Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Mu Guanchen!

 

After seeing off Nan Ling Xun and Nan Ling Zhao, Ye Tianming turned and walked into the great hall. Song Shi stared at him without speaking.

Ye Tianming bowed respectfully, “Greetings, Principal.”

Song Shi asked, “With sufficient resources, what ranking do you think you can achieve in the Wan Prefecture Competition?”

Ye Tianming replied, “First place.”

First place!

The hall suddenly fell silent.

Song Shi stared at Ye Tianming without speaking.

Ye Tianming said earnestly, “My goal is first place, and I will do my utmost to achieve it.”

Song Shi asked, “Do you understand what being first means?”

Ye Tianming nodded, “I do.”

After looking at him for a long while, Song Shi said, “Don’t leave the academy without reason. Even if you do leave, either I or your mentor must accompany you. Speaking of which, go meet your mentor! Exit right, the last hall at the end of the path. He’s inside.”

Ye Tianming gave a slight bow, then turned to leave. After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned back to Song Shi, “Principal, does our academy provide meals?”

Song Shi stared at him, “What do you think?”

Ye Tianming felt a headache coming on. Without saying anything more, he turned and left.

Watching Ye Tianming leave, Song Shi shook his head, “Two people who passed through the Guanxuan Path are now with me. What kind of situation is this?”

After exiting, Ye Tianming walked to the right. Soon, he arrived at the hall at the end. Just as he was about to knock, the door opened, and a middle-aged man walked out. He appeared to be in his thirties, wearing a light blue robe with a purple pendant at his waist, holding an ancient scroll, looking quite scholarly.

His face was somewhat pale, as if he were ill.

Seeing Ye Tianming, the middle-aged man looked puzzled.

Ye Tianming bowed respectfully, “Student greets mentor.”

“Mentor?”

The middle-aged man was surprised, then looked Ye Tianming over and asked, “Are you a new student?”

Ye Tianming nodded, “Yes, my name is Ye Tianming.”

The middle-aged man asked, “Were you tricked into coming here by old Song?”

Ye Tianming quickly shook his head, “No, no, I came voluntarily.”

The middle-aged man smiled, “I see. Hello, I’m Mu Guanchen.”

Ye Tianming asked, “Are you willing to accept me as your student?”

Mu Guanchen smiled, “Currently, this academy has only one mentor—me—and one student—you. It seems neither of us has much choice.”

A smile spread across Ye Tianming’s face.

Mu Guanchen said, “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Come in and join me.”

Saying this, he led Ye Tianming into the hall. Upon entering, Ye Tianming was stunned. Bookshelves lined all four walls of the hall, densely packed with books.

In the center of the hall stood a large desk also covered with ancient texts, with only a small space left clear. Not far from the desk was a simple small bed.

Mu Guanchen walked to a stove in the corner where a small pot was cooking various wild vegetables. Nearby was another small stove with a pot of rice.

Mu Guanchen took two bowls and two pairs of chopsticks from a basin, washed them in a water bucket, then filled a bowl with rice and handed it to Ye Tianming.

Ye Tianming quickly accepted it, “Thank you.”

Mu Guanchen smiled, “No need to be so formal here. Just be at ease.”

Ye Tianming looked at him and nodded, “Mm.”

The two sat around the stove.

Ye Tianming hadn’t eaten for a long time, so he began eating immediately. Seeing Ye Tianming wolfing down his food, Mu Guanchen smiled and began eating as well.

Ye Tianming finished three bowls of rice before he was full. After eating, he picked up Mu Guanchen’s bowl and chopsticks, “Teacher, I’ll wash the dishes.”

With that, he turned and walked toward the water bucket.

Mu Guanchen stood up and began tidying a bookshelf in the corner. After a while, he moved all the books from one shelf to another, then laid the empty shelf flat. He went to get a blanket and spread it on the shelf.

He turned to Ye Tianming and smiled, “The other halls outside have been in disrepair for years and haven’t been cleaned. They’re not suitable for living. You can make do here tonight, and tomorrow we’ll clean out a hall for you to live in separately.”

Ye Tianming nodded, “Alright.”

After everything was tidied up, night had fallen. He walked to the entrance of the hall and sat down, looking at the dark horizon, thinking of the Ye family.

After a moment, he took a deep breath, set aside his thoughts, and began to cultivate. As he activated his technique, countless spiritual energies from heaven and earth surged toward him.

He now only wanted to frantically increase his strength, because he clearly understood that to win first place in the Wan Prefecture Competition, he needed to put in more effort than others. Otherwise, he would have no chance against disciples from top families and sects.

“Oh?”

Inside the hall, Mu Guanchen, who had been reading, suddenly looked up at Ye Tianming with surprise. He rose and walked to Ye Tianming’s side, saying softly, “This technique…”

Ye Tianming opened his eyes, “Teacher?”

Mu Guanchen smiled, “Your technique is quite special. Where did you learn it?”

Ye Tianming hesitated, then said, “I created it myself.”

For some reason, he felt a strong liking for this teacher and didn’t want to lie to him.

“Created it yourself?”

Mu Guanchen was surprised, then smiled, “That’s truly remarkable.”

Ye Tianming smiled, “It’s nothing special.”

Mu Guanchen thought for a moment, then said, “Your technique is quite unique, but there’s one aspect that could perhaps be improved.”

Ye Tianming became curious, “What aspect?”

Mu Guanchen smiled, “Filtration.”

Ye Tianming looked confused.

Mu Guanchen explained, “The spiritual energy in heaven and earth contains impurities. When spiritual energy enters your body, these impurities also enter, which over time can harm your body. Therefore, when absorbing spiritual energy, you must filter it, like washing rice. Filtered spiritual energy is purer and more effective. Your technique is excellent with very high potential—I can see it can absorb not just spiritual energy but likely other energies as well—but it lacks this ‘filtration’ function. You may not feel the damage now, but after advancing two more realms, you’ll discover serious problems with your body.”

Ye Tianming said softly, “I didn’t know about these considerations.”

Mu Guanchen smiled, “The path of cultivation is profound and requires caution, especially with self-created techniques that haven’t been tested by predecessors. You must be particularly careful.”

Ye Tianming nodded, “I understand. Teacher, how can I implement filtration?”

After pondering briefly, Mu Guanchen smiled, “We can create a filter net. When spiritual energy enters your body, it must first pass through this filter. As for how to create such a filter net, you’ll need to figure that out yourself.”

Ye Tianming smiled, “Teacher, I understand.”

Mu Guanchen nodded, “You’re currently at the Small Tribulation Realm, which is quite good for your age. However, there are still many issues with your realm… but there’s no rush. First resolve the technique issue, then we’ll research and explore the realm problems together.”

Ye Tianming quickly stood up and bowed respectfully, “Thank you, mentor.”

Mu Guanchen smiled, “No need to be so formal. Let’s be casual, preferably like friends. That makes for a more comfortable relationship.”

Ye Tianming nodded, “Alright.”

Mu Guanchen said, “Continue with your cultivation.”

With that, he walked outside.

Watching Mu Guanchen leave, Ye Tianming felt a warmth in his heart. This teacher was very easygoing and kind!

After a moment, he sat down and began researching his technique.

Mu Guanchen went to the main hall to find Song Shi, “Old Song, that young man is…?”

Song Shi looked at him, “What about him?”

Mu Guanchen said, “He’s no ordinary person. At such a young age, he can create his own technique, and a very special one at that. It’s quite remarkable.”

Song Shi said, “He passed through the Guanxuan Path.”

Mu Guanchen was stunned.

Song Shi briefly explained Ye Tianming’s situation to him.

After listening, Mu Guanchen frowned, “How could the academy handle things this way?”

Song Shi sneered, “The Xiao family and Qingzhou Academy are not simple.”

Mu Guanchen said, “I’m referring to the Inner Cabinet. The Xiao family and Qingzhou Academy shouldn’t be able to extend their reach there.”

Song Shi shook his head, “I don’t know the details either, but I heard that with one word from a certain important figure, the matter was settled.”

Mu Guanchen’s frown deepened.

Song Shi said, “This child has had a hard life. If not for that girl from the Nan Ling family protecting him with her life, he wouldn’t have survived until now. Since he’s with you now, teach him well. If he can truly achieve a top-five ranking in the Wan Prefecture Competition, he might catch the eye of a first-class family or a master from the Guanxuan Realm. That would give him a way out.”

Mu Guanchen shook his head, “In our academy, even meals are a problem, let alone cultivation. You know that cultivation requires many resources…”

He paused, then continued solemnly, “Guanchen, I’ll be honest with you. The Xiao family and Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy both want him dead. If you don’t want to take him as your disciple, I won’t force you. I’ll personally take care of him.”

Mu Guanchen said, “He has nowhere else to go. Let him stay with me.”

Song Shi nodded, then said, “I must say, the Nan Ling family’s actions this time surprised me, especially Miss Nan Ling Zhao. She truly has the spirit of Principal Fang from years ago…”

Mu Guanchen said, “I’ve also heard of this young lady. People outside now call her the second Principal Fang…”

Song Shi sighed softly, “I admire how this young lady conducts herself. Principal Fang Yu had the Guanxuan Sword Master supporting him, but she doesn’t. If she continues to act this way, I fear many in power will not tolerate her.”

Mu Guanchen said, “Those who followed the Guanxuan Sword Master in establishing the Guanxuan Order—now their descendants, having tasted the benefits of power, have ambitions and desires that roll like stones down a mountain. Once started, they cannot be stopped. This situation cannot be changed by just one or two people.”

With that, he turned and left.