The group soon reached the gates of Qingxu Academy. Blood Skeleton took a deep breath and bellowed, “Ling Xiao, get out here!”
His voice thundered, echoing across the entire academy. Such a loud, brazen arrival was impossible to ignore.
The first to arrive at the gate were the teachers from the academy’s security department, responsible for its safety. They had no teaching duties but bore heavy combat responsibilities, and their strength was formidable.
Next came Ling Xiao and his group. With someone seeking trouble, Ling Xiao wouldn’t cower. Besides, Blood Skeleton was someone he intended to deal with.
“Greetings, teachers,” Ling Xiao said, bowing to the security teachers before turning to Blood Skeleton. “I’m Ling Xiao. Are you Blood Skeleton?”
Noting the man’s blood-red skin, Ling Xiao felt it likely but needed confirmation. He wouldn’t spare an enemy but wouldn’t wrong an innocent either.
Blood Skeleton ignored him, bowing to the teachers instead. “Rest assured, teachers, I’m here only for Ling Xiao’s life, not to cause trouble for the academy.”
His words were confident, as if Ling Xiao was at his mercy, destined to die with no one able to stop him, like crushing an ant whose resistance was negligible.
The security teachers eyed him coldly. “Impossible. He’s a Qingxu Academy disciple. You can’t just kill him,” one said.
“Teachers, this is a personal grudge, unrelated to the academy. I’m here as an individual, not representing Divine Phoenix Academy,” Blood Skeleton said, knowing he couldn’t disregard Qingxu Academy. “You’ve likely heard he killed my friend Duan Yun and my brother-in-law at the Tianyuan Pagoda. If this escalates to academy conflicts, it’ll get messy.”
“We know, but Duan Yun and your brother-in-law brought it on themselves. Our disciples don’t bully others, but we won’t be bullied either,” a teacher said, exuding confidence backed by strength. In the Mysterious Realm, strength trumped reason.
“Exactly. Divine Phoenix Academy isn’t pursuing this,” Blood Skeleton said calmly.
“Then why are you here?” a teacher asked.
“I’m here for Ling Xiao, not for revenge, but because he disgraced me publicly, making me lose face,” Blood Skeleton said coolly. “Killing those two nobodies didn’t warrant death, but shaming me before a crowd does.”
His words made many shudder. The stronger a warrior, the more domineering, and today proved it. Blood Skeleton wasn’t avenging Duan Yun or his brother-in-law but seeking Ling Xiao’s life for damaging his reputation. After hearing his name and Feng Yanran’s introduction, Ling Xiao still killed his brother-in-law and crippled Mo Wushang and Qin Bixue. That was reason enough.
It seemed absurd, yet logical. For a powerful figure, face was worth more than life. To Blood Skeleton, Ling Xiao’s ten lives couldn’t match his pride.
“In short, Ling Xiao is ours. To kill him, you’ll have to get through us,” a teacher said. Blood Skeleton was domineering, but Qingxu’s teachers were fiercer. If they let him kill Ling Xiao before them, their reputation and the academy’s would be mocked.
“The teachers are right, but isn’t it shameful for Qingxu Academy to harbour a coward?” Blood Skeleton taunted. “Unless he hides here forever, I can kill him anytime, and your loss of face will be greater.”
His words, though harsh, held truth. Ling Xiao couldn’t hide forever. Staying in the academy would bar him from the Tianyuan Pagoda, stalling his cultivation. How could he surpass Blood Skeleton then?
Seeing the teachers fall silent, Blood Skeleton turned to Ling Xiao. “You were so bold killing people, acting untouchable. Why hide like a coward now? Are you even a man? Or just a bully who fears the strong? Or do you regret your impulsiveness, bringing death upon yourself?”
“You talk too much,” Ling Xiao said, picking his ear and smiling. “Before calling me a bully, get this straight. With my mid-First Heaven cultivation, I killed a mid-Three Talents Heaven and late-Two Instruments Heaven warrior. Isn’t that the weak defeating the strong? The two dead were the real bullies.”
Facing Blood Skeleton, a Five Elements Heaven warrior, Ling Xiao showed no pressure or fear, his demeanor relaxed, as if the top-twenty Divine Phoenix Academy disciple was insignificant.
“Even if you’re right, so what? You’re still a coward,” Blood Skeleton sneered.
“Speaking of cowards, I heard a tale. The great Blood Skeleton was once hunted and hid in Divine Phoenix Academy for a year, too scared to come out. True, isn’t it?” Ling Xiao said, smiling.
“That was because the enemy was too strong,” Blood Skeleton began.
“Shut up, you coward, bullying the weak,” Ling Xiao shouted, cutting him off. “A Five Elements Heaven warrior against my First Heaven cultivation. You say your enemy was strong, but aren’t you strong compared to me?”
The crowd gasped, sweating for Ling Xiao. His audacity was staggering, not only silencing Blood Skeleton but throwing back every insult—coward, bully—leaving everyone stunned.
