“You’re really going to challenge the Mystic Ice Stairway?!”
Gong Yu'an practically thought she was looking for death. “Do you know how many people have died in the Mystic Ice Stairway over the years?”
“Even if you have some ability, the Mystic Ice Stairway is the most dangerous place in Sacred Heaven Academy. Don’t act rashly!”
Mu Guili toyed with the ice-blue token Instructor Ding had given her. It was the key to entering the Mystic Ice Stairway. “Have you challenged it before?”
“…No. How would a good-for-nothing like me dare to go looking for death?”
“Then how did you decide that I definitely wouldn’t make it back out?”
Gong Yu'an was left speechless. After thinking it over, he still followed her to see what would happen.
They soon arrived at the Mystic Ice Tower, and Mu Guili looked over.
“I heard Liu Yuxuan is going to challenge the Mystic Ice Stairway again. This is his fifteenth attempt, right? He’s really got thick skin and a tough body!”
“Come on, come on, place your bets! Are you betting that Liu Yuxuan will break the record, or that Wen Qingxuan will continue to hold the top spot? Once you’ve placed your bet, no take-backs!”
A towering building stood there, while the area before its entrance was bustling with activity. A crowd of students was looking at the suspended ranking list.
First place: [Jiazi Class] Wen Qingxuan, one hundred and three steps.
Second place: [Jiazi Class] Liu Yuxuan, ninety-five steps.
It didn’t look like that big a difference.
Gong Yu'an explained, “Don’t underestimate those few steps. The farther up you go, the greater the difference—even a single step is worlds apart.”
“But don’t be intimidated by the frightening numbers on the ranking list, either. Those are only the highest records. Every time someone enters, they have to start climbing from the beginning. I estimate that even Wen Qingxuan himself wouldn’t be able to break his own record now.”
Looking at the entrance to the Mystic Ice Tower, Mu Guili had just begun walking toward it when—
“Mu Guili, how did you know I was passing through here? You followed me!”
A familiar voice came from behind. She turned to look and saw Ye Chen and the others walking over.
He looked at her impatiently. “Can you stop causing me trouble?”
The attention of the others was drawn over as well, and they all burst into laughter.
“Oh, isn’t this the famous waste beauty? She actually chased Ye Chen all the way to the Mystic Ice Tower.”
“Senior Brother Ye’s charm really hasn’t diminished at all!”
Looks of envy and jealousy were directed at him. Ye Chen’s expression was haughty, but inwardly he was immensely pleased.
Although Mu Guili was a good-for-nothing who was completely unworthy of him, her appearance was unrivaled. Taking her as a concubine in the future would be an immense honor for her.
Thus, he naturally regarded Mu Guili as his own property and directly ordered her, “I have something to do. Leave immediately. Don’t come bother me when you have nothing to do!”
The next moment, a cool, melodious voice faintly rang out.
“What the hell do you think you are?”
The entire scene abruptly fell silent.
Ye Chen was also stunned. “What did you say?”
Mu Guili swept him a glance as though she were looking at a clown jumping around. “You really think you’re something, don’t you? Who the hell do you think you are?”
The implication was clear: How could she possibly have come here for him?
Beside them, Jiang Ze glanced at the corner of the Mystic Ice Token exposed from her sleeve and immediately raised his brows.
Interesting. She really hadn’t come here for Ye Chen.
But instead of informing him, he simply watched the show.
Ye Chen clearly felt humiliated, and his expression turned furious. “Mu Guili, dare to say that again!”
Mu Guili’s face remained expressionless. “Why should I listen to something like you?”
“You…”
The people behind him immediately became displeased.
“Mu Guili, Senior Brother Ye just returned injured from an outdoor trial. It was only because Junior Sister Chi carefully nursed him that he recovered. You don’t even worry about him, and you still dare to talk back? Who gave you the nerve?”
“Exactly. Don’t reject kindness only to be shameless about it. You’re not even worthy of carrying Junior Sister Chi’s toenail, let alone Senior Brother Ye!”
As a spoiled young master, Gong Yu'an could naturally tell that Mu Guili was not merely uninterested in Ye Chen—she was utterly disgusted by him.
They had at least some acquaintance, so when he saw her being berated, he could not stand it. Before Mu Guili could react, he opened his mouth and arrogantly shouted, “How many years has it been since you brushed your teeth? Why does your mouth stink so badly?”
“Mu Guili is right. Who the hell do you people think you are? Don’t fucking act so self-important. If she likes anyone, she’d like a noble gentleman like Wen Qingxuan. Can your Ye Chen compare?”
“And that slut called Chi Roushu—she’s constantly acting ambiguous with a man who already has a fiancée. I bet the two of you have practically worn the bed flat by now, tsk, tsk. These days, even adulterers and whores can stick out their chests and walk around openly. Impressive!”
“Next time, I, Your Young Master, will bring eighty concubines to the academy and fool around with them in public, just to pay tribute to the famous Senior Brother Ye of Jiazi Class!”
The scene instantly fell deathly silent.
As expected of a spoiled young master—his mouth was vicious!
Mu Guili: I’ve learned something!
Quite a few people could not help bursting into laughter.
Indeed, in this world of the strong preying on the weak, even two powerful cultivator partners would fight over whose surname their child should bear. If any man dared to imitate the Mortal Realm’s system of taking three wives and four concubines, his partner would probably cripple him first and kill him afterward!
Unless he married a primary wife who was completely incapable of defeating him.
In an instant, everyone understood. Their eyes turned strange as they sized up Ye Chen’s lower body, clearly assuming that this was exactly what he had in mind.
What a display of an incompetent man!
Veins bulged on Ye Chen’s forehead. Damn that Gong Yu'an! If he were not a member of the Gong Family, Ye Chen would tear his mouth apart!
At the same time, Mu Guili was reminded of something.
Since everyone involved was here and she now had an audience to bear witness, there was no need to delay. She immediately said coldly, “Hand over the token of our engagement. Our engagement is canceled!”
At those words, everyone was caught completely off guard.
Ye Chen’s eyes widened even further. “What did you say?”
Mu Guili’s expression was indifferent, and her words were clear, each one distinct. “I said, return the token to me. The engagement is canceled!”
At that moment, anyone could see that the disgust in Mu Guili’s eyes was practically spilling over.
“Gasp—she really doesn’t like Ye Chen anymore.”
“Could she be trying to lure him in by pretending to reject him?”
Ye Chen almost instinctively covered his spatial ring.
That old immortal who had raised him since childhood had told him that Mu Guili’s parents were ordinary farmers from the Mortal Realm. They had picked up this object while gathering firewood in the mountains and had then used it as the token of the marriage engagement arranged between their two families.
Only later had Ye Chen discovered that the token was a magical artifact. His teacher had also said that its grade was very high and told him to hide it carefully to prevent others from coveting it.
He had even relied on this magical artifact to escape danger several times. How could he possibly let her take it back now?!
This was also the reason he had never dissolved the engagement!
Moreover, Ye Chen also felt that Mu Guili was merely pretending to reject him in order to make him pursue her. Thus, he softened his voice soothingly. “Enough. Roushu and I aren’t like what you think. She’s only my junior sister. Don’t overthink it.”
“Go back and cool off first. I still have something to do. I’ll come find you after I’m finished.”
With that, he turned and left without giving Mu Guili any chance to argue.
Mu Guili felt sickened.
She did not know why her parents had arranged a marriage for her while searching for her younger sister outside, but in any case, they must have had their reasons.
Since the engagement could not be called off for the time being, so be it. She did not regard him as her fiancé anyway. There was still a long road ahead.
Sooner or later, she would make his soul shatter inch by inch while he lived a fate worse than death!