C16 Stargazer's Tower

The homeroom teacher, Yan Rufeng, validated their guesses.

"Second place, Chen Xing!"

The classroom erupted in excitement!

"How could this happen?"

"How on earth did Chen Xing manage to outdo Luo Shuining?"

"This isn't about martial arts training!"

Wang Shangwu was agape, unable to utter a word. He had assumed that Chen Xing had snatched the spot that was rightfully his, but to his astonishment, Chen Xing had actually overtaken Luo Shuining's spot!

Xiao Juncai and Luo Shuining, the class's top two students, were widely recognized as such. There was no dispute.

"But he's only at Body Tempering level six. How could he possibly surpass Luo Shuining?"

"Alright, everyone, settle down!"

Yan Rufeng tapped the desk to quiet the class. She was just as taken aback. By this list, excluding Xiao Juncai, Chen Xing was at the top! A student who was nearly expelled had suddenly leaped to the head of the class! Even she, as the homeroom teacher, struggled to come to terms with it.

"Starfall Academy assesses actual combat ability. Chen Xing may only be at the sixth level of Body Tempering, but he won against stronger opponents and subdued them in one move. These are all additional points in his favor. Shuining did perform exceptionally well, but she fell just short of Chen Xing."

Yan Rufeng felt an odd sensation as she spoke. Last assessment, he was a mere second-level Body Tempering burden, and now, he had advanced to the sixth level. This progress was hard to describe in just a few words.

"Sorry, class monitor, but I edged you out this time."

"Hmph, don't get cocky. You just got lucky this time. Next time, I'll be the one coming out on top!"

"That might be tough. Once someone turns the tables, they might stay turned. I might just keep you pinned down from now on."

"In your dreams! You're getting too big for your britches! Next time, I'll be the one doing the pinning!"

The surrounding students looked on, bewildered. The back-and-forth banter about who would suppress whom sounded so peculiar. Wasn't this supposed to be a dignified classroom?

"But who is Xiao Juncai, and why is he guaranteed first place?"

Chen Xing was puzzled.

"You don't know who Xiao Juncai is?" Luo Shuining asked, her eyes wide with astonishment.

"He's a bona fide genius. Officially, he's in our class, but his talent is so remarkable that he's constantly off adventuring. Every time he comes back, he's achieved a new breakthrough. Last time, he had reached the ninth level of Body Tempering. Someone of his caliber, even if he skips classes, Starfall Academy wouldn't dream of letting him go. Numerous factions have extended offers to him, yet he hasn't responded to a single one. He's practically the celebrity cultivator of the entire Purple Wind Empire! Rumor has it that Starfall Academy is grooming him to be a cornerstone of the institution. Even the school's instructors treat him with the utmost respect."

"So, someone that formidable is only aiming for first place?"

Chen Xing stroked his chin, feeling somewhat discontent. As a dragon, settling for second place stung deeply.

"What's the matter? Isn't second place good enough for you? You're aiming for first?" Luo Shuining chuckled.

"Don't get ahead of yourself. You win once and you're on cloud nine, but Xiao Juncai is the real deal. He might have already advanced to the Guide Spirit realm by now! You've made a splash this time, but you're still leagues behind him."

"Not at all. I just think it's unfair for you, Class President. With the help of yesterday's Green Forest Pill, I'm confident you could easily reach the Guide Spirit realm and knock him down a peg!"

"Stop spouting nonsense." Luo Shuining shot him a look, her mind flashing back to Chen Xing's dejected departure the day before.

She let out a slight huff.

"I didn't accept yesterday's pill."

"Why not?"

Chen Xing was taken aback. And what was with that matronly tone of hers?

"Why would I accept something so precious? Plus, do I seem like someone who would take advantage of others?"

Luo Shuining gave him a sidelong glance, catching the blossoming smile on Chen Xing's face. She inexplicably pursed her lips and turned away.

Unable to contain himself, Chen Xing buried his head in his arms on the table once more.

Hahahaha! Young Master Ma, in his generosity, splurged on two pills and didn't manage to give even one away!

I can just picture his cheeks turning green with envy.

Oh, what a shame. If only I had known, I would have stayed a bit longer yesterday to witness that spectacle—it must have been quite a show.

"After class, Chen Xing and Shuining, please accompany me to Stargazer's Tower."

Yan Ruhuang announced, eliciting a wave of envy from the classroom.

Chen Xing narrowed his eyes, intrigued by this so-called Stargazer's Tower.

...

Class ended, and Chen Xing and Luo Shuining followed their homeroom teacher, Yan Ruhong, through the training fields and past the academic buildings. They halted before a massive, palatial, circular pavilion. Yan Ruhong presented her work card to the guard, and they were allowed entry.

"How about it? Impressive, isn't it?"

"It's decent," Chen Xing acknowledged, nodding. It was certainly the grandest structure he had seen in a hundred thousand years, even if it was only marginally larger than the Heavenly Dragon Palace he had once resided in—comparable in size to a restroom.

Cough, cough. Please, don't get the wrong idea. Chen Xing wasn't the type of dragon to indulge in extravagance at the expense of his people. During the era of Naga rule, they would often take human form for convenience, but sometimes they needed to unleash their true selves. If the buildings weren't large, they simply couldn't accommodate a dragon's full stature.

"Starfall Academy has a storied past, having stood in Udrealor for over ten thousand years! The treasures and techniques amassed here in Stargazer's Tower surpass even the treasury of the Purple Wind Empire! If our treasury held as many riches, we could certainly rise to become a formidable empire, one of significance throughout all of Udrealor!"

Luo Shuining's eyes sparkled with longing.

Chen Xing gave her a second look.

She was acquainted with the son of the Purple Wind Empire's general, and that aristocratic girl was clearly a noble's daughter from the Empire. It appeared that Luo Shuining's family held a significant position within the Purple Wind Empire.

Upon their arrival at the entrance, they found a large group already gathered there. These were the top three students from each class, present to receive their awards. Some gazed at Stargazer's Tower with faces full of wonder, while others, clearly regulars, looked on with contempt for the awestruck newcomers.

At the doorway of Stargazer's Tower, a middle-aged man with an air of authority surveyed the crowd, his penetrating gaze commanding attention as he spoke with a voice that echoed far and wide.

"Students, has everyone assembled?"

"This is Chang Qing Song, the director of the Traessey Branch of Starfall Academy. He's a formidable Spirit Sea Realm expert, with strength so profound it's beyond measure. Rumor has it he wandered for most of his life until Starfall Academy managed to recruit him a decade ago. He's a living legend!"

Luo Shuining, taking her role as class representative seriously, provided Chen Xing with a thorough explanation.

"I see," Chen Xing acknowledged, understanding that the Spirit Sea Realm was the next stage after Guide Spirit. Among humans, it was considered a commendable level, akin to a small insect, just shy of grasping the dragon's claw.

"That's excellent. Everyone here represents the cream of the crop from Starfall Academy! It's my privilege to award our finest. I'll cut to the chase."

"Within Stargazer's Tower lies a myriad of martial skills and magic weapons. There are common metals, magic weapons, and even spiritual weapons, some of which even Starfall Academy cannot trace the origins of. The martial skills vary as well, ranging from the ordinary to the Vastitas level, and some even reach the Magnus tier! But be warned, there are no labels. The choice is yours, and remember, you have only thirty minutes."

"Now, let the Stargazer's Tower open!"

With his booming command, the doors of Stargazer's Tower swung open. In that moment, every student's eyes widened with anticipation. Even those who frequented the tower were captivated anew by the dazzling display of treasures. No matter how many times they witnessed it, the sight never failed to inspire—it was the beacon of their future path in cultivation.

Upon entering here, you'll find yourself in various parts of Stargazer's Tower at random. Plus, the tower has two doors, and you must choose before you enter. On one side, the choice is martial skills, and on the other, magic weapons," Luo Shuining advised with care.

"You'd be better off choosing martial skills. The Chen family, being quite small, could really benefit from a strong martial skill that could serve you for a lifetime. A magic weapon, after all, is an external thing. Besides, if you pick a good one, it's likely to attract unwanted attention. An innocent man can become a target simply by possessing a treasure."

"Thanks for the heads-up, Luo Shuining. Your advice is invaluable," Chen Xing said, nodding appreciatively. He watched as Luo Shuining flicked her long black hair and stepped through the door leading to the martial skills section of Stargazer's Tower. With a sense of purpose, he followed her into the opposite door.

As a dragon, my martial skills are already at their peak! I've played a significant role in the development of human martial arts, after all!

Once inside, he was overwhelmed by the sight. Flying swords, jade pendants, pearls, axes, and spears were everywhere, each shining with a light that stirred his blood. He could hardly resist the urge to claim every treasure in sight.

"The quality is average, but the visual effects are impressive. Still, there are some items here that could be useful to me now."

Chen Xing moved through the collection, examining each piece. With the perception of the Dragon Soul, he could easily discern the quality of the magic weapons, far beyond the capability of an ordinary person.

He picked up a small axe, its edge deceptively subdued, yet holding it, he could feel the icy chill of its lethal intent—a high-quality magic weapon indeed.

"Hey, this one's pretty good."

A tall man approached, snatching the small axe from Chen Xing's grasp, his face lighting up with pleasure. He completely disregarded the fact that Chen Xing had been the one to find the axe first.

"That's right, I, Zhao Xuan, am the perfect match for this axe. It's destined to be mine!"

Chen Xing gave him a brief look and then walked away without further comment.

The axe, while valuable, hadn't captured his interest enough to warrant any conflict. If Zhao Xuan wanted it, he was welcome to it.

Time flew by, and before long, twenty minutes had elapsed.

Chen Xing had roamed around and spotted several high-quality magic weapons similar to the small axe, yet he hadn't claimed any.

"Do I really have to choose one of these?"

"It's such a shame. The reward only allows for selection from the first floor. If I could access the higher levels of the Stargazer's Tower, perhaps I'd find something even better. Hold on!"

A sudden shift in Chen Xing's demeanor indicated his realization – he was sensing the presence of a spiritual weapon!

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