Challenging the of Tianfeng Academy, a Rank Nine Magister—could it be Ling Feng? That thought struck me hard, erasing any inclination to dwell on His Majesty Suo Men's affairs.

Ling Feng had spent two months with me, offering immense assistance. She was now on the cusp of breaking through to the Dou Zun realm, a result entirely due to our sparring sessions. A true gentleman does not forget a kindness; perhaps her initial invitation for me to come to Tianfeng Academy was precisely for this purpose. And now, upon hearing someone intended to challenge the Dean, she was the first person to spring to mind, especially since I had declined her request.

Though I didn't know Ling Feng's exact rank as a Dou Zun, she certainly hadn't reached Rank Nine. To challenge a Rank Nine Magister without being Rank Nine herself—wasn't that courting death? No wonder she looked crestfallen when I said I wouldn't attend.

Arriving with Warren at the gates of Tianfeng Academy, I saw a massive crowd blocking the entrance. It looked like it would take at least half an hour just to push through.

Chen Feng, feeling anxious, was about to use the Wu Kong Shu to fly over when Warren grabbed his arm. "Follow me this way, I know a spot we can get in!"

With that, Warren led Chen Feng around the back of the throng, circling a bit before arriving at a side door.

He knocked twice. A student, looking official, opened the door.

Warren smiled, handing over something that looked like a student ID. "This is my credential. This is my friend; he’s just here to see me briefly, then we'll leave."

The student glanced at Chen Feng, returned the ID to Warren, and looked troubled. "There's a special situation at the Academy today; no one can just wander in. Forget your friend, even your own father couldn't get in now. You go in, he waits outside!"

He waved his hand, adopting an air of righteous adherence to duty.

"Brother, just this once, please!" Warren pleaded.

"It's not that I don't want to help, but today is truly a special circumstance. The Academy is going into lockdown. If everyone expected favors like you, the Academy would already be a mess of undesirables! What would be the point of locking down?" the student argued fretfully.

"Big Brother, I really have urgent business. Just make an exception!" Warren, though unaware of Chen Feng’s sudden anxiety, was a loyal friend and pressed the doorkeeper.

"Absolutely not. This is Academy regulation. Any other day, sure, but today, absolutely not..."

Chen Feng was growing frantic. Hearing the student’s impatience, his face darkened, and a surge of anger erupted. He let out a cold snort: "Move aside!"

The student guard, hearing Chen Feng’s tone, shoved him back with contempt. "Who the hell do you think you are? A Rank Seven Dou Shi, talking to me like that? I won't let you in today—what are you going to do about it?"

With a sharp CRUNCH!, Chen Feng's fist slammed into the guard's chest, followed by a series of sickening cracks; three or four of his ribs snapped.

Chen Feng always preferred to settle matters quickly with his fists rather than wasting breath on such people.

"Let's go!" Chen Feng ignored the guard writhing on the ground, called out to Warren, and strode forward first.

Warren’s eyes nearly popped out. He looked from the groaning guard to Chen Feng, almost fainting. Hitting a guard meant expulsion...

As Chen Feng and Warren moved away, the gate student wiped the cold sweat from his brow, his eyes fixed on Chen Feng’s receding back. "You just wait..."

"What's wrong?" a voice echoed in his ear.

He spun around, his face instantly lighting up with relief. "Teacher Jacob! Someone forcibly entered the Academy just now and injured me! Go catch him quickly..."

The newcomer was none other than Teacher Jacob, the one Chen Feng had previously dealt with.

Jacob followed the direction the student pointed, catching sight of Chen Feng’s retreating figure. His eyebrows twitched involuntarily. He bent down and helped the injured student up. "You hurt yourself today; no one came in. If I find out you're lying, I’ll inform the school to expel you immediately!" He then tossed the student back to the ground and turned to leave.

The student, thrown down again, felt a sharp agony from his broken ribs. His vision darkened, and he passed out. Even as he lost consciousness, he likely lamented the sheer unfairness of it all...

Chen Feng moved swiftly, soon reaching the largest contest ground in Tianfeng Academy. It was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, an impenetrable mass composed entirely of Tianfeng Academy students.

A young woman stood calmly on the platform, her robes fluttering lightly, radiating an aura utterly untouched by the mortal realm. If not Ling Feng, who else could it be?

"Wow... so beautiful..."

"Our Academy's top beauty can't even compare!"

"Top beauty? Compared to her, the top beauty is less than dirt..."

The students below weren't angry that she was challenging the Dean; instead, they were mesmerized by her stunning appearance.

"The junior disciple Ling Feng, under orders from my family, has come to issue a challenge to the esteemed Dean of Tianfeng Academy, Xia Liubinqing. I request an audience!" Ling Feng's soft voice drifted across the entire contest platform like a gentle breeze, sounding like celestial music.

"Her voice is incredible. If I could hear this voice often, I'd happily live ten years less..."

"Less than ten years? I’d give up fifty! Heavens, how can a sound in this world be so captivating?"

The crowd buzzed again, murmurs rising in a clamor.

...........

Inside a sealed chamber, an old man stood bowing slightly before three even more ancient figures seated before him.

"It was bound to happen. We have guarded this item for so many years; it’s time to let go. Xia Liubinqing, you will engage her in a fight. Regardless of the outcome, bring her here afterward; we will handle the rest. What do you all think?" the most ancient figure in the center spoke lightly.

The other two elders immediately concurred. "Your suggestion is excellent. Let's proceed as you say!"

The standing elder, seeing the agreement of the three seniors, said, "Then I shall go out to meet the challenge!"

"Go... but don't injure her too severely. She is kin to that family. If she is hurt badly, their fury is not something our entire Academy can withstand!"

"Yes!" Xia Liubinqing withdrew slowly.

Stepping out of the room, he wiped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath, just in time to hear the young woman’s gentle voice echoing from the main contest ground.

"Her strength is indeed not weak; her casual tone carries this far. It seems her Feng Ming Jiu Tian has reached at least the sixth layer!" A faint mist welled up before him, and he vanished from his spot as if teleported.

...........

Chen Feng watched the girl on the platform, preparing to leap up, but suddenly felt his intention was baseless.

What was he doing? Was he merely afraid she would get hurt and wanted to stop her duel with the Dean of Tianfeng Academy?

Stop her for what reason? She must have her own plans. Moreover, his relationship with her was only that of friends who had spent some time together; he had no right, nor any justification, to interfere!

For a moment, Chen Feng was uncertain what to do.

Chen Feng was reserved; he rarely showed emotion, even when he felt it. He would always remember those who treated him well, and he would make those who treated him poorly pay the price—that was his code of conduct!

Ling Feng had spent over two months with him, sparring daily, offering him immense help. Her kindness was profound. If he stood by indifferently while she faced danger, it would be contrary to his very nature.

He closed his eyes tightly, pondering for a moment, then suddenly snapped them open.

"A fair match is acceptable. But if there is any hidden lethal intent, I will fight to the death to ensure she is not harmed!"

With that, his fists clenched, a determined look settling in his eyes.

.............

In a darkened corner within the crowd, two small, slender figures were concealed.

"Heh heh, the Master's timing was perfect; they really showed up. What should we do now?"

"What to do? It’s simple. When these two are both exhausted and wounded, we kill this woman. Their family will surely seek revenge, and once Tianfeng Academy is attacked, the Four Great Empires will certainly intervene. Chaos will erupt, and our Master can then fish in troubled waters to seize that item!"

"Heh heh, the Master's strategy is brilliant; he calculated everything!"

"Of course. If he couldn't calculate this much, could he still be called the Master?"

"True... heh heh."

.............

Ling Feng stood on the high platform, gazing straight ahead, as if nothing in the world could draw her attention.

Six months ago, her family had tasked her with this mission. Because she had not yet fully merged her ancestor’s bloodline with her own body, she had sequestered herself in the mountains outside.

The ancestor's blood was overwhelmingly potent. Even after four months in the mountains, there were no signs of integration. Then she met that red-haired youth. Unexpectedly, sparring with him proved to have the effect of merging the blood!

Every punch he threw carried a peculiar energy. Whenever this energy spread within her domain, the ancestor’s blood would integrate with her body by another increment. This was why she had spent a full two months with him.

In reality, the ancestral blood had fully merged a month ago. But for some unknown reason, she hadn't wanted to leave, continuing to spar with the silent, unwilling youth. Perhaps being near him brought a sense of peace, a momentary absence of responsibility!

Three days ago, knowing she could delay no longer—the six-month deadline set by her family had expired—she finally descended the mountain.

"He really is distant," Ling Feng mused to herself. It was the first time she had ever begged someone, and to be rejected felt strange now. Why had she invited him in the first place? His cultivation level was of no benefit to her whatsoever, yet she had inexplicably asked him to stay...

A sigh passed through her mind. Hearing the endless praise from below brought an inexplicable sense of emptiness. Her eyes swept over the crowd, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat, for among the multitude, she spotted one person.

Someone she truly believed would not come.

"Chen Feng, you came after all!" For some reason, a faint excitement stirred within her normally placid heart.

ps: Xia Liubinqing is a cameo from associate moderator zhoubo751... ... Also, since the associate moderator is in class, I am looking for another associate moderator. Requirements: must have a fan value of 1 or higher in this book and be frequently online. Interested parties, please sign up in the VIP group... (To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, please log in to www**com for more chapters, support the author, and support legitimate reading!) First published