Chapter 428 - Youthful Symbol of Rebellion!

Yun Dahe and Feng Qingcong exchanged glances, then fell silent.

"We share a bond with the Primordial Academy, one that we truly hope won't be destroyed over a walking calamity that shouldn't be protected at all costs, burying over a century of effort from both sides," Tian Yulan added.

This made it even harder for Feng Qingcong and Yun Dahe to respond.

At that moment, the red-robed woman suddenly said, "I don't understand what the rush is. A child has you so scared you can't wait three days?"

"Can you guarantee that he will be executed in three days?" Celestial Official Qin asked.

"What else? The evidence is irrefutable, seen by all. If the Mystic Zenith Temple can't deal with him, what's the point of its existence?"

After the red-robed woman spoke, she glanced at Yun Dahe and Feng Qingcong, then said to the three Celestial Officials, "For anyone who challenges the authority of the Mystic Zenith Temple's justice, confessing and being executed is the only outcome, even if the Dean tries to protect them, they will be punished as well."

"Agreed."

With that affirmative answer from the red-robed woman, the three Celestial Officials said no more.

Clearly, this conversation was their way of intimidating Yun Dahe and Feng Qingcong, a warning from the descendants of Three Immortals.

After saying so much, would the Academy Faction still dare to protect him? That would truly be unreasonable.

"Temple Head," Tian Yulan said solemnly, "I think this young man is dreaming of escaping his fate. It would be laughable if he managed to flee in three days. Doesn’t the Mystic Zenith Temple have any restrictions on Level 7 Ding disciples during their trial period?"

The red-robed woman was speechless!

If it weren't for your children causing trouble within the Primordial Academy, would the Mystic Zenith Temple need to amend its laws to provide conveniences for these young masters, allowing them to make mistakes and still be comfortable?

But now that Yun Xiao was using this privilege, they were anxious.

"Don't worry." After saying this, the red-robed woman tore open the magic formation and stepped out.

Cloaked, she was like a streak of blood in the darkness, drawing all eyes as she approached Yun Xiao.

Under her pressure, even Lian Xi felt a bit nervous, sticking close to Yun Xiao.

In a blink, the red-robed woman was right in front of Yun Xiao! She exuded a rich, rose-like fragrance and had an intimidating presence, like a woman covered in thorns.

"Your mastery of both sword and sigil is impressive," the red-robed woman said in a low voice, whispering into Yun Xiao's ear.

Her calm demeanor, unangered, made Yun Xiao wary. She was clearly more troublesome than the three Celestial Officials.

"Thank you for your praise, Temple Head," Yun Xiao replied with a nod.

"You've done wrong, and punishment is unavoidable."

After the red-robed woman spoke, she turned to the group of disciples supporting Yun Xiao and announced, "Given Yun Xiao's crime, witnessed by all, I've decided to strip him of his position as Crown of the Mystic Zenith Temple."

Upon these words, silence fell, and naturally, no one dared to object.

"That means, the selection for the Crown today ends in solitude," someone thought to themselves.

"If only Yun Xiao hadn't impulsively killed Qin Ziyue, he would have become a Crown, and maybe he wouldn't be punishable..."

Now, there was no turning back. However, what intrigued everyone was whether this was the only conclusion after the long discussion between the three Celestial Officials and the Temple Head.

But they soon realized there was more!

At that moment, magic swirled in the hands of the red-robed woman!

BUZZ!

Blood seeped from her fingertips, merging with the magic to form a blood-red bat!

"Give me your hand," the Temple Head said to Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao hesitated at the sight of the blood bat but eventually extended his hand.

"This hand should have been used to play the zither, yet you used it for killing," the red-robed woman remarked as she looked at his slender and perfect fingers.

"All means to please others, no conflict," Yun Xiao said.

"Pleasing others by killing?" The red-robed woman laughed.

"Yes, pleasing the audience," Yun Xiao paused, then added seriously, "People despise injustice the most; I was venting their frustration for them."

"Heh..." With a soft laugh, the red-robed woman said no more but placed the blood bat, infused with her own bloodline, onto Yun Xiao's palm.

Yun Xiao immediately felt a piercing pain as if needles were continuously pricking him.

When the red-robed woman's hand withdrew, a blood-red bat pattern appeared on Yun Xiao's palm.

Its eyes glowed blood-red, rooting itself in Yun Xiao's veins and bones, eerily watching him.

It was as if the red-robed woman herself was staring at him!

After finishing, the red-robed woman patted his hand, turned around, and left, leaving behind a rich and mysterious fragrance.

She approached Celestial Official Qin, Tian Yulan, and others, saying, "The Blood Bat Curse has been cast. No matter where he goes, I will know his location. I've locked onto his blood. Even cutting off his hand would be futile; you don't have to worry about him escaping."

"The Blood Bat Curse..."

The three Celestial Officials exchanged glances, their eyes filled with deep approval for the curse.

"Much obliged, Temple Head," Celestial Official Qin bowed. This was exactly what he had wanted.

"After the trial, please hand him over to us privately," Tian Yulan said softly.

"I'll have my fun first. Don't worry; I won't kill him." The red-robed woman laughed softly.

"Is the Temple Head curious about his sword and sigil?" the Drunken Mad Sword asked from the side.

The red-robed woman glanced at him but didn't answer the question. Instead, she said, "Three Immortals Day is approaching. You three have much to attend to; I won’t see you out."

"We await good news from the Temple Head." The three nodded, no longer paying attention to Yun Xiao, and along with the other parents of the Pathseeker Society members, they turned and left without a trace.

"I hope you die a gruesome death, you mad fugitive!" Tian Yuxue glared fiercely at Yun Xiao, following the others with the rest of the Pathseeker Society members.

Today, they truly understood what it meant to be fearless when one had nothing to lose. No matter their background, wealth, or status, against those who weren't afraid of dying, if they swore to take you down, they meant it. It was a matter of who lost more in death.

Qin Ziyue had never encountered such people, which was why she was gone so suddenly.

And these Pathseeker Society members, usually so polished and respectable, now found themselves without their three leaders. Despite appearing calm on the surface, they were internally in chaos.

Yun Xiao had already cast a shadow over them; now that their parents were gone, they didn't dare stay another moment!

With only three days left to live, if they angered him and he chased them down one by one, who wouldn't be afraid?

"Disperse!" After the red-robed woman uttered these words, she and the seven Crowns also left.

Almost all descendants of the Three Immortals had left the Square of Righteous Law, leaving behind those whose blood was boiling with excitement.

"Yun Xiao!"

Unable to contain their exhilaration, they shouted his name. As disciples of the Primordial Academy, few hadn't been suppressed or tormented by the Pathseeker Society.

Yun Xiao had truly avenged them!

One by one, they approached, surrounding Yun Xiao, their gazes towards him completely transformed.

This was exactly what Celestial Official Qin and the others feared. The Three Immortals Lineage had hoped to cultivate a young leader to set the tone, but now, they had raised a leader for the opposing faction to gather around!

Yun Xiao had become the Academy Faction's de-facto youthful symbol of rebellion!

Lian Xi was indeed a leader in her own right, commanding respect from the disciples, but Yun Xiao was entirely different from her.

Lian Xi was too righteous and honorable! Leadership required a certain level of violence and recklessness, the ability to stir people's hearts, to truly inspire fervor.

"I don't care, he is the youngest Crown in history!"

"Crown Yun!"

The eyes of tens of thousands blazed with passion, their fervent hearts no longer concealed.

Among the crowd were Lil Xiu and her group of dancing girls, tears of joy in their eyes for this fleeting victory and worry for the calamity to come in a few days.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let me ask you, didn't Crown Yun make everyone's scalp tingle with excitement today?"

"When the Pathseeker Society acted tyrannically, who dared to deal with them? Only Crown Yun!" A bald, muscular young man stood by Yun Xiao, his eyes ablaze, roaring with his booming voice.

"Awesome, just awesome!"

The crowd laughed and cheered.

"Who's this?" Yun Xiao noticed the familiar bald head.

"The son of Uncle River." Lian Xi, too, was caught up in the enthusiasm, her pretty face wearing a sweet smile. The man she chose had won the recognition of all his peers, finally silencing those who called him merely a pretty face.

"He wouldn't happen to be called Yun Xiaohe, would he?" Yun Xiao joked.

"How could that be? Though Uncle Dahe looks rugged, he's a scholar," Lian Xi laughed.

"Crown Yun, I am your loyal little brother. We have a great fate between us. My name is Yun Yao!" the bald, muscular young man introduced himself with enthusiasm.

"Yun Yao?" The name did indeed seem fated, sounding quite elegant. However, his appearance severely contradicted his name.

"Brother Yao, I look forward to your support," Yun Xiao said.

"Brother? What brother!" Yun Yao corrected excitedly, "Bro, I'm your real little brother. I admire you. Just call me by my nickname."

"And that is?"

"Ah Yao."

Yun Xiao couldn't help but chuckle.

"Sworn siblings!" Yun Yao was a maestro of atmosphere, standing in front of Yun Xiao, waving a pair of red underpants as he shouted, "Come on, let's all support Brother Xiao! Screw the Pathseeker Society! The Primordial Academy is ours!"

"Brother Xiao!"

"Crown Yun!"

Yun Xiao felt a bit embarrassed. It seemed he had become the leader of a group of rebellious youth. However, the upside was that his status as a youth leader in the Primordial Academy was now firmly established. Whether he was the real Crown or not didn't matter at all.

In the eyes of these young people, his challenge to authority and direct confrontation with the Celestial Officials made him a Crown!

Yun Yao then passionately introduced his brothers and sisters to Yun Xiao, fully integrating him into their community.

"Nice to meet you, Brother Xiao, and sister-in-law!" A green-clad young man introduced himself with a witty comment, causing a burst of laughter.

The illustrious Lian Xi, now known as Yun Xiao's woman. Of course, it was just a joke. From being Lian Xi's lapdog to Brother Xiao's sister-in-law showed the young people's enthusiasm for Yun Xiao.

As Yun Yao was making introductions, Yun Xiao and Lian Xi suddenly spotted a familiar face.

"Sister?"

In a corner was a girl dressed in pink, watching the celebrated couple with mixed emotions.

Lian Xi quickly went over, took her hand gently, and asked softly, "What's wrong? Aren't you happy?"

"No, it's not that," Liu Yingying glanced at Yun Xiao, her voice trembling, "I just..."

Clearly, she had witnessed the entire selection for the Crown, her heart fluttering countless times.

"Just what?" Yun Xiao asked with a smile.

"Just..." Liu Yingying panicked, tears welling up as she quickly said, "Brother Xiao, I admit I spoke harshly a few days ago. Please, be magnanimous and don't hold it against a little girl like me. I'm scared of you."

Seeing her trembling, everyone knew she was genuinely frightened and couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't worry. Yun Xiao is petty with his enemies but generous with his own people," Lian Xi comforted.

"Alright." Liu Yingying finally relaxed, then joined in the group's happiness.

The youth tended to immerse themselves in the joy of the moment. For a while, everyone seemed to forget that Yun Xiao's palm bore the mark of his death sentence in three days.