Chapter 63: Mo Xiaoyi Is About to Advance

Chen Meng returned to school, and by now, it was already half past one.

He pondered for a moment, having made up his mind, and called Han Hao.

On the other end, Han Hao hesitated briefly before speaking. “You’ve decided this quickly?”

Chen Meng responded with a quiet affirmation. “I’m choosing the third option. I want to ascend to a Divine Physique on my eighteenth birthday.”

Han Hao was silent for a long while after hearing this.

At last, he sighed. “Since you’ve made your choice, I won’t say more. Which advancement potion do you want to take?”

“The Pale Elixir.”

Chen Meng’s voice was calm. Choosing this as his first advancement potion was a decision reached after careful deliberation. In the future, he would continue with a second, even a third advancement potion.

“Alright,” Han Hao said. “Come to the Enforcement Bureau on your birthday. I’ll guide you through the ascension. Oh, and one more thing—your instructor, Lu Guang, plans to leave for the Wilderness next Monday evening. If you want to see them off, I’ll come pick you up.”

Chen Meng was taken aback, then nodded. “Alright.”

Lu Guang had taught him marksmanship, helped him through two crises, and provided him the opportunity to become a Divine Physique. In Lu Guang’s eyes, Chen Meng was already a true student—otherwise, how could he have gifted him the “Silver Fox”? Now that Lu Guang was leaving, it was only right for a student to see his mentor off.

Hanging up, Chen Meng lingered outside the classroom for half an hour before finally heading to his class.

Inside, many students were just waking from their midday nap.

Returning to his seat, Chen Meng was immediately approached by Ma Yiqun, who pulled out his artifact-forging test paper, eager to ask Chen Meng about the questions he’d gotten wrong.

“The test papers have been handed out?” Chen Meng was slightly surprised. He reached into his desk and, sure enough, found his own paper.

Ma Yiqun nodded. “Teacher Xu stayed up late grading them last night. The class monitor collected them after school this morning. I heard you ranked first in our class again this time. Even our monitor, Ni Hu, only got 135—one point less than you. What’s more, you finished the test fifty minutes faster than he did! Honestly, everyone in class admires you now. Some even say your artifact-forging score could be first in the entire grade.”

Chen Meng glanced at Ni Hu. No wonder the monitor had looked unsettled when he’d entered the room—it turned out he’d taken first place from him yet again.

Before long, class began.

The homeroom teacher entered. That afternoon’s lesson was Ancient Wilderness Language.

Before starting, however, the teacher spoke in a measured tone, “Before we begin, I’d like to commend Chen Meng. His progress has been remarkable. In yesterday’s artifact-forging test, he scored 136, topping our class, and he was also first in the rune exam before that. There’s something else you may not know: just yesterday, Chen Meng turned down a special admission offer from Jiangzhou University.”

The classroom erupted with astonishment.

Jiangzhou University wanted Chen Meng for special admission?

Ma Yiqun stared at Chen Meng in shock. He himself was desperate to get into Jiangzhou University—yet Chen Meng had casually refused their offer.

Others were puzzled as well. Was it Chen Meng’s grades that had caught the university’s eye? Was his performance even more impressive than they’d imagined?

Tang Wenjing glanced back at Chen Meng, her eyes bright with delight, as if genuinely happy for him.

“Why did you turn down Jiangzhou’s special admission?” Ma Yiqun whispered. “It’s such a good school. If you’d accepted, you wouldn’t even have to take the entrance exams, and as a special admit, you’d definitely get an advancement potion.”

Chen Meng knew all this. He shrugged helplessly. “Because I want to get into Jiangdu University. You know that.”

Ma Yiqun felt as if he’d been struck a thousand times over. So, just because you’re aiming for Jiangdu University, you look down on Jiangzhou? And the school I’m breaking my back to get into isn’t even worth a glance from you.

“I hope everyone learns from Chen Meng.” The teacher encouraged the class, then added, “Next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we’ll have another mock exam. Do your best and aim for good results.”

As he spoke, he looked meaningfully at Chen Meng.

Chen Meng was speechless. Why look at me? Do you think I’ll top the whole grade? If you knew how poor my academic subjects are, you’d never pin such high hopes on me.

That evening, Chen Meng went to his tutoring session as usual.

But today, Yan Ruoxi was unavailable, and another top instructor filled in.

After the session, Chen Meng thought it over and decided to message Yan Ruoxi, informing her of his final decision.

He soon received a reply—a single word: “Okay.”

Chen Meng stared at it for a long while, unexpectedly disappointed. He’d thought Yan Ruoxi would offer lots of advice about ascending to a Divine Physique, but there was nothing—just that simple “Okay.”

On his way home, Chen Meng unexpectedly received a call from Mo Xiaoyi.

Mo Xiaoyi was excited. “The school’s given me my advancement potion! It’s the Crimson Blaze Elixir. I’ll be taking it this Saturday to ascend to a Divine Physique! Haha!”

Chen Meng knew Mo Xiaoyi had always hoped for either the Crimson Blaze or Azure Elixir, so his wish was finally granted.

“Junior, your senior will ascend to a Divine Physique before you! I won’t be at the martial arts hall this weekend. As soon as I ascend, I’ll spend Sunday settling scores with those who bullied me,” Mo Xiaoyi declared.

Settling scores?

Chen Meng chuckled inwardly. You’re looking for a beating, aren’t you? Most of them ascended before you did—going to challenge them right after your breakthrough? I just hope you don’t end up bawling for your parents.

Thinking of Mo Xiaoyi, Chen Meng was reminded of a honey badger.

Recalling the elderly man from earlier that day, Chen Meng asked curiously, “Senior, does the old man like to drink?”

Mo Xiaoyi hesitated, sounding a bit intimidated. “Did you see him drinking? I forgot to warn you. He doesn’t drink often, but when he does, he always gets drunk, and then he goes completely crazy. I remember several times when he got drunk, he insisted on making me his blood brother—scared me to death! He even wanted a blood oath with a real knife! The worst part is, by the next day, he forgets everything. What’s that called again…”

“Blacking out?”

“That’s it—blacking out.”

After hearing this, Chen Meng was stunned. So this old man had pulled these antics before—what a character.

“Did you drink?” Chen Meng asked offhandedly, referring to the wine.

Mo Xiaoyi replied helplessly, “Could I refuse? Otherwise, I’d get beaten up. But once I ascend to a Divine Physique, I won’t be afraid anymore.”

Chen Meng took a deep breath, secretly glad for his own quick thinking. If not, he might have ended up with a beating himself.