Lin Zixuan's beautiful eyes turned cold as her aura flared, sensing Yan Chuan's disrespectful tone.
"Yan Chuan, how dare you show such insolence in the Immortal Martial Academy!" Lin Zixuan's voice was sharp, cutting through the tension in the room. She wasn't one to be intimidated, especially not in her own domain.
Yan Chuan sneered, unfazed. "Dean Lin, you're forgetting that I'm a senior instructor at the Imperial Capital's Immortal Martial Academy. My presence here, along with my grandson and the colorful fairy tower, deserves your respect, not your disdain."
Before Lin Zixuan could retort, an elderly man with white hair entered, his face set in a stern expression. "Dean Lin, how dare you show such hostility? Yan Chuan has brought honor to our academy. Your attitude is a disgrace."
This man was Zhang Hongshun, one of the vice-presidents of the Linzhou Immortal Martial Academy and the father of Zhang Wenxiong, who had arrived with his daughter Zhang Ya and wife Sun Mei.
Zhang Hongshun's gaze turned to Horn, who had been standing quietly. Though Horn had once been helped by Zhang Hongshun, there was no warmth in the old man's eyes now.
"Vice President Zhang, what is the meaning of this?" Lin Zixuan stepped forward, flames flickering in the air around her. The temperature in the room spiked as her anger manifested.
Zhang Ya, her face still bandaged from a previous encounter, spat, "Lin Zixuan, you're nothing but a whore who will soon be disgraced! You have no right to speak to my grandfather like this."
Without warning, Zhang Hongshun produced a tattered talisman inscribed with blood-red symbols. He quickly channeled his spiritual energy into it, causing the talisman to emit a sinister black glow. Before Lin Zixuan could react, the talisman shot towards her, trapping her in a binding spell that immobilized her.
Zhang Hongshun's smirk widened. "This is the Sleeping Immortal Talisman. It was acquired by my father long ago. Even a cultivator at the peak of the Sky Control Realm would be helpless under its power for at least an hour. You have no chance now."
Lin Zixuan gritted her teeth, struggling against the bonds of the talisman. "Zhang Hongshun, you're despicable!"
"Despicable? Perhaps. But necessary." Zhang Hongshun's voice was icy. "Today, you dared to cross Yan Chuan and his grandson. Now, with their backing, I have all the justification I need."
Yan Chuan, smirking, added, "Lin Zixuan, you've ruled this academy for too long. Now, we'll show you what it means to be powerless."
Zhang Ya, emboldened by her grandfather's actions, sneered at Lin Zixuan. "Horn killed my fiancé, Su Cheng, and you defended him. After today, you'll have no place here."
Just as she was about to strike Lin Zixuan, Yan Chuan stopped her. "Wait. Don't ruin her too quickly. I want to enjoy this."
Zhang Ya hesitated but backed off, her anger simmering. "You'll get what's coming to you, Lin Zixuan," she hissed.
Sun Mei, Zhang Wenxiong's wife, chimed in coldly, "Dear, you can have your fun with Dean Lin today. I won't mind."
Zhang Wenxiong's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Lin Zixuan had always been out of reach, but now she was at his mercy.
Yan Chuan turned to Zhang Hongshun. "Vice President Zhang, why don't you join in? After all, this woman has been lording over you for years. Wouldn't it be satisfying to turn the tables?"
Zhang Hongshun chuckled darkly. "Indeed. But first, we must deal with this little nuisance." He turned his gaze to Horn, his eyes filled with malice. "You've been a thorn in my side for too long, Horn. Today, I'll finish what I started when I took your eyes."
Horn remained calm, his expression unreadable as Zhang Hongshun's aura of the Sea Transformation Realm enveloped him.
Yan Jie, crippled but still vengeful, snarled, "Don't kill him too quickly, Dean Zhang. Break his limbs first. I want him to suffer."
Zhang Ya nodded in agreement. "Yes, grandpa. Make him pay."
Zhang Hongshun looked at Lin Zixuan, who struggled helplessly against the talisman's power. "Lin Zixuan, your pathetic defense of this boy is futile. The strong survive, and the weak perish. That's the way of the world."
Lin Zixuan's voice was strained as she spoke. "Horn did nothing wrong. Su Cheng challenged him on the stage of life and death, and he fought fairly. And Yan Jie brought his fate upon himself by challenging Horn."
Horn watched Lin Zixuan, surprised by her defense even in her dire situation. He couldn't help but admire her resolve.
Zhang Ya snarled, "Shut up, Lin Zixuan! You have no say in this. After we're done with you, everyone will know you for what you really are."
Zhang Hongshun's eyes glinted with cold intent as he turned back to Horn. "Enough talk. Today, you die, and Lin Zixuan learns her place."
With a malicious smile, he prepared to strike, fully confident that Horn was at his mercy.