The crowd felt pressured under the presence of these powerful cultivators, the instructors themselves only possessed mid Foundation Establishment cultivation.
Even with the opposite party Foundation Establishment masters alone they would scarcely have any chance to win and when taking Li Zhen into account they had no chance at all, the Li clan patriarch could dispose of both of them easily.
Suddenly, one of the instructors had an idea and said, "You should think twice before assaulting us, the Raging Saber Sect envoys are resting in their cabin, if you leave now, we can forget this matter, but once they show up it will be too late for all of you. Their abilities, you should be clear about it."
The instructor ingeniously bluffed, aware that there were no envoys in the ship. However, Li Zhen and his allies can't know that, the Raging Saber Sect members warned the Tiger Martial Institute higher-ups no more than two days ago and only the selected students have been informed this morning right before they left so beside the dean and the instructors, all those in the know were present on this ship right now.
Li Zhen looked at the instructors for an instant, somewhat pensive.
However, the edge of his lips quickly formed a smile as he laughed loudly, "Hahahah, I wonder how those envoys can be resting in their cabin when I still received reports a few minutes ago about them savoring the best food in the greatest establishment while enjoying the most beautiful girls of Willowshade town. My elders are probably still offering gifts and entertaining them as we talk so I know they are powerful, but if they can really cross thousands of li in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, I am resigned to forfeit my life to their divine might."
The instructors trembled, shellshocked, "You're the one who delayed them, causing us to travel to Willowshade town!"
By this time, everyone started to realize how resolute Li Zhen and his allies were. This wasn't some impulsive or desperate attack to claim revenge, it was a well thought plan that was established ahead of time to coerce them in the sky far from everything.
In truth, this plan wasn't initiated days or weeks, but months ago and the one who planned all of it was Liu Dan, the Liu clan ancestor.
After Liu Zhi lost and was crippled by Ye Mo, Liu Dan was at his wits end. He had no more ways to reach Ye Mo as long as he remained in the Tiger Martial Institute and he knew the more time pass and the more difficult it would be to kill him, but was he willing to let go of his hatred? Of course not, that's why he pondered extensively and came to the conclusion that the only way they could capture him was if he reached the 8th layer, at the time when he would leave for the Raging Saber Sect.
It was the only moment when he would be both far from the city and the Tiger Martial Institute's protection and far from the sect, it was their last chance if they wanted to act before losing any possibility to deal with him again.
Naturally, they later were able to ambush Ye Mo in the jungle, but this was a fortunate opportunity that eventually turned into a disaster. The Liu clan didn't predict this event or that Fang Jishen would suddenly give them such crucial informations, they only seized the occasion that presented itself to them.
In Azure Water City, the Liu clan was probably those who knew Ye Mo the best and Liu Dan believed at the rate the first was cultivating, he had great chances to reach the 8th layer of the Qi Gathering Realm before the end of the year, as surprising as it was considering his talent.
Nonetheless, to storm the Raging Saber Sect' spiritual tool and eliminate Ye Mo, many insurmontable difficulties stood in their way.
The most important of them were the envoys, any of them were generally stronger than Hong Li and the other deans and they would usually be sent in a team of two or three to escort the students back to the sect.
Beside them, the Tiger Martial Institute would often send instructors along the students to be safe and make sure no mishap occured.
Without mentionning the envoys, just the instructors were a big enough problem for the Liu clan, after all, they couldn't send the whole clan to attack or their base would be looted then razed down by their enemies in their absence. Since it was a secret operation, only one or two expert at best could leave while the rest maintened the defense and feigned a routine.
Everything changed during the year-end competition.
Ye Mo not only showcased his 8th layer cultivation, but also surpassed all the top students' score and became the champion of the year-end competition. Now beside revenge, he was simply too much of a threat and his strength kept growing fast, he had to be eliminated no matter what!
In this event though came a happy incident, Ye Mo offended the Li clan and the latter wished to kill him as well. Liu Hao immediately went to their headquarters to propose an alliance.
The Li clan was one of the four major clans with Inner Core realm elders along vast wealth, with their assistance the problems would be greatly alleviated and indeed they were of a great help to distract the envoys. Li Zhen himself came to the same conclusion as Liu Dan and already planned to attack the Raging Saber Sect's ship before Liu Hao came to him.
Since they had the same plan and bore a deep hatred against Ye Mo, Li Zhen accepted the alliance and set several elders along gold, artefact and resources to gift the envoys and make them remain in Willowshade town for a few more days, leaving the students to make the way there themselves.
The envoys obviously had no qualms forgetting their duty to enjoy themselves for a few days while being offered all kinds of resources.
Next, Liu Hao left Azure Water City to talk with Lan Biao while he asked the Li clan to recruit the Tie Family as both had an history with Ye Mo. As they say, the more the merrier, bringing additional experts to the party would assure the success of this operation.
The visit of the Li clan put the Tie family in a difficult position. Back during the second phase of the Tiger Martial Institute's recruitment competition, Ye Mo killed Tie Tao, an unimportant member of their family. At this time, Ye Mo was just an orphan and used a surprise attack to kill their member, to regain face they had to give an exemplary punishment to this insignificant youth, but after he joined the Tiger Martial Institute, Ye Mo's identity was completely different and the Tie family sensibly gave up on their grudge.
Even till this day, they had no wish to go against the Tiger Martial Institute or involve themselves in such turmoil, they didn't have the ability to bear offending these forces.
If it was the Liu clan who came to ask for an alliance, the Tie family would outrightly reject them, but Liu Hao thought of this possibility, this is why he sent the Li clan instead.
The Li clan was very powerful and resided in the north of the city where was also established the Tie family. The Li clan could easily make life difficult for them and if the Tie family wasn't willing to become enemy with the Tiger Martial Institute, they didn't wish to offend the Li clan either.
That's how after many debates among the highest members, they decided to send a scapegoat to sacrifice if things turned wrong, hence satisfying the Li clan, but also sending this member to the chopping block without suffering of any consequences if the Tiger Martial Institute came knocking at their door. It couldn't be a minor member of the family or the Li clan would see it as disrespect and feel insulted, but it couldn't be someone too important either or the loss would be too big for the Tie family in case he had to be sacrificed.
Finally, the Tie family leader placed his sight on Tie Jinghong, his brother from another mother. Although Jinghong had good aptitudes and was able to reach the 5th layer of the Foundation Establishment realm, cultivation was his only talent.
Indeed Tie Jinghong was a simple-minded fool, slow to grasp complexities yet obliviously cheerful, wandering through life with the innocence of a child despite his years.
Many members of the Tie family even believed he was mentally retarded. Since infancy, he always exhibited poor decorum, bursting into laughter for no reason or crying loudly at the slightest frustration. He was slow in understanding and learned to read and write properly several years late compared to his peers.
Even now, his dull eyes lacked the sharpness of someone in his position and he spoke in an unfiltered, carefree manner, his words lacking the depth and cunning expected from someone his age.
To make matters worse, these last years, Tie Jinghong got infatuated with a mortal woman and nagged his older brother all the time to be allowed to marry her. However, Tie Jinghong was in his forties and never married before so if he did with this street urchin, she would become his main wife. Although the requirements for a concubine were lax, it was strictly forbidden to marry a peasent as your first wife, such a relationship was badly seen in the cultivation world and the Tie family would be ridiculed for it and lose prestige.
For all these reasons, the Tie family leader chose to send Jinghong to assist the Li and Liu clan. His battle strategies were mediocre and he had no political skills, although he possessed good cultivation, he brought more headaches to the family than he supported them. Such a useless member, if he had to be sacrificed, it was still acceptable.
"Brother finally entrusted me with an important task, if I do well, he promised me I could marry Huai'er I can't wait to go back, she will look good in a dress." In this serious situation, Tie Jinghong couldn't help but think of various personal matters, unaware that this girl had already secretly been disposed of by the Tie family.
Tie Jinghong and Liu Hao had difficulties keeping their equilibrium on the shuttle, this spiritual tool was too small for both of them to stand on properly.
Li Zhen's sword instead was long and could easily fit the three of them, yet this one already announced he would behead anyone who dared step on it. Although they made an alliance, Li Zhen saw all of them as mere lackeys, they weren't on equal standing with him at all.
Even if he was by himself, he still would have went on with this plan without the need for these guys, but since they wanted to follow him, he let them do. This way, Tie Jinghong and Liu Hao had no choice but to share the little surface on the Liu clan's small shuttle.
One might ask why they didn't sit on Lan Biao's thunderwing beetle blood beast, but this tamed insect didn't accept anyone on its back beside the old man.
Lan Biao looked on the deck with overwhelming bloodlust, "I have raised Ha Jun since he was a kid, I taught him, I gifted precious resources to him, I expended my wealth for him. He was able to make good progress in my Iron Skin body refining technique and reached the third stage, after joining the Tiger Martial Institute he would have improved even faster and could reach the last stage in one or two years. At this point, I could have used him as a material to refine a spiritual weapon, yet he died during the recruitment competition."
"Years of planning, years of funds, years of performing in front of him, years of devotion going to the drain, all for nothing! Everything due to this little son of a bitch, Ye Mo, I want to flail you, to kill you, to burn you alive. I will eat your flesh and use your bones as chopsticks, your skin will decorate my house and your eyes will become candies for my dear beetle! You're lucky you have no family for me to play with!" Lan Biao drowned in the burning flames of hatred.
He wasn't from a clan or a sect, but a lone cultivator. Without relying on the foundation of these forces, resources are scarce and to produce a spiritual weapon, Lan Biao took Ha Jun and groomed him for years, sharing the meager amount he could get his hands on for him.
His killing intent reached new heights when he found out this disciple was killed without even joining the Tiger Martial Institute. You could imagine how fast he accepted when Liu Hao asked him to join them to capture Ye Mo.
"What do you take our institute for!" One of the two instructors under their pressure finally couldn't take it anymore and threw himself at them.
Liu Hao quickly reacted as he sent the shuttle flying forward and threw a palm strike. Tie Jinghong, still daydreaming, was surprised when the shuttle moved and lost balance, but he grabbed the edge of the spiritual tool before he could completely fall down, the rest of his body hanging below as he was dragged by the shuttle's movements.
Liu Hao and the instructor's palm met as they seemed equal in strength. Although Liu Hao's cultivation was higher, the instructor's battle skill was of peak-tier Yellow class, hence the stalemate.
After an instant, they separated when Lan Biao surged from behind Liu Hao. He jumped from the thunderwing beetle's back and arrived above the instructor when he used the Crushing Waterfall Kick battle skill.
The instructor raised his arms and used a defensive battle skill to protect himself, but although he was able to endure the kick without too much damage, they were at this moment in the air between the ship and Li Zhen.
The force of the kick sent the instructor in a several hundred meters fall before crashing down in the forest below, his fate unknown.
Lan Biao's blood beast caught him mid-air and landed on the deck of the ship.
The students were pale with fright after seeing how fast one of the instructors was dealt with.
"To hell with this, I am not dying here for some kid." The last instructor thought as he attacked Lan Biao.
At this moment, Li Zhen appeared between them and kicked the instructor who was sent flying against the bridge wing of the ship where he fell down and puked blood before losing consciousness.
Li Zhen immediately realized the ploy. He barely put any force in his kick yet, the instructor not only didn't use any defensive battle skill, he also exagerrated the outcome, jumping by himself against the wall of the bridge wing and feigning passing out.
The instructor was basically telling him "Do whatever you want, I won't get in your way. When you're done with your affairs you can leave, once I return, I will just say I fought my hardest but was unable to do anything by myself."
Li Zhen smiled as a tacit understanding soundlessly formed between them.
By this time, Liu Hao and Tie Jinghong landed on the ship as well, the latter landing on his face as he breathed in relief, feeling the floor under his feets.
"Tie Jinghong, Lan Biao, you two will watch over the students, Liu Hao and I will go inside to get the kid." Li Zhen announced.
"No!" Lan Biao immediately rejected, "I will go find him as well, the brat killed my disciple, I want to see him with my own eyes this instant. You two might kill him before he is even dragged out of his cabin."
"Tie Jinghong can't remain alone to stand guard against all these students, can your blood beast take the job? Otherwise you're staying with him."
Lan Biao nodded at the question before he turned towards the thunderwing beetle and ordered "Stay here, if anyone moves, you can eat him."
The insect seemed to understand the assignement as it moved its mandibles happily.
Li Zhen, Liu Hao and Lan Biao thus opened a door and walked down a flight of stairs as they spread their spiritual sense while Tie Jinghong remained behind with the beetle.