Qin Yun glanced at the black-robed old woman and the others, then said, “Before coming to the Great Qian Academy, I was full of admiration for it. But after seeing these so-called higher-ups, I’m glad I didn’t join the Great Qian Academy.”
“An academy that can casually break its own established rules has no future.”
“Besides, the Great Qian Royal City isn’t the only place with an academy.”
The black-robed old woman and the others looked furious. If a genius said such words, they might have tolerated it. But for someone like Qin Yun, who cultivated through physical strength and relied on his physique, to openly belittle the Great Qian Academy in front of everyone was unbearable.
“You think you’re something special? If you didn’t have someone backing you, do you think you’d even be standing here?” the black-robed old woman said coldly. “Just because you have a slight advantage in physique, you think you can look down on everyone? Don’t tell me you think beating those two means you’ve defeated all the students of the Great Qian Academy?”
“Arrogant and ignorant of your limits. The students of my Great Qian Academy are exceptionally strong—any one of them could easily crush you!”
Qin Yun stabbed the sword he got from Feng Zihao into the ground and said, “Old hag, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance. Send a student at the 6th stage of the Innate Realm. If they beat me, you can do whatever you want with me.”
Old hag…
The black-robed old woman nearly exploded from anger. Though she was indeed old, she had maintained herself well over the years and still looked around forty or fifty. Yet Qin Yun dared call her an old hag.
“You said it!” she growled, her eyes full of hatred.
She immediately sent someone to find a suitable student.
Knowing Qin Yun’s strong physique, she specifically chose someone who could counter him. As the Earth Hall Master, she had the authority to do so. She would make Qin Yun realize what it meant to seek death.
The Feng Clan Patriarch and the blue-robed middle-aged man didn’t leave either. They stayed to watch. They hadn’t expected Qin Yun to directly provoke the Earth Hall Master.
This was good. Let the Earth Hall Master deal with him.
Soon, a muscular middle-aged man arrived, carrying a massive twin-bladed axe that easily weighed over 500 kilograms. Not only was he innately strong, but he also exuded a heavy killing aura, clearly built up from years of bloodshed.
“One strike,” Qin Yun said.
One strike?
What did that mean?
The black-robed old woman and the others frowned, puzzled.
In the next instant, Qin Yun drew his sword and charged forward using Extreme-level Windshadow Footwork, combined with the Extreme-level Tyrant Sword Slash.
The Ten-Thousand-Forge Sword lit up like blazing fire.
The silver-robed elder and others were visibly moved.
It wasn’t actual flames, but the sheer power and speed of the sword slicing through the air caused intense heat, making the air shimmer like fire.
In that instant—
The sword swept past.
The middle-aged man froze, staring blankly ahead. Qin Yun was already behind him.
A line of blood slowly appeared on the man’s neck.
Thud!
Only then did the silver-robed elder and the others understand what Qin Yun meant by “one strike.” He had meant he would finish the fight in a single blow.
It turned out Qin Yun hadn’t gone all out when fighting Feng Ziqin earlier.
At his current strength, among Earth Hall’s students at the 6th stage of the Innate Realm, Qin Yun could rank near the top.
Even across all students of the Great Qian Academy, he could place within the top ten.
The black-robed old woman’s face twisted with fury. She wanted nothing more than to rush forward and slap Qin Yun to death. But with Ancestor Xuantian present, she knew she couldn’t touch him.
Qin Yun sheathed his sword and walked away.
Qian Susu quickly followed.
Ancestor Xuantian silently trailed behind them.
The blue-robed middle-aged man noticed the regretful look on the silver-robed elder’s face and said coldly, “What? Regretful now, Head of Heaven Hall?”
“He does have potential.”
“He might have a bit of potential, but he’s only arrogant now because of that. Once his peers reach the Origin Source Realm, do you really think he’ll be anything more than someone still struggling in the Innate Realm?”
The black-robed old woman snorted, “In cultivation, falling behind one step means falling behind every step. In the end, you’ll be left in the dust, grow dispirited, and become a useless failure.”
“The Earth Hall Master is right. Cultivating both physical strength and true qi simultaneously is impossible to balance. In the end, it just leads to mediocrity—no, to being a waste.”
The blue-robed man added coldly, “Besides, he killed four members of my Feng Clan. This blood debt will definitely be repaid.”
The Heaven Hall Master sighed softly.
Though he felt regret, he couldn’t afford to go against both the Earth Hall Master and the Feng Hall Master just for Qin Yun.
At that moment, a Feng Clan scout arrived.
“Hall Master, we’ve identified the girl traveling with them. She’s a concubine-born daughter from the Prince of Chu’s Residence named Qian Susu. Her mother used to be a maid of the Prince’s third son and died of overwork a year ago,” the scout quickly reported.
“What about her talent?” asked the blue-robed man.
“Average. Nothing outstanding. That’s why the Prince’s residence never paid her much attention. A year ago, the small residence once granted to her mother was taken back, and she’s currently staying in an old, rundown house,” the scout replied.
The blue-robed man nodded.
A concubine-born daughter of a maid, with no talent.
To put it nicely, she carried the blood of the royal family. But realistically, she was nothing more than a servant with royal blood—perhaps even worse than a servant.
“Trash always finds trash. Birds of a feather flock together. Useless people will naturally stay with useless people,” the Earth Hall Master said coldly.
…
After listening to the spy’s report, the Prince frowned.
Even the Feng Clan Patriarch had been stirred—and they left unharmed. That meant the white-robed elder named Xuantian must possess strength no less than the Feng Clan Patriarch.
“What are their origins? Which royal city did they come from?” the Prince asked the spy.
“Your Highness, they came from Luo City. The one called Xuantian is the ancestor of a small sect—Heavenly Mystic Sect. The young man, Qin Yun, is the Young Master of that sect,” the spy reported.
“A small sect’s ancestor…” the Prince frowned again. He didn’t believe a small sect elder could rival the Feng Clan Patriarch.
This so-called Ancestor Xuantian must be hiding his true identity.
“Keep investigating. Find out everything about Ancestor Xuantian—when he appeared in the Heavenly Mystic Sect, and the full background of that sect. I want it all,” the Prince commanded.
“Yes!” the spy responded.
“And where is the heir?” the Prince asked the waiting Dark Mo.
“He went to the Moonlit Tower…” Dark Mo said bitterly. He was no longer Qin Lingxiao’s path guardian.
“Useless brat, always chasing women and drinking!”
The Prince was so angry his face turned white. If it weren’t so troublesome to strip him of the heir title—and since he hadn’t committed any major offenses—he would’ve been dealt with long ago.
“Drag him back immediately. Then take him to apologize to Xuantian and the others!” the Prince ordered coldly.
Dark Mo immediately understood that the Prince wanted to forge ties with Ancestor Xuantian. That’s why he wanted Qin Lingxiao to apologize first.
“Your Highness, instead of having the heir go apologize, why not take another approach?” Dark Mo quickly said.
“Who else?” the Prince frowned.
“One of your concubine-born granddaughters is currently traveling with Ancestor Xuantian and Qin Yun,” Dark Mo said.
“Concubine-born granddaughter? From the second son? Or the fifth?”
The Prince couldn’t remember. There were just too many illegitimate children.
“The third son’s. Her name is Qian Susu. She was born from the third son and one of the palace maids.”
“The third son…”
After a moment of hesitation, the Prince said, “Since she’s from the third son’s line, she’s still a descendant of my Prince of Chu’s Residence. Go deliver this token to her, and have someone carve a new Commandery Princess token for her.”
“Your Highness, you want to make Qian Susu a Commandery Princess?” Dark Mo was shocked.
To win over Ancestor Xuantian, the Prince was being extremely generous.
After all, he only had two Commandery Princess slots. Many of the legitimate daughters were eyeing them, yet now he was giving one to Qian Susu?
With the title of Commandery Princess, Qian Susu would rise to the heavens in a single step.
“Yes, confer her the title of Commandery Princess,” the Prince nodded. A figure who could rival the Feng Clan Patriarch was definitely worth drawing in.