Fantasy, starting with a treasure bowl

"Princess, this year's academy competition at Falling Star Academy is much more lively than in previous years..."

Faced with Ren Xuanfei's humility, Zhang Miaoling simply smiled and then changed the subject, her tone still very kind, without any airs of an elder.

"Yes, I've heard that this year's academy competition has three elders presiding over it, and even the vice dean of Falling Star Academy, the senior Xia Xihai who is known as the 'Master of Divine Strategies,' will personally appear. Judging from the current lineup, it should be pretty much a done deal..."

Seeing that Zhang Miaoling still addressed her as princess, Ren Xuanfei felt somewhat helpless but didn't say much. She simply nodded and sighed.

"Lu Feng, if that person really is you, you would surely show up today..."

Her gaze shifted again, and Ren Xuanfei looked down at Lingtai Peak below the pavilion. Her beautiful eyes flickered slightly, and then a look of emotion appeared on her face, as if she was expecting someone to appear.

After parting ways with Lu Feng without saying goodbye at the site of the Loyal King's tomb, she returned to the Eastern Cloud Imperial City alone. As for the subsequent news about Lu Feng's whereabouts, Consort Ren Xuan knew very little.

It wasn't until half a year ago that she learned by chance from her elder brother, the current Crown Prince Ren Lingyun, that Falling Star Academy had recruited a super newcomer with extraordinary talent and strength, and that the person's name was also Lu Feng.

However, Ren Xuanfei was not sure whether Lu Feng, who was known as the "super rookie" at Luoxing Academy, was the same Lu Feng she used to know.

"What a beautiful girl...!"

"Could she be Princess Luochuan of Dongyun Kingdom, the leader of the four kingdoms of Lingnan?"

"There shouldn't be any mistake. I've heard that the royal family of Dongyun Kingdom and the Alchemists' Guild of the Four Kingdoms of Lingnan have always had a good relationship, and the alluring beauty next to her should be the legendary 'Purple-Robed Eccentric Doctor' Zhang Miaoling...!"

"Hehe, with these two beauties by my side, it seems this year's ceremony won't be lonely..."

Inside the viewing pavilion, a series of whispers could be faintly heard, interspersed with several burning gazes that occasionally turned towards the direction where Ren Xuanfei and the others were. They seemed to be other distinguished guests invited to Falling Star Academy, and all of them had impressive backgrounds.

...

Lingtai Peak, outside the martial arts training ground

"I finally made it!"

Looking at the giant martial arts arena and the sea of ​​people not far away, Lu Feng, who arrived late, couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

In the past, in order to break through to the second level of the Spirit Soul Realm, he not only spent a total of 600,000 mid-grade spirit stones, but also delayed his seclusion time again and again, and almost missed this year's academy competition.

After all, registration for the academy competition is only open today; once it's gone, it's gone forever.

As for why Lu Feng didn't want to miss this year's academy competition, it was quite simple. Besides his personal grudge against Cheng Xuyuan, he also wanted to aim for a higher ranking.

Because Falling Star Academy has four major branches: East, South, West, and North. The East Branch is the highest and the North Branch is the lowest. Ordinary students can only enter a higher branch by achieving good results in the Academy Grand Competition held every three years.

In addition, those who rank highly in each college competition will receive a substantial reward, so there are many benefits to be had. Coming here is a win, and not coming here is a loss!

Therefore, Lu Feng naturally did not want to miss this year's academy competition.

"Strange, hasn't the competition started yet?"

His gaze swept across the room again, and he saw that everyone around him was talking excitedly, while the stewards in charge of hosting the competition were standing aside without moving. Lu Feng couldn't help but feel a little curious.

Boom!

Just as Lu Feng was wondering, a black streak of light suddenly descended from the sky and crashed into the center of the giant martial arts arena not far away, like a meteorite falling to earth, creating a loud rumbling sound.

"Such a powerful aura...!"

"Could this person be a Yuanhai Realm expert?! No...! This aura is several times stronger than that of a Yuanhai Realm expert!"

The sudden change startled Lu Feng, causing his body to tremble slightly. He couldn't help but look at the giant martial arts arena not far away, and finally his pupils widened suddenly.

Although he didn't know who the source of this powerful aura was, Lu Feng was very clear in his heart that even though he had now broken through to the second level of the Spirit Soul Realm, he was still no match for the former!

Swish!

Just as Lu Feng and the students were shocked, the black light gradually dissipated, revealing a tall, robust man in black robes.

However, although the black-robed man had a strong aura, he was rather unremarkable in appearance. He not only had a receding hairline, but his clothes were also filthy, as if he hadn't bathed for more than half a year.

In addition, the black-robed man's eye sockets were as black as a panda's, seemingly the legendary all-nighter. At the same time, he exuded the aura of a rough, uncouth man, without any trace of a strong person.

Behind the man in black robes were three powerful figures with remarkable auras, one of whom was even an old acquaintance of Lu Feng, Liu Lanyu, the martial arts elder of Falling Star Academy.

"Vice Dean!"

Looking at Xia Xihai, who was picking his nose and scratching himself, Dao Butong and Li Dazui exchanged a glance, a strange look on their faces, but in the end they didn't dare to say anything and just bowed.

Although they were both among the Seven Fallen Stars, one of them in charge of the Pill Hall of the Five Great Halls and the other in charge of the Dining Hall of the Five Great Halls, they were still the youngest among the young compared to Xia Xihai in front of them!

After all, Xia Xihai was not only their senior brother, but also the real person in charge of Falling Star Academy. After all, Dean Chu Tianhong was rarely seen, and most of the major affairs of Falling Star Academy were decided by the former, the vice dean.

"whispering sound...!"

Seeing this, Liu Lanyu, standing behind, frowned slightly. She stepped forward to stand in front of Xia Xihai and said in a low voice, "Brother Xia, why are you still as unkempt and dissolute as before?"

"Don't forget the occasion. There are a bunch of students watching you. As elders, we should act like elders, not be so childish..."

"Oh! It's Junior Sister Liu! What brings you here, Junior Sister Liu? I thought only Dao Butong and Li Dazui, those two old rascals, had come. Speaking of which, the weather is really nice today. It really is the academy's grand competition..."

Before the words "Good Days" could even be uttered, Xia Xihai noticed Liu Lanyu's pretty face growing increasingly cold and her staring intently at him. He felt a chill in his crotch and immediately withdrew his right hand, which was picking its nose. At the same time, he straightened up, as if he had remembered something terrible.

"Cough cough cough, I understand all of this, but I was busy forging a Xuan-grade magic weapon the other day, so I didn't have time to clean myself up. It was all an accident...!"

Clearing his throat a few times, Xia Xihai awkwardly avoided Liu Lanyu's sharp gaze, then turned to look at the many students gathered around the training ground. His tone gradually became authoritative, "Little ones, this year's academy competition is not only much larger than previous years, but the rewards will also be much richer!"

"As for the rest, I'm sure you've all heard it already, so I don't need to say anything more!"

"Alright, the annual academy competition is officially beginning!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Xihai flicked his sleeves again, and his entire body transformed into a black streak of light, disappearing once more, leaving only Liu Lanyu and the others standing there dumbfounded.

Is this over?

Did the vice president give any other instructions?

Didn't you say you'd give him a personal lecture? What on earth did you lecture him about?

Seeing Xia Xihai suddenly slip away, Dao Butong and Li Dazui exchanged strange glances, while Liu Lanyu stood to the side with her arms crossed and her pretty face serious, as if she had long been used to the other's behavior.

After all, the other party was a lazy dog. Apart from refining and forging weapons, Xia Xihai was not interested in anything else. This is also the origin of the other party's nickname "Divine Hundred Refinements".

As for the position of vice dean, it wasn't something Xia Xihai volunteered for at first. It was only because Chu Tianhong personally named him and entrusted him with all the affairs of Luoxing Academy that Xia Xihai couldn't refuse.

"Is this balding, filthy, middle-aged man with unkempt feet the rumored vice-dean of Falling Star Academy?"

"Why is this not quite what I imagined a top-tier expert to be..."

In a corner of the crowd, Lu Feng saw Xia Xihai utter a few words of nonsense and then quickly slip away. He also touched his nose, looking strange.

At that moment, he finally understood what it meant to judge a book by its cover.

Who says top experts have to be dashing and handsome? That's a complete stereotype! In the world of cultivation, sometimes the uglier you are, the stronger you are!

"Hey, I've really seen something extraordinary today...!"

Thinking of this, Lu Feng shook his head and sighed inwardly.

"Young Master Lu, wait...!"

Just as Lu Feng was about to step forward to register for the academy competition, he suddenly heard a tense male voice coming from behind him.

"You are... a member of the Five Spirits Society?"

Turning around at the sound, Lu Feng saw a tall, thin young man in a flowing robe standing still, seemingly having been waiting for him for a long time. Lu Feng was taken aback at first, then a murderous aura appeared in his eyes.