Chapter 81: The Man on the Moon

“Oh, so that’s how it is.” Li Xiaofang nodded, seeming to understand. “I’m sorry, Professor Jiang, for reminding you of unpleasant memories.”

“It’s nothing. I haven’t thought about my grandfather in a long time. I wonder if he’s been reborn somewhere.” Jiang Xiaofei shook his head with a sigh. “Let’s not talk about that. By the way, why aren’t you with the other students, taking a walk or chatting? Why have you come to me? Is there something you want to ask?”

“Not really.” Li Xiaofang blushed slightly. “I just wanted to spend some time with you, Professor Jiang.”

Seeing her like this, Jiang Xiaofei immediately understood her intention and laughed. “Spend time with me? What’s the point? I’m not someone who knows how to sweet-talk.”

Li Xiaofang hesitated a moment, then said, “But I’ve fallen for you, Professor Jiang.”

“You’ve fallen for me?” Jiang Xiaofei found it rather amusing. “When did you start liking me?”

“Since… since you rescued the missing children. That’s when I began to like you.” Li Xiaofang blushed, her voice trembling with emotion. Saying this seemed to require all her strength.

Seeing her expression, Jiang Xiaofei smiled and asked, “Why do you like me?”

Li Xiaofang’s cheeks turned even redder. “Because you’re a great hero, Professor Jiang. Ever since I was little, I’ve dreamed of marrying a hero when I grew up, and you’re just such a hero.”

Jiang Xiaofei laughed at the idea. “A hero? That’s ridiculous. I couldn’t even protect the people I wanted to protect. What kind of hero am I? The word ‘hero’ feels sullied to me. I’m not worthy of it. I’m just a coward.”

Li Xiaofang seemed frightened by his words, her delicate frame trembling, unable to speak.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaofei realized he’d gone too far. He calmed himself and spoke gently, “Liking someone is good, but it needs to be mutual. If he doesn’t like you, what’s the point of you liking him? Without love to bear fruit, even if you force it, it won’t end well.”

Li Xiaofang nodded. “Then do you like me, Professor Jiang?”

“I can tell you clearly—I do not like you, and I cannot like you.”

His words were firm, like a bolt of lightning shattering Li Xiaofang’s hopes, leaving her heart broken. Tears welled in her eyes as she asked urgently, “Why? Why don’t you like me? Am I not pretty enough? Am I not good enough for you? Or have you fallen for Lan Lianshuang?”

Her barrage of questions left Jiang Xiaofei speechless. He was helpless—he couldn’t believe there were women so stubborn and willful, insisting on liking someone who clearly didn’t reciprocate. Was this what people meant by ‘good cabbage being eaten by pigs’?

After gathering his thoughts, Jiang Xiaofei smiled, “Because I already have someone I love.”

“Is it Lan Lianshuang?”

“No.” Jiang Xiaofei shook his head.

“Then is it Principal Zhou, or Director Tang?”

“No, neither,” Jiang Xiaofei shook his head again.

Li Xiaofang grew anxious. “Then who is it?”

“Her name is Junyao. She is the most beautiful woman in this world, and the one I love most. In this life and the next, I will never leave her. Even if seas dry up and mountains crumble, I will never forsake her.” Jiang Xiaofei spoke solemnly, as if pledging his love and loyalty to Junyao before the heavens.

Li Xiaofang said nothing more. She stood up, covered her face, and ran away in tears.

Jiang Xiaofei watched her go, feeling helpless. He rose and walked toward Fengtai Mountain, his shadow stretched long in the moonlight, lending him an air of solitude.

Perhaps it was because the demon star had vanished, but tonight the moon was exceptionally full and bright, its light washing over the land, cleansing the darkness in people’s hearts.

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Jiang Xiaofei stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing out across the vast land beneath the night sky. He felt a surge of emotion—perhaps this was what life was truly about.

He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and sat cross-legged, focusing his energy to begin his cultivation. Though his journey through Fengtai Mountain had brought him great rewards, including the Phoenix True Fire, he never relaxed his vigilance.

The Ghost Emperor had yet to be defeated, and now the Demon Emperor had appeared. Obtaining the second volume of “Netherworld Ghost Path” would be even more difficult.

Yet no matter how arduous the path, nothing could stop his determination to move forward. This was not only a promise to Junyao, but a test for himself.

He pressed his hands together, and a radiant light shot skyward from his body.

It was a breakthrough of his cultivation—a transformation of self.

Originally, he had just stabilized his Void Realm, but after the battle within Fengtai Mountain and obtaining the Phoenix True Fire, he found his body overflowing with power, like a flood about to break its banks. Signs of a breakthrough were evident, and now he needed to shatter this barrier and become a Xuantian-level cultivator.

A rush of light soared upward, dimming even the moon’s brilliance.

The students below saw this scene and were stunned.

“Look! It seems there’s someone on the moon.”

No one knew who called out, but instantly all the students stared at the moon, where a figure sat cross-legged. When they realized it was Jiang Xiaofei, some cried out in shock.

“It’s Professor Jiang! What’s he doing up there?”

“No, it looks like he’s breaking through.”

“Breaking through? Isn’t Professor Jiang a Mystic-level mage? If he breaks through, he’ll be a Heavenly-level mage!” Xie Xuanxuan found it incredible. A Heavenly-level mage! In the country, that was a position of supreme honor, a realm many mages dreamed of but few could attain.

Teng Pan spoke gravely, “No, judging by this aura, it must be Supreme Mage.”

“What?” At these words, all the students were astonished.

A Supreme Mage—within the Mage Association, only the heads of the four great families had reached this level, and these four leaders ranked just below the president, renowned and beloved throughout the country. With such figures in the nation, evil forces from abroad dared not invade.

The prestige of Supreme Mages was immense, but attaining it required extraordinary effort, and most mages could only dream of it.

Now, Professor Jiang, at just twenty-five years old, had reached the Supreme Mage level. Such talent was truly extraordinary.

Even in ancient times, such genius would be rare. Could Professor Jiang become the next King Xiao?

Thinking this, they felt as if they were witnessing the rise of another war god in the country. Perhaps one day, Jiang Xiaofei’s name would echo across the land and abroad.

Just then, Tang Zhirou lifted the tent flap and stepped outside. “What’s happening out here? Why is it so noisy?”

Hearing Tang Zhirou’s voice, Li Xiaofang immediately said, “Director Tang, look—Professor Jiang is up on the moon!”

“Nonsense,” Tang Zhirou replied, but looking up at the moon, she was immediately stunned. She saw Jiang Xiaofei standing there, smiling down at her.

At that moment, Jiang Xiaofei felt rather helpless. He hadn’t expected that breaking through to the Xuantian Realm would cause such a commotion, allowing all the students to witness it.

---

Now he didn’t dare come down, fearing the students would surround him with endless questions.

Next time, he thought, he must find a more secluded place to break through.

As he was thinking this, Tang Zhirou’s voice suddenly sounded from below.

“Jiang Xiaofei, come down at once! What are you doing up there? Lan Lianshuang has woken up—aren’t you going to check on her?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaofei immediately descended.

As soon as he landed, the students rushed over, crowding around him so tightly he couldn’t move. He found it rather exasperating.

Seeing this, Tang Zhirou waved her hand. “Disperse, everyone. Whatever you want to ask, save it for tomorrow.”

Though reluctant, the students obeyed, but their chatter didn’t stop. All were discussing Professor Jiang becoming a Supreme Mage, and their gazes were filled with awe.

With the students gone, Jiang Xiaofei breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Tang Zhirou. “Thank you for helping me out, Director Tang.”

“It’s nothing. By the way, have you really become a Supreme Mage?” As she spoke, Tang Zhirou fixed him with an odd look, as if trying to see through him.

Jiang Xiaofei said nothing, but nodded.

Tang Zhirou laughed. “Well, Jiang Xiaofei, you didn’t even tell me you were breaking through, letting me miss all the excitement.”

Jiang Xiaofei replied calmly, “What’s so interesting about breaking through to Supreme Mage?”

Then he frowned slightly and asked, “Didn’t you say Lan Lianshuang woke up?”

“That was a lie. Otherwise, would you have come down?”

“You…” Hearing this, Jiang Xiaofei was a little annoyed.

Just then, a weak voice came from inside the tent: “Cold… I’m so cold…”

Upon hearing it, Jiang Xiaofei ignored Tang Zhirou, lifted the tent flap, and entered. He saw Lan Lianshuang shivering violently, calling out for warmth. Her frail appearance made her pitiable.

Jiang Xiaofei frowned and went forward, crouching down and taking Lan Lianshuang’s hand.

At the touch, his expression changed. Her body was as cold as ice, and his own hand began to freeze. Had he not withdrawn quickly, his entire arm would have been frozen.

Tang Zhirou entered and saw Jiang Xiaofei’s grave expression. “She was fine just now—how did she end up like this?”

Jiang Xiaofei said nothing, his brow tightly knit. Then, as if struck by an idea, he urgently said to Tang Zhirou, “Please, Director Tang, wait outside and don’t let anyone disturb us. I need to suppress the cold poison in her body.”