Chapter 65 Chen Hao's Counterattack

As for shock, Yu Xiaoyu and Liu Mingyue's hearts were no less startled than Lu Mingrong and company.

"Everyone thought that it was the blood essence of a Heavenly Destiny Primordial Beast that was used to successfully ignite the Pinnacle Furnace, but now you're telling me... just this?"

"I lied for a reason, what about you?"

The two women looked at each other, both hoping to discern the reason from the other's eyes.

"You two don't know either?"

Seeing the expressions of the two, the elders in the room all wanted to tear their hair out.

Why does it feel like my brain isn't quite sufficient!

The confusion didn't last long; School Head Lu couldn't hold back and directly asked, "What exactly is going on? Yu Xiaoyu, you go first! Why did you claim to the public that you used the blood essence of a Qingguang Beast, but actually used that of a Luo Zhi Bird? You should understand that, by common sense, this thing shouldn't possibly ignite a furnace."

"I..."

Knowing that she couldn't clarify the situation without a good deal of questioning, Yu Xiaoyu gritted her teeth and told the truth, "It was father who told me to do this..."

Hearing the explanation, Lu Mingrong let out a bitter laugh.

He finally understood!

It seems that City Lord Yu and he had the same thought, worrying that Zhang Xuan would have difficulty igniting the furnace and fearing it would delay his daughter's cultivation. That's why he resorted to this ruse. No wonder during the ignition process, the girl kept up a clumsy charade... After all this time, just following her father's plan!

"And you, Liu Mingyue?"

Lu Mingrong turned his head.

"I... I just purely wanted to make him look foolish!" Liu Mingyue mumbled, revealing her own thoughts and intentions.

Having listened to the "confessions" of the two women, Ran Qingxu and the others had their faces twitching, somewhat frantic.

Luo Zhi Birds, Cold-Backed Turtles - what level are these creatures? In their hands, even a Low-grade Furnace couldn't be successfully ignited, yet in the hands of the others, it directly turned into a Pinnacle Grade...

"Could it be that Zhang laoshi only did outward work, and instead of using these two types of blood essences, he chose a higher-level Fire-Starter..." Elder He Qin speculated.

"The furnace inside Hong Yi's body, despite numerous efforts by the School Head, remained unlit, yet in front of Zhang Xuan, in less than three breaths, it was completed..."

Wu Liuyun managed a bitter smile.

Why did the School Head let Zhang Xuan try after looking at the jade bottle? He guessed this point but didn't dare believe it; he wanted to test it. Yet, not trying would have been better, as the test turned out to be futile, and the look on his face was emo... What he couldn't achieve with the greatest efforts, the other party completed without moving a muscle, counting down from three... Anyone would be upset!

"This..."

Elder He Qin couldn't find the words to say.

All doubts vanished with the School Head personally taking the field.

"Do you understand how, because of your foolish decisions, you missed out on a tremendous opportunity..."

Ignoring everyone's thoughts, Lu Mingrong looked towards Yu Xiaoyu and Liu Mingyue, shaking his head involuntarily.

"I..." Yu Xiaoyu was unable to articulate.

She had managed to ignite a Peak of Pinnacle level furnace, even better than her friend's, but she couldn't bring herself to feel happy about it...

"I still think that he... just got lucky!" Liu Mingyue snorted coldly.

"Alright, you two may go!"

Not in the mood to keep explaining, Lu Mingrong waved his hand and instructed, "The matter of you two switching the Fire-Starting Material must be kept under wraps; not a word to anyone, or you'll face the wrath of the entire Baiyan Academy."

"Yes!"

Seeing his serious tone, Yu Xiaoyu and Liu Mingyue didn't dare to argue and nodded in agreement.

In fact, it was such an embarrassing matter that they would prefer not to mention; having the other party keep it a secret was also for the best.

The two women left, and thinking about the miraculous feats of that young man, Lu Mingrong couldn't help but give a wry smile, "I thought his cultivation talent was merely impressive, but who knew his technique for igniting Furnaces for others would be so formidable! Geniuses truly cannot be measured by common standards... Right, we must keep this a secret for him!"

"Don't worry, School Head!"

Various Elders nodded.

His high talent alone made him worth befriending, yet they also feared he might be ungrateful, but the ability to ignite a Pinnacle Furnace with such weak Fire-Starting Material—just this fact alone would make countless powerful clans interested!

Because with such a skill, one could produce the greatest effects at the smallest cost, continuously cultivating more and more powerful cultivators.

"But many people saw what happened during today's public class..." Fourth Elder Chen Jinlin expressed some concern.

Lu Mingrong shook his head, "As long as we insist that the Fire-Starting Material used for the three of them was blood essence from a Heavenly Destiny Primeval Beast, it may seem somewhat exaggerated, but at least it's not too far-fetched."

Everyone nodded.

Indeed!

Using Fire-Starting Material like the Qingguang Beast and Lingyun Beast to ignite a Peak of Pinnacle Furnace was shocking, but still within the realm of understanding. If they were to reveal that it was the Luo Zhi Bird or Cold-Backed Turtle, the whole world would probably explode...

So, keeping this secret was the safest method, both for Zhang Xuan and Baiyan Academy.

...

In a private room within the student dormitories.

"Damn it, damn it, how could I, the young master of the Chen Clan, kneel before him!"

Pale with anger, Chen Hao roared.

Since entering the academy, he had never suffered the humiliation he had faced today, especially in front of the goddess Liu Mingyue...

"But this Miscellaneous Duties Teacher really did ignite a Pinnacle Furnace, Young Master Chen did truly lose..." A lackey nearby interjected.

"Do you really think it was him who ignited the Furnace? I doubt it!" Lackey 2 scoffed.

Hearing this, Chen Hao looked over with a glint in his eye, "Zhou Qingkai, have you discovered something?"

Lackey 2, Zhou Qingkai, replied, "I was there at today's public class too, Young Master Chen, let me ask you, did this Teacher Zhang ever poke Hong Yi's belly to transfer zhenqi into his Source Pool?"

After careful recollection, Chen Hao shook his head, "No!"

Zhou Qingkai continued, "Even the School Head needs to transfer zhenqi to ignite a Furnace, how could he succeed without doing anything!"

Chen Hao was taken aback, "Right!"

"So, the truth is... School Head Lu was helping him!"

Zhou Qingkai shared his speculation, "If I've guessed correctly, it should be the School Head who ignited the cauldron, but he didn't admit it, deliberately letting this Teacher Zhang take credit for it. After all, he personally recruited the teacher, and having been made to lose face by a student, wouldn't it be the same as him losing face? Otherwise, how could it be possible for him to do nothing, just stand there for a moment, and allow Hong Yi, who had never been successful, to smoothly ignite his Furnace, and moreover, a Pinnacle one?"

"Indeed!"

After running the other's analysis through his mind and confirming there were no issues, Chen Hao had an epiphany, "So that's how it is, truly a fame-thieving scoundrel... Even such merit he wishes to falsely claim, shameless! No, we cannot let him off so easily! Wang Yuxing!"

Lackey 1, Wang Yuxing, quickly looked up, "Young Master Chen."

Chen Hao commanded, "That guy has a class tomorrow, right? You find a way to spread the news that Liu Mingyue has entered under the tutelage of a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher to the Liu Clan. Paint it as pitifully as possible, make Patriarch Liu come here in person."

Wang Yuxing nodded, "Understood!"

Chen Hao said, "Zhou Qingkai, your father excels at Horse Taming, and he has been to the Chen Estate once before. Pay another visit, tell my father that I've been humiliated by a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher, ensure that he comes over tomorrow morning to take revenge for me!"

Zhou Qingkai saluted, "Rest assured, young master."

"Hmm!"

After giving his instructions, Chen Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling today's humiliation wiped clean:

"With Patriarch Liu and my father, the elders of Baiyan City's two major families, coming to question personally, even if School Head Lu is partial, he surely won't dare to obstruct it. Then... it will be time for me to have my revenge!"