Chapter 136: Gather Up, Disciples of Serene Void Academy!

Wang Xiaolong clutched his chest as he pushed himself up from the ground. "Is this Serene Void Plaza? Have we really arrived at the Serene Void Academy? Did we actually break through the mountain gate successfully?"

Wang Xiaolong's eyes swept over the surroundings, excitement bubbling in his voice. "Senior Martial Brother Lu, Senior Martial Brother Song, Second Young Master, Junior Martial Brother Nantian, and all the disciples of the Serene Void Academy are here. Not a single one is missing, not a single one. This is amazing."

Fei Zhu, startled by Wang Xiaolong's shout, came awake instantly. "Xiaolong, what are you doing? Are we really here?"

However, his injuries were severe. He struggled a few times but couldn't fully rise.

Wang Xiaolong stepped forward and helped Fei Zhu lean against the steps. "It's fine. Fei Zhu, rest and recover first. We've made it back to the Serene Void Academy."

"We're finally back... it feels so good. Finally, a chance to rest," Fei Zhu exhaled deeply, settling against the steps. "But the commotion we caused... It's been huge."

Lu Chen walked over to Fei Zhu and handed him two Heaven Restoration Pills. "That's exactly why we're here. To make a strong entrance, shake everything up, and seize the initiative. Take these first. Body cultivation differs from spirit qi cultivation. Injuries make the body's training most effective."

"

Ah,

alright." Fei Zhu took the pills directly from Lu Chen's hand and swallowed them in one gulp. "Thanks, Senior Martial Brother Lu."

Lu Chen patted his shoulder. "Good. Focus on absorbing the pills' energy. I'll check on the others."

He then moved slowly toward the rest of the group.

Song Ping watched the disciples wake one by one. "You're all awake? Perfect timing. You'll be able to receive your respective identity token from Chief Lu Chen."

The newly awakened cultivators rose slowly, some leaning against the steps due to severe injuries, their eyes fixed on the Serene Void Stele. "Has Senior Martial Brother Lu linked with the Earth Ocean Peak Pillar yet?"

"We've been here for quite some time. The handover of the chief disciple position has just finished," Song Ping said as he approached the Serene Void Stele again. "Lu Chen, let's start. Hand me the chief disciple identity token."

Lu Chen tossed the chief disciple's identity token to Song Ping and handed a Heaven Restoration Pill to each of the disciples who had woken up. "Alright. Do you need me to do anything?"

"Wait a moment. I need time to awaken the Serene Void Stele."

Song Ping placed the chief disciple's identity token onto the stone stele. A slot immediately appeared, swallowing the token.

"Ten more minutes should do," Song Ping said, then turned toward the residential area of the academy and called out. "All Serene Void Academy disciples, assemble at the plaza immediately!"

Shortly after his call, movement stirred in the residential, training, and entertainment areas. From above, it was clear that many were still not fully dressed. A few were even rushing forward with frying pans and brooms in hand.

A burly cook holding a half-cooked stir-fry charged first onto the plaza. "Senior Martial Brother Song, are we under attack? Why call us here so urgently?"

Song Ping tapped Song Xiao'er's forehead lightly. "Song Xiao'er, you're always so impatient. Didn't you hear the Earth Ocean Bell just now? This summons is for the identity tokens."

Song Xiao'er tossed the frying pan aside. "The Earth Ocean Bell? I was cooking. The noise was too loud; I didn't hear anything. What's going on? My current identity token is fine, I don't need a new one."

A cultivator rushing behind him carried a massive axe with half a log still lodged in its blade. "Xiao'er, the chief disciple position has already been handed over."

"The chief disciple position has been handed over? Is it Xiaolong or Fei Zhu?" Song Xiao'er pushed through the crowd and approached the stone stele. "Let me see who actually replaced Senior Martial Brother Song."

Song Xiao'er stared at the tablet for a long time. Puzzled, he muttered, "

Huh

, I don't recognize this person... doesn't seem like a disciple of the Serene Void Academy."

"Could it be a new disciple personally accepted by the lord? He doesn't look all that impressive," Song Xiao'er touched the stone stele. "He's only at level-one Qi Regulation Realm... He's weaker than me, a cook."

Oblivious to the sudden silence behind him, Song Xiao'er continued speaking to himself in front of the stone stele.

He glanced back. "Why is everyone so quiet? Don't you agree with me?"

All the Serene Void Academy's disciples lowered their heads and twitched nervously.

"Am I wrong? He's only at the first level of the Qi Regulation Realm. When I meet him, I'll challenge him and take over the chief disciple position for a few days for fun."

Song Ping, growing increasingly stern, slapped the back of Song Xiao'er's head. "Xiao'er, enough."

"Senior Martial Brother Song, why did you hit me?" Song Xiao'er rubbed his head. "I thought any disciple could take the chief disciple position by defeating the chief disciple?"

"

Ah...

no, that's wrong. To take the chief disciple position, you must first defeat the previous chief disciple," Song Xiao'er said, then stepped back nervously in front of the stone stele. "Could he really have beaten you at just the first level of Qi Regulation? No, something's off... it must be because he's a personal disciple of the lord."

Song Xiao'er retreated further. "Yes, it has to be that."

However, his expression said otherwise. Even he sensed that relying solely on being Jun Wudi's personal disciple wouldn't be enough for someone to become chief disciple.

The crowd behind Song Xiao'er watched him closely, stifling their laughter, and none intended to remind him of what was going on.

"

Huh...

Who's bumping into me? Trying to skip meals this month, huh?" Song Xiao'er sniffed the air. "

Hmm?

This smell... It's unfamiliar. Could it be someone new again?"

He turned around, eyes closed, speaking in a haughty tone. "Regardless of whether you're new or not, listen up. If you want a little extra meal at night, you have to flatter me, Song Xiao'er, got it?"

He puffed out his plump belly and pressed it against Lu Chen. "My family has been cooking for the sect for hundreds of years. Even Lord Jun always says my dishes are delicious."

Still getting no response, Song Xiao'er pushed his belly forward and opened his eyes to look at the person in front of him. "I am talking to you! Don't you have any manners? No answer? You look like the new Serene Void Academy's chief disciple... but you're too filthy! Shouldn't you clean yourself up?"

"We just got back from storming the mountain gate. We haven't had time to clean up yet. So you're Song Xiao'er? Nice name," Lu Chen said softly. "I've heard you're great at cooking. I've got a piece of Core Breakthrough Realm demonic beast meat. Want to try it?"

The moment Song Xiao'er realized Lu Chen was offering him a piece of Core Breakthrough Realm demonic beast meat, his face changed completely. "Core Breakthrough Realm demonic beast meat? Yes, yes, give it to me! Tonight, I'll make you a little extra meal!"

He sucked in his belly, stood politely in front of Lu Chen, and smiled. "You may resemble the Serene Void Academy's new chief disciple, but you really know how to be courteous. Your future's boundless!"

Lu Chen teased, "So, do you want to know who I am now? Weren't you just refusing to make me an extra meal?"

"Of course not! We're brothers! Brothers never refuse each other extra meals."

"See?" Song Xiao'er turned to the others, hoping for some response, but all he saw were suppressed laughs. "Why are you all laughing? Am I wrong? Isn't that what brothers do?"

As soon as he said that, Sun Xiaohu, Jun Xiaoma, and the rest couldn't hold it any longer. They clutched their stomachs and collapsed to the ground laughing.

Sun Xiaohu clutched his stomach and pointed at Lu Chen. "I'm dying here! Xiao'er, look at the person on the stele! Compare him to your so-called brother! Ah, I can't take it... my wound's about to burst!"

"What do you mean? I know my brothers! You laugh, and you won't get a bite of top-grade beast meat tonight," Song Xiao'er said, glancing repeatedly at the stele.

The more he studied the figure carved into the stone, the more it resembled the person standing before him. Humbled, he asked, "Brother... May I ask your name? And what's your cultivation level?"

"I'm Lu Chen, and I'm still in the Qi Regulation Realm," Lu Chen replied.

"Lu Chen? Qi Regulation Realm? That's..." Song Xiao'er touched Lu Chen's face to wipe away the blood. "Could it be..."

Lu Chen's lips curved into a faint smile, and a powerful aura radiated from him. "Take a look at the stele beside me. That one looks a bit better. And here's the Core Breakthrough Realm demonic beast meat for you."

Forgetting the flying beast meat entirely, Song Xiao'er rushed forward, dropped to his knees, and hugged Lu Chen's leg. "You really are the new chief! You're family! You finally came back! You have no idea how badly we've been eating and living here. My dear brother! I've missed you so much!"

The disciples of the Serene Void Academy laughed even harder at the scene. Except for Lu Chen and a few others, no one seemed surprised. Such antics were apparently common here.

Watching Song Xiao'er, Jun Laoye said, "You could already rival Little Jian in shamelessness. Xiao'er... could you two be long-lost brothers?"

"Get lost! I'm nothing like that!" Nantian Yijian punched Jun Laoye's chest. "I rely on myself. It's just that my brothers and sisters usually like to take care of me."

"Xiao'er, get up! It's your first time meeting the new chief, and you're already acting like this. What's wrong with you?" Song Ping said awkwardly, glancing at Lu Chen. "Lu Chen, believe me, he's not usually like this."

"

Hehe

, this is his true nature," Lu Chen patted Song Xiao'er's shoulder. "Since you like cooking, take this meat. And these lower-grade cuts as well. Tonight, we'll have a proper feast for the brothers."

"Alright! Thank you, Senior Martial Brother Lu!" Song Xiao'er eagerly accepted the demonic beast meat. "Senior Martial Brother Lu, just wait for my cooking. You'll be satisfied, for sure."

"Good. I'll look forward to the feast," Lu Chen said, rising and surveying the plaza.

All the Serene Void Academy's disciples were now fully assembled, standing in formation before the Serene Void Stele.