Chapter 624: Meeting Gift

Hearing their conversation, Xing Yuan on the side felt dizzy.

The guy that Princess Fei'er encountered was despicable and shameless, that made sense. But who was the one Luo Qiqi met, to make her admire him so much?

Even... this was no longer admiration, but infatuation!

Despicable and shameless? What did he do to make you say that?

Luo Qiqi asked.

He... he was utterly shameless...

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, so Princess Fei'er recounted what had happened earlier.

He wanted you to be his maidservant?

After hearing her story, Luo Qiqi's mouth fell open in disbelief.

Who was this before her?

The Sixth Princess of the Hongyuan Empire, the apple of the Emperor's eye, and Xing Yuan over there, who pursued her daily without daring to say a harsh word... yet someone dared to make her a maidservant...

What audacity!

Besides, even if you took her as a maidservant, were you sure you could command her?

With a slight smile, she shook her head: "Actually, I think this person is quite impressive. To infuriate our willful Princess Fei'er like this without her daring to talk back, he must be extremely capable!"

"You..." Princess Fei'er pouted: "You're just gloating, aren't you? By the way, what about that person you mentioned?"

"Oh, today I went to the Alchemist Guild..."

Luo Qiqi didn't hide anything and recounted in detail what had happened that day.

"Just by watching you refine pills, he casually pointed out over a hundred flaws? He guided you in alchemy and you produced a sixth-grade pill... And he's only twenty years old? That's too amazing, right?"

After hearing her friend's story, Princess Fei'er's eyes went wide.

Luo Qiqi was her good friend and a renowned alchemy master throughout the entire Master Teacher Academy, consistently ranking in the top few in every alchemy academy competition. Yet such a person had been pointed out over a hundred flaws in one go!

How skilled must this person be?

Not just her, even she herself couldn't help but want to become his disciple.

"Yes, in all my years of cultivation, I've never admired anyone, but Teacher Zhang is the one I respect most!"

Thinking of the young man's confident face and handsome demeanor, Luo Qiqi couldn't help but curl her lips, unable to contain herself.

"Mm, hearing you say that, I'm starting to admire him too. When you see Teacher Zhang again, you must bring me along to meet him. I also want to learn alchemy from him!"

Princess Fei'er said.

"Alright, and next time you see that guy, bring me along too. I want to see who dares to take our Princess Fei'er as a maidservant. If he doesn't have the skill, I'll help you beat him until he can't find north or south!"

"Mm!"

The two exchanged knowing smiles, their sisterly bond deep.

"Ahem, ladies, Crown Prince Ye Qian has specially prepared a banquet for us and invited us to meet the geniuses from the Huanyu Empire. We already agreed earlier. Should we go take a look now?"

Seeing the two women getting more and more cheerful and forgetting to return, Xing Yuan couldn't help but speak up.

"Oh, right, there's the banquet!"

Luo Qiqi suddenly remembered: "We definitely have to go, but we need to freshen up and change clothes first!"

"Alright, if you're going, I'll go too!" Seeing her friend going, Princess Fei'er also nodded.

After chatting with her for a while, her mood had improved, not as depressed as before. Attending a banquet was no big deal.

"..."

Hearing that they needed to freshen up and change clothes, Xing Yuan slapped his forehead, feeling utterly hopeless.

Women changing clothes was definitely the most troublesome thing. It seemed uncertain whether they would even make it to the banquet...

...

"The Crown Prince arrives!"

While Xing Yuan was full of helplessness, Crown Prince Ye Qian strode into the banquet hall.

"Your Highness!"

Seeing him arrive, Hong Shi and the others all stood up and cupped their fists.

"No need to stand on ceremony!"

Greeting them, Ye Qian walked to the host seat and looked at the young man sitting to one side, smiling: "Senior Wu Zhen!"

"Mm."

Wu Zhen responded: "Where are Xing Yuan and the others?"

"Senior, they'll be here shortly," Ye Qian said.

"Oh."

Wu Zhen nodded and said no more.

Seeing he had nothing to add, Ye Qian knew the guest should follow the host's arrangements, so he looked around: "Today, the purpose of inviting you all here, I think I don't need to elaborate—you all know it."

"We know!"

"We understand!"

Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and the others nodded.

"Good, since you know, let me first introduce you. This is Senior Wu Zhen, a second-year student at Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, a five-star lower-grade master teacher."

Ye Qian introduced.

Wu Zhen didn't stand up, just nodded to everyone.

As a top student from the Master Teacher Academy, he indeed had such pride.

"Five-star lower-grade?"

Hearing the introduction, Zhang Xuan looked questioningly at Hong Shi beside him.

Weren't master teachers divided into initial, mid, late, and peak? What did lower-grade mean?

"Once a master teacher reaches five-star, progress becomes increasingly difficult," Hong Shi transmitted.

"Mm," Zhang Xuan nodded.

Stepping into five-star master teacher meant entering the upper echelons of the continent. Not only did cultivation become harder, but grade advancement also became more difficult.

"Therefore, to better distinguish levels, starting from five-star, master teachers are divided into three grades: lower, upper, and perfection."

Hong Shi said: "This also corresponds to cultivation. For example, I am currently at the sixth level of Mortal Transcendence, known as five-star lower-grade. When I reach the seventh level, I'll be upper-grade; the eighth level, perfection. Of course, as cultivation improves, insight and knowledge must also increase, otherwise, one wouldn't be worthy of these grade divisions."

Zhang Xuan understood.

After entering the Mortal Transcendence realm, generally one master teacher grade corresponds to three minor cultivation levels.

For example, to become a four-star master teacher, one must have cultivation at Mortal Transcendence second level or above.

The second, third, and fourth levels all correspond to four-star master teachers, while the fifth level, the Harmonious Spirit realm, could be considered half-step five-star.

Reaching the sixth level meant becoming a true five-star master teacher.

Of course, to become five-star, cultivation was only one requirement; one also needed to pass an assessment.

"Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy is divided into grades according to these divisions. Most of you new students are at four-star peak or half-step five-star, which is first year. Becoming a true five-star master teacher means second year; five-star upper-grade means third year, and so on."

Hong Shi continued transmitting: "Hongyuan Academy has a total of six grades, meaning even if you reach six-star master teacher, you're still a student."

"A six-star master teacher as a student?"

Zhang Xuan's eyes went wide.

As expected of a Master Teacher Academy, it was indeed powerful!

One could foresee that there were countless master teachers there, and so-called geniuses were everywhere.

Originally, he had little interest in this academy, but hearing this introduction, he actually felt some anticipation.

With so many master teachers gathered, perhaps... he could find a way to resolve the innate fetal poison! Even if he couldn't, studying with so many master teachers would surely allow his own grade to increase rapidly.

It would be far better than fumbling on his own.

"We've long heard of Teacher Wu's reputation. Even in the second year of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, you rank among the top. I, Luo Zhao of the Qianfeng Empire, am honored to meet you!"

Hearing the Crown Prince's introduction, Luo Zhao stood up with a smile: "As the host, how could I come empty-handed for a first meeting... Some time ago, while on a training journey, I happened to obtain a few [Sangque Seeds] in the Xisang region. I present them to Teacher Wu and the friends from Hongyuan Academy as a small token of appreciation!"

With that, he flipped his wrist, and a string of bright red, lotus-seed-like objects floated slowly toward Wu Zhen on the stage, carried by his true energy.

"Sangque Seeds? The supreme spiritual items that only grow near the nests of the eighth-level Mortal Transcendence spirit beast, Tianque? It's said that consuming them clears the mind and greatly aids in increasing a master teacher's state of mind... Giving away several at once—what a valuable gift!"

"Impressive! This is a good thing..."

"As expected of the head of the Qianfeng Empire Master Teacher Hall—his generosity is extraordinary..."

...

Seeing what he had brought out, the crowd was astonished, their eyes full of fervor.

Even Zhang Xuan and Hong Shi exchanged glances, frowning.

Sangque Seeds were remarkable treasures, their value not inferior to that Luoshe Inner Core. Giving several away at once showed that Luo Zhao had prepared well in advance.

"This guy didn't tell the truth..."

With a grim expression, Hong Shi clenched his fists.

When they had gone to cause trouble during the day, although the other party had mentioned the four people Crown Prince Ye Qian had invited, he hadn't said anything else. Hong Shi had thought he really didn't know anything, but it turned out... he had secretly prepared gifts all along!

Gaining the first move meant gaining every move. Now, even if he wanted to find something, it was too late.

"Sangque Seeds? This is a good thing. On behalf of the Sixth Princess and the others, I'll accept them ungraciously!"

Seeing the items flying over, Wu Zhen's eyes also lit up. He grabbed with his hand and collected them into his palm.

A look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

These items were very rare; even in the Hongyuan Empire, obtaining them was quite troublesome.

"Teacher Luo has prepared a gift, so how can we of the Zhuyue Empire fall behind? This is a [Star Moon Bodhi] I found at the bottom of the Wuling River after ten days and ten nights of searching. I also present it to Teacher Wu, hoping you'll accept it!"

With a flick of his finger, four pearl-like objects floated over, shimmering with a warm, lustrous glow.

"Star Moon Bodhi? It's the seed of the Star Moon Tree, which produces only one every thousand years, condensed from the essence of stars and the moon. The power contained within is no less than that of a seventh-level Mortal Transcendence peak spirit beast's inner core. Rubbing it often during cultivation can help one sense the stars and broaden the mind, making it more vast and boundless!"

"Its value is comparable to that of the Sangque Seeds!"

"Not just comparable, it might even surpass them. It seems Teacher Chen was also well-prepared!"

"They've all brought out such good things. What will Teacher Hong do?"

Seeing Chen Yue also produce such a precious treasure, Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai exchanged glances, their brows furrowed deeply.

It seemed the earlier verbal provocations were just an appetizer; the real killing move was here. Now that the others had presented treasures, what would Hong Shi do?

Just as they were worrying, they saw Feng Yu, whose face was still swollen, also take out a treasure and hand it over, its value no less than the previous two.

"Heh, Teacher Hong, this is our first meeting. We've all shown our sincerity. What about yours?"

After the others had presented their gifts, Luo Zhao smiled lightly and looked over.

Swish!

Everyone's gaze focused on him.