Factional Strife

The Student Union member frowned and walked out of the Training Hall.

Sure enough, several teachers came over.

One of them, sporting a small mustache, was none other than Luo Beichen's mentor.

Huang Yong.

The Student Union member cleared his throat and put on a smile. "Good morning, teachers."

The teachers all nodded with smiles.

One of them asked, "Is the hall open?"

"If it is, we'll go in and claim a spot first."

The Student Union member stepped aside. "It is open. Please go in, Teacher."

Several mentors entered the hall one after another.

But when Huang Yong stepped forward, the Student Union member raised his arm.

Huang Yong's face immediately fell. "What?"

"Teacher Huang, in a Death Match, the mentors of both contestants aren't allowed to watch."

"It wouldn't be convenient for you to go in," the Student Union member said tactfully.

Huang Yong snorted. "What's inconvenient about it?"

"So many mentors are here. Are you afraid I'll break the rules?"

"Besides, you're a student, and I'm a teacher."

"Students are meddling in their teachers' affairs now?"

He casually shoved the Student Union member aside.

He was about to enter.

Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind struck his face.

Huang Yong was startled. He had never expected anyone at the Academy—

to dare attack a teacher!

Though shocked, he remained composed and raised a hand.

He slapped aside the fist that was flying toward the side of his face.

Then he turned around and glared furiously.

He saw a student who was even taller than him, with hard, angular features.

He Hao!

Huang Yong shouted angrily, "This is outrageous! As a student, you threw a punch at your teacher. What kind of behavior is that?"

He Hao rudely spat to the side.

"For people who don't follow the rules, don't call yourself a mentor."

"Even if the Heavenly King himself came, I'd beat him all the same."

Huang Yong pointed at He Hao. "You insolent brat! You have no respect for your elders. Which class are you in, and who's your mentor?"

"Let's see if I don't teach you a lesson today!"

"Teach me a lesson?" He Hao laughed loudly. "Sure. If you dare restrict your Primal Energy to the 'Intermediate level,' I'll see it through to the end!"

"You!" Huang Yong's chest heaved, but he couldn't speak.

At his level, teaching an 'Intermediate level' student a lesson would naturally be easy.

But if he restricted his Primal Energy to the 'Intermediate level,' the outcome would be uncertain.

Moreover, he was a mentor. Whether he won or lost, it would be embarrassing.

At that moment, another girl said, "He Hao, I advise you to show Teacher Huang some respect."

"Teacher Huang recently received funding from some family or other."

"His Primal Energy realm has advanced by leaps and bounds, and he has already entered 'Mystic Mastery.'"

"Miss today, and even if he only used one arm, beating you would be effortless."

This was Su Jiu.

He Hao's partner.

She walked over with a beaming smile. "By the way, Teacher Huang."

"The people funding you are from the Luo Family, right?"

"No wonder you know perfectly well what the rules of a Death Match are, yet still insist on shamelessly going inside."

"Kowtowing to your patron isn't anything to be ashamed of."

"If I had a patron like that, I'd curry favor with them too. Right, He Hao?"

Huang Yong's face shifted from green to purple.

Especially when the mentors beside him all turned to look at him.

Huang Yong immediately felt humiliated.

He snorted.

Then said,

"I'm too lazy to argue with you."

With that, he flicked his sleeve and left.

Su Jiu smiled and winked at He Hao.

She was just about to enter the hall.

when someone chuckled. "I've long heard that the students of Hundred Battles Academy are exceptionally brave. Seeing it today, I find the rumors well deserved."

"You even dare drive away a teacher from your own Academy. Truly, newborn calves don't fear tigers."

He Hao looked up.

He saw a group of people approaching together. The speaker was a refined-looking middle-aged man.

The people beside him all looked either wealthy or influential.

He Hao frowned and was about to retort.

Su Jiu hurriedly grabbed him. "That's Lu Cheng, the Minister of Education. The people beside him are all businessmen and officials from the city."

"They aren't people we can afford to offend. Don't say anything reckless."

At that moment, someone beside Lu Cheng said with a smile, "Minister Lu, it seems your educational policy needs some adjustment."

"At the very least, future children should be taught to respect their teachers and elders."

Lu Cheng did not answer before another voice rang out.

"Respecting one's teachers and elders is only right."

"But it also depends on who the person is."

"If someone lacks virtue, wouldn't it be foolish to keep insisting that others respect them?"

Everyone turned to look.

Another group was approaching from not far away.

Every one of them wore military uniforms.

They were members of the Surface Exploration Legion.

The person who had spoken was quite young.

He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square, dignified face.

He possessed the bearing of a great general.

Lu Cheng smiled. "So it's Commander Di's capable aide, Colonel Liang Jian."

He Hao narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "I didn't expect Colonel Liang to come too."

"He's the Mech Master of 'Blazing Flame,' and he's also my idol!"

Su Jiu stared at him in astonishment. "You have someone you admire too?"

She then studied the people on both sides.

In a low voice, she said,

"Lu Cheng has ties with the Luo Family. I've heard that Luo Tianyi helped him become Minister of Education from behind the scenes."

"He's here to watch the match on behalf of the Luo Family."

"Both he and Luo Tianyi belong to the 'Conservative Faction.'"

"The Surface Exploration Legion, meanwhile, is publicly known as the 'radical faction.' It seems that on the surface, this is a duel between two freshmen."

"But in reality, it's a clash between the 'Conservative Faction' and the 'radical faction.'"

He Hao nodded lightly.

"After the Giant Beast Calamity, the 'Conservative Faction' has always opposed surface exploration."

"They believe that overly frequent exploration activities will attract the attention of giant beasts and bring annihilation upon the Underground City."

"These good-for-nothings only care about enjoying themselves and refuse to leave their comfort zones."

"They never consider that if we don't carry out surface exploration and regularly clear out the giant beasts around us—"

"even if we really stop all surface activities as they suggest, the giant beasts will come knocking sooner or later."

Su Jiu parted her red lips. "They were already at the top of society before the disaster broke out."

"Life lasts only a mere hundred years."

"Now that they can enjoy themselves, of course they don't want to take risks."

"Getting them to venture onto the surface of their own accord like Commander Di is asking too much of them."

He Hao glanced at her. "Su Jiu, you've fallen."

"Shut your mouth," Su Jiu shot back.

At that moment, the colonel from the Surface Exploration Legion raised a hand and said with a beaming smile, "Minister Lu, everyone, please."

Lu Cheng chuckled. "It's only a small arena match, yet it actually brought Colonel Liang here. What a surprise."

Liang Jian said frankly, "Student Luo Yan is a promising talent our commander has taken notice of. Our commander had a mission today and couldn't make it."

"I just returned from a mission and am on leave, so I invited a few old comrades to come and join in the fun."

"To cheer Classmate Luo on."

"At the same time, we'll help the Academy maintain order."

"We must ensure today's match is conducted justly and fairly."

"So no one can interfere or meddle behind the scenes."

After saying this, the colonel looked, deliberately or otherwise, at the people Lu Cheng had brought with him.

Lu Cheng hadn't expected Liang Jian to be so blunt, and immediately said unhappily, "Colonel Liang, are you saying that we might interfere behind the scenes?"

Liang Jian laughed heartily. "Minister Lu, I'm a blunt man. I speak without thinking, so don't take it to heart."

"Come on, the match is about to begin."

"Shouldn't we find a good spot, sit down, and enjoy the show?"

He then made a gesture.

The members of the Exploration Corps moved in perfect unison.

They strode into the hall!