Chen Changsheng was staring at the platform.
On the platform, Tianhai Ya'er sensed his gaze and turned to Chen Changsheng, his dark red and thin lips slightly curling, his immature pale face revealing a smile brimming with scorn and contempt. The meaning of this smile was evident without needing to ask.
The heavily injured Xuanyuan Po was carried off the stone platform and was hurriedly treated by the teachers of the Heavenly Dao Academy, after which he was carried away by the students of Star Seizer Academy. Tianhai Ya'er drew back his gaze and turned to the crowd boiling with emotion below him, sneering, "I know that none of you idiots and trash like me, but so what? I don't need your love, I only need all of you to fear me. Who cares how much you hate me? Could it be that any of you would dare attack me?
"The Ivy Festival is truly laughable, a bunch of idiots that think they're fish leaping over the Dragon Gate, but they never thought that only true dragons can leap over that gate in the sea of clouds! You lot of pitiable people from nowhere, do you really think you'll get the chance?"
Tianhai Ya'er jeered, "I certainly didn't come to the Ivy Festival to knock you idiots out of your wishful delusions. I came to do two things. After finishing them, I'll naturally leave so as to avoid having all your eyeballs pop out from glaring too long."
Precisely as those important personages had silently thought, the Temple Seminary had naturally not dispatched this crazy little monster of theirs to the Ivy Festival so that they could get the right to participate in the first match. There was necessarily a deeper meaning behind it. There was even a chance that this little monster attending the Ivy Festival had nothing to do with the Temple Seminary!
Upon hearing Tianhai Ya'er's words, the crowd grew quieter. They were very interested to know just what these two things he wanted to do were.
That match with the demi-human youth from Star Seizer Academy had clearly happened by chance and was presumably not one of the two tasks he wanted to carry out.
"I came to the Ivy Festival today because Tang Thirty-Six said he was going to cripple me, so I wanted to cripple him."
Tianhai Ya'er turned to the Heavenly Dao Academy's seating area and continued, "He's a student of your Heavenly Dao Academy, but I think that since he was able to make that declaration, none of you can hold me back. But rather amusingly, that rustic fool actually didn't dare to appear."
He turned his gaze to Chen Changsheng in the corner and disdainfully said, "The second task I came to carry out has to do with this piece of trash here.
"A few days ago, besides hearing that Tang Thirty-Six wanted to cripple me, I also heard about a preposterous matter. The Orthodox Academy…that run-down graveyard in Hundred Flowers Lane…had actually taken in a new student. Hahahahaha…I didn't dare to believe my ears."
Tianhai Ya'er seemed like he had heard the most laughable matter in the world, rubbing his belly while letting loose a shrill laugh, his voice extremely harsh on the ears.
Suddenly, his smile vanished and a roar boomed like thunder through the Heavenly Dao Academy.
"Bold!"
Tianhai Ya'er gave a gloomy and cold look to Chen Changsheng, and then his gaze flitted past the Archbishop of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education as well as the faces of many other people, his voice very cold and extremely low, completely unlike any voice that could be produced by a twelve-year-old boy. "I don't care who was responsible for this matter, I just want to ask him a question: do you want to die?"
The Heavenly Dao Academy overseer glanced at the direction of the seating area for the hosts and realized that the Archbishop of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education was still as calm as ever.
Logically, even someone like Tianhai Ya'er would not reprimand these powerful figures with such condescension, and this reprimand was practically a threat.
But he had done it, and the crowd was still silent.
Because he might be representing the Pope, or even the Divine Empress, in asking those conservative powers within the Orthodox Academy, in asking those people who wanted to use the Orthodox Academy to stir up storms once more, just what do all of you plan to do?
No person could answer this question.
"This piece of trash who hasn't even succeeded at Purification wanted to revive the Orthodox Academy? What a joke!"
Tianhai Ya'er stared at Chen Changsheng and said very matter-of-factly, "I know that you know Tang Thirty-Six. Since he doesn't dare appear, you can just come up and let me cripple you. I can kill two birds with one stone and save some time."
A deathly stillness.
The crowd had been laughing a moment ago, an ear-grating laughter. It had been laughter targeted at the Orthodox Academy's decline and wretchedness, and also at the silence of that young man and woman.
But now, no one laughed. This was because of the ferocity Tianhai Ya'er had just displayed and also because everyone knew that if that new student of the Orthodox Academy really did step onto the stone platform to face his fate, he would face an even more tragic end than the demi-human youth, even death.
"Or…"
Tianhai Ya'er smiled at him, "You can announce to everyone present that you're withdrawing from the Orthodox Academy and then bow to me and plead the great me for forgiveness, and perhaps I might let you go."
...
...
Chen Changsheng could not withdraw from the Orthodox Academy because this was the only choice the Divine General's estate…or to be more precise, the powerful figure hidden behind the Xu Estate, had given him. If he did not have the qualifications of a student of the Orthodox Academy, he had no means of attending the Grand Examination.
After listening to Tianhai Ya'er's words, he was naturally very angry, but also very confused—he did not understand why a rustic youth from Xining Village had earned the hostility of this young expert of the Temple Seminary. Yes, being hostile to someone needed to be earned, required reasons.
This was because he did not know that when he was calmly cultivating and reading in the Orthodox Academy, ignoring the storms outside his window and not viewing the flowers in the lane, an undercurrent was already running through the capital. Many people began to take note of him, like the Heavenly Dao Academy overseer, like some people in the Li Palace, like some people in the Imperial Palace.
Nobody knew about the engagement between him and Xu Yourong, and those people naturally did not know this entrance into the Orthodox Academy was completely by accident. Those people believed that in the critical year in which the Orthodox Academy would finally become the dust of history, before their eyes it suddenly gained a new student, a representative of some conservative powers within the Orthodox Academy—those powers still loyal to the Chen Imperial clan were feeling things out, or perhaps those conservative powers were attempting to make a declaration. Crucially, those people had not seen Chen Changsheng's recommendation letter, had not seen the Pope's signature, so the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education's position only confirmed their conclusions.
This sort of feeling out or declaration was something these people could not accept, and so they chose without hesitation to suppress it. The moment they chose was the Ivy Festival and the person chosen to take care of it was naturally this Heavenly Dao Academy overseer in charge of supervising the Ivy Festival, and who had they ultimately chosen to do the deed?
There were still many officials and priests of the Great Zhou Dynasty loyal to the Chen Imperial clan, so those people did not want their actions to be too obvious. Consequently, they determined that the Temple Seminary's little monster was the best choice because he was the Divine Empress's grandnephew and also had backing in the Orthodoxy.
The Divine Empress and the Pope might not even know that there was a new student in the Orthodox Academy, but this possibility could not change the facts of Tianhai Ya'er's surname and teacher. In addition, the best aspect was that Tianhai Ya'er was only a twelve-year-old boy…let alone humiliation and suppression, even if he killed that person on the spot, so what?
'Little children don't understand' had always been the best excuse, hadn't it?
The most important guests presiding over tonight's Ivy Festival, the Archbishop of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education and Divine General of the East Xu Shiji, were well aware of this undercurrent. Xu Shiji knew of Chen Changsheng's origins and identity, but given the existence of that engagement, he naturally wished to maintain his silence. Whether Chen Changsheng was beaten into the dust or killed on the spot, these were both scenes that he wished to see. As for the Archbishop of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education, his silence had even deeper meanings, because he knew of more things.
Such as the identity of that girl next to Chen Changsheng.
...
...
Bow or don't bow, leave or be beaten to death—these were the choices Tianhai Ya'er had left for Chen Changsheng. There were not many choices and it was only for the sake of proving that the Orthodox Academy was already part of history. After all, he was a child, so his methods were crude and straightforward, purely about the word 'humiliation'.
No person was willing to bear this sort of humiliation, and neither was Chen Changsheng. What made him even sadder was that Luoluo would have to bear this humiliation with him. This made him want to deeply apologize to this girl who had clearly lived a life of luxury and never been the target of any sort of anger.
Luoluo truly was very angry. She had never received such humiliation in her entire life. However, Chen Changsheng had remained silent, so she could only remain passive. Because she did not want anyone to see her brow gradually knit together in anger, she had lowered her head extremely low.
Just then, she heard Chen Changsheng's voice brimming with apology.
"I said before, as a student of the Orthodox Academy, you might have to suffer all sorts of humiliation and suppression."
Luoluo felt that she had heard these words before, and then she recalled that it was during that conversation she had with her teacher on the day she joined the Orthodox Academy. She thought to herself, could Teacher be testing me? Yes, or else with Teacher's innate ability, how could he tolerate that little monster humiliating the Orthodox Academy so?
She recalled the reply she had given to Chen Changsheng.
"Teacher, no one dares to humiliate me."
Yes, as she grew up, no one dared to humiliate her. Then they also could not humiliate the teacher that she revered above all, could not humiliate the Orthodox Academy that she was gradually beginning to love and treasure. Any person who dared must pay the appropriate price.
Luoluo stood up, bowed to Chen Changsheng, and then walked to the stone platform.
The school was still and without a sound as countless gazes watched her walk forward.
Only when she stood before Tianhai Ya'er did the crowd finally confirm what they were seeing.
The Orthodox Academy had accepted the challenge from that little monster of the Temple Seminary?
Just who was this girl?
...
...
Tianhai Ya'er examined the girl standing before him and asked, "Who are you?"
Luoluo said nothing, only glancing off the platform at Chen Changsheng.
"It turns out that you're also a student of that ghostly place?"
Tianhai Ya'er gave two strange laughs and then ceased to smile. In a serious and frightening tone, he said, "Relax, you're so beautiful, how can I kill you? After I'm done playing with you, I'll play that other guy to death and then come back to continue playing with you. What do you think?"
These words were very obscene, and coming from the mouth of a twelve-year-old boy made them even more sinister.
Luoluo was very angry, but her expression actually became calmer.
All the attendees of the Ivy Festival were looking up at the platform. Many professors and officials were looking at the girl. They confirmed that she had succeeded at Purification, so at least she was not complete trash like Chen Changsheng, but it was just hard to tell what level her cultivation was at, and it was naturally impossible for her to be a match for Tianhai Ya'er.
To compare this young and beautiful girl with the Temple Seminary's little monster was an unreasonable task.
When they thought of how they might see this girl collapsed in a pool of blood, many people felt reluctance and pity.
Zhuang Huanyu suddenly stood and yelled, "Stop!"
He knew that Luoluo's background was unusual, but no matter how unusual her background, how could it be deeper than this little monster's backing? And that little monster's techniques were too horrifying—that demi-human youth that was crippled just now was proof. How could he possibly watch as she was abused by that little monster?
The bishop of the Temple Seminary slightly creased his brow, extending his hand to stop Tianhai Ya'er, yet the Heavenly Dao Academy overseer had at some point appeared by the stone platform and, intentionally or otherwise, blocked Tianhai Ya'er's vision and then shot a cold glare at Zhuang Huanyu.
The Archbishop of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education seemed prepared to speak when Xu Shiji suddenly began to chat, intentionally or otherwise stopping him.
Tianhai Ya'er showed a smile to Luoluo, the teeth between his dark red lips seeming just like dense white bones.
He wanted to tell her, you see, look how many people want you to die, but I won't kill you. I'll only cripple you and then cripple that piece of trash.
He knew that if he was a little slower, he might be stopped by someone, so he no longer hesitated.
He lunged towards Luoluo, a fist thundering down.
His fist was very small, yet it carried the terrifying might of a hurricane and dazzling lightning.
His fist was very firm. Its goal was not her face but her very slightly raised chest.
His mind was cruel and his techniques very low-class, but he truly was very powerful and he was not holding back whatsoever!
Wind and thunder were created from the condensing of a cultivator's true essence to a certain level, which in turn caused these phenomena to be created in the surroundings. Only by cultivating to the Meditation Realm and thus seeing those star fragments in those tiny places could one refine true essence to such a terrifying degree, could one explode with such effect.
Tianhai Ya'er had attacked with his full might.
The tall and sturdy demi-human youth from a moment ago had been crippled by a single fist, and wasn't all that stood before him now just a petite and weak girl?
Countless shocked cries arose from below the platform, mixed with screams. Many students covered their faces and turned away, not daring to look!
...
...
Amidst these shocked cries and screams suddenly came a strange shout of extreme anger, extreme fear, and even some perplexity!
The crowd turned to the platform and discovered that this strange shout was coming from Tianhai Ya'er!
A fist had appeared in front of Tianhai Ya'er's fist!
It was Luoluo's fist.
Her fist similarly carried a hurricane, was mixed with lightning, but her hurricane was fiercer, her lightning brighter!
Crack!
Countless wounds suddenly appeared on Tianhai Ya'er's fingers, spurting blood, and even the bone was visible!
Those wounds quickly traveled to his wrist, instantly snapping his wrist bones!
Pain! Unbearable pain!
Tianhai Ya'er's pupils shrank into little black dots as a strange shout of pain and panic burst forth from his blood-red lips.
Followed by a stream of blood.
What was going on here?
Why did this soft and tender fist that looked like a white flower contain such monstrous power?
Tianhai Ya'er had no time to think, his mind completely dominated by fear. As he let out his strange shout, he retreated with all his might.
He knew that he had to escape this fist as fast as possible, or would he undoubtedly die!
But though he retreated quickly, Luoluo approached even faster.
Her fist was as wild and explosive as a hurricane, swift and violent as lightning, as it struck Tianhai Ya'er's fist.
From one end of the stone platform to the other, several dozen zhang in total, her fist was always striking his.
The frightening quantities of true essence moved from her fist to continuously explode into Tianhai Ya'er's body!
Boom!
Tianhai Ya'er collapsed at the edge of the stone platform, his wrist completely shattered, nothing but blood between his fingers.
His face was pale as snow, his eyes brimming with shock and confusion.
Without even understanding what was going on, he had lost, lost through and through.
...
...
The trees suddenly began to resound with the chirps of cicadas.
It was a summer night, so it was impossible for it to be quiet.
Yet surrounding the platform was a silence like that of a snowless winter night, utterly devoid of sound.
Then it seemed like the snow was beginning to melt.
Drip, drip.
Blood dripped down from that delicate fist to the ground.
The girl stood in the night wind, looking all around, then said one sentence.
She was replying to Tianhai Ya'er's question and also communicating a fact to the crowd.
"My name is Luoluo, and I am a student of the Orthodox Academy."
The chirping of cicadas grew more agitated as the crowd grew quieter. They looked with incomparable shock at the platform, seeing that girl with her dress swaying in the night wind and feeling that all of this was not real. Everyone believed that they would see this girl collapsed in a pool of blood and had thus covered their faces and turned away, not willing to look. Who could have imagined that the person to collapse in a pool of blood at the end would be that little monster from the Temple Seminary?
No person could imagine this conclusion.
The forgotten Orthodox Academy, and the girl that nobody had recognized, had delivered a mighty shock to the world.
...
...
This fight had begun too abruptly, even shamelessly, but its end had come even faster, rather delightfully.
Luoluo knew that she would win because she had always been very strong. That night in which the demon expert had attempted to assassinate her had been very dangerous, but that did not mean that she was a weakling amongst her peers. No, amongst her peers, she was an absolute expert, especially in terms of quantity of true essence, where very few could surpass her.
If Tianhai Ya'er had been somewhat more cool-headed and chosen to compete against her with techniques and skills, she would perhaps have been unable to use such an overwhelming method to obtain victory. However, Tianhai Ya'er had grown accustomed to using his tyrannical ways to suppress others, but he had no idea that her bloodline had always been the world's most noble, most tyrannical bloodline!
Everything concluded.
Luoluo turned to Tianhai Ya'er and raised her fist once more.
She remembered very clearly what this little monster had said after severely wounding that demi-human youth. She remembered very clearly the humiliating words this little monster had said to her teacher and herself. So now, it was time to return those humiliations.
"Stop!"
Realizing that she was preparing to strike, many of the silent personages spectating began to show unease.
That demi-human youth could be crippled and killed, the people of the Orthodox Academy could be crippled and killed, but…Tianhai Ya'er could not be crippled, let alone killed!
Because his surname was Tianhai.
With harsh cracks, several important figures, the Heavenly Dao Academy overseer included, appeared on the platform.