Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique

Although the purple-haired woman’s beauty was breathtaking, Mu Chen had long since developed a strong immunity to such things from his years in Mu Bingling’s company. He was only stunned for a moment before recovering. With a puzzled expression, he looked at the woman and asked, "Have we... met somewhere before?"

The moment he spoke, the entire dining hall erupted in laughter. People had tried to hit on Chu Aoqing before, but never with such a cheap pickup line. It was a downright insult to their goddess’s intelligence!

Besides, in the past, those who dared to hit on Chu Aoqing were either clueless fools who didn’t know what was good for them or high-level students who thought they were strong—and actually were.

But for someone like Mu Chen, an Inner Mountain special case whose strength was only at the First-Ring Martial Sect level, to dare hit on Chu Aoqing... he was definitely one of the clueless fools.

Remembering the fates of the countless powerful elites who had tried to hit on Chu Aoqing in the past, the crowd couldn’t help but light a virtual candle for Mu Chen and offer a silent prayer. Just taking her exclusive seat might have earned him a beating or some public humiliation, but it wouldn’t have led to broken bones or serious injuries. But to take her seat *and* try to hit on her? No one in the Inner Mountain had ever attempted such a thing. And Mu Chen was giving them a front-row seat. What a treat!

"Heh..." Chu Aoqing chuckled softly. "You guess."

"Uh..." Mu Chen frowned. "I’m not very good at riddles. If we haven’t met, then I must have been mistaken."

She noticed that Mu Chen didn’t seem to be the joking type. Moreover, his gaze held not a shred of desire, not even a hint of admiration. For someone so used to being put on a pedestal, this sparked a flicker of curiosity and competitiveness within her. With that thought, Chu Aoqing gracefully sat down across from Mu Chen, propped her chin on her hand, and simply stared at him.

This dramatic turn of events left all the students waiting for a show completely stunned. According to the script, shouldn’t the clueless fool be getting thrown out of the cafeteria right about now?

’Could this be the calm before the storm?! Yes, that must be it!’ This thought popped into the minds of countless students.

Chu Aoqing’s actions left Mu Chen utterly bewildered. Everyone from Broo and Wang Miaoling to Master Ling and now this impossibly beautiful woman before him—they all struck him as bizarre. But most importantly, the aura this young woman gave off was terrifying. With his current level of Spiritual Power, he couldn’t even begin to probe her Martial Artist Realm! This could only mean one thing: her Martial Artist Realm had reached at least the Emperor Realm Seventh Ring, if not higher!

Putting down his chopsticks, Mu Chen asked tentatively, "Senior, is there... something you need?"

Chu Aoqing shook her head. "Nope. Can’t I sit here even if there’s nothing?"

Mu Chen was even more speechless. He braced himself and said, "Of course you can. It’s just that with you staring at me like this, it’s very awkward."

"Is that so?" Chu Aoqing asked nonchalantly.

"Yes, it is," Mu Chen replied.

"Oh."

Hearing Chu Aoqing’s "Oh," Mu Chen was overjoyed. ’It seems this senior is a reasonable person who doesn’t put on airs,’ he thought. ’We reached an agreement after just a few sentences.’

That was the conclusion Mu Chen drew, but less than thirty seconds later, he threw it right out. He stared with a grim expression at the senior, who was *still* staring right back at him.

Mu Chen: "..."

Chu Aoqing: "..."

"Uh, Senior, is there something on my face?" Mu Chen was starting to get annoyed. Anyone would feel uncomfortable being stared at so intensely by a stranger; it made him feel as if she had some major issue with him.

"No, it’s very clean." Chu Aoqing shook her head. As she did, her long purple hair slipped from her shoulder and coiled on the table in front of her. "As clean as this table."

"..." Hearing her answer, Mu Chen felt a wave of helplessness. He sighed and said, "Since there’s nothing on my face, Senior, if you keep looking at me like this, I can’t eat at all."

"But you’re sitting at my table," Chu Aoqing said suddenly.

Mu Chen’s expression froze. He glanced at the table, then back at Chu Aoqing. He suddenly realized that this table was indeed much cleaner than the others, the way a girl would keep it. ’But aren’t cafeteria tables first-come, first-served?’ Of course, Mu Chen could only keep this question to himself. He knew that if he argued, he would be the one to suffer in the end.

After a moment’s thought, Mu Chen said, "My apologies, then."

With that, he picked up his tray and moved to another secluded corner. He let out a deep breath and thought, ’Finally, some peace and quiet.’

But just as Mu Chen picked up his chopsticks, ready to dig in, a slender figure once again sat down in front of him. Mu Chen’s brow furrowed, but then slowly relaxed. He sighed helplessly, "Senior, what is it that you want?"

Chu Aoqing pouted. "You sat at my exclusive table for so long. Don’t you think you should compensate me with something?"

Mu Chen was stunned. "Com... compensate?"

’Other than the Attribute Spirit Crystals, I don’t think I have anything valuable on me. Is this senior trying to shake me down? But she’s so beautiful, there’s no need for her to shake down a loser-looking guy like me,’ he thought.

"Hmm, you’re eating," Chu Aoqing said, once again speaking in her usual disjointed manner.

Mu Chen said, "Can’t you see that?"

"A portion for four? Can you finish it all?"

"I can’t," Mu Chen answered subconsciously. But then he thought, ’Why am I being so honest?’ and said directly, "What’s it to you?"

"Well then, since you sat at my table, you can treat me to this. Master Ling said he’s already given out all the food he made," Chu Aoqing said very seriously, pointing at Mu Chen’s mountain of food on his tray.

Mu Chen was once again floored by Chu Aoqing’s words. After a moment of silence, he said, "This is the compensation you want?"

Chu Aoqing nodded, hummed in agreement, and then directly addressed the dumbfounded Shan Ziyan standing by the service window. "Ziyan, there’s food here. Bring over two pairs of chopsticks, and while you’re at it, tell Master Ling he doesn’t need to make more."

After speaking, Chu Aoqing unceremoniously took two full portions of food from Mu Chen’s tray, placing one in front of herself and another to her side.

Little did she know, Chu Aoqing’s actions had set off a monstrous tidal wave in the hearts of every student present! Not only had the Chu Goddess not punished the clueless fool who took her table and hit on her, but she had also stuck to him again and again, and was now going to eat with him?! And she was eating food she’d snatched from him!

This day was just insane!!

’Goddess, if you’re really that hungry, we’d be more than happy to give you our food! Goddess, just look over here...’ The crowd was filled with heartache and jealousy.

Mu Chen watched, completely abashed, as half the food on his tray vanished. A strange feeling washed over him, but he was also relieved. ’At least now I won’t have to deal with Master Ling getting on my case for not finishing my food.’

But when Mu Chen heard the name "Ziyan," his gaze naturally shifted to the person behind Chu Aoqing. One look was all it took. His pupils contracted sharply, and he murmured in surprise, "Why is it her?"

"Her?" Chu Aoqing, who had just finished arranging the food trays, repeated his words. "You know Ziyan?"

Mu Chen grunted in acknowledgment and rubbed his nose. "I wouldn’t say I know her. I’ve just seen her around."

"Seen her around? But looking at your Martial Artist Realm and your Institute Uniform, you should be a first-level student. And in the last five years, neither Ziyan nor I have ever seen you. Yet you say you’ve seen Ziyan. Based on that, you must be a new student who just entered the Inner Mountain this year, correct?"

Chu Aoqing’s lips moved slightly, her placid eyes, like a still well, flashing with a sharp intelligence. She seemed about to ask something, but then she saw Shan Ziyan walking over and decided against it.

"Sister Qing’er, I remember you never eat with people you don’t know, especially not guys. So why are you sitting with this guy today, and even eating his food?" Shan Ziyan said irritably as she handed a pair of chopsticks to Chu Aoqing, glaring at Mu Chen with obvious hostility.

’What’s with this "this guy"? I don’t think I’ve ever offended you, have I?’ Mu Chen grumbled inwardly, his expression completely innocent. He had no memory of ever provoking Shan Ziyan.

"This guy? Ziyan, you know him?" Chu Aoqing took the chopsticks, an "I knew it" expression on her face.

Shan Ziyan snorted coldly. "How would I know this playboy?"

"Hey!" Mu Chen immediately retorted. "When did I become a playboy? Don’t just make things up, okay?"

"Heh, not a playboy but you’re surrounded by beauties? And you never look people straight in the eye. I’m warning you, don’t even think about getting any ideas about my Sister Qing’er, or else... hmph!" As she spoke, Shan Ziyan brandished her fist at Mu Chen in a spoiled manner, her meaning perfectly clear.

"Ziyan, what are you talking about?"

Chu Aoqing chided her with a deadpan expression before turning to attack the food in front of her, leaving Mu Chen speechless. As the saying goes, it’s pointless to talk to someone you don’t click with, so he chose to simply ignore Shan Ziyan. As for having ideas about Chu Aoqing? ’Impossible,’ he thought. ’If anyone’s getting ideas around here, it’s her!’

Picking up his chopsticks, Mu Chen began to eat in silence, taking out all his frustrations on Master Ling’s food. However, after just two wolfed-down bites, an incredibly pleasant warmth spread throughout his body. The Dantian Primordial Power he had completely exhausted moments ago was instantly restored. And what was even more shocking, the rock-gray Seal on his Dantian had actually faded a little.

"This food..."

Staring dumbfounded at the unremarkable-looking food on his tray, Mu Chen took another bite. A strange fragrance spread from his mouth and nose into his Sea of Souls, like a clear spring stream flowing through and cleansing his soul. He finally understood where the other students’ strange looks came from, and he finally understood why Master Ling had been so furious when he had refused the food earlier.

This wasn’t food at all! This was a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure! A Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that could nourish the soul, replenish Primordial Power, and strengthen the body!!