Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Accepting the Challenge
The men behind Tong Hong, Yuan Shan included, stared at Ye Xuan in utter shock. Their eyes were filled with horror and disbelief.
As far as they were concerned, Ye Xuan was unbelievably arrogant.
It wasn’t just them; even Leng Yingying and her friends were dumbfounded.
They knew Ye Xuan was powerful, having reached the Martial Master First Layer. But challenging a Martial Master Second Layer—an expert ranked thirty-sixth on the academy’s rankings—seemed far too reckless.
"You... want to challenge me? To a duel to the death?!" Tong Hong’s pupils constricted. He stared coldly at Ye Xuan. He had stopped walking, but the frigid aura emanating from him grew even more intense.
A new student, regardless of his strength, had openly challenged him—the 36th-ranked student on the academy’s rankings. If word of this got out, it would be a disgrace.
Moreover, he was a member of the Crown Prince Alliance. There was nothing to be gained from this, win or lose.
"What, you don’t dare?" Ye Xuan sneered.
’I don’t dare?’ Tong Hong’s pupils narrowed. He knew that refusing now would mean he was scared, that he was a coward. But accepting the challenge brought him no honor.
He could already imagine how the other top students on the rankings would mock him when word of this spread throughout the academy.
That even a new student dared to challenge him, the 36th-ranked expert, would make people think his ranking was nothing more than an unearned title.
At this moment, Tong Hong’s eyes were terrifyingly grim, and a bone-chilling aura radiated from his entire body.
He had wanted to teach Ye Xuan a lesson, but in the same way he’d normally discipline some ignorant trash—not in front of a crowd.
For a senior student ranked 36th to accept a freshman’s challenge was, in itself, a disgrace.
"Feeling ashamed?" Ye Xuan looked at Tong Hong indifferently and sneered. "Yuan Shan of your Crown Prince Alliance has provoked me time and again and targeted my friends. I fought back and taught him a lesson, but not only did he refuse to back down, he doubled down on harassing my friends. He even stood outside the Cultivation Tower and hurled endless insults at me. You were there for that, weren’t you?"
"If it weren’t for you, do you think he would have dared to come back?"
"And now, the moment I finish my seclusion, you all show up aggressively, having threatened and harassed my friends multiple times, ready to make a move on me. All I did was challenge you, and you think *you’re* the one losing face? Do you really think your reputation is that important?"
"So, stop looking at me like that. If you truly have any courage, accept my challenge. A duel to the death. Right here, right now, in front of the entire academy. You, a so-called expert from the rankings... do you dare?"
His gaze grew increasingly cold, a grim flame flickering in his eyes. Staring at Ye Xuan, Tong Hong’s eyes shot out a frigid glint that seethed with killing intent. "Fine. Very fine. Since you’re seeking death, I’ll grant you your wish. I accept your challenge."
"However, Profound Spirit Academy forbids duels to the death. Anyone who kills another student within the academy grounds, regardless of the circumstances, will be expelled. So, rest assured, I won’t kill you on the stage. I will merely cripple your cultivation and make your life a living hell. I’m sure that sensation will be far more satisfying than simply killing you."
"In an hour, I will be waiting for you at the academy’s dueling stage. Then you will realize just how foolish your decision was, and what a dead end you’ve walked into."
With that, Tong Hong flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.
The fact that a mere freshman like Ye Xuan dared to challenge him publicly made his heart burn with fury.
He had already decided. On that stage, in front of the many students who would soon hear the news, he would show everyone the fate that awaited anyone who dared to challenge Tong Hong.
Yuan Shan shot Ye Xuan a venomous glare, a cold sneer forming on his lips, before leaving with the others in Tong Hong’s wake.
Once Tong Hong and his group were out of sight, Feng Rouyi turned to Ye Xuan, her voice laced with anxiety. "Ye Xuan, how could you make such a challenge so rashly? Tong Hong is an expert ranked thirty-sixth in the academy and a Martial Master Second Layer! Profound Spirit Academy is filled with geniuses. Someone with his strength is probably more fearsome than a Martial Master Third Layer from the outside world."
Feng Rouyi wasn’t the only one; Leng Yingying’s face was also etched with worry.
"Ye Xuan, that aura from Tong Hong just now was incredibly sharp, focused and solid. He has definitely mastered a powerful Cultivation Technique. He’s not to be underestimated."
The three of them had all made progress during their seclusion. Chen Xing and Feng Rouyi had both reached the Peak of the Second Layer of Warrior.
As for Leng Yingying, she had broken through to the Peak of the Third Layer of Warrior. Having gained some insight into the Martial Master Realm, she was naturally able to perceive more than the others.
"Ye Xuan, maybe we should tell Teacher Yun Aoxue about this. She’s a teacher at the academy, after all. No matter how strong the Crown Prince Alliance is, they can’t possibly defy a teacher, can they?"
Both girls were worried.
Only Chen Xing seemed unfazed. He gave Ye Xuan a curious look. "Boss Xuan, be straight with me. What are your chances?"
Having known Ye Xuan the longest, he understood him better than anyone. From their days at Xingxuan Academy, when had Ye Xuan ever fought a battle he wasn’t sure he could win? When had he ever lost?
"You get me, Chen Fatty." Ye Xuan smiled faintly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "As a new student, if you want to avoid trouble in this academy, you have two choices: swallow your pride and endure, or show your fangs. I deliberately challenged Tong Hong to make an example of him—and he is the example."
Having been provoked repeatedly, Ye Xuan had lost his patience. He knew that while Profound Spirit Academy might be small, conflict among its students was common.
Ye Xuan had come here to cultivate, not to get involved in endless squabbles and play games with these people. So he chose a simple, brutal method: to bare his fangs.
As long as he could demonstrate sufficient strength, his life at the academy would be much more peaceful.
Tong Hong, ranked thirty-sixth in the academy and a high-level member of the Crown Prince Alliance, was the perfect stepping stone.
Just as Ye Xuan had predicted, within fifteen minutes of Tong Hong’s departure, news of the challenge spread through the academy like wildfire.
"What? A freshman who just enrolled this year wants to challenge Tong Hong? Are you sure you heard that right?"
"Tong Hong is ranked thirty-sixth in the academy and is a high-ranking member of the Crown Prince Alliance! What right does a freshman have to challenge him?"
"He’s completely overestimating himself. I heard the freshman beat Yuan Shan in the Cultivation Tower, so it’s no wonder he pissed off the Crown Prince Alliance. But surely he doesn’t think that beating Yuan Shan means he can take on Tong Hong, right?"
"And Tong Hong is just as ridiculous. He’s lowering himself by accepting a freshman’s challenge. How utterly foolish."
"Come on, let’s go watch."
In an instant, all sorts of rumors began to fly, and the students remaining on campus were all talking amongst themselves.
A spectacular scene unfolded as scores of students poured out of their dormitories and the Cultivation Tower, all flocking toward the dueling stage.
Challenges between students at Profound Spirit Academy were a common occurrence. A duel involving only a freshman might not have attracted much attention.
But with Tong Hong—a high-level member of the Crown Prince Alliance and the 36th-ranked student—involved, it was a different story entirely.
「In a teacher’s office.」 A dapper, handsome man in his twenties stood before Yun Aoxue. "Aoxue, you’ve been back for days, yet you haven’t accepted a single one of my invitations. Isn’t that a bit cold?"
Yun Aoxue kept her head down, focused on her desk. "Teacher Wu," she said, shaking her head, "I’ve only just started, and I’m swamped with work. I’m really not in the mood to go out for a meal."
The handsome man wasn’t offended, a faint smile still playing on his lips. "Aoxue, you can’t go on like this. When you’re working this hard, it’s even more important to get out and relax so you don’t burn out. I found a nice little restaurant on Champs Elysees Street. Why don’t I treat you to dinner there tonight?"
Yun Aoxue rubbed her temples. "Teacher Wu, I’ll have to pass. I have other plans for this evening."
Suddenly, a clamor arose from outside the window. Seeing crowds of students heading toward the dueling stage, Yun Aoxue asked in surprise, "What’s going on? Why are all these students running to the stage?"
Wu Liang chuckled. "It’s quite amusing, actually. I heard a freshman named Ye Xuan just challenged Tong Hong, one of the top-ranked students, to a duel to the death on the stage. These students must be going to watch the spectacle."
"Ye Xuan?" Yun Aoxue shot to her feet. "What’s going on?" she exclaimed.
Wu Liang glanced at Yun Aoxue’s reaction with surprise before briefly recounting what he’d heard. Then he added with a sneer, "Freshmen these days really don’t know their place. I heard this Ye Xuan isn’t weak; he beat Yuan Shan from the senior class not long ago. But he has no idea that the gap in power between an ordinary senior and a top-ranked expert like Tong Hong is a world of difference."
’That kid, Ye Xuan. The moment he comes out of seclusion, he stirs up this much trouble. He’s never one to make things easy. Trouble follows him wherever he goes.’ A worried look crossed Yun Aoxue’s face. ’This won’t do. Profound Spirit Academy isn’t Xingxuan Academy. Any student who has made a name for themselves here is one of the chosen few, with a prominent background. And Tong Hong is part of the Crown Prince Alliance. Win or lose, this is a terrible situation for Ye Xuan.’
With that thought, Yun Aoxue had no time to listen to any more of Wu Liang’s nonsense. She rushed out of the office, her figure disappearing through the doorway.
After Yun Aoxue was gone, a sinister and lecherous expression suddenly twisted Wu Liang’s refined features. ’That Aoxue is a real piece of work. If it weren’t for her background, why would I bother with a mere teacher? Hmph. I refuse to believe she can escape my grasp. When I have her writhing and panting beneath me, I’ll make sure she learns just how formidable I am. Heh heh, heh heh heh.’
