Chapter 95: I, Lu Chen, Will Never Let Myself Be Taken Advantage Of

"Don't say that. That'd help make you look even stronger, wouldn't it?"

Song Ping watched Lu Chen ready to strike and laughed awkwardly. "Save your strength for dealing with the others at the academy later."

Lu Chen sighed, a trace of helplessness in his tone. "

Ah...

after years of being clever and never losing, I never thought today I'd suffer such a crushing defeat."

"I've already joined the Godslayer Squad. I couldn't bear to see my junior brothers take a hit in the sect trials, so I had no choice but to resort to this plan," Song Ping explained.

He patted Lu Chen on the shoulder. "Consider this compensation for breaking my weapon. After this, we're even. I'm truly sorry. I know this responsibility was suddenly thrust onto you, and it's not easy to accept. But the chief token comes with its perks."

Seeing Lu Chen's upset expression, Song Ping felt a pang of guilt and hurried to offer reassurance. "All the resources in the Serene Void Academy, every single one, are yours to allocate."

At that, Lu Chen's lips curled into a cunning smile, but he quickly realized it wasn't appropriate and forced his expression back into seriousness. "Really? You should've told me earlier. I would've accepted it from the start. They're all mine? But if there aren't any resources, how am I supposed to allocate them?"

"No, that's not what I meant. As chief disciple of the Serene Void Academy, you'll have additional resources."

Noticing Lu Chen's confused expression, Song Ping decided to share some additional information. "For instance, you'll get a grotto mansion near the Heavenly Pool Lake, as well as monthly quotas of spirit stones, spirit liquid, medicinal herbs, and pills. There's also the sect's Scripture Hall, where any non-confidential manuals are yours to read freely."

Lu Chen was already very tempted by the thought of having a dedicated grotto mansion and monthly pill allocations. When he heard about unrestricted access to the Scripture Hall, his excitement nearly spilled over. "The Scripture Hall? Well... since it's come to this, I guess I have no choice but to accept it."

His purpose for this trip was to study the recent manuals in the Scripture Hall, to help himself and his group of old-timers catch up on the developments the cultivation world had gone through in recent years.[1]

Now, Song Ping not only had personally handed him this opportunity, but he was practically begging him to take it.

Lu Chen could barely contain his smile, pinching the back of his hand to calm himself.

"Senior Martial Brother Lu, what's wrong?"

Seeing Lu Chen's twisted expression, Song Ping assumed he was still displeased. "There's still plenty I haven't mentioned. During challenge matches, the chief disciple of the Serene Void Academy can even seize resources from other academies. In the six major academies, power rules above all. As long as you're strong, you can take their resources without the main peaks complaining."

Lu Chen struggled to hold back his laughter. He faked a sigh, then He set down the Hunyuan Greatsword and feigned reluctance. "

Ah...

fine. We're brothers, after all. I'll take the position. If it comes to it, I'll reclaim all their resources."

"Yes, yes. Your cultivation may not be the highest, but with you and Second Young Master's talent, a period of training in the academy will surely net you even more resources."

Hearing Lu Chen's tone soften, Song Ping quickly followed up, careful not to give him room for second thoughts. "Our academy may be small, but it has its advantages. For one, we're united. Unlike other academies riddled with factions and infighting, ours is harmonious."

Lu Chen shot him a sideways glance. "In other words, you're just a bunch of people who got bullied into sticking together."

"

Hehe

, that's right, Brother Lu. But enduring long-term bullying also provides cultivators with the greatest benefits."

Song Ping began regretting bringing Lu Chen into this. The man could find fault in even a single sentence, and it was becoming clear he wasn't someone to take advantage of.

"It's not that our people lack talent. They've simply never had enough resources. Being repeatedly robbed widened the gap between us and the other academies, leaving us suppressed."

"You're right," Lu Chen said. Having endured endless jeers since childhood, he understood how much a cultivator's mental state could affect their growth.

Clasping his hands behind his back, he struck a mock-righteous pose. "A strong mindset is good. I'll help them secure more resources."

Song Ping smiled awkwardly, realizing he had fallen into Lu Chen's reasoning more than once.

Not wanting to continue the conversation, he pressed his head against the Frost Dragon's skull again, gently stroking it.

Once everything was done, light began to radiate around Song Ping, and a faint circle appeared under his feet.

He turned to Lu Chen. "The formation is almost done. I'm off to reforge the Ice Soul Spear. From now on, the Serene Void Academy will be in your hands."

Lu Chen's tone softened, tinged with satisfaction. "Alright, Brother Song. Leave it to me. We're brothers. I'll take care of everyone."

"Good, Brother Lu."

Cold sweat ran down Song Ping's face as he led the Frost Dragon to the center of the arena, keeping as much distance from Lu Chen as possible.

Song Ping bowed to Lu Chen. "Brother Lu, take care of the junior disciples for me. Once my Ice Soul Spear is reforged, I'll come find you for a drink."

"Alright, Brother Song, I'll be waiting," Lu Chen replied.

Seeing that the formation was ready, Lu Chen cupped his hands toward Song Ping. Just then, he remembered the beads formed from his cold spirit qi and called out, "Brother Song, there's a bottle of pills made from cold spirit qi in your sleeves. I'm not sure of their grade, but they'll definitely be useful to you!"

Unfortunately, his reminder came a moment too late. Before Song Ping could respond, a transparent blue circle appeared beneath him and the Frost Dragon, slowly starting to spin.

At each of the four cardinal points stood three Godslayer Squad cultivators, swiftly forming hand seals and channeling their spirit qi into the formation.

After three minutes of spirit qi infusion, the circle suddenly expanded to a radius of twenty zhang.

"Little Lu, step back. We're starting," Jun Wudi called, gesturing for Lu Chen to back away before drawing a symbol in the air with his right hand.

"Spirit Lock Formation, activate."

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

An ice blue spear projection appeared in midair. The circle on the ground seemed drawn to it, rising and merging with the spear. Together, they gradually formed a confinement symbol, with the spear at the center and the circle forming its outline.

This was the first time Lu Chen had witnessed a formation being set up. He watched with curiosity as it gradually formed in the sky.

Its aura only bore a faint resemblance to the Innate Bagua Diagram. But on closer inspection, Lu Chen noticed they were completely different.

Jun Wudi pointed at the formation and shouted, "Spirit Lock Formation, Bind!"

Dozens of lightning bolts shot out from the confinement symbol, twisting into chains that surged through the air toward the Frost Dragon.

The dragon, still circling lazily beside Song Ping, instantly sensed the threat.

It let out a long, piercing cry, "

Roar!

"

It snatched up Song Ping and tried to flee the crackling chains.

The first strike failed to catch it. Jun Wudi's spirit qi surged again, sending a second wave of over fifty lightning chains, but the Frost Dragon's speed still outpaced them.

Seeing the attack fail once more, Jun Wudi urged the squad on. "Boss Wang, have the brothers pour in more spirit qi, but don't harm the Frost Dragon!"

At the same time, he formed even more intricate seals with his hands.

Boss Wang nodded. "Understood, my lord!"

He shouted to the others nearby, "Brothers, let's give it all we've got! It'll work soon."

The twelve cultivators of the squad increased their spirit qi output, and the confinement formation doubled in size, enveloping the entire cabin.

The spectators around the arena stepped back to avoid disturbing the flow of the formation.

Jun Wudi soared into the sky, thrusting both hands forward to control the formation. "Activate."

Nearly a hundred lightning chains shot out, streaking toward the Frost Dragon from all directions and cutting off every possible escape route.

The Frost Dragon raised its head toward Jun Wudi, letting out a sorrowful roar. With no other choice, it retreated to the center of the arena with Song Ping, curling its body tightly around him in a protective embrace.

Watching the dragon's movements, Lu Chen immediately understood why Song Ping had fallen into madness when the Ice Soul Spear shattered.

He exhaled softly, channeling a trace of spirit qi between his fingers. The formation beneath him pulsed. "This is all I can do. I hope it eases your burden a little."

A small stream of Song Ping's Yang Purifying Water seeped onto the Frost Dragon, soothing its tension and shielding a fragment of its core.

Just as Lu Chen finished, hundreds of lightning bolts rained down on the dragon.

Determined not to let Song Ping be harmed, the Frost Dragon endured the electric chains, struggling in pain but keeping Song Ping safe beneath its body.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Song Ping said, standing and gently patting the dragon's head. "Don't resist. They're helping me. We'll be together soon."

The dragon understood what Song Ping said. It slowly ceased its struggle and no longer resisted the lightning.

Just then, the bottle Lu Chen had placed in Song Ping's sleeves slipped through a gap, falling to the ground and shattering. Three beads of cold spirit qi rolled free, dissolving into mist the moment they touched the charged air.

An observant cultivator immediately noticed the icy vapor on the arena floor. "What's that? It came out of Senior Martial Brother Song's sleeves!"

"It seems like some kind of pill, but also like a weapon," another remarked.

"Could it have a negative effect? Senior Martial Brother Song looks uncomfortable."

"Probably not. He hasn't called for help. The lord must have entrusted that to him."

Jun Wudi sensed the energy lingering in the air. "That aura... It's familiar."

He glanced at Nantian Wan'er. "Wan'er, you have this energy as well, don't you?"

Knowing their secret could stir unwanted attention, Wan'er replied vaguely, "Lu-gege gave it to him. We obtained it in the secret realm."

She understood that the way she and Lu Chen were connected could not be revealed.

Jun Wudi looked over at Lu Chen. Seeing his calm expression, he eased. "Good. As long as it's not from an enemy."

1. The old-timers here refer to Feng Tiancheng, Wind Dragon, Bai Ze, and the others who have remained in the secret realm for a long time. ☜