Feng Yanran and many onlookers in the crowd felt a surge of indignation.
It was clear this Shenhuang Academy teacher was distorting the truth, twisting right and wrong, just looking for an excuse to deal with Ling Xiao.
The spectators didn’t dare speak out, fearing trouble. Being labelled a troublemaker would likely be a charge they couldn’t shake off.
Feng Yanran, however, was anxiously waiting for something.
Though she was an elite disciple of Qingxu Academy’s Young Phoenix Class, she was far inferior to a Shenhuang Academy teacher.
Moreover, everyone knew the National Master behind Shenhuang Academy was from the Ice Phoenix Clan’s crown prince faction, closely tied to Feng Ming Qishan.
Even if she were Feng Yanran, only the crown prince Feng Yinshan’s intervention might earn a sliver of respect.
At this moment, she could only hope for her cousin Feng Yinshan to appear, perhaps to save Ling Xiao’s life.
She just hoped Ling Xiao wouldn’t further provoke this Shenhuang Academy teacher, or it might be too late.
But her hopes were, as expected, dashed.
Ling Xiao’s face carried a mix of mockery and sarcasm. “Are all Shenhuang Academy teachers as shameless as you?
When Leng Chan attacked me, you didn’t care. When Feng Mingbo tried to kill me, you just watched coldly.
What’s this? Now that I’ve defeated them, I’m suddenly someone sent to cause trouble?
Your shamelessness has truly reached a new level!”
“Insolent!”
The teacher roared, cutting off Ling Xiao’s words, his eyes glinting with cold killing intent. “What I do doesn’t need a human like you to point out. Think defeating Feng Mingbo and Leng Chan means you can disregard Shenhuang Academy?
In my eyes, you’re just a pitiful, arrogant ant.”
An ant?
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. The words weren’t wrong. In the Mysterious Realm, strength ruled, and the strong were revered.
With strength, you could be domineering, twist truth, and call a deer a horse!
This Shenhuang Academy teacher, in terms of cultivation, indeed had the right to see him as an ant.
But a strong person also needed virtue. Not every strong person was so shameless.
This man disgusted Ling Xiao, repulsed him.
A typical double-standard dog!
What benefited him was right; what harmed him was wrong.
“As a teacher, shouldn’t you at least uphold basic principles? Clearly, Leng Chan and Feng Mingbo attacked first. Why is Ling Xiao being blamed?”
Feng Yanran, fearing the teacher would strike, couldn’t hold back.
Seeing her, Ling Xiao was puzzled. Hadn’t this woman earlier protected Feng Mingyu against him? Why the change now?
“Miss Yanran, as a royal, you joined Qingxu Academy, a disgrace to the royal family. This is Shenhuang Academy’s internal matter, not your place to interfere!”
The Shenhuang Academy teacher showed no respect for Feng Yanran, knowing his backing was Feng Ming Qishan.
So he had no need to give her face.
“He’s not part of Shenhuang Academy and may soon be a Qingxu Academy disciple. How is this your internal matter?”
Feng Yanran’s gaze turned cold. Even if she wasn’t much, she was still a Fire Phoenix Clan member, a royal. Yet this teacher, a mere Ice Phoenix Clan lackey, dared speak to her this way, which irked her.
“Hmph, talk when he’s actually a Qingxu Academy disciple.”
The teacher snorted, unafraid of Feng Yanran.
Feng Yanran seemed about to say more but was stopped by Ling Xiao. “Miss, though I don’t know why you’re helping me, dealing with him isn’t that easy for him!”
“Big words!”
Feng Mingbo struggled to roar.
But one glance from Ling Xiao made him tremble and fall silent.
“Esteemed Shenhuang Academy teacher, you accuse me of causing trouble here, which is clearly twisting the truth. But I’m curious, what do you plan to do with me?”
Ling Xiao asked with interest.
“By the rules, injuring Shenhuang Academy disciples and crippling Leng Chan’s cultivation is a capital offence! Killing you wouldn’t be excessive.”
The teacher narrowed his eyes. “But considering it’s your first offence, I won’t make it hard. Sign a slave contract with Shenhuang Academy, swear lifelong loyalty, and I’ll spare your life!”
He spoke so casually, as if it were a trivial matter, utterly insignificant.
This guy was ruthless. He likely saw Ling Xiao’s astonishing talent and potential. If Ling Xiao joined Qingxu Academy or was recruited by the Fire Phoenix Clan, he’d become a major threat to the Ice Phoenix Clan.
So there were only two options.
Kill him to eliminate future trouble.
Or make him sign a slave contract, enslaving him for life.
The slave contract was a sinister secret scroll. Once signed, unless the caster lifted the spell, it was nearly impossible to break free from such a terrifying soul-binding contract.
To the teacher, signing this contract meant no need to kill Ling Xiao. It would add a top-tier fighter to Shenhuang Academy and prevent him from joining other forces—a perfect solution.
After all, Ling Xiao had just said he’d join Qingxu Academy.
“A slave? You say it so lightly, planning to ruin my life?”
Ling Xiao’s expression turned icy.
This slave contract was far crueler and more sinister than crippling cultivation.
A dignified martial artist with such a vile mind. No wonder, despite his age, he had achieved so little.
But Ling Xiao had to admit a reality.
No matter who you were, no matter your talent or brilliance, if you weren’t someone’s match, you were weak!
The weak had no right to choose even how they died!
Others could treat you however they wished.
But Ling Xiao wasn’t afraid of this Shenhuang Academy teacher. Even if a fight broke out here, he could escape with ease.
More importantly, Butterfly Girl had awakened.
The butterfly was placed back into the Mountain River World.
Now, the Mountain River World was a vast, cosmic expanse.
The butterfly danced gracefully in this vast space, even seeming quite comfortable.
Her strength far surpassed this Shenhuang Academy teacher. If Ling Xiao faced real danger, she would naturally lend her full aid.
The incident at the last Martial Arts Festival was a clear example.
Though the butterfly seemed innocent, when she got serious, she didn’t care who the enemy was.
Just as a battle seemed imminent, a voice broke the tense atmosphere.
