When Mo Qi lectured, he not only explained cultivation techniques and theories but also shared his insights and the troubles and obstacles he had encountered during his own cultivation journey.
A few people were still unconvinced. As class was about to end, someone said, "Teacher, you're just talking a lot of nonsense. What's the use of talking about the sky? Do you even know how to do it?"
"How could I not? Teacher Mo defeated Li Sanlang of the Heavenly Academy with this move back then," someone whispered.
"Wow!" a gasp came from below. "So he's that famous Mo Xin!"
"He single-handedly won four matches, turning the tide and changing the Heavenly Academy's eight-hundred-year losing streak. It became a celebrated tale. I never expected him to become our teacher."
"Teacher, do you have a Dao companion?" a female student suddenly stood up and asked.
Mo Qi frowned, feeling a bead of sweat.
A charming figure stood up and scanned the crowd. "Don't get any wild ideas. Teacher already has a Dao companion."
Mo Qi looked and saw it was Murong Yanran.
This little girl had actually enrolled in the Heavenly Academy. He hadn't noticed her just now.
Xue Ying was startled. Had her infatuation become so severe it was incurable?
Mo Qi nodded. "Yes, I do."
Murong Yanran thought he was referring to her and sat down with satisfaction, her face beaming with happiness.
"Alas!" sighs echoed from all around. The female student also sat down with a dejected expression.
At everyone's strong request, Mo Qi led all the students to an open space outside the academy and demonstrated the Sun-Chasing Star-Plucking Art.
Seeing the power of the Sun-Chasing Star-Plucking Art would give them stronger motivation to learn it.
When the fiery red expanse resembled a setting sun flowing like a river, and countless stars sprinkled down upon the human world, everyone was utterly shocked, exclaiming that their trip to the Heavenly Academy was not in vain.
"I've never seen such a powerful descending spell."
Many people looked at Mo Qi with infatuated eyes.
Under everyone's gaze, Mo Qi announced the end of class and turned to walk towards his dormitory.
As he was about to enter, he casually glanced back and noticed someone following him.
It was Murong Yanran!
Murong Yanran was looking at him and smiling, a brilliant smile.
Mo Qi frowned. Since she had come, he couldn't possibly not let her in.
He left the door open and walked in first.
Murong Yanran followed in with perfect understanding.
"Do you need something from me?" Mo Qi asked Murong Yanran, who had just entered, as he sat on a chair.
Unexpectedly, Murong Yanran's expression turned somewhat solemn. "I've come to ask you for two things."
Mo Qi's frown, which had just relaxed, returned.
It was one thing to ask for a favor, but two!
"Tell me first," Mo Qi said calmly.
Murong Yanran said slowly, "My uncle, Murong Huo, had his cultivation crippled by you during your last fight. He is very distressed and desperate now, sighing all day and filled with disappointment and despair for the future. You are so skilled at alchemy, could you refine a pill to restore his cultivation?"
"Your uncle sought enmity with me by sticking his neck out for others," Mo Qi said slowly. "If he can let go of his grudges, I can naturally help him recover his cultivation."
Murong Yanran was overjoyed. "Of course, he let go of it long ago. He even wishes us a long and happy life together."
Mo Qi rolled his eyes. She really knew how to twist things!
Regardless, it was better to resolve enmity than to create it.
Losing all his cultivation must have damaged his dantian. He would try refining a Yuan Restoration Pill for him.
"I can," Mo Qi nodded. "Now, tell me the second thing."
Murong Yanran hesitated and stammered, "It's about my uncle, Murong Shui. You know, he recently lost his beloved son. He likes you so much, do you think you could agree to his request and acknowledge him as your godfather? He's so pitiful right now!"
As Mo Qi was still hesitating and thinking, she continued in a low voice, "Besides, he also said this wouldn't conflict with our relationship."
As she said this, her face flushed red, all the way to her ears.
Mo Qi had wanted to pour cold water on her, saying things like "don't be self-indulgent and embarrass yourself," but seeing her expression, he couldn't bring himself to be harsh.
"This can also be done," Mo Qi said.
After saying it, he was startled himself. How could he have agreed so easily?
Had his head been squeezed by the door?
"Then when are you free? If you're going to acknowledge him as your godfather, you must come to my house, or rather, you must go home," Murong Yanran said earnestly again.
"Tomorrow," Mo Qi said.
Murong Yanran left, beaming with joy.
The next day, Mo Qi went to the academy's alchemy room and found Lu Qiaozhi. His excitement was beyond words. He immediately gathered the other materials and refined a furnace of Fire Spirit Pills, then refined several pills to restore Murong Huo's cultivation – Yuan Restoration Pills.
Seeing that it was still early, Mo Qi locked himself in his room and continued cultivating the Sun-Chasing Art. This time, after several cycles of circulation, the fire spiritual power within his body slowly began to change color, like green leaves gradually being dyed golden yellow by the autumn wind.
Mo Qi couldn't suppress his inner joy and continued to circulate his spiritual power. The sea of his soul rose and fell, spiritual power circulating, repeating itself.
The crimson flame gradually transformed into a pale purple true fire.
After completing his breakthrough, he went to visit Dugu Jun.
Dugu Jun was still in the same dormitory, doing nothing all day.
Dugu Sheng had found several opportunities for him to train, but he refused them all. He just wanted to stay in the academy, and he didn't like pursuing female cultivators. He only liked to bury his head in books, a truly peculiar person.
Mo Qi went to see him primarily to borrow the Thousand Visages Mask.
Bringing this item with him on the mission to the Southern Sea of the Primordial Chaos would make many things more convenient.
It wasn't just a mask; it also had the function of concealing spiritual power. Once worn, others wouldn't be able to discern one's true cultivation at a glance.
Dugu Jun had always regarded this item as a treasure, and borrowing it meant he didn't know when he would get it back. Mo Qi didn't have much hope and was just going to try.
Unexpectedly, after much hesitation, Dugu Jun actually agreed and lent the Thousand Visages Mask to Mo Qi.
He even made a gesture with a delicate finger, "You rascal, if you don't return it to me, I'll make you pay."
Mo Qi, startled, quickly said repeatedly, "I'll definitely return it! I'll definitely return it!"
Then he fled in embarrassment.
That evening, at the Murong family's residence, the entire family had gathered.
Murong Huo had specifically rushed back from the front lines for this matter, leaving the lord to temporarily manage his military camp for the fifth time.
The Old Ancestor had also arrived.
The Old Ancestor was very happy. Looking at Mo Qi and Murong Yanran standing together, he exclaimed, "They are truly a golden couple!"
When Mo Qi entered, he had already given the Yuan Restoration Pill to Murong Huo.
After Murong Huo took it, he felt something surging and churning within him and returned to his room to digest it on his own.
Then came the main event of the evening.
In the presence of the Murong family members.
Mo Qi served tea to Murong Shui, performed the kowtow ritual, and called out, "Godfather!"
Murong Shui's eyes welled up with tears.
Mo Qi agreed to acknowledge Murong Shui as his godfather primarily for four reasons.
First, in terms of character, Murong Shui was impeccable. Even with his head torn open, he had argued logically and fought Mo Qi to the bitter end.
Second, the Murong family's ethos was truly admirable. Under Murong Shui's governance, it had fully displayed the demeanor of a prominent family, with rules and order, everything being neat and tidy.
Third, he felt responsible for the death of Murong Jing. The massacre that occurred that day was ultimately caused by him. If he hadn't been so cynical and had ignored the Song family's deceit, the Song family wouldn't have been enraged and retaliated with such ferocity, and Murong Jing wouldn't have died. Therefore, deep down, he felt he owed Murong Shui.
Fourth, it was good to have a strong backing. With the Murong family as a pillar of support, if anyone were to cause trouble in the Qionglu Realm in the future, they would have to think twice. He would no longer be like before, relying solely on his fists to make his way wherever he went.
After the ceremony, Mo Qi wanted to leave but was kept behind to dine, and was forcefully seated next to Murong Yanran.
Everyone in the Murong family was very enthusiastic. Xiao Ruonan was particularly excited, her eyes shining as she looked at Mo Qi. Seeing Murong Yanran acting shy, she couldn't help but push her closer to Mo Qi. "Sit closer. Why are you sitting so far apart? You're not strangers."
Murong Yanran became even more embarrassed, lowering her head and saying playfully, "Mother!"
Murong Yanran had an elder sister, Murong Xinran, who was married. She had returned with her husband, Ju Wenchang, today.
Upon hearing this, she also said, "Don't be shy. You've already paid respects in the ancestral hall, what's there to be shy about?"
Murong Yanran's face turned crimson. She glanced at Mo Qi nervously, then turned to Murong Xinran and said, "Sister, don't talk nonsense. I actually approved of that ceremony back then, but..."
Mo Qi coughed dryly and immediately changed the subject. "Sister, your hair seems a bit yellowish. I have a Black Hair Pill that can make your hair dark, shiny, and smooth. Would you like to try one?"
"Yes, try it for me," Murong Xinran said immediately, her eyes lighting up.
Mo Qi took a Black Hair Pill from his storage bag and gave it to her. Murong Xinran swallowed it without hesitation.
Ju Wenchang, a low-ranking soldier in the fourth tier, felt a bit displeased seeing Mo Qi interacting intimately with his wife. He remained silent for a long time, finally unable to resist asking, "I heard you're still a student at the Heavenly Academy. How are your studies going? Have you earned enough credits?"
Mo Qi nodded. "Enough, enough."
Ju Wenchang said somewhat arrogantly, "If you have enough credits, you should train well and strive to enter the first tier. After entering the first tier, work hard, observe and learn, and humbly seek advice. One day, you can be promoted to the second tier, or even to our fourth tier."
Mo Qi nodded humbly. "Yes, Brother, you are right. I have learned a lot."
Murong Yanran, however, said at an inopportune moment, "Brother-in-law, Uncle returned today and told me that my husband will be appointed as a lord in the fourth tier in a couple of days."
Everyone was stunned. Even Mo Qi was shocked. This seemingly carefree girl was probably keeping track of his every move.
Murong Shui, sitting at another table, heard Murong Yanran's voice and pretended not to hear. He felt it was inappropriate to say it at this moment; it was like directly slapping someone in the face! You don't hit someone in the face!