Battle Through the Heavens: Obtaining the Extraction System at the Start

The familiar outline and aura came into view. There was no need to say who this person was—it was Mang Tianchi, the Lei Clan elder whom he had crossed paths with in the Void Lightning Pool and on Ancient Dragon Island. Xiao Ling immediately cupped his hands and said, "Still, I must thank you, Principal, for stepping in to resolve this situation for me."

Mang Tianchi threw back his head and laughed heartily, slapping Xiao Ling heavily on the shoulder. His tone was full of the straightforward protectiveness of an elder shielding his own: "You're Jia Nan Academy's most outstanding student in all these years. How could I let you be bullied by this bunch of old fogeys? Going against you means going against me, the principal!"

That was no empty statement. While he had stepped in to support Xiao Ling, he also had another consideration. He had deliberately resolved the trouble before Xiao Ling could act, lest Xiao Ling expose his true strength too early in order to get himself out of danger.

No one present understood better than Mang Tianchi just how unimaginable Xiao Ling's cultivation was. Reaching such a realm at his age was already shocking enough. If he revealed it before everyone now, it would bring him no benefit.

Xiao Ling's situation was hardly optimistic to begin with. Many within the Ancient Clan already harbored dissatisfaction toward him, and this coming-of-age ceremony had even drawn people from the Soul Clan, which had been at odds with the Xiao Clan for generations.

Mang Tianchi understood better than anyone that a tall tree caught the wind. It was easy to attract admiration by stealing the spotlight for a moment, but once it aroused the wariness and attention of those with ulterior motives, it would bring Xiao Ling nothing