Chapter 018: The Invisible Slap in the Face

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"Xiao Xiao, you really are smart," Feng Wuchen immediately praised as they walked out of the great hall.

Ling Xiaoxiao was extremely happy with Feng Wuchen's praise and smiled, "Only this way can we avoid delaying Brother Feng's time while also appeasing them. It's the best of both worlds."

"Big Brother Feng, what happened?" Lin You, who had been waiting outside the great hall, immediately ran up to ask upon seeing Feng Wuchen and Ling Xiaoxiao come out.

"Elder Su's cold poison has almost been cleared; he can eliminate the rest by himself," Feng Wuchen said with a faint smile.

Lin You shook her head anxiously, "I'm not talking about that. I heard Elder Su wants to recommend you to the dean. Didn't the dean mention this?"

"That's what you meant? I refused!" Feng Wuchen shrugged and laughed.

"What? You refused? Brother Feng, did you really refuse?" Lin You's eyes widened in disbelief as if she had heard the most incredible thing in the world.

Feng Wuchen nodded, "I don't want to stay here."

Lin You felt that Feng Wuchen must be out of his mind, refusing not only Elder Su but also the personal offer from the dean.

As Lin You found it hard to believe, Feng Wuchen added, "I'm now a student of the academy, just in name. I come and go as I wish."

"In name?" Lin You was taken aback once again, shocked into a daze.

To come and go as one pleases? Could Xing Tianfeng really agree to such conditions for Feng Wuchen? Just to get Feng Wuchen into the academy, he was granted such a high privilege?

Patting Lin You on the shoulder, Feng Wuchen smiled, "Stay in the academy and practice diligently. If there's anything, come and find me. I have things to do, so I'll be going now."

"Don't worry, Big Brother Feng, I won't disappoint you." Lin You nodded firmly, knowing she would not have been able to enter the academy without Feng Wuchen's help.

Although Lin You was known for her Fifth Grade Martial Soul talent, she was still a notch below Yang Tianruo in strength. If they were to duel, Lin You was not confident she could defeat Yang Tian.

Feng Wuchen and Ling Xiaoxiao had just walked about ten meters when they stopped, as someone had blocked their path.

The person blocking the way was none other than Mo Ling'er, Young Master Huangfu, and a group of students.

"Qi Refining Realm First Layer, truly fitting of the Mo family's foremost genius, congratulations," Feng Wuchen said indifferently as he looked at Mo Ling'er.

"Who is she?" Mo Ling'er asked coldly as she pointed at Ling Xiaoxiao.

"I am Brother Feng's fiancée!" Ling Xiaoxiao replied eagerly, not at all intimidated by Mo Ling'er's icy demeanor.

"Fiancée?" Mo Ling'er was stunned on the spot, and so was Young Master Huangfu.

"It's over! We have no chance now! Such a beautiful girl, and it's not our turn to protect and cherish her anymore! Oh, my heavens! I don't want to live!"

"The Heavenly Dao is unjust! I'm so handsome; I've been bearing the pressure that someone as handsome as I shouldn't have for so many years. Why doesn't a beautiful girl want to be with me? Is there no justice left? Who have I offended?"

"Alas, what a pity, a fresh flower planted in cow dung."

A group of male students voiced their disappointment, wailing and lamenting.

Feng Wuchen looked at Ling Xiaoxiao in surprise; he hadn't expected her to claim to be his fiancée!

"Be sensible. He's just a Second Grade Martial Soul waste. Don't be fooled by him!" Mo Ling'er snapped coldly at Ling Xiaoxiao.

"Do not insult Brother Feng! Brother Feng is not a waste," Ling Xiaoxiao fiercely defended Feng Wuchen. Mo Ling'er's insult made Ling Xiaoxiao very angry, and her beautiful face instantly turned icy cold.

"You!" Mo Ling'er was furious, incredulous at Ling Xiaoxiao's disregard.

Her icy gaze shifting to Feng Wuchen, Mo Ling'er said coldly, "Feng Wuchen, I know you're deliberately bringing her to irritate me. But let me make myself clear: no matter how many or how gorgeous the girls you bring, it won't change my opinion of you!"

"If you dare insult Brother Feng again, don't blame me for being rude!" Ling Xiaoxiao retorted coldly, her eyes suddenly fierce, ready for a fight at any moment.

Hearing this, Feng Wuchen was secretly alarmed; Ling Xiaoxiao was a Sixth Layer Qi Refining Realm practitioner and could easily defeat Mo Ling'er with a single palm strike. He didn't want Xing Tianfeng and the others to see that.

"Ungracious? If you can, then try! It would be my pleasure to wake you up!" Mo Ling'er said indifferently, still prideful and haughty.

"Mo Ling'er, don't think too highly of yourself. I brought Xiao Xiao out because I wanted her to have fun. You're thinking too much. Your opinion of me is your own business; it has nothing to do with me. We've already severed ties, and my affairs no longer concern you, for you're not the Mo Ling'er I once knew!" Feng Wuchen spoke indifferently, once again disappointed by Mo Ling'er's arrogance.

"You're not the Mo Ling'er I knew!" These words repeated in Mo Ling'er's mind, Feng Wuchen's words seemingly implying that she was unworthy of knowing him, making Mo Ling'er feel insulted.

"Just a Second Grade Martial Soul, what's there to be arrogant about?" Young Master Huangfu scoffed, disdaining the way others were treating Mo Ling'er.

Feng Wuchen glanced at Young Master Huangfu with indifference and chuckled, "How unfortunate for the Huangfu family to have raised you like this. I just wonder how long the Huangfu family will last in your hands."

"What did you say? Say it again if you dare! Don't think you're something special just because you defeated Yang Bufan and Yang Xuan," Young Master Huangfu fumed, pointing angrily at Feng Wuchen.

"Hmph! Ignorant." Feng Wuchen couldn't be bothered to respond and, holding Ling Xiaoxiao's jade hand, began to walk away.

"Brother Feng is holding my hand!" Ling Xiaoxiao was thrilled, her pretty face flushing with delight as she felt overjoyed inside.

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Seeing how affectionate the two were, the male students nearly vomited blood, wishing they could rush forward to engage in a life-and-death duel with Feng Wuchen!

If looks could kill, Feng Wuchen wouldn't know how many times he'd have died.

The young master of the Huangfu family's face darkened, his pitch-black eyes blazing with fury.

"Feng Wuchen! Stop right there!" Mo Ling'er barked coldly, the anger in her heart growing more intense by the moment.

"If you have something to say, speak up. I have no time to waste on you." Feng Wuchen replied indifferently, having long given up any feelings for Mo Ling'er.

Mo Ling'er shouted coldly, "You are nothing but trash, pretentious without any real ability. What gives you the right to be arrogant in front of me?"

Feng Wuchen shook his head and sneered, "Mo Ling'er, you're beyond help!"

"You bastard! How dare you insult Ling'er!" the young master of the Huangfu family roared in anger.

"Idiot!" Feng Wuchen responded with disdain, continuing to hold Ling Xiaoxiao's jade hand and walk away.

"This is preposterous! How dare you look down on me!" The young master of the Huangfu family, filled with rage, grew even more discontented with Feng Wuchen's arrogance and felt increasingly looked down upon.

"Give me one reason why I should look up to you," Feng Wuchen said with a cold laugh, not even turning his head.

"You're courting death!" The young master of the Huangfu family's face twisted fiercely as he summoned all his True Qi and lunged forward in fury.

"Huangfu Qing! Stop!" Just as Huangfu Qing was about to strike, a cold shout suddenly rang out: "From today onwards, Feng Wuchen is a nominal student of the academy!"

"Nominal student?" Huangfu Qing and many of the new students looked at Instructor Li in surprise, not understanding what it meant.

"He agreed to join the academy?" Mo Ling'er couldn't believe it.

Seeing the students' confusion, Instructor Li said sternly, "By 'nominal,' it means that Feng Wuchen can come and go from the academy as he pleases. This is the decision of the dean and the three elders!"

"Come and go from the academy as he pleases? On what basis? Feng Wuchen has only a Second Grade Martial Soul talent. Why is he allowed such freedom, and we are not?" Huangfu Qing was the first to object.

"The dean and the three elders all agreed?" Mo Ling'er was astounded.

Instructor Li stated firmly, "Huangfu Qing, if you could help Elder Su dispel the cold poison, you would also be allowed to come and go as you please. The same goes for all of you. If you can't, then shut up! Either accept training at the academy or leave!"

"..." At Instructor Li's words, the new students fell silent, filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

"This is preposterous!" gnashed his teeth Huangfu Qing, his fists clenched as he glared fiercely at Feng Wuchen.

"Inferior talent does not necessarily indicate lack of strength! No one is allowed to insult Feng Wuchen anymore; everyone must show respect, or face the consequences! Do you understand?" Instructor Li said sternly.

"Understood!" the students replied in unison.

Just then, a commotion came from the academy's gate; a group of people rushed in hastily, carrying an unconscious young man with them.

"Instructor Li! Instructor Li! Quickly get the head elder to save him!" someone spotted Instructor Li and called out frantically, also catching sight of Feng Wuchen.

The students gathered around, curious and puzzled.

"Yang Tian?" Lin You was the first to recognize the unconscious youth.

"Yang Tian's leg has been broken!" exclaimed Huangfu Qing, wondering who could have been so ruthless.

Feng Wuchen, passing by, merely glanced at the scene without a hint of concern.

"Uncle Yang, who broke Yang Tian's leg?" asked Mo Ling'er.

The man from the Yang family pointed at the retreating figure of Feng Wuchen and said angrily, "Feng Wuchen!"

"What? Feng Wuchen broke it? How is that possible?" Huangfu Qing's face was filled with disbelief.

Mo Ling'er also found it hard to believe, and many of the students' eyes turned toward Feng Wuchen's retreating figure.

Instructor Li then said, "In the duel between Yang Tian and Feng Wuchen, Yang Tian was defeated by a single punch from Feng Wuchen, which broke his leg."

"Defeated Yang Tian with one punch?" Mo Ling'er and Huangfu Qing's faces went pale, even more shocked.

Instructor Li continued, "Indeed, at that time, Yang Tian had reached the Qi Refining Realm at the First Layer, while Feng Wuchen was only Eightfold within the Body Refining Realm. So, Feng Wuchen is not the worthless person you speak of. With a four-layer improvement in cultivation within a month, such a defiant talent is unmatched not only in our academy but in the entire Empire. Now do you understand why the dean and the elders value him so much?"

Upon hearing Instructor Li's words, Mo Ling'er and Huangfu Qing were already petrified on the spot. Such a terrifying talent was unparalleled, and they had dared to flaunt their own abilities in front of Feng Wuchen!

It was utterly laughable!

"Is he really Feng Wuchen?" Mo Ling'er said in a daze, and at that moment, a trace of regret began to creep into her heart.

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