Everyone stared at the disheveled Xuan Zi in front of them.
At this moment, Xuan Zi began to tremble slightly.
"I... I only realized it was because I sensed the fluctuation..."
"You only came after sensing the fluctuations?" Lin Ciyan interrupted him, his tone eerily calm.
"What if it had been a few seconds later? What if I hadn't been able to stop the Corpse Explosion?"
He looked around.
"Senior Ma Xiaotao, Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, Level 68. Senior Dai Yueheng, White Tiger Martial Soul, Level 64. Ling Luochеn, Senior Xi Xi, Senior Gongyang Mo, Senior Yao Haoxuan... Aren't they all elites of the Inner Court? Aren't they all the future of Shrek?"
"If it had exploded just now," Lin Ciyan, emphasizing each word, "More than just one or two people would have died."
The cave was completely silent.
Huo Yuhao and the other reserve team members held their breath. They had never imagined that anyone would dare to speak to the Pavilion Elder of the Sea God Pavilion like that.
Xuan Zi's face turned ashen.
"What do you know! I was just..."
"That's habitual dereliction of duty," Lin Ciyan interrupted again.
He released Zhang Lexuan's hand, took two steps forward, and stood in front of Xuan Zi.
Despite the significant height difference, their presence was in no way inferior.
" Xuan Zi, I've checked the records of the Inspection Group." Lin Ciyan took out a file from his Storage Soul Tool and casually flipped through it.
"Thirty-seven years ago, you led a team to hunt Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. You 'temporarily left' midway, which led to an attack on seven Inner Court disciples, of whom only one survived..."
Xuan Zi suddenly looked up. "That was an accident! That Soul Beast..."
"An accident?" Lin Ciyan chuckled. "And this time? Was it another accident?"
Xuan Zi's lips trembled, and the chicken leg in his hand fell to the ground.
"And fifteen years ago, eleven years ago, seven years ago..." Lin Ciyan turned the pages one by one, his voice echoing in the cave, "Every time you led the team, you were either late, or 'temporarily left,' or you made mistakes due to drinking... This resulted in nine Inner Court disciples being seriously injured or disabled, and thirteen others suffering minor injuries."
He closed the file and looked up at Xuan Zi.
As is widely known, Xuan Zi is also known as the "Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult " and " Lezi Douluo ".
It's because Xuan Zi often tricks and harms students, and his personality is extremely wicked.
boom--!
Xuan Zi's Soul Power surged, and his terrifying pressure at Level 98 erupted!
The cave shook, and loose rocks fell in a cascade.
"You... how dare you..." Xuan Zi's eyes were bloodshot.
But Lin Ciyan remained standing.
The phantom of the Holy Radiance Qilin appeared intermittently behind him, and the framework of the Light of the Five Elements glowed faintly, isolating the overwhelming pressure from the outside.
"Did I say something wrong?" Lin Ciyan asked calmly.
Xuan Zi stared intently at him for a long time, and then his overwhelming aura suddenly froze.
Like a punctured balloon, it quickly deflated.
He staggered back two steps and leaned against the cave wall.
The anger on his old face gradually faded, replaced by a deathly pallor, bewilderment, and... shame.
"I..." Xuan Zi his mouth, his voice hoarse, "I just... wanted them to have more experience..."
"Training to the point of death?" Lin Ciyan showed no mercy. " Xuan Zi, you are Limit Douluo. Do you think 'danger' and 'fatal' are the same thing? Just now, with that Corpse Explosion, if it weren't for me, at least one of the seven Inner Court members who were closest would have died, and four would have been seriously injured. Is this the 'training' you wanted?"
Xuan Zi remained silent.
He lowered his head, looking at his greasy hands and the wine jug beside him.
Then, he slowly squatted down and took out the wine flask from his waist.
But this time, he didn't drink.
"I..." Xuan Zi's voice trembled, "I... was wrong."
Four words, yet Qian Jun weight.
The entire room fell silent.
No one expected that this Pavilion Elder, who held a high position in the Sea God Pavilion, would admit his mistake in public.
Lin Ciyan's expression softened slightly.
"Where did we go wrong?" he asked.
"The mistake was... underestimating the enemy, the mistake was negligence, the mistake was..." Xuan Zi took a deep breath, "The mistake was not valuing the students' lives."
He raised his head, his old eyes red.
"I will resign from my position Pavilion Elder of the Sea God Pavilion and issue a public apology to all the disciples and their families who have suffered because of my mistakes."
After saying that, he turned and left.
His steps were unsteady, his back hunched, and he no longer possessed the former grandeur of Limit Douluo.
When they reached the cave entrance, Xuan Zi paused for a moment.
He didn't turn around, but whispered:
"This Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament... depends on you Ci Yan."
There was an unprecedented solemnity in his voice.
Then, he transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the night.
Silence remained for Jiujiu inside the cave.
"Master..." Wang Dong said softly, "Wouldn't this... be too..."
"Too what?" Lin Ciyan turned around, his usual lazy smile returning to his face.
"Too direct? Young man, you need to understand that some mistakes cannot be overlooked just because someone is of high status."
He clapped his hands. "Alright, clean up the battlefield, then go out and rest. Although it didn't explode, the resentment of the Evil Soul Master still lingers and needs to be cleared away."
Everyone then came to their senses and quickly got to work.
Half an hour later, in a sheltered mountain hollow in the Mingdou Mountain Range.
The campfire was lit, dispelling the chill of the night.
Everyone removed their Inspector masks and cloaks.
Zhang Lexuan sat next to Lin Ciyan, her silver outfit highlighting her tall and slender figure.
The firelight reflected on her gentle face, her eyelashes casting soft shadows on her cheeks.
"Are you tired?" she asked softly.
"It's alright." Lin Ciyan leaned on her shoulder.
"It's just that criticizing Xuan Zi is a waste of breath."
Zhang Lexuan chuckled and reached out to tidy his slightly messy hair.
The gesture was natural and intimate, causing Ma Xiaotao to purse her lips, while Ling Luochеn lowered his eyes.
"However, you're right," Zhang Lexuan said softly, " Xuan Zi ... he really needs someone to enlighten him."
"It should have been done long ago." Lin Ciyan closed his eyes. "If it weren't for his loyalty to the academy, I would have said something much harsher."
At this moment, Huo Yuhao suddenly let out a muffled groan.
His face was pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
" Yuhao?" Wang Dong quickly helped him up.
"Evil energy has entered your bodies." Lin Ciyan opened his eyes. "Although it didn't explode just now, the aura of vengeful spirits still tainted you... The lower your cultivation level, the more obvious the effect."
He stood up and walked to the center of the campfire.
"Sit closer together, everyone."
A crowd gathered around.
Lin Ciyan formed hand seals, and the phantom of the Holy Radiance Qilin reappeared.
But this time it's not a battle form, but a gentle, healing form.
" Grace of Bathing Light."
The second Soul Skill is activated.
Golden rain of light fell, enveloping everyone.
The light rain carried the harmonizing power of the Five Elements Rotation, and the cold, resentful energy that had invaded the body melted away quickly, like snow meeting the sun.
"Mmm..." Ma Xiaotao let out a soft, comfortable moan.
She was already dressed in a fiery red outfit, and now, in the rain of light, her curvaceous figure was even more accentuated.
Especially her full, rounded chest, rising and falling slightly with her breath, gleamed with a healthy glow in the firelight.
Lin Ciyan glanced at her again, then Zhang Lexuan gently pinched his waist.
He chuckled and focused on the treatment.
Ling Luochеn sat a little further away, her long, ice-blue hair cascading over her shoulders.
The sunlight fell on her snow-white skin, creating a shimmering halo.
Her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and a rare look of relaxation appeared on her usually cool face.
"Thank you." She opened her eyes, her icy blue pupils looking at Lin Ciyan, and said softly.
Lin Ciyan waved his hand.
The treatment lasted for fifteen minutes.
When the rain of light dissipated, everyone felt refreshed and invigorated, and even their Soul Power became more refined.
"Wow, this is even more effective than the Cultivation Room in the Sea God Pavilion!" Gongyang Mo exclaimed.
"Of course," Ma Xiaotao said proudly, " Ci Yan's Martial Soul is auspicious."
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Lin Ciyan, her dependence and pride in her gaze undisguised.
Zhang Lexuan smiled slightly, said nothing, but simply moved closer to Lin Ciyan.
Ling Luochеn silently took out a water bottle from his Storage Soul Tool and handed it to Lin Ciyan: "Have some water."
"Thanks, Luo Chen." Lin Ciyan accepted the drink and took a sip naturally.
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao sat to the side watching, secretly exchanging glances.
"Master is really popular," Wang Dong mouthed.
Xiao Xiao nodded, her little face full of admiration.
As Huo Yuhao felt the yin coldness completely eliminated from his body, his gaze towards Lin Ciyan became even more complex.
The teaching assistant is... strong, clear-headed, outspoken and decisive, and... genuinely protecting everyone.
"Alright, we'll take turns keeping watch tonight, and we'll leave for Star Luo City first thing tomorrow morning." Lin Ciyan stretched. "Who's on the first shift?"
"I'll do it," Zhang Lexuan said.
"I'll go with you," Lin Ciyan replied naturally.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
The firelight flickered, and the night was gentle.
Outside the mountain valley, on a distant treetop, a disheveled figure stood quietly.
Xuan Zi stared at the group of young people around the campfire, and at Lin Ciyan, who was surrounded by them, for a long time.
Finally, he sighed, turned, and disappeared into the night.
This time, he really needs to think about it carefully.