The Crescent Valley incident caused a sensation throughout the academy. The struggle within the Divine Academy turned from shadows to the open. Long Chen and Chu Kuang were a conflict among disciples, and the conflict between the head of the Discipline Institute and Chu Huairen was exposed because of this trial.
Chu Kuang was quite famous throughout Lingxiao Academy, but Long Chen had only been here for two months, and his reputation had already overshadowed Chu Kuang.
For a moment, the sharp confrontation between Chu Kuang and Long Chen became a hot topic of conversation among countless people, with many speculating about who would ultimately win.
One is a disciple from a prestigious family with a strong background, combining talent and resources, fully cultivated into a noble family.
One is an ascender from the lower realm whose origins are unknown, penniless, yet who follows the path of the unconventional and relies on their own strength to shine.
Many people knew about Chu Kuang's family background, but what interested them more was Long Chen.
When Long Chen ascended, he had nothing valuable on him and couldn't even afford the registration fee. Yet he started as a menial worker and, at nearly cheating speed, reached his current level in just two months. His reputation and momentum were unmatched.
By comparison, Chu Kuang's achievements are nothing special. After all, with such a powerful backing, he starts high and achievements are inevitable.
After Long Chen entered Lingxiao Academy, Chu Kuang seemed to have met his nemesis, completely defeated by Long Chen. Encountering Long Chen would cause him great losses.
This Crescent Valley incident had too many disciples dead, and the impact was too severe. Not only were the two Four Extremes Realm elders to be executed, but Chu Kuang also had to properly settle the families of the deceased.
If the deceased's family is dissatisfied with the compensation and files a complaint with the academy, Chu Kuang will be punished even more.
It is said that this time, to appease the family members, the Chu family paid hundreds of millions in compensation with immortal crystals alone, along with fine weapons, pills, and other items. Even with the Chu family's vast and powerful lineage, this would feel painful.
Besides compensation, the Chu family also faces a huge fine from Lingxiao Academy. No one knows exactly how much the fine is, but judging by the heel, it's an extremely frightening figure.
"Damn, money really is the most important factor in cultivation."
When Long Chen heard the news, he was so jealous he spat on the ground. What he needed now was money.
Long Chen, Mu Qingyun, and the others pooled funds and plundered all the disciples of the Xiaoyao Alliance, only managing to gather a little over eight million immortal crystals.
Long Chen brought the money to the Pill Institute and bought over three thousand spiritual herbs. These herbs were all alive and quite precious, making them difficult to cultivate, so the prices were especially high.
Over three thousand rare herbs cost Long Chen more than two million immortal crystals, which made him feel terribly pained. But there was no other way—to improve, he had to be willing to spend money.
After buying rare medicines, Long Chen spent another three million immortal crystals to buy a spiritual-grade pill furnace. Long Chen's heart was already bleeding. Money at the academy was tough, but spending it was too easy.
In the blink of an eye, over five million immortal crystals were gone, leaving more than three million left. Long Chen didn't dare to spend recklessly, returned to his residence, and took out the newly purchased spiritual-grade pill furnace.
"Buzz!"
As Long Chen's flame merged into the pill furnace, the runes on the furnace slowly lit up, divine light blossomed, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth naturally began to converge toward it.
"As expected, cheap goods don't get good stuff, and good stuff isn't cheap." Seeing the pill furnace possess such powerful spiritual gathering power, Long Chen felt a bit more at ease. The money spent was definitely worth it.
Long Chen reached out, channeling his soul power into the furnace. He discovered faint soul fluctuations inside, but those fluctuations were not clear and could not communicate effectively with Long Chen.
Spiritual artifacts are spiritual artifacts, possessing their own soul and will. In the Immortal Realm, the laws differ, and it is extremely difficult for a weapon to develop intelligence. It is said that artifact smiths must forge hundreds of sword spiritual artifacts to successfully produce a true spiritual artifact.
Other spiritual artifacts, on the other hand, are considered semi-finished products. A true spiritual artifact is like a healthy baby, while a semi-finished one is born with intellectual disabilities. Although it can provide some assistance to its owner, its abilities are limited.
Therefore, genuine spiritual artifacts are extremely expensive, and spiritual-grade pill furnaces are even pricier.
The pill furnace in Long Chen's hand possessed a healthy artifact spirit. However, unlike weapons, the spirit of the pill furnace initially had very low intelligence and needed to continuously refine pills to enhance its intelligence.
The pill furnace in Long Chen's hand was brand new, so it was only sold for a little over three million immortal crystals. If it had been used for a long time, the furnace's intelligence would have been fully awakened, and the price would increase tenfold, or even more.
Therefore, if used well, the alchemy furnace will not depreciate; it will only appreciate in value, becoming better and more valuable the more you use it.
The reason Long Chen bought a new alchemy furnace was partly because he couldn't afford an old one, and he also had a bold idea.
"Whew."
Long Chen took out another pill furnace, which was the same Molten Moon Star Refining Furnace Long Chen had used on the Tianwu Continent. However, the runes on it had completely dimmed, looking like a lifeless object.
"Buzz!"
Long Chen pressed his large hand on the Moon Molten Star Refining Furnace, his palm glowing, and a small orb of light appeared in Long Chen's palm.
That was the spirit of the Molten Moon Star Refining Furnace. After coming to the Immortal Realm, it was suppressed into a seed, unable to merge with the laws here, entering a dormant state. If it was left unchecked, it would be erased by the laws of the Immortal Realm in a few years and disappear forever.
"Crack, crack, crack..."
Long Chen took out the spirit of the Melting Moon Star Refining Furnace. The furnace was instantly covered in cracks, then slowly shattered, finally turning to ashes.
The Moon Melting Star Furnace is an object of the mortal realm because the runes on it are not recognized by the Immortal Realm. Once the artifact spirit disappears, it is completely destroyed.
"Buzz"
Long Chen slowly sent the spirit of the Moon Melting Star Refining Furnace into the new pill furnace, wrapping it with soul power and slowly merging it with the spirit of the new pill furnace.
The spirit of the new pill furnace had not yet recognized its master and was in an ethereal state. When it encountered the Moon Melting Star Refining Furnace, the two quickly merged together.
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the alchemy furnace began to glow slowly, and a smile appeared on Long Chen's face.
"Rongyue, you're finally awake." Long Chen's voice was filled with endless joy. Rong Yue's soul fluctuations were still so familiar. His body was no longer the same as before, but his soul was still the same one.
A faint soul fluctuation came from the furnace. Rong Yue had just merged with his new body and was extremely weak, so he could only respond briefly to Long Chen.
But this faint response was already enough. With a wave of Long Chen's large hand, a flame rose up, igniting the pill furnace. As the flames rose, the furnace gradually warmed, and the runes around him began to glow.
"Hehe, Rong Yue, Huo Ling'er, let's work together and see if we can refine a batch of good pills." Long Chen chuckled, his eyes shining with urgency. With the help of the Molten Moon Star Refining Furnace, his cultivation path could finally accelerate.