C17 Copper Mirror
He turned to survey the storage boxes around him, his eyes finally settling on a pile of what appeared to be random clutter.
"It's well hidden, but it can't escape the eyes of this dragon!"
Chen Xing chuckled softly and made his way toward it.
He found himself amidst a large collection of mundane weapons, which hardly stood out in the Stargazer's Tower, bathed as it was in a kaleidoscope of light. Here and there lay a few magic weapons, though they were of low quality; the mid-grade ones were rare.
Yet, from this very spot, the presence of a spiritual weapon emanated.
Before him lay an ancient flying sword, its surface marred by rust, devoid of any luster. The hilt bore an ornate pattern that seemed more decorative than functional. Such an item would be easily overlooked at any market stall.
But Chen Xing could clearly perceive that it was indeed a spiritual weapon.
"Owning such a spiritual weapon could save a considerable amount of money."
Spiritual weapons were prohibitively expensive, priced in Aetherstones, and often impossible to find on the market. Even if you had the funds, acquiring the desired spiritual weapon was not guaranteed. The weakest low-grade Aetherstone alone required an exchange of 1000 gold coins, and a spiritual weapon of the lowest quality would cost at least several hundred low-grade Aetherstones—an expenditure the Chen family could scarcely afford.
These were the memories Chen Xing had from his predecessor.
However, as Chen Xing was about to retrieve the spiritual weapon, he halted. A plain copper mirror lying next to the flying sword caught his eye.
The mirror was circular but incomplete, with edges chipped and worn. Its border was stitched with bold patterns that revealed a subtle intricacy upon closer inspection. It radiated no power whatsoever, its appearance even more unremarkable than many ordinary weapons.
Yet this very copper mirror left Chen Xing speechless for a long moment.
Ultimately, he abandoned the flying sword and picked up the copper mirror instead.
"Having found it, why should I forsake it?"
A voice emerged from nearby. Chen Xing turned to see an elderly man with a youthful face despite his white hair, seated at a chess table, toying with the pieces in his hands.
"Young man, the material of this copper mirror is indeed extraordinary. I can't see through it, but sometimes, it's best not to sacrifice too much for the unknown. You might end up with nothing."
"Formation Chess?"
Chen Xing's eyes sparkled upon noticing the chess table before him. Formation Chess was a game he had painstakingly developed over 100,000 years. The Nagas enjoyed combat and chess, but the clash of formations often resulted in considerable damage and uproar. He created Formation Chess to simulate the setup of formations within a confined space. Though it was merely a strategic exercise, it could still distinguish the proficiency of the players' formations.
It was convenient, quiet, and economical, quickly becoming a favorite among the dragons.
To his surprise, this game had survived for 100,000 years! And even after all this time, people were still playing it!
Chen Xing curiously examined the formation laid out before him. But after a single glance, he was taken aback and instantly lost interest.
"Mediocre player, why bother with such trivialities? Just focus on your game."
"What, what?" The old man's face stiffened, disbelief etched across his features. Had he misheard? What did this youngster call him? Mediocre player?
He, Wang Yun, a grandmaster of chess revered by many, was being called a mediocre player by a novice who could only access the first level of Stargazer's Tower?
"You, you, hold on!"
Chen Xing turned around nonchalantly, casting a contemptuous glance at him.
"What did you just call me? Make yourself clear. You're not going anywhere until you do."
"Mediocre player, is there a problem?"
Did everyone at Starfall Academy have such a fragile ego? Couldn't handle a bit of criticism about their chess skills?
"You..." Wang Yun was about to retort.
"Boom!" A loud sound interrupted, "Thirty minutes remaining. Students, please exit Stargazer's Tower!"
As he finished speaking, all the students from Stargazer's Tower vanished in an instant, only to reappear outside the door, including Chen Xing.
"Teleportation array." Chen Xing squinted his eyes and chuckled. Starfall Academy certainly had its fair share of tricks.
Inside Stargazer's Tower, Wang Yun was dumbfounded.
He never imagined that he would fall victim to his own teleportation array!
Who was this person? He must investigate! Youthful exuberance was forgivable, but an affront to his mastery of array formations was not!
"Excellent, everyone should now have the martial arts techniques or magic weapons they selected! Upon exiting Stargazer's Tower, the ranks of these items will become apparent. Naturally, this excludes those that even the Tower cannot fully decipher. I trust that your choices will aid you greatly on your cultivation journey!"
Director Chang Qing Song declared with fervor. With a gesture, the teachers dispersed with their students, heading back to their classrooms.
Throughout the journey, there were varied shouts of astonishment, dismay, and delight.
"Haha! This martial technique is truly of the Vastitas rank, and it's even a mid-level Vastitas at that. I've struck gold this time!" Luo Shuining exclaimed joyfully, brandishing her martial technique which now clearly displayed the words 'mid-level Vastitas' on its cover.
"Congratulations, Junior Shuining."
Approaching them was Pang Qing, who she had encountered the day before.
"Senior Pang, hello," Luo Shuining greeted with a polite nod. "How is Senior Ying Hao? He's not hurt, is he?"
She was concerned, remembering Ying Hao's face, which had been an unnatural shade of green the day before.
"He was called away by our teacher for something. Don't worry, our handsome Young Master Yu is resilient. Though his hopes were dashed, he will surely understand Junior Shuining's position."
His gaze briefly flickered to Chen Xing at the side.
"I must admit, I didn't expect Junior Chen Xing to be such an outstanding student. Worthy of being Class Rep Shuining's deskmate. I must have been mistaken yesterday, thinking he was just a rebellious young man who wouldn't listen."
"Speaking of which, today I also selected a Vastitas martial skill. The Sixty-Fourth Fist of the Eight Trigram is well-rounded, offering both offensive and defensive capabilities. It adds another layer to my arsenal for future training."
"With such prowess, to be Shuining's classmate and rank in the top three, Junior Chen Xing must have an exceptional eye for martial skills. What did you choose?"
Luo Shuining's expression turned slightly awkward. Vastitas martial skills were exceedingly rare in Stargazer's Tower. As they discussed their skills, Chen Xing had remained silent, likely indicating he had chosen a less impressive skill. Pang Qing's question seemed unintentionally hurtful.
"I didn't choose a martial skill," Chen Xing said, shaking his head, causing Luo Shuining, who was about to alleviate the tension, to pause, her lovely brows furrowing.
This guy, always doing his own thing!
Chen Xing pulled out a copper mirror from his embrace and declared, "I chose this copper mirror."
"Pfft!"
Pang Qing couldn't contain his laughter at the sight of the tarnished, lackluster mirror.
"Junior Chen Xing truly has a discerning eye! I've heard the rumors too—that the magic weapons in Stargazer's Tower are so numerous they can be overwhelming, and that the real treasures are often the ones that don't catch the eye. But Junior Chen Xing, there should be some standard for unremarkable, right? To be honest, I've noticed this copper mirror during my visits to the tower, but aside from its unique material, I couldn't detect any spiritual energy. It seemed far inferior to many common items. Of course, I might just lack the insight to see its true value—perhaps it's a formidable spiritual weapon after all?"
"But, if you'll pardon my frankness, does it feel right to treasure something so worn out?"
"Does it?" Chen Xing replied coolly, sweeping him with a glance. Without invoking his dragon might, his gaze was as profound as the deepest ocean and the farthest reaches of space. In this vast expanse, everyone who met his eyes felt reduced to a mere speck of sand, their vision too limited to see beyond the immediate, unable to perceive the vast starry sea.
"Thank goodness."
Chen Xing suddenly laughed.
"What?" Pang Qing jolted, still reeling from the feelings of inferiority that had made him so uncomfortable.
"Thank goodness you didn't choose this bronze mirror. There's an ancient saying: 'Use bronze as a mirror to adjust your clothes, use history as a mirror to understand the rise and fall of things, use people as a mirror to discern right from wrong.'"
"But the person who coined that phrase clearly didn't consider someone as ugly as you. What if you frighten yourself to death seeing your own reflection while fixing your clothes? That would be a tragic way to end your life, and certainly not worth it!"
"You!"
Pang Qing's veins bulged as he erupted in anger, his hand raised to strike!
"What's the matter? Being ugly isn't a crime, but resorting to violence because of it, that's where you're wrong. Don't you feel even a little insignificant when you see someone as handsome and honorable as me?"
Chen Xing spoke with conviction, then playfully stuck out his tongue.
Pang Qing was seething with rage, wishing he could tear the man before him to pieces!
He might have a long face, somewhat horse-like, but he considered himself dignified and graceful! To be insulted as ugly and insignificant was unbearable!
What was worse, he actually felt belittled by the look in Chen Xing's eyes just moments ago!
"Student Pang."
Yan Ruhong spoke with a stern tone. Chen Xing's words were indeed infuriating, but he was still her student, and this was Starfall Academy.
Pang Qing bit back his anger, not daring to lash out in front of a teacher at Starfall Academy.
"I'll let it go today, out of respect for Teacher Yan. But don't let me catch you slipping up another day!"
With that, he stormed off.
Chen Xing, meanwhile, simply smiled and tucked the bronze mirror back into his chest.
All the while, Luo Shuining remained silent beside him. She sensed a subtle sadness in Chen Xing at that moment.
...
The moonlight was soft and serene.
"They certainly can't see through your true nature."
Chen Xing's hand swept over the copper mirror, and in an instant, the air was filled with the resonant sound of a dragon's cry. Stars and moonlight emerged upon its surface, accompanied by the image of a majestic dragon in mid-dance. The spectacle was both grand and breathtaking.
"It is indeed you, Lang Qingqing."
"I never imagined that after a hundred thousand years, we would be reunited in such a manner."
"The Clear Moon Mirror has been lost and now lies in fragments. Have you truly perished?"