Chapter 931: Deadly Sea of Trees
Translator: Lordbluefire
The thing that Lu Jian was worried the most about ended up happening. Moreover, it was worse off than his expectations.
After Sun Mo completed the spirit runes and more spirit qi tornados appeared, everyone’s gazes landed on Lu Jian.
This was the strongest evidence.
This Lu Jian had forged a spirit rune, claiming that it was something he had discovered in the darkness ruins and wanting Sun Mo to decipher it. This was too sinister of him.
Ordinary great teachers and students were surprised by how amazing Sun Mo was. However, the teachers and students who majored in the study of spirit runes were mindblown.
How strong must Sun Mo, no, Ancestor Sun be, to be able to see through Lu Jian’s scheme in merely half an hour? Moreover, he had also completed the spirit rune.
.
The dew spirit rune and spirit gathering rune were still alright. After all, they were simple. However, the third one was clearly an incomplete spirit rune that had been dug out from a darkness ruin. To think that Ancestor Sun could even patch it up…
This… this was extremely outstanding!
At that moment, over 10,000 favorable impression points were contributed.
Sun Mo completed the spirit rune, sized it up for a little, and then asked Lu Jian, “Do you want to check it?”
Lu Jian’s face instantly flushed up from awkwardness and embarrassment.
“Teacher Lu, you major in the study of spirit runes, right?”
Sun Mo put down the brush and said, “Give it up. You don’t have the aptitude.”
Swoosh!
Lu Jian’s countenance instantly turned ghastly pale and then grim. He couldn’t hold it in anymore and bellowed.
“Sun Mo, I admit that you have extremely great mastery in the study of spirit runes. But this doesn’t give you the right to humiliate me.”
Lu Jian bellowed.
The other great teachers also felt that Sun Mo had gone a little overboard.
Sun Mo didn’t mind Lu Jian’s attitude but asked instead, “How long have you been learning the study of spirit runes? I think it should have been at least 15 years, right?”
“I started studying spirit runes when I was a student. I’m just one step away from reaching the grandmaster level,”
Lu Jian’s reply was very firm and emitted a strong pride.
It was definitely considered young to reach the grandmaster level at the age of 40. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that he had an outstanding aptitude.
“How long has it been since you’ve gotten this spirit rune?” Sun Mo then asked, “I reckon that it should be six or seven years, right?”
“Seven years and a few months!”
Lu Jian looked surprised. How did Sun Mo know that?
“Teacher Sun, how did you know this?”
The freckled female great teacher looked very curious.
“This stone board has been preserved quite well, but there are some places where your handprints got onto it. Based on the corrosion degree the handprints have on the stone board, I can assess its age.”
1
Sun Mo shrugged.
He had Divine Sight as well and could tell from one glance.
“You’re really an archaeologist!”
The freckled lady gasped in surprise.
The other people were in disbelief as well. After all, Sun Mo was too young.
“What else does Teacher know that we don’t know about?”
Tantai Yutang frowned, feeling that Sun Mo had a lot of secrets that were worth probing deeper into.
“This spirit rune isn’t very difficult, but you haven’t managed to decipher it after seven years. What right do you have to say that you have aptitude?”
Sun Mo asked.
“I… I…”
Lu Jian’s expression turned awkward, but he still didn’t cower. “How many talents like you are there in the Nine Provinces? Most spirit runists are like me. It’s not bad to be able to decipher an unknown spirit rune after over ten years.”
“You’re wrong.”
Sun Mo shook his head. “Many people only reach the starting points of those great geniuses after an entire lifetime of hard work.”
“The reason I’m saying that you have no aptitude isn’t because you didn’t manage to decipher this spirit rune, but that your future achievements will forever be picking up other people’s wisdom. You’ll never be able to stand at the forefront.”
“I’ve got it!”
The freckled female great teacher nodded. “You’re saying that no matter how hard Teacher Lu works, he’ll just be an assistant in spirit runes and it’ll be impossible for him to become a leader.”
“En!”
Sun Mo looked at Lu Jian. “Teacher Lu, I’m not targeting you. I just don’t want you to waste too much effort on this subject.”
Everyone fell silent. Actually, many great teachers understood this but didn’t wish to admit it.
It was like how the academician’s assistants were segregated into different tiers.
Some assistants weren’t able to complete support jobs that were too difficult, let alone lead a project by themselves.
“I… I…”
Lu Jian stammered ‘I’ a few times before changing into a bitter look, howling, “But I have spent over 20 years on this subject. Wouldn’t I achieve even less if I were to pick up some other subject?”
Sun Mo revealed a pitiful expression but didn’t agree with him. (It still remains a problem on whether you can be a great teacher.)
To speak the truth, if the other party had challenged him openly, Sun Mo wouldn’t have acted like this without any reservations. However, this Lu Jian was too sinister.
Of course, Sun Mo wasn’t wrong. It was true that this guy didn’t have any aptitude.
“Teacher Sun, you’re really a good guy to be showing him pity when he schemed against you.”
The freckled lady looked at Sun Mo with an admiring gaze. “As expected of my idol.”
“Idol?”
Gu Xiuxun immediately became wary. This female great teacher was on the shorter side, and she also had freckles on her face. She wasn’t good-looking, but her papayas[1] were very big.
This advantage was too great. After all, all men like women like this.
After all, cuteness was nothing before papayas.
“That’s right. He scored full marks in his written examinations for all three examinations, becoming the three-time champion. This is such domineering results!”
The freckled lady took out a handkerchief and wiped her right hand hard before putting it out toward Sun Mo. “I’m Bai Xiqing, a great teacher from the Virtuous Academy.”
Bai Xiqing bowed as she said this.
“Hello!”
Sun Mo shook hands with Bai Xiqing.
“Wow, I’m shaking hands with my idol!”
Bai Xiqing was very agitated.
It wasn’t a trend in Jinling to shake hands as a form of greeting. The reason she did this was to show her respect.
“Teacher Lu, hurry up and apologize!”
Kang Yan reproached her colleague and then looked toward Sun Mo. “Teacher Sun, our school has failed in our discipline and brought you trouble.”
Yang Yuwang’s lips twitched. Although Kang Yan was usually strict and serious, always lashing out at others, she was kind-hearted. With her saying this, it was clear that she was going to help Lu Jian.
Any other schools would have reproached Lu Jian and then fired him. After all, he had gone overboard.
Before Sun Mo gave a reply, Liang Hongda walked over.
“Teacher Kang, your school should really take efforts to put things in order given how you’ve produced someone like this who spoils the reputation of great teachers!”
Liang Hongda let out a cold snort and looked toward Liang Hongda with an icy countenance. “Your great teacher title has been removed. At the same time, you’ll be handed over to the Saint Gate’s jury. If it is ascertained that you forged a spirit rune to make things difficult for Sun Mo, then you’ll have your title removed for life.”
“Vice Sect Lord Liang, I was wrong!”
Upon hearing this, Lu Jian dropped to his knees with a plop. (My life will be over if I can’t be a great teacher.)
“Take him away!”
Liang Hongda waved his hand and instructed his subordinates. He then looked toward Sun Mo and smiled. “Teacher Sun, oh, I should be calling you Ancestor Sun. Your performance is really astounding!
“I don’t deserve that!”
Sun Mo said humbly.
“I heard that you’ve created a miracle and allowed spring to come upon withered trees in the Dragon Subduing Academy.”
Liang Hongda said politely. “When are you planning to take the test for the ancestor title?”
Grandmasters and ancestors weren’t titles one could proclaim by themselves. They must be tested and certified.
“There’s no hurry!”
Sun Mo didn’t mind.
“That’s true. You’re only in your twenties. There’s no hurry even if you wait for another 30 years.”
Liang Hongda laughed. “But getting the title earlier will save you the trouble of being challenged randomly. Moreover, you’ll be able to break the records as well.”
“Thank you Sect Lord Liang for your concern. But I’ve wasted too much of everyone’s time. Should we start the competition?”
Sun Mo smiled, showing a great demeanor.
“En, it’ll be starting!”
Liang Hongda walked over to the platform that was set up temporarily, starting the talk before the competition started.
However, the teachers and students weren’t listening. Their attention was on Sun Mo.
“Teacher Sun could be at the ancestor level, right?”
“Be braver, remove the ‘could’. Teacher Sun is an ancestor-level spirit runist.”
“Drawing three spirit runes right on the spot, all of them forming spirit qi tornado. Such high quality is enough to explain everything.”
The teachers and students discussed amongst themselves. Then, some great teachers squeezed their way over.
“Teacher Sun, what effect does that spirit rune have?”
People from the Nine Provinces were more reserved. They’d basically not ask such questions where privacy was involved. However, this time around, they were too curious.
The spirit qi tornado’s formation proved that the duplication of the spirit rune was successful. There was no need for Sun Mo to activate it. However, everyone wished to know.
This was like how a chemist suddenly saw that someone had discovered a brand new element. They wouldn’t be able to control themselves and would want to probe deeper.
“This is a spirit rune that reduces gravity.”
As Sun Mo said this, he took the spirit rune that Li Ziqi had just put aside, tearing it and activating it.
Swoosh!
A light-blue sphere shot out, landing onto a fat great teacher. At the next instant, his clothes started to float up as if it was in vacuum.
Everyone was dazzled by this scene. A few spirit runists wanted to speak up but felt too embarrassed. They could only secretly feel regretful that they hadn’t taken a look at that spirit for a little longer earlier.
“After the competition ends, those who wish to have this spirit rune can come to get it from the Central Province Academy!”
Sun Mo smiled lightly. “It’ll be for free.”
“Teacher Sun is very generous!”
“Ancestor Sun, you’re really the role model for us, spirit runists.”
“That’s right, that’s right, it’s Ancestor Sun!”
The great teacher who addressed Sun Mo as Teacher Sun apologized immediately.
Suddenly, Sun Mo received close to 10,000 favorable impression points.
It was because his behavior was too generous. Sun Mo would definitely be able to earn a big amount from the sales of such a unique spirit rune, but he didn’t try to sell it.
What was an ancestor’s demeanor?
This was it!
“It’s a steady win!”
Li Ziqi smiled happily. She knew that after this, Sun Mo’s status in the spirit rune circle would rise to the very top.
As for selling this for money?
Given how their teacher had so many unique spirit runes, he wouldn’t care for something like this.
“I announce the start of the competition.”
After Liang Hongda finished his words, the famous school’s teams could set off. However, they didn’t leave directly but gathered by Sun Mo’s side.
“Great Teacher Sun, thank you for your generosity.”
All the students from every famous school bowed in unison before setting off.
“…”
Sun Mo was a little shocked.
An Xinhui and Wang Su watched this scene quietly, clapping softly for Sun Mo.
People revered ancestors, but respect was something gained through such generosity and selflessness, as well as the outstanding contribution they had made in a certain subject.
Take a herbalist for example. If they were to invent some sort of medicine with special effects but only sold it at a high price, who’d respect them regardless of how talented they were?
However, once a herbalist were to provide the medicine’s prescription without asking for any remuneration, the merit would be amazing. What Sun Mo had done was similar to this.
After this continued for half an hour, the famous school’s groups set off for the secret realm.
…
In a hotel next to the Qiushui Public Square, two people saw the entire process.
“This Sun Mo is fishing for fame and recognition!”
Lu Wuyin’s lips twitched.
“Brother, there’s no need to care how he thinks. At least he contributed a new spirit rune.”
Lu Cangqiong said something in fairness.
“En!”
Lu Wuyin nodded. “Let’s try to get him to join our side!”
“I think that’ll be difficult. He has great prospects in the great teacher world. He has no need to join the Dark Dawn.”
Lu Cangqiong closed the window. “We better hurry and execute the plan. Otherwise, if the old ancestor were to put the blame on us, we’d be in trouble.”
1
(Regardless of what treasures there are in this secret realm, all of them belong to our Green-robed Ancestor.)
…
The Central Province Academy’s group traveled quickly on their horses, not daring to have any delays. Five days later, they passed through the Fallen Leaves Canyon and arrived in the Qiushui Plains.
Thereafter, everyone was astonished by the scene in front of their eyes.
The Qiushui Plains of the past had now been covered by a lush layer of vegetation. Plants grew amongst the forest and there were cries from insects and birds. It gave off the feeling of a primitive forest.
“This place should have been plains, but this forest suddenly grew out overnight!”
Gu Xiuxun looked at the brief report that the Saint Gate had issued out, frowning a little. “What the hell is this?”
“Xiuxun, the Darkness Continent’s natural laws are mysterious. Everything is possible.” Wang Su reminded her.
“Let’s go on forward!” An Xinhui ordered.
According to the plan, they were going to go around for three days and then split up after they had gotten familiar with the environment.
What was in front of Sun Mo was a large stretch of primitive forest that seemed to have no end. No, it might be more suitable to call it a sea of trees.
There were unknown tree species that reached a height of 100 meters. They shot all the way up and it was impossible to see where the end was. Moreover, each of them was so thick that it’d take over ten people to hug it.
“I feel like a crawling insect now!”
Lu Zhiruo exclaimed.
That was true. This was like when an ant entered a primitive forest. What it saw seemed to be magnified, as if it’d be able to climb up to the sky through a tree.
After entering the forest, the rays of light instantly turned dim as they were blocked by the lush tree crowns. Light breezes blew past in the forest and brought a refreshing coolness.
There were bushes, weeds, and fallen leaves on the ground. When the horses stepped on the soil, many small bugs could be seen scattering in all directions.
A light rotting smell that was unique to forests could be smelled in the air.
Everyone slowed down due to wariness since they had just entered the secret realm. They only managed to travel over 30 lis in half a day. Then An Xinhui gestured for the group to stop and start to set up camp to rest.
It was time for lunch.
“Xiuxun, your group will be responsible for managing the campsite and food. The other groups, go check out the surroundings and gather information.”
An Xinhui gave out instructions and everything went on orderly.
“Teacher Wang, Teacher Sun, what do you guys think?”
An Xinhui looked into the distance. “Which direction should we head to?”
This forest was too big. Even if 100 small groups were to come in, they’d be insignificant. It’d depend on their luck in the contention for secret treasures.
The dragon seeking pearl mustn’t be used right off the bat. So, Sun Mo turned and looked toward Lu Zhiruo. However, before he could say anything, he suddenly received the Holy Pharaoh’s warning in his mind.
“Enemy attack!”
[1] Referring to her boobs.