Chapter 81

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

The rain had stopped at some unknown time.

Perhaps it was Elder Sang’s move, “Ashen Light Burning the Sky,” that evaporated the dark clouds, or perhaps it was the black hole Xiao Tian Ye tore open that swallowed everything...

The masked man wanted to leave, and indeed, no one present could stop him.

The nine elders were somewhat disheartened; their setup for the night was essentially just a sideshow.

Apart from being used by the masked man to restrain Xiao Tian Ye, they had no real effect, merely adding a touch of red to the rain.

“Old...”

“Yes, old, there’s no denying it.”

A few of them sighed, their injuries varying in severity, but they could heal themselves.

Their figures flickered and disappeared, clearly not wanting to stay in this place by Goose Lake.

Indeed, as Xiao Tian Ye had arranged earlier, these old fellows were past the age of physical combat.

They were only suitable for issuing orders from behind the scenes, giving commands that might be a bit outdated.

Then, the new generation of Ling Gong leaders would step forward to turn the tide.

Representing the Ling Gong leaders, Inner Academy Dean Xiao Tian Ye landed by Goose Lake with his broken arm, and Elder Sang, carrying Xu Xiaoshou, also landed there.

“Dean!”

“Vice Dean!”

The onlookers, the law enforcement personnel, regarded them like deities, each trembling with reverence.

Xu Xiaoshou was startled.

Vice Dean?

Elder Sang is the Vice Dean?

He thought for a moment and finally connected the fragmented memories in his mind with the old man in the straw hat beside him.

Legend has it that Ling Gong has a Vice Dean who is often away, with a very low presence.

If not deliberately mentioned, no one would remember him, but no one could forget him either.

The name “Tian Sang” of Tian Sang Ling Gong is derived from the two founders of Ling Gong.

One is “Xiao Tian Ye,” and the other is “Elder Sang.”

The annual “Feng Yun Zhen Ba” competition of the Outer Academy is held at Chuyun Terrace.

Where did Chuyun Terrace come from?

When Tian Sang Ling Gong was first built, Vice Dean Sang used fire to burn Chuyun Peak, reducing it by half, and cast the Chuyun Terrace that can hold ten thousand people.

Any random Outer Academy student could probably recount this story in detail.

“So it’s him...”

Thinking of this, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly understood.

The reason he couldn’t connect the dots earlier was because Elder Sang was too peculiar!

This old man had no air of a high-ranking person at all.

He was reclusive and self-centered, acting eccentrically and unconventionally...

This could be seen from how he forced Xu Xiaoshou to eat the seeds, and from how he chose to act directly while everyone else was restrained earlier.

Xu Xiaoshou thought back to the beginning of the promotion match when his body was burning hot, and he forcibly rushed to the stage to find Xiao Qixiu.

After being recognized as Elder Sang’s doing, the referee even seemed a bit intimidated...

“Yes, I should have guessed it earlier...”

Xu Xiaoshou was troubled, this guy turned out to be the Vice Dean!

No.

It should be said that the reason he could only be the Vice Dean was probably due to his personality!

Looking at the eyes of the law enforcement personnel, although Xiao Tian Ye had a broken arm, everyone still looked at him with admiration.

As for looking at Elder Sang...

Well, basically no one dared to look.

Those who peeked out of curiosity were mostly younger, and their eyes were full of fear.

Admiration?

That doesn’t exist.

In the crowd, Xiao Qixiu was still resting; the sword that pierced his body had caused a serious injury.

This was the worst Xu Xiaoshou had ever seen the referee.

His usual impression of him was that of a celestial being floating in the sky, but he never expected him to be like this in a fight...

Well, his image was shattered.

After being severely injured, Xu Xiaoshou looked at him without any sign of dejection, but rather with an unusual excitement.

“Could he be a masochist?” Xu Xiaoshou muttered to himself.

Xiao Qixiu was about to speak when Elder Sang stopped him, waving his hand, “Everyone, disperse!”

The law enforcement personnel’s eyes instantly focused on Xiao Qixiu, who immediately waved his hand.

“Disperse!”

Whoosh—

The space that was still somewhat dim suddenly became bright, and hundreds of people moved with incredible consistency, vanishing without a trace.

This astonishing action left Xu Xiaoshou speechless.

He hurriedly ran away.

Although not as fast as the law enforcement personnel, he was not slow either.

“Where are you going?”

Elder Sang watched the boy sneak away, a few lines of black appearing on his face.

A voice of speechlessness sounded behind him, and Xu Xiaoshou felt as if his fate had once again gripped his throat, instantly pulling him back to the spot.

He looked at the three big shots in front of him, his legs going weak.

The Grand Elder of the Ling Law Pavilion, the Inner Academy Dean, and the Vice Dean.

He didn’t feel he had the right to stand behind them and listen.

“Didn’t you say to disperse?” Xu Xiaoshou weakly said, “I need to go back and build a house...”

The three: “...”

Build a house?

After just experiencing such a crisis in Ling Gong, your first reaction is to want to go back and build a house?

Xiao Qixiu, seeing Xu Xiaoshou being brought over, immediately asked, “Did you kill someone?”

Xu Xiaoshou was nervous.

That’s why he ran, he was afraid of this!

The Outer Academy has rules, no killing among peers, although those two were probably from the Inner Academy, he was still an Outer Academy student.

Killing someone would get him taken to the execution platform by the Ling Law Pavilion!

“It was actually the masked man...”

Before he could finish, Xiao Qixiu mocked, “Do you think I spent the whole night in ambush for nothing?”

Xu Xiaoshou’s face fell, “Those two came to kill me first!”

“I don’t know what I did to offend them, but they came to kill me, I couldn’t just sit and wait to die, could I?”

“You were in ambush all night, shouldn’t you have come out earlier to stop them?”

“After all, they were two lives...”

Xiao Qixiu: ???

What’s going on?

You killed someone, and you look like you’ve been wronged?

Seeing that he could still speak, Xu Xiaoshou continued, “Self-defense, it should be innocent...”

Xiao Qixiu, with a headache, looked at Elder Sang, the meaning in his eyes clear: you gave the order, you deal with it.

Elder Sang slapped Xu Xiaoshou on the head, “Well done!”

“???”

Not only did Xu Xiaoshou’s face show confusion, but the other two were also bewildered.

Xiao Tian Ye’s face darkened, I’m still the Inner Academy Dean here, and you’re encouraging Outer Academy students to kill?

Elder Sang, as if not seeing his expression, continued,

“To be honest, I set this up when I returned to Ling Gong a few days ago.”

“Don’t say that only two Inner Academy students came to cause trouble tonight; even if higher-ranking people came to kill you, no one would come to your rescue.”

“That’s just how reality is; even I can’t change the big picture.”

“But I’m very happy that you managed to kill those two.”

Elder Sang’s eyes were intense, his admiration clear, piercing straight into Xu Xiaoshou’s heart, “This is exactly what I expected.”

Xu Xiaoshou didn’t speak; this was basically consistent with his speculation after discovering the setup.

Feeling aggrieved?

Of course, there was.

Anyone who discovers they are a pawn that can be discarded at will would feel aggrieved.

But thinking about it from another perspective, who would ruin a major plan for a few students’ squabbles? It’s already quite good that they weren’t directly eliminated.

There’s no point in being upset.

In the end, not getting enough respect is simply because one’s strength is not enough!

In this world, and in other places, it’s the same.