Chapter 3127

Just then, the academy steward hurried into the courtyard.

He held a record book in his hand, his steps quick and hurried, as if he had some urgent matter to discuss with Chenshu. As he walked, he kept his head down flipping through the record book, muttering: "Chenshu, come here, Uncle, and see if this duty roster has any problems… wow!"

The steward's steps came to an abrupt halt, his gaze locking onto Jin Chen, his eyes flashing with astonishment, as if he'd been struck dumb.

He straightened his hat and sleeves, cleared his throat, adopted a refined demeanor, and clasped his hands toward Jin Chen, saying, "Are you a little immortal from another sect? My apologies, my apologies. I am the steward of the Carefree Immortal Sect Question Dao Academy, surname Zhou, given name Qian. May I ask your name, fairy? Where is your immortal homeland?"

Jin Chen's smile froze on his face, "...?"

He brushed his hand over his head, felt a hairpin of vermilion, and instantly turned his head to look at Chenshu.

Chenshu crossed his arms, a mischievous smile in his eyes, and said, "Satisfied? Little Junior Sister."

Jin Chen's tone was leisurely, "You just wait for me."

Chenshu let out a laugh, half triumphant, half relieved, "Hmph."

Jin Chen turned to face the steward squarely, putting on a flawless smile, and said in his gentlest voice, "Steward Zhou, are you looking for a beating?"

Steward Zhou's smile froze; he glanced at the heap of vermilion hairpins and silk flowers on Jin Chen's head, then at his face.

Ah… it's actually Nephew Jin Chen,' he coughed twice, forcing himself to calm, 'My old eyes are dim, dim indeed. Nephew, today… today your hairstyle is quite unique, quite unique.'

Jin Chen kept his smile, though it now carried a hint of killing intent, "Thank you for the praise, Steward Zhou."

Feeling that killing intent, Steward Zhou wisely chose to retreat.

He turned to Chenshu, quickly handed over the record book, briefly explained the duty roster, and then left without looking back.

Chenshu still couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Seeing him laugh like that, Jin Chen's anger eased a little. He snorted, reached up to pull off the vermilion hairpin, but as soon as his hand touched the first one, Chenshu stopped him.

Don't move, it looks great.

Zhao Tie Zhu came rushing over, holding the recording stone, shouting, "Chen'er!"

Jin Chen turned his head to see Zhao Tie Zhu grinning widely while holding up the recording stone. He reacted instantly, reaching to grab the stone, but Zhao Tie Zhu lifted it high above his head, using his height advantage to keep it out of Jin Chen's reach.

"Junior Brother, don't rush to snatch it," Zhao Tie Zhu raised an eyebrow at him, "Want to earn some extra income? With these spirit stones you could buy more beauty pills and protective artifacts, and even pay off a bit of Duoduo's debt."

Jin Chen's hand hovered in midair, he eyed him suspiciously, "What extra income?"

He paused, then suddenly clutched his chest and stepped back half a pace, "We are proper cultivators; we mustn't be led astray by the Harmony Joy Sect's ways."

Zhao Tie Zhu: "What are you thinking? I guarantee you won't have to do anything."

Having said that, he didn't wait for Jin Chen to ask further, and happily dashed off clutching the recording stone.

Half an hour later, the sect's Immortal Simple Bulletin flashed in bold:

——Today, Senior Brother Jin Chen, after the veil, unveiled a brand-new look, first attempting female attire and being mistaken for an immortal from another sect! According to an unnamed senior brother of Mysterious Machine Peak, this look was actually crafted by Senior Brother Chenshu! The precious recording of the recording stone—watch first, enjoy first—fellow disciples, hurry to the Question Dao Academy's Number Six Pavilion to view it; only five medium-grade spirit stones required!

One Sword Frosty Cold Century Egg Lean Meat Congee: Already seen, no regrets! At that moment I really felt dazed, truly thinking a female immortal from some sect had come to visit.

Consuming the Wrong Pill Poison: I recommend fellow disciples detour to the third floor, heading from the Pine Academy side; you might catch a live version of Senior Brother Jin Chen teaching new disciples! The real person looks even better than in the recording stone! I've already gone three times; if I weren't afraid of being discovered, I could go three more.

I Am Poisonously Provocative: Insert a line! Medicinal cultivator senior sister, hurry to the Poison Tower to save my dog's life—I took the wrong poison again, ah ah ah ah! This poison makes one hiccup nonstop; I've been hiccuping for half an hour, hiccup. By the way, Senior Brother Jin Chen's new look looks great, hiccup.

Profound Mystery Peak Braid Specialist: Thanks everyone for your enthusiastic support! The replica of the Shadow-Imprint Stone continues to be supplied, bulk orders get discounts, group purchases even better! — Zhao Tiezhu.

Even today we're blowing up the alchemy furnace: Senior Brother Zhao!! The disciples of Xuantian Peak want to watch the free version, but we found out we still have to pay—do you know how cruel this is for us poor herbal cultivators!

——

Meanwhile, inside the lecture hall.

Jin Chen half-reclined on the recliner behind the lecture hall of Pine Scholars Academy, one hand propping his forehead, fingertips gently massaging his temples, while his Dharma Avatar up front earnestly gave a lecture to the new disciples.

He observed without changing expression the sixth-seated Duan Shan, that faint abnormal Spiritual Power fluctuation just now had come from his direction—it was a strange Spiritual Power, an indescribable malign energy, as if suppressed by something. And looking at Duan Shan's appearance, he seemed completely unaware of any anomaly.

Jin Chen withdrew his gaze, tapping the armrest lightly twice with his fingertips; a slight thought stirred, and his Dharma Avatar up front stopped its explanation, scanned the disciples below, and said, "Does anyone want to try the Enlightenment Technique I just taught?"

Jin Chen was about to call on Duan Shan to come up and try, but before he could speak, a timid voice from the corner sounded: "Senior... Senior Brother... I want to try."

Everyone turned toward the sound, and the speaker turned out to be Yun Xiaoqiao—the Yun Xiaoqiao who cried on his first day entering the sect when the mountain gate stone lion roared at him, the Yun Xiaoqiao who was scared to tears by the fat sparrows behind the mountain, and the Yun Xiaoqiao who was frightened into tears by Shi Potian holding a stone lion while doing squats—yet he actually raised his hand voluntarily!

Jin Chen raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised as he glanced at Yun Xiaoqiao; the child nervously clenched the corner of his clothes, his fingers trembling, yet his eyes shone bright.

Jin Chen chuckled, "Alright, then you come up, and Duan Shan, you come too."

Yun Xiaoqiao looked up at Jin Chen, eyes shining, as Jin Chen reached out and ruffled the top of his head, "Just wait a moment."

"Junior Brother Duan Shan, you go first."

Jin Chen, behind him, silently released a thread of Spiritual Power, probing his meridians tentatively; the moment that Spiritual Power touched Duan Shan's body, Jin Chen felt something was off.

That malign energy reappeared, lying motionless deep in Duan Shan's meridians; as Jin Chen's Spiritual Power tried to approach, it shrank deeper.

Jin Chen furrowed his brows slightly, mixing a thread of primordial Spiritual Power into the probing Spiritual Power and directing it toward Duan Shan's dantian; instantly, a powerful force rebounded from within Duan Shan's dantian, shattering Jin Chen's Dharma Avatar to pieces.

"Senior Brother?" someone asked, turning his head in confusion, looking toward Jin Chen's true body lying in the back.

Jin Chen had already risen from the recliner, surprised in his heart—it was corpse qi.