25: Chapter 25 The Shocked Director Wang

Tell me, how many benefits do you think the kids will actually manage to get from this trip to the Secret Realm?

A young teacher rubbed his hands together, his eyes full of anticipation, "I heard the spiritual plants inside are quite aged, and there's even a chance to encounter a Legacy stele."

Benefits?

An old teacher nearby sneered, slamming his enamel mug heavily onto the stone table, "You should be thanking your lucky stars if they can just make it out alive with all their limbs intact!"

The Yao Beasts in that Secret Realm aren't bunnies in a petting zoo. Last year, that top student from the Third Middle School went in at the Initial Blooming Realm's early stage and came out missing half an arm. Do you think they're going on a picnic?"

This comment caused the surrounding chatter to die down a few notches.

Director Wang stood in the front row, sweat beading on his forehead and sliding down his temples, his fingers gripping the seams of his suit trousers until his knuckles turned white.

His gaze was locked tightly onto the swirling halo of light at the Secret Realm exit—Zhang Wen, their once-in-a-century SSS-Rank Talent in Ningjiang District, one of the few promising seedlings in the entire Dragon Country. If anything were to happen to him inside...

He closed his eyes, not daring to think further, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Just then, the halo of light contracted violently, and a teenager in a blue and white school uniform stumbled out.

It's one of ours from the Second Middle School!

Teacher Li suddenly jumped up, the excitement in her voice nearly blowing the roof off, "Xiaoyu! Let Teacher see you!"

The teenager weakly raised his hand to give an "OK" sign, a proud smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "Teacher Li, I've had a Breakthrough... to the Initial Blooming Realm."

Good lad!

Teacher Li beamed, the wrinkles around her eyes bunching up like flowers, and a chorus of compliments immediately erupted around her: "Congratulations, Teacher Li! The top spot in the college entrance exam is in the bag now!" "The Second Middle School is going to be the talk of the town this year!"

On the other side of the crowd, Chen Zhong, the butler of the Chen Family, had veins throbbing on his forehead, and the sandalwood box in his hand was crushed out of shape.

He kept looking toward the Secret Realm exit ahead, his Adam's apple bobbing, "Why hasn't the Young Miss come out yet? The defensive Magical Artifact was specifically checked before departure; theoretically, nothing should have gone wrong..."

The two bodyguards following him were also solemn, occasionally looking up at the halo of light, the ground beneath their feet already worn into shallow pits from their pacing.

Time ticked by, and more and more students emerged. Some held spiritual plants in ecstatic joy, while others clutched their wounds and sighed, but the figures of Zhang Wen and Chen Nianchu never appeared.

Director Wang's shirt was already soaked through with cold sweat, sticking to his back like a wet rag. He even had his security guard call in a medical team, his fingertips shaking so badly he couldn't even open his cigarette case.

The Chen Family side was even more frantic. Chen Zhong tried to rush up and slap the halo of light at the Secret Realm entrance several times, only to be held back by the security guards. He stamped his feet in anxiety, "If anything happens to the Young Miss, how am I going to answer to the old master!"

Just as everyone's hearts were about to jump out of their throats, the swirling halo of light suddenly fluctuated violently, and two figures slowly stepped out, accompanied by tiny specks of light.

Zhang Wen!

Young Miss!

Director Wang and Chen Zhong rushed forward simultaneously, but froze when they saw the pair clearly—Zhang Wen was wearing a clean school uniform, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, the exposed skin smooth and unblemished; Chen Nianchu followed by his side, her hair hanging softly over her shoulders, idly playing with a lustrous beast core in her hand, her face wearing a relaxed smile. Where was there any sign of distress?

You two...

Director Wang was about to scold them for "scaring him to death," but when his gaze swept over Zhang Wen, he suddenly seemed to be under a paralysis spell. His mouth fell open, and the cigarette case in his hand dropped to the ground with a "clatter."

He clearly felt the spiritual power fluctuations overflowing from Zhang Wen's body—it was not the Initial Blooming Realm fluctuation from when he went in, but a vigorous aura like a spring tide breaking through the soil. Each wisp was refined into something substantive, lingering around his body in a faint golden glow, carrying the oppressive pressure of someone about to break through their shackles.

This... this is...

Director Wang's voice trembled like a leaf in an autumn wind, his finger pointing at Zhang Wen, unable to form a complete sentence for a long time, "Budding... Budding Peak?!"

You have to realize, how many Geniuses get stuck at the Initial Blooming Realm for eight or ten years, unable to even touch the threshold, yet Zhang Wen had only been inside for seven days and had actually charged straight to the Budding Peak?!

Chen Zhong had just steadied his Young Miss and was also startled upon hearing this, looking sharply at Zhang Wen.

Zhang Wen looked apologetically at Director Wang, his voice clear, "Director Wang, I've made you worry."

The sunlight pierced through the halo of the Secret Realm exit, falling on his upright figure. That hidden, unreleased aura was like the morning light about to break, as if, in just an instant, it could bloom with a brilliance capable of tearing through heaven and earth.

It's fine! It's fine as long as you're okay!

Director Wang grabbed Zhang Wen's arm with enough force to nearly crush his bones, the wrinkles on his face blooming like a chrysanthemum, tears of joy almost welling up, "Hahaha! Good lad! Truly a good lad! This year, our First Middle School can finally stand tall! Let's see how the Second and Third Middle Schools can show off now!"

He patted Zhang Wen's shoulder, his force like he was beating a drum, his joy vibrating through his voice until the ears of those around him buzzed.

Chen Zhong also let out a sigh of relief, a sincere smile appearing on his face as he cupped his hands toward Director Wang, "Director Wang is truly blessed. For student Zhang Wen to have such cultivation at such a young age, I fear that in a few more years, us old fogies will be left behind."

He turned to look at Zhang Wen, his eyes full of admiration, "The best result for previous college entrance exam top scorers in Ningjiang District was only the Early Bloom Mid-stage. Now that student Zhang Wen has reached the Budding Peak, the top spot is practically set in stone. I congratulate your school, and student Zhang Wen, in advance!"

Butler Chen, you're being too polite.

Director Wang waved his hand quickly, though the corner of his eye glanced at Chen Nianchu, his tone carrying just the right amount of humility, "Young Miss Nianchu's talent is also renowned. She must have gained quite a bit from this trip to the Secret Realm as well. Perhaps her strength has already made rapid progress; who knows who will come out on top in the end?"

Director Wang, you flatter her.

Chen Zhong replied with a smile, his tone tinged with pride, "Our Young Miss has always been steady; it's enough that she came out safely. As for the results, let nature take its course. But having said that, we of the Chen Family will remember the favor of student Zhang Wen protecting our Young Miss. If there is anything you need help with in the future, just ask."

That goes without saying. Zhang Wen has been a reassuring child since he was young; looking out for each other is only right...

The two exchanged words, their polite pleasantries piling up like a rolling snowball. They chatted from student talent to school honor, and from college entrance exam results to Family ties, leaving Zhang Wen and Chen Nianchu to exchange glances, both seeing the helplessness in the other's eyes.

Zhang Wen quietly stepped back half a step, nudged Chen Nianchu with his elbow, and whispered, "Are they going to talk until dark?"

Chen Nianchu pursed her lips to suppress a laugh, shoved the beast core in her hand to him, and whispered back, "Probably. After all, your Budding Peak is a huge face-saver for them."

As they were speaking, Director Wang finally remembered the two protagonists beside them and hurriedly pulled Zhang Wen over, smiling even more brightly, "Let's go, let's go, let's go home! I've already had the Canteen prepare a victory banquet, and they've stewed your favorite Spirit Rhino beast bone soup!"

Chen Zhong also hurried to follow, "Young Miss, the Master is waiting at home; he specifically had the kitchen make the crystal shrimp dumplings you like."

Zhang Wen and Chen Nianchu were ushered out by the two, one on each side. Behind them, the sounds of flattery continued to drift over intermittently. The sunlight fell on them, warm and cozy, but both felt that, compared to the Yao Beasts in the Secret Realm, the enthusiasm of these elders was somehow harder to handle.