Chapter 619: Chuyang Grand Competition, Ancient Secret Realm

“Master Luo, you must be joking. Most of my students aspire to be Physicians or Alchemists.”

Master Fei forced an ugly smile.

That was a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much.

Most of Master Fei’s students came from physician families or were set on the path of medicine. The rest either had no interest in Martial Arts or simply possessed terrible Martial Arts Talent.

Master Fei’s underlying message was that even if he did have a student with strong Martial Arts Talent, Luo Tian had to respect the student’s wishes and couldn’t just act recklessly.

“If they truly have no interest in Martial Arts, I won’t force them,”

Luo Tian said nonchalantly.

Then, his gaze landed on a female student. A bloody welt from a whip was visible on her back.

This was Zi Qing, the very student who had spoken up for Mu Qingqing and been punished by Master Fei for it.

“I see this student has excellent Martial Arts Talent. She is destined for greatness. Why don’t you transfer to the Celestial Blade Institute and become my student?”

Luo Tian revealed a slight smile.

Master Fei was stunned.

The other students present were all dumbfounded, and even the Director looked astonished.

“Master Luo says that Zi Qing is a Martial Arts genius and is destined for greatness?”

Master Fei looked as if he had just heard the funniest joke.

“Is there a problem?” Luo Tian asked in return.

“Not at all. Master Luo truly has a unique eye, a real talent for spotting hidden gems!”

Master Fei praised him with thinly veiled sarcasm.

Initially, he had been displeased by Luo Tian’s shameless attempt to poach his student.

But if it was Zi Qing, Master Fei couldn’t care less!

‘A Martial Arts genius?’

‘Destined for greatness?’

‘What a joke!’

Zi Qing was something of a celebrity at the Grass and Wood Institute.

She was from the previous class, and her entrance exam scores had been outstanding. But after entering the Saint Institute, her Cultivation suddenly stagnated.

The Saint Institute had rules and assessments; those who showed no progress for a long period would be expelled.

To avoid being kicked out of the Saint Institute, Zi Qing had transferred to the Grass and Wood Institute, a branch that had no assessments of martial strength.

In a few more months, it would be a full three years since Zi Qing had enrolled.

But her Cultivation hadn’t advanced a single step!

In medicine, her talent was also poor. Her progress was slow, and she was at the very bottom of all of Master Fei’s students.

“Master Luo, could you be mistaken?”

the Director prompted.

If a student like Zi Qing transferred to the Celestial Blade Institute, she would surely drag down the institute’s overall performance.

“Mentor, my Martial Arts Talent is very poor.”

Zi Qing lowered her head, her fair face blushing slightly, feeling insecure.

‘It must be because I spoke up for Mu Qingqing,’ she thought. ‘That’s why Master Luo wants to help me out.’

But she didn’t want to bring trouble to Luo Tian.

“I am not mistaken. If you are willing to take me as your teacher, then transfer.”

Luo Tian’s attitude was firm.

“Zi Qing, since Master Luo thinks so highly of you, you should go ahead and transfer,”

Master Fei said with a laugh.

In his eyes, Luo Tian was definitely just trying to save face and was now doubling down on his mistake.

‘This is perfect. It won’t be long before I get to see Luo Tian drowning in regret.’

“Alright, I’ll transfer.”

Zi Qing nodded emphatically.

Her ambition lay in Martial Arts; she had no interest in medicine, and her days under Master Fei were not pleasant.

It was better to trust Master Luo this once, to take one last shot for her own Martial Arts. Even if she failed, she would have no regrets.

“It’s good that you’re transferring. Brother Luo will definitely not treat you the way Master Fei did,”

Mu Qingqing said with a smile.

Zi Qing was one of the few friends she had made since enrolling.

“…”

Master Fei gritted his teeth, doing his utmost to restrain himself.

…

“Ah, Master Luo, in four months, it will be time for the ‘Chuyang Grand Competition’ among the ten institutes. You should prepare well,”

the Director said suddenly.

“The Chuyang Grand Competition?”

“That’s right. Students from all ten institutes, whether new or old, can participate.”

“The Saint Institute has prepared extremely generous rewards for those who rank at the top. And the better the students’ results, the greater the corresponding rewards for their Mentors,”

the Director explained.

In the past, it was always the senior, elite Mentors who reaped the greatest rewards from the Chuyang Grand Competition.

These senior Mentors had many students, most of whom were older and excelled over new students in every aspect.

New Mentors, with few students who were mostly freshmen, naturally found it difficult to make a good showing.

Although it seemed unfair for new and old students to compete together…

…in the eyes of the Wuji Saint Institute, Chuyang Tower was merely a “Preparatory Class,” and the Saint Institute wouldn’t expend too much energy on it.

“Most importantly, the results of the Chuyang Grand Competition determine the allocation of spots for the ‘Ancient Secret Realm’ ten months from now!”

the Director emphasized.

The Ancient Secret Realm was a Secret Realm left behind from the Ancient Era, containing many rare materials and Spiritual Treasures not found in the outside world.

In the past, many students who entered the Ancient Secret Realm had discovered Five-star Spiritual Materials or other treasures of an equivalent level.

Five-star Spiritual Materials corresponded to the True Martial Realm!

“The better your students perform in the Chuyang Grand Competition, the more spots for the Ancient Secret Realm you, as their Mentor, will receive!”

Seeing Luo Tian’s expression turn a bit sour, the Director quickly added, “The Ancient Secret Realm is for the students of Chuyang Tower. Students from Zhengyang Palace or Jiaoyang Hall cannot enter, and naturally, Mentors cannot enter either.”

“Oh.”

Luo Tian replied, his interest clearly waning.

‘What’s the use of having more spots if I can’t go in myself?’

“However, the teacher can take a thirty percent cut of their students’ gains!”

the Director continued.

“Thirty percent?”

A hint of delight appeared on Luo Tian’s face.

Thirty percent wasn’t a huge amount, but if he had enough spots, Luo Tian could reap a massive fortune from his students!

“The Ancient Secret Realm has a total of only two hundred spots, distributed among the ten institutes and several dozen Junior Tutors… Some senior Mentors can usually secure five, six, or even seven spots.”

“For a new Mentor, getting even three spots is considered a lot.”

The Director looked at Luo Tian.

He understood Luo Tian’s situation; in the best-case scenario, he would get three spots.

If his luck was bad, he might not even get three.

“Master Luo, you still have four months. Putting your students through some rigorous training might yield unexpected results.”

The Director revealed this information out of consideration for Luo Tian having treated his illness.

After saying this, the Director left.

Luo Tian immediately sent a message to his other students, telling them to gather in the classroom.

「Celestial Blade Institute, Chuyang Tower.」

Luo Tian walked into the classroom with Mu Qingqing and Zi Qing, smiling. “These are your two new junior sisters.”

Many of the male students’ eyes widened. Two more beautiful female students!

“Teacher? You’ve accepted Zi Qing as your student?”

Luo Xiaoting stared at Zi Qing, her lovely brows furrowing.

She had an impression of Zi Qing—the one whose Cultivation had stagnated after entering the Wuji Saint Institute, forcing her to transfer to the Grass and Wood Institute.

Luo Xiaoting believed that Luo Tian had principles when accepting students, requiring a certain level of talent, prioritizing quality over quantity.

But Zi Qing was famous for her poor talent. How could Luo Tian accept her as a student?

“Also, the Chuyang Grand Competition is in four months. I want all of you to prepare well!”

Luo Tian announced.

“The Chuyang Grand Competition? In four months?”

“That’s a bit tight. I’m afraid I won’t be able to break through to the Earth Element Realm Seventh Layer by then.”

The students began to chatter, most of them seeming panicked and at a loss.

Only Luo Xiaoting and Guan Hongfei’s spirits were lifted, their fighting intent soaring!

Luo Xiaoting had neglected her Martial Arts due to a strange illness before, so now she was naturally eager to restore her reputation. She was confident she could achieve outstanding results.

Guan Hongfei, on the other hand, wanted to use this Chuyang Grand Competition to surpass the first and second-place winners of the entrance exam!

“This news hasn’t been officially announced yet, so don’t leak it. Just focus on working hard,”

Luo Tian instructed.

“Furthermore, those who perform exceptionally in the Chuyang Grand Competition will be able to join me for a period of special training!”

Luo Tian added, hoping to motivate his students.

“Really? Teacher?”

“I want to do the special training with the Teacher!”

Several students cheered excitedly.

Luo Xiaoting’s face beamed with joy, full of confidence.

Guan Hongfei’s eyes burned with eagerness.

Deng Xiaoqian, Chen Yuan, and the others were also filled with longing.

A few of the newer students who had recently taken Luo Tian as their teacher didn’t know what was going on.

Chen Yuan quietly told them, “Before, it was after training with the Teacher that Luo Xiaoting’s Cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. Her strength skyrocketed, and she defeated Lu Ruofan of the Half-step Celestial Pool Realm!”

After he finished, the classroom grew even more boisterous.

“Qingqing, you should get familiar with the Celestial Blade Institute’s environment with your senior brothers and sisters first.”

“Zi Qing, you come with me.”

After giving his instructions, Luo Tian left alone with Zi Qing and returned to his residence.

“Tell me about your situation,”

Luo Tian said casually.

From the attitudes of Master Fei, the Director, and Luo Xiaoting, Luo Tian knew that something was wrong with Zi Qing’s Martial Arts.

But Luo Tian trusted his own judgment.

Zi Qing’s Martial Arts Talent was indeed astonishing, not much inferior to Guan Hongfei’s.

“Teacher, this student’s Martial Arts has not advanced a single step for over two, almost three years. There are even signs of it regressing…”

Zi Qing didn’t dare to hide anything.

But she was afraid that after she told him, Luo Tian would immediately expel her.

“Regressing?”

Luo Tian was a little surprised. ‘Something like that can happen?’

“Every time this student cultivates, I can feel the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi enter my body, but then it suddenly vanishes, as if it’s being devoured by something…”

“It’s been like this for all this time,”

Zi Qing said, aggrieved and helpless.

“A little interesting,”

Luo Tian murmured to himself.

He faintly sensed that Zi Qing held a great secret.

VWOOM!

Luo Tian’s eyes suddenly shone with an azure light.

Between his brows, a deep blue Celestial Eye abruptly opened!

Under the gaze of the Celestial Eye, Luo Tian easily saw through Zi Qing’s clothes and flesh!

He saw.

Coiled around her Martial Vein along her spine was a bright red ball of light.

‘What is this? The aura it’s giving off is completely incompatible with Zi Qing’s.’

“Hm?”

The bright red ball of light suddenly flickered with a demonic crimson glow. It seemed to have sensed Luo Tian’s gaze, as a soft sound of surprise actually came from within it.