Chapter 170: Chapter 167: I Lied
As the annual selection conference raged on, a name spread throughout the Imperial Academy and even the entire Imperial City.
After many years, the Dean of the Imperial Academy, Mu Kongfu, had surprisingly taken another adopted daughter.
Her name was Niu Kexin!
Who was Mu Kongfu?
The venerable Emperor’s Tutor of three generations. Even the current ruler, His Holiness Li Shimu, had to greet him respectfully and address him as Teacher.
In terms of both power and status, he was among the absolute top echelons of the Mountain and Sea Empire.
To be taken as Mu Kongfu’s adopted daughter, setting all else aside, simply in terms of seniority, Niu Kexin was now on the same generational level as Li Shimu. She could be considered his junior sister.
The junior sister of His Holiness, the current emperor. Who would dare disrespect her? Who would dare not show her deference?
She would instantly be second to only one and above all others, enjoying access to the Empire’s most abundant Cultivation Resources.
But just as everyone in the Empire was filled with envy for Niu Kexin, she herself rejected Mu Kongfu without a moment’s hesitation.
The motion of Mu Kongfu stroking his beard froze, as did his smile.
He had never imagined someone would refuse him, and so decisively at that.
When Niu Kexin had activated the Power Testing Gate, causing a pillar of light to shoot into the heavens, it wasn’t just Mu Kongfu who was alerted. Several old reclusive monsters within the Imperial Academy had been disturbed as well.
In order to fight over Niu Kexin, these beings, who could make the Mountain and Sea Empire tremble with a stomp of their feet, had nearly started a world-shaking war.
In the end, Mu Kongfu had played a little trick, claiming he had already taken Niu Kexin as his adopted daughter, which was the only thing that prevented a fight.
Even old monsters had their pride. Competing for a disciple was one thing, but since Niu Kexin had already been taken as someone’s adopted daughter, they wouldn’t continue to pester her.
This was a custom in the Mountain and Sea Empire, and also an unspoken rule among all the powerful experts of the Imperial Academy.
Now, Mu Kongfu was dumbfounded. He had already announced it, but who could have predicted that Niu Kexin wouldn’t agree?
Across the entire Mountain and Sea Empire, countless people dreamed of becoming his adopted son or daughter. Yet he had run into Niu Kexin, this unreasonable girl, for whom no argument worked.
’If those old monsters find out I lied to them, won’t they ridicule me to no end?’
Mu Kongfu couldn’t afford to lose that much face.
"Niu Kexin, becoming Adoptive Father’s daughter is a blessing you’ve earned from your past lives. Don’t be ungrateful!"
The speaker was a young woman in a white dress. She had slanted, phoenix-like eyes, a high-bridged nose, and sharp, defined features. From a distance, she was beautiful yet cold, as ethereal as ice—to be admired, but never approached.
It was an aura cultivated from years of holding a high position and being adored by thousands, one that kept others at arm’s length. She was aloof, superior, and stood apart from the world!
Her name was Mu Xue, and she was also an adopted daughter of Mu Kongfu.
In the Mountain and Sea Empire, becoming an adopted son or daughter required one to change their surname. That was the rule.
And it was for this very reason that Niu Kexin could not accept.
She could never forsake the "Niu" surname to take on that of a stranger, even if that person was the Emperor’s Tutor and the Dean of the academy.
"You are you, and I am me. You may see it as a blessing, but I don’t," Niu Kexin retorted, glancing at Mu Xue.
Though she was obedient and gentle as water before Mo Qi, one must remember that she, a mere woman, had managed the entire Niu Family for ten years.
Although it was just a mortal family’s estate, the experience had made her incredibly resilient and independent.
She was decisive and efficient, never one to dither.
So, when Mu Xue provoked her, she naturally wouldn’t tolerate it.
"What do you mean by that? In the Empire, disrespecting Adoptive Father is a capital crime!" Mu Xue snapped, her brows furrowing.
Mu Kongfu had many disciples, but not many adopted sons and daughters.
Before Niu Kexin, he had only taken two: one son and one daughter, Mu He and Mu Xue.
Mu He and Mu Xue’s original names were Sun He and Sun Xue. The two were actually biological siblings, twins, who had been adopted by Mu Kongfu at the same time and had changed their surnames.
Niu Kexin’s appearance made Mu Xue feel threatened. Consequently, she instinctively disliked Niu Kexin, especially her attitude.
"I have no contempt for the Senior. I only have contempt for you," Niu Kexin said with a gentle smile.
When it came to understanding the Martial Dao, a thousand Niu Kexins wouldn’t be a match for Mu Xue. But when it came to words and wits, Niu Kexin could run circles around her.
"You!" Mu Xue was furious. Since becoming Mu Kongfu’s adopted daughter, no one had ever dared to speak to her this way. Even the princes and Royal Grandsons of the Li Family could only bow to her in greeting.
"Do you think you can be lawless and arrogant just because you have a bit of talent and Adoptive Father favors you? I’m afraid you know nothing about true genius!" Mu Xue shouted coldly.
She was burning with rage, yet her tone held an unconcealable pride.
Niu Kexin was amused. "The true genius you speak of... you’re not referring to yourself, are you?"
"Hmph. I wouldn’t dare call myself a genius, but I’m at least stronger than you." As she spoke, the aura of the Peak of Purity Realm, a Half-Step Vajra Realm, erupted from Mu Xue.
Niu Kexin remained unfazed. Although her Cultivation was only at the Refining God Ninth Heaven, ever since she and Mo Qi became intimate, very few people could pressure her with their aura alone.
Mu Xue was clearly not qualified.
"I’m not very clear on the gap between us, nor do I know how much of a genius you are. I only know that, from the day I started my Cultivation until now... it’s been about half a month, give or take."
Niu Kexin said, counting on her fingers.
"What?! Half a month?!"
Mu Xue’s face fell in shock, but it quickly twisted into a mocking sneer. "From a mortal to the Refining God Ninth Heaven in half a month? Please, there’s a limit to boasting, isn’t there? That’s utterly impossible!"
Mu Kongfu, who had been silent at the side, was also stunned by Niu Kexin’s words.
Deep down, he didn’t believe it either.
"Oh dear, you found me out. I’m sorry, I lied," Niu Kexin said with a sigh.
"Hmph. I really don’t know what Adoptive Father sees in you!" Mu Xue muttered smugly under her breath, thinking she had exposed Niu Kexin’s lie.
She controlled her volume perfectly—it wasn’t loud enough to be jarring, but just loud enough for Mu Kongfu to hear.
Niu Kexin ignored Mu Xue. She paused for a moment before continuing, "If I recall correctly, my actual Cultivation time should be about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Yes, that’s right. The time it takes for an incense stick to burn, not half a month."
As she spoke, Niu Kexin looked at Mu Kongfu. "I’m sorry, Senior. This junior did not mean to deceive you."
Mu Kongfu: "..."
From a mortal to the Refining God Ninth Heaven in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Could she be any more ridiculous?
If he hadn’t detected any sign of falsehood on Niu Kexin, Mu Kongfu would have slapped her straight to Hell long ago.
Mu Xue frowned. "Stop spouting nonsense in front of Adoptive Father. It only makes you look childish! You..."
Before she could finish, Mu Kongfu stopped her.
"Xue’er, you may leave for now."
Mu Xue was seething with frustration, but Mu Kongfu had spoken. Though she was unwilling, she could only leave obediently.
After Mu Xue left, Mu Kongfu waved his wide sleeve. A peculiar Mental Realm descended, enveloping Niu Kexin.
Before Niu Kexin could react, she felt her body lighten, as if she had broken free from the earth’s shackles and was soaring among the clouds.
