IWYTBW - Chapter 38

 Chapter 38

True Masters Must Have a Unique Entrance.

Yi Zhen frowned. “Let’s accept it for now.”

He clicked ‘accept’ on the friend request. Ji Qing seemed to have been waiting for this exact moment. Before Yi Zhen could even type a word, a voice message popped up.

Ji Qing’s voice boomed from the speaker: “You’re pretty damn relaxed, aren’t you, big winner?”

Yi Zhen raised an eyebrow. Was it because he was the protagonist, or was everyone in this world just incredibly familiar? Why did it feel like everyone spoke to him with such an intimate tone?

Or perhaps this was the so-called ‘bonding over a shared brawl’?

Yi Zhen: [? ]

There was one thing he hadn’t considered. In an era where strength reigned supreme, he’d already displayed astonishing power. Earning others’ acknowledgement was only natural. It wasn’t just moths that were drawn to light; humans, too, had a tendency to gravitate towards things that were beautiful and powerful. Few could resist the allure.

Ji Qing seemed to dislike texting. His voice, much like the man himself, exuded an air of untamed arrogance. “Why the question mark? Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten who I am?”

Yi Zhen: [No, it’s not that bad. How are your injuries?]

Ji Qing paused, avoiding specifics. “You’re quite something. After that day, my spirit animal was all mopey and wouldn’t listen to me. I had to finish the remaining eight matches barehanded. No thanks to you.”

Yi Zhen coughed. [Sorry about going a little heavy. So, you want to invite me to Azoth University?]

Ji Qing: “Of course, you deserve it.”

Yi Zhen hesitated, scrolling through his contact list. As if coordinated, right after Ji Qing’s message, Ai Ling’s text arrived, inviting him to visit Star Alliance University.

Next was Li Youdeng... Oh, she was also an exchange student at Azoth University?

His ‘messages from strangers’ icon was also flashing. Yi Zhen rarely paid attention to those, but curiosity piqued him today. He clicked it open.

He had no idea how they’d obtained his contact information. Invitations from Imperial Industrial University, First Technological University, National Defense Military University, and the like, were scattered haphazardly among the usual Starnet spam, stuffing his inbox like an overfilled mailbox.

... Forget it. He didn’t know anyone at those universities. He’d pass on them for now and consider the two current offers.

Yi Zhen: [This is a bit of a dilemma...]

He thought for a moment. Ai Ling was Rong Hongxue’s younger sister. Did that make her his younger sister too? Although in Natalia’s group’s eyes, Ai Ling was no longer under Rong Hongxue’s protection, but his own… Finally, he typed: [My family has invited me to Star Alliance University.]

Ji Qing: “Tch, I knew it. Great Black Sky is an honorary director of Star Alliance University, right?”

Yi Zhen found it amusing. [Why does everyone call him Great Black Sky?]

Ji Qing seemed to shiver involuntarily. “What else would we call him? No one’s close enough to him to call him by his real name. A Super S-class powerhouse? Who’d dare address him directly without his permission?”

Yi Zhen thought to himself: to be honest, I call him ‘little bastard’ every day, and I don’t think I need his permission for that.

Ji Qing hadn’t given up yet. “Star Alliance University is nothing. Azoth is the Empire’s top academy! Star Alliance only acts so high and mighty because of the royal family and the nobles. How many years has it been since their students even broke into the top ten of the Heroes’ Championship? You’ll have no future there.”

Tai’a softly interjected: [Three years.]

Ji Qing continued his relentless persuasion. Yi Zhen quickly realized this guy wasn’t cut out to be a lobbyist. So why was he trying so hard? Had someone put him up to it?

Yi Zhen: [Let me think about it. What are the benefits of going to Azoth University?]

Ji Qing fell silent after this question.

Yi Zhen waited for a long time, but no reply came.

Damn, was he that transparent? He spoke so eloquently about the invitation, but clammed up when asked about the benefits. Talk about failing a simple test!

Yi Zhen lifted a finger, and the Three-Smile Butterfly fluttered into the air, circling the training room. Seemingly interested in the Griffin Bow, it landed quietly on it. Meanwhile, Yi Zhen, with a Bone-Eroding Spirit Scorpion perched on his head, began cleaning up the mess it had made.

“Look at what you’ve done,” Yi Zhen said exasperatedly. “You ate everything in one go. Were you that hungry? Now what are you going to eat in the future?”

The Bone-Eroding Spirit Scorpion: plop plop plop!

Yi Zhen really wanted to smack it. “You’re a scorpion, not a crab! What are you spitting bubbles for?”

Actually, Yi Zhen had wrongly accused it. The moment the Bone-Eroding Spirit Scorpion had crawled onto the shelf, the crickets in the pottery jar, sensing its presence, went crazy, relentlessly flinging themselves against the jar walls until they died. The scorpion had no choice but to quickly consume their corpses to prevent them from decaying in the damp soil.

But it was too late to explain now... Yi Zhen could only swallow the bitter fruit of his poor parenting, sweeping the broken pottery shards and soil into the trash can before dismantling the tattered wooden shelf.

Ding, his optical computer alerted him to a new message.

Ji Qing: “Fine, I admit it! Beating around the bush isn’t my style. Someone wants to meet you.”

Yi Zhen paused in his cleaning. “Who?”

Ji Qing: “Oh, finally decided to grace me with a voice reply?”

After the teasing remark, Ji Qing’s tone turned serious. “The person who wants to meet you is Azoth University’s tenured professor of Alchemy and Biological Research, a registered Grand Miracle Worker of the Empire, Gaia Dawn.”

The surname Dawn… That meant he was a descendant of the legendary first Grand Miracle Worker, Meruha Dawn.

For some reason, Yi Zhen thought of Li Wenge, who had been summoned by Rong Hongxue that day. He had said he would ask his teacher about Yi Zhen’s question. So he actually did?

Was this Grand Miracle Worker named Gaia also seeking him out for the same reason…?

Ji Qing’s tone was unusually solemn. “Yi Zhen, we might have met through a fight, but let’s just say we have a connection. So I’ll be frank. Professor Gaia is one of the Empire’s most prominent alchemists and a Grand Potion Master. For the past six years, he’s confined himself to Azoth University’s Academic Tower, refusing all visitors and students. Rumor has it he’s conducting crucial research, something that could potentially change the world.”

“The moment they heard he wanted to meet you, the university’s board members were stunned. They initially wanted to invite you directly, but due to Great Black Sky, they sent me to inform you first.”

“Then why does he want to see me?” Yi Zhen asked.

“Well, it has something to do with me, but Professor Gaia specifically stated he wants to discuss… the matter of gold with you,” Ji Qing replied. “I’ll tell you the details when we meet. However, I can assure you on my honor, and the university board is willing to promise you, that this meeting will not harm you in any way.”

Gold… Was it really because of Li Wenge? So, his teacher was this Professor Gaia?

Yi Zhen was silent for a moment. “You know I have to prepare for the preliminary rounds, I’m very busy.”

Ji Qing was aghast. “Dude, this isn’t some random nobody wanting to see you, it’s a Grand Miracle Worker! There are only twenty-one Grand Miracle Workers in the entire galaxy. Are you sure you want to pass up this opportunity for a mere preliminary round?”

Yi Zhen glanced at his character card, wanting to say that there was currently an unidentified Grand Miracle Worker chatting with him. Was he really sure he couldn’t skip the preliminaries for this?

“Then prepare some compensation,” he said casually as he tossed the broken pottery shards into a bag. “It can’t be free to meet me, right?”

Ji Qing was speechless. He said exasperatedly, “What kind of compensation do you want?”

“Let me wander around your university’s alchemy department’s storage room,” Yi Zhen said. “Actually, I’m a half-baked pharmacutical apprentice myself, unfortunately, my ingredient stock is rather low. It would be great to replenish it a bit.”

Ji Qing was truly at a loss for words, a torrent of unspoken complaints churning within him. If you were a pharmacutical apprentice, why didn’t you seem the least bit ecstatic about being summoned by a Grand Miracle Worker? Moreover, weren’t you connected to Great Black Sky? How could you be so poor?

To fulfill his mentor’s request, he resorted to his final tactic.

“You almost beat me senseless in the qualifiers. I don’t know how you did it, but that must have been your trump card. But judging by your reaction, it seems you don’t understand the consequences of using it.”

Yi Zhen: “...”

He was right… Yi Zhen didn’t know the extent of the impact that ‘Concept Extraction’ had on the human body. With victory hanging in the balance, he hadn’t had a choice. Now, seeing that Ji Qing could still chat with him so casually, Yi Zhen couldn’t help but admire his resilience.

“Even if we’re not friends, we at least share the bond of having punched each other,” Ji Qing said. “I’ll relay your conditions to the board. So, are you coming?”

What else could he do?

Yi Zhen sighed. “Fine, I’ll go.”

[Main Quest: Preaching has been triggered. Quest Content: Academic Discussion I don’t even know who Li Wenge’s teacher is, and he’s already thrown a difficult problem my way. Because I consulted him with a question, Gaia Dawn, a descendant of the first Grand Miracle Worker and a Grand Miracle Worker himself, noticed me and requested a meeting after the qualifiers. Let’s go and have a chat then. I wonder what kind of abilities the top alchemist of this era possesses. Quest Reward: Depends on completion level]

Staring at the quest reward, Yi Zhen was stunned for a long time.

What did that mean? So the reward was flexible this time? A better discussion meant a bigger reward, a worse one meant less?

[You’ve received an open-ended main quest,] Tai’a said. [Do your best, player, strive to fleece the system for all it’s worth.]

Yi Zhen: “What kind of instigation is that, you little two-faced traitor.”

After dealing with Ji Qing, he replied to Ai Ling: [I can’t go to Star Alliance University anymore. I owe someone a favor and have to repay it.]

On the other side, Ai Ling sighed as she read his reply.

She had assumed that, given his relationship with her brother, Yi Zhen would definitely choose Star Alliance University. But recently, anyone with eyes could see that their relationship was stuck in a strange and awkward abyss.

Yi Zhen’s personality had drastically changed; that went without saying. Once, Ai Ling had even overheard them arguing in the hallway. She didn’t know what sparked the conflict, but Yi Zhen had relentlessly mocked Rong Hongxue without mercy. In contrast, Rong Hongxue, who was usually ruthless, seemed almost accustomed to it, even laughing as he said, “Xiao Zhen, is it really necessary to be so angry over this?”

Ai Ling had been so shocked she’d wondered if two monsters had invaded her home, or if she was dreaming.

Natalia pulled out the chair in front of her and sat down. “So, when is he coming?”

Ai Ling glanced at her. “He’s going to Azoth University.”

“What?” Natalia’s beautiful features contorted in anger. Dragons were innately domineering, and as a spoiled child of the family, she could sometimes be considered tyrannical. “Why! What’s so good about that impoverished place? Besides, aren’t he and your brother…”

“He said he owed someone a favor and had to repay it.”

Nearby, Qi Jiayu looked out the window and suddenly muttered softly, “Great Black Sky, you’re slipping.”

It was a dangerous, rebellious statement, but at this moment, the same thought echoed in Ai Ling’s mind.

— Big brother, you really are slipping.

Back in his room, Yi Zhen finished cleaning the training room, settled the Bone-Eroding Spirit Scorpion, and moved in a pot of roses, originally from the garden, for the Three-Smile Butterfly. It liked to rest under flower petals. Without the Night Snow YouTan, they had to make do with other flowers.

Fortunately, the Three-Smile Butterfly was docile and much easier to care for than the Bone-Eroding Spirit Scorpion.

After finishing these tasks, Yi Zhen washed up, went to bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, Yi Zhen boarded a special vehicle to Azoth University’s main campus in the royal capital.

Compared to the extravagant and luxurious Star Alliance University, Azoth University had a more solemn and simple atmosphere, and its school spirit was much more liberal. The students wore all sorts of clothing, just not uniforms. The small shuttle bus Yi Zhen was in slowly stopped, waiting for a group of fish-headed students wearing fishbowl-like breathing apparatuses to pass.

“The Zeta People,” the assistant professor guiding him chuckled. “They claim to be close relatives of mermaids.”

Yi Zhen’s lips twitched. Mermaids? They looked more like fish-men. Someone should apologize to mermaids for these deceiving decendants.

“Mr. Yi Zhen,” the young assistant professor led him down a secluded path, then couldn’t help but remind him, “I must tell you in advance that Professor Gaia has a very peculiar temperament, perhaps it’s a common trait of geniuses. Although we don’t know why he suddenly requested to meet you, if he offends you in any way…”

Yi Zhen was about to say ‘If there’s any offense, I’ll be sure to be understanding. It’s to be expected, after all, the elderly have their quirks,’ when he heard the other party continue: “...Please just bear with it.”

Yi Zhen: “?”

“Ah, we’re here,” the assistant professor said with a beaming smile as he stopped the vehicle and jumped out of the driver’s seat. He pointed to a magnificent towering white tower in the distance. “That’s the Academic Tower, Mr. Yi Zhen. Please drive yourself over there. As per my teacher’s instructions, I’m not allowed to approach.”

The news of Gaia Dawn’s request to meet him was currently only known to a few board members, Ji Qing who relayed the message, and this assistant professor who was Gaia’s last closed-door disciple and had brought Yi Zhen here. Yi Zhen understood their desire for discretion, and it was beneficial to him as well. But was it really okay to let him enter such a large Academic Tower alone?

Faint voices drifted from up ahead. The always-smiling assistant professor’s expression suddenly changed, and he sternly said, “Who’s there? This is a restricted area!”

The voices stopped, leaving only the sound of footsteps on fallen leaves, approaching at a steady pace.

Yi Zhen, still seated in the shuttle, perked up his ears.

The newcomer’s gait was bizarre. Each step was exactly the same distance from the last, and even the force exerted on the ground seemed to be a perfect replication of the previous second.

If the sound of a single step were cut and looped dozens of times, it might barely approximate the current effect.

To achieve this level of precision wasn’t just peculiar; it was uncanny. Even for Yi Zhen, the first words that came to mind were “bizarre” and “eerie”.

This was a master, an absolute master. In the wuxia world, this kind of entrance was worthy of a sweeping monk, deserving of the reverence given to someone like Zhang Sanfeng.

Sweat beaded on Yi Zhen’s forehead.

He jumped out of the shuttle. For campus safety, the maximum speed of these small vehicles was 20 kilometers per hour. If it came down to a chase, Yi Zhen was much faster.

He slowly retreated half a step, as if simply shifting his weight, but if anything happened, one push off the ground would allow him to vanish into mist.

The assistant professor stared intently ahead, bracing for trouble. Yi Zhen also stared ahead, ready to bolt.

The person finally emerged from the golden foliage. It was a man with resolute features.

Yi Zhen froze.

He was exceptionally tall, like a drawn sword standing upright before the world.

His physique wasn’t particularly robust, even lean, but his power seemed infinitely compressed within that wiry frame. Every movement was controlled, radiating a chilling aura.

The man’s gaze was lowered. He had short, black hair streaked with a single strand of pure white, adding a touch of age to his presence. When he finally looked up, his light gray eyes were sharp and bright. That gaze, as piercing as a hawk surveying its prey from high above, sent shivers down the spines of those who met it.

The assistant professor exclaimed in surprise, “Mr. Li… What are you doing here?”

Li. Yi Zhen immediately thought of someone.

The pilot of the Super S-class mecha, Snowstorm Wanderer, the former principal of Azoth University, Li Zeyu.

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