"She's here!"
"Princess Bai Lu has arrived!"
"Oh no, that guy is still there!"
Under the dragon gate, the powerful figures of the Holy Academy were shocked. The young man named Lang Mie had suddenly gone mad, and with an imperial weapon in his control, if Princess Bai Lu were to be accidentally harmed...
"He's lost his mind! Capture him quickly!"
"Protect the Princess!"
The black-robed elder with golden embroidery roared as he charged forward, leading the others who rushed in behind him.
Rumble!
Whoosh, whoosh!
Like streaks of black lightning, they moved with blinding speed, their auras surging, tearing through the space around them.
However, as Lang Mie, now completely crazed, saw the three young figures standing on the approaching flying boat, he lost what little sanity remained.
"Great figures? These so-called great figures are just a few youngsters, and you want me to step aside for them? Why?!"
"I, Lang Mie, am no weaker than any of them!"
With bloodshot eyes, he let out a furious roar, then swung his hands, controlling the massive white palace hovering above his head, sending it crashing toward the flying boat.
Boom!
The white palace instantly expanded, resembling an ancient Greek temple. Huge pillars wrapped in eerie blue flames surged forward, appearing both strange and overwhelmingly powerful, heading straight for the boat.
Under the might of the imperial weapon, the enormous flying boat suddenly looked incredibly small, like a lone raft in a stormy sea.
"Impudent!"
At that moment, a cold and authoritative voice rang out, and a massive hand stretched out from the flying boat, slamming down on the palace.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the white palace was sent flying backward, embedding itself in a distant mountain range.
Pfft!
Lang Mie was struck by the backlash, spitting out blood as he tumbled through the air.
A gray-robed elder floated up from the flying boat, his presence radiating the terrifying aura of a Martial Emperor. His cold, dark eyes stared down at Lang Mie. "How dare you attempt to assassinate Princess Bai Lu. You have some nerve!"
"I..."
Lang Mie, now jolted back to his senses, felt the bloodlust that had clouded his mind ebb away, leaving only panic behind.
It was like someone driven by lust, suddenly sobered up after receiving a harsh beating from a gang of thugs running a scam.
"A mere insect, not worth keeping alive!"
The gray-robed elder snorted coldly and was about to strike Lang Mie dead when a voice called out in plea.
"Spare him!"
The black-robed elder with golden embroidery arrived just in time, stepping in front of Lang Mie. "My friend, this person has just passed the Holy Academy's trial and become one of our disciples. For the sake of the academy, I ask that you show some leniency."
In truth, he too wanted to squash this brat!
But since Lang Mie had successfully passed the Holy Academy's selection process, it was his duty as the dean to save him.
It was a matter of principle and responsibility.
"Hmph! So he's one of your academy's disciples. Then tell me, what punishment should your Holy Academy face for failing to discipline him properly?"
The gray-robed elder's cold voice resonated, his imposing presence undiminished, even in front of the academy's dean. He looked down upon the dean as if he were superior, though just moments ago, he had been like a silent, invisible figure on the flying boat.
The black-robed elder's face twitched.
Though he was not weaker than the gray-robed elder—perhaps even stronger—being reprimanded like this in front of everyone was quite humiliating.
But he had no choice.
This elder served the White Crane King, one of the Ten Kings of the Beast Clan. The Ten Kings held supreme authority in the Beast Clan.
Even the establishment of the Holy Academy had been supported by the Ten Kings. Without their backing, the academy would not have the influence it wielded today.
"Let it go."
At this moment, a soft and calm female voice rang out.
Everyone turned to look, and they saw a young woman dressed in elegant white robes slowly stepping forward. It was Princess Bai Lu. "He is but a foolish insect, unaware of the vastness of the world. Sparing his life should be no great matter."
"As you wish."
The gray-robed elder nodded without hesitation, like an obedient machine, always ready to follow commands.
"Thank you, Princess," the black-robed elder said gratefully, then turned and sternly glared at the still-bowing Lang Mie. "Aren't you going to thank the Princess for sparing your life?!"
However, Lang Mie remained motionless.
"Hm?!"
The black-robed elder's face darkened. "What are you waiting for? Get down on your knees and thank her!"
But Lang Mie still didn't kneel. Instead, he kept his head bowed, his shoulders trembling, letting out a low, raspy laugh that bordered on madness.
"Heh… hahaha… hahahahaha…"
"Kneel and thank her? You want me to kneel and thank her? I, Lang Mie, have never knelt to the heavens, nor the earth! Why should I kneel to her?!"
"A debt of gratitude for sparing my life? Could she even kill me? She's only flaunting her power because she's the descendant of the White Crane King!"
"I, Lang Mie, have always been invincible among my peers. In a fair fight, what is she to me?!"
His words sent a shiver through the crowd.
This guy was truly arrogant beyond measure. Did he really think that being the White Crane King's only daughter meant nothing?
In the Beast Clan, bloodlines were of utmost importance. The higher the bloodline, the stronger the talent. As one of the pinnacle warriors of the Beast Clan, the White Crane King's bloodline was unquestionably powerful. How could Princess Bai Lu not be formidable?
"Kill him."
Princess Bai Lu spoke softly.
"Princess?!"
The black-robed elder was shocked, staring at Bai Lu in disbelief.
"If he chooses not to believe, so be it. I have no need to prove myself to an insect. However, he made the mistake of speaking too freely," Bai Lu said, her tone calm but exuding authority. "When I travel, I carry with me the dignity of my father, the White Crane King. His dignity cannot be violated. Those who do… must die!"
Boom!
As her words fell, the gray-robed elder struck, unleashing a wave of overwhelming force.
"Aahhh!"
Lang Mie let out a shriek as his body exploded, turning into a cloud of blood.
In the Beast Clan, without a spiritual soul, death of the body meant death of the individual.
"This…"
Qin Zi stood there, dumbfounded. He had thought a fight might break out, perhaps one that would require his intervention.
Yet unexpectedly, the supposedly formidable Lang Mie had been so easily and quickly killed.
Moments ago, he had considered pleading for the young man's life, as he felt a strange sense of kinship with him.
But he had held back.
Perhaps it was due to some mysterious influence, or perhaps it was simply the logical choice.
Saving Lang Mie wouldn't benefit him. It was unlikely that Lang Mie would be grateful, and Qin Zi's relationship with Princess Bai Lu wasn't deep enough to risk straining it by pleading on Lang Mie's behalf.
Choosing not to intervene was the wiser decision.
Many situations that seem likely to occur are left undone because of the importance of maintaining rationality.
...
Princess Bai Lu, along with Jin Zhi and Qin Zi, officially joined the Holy Academy, causing a huge stir within the academy.
"Have you heard? The White Crane King's daughter, Princess Bai Lu, has joined the academy!"
"Yes, and she came with a real dragon and some unremarkable guy."
"I've heard about that too. Apparently, that ordinary guy only got into the Holy Academy because of his connection to the dragon and was brought in by Princess Bai Lu."
"Sigh, he's really latched onto a golden thigh. Now he gets to be an official disciple of the academy, unlike us... We're just servants."
"Wait, we're servants?"
"What else would we be? The official disciples of the Holy Academy are all proud, talented individuals. They wouldn't gossip like this."
"Fair point, we are just servants. But you know what? We still play an important role here. At least we help bolster the numbers. Without us, those geniuses wouldn't seem so special."
"True enough. But… why do you think Princess Bai Lu joined the Holy Academy now? Not long ago, the Kui Niu Prince, the Qiong Qi Prince, and the Phantom Butterfly Princess also joined."
"There are schemes, big schemes!"