Volume One: Awakening of the Dragon Soul Chapter 13: Let Me Tell You a Story, Junior Brother (Part Two)

Mo Xing was a little dazed—no matter where the conversation went, it somehow circled back to Zhang Zhihao. Just who was this person, so outstanding in every way? Was he that legendary "child from someone else's family" everyone talked about?

"By the way, when is Zhang Zhihao coming back?" Mo Xing asked.

"It should be in the next couple of days. He went to Celestial Spirit Academy for an exchange program, and it's about time for him to return," Mian Hua replied.

"Celestial Spirit Academy?" Mo Xing inquired. "Is that a renowned school too?"

"How should I put it? Cai Hong, why don't you explain Celestial Spirit Academy?" Mian Hua suddenly suggested.

"Oh? Don't you know all about it?" Cai Hong chuckled. "Why pass the baton to me?"

"I'm just thirsty, that's all." Mian Hua hurriedly grabbed a water cup. "Please, the stage is yours."

"Alright then, I'll explain." Seeing Mian Hua's flustered state, Cai Hong thought he might as well clear up Mo Xing’s confusion himself.

"Celestial Spirit Academy may not be as comprehensive or powerful as our own Sacred Sky Royal Academy, but the summoners it produces are truly exceptional."

"Really?" Mo Xing asked.

"Celestial Spirit Academy is located in the Elven Wonderland of a parallel realm. Thanks to its superb natural environment, it has developed a complete system for training summoners. With such abundant spiritual energy, the summoned beasts nurtured there are of the highest quality."

"What exactly is a summoned beast?" Mo Xing asked again, suddenly finding himself insatiably curious, unable to resist probing deeper into every topic.

"A summoned beast is a summoner’s companion," Cai Hong explained. "They depend on each other. Only by fighting side by side with their summoned beasts can summoners bring out the full potential of their profession."

"Oh, I see!" Mo Xing exclaimed, a light dawning in his mind. He couldn’t help but think that it sounded just like the partnership between Ash and Pikachu in the cartoons he watched as a child. Instantly, the summoner’s profession seemed even more fascinating.

"That’s why many people choose Celestial Spirit Academy instead of coming to Sacred Sky Royal Academy—they dream of becoming summoners. Still, the relationship between our two academies is quite good, and we exchange knowledge frequently," Cai Hong continued.

"I understand now!" Mo Xing said. "So, Celestial Spirit Academy is a sacred place every summoner longs for!"

"That’s about right," Cai Hong answered. "Anything else you want to know? I’m happy to chat."

"Who is this Li Qingchi?" Mo Xing asked. "This afternoon, he argued with a student council officer just to recruit me into the singers’ club."

"Li... Li Qingchi? That scoundrel?" Mian Hua’s attention was instantly caught by the question.

"Eh?" Mo Xing asked. "Mian Hua, do you have a grudge against Li Qingchi?"

"A grudge? It’s more like a blood feud! I’d skin him alive if I could!" Mian Hua fumed. "Just thinking about that bastard makes my blood boil! He’s my arch-nemesis in the singers’ club!"

"What? You’re in the singers’ club too, Mian Hua?" Mo Xing was surprised. Both Li Qingchi and Mian Hua were in the singers’ club—clearly, fate had set them on a collision course.

"Of course I am!" Mian Hua replied proudly. "You have no idea how dazzling I am in the club—my voice can make crowds of fans swoon!"

"Oh, please! With that voice?" Cai Hong suddenly burst out laughing. "Are you sure you don’t just scare them away in droves?"

"Don’t interrupt! You’ve never attended one of my performances, so you can’t possibly know my true talent!" Mian Hua retorted.

"Alright, alright, go on," Cai Hong said.

"Back in those days, I was in my prime and preparing to run for the esteemed position of vice-captain. I remember that afternoon—the sunlight was warm, the room cozy, and I took the stage, dressed to the nines, holding my speech before a sea of flowers—"

"Senior, could you get to the point?" Mo Xing raised his right hand, thinking that if this went on, Mian Hua might recite his entire speech from that day.

"Fine!" Mian Hua paused. "So, after my brilliant speech, it was time for the vote. I had over sixty percent of the support, but then—"

"Li Qingchi suddenly stood up and declared that since I hadn’t even reached the Honglan rank, I wasn’t qualified to be vice-captain! After that, everyone started withdrawing their votes!" Mian Hua slapped the table in exasperation. "From that day on, I swore to oppose that scoundrel at every turn!"

"Li Qingchi may be a scoundrel, but his objection was well-founded. There are over three hundred people in the singers’ club, and your ranking wasn’t even in the top two hundred and fifty, was it?" Cai Hong said with a laugh.

"Hey! You traitor!" Mian Hua shot back. "How could you agree with him?"

"You’re the traitor! As a member of the singers’ club, all you do is dream about being vice-president of the student council," Cai Hong retorted.

"What’s wrong with caring about my cousin?" Mian Hua protested.

"I never said you were wrong," Cai Hong replied. "I’m just stating the facts. Am I not right?"

"Mo Xing, you be the judge!" Mian Hua appealed.

"Yes, you be the judge!" Cai Hong echoed.

"Uh... Seniors, please calm down," Mo Xing quickly tried to mediate. Otherwise, another war of words would break out.

"By the way, Mo Xing!" Mian Hua suddenly said. "Aren’t you forgetting something important?"

"Huh? What is it?" Mo Xing asked, puzzled.

"Oh!" Cai Hong also seemed to realize, and he mouthed four words:

"The freshmen assessment!"

Mo Xing was utterly shocked! He’d been so engrossed in chatting with his seniors that he’d forgotten all about reviewing for his exam!