Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Fifth on the Wind and Cloud Ranking
From now on, the rest of his life would be spent in agony and regret. At this moment, beyond his profound remorse, his hatred for Ye Xuan had reached its absolute peak.
"Hahaha!" Tong Hong couldn’t help but let out a wretched laugh, his face contorting into a ferocious, crazed mask. "Ye Xuan, you crippled me! You actually crippled me! That person will never let you go! You crippled a member of the Crown Prince Alliance—he will never forgive you! Before him, any status you might have is as insignificant as an ant’s. You can’t even begin to imagine what kind of existence he is!"
It wasn’t just Tong Hong. All the other members of the Crown Prince Alliance watched in shock. Then, as they looked at Ye Xuan, their eyes filled with expressions of sorrowful pity.
’Ye Xuan probably has no idea who he just offended. If we told him, he would surely regret it for the rest of his life. How pathetic. Truly pathetic.’
Ye Xuan retracted his right leg. Seeing Tong Hong’s crazed expression, he couldn’t help but offer a mocking smile.
"Who else but the Crown Prince of the kingdom could establish an organization in the Royal City and name it the Crown Prince Alliance?" Ye Xuan’s calm voice rang out across the challenge arena.
"What?"
Upon hearing this, the members of the Crown Prince Alliance, whose eyes were filled with sorrow and pity, all trembled.
’This man... he already guessed who it was. But then why did he...?’
Meeting their shocked gazes, Ye Xuan simply gave a cold, sharp smile. "In this world, if I, Ye Xuan, want to cripple someone, not even the gods themselves can stop me! Anyone who dares to touch me or my friends—I don’t care who they are—had better be prepared to face my wrath!"
With that, Ye Xuan turned and walked off the challenge arena, his figure receding into the distance.
Ye Xuan’s words left everyone present stunned, including the two teachers, Lu Hao and Wu Liang, who knew who had founded the Crown Prince Alliance.
They finally understood why Ye Xuan had been so decisive in crippling Tong Hong.
It wasn’t that Ye Xuan hadn’t considered that person. On the contrary, he had already guessed who was behind it all. It was just that he was focused on the feud between them, not on his opponent’s power. He used his actions to send a clear message to everyone: do not provoke him or his friends. Otherwise, no matter who you are, you will face his wrath.
"Ye Xuan!"
Watching Ye Xuan and his friends depart, everyone’s hearts were filled with shock.
This student, who had been at the academy for less than half a year, had shown them the true meaning of fearlessness.
’What an arrogant brat. Is he trying to make a statement to us? Hmph. He dared to offend the Crown Prince. No matter what backing he has, his life in the Royal City will be impossible from now on.’
Several high-ranking members of the Crown Prince Alliance watched Ye Xuan leave, sneering inwardly.
"Let’s go. We have to report this to the Crown Prince."
The members of the Crown Prince Alliance stood up and filed out of the challenge arena. As for Tong Hong, his cultivation and Martial Soul crippled, he was left utterly abandoned on the platform.
To the Crown Prince Alliance, a member with crippled cultivation—no matter how talented or high-ranking he once was—was now completely useless.
On the way back, Yun Aoxue looked at Ye Xuan, her voice filled with worry. "Ye Xuan, since you knew who was behind the Crown Prince Alliance, why did you still cripple Tong Hong? You’re just throwing yourself into the fire!"
"Teacher Yun, is the person behind the Crown Prince Alliance really the current Crown Prince?" Chen Xing asked, confused.
Yun Aoxue nodded. "Whether he’s officially the Crown Prince isn’t certain, but the Alliance was founded by His Majesty’s First Prince. When the First Prince entered the Profound Spirit Academy, he was exceptionally talented. In just his second year, he reached the number one spot on the academy’s leaderboard. He then established the Crown Prince Alliance to recruit the most gifted students. After these students graduate, they typically become his subordinates and work for him. So his faction is very powerful. And since he’s the First Prince, he’s known as the Crown Prince."
"HISS!" Leng Yingying and the others sucked in a sharp breath.
"Haha, Brother Xuan, we actually slapped the Crown Prince in the face! That felt amazing! Do you think that once the beautiful girls in the academy hear about Third Young Master Chen’s heroic deeds, they’ll start throwing themselves at me? Haha—ouch!"
Only Chen Xing was cackling lewdly, but his laughter was cut short when Yun Aoxue knocked him on the head, making him see stars.
"First Prince Zhao Feng is petty and ruthless. If word of this reaches him, he’ll know you’ve humiliated him and will definitely hold a grudge. Fortunately, as a Prince, he must appear magnanimous. Plus, you are all students of the Profound Spirit Academy. No matter how much he wants revenge, he can’t come to the academy to get it. That would be a huge blow to his reputation and could even affect his succession to the throne," Yun Aoxue analyzed.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. "Teacher Yun, you said it yourself. For the sake of his reputation, the First Prince can’t get revenge on us inside the academy, so what does it matter? Besides, our feud with the Crown Prince Alliance was set in stone whether I crippled Tong Hong or not. If the First Prince is as petty as you say, he’d hold a grudge either way. Crippling Tong Hong didn’t change the final outcome."
’Ye Xuan knew that for a new student like him, there were only two ways to cultivate peacefully in the academy.’
’The first was to swallow his pride, bow and scrape before other students, and act like a spineless coward.’
’That was something he could never do.’
’The second was to display his strength and his temper, to show everyone he wasn’t some pushover they could bully whenever they pleased.’
’This so-called ’Crown Prince’ was the perfect stepping stone for him to make that point.’
’To others, the so-called First Prince might be like a god, high and mighty, someone to be revered. But in Ye Xuan’s eyes, he was nothing.’
Yun Aoxue glanced at Ye Xuan in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to see things so clearly and remain so composed.
"Alright, fine. How about this? In a couple of days, I’ll recommend you to someone. With your talent, as long as you can get their attention, that First Prince won’t be able to touch you."
Ye Xuan opened his mouth, intending to refuse, but when he saw the concern in Yun Aoxue’s eyes, he swallowed his words. "Then I’ll have to thank you for your concern, Teacher Yun."
"Enough with the act. You’re such a troublemaker, always leaving me to clean up your messes." Yun Aoxue shot Ye Xuan a glare before turning to leave.
The moment Yun Aoxue was gone, the previously listless Chen Xing sprang back to life, his eyes gleaming. "Brother Xuan, Teacher Yun actually said she wants to wipe your butt for you! Tsk, tsk, a pleasure fit for an emperor..."
Before he could finish, Chen Xing’s neck snapped back and his face froze.
Killing intent!
A thick wave of killing intent washed over him.
He turned his head to see Leng Yingying and Feng Rouyi glaring at him, their eyes as cold as ice.
"Ahem." Chen Xing gave a dry cough. "Now, now, no need to get jealous, you two. Having my two sisters-in-law wipe his butt would be the *real* emperor’s pleasure, right, Brother Xuan...? Aaaargh!"
With a miserable shriek, Chen Xing was sent reeling by a flurry of fists. A large lump swelled on his head, and another punch to the face sent blood spurting from his nose. It was a pathetic sight.
"Alright. From now on, there shouldn’t be anyone in the Profound Spirit Academy who dares to act arrogantly toward you anymore," Ye Xuan said with a faint smile, watching Chen Xing howl in pain.
Just as the four of them were about to head back to their respective dormitories, a gentle and refined voice called out from the courtyard entrance.
"Brother Ye Xuan, please wait a moment."
Ye Xuan turned around to see a young man in a white robe standing there. He had an elegant, spirited air about him, with handsome features, and a warm, gentle smile as he looked at Ye Xuan.
"I am Zhao Wei. I was present at the challenge arena and witnessed Brother Ye Xuan’s incredible display of power as you dealt with Tong Hong. I was so impressed that I felt compelled to pay you a visit. I hope I am not being too forward."
This Zhao Wei looked to be only a year or two older than Ye Xuan, but his aura was controlled and exceptionally profound. A closer look revealed that he was a Martial Master of the Third Layer.
As his gaze fell on Ye Xuan, it briefly swept over Leng Yingying and the others. He gave them a slight, smiling nod and didn’t spare them a second glance, showing impeccable manners.
"Zhao Wei?" Leng Yingying and the others gasped in surprise.
Seeing Ye Xuan’s confused expression, Leng Yingying quickly explained, "Ye Xuan, there’s a Zhao Wei among the top ten experts on the Academy Leaderboard. He’s ranked fifth."
The top ten experts on the leaderboard were legendary throughout the Profound Spirit Academy. Nearly every student who had seen the rankings knew their names by heart. Only someone like Ye Xuan was still in the dark.
"Ladies, I am indeed that Zhao Wei," the white-robed youth said with a warm smile, his words containing no trace of arrogance. "When I saw Brother Ye Xuan at the challenge arena today, I felt an instant kinship. I wonder if I might come in and ask for a cup of tea?"
"Please, come in."
Ye Xuan was slightly taken aback, but he nodded.
With the request put so politely, Ye Xuan couldn’t very well refuse without appearing rude. After all, the man was well-mannered, had come to pay a visit, and despite being in the top five on the leaderboard, he carried himself without a shred of arrogance.
Ye Xuan wasn’t an unreasonable person; he wouldn’t rudely turn away someone who approached with such courtesy.
They entered the reception room, where Ye Xuan brewed some tea and raised his cup.
"Brother Zhao Wei, it’s just a simple cup of tea, but allow me to toast you first."
Ye Xuan had a good eye for people. This Zhao Wei was young, his attitude was gentle, and his bearing was exceptionally graceful. His smile, in particular, gave off a very warm feeling. Coupled with his handsome features, it was truly difficult to dislike him.
Moreover, the man’s aura was extraordinary. His every word and action exuded a natural confidence and calm, marking him as someone far from ordinary.
"Good." Zhao Wei raised his cup and drained it in one go.
"Brother Zhao Wei, what do you think of my tea?" Ye Xuan asked with a faint smile.
"The tea is nothing special, but the company is extraordinary. When one drinks tea, one is really drinking in the mood. Getting to meet Brother Ye Xuan today makes even this simple tea feel incredibly satisfying."
It had to be said, every sentence Zhao Wei spoke seemed to have a comforting quality, an ability to put one at ease.
And by bluntly stating the tea wasn’t good, he came off as genuine and graceful, not at all pretentious.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes. He set down his cup. "Your Excellency, I doubt you came to my dormitory just to ask for a cup of tea. If you have something to say, please speak freely."
