373 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama

Chapter 373: Another Master Again – I'm Not Becoming This Troubled Senior Sister Anymore! Upon seeing this unkempt man in a frenzied state, Ye Ling Long considered giving him a good scolding, had she not realized that his cultivation was higher than hers. She didn't recognize him, but the other students certainly did. This disheveled man was Zou Guan Qing, the head of the Formation Court, a formidable expert near the peak of the Immortal King realm. Not only was he a powerful practitioner, but he was also the foremost formation master in the lower immortal domain, having reached the level of an earth-grade formation master. Now, this eminent master wanted to take Ye Ling Long as his last disciple, filling the onlookers with envy and admiration. “Uncle, could you please let go of my arm? To be honest, you're a bit dirty,” Ye Ling Long said with a hint of disdain in her voice. Zou Guan Qing, still holding her arm, instinctively released her, bewildered that someone would mind his cleanliness. Inwardly, the onlookers shouted with disbelief: “How can she be so ungrateful? Master Zou, look at us! We don't care if you're dirty!” Unfortunately, Zou Guan Qing missed all their admiring signals. His fixation on formations was known to make him neglect his appearance, which the academy had grown accustomed to. Even those who couldn't stand his untidiness had been silenced by his temper. The supervising teacher looked at Ye Ling Long with respect, anticipating Zou Guan Qing's imminent wrath. However, they were all left dumbfounded when Zou Guan Qing actually smiled, albeit awkwardly. “I... I was caught up in researching formations and didn't get a chance to clean up. Listen, young lady, if you agree, you'll be my sole disciple from now on,” he offered. With a casual flick, Zou Guan Qing used a cleansing spell, transforming instantly with a striking and dignified appearance, his tall stature measuring close to 1.9 meters. The supervising teacher and the others were stunned. Was this really the temperamental Master Zou? "How about it~," he asked, his voice full of allure. Ye Ling Long hesitated. She only wanted to infiltrate the school to investigate a seal, not to acquire another mentor, having had enough of them already. The crowd was incredulous: She's actually hesitating!!! Seeing her hesitation, Zou Guan Qing assumed she was considering joining the Alchemy Institute and was determined not to let Master Hai snatch away such a promising student. With resolve, he promised, “If you become my final disciple, I'll give you access to the Immortal Academy's library, where all formation materials and legacies are stored.” In desperation to secure her as his disciple, Zou Guan Qing offered a rare privilege, as access to the library was usually reserved for those who excelled in the academy competitions, a concession not readily granted. The mention of formation resources made Ye Ling Long's eyes gleam. Her sword cultivation was on solid ground with Qianjun, the artifact spirit that possessed the sword intent of Emperor Changling, providing ample insights. Her alchemical skills had Dan Pagoda for support. However, she lacked any lineage in formations, and this offer was like someone handing her a pillow when she was tired. But the savviness in her knew that promises made too quickly might be undervalued. Feigning slight interest and hesitation, Ye Ling Long replied, “But I was previously in alchemy, and we all know alchemists are wealthier.” Zou Guan Qing wanted to boast that formation masters weren't lacking, but the truth of alchemists being wealthier was undeniable. Reluctantly, he supplemented his offer with an additional million low-grade immortal crystals personally. Sensing the timing right, Ye Ling Long accepted promptly, calling him "master" without any fuss. Meanwhile, when Feng Li arrived at the Body Cultivation Institute, all eyes fell upon him immediately. "Are you Feng Li?" the supervising teacher asked, with a peculiar expression. Feng Li nodded, and amid the astonished whispers, the supervising teacher sympathetically noted, "You're the second student in the history of our Immortal Academy to request the most challenging assessment." He patted Feng Li's shoulder, “Good luck to you.” Before Feng Li could process it, he found himself shoved into the examination arena, where he narrowly avoided a staff swing aimed at him the moment he stepped in. As he blocked the next attack, he inwardly cursed, vowing to find and confront whoever enrolled him in such a grueling test, promising to leave them unrecognizable. ... "Why isn't she here? Did she not come to the Immortal Academy's assessment?" Master Hai mumbled to himself. His thoughts were preoccupied with finding the alchemist capable of crafting supreme-grade pills. She was absent from the Alchemy Institute's examination, confirming she hadn't shown up. Master Hai mused that she couldn't have applied to another institute. However, as he was on his way back, a hearty voice interrupted his thoughts, “Isn't this Master Hai? How goes it? Did you find any good students this year?” The familiar voice belonged to none other than Zou Guan Qing, surprisingly tidy today, with a refined young woman, donned in blue, following behind. Master Hai's mind immediately connected her to the alchemist his employer mentioned, and she matched the description perfectly. Her presence beside Zou Guan Qing, however, indicated she was from the Formation Court. Acknowledging with a nod, he watched in surprise as Zou Guan Qing, who rarely talked to Master Hai, made his way over. Pushing Ye Ling Long to the forefront, Zou Guan Qing boasted, “This is the promising student I've acquired in the Formation Court, not even three hundred years old and already my new last disciple.” Ye Ling Long wore an expression of resigned bemusement. Her newly acquired mentor seemed a real oddball; since taking her on, he had been showing her off to no fewer than several other institute heads, even going out of his way to parade her to the Alchemy Institute's head. However, the generous greetings she received made it worthwhile, and Ye Ling Long found the act of boasting somewhat acceptable. Calling out, Ye Ling Long greeted Master Hai, who returned her nod. With a sarcastic tone, Zou Guan Qing added, “I must thank your Alchemy Institute, really. My disciple initially wanted to join your ranks but ended up with us in the Formation Court. Otherwise, I'd never have met such a good student.” His words, though irritating, struck Master Hai like a heavy blow to the heart. Master Hai exclaimed, “What did you say!!!”