Identity Revealed

Xiang Tian suddenly felt tired. He had no mind to keep playing with them. In this world, those without a background had always been meat on the chopping block.

Hearing Xiang Tian's words, Ning Rong froze, her beautiful eyes widening. "What, are you talking about the Immortal King Changning? I hope you understand that just because the Immortal King Changning values you doesn't mean he'll protect you for the rest of your life."

"I'll say this one last time. Whether it's Sky Crystals or magic treasures, just name your terms and we'll be even. I don't want to lay hands on a girl."

This was Xiang Tian's last shred of tolerance, yet Ning Rong only felt that his previous words had been meant to scare her.

Sky Crystals? Magic treasures? Did she lack such things? To her, they were like bland meals and coarse tea, incapable of stirring even the slightest interest.

Ning Rong drew her sword and pointed it at Xiang Tian. "Since you insist, I'll have to do it myself!"

Ning Rong refused to yield no matter what, so Xiang Tian simply stopped holding back. Facing the charging Ning Rong, he did not even bother to dodge.

The students outside watched the spectacle with great relish, while Qiu Changfeng and the instructors were so anxious they scratched at their ears and cheeks, wishing they could smash the barrier apart with their heads.

Clearly, Ning Rong had brought this thing from the Jade Pool. Even Qiu Changfeng, the strongest among them, was only in the True Immortal Realm and could not break it at all.

Everyone held their breath. Though they did not know what grudge lay between Xiang Tian and Ning Rong, a battle between the two was absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime sight. They all sharpened their focus.

Yet no one saw how Xiang Tian had done it. In an instant, he had switched positions, and Ning Rong was lifted directly into the air by her throat.

Her originally delicate and beautiful face instantly turned deathly pale. Ning Rong could not understand how Xiang Tian had done it. One second he had been before her, and the next, he was holding her aloft.

She had the illusion that she had stretched out her own neck for Xiang Tian to seize.

Xiang Tian's face seemed covered in a layer of frost. Ning Rong was still struggling when she discovered in horror that she could barely mobilize the spiritual power throughout her body, as though it had been sealed.

"Y-you... let me go."

She was already beginning to feel unable to breathe. Xiang Tian suddenly swept his left arm, and the barrier Ning Rong had set up with her magic treasure shattered at once.

In an instant, all manner of exclamations and clamor surged in from outside. In truth, the audience had already exploded into uproar the moment Xiang Tian subdued Ning Rong.

"Has Xiang Tian gone mad? Ning Rong is a descendant of the Queen Mother of the West!"

"Look at his expression. He probably couldn't endure it anymore. Who knows what exactly happened between those two?"

"Student Sinan Yao is really unlucky. When Xiang Tian swung his arm just now, he was directly knocked unconscious."

Below the stage, voices rose in a chaotic jumble. But Qiu Changfeng was trembling with fear as he immediately went onto the platform. Neither of these two could afford the slightest mishap.

"Student Xiang Tian, calm down. If Ning Rong has done something wrong, we can discuss it together. We can mediate this properly."

Though Ning Rong was in Xiang Tian's grasp, hearing Qiu Changfeng say that she had done something wrong only made her angrier. She shrieked, "Why am I the one in the wrong? It was obviously this guy who was at fault first!"

The entire venue fell silent. Everyone wanted to know what had happened.

But before everyone's eyes, Xiang Tian suddenly smashed her downward.

"Ah!"

With a pained cry, Ning Rong was slammed directly into the ground. Xiang Tian showed not the slightest tenderness toward her, and cracks spread across the floor.

Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats, Qiu Changfeng included.

Had this Xiang Tian truly gone insane? Never mind the Jade Pool's terrifying influence—even for a beauty like Ning Rong, he could bring himself to strike so ruthlessly?

Killing intent had already appeared in Xiang Tian's eyes. At that moment, Ning Rong suddenly felt afraid.

"I've already given you many chances. I was at fault first—I accidentally saw half your body. Whatever compensation you want, I can give it to you."

"You think your body is precious beyond measure and insist that I gouge out my own eyes. But who gave you that courage? That tiny Jade Pool? Forget merely seeing your body—do you believe that if I strip you naked and force myself on you right now, the Jade Pool wouldn't even dare fart?"

A pin could have been heard dropping across the entire venue. Only faint breathing remained; no one dared discuss it anymore, simply because Xiang Tian's words were too shocking.

Ning Rong had been accidentally seen by him?

Fine, they could accept that gossip. But Xiang Tian had actually said that even if he forced himself on Ning Rong, the Jade Pool would not dare do anything to him?

He was not afraid of the Queen Mother of the West, an Immortal King in her own right? Just who exactly was this Xiang Tian?

In truth, Qiu Changfeng was also startled by these words. The Immortal King had vaguely revealed to him before that Xiang Tian's identity was extraordinary, but he had not expected it to be extraordinary enough that he did not fear the Jade Pool.

Ning Rong's eyes widened, her head buzzing. How could this man say such shameless words with that mouth of his?

Did a girl's chastity not matter? Was she wrong?

She had not been wrong, and neither had Xiang Tian. She wanted to protect her chastity, while Xiang Tian merely wanted to keep his eyes.

"Xiang Tian, you must calm down. Listen to the dean."

Qiu Changfeng still did his utmost to persuade him.

Xiang Tian looked at Ning Rong once more. "If you refuse to accept this, then send people from your Jade Pool here. One comes, one dies. A pair comes, then a pair dies!"

With that, he swept his broad sleeve, sending Ning Rong flying away. Fortunately, an instructor acted in time and caught her.

The matter came to a hasty close, and the entire academy was once again shrouded in an inexplicable atmosphere.

Inside the office, Qiu Changfeng looked somewhat haggard. What had happened today was far beyond his expectations. These two incidents were enough to push the entire Changning Immortal Academy onto the crest of the storm.

Suddenly, a flash of radiance appeared, and the Immortal King Changning emerged once more. His expression remained calm, as though at his height, nothing could any longer stir his emotions.

Seeing the Immortal King arrive without warning, Qiu Changfeng hurriedly bowed in salute.

"I know all about what happened today, so don't overthink it."

The Immortal King smiled faintly and sat down.

Qiu Changfeng stood respectfully at the side and bowed again. "I have disappointed the Immortal King."

The Immortal King Changning merely shook his head upon hearing this. Rather than responding, he spoke to himself. "You know, my cultivation aptitude was not good. At the age of twenty, I was merely a lowly Foundation Establishment cultivator. In the Heavenly Realm, Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators at twenty were everywhere; there were even many in Spirit Transformation. Back then, my Great Dao seemed vast and misty..."

Qiu Changfeng was puzzled, unable to understand why the Immortal King was telling him these things.

The Immortal King's expression seemed filled with reminiscence. "It was one afternoon. The weather was fine. While exploring a canyon, I encountered a woman being harmed by others. I was full of chivalrous courage then, so I intervened. Who would have thought I was no match for them and was beaten half to death?"

"At the time, I thought I was about to die, but suddenly, a young woman passing by saw me. She killed that villain, saved the other woman as well, then casually pointed at me before drifting away."

"And I was enlightened as though awakened by a thunderclap. From then on, opportunities came without end, and my cultivation proceeded smoothly, until this very day."

After hearing this, Qiu Changfeng was utterly dumbfounded. The world of cultivators did not lack fortuitous encounters, but one like the Immortal King's was simply horrifying beyond belief. A casual finger-point could improve someone's cultivation aptitude? It was utterly outrageous!

"Some time ago, my benefactor suddenly appeared and said she wished to send her younger brother here to study. When we met again, I discovered that I still could not see through my benefactor's cultivation realm."

Once the Immortal King Changning finished speaking, Qiu Changfeng immediately understood.

Xiang Tian's identity remained a mystery, but the message had become unmistakably clear: the Immortal King Changning would forever stand behind Xiang Tian, and the people behind Xiang Tian were even more terrifying.