Chapter 16: Was It Exciting Today?

Lin Che looked on with confusion, but more than that, he was deeply astonished. From his recollection, he had never seen this silver-robed man before, so it was impossible for him to have any prior connection with him. What did the silver-robed man's words mean?

"Senior, do you know me?"

"I don't."

"Then…"

"Don't ask. I'm helping you because of a past kindness. Of course, another reason is that this old fool has tarnished the reputation of Dao Cang Academy," the silver-robed man waved his hand dismissively, showing no desire to elaborate further.

Lin Che was even more bewildered.

At the same time, Ji Zong's face turned ghostly pale upon seeing the silver-robed man, and his body began to tremble slightly.

"The Golden Emblem Silver-Clad Envoy! Wu… Wu Hall!"

Ji Zong's mind went blank for a moment. The Wu Hall was an extremely taboo entity within Dao Cang Academy; even the higher-ups within the academy avoided mentioning its name. He never imagined that, while stationed in Canglan City for an assessment, he would encounter such a taboo figure.

"What's your name? What position do you hold within Dao Cang Academy?" the silver-robed man suddenly demanded, pointing at Ji Zong.

"I… I'm Ji Zong, an external tutor at Dao Cang Academy," Ji Zong replied, his head lowered in trepidation, unable to meet the man's gaze.

"You can forget about being a tutor. From now on, you'll be sweeping the floors in the external court."

"What… what!" Ji Zong's entire body trembled, and he looked on in shock.

"Do you disagree?"

The silver-robed man sneered. "Dao Cang Academy entrusted you with the assessment task, but you lined your own pockets and engaged in corrupt practices… A mere tutor dares to claim authority over the academy's rules? Who do you think you are?"

The silver-robed man took a step forward, an invisible pressure enveloping Ji Zong's entire being. In the next moment, without any visible movement, a massive palm of true energy slapped Ji Zong across the face.

Smack!

Ji Zong's body was sent flying from the force of the slap.

Witnessing this, not only was Lin Che stunned, but everyone present was also in shock. A Dao Cang Academy tutor was publicly slapped, and the most surprising part was that Ji Zong didn't even attempt to resist. What level of power did this silver-robed man possess?

"Ji… what was your name again?" After sending Ji Zong flying, the silver-robed man frowned and asked.

"Ji Zong… My name is Ji Zong!" Ji Zong's face was swollen, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and he was in a pitiful state as he got up from the ground.

"According to Dao Cang Academy's rules, anyone sent down to conduct assessments must wear plain robes, avoid arrogance and luxury, not take any local benefits, and uphold justice and fairness. Are you aware of this rule?"

"I… I am aware," Ji Zong dared not argue.

"Aware? That means you knowingly violated the rules, which makes your crimes even worse." Saying this, the silver-robed man slapped Ji Zong again.

Smack!

This time, Ji Zong's other cheek was also swollen, and several of his teeth were knocked out. His body crashed heavily onto the ground, his appearance disheveled and his mouth full of blood. It was a scene of extreme misery.

For Ji Zong, the overwhelming emotion was fear.

"I have broken the academy's rules, and my sins are unforgivable. I will accept responsibility when I return to the academy and resign from my position as tutor, surrendering all my personal assets to the academy. Please… please stop…"

Ji Zong completely crumbled, realizing that if he didn't yield, his old life might truly be at risk.

"Good…" The silver-robed man finally withdrew his immense pressure.

He looked at Ji Zong and said, "By the way, what was your name again?"

"Ji Zong… My name is Ji Zong!" Ji Zong was on the verge of tears.

Meanwhile, everyone in the central square watched in stunned silence. The repeated questioning of Ji Zong's name suggested that the silver-robed man was not merely forgetful. The only possibility was that, in the eyes of this silver-robed figure, an external tutor's identity was not worth his attention.

"I remember now. When you return to the academy, I will verify this matter. You no longer need to be responsible for the remaining assessment matters. Go back to the academy," the silver-robed man said.

"Yes, yes…" Ji Zong, as if granted a reprieve, dared not linger any longer and hurriedly left, looking like a frightened stray dog.

To the people of Canglan City, a Dao Cang Academy tutor was considered a significant figure. Yet, before this silver-robed man, Ji Zong was treated like a mere child.

What kind of status did this silver-robed man hold?

The central square fell into utter silence, with the sound of a pin dropping. All eyes were on Lin Che, and some wondered if Lin Che's bold confrontation with Ji Zong had been due to such a powerful backer.

After dealing with Ji Zong, the silver-robed man extended his hand and drew the Azure Wood Token from beneath Murong Yan's feet. Without even glancing at her, he tossed the token to Lin Che.

"Kid, what's your name?"

Lin Che replied, "Uh… Senior, I've told you my name. Do you remember it?"

The silver-robed man waved his hand dismissively. "That's not important. Kid, you're qualified to enter Dao Cang Academy…"

"A cloud ship from Dao Cang Academy will come to pick you up in two days. Just wait."

With that, the silver-robed man moved, vanishing into thin air as if blending with the void. He disappeared without a trace, leaving behind an awe-struck crowd.

Lin Che stood there, still in a daze, unable to comprehend the full background of the silver-robed man. It seemed that this was a high-ranking figure from Dao Cang Academy, as evidenced by Ji Zong's fear. But how could a senior from Dao Cang Academy appear in a remote place like Canglan City? And what did the silver-robed man mean by saying, "After a month, you've finally gotten yourself into trouble"?

Lin Che shook his head, realizing he could not yet understand these questions. However, he was deeply affected by the events.

"When will I ever possess such power?" he thought. The martial world was harsh, and even without martial arts, there would be no absolute fairness. Martial power made this reality even more brutally apparent. When a single thought could move mountains and seas and cause the deaths of millions, who would calmly sit down and reason with an ordinary person?

Lin Che's goal was to constantly climb higher, stay true to his heart, and master the power that could change the rules. At the very least, he didn't want to be powerless when oppressed like he was today.

The sect selection battle had come to an end, but its aftermath was far from settled.

"I never expected a sect selection battle would cause so many upheavals!"

On Central Avenue, countless people were discussing the event.

A year ago, when everyone thought Lin Che was finished and would fade into obscurity, no one could have predicted that he would return in such a manner, proving to the world that he was still an unbeatable figure among the younger generation of Canglan City.

"Lin Che has become a disciple of Dao Cang Academy. Although the Lin family didn't come to watch the battle, they must be spitting blood upon hearing this news."

"Not just spitting blood, they're probably regretting it terribly. Such a once-in-a-generation talent, who could have brought the Lin family to prominence, was driven out of the family. What an idiotic move…"

Many people were thinking about the Lin family. If the Lin family had not been so harsh toward Lin Che a year ago, they might have been the biggest winners in Canglan City. But now, Lin Che had no ties to the Lin family. Instead, becoming a Dao Cang Academy disciple was a significant slap in the face to them.

Of course, it wasn't just the Lin family struggling to accept this result.

In the area where the Murong family was located, everyone's faces were clouded with worry. The young lady, whom the family had pinned all their hopes on, had lost.

The middle-aged man at the head of the family sat down in a chair, looking as if all his energy had been drained. He was the head of the Murong family. He had used all the family's wealth to bribe Ji Zong for a spot at Dao Cang Academy, but now, how was he going to explain this outcome to the entire family?

On the battle platform, Murong Yan's expression was numb, her delicate face devoid of color. She looked back at her father, who seemed to have aged a decade in an instant, biting her lip hard, in a state of complete despair.

She had lost. Everything around her clearly told her that she had lost completely. Although Dao Cang Academy recruits disciples every year, it was the first time Canglan City had caught their attention. Whether Canglan City would be considered next year was uncertain. Even if Canglan City remained a point of assessment, the Murong family's corruption would forever exclude them from Dao Cang Academy.

That meant no matter how talented Murong Yan was, she would never enter Dao Cang Academy. Her future was now sealed: a quiet life of growing up, taking over the family, possibly marrying, raising children, and eventually fading away within the confines of Canglan City. For her, Canglan City felt like a prison.

Faced with this result, all of Murong Yan's previous confidence, pride, and ambition were shattered and crushed into dust.

Meanwhile, Lin Che glanced at Murong Yan, shook his head slightly, and then turned to leave the platform. Throughout the event, he had neither mocked nor taunted her; he simply passed by her calmly.

Leaving Central Avenue, the noisy chatter faded as Lin Che walked back to the inn in silence.

At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

"Was today exciting?"

Hearing the voice, Lin Che nearly shouted in frustration. "Senior, you tricked me! Didn't we agree that I would draw the hatred while you protected me? I almost got crushed…"

"Didn't you survive?" The Celestial Maiden replied with a tone of indifference.

"Wait, Senior, did you already know that the powerful figure was hiding in the shadows, which is why you let me deliberately provoke Ji Zong and force him to act?" Lin Che guessed.

"And what do you think?" the Celestial Maiden countered.

"If the silver-robed figure hadn't appeared, would you have acted?" Lin Che asked curiously.

"Are you out of your mind? I remember telling you that I can't leave the divine jade space…"

"Does that mean I was doomed?"

"So, I asked if it was exciting. Hee hee…" The Celestial Maiden's laughter was both mischievous and infuriating.

Lin Che was speechless and extremely frustrated. He thought to himself, how could it not be exciting when my life was on the line? But he hoped that next time, it wouldn't be so intense, as he feared his heart might not be able to handle it.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Just as Lin Che's face darkened with frustration, there was a knock on the door. Lin Che collected himself and opened the door.

A distinguished-looking middle-aged man stood outside, with a warm smile on his face.

It was none other than the Lord of Canglan City, Xiao Feng.