Chapter 142: Chapter 141: Nie Qinglan Makes a Move
"Backbone... backbone," Tang Long muttered. He then shot to his feet, a sharp glint in his eyes as he looked toward Wang Chong and said, "That’s right! To live, a person must have backbone!"
"I’m in too! The worst that can happen is I’ll leave Qig Mountain Academy. What can he do to me then?"
"I’ve had enough of that bastard Wang Chong for a long time!"
To live in this world, one must have backbone. When Tang Long and the others heard this, their hearts trembled.
.....
All the new Inner Courtyard students who had just advanced from the Outer Courtyard descended upon Wang Chong, unleashing a barrage of kicks and punches. Eventually, Wang Chong couldn’t take it anymore and passed out.
The Inner Courtyard students from Duyun Mountain looked at Wang Chong lying on the ground, swallowing nervously in fear.
Just then, Wen Qingye sensed someone rushing toward them from the distance, and he couldn’t help but frown.
"Stop!"
Suddenly, a furious roar echoed from the distance!
"Brother Yangg!"
"Brother Yangg! Brother Yangg is here!"
A group of Inner Courtyard students became overjoyed at the sight of the newcomers. Dozens of Inner Courtyard students were walking over, with one person at their center.
Wen Qingye’s brow furrowed when he saw the man. ’This person’s cultivation is definitely at the Refining Spirit Stage.’
Wei Qiutong’s expression changed, and he whispered, "That’s Yangg Zong, the second-strongest expert on Duyun Mountain. His cultivation is at the peak of the Refining Spirit First Layer Heaven. The ones behind him are all Duyun Mountain experts, and several of them are at the Refining Spirit First Layer Heaven."
Upon hearing this, Guu Lei and the others’ brows knitted into a tight knot. ’The Refining Spirit Stage... he’s a Refining Spirit Stage Martial Artist!’ It was said that Martial Artists at the Refining Spirit Stage could cultivate their own Primordial Spirit within their Sea of Consciousness, making their cultivation and power immeasurably greater than that of a Refining Essence Martial Artist.
When Yangg Zong and his group saw Wang Chong lying on the ground, their expressions changed. Glaring at Wen Qingye and his companions, Yangg Zong demanded, "What’s going on here? Who are you? How dare you come to our Duyun Mountain and assault one of our own?"
Wen Qingye’s eyes were as tranquil as an ancient well. He sneered, "So what if I beat this bastard?"
"You’re courting death!" Yangg Zong grew even more furious at Wen Qingye’s words.
"I’ll give you a chance to kill me. Come on."
Wen Qingye gave his One Thought Sword a flourish, a cold, fearless smile on his face.
An uproar erupted!
Everyone present was electrified by Wen Qingye’s words. Was this a new Inner Courtyard student challenging a senior? Or was it a Martial Artist at the Refining Essence Seventh Layer Heaven challenging an expert at the peak of the Refining Spirit First Layer Heaven?
"Kid, you’ve got some serious guts coming to our Duyun Mountain to cause trouble."
"If we don’t tear off one of your limbs today, what will become of Duyun Mountain’s honor?"
........
Yangg Zong never imagined Wen Qingye would be so defiant, ready to fight at the slightest disagreement and completely ignoring the pressure from his own Refining Spirit Stage cultivation. Yangg Zong said coldly, "Fine. Very good. Today, I’ll make you understand the gap between Refining Essence and Refining Spirit!"
"What are you all doing?"
Just then, a sharp cry rang out, exploding in everyone’s ears like a thunderclap. All of them couldn’t help but turn to look.
"Vice Director!"
"Dean Nie!"
Nie Qinglan stood not far away, her face devoid of expression. She walked over to Wen Qingye, and only after seeing Wang Chong on the ground did she ask in surprise, "What happened here?"
Before Wen Qingye could speak, Wei Qiutong quickly stepped forward. "Wang Chong conspired with Steward Elder Sunx from the Sacrificial Hall to withhold the cultivation resources meant for us new Inner Courtyard students," he explained. "Wen Qingye came to demand an explanation, and the two of them ended up in a private match..."
Upon hearing this, a cold light shot from Nie Qinglan’s eyes as rage flared within her. She could never have imagined Wang Chong would dare to withhold the new students’ cultivation resources. Every new class of students was a treasure to Qig Mountain Academy.
Qig Mountain Academy wasn’t a top-tier institution; it could only maintain its standing in the Celestial Martial Country by focusing on cultivating elites. Although it ranked last, it was still one of the nation’s three great academies.
But Wang Chong’s actions were tantamount to eroding the very foundation of Qig Mountain Academy. How could she possibly tolerate it?
Nie Qinglan’s expression darkened. "Is this true?" she asked.
Yangg Zong, who knew full well about Wang Chong’s dealings, quickly retorted, his eyes darting around. "Nonsense! Dean Nie, that’s just their side of the story. There’s no way Wang Chong would conspire with Elder Sunx. It’s obvious they were short on resources and came here to extort Wang Chong. Dean Nie, just look at the other Inner Courtyard students here—is there a single one who isn’t injured?"
Nie Qinglan turned her head. Indeed, several Inner Courtyard students nearby were injured, mostly with sword wounds.
Nie Qinglan looked doubtfully at Wen Qingye and his group. "Did you do this?"
Wen Qingye tilted his head back and stated calmly, "I alone was responsible."
"We had a hand in injuring Wang Chong, too!" Wei Qiutong hurriedly interjected.
"That’s right, we all did it."
"All of us new Inner Courtyard students were involved!"
"If you’re going to punish us or expel us, we’ll face it together. The worst that can happen is we leave, that’s all."
Everyone roared with righteous indignation, fire blazing in their eyes.
The senior Inner Courtyard students behind Yangg Zong looked grim. Many of them recognized Tang Long and the others, their eyes filled with utter shock. ’When did this batch of newcomers grow such a spine?’
Seeing the crowd’s outcry, Nie Qinglan slowly raised her hands. Her gaze shifted to the unconscious Wang Chong on the ground as she said slowly, "I will be sure to give you all a satisfactory resolution to this matter. How does that sound?"
Nie Qinglan already had her answer. She’d heard rumors about Wang Chong’s deeds for a long time, but she had always tolerated him because he had the backing of Wang Jie and Wang Tianming.
After hearing this, Wen Qingye nodded. He looked at the unconscious Wang Chong on the ground and said, "I trust that Dean Nie will be just. In that case, we’ll be heading back."
"Alright. You may all go back for now," Nie Qinglan said with a nod.
After Wen Qingye and his group had left, Nie Qinglan’s face became as cold as ice. She turned to the students from Duyun Mountain. "Carry Wang Chong back. I’m going to the Sacrificial Hall."
Upon hearing this and seeing Nie Qinglan striding toward the Sacrificial Hall, Yangg Zong cursed inwardly. ’This is bad.’
「......」
Elder Sunx was lounging leisurely in a chair. His position as a Steward of the Sacrificial Hall was an exceptionally cushy one. The monthly stipend was considerable, more than enough for his cultivation at the Refining Spirit Third Layer Heaven. In the three years he had held the post, he had broken through from the Refining Spirit Second Layer Heaven to the Third Heaven. Otherwise, with his talent, who knew how much longer it would have taken.
Elder Sunx suddenly noticed a figure slowly walking in through the doorway. It was Nie Qinglan.
Elder Sunx scrambled to his feet. "Vice Director, I wasn’t aware you were... "
"Sunx Li!" Nie Qinglan barked, her eyes boring into Elder Sunx. "Have you recently been withholding the new students’ cultivation resources?"
Elder Sunx’s heart clenched. He hurriedly said, "No, absolutely not! I swear on my life, how could I ever do something like that?"
A murderous glint flashed in Nie Qinglan’s eyes. "Is that so? If I find out you’re lying, I will stop at nothing. You know how I attained the position of Vice Director, don’t you? I never make idle threats."
As Nie Qinglan spoke, a powerful aura erupted from her, crashing down and crushing Elder Sunx.
Elder Sunx’s heart quaked, and cold sweat unknowingly beaded on his forehead.
"I... I..." Under Nie Qinglan’s threat, Elder Sunx’s body and mind tensed uncontrollably, and his heart began to tremble. Who in all of Qig Mountain Academy didn’t know how ruthless and brutal Nie Qinglan could be?
"Speak, or die!" A faint but palpable killing intent laced Nie Qinglan’s words.
"I’ll talk! I’ll talk! It was that brat, Wang Chong! He made me do it! You know, his brother, and..."
SLAP!
THUD!
A single slap from Nie Qinglan sent Elder Sunx flying. He slammed into a wall of the Sacrificial Hall, leaving a crater, before collapsing to the ground, unable to rise.
"I knew it. I knew it," Nie Qinglan said, forcefully suppressing the rage in her heart.
