The Terminated Battle

"Tell me, what do you think you look like? Fighting tooth and nail inside the academy—do you have some life-or-death grudge against each other?"

"Did you even consider that this is an academy? Did you think about the students watching from the sidelines of the Metal Arena?!"

"The students don't act like students, and the teachers don't act like teachers!"

Yu Zhen, the principal with white hair and beard and a scholarly air, was currently looking at Xu Yue and Wu Zhangkong with a face full of fury.

After lecturing for a while, Yu Zhen's momentum weakened slightly, and his gaze shifted toward Xu Yue, his tone softening.

"Student Xu Yue, I have already clarified the situation. This matter truly had a cause, and it was not your fault."

"In the Class Promotion Tournament, you did indeed hold back."

Yu Zhen thought back to the Intermediate Division training ground.

Hundreds of Rock Pillars, each as thick as a person and over ten meters high, were arranged in an interlocking pattern like the fangs of a giant dragon, tearing the specially crafted Metal Arena to shreds.

And the scene where he had fought Wu Zhangkong to a standstill.

That wasn't just holding back; that was throwing the match.

Otherwise, if he had simply released a Gravity Domain and stood still, even the strongest in Class Five, Gu Yue, wouldn't have lasted long.

"I know you were angry, but..." Yu Zhen's tone turned serious again, "your subsequent behavior of starting a massive brawl was still wrong."

"Starting today, all your privileges in Class One will be revoked as a warning."

"Of course, I will also give corresponding punishment to Tang Wulin, the instigator of this incident."

After speaking, he stared fixedly at Xu Yue, though he was actually feeling a bit panicked inside.

But Xu Yue's next words made him heave a sigh of relief.

"Understood, Principal! I am willing to accept the punishment."

After the battle with Wu Zhangkong, the desire for Destruction in his heart had been mostly vented.

Suppressed by his Spear Intent, it had already calmed down.

At the same time, he felt a lingering fear regarding the situation just moments ago.

If Wu Zhangkong hadn't intervened, or if he hadn't managed to block that spear strike in time, Tang Wulin would have fallen into a life-or-death crisis.

If that had happened, he would have been facing the Divine Sense of Tang San.

Hearing Xu Yue's reply, Yu Zhen breathed a light sigh of relief, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Since that is the case, Student Xu Yue, you may leave first. You can also go to the infirmary to have your injuries treated."

Xu Yue nodded slightly, rose from the sofa, and walked straight out of the principal's office.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Mu Xi, Xu Xiaoyan, and the others waiting anxiously outside.

Even Xu Xiaoyu and Ouyang Zixin were there.

At this moment, the eyes of both girls were slightly red; clearly, they had been crying quietly while he was away.

Seeing Xu Yue appear, the two girls immediately rushed forward, patting and examining his body from top to bottom, finally stopping at his flank.

That was exactly where Tang Wulin had struck him.

The specks of blood on the clothes he had changed out of earlier had made the hearts of both girls tremble.

"A-Yue, are you... are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?" Mu Xi's voice was choked with panic.

"Should we go to the infirmary? No, let's go to Skysea City or Ming Capital to find the best healing-type Soul Master."

"That's right, Brother A-Yue," Xu Xiaoyan chimed in.

"Alright, I'm fine!" A smile returned to Xu Yue's face as he ruffled the hair of Mu Xi and Xu Xiaoyan, saying softly, "My wounds have already healed!"

"How could a mere one-ring Soul Master possibly hurt me?"

After fusing with the essence of Ah Yin, his body's recovery speed was much stronger than an ordinary person's. While it hadn't reached the level of an immortal body, minor injuries were nothing.

"That's good!" Mu Xi and Xu Xiaoyan breathed a sigh of relief simultaneously, their smiles returning, though they quickly turned indignant.

"That Tang Wulin is truly detestable. Even though Brother A-Yue held back, he actually resorted to a sneak attack."

"Alright! Let's not talk about this anymore."

As he spoke, Xu Yue took the hands of both girls and led the group toward the elevator.

However, just as they rounded the corner, a cold, black-haired figure in a white dress came into their view.

It was Gu Yue.

Xu Xiaoyan, seeing Gu Yue, immediately looked hostile; she hadn't forgotten that the other girl was one of Tang Wulin's teammates.

Gu Yue ignored Xu Xiaoyan's hostility, her gaze resting quietly on Xu Yue as she said softly.

"How are you?"

"Thank you for your concern." Xu Yue smiled slightly, expressing his gratitude for her care.

Although he didn't know what exactly had gone wrong between Tang Wulin, Na'er, and Gu Yue, he figured that things must have changed significantly from the story in his memories.

Otherwise, without his interference, it would have been impossible for Gu Yue's soul power cultivation, the age of her Soul Rings, and her attitude toward Tang Wulin to have deviated so drastically.

Overall, however, it could be considered a good thing.

Inside the Principal's Office.

After Xu Yue left, the small space fell into silence.

After a long while, Yu Zhen looked toward Wu Zhangkong, coughed once, and said, "Ahem, Teacher Wu..."

However, before he could say anything more.

Wu Zhangkong, with a cold face, rose from his seat without a word and slammed the door behind him as he strode away.

Bang!

A loud crash echoed, leaving the words Yu Zhen intended to speak stuck in his throat.

A moment later, the Dean, Long Hengxu, who had been sitting in the corner and remained silent throughout, spoke up cautiously.

"Principal, the punishment you just handed down... I'm afraid it will cause dissatisfaction from Wu Zhangkong."

Just now, Yu Zhen had clearly raised the stick high only to let it fall gently.

Class One benefits?

To Xu Yue, that probably didn't amount to a single hair.

"What else could I do?" Yu Zhen's expression was also somewhat unpleasant. "Could I really expel Xu Yue? Besides, today's incident wasn't even Xu Yue's fault to begin with."

Eastsea Academy had finally produced a promising sprout, a genius almost destined to reach the pinnacle of the continent's powerhouses in the future.

If he were to expel him, he would have to be out of his mind.

Moreover, he had only just promised his former superior a few days ago that this year's Skysea Alliance Grand Competition would make them famous throughout the Federation.

If anything went wrong, he wouldn't even have time to regret it.

"But..." Long Hengxu said, looking troubled. "Regarding the proposal for the Zero Class, you intend for Wu Zhangkong to be the teacher. Now that he and student Xu Yue have had such an unpleasant falling out, what if..."

"Hmph! What if what? That Wu Zhangkong won't teach seriously? Or that he doesn't want to take on the role of Zero Class homeroom teacher?"

Yu Zhen picked up the teacup on his desk and took a light sip to soothe his dry throat.

"Rest assured, he will be willing to take the position."

"As for the issue of teaching, I believe someone who came out of Shrek wouldn't be so petty."

As he spoke, he looked at Long Hengxu and waved his hand.

"Alright, let's end this matter here. There is no need to continue the First Grade Class Promotion Tournament."

"Understood, Principal." Long Hengxu agreed and likewise left the Principal's Office.

Soon, only Yu Zhen remained.

After a brief moment of silence, bursts of laughter echoed through the quiet Principal's Office.

"Hahaha... Heaven helps my Eastsea Academy!"

"Old leader, I want to raise the stakes!!!"