Chapter 165: It's a Tragedy

"I'm done washing, you go ahead."

Chen Shu rubbed his hair with a towel, and once it was mostly dry, he shook his head and channeled a small Spell; a mist of water rose from his head, and in just a few seconds, he had simultaneously finished drying his hair and humidifying and scenting the air in the living room.

He lay down on the sofa and took out his Mobile Phone.

Chen Shu sniffled.

Brother Meng sat nearby reading a book, a faint scent lingering on him.

Speechless...

Chen Shu shifted, moving a bit further away from him, and continued playing with his Mobile Phone.

Chen Shu: Qingqing is so tired.

Qingqing: I'm not tired.

Chen Shu: I'm so tired.

Qingqing: What's wrong?

Chen Shu: I went to training today, which is the equivalent of adding an evening study session, and I only just got back to the Dormitory to take a shower.

Qingqing: It's about time for Daily Cultivation.

Chen Shu: Wait a little while...

Qingqing: You'll procrastinate until ten o'clock.

Chen Shu: Just a little while longer.

Qingqing: Seize the time, do your Daily Cultivation, play less on your Mobile Phone, and it'll be just right for forming good habits.

Chen Shu: I don't want to go tomorrow.

Qingqing: You must go.

Chen Shu: You wouldn't even know if I went or not.

Qingqing: /smile

Chen Shu: /complex expression

Qingqing: Be obedient.

Chen Shu: Secretary Ning's maternal instincts are overflowing.

Qingqing:...

Chen Shu chatted with Qingqing for a while, and when the conversation turned to Zhang Suannai, he opened the Ancient Cultivation Group again.

Qingcai Keke: I heard you got a school-wide notice for going to catch fish in Long Lake? I was wondering why that fish tasted so good; turns out it was something you fished out of Long Lake.

Qingcai Keke: @Nainai Zongshuo

Nainai Zongshuo: /Your daddy is here.

Nainai Zongshuo: School-wide notice?

Nainai Zongshuo: Please, go ask around.

Nainai Zongshuo: The last closed-door disciple of the Sword Sect Sword Master, the future successor of the Sword Sect—a school-wide notice, what's that?

Nainai Zongshuo: It's just something used to fool idiots like you.

Qingcai Keke: The last closed-door disciple.

Qingcai Keke: That sounds like a grammatically incorrect sentence.

Nainai Zongshuo: Damn it!!!

Nainai Zongshuo: So it was you who brought that up!!!

Qingcai Keke:?

Nainai Zongshuo: /Stick your head over here and feel some fatherly love.

Qingcai Keke: I was just concerned about you.

Qingcai Keke: /pout

Nainai Zongshuo: /Look at the idiot.

Nainai Zongshuo: /pointing finger

Qingcai Keke: You're really full of yourself, aren't you.

Nainai Zongshuo: /hands on hips

Qingcai Keke: /complex expression

Qingcai Keke: But that fish was indeed not bad.

Nainai Zongshuo: Call me next time you want to eat it.

Qingcai Keke: /nodding repeatedly

Eight-Pack Abs Beauty: Um, asking weakly, what kind of group is this?

Qingcai Keke: A bragging group.

Nainai Zongshuo: A show-off group.

Nameless Person: A chat group.

Gate of All Wonders: A social-death group.

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: What am I saying?

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Amitabha, welcome to the new member.

Haoran Zhengqi: This is an exchange group. All members are the most outstanding students in the University City who have an inclination toward ancient cultivation. You can get some information here that isn't convenient to obtain outside. You can also chat whenever you're bored to build rapport; it will be helpful in the future.

Nameless Person: The group owner is so serious!

Nainai Zongshuo: Don't believe him! He's a liar!

Qingcai Keke: +1

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: Are you all students from University City?

Qingcai Keke: Yes.

Qingcai Keke: They basically come from the four schools in University City and the further-away Daoist Academy and Buddhist Academy.

Qingcai Keke: And at the upcoming Martial Body Meet, if your luck is bad, you will very likely be beaten up by someone in this group.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: How did you know I signed up for the Martial Body Meet?

Grandma Always Says: We all know who you are now.

Grandma Always Says: Were you still planning on hiding your identity? Hahahaha, dying of laughter.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: How did you know?

Grandma Always Says: Because recently, only one Ancient Cultivation Academy student in University City is worthy of entering this group; you're famous now, I even saw you while scrolling through videos.

Qingcai Keke: Grandma is very happy, Senior Brother.

Qingcai Keke: Because you had your cover blown even faster than him.

Grandma Always Says: Shut up, you cross-dresser!

Grandma Always Says recalled a message.

Grandma Always Says: Shut up, you Junior Sister!

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: Then who are you all?

Qingcai Keke: I am a Senior Sister.

Grandma Always Says: I am a Senior Brother.

Gate of All Wonders: I am a monk.

Nameless Person: I am a good person.

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Amitabha, my sin, my sin...

Haoran Zhengqi: I... am the group owner, I suppose.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: /dazed

Qingcai Keke: Alright, alright, enough talk. There's no need to hide it anyway, everyone's cover will be blown soon, so let me formally introduce you.

Qingcai Keke: I am from the Ancient Cultivation Academy at the same school as you, Grandma is a Sword Cultivator from Ling'an Academy, Gate of All Wonders is a Daoist from the Daoist Academy, Green Lamp Ancient Buddha is a monk from the Buddhist Academy, and the group owner Haoran Zhengqi is a member of the Imperial Family, a direct descendant, and a Martial Cultivator.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: /stunned

Qingcai Keke: Oh, right.

Qingcai Keke: Speaking of which, it seems the identities and Cultivation System of most people in the group are known, but there are still two left.

Qingcai Keke: @Luo Huaian @Zhaoyeqing

Qingcai Keke: Which school are you from? What system?

Gate of All Wonders: /cracking melon seeds

Qingcai Keke: Nobody is ignoring me, surprisingly.

Zhaoyeqing: Go to sleep.

Qingcai Keke: Alrighty.

Qingcai Keke: /obedient

Qingcai Keke: Good night.

Grandma Always Says: You sleep just because he told you to? Since when were you so obedient?

Grandma Always Says:??

Grandma Always Says: You really went to sleep?

Grandma Always Says: Get up and party!

Haoran Zhengqi: /cracking melon seeds

Grandma Always Says:??? @Haoran Zhengqi

Haoran Zhengqi: Right, for those of you who aren't participating in the Martial Body Meet, if you want a pass for the Military Academy to go in and visit, you can also look for me.

Qingcai Keke: Get me one.

Haoran Zhengqi: Sure.

Grandma Always Says: You're giving it to Qingqing? Just one? What about Xiaoxiao?

Qingcai Keke: Xiaoxiao isn't an adult yet, it's not suitable for her to watch such violent scenes.

Grandma Always Says: Oh, oh, that's true.

Zhaoyeqing:?

Qingcai Keke: Logging off, logging off.

Grandma Always Says:??

Haoran Zhengqi: /cracking melon seeds

Grandma Always Says:??? @Haoran Zhengqi

Haoran Zhengqi: Let's continue to educate our Junior Sister. I hope Junior Sister can integrate into this big family as soon as possible.

Chen Shu reluctantly turned off his Mobile Phone.

He glanced at the time.

Exactly ten o'clock.

This...

Chen Shu shook his head, greeted Brother Meng who was still burning the midnight oil, and returned to his room.

Daily Cultivation.

The moon waxes and wanes.

It is another night of training.

He has been a bit annoyed these past few days; ever since Teacher Xu discovered that his Spell power was exceptionally great, he has always been called over to act as a sparring partner for the others—originally, Chen Shu's goal in quickly defeating Senior Brother Qin that day was to save himself some trouble, but he hadn't expected the opposite to happen.

For someone suffering from a curse, this is a very great disturbance.

However, over these past few days, he has also become familiar with the other few classmates.

Everyone is a young person, there is no generation gap, and it is easy to find common topics; in reality, there are actually very few people who are exceptionally difficult to talk to. Every day, the ten of them are together fighting and training, and in their free time, they chat, and as they chat, they become familiar.

It cannot be called a very close relationship, but they can already be called acquaintances.

This kind of "not quite familiar" relationship is actually quite good; they can play together, but each person holds back their own bad habits and only shows their good side.

Just like the people one meets while traveling.

Currently, the ones conducting sparring practice on the Arena are Brother Jiang and Senior Brother Qin. Brother Jiang is using a Martial Artist's body to oppose a Martial Cultivator, and his only aid is the Martial Artist Rune, yet he stubbornly relies on his superb combat techniques to make Senior Brother Qin spin in circles.

It is like two game characters: one has worse equipment but very high skill, and the other has better equipment and higher stats, but mediocre skill.

Before the two started fighting, everyone even opened a betting pool.

Because Chen Shu had fought both Brother Jiang and Senior Brother Qin, relying on his understanding of the two of them, he bet on Brother Jiang to win, claiming outwardly that he was supporting his roommate. Besides that, only Yan Keling was silly and didn't understand anything, so she followed him and bet on Jiang Lai to win.

The rest of the people did not think highly of the Martial Artist and bet on Qin Yuxiao.

Indeed—

Senior Brother Qin is not only a Martial Cultivator but also a disciple of the Ming Sect, possessing the best Martial Cultivator inheritance; there is no reason for him to be unable to beat a crude martial man.

Due to the imbalance in the number of people on both sides, the bet eventually discussed was: if Chen Shu and Yan Keling lost, they would have to team up to treat everyone to milk tea; if the others lost, they would have to team up to treat everyone to a late-night snack.

The battle situation is very clear by now.

One saw Senior Brother Qin soar into the air, ten-plus meters off the ground; as a Fourth Stage Martial Cultivator, he has the ability to borrow force in mid-air, so he aimed at Jiang Lai's position, his entire body accelerating in a dive through the air, booming toward Jiang Lai.

But Jiang Lai knew he could change direction in the air, so he was not in a hurry to dodge; he closed his eyes and remained silent in place for a moment before relying on his Spiritual Sense to activate the Rune.

"Swish!"

His body seemed to be pushed by a giant force, instantly shifting horizontally a few meters to the left, dodging Senior Brother Qin's attack by a hair's breadth.

"Bang!"

This punch struck the floor, and heat waves rippled out along with the shockwave.

The spot where Senior Brother Qin landed had already been scorched bright red.

If it were a normal floor, a deep pit would likely have appeared by now, covered in cracks, and perhaps the very center would have been burned into "magma." No matter how powerful the Rune on Jiang Lai's body is or how well he can fight, he could not withstand this strike.

Alas, he missed.

Jiang Lai's body shifted horizontally again, this time pushing himself back, his feet stomping heavily on the ground to gain great power as he attacked Senior Brother Qin.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

The sound was like hitting a wall stuffed with cotton, connecting into one, almost impossible to hear the intervals.

Undefeated True Body is truly powerful.

But it doesn't matter.

If one punch isn't enough, then come with another, and if that's not enough, keep hitting, until he has hit enough.

Jiang Lai's combo offensive has been tested by the Arena; his past opponents all had Runes, while he did not. Once this set of combo offensives, which he was tempered into using while at a total disadvantage, is unleashed, it basically does not give the opponent a chance to breathe.

For a moment, one only saw afterimages of fists and feet, capable of throwing dozens of punches in a second, and the position and angle of every punch thrown were different, truly a ruthless punching machine.

It really makes one feel Fear just looking at it.

One minute later.

"Stop!"

Teacher Xu called for a stop.

Chen Shu grinned and raised his hand, shouting, "Brother Jiang is mighty!"

Then, feigning a very surprised and embarrassed expression, he said to the people beside him, "Oh, I'm really sorry. I just wanted to support my roommate, but I didn't expect my roommate to be so powerful. Dear Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, you've spent money, you've really spent money."

Yan Keling sat behind him to the side and said, "Senior Brother Qin is so miserable; he gets beaten when he wins, and he gets beaten when he loses. He's been getting beaten these past few days..."

"Haha..."

"We're going to the Military Academy competition the day after tomorrow," said Yan Keling.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Are you nervous?"

"I'm not nervous!"

"Are you Qingcai Keke from the group?"

"Ah? What?"

"Nothing..."

Yan Keling hurriedly withdrew her gaze, looking straight ahead, but she still did not hide the embarrassed expression on her face—

Thinking about it, how could Chen Shu be Qingcai Keke? Didn't Qingcai Keke say she was a Senior Sister? Other group members also confirmed it, and besides, a normal male wouldn't choose such a name... So, Qingcai Keke is likely that Fifth Stage Senior Sister from Pharmacy.

Yan Keling was deeply convinced.

But there is one thing she cannot figure out—

With Chen Shu's talent, it is impossible for him not to be in that group.

Just as she was preparing to find a way to probe again, that Fifth Stage Senior Brother from the fifth year leaned over: "You two are being all mysterious, what are you talking about?"

"I... I..."

Yan Keling was unable to speak for a moment.

Seeing this, Chen Shu pursed his lips and said, "He asked me if I was nervous about going to the Military Academy competition the day after tomorrow. I said I wasn't nervous; Senior Brother, you are the one who should be nervous. The Fifth Stage contestants from other schools are all heirs to top-tier sects; it is truly a tragedy to appear in the same era as them."

"Yeah..."

Senior Brother Ji immediately became melancholy as well.

Being able to reach the Fifth Stage before graduating from university, his talent was at least ahead of 99.999% of his peers nationwide; among the millions of university students in the country each year, those who could reach the Fifth Stage before graduation were usually within ten people, so he could be called a genius.

But competing on the same stage as those few...

He had also heard of those few; in the past, each one was a peerless genius that might not appear even once in a century worldwide. For this group to appear clustered in this century was already an unprecedented miracle, yet they all happened to be born in the same era as him...

It really is a tragedy.

Just as Ji Guanhe was feeling miserable, he felt Junior Brother Chen Shu pat his shoulder and comfort him by saying, "Senior Brother, what are we having for a late-night snack tonight? Junior Brother emptied all his savings buying potions earlier, and hasn't had any nutritional supplements for a while..."