Chapter 27

After watching Nan Ling Xun and Nan Ling Zhao leave, Ye Tianming turned and walked into the grand hall. Song Shi stared at him, saying nothing.

Ye Tianming respectfully bowed, "Greetings, Dean."

Song Shi said, "If resources are sufficient, what rank do you think you can achieve in the Wanzhou Competition?"

Ye Tianming replied, "First place."

First place!

The grand hall suddenly fell silent.

Song Shi stared at Ye Tianming, saying nothing.

Ye Tianming said earnestly, "My goal is first place, and I will do my best."

Song Shi asked, "Do you know what it means to be first?"

Ye Tianming nodded, "I know."

After looking at him for a long time, Song Shi said, "Don't leave the academy unless necessary. If you do, I or your mentor must accompany you. By the way, go see your mentor! Turn right at the door, and he will be in the last grand hall at the end."

Ye Tianming bowed slightly and then turned to leave. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Song Shi, "Dean, does our academy provide meals?"

Song Shi stared at him, "What do you think?"

Ye Tianming felt a headache. He didn't say anything and turned to leave.

After watching Ye Tianming leave, Song Shi shook his head, "Two people who passed the Guanxuan Path are now with me. What a situation."

After leaving, Ye Tianming turned right and soon arrived at the grand hall at the end. Just as he was about to knock on the door, it opened, and a middle-aged man walked out. He looked to be in his thirties, wearing a light blue robe, with a purple pendant around his waist, and holding an ancient book. He looked very scholarly.

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

Seeing Ye Tianming, the middle-aged man was a bit puzzled.

Ye Tianming bowed respectfully, "Student greets mentor."

"Mentor?"

The middle-aged man was surprised. He then looked at Ye Tianming and asked, "Are you a new student?"

Ye Tianming nodded, "Yes, my name is Ye Tianming."

The middle-aged man said, "Were you tricked by Old Song?"

Ye Tianming shook his head quickly, "No, no, I came here voluntarily."

The middle-aged man smiled, "I see. Hello, I'm Mu Guanchen."

Ye Tianming asked, "Will you accept me as a student?"

Mu Guanchen smiled, "There's only one mentor and one student in this academy right now. It seems you have no other choice, and neither do I."

A smile appeared on Ye Tianming's face.

Mu Guanchen said, "You haven't eaten yet, right? Come in and eat with me."

He led Ye Tianming into the grand hall. As soon as he entered, Ye Tianming was stunned. The entire hall was lined with bookshelves, filled with countless books.

In the center of the hall was a large desk, also covered with ancient books, leaving only a small space. Not far from the desk was a simple bed.

Mu Guanchen walked to a stove, where a small pot was boiling with various wild vegetables. Next to it was another small stove with a pot of rice.

Mu Guanchen took two bowls and two pairs of chopsticks from a basin, washed them at a water bucket, and then served a bowl of rice to Ye Tianming.

Ye Tianming quickly took the rice, "Thank you."

Mu Guanchen smiled, "Here, you don't need to be too formal. Just be relaxed."

Ye Tianming looked at him and nodded, "Okay."

The two sat by the stove.

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

Ye Tianming ate three bowls of rice before he was full. After finishing, he took Mu Guanchen's bowl and chopsticks, "Teacher, I'll wash the dishes."

He then walked toward the water bucket.

Mu Guanchen got up and started tidying up a bookshelf in the corner. After a while, he moved all the books from one shelf to another, laid down a bed on the shelf, and made it up.

He turned to Ye Tianming and smiled, "The other grand halls are in disrepair and haven't been cleaned, so they're not suitable for living. You'll stay here tonight. Tomorrow, I'll help you clean one of the halls for you to live in alone."

Ye Tianming nodded, "Okay."

After everything was settled, it was already night. He sat at the entrance of the grand hall, looking at the dark horizon, thinking about the Ye family...

After a moment, he took a deep breath, gathered his thoughts, and began to cultivate. As he ran his cultivation technique, countless spiritual energies surged toward him.

He now wanted to rapidly improve his strength because he knew that to win first place in the Wanzhou Competition, he needed to work much harder than others. Otherwise, he couldn't compete with the disciples of top families and sects.

"Hmm?"

Inside the hall, Mu Guanchen, who was reading, suddenly looked up at Ye Tianming, his eyes filled with surprise. He got up and walked to Ye Tianming's side, whispering, "This cultivation technique..."

Ye Tianming opened his eyes, "Teacher?"

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

Ye Tianming hesitated for a moment and then said, "I created it myself."

For some reason, he felt a good connection with this teacher and didn't want to lie to him.

"Created it yourself?"

Mu Guanchen was surprised and then smiled, "That's quite impressive."

Ye Tianming smiled, "Thank you."

Mu Guanchen thought for a moment and then said, "Your cultivation technique is special, but there's one area that could be improved."

Ye Tianming was curious, "What area?"

Mu Guanchen smiled, "Filtration."

Ye Tianming was puzzled.

Mu Guanchen explained, "The spiritual energy in the world contains impurities. When it enters your body, those impurities also enter. Over time, they can harm your body. Therefore, when absorbing spiritual energy, you must filter it, just like washing rice. The filtered spiritual energy will be purer and more effective. Your cultivation technique is excellent and has a high upper limit. I can see that it can absorb not only spiritual energy but also other forms of energy, but it lacks the 'filtration' function. You might not feel the harm now, but after advancing two more realms, you will notice significant problems with your body."

Ye Tianming said softly, "I see, there are so many details to consider."

Mu Guanchen smiled, "Cultivation is profound and complex. You must be cautious, especially with a self-created technique that hasn't been tested by others. You need to be even more careful."

Ye Tianming nodded, "I understand. Teacher, how can I filter the energy?"

Mu Guanchen thought for a moment and then smiled, "We can create a filter. When the spiritual energy enters your body, it must first pass through this filter. As for how to create this filter, you'll have to figure it out yourself."

Ye Tianming smiled, "I understand, Teacher."

Mu Guanchen nodded, "You are at the Lesser Tribulation Realm. Reaching this realm at your age is quite good, but there are still many issues with this realm... Don't worry about that for now. First, solve the problem with your cultivation technique. Then we can study and refine your realm together."

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

Mu Guanchen smiled, "No need to be so formal. Let's be more relaxed, like friends. It will be more comfortable that way."

Ye Tianming nodded, "Okay."

Mu Guanchen said, "You can start cultivating now."

He then walked out.

Ye Tianming watched Mu Guanchen leave, feeling warm inside. This teacher was very approachable and kind!

After a moment, he sat down and began to study his cultivation technique.

Mu Guanchen went to the main hall and found Song Shi, "Old Song, who is that young man?"

Song Shi looked at him, "What's the matter?"

Mu Guanchen said, "He's not an ordinary person. At such a young age, he can create his own cultivation technique, and it's quite special. That's impressive."

Song Shi said, "He passed the Guanxuan Path."

Mu Guanchen was stunned.

Song Shi briefly explained Ye Tianming's situation.

After listening, Mu Guanchen frowned, "Why did the academy handle it this way?"

Song Shi sneered, "The Xiao family and the Qingzhou Academy are not simple."

Mu Guanchen said, "I mean the Inner Cabinet. The Xiao family and the Qingzhou Academy can't reach the Inner Cabinet."

Song Shi shook his head, "I don't know the specifics, but it seems a high-ranking official's word settled the matter."

Mu Guanchen's frown deepened.

Song Shi said, "This child has had a tough life. If not for the protection of the Nan Ling family, he wouldn't have survived. Since he's with you now, teach him well. If he can place in the top five in the Wanzhou Competition, he might be noticed by a first-tier family or a high-ranking official in the Guanxuan World, giving him a way out."

Mu Guanchen shook his head, "Our academy can barely provide meals, let alone resources for cultivation. You know, cultivation requires a lot of resources..."

He paused and then said seriously, "Guanchen, I must be honest. The Xiao family and the Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy want him dead. If you don't want to take him as a disciple, I won't force you. I'll take him myself."

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

Song Shi nodded and then said, "I must say, the actions of the Nan Ling family surprised me, especially Nan Ling Zhao. She truly has the spirit of the former Dean Fang..."

Mu Guanchen said, "I've heard of her. People now call her the second Dean Fang..."

Song Shi sighed, "I admire her actions. Dean Fang had the support of the Guanxuan Sword Master, but she doesn't. If she continues to act this way, many people above her won't tolerate it."

Mu Guanchen said, "The people who followed the Guanxuan Sword Master to establish the Guanxuan Order, once they taste the benefits of power, their ambitions and desires grow like a rolling stone down a hill. Once it starts, it can't be stopped. This isn't something one or two people can change."

He then turned and left.

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