taotao waved, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, almost ready to cry.

"Don't worry, Taotao. When I return, I'll bring you some sweet treats."

Chen Lingran chuckled as he watched the pair. They were grown yet still found comfort in the promise of sweets.

But then he paused... He rubbed his eyes, wondering if his vision was playing tricks on him. Was it just him, or was Taotao growing more and more beautiful by the day?

Unbeknownst to him, the "candies" Chen Xing referred to were actually sugar-coated pills—Clear Water Heart Pill, Water Soul Pill, Snow Face Pill, among others. A mix of various grades, these pills had transformative effects, and it was no wonder that Taotao, and even he himself, had taken on a fairer complexion!

Starfall Academy bustled with activity in front of the teaching building, where a throng of students gathered, buzzing with excitement. Each person came prepared: some lugged heavy bags, others donned specialized gear for outdoor exploration, and many radiated with anticipation for the upcoming experiential learning.

"Chen Xing, over here!" Luo Shuining called out, signaling to Chen Xing from a distance.

She was clad in a sleek outfit today, her hair neatly tied back, exuding the aura of a warrior woman ready for battle. Chen Xing returned her greeting with a smile and a wave as he made his way over to her.

As he drew closer, Luo Shuining's gaze hardened, and she gave Chen Xing a critical once-over, clearly unimpressed. "Chen Xing, why are you wearing white again? We're heading out for outdoor training, which is far more serious than any exam! Your white clothes will not only hinder your movement but also make you a glaring target for spirit animals!"

"And what about gear? We're going to the wilderness. Did you forget to bring anything?"

"I've got everything," Chen Xing assured her, gesturing to his bag. "Taotao packed for me—underwear, outerwear, and an even more dashing white robe! If this one gets dirty, I'll switch to the other, and it's sure to dazzle everyone!"

Whether human or dragon, looking sharp was always a pleasure.

Luo Shuining caught her breath, momentarily speechless. "This isn't a camping trip, you know. It's training—wilderness training! Shouldn't you have brought some survival gear? What will you do if a spirit animal snatches you away? Don't expect me to come to your rescue!"

"Survival gear? What's that?" Chen Xing genuinely didn't know what else he should have brought. Still, he chuckled, "No need to worry. Spirit animals wouldn't dare mess with me."

Dragons commanded respect among all creatures. With their acute sensitivity to presence, most spirit animals wouldn't dare come close once a dragon's might was unleashed.

"You sure talk a big game," Luo Shuining retorted with a cold huff.

This wilderness training was an opportunity reserved for the top three students in each class. Since many were strangers to one another, they typically formed teams based on their class. Their team was already short one member, and with Chen Xing's cavalier attitude, Luo Shuining realized she'd have to work even harder.

"Don't worry, class monitor. As long as you're with me, those spirit animals won't dare touch you."

Luo Shuining's face flushed, and she turned away. "Who says I want to be with you?"

Suddenly, the crowd began to stir.

"Look, what is that?"

A figure clad in white, holding a scroll, approached with a leisurely gait. His eyes never left the pages of his book, not once glancing at the onlookers. He seemed utterly engrossed, unable to tear himself away. Behind him, light swirled and danced like misty clouds, with vortexes spiraling out as if heralding the arrival of a celestial being.

"Spiritual Birth Light! That's the hallmark of the Guide Spirit Realm!"

"Who is that person? He can't be more than twenty years old!"

"Do we actually have a Guide Spirit Realm expert in our assessment?"

"And look how absorbed he is in that book. He's incredibly handsome! I'm getting lost just looking at him—I can't pull myself away!"

As he drew near, he seemed to snap out of his reverie and asked the girl at the front, "Where can I find Class One and Five?"

"Class One and Five? Oh my god! He's a first-year student! That means he's achieved this in just one year at Starfall Academy! That's frighteningly impressive!"

"Class One and Five?" Luo Shuining paused, "Isn't that our class?"

Her eyes sparked with recognition as she gestured to the man, "Are you Xiao Juncai from our Class One and Five?"

The man turned, offering a slight smile, "It looks like I won't be needing your help after all."

With that, he tucked away his scroll and strode forward confidently.

"Are you the second and third place disciples from our Class One and Five?"

"Xiao Juncai?"

The well-informed students' faces brightened.

"I know him! Isn't he the unparalleled genius that even the mentors at Starfall Academy seek to please? The one that all the major powers are eager to court? Xiao Juncai, who never attends classes, constantly trains across various lands, and achieves a breakthrough each time he returns?"

Oh my goodness! I've heard about him too. It really is him! He's incredibly handsome! Last time he was here, he was at the ninth level of Body Tempering, wasn't he? How much time has passed since then? And he's already made another breakthrough! Advancing to the Guide Spirit level is a significant leap! And he did it without any sign of a bottleneck?"

The girl from before was so excited she jumped up.

"A genius like him actually spoke to me?"

"Yes, hello, Xiao Classmate," Luo Shuining replied with a slight bow, the picture of politeness.

Chen Xing, on the other hand, couldn't help but smirk.

"It's not a done deal yet. If you were to take the assessment, who knows? You might end up in first place."

"Oh?" Xiao Juncai turned, his eyes sparking with interest. "It seems the competition for second and third place this time is quite fierce."

"Who does this guy think he is, talking back to Xiao Juncai like that?" a student muttered disapprovingly.

"Exactly. Does he actually believe he can outshine a once-in-a-lifetime genius?"

"Guide Spirit and Body Tempering aren't even on the same level!"

"And look at him in that white robe. What gives him the right to wear our idol's signature white? In the same white robe, he looks like a weed next to Xiao Juncai's elegance. It's like comparing the earth to the sky!"

Chen Xing: "..."

Fanatics can be terrifying.

These people are so biased!

Before we get into any more trouble, could someone ask Xiao Juncai to turn off that dazzling aura of his?

If we're talking about looking good, my own radiance from a hundred thousand years ago would leave you all unable to even glimpse Xiao Juncai's shadow—believe it or not?

"Xiao Classmate, don't mind him. He just can't keep his mouth shut and loves to spout nonsense," Luo Shuining interjected, trying to smooth things over.

"By the way, Xiao Classmate, what brings you here? Could it be for this round of training exercises?"

"That's right. Since I'm here, I'll be joining this training session."

"That's fantastic!"

Luo Shuining's eyes sparkled with excitement.