Volume 1, Chapter 64: With Me Here, the Years Flow Quiet and Good

"No matter how big the trouble is, Master will be able to suppress it. You need not worry."

Xiao Ziyue and Muyi continued their conversation as they walked quickly.

"Muyi, you are well aware of the current situation at the Divine Concealment Academy. Even Master herself cannot be certain how much longer she can hold the position of Dean."

"Therefore, while she still wields the supreme authority, she must use her utmost capability to help you elevate your cultivation. This is the only way Master can still assist you."

At this point, a trace of sorrow clouded Xiao Ziyue's captivating eyes.

The mountain rain was about to come, sweeping through the wind and filling the tower.
Dark clouds pressed down on the city, as if ready to crush it.

Neither Xiao Ziyue nor Shen Yushu truly knew what kind of future awaited the Divine Concealment Academy.

"I understand."

Muyi nodded, his gaze resolute and unwavering.

"Senior Sister Xiao, rest assured. I, Muyi, will not let the Dean's painstaking efforts go to waste."

Speaking, the two of them arrived once again at the grand entrance of the Divine Concealment Secret Realm.

Stepping inside, the temporary elder on guard duty was a Heavenly-grade elder of the Golden Core realm and an old acquaintance of Muyi, Nie Xun.

Obviously, Muyi was entirely taking the back door this time, which was why Shen Yushu had replaced the guard of this place with one of her own people.

Nie Xun was indeed a foundational member of the Jade Alliance.

"Muyi, hurry on inside. With me standing guard here, no one will disturb you."

Seeing Muyi, Nie Xun wasted no words.

"Senior Sister Xiao, why won't you come inside with me?"

Since Shen Yushu had already broken the academy rules anyway, allowing him unlimited access to the Divine Concealment Secret Realm, Xiao Ziyue could naturally enter as well.

"Although the four great cultivation sanctuaries of the Divine Concealment Secret Realm are utterly wondrous, they do not hold miraculous effects for everyone."

Xiao Ziyue smiled faintly. "No matter how much I enter to cultivate, it would hold little help for me anymore. But you are different."

"I have a limit, but you do not."

"Muyi, cherish this opportunity well. I hope that when you emerge from seclusion, you will have already stepped into the Yuanfu realm."

Xiao Ziyue gave Muyi a deep look before turning around.

Muyi's entry into the Divine Concealment Secret Realm this time would be a prolonged period of cultivation, quite possibly lasting several months.

During this time, Xiao Ziyue had no idea what might transpire at the Divine Concealment Academy.

Perhaps this might even be her last meeting with Muyi.

"Senior Sister Xiao, rest assured. With me here, the years will remain peaceful and all will be well."

Muyi suddenly called out to stop Xiao Ziyue.

She turned gracefully to see a radiant, sunshine-like smile on Muyi's face.

"I believe you..."

For some reason, seeing Muyi's beaming smile instantly washed away the anxiety lingering in the depths of Xiao Ziyue's heart.

It felt as though as long as Muyi, this indomitable man, remained in this world, then all worries were groundless.

There was no danger or difficulty that he could not resolve.

Xiao Ziyue departed.

And Muyi stepped once more into the Divine Concealment Secret Realm.

This time was different from the last.

Clutching the token representing the personal presence of the Dean, he was free to cultivate in any of the four major sanctuaries of the Divine Concealment Secret Realm for an unlimited duration.

"Let's enter the Heavenly Pool first."

What Muyi desired most right now was still to elevate his cultivation.

He had proclaimed before thousands of people that in half a year, he would engage Zhao Fenghua in a battle of life and death.

And in that half-year span, Zhao Fenghua might genuinely manage to step completely into the Qianyuan realm.

Muyi had no choice but to make preparations in advance.

Stepping into the Heavenly Pool, he found it completely empty with only himself.

Aside from the gentle splashing of water, absolute silence reigned.

"Let's hope for an exceptional outcome."

Muyi entered the water once more.

Yet this time, the spiritual energy entering his body produced effects far inferior to the previous occasion.

He finally understood the bodily immunity effect Xianyue had mentioned earlier.

Once his physical body grew accustomed to the spiritual energy of the Heavenly Pool, absorbing it further yielded drastically diminished results.

A full half-month slipped away.

Although Muyi's cultivation had grown, the increase was extremely limited, falling short even of breaking through to the ninth tier of the Divine Transformation realm.

"Muyi, stop wasting time here. Go and check out the other three sanctuaries."

At that very moment, Xianyue's voice sounded from within the Dragon-Elephant Divine Demon Pagoda.

"It seems the Heavenly Pool truly holds little further use for me. I have no choice but to leave."

Muyi had hoped to enter, absorb the energy within, and continually advance his cultivation.

Yet reality defied his wishes.

Leaving the Heavenly Pool, he stepped into the Battlefield Realm.

"Oh? This looks rather interesting..."

Hundreds of battle puppets came into view—iron figures cast entirely in steel armor, yet seemingly imbued with life, springing into motion as Muyi stepped inside.

The Battlefield Realm was a domain dedicated entirely to combat honing.

As long as one did not leave, the battle puppets would swarm in like a relentless tide, allowing a single person to fight an entire army alone.

In particular, these battle puppets were not genuine living entities, devoid of all fear of death or pain. Under identical cultivation realms, for a human to encounter such merciless killing machines was nothing short of a catastrophe.

"Forge ahead through battle! Transcend through life and death!"

Suddenly filled with high spirits, Muyi pushed off the ground with his toes and charged straight into the swarm of battle puppets.

In an instant, his figure was completely swallowed by the battle puppets, as if vanishing into a vast sea.

"Good heavens! Look everyone! Someone actually charged into the hundred-puppet squad!"

In this Battlefield Realm, Muyi was not the only one cultivating.

There were over a dozen other disciples present.

These individuals were all Saint Children of the Yuanfu realm, with cultivation levels ranging from the first to the sixth tier of the Yuanfu realm.

Yet they only dared to enter the ten-puppet squads, never even daring to approach the hundred-puppet squads.

The battle puppets of the Battlefield Realm were divided into ten-puppet squads, hundred-puppet squads, and the most terrifying thousand-puppet squads—something almost no disciples in past generations had dared to attempt.

"That person just now looks extraordinary. Could it be Muyi, the one who slaughtered Nangong Ying and Gu Fan at the Arena of Life and Death earlier?"

Someone recognized Muyi.

"What? It's actually him? No wonder he dares to be so arrogant?"

"Even so, for Muyi to barge straight into the hundred-puppet squad is far too audacious. Even an expert at the eighth tier of the Yuanfu realm wouldn't dare step foot in there!"

The dozen or so people broke into fervent discussion.

"Hmph, ever since entering the Divine Concealment Academy, this Muyi has been stirring up storms everywhere, utterly arrogant and boundless. He is simply courting death this time!"

Just as the crowd was arguing passionately, a man strode forward from behind them.

"Senior Brother Feng!"

Upon seeing this man, everyone instantly stiffened, their eyes betraying a hint of dread.

For the newcomer was no ordinary figure.

Feng Lie!

He ranked eighth among the thirty-two Saint Children of the Divine Concealment Academy, boasting a cultivation at the peak of the tenth tier of the Yuanfu realm!

At the same time, he was also a prominent figure within the Vast Alliance.

Seeing him instantly made it clear why he harbored such scathing sarcasm toward Muyi.

"Senior Brother Feng is entirely right. This Muyi thinks that because he killed Nangong Ying and Gu Fan, he is invincible under heaven. He simply doesn't know what is good for him!"

"If Senior Brother Feng were to act, he could crush him to death with a single finger."

"What kind of talk is that? What status does Senior Brother Feng hold? How could he possibly lower himself to deal with a mere ant like Muyi? If anyone's going to make a move, it'll be me!"

Seeing Feng Lie appear, these people immediately rushed to shower him with flattery.

Flattery never fails to please, as the saying goes.

Their adeptness at reading the wind and turning with the tide naturally left Feng Lie highly gratified.

"Just watch, everyone. This Muyi overestimates his own capabilities by plunging straight into the hundred-puppet squad. He might not even make it out alive."

Feng Lie sneered as he watched the scene unfold.

He had, of course, heard about Muyi displaying divine might on the Arena of Life and Death to slay Nangong Ying and Gu Fan.

Whether Nangong Ying and Gu Fan lived or died was theoretically of no concern to Feng Lie.

However, the two of them belonged to the Vast Alliance.

Their defeat and death had caused the entire Vast Alliance to lose face.

Therefore, seeing Muyi in the Battlefield Realm this time, Feng Lie was naturally filled with hostility toward him.

"Huh? What is going on?"

Yet, no sooner had Feng Lie finished speaking than his expression suddenly froze.

The hundred-puppet squad that Muyi had entered had actually ceased its movements.

It was as though the battle within had already concluded.

One had to bear in mind that only ten minutes had passed since Muyi stepped inside.

"Hahaha! I understand now. Muyi must have been beaten to death within the puppet formation!"

"Indeed, this Muyi was far too ignorant of his own limits, blindly diving headfirst into the hundred-puppet squad. If he doesn't die, who will?"

"As the saying goes: sins against heaven may be forgiven, but sins of one's own making leave no escape. Muyi brought this entirely upon himself, so he can blame no one."

Witnessing this, the crowd burst into loud laughter.

"Who says I'm dead?"

At that exact moment, a figure stepped out with powerful, confident strides from the hundred-puppet trial ground.

It was none of other than Muyi.