“Who dares to stand on top of the statues of past academy heads? This is utter disrespect!”
This scene drew out many academy disciples and teachers. They all stared angrily at the three arrogant figures showing off their might.
“Sword Phoenix Child, Sword Demon!”
“Thunder Eagle Phoenix Child, Ying Tianxia!”
“Vermilion Bird Phoenix Child, Zhu Wen!”
Although Qingxu Academy had declined, there were still people with sharp eyes. Among the ten great Phoenix Children of the Divine Phoenix Empire, three of them were quite well-known to many.
Even though the Sword Phoenix Child title was newly granted, this person was restless and had recently challenged numerous young experts in the imperial capital, defeating them all with a single sword strike.
Too flashy!
Too attention-grabbing!
Naturally, many people recognised him.
As for the other two, there was even less need to explain. They were veteran Phoenix Children.
“You bastards! How dare you step on our ancestral masters’ heads? Are you three brats looking to die?”
Although Qingxu Academy’s disciples were no match for the ten Phoenix Children, some of the teachers still possessed real strength. One burly man could no longer stand it.
He rushed forward and roared in fury.
These three had barged into Qingxu Academy without permission, and to make matters worse, they were standing atop the statues of past academy heads.
One of those statues belonged to the founding ancestor of Qingxu Academy, and the Sword Demon was precisely standing on top of it.
What a joke! These statues represented the face and dignity of Qingxu Academy.
Their actions were clearly meant to slap them in the face and humiliate them.
Anyone with even a shred of hot-bloodedness would find it hard to endure such insult.
Qingxu Academy’s disciples were filled with righteous indignation. They cursed and protested loudly.
But their cultivation was inferior to the Sword Demon’s. They could do nothing more than shout in vain.
That teacher had stronger cultivation. He was a fourth cave heaven realm martial artist. Of course he had the qualification, the reason, and the duty to stand up at this moment and defend the academy’s honour.
Otherwise, how would he be any different from a tortoise?
Hiding in a shell felt comfortable, did it not?
“Looking to die?”
The Sword Demon sneered. With one sword thrust, a pitch-black sword beam sliced through the air. From dozens of metres away, it pierced straight through the teacher’s throat.
“So who exactly is looking to die?”
He sheathed his sword, revealing a cold, sinister smile. His gaze indifferently swept over all the disciples and teachers of Qingxu Academy below as he said calmly, “Qingxu Academy is full of trash. Apart from Headmaster Zhou Yun and Vice Headmaster Feng Qingyan, not a single one is worth mentioning. Yet you still dare to put on airs in front of me!”
He had killed him!
He had actually killed someone right inside Qingxu Academy!
This Sword Demon was so domineering and ruthless. He was no less overbearing than Ling Xiao, but Ling Xiao only acted that way towards his enemies.
The Sword Demon, however, was slaughtering the innocent. It was pure, wanton killing!
Qingxu Academy’s disciples were furious beyond measure. Facing the arrogant Sword Demon, each one wished they could tear him to pieces.
Yet the gap in strength was right there. Charging forward would only mean death. Could they really do it?
Many lowered their heads. Their hearts felt immense frustration and unwillingness, yet they did not dare step forward. This humiliation would be something they could never forget in their lifetime.
“Sword Demon, you struck too heavily. No matter what, you should give Senior Zhou some face.”
Ying Tianxia frowned and turned to say.
“Ying Tianxia, shut your nonsense. Do not think that just because you rank higher than me among the ten Phoenix Children you can order me around. You simply became a Phoenix Child earlier than I did.”
The Sword Demon gave Ying Tianxia no face at all.
Because he knew that behind them stood three Yin-Yang realm powerhouses: Jia ******, Kong Ran, and Peng Nantian.
Even if Zhou Yun and Feng Qingyan showed up, it would change nothing.
“Ying Tianxia, do not start infighting.”
Just as Ying Tianxia was about to say more, the Vermilion Bird Phoenix Child beside him spoke up.
“We are all disciples of the Divine Phoenix Academy. Whatever issues there are, they should be resolved internally after returning to the academy.”
“I will give you face.”
Ying Tianxia knew he was no match for Zhu Wen. He gritted his teeth and said.
The Sword Demon sneered but did not continue targeting Ying Tianxia. Instead, he looked down at the Qingxu Academy disciples standing below and said, “To be honest with you all, we came here for one reason only: to find Ling Xiao.”
“Correct. Ling Xiao killed Jia Tianfeng and Kong Ming, which has already provoked public outrage. Qingxu Academy cannot protect him!”
Zhu Wen quickly added.
“Exactly. We are only here to kill Ling Xiao. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”
Ying Tianxia also stated.
None of these three had ever fought Ling Xiao or seen him in action. Therefore, they did not take Ling Xiao seriously at all.
A fellow who had only recently advanced to the cave heaven realm, how could he compare to the three of them?
The world called Ling Xiao a peerless monstrous genius, but how could these three accept that?
The Sword Demon had always wanted to crush Ling Xiao’s prestige and display his own superior talent and strength in front of his martial siblings.
Heavenly Dynasty’s Heavenly Emperor?
In his eyes, nothing more than a lowly mongrel.
Ying Tianxia purely felt that Ling Xiao was too arrogant for daring to claim he would challenge the ten Phoenix Children. Since Ling Xiao did not take him seriously, he naturally had to come and fight him.
As for Zhu Wen.
He had no grudge against Ling Xiao. He came this time purely because someone had asked him to, an old senior he greatly respected.
In truth, he felt that coming to Qingxu Academy alone would have been enough. There was no need to bring Ying Tianxia and the Sword Demon along.
But that old senior had said they must ensure absolute certainty, so it had to be done this way. He could only obey.
Yet deep in his heart, he held extreme contempt for this person called Ling Xiao.
“Senior Brother, has that Ling Xiao still not shown up?”
Suddenly, a beautiful voice rang out, clear and melodious like an oriole singing among green willows.
A woman as stunning as a celestial fairy gracefully landed beside the Sword Demon, stepping precisely atop the statue of Qingxu Academy’s current headmaster, Zhou Yun.
“Junior Sister, why have you come?”
The Sword Demon glanced at the girl, showing a trace of gentleness and infatuation.
This woman was none other than the queen-like figure who had once sailed with the Sword Demon on a ship and caused havoc in the Heavenly Dynasty’s divine capital.
Her provocation that day had been the spark that set off the Sword Demon’s actions.
Now, she had appeared once again.
“Senior Brother is about to display his divine might. Of course I had to come.”
The girl smiled sweetly, causing even Ying Tianxia and Zhu Wen to momentarily lose focus.
“Too powerful! Beauty combined with terrifying soul power. This woman is absolutely a man’s nemesis.”
After Ying Tianxia snapped back to his senses, he secretly grew wary.
In that brief instant earlier, if this girl had told him to kill himself, he suspected he might have obeyed.
“Could your junior sister be the one recently rumoured throughout the imperial capital, the peerless beauty with unmatched zither skills, known as Zongyu the Other Shore Flower?”
Zhu Wen asked with a smile.
Although he pretended to be calm, his heart was burning hot.
He even felt a twinge of jealousy that the Sword Demon could stand so close to this woman.
Her full name was quite long. She had a peculiar surname, Zongyu, and her given name was Other Shore Flower. She was the daughter of the Sword Demon’s master.
