Bai Cheng's Provocation

"Oh, right, Lao Huo!" Yan Hao suddenly remembered, "Someone attacked us in the Canaan Times a couple of days ago."

"Attack?"

"So you're saying we got into the Library Pavilion through connections, and you're stirring up trouble to incite everyone to protest to the academy's higher-ups!" Yan Hao took out an issue of the Canaan Times, turned to a page, and handed it to Huo Yuhao.

"Could it be Lu Mu again?" Huo Yuhao took the article and flipped directly to the end. "Anonymous? Quite cautious."

"Who would dare to jump in front of you like that?" Yan Hao was somewhat speechless. "You were able to hold your own against the vice dean when you were at the two-star level, now you're practically—"

"Still a bit weaker than the vice dean." Huo Yuhao smiled. "It's normal for people to gossip, let them be!"

"Damn it!" A suppressed roar echoed through the dormitory, accompanied by flying sawdust! Bai Cheng's furious punch had smashed a large hole through the sturdy solid wood desk.

"Boss—boss!" Bai Cheng's henchman shuddered in fright.

"Didn't you say someone would cause them trouble and isolate them?!" Bai Cheng whirled around, grabbing his follower by the collar. "But now? Nobody's even paying attention!"

"Boss! This... this really isn't my fault!" The henchman, his face flushed red, struggled to explain, "Who would have thought that Huo Yuhao could cause such a commotion!"

Bai Cheng released his grip. The follower landed on the ground, panting heavily, a hint of resentment flashing in his downcast eyes.

"Tell me now, what should we do?" Bai Cheng rubbed his fingers, his voice icy.

"Didn't you already send over your secret technique?" The henchman stood up, catching his breath, his eyes darting around. "Let's take this opportunity to challenge them directly."

"What did you say? You want me to go and die?!" Bai Cheng roared, "That Huo Yuhao, didn't you hear the commotion that day? Such power, he must have already mastered Earth Grade Dou Technique!"

The henchman, seeing Bai Cheng's furiously contorted face, concealed a hint of contempt in his eyes. "If you don't seize this opportunity, the gap between you will only widen! You can choose a weakness to challenge. Huo Yuhao is an exception; I don't believe everyone has already mastered it!"

He continued to tempt her, "Huo Yuhao is too strong, we won't consider him. That Xiao Yi Xian is just a Dou Master, she's no threat. Of the remaining three, Han Yue is the weakest, you can challenge her, boss. Then secretly use your full strength on the stage and leave her with some aftereffects."

"No, the academy won't allow it!" Bai Cheng frowned and shook his head, saying, "If I really do that, I'll be punished by the academy! I might even be expelled."

"Boss!" The henchman grinned sinisterly, "You can use the excuse that you just learned a secret technique and couldn't control your power!"

What's done is done. Do you think the academy would punish a genius like you for a student who's been crippled? Just have your family donate more money, and nothing will happen!

"That's true!" Bai Cheng hesitated for a moment, "But Goddess Han Yue —let's forget about it. I'll just provoke that big, clumsy Yan Hao. With his intelligence, he'll definitely fall for it and challenge me. That way, the academy won't be able to say anything."

"Ha!" the lackey sneered inwardly. "Nothing will happen? Jia Nan Academy never backs down on matters like this!"

You should sponsor the class to get your brain fixed. With your intelligence, how dare you call Yan Hao stupid?

One day later.

The Profound Class One had just finished their meditation class. The mechanical gate slowly opened, and the students got up and left one after another. Only Huo Yuhao and a few others stayed behind.

At this moment, Huo Yuhao was studying the mechanisms in the Meditation Room, his face pressed against the wall, almost embedded in it.

"Huo Yuhao, have you finished your research?" Lin Xiuya cracked his knuckles, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation. "Shall we spar a bit at the Martial Arena after dinner?"

Lin Xiuya and Han Yue finally received the magical Spirit Artifact that Huo Yuhao had tailored for them, and now they were itching to use them.

"You guys go to the cafeteria first," Huo Yuhao's muffled voice came from the crack in the wall. "I'll be there in a bit."

O

Xiao Yi Xian sat on the futon with her knees drawn up to her chest. "I'll wait for Brother Huo Yuhao to come together."

As Huo Yuhao carefully traced the energy nodes on the stone wall with his finger, he casually asked, "Hey, what do you guys think—how about I offer a weapon-refining course at the academy?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. Yan Hao even said directly, "Old Huo, you're actually willing to spread this? Your weapon-refining method shouldn't be the kind that's never to be passed on. Even if you wanted to take on a disciple, you'd at least observe them for three to five years—"

"No wonder so many things on the Battle Qi Continent have been lost." Huo Yuhao couldn't help but complain.

He sent me here, perhaps wanting me to help restore the legacy. A realization dawned on Huo Yuhao.

Just then, a deliberately raised voice broke in, tinged with enthusiasm. "Han Yue! What a coincidence, you just finished class too?"

Bai Cheng, with what he considered a charming smile on his face, walked over with an air of elegance and made a clear statement to Han Yue.

Han Yue's cool gaze swept over him, a hint of confusion in her eyes, as she politely but distantly asked, "May I ask who you are?"

Bai Cheng's smile froze for a moment, "Han Yue, you really have a bad memory! I'm Bai Cheng from Class 3! I even had someone deliver this to you several times before—"

Han Yue suddenly realized. "So those useless things were sent by you. I even published a notice in the Canaan Times, telling you not to send any more of these—"

Han Yue paused, looking at Bai Cheng's meticulously groomed face, and felt a sudden surge of physical disgust. "Trash!"

Pfft!

Yan Hao burst into a thunderous laugh without any restraint, tears welling up in his eyes.

Bai Cheng's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, as if he had been slapped in the face in public! He abruptly turned to Yan Hao, a vicious curse almost bursting from his lips, "Yan Hao, you—"

Remembering his purpose, Bai Cheng suppressed the friendly greeting that was about to slip out, restrained his burning anger, and said with a hint of sarcasm, "I heard that you, Yan Hao, were lucky enough to obtain a Earth Tier Cultivation Method? With your meager talent and questionable intelligence, you probably haven't even scratched the surface yet, have you? Do you need me to give you some pointers?"

"Alright, my research is almost done. Let's go." Huo Yuhao dusted off his hands, finally straightened up from the corner, glanced at Bai Cheng briefly, and then ignored him.

"Let's go! I'm starving!" Yan Hao waved his hand dismissively, completely ignoring Bai Cheng's Bai Cheng face. "I've recently discovered that if you go a little later, the leftover food in the cafeteria is no longer rationed!"

Completely ignored! Bai Cheng's last shred of reason crumbled. He took a sudden step forward, pointed at Yan Hao's retreating figure, and roared, "Yan Hao! Don't you dare leave! I challenge you!!"

Yan Hao paused, slowly turned around, and glanced at Bai Cheng from head to toe. His gaze was as if he were assessing a less-than-satisfactory piece of merchandise, and his tone was full of disdain. "You?"

These two words are like adding fuel to the fire!

"Damn it! Yan Hao! I must—" Bai Cheng trembled with rage, his fighting Dou Qi surging violently.