Chapter 95: Undercurrent
As soon as Mu Chen entered the Talisman Association, he felt like he was being watched by a pack of hungry wolves.
Jing Zhiyan showed up several times to mediate and reluctantly allowed Mu Chen to leave the Talisman Association.
"It's really not easy to get this third-level talisman master badge." Mu Chen looked at the badge in his hand and couldn't help but comment.
Ye Shi nodded and said, "Yeah!"
All the members of the Talisman Association looked at Mu Chen like they wanted to tear him apart—he even felt a chill from their eyes.
If it weren't for the thought of obtaining the third-level talisman master badge, Ye Shi would have dragged Mu Chen away long ago, instead of letting him be tormented by Lan Ruofeng.
"How about we don't go to the Inscription Institute today?" Ye Shi hesitated.
Mu Chen nodded and said, "Alright." Better to wait until those people calm down—going to the Inscription Academy now is a bit scary.
"Going to the Inscription Institute? What are you doing there?" Jing Chiyan asked in confusion.
"To get certified as an inscription master!" Ye Shi said naturally.
Jing Chiyan looked at Mu Chen in surprise and asked, "You even know inscriptions?"
"A little." Mu Chen replied modestly.
"When did you get interested in inscriptions?" Jing Chiyan couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
Lu Han and Song Cheng had almost fallen out with each other because of Mu Chen. It was said they had reached an agreement not to interfere with Mu Chen's choice anymore.
Jing Chiyan had originally assumed that no matter how reluctant Mu Chen was, he would have to choose between the Pill Academy and Fu Academy. But now it seemed that this guy had other plans!
"I've always been interested, actually." Mu Chen smiled.
"You study so many things. Don't you feel overwhelmed?" Jing Chiyan asked.
Ye Shi jumped in quickly, "No, third-level alchemy and third-level talisman making are as easy as eating and drinking for Mu Chen—they're not challenging at all. That's why he needs to learn more things to enrich himself."
Jing Chiyan glared at Ye Shi and said, "... I didn't ask you."
Internally, Jing Chiyan rolled his eyes and thought: My disciple is really seeing him through the eyes of love. He thinks Mu Chen is good at everything! To say that third-level alchemy and talismans are as simple as eating and drinking—what would that make of the people who have spent decades mastering second-level skills?
"Mu Chen said that," Ye Shi said sadly.
Mu Chen forced a smile and said, "I was just joking. But I do think inscriptions are very interesting. In many ways, they're similar to Fulu, so I'm quite intrigued."
Jing Chiyan: "…"
Mu Chen and Ye Shi left the Talisman Master Association with their "front paws," and they appeared at the Talisman Master Association's gates again with their "back paws."
"Looks like he's already gone." Chen Daman said regretfully.
Mu Yuanfeng sighed, "Seems like the only way to meet him is to go to the academy."
Chen Da frowned. "Holy Star Academy only allows family visits once a month, and this month's already passed."
Mu Yuanfeng frowned too. "It's fine, we've already arrived at the imperial capital. Let's wait patiently—we'll definitely find a chance to meet him."
Chen Da nodded. "That's true." Then he turned to praise Mu Yuanfeng, saying, "Shao Chen is such a genius—all the powers want to recruit him. It's truly incredible!"
Mu Yuanfeng smiled and said, "Shitou is a genius with eighth-level aptitude. It's not surprising for someone like him to become the King Wu.
Chen'er is just a little clever."
Mu Yuanfeng didn't dare make casual decisions on behalf of his son, so all he could do was hide from those people.
The experience of being chased by people wanting to flatter you like alley rats—it's not something ordinary people can handle.
"Jiyue Auction House."
Mu Chen stopped before the auction house.
"I didn't expect this auction house to exist in the imperial capital," Ye Shi muttered.
Jing Chiyan rolled his eyes and said, "Jiyue Auction Houses are spread across the whole country—the imperial capital has them too. Do you have something to auction?"
Mu Chen nodded. "Well, I don't have much money lately. I have a few spare third-level flame talismans I want to exchange for some pocket money."
Jing Zhiyan raised an eyebrow. "Third-level flame talismans? They should be worth quite a bit."
Ye Shi ran up and asked, "How much are they worth!?"
Jing Chiyan thought for a while and said, "How much? Let's put it this way—if you use that many spirit stones to buy chicken, you wouldn't be able to eat it all in your lifetime."
Ye Shi blinked in surprise. "Really? That many spirit stones? Not just twenty?"
Jing Chiyan: "..." Twenty chickens a day—have mercy on my reputation! Why did I accept such a silly disciple?
As soon as Mu Chen entered the auction house, he received the highest level of reception.
He consigned ten third-level flame talismans for auction.
It was already late when Mu Chen left the auction, and the three returned directly to the academy.
"Disciple, hold this primordial stone card and look at it. What do you see?" Jing Chiyan asked Ye Shi, who seemed out of it.
Ye Shi looked solemnly at Jing Chiyan and said, "Mu Chen told the auctioneer to send 20% of the profit to his card and 80% to mine. I want to know how many spirit stones there will be."
Jing Chiyan rolled his eyes. This disciple is truly a money fanatic…
"The auction hasn't even started yet. No matter how long you keep staring at your card, Ye Shi, it's useless." Jing Chiyan snapped.
Ye Shi dropped his arms in frustration and suddenly asked, "Master, do you know how Zhuang Yu is doing?"
Jing Chiyan frowned. "He's been released."
Ye Shi's expression changed. "He's been released? Wasn't he supposed to be held for three months?"
"Zhuang Yu fainted in the quarry, and Shi Ziyu carried him out," Jing Chiyan explained.
Ye Shi frowned in dissatisfaction. "What's the point of fainting? This is a serious matter—it's impossible to get out so easily. It's suspicious! Why did that drunk even do anything?"
Jing Chiyan sighed. "I didn't pay attention to Zhuang Yu's situation. As a result, Shi Ziyu just carried him out. Everyone's already been released. Your uncle's orders—what can we do? Juniors care too much."
"Zhuang Yu is such a lucky guy!" Ye Shi said unhappily.
Jing Zhiyan nodded.
"That drunk is a real fool," Ye Shi said angrily.
"Agreed," Jing Chiyan replied.
"Mu Chen, are you a third-level talisman master?"
Yan He took Mu Chen's badge and stared at it repeatedly, unable to hide his shock.
Mu Chen nodded. "Yes!"
"You're so powerful… I can't even imagine when you'll become a second-level talisman master." Lu Yi said helplessly.
"Come on, if you spent less time chasing girls, you'd become one soon," Mu Chen replied with a faint smile.
Lu Yi laughed awkwardly. Mu Chen's talisman skills were excellent—he had taught them a lot. Yan He had also become a second-level talisman master with Mu Chen's help.
"Mu Chen, are you staying at Fu Yuan?" Jiang Cheng asked.
Mu Chen raised his head, looked at Jiang Cheng, narrowed his eyes and asked, "Is that your question, or did someone send you to ask?"
Jiang Cheng smiled awkwardly. "Well… I also want to know."
Mu Chen just smiled and didn't answer.
"Mu Chen, don't blame Jiang Cheng, he..." Dazzling said awkwardly.
"I understand," Mu Chen interrupted Yan He.
Some time ago, Fan Li had been making trouble for Mu Chen everywhere, giving him confusing tasks, and trying to drive him out of the academy.
"I'm aware of Fan Li's issues and the conflict with Mu Chen, but those people didn't intervene. They follow the rule that 'more is better than less.' So Mu Chen's impression of Fu Yuan must be terrible."
"Mu Chen, Fu Yuan actually isn't bad. The dean has already left customs, and Fan Li has been transferred," Lu Yi said.
Mu Chen shrugged indifferently. "Alright, let's not talk about it. Fan Li was transferred? That bastard caused so many problems and just got reassigned? I can't let go of the hatred in my heart."
"Mu Chen, in truth, Danyuan isn't easy to deal with either. The reason you were assigned to Fu Yuan during the entrance exam was because of Lan Da's interference. Lan Da holds a high position at Danyuan. It's useless for you to go there—there's no 'fruit worth eating,'" Yan He said.
Mu Chen smiled. "Alright, don't say any more. I know what I'm doing."
"Are you okay?" Lan Ruofeng
looked at Zhuang Yu's pale face with concern.
Zhuang Yu smiled and said, "I'm fine. You're the one worrying."
"All good." Lan Ruofeng gently responded.
Zhuang Yu looked at Lan Ruofeng in confusion. "Ruofeng, you don't look well. What happened?"
Lan Ruofeng shook his head. "It's nothing."
First, Lan Da was demoted. The senior management of the Pill Academy had long known that someone from the clan had tampered with Mu Chen's test. But before Mu Chen became famous, they turned a blind eye. Once Mu Chen began to shine, their view of that uncle grew more and more negative.
Fan Li was also kicked out of Fu Yuan. Lan Ruofeng had always been in contact with Fan Li, who kept targeting Mu Chen. That's also why Lan Ruofeng kept provoking him.
Originally, Lan Da thought the quarry would slow Mu Chen's progress. But unexpectedly, Mu Chen and Ye Shi returned from the quarry as five-star martial artists. In that month, Lan Ruofeng hadn't improved much, and Ye Shi, with his eighth-level talent, had caught up. Meanwhile, Mu Chen, with only sixth-level talent, had surpassed him.
Lan Ruofeng, once the pride of many, couldn't take it.
When he heard that Mu Chen became a third-level alchemist and talisman master in one day, he became furious.
He was supposed to be a genius of Dan Yuan, but everyone kept comparing him to Mu Chen—only for him to be found lacking in every way.
Compared to Mu Chen, he was just an average "genius."
Mu Chen, however, was truly unique—constantly inventing strange things that even amazed the academy elders.
Out of jealousy, Lan Ruofeng even secretly studied Fulu. But unfortunately, he lacked talent in that area. After all his effort, he got no results and only wasted time.
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