"Junior Brother Xue is so dense and oblivious," Mu Qingyan murmured with a pout. "Or maybe he's well aware of my feelings but chooses to ignore them…"
"Argh!" She ruffled her hair, scaring a few of the bystanders around her. "If only that stupid dummy wasn't so cool…!"
Compared to every other guy in the Academy, Xue Ren was in another league. Not only was he handsome and humble, but he also did everything in a way that made it impossible to keep your eyes off him when he entered the room.
"Gah…" Mu Qingyan sighed. "What are you doing, Mu? Trying so desperately to get a guy to notice you. This isn't like you… isn't like you at all…"
Yet she couldn't help but stare solemnly in the direction Xue Ren had disappeared to.
Meanwhile, the one who seemed to occupy most of her thoughts was preoccupied with other things at the moment. Namely:
"Wee—"
Xue Ren emotionlessly leapt off the side of a mountain located in the backside area of Starling Academy. Instead of attending boring lessons meant to provide him with knowledge he already possessed, he found it much more beneficial to advance his Body Cultivation.
The best way to do that was by going to Xue Ren's own personal peace space in the Academy—namely, the mountain dubbed "Tooth and Nail" by the students of Starling.
It was called that because of how many sharp and dangerous protrusions were sticking out around the mountain. And also because one had to fight tooth and nail against their willingness to give up in order to reach the summit of this several-mile-tall mountain.
Barely anyone ever came to Tooth and Nail Mountain, though, so Xue Ren came here every day. And every day, he would ascend the mountain, only to yeet himself off the side the moment he reached the peak.
The tumble down the mountain wouldn't kill him. At most, it would leave him in a state of near-death.
But this was where the exotic, protein-filled monster materials came in.
*Crunch, Crunch!*
At the very base of Tooth and Nail Mountain, a young, handsome youth with a disfigured body and limbs chewed and consumed the meat of Golden Core Realm monsters. The owners of the meat were different from the Golden Core Realm monsters Xue Ren had killed in that ruined city, and were overflowing with protein as well as key vital nutrients.
Normally, only a Mortal would care about stuff like this.
But Xue Ren was built differently.
OOOM!
While on the verge of death, Xue Ren's body erupted in a dazzling silver light. His limbs and injuries rapidly regenerated as his physical power soared.
Middle-Silver Body!
"Hmm…"
Xue Ren rose from his previously crippled position. Immediately, he scanned over his body with his eyes, noticing a thin silver film covering his whole body. This silver film was both deeply interconnected with the space underneath his skin as well as his skin itself.
"It took a while, but I've finally achieved the Mid-Silver Body for the Ancient Gold Body Refinement technique," Xue Ren noted with a rare smile. "Now, even Mid Golden Core Realm Cultivators won't be my match if solely relying on my Body Cultivation."
That may not seem like much when compared to his true combat power, but strength was strength. And if ever he had to face an opponent while being unable to utilize his spiritual energy and Fireball Skills, he had his physical body to rely on.
"It's better to be prepared for any scenario." Xue Ren clenched and unclenched his fists as he turned around and stared up at the mountain's summit. "Time to go again."
For the rest of the day, Xue Ren ceaselessly climbed up Tooth and Nail Mountain before jumping off its peak without hesitation. During this process, he would consume Golden Core Realm monster meat just before, while tumbling, and while heavily injured at the mountain's base.
Only by doing this could gains be maximized.
By duskfall, Xue Ren had already made at least 1% progress in the Mid-Silver stage of the Ancient Gold Body Refinement technique. This meant he was advancing numerous times faster than the usual practitioner of this particularly masochistic technique.
However, Xue Ren's gains didn't end with just that, for he had also been actively absorbing the energy of his Level 4 Fireball Skills while climbing the mountain and plummeting to his death. This led to a highly maximized and efficient training routine that left every fiber of Xue Ren's being crying to the heavens for mercy.
Yet he still walked it off with a blank expression, acting like nothing had happened.
'Xue Ren, come see me right away.'
A sudden voice transmission.
"The old man is calling for me?" Xue Ren wondered. "Why would that be?"
Usually, his Master would let him do whatever he wanted for however long he wanted. Jiang Hao told him this was the best form of 'self-practice' or something, but Xue Ren knew it was just because his Master was incredibly lazy.
To request his presence so out of the blue—something must surely be up.
After leaving Tooth and Nail Mountain, Xue Ren took many turns and jumps as he maneuvered through the perilous backside of Starling Academy. He saw a few adventurous students during his return trip but kept himself hidden so as to avoid troublesome interactions.
Finally, after a couple of minutes of speedy travel, Xue Ren arrived at the hill manor where the Headmaster of the Academy lived. It was also located very close to where Xue Ren's private seclusion chamber was situated.
"Old ma-… Master, I'm here." Xue Ren quickly corrected himself, but a loud 'tsk' still sounded from inside the manor. "May I come in?"
"Sure, you brat," replied Jiang Hao. "Make yourself at home."
Oblivious to the Headmaster's irritation, Xue Ren entered the manor. However, he was immediately assaulted with a plum-blossom fragrance that made him look to its source.
A slight frown formed when he saw who it was standing beside Jiang Hao in the wide hallway ahead.