Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Zhang Xiaoxuan Never Causes Trouble
At this moment, the teachers had completed guiding, and the numerous students, both on and off stage, queued to move forward.
Source Pool Mountain, though called a mountain, was actually just a moderately-sized rock that, as the students walked past, would occasionally emit yellow and green lights. The ones that could emit red light were few and far between.
Many of the students hoped that they would be the “genius” the dean was looking for, but upon seeing the disappointed looks of the dean and others, they realized that they did not qualify…
“Xue’er, do you think… the genius that the dean is looking for could be you?” Yu Xiaoyu suddenly said.
“Impossible!”
Mo Yanxue shook her head, “During this evaluation, I didn’t successfully forge even a single Yuan Power, if it really were me, the dean would have mentioned it when he asked just now…”
“That’s true!”
Yu Xiaoyu nodded, her face full of expectancy, “Someone with even more talent than you and me, I really want to know who it is. I must get to know such a person!”
“Indeed!”
Mo Yanxue nodded, “To get acquainted with such a person would be an immense fortune.”
After expressing her sentiment, she looked again toward the coachman not far away… Her beautiful brows furrowed once more.
One with obvious talent, yet so understated as to not acknowledge it, content in obscurity;
One given the opportunity to practice, yet abandoned it just for a hundred Origin Currency… Why is there such a big gap between people?
“It’s our turn!”
Soon, when it was their turn, Mo Yanxue briskly walked towards Source Pool Mountain and immediately a pale red light shone out.
Although it wasn’t the deep red it could have been, it still showed that her Source Pool was more robust than that of the average person, marking her as a genius in some sense.
Right after, Yu Xiaoyu went forward, and a pale red light appeared just the same.
“Who is this? He seems a bit old…”
Following the two of them, just as Zhang Xuan was about to walk forward, he heard a teacher’s rebuke.
Students coming for the evaluation were all sixteen or seventeen years old; this fellow looked to be in his twenties, clearly not meeting the requirements.
“He is my servant. The deputy dean said everyone should be tested, so I brought him along,” Mo Yanxue explained.
“A servant need not waste an opportunity!”
The teacher in charge scoffed coldly, “Move aside, will you?”
“Yes!” Zhang Xuan nodded his head.
To be honest, since he hadn’t opened his Source Pool, it didn’t matter to him whether he was tested or not. Just as he was about to move aside, he heard a voice rise.
“Let him test it out!”
Dean Lu Mingrong’s profound gaze fell upon him.
“Yes!”
With the dean’s order, the teacher didn’t dare hesitate and beckoned, “Go ahead!”
Zhang Xuan stepped toward Source Pool Mountain and, upon entering, immediately felt a gentle force penetrate his body, frantically coursing through his meridians, as if searching for something.
He didn’t resist, letting it roam, while he looked down at the rock beneath his feet.
The rock was a slate gray, with not a hint of light shining through.
“As expected, it doesn’t light up…” Zhang Xuan shook his head.
It had to be said, this thing was quite accurate.
He had just been wondering if, by any chance, the dean was looking for him. Now, it seemed he had thought too much… Having not opened his Source Pool, he was just a waste who couldn’t cultivate, hardly worth the trouble of so many people.
“You may step down!”
The teacher wasn’t surprised either, looking at him with disdain and waving him away.
Zhang Xuan walked away, but he didn’t notice the breath that had penetrated his body was still blindly rampaging inside, seemingly a bit lost…
Dean Lu Mingrong, having witnessed this scene, was filled with disappointment.
With this servant’s test finished, the students had almost all left, and yet, the genius had still not appeared…
It was at this moment that he felt for the first time that a student who keeps too low a profile can sometimes be quite a headache!
“Let’s go!”
Seeing that the dean and others weren’t looking for them, Mo Yanxue and the rest felt a tinge of disappointment and turned to head towards the school gates. Although they hadn’t completed their evaluation today, they nevertheless honed their skills and figured they would have an easier time if they came back tomorrow.
Yu Feng, being a student of the academy already, naturally couldn’t leave with them, so he waved goodbye to everyone.
By this time, all the newcomers who had come for the assessment had learned about the dean’s search for a prodigy, and they were all rubbing their hands together in anticipation, planning to put on a good show to catch his favor.
“I must forge the Heavenly Mandate Vitality well tomorrow, and strive to make a name for myself in one strike!”
Yu Xiaoyu also clenched her tiny fists, vowing a bold oath, and as she spoke, she thought of something, “If I could borrow dad’s Cultivation Room for a night, I’m sure to stand out tomorrow!”
Others might not know, but as his daughter, she was well aware that the city lord had built a special silent chamber above the Book Collection Vault for his own use. Practicing there not only made it easier to concentrate but also enhanced control over one’s strength. If she adjusted herself there overnight, her absorption of the Heavenly Mandate Vitality tomorrow would surely be much more efficient.
“It’s just… the old master treats that room like a treasure. It’s usually off-limits even just to look at it, let alone practice… Oh right!”
A sudden idea brightened Yu Xiaoyu’s eyes, “If I can help him submit that Cangbai Eagle, he would definitely agree!”
The Cangbai Eagle was a creature that her father had spent who knows how long to capture and had been trying to tame for over half a month without success. If she could be of assistance, surely he would agree to anything.
“Hehe…”
With a slight smile, Yu Xiaoyu jingled the bell on her body and approached Mo Yanxue, “Yanxue, you said you’d lend me that coachman…”
Mo Yanxue frowned and looked over.
“What, you’re going back on your word?”
Yu Xiaoyu nodded, “Just for one day, I’ll return him tomorrow, alright?”
Her adorable face, combined with her coquettish voice, even made Mo Yanxue feel somewhat exasperated.
“Alright, alright!” Nodding her head, Mo Yanxue turned to Zhang Xuan, “Zhang Xuan, follow Miss Yu in a bit, obey all her commands, and don’t cause any trouble.”
“To answer Miss Mo, I’ve always kept a low profile and never caused trouble!” Zhang Xuan nodded.
He was just seized and taken to Mo Mansion, without any deed of sale to his name, so he could leave whenever he wanted… Of course, he hadn’t started practicing yet and his injuries hadn’t fully healed, so it was best not to offend these people; otherwise, trouble would surely follow.
As always, staying low-key was the top priority.
Moreover, after spending some time around her, he had noticed that Miss Mo, though she seemed cold and strict, wasn’t really bad. Since his body hadn’t fully recovered, relying on the Mo Family for protection could ensure his safety. Most importantly, leaving Mo Mansion legitimately was the only way to gain an identity. Otherwise, even if he left, he would just be among the refugees and would end up captured by someone sooner or later.
Pleased with his response, Mo Yanxue nodded in satisfaction.
This young coachman was quite stable and had tamed the Suxiang without seeking any credit for it; indeed, he was very low-profile, which was exactly why she appreciated him.
“Great, let’s go now…”
Anxious that her friend might change her mind, Yu Xiaoyu immediately leapt up, tugged on Zhang Xuan’s sleeve, and headed towards the carriage outside the school.
Zhang Xuan, looking quite embarrassed, gave Mo Yanxue a cupped-hand salute to bid farewell.
“That girl, always so wild and crazy every day…”
Shaking her head, Mo Yanxue turned and walked towards where the Suxiang was parked.
This horse had performed so admirably this time, providing her with a great boost in prestige, and she planned to reward it well once back home.
Before she could approach, she saw the butler Feng Jin approaching her with an anxious and trembling corpulence, “Miss, have you finished your… evaluation?”
“Yes!”
Mo Yanxue nodded without expression, “Bring Suxiang over to me.”
“This…,”
Feng Jin’s eyelids twitched and with a “thump,” he knelt on the ground, “Miss Mo… the Suxiang, it has… it’s been…”
“What happened to it?”
Mo Yanxue asked.
Clenching his teeth, Feng Jin said, “It’s been, it’s been hurt by Zhang Xuan!”
“What happened? Explain it to me clearly!”
Mo Yanxue’s face changed and her fine eyebrows suddenly stood on end.