These three men felt a surge of anger, thinking, We can't afford to offend the Dugu family, but surely we can offend you!
Yes, you, the one standing next to Dugu Jun.
He just looks like he's easy to bully, so it'll be him.
So, these three men walked up to Mo Qi and demanded he produce his communication spirit stone. The fellow, predictably timid and compliant, indeed produced the stone.
The three were overjoyed as they established a connection with him.
Mo Qi examined the unique markings of each person displayed on the communication spirit stone, asked for their names, and learned one was named Gao Jiaxu, another Gan Lei, and the third Xie Zhifu.
Mo Qi nodded with satisfaction, "Gao Jiaxu, Gan Lei, and Xie Zhifu, your communication spirit stones are now connected to mine. Remember to respond whenever summoned. Do whatever I ask you to do, obey orders without delay, and slack off not. Do you all hear me?"
The three exchanged glances, wondering if they had misheard, or if they had encountered a fool today.
Gao Jiaxu took a step forward, standing before Mo Qi, his eyes filled with anger as he stared at Mo Qi, "What did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly, say it again."
His arrogant demeanor suggested that if Mo Qi misspoke even a single word, he would be beaten soundly.
However, this very pressure completely enraged Mo Qi.
"You didn't hear clearly?" Mo Qi flicked an arrow of energy, striking Gao Jiaxu squarely in the abdomen.
Before Gao Jiaxu could even cry out in pain, Mo Qi's fist, imbued with spiritual energy, landed, sending him crashing to the ground. Mo Qi followed like a shadow, landing like lightning where Gao Jiaxu had fallen, and unleashed a flurry of punches.
He beat Gao Jiaxu into a panda-like state, his face swollen like a pig's head.
Still without a chance to cry out in pain, Mo Qi lifted him up as if he were a dead pig, "I'm asking you, did you hear clearly?"
Gao Jiaxu let out a few groans and then stammered, "I heard clearly, I heard clearly."
The surrounding onlookers were stunned by the sudden turn of events.
Many assumed it was a new student defying a senior student and being disciplined, and they cheered, "Well done, people like this who don't listen deserve to be taught a lesson."
However, Gan Lei and Xie Zhifu knew very well that it was the senior student who was being beaten. This was rebellion!
Gan Lei formed a hand seal and pointed. A dark, murky object, a "Qiankun Stone," shot towards Mo Qi, emitting black mist that instantly enveloped a large area.
Mo Qi formed a hand seal, and the earth arrow's main body erupted with brilliant light, charging forward to meet the attack. It instantly shredded the black mist, continued its charge, tore apart the Qiankun Stone, and then grew even larger, hurtling towards Gan Lei.
Gan Lei was greatly alarmed. He was already swept to the ground, and in terror, he scrambled away, fleeing in disarray.
If it hit him like that, it would surely kill him.
Mo Qi did not wish to cause a death within the academy, so he flicked his finger. The earth arrow changed course, and with a sweep of spiritual energy, it knocked Xie Zhifu, who was lunging forward, to the ground before flying back into Mo Qi's body.
Even being injured by the residual energy of the spiritual power was unbearable for Gan Lei and Xie Zhifu. They both collapsed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Mo Qi walked over majestically, crouched down, and patted Gan Lei's face, "Did you hear me?"
"I heard, I heard," Gan Lei replied repeatedly.
"Heard what?" Mo Qi asked.
"Respond whenever summoned."
Mo Qi then patted Xie Zhifu's face, "Did you hear me?"
"I heard, respond whenever summoned."
At this point, someone in the crowd named Mu Tuosen, who knew Gan Lei and Xie Zhifu, immediately realized that the newly enrolled students were rebelling.
Mu Tuosen shouted, "Are you tired of living? Do you want to rebel? You, a low... Ow, ow..."
Mo Qi flicked an arrow of energy at him, and he clutched his stomach, writhing in pain on the ground.
Ai Di, standing next to him, also shouted, "New students are rebelling... Ouch..." and was knocked to the ground.
Then, over a dozen people who tried to "uphold justice" were all knocked to the ground by Mo Qi, one by one.
After that, no one dared to speak. Everyone watched Mo Qi.
The students from previous years were all struck with fear, no longer daring to step forward.
The new students looked at Mo Qi with adoration, "I wish I could be as powerful as him."
Mo Qi surveyed the crowd, "Anyone else?"
No one!
Mo Qi glanced at the new students, "Are you willing to degenerate, to willingly become their slaves, to be driven by them?"
Someone in the crowd was moved and threw their communication spirit stone to the ground, "I am not willing. Whoever wants to serve them can do so. I won't."
Others followed suit, and a wave of indignation swept through the crowd as communication spirit stones were smashed on the ground.
Finally, the older students fled in disgrace.
Gao Jiaxu and the other two were the most severely injured and left supporting each other.
Mo Qi said, "Remember to respond whenever summoned."
The three responded subserviently and fled in haste.
The person in his room who had been kicked unconscious woke up, still groggy. He was about to get angry, but when he came out and looked, none of the older students were present.
And all that remained in the square were rookies.
But these rookies were now all staring at him with predatory gazes.
He immediately understood the situation and also fled in shame.
The crowd erupted in cheers, their admiration for Mo Qi reaching an unprecedented height.
Someone ran up, excitedly saying, "Be our leader! We'll unite to resist those older students."
Mo Qi replied coldly, "If we unite to bully others, what's the difference between us and them? I'm sorry, I don't do things like that. Everyone, please take care of yourselves."
With that, he turned and went back into his room.
The next morning, Dugu Jun knocked on his door, saying the Dean wished to see him!
What could the Dean possibly want with him? Mo Qi was filled with suspicion.
When he stepped out of his room, he saw a female assistant waiting at the door. The assistant was curvaceous and sweet-looking, and she smiled at Mo Qi.
Mo Qi immediately lost his sleepiness and followed the assistant towards the Dean's office.
As they walked, Mo Qi asked, "Excuse me, beautiful female officer, what does the Dean want with me?"
The female assistant shook her head, "I don't know, he didn't tell me. But judging by the Dean's expression, he doesn't seem very happy. You should be careful with your words and actions, and don't anger him."
This was exactly the information Mo Qi wanted. At least he knew the Dean was angry or upset, because he had done too many things recently that would easily anger or upset the Dean.
If the Dean didn't look for him, it would perhaps be abnormal.
Thinking about it, this might be a good thing. Otherwise, in such a large academy with so many students, how would the high and mighty Dean ever notice him?
The female assistant stopped at the door and gestured for Mo Qi to enter himself.
Mo Qi strode in and saw Xing Mian sitting at a square table, sipping tea and perusing a stack of documents. Seeing Mo Qi enter, he gestured to the empty seat opposite him, indicating Mo Qi should sit.
Mo Qi felt a little uneasy. Seeing a cup of tea before him, he suddenly felt thirsty and picked up the teacup.
Xing Mian shifted his gaze from the documents and suddenly spoke, "Your name is Mo Xin, right?"
Mo Qi immediately put down the teacup, "Yes, my name is Mo Xin."
"It's a false name, isn't it?" Xing Mian said, not blinking.
Mo Qi felt a headache coming on. It seemed he was being interrogated.
"It's my real name," Mo Qi said. Lying wasn't difficult for him.
"I've heard you're a prodigy in alchemy?"
"That's what others say. I don't usually admit it!" Mo Qi said with a smile.
Xing Mian cursed him in his heart, never having met such a shameless person!
"You don't need to be so humble. If you have light, let it shine, so that it can illuminate others," Xing Mian said calmly. "The moment you broke through the thirty-three levels of the Tongtian Tower, you illuminated countless people."
His tone had a strange quality. Although he was speaking words of flattery, Mo Qi heard them as if he were being insulted.
"I'm afraid of blinding people's eyes," Mo Qi said.
Xing Mian placed the documents on the table. Mo Qi clearly heard a "snap" sound, making him flinch.
"Why were your alchemy scores upon enrollment barely passing? Are you deliberately concealing something?" Xing Mian asked aggressively.
Mo Qi put on a embarrassed expression, "I really didn't perform well at the time. Perhaps I was too nervous."
Xing Mian stared at him fixedly, remaining silent for a long time.
Mo Qi picked up the teacup again, preparing to drink, but Xing Mian gave a dry cough, and Mo Qi put the cup down again.
"I finally understand why you've had conflicts with the Tang family and many older students," Xing Mian said dryly.
"Why?"
"Because you are indeed annoying."
"I don't admit to that either."
"Let me put it this way," Xing Mian hesitated for a moment, "Several people have already reported your issues to me, and some noble family disciples have even pressured me with their backing, demanding my dismissal of you."
"Who? Who's so bored?" Mo Qi asked.
But in his heart, he knew for sure that the noble family disciple must be Yuwen Dong.
"Whether they are bored or not, I don't know. All I know is that I'm about to buckle under the pressure," Xing Mian said. "..."
Mo Qi raised his fist, "Let's work hard together!"
Xing Mian glared at him and suddenly raised his voice, "I didn't call you here to chat or to encourage each other. I'm here to tell you to be low-key in the future. Endure whenever you can, and don't step forward if you don't have to. If you make me uncomfortable again next time, I'll kick you out of the academy directly."
I want to be low-key, but my strength doesn't allow it!
However, he said, "I will certainly abide by the Dean's decree, be low-key, and not step forward in any matter."
"Alright, you can go now." The Dean seemed very tired, waved his hand, and said no more.
Mo Qi picked up the teacup, drank it down heartily, and turned to leave.
For the next few days, he was extremely cautious, always remembering the Dean's words, but after a few more days, he forgot.
Later, when Mo Qi went to his next alchemy class, Dou Bai told him he didn't need to attend anymore.
This was because Dou Bai felt he had nothing more to teach him, and Mo Qi attending his class was simply an insult to him.
Therefore, he promised Mo Qi that he would personally award him the credits, and he wouldn't need to attend classes or take exams.
Upon hearing this, Mo Qi gladly accepted.
A few days later, the highly anticipated "Sun-Chasing Star-Plucking Art" class commenced. This course was only offered once a year. After the class, students were expected to practice on their own and await a unified assessment time.
Thus, the popularity of this class was immense. New students would attend, as would some of the previous year's students who were not resigned to their fate. There were even students from two or three years prior...
When Mo Qi entered the room, he saw a throng of people. He wanted to see where Xue Nü was sitting, but the crowd was dense and chaotic, making it impossible to find anyone.
However, at that moment, someone was looking at him, staring intently, seemingly unsure. Mo Qi looked closer and realized it was Lu Xiaoyue!