Chapter 017: Trying Hard to Win Over

Feng Wuchen was merely a Second Grade Martial Soul waste, yet Elder Su gave him so much attention, which indeed triggered jealousy in Mo Ling'er's heart.

Although she called Feng Wuchen trash with her lips, Mo Ling'er knew about how easily Feng Wuchen defeated Yang Bufan and Yang Xuan, which wasn't something trash could achieve.

Had Mo Ling'er known that Yang Tian from the First Layer of Qi Refining Realm had been defeated by Feng Wuchen in the Eightfold Body Refining Realm, who knows what she would have thought.

Inside the main hall of Tianyan Academy's main palace, knowing that Feng Wuchen was coming to the academy today, the dean and the three great elders all gathered in the hall.

They had already learned from Elder Su about the existence of Feng Wuchen, a man from the Body Refining Realm who could remove the cold poison from Elder Su's body, something even the head elder and a Fifth Grade Alchemist found difficult to accomplish.

Facing such an incredible genius of the younger generation, they naturally were very interested.

Before entering the hall, Feng Wuchen had Ling Xiaoxiao restrain her aura, fearing that if the academy's elders knew, they would try everything to recruit Ling Xiaoxiao into the academy.

Li Feng led the two into the magnificent hall, where a surge of formidable auras assaulted them head-on.

"As expected of Tianyan Academy, such formidable strength indeed—it's no wonder they say it can contend with the Empire!" Feng Wuchen inwardly remarked as he entered the hall and cast a brief glance around.

"Dean, elders, I have brought Feng Wuchen here," Li Feng reported respectfully.

"Greetings to the dean and the three elders," Feng Wuchen and Ling Xiaoxiao saluted in unison.

"Little Brother Wuchen, I've been waiting for you!" Elder Su exclaimed with joy upon seeing Feng Wuchen himself.

Seated at the principal seat in the hall, the white-robed elder was Xing Tianfeng, the dean of Tianyan Academy; Zhenyuntian, the head elder; and Liu Changfeng, the Second Elder.

All three great elders were mighty practitioners in the Yuandan Realm, and it was said that Dean Xing Tianfeng had reached the level of Tianyuan Realm, making him one of the very few powerful beings in the Yanhuo Empire!

Xing Tianfeng sized up Feng Wuchen, his face calm, and smiled, "So you are Feng Wuchen. I heard from Elder Su that you refused to join Tianyan Academy and that you even managed to remove the longstanding cold poison from Elder Su's body. This has indeed piqued my curiosity."

"Mmm, a fine child indeed, very composed and patient," Second Elder Liu Changfeng nodded and praised.

"Feng Wuchen, come here and let me have a look at you," said Head Elder Zhenyuntian with a faint smile.

Feng Wuchen did not refuse, because after all, these old men were his seniors, and it was only proper to show respect in the presence of his elders.

Zhenyuntian activated a wisp of True Yuan into Feng Wuchen's body to check, and after a moment, his brows slightly furrowed as he said, "Hmm, indeed a Second Grade Martial Soul talent. You managed to defeat two juniors from the Yang family; you really are a rare talent."

"You flatter me, Head Elder," Feng Wuchen responded with a slight smile.

With Zhenyuntian's cultivation level, he couldn't really see the specific situation inside Feng Wuchen's body.

"Wait a minute!" No sooner had he finished speaking when Zhenyuntian's face suddenly changed, exclaiming in shock, "Eightfold pinnacle of Body Refining Realm!"

"What? Peak of the Eighth Layer?" Upon hearing this, Elder Su's face also underwent a huge change, looking at Feng Wuchen in shock.

In amazement, Elder Su asked, "Little Brother Wuchen, have you… have you broken through again?"

Elder Su and the others had clearly obtained news about Feng Wuchen from the Yang family. When Yang Bufan and Yang Xuan were sent to the academy for treatment, they heard about Feng Wuchen's incredible speed of two breakthroughs within three days, which had scared them terribly at the time.

Now, a month had passed, and Feng Wuchen had advanced from the Sixth Layer to the power level of the Eightfold Realm. This terrifying speed scared them once again.

"It happened a few days ago," Feng Wuchen answered with a light smile.

"Truly an exceptional genius! A Second Grade Martial Soul talent with such a terrifying cultivation speed!" Dean Xing Tianfeng exclaimed, as though he had discovered a new continent.

A low-grade Martial Soul talent possessing a cultivation speed surpassing countless geniuses was something they had never heard of, nor had they ever encountered.

"Elder Su, let's get on with the poison removal; I have other matters to attend to," Feng Wuchen slowly said, his composure not shaken by the dean's marvel.

"Sure!" Elder Su nodded excitedly, while also signaling Xing Tianfeng with his eyes.

"Not arrogant nor rash, truly rare," praised Zhenyuntian, growing increasingly satisfied with Feng Wuchen, as if he were looking at a son-in-law.

Feng Wuchen stepped behind Elder Su and began to use an astonishing and mysterious method to help Elder Su expel the cold poison. Xing Tianfeng and the others watched expectantly, not blinking once as they observed Feng Wuchen's movements.

That mysterious and magical method, which they had only heard about from Elder Su, they had never seen before.

A cold poison, which even a Fifth Grade Alchemist found difficult to remove, could be easily expelled by this miraculous technique; their curiosity was only natural.

In just a short moment, the faces of Xing Tianfeng and the others were instantly filled with shock.

Streams of cold air diffused from Elder Su's body, forming a layer of Bing Shuang all over him, even covering the floor, a sight so mystical they had never experienced before.

In less than two minutes, Feng Wuchen stepped back, signaling Elder Su to make a move.

"Drink!"

Elder Su suddenly activated his True Yuan, let out a low shout, and the formidable True Yuan force shattered the spreading cold air and the ice frost that had frozen the body instantly.

During the second expulsion of the cold poison, Elder Su distinctly felt a significant amount of the poison being purged, lightening his body considerably and making the flow of True Yuan within him much smoother.

"The cold poison in my body has been almost completely cleared!" Elder Su exclaimed with immense excitement, which meant he wouldn't have to suffer from the affliction of cold poison in the future.

"I can't believe there is such a miraculous method in this world!" Xing Tianfeng was extremely shocked. As the headmaster, he had seen much and knew much, but he had never seen such a miraculous method.

Zhenyuntian hurried to check the condition inside Elder Su's body, and what he saw made his jaw drop!

Stunned, Zhenyuntian said, "It's unbelievable. The cold poison that has accumulated over many years, the State Preceptor and I were helpless against it and couldn't remove the poison, and yet after your two treatments, it's almost entirely gone! This is unimaginable!"

Feng Wuchen said indifferently, "Elder Su, the cold poison in your body originates from the cultivation technique you practiced. If you want to remove all of the poison, it's best not to cultivate until it is all gone; otherwise, my efforts will have been in vain. Given some time, the little poison that remains, you should be able to completely clear it away."

"Good! I'll follow your advice!" Elder Su nodded excitedly. If the cold poison could be thoroughly cleared, it wouldn't be a big problem to stop cultivating for a while.

Even if he continued to cultivate, he would probably not advance much, and it might even cause the cold poison to accumulate again.

However, after thinking it over, Elder Su asked, "Wuchen, after all the cold poison is cleared, if I resume cultivation, wouldn't the poison accumulate again slowly?"

"That's something the great elder can help you with. With the cold poison being minimal, the great elder, with his Fourth Rank Alchemist level, should be more than capable of helping you expel it," Feng Wuchen replied with a smile.

"Feng Wuchen, with your talent and the miraculous method you possess, it would be a waste not to continue developing it! Why don't you join the academy? I guarantee that you will reach the Yuandan Realm within five years!" Headmaster Xing Tianfeng said, his gaze fixed on Feng Wuchen.

Such a peerless talent would surely be a boon for anyone; if they didn't recruit him, wouldn't that be giving him away to others?

"I appreciate the offer, headmaster, but I'm not comfortable staying at the academy," Feng Wuchen refused without hesitation, even though the headmaster himself had made the offer.

"How about I teach you alchemy?" Zhenyuntian asked next.

Feng Wuchen still shook his head.

"You'll have access to the academy's best cultivation techniques and martial skills as an exception, and I'll throw in a good sword as a middle-grade divine artifact. You can take as much Spiritual Liquid and Elixirs from the academy as you want, and I will personally guide your cultivation. How about that?" Xing Tianfeng offered more terms.

The conditions laid out by Xing Tianfeng were very tempting—so much so that not even the princes of the Empire received such treatment.

Feng Wuchen was shocked by Xing Tianfeng's offer, as were the three elders who were taken aback. They had never expected Xing Tianfeng to make such an incredible offer.

Even setting aside everything else, just personal guidance in cultivation from Xing Tianfeng was something countless youths in the Yanhuo Empire dreamed of.

"Predecessor Headmaster, your conditions are indeed tempting, but I really don't want to enter the academy. I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you," Feng Wuchen still refused without hesitation.

Xing Tianfeng's eyes were filled with disappointment, but he still did not give up and asked, "What would it take for you to join the academy?"

Feng Wuchen helplessly shook his head and said with a wry smile, "I really don't have the time. There are many things I need to do, and staying here would delay me a lot."

"This..." Elder Su gave a wry smile of helplessness, not knowing what to say.

Even with Xing Tianfeng offering such extraordinary conditions, they were still unable to sway Feng Wuchen; they couldn't think of any other way.

Such an unparalleled talent would be a missed opportunity if they couldn't secure him, and there might not be a second chance in the future.

In the eyes of Xing Tianfeng and the others, if Feng Wuchen joined the academy, it would surely rise to prominence on the Mainland!

"Feng Wuchen, why don't you consider it further?" Xing Tianfeng asked anxiously.

Just as Feng Wuchen was about to speak, Ling Xiaoxiao, who had been quiet until then, suddenly tugged at Feng Wuchen's sleeve and whispered, "Brother Feng, you can agree to their terms. Just become a nominal student—you can come and go as you please."

Hearing this, Feng Wuchen's eyes brightened and he silently gave Ling Xiaoxiao a thumbs up. This was indeed a way to placate them, at least it would stop the old men from pestering him.

"Headmaster, how about this: I just register at the academy and be considered a student of the academy, shall we? If that's not acceptable, then there's nothing I can do about it," Feng Wuchen suggested, feigning a step back.

"A nominal registration?" Zhenyuntian was slightly taken aback.

"Agreed! I promise you! But after a year, you must return to the academy. By then, new students will be competing for rankings. You must also compete with students from other academies for rankings!" Xing Tianfeng immediately agreed without a second thought.

"That's acceptable," Feng Wuchen nodded. It didn't seem like a difficult task for him.

With Feng Wuchen consenting, Xing Tianfeng was finally relieved and said with a joyful laugh, "Feng Wuchen, whatever you desire, just name it. Cultivation techniques, martial skills, Elixirs, Spiritual Liquid, Divine Artifacts, you can choose any of them."

"I don't need these treasures, I have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave!" Feng Wuchen shook his head and refused.

The idea of passing up the chance to choose anything from the academy's treasures—Xing Tianfeng and the others looked at Feng Wuchen as if he were a fool.