NEC Chapter 48: The Rich Work Harder Than You

Over the following days, Morton seemed determined to make up for Chen Mo’s lost time, teaching with urgency and meticulous detail.

"The essence of magical professions is to accumulate spiritual energy through meditation, then use mental prowess to construct spell models. By combining your mana with various magical materials, you leverage and guide the vast spiritual energy of the world, triggering a chain reaction step by step."

"For example, with the most common fire element magic, the world’s vast spiritual energy is like an endless forest. But note, the trees in this forest aren’t tightly connected; they’re separate, and each one needs you to ignite it personally."

"A mage’s mental strength is the flint, and mana is the dry firewood you carry. How big a fire you can spark depends on how long your flint holds out and how much firewood you’ve got!"

Chen Mo’s notes flew across the page, and of course, he recorded audio and video. It’s a private lesson, after all, he paid for it, so recording should be fine, right?

He’d definitely send a copy of the footage back home. Later, he could pay Morton some copyright fees. The instructor probably wouldn’t mind, right?

Oblivious, Morton poured out his life’s knowledge.

He greatly admired Chen Mo’s diligent attitude, but what impressed him more was Chen Mo’s comprehension.

To put it bluntly, Chen Mo’s Blue Star education gave him a crushing advantage over his Starry Continent peers, like someone versed in calculus revisiting basic arithmetic.

Another undeniable factor: Chen Mo paid generously!

Morton even calculated that if he could train this student to Moonring tier, he might help Master Hal build the main tower past three stories.

Meanwhile, Glimmer Group Three’s other apprentices felt their world collapsing.

"Look at your spell models! So skewed, have goblins been nibbling at your brains?" Morton’s roars echoed through the study hall, spit nearly spraying the front-row apprentices.

"Roy, assist me. Demonstrate a Glimmer Spell model!"

Chen Mo quietly began, projecting a flawless Glimmer Spell structure in the air with spiritual energy.

"See that? That’s a standard model, one you could etch onto a magical recording slab!"

"Even if Roy’s mental strength is a fraction of yours now, I guarantee, with this learning attitude, you’ll never catch his shadow in the future."

Or, waving a neatly written, meticulously organized notebook with no sloppy corrections, "Look at his work, then look at yours! Were you off dreaming of your sweetheart during class?"

He mercilessly unleashed his wrath on the group, voice dripping with disappointment, "Roy, with a background far superior to yours and wealth you can’t imagine, works harder than any of you. Yet you’re here goofing off!"

"Where’s your future? In a rice bucket?!"

Under Morton’s tirade, Glimmer Group Three was utterly crushed by Chen Mo’s intensity, suffocating in a way they’d never experienced.

Behind the scenes, Morton’s "VIP tutoring" sessions for Chen Mo grew longer, and Chen Mo’s notebook thickened visibly.

"There’s no absolute hierarchy between professions, only differences in strength and specialization. Learn to adapt to different scenarios…"

"Summoning uses spatial spiritual energy for cross-domain transfers…"

"Spell models are bridges, linking the source of spiritual energy to the casting outlet. The more precise the model, the smoother the energy flow, the stronger the spell. That’s why the same spell yields different results from different casters…"

"Warriors internalize spiritual energy, like forging their own arm, making their attacks faster and more agile. High-tier warriors who can project spiritual energy strike several times faster than a mage guiding energy. Against warriors, always keep your distance…"

"Magical materials are critical. As a mage, you must know your common materials by heart and check them before casting! If someone tampers with your materials, a spell might fail at best, or you could suffer mental damage with irreversible consequences!"

"Remember this, always!"

Looking at Morton’s intensely serious, slightly contorted face, Chen Mo seemed to understand something and nodded firmly.

Morton reiterated several times, ensuring Chen Mo took it to heart, before nodding slightly and handing him a bag. "I’ve got some specially blended potions here to ease mental fatigue from meditation. You know my character by now. If you trust me, try a bit, it should help."

This was beyond useful!

"Thank you so much! How much?"

"I made it myself. What money? It’s a gift."

"If you won’t take payment, I can’t accept it!"

"…"

Leaving the one-on-one tutoring session, Kato had already grabbed dinner for Chen Mo.

"You’re late again today. I’m impressed, never seen old Morton so invested in an apprentice. Hey, what’s that in your hand? From Morton?"

"Yeah, from the instructor."

Chen Mo opened the bag, eating while tossing two potion vials to Kato. "Morton’s personally blended potions, said to speed recovery after meditation."

"I like to be upfront. Morton warned me to be cautious with potions, so I’m looking for someone to test them. Five silver coins per test. Can you ask around, see if anyone’s willing? I want to observe the effects myself."

Kato’s eyes lit up, snatching the potion bag and stuffing it in his pocket.

"Bro! Why look elsewhere for something this good? Keep it in the family! Morton’s potions? No way they’re bad. Trust me completely!"

"Forget paying, people would pay to get these."

"Besides, you’re too kind! Calling it ‘testing potions’ sounds scary. Just say ‘free potion perk,’ and they’ll thank you. Why waste the money?"

Chen Mo finished his last bite, wiped his mouth, and said seriously to Kato, "Since you’re willing to test, the money’s yours."

"I’m not some saint. When push comes to shove, I’ll deceive or kill if I must."

"But if I have a choice, I’d rather not lie or kill. It’s a small comfort to myself."

"From now on, don’t scam anyone under my name. If you have ideas or needs, tell me directly!"

Kato nodded, half-understanding.

Chen Mo stood, shouldered his backpack, and headed back to the cultivation room.

Wandering this ruthless world, amidst its filth and chaos, he couldn’t help but recall Blue Star’s East Xia, which had once endured a dark, silent era.

What saved the nation wasn’t cunning strategists, warlords, ruthless tyrants, economic savants, or master manipulators…

It was a group of people with faith, who followed rules, threw themselves into the fray, and sacrificed everything for their country.

Perhaps because he’d heard their stories and basked in their legacy, Chen Mo clung to a sliver of kindness in his heart.

Walking through this unknown world, on unfamiliar soil under alien stars, he still strove to hold his head high.

He couldn’t afford to disgrace the shining ancestors back home!

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