Tong Wuqi's eyes revealed a look of determination, as if he had also quietly made a difficult decision.
Yuwen Dong was so enraged he felt his lungs would explode. With a wave of his hand, the people standing in front of him rushed back, instantly forming a semicircle that surrounded Mo Qi.
"A fight is about to break out!" everyone's gaze converged on the back row, their eyes filled with eagerness.
Xue Nü stood up, "Yuwen Dong..." she seemed about to reprimand him.
Just then, a large figure appeared on the podium. It was a middle-aged胖子 (pàngzi - fatty), so plump that his eyes were narrowed into slits, and the flesh on his face formed two extra pouches, half-swollen and half-drooping.
The fat on his body was also conspicuous. He wobbled as he walked, his breathing particularly heavy, as if he might gasp for air at any moment. He was the teacher for this class, Teacher Zu Wen.
"What's going on?" Zu Wen scanned the room, his gaze sweeping over the faces of everyone standing, exuding an imposing aura without anger.
Those standing glanced at Yuwen Dong, then returned to their seats. Yuwen Dong glared at Mo Qi, "This isn't over, just you wait." He then sat down in frustration.
Xue Nü also slowly sat down, her eyes lost, sinking into a jumble of thoughts.
All along, she had wanted to understand one thing. This matter had made her lose her appetite and unable to sleep, but now that she knew the answer, she was equally troubled.
If only she were still in the Nine Divine Realms, how wonderful that would be!
His appearance here filled her with both surprise and joy, yet his reckless behavior also brought her fear and worry.
Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Zu Wen began his lecture.
Before lecturing, Zu Wen provided an overall description of the entire course content. It turned out that the demon-catching techniques course was not meant to teach special methods for catching demons, nor were there special methods for demon-catching.
The demon-catching techniques course first aimed to give students a direct understanding of demons, explaining the habits of each type of demon, their special techniques, and how to counter them.
As Mo Qi listened, he found it particularly boring. He had expected some formidable techniques, but this was it? He suspected the academy had opened this course just to fill a quota. He now thought it was fortunate he hadn't chosen courses like Minor Vehicle Breakthrough, Great Vehicle Breakthrough, or Tribulation Crossing Precautions; those classes would likely bore someone to death.
However, Zu Wen lectured with great seriousness, his words flowing like blooming mountain flowers and startled birds. He spoke eloquently and with great animation, occasionally delivering witty remarks that elicited laughter, and countless people listened with great interest.
He spent an entire class introducing dragons, making Mo Qi feel increasingly drowsy. He desperately wanted to rest his head on the desk and sleep, but he feared being seen by the teacher and deemed disrespectful, so he forced himself to stay awake.
"Why did you change your name?" Xue Nü suddenly transmitted, asking, "Does Mo Xin mean we shouldn't believe you?"
Mo Qi's eyelids were almost closed. Upon hearing this, he suddenly opened them and transmitted back, "Don't believe my name, but you can believe everything else."
"Silver-tongued," Xue Nü chided softly. "When class is over, just walk out. Don't pay them any mind."
Mo Qi said, "I won't offend others if they don't offend me. If they offend me, I will never back down."
Xue Nü said nothing further, merely turning to glare at him.
Finally, when class ended, Mo Qi let out a long sigh and stretched.
As Mo Qi stood up to leave, Yuwen Dong suddenly appeared, blocking his path, his eyebrows raised. "What? You still want to leave?"
Tong Wuqi stepped forward, standing beside Mo Qi.
The people who had stood up before class slowly gathered around, eyeing the two menacingly.
"This is going to be good." Everyone else prepared to watch the show, and almost no one left, except for the teacher.
Mo Qi looked directly at Yuwen Dong, "Then what do you want?"
"It's simple. Stay away from Xi Xue, and never approach her." Yuwen Dong's eyes were cold as he spoke.
Xue Nü said angrily, "Yuwen Dong, who do you think you are? Whether he approaches me or not, what business is it of yours?"
Yuwen Dong said, exasperated, "We grew up together, childhood sweethearts. But you went to the Nine Divine Realms and your attitude towards me changed drastically. Is it because of this person?"
Xue Nü said calmly and unequivocally, "We are not a good match, and it has nothing to do with anyone else."
Yuwen Dong's eyes flashed with killing intent as he looked at Mo Qi, "Then if I kill this person, it's also none of your business."
"If you kill him, you make an enemy of my Chao family," Xue Nü declared loudly.
Hearing her say this, Mo Qi felt a warmth rise in his heart.
However, Yuwen Dong laughed, "Would you dare say that in front of your father and grandfather? Have you asked for their opinions?"
Xue Nü was momentarily speechless, "I, I don't need to ask them..."
Mo Qi looked at Yuwen Dong and said calmly, "I can stay away from her, but she will think of me. As for you, stop pestering and bothering me, it's truly annoying!"
Xue Nü softly said, "You conceited fool!"
Seeing them acting like they were flirting, Yuwen Dong became even more enraged and roared, "Die!"
As he spoke, Yuwen Dong swung a fist, infused with spiritual energy, towards Mo Qi.
Close-quarters combat like this, without strong resistance, would be unbearable. Many people closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight of Mo Qi being beaten into a bloody mess.
Mo Qi simply and gracefully extended a hand, lightly catching Yuwen Dong's fist.
Yuwen Dong immediately let out a pig-like howl. His steps involuntarily lifted as his arm twisted, his face contorted, and sweat poured down like rain.
Mo Qi looked into his eyes, and Yuwen Dong's body trembled, his mind falling into confusion.
As the others prepared to make a move, Mo Qi said, "Tell them to stop."
"Stop," Yuwen Dong said cooperatively.
Seeing Yuwen Dong under someone else's control, the others hesitated, fearing to act rashly, and thus also stopped.
"Bark like a dog," Mo Qi commanded.
"Woof woof woof!" Yuwen Dong barked.
"Hahaha..." a burst of laughter erupted from the surroundings.
"Alright," Xue Nü chuckled, then looked at Mo Qi seriously, "Enough is enough. The reason you changed your name must be because there's something you don't want people to know. If that's the case, why not keep a lower profile?"
Tong Wuqi also said, "Miss Chao is right. Don't let things get out of hand."
Mo Qi directly kicked Yuwen Dong, sending him sprawling to the ground. "I'm already being very low-key."
Mo Qi was not someone who made trouble unreasonably; he didn't offend others unless they offended him.
Yuwen Dong's vacant eyes gradually regained clarity. Seeing himself lying on the ground, he immediately rolled over and got up.
He saw everyone around him sneering, not understanding why.
One thing was certain: he had been tricked without realizing it.
Judging by the mocking expressions around him, he had probably suffered a great humiliation this time!
Yuwen Dong's chest burned with raging anger!
At this moment, a man with thick eyebrows and large eyes stepped forward and whispered in his ear, "We are no match for him. We should leave first. In the current situation, the more you want to deal with him, the more Chao Xi Xue will distance herself from you. I think it's better to change our approach and start with her family. That way, we can gain the upper hand."
Yuwen Dong nodded repeatedly, then glared fiercely at Mo Qi, "You wait, this is not over." With that, he and his entourage left.
Mo Qi, along with Xue Nü and Tong Wuqi, walked out, attracting countless gazes. Many male cultivators' eyes were practically watering with envy. "Alas, if only I had his courage and strength."
"You're dreaming. Dreaming is still possible."
"From now on, I will work harder and harder to become the most powerful in terms of magical energy, possessing all the beauties in the world..."
In the afternoon, there was a pill refining class, which both Mo Qi and Tong Wuqi attended.
Xue Nü also went. However, when Mo Qi entered, Xue Nü was surrounded by people on both sides. On one side was Yuwen Dong, and on the other was a female cultivator. It was likely all arranged by Yuwen Dong.
Mo Qi glanced at Xue Nü, then heard her transmit, "It's okay, it's all the same wherever I sit."
"Yes," Mo Qi smiled, "As long as you think of me."
"You conceited fellow!"
Mo Qi found a seat in the front row and sat down. Tong Wuqi breathed a sigh of relief and unhesitatingly sat next to Mo Qi. At this moment, Ying Dansheng also entered and, as if intentionally or unintentionally, sat on Mo Qi's other side.
This room was much larger than the one in the morning. Because alchemy classes had high credit values, many people chose them. Some students who had enrolled last year and the year before, if they had not passed the final assessment, also participated in the learning.
Therefore, upon entering the room, one would see a vast crowd.
The teacher for the alchemy class was a white-haired old man, with white hair and a white beard. His beard was very long, and though his body was thin, he stood remarkably straight, possessing an air of otherworldly detachment. His name was Dou Bai.
As soon as Dou Bai arrived, he began with a general lecture, stating that while every student present might know how to refine pills, the path of alchemy was vast and profound, and they only knew the superficial aspects.
Furthermore, he said, they had all learned crude refining methods from various mountain sects, methods that were not presentable. Only the academy's refining methods were orthodox, because the academy's approach emphasized naturalness and the unity of man and pill, not just pursuing medicinal properties but also the humanistic aspect.
After a lengthy discourse, half the class time had passed. Only then did he begin to explain how to refine pills, specifically how to prepare ingredients, control the heat, and observe the changes in the pills.
Mo Qi found nothing new. As he listened, a wave of drowsiness washed over him, and he fell asleep with his head on the desk.
If he had been sitting in the back, it would have been fine, but he insisted on sitting in the very front. Dou Bai endured it for a long time, feeling that Mo Qi was affecting his mood. He then asked Tong Wuqi beside him to wake him up. Tong Wuqi nudged him with his finger, and Mo Qi suddenly jolted awake.
He raised his head and looked around, only to see everyone staring at him, including Dou Bai.
Dou Bai said sarcastically, "This student is sleeping so soundly, he must have learned very well. He must have mastered everything."
Mo Qi shook his head.
Dou Bai ignored him and continued, "Then let me ask you, what ingredients are needed to refine a Spirit Severing Pill?"
Mo Qi replied without hesitation, "The most effective formula uses Jing Mo, Qing Ling Hua, Southern Sea Kun Xing, Taowu Horn, Tie Mi and Du Chuan Wu Shi, Jia Guo, Zhu Yu, and Qi Shan Bei Chong."
Dou Bai was stunned. What kind of formula was this? He had never heard of it.
Dou Bai had seen all sorts of situations and assumed the student was speaking casually. He smiled and said, "Your ability to speak nonsense is quite strong. Why don't you refine it and eat it yourself? See if it doesn't kill you. This Du Chuan Wu Shi is highly poisonous."
This remark immediately drew laughter from below, including Ying Dansheng, who looked at Mo Qi with mockery: So you've been exposed. You showed off a bit during the test, and now you think you're a master.
Xue Nü, however, said to the female cultivator beside her, "I believe what he said is true. The refining secrets of the Divine Pill Sect in the Nine Divine Realms are incomparable to the academy's formulas."