Chapter 269: Chapter 260: Back in the Day...

Fortune and misfortune are intertwined. In a way, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Locking Array had actually been a huge help to Wang Meng. The Godhood was like an untamable, wild horse, and the Heaven and Earth Spirit Locking Array was its bit.

In no time, Wang Meng was snoring, fast asleep. For the past year, this was how he had spent his days—simple and "fulfilling." He had no time to ponder anything else.

The commotion in the Battle Space gradually died down. It was a time of joy for some and sorrow for others. Every duel must have a winner and a loser. The victors were undoubtedly filled with boundless joy, while the losers had far too much to face. Not everyone was as naturally optimistic as Wang Meng—the pressure was immense. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Ning Zhiyuan had terrible luck. His high Elemental Power had become a liability here. The opponent he was matched with was on a similar level but wasn’t a new student. After putting up a fight, Ning Zhiyuan suffered a crushing defeat.

This was, in fact, why He Zui and Mu Ziqing hadn’t been optimistic about his chances. Overly high Elemental Power became a liability here. His foundation was simply too weak. For those who used the Dissipating Technique to start their cultivation over, a lower Life Mark Level made it easier. The higher the level, the harder it was to break old habits.

It was much easier for people like Li Tianyi and Ma Tian’Er.

It wasn’t that the Holy Hall hadn’t wanted to send those with lower Elemental Power in the past; it was just that others didn’t possess the same incredible adaptability as Li Tianyi and his peers.

In fact, this cohort of new students had quite a few worth watching. For example, Ma Tian’Er’s Wood of the Five Elements and Yan Yuyue’s Water of the Five Elements were both astonishing. While Ma Tian’Er’s sweet demeanor wasn’t particularly attention-grabbing, Yan Yuyue’s beauty caused a sensation. They, along with more than a dozen others including Lin Jinghao and Li Tianyi, had already been placed on the observation lists of various factions. It was rare for someone to be accepted directly into a group like Ma Tian’Er was.

In truth, there was no shortage of talented people here. But to truly become a powerhouse, one had to be able to perform. One needed a solid combat record; otherwise, everything was for nothing.

And these powerhouses, without exception, all achieved victory. After all, strength is what truly matters; it was no fluke. However, on the second day, the most talked-about person wasn’t any of them, but Master.

"Did you hear? Master won yesterday!"

PFFT! The guy sitting opposite him nearly spat out his tea.

"Are you kidding me? If he can win, pigs can fly!"

"I’m not kidding. He won."

The whole group was stunned. "This isn’t a joke?"

"They say he didn’t just win, he insta-killed Chang Gu from the Celestial Eagle Sect."

"Chang Gu? Wait a second... I think I remember him. He’s pretty strong, isn’t he? And you’re saying Master insta-killed him? Hahaha! That might be the biggest joke the Cultivation Academy has ever heard."

Wang Meng had no idea he was so famous. When you thought about it, in a place where everyone treated each battle with extreme caution, the existence of someone who was practically a free-win dispenser was unbelievable, even to the top experts—not that they’d ever stoop to take such an easy victory.

"Maybe Chang Gu used too much force and knocked himself out."

Even the people nearby burst out laughing.

If Master had only lost a dozen or so matches, that wouldn’t be unheard of. But to lose eighty or ninety matches in a single year, to keep fighting despite constant defeat, and to be so earnest every single time—he was truly one of a kind.

"I heard... he used Curved Sword Qi."

The Star Alliance was a strange place. It placed great importance on communication between Cultivators and the enjoyment of life. Cultivation was for becoming stronger, for living a better life; it seemed ascension was not the only goal.

The Cultivation Academy had many places suitable for students to relax, and judging by the results, this approach to cultivation was far more effective than bitter, isolated training. Luoyu Pavilion was one such place. It served the finest, most incomparable tea from the Luo Hua Small Thousand World.

At that, Luoyu Pavilion suddenly fell silent. Curved Sword Qi? Master?

A few seconds later, the entire place erupted in laughter so hard they nearly split their sides.

The table where the conversation had started was in absolute hysterics. ’How is that possible? In his dreams, maybe! Curved Sword Qi?’

"For real?"

"Lu Yun, my friend, you must be delusional! That’s absolutely impossible!"

"Ahem, I just heard it from someone else," Lu Yun said awkwardly.

"Heh. To be fair, there are some Sword Formulas in the Small Thousand Realms that can make Sword Qi appear to curve, but it’s fundamentally different from true Curved Sword Qi. One is just a Blinding Technique; its speed and power can’t even compare. It’s a world away from the high-speed, piercing sharpness of genuine Curved Sword Qi."

Not a single person believed him. Celestial-level Sword Techniques were considered high-end even at the Cultivation Academy and were incredibly difficult to master.

The crowd went back to their lively conversation, none of them taking the matter seriously.

Lu Yun couldn’t argue back. He was too embarrassed to say he’d seen it with his own eyes, especially since his reason for being there was to try his luck at bullying a newbie himself.

Whether anyone believed it or not, the news that Master had actually won spread like wildfire. The key was the other party involved: Chang Gu of the Celestial Eagle Sect. And Chang Gu... hadn’t shown his face. It was said he didn’t leave his quarters for the next several days.

Most new students spent their entire first year focused on their Cultivation Techniques. The Star Alliance’s attitude toward other skills like Alchemy, forging, and so on was very different from the Sects in the Small Thousand Realms.

In the various Small Thousand Realms, people would typically specialize in those fields. But in the Star Alliance’s view, having a certain degree of proficiency in areas like Alchemy was a necessity—an essential skill for every Cultivator. Of course, this wasn’t a mandatory requirement; many things at the Cultivation Academy were a matter of free choice, as long as one could guarantee their own powerful strength.

Many people had only focused on cultivating Magic in their home Sects, giving them no time to pay attention to these other areas. Even after arriving here, some still didn’t care.

Wang Meng was different. He believed that a rich repertoire of Magic and a comprehensive awareness were the way to advance one’s realm and deepen one’s understanding.

However, a more practical problem now lay before them: they needed to earn Spirit Stones.

Wang Meng and Fan Hong went to the Alchemy Institute to sign up. Wang Meng was probably the only one who wasn’t annoyed by Fan Hong’s incessant chatter.

"Wang Meng, did you win or lose yesterday?" Even fellow disciples were usually cautious about asking such a question, but Fan Hong was completely tactless. Seeing Wang Meng hesitate, he sighed, "Ah, I lost too. To be honest, I never wanted to come here. They all say I’m the Sect Leader’s illegitimate son, but why is my talent so awful?"

Wang Meng was speechless. This guy would really say anything. ’Just because he says things and forgets them doesn’t mean everyone else has such a bad memory.’

"Ahem, your talent is very good."

"Maybe so. I just feel like they sent me here to fend for myself. Sigh... I don’t have any friends here. If I bite the dust one day, remember to put up a tombstone for me."

Fan Hong was clearly dejected.

Wang Meng clapped Fan Hong’s shoulder. "Buddy, let’s not compete over who has it worse. Compared to my story, yours is nothing. Back in the day, I was at the Natural Life Mark Second Layer, and just to get into the Holy Hall..."

"Second Layer of Life Mark? Heavens, could someone really be that hopeless? No way... I thought anything below the tenth layer was already considered super weak."

Fan Hong said innocently.

(Third update of the day! Begging for monthly tickets! To all my dear readers, we’re in the last few days of the month. Please bestow upon me ten monthly tickets!) (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)