The Pride and Stance of the Academy

Li Wu's words revealed little, and the dim stone hall obscured any subtle changes in his expression. Yet, Lin Xi was keenly aware of the weight behind his sparse remarks, sensing that this graduate from the Department of Internal Affairs was no ordinary individual. Moreover, there was a solemnity in Li Wu's tone that conveyed no hint of displeasure, leading Lin Xi to understand that this senior from the Internal Affairs department was likely a truly admirable hero, currently entangled in some dire predicament.

...

For Vice Dean Xia, Lin Xi remained a cherished child on a path filled with high expectations, someone to be nurtured with a degree of pressure, but never exposed to too much darkness. Consequently, Lin Xi's knowledge of the situation was limited; he was unaware that a day prior, a convoy departing from the Imperial City of Zhongzhou had already traversed the Four Seasons Plain and reached the foot of the Mount Ascend.

At this moment, Yan Shaoqing, the second-in-command of the Department of Civil Affairs, Feng Qianhan, the Commander of the Department of Military Affairs, and Ye Shaofeng, a representative of the younger faction of the Zhongzhou Guard, were seated in a grand hall of Qingluan Academy, sipping tea.

This hall was vast, supported by a dozen crimson pillars so large that it would take several people to encircle one. The azure stone tiles on the floor resembled an endless river, wide and tall enough to accommodate a three or four-story building from elsewhere. Yet, within this expansive hall, only a few chairs were placed, rendering it exceptionally vacant.

The tea was brewed from the pristine glaciers of the Mount Ascend, untouched for millennia, while the leaves were harvested from the small-leaf rock tea that grew naturally on the academy's steep cliffs. The tea was exceptionally sweet and pure, imbued with a mysterious ethereal quality, seemingly resonating with the grandeur of nature outside the window, as if imparting a profound life philosophy.

Yan Shaoqing, the second-in-command of the Department of Civil Affairs, was a strikingly handsome man. Had Lin Xi seen him, he would have undoubtedly noted a resemblance to the renowned Zheng Shaoqiu of yesteryears, yet he possessed a scholarly air and an aura of antiquity unique to this world. 

He wore a green official hat adorned with a square emerald, and his green official robe bore a white mandarin duck sun emblem on his chest, signifying his status. 

Though his official robe and boots bore some stains, he appeared utterly oblivious to them, his composure rendering these blemishes almost invisible, creating an impression of immaculate neatness.

Feng Qianhan was clad in the Commander's armor, crafted from luminous moonstone and black gold threads. Each palm-sized gem was embedded on the inner side of the armor, while the incredibly resilient black gold threads remained unseen on the exterior. The unique white sheen of the moonstone, intricately engraved with crescent-shaped runes, made Feng Qianhan, whose hair had turned completely white, resemble a frost-covered god of war.

Having endured countless battles, his formidable presence and military aura should have made him the most irritable among the three. Yet, despite his furrowed brow, he exhibited remarkable patience as he sipped his tea.

The only one who had lost his patience was the youngest among them, Ye Shaofeng.

This was not Zhongzhou's Imperial City; he bore no responsibility for guarding it and could dress casually. Nevertheless, he still donned his white tiger armor, the white leather tightly encasing his robust physique, sculpting lines as hard as rock. Tiger-patterned runes coiled around his armor, converging at his head, where a helmet resembling a tiger's head obscured much of his face, revealing only his youthful yet stern and angered countenance.

He lifted his teacup, set it down, lifted it again, and repeated this several times, until he could no longer contain himself. He turned to the black-robed instructor standing at the end of the blue brick path by the door and asked in a low voice, "When will Vice Dean Xia arrive?"

The black-robed instructor, appearing to be in his mid-thirties, was gaunt, his hair tied with a rough cord, giving it a somewhat withered appearance. Aside from his black robe, he looked like an ordinary villager from Xinghua Village, utterly unremarkable.

Upon hearing Ye Shaofeng's inquiry, the black-robed instructor did not even lift his eyelids. He shook his head calmly, saying, "I do not know."

"Do not know?" The instructor's indifferent demeanor only served to chill Ye Shaofeng's expression. He glared at the black-robed instructor, his voice icy, "Is the Qingluan Academy's arrogance truly so great? We have already waited a day, must we endure endless delays? You must understand, we are here on the Emperor's command!"

Hearing this, Yan Shaoqing couldn't help but smile inwardly, recognizing that the commander of the Zhongzhou Guard was indeed from a different era and had long resided in the Imperial City. Although he understood that Qingluan Academy commanded respect, he naturally lacked a sense of reverence, failing to comprehend the academy's pride and its justification. Such words would seem somewhat ludicrous within Qingluan Academy, but he also knew that the Prime Minister had arranged for Ye Shaofeng to come to the academy to instill a necessary sense of respect in these younger factions, ensuring they were always aware of the academy's true strength and pride. Thus, he listened with keen interest, refraining from uttering a word.

Feng Qianhan's thoughts were simpler; he believed that this foolish and arrogant young man would benefit from a lesson. He let out a heavy snort, further fueling Ye Shaofeng's ire.

"That is your concern." As Yan Shaoqing had anticipated, the black-robed instructor, appearing quite ordinary within the academy, did not even raise his eyelids, calmly responding.

"What did you say!"

Ye Shaofeng's body jolted, his face turning pale with rage. He had invoked the name of the Emperor, yet the other party remained utterly unmoved, disregarding even the Emperor's decree?

"Do you mean to say that you do not regard the Emperor?" He stared intently at the black-robed instructor, unable to fathom the source of such arrogance and disdain.

The black-robed instructor, with his withered hair and ordinary features, slightly lifted his head to glance at Ye Shaofeng, his eyes reflecting a faint sense of mockery. "Even if the Emperor himself were to come, whether to meet or not is entirely at Vice Dean Xia's discretion. Is it for you to decide? Thus, whether to meet or not is his concern, while waiting or not is yours."

Ye Shaofeng was first taken aback, then filled with fury. He abruptly stood up, his gaze sharp as a blade, directed at the black-robed instructor. "You have quite the audacity! Are you implying that the Emperor is less esteemed than Vice Dean Xia?"

"How you choose to think is your own affair, not mine." The black-robed instructor did not even lift his eyelids, speaking with neither humility nor arrogance.

After a brief pause, the black-robed instructor continued without glancing at Ye Shaofeng, "Moreover, you are merely the commander of the Zhongzhou Guard. You can return and command your men, but you are not a member of the academy, and you cannot order me to do anything. Just as now, my only task is to wait here. If I so choose, I need not speak with you at all."

Upon hearing the black-robed instructor's words, Yan Shaoqing and Feng Qianhan both sighed inwardly. They understood that being left waiting here was the academy's clear stance, and it seemed that the academy's attitude was even more resolute than they had imagined, indicating that they would have to wait many more days.

What left them most helpless was the knowledge that the academy's initial response would undoubtedly be a flat refusal. Yet, to await this reply, they would have to bide their time and then prepare for the next negotiation.

However, Ye Shaofeng did not grasp this. He believed that since he had arrived bearing the Emperor's decree, Qingluan Academy must accept it forthwith. Thus, upon hearing the black-robed instructor's words, he was instantly enraged, stepping forward with a fierce glare at the audacious black-robed instructor, demanding, "If I were to challenge you to a duel right now, would that not be our affair?"

"That indeed would be our affair." The black-robed instructor was momentarily taken aback but then regarded Ye Shaofeng directly, calmly asking, "However, I am merely an instructor from the Department of Civil Affairs, my combat abilities rank among the lowest in all the academy's instructors. Are you truly prepared to duel with me?"

Ye Shaofeng, furious to the point of laughter, replied, "Within this academy, even if you were to prove no match for me, I would never genuinely harm you. Besides, even the most trivial duel is far more enjoyable than sitting here waiting."

The black-robed instructor, whose appearance was exceedingly ordinary, shook his head slightly, a hint of derision appearing at the corners of his mouth. He could not be bothered to say more and merely waved his sleeve, gesturing for Ye Shaofeng to proceed.

Ye Shaofeng inclined his body slightly, bowing to the black-robed instructor, saying nothing further. The runes on his white tiger armor shone with a dazzling light as his entire being leaped forward like a vibrant tiger within the hall, instantly closing the distance to the black-robed instructor. With no formal technique, he executed a brutally domineering kick, descending from the air towards the instructor's head.

In Yunqin, martial prowess was revered, and while formalities were observed before a duel, the objective naturally shifted to overpowering the opponent once combat commenced.

The instructor's prior demeanor had thoroughly enraged Ye Shaofeng, so when he struck, he held nothing back. As his foot descended, a tempest arose in the hall, causing the black-robed instructor's garments to flap violently.

This kick was undeniably fierce, and as Ye Shaofeng's foot came crashing down, his other leg was already slightly bent, poised to retaliate against any counteraction from the black-robed instructor.

However, his pupils constricted in an instant, for the black-robed instructor showed no intention of evading Ye Shaofeng's ferocious strike. Instead, amidst the howling wind, he lifted his head, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"Thud!"

The black-robed instructor's body bent slightly before he surged upward, bracing himself with his right shoulder to absorb the full force of Ye Shaofeng's kick, one powerful enough to shatter stone and armor!

A burst of yellow and white light erupted from his shoulder, and with a resounding impact, his body sank heavily, the azure bricks beneath him shattering, his feet sinking into the debris. His face paled momentarily, yet simultaneously, a prouder and more mocking expression surfaced. He seized Ye Shaofeng's foot, which was planted on his shoulder, yanking it forcefully, then executed a dramatic roll, his feet soaring skyward, akin to a rabbit ensnared by a hawk, using all his strength to kick upward, striking Ye Shaofeng's other foot from beneath!

As Ye Shaofeng's foot landed on the black-robed instructor's shoulder, his other foot had originally been aimed at the instructor's face. Their cultivation levels seemed comparable; one kick had already injured the black-robed instructor. Yet now, as the instructor's feet struck up against Ye Shaofeng's sole, Ye Shaofeng's face turned ashen, sensing a crack in his hip bone, his entire leg nearly losing sensation.

In the eyes of Yan Shaoqing and Feng Qianhan, Ye Shaofeng's initial attack had been a fierce tiger's paw, but at this moment, it transformed into the black-robed instructor's forceful tearing of his body.

With a thunderous crash, Ye Shaofeng stumbled backward, unable to stand due to the excruciating pain in his foot and hip, while the black-robed instructor remained unflinching. As his feet struck Ye Shaofeng's, his hands transformed into talons, fiercely clawing at the foot that rested upon his shoulder.

With this forceful pull, he lunged forward, flipping over to reattach himself to Ye Shaofeng's body.

His right shoulder sagged, seemingly injured from the previous blow, rendering it ineffective, but his left hand's index and middle fingers had already formed a sword, poised at Ye Shaofeng's throat.

"Spare me!"

Witnessing this scene, Yan Shaoqing and Feng Qianhan, who had been calmly observing, were suddenly alarmed, their expressions shifting dramatically.

They understood that every instructor at the academy carried their own pride and possessed formidable strength unknown to the outside world. Yet, they had not anticipated that this black-robed instructor would unleash such ferocity.

The black-robed instructor's fingers pressed lightly against Ye Shaofeng's throat, and he executed an unsightly roll, akin to a ball, tumbling across the ground for several rotations before standing upright.

Ye Shaofeng remained frozen in place, two faint red imprints marking his throat, and a thick metallic taste of blood surged within him.

This black-robed instructor's cultivation was not particularly remarkable; he was, like Ye Shaofeng, a high-level Soul Master.

Against opponents of the same rank, it was difficult to breach defenses without significant depletion of soul power. However, as Xu Shengmo had explained in his first lesson to Lin Xi and the others, the human body harbors numerous vulnerabilities. Even among high-level Soul Masters, the throat, a particularly frail area, could not withstand the force of hardened finger bones piercing through.