"By the way, Ye Yunfei, you have performed a great service in your trip to the Crystal Mine Minor World.
Here are the academy's rewards for you."
Dean Xie Changkong waved his hand, and a spatial ring flew before Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei probed it briefly with his Soul Power and found the ring filled with crystals, spirit pills, magical treasures, and several secret manuals.
For an ordinary student, this kind of reward would undoubtedly be very valuable.
However, for Ye Yunfei, these items were essentially useless.
Crystals? Ye Yunfei had plenty.
Spirit pills? He had even more. Besides, the spirit pills provided by Hudao Academy didn't even catch his eye.
As for the secret manuals, he doubted there was any cultivation technique or martial skill on the Tianxuan Continent that Ye Yunfei would deem worth his attention.
"Dean Xie, do you have any swords of relatively high grade? If so, that would be far more beneficial to me than these rewards," Ye Yunfei said as he gently pushed the spatial ring back towards Dean Xie Changkong.
Ye Yunfei intended to upgrade his Five Elements Spiritual Swords.
The Five Elements Slaying Immortals Sword Formation was an incredibly advanced swordsmanship art.
However, his current Five Elements Spiritual Swords were of too low a grade, limiting the power they could unleash.
"Swords of high grade?"
Dean Xie Changkong and the six Guardian Elders were taken aback.
They realized they couldn't see through this young man before them at all.
If any other student had received such a generous reward, they would surely have been overjoyed.
Yet Ye Yunfei had outright refused it.
"Alright then.
Let me first check the academy's treasure vault for magical treasures. If there are any, I will have them sent to you," Dean Xie Changkong said after a moment of consideration.
"Very well. I shall take my leave then," Ye Yunfei nodded and walked out of the hall.
"Such a mysterious young man."
Watching Ye Yunfei's receding back, one of the Guardian Elders suddenly murmured softly.
"Everyone has their own secrets.
We should not delve too deeply into Ye Yunfei's secrets.
Our duty is simply to protect our students," Dean Xie Changkong said gravely.
"Indeed.
The original purpose of founding Hudao Academy by the Guardian Path Sage was to gather and cultivate the most outstanding group of young talents on the Tianxuan Continent, thereby enhancing our overall strength.
Being able to recruit such an exceptional young man is truly a boon for our academy," another Guardian Elder nodded in agreement.
"However, those factions will not easily let Ye Yunfei off.
He is currently in great danger.
Furthermore, there are many students within our academy who originate from those same factions. They will certainly cause trouble for him," Dean Xie Changkong pondered and said.
"Hmph!
Why don't we just expel all students who come from those factions from Hudao Academy?
We've already broken all pretenses anyway," a Guardian Elder snorted coldly.
"When Guardian Path Sage founded Hudao Academy, his initial intent was to gather and nurture the most outstanding young talents under the heavens.
Regardless of origin, status, or affiliation.
As long as they were sufficiently exceptional, they qualified to enter Hudao Academy.
Our academy's mission is to nurture talents for the Tianxuan Continent.
Therefore, as long as the students from those factions do not make any mistakes, we cannot expel them.
Only if they commit acts detrimental to Hudao Academy's interests can we expel them.
Otherwise, we would be violating the spirit left behind by Guardian Path Sage," Dean Xie Changkong stated slowly.
"You are right."
All six Guardian Elders nodded.
This was indeed the ethos imparted to Hudao Academy by Hu Dao Shangren.
Although Hu Dao Shangren had left Hudao Academy centuries ago, he remained its core spiritual pillar.
Within the academy, the prestige of Hu Dao Shangren was sacred and inviolable.
"Let us be more vigilant. Should we discover Ye Yunfei is in danger, we must intervene immediately," Dean Xie Changkong said.
"Within the academy, you need not worry about Ye Yunfei's safety.
I believe very few students are capable of harming him," at this moment, Dean Shangguan suddenly opened his eyes and spoke.
"Oh?"
Dean Xie Changkong and the six Guardian Elders were momentarily stunned.
"Ye Yunfei's combat prowess, while commendable, faces a challenge. Within the academy, there are many Seed Students who have already reached the Mystic Liquid Realm.
Furthermore, quite a number of them originate from those very factions.
Should they target Ye Yunfei, I fear he would find it extremely difficult to cope," a Guardian Elder stated.
"Mystic Liquid Realm experts aren't necessarily capable of harming Ye Yunfei," Dean Shangguan shook his head.
"Dean Shangguan, what do you mean by that?"
Dean Xie Changkong and the six Guardian Elders found it hard to believe.
"Listen to me," Dean Shangguan said.
He then proceeded to recount the incident where Ye Yunfei had slain seven Mystic Liquid Realm experts.
"What?!
You're saying Ye Yunfei killed seven Mystic Liquid Realm experts?
Instantly?
Are you sure you saw correctly!"
After hearing Dean Shangguan's words, expressions of utter disbelief appeared on the faces of Dean Xie Changkong and the six Guardian Elders.
They simply couldn't believe it.
"Of course it's true.
I witnessed it with my own eyes," Dean Shangguan gave a bitter smile.
He fully understood Dean Xie Changkong's stunned state of mind.
"This young man is far more mysterious than any of you imagine," Dean Shangguan declared.
"Indeed, he is far more mysterious than we ever imagined," Dean Xie Changkong echoed after a long while, sighing with emotion.
"Do your best to gather some high-grade swords and have them sent to Ye Yunfei.
I very much wish to see just how far he can grow," Dean Xie Changkong instructed.
At that moment.
Ye Yunfei had already returned to the freshman district.
As a Seed Student, Ye Yunfei was entitled to go to the Seed Student zone, claim a mountain peak as his own, and use it as a place to reside and cultivate.
However, being quite busy recently, he simply hadn't found the time to move there.
Now.
Outside Wu Heishan's small courtyard.
Dozens of students were gathered.
Each wore ferocious expressions.
They were all members of the Xiao Sect!
"Hmph!
If it weren't for the academy's rule prohibiting outsiders from disturbing students while they are in closed-door cultivation,
that trash Wu Heishan would have been crippled long ago."
"It doesn't matter. We'll wait.
He's been in seclusion for over half a month. He should be emerging soon."
"When he emerges, I'll personally turn him into pulp!"
...
These several dozen members of the Xiao Sect all had vicious glints in their eyes.
As it turned out, within Hudao Academy, there was a strict decree: no one, under any circumstances, was allowed to interfere when a student was undertaking closed-door cultivation.
This strict rule was personally promulgated by the academy's dean, Xie Changkong.
Xie Changkong was known within Hudao Academy for his severity and impartiality.
Consequently, no one dared to violate it.
"What do we do about Ye Yunfei if we beat up Wu Heishan?
If Ye Yunfei returns, he'll definitely seek revenge for Wu Heishan," a few cowardly students whispered.
"Haha, you think Ye Yunfei will have a chance to return?
Let me tell you the truth. Ye Yunfei has provoked Shenfeng Sect, the Fengyun Family, Xiao Clan, and Tianyan Sect. Right now, the high-level figures of these four top powers have personally mobilized to hold him accountable.
You think it's still possible for Ye Yunfei to return unharmed to the academy?" a student immediately retorted.
"That's right.
I heard from my elder cousin that the elders from my clan have personally stepped in, mobilizing forces to capture Ye Yunfei.
He can't escape even if he grows wings.
By offending four top-tier forces from Zhongzhou simultaneously, even the academy leadership can't shield him," an arrogant student from the Xiao Clan said nonchalantly.
"So that's the case!
Then we don't have to fear Ye Yunfei anymore!"
The other students were overjoyed upon hearing this.
Just at that moment.
"Members of the Xiao Sect?
Why have you come here!"
Wu Heishan suddenly emerged from his cultivation chamber, seeing the large group of Xiao Sect members and giving a start of surprise.
"Wu Heishan has finally left seclusion!"
The dozens of Xiao Sect members immediately swarmed forward, surrounding Wu Heishan in the center.
"Enough talk. Cripple him first!" a student shouted.
Several students immediately moved towards Wu Heishan and launched direct attacks.
"Do you think I'm that easy to bully!"
Wu Heishan reacted with both shock and anger.
BOOM!
A dazzling radiance of starlight rose behind Wu Heishan, illuminating the area.
Faintly, phantom images of stars could be seen revolving behind him.
At this moment, Wu Heishan's entire body shimmered with brilliant stellar light, appearing heroic and bearing a sacred aura.
"Trying to show off?!"
An advanced-stage True Manifestation Realm student rushed before Wu Heishan and punched at him.
Wu Heishan met the attack with a punch of his own.
Vaguely, a phantom image of a great star seemed to follow Wu Heishan's fist.
BAM!
The advanced-stage True Manifestation Realm student was directly sent flying and crashed heavily onto the ground some distance away, unconscious.
Next.
Bam! Bam! Bam!...
Wu Heishan unleashed a flurry of punches, sending the other rushing Xiao Sect members flying one after another.
Instant defeat!
"Hahaha… Excellent, excellent!
Big Brother Ye indeed didn't deceive me!
The Starry Sky Great Method is truly incredible!
Now that my cultivation has achieved results, I believe even those female beauties will look at me with fresh eyes!"
Wu Heishan couldn't help but feel utterly delighted.