"Look, the Chosen One has arrived with a mere ninety pounds."
"His cultivation level is likely at the bottom among the new students in the academy. Does he not meditate and practice every night? I truly do not understand why he remains so calm; does he not feel a shred of shame?"
"I heard he defeated a student from the Zhi Ge system who had a higher cultivation level, but if this continues, without the suppression of that black armor in the Trial Valley... on the real battlefield, his opponent could easily send his weapon flying with a single strike."
"Tsk tsk... Ninety pounds, I wonder how he trains? Does he simply sleep soundly every night until dawn? At this rate... without the academy's Mingzhen Dan, he might never step into the realm of cultivators."
"That's not surprising; the vast majority of people will never enter the ranks of cultivators in their lifetime."
"..."
Xu Shengmo's tactics were quite insidious. Although Lin Xi himself was unfazed, as he had anticipated, the news of his test result revealing a mere ninety pounds of strength in the Zhi Ge system's martial arts class quickly spread throughout Qingluan Academy. He soon acquired the nickname "Ninety-Pound Chosen One."
In Yunqin, where martial prowess is revered and strength is idolized, the following day's lesson, though scheduled as an elective course on toxicology, took place in a valley cultivated with numerous toxic plants within the Apothecary system. Most of the students attending were from other departments, yet at the entrance of the valley, Lin Xi still heard many whispers mocking him.
Since he genuinely did not care, combined with the fact that he had already practiced a thousand repetitions with the Qingfeng sword in that valley earlier in the morning, he felt the same soreness and swelling in his body as he did yesterday. His arms were so fatigued that he could hardly lift them. Even if he wished to prove that he possessed strength beyond ninety pounds, he found it impossible. Thus, Lin Xi calmly feigned ignorance, admiring the purple butterfly flowers blooming along the mountain path as he made his way toward the valley of poisons.
The purple butterfly flowers on this hillside bloomed exquisitely, interspersed with many white and yellow wild daisies. Coupled with the azure sky above and the ever-present majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance, it was a breathtaking sight that brought him great joy.
"Lin Xi."
Suddenly, he heard Gao Yanan's voice calling from behind. He turned around in surprise, only to see several new students from the Apothecary system, clad in gray robes, approaching from another path.
Among them was Gao Yanan, who looked fresh and simple with her hair tied in a ponytail, accompanied by two other girls he recognized. One was Jiang Yuer, whom he had met in the self-reflection room and had made laugh with his jokes. The other girl, though he had never spoken to her, was strikingly beautiful and had become a topic of discussion among many new students. Her name was Qin Xiyue, and along with another girl from the Spirit Offering system, Mo Qingyan, they were considered the three most beautiful flowers among this year's new students at Qingluan Academy. Lin Xi had seen Qin Xiyue once before; her delicate features bore a resemblance to Fan Bingbing, yet she exuded a distinctly elegant and ethereal charm, leaving a lasting impression on him.
Today, although Qin Xiyue was also dressed in a loose gray robe of the Apothecary system, her hair was styled with a pale red jade hairpin, revealing her fair and slender neck. The soft glow of the jade hairpin accentuated her face, making her radiate with an extraordinary beauty, exuding a hint of allure despite her youth.
Having spent time together previously, Lin Xi felt less nervous this time. He paused and smiled at Gao Yanan and the others as they approached, saying, "So, you all from the Apothecary system are also having class in this valley of poisons today?"
"You're attending the toxicology class, right? Your department only needs to recognize the appearance and some characteristics of poisons, but we in the Apothecary system must not only understand these but also concoct poisons and antidotes." Gao Yanan, who appeared particularly charming in Lin Xi's eyes, smiled slightly and added, "Today, our class location should be quite close to yours. We will be preparing the common poison known as Duanchang San."
Such conversations were commonplace among students. As they spoke, Gao Yanan continued walking without pausing, naturally accompanying Lin Xi into the valley. However, upon hearing Gao Yanan initiate a conversation with Lin Xi, and witnessing their exchange, Qin Xiyue, who stood nearby and hailed from the central province of He Luo in Yunqin, furrowed her brows, halting her steps with an expression of displeasure as she gazed at Gao Yanan. "Yanan, are you quite familiar with him?"
Gao Yanan paused for a moment, turning to look at Qin Xiyue's slightly displeased expression, and asked curiously, "Why?"
Qin Xiyue glanced at Lin Xi, who also appeared taken aback. After a moment of hesitation, she frowned and said, "I assume you've heard his nickname, 'Ninety-Pound Chosen One.' Why would you associate with him?"
Gao Yanan looked at Qin Xiyue with her pure eyes, increasingly perplexed, and asked, "What does that matter?"
Seeing her usually astute friend appear so foolish, Qin Xiyue's brows tightened further. Realizing she had already spoken, she decided to be candid, looking at Gao Yanan with mild irritation. "Do you not understand... I do not mind if someone has lower aptitude, but if they are aware of their limitations yet remain lazy, that is the type of person I cannot tolerate. Even if someone has a talent rating of two, if they diligently practice after entering the academy, they would surely exceed ninety pounds of strength. Are you truly willing to befriend someone with a talent rating of two who is also indolent?"
Her words were strikingly clear-cut and unyielding, and when uttered by such a beautiful girl, they became particularly piercing and hurtful. Even though Lin Xi remained calm, he could not help but furrow his brow.
Yet this seemingly flawless beauty from the Apothecary system seemed unsatisfied with merely stating her point. With a frosty expression, she looked at Gao Yanan and added, "Moreover, the most crucial point is that I see no ambition or sense of shame in him. What achievements can he hope for in the future? If you associate with someone like that, do you not feel ashamed? I certainly do."
"Practice is not the only path." Gao Yanan fully understood Qin Xiyue's intentions, yet she gazed at her friend with a tranquil demeanor and said, "There are many in this world who do not enjoy cultivation, and one's cultivation level cannot serve as the sole criterion for judging a person's worth. I believe the only standard for friendship should be the character and temperament of the individual."
After a slight pause, the seemingly pristine and tall girl added, frowning slightly, "Moreover, many individuals in Yunqin, even if their cultivation is lacking, can still achieve great accomplishments and make significant contributions, just like some instructors in this academy."
Qin Xiyue sighed as she looked at Gao Yanan. "How can he possibly be compared to the academy's instructors?"
Gao Yanan gazed at Qin Xiyue's beautiful crescent-like face and shook her head firmly. "To hastily judge someone based on fleeting rumors is unwise."
Qin Xiyue turned her gaze to the purple butterfly flowers by the mountain path, saying, "Are you truly determined to associate with him? Do you genuinely believe his future conduct will not bring shame, perhaps even tarnish the academy's reputation?"
Gao Yanan's brows furrowed again as she replied, "I do not see any issues with his character or temperament, and friendship is not something that develops overnight. Over time, we will see how it unfolds."
Lin Xi, initially frowning, felt warmth in his heart upon witnessing Gao Yanan's stance, and his expression relaxed completely.
"If he demonstrates any merit in the future, I will naturally reconsider my opinion of him. However, I genuinely dislike him at present..." Qin Xiyue, seeing Gao Yanan's steadfastness, revealed a hint of determination in her autumn-like eyes. "If you insist on befriending him, then I shall not associate with you. You may choose between him and me."
Gao Yanan finally felt a twinge of irritation, her cheeks slightly flushed as she replied, "We are merely conversing and entering the valley together. Why complicate matters so?"
Observing the escalating tension between the two, Jiang Yuer, who was timid and cautious, began to feel anxious and was about to intervene when a warm, mellifluous voice interjected, "Yanan, Xiyue, you two share such a close bond; why let a student from the Zhi Ge system cause such discord? Besides, he is now widely known as the Ninety-Pound Chosen One; he hardly warrants such attention."
With this voice, the graceful and refined Liu Ziyu, accompanied by several boys from the Apothecary system, approached leisurely.
"Enough. Since you have become the Chosen One, though your cultivation aptitude is lacking, you should not be foolish. Why not be more perceptive?" One of the burly Apothecary boys gestured dismissively at Lin Xi. "If I were you, I would leave now to spare Gao Yanan the trouble."
"Indeed, it is just a matter of entering this valley; there is no need to complicate things." Lin Xi did not wish to cause Gao Yanan any distress, so he disregarded the Apothecary boys and smiled gently at Gao Yanan. "I will head in first."
"I will walk with you." Gao Yanan hesitated briefly but resolutely followed Lin Xi as he turned to leave.
"You..." Qin Xiyue was taken aback by Gao Yanan's decision and felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, her face paling slightly. "He stands there, languid and indifferent in the face of mockery, and you still choose to accompany him?"
Gao Yanan turned her head slightly to look at Qin Xiyue and replied, "If you would sever ties with me over such trivial matters... then I have nothing more to say, for that is not the temperament I admire."
"Yanan, Xiyue, you both..." Jiang Yuer timidly spoke up, wanting to mediate the escalating tension, but Qin Xiyue interrupted her with a deep breath, "Jiang Yuer, will you side with her or remain with me?"
"I..." Jiang Yuer was caught in a dilemma, her face turning crimson. Just then, Liu Ziyu frowned and said, "Yanan, do not let your emotions get the better of you. Think about it; with his current cultivation level, if this continues, it would be one thing if he were not representing the academy. However, if he ventures out for training and the enemy learns that a student from our academy is among them, it could be a matter of whether he can survive until he completes his studies at Qingluan Academy. Moreover, what Xiyue said is correct; given his current attitude, do you really expect him to cultivate diligently? If he cannot even commit to his own training, how can you hope for any achievements in other areas?"
"How do you know I do not train diligently?" A simple entry to the valley for class had sparked so many disputes, and with Gao Yanan now by his side, Lin Xi, who had initially wished to remain silent, felt compelled to stand up. Positioning himself in front of Gao Yanan, he cast a scornful glance at Liu Ziyu and then at Qin Xiyue. As those who had not anticipated his sudden interjection paused in surprise, he calmly reiterated, "How can you be so certain without having witnessed it with your own eyes?"