Climbing the Mountain

This was the second day of the exchange students from Imperial Academy at the Blue Flame Royal Academy.

The academy didn't react much at the time, only posting a notice early in the morning stating that a group of ten exchange students from Imperial Academy had arrived to study. It urged everyone to treat them equally and to foster mutual friendship.

But these words were just a formality. After all, several students had been beaten up at the entrance yesterday. Mutual friendship? More like mutual animosity.

The academy made no comments about the large-scale fight at the entrance yesterday.

No punishments were given, nor were any commendations. It was as if nothing had happened.

Nevertheless, this allowed things to settle down, and Mo Qingkuang and his group began their lives as exchange students at the Blue Flame Royal Academy.

After a hearty breakfast to recharge, Mo Qingkuang led the remaining seven capable senior brothers to the Spirit Ascension Array to challenge the students.

With Xu Kong's guidance yesterday, Mo Qingkuang and the others quickly found the Spirit Ascension Mountain.

The cultivation effect of Spirit Ascension Mountain was extremely significant, so the students of the Blue Flame Royal Academy would stay in the Spirit Ascension Array unless they had special matters to attend to.

Thus, although the residential area of the Blue Flame Royal Academy was large, very few people actually lived there.

Entering the foot of the mountain and looking up, they saw Xu Kong sitting cross-legged at the top of the mountain, meditating.

As Mo Qingkuang and the others arrived, Xu Kong seemed to sense it and opened his eyes, his clear gaze looking down from the mountaintop.

Even from a great distance, Mo Qingkuang could feel that Xu Kong was looking at him.

"Have you chosen your targets?" Mo Qingkuang asked.

"We've chosen them; there shouldn't be any mistakes," the seven quickly replied.

"Good. Once I start fighting, you can go and challenge your targets," Mo Qingkuang nodded.

"Okay." Everyone understood that the target Mo Qingkuang chose to challenge would definitely cause a big stir. By challenging their targets while Mo Qingkuang was fighting, they could reduce a lot of pressure.

Mo Qingkuang was drawing hatred for their sake. No one was stupid, and they looked at Mo Qingkuang with more gratitude.

He was only a seventeen-year-old newcomer, yet he had taken on the responsibility of protecting the entire team, showing some leadership qualities.

"Mo Shao, can you tell us which seat you are challenging?" Li Sheng asked curiously.

After defecting last night, Li Sheng was no longer as afraid of Mo Qingkuang and dared to talk to him.

Since Li Sheng had tried to humiliate Mo Qingkuang when he first entered the inner court, he hadn't spoken to him since.

Hearing Li Sheng's question, everyone glanced at the two of them in surprise.

They had heard about their past and thought they would be at odds with each other, but Li Sheng's tone seemed respectful.

Was Li Sheng subdued by Mo Qingkuang overnight?

In fact, they didn't know that a heavenly rank technique was enough to make them submit too!

"You'll find out soon," Mo Qingkuang said, selling a small mystery. He squinted his eyes and looked towards the top of the mountain.

This time, he didn't look at Xu Kong but at Ning Xian, the famous beauty of the Blue Flame Royal Academy and the target of his challenge today, the eighth seat of the upper academy.

The top hundred seats of the upper academy occupied the upper six levels of the mountain, with the top level being the peak, occupied solely by Xu Kong.

The second level was occupied by the second and third seats, the third level by the fourth to sixth seats, the fourth level by the seventh to tenth seats, the fifth level by the eleventh to twentieth seats, and the sixth level by the twenty-first to one-hundredth seats.

The eighth seat's position was on the fourth level, relatively close to the top.

Mo Qingkuang started walking up the mountain, lightly stepping several dozen steps at a time.

The students of the Blue Flame Royal Academy, who were cultivating in the Spirit Ascension Array, quickly noticed them.

"So these are the exchange students from Imperial Academy? They don't look very strong."

"Not strong? You didn't see them at the entrance yesterday. They nearly beat Senior Ling Chen to death."

"That strong? Is it the one climbing the mountain? He doesn't look very powerful."

"Not that one. After all, it's Senior Ling Chen. Chen Kong himself isn't much better. The one climbing the mountain is Mo Qingkuang. He was quite impressive yesterday."

"Yesterday, he grabbed four students at the Grandmaster realm to treat Chen Kong's injuries, and they didn't have a chance to resist. Finally, Senior Xu Kong came and took him away."

"Wow!"

As they watched Mo Qingkuang climb the mountain, everyone stopped their cultivation and started discussing.

"Are they here to take seats?" someone suddenly asked.

"Of course. The academy said their treatment would be the same as ours," a nearby student replied immediately.

The student was a bit surprised, "It's only the second day, isn't that a bit too eager?"

"Well, you have to consider that those bumpkins from the Tianxuan Empire have never seen such an array. I bet they'd love to stay here forever," another student said mockingly.

"Hahaha..."

After laughing for a while, someone asked, "Who do you think he wants to challenge?"

The person next to him sneered, "It's obviously not you. Didn't you see him climbing up?"

Mo Qingkuang's speed was very fast. While they were talking, he had already reached halfway up the mountain.

Seeing that he hadn't stopped, someone exclaimed, "Wow, he's aiming high. Looks like he wants to challenge someone in the top hundred seats."

"Of course. Yesterday, he grabbed four Grandmasters with one hand. He must have some strength. I'd say he's aiming for a position within the top hundred."

"Who do you think he wants to challenge?"

Mo Qingkuang finally stepped into the sixth level's range and stopped because he felt several threatening gazes from above.

There was also a gaze full of appreciation and warmth, which was from Xu Kong.

Mo Qingkuang looked around. The upper academy lived up to its name. Even within the top hundred seats, there wasn't a single person below the Fifth rank Grandmaster level. Though they didn't have spirit bodies, they were still very powerful.

"He's stopped. Is he looking for an opponent?"

"No, no, he's moving again! Top twenty!"

Mo Qingkuang grinned and moved forward a bit more, reaching the fifth level. The sixth level was strong, but not strong enough for him.

The opponents on the fifth level were easier to identify. There were only ten people, all with cultivation levels above the Eighth rank Grandmaster.

"The fifth level! That's the top twenty seats! He's a First rank Grandmaster, and he dares to aim for a top twenty position?"

"Maybe he has special means to compete with Eighth rank Grandmasters and above?"

"No matter what means he has, I don't believe it! If he can break into the top twenty, I'll eat dirt in public!"

"Another one trying to scam food and drinks..."

Only the group from Imperial Academy wasn't surprised. Mo Qingkuang's strength was not below Chen Kong's. Chen Kong at least fought Ling Chen to a draw. Mo Qingkuang's strength would translate to at least in the top ten here.

They had already found their prepared opponents and were just waiting for Mo Qingkuang to start fighting so they could challenge their targets as well.

***

Subscribe to my patreon to get 20 Chapters ahead on: patreon.com/NizearaOsaiyol

Reviews and Power stones would be appreciated~~