Lu Chaowen and the others were extremely respectful, yet somewhat apprehensive.
The main institute sending such a heavyweight figure to the Central Divine Continent this time was rather unusual.
At this moment, Ye Guanzhi suddenly stopped in her tracks. She glanced at Lu Chaowen and said, “Head Lu, let us talk inside the academy.”
With that, she walked towards the interior of the Guanxuan Academy.
Lu Chaowen hurriedly stood up and followed.
…
In a separate courtyard, Ye Guanzhi sat by a lakeside, watching the fish swimming in the lake before her.
Lu Chaowen stood respectfully to one side.
Ye Guanzhi suddenly said softly, “Head Lu, the True Dragon Clan has been exterminated. Share your thoughts on this matter.”
Lu Chaowen quickly replied, “I have already investigated this. It is related to that Ye Guan.”
Ye Guanzhi nodded. “Continue.”
Lu Chaowen hesitated for a moment, then said, “Should we send people to arrest Ye Guan?”
Ye Guanzhi turned to Lu Chaowen and said calmly, “Let us set aside Ye Guan’s grudge with the True Dragon Clan for now. Let us talk about Ye Guan and the academy. As far as I know, Ye Guan was originally a disciple of our academy, but during the martial examination in the lower realm, the True Dragon Clan forcibly intervened in the fairness of the competition. Are you aware of this?”
Upon hearing this, Lu Chaowen’s face instantly turned pale.
Ye Guanzhi stared at Lu Chaowen. “Head Lu, I understand. The world of martial artists is not just about fighting and killing. It involves more human relationships and worldly affairs. Compared to a poor young man with no background, the True Dragon Clan and the An family are naturally more worth courting.”
Lu Chaowen suddenly knelt down slowly, lowering his head slightly.
Ye Guanzhi said calmly, “What does the academy use to govern the universe? The rule of law. The Human Sword Master founded the academy in the hope that this world could uphold legal principles and fairness. The lower realm martial examination is the only path for those at the bottom. If even this path is unfair, then do the countless children from humble families still have any chance to rise?”
As she spoke, she shook her head slightly. “In any era, the most苦 and most struggling people are always those at the bottom. Many from the lower strata, no matter how hard they try, find it difficult to stand out and change their fate. The academy holds martial examinations across the myriad heavens and realms precisely to let them understand that as long as they work hard, they have the opportunity to change their destiny. But…”
At this point, she suddenly turned to Lu Chaowen, her gaze ice-cold. “The True Dragon Clan had such audacity to openly interfere with our Guanxuan Academy’s martial examination in broad daylight, and yet not a single person from the lower realm Guanxuan Academy dared to stop them. This is truly the greatest absurdity in the world.”
Lu Chaowen’s face grew even paler.
Ye Guanzhi looked coldly at Lu Chaowen. “Head Lu, the matter of the lower realm martial examination was not your fault, since you were unaware at the time. But later, why did you intercept the complaint letter from Head Zhao of the lower realm? Who gave you the courage?”
Lu Chaowen’s body trembled slightly, and he did not dare to speak.
Ye Guanzhi stared at Lu Chaowen, her gaze calm. “As the head of an academy, you used the authority granted by the academy for personal gain. You should be familiar with the Guanxuan Laws. What punishment does this crime warrant?”
Upon hearing this, Lu Chaowen gave a miserable smile and said nothing.
Ye Guanzhi said, “Take him away.”
As her voice fell, a Guanxuan Guard appeared in the scene and directly took Lu Chaowen away.
Ye Guanzhi slowly closed her eyes. “Over these years, these aristocratic families and sects have truly become more and more excessive, constantly challenging the academy’s bottom line. These families and sects have developed to this point, and many have already become tumours within the academy. They should…”
“Be cautious with your words.”
At this moment, an old woman suddenly appeared beside Ye Guanzhi.
The old woman said gravely, “Chief, please be careful with your words.”
The aristocratic families in the Central Divine Continent were, in the end, only so strong. However, the aristocratic families and sects in the Guanxuan Academy’s main institute were different.
Any one of them was an extremely terrifying existence.
Ye Guanzhi had strength, status, and background, but challenging these colossal giants would be like throwing an egg against a rock.
Not to mention her, even her master Shu Xian, the head of the Literary Institute, could not possibly challenge these giants.
A single misstep would lead to eternal damnation.
Ye Guanzhi’s expression was impassive. “Nowadays, within the academy, these aristocratic families and sects have infiltrated everywhere. They have thoroughly influenced the academy and are even on the verge of distorting its values and beliefs.”
As she spoke, she shook her head slightly, a trace of helplessness flashing in her eyes.
She did not continue, because she knew that to change the academy, she must first protect herself.
Challenging these giants now would undoubtedly be seeking death.
Reform cannot rely solely on passion.
Seeing that Ye Guanzhi said no more, the old woman immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Ye Guanzhi said softly, “The Sword Master could not possibly have been blind to these problems back then, yet he allowed them to proliferate. What was he thinking?”
The old woman smiled bitterly. “Girl, you must not criticise the Dean.”
Ye Guanzhi said calmly, “If criticism is not free, then praise is meaningless.”
The old woman fell silent.
Ye Guanzhi suddenly stood up and said softly, “Go and meet that Young Master Ye Guan.”
The old woman said, “The Ancient Heavenly Dragon Clan probably will not let this go.”
Ye Guanzhi’s gaze instantly turned ice-cold.
The old woman hesitated, then said, “Girl, the extermination of the True Dragon Clan this time must be because of that Ye Guan. How do you plan to handle him?”
Ye Guanzhi shook her head slightly. “What right do we have to handle him?”
The old woman said gravely, “Exterminating a clan is something the Guanxuan Laws do not permit.”
Ye Guanzhi shook her head slightly. “It is indeed not permitted by the Guanxuan Laws, but the True Dragon Clan went to South Prefecture to abduct members of the Ye family, using them to threaten Ye Guan. In such circumstances, Ye Guan’s resistance falls under legitimate self-defence within the Guanxuan Laws.”
The old woman hesitated, then said, “Does it count as excessive defence?”
Ye Guanzhi said calmly, “They shut the door and beat him, intending to put him and his entire clan to death. In such a situation, no defence can be considered excessive. If it were me, I would also exterminate the True Dragon Clan.”
As she spoke, she paused, then added, “The Guanxuan Laws emphasise fairness and justice. If we only allow the True Dragon Clan to harm others but do not allow others to fight back, then would the Guanxuan Laws not become an evil law? Therefore, Ye Guan’s resistance constitutes legitimate self-defence and will not be pursued.”
The old woman nodded slightly, then said, “Then your visit to him… is for?”
Ye Guanzhi shook her head slightly. “At the root of this matter, it is a problem with our academy. The academy’s unfair handling led to his unfair treatment. Both in reason and in sentiment, the academy should apologise to him. If he is willing to join the academy, that would naturally be good. If not, we should still offer some compensation.”
With that, she walked towards the outside.
The old woman followed closely behind.
On the way, the old woman asked again, “How should we handle Head Zhao from the lower realm?”
Ye Guanzhi pondered slightly, then said, “Although this person was derelict in her duty, there are extenuating circumstances. As the head of a small local academy, she naturally would not dare confront the An family and the True Dragon Clan. Moreover, afterwards she specially submitted a letter to speak up for Ye Guan, which proves she has recognised her mistake. Since that is the case, she can be given another chance.”
The old woman looked at Ye Guanzhi. “But according to the provisions of the Guanxuan Laws, such behaviour warrants at least the abolition of her cultivation.”
Ye Guanzhi shook her head. “If Zhao Su had stood up that day to resist the True Dragon Clan and the An family, given their strength, she could have been reduced to ashes in an instant. Facing these two colossal forces, what could she, a mere small academy head, do?”
As she spoke, she paused, then added, “Moreover, this person did not collude with the True Dragon Clan. Afterwards, she submitted a letter to vindicate Ye Guan, which shows that justice remains in her heart. The purpose of punishment is to allow the offender, on the basis of penalty, to reform and become a new person. It is not simply punishment for punishment’s sake.”
The old woman nodded slightly and said no more.
Ye Guanzhi continued, “In the final analysis, the problem lies within our academy itself. If the Guanxuan Academy in the Central Divine Continent and the An family had not supported them, how would the True Dragon Clan dare to be so arrogant and openly violate the martial examination rules? This severe punishment of Lu Chaowen and the An family is to deter the other academies and those aristocratic families, especially those families…”
As she spoke, a cold glint flashed in her eyes. “When Senior Sister Qingqiu was head, those families still exercised some restraint. But now that Senior Sister… those families’ hands are reaching further and further.”
The old woman sighed softly.
She did not dare say much about academy matters.
Ye Guanzhi said no more either. She quickened her pace and disappeared into the distance.
……
Dao Sect.
At this moment, Ye Guan lay naked on the bed while Nanling Yiyi applied medicine to him.
He had been extensively burned by dragon flames earlier, so not a single patch of his skin was intact.
Ye Guan had originally wanted to do it himself, but unfortunately, after the great battle, not only was he severely injured by the dragon flames, he was also completely exhausted. Let alone applying medicine himself, even moving a little was difficult.
Nanling Yiyi looked at Ye Guan, who was completely bare before her. She blinked, then said, “Junior Brother Ye, do not be nervous. I am just applying medicine to you. I will not do anything else.”
Ye Guan hesitated, then said in a trembling voice, “Senior Sister, can you stop touching then? Hurry and apply the medicine.”
