Song Chen's words were a bit harsh.
A third-rank talisman master? The cultivators around here have been enrolled for 5, 6, 7, or 8 years and have just been promoted to the third rank.
One of the monks, still not realizing the seriousness of the situation, continued to ask questions.
"A third-grade talisman master? Such a rapid advancement! Song Chen, how did you learn and cultivate so quickly?"
Song Chen frowned, seemingly puzzled. "Fast? Learning talismans is as easy as breathing. You level up naturally."
The number of questions around me decreased significantly, and everyone became very silent.
One of the monks continued to ask questions.
"When Song Chen was able to refine first-grade talismans, how long did it take him to learn?"
Song Chen was somewhat annoyed. "I don't know. The first talisman I ever made was a second-grade Spirit Gathering Talisman. I learned how to make it in about seven days."
The surrounding cultivators: "..."
They're beyond saving, riddled with arrows.
But some people, despite their serious injuries, continued to ask questions.
"Song Chen, talismans are your highest-ranking profession, right?"
Song Chen thought about it carefully for a moment, then shook his head.
"No, I'm better at weapon crafting, alchemy, formation making, and seal carving than at talismans."
The surrounding cultivators gasped in shock.
No one spoke anymore; they were all silently healing their wounds.
Song Chen's words were such a blow!
I felt a sense of peace and quiet around me.
Song Chen breathed a sigh of relief; Ziyi's teachings on Versailles were truly useful.
Even if people keep asking me about it, I'll keep using it!
**
Langya Academy.
The arena.
At this time, the Langya Academy had already begun its grand competition.
Mu Feng, dressed in a flowing emerald green robe with wide sleeves, collapsed weakly in the arena.
With tears welling in his eyes, Mu Feng's voice was full of accusation, "Senior Sister, why did you hit me so hard?"
Opposite him was a tall and slender, cute female sword cultivator carrying a long sword.
The female sword cultivator frowned, not understanding why Mu Feng had suddenly acted strangely.
Wasn't it just that the sword energy swept across him, causing him to fall?
This is a major competition in the academy; if we don't fight, are we supposed to have heart-to-heart talks?
However, the people below the stage began to criticize the female sword cultivator.
"You've gone too far! How could you hurt Junior Brother Mu!"
"Vicious woman! How dare you hurt Junior Brother Mu!"
"I will definitely avenge Junior Brother Mu in the next match!"
Unexpectedly, the female swordsman narrowed her eyes, swept her longsword horizontally, and a beam of sword light directly grazed the cheeks of those below the stage.
The female swordsman said coldly:
"So noisy!"
The female cultivator's name is Su Zhen, and she is currently the top cultivator in the lower Golden Core stage at the Sword Cultivation Academy.
With his strength, he stands alone in the academy.
The cultivators below the stage saw her anger, and although they dared not say anything, they inwardly humiliated Su Zhen a thousand times over.
Su Zhen frowned and pointed her sword at Mu Feng in the arena.
"Surrender, or continue."
Mu Feng staggered to his feet, looking as frail as a willow swaying in the breeze.
"Senior sister, since you disregard our friendship and want to kill me, then I won't hold back either!"
After saying that, Mu Feng's expression changed, and he began to take the battle seriously.
The crowd below the stage cheered and waved flags for Mu Feng.
"Go, Junior Brother Mu Feng! Beat this cold-blooded person to death!"
"We should learn from Junior Brother Mufeng! We should learn his perseverance and indomitable spirit!"
Su Zhen frowned, feeling that these people had all gone mad.
Especially Mu Feng, when is she going to kill him?
The arena was instantly filled with the clash of swords.
Swords flashed and struck the ground, creating a crack.
Countless pebbles followed the sword energy, swirling in the air.
Su Zhen's face was full of seriousness.
She hadn't expected Mu Feng to be so strong.
He easily broke her swordsmanship.
Su Zhen's heart sank.
She didn't know when it started, but her cultivation stopped progressing.
She has been stuck in the Foundation Establishment stage for a long time.
She remembered that when Mu Feng first entered the academy, she was already at the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage.
Seeing that she was about to be suppressed, Su Zhen calmed down and used the ultimate technique she had been researching in recent years.
"White Jade Sword Technique!"
The moment the sword technique was unleashed, the arena became as bright as day, and the onlookers couldn't help but close their eyes, unable to withstand the light.
"boom!"
A bolt of lightning struck, followed by the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
Everyone looked down at the ground with worry, afraid to see Mu Feng fail.
But unexpectedly, it was Su Zhen lying on the ground.
Su Zhen was lying on her side on the ground, covered in dust and dirt.
Her arm, which had been holding the sword, became a bloody mess.
Something in Su Zhen's eyes began to shatter.
Her eyes were red, but she didn't say a word.
Staggering to his feet, leaning on his sword, Su Zhen straightened his back and turned to leave.
"I lost."
These words traveled with the wind and reached people's ears.
"Oh oh oh!"
"Mufeng, you're the best!"
Countless cheers erupted, but they did not belong to Su Zhen.
Tears welled up in Su Zhen's eyes.
But she didn't wipe it.
So many years have passed, even if I were to shed tears, it shouldn't be today.
In the center of the arena.
Mu Feng smiled, his eyes narrowing as he concealed the mockery and scheming within.
A figure flew to the arena and announced the results of the match.
"The competition is now over! The Foundation Establishment stage sword cultivator competition is over! First place: Mu Feng!"
"One year from now, the Immortal Realm Grand Competition will begin. The top three students from each department in the academy competition will accompany the dean to Zhuoyangchuan to participate in the Immortal Realm Grand Competition!"
**
Fairy River Garden.
In an unnamed mountain peak.
Song Chen is currently refining a set of array flags.
After finishing work, Song Chen handed the set of battle flags to Zhao Ziyi.
"Keep this set of array flags safe. I've added thirteen layers of defensive array. I don't know how many attacks it can withstand, but it's a third-grade array."
Since Zhao Ziyi was unable to cultivate, Song Chen has been very busy.
He stopped refining elixirs and began drawing talismans and crafting array flags.
Song Chen wanted to save Zhao Ziyi from a certain death.
He's willing to pay any price.
So far, I've spent 30,000 gold on materials for crafting talismans and formations.
Zhao Ziyi accepted the battle flag, a look of helplessness in his eyes.
"If you give me these talismans, I could use them as bricks to hit people and kill hundreds of them. Stop making any more."
Song Chen frowned. "Did I refine that many?"
Zhao Ziyi handed him the storage bag.
Song Chen glanced at it, then smiled sheepishly, "It's always good to be prepared, right? It's always a good thing to have more."
Zhao Ziyi reached out, cupped Song Chen's face in his hands, and said earnestly:
“Song Chen, you’ve been too stressed out for the past year. If you keep going like this, you’ll suffer a cultivation deviation.”
Song Chen turned her head away from him, feeling bitter inside.
Whenever he thought about Zhao Ziyi's inability to advance in rank, he lost interest in cultivation.
He preferred to spend his time crafting talismans and magical artifacts for Zhao Ziyi.
Zhao Ziyi issued an ultimatum.
"From now on, focus on absorbing spiritual energy. The academy competition will last for six months. Apart from the competition, you don't need to worry about anything. Just focus on your cultivation."
Song Chen nodded.
He registered for the competition at five peaks in the college's major competition.
A week later, Danfeng will start the competition first, followed by Fufeng, Lianqifeng, Zhuankefeng, and Zhenfeng.
He has to play the entire game before he can rest.
If you don't cultivate diligently, you won't be able to advance to the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage before the Immortal Realm Grand Competition.
**
One week later.
The arena.
Song Chen's speech at Versailles had already spread throughout the entire academy.
There are so many people watching Song Chen's match that the arena is completely packed.
Three thousand Foundation Establishment stage disciples sat cross-legged in the training ground for their assessment.
They had herbs and alchemical furnaces prepared by the academy nearby.
A figure stood in the air, his fingers forming a hand seal, raising the defensive array of the training ground.
He said loudly:
"The first elimination round of the Alchemy Academy: the student who successfully refines the Five-Ingredient Powder within the time limit will advance directly. Each person will receive three portions of herbs. The competition begins!"
A cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage can only refine a third-grade pill at most.
The Five-Ingredient Powder is now the simplest of the three grades of elixirs.
However, it can also directly eliminate first- or second-grade alchemists.
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