Xue Nu paused.
"How did Dugu Jun know about the purge that night?" Xue Nu suddenly asked after a moment.
"He guessed it, anyone would have guessed it. Yuwen Changsha was killed at the time, and Yuwen Yan's whereabouts were unknown..."
"Then how does he know these details so clearly?"
"When you set your mind to doing something, you will always achieve something," Mo Qi said.
He had considered this question before and saw it very clearly. The Dugu family had been paying attention to the movements of other families, accumulating strength in secret, and preparing to strike at any time.
Therefore, when Mo Qi wanted to save Tang Qianyu, he immediately thought of the Dugu family. He also believed that the Dugu family would definitely make a move, and the Dugu family did not disappoint him; they indeed made a move.
This was not about anyone helping anyone, but simply about their interests aligning.
Perhaps, if the Nangong family had not suddenly shown a weakness, it would have been the Yuwen family that was injured.
It was just that Dugu Jun's sudden sigh, whether it was an intentional reminder or an unintentional slip, made him ponder.
He suddenly thought of something, then shook his head: Impossible, absolutely impossible.
"If you were truly attentive, you would have helped me kill Yuwen Yan," Xue Nu said coldly.
Mo Qi was caught off guard by this sudden request and froze.
"This child, how can she be so ungrateful? I haven't even pursued the revenge for her father killing my father, yet she's still holding onto the grudge for her grandfather," Yuwen Yan said indignantly.
"She is already dead, not a trace left," Mo Qi said.
"Stop playing coy with me. I mean for her soul to be scattered," Xue Nu said hatefully.
"Let me out, and I'll teach her a lesson," Yuwen Yan said.
"Isn't that a bit too bloody and cruel!" Mo Qi ignored Yuwen Yan and said to Xue Nu, "Think carefully. The current Yuwen Yan is actually the most pitiful. How glorious and prosperous was their Yuwen family before? But all that prosperity turned to ashes overnight, their clan almost wiped out, and she herself is left with only a wisp of a soul..."
Yuwen Yan, hearing this, was overcome with grief and began to sob within the bracelet.
Xue Nu's most tender spot was also touched, her eyes reddened, and her delicate brows furrowed.
Finally, she cast a resentful glance at him, turned, and left quickly.
"I'm leaving the academy, take care!" Mo Qi shouted as Xue Nu walked further and further away.
Xue Nu stopped, turned back, and gave him a deep look before turning to leave.
Mo Qi watched Xue Nu's receding back, thinking, no matter where I am, I hope you are safe.
He suddenly pondered how he should proceed.
Ling Feiyan still had to be saved!
But he would probably have to rely on himself. Fortunately, he now had Dugu Yan as a powerful backing.
This was probably stronger than a special envoy from the third-tier or above, because he now finally understood that even negotiations would fail, and ultimately, rescuing her would require force, with no other option!
Therefore, this trip to the Heavenly Steps Academy was not in vain.
Mo Qi entered his residence. Dugu Jun had finally stopped reading and was leisurely drinking tea by the table, humming a tune, a smile perpetually on his face.
"What's so happy about? Did the Dugu family gain more territory?" Mo Qi asked.
"No, that's nothing to be happy about. I'm happy for you," Dugu Jun said.
"Happy for me? I'm about to leave, and you're still happy for me. Are you trying to annoy me to death?" Mo Qi said irritably.
"Look at you," Dugu Jun pointed at him from a distance, "You're definitely not leaving. Stay a little longer, and you'll know soon enough."
Mo Qi looked at him suspiciously: "I'll believe you if I'm a ghost." He then went into his room and closed the door.
He used the sound transmission spirit stone to summon Gao Jiaxu and Gan Lei, asking them to help him pack.
Gao Jiaxu and Gan Lei were very reluctant, but they had also heard that Mo Qi was leaving. They thought, since he was leaving anyway, let him torment them a bit; he wouldn't have the chance next time. Thus, the two went over with crestfallen faces.
Just as they had packed a little, the beautiful female officer by the Dean's side arrived.
Just as Dugu Jun had said, she informed Mo Qi that he did not need to leave.
The Heavenly God Academy from Dongsheng Continent was coming to challenge them tomorrow, and the Dean hoped he would represent the academy in the alchemy competition.
Mo Qi's first thought was, why does Dugu Jun always observe the world from a heavenly perspective!
He was a little curious and went out to inquire with Dugu Jun.
Dugu Jun said with an air of knowing: "This is very simple. I'm not omniscient. I just know about the Heavenly God Academy's challenge a little earlier than you. The Heavenly God Academy and the Heavenly Steps Academy compete once every hundred years. The competition is divided into alchemy and magic duels. The winner has the opportunity to receive the Heavenly Seal Barrier bestowed by the heavens, which can protect the academy from external erosion for a hundred years. However, the Heavenly Steps Academy has not won for the past eight hundred years, so during these eight hundred years, the academy has relied on its own barrier to resist constant interference, weathering storms... like last time, when Yuwen Changsha came..."
Mo Qi immediately understood his own importance and turned to the female officer who was waiting for his reply: "Dean Xing has no sincerity at all. Do you know how much he hurt my feelings yesterday? How could I stop being sad so quickly? Go back and tell him that I am very hurt and very sad."
The female officer hesitated for a moment, then left.
Mo Qi dismissed Gan Lei and Gao Jiaxu, who were still standing there in a daze, then lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
Dugu Jun glanced inside with a light smile, then focused on his book.
A moment later, Xing Mian arrived, looking disheveled. Dugu Jun let him and his assistant into the room. Xing Mian walked straight in, sat by the bed, raised his hand, and prepared to shake Mo Qi awake.
Mo Qi suddenly snorted loudly, like rumbling thunder.
Startled, Xing Mian quickly withdrew his hand.
Xing Mian's face showed embarrassment. He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and said to the female assistant in the outer room, "Xiao Yin, wake him up."
Xiao Yin's face turned slightly red. After a moment of hesitation, she walked to Mo Qi's side and called out softly, "Classmate Mo!"
Mo Qi turned over, still snoring loudly.
Xiao Yin called out a couple more times, but Mo Qi remained sound asleep. She mustered her courage again and shook him, but he still didn't wake up.
Xing Mian thought to himself, as expected, you can never wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep!
Xiao Yin looked at Xing Mian innocently, with a troubled expression.
Xing Mian waved his hand, signaling her to retreat.
"Classmate Mo, how about this? I'll reinstate your student status, give you two hundred academic credits, and lifelong free access to the academy. You can use any of the academy's resources for free," Xing Mian said after Xiao Yin left.
Mo Qi suddenly sat up and stretched: "I haven't slept like this in a long time." He then looked at Xing Mian, "Oh? Dean Xing, when did you arrive? I just dreamed that you said you would reinstate my student status, give me two hundred academic credits, lifelong free access to the academy, and use any of the academy's resources for free. Is all this true?"
Xing Mian said patiently: "It's true, your dream has come true."
Mo Qi sighed: "Alas, it was just a dream, so unreal. My real wish was to obtain one thousand two hundred course credits and five hundred practical credits!"
That's equivalent to wanting to graduate directly, Xing Mian thought. What a bold ambition!
"One thousand two hundred credits can be given to you, but you must earn them through strength. And practical experience cannot be skipped under any circumstances, even if I wanted to help you skip it, I couldn't," Xing Mian said, "because it's directly linked to the records of the seventh tier."
"Alright, then it can only be this way," Mo Qi said with a smile. "Dean Xing, what did you need me for?"
Xing Mian also smiled: "Since you're already stating conditions, you must know what it's about, so I don't need to elaborate, right? You primarily need to participate in an alchemy competition, consisting of three rounds. What I just said about earning credits through strength means, specifically, winning one match earns six hundred credits. As for the magic duel, it mainly depends on whether the students currently on external training can return in time. If they cannot return promptly, you might have to participate in a magic duel as well."
Mo Qi lay down again: "Let me recommend someone for you, Lu Xiaoyue. You can consider her."
Xing Mian casually said, "Okay, I'll consider it. Get some good rest, and prepare for battle tomorrow."
After speaking, he took Xiao Yin and left. When he reached Dugu Jun, he said, "You should also prepare yourself."
Dugu Jun said, "I know, Dean." He then continued reading.
"I really admire you," Mo Qi said, looking at the ceiling, speaking to Dugu Jun.
"Admire me for what?" Dugu Jun glanced inside, but only saw Mo Qi's hair.
"You clearly possess the strength to be revered from on high, yet you always hide in a corner, so low-key and reserved. How do you manage to contain yourself?" Mo Qi said.
"What are you talking about? Stop it, you're making me blush."
Mo Qi got goosebumps all over and quickly got up to close the door.
He then sat on the bed and once again comprehended the Star Picking Art of the Sun Chasing.
At some point, he felt his body float as if about to fly. Vaguely, he sensed a fiery red mass. Upon careful touch, it dispersed like mist. He tried several times, but it was always the same. He had to give up.
To enhance his sense of security, he decided to refine an explosive pill, but he didn't have many magic treasures left.
He took out his staff and looked at it for a while, then put it away.
He took out the pipa fan and looked at it. Then he put it away.
He also took out the needle-shaped magic treasure and looked at it, but still couldn't bear to use it.
He then took out the bracelet given to him by Old Master Lu. There was still someone living inside, so he put it away.
Finally, he used the flying blade given to him by Tang Qianyu for alchemy. To be precise, this flying blade was not a magic treasure, but merely a refined magic artifact, slightly more powerful than ordinary magic artifacts. For now, it would have to suffice.
During the refining process, Yuwen Yan asked with a hint of realization, "Is this the thing you used against Nangong Yun?"
Mo Qi nodded: "Yes. Do you have any magic treasures? I can help you refine one too."
Yuwen Yan said, "I don't have any magic treasures. My cultivation is the best magic treasure."
"Being too self-assured can easily lead to utter destruction," Mo Qi said.
"You, you really know how to hit a sore spot."
The next day, the Heavenly Steps Academy experienced an unprecedented spectacle.
Almost all the students and faculty of the Heavenly Steps Academy gathered in the plaza. Those who couldn't find a spot climbed trees and rooftops.
The leader of the Heavenly God Academy was named Jiang Xia, said to be a disciple of the Shujiao Sect from Dongsheng Continent, acting as the interim Dean of the Heavenly God Academy.
Besides Jiang Xia, there were several observers.
The other nine were participants, but only seven would actually compete, with the other two being reserves depending on the situation.
On the Heavenly Steps Academy's side, Xing Mian's face was constantly contorted in distress. He looked up at the sky and complained incessantly: "What's going on? They didn't even notify us about the competition starting early. Are you doing this on purpose?"
The few high-cultivation individuals of the Heavenly Steps Academy, such as Wei Jianfei, Zhuang Shaokun, Fen Tian, Jing Lei, Le Yu, Ming Yue Ye, and Murong Jing, had all gone to other continents for training. They were still on their way back. By the time they returned, it would be too late.
Although he understood the opponent's strength, even if these people returned, their side might not necessarily win. However, their presence at least indicated full readiness. Now, it seemed they were rushing into battle without being fully equipped.
The audience of the Heavenly Steps Academy, if they were aware of the academy's history, also did not have high hopes for this competition. The Heavenly Steps Academy and the Heavenly God Academy competed once every hundred years. While it seemed the Heavenly Steps Academy had only been separated from victory for eight hundred years, in reality, their previous victory before that one was a thousand years prior.