The Halted Battle

"What do you think you're doing? Brawling in the academy—do you have some life-and-death grudge against each other?"

"Did you ever consider that this is an academy? Did you ever consider all those students watching beside the arena?!"

"Students behaving unlike students, teachers behaving unlike teachers!"

Principal Yu Zhen, whose hair and beard were both white and whose face bore a scholarly air, was currently glaring furiously at Xu Yue and Wu Zhangkong before him.

After berating them for a while, Yu Zhen's imposing manner weakened somewhat. He turned his gaze toward Xu Yue, and his tone softened.

"Student Xu Yue, I have already understood the situation. There was indeed a reason for this matter, and it was not your fault.

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

Yu Zhen thought of the Intermediate Division's field.

Hundreds of Rock Pillars, each as thick as a person and more than ten meters tall, had risen in an interlocking formation like the fangs of giant dragons, tearing apart the specially made Metal Arena.

He also recalled the scene of Xu Yue and Wu Zhangkong fighting to a standstill.

That was no longer merely holding back. He had gone incredibly easy on them.

Otherwise, if he had simply released Gravity Domain and stood still, even Gu Yue, Class Five's strongest student, would not have lasted long.

"I know you're angry, but..." Yu Zhen's tone turned stern again. "Your actions afterward, violently attacking others, were still wrong."

"From today onward, all preferential treatment you receive in Class One will be revoked as a warning."

"Of course, Tang Wulin, as the instigator, will also receive an appropriate punishment."

After saying that, he stared fixedly at Xu Yue, feeling a trace of apprehension in his heart.

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

"I understand, Principal! I'm willing to accept the punishment."

After fighting Wu Zhangkong, the destructive urge in his heart had mostly been vented.

Once it had been suppressed by Spear Intent, it gradually settled down.

At the same time, he felt a lingering fear over what had just happened.

If Wu Zhangkong had not acted, or had failed to block that spear strike in time, allowing Tang Wulin to fall into mortal danger...

Then what Xu Yue would have faced was Tang San's Divine Sense.

Hearing Xu Yue's answer, Yu Zhen quietly let out a breath, 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 and have your injuries treated."

Xu Yue nodded lightly, rose from the sofa, and walked straight out of the Principal's Office.

The moment he stepped outside, he saw Mu Xi, Xu Xiaoyan, and the others anxiously waiting for him.

Even Xu Xiaoyu and Ouyang Zixin were there.

Both girls' eyes were slightly red. Clearly, they had secretly cried while he was gone.

The moment they saw Xu Yue, the two girls rushed forward and examined him from head to toe, their attention ultimately settling on his side.

That was where Tang Wulin had struck him.

The tiny bloodstains on the clothes he had changed out of earlier had made both girls' hearts tremble.

"A-Yue, are... are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Mu Xi asked, her voice choked with worry and panic.

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

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

"Enough, I'm fine!" Xu Yue's usual smile returned as he rubbed Mu Xi and Xu Xiaoyan's hair. "My injury has already healed!"

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

After merging with Ah Yin's origin, his body recovered much faster than an ordinary person's. Though he was not truly immortal, minor wounds like this were nothing.

"That's good!" Mu Xi and Xu Xiaoyan both breathed sighs of relief, smiles returning to their faces. But they soon became indignant.

"That Tang Wulin is awful! Brother A-Yue had clearly held back, yet he actually resorted to a sneak attack."

"Enough! Let's not talk about it anymore."

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

However, as they passed the corner, a cool and aloof figure in a white dress, with black hair, entered their sight.

It was Gu Yue.

The moment Xu Xiaoyan saw Gu Yue, her expression turned hostile. She had not forgotten that Gu Yue was one of Tang Wulin's teammates.

Gu Yue ignored Xu Xiaoyan's hostility. Her gaze merely rested quietly on Xu Yue as she softly asked,

"How are you?"

"Thank you for your concern." Xu Yue smiled faintly and expressed his gratitude for her concern.

Although he did not know what exactly had gone wrong between Tang Wulin, Na'er, and Gu Yue, the story had likely changed considerably from what he remembered.

Otherwise, without any interference from him, Gu Yue's Soul Power cultivation, the age of her Soul Rings, her attitude toward Tang Wulin, and everything else could not possibly have differed so greatly.

Overall, though, it was a good thing.

Inside the Principal's Office.

After Xu Yue left, the small space fell silent.

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

However, before he could say anything else,

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

Bang!

The loud crash lodged Yu Zhen's unspoken words in his throat.

A moment later, Long Hengxu, the director of studies, who had been sitting silently in a corner all along, cautiously spoke.

"Principal, that punishment you gave just now... I'm afraid it will make Wu Zhangkong dissatisfied."

Yu Zhen had clearly raised the issue high, only to let it drop lightly.

Class One's benefits?

To Xu Yue, they probably were not even worth a hair.

"What else was I supposed to do?" Yu Zhen's expression was not very pleasant either. "Was I supposed to expel Xu Yue? Besides, today's incident was not Xu Yue's fault to begin with."

Eastsea Academy had finally produced a promising talent, a genius almost certain to stand at the pinnacle of the continent's strongest in the future.

If he expelled him, he truly would have rocks for brains.

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

If anything went wrong, it would be too late for regrets.

"But..." Long Hengxu looked troubled. "As for the proposal for Zero Class, you intend to have Wu Zhangkong serve as its teacher. Now that he and Student Xu Yue have fallen out so badly, what if..."

"Hmph! What if what? Wu Zhangkong refuses to teach properly? Or he does not want to take over as Zero Class's homeroom teacher?"

Yu Zhen picked up the teacup on his desk and took a light sip, soothing his somewhat dry throat.

"Don't worry. He will be willing to take it on."

"As for the teaching, I believe someone who came from Shrek would not be so petty."

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

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

"Yes, Principal." Long Hengxu agreed, then left the Principal's Office as well.

Very soon, only Yu Zhen remained.

After a brief moment of silence, bursts of laughter rang out within the quiet Principal's Office.

"Hahaha... Heaven is helping Eastsea Academy!"

"Old leader, I'm raising the stakes!!!"