Cheng Cheng's Hatred: Acknowledging Feng Xiaotian as His Master?

The intermediate Soul Power pill's medicinal effect was just right, raising his Soul Power to level thirty-nine, not a bit more or less.

Feng Xiaotian himself had been at level thirty-eight for a long time, so as far as others were concerned, his breakthrough was only natural.

Feng Xiaotian emerged from cultivation and opened his eyes. Cheng Cheng, who was in front of him, had already awakened. "Good, your Soul Power has risen to level thirty-nine. Keep working hard and aim to reach level forty within six months!"

Feng Xiaotian said, "Yes, Dean, I'll do my best!"

Cheng Cheng nodded in satisfaction. Then he seemed to recall something, and his expression grew a little sorrowful.

"Dean, is something wrong?" Feng Xiaotian asked curiously.

"Ah..." Cheng Cheng sighed. "Seeing you, Xiaotian, reminds me of sixteen years ago, and my child, Cheng Mo. He was the same age as you then, and we were sitting in this same carriage too."

"He worked very hard, as hard as you do, Xiaotian. Although he didn't have your innate talent, he didn't divide his attention by studying Self-Created Soul Skills as you do. By the time he was twenty, his Soul Power had already reached level forty-three, and he took part in that year's Advanced Soul Master Tournament."

The name Cheng Mo sounded utterly unfamiliar to Feng Xiaotian. Searching his past memories and the novel, he didn't think the name had appeared in either.

Feng Xiaotian said, "Then what happened to Brother Cheng Mo? I remember Godwind Academy seemed to have placed fifth. We should have lost to Skywater Academy while competing for fourth place."

"What happened to him?" A trace of killing intent appeared on Cheng Cheng's face.

Cheng Cheng hadn't wanted to bring up the past, but Feng Xiaotian's Soul Power rising by one level just now had reminded him of sixteen years ago.

He and his son had also been riding in the carriage on their way to the Advanced Soul Master Tournament finals. Like Feng Xiaotian, his son Cheng Mo had broken through by one level of Soul Power while it was resting.

It was almost exactly the same as the scene before him now!

The sight stirred old emotions, and the words came out naturally, without any thought.

Feng Xiaotian didn't press him further. He had already guessed that something might have happened to Cheng Mo.

After a long while, Cheng Cheng finally recovered from his grief and said, "Since I've brought it up, I'll tell you about it. Perhaps you, Xiaotian, can fulfill the dream my son never did."

Feng Xiaotian said, "Please go ahead, Dean."

Cheng Cheng said, "The reason I was injured also goes back to the Advanced Soul Master Tournament sixteen years ago!"

An hour later, Cheng Cheng finished his story.

What could he say? It was a sad story. No wonder Vice Dean Cheng Cheng had suffered so much in body and spirit.

So it had all been because of the Advanced Soul Master Tournament sixteen years ago. No wonder Cheng Cheng had looked sorrowful when he mentioned it while talking with Shui Mingyu earlier.

At the time, Cheng Mo had been Godwind Academy's captain. In the Advanced Soul Master Tournament, they had lost to Spirit Hall while competing for one of the last three spots in the grand finals.

With his teammates almost all unable to move, Cheng Mo had spoken up to admit defeat.

But the people from Spirit Hall Academy hadn't stopped. A level forty-nine Soul Ancestor had struck Cheng Mo with a full-force attack after he had already relaxed his guard.

Although Cheng Mo hadn't died outright on the arena, he had been left with only a breath of life.

As long as a person didn't die on the spot in the arena, it wasn't considered a violation.

No matter how hard Vice Dean Cheng Cheng protested, the tournament organizing committee had sided with Spirit Hall Academy.

They said they hadn't heard Cheng Mo say the words "I surrender." In fact, many people outside the arena had heard him. How could those inside not have heard?

Unfortunately, treating Cheng Mo's injuries had been Cheng Cheng's priority at the time, so he had put off going after them.

Over the next few days, he had sought out countless healing Soul Masters, but Cheng Mo's injuries had been too severe. From Soul Elders all the way up to Soul Emperors, none had been able to do anything for him.

On the day after the grand finals ended, Cheng Mo died.

Cheng Cheng had nearly gone mad. He went to Spirit Hall Academy and the organizing committee, but they remained as before, refusing to admit it had been deliberate. They would only call it an accident and offer him compensation.

Cheng Cheng had wanted to attack then and there, but Spirit Hall Academy's team was led by a Soul Douluo, and a Titled Douluo had also come. Fight? There was only death!

He was stopped by the dean of Godwind Academy, who was still relatively rational at the time.

Over the following years, Cheng Cheng could only search in secret for a chance to take revenge.

At last, ten years ago, he found his chance.

Just as he was about to kill the enemy who had beaten his son to death, a Soul Douluo-level expert from Spirit Hall suddenly appeared.

The level seventy-six Cheng Cheng was no match for him. He was gravely injured and ended up like this.

After hearing the story, Feng Xiaotian said, "Rest assured, Dean Cheng. Brother Cheng Mo's dream is also what I want to achieve. This tournament's championship belongs to none other than Godwind Academy."

"Besides, if I ever meet the person who killed Brother Cheng Mo, as long as I have the ability, I'll definitely kill him and bring you his corpse as an offering to Brother Cheng Mo!"

Cheng Cheng had only wanted to encourage Feng Xiaotian, or at most have him fulfill his son Cheng Mo's dream.

Who would have thought Feng Xiaotian would actually say he would avenge his son?

He had thought about it before. He himself was also qualified to ask someone else to help avenge his son. After all, the other party held a high position in Spirit Hall, and after sixteen years, he was already a Soul Saint.

Become enemies with a Soul Saint from Spirit Hall? Even if he asked someone to help him take revenge, who would be willing?

But he hadn't expected Feng Xiaotian to offer of his own accord after hearing his story.

With Feng Xiaotian's talent, as long as he grew stronger, he would have every chance in the future.

The more Cheng Cheng thought about it, the more hopeful he felt.

He himself was practically incapable of accomplishing it. He had no hope at all. Feng Xiaotian was his only hope.

Cheng Cheng said, "Xiaotian, if you can take revenge for me, then these old bones of mine are yours. I'm willing to acknowledge you as my master!"

Cheng Cheng actually stood up and knelt before Feng Xiaotian.

By kneeling to a junior from the academy, Cheng Cheng had put aside all his dignity. Dignity aside, he was even willing to die.

The sudden show of deep respect caught even Feng Xiaotian off guard.

He immediately stepped forward and tried to pull Cheng Cheng up, but he found that no matter how hard he pulled, Cheng Cheng remained as immovable as a rock.

"Xiaotian, I have nothing left but these old bones. I hope you won't look down on me. Perhaps I only have a few months left to live, or even a year or two. Let me acknowledge you as my master and serve you for the time I have left."

He looked at the somewhat sickly old man before him, a pitiful father.

Feng Xiaotian was somewhat moved. Come to think of it, Cheng Cheng was also one of Godwind Academy's pillars.

In the novel's plot as he knew it, the Spirit Hall Empire would threaten the Four Elements Academy in the future, even demanding that they become branches of the Spirit Hall Empire. Under such coercion, many teachers and students fled, or else split away.

At the time, Feng Xiaotian had only just passed level sixty, yet he had been able to take up the post of academy dean and shoulder the burden of the Four Elements Academy. It was easy to imagine that nearly all the pillars of the Four Elements Academies had been frightened away by Spirit Hall.

Under the threat of the Spirit Hall Empire, they had still chosen the latter.

As for Cheng Cheng, after hearing his story, Feng Xiaotian was one hundred percent certain that, if he could live until that future, he would never betray the academy. And now he wanted to acknowledge Feng Xiaotian as his master.

What was he supposed to do?

As for the Spirit Hall Soul Master who had killed Cheng Cheng's son, Feng Xiaotian had only spoken offhandedly just now. Having the system gave him some confidence, which was why he had said such a thing.

But looking at the situation, it seemed he couldn't refuse. As for being acknowledged as his master...

Feng Xiaotian said, "Dean Cheng, scum like that shouldn't be allowed to live in this world. Everyone should strike him down. So you don't need to acknowledge me as your master. Besides, there's still plenty of time. By the time I have that kind of strength, it might already be ten or twenty years from now. There's no certainty I'll even be able to take revenge. And you're the academy's dean. How could you acknowledge me as your master?"

Unexpectedly, Cheng Cheng shook his head and said, "Since you're willing to help me take revenge, Master, I have nothing else to offer but these old bones. Don't be fooled by how I look. I can help you cultivate, help you study Gale Consecutive Slashes, and so on. I'll do everything I can to help you raise your Soul Power and strength in the time I have left. Master, you've given me hope. Please, you must accept."

"Ah..." Feng Xiaotian was at a loss too. In the time it took to have a chat, the academy's vice dean had acknowledged him as his master. It was simply too unreal, yet it had really happened.

How could Feng Xiaotian not understand what Cheng Cheng meant?

If he didn't accept, then in the future, he could take revenge for him or not. Perhaps once today was over, he would forget the matter altogether.

But once he accepted Cheng Cheng's acknowledgment, he would have to fulfill the promise he had made today.

Perhaps that was what Cheng Cheng was thinking now. He truly wanted Feng Xiaotian to avenge his son. For revenge, he was truly willing to give up everything!

(End of chapter)