The three Grotto-Heaven Realm experts had all been thoroughly enraged by Ye Yunfei. It looked like they might strike at any moment.
"Ye Yunfei, don't be afraid! If the situation turns sour, find a chance to escape into the core area of the academy. There's a major protective formation there," Dean Shangguan said in a low voice, shielding Ye Yunfei.
"This old man really does treat me well," Ye Yunfei felt a flicker of gratitude in his heart.
In truth, Ye Yunfei wasn't afraid at all. Although he couldn't defeat a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert now, he possessed the Heavenly Shadow Robe and the Illusory Mirror Pagoda. Under unexpected circumstances, Ye Yunfei believed he could retreat unscathed without issue.
Besides, Ye Yunfei had cultivated for a thousand years—what hardships or storms had he not witnessed? A mere three Grotto-Heaven Realm cultivators, how could he possibly be afraid of them?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Fengyun Chi, Xiao Qianfeng, and Wei Wuji erupted simultaneously, releasing their energy auras. A terrifying tsunami of energy fluctuations instantly flooded the surrounding world.
The heavens and earth shook, and the void thundered as if doomsday had arrived.
Right there on the training ground, more than half of the students collapsed limply to the floor.
Grotto-Heaven Realm experts were truly terrifying. Merely unleashing a portion of their energy aura was something ordinary students of Hudao Academy couldn't withstand.
"You two Deans, hand that brat over immediately! Otherwise, we will take action ourselves!" Fengyun Chi pointed at Ye Yunfei and said coldly.
"Everyone, leave now!" The two Deans didn't reply to Fengyun Chi. Acting together, they swept their sleeves, releasing two huge and deft waves of energy that hurled every student on the training ground outside its boundaries.
"Since that's the case, let's fight then!" The two Deans roared and stepped forward simultaneously.
Boom! Boom!
The two Deans released their own energy auras as well, standing firm against the three, Fengyun Chi and the others, confronting them in a standoff.
The atmosphere on the field was tense, with swords drawn and bows bent. A major battle seemed imminent.
Suddenly.
"Hmph! How audacious, to dare cause trouble at my Hudao Academy." An authoritative voice rang out. Then, an ordinary-looking elder appeared in the air above the training ground, his robes fluttering as he descended with steady steps.
"Xie Changkong!" The faces of Fengyun Chi, Xiao Qianfeng, and Wei Wuji immediately changed drastically upon seeing this elder. Because this elder was none other than the head Dean of Hudao Academy, Xie Changkong! One of the top experts on the Tianxuan Continent!
"Dean Xie has returned!" The academy's high-level personnel, including Dean Shangguan and Dean Zhou, were overjoyed to see Xie Changkong. They all hurriedly gathered around him.
Xie Changkong was the strongest expert in Hudao Academy and its backbone.
"Greetings to Dean Xie..." Fengyun Chi, Xiao Qianfeng, and Wei Wuji stiffened their necks and offered their respects to Xie Changkong. In front of Deans Shangguan and Zhou, they dared to be arrogant and disrespectful, but facing Xie Changkong, they were cautious.
Xie Changkong was a legendary figure whose prestige shook the entire Tianxuan Continent. How could the three of them compare?
Xie Changkong did not reply. He abruptly swept his sleeve.
Rumble...
An energy aura as vast as an abyssal sea crushed towards Fengyun Chi and the other two like a hurricane, majestic and unstoppable.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fengyun Chi, Xiao Qianfeng, and Wei Wuji were sent flying backward as if swept away by an autumn wind, only managing to stop their momentum a thousand meters away.
"Scram! If there is a next time, you will not be let off lightly!" Xie Changkong barked coldly.
Fengyun Chi and the other two flushed crimson with embarrassment. Though furious in their hearts, they dared not openly refute him. Based on the power Xie Changkong had just displayed with a mere flick of his sleeve, killing the three of them would be as easy as flipping his hand.
The three hesitated for a moment, then finally turned and left. They knew that with Xie Changkong here, they would gain no advantage.
"Damn it! Weren't we told that Xie Changkong was seriously injured? How is he still so formidable?"
"It seems the intel was wrong."
...
The three Grotto-Heaven Realm experts exchanged messages secretly as they departed.
"Dean Xie, these three came with malicious intent. Should we let them go just like that? If word gets out, outsiders will think our Hudao Academy is easy to bully," Dean Shangguan said to Xie Changkong, watching the retreating figures of the three experts.
"They came to Hudao Academy to test the waters, to see if I was truly injured," Xie Changkong said with a cold laugh.
"Dean Xie, how is your injury?" Deans Shangguan and Zhou both wore looks of concern as they looked at Xie Changkong. They had already received a message from Xie Changkong before, knowing he was indeed injured.
"It's a long story. There are too many people here. It's inconvenient to speak in detail," Xie Changkong sighed.
"Why did Fengyun Chi and the others try to trouble this student?" Xie Changkong asked with slight curiosity, his gaze landing on Ye Yunfei.
"Dean Xie, it was like this..." Dean Shangguan began, briefly recounting the events.
"Oh? Such a thing happened?" Xie Changkong seemed somewhat surprised and scrutinized Ye Yunfei.
"You, come here." Xie Changkong beckoned with his hand.
A great force of attraction caused Ye Yunfei's body to levitate into the air, slowly descending before Xie Changkong.
"Sixth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm!" Ye Yunfei inwardly stirred.
Ye Yunfei could see that Xie Changkong's cultivation was at the Sixth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm. The Grotto-Heaven Realm was a special cultivation stage, divided into ten levels.
Deans Shangguan and Zhou, along with Fengyun Chi, Xiao Qianfeng, and Wei Wuji—these five were only at the First-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm. But this Xie Changkong before him was at the Sixth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm! This was a true expert. Probably among the very top experts on the Tianxuan Continent already.
However, Ye Yunfei could see at a glance that this Xie Changkong was seriously injured.
"Ye Yunfei, you have offended the Fengyun Family, the Xiao Clan, and the Shenfeng Sect. You must be doubly careful when moving about in the future. The overall strength of these three major factions is not inferior to our Hudao Academy. Of course, you need not be afraid either. You are a student of our academy. Hudao Academy will never allow outsiders to bully our students. You can continue your cultivation with ease," Xie Changkong instructed Ye Yunfei.
"Understood, Dean," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Good. You may return now. The various rewards for this New Student Ranking Tournament will be arranged by the academy soon," Xie Changkong said.
"This student really is quite remarkable," Xie Changkong couldn't help but nod, looking at Ye Yunfei's retreating figure. He sent a mental message to Deans Shangguan and Zhou.
As a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert and a Dean, usually which student meeting him wouldn't be respectful, fearful, cautious, not even daring to breathe loudly? Yet from beginning to end, Ye Yunfei had faced him with a calm expression, neither humble nor arrogant. This earned Xie Changkong's great appreciation.
"Yes," Ye Yunfei nodded, then turned and left.
Initially, Ye Yunfei thought Xie Changkong would ask about the technique he had used earlier. Surprisingly, Xie Changkong did not mention it at all.
"Alright. Everyone disperse. This New Student Ranking Tournament is now concluded!" Dean Shangguan announced clearly.
Then, Xie Changkong led the academy's high-level personnel as they soared into the sky, heading towards the core area of Hudao Academy. The students gathered around the training ground also dispersed.
"Fengyun Chi, Xiao Qianfeng, Wei Wuji... you three old bastards, just you wait," Ye Yunfei thought to himself, recalling the day's events as he left the training grounds. Intense killing intent welled up within him.