Beating Him Senseless

Everyone was shocked by the strength Huangfu Ji had displayed, especially Zhao Yuan and the others.

The five-level gap in Soul Power and the five-year age difference were right there, yet no one had expected that as soon as they clashed, Yuan Ling would be completely outmatched.

"My god!"

Zhao Yuan was dumbfounded.

"Is this for real?"

"Hiss—"

As soon as he said that, a sharp pain came from his waist. Tilting his head, he saw Liu Erlong.

She was pinching his waist. Zhao Yuan was rather fat to begin with, with plenty of flesh around his middle. Liu Erlong barely needed any effort; with a slight squeeze, she easily pinched up a fold of flesh.

"Why are you pinching me?" Zhao Yuan grimaced in pain.

"This is real." Liu Erlong nodded at Zhao Yuan with complete seriousness.

Zhao Yuan curled his lip and turned away, unwilling to argue with Liu Erlong.

Liu Erlong looked at Huangfu Ji, her eyes shining.

She had still underestimated Huangfu Ji.

Yuan Ling, who had been thrown away, crashed heavily to the ground and rolled several meters before barely coming to a stop. His entire body was now in excruciating pain. Huangfu Ji's strength had exceeded his imagination.

A six-year-old child who had only just obtained his First Soul Ring possessed such strength.

Supporting himself with both hands, Yuan Ling spat out the grass and dirt in his mouth.

Just as he was about to get up, he looked up and saw Huangfu Ji standing before him.

Before he could speak, Huangfu Ji grabbed his clothes and threw him into the air.

As Yuan Ling fell, Huangfu Ji raised his hand and threw several punches in rapid succession. Every punch struck Yuan Ling precisely in the cheek, stomach, and chest. They looked powerful, but Huangfu Ji had actually held back.

If he truly killed or crippled Yuan Ling, he would have to face Yuan Hao's wrath directly. When that happened, he would be finished.

Yuan Ling only needed a lesson, one that would make him never dare entertain such thoughts again.

After throwing several punches, Huangfu Ji retreated a few steps. Yuan Ling fell face-first to the ground with a thud.

"I... I'll kill you!"

Enduring the intense pain, Yuan Ling flipped himself over and rose. Soul Power surged around him, and the Soul Ring on his body lit up.

"First Soul Skill: Brilliant Gold Bee Sting!"

Soul Power condensed countless glittering golden bee stingers around Yuan Ling, which then shot toward Huangfu Ji.

The two were too close together. It was already too late for Huangfu Ji to dodge, so he controlled his Dragon Wings to shield himself once more and block the bee stingers.

The bee stingers had tremendous piercing power, so he also coated the Dragon Wings with Soul Power.

After one wave of bee stingers, Yuan Ling took advantage of Huangfu Ji still being on the defensive and rapidly beat his bee wings as he charged over. But once he drew close, Huangfu Ji seized the opportunity to spread his Dragon Wings and send him flying with a direct slap.

"It should be over."

"First Soul Skill: Sacred Martial Slash!"

Huangfu Ji's First Soul Ring lit up. His eyes changed from dark red to gold, and Soul Power gathered around his right arm.

With a wave of his hand, he unleashed a slash that struck Yuan Ling directly.

However, not much Soul Power had been poured into this slash, so it would not kill him. Even so, after taking the blow head-on, Yuan Ling had broken two bones. He could not even stand now, much less speak.

Retracting his Martial Soul, Huangfu Ji walked over to him.

"You lost."

Yuan Ling raised his head and looked at him. Anger could still be seen in his eyes, but mixed within it was a trace of fear.

This had been a complete and utter crushing defeat. He had barely possessed any ability to fight back. The five-level gap in Soul Power seemed nonexistent before Huangfu Ji.

He was both furious and afraid.

He was furious because he had been humiliated so badly, his face beaten into a pig's head. It was not difficult to imagine that this matter would soon spread throughout the academy, and he would become a laughingstock.

A fifth-year senior, with advantages in both age and Soul Power, had actually suffered a crushing defeat at Huangfu Ji's hands.

A disciple of the Yuan Family had lost to Qingyang's Puppet Grand Duke.

What frightened him was that Huangfu Ji was already so powerful. Once he was allowed to grow up, what would become of the Yuan Family? Grand Duke Qingyang, once fully grown, would never let them off.

He had already failed. He did not even know how he would explain this to his father.

Looking into those cold, indifferent eyes, Yuan Ling lowered his head. That lowered head marked his defeat.

"Remember to honor our agreement."

Huangfu Ji turned and left.

After he left, Yuan Ling could no longer hold on and fainted.

Those who had followed Yuan Ling all hung their heads in dejection, with fear mixed in, while the Work-Study Students burst into cheers.

Even Zhao Yuan was incredibly excited, and he did not forget to mock Yuan Ling.

"What Golden Winged Bee? I think it should be renamed the Golden Winged Pig. After all, he was beaten into a pig's head."

The moment he said that, everyone around them laughed. Even Liu Erlong laughed so hard she could not close her mouth.

Only after Huangfu Ji had gone far away did Wang Feng and the others dare step forward to help Yuan Ling up before slinking away.

Watching that departing figure, Han Shuo did not cheer like the others. Instead, he stood there expressionlessly, pondering something.

Dean's Office.

A teacher arrived.

"Dean, the Grand Duke beat up Yuan Ling."

Cheng Yao looked up at the teacher.

"Teacher Wang, watch your wording. The two merely had a one-on-one spar, and Yuan Ling lost."

Teacher Wang grew somewhat anxious.

"But Dean, Yuan Ling is the Prime Minister's son after all. Hasn't the Grand Duke offended the Prime Minister by acting this way?"

"Shouldn't the academy take action and give the Grand Duke an appropriate punishment?"

Cheng Yao's expression turned cold. "Teacher Wang, you are a teacher of this academy. Teaching students is your duty. The rest is none of your concern."

"Also, the Grand Duke is the ruler, while the Prime Minister is a subject. You and I are both subjects of the Grand Duke. Even if the Grand Duke is only six years old, that does not change this fact."

"Punish the Grand Duke? What exactly are you trying to do?"

"But..." Teacher Wang still wanted to say something.

But before the words could leave his mouth, Cheng Yao cut him off.

"Teacher Wang, I think your promotion to department head next year will need to be reconsidered."

Teacher Wang immediately shut his mouth. He had no choice—he wanted to advance too badly. His achievements were destined to be limited, so the position of academy department head was extremely important to him.

"Go back and think carefully about whose food you eat."

Cheng Yao waved his hand impatiently.

After Teacher Wang left, Cheng Yao silently sighed.

It was obvious that Teacher Wang had already sided with the Yuan Family. Otherwise, he would never have suggested punishing Huangfu Ji.

Within the academy, who besides someone from the Yuan Family would dare say such a thing?

"Grow up quickly."

Cheng Yao wiped his face, rose to his feet, and walked to the window. Looking at the cheering students, a sense of fulfillment rose in his heart. These children were the future of the Duchy.

But unfortunately, the Duchy had indeed changed beyond recognition.

What remained of the Loyalty Faction could do almost nothing. They could only wait for Huangfu Ji to grow up.

Inside the dormitory.

Zhao Yuan lay on his bed, still savoring the scene of Huangfu Ji beating Yuan Ling senseless.

"Grand Duke, you were incredible."

"That was Yuan Ling, with seventeen levels of Soul Power, and you crushed him just like that."

Huangfu Ji held a book in his hands as he sat in a chair, not particularly pleased with himself.

Yuan Ling was nothing more than a minor pawn to him. If he could not even defeat Yuan Ling easily, how would he survive on the continent in the future?