Chapter 60 – Mastering at First Sight

  Transtor: Krukist

  Heavenly Cloud Academy.

  The academy was a grand pce, teeming with various establishments—taverns, restaurants, musical halls, and even a vish rest hall jointly built by the young masters of the Seven Great Cns.

  At this moment, within the hall, hundreds of students had gathered, all wearing faint smiles tinged with arrogance. Their demeanor was unruly—undoubtedly, they were disciples of the Seven Great Cns.

  Although Chen Shuitian had managed to uproot the influence of the Seven Great Cns from the academy’s administration, their disciples still made up the majority of the student body. After all, while he could intervene in administrative matters, he couldn’t prevent others from enrolling as students.

  Seated at the highest position in the hall was a young man with a square face and a polite smile.

  "I heard from my family elders that our academy’s Vice Pavilion Master of the Dining Pavilion is a complete nobody, someone who has never made a name for himself before."

  "His name is Lin Yu… Apparently, he was discovered by Chen Puye, who cimed he was some kind of prodigy."

  His gaze swept across the hall before finally nding in a corner. He spoke casually, "Isn't that Sima Deng, the new student from the Sima Cn?"

  After losing to Lin Yu, Sima Deng had sworn to abandon the path of Spirit Chefs and instead enrolled in Heavenly Cloud Academy to pursue Arcane Martialism. However, in just a few days, he found himself entangled with Lin Yu once again.

  Sima Deng’s face was slightly pale, but he met the gaze without fear. He was no stranger to the young man in the seat of honor—for this was none other than Chen Hentian, the youngest brother of Chen Shuitian.

  He was said to be the most gifted cultivator of the Chen family’s generation. Despite being under twenty-five years old, he had already reached the level of a Third-Grade Arcane Martialist—and his true strength remained unknown, rumored to be terrifyingly formidable.

  Even within Heavenly Cloud Academy, there were instructors who couldn’t match him. In the past, Sima Deng was often compared to him.

  After all, though Chen Hentian was older by a few years, Sima Deng, as a First-Grade Spirit Chef, held a status that commanded respect.

  Sima Deng spoke slowly, "Lin Yu is full of unconventional ideas. In the Culinary Arts Realm, his thinking is unique, and his skills surpass many Spirit Chefs. However, in my opinion… Even though he is outstanding, he still falls short of being fit for the position of Vice Pavilion Master."

  Chen Hentian smiled warmly. "That’s exactly what my elders said. But that is an administrative matter, and as students, we have no say in it."

  Someone below protested indignantly, "Senior Chen, I have to disagree! As students, we deserve proper leadership. Having an unqualified man as a Vice Pavilion Master of one of the Four Pavilions is absolutely inappropriate!"

  "We should pressure him…"

  Chen Hentian nodded slightly and gestured downward with his hands, signaling silence. A peculiar aura radiated from him—not suffocating, but it instinctively made everyone quiet.

  The hall fell into absolute silence.

  He then looked toward another corner, where He Wu stood zily.

  Sensing Chen Hentian’s gaze, He Wu’s eyes flickered briefly before he spoke, "Rest assured. One month from now, I will personally drive Lin Yu out of Heavenly Cloud Academy… He will no longer threaten your Seven Great Cns."

  Chen Hentian nodded. "You are not from the Seven Great Cns, so I understand if you hold some resentment. But misunderstandings can always be resolved. Since you've made this decration, our Seven Great Cns will naturally support your cultivation with the resources you deserve."

  With a grand gesture, he waved his hand, and several small chests appeared on the ground.

  A gasp rang out from the crowd.

  "Spatial treasures!"

  Chen Hentian ignored the commotion and turned back to He Wu, his gaze deep. "Since Lin Yu has already entered Heavenly Cloud Academy, driving him out would be a disgrace to our academy’s schorly traditions. He Wu, I need you to ensure that Lin Yu remains in the academy forever."

  —Remain forever.

  That could only mean one thing.

  He Wu’s face paled slightly, while Chen Hentian shifted his gaze once more. This time, he looked at Wu Chong, who nodded solemnly.

  But in his heart, Wu Chong was amused.

  It’s just Lin Yu, a rookie who has barely started cultivating. I alone can deal with him…

  Did we really need such an eborate pn?

  …..

  "You have far greater aptitude than I expected…"

  A voice echoed in Lin Yu’s mind as his consciousness returned from his Sea of Awareness.

  The Woodcutter’s Bde Art was currently downloading into his mind. Unlike the Heavenly Cloud Body Forging Art, which only required 3 energy points per 1% progress, this technique demanded a much higher energy cost.

  After all, it was a martial skill, and downloading it instantly wouldn’t damage his body. At most, it would cause a temporary sense of disorientation—a bizarre disconnect between body and mind.

  That meant he might feel as though he had already mastered the technique, but once he actually used it, his movements would still be raw.

  Thus, Lin Yu had developed a strategy—each time he watched Cao Tong demonstrate the Woodcutter’s Bde Art, he would silently increase his mastery by 10% before practicing on his own.

  Cao Tong was now demonstrating the technique for the third time, his voice trembling slightly. "After just two demonstrations, you’ve already memorized all the movements? And… you’re even dispying intent?"

  Intent referred to the personal understanding and feel of a technique. Just as a thousand readers could interpret a thousand versions of Hamlet, every practitioner developed their own style of executing a martial skill.

  Despite only being at 30% proficiency, Lin Yu had already developed his own combat rhythm—an achievement that left Cao Tong utterly shaken.

  He had met many geniuses before. Even the imperial prodigy, hailed as the next Heaven’s Fate Son, hadn’t dispyed such talent when practicing basic martial techniques.

  Lin Yu replied, "Perhaps I simply have a knack for bde techniques."

  After a brief pause, he realized that his current training speed might seem too shocking. However, with only seven days left, while he could cheat his way through martial skills, actual combat experience couldn’t be faked.

  Besides, he knew exactly where he stood.

  The st time he encountered He Wu, the tter was a First-Grade Spirit Chef, Eighth Level. By now, Lin Yu wasn’t far behind him…

  But the Seven Great Cns and the forces backing He Wu weren’t to be underestimated. They wouldn’t just stand by while Chen Shuitian personally trained Lin Yu—nor would He Wu allow himself to fall behind.

  This duel had become too high-profile.

  And because of that… He Wu had already begun reaping immense benefits from it.

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