Your Backer Is Yourself!

Wipe out the Fang Family!

Xiao Feng hurriedly shook his head. "First Elder, we can't be reckless about this. The Fang Family may have fallen into decline over the years, but they still have some connections. Besides, the people above must still remember the contributions their ancestor Fang Yu made to the Guanxuan Universe back then. That's why everyone is willing to let the Fang Family decline slowly, or even actively push them aside. But if we actually wipe them out, I'm afraid..."

Xiao Qun's face darkened. "But what if the Fang Family insists on backing that bastard?"

Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes. "Then they'll have brought death upon themselves."

Xiao Qun nodded. "Either way, we need to prepare for the worst. I'll go talk to them first. If we can't reach an agreement, we'll fight."

With that, he rose and left.

Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy.

The Guanxuan Guards had surrounded Guanxuan Hall. Not only that, but nearly a thousand Qingzhou Realm Guardians stood guard in the sky above the entire Guanxuan Academy.

As far as they were concerned, no matter what grievances lay between Ye Tianming and whichever lineage, he couldn't die now. The moment he did, every one of them would be dismissed on the spot and held accountable for the rest of their lives.

They couldn't afford that.

Inside Guanxuan Hall.

Ye Tianming and Fang Xiao sat facing each other. Fang Xiao looked at Ye Tianming, his eyes full of curiosity. He hadn't expected this young fellow to make it through the Guanxuan Dao either.

Ye Tianming asked, "Senior Fang, how will this matter ultimately be handled?"

Fang Xiao said, "I know you're worried, but don't overthink it. Qingzhou has begun an internal investigation. Not a single person who broke the law or violated regulations will get away."

Ye Tianming was still worried.

Seeing the concern in Ye Tianming's eyes, the smile gradually faded from Fang Xiao's face. "Young fellow, you mean..."

Ye Tianming said, "Senior, could you tell me about the Xiao Family?"

The biggest problem he faced now was that he knew too little about the great lineages and sects above. Knowing too little would affect his judgment.

Fang Xiao said gravely, "The Xiao Family's ancestor had ties of friendship with the Guanxuan Sword Master back then. After the Guanxuan Universe was established, the Xiao Family gained a great many benefits behind the scenes because of that connection... Of course, their ancestor was a fine man and made many contributions in the early days of the Guanxuan Universe. But as the older generation disappeared and a new one rose to power, the world slowly changed."

Ye Tianming asked curiously, "Senior, since the Xiao Family has that connection, why didn't they become a first-rate lineage?"

Fang Xiao smiled. "Becoming a first-rate lineage isn't that simple. When my Fang Family's ancestor was still around, he held considerable power, but even then, we weren't a first-rate lineage."

Ye Tianming was puzzled. "Why not?"

Fang Xiao explained, "To become a first-rate lineage, you must possess sufficient strength. For example, does the family have a top-tier Circle-Breaking Realm expert? But in the entire Guanxuan Universe, let alone top-tier Circle-Breaking Realm experts, even those who have reached the Circle-Breaking Realm are very, very few. Alternatively, someone in the family might wield power that reaches the heavens in the Guanxuan Universe, such as the Inner Pavilion's chief grand secretary, the Literary Academy's head, or an elder of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion..."

Ye Tianming said softly, "I understand."

Fang Xiao continued, "Although the Xiao Family is a second-rate lineage, they have extensive connections. They're related by marriage to many great lineages in the Guanxuan Realm."

At that, his brow furrowed deeply.

Ye Tianming said, "The Xiao Family certainly won't sit and wait for death. They'll use every relationship and connection they have to settle this."

"Impossible!"

Fang Xiao immediately said, "They can't settle this. The Guanxuan Dao was created by the Guanxuan Sword Master to prevent monstrous injustices from occurring in the academy. Neither the Outer Pavilion nor the Inner Pavilion would dare treat this matter lightly."

Ye Tianming said, "Naturally, they wouldn't dare oppose the Outer Pavilion and Inner Pavilion, and they can't deal with them either. But they can deal with me."

Fang Xiao paused, then said angrily, "Would they actually dare kill you?"

Ye Tianming said, "They don't dare kill me now, but they have plenty of ways to threaten me. For example, I have a family, don't I? As long as I don't say the Xiao Family tried to seize my special admission slot, can the Guanxuan Realm take action against them?"

Fang Xiao's expression turned unpleasant.

Ye Tianming continued, "They won't just have to deal with me. They should also have to deal with you, Senior."

Fang Xiao looked at Ye Tianming. "Because I helped you?"

Ye Tianming nodded. "Their biggest problem right now isn't me, but you, Senior. As long as the Fang Family stops supporting me, they can do whatever they please with me. But if the Fang Family stands firmly behind me in this matter, it can't be brought to an end. So the first person they have to deal with is you, and perhaps even your Fang Family..."

At that point, he suddenly stopped and looked at Fang Xiao. Seeing how calm Fang Xiao was, he was taken aback, then said, "Senior, you'd already thought of that."

Only now did he realize that beneath this senior's rough exterior lay a careful mind.

Fang Xiao gave him a meaningful look. "It's no surprise that I thought of it. What surprises me is that someone so young thinks so deeply... You don't seem like a sixteen-year-old boy."

Ye Tianming shook his head slightly. "I was just fortunate enough to read a few more books, so I tend to think more deeply about things."

Fang Xiao nodded and said with feeling, "Reading is good!"

As he spoke, he slowly rose and turned to look outside the hall. "The Xiao Family and that Elder Yu won't sit and wait for death. Or rather, the elders who helped the Xiao Family compete for your special admission slot won't sit and wait for death either. They'll be huddling tightly together now, trying to find a way to deal with you-or, you could say, to deal with my Fang Family."

Ye Tianming fell silent.

Fang Xiao turned to look at Ye Tianming. "Young fellow, what do you think they'll do next?"

Ye Tianming said, "If I were them, I'd first put pressure on the Fang Family and have you transferred away, Senior. Then they'd send someone to talk to me alone."

"Talk?"

Fang Xiao sneered. "You mean they'd come straight out and threaten you?"

Ye Tianming fell silent.

Fang Xiao was about to speak when the young man named Fang Lian suddenly hurried into the hall. Fang Lian came up to Fang Xiao and said in a low voice, "Second Uncle, the patriarch wants you back at the family immediately... Immediately."

Fang Xiao laughed and looked at Ye Tianming. "Young fellow, you guessed right on the mark."

Ye Tianming bowed slightly to Fang Xiao. "Senior, I'll handle the rest of this myself."

He truly couldn't bear to drag this senior down any further. Fang Xiao was a decent man, and if he continued to involve himself in Ye Tianming's affairs, things certainly wouldn't end well for him.

Fang Xiao looked at Ye Tianming. "How will you handle it?"

Ye Tianming fell silent.

Fang Xiao continued, "You know perfectly well that if they threaten you, you won't have any other choice. As you said, you still have family. And you know even better that once this is over, the Xiao Family and Elder Yu certainly won't let you go. When that happens, they can do whatever they please with you. As things stand, every road you take leads to death."

Ye Tianming smiled bitterly. "There's nothing I can do. This world is so dark that I can only accept my fate."

Fang Xiao said, "There's still a way."

Ye Tianming looked at Fang Xiao, who stared back at him. "The Xiao Family is powerful and has extensive connections, but they can't cover the sky with one hand in the Guanxuan Realm. The only way now is to bring in the Inspection Court and have an inspector come to your side. Only they can stand up to the Xiao Family head-on."

Ye Tianming shook his head. "I don't even know which way the Inspection Court's doors open."

Fang Xiao said, "I do."

Ye Tianming was stunned. "Senior..."

Fang Lian hurriedly said, "Second Uncle, the patriarch told you to hurry back. As for this matter, our Fang Family..."

Fang Xiao raised a hand to stop Fang Lian and stared at Ye Tianming. "I've already written a confidential memorial about your case. When I came in here just now, I had someone deliver it to the Inspection Court. When someone appeals to them for justice, they have to act. The Guanxuan Sword Master personally laid down that rule back then. You can rest assured about the Inspection Court. They won't wallow in the same mud as the Xiao Family. They absolutely won't."

Ye Tianming asked, "What if they're wallowing in the same mud too?"

Fang Xiao said softly, "Then our Guanxuan Universe... really has no hope left."

Ye Tianming looked at Fang Xiao and said in a trembling voice, "Senior, you and I were complete strangers. Is doing all this... worth it?"

Both he and Fang Xiao knew that by doing this, Fang Xiao had thoroughly offended the Xiao Family and the council of elders at Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy.

Things wouldn't end well for Fang Xiao.

Fang Xiao smiled. "My Fang Family's ancestor was originally just a member of an ordinary lineage. But later, by a fortunate chance, he met the Guanxuan Sword Master. From then on, when one man attained the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascended to heaven. Thanks to the Guanxuan Sword Master, we've enjoyed many of this universe's resources. In truth, we were already undeserving. If we failed to act with a clear conscience as well, how could my Fang Family face our ancestor, the Guanxuan Sword Master, or the people of this world?"

He looked at Ye Tianming. "Young man, don't feel guilty. I'm not doing this because you're Ye Tianming. I'd do the same for anyone."

With that, he turned to leave, but when he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped again. "Young fellow, in our Guanxuan Universe, without a backer, every step you take will be difficult. You have talent and a future now, and you'll have many opportunities. If you encounter that kind of opportunity, don't miss it. You must have someone above looking out for you. Only then can you go further... That's the world we live in now."

With that, he followed Fang Lian and quickly disappeared through the hall's entrance.

Ye Tianming was left alone in the hall.

A backer?

Ye Tianming smiled self-mockingly and thought, Tower Ancestor, do I have a backer?

Little Pagoda said meaningfully, "Your backer is yourself."

Ye Tianming fell silent. He had been hoping to rely on this Tower Ancestor, but it seemed there was no chance of that now.

Not long after Fang Xiao left, an old man walked into Guanxuan Hall. He wore a kindly smile. "Young Master Ye, we all know about your situation. Actually, this is just a misunderstanding!"

Little Pagoda said, "..."

"A misunderstanding?"

Ye Tianming looked at the old man and smiled. "May I ask who you are, Senior?"

The old man smiled. "I'm the academy's deputy head."

Ye Tianming said, "Oh..."

The old man sighed softly. "Young Master Ye, we've already investigated the whole affair. It really was an enormous misunderstanding. As far as we know, the Xiao Family originally intended to exchange twenty Divine Tribulation Pills and two hundred thousand spirit crystals for your special admission slot, but Xiao Nu remembered it wrong and said 'Qi Drawing Pills' instead... Sigh, it was all a misunderstanding."

Divine Tribulation Pills!

Those were heaven-grade pills that could help someone overcome a tribulation and reach the Major Tribulation Realm. They were worth far more than Qi Drawing Pills.

Ye Tianming looked at the old man. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

The smile vanished from the old man's face. "Young Master Ye, you still have a long road ahead of you. Making too many enemies now isn't a good thing. I'm saying this for your own good..."

Ye Tianming looked the old man straight in the eye. "If I don't pursue this matter, will the Xiao Family let me go in the future?"

The old man was somewhat surprised. Damn it, this fellow isn't easy to fool.

Ye Tianming stared hard at the old man. "I demand that the Xiao Family be punished severely, along with everyone involved."

The old man's face immediately turned cold. "Young Master Ye, the Xiao Family is willing to give a little and offer you a toast, but if you can't see reality for what it is and think you can do as you please, then you..."

Ye Tianming suddenly drew his sword and held it across his own neck. The blade cut half an inch deep, and blood welled out. He stared at the old man. "If I can't get justice, I'll die right here in Guanxuan Hall!"

"Young Master Ye!"

Zhou Qing, the commander of the Guanxuan Guards, rushed straight in. His face was pale as he cried in alarm, "Young Master Ye, please don't act rashly! Rest assured, I swear on my head that no one can threaten you..."