Crack~
His arm broke!
Boom!
Before the Round-faced Youth could let out a scream, Qin Jishi's fist slammed into his chest.
Bang~
With a dull thud, the Round-faced Youth crashed off the platform and lay utterly motionless.
From beginning to end, the Round-faced Youth never let out a single scream.
Likewise!
Everything had happened too suddenly—so suddenly that no one present, including the fat man, had time to react.
How could they have imagined that an ordinary person without a shred of mystic energy possessed Innate Divine Strength, so much so that even the physical strength of Nascent Breath Level 8 could not compare with him?
After a long while!
A'si and A'wu finally reacted.
"Third Brother!"
"Third Brother!"
The two rushed forward to inspect him, and what they said next once again made everyone's hearts tremble violently.
"Th-third Brother... you... you..."
"Fo-fourth Brother... Third Brother's life force is gone..."
Those words were no less than a thunderclap exploding from flat ground, detonating in everyone's minds.
His life force was gone?
He was dead?
They stared at Qin Jishi as though he were a monster. Just what kind of strength did he possess?
Everyone had seen their clash clearly just now. There had not been the slightest fluctuation of mystic energy on Qin Jishi's body.
A Nascent Breath Level 8 martial artist had been killed with a single punch. What kind of power was that? Even having witnessed it with their own eyes, they could scarcely believe it.
Even the fat man's eyes twitched, while stormy waves surged through his heart.
No one knew better than him whether Qin Jishi possessed mystic energy.
Put it this way: even if the headmaster of Black and White Academy appeared here right now, he would pound his chest and swear with absolute certainty that Qin Jishi had no mystic energy.
No mystic energy, yet Innate Divine Strength—he was undoubtedly an exceptional talent.
The fat man could already imagine that this boy would become a major pillar of the Menial Labor Quarters in the future.
At the same time, A'si and A'wu came back to their senses. They charged onto the round platform, murderous intent rising from them as though they wished to tear Qin Jishi into ten thousand pieces.
"Boy, you killed our Third Brother! Pay for his life!"
No matter what, the Round-faced Youth was their clan cousin. Even if he had gone somewhat too far, his crimes did not warrant death... and even if he were to die, it was not Qin Jishi's place to kill him.
The two brandished the massive axes in their hands and chopped down at Qin Jishi without another word.
Neither held back. They pushed their Nascent Breath Level 7 cultivation to its limit, clearly intending to kill with a single blow.
Facing them, Qin Jishi remained extremely calm. He did not even seem inclined to make a move, for he knew that the fat man would certainly not stand by and watch.
The facts proved him right. Just as the massive axes in their hands were about to fall—
"Hmph~" A cold snort rang out, followed by a powerful pressure.
Boom!
That pressure was like a massive hammer smashing into their chests, sending them flying backward at once.
The fat man was a Mystic Spirit Realm martial artist. How could the pressure he released possibly be withstood by the two of them?
Pfft~
Blood sprayed from their mouths.
A'si's expression was grave. "Ste-steward Jiao... he killed our Third Brother..."
"Hmph~" The fat man snorted again. "Did you not hear the rules I stated just now? This time is a warning. If you dare break the rules again—"
A fierce glint flashed through the fat man's eyes. "You should know the consequences."
Gulp~
Though A'si and A'wu were unwilling, there was nothing they could do.
Steward Jiao had already spoken. Did they dare defy him? If they opposed him, would they have any good days ahead in the Menial Labor Quarters?
There was no other way!
They could only suppress their resentment and let their young master decide the matter later.
Seeing that the two had made no further move, the fat man turned his gaze toward the crowd.
Under the resentful stares of A'si and A'wu, Qin Jishi slowly stepped down from the round platform.
"There is still one spot remaining. Whoever has the ability, come onstage."
As those words fell, the previously silent scene erupted once more.
Human nature was like this. They did not care who lived or died; the spots were what mattered most.
Very soon, a frail young man broke through layer after layer of obstacles and reached the round platform.
In the end, the young man passed the assessment.
The fat man seemed unwilling to remain for even another moment, and his booming voice echoed through the surroundings.
"All those who passed the assessment, get on the platform now."
Before long, all three hundred people were in place. The crowd below looked upon them with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
The fat man swept his gaze over the crowd, then said with satisfaction, "Very good. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Jiao Ju, and I am your steward. Congratulations on becoming members of the Black and White Academy's Menial Labor Quarters. I hope that from now on, you will work diligently and fulfill your duties well."
"Alright!"
The fat man changed the subject. "I will not waste any more words. Now, follow me to the academy."
As his voice fell, the fat man let out a whistle.
Chirp~
Chirp~
Two piercing cries shattered the heavens. One after the other, two enormous mystic beasts flapped their wings as they flew in from the distant horizon. A vast shadow blanketed the area before the round platform, making everyone's scalps go numb.
Boom!
Boom!
Two earth-shattering impacts rang out as the two mystic beasts landed on the round platform. Their eagle eyes were razor-sharp, and the scaled feathers on their wings were as hard as axes.
"Th-this is a Mystic Spirit Beast?"
"Hah~"
"Such mystic beasts are actually merely the mounts of Black and White Academy. As expected of the number one academy on the Azure Wave Continent."
How could they not be shocked? Mystic Spirit Beasts were comparable to Mystic Spirit Realm beings. If even the Menial Labor Quarters of Black and White Academy were this impressive, what about the rest?
At everyone's astonishment, the fat man smiled faintly. With a forceful leap, he landed atop one of the mystic beasts. "All of you, get on its back."
Before this enormous mystic beast, these people appeared incomparably small.
Tsk, tsk, tsk~
This eagle was really big.
Qin Jishi sighed in admiration, then moved and jumped onto the Giant Eagle.
Before long, everyone had leaped onto the eagle's back. They did not exchange a single word, each calming their mind and holding their breath as they sat cross-legged, conserving their energy. Yet the excitement and tension in their eyes could not be suppressed.
"Set off!"
Seeing that everyone was in place, the fat man patted the Giant Eagle's head.
Chirp~
Chirp~
The two Giant Eagles spread their wings and soared into the sky, crying out with several lofty eagle shrieks. Wild winds swept across the ground as the scenery below grew smaller and smaller, eventually vanishing from sight.
Those who had failed to secure a spot beat their chests and stamped their feet. In the end, they left in disappointment, intending to try again next year.
Within the crowd, a middle-aged man watched the Giant Eagles disappear into the horizon, his eyes narrowing slightly before his body flickered and he swiftly departed.
Northern Commandery, Black Eagle Prefecture!
Outside the Elder Pavilion, Pan Sen spoke in low tones with a middle-aged man.
"Are you certain Qin Jishi became a menial laborer at Black and White Academy?"
"That's right!"
The middle-aged man nodded. "According to the Second Madam's description, whether his build, age, or appearance, there should be no mistake."
"Mhm!" Having received confirmation, Pan Sen muttered softly, "Before the Liu Family was wiped out, Liu Qiang once told the Second Madam that Qin Jishi possessed Innate Divine Strength. It seems that was indeed true."
"Alright!"
"You may leave."
The middle-aged man bowed, then turned and departed.
After the middle-aged man left, Pan Sen narrowed his eyes. "Qin Jishi, we truly underestimated you. Do you think that becoming a menial laborer at Black and White Academy means we cannot lay hands on you? This time, you have walked straight into the tiger's mouth like a sheep."
"How ridiculous~"
As his words fell, Pan Sen walked toward Yihe Hall.
Before you continue