Disappointment, Despair!

Inside Guanxuan Hall.

Ye Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, his hands folded in his lap, silently circulating the Heavenly Mandate Art. He had only just created it, and it still had many imperfections. What he needed to do now was refine it.

By his current estimate, the first part of the Heavenly Mandate Art could only bring him to the Major Tribulation Realm at most. If he wanted to advance further, he would have to refine it.

What troubled him most was that he had never seen any other advanced cultivation arts, so he had nothing to draw on. He had originally hoped to see other cultivation arts after coming to Guanxuan Academy, but he had not expected all this to happen.

Little Pagoda did not disturb Ye Tianming. Naturally, Little Pagoda supported his creation of a cultivation art. If this little fellow really created an invincible art, who would get the credit? Naturally, it would be Pagoda Master... at least half of it would be his.

If the fellow changed the name of the Heavenly Mandate Art to the Heavenly Mandate Little Pagoda Art... that would be even more perfect.

At the thought, Little Pagoda's blood boiled with excitement.

Of course, Little Pagoda realized that if he wanted the fellow to change the name willingly, he would have to put in some effort. So he began offering the little fellow guidance at crucial moments.

After Little Pagoda helped improve one detail of the art, Ye Tianming was stunned. "Tower Ancestor, you actually have such a profound understanding of cultivation."

Little Pagoda laughed. "I'm just like you. Though my strength is very, very weak, I've read a lot of books, so I know a thing or two about cultivation."

Ye Tianming said, "Tower Ancestor, we're creating this art together. If we succeed, let's name it after both of us. How about the Heavenly Mandate Pagoda Ancestor Art?"

Little Pagoda was overjoyed and kept praising the boy inwardly for knowing the ropes. But he said, "Little fellow, your Tower Ancestor cares very little for fame and fortune. I've never cared about empty honors like that... Of course, if you insist on naming it that, I won't stop you."

Ye Tianming had come to understand the Tower Ancestor's personality somewhat. Clearly, the Tower Ancestor cared about saving face. It seemed he would have to flatter him more in the future.

And so, with the Tower Ancestor's help and guidance, his progress on the art rapidly improved.

By evening, Zhou Qing suddenly came in. He looked at Ye Tianming. "Young Master Ye, the academy's vice dean, Yuan Qi, would like to talk to you. What do you think...?"

Ye Tianming said, "Can I refuse to talk to him?"

Zhou Qing said, "He said he came in good faith."

Ye Tianming gave Zhou Qing a long look. "Then let him in."

Zhou Qing nodded. "All right."

Soon, Yuan Qi entered.

Zhou Qing did not leave. After what had happened last time, he was truly afraid. If the little fellow really did something rash, things would become irreparable.

The grand elder walked up to Ye Tianming and smiled. "Young Master Ye, I'm Yuan Qi, the academy's vice dean. You can call me Elder Yuan."

Ye Tianming looked at him without speaking.

Yuan Qi said, "Young Master Ye, do you know why they sent me?"

Ye Tianming shook his head. "No."

Yuan Qi smiled. "Because I wasn't involved in the matter of the special admission slot. Even if Qingzhou investigates itself, as long as you don't die here, I won't be affected in any way."

Ye Tianming said, "Are you trying to tell me your conscience is clear where I'm concerned, Elder Yuan? Or that you're completely impartial?"

Yuan Qi smiled. "You're even smarter than I imagined. I'll be frank with you too: I'm not representing the academy this time, but the Xiao Family."

Ye Tianming said, "It seems the academy has no intention of severely punishing the elders involved or the Xiao Family."

Yuan Qi turned to look at Zhou Qing, who said, "Rest assured, Elder Yuan. No one will be eavesdropping here."

He had just secretly used his divine sense to inspect the storage ring on Ye Tianming, and there was no recording device inside.

Ye Tianming glanced at Zhou Qing again. Clearly, this commander of Qingzhou's Guanxuan Guards was one of their people.

Yuan Qi nodded. "Young Master Ye, I'll get straight to the point. Since many elders are involved this time, there's no possibility of the academy investigating itself. If it did, the entire Qingzhou Academy would immediately descend into chaos, because a great many people would be implicated. It would also affect the futures of the dean and the people in charge of the various academies. So even without the Xiao Family, the academy wouldn't stand on your side. That's the truth."

Ye Tianming fell silent.

Seeing that Ye Tianming had no particularly intense reaction, Yuan Qi continued, "Even if we take ten thousand steps back and assume the academy really does stand on your side, it still probably couldn't touch the Xiao Family. First, Qingzhou Academy has no authority to deal with the Xiao Family directly. It simply doesn't have the ability to move against a behemoth like them. Second, the Xiao Family's connections and influence are far beyond your imagination. There hasn't been any movement from the Guanxuan Realm even now, which means the Xiao Family has already greased palms at every level. Do you understand what I mean?"

Ye Tianming laughed. "You've spelled it out so clearly, Yuan Qi. How could I not understand?"

Yuan Qi looked at Ye Tianming. "Now I'll tell you the terms the Xiao Family is offering. First, they're willing to give you thirty Lesser Tribulation Pills, twenty Great Tribulation Pills, and three hundred thousand spirit crystals. Those are the Xiao Family's terms. The academy has also offered you a condition: during your three years studying at the academy, as long as you don't leave, it can guarantee your safety. It's also willing to give you a certain amount of resources to help you cultivate better..."

Ye Tianming looked at Yuan Qi. "Elder Yuan, do you believe that yourself?"

Yuan Qi shook his head. "I don't. The only reason they aren't killing you now is because of the Guanxuan Dao. Once the public outcry over it dies down, the Xiao Family will kill you at the first opportunity to eliminate future trouble."

Ye Tianming said, "Then do you think I'll agree to these terms, Elder Yuan?"

Yuan Qi looked at him. "You have two paths now. The first is to kill yourself. If you do, both the Xiao Family and Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy will suffer. Everyone involved will be severely punished, even if they don't die, and those who survive will have no political future whatsoever. Even the Xiao Family will take a heavy blow, but the family as a whole certainly won't be wiped out. The worst that could happen is that they'll be exiled..."

Ye Tianming fell silent.

Yuan Qi continued, "The second path is to accept their terms. Though it's a dead end too, there is actually hope."

Ye Tianming stared at him without speaking.

Yuan Qi said, "That hope is that you must find a backer within a year, or even half a year-a mentor with a great, great deal of power. With that mentor backing you, the Xiao Family might let you off. Of course, we both know that in the current circumstances, it'll be hard to find a mentor willing to support you... But anything is possible, isn't it?"

Ye Tianming said, "What if I refuse to settle?"

Yuan Qi looked at him. "Then the fish dies and the net splits. Of course, I know you may not fear death, but I'll tell you plainly: the Xiao Family's experts have already set out for Qingzhou City."

Ye Tianming stared fixedly at Yuan Qi, his left hand gripping the Sword of Upholding the Dao tightly.

Yuan Qi said, "The Xiao Family didn't say it outright, but I know what they meant. If you choose to make the fish die and the net split, they'll immediately execute everyone in your Ye Family. Once it comes to that, they won't be afraid of adding another crime to the list..."

Ye Tianming turned to look at Zhou Qing, who said quietly, "Young Master Ye, while you're alive, we'll keep the Ye Family safe."

Clearly, the moment he died, no one would protect the Ye Family.

Ye Tianming suddenly laughed. "Good, good, good. What a fine Guanxuan Academy, what fine powerful families and nobles... I've finally seen your methods."

Zhou Qing was silent.

Naturally, he would stand with the academy and the Xiao Family. He knew perfectly well that Ye Tianming could not possibly prevail against Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy and the Xiao Family. Moreover, Ye Tianming could do nothing to him, Zhou Qing, but Qingzhou Academy and the Xiao Family could affect his future.

The academy and the Xiao Family on one side, and a lowest-tier family on the other. Anyone with a working brain knew which side to choose.

Yuan Qi stared at Ye Tianming. "Young Master Ye, you must make a choice."

Ye Tianming slowly closed his eyes, his left hand gripping the Sword of Upholding the Dao tightly. He had read a great many books, but only now did he realize that no matter how many books he read, they were utterly useless when facing this dark world...

Disappointment!

Despair!

Ordinary people faced with these powerful figures could feel only profound despair.

These people were unimaginably vicious!

Ye Tianming suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Yuan Qi, his gaze filled with madness. "I know that even if I surrender, in the end you still won't let me go, much less my Ye Family. In that case, I'll make the fish die and the net split with you..."

With that, he directly set his flesh and soul ablaze. At the same time, he drew the Sword of Upholding the Dao, about to make the fish die and the net split with them...

Rather than be played to death by these people in humiliation later, he would rather die in a blaze of glory now.

Fuck it!

Just then, a graceful figure suddenly rushed into the hall. As Ye Tianming was about to strike, a fair, jade-like hand caught his.

Ye Tianming looked at the person before him and froze.

A woman stood before him. It was Nanling Zhao.

Nanling Zhao looked at him. "If you dare to die, do you dare come with me to the Guanxuan Realm and present a petition to the throne?"

Ye Tianming looked at her. "I do."

Nanling Zhao smiled radiantly. Taking Ye Tianming's hand, she said, "Come. I'll take you to the Guanxuan Realm to present a petition to the throne."

With that, she pulled Ye Tianming toward the exit.

When Yuan Qi heard this, his expression changed again. He hurriedly gave Zhou Qing a signal, and Zhou Qing immediately stepped forward. "Miss..."

Nanling Zhao glanced at him. "Get lost."

Boom!

A terrifying presence swept out, instantly pinning Zhou Qing in place. He was horrified.

Nanling Zhao suddenly looked up at the sky and roared, "Attend me!"

Rumble...

Countless powerful presences suddenly came tearing through the air between heaven and earth. Soon, several thousand top Guanxuan Guards experts appeared in the area.

A middle-aged man in armor came straight before Ye Tianming and Nanling Zhao and bowed deeply to her. "Hu Pan, commander of Panzhou's Guanxuan Guards, greets Lord Zhao."

Almost at the same time, another armored man shattered the space before him and arrived in front of Ye Tianming and Nanling Zhao. He too bowed deeply. "Liu Yan, commander of Yongzhou's Guanxuan Guards, greets Lord Zhao."

Nanling Zhao glanced at Zhou Qing and the others from Qingzhou in the distance. "Commander Liu, Commander Hu, I summoned you both across provincial borders this time because I don't trust anyone in Qingzhou. Please escort the two of us."

The two immediately cupped their fists. "We swear to protect you and Young Master Ye with our lives."

Nanling Zhao turned to Ye Tianming. "Come on. Big Sister will take you to seek justice."

With that, she pulled Ye Tianming toward the exit, killing intent in her eyes. "Whoever the fuck dares stop me, I'll kill their whole family!!"

Thanks to the four alliance leaders, Langge Ligelang, Yan Yeyin, Tanchi 2 She, and Guochan 007, for their tips. Thank you, great ones! Thanks also to Qianmo Qingge, Wu Kouk­ou, Ye Xuan Story Club, and the other friends for their tips. Thanks to every reader who tipped and voted. Qingluan bows in gratitude!!

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