Chapter 146: Yun Ping's Scheme

Wen Ziming glared angrily at Yun Ping. "Why didn't you tell us earlier? Just a hint would've been enough for us to succeed. Even if you demanded resources later on, we would have shared them with you."

"Shared? A portion, or just a scrap?" Yun Ping sneered. "Look at the situation now. Do you still fail to see how things really stand? The only explanation for Serene Void Academy's sudden advancement is the wealth they gained from the secret realm. And you rushed in blindly, acting recklessly, even as the academy's chief. If anyone should have fallen first, it should have been you, not us.

"Our spies in the Herb King Manor reported that the secret realm was left behind by the Green Emperor. Serene Void Academy was the last to come out from it, and as soon as they did, the secret realm collapsed. Do you really believe they came out empty-handed?"

"If we had warned you earlier, no one would have dared to test their strength. By then, would the disciples of Jade Flame Academy have had to lure out the guardian beast themselves?"

Yun Ping waved his hand. More than five thousand Jade Flame disciples behind him simultaneously removed the masks from their faces.

Wen Ziming stared at them and suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. These cultivators were Jade Flame's elite. Eighty percent were already at the peak of the Qi Regulation Realm, and over a thousand had even reached the Qi Condensation Realm.

"You... you all... you planned this from the very beginning!" Wen Ziming's heart and lungs burned with rage, his vision went black, and he collapsed backward. The disciples of the White Cloud Academy hurriedly caught him and quickly fed him several Heaven Restoration Pills.

Slowly, Wen Ziming regained his strength, but the bitterness in his chest remained. He continued to glare at Yun Ping, hatred burning in his eyes.

Yun Ping gave a cold laugh and turned his gaze to Zhou Fan. "Zhou Fan, did you see that? This is the price of betraying an alliance. Wind Lightning Academy won't betray us, will they? After all, your lord still stands with us. As for you, think carefully."

Looking at the cultivators behind Yun Ping, Zhou Fan recalled Zhou Chang's warning not to offend him. He quickly put on an obsequious expression. "Jade Flame and Wind Lightning have always stood together. Our alliance will not break.

"Brother Yun Ping, now that Serene Void has grown so powerful, it's only natural for Wind Lightning Academy to send our elites too. That way, our next attack on Serene Void Academy will be much easier."

As he spoke, Zhou Fan transmitted a message through his chief disciple identity token, summoning the academy's higher-ranking disciples.

"And you, Wen Ziming?" Yun Ping smirked, patting Zhou Chang's head before turning back. "I'll give you another chance. Call your higher-ranking disciples here. I won't shortchange you. One percent of the spoils will be yours. That way, you can at least salvage a little dignity."

"Yun Ping... you...

sigh...

my lord was right all along." Wen Ziming glared bitterly, wanting to curse. But glancing at his severely wounded disciples collapsing behind him, he could only summon White Cloud Academy's higher-ranking disciples with his chief disciple identity token.

Seeing this, Yun Ping sneered. Recalling the earlier council hall scene at Jade Flame Academy, he couldn't resist mocking Bai Rufeng aloud. "At least you're smart enough to adapt. You're far better than your lord."

Wen Ziming struggled to rise. "Yun Ping! How dare you insult my lord!"

Yun Ping stood and kicked him hard. "Sit down. If you can't seize resources, your lord will only be humiliated further."

Gravely injured, Wen Ziming was sent sprawling. White Cloud Academy disciples immediately drew their swords, surrounding Yun Ping.

Seeing their chief surrounded, the disciples of Jade Flame Academy drew their weapons. Both academies faced off, neither willing to yield.

"You..."

Pain shot through Wen Ziming's body, but hearing Yun Ping's words, he forced himself to calm down. Without resources, White Cloud Academy would only suffer greater disgrace.

Wen Ziming waved his hand, signaling his disciples to lower their swords. "Put your weapons away. They're right. If we gain nothing, White Cloud will face even greater humiliation."

"That's better. You are truly more reasonable than your lord," Yun Ping said, bending down to hook Wen Ziming's chin with one hand. "But are all the people of White Cloud Academy so good at swallowing insults? I truly admire that."

"You... you've gone too far!"

Wen Ziming slapped his hand away and swung a fist, but the pain in his arm kept him from landing a proper blow.

Yun Ping easily countered, knocking him aside. "Save your strength. Recover your spirit qi. We'll need it for the next assault."

"Chief, how are you? Why don't we strike now? We cannot endure this humiliation!"

A handsome White Cloud disciple stepped forward, unsheathing his sword, and lunged at Yun Ping.

Before Yun Ping even moved, the cultivators behind him unleashed overwhelming pressure. The combined might of thousands bore down, pinning the disciple in place.

The force surged further, crashing onto Wen Ziming. Clearly, Yun Ping had ordered his men to crush Wen Ziming's will completely.

Already badly wounded, Wen Ziming faced the full strength of thousands of high-level cultivators. Without the support of a White Cloud Formation beneath him, the crushing power tore at his injuries.

Seeing this, the few White Cloud disciples who could still stand released their spirit qi to shield him. But fresh from battle and already injured, they could not summon their full strength.

"

Pfft...

"

Wen Ziming was the first to break. A mouthful of dark-red blood erupted from his lungs and heart meridians. Even with his level-eight Qi Regulation Realm cultivation, he would be unable to channel spirit qi properly for months.

He collapsed, followed by the White Cloud disciples. One by one, they spat blood and crumpled to the ground.

Yun Ping looked at the bloodstained scene, feigning outrage. "Brothers, we're allies, aren't we? How could you treat them like this?"

Yet everyone present could hear the mockery in his voice.

Yun Ping barked a few harsh curses, forcing the Jade Flame Academy's disciples to step back, then turned with an apologetic smile. "Brother Wen, apologies. My juniors don't fully understand the rules. I trust you won't hold it against them."

Though his words sounded like an apology, the underlying threat was unmistakable.

Wen Ziming motioned for his own disciples to fall back, leaning against a tree as he slowly rose to his feet. "It's nothing, truly nothing. How could I hold a grudge against your juniors? Thanks to the brothers from Jade Flame pressing down on me, the congestion in my chest was forced out. I actually feel much better now."

Yun Ping placed a palm, wreathed in Jade Flame-style spirit qi, on Wen Ziming's shoulder. "Good, good. I was worried you might blame us. Brother Wen, you truly are a man of honor."

Emerald flames silently seeped into his body, worsening his injuries. Wen Ziming coughed, fresh blood spilling from the corner of his lips, yet he dared not make a sound or resist.

Once Yun Ping judged that it was enough, he slowly withdrew the Jade Flame-style spirit qi and leaned close to whisper into Wen Ziming's ear. "If you must blame someone, then blame your dear lord. He was the one who humiliated me."

Having suffered all that, Wen Ziming was left with injuries that would take at least half a year to mend. For the next two years, it would be utterly impossible for him to use any high-grade spell. Yun Ping had done all this for one purpose only—revenge for the oppressive blow Bai Rufeng had dealt him earlier.

Yun Ping shook his hand and reclined. "Alright, let's wait out here. Lu Chen is at death's door and will need vast amounts of medicinal herbs to recover. I don't believe they can gather enough resources to hide forever."

Zhou Fan waved a hand, sending one of the less-injured disciples to stand guard at the gate and report every movement inside. "If they keep hiding, all the better. Lu Chen will surely die.

"The Wind Lightning Academy's senior disciples are already on the way, and White Cloud Academy's senior cultivators should be arriving soon as well. As long as their guardian beast doesn't interfere, once our three academies join forces, even if Lu Chen somehow recovers and relies on secret arts, we'll crush them effortlessly."

Yun Ping leaned back lazily. "Then let's wait a little longer. Bring some chairs. We'll drink tea while waiting for the good news of Lu Chen's death."

The Jade Flame Academy's disciples promptly carried two wooden chairs and set them behind Zhou Fan and Wen Ziming.

***

Inside Serene Void Academy.

The Serene Void Plaza had collapsed into a massive crater. Many of the surrounding buildings lay in ruins, with only the Serene Void Stele still standing in the center. Only now did the disciples realize that what they usually saw on the surface was merely the tip of the stone stele.

The true form of the stele remained a mystery. No one present had ever seen or known it. Had the battle not torn apart the plaza, they would never have discovered how deep the stele extended underground.

Song Ping ordered the academy's disciples to haul in earth and stone to fill the crater for the time being. Once the crisis passed and Jun Wudi returned, they could properly explore the hidden depths of the stele.

At the edge of the plaza, Lu Chen still lay sprawled on the ground. Nantian Yijian rushed out from the teleportation chamber. Seeing him motionless, he broke into loud sobs.

"Boss, are you alright? Please wake up!" Nantian Yijian clung to him, anguish in his voice. "Boss, what will I do if you're gone?"

"What are you wailing for? Do I look dead to you?" Lu Chen opened his eyes, glancing around. "This whole 'gravely injured and dying' act was just bait to lure them in."

"Really? Boss, you're fine? That's great!" Nantian Yijian wiped away his tears. "Wan'er and I were watching from over there. We thought something terrible had happened."

"Do you not have faith in me?" Lu Chen summoned the chief disciple identity token, letting the Divine Tree vines spread across the protective barrier, then slowly sat up. "I'm the main character. How could I fall so easily?"

***

Outside the main gate, Yun Ping reclined on his chair when he suddenly saw vines spreading over the defensive barrier. His suspicion deepened.

"They're trying to block our view. That must mean Lu Chen is already near death," he said, turning to Zhou Fan. "Are your senior cultivators here yet? If they don't arrive in time, Lu Chen could die before they even act, and they would end up getting a share of the spoils without having to do anything."

Noticing Yun Ping's irritation, Zhou Fan forced a smile. "They'll be here soon. I promise they'll make it before Lu Chen takes his last breath."

Wen Ziming let out a cold snort and said, "Our people are already on the floating staircase. They'll be here any moment."

"Good. Once they arrive, we'll strike Serene Void Academy again," Yun Ping gazed toward the mountain steps and muttered. "Without their chief, even the strongest barrier of Serene Void Academy won't last forever."