Zhao Zhanye’s words surprised everyone.

The deputy head of the Dao Martial Department clearly didn’t believe that Lin Xun could make a rune armament. He had only come to take advantage of the opportunity to subdue the youth instead.

“Haha, Brother Zhao is right. Although Lin Xun is extremely talented, he disregards the law, acts without restraint, and is a very bad character. A talent like him would only bring trouble no matter how outstanding he is.” Chu Shanhe chuckled.

Despite being the deputy head of the Rune Department, he had nothing but negative comments about Lin Xun. His intentions were obvious.

It made many sharp people aware that Lin Xun’s rune armament-making operation might turn into a disaster for him!

Unless he could cast a rune armament. Otherwise, his situation would be worrying!

“You’re right! Qinglu Academy isn’t a place to hide filth. Juniors such as Lin Xun will veer onto the wrong path one day and become a trouble if not properly punished and disciplined,” Qin Baoji also spoke out. His eyes glinted like sharp swords.

“If that boy lied and deceived us, he deserved to be killed!”

Suddenly, a voice boomed out like a rumble of thunder, causing the audience’s faces to blanch. It was the Marquis of Hundred Battles Zuo Fuguang. The aura of the great Dao circulated his body as he sat there like a king on a mountain of corpses and blood.

All of a sudden, it fell utterly silent and still.

Everyone could tell that the influential figures had come to target Lin Xun. Moreover, they didn’t try to disguise it!

Shen Tuo’s face grew increasingly overcast. Lin Xun had only started casting the rune armament, but people had already made threats one after another. Fear flooded his heart, and he knew the situation wasn’t favorable to Lin Xun.

“What did Lin Xun do so wrong that people with identity and status such as yourselves have to come forward one after another to criticize him?” a voice suddenly rang out, shocking the entire audience.

Someone had dared to refute so many important figures!

However, a mighty young man walked forward in large strides, exuding a domineering and superior aura.

“Ning Meng, the grandson of the Steel-Blood King!”

Many people recognized the youngster, so their expressions changed dramatically.

“Little kid, do you know where you are? Is there a place for you to interject?” Qin Baoji snorted coldly.

A light bloomed from his eyes and cut through space like sharp blades, chilling everyone.

“Nonsense, this is Qinglu Academy. You old fellows came without invitation and even dared to teach me a lesson!” Ning Meng bellowed, making everyone tremble inwardly.

That kid acts so tough! Does he not attach any importance to the Qin Family just because he is related to the Steel-Blood King?

Qin Baoji’s face suddenly darkened. Before he could speak, the Marquis of Hundred Battles Zuo Fuguang waved his hand dismissively and said indifferently, “Brother Qin, don’t lower yourself to his level.”

As he was speaking, he swept a glance over Ning Meng. “Little guy, do you not have any manners? Does your family not teach you manners? Hurry up and step back! Don’t make a mistake!”

Ning Meng raged, “Are you criticizing my family!?”

Zuo Fuguang frowned and said in a displeased manner, “Little guy, even your father won’t dare to speak like that if he was here. Do you think we won’t dare to punish you?”

Rumble—

An oppressive force rapidly spread toward Ning Meng to subdue and silence him.

Ning Meng’s expression changed. “Old thing, how dare you?!”

Zuo Fuguang smiled coldly. “Little junior, I will teach you a lesson today on behalf of your parents! I will let you know what manners are!”

As he was speaking, his imposing aura soared.

He had fought hundreds of bloody battles on the frontier and had slaughtered thousands of powerful figures of the brute race. His hands were stained with blood. How could Spirit Sea cultivators defend against him?

“Haha, how imposing! Zuo Fuguang, I haven’t seen you in years. How dare you teach my grandson on my behalf?!”

Suddenly, a thunderous roar resounded, stinging the eardrums of everyone and causing their expressions to dramatically change.

It was just a voice, but it made their hearts tremble like a hammer!

Swoosh!

A tall and burly figure emerged like a sacred mountain. He had disheveled white hair and a long and pointy beard. As his eyes opened and closed, they produced terrifying visions such as mountains of corpses, seas of blood, and stars falling.

He was no doubt a terrifyingly powerful expert. His arrival filled the area with murderous qi, causing the air to screech and clouds to roil.

Everyone’s faces were crossed with disbelief.

Steel-Blood King Ning Bugui!

A king who lived to fight. He had vowed to die with his head resting on a mountain of corpses, lying in a sea of blood and facing the sky!

Over one thousand experts had died in his hands, and he was no doubt a king who created a name for himself through slaughtering. His fierceness and power had shaken the empire many times!

It was even rumored that even the five tiger generals of the empire together wouldn’t be as majestic and powerful as the Steel-Blood King!

No one had expected such a legendary figure would return to the Forbidden City and appear in Qinglu Academy.

“Brute Ning! Why are you here?”

Zuo Fuguang sprang up, looking a little bewildered.

The other people’s expressions also changed. Ning Bugui was stationed in the western frontier of the empire and hadn’t returned to the Forbidden City in at least one hundred years. What would be the reason for his return?

“What? Am I not welcome back?!”

Ning Bugui’s voice was rough like a thunderclap. He didn’t try to disguise his fierce power.

“How would we dare? Brother Ning, please take a seat.”

Zhao Zhanye got up and motioned him to sit down. As the Deputy Head of the Dao Martial Department and an influential figure of the imperial family, he had an extraordinary status.

“Hmph, you guys only know how to bully the juniors. I can’t sit with you guys.”

He grabbed Ning Meng and sat on the ground. The Steel-Blood King was indeed as domineering as rumored. He didn’t give face to anyone.

Zhao Zhanye’s face clouded over.

“Hmph, so what if you came? Lin Xun has made many mistakes. You can't save him!” Zuo Fuguang sneered after he regained his composure.

Not only him, but Chu Shanhe, Qin Baoji and other important figures also had the same thought.

“Duke Daochen has fought for the empire. Although he has died, his heroic spirit still lives on and he is still admired by thousands of people. I never thought that his only remaining seedling would be treated as a thorn. It’s so upsetting,” someone let out a long sigh. Although the voice wasn’t particularly loud, it rang clearly in everyone’s ears.

An obese middle-aged man strode toward the crowd. From afar, he resembled a moving hill.

The head of Stone Cauldron Alms—Fortune God Shi!

Everyone’s eyes widened. The famous Fortune God Shi had also come. Moreover, from his tone of voice, he seemed to be standing on Lin Xun’s side.

Zhao Zhanye, Chu Shanhe, Zuo Fuguang, Qin Baoji and other important figures narrowed their eyes, their faces darkening.

“Brother Shi, come and take a seat. It’s very hard to see you these days. We must have a good chat and catch up.” Ning Bugui said with a smile.

Fortune God Shi laughed heartily and seated his huge mountain-like body beside him.

It was also at that moment that everyone noticed Shi Yu standing behind Fortune God Shi. He had been unnoticed until now because Fortune God Shi’s body was too huge, like a little mountain…

Many people fell into deep thought. They were aware that Shi Yu, Ning Meng and Lin Xun were close friends, so the appearance of Ning Bugui and Fortune God Shi had to be related to them.

The situation became more interesting.

Some people seemed to be targeting Lin Xun, and some people wanted to protect Lin Xun. The rune armament-making operation had silently set off a storm and underlying turmoil.

“Duke Daochen was a hero admired by countless people in the empire. We also respected him tremendously, but I never thought that his descendant would commit so many vile deeds that sparked widespread indignation and discontent. If he isn’t properly disciplined, he will only tarnish the prestige of Duke Daochen and bring shame to the Lin Family,” Zhao Zhanye said expressionlessly.

The appearance of Ning Bugui and Fortune God Shi didn’t change his attitude.

“What widespread indignation and discontent? I heard that some people had been secretly targeting and trying to suppress him ever since he entered the Forbidden City?”

“I think there are people who don’t want the blood of Duke Daochen to be in the world.”

Another two figures emerged. One was a middle-aged man with jet-black hair, sparse brows and a majestic gait.

The other was a slender and short old man with a goatee and amiable smile.

However, the two’s appearance sparked a commotion again.

This was because the middle-aged man with jet-black hair was the authority figure of the East Sea—East Sea King Ye Qingtian!

The old man with a goatee was a great elder of the Never Falling Geezer Gong Clan—Gong Bupo!

The younger generation might know little about the two, but the influential figures present all knew that the two were ruthless figures who had long made a name for themselves.

Needless to say, Ye Xiaoqi and Gong Ming were following Ye Qingtian and Gong Bupo.

Everyone could tell that Steel-Blood King Ning Bugui, Fortune God Shi, the East Sea King Ye Qingtian and Gong Bupo had come to protect Lin Xun!

Many people realized that the situation had become more and more interesting, and it seemed like a conflict would soon break out.

Zhao Zhanye, Chu Shanhe and the others scrunched their brows, finding the situation a little tricky to deal with. They had never thought that so many fierce characters would emerge when they wanted to deal with a surviving member of the deteriorated Lin Clan.

“Lin Xun has only just started the rune armament-making process. Why are you all arguing so fiercely? Let’s just quietly watch. A sixteen-year-old kid is about to cast a rune armament. This is unheard of!”

Amid the tense atmosphere, a light sigh sounded, and a gray-robed middle-aged man with a sharp face like it was carved from a blade suddenly appeared.

He looked unremarkable but everyone somehow felt as though a volcano was concealed within his thin body. The volcano seemed capable of incinerating mountains and rivers if it erupted.

Zhao Zhanye, Chu Shanhe, Ning Bugui, Fortune God Shi or any other powerful figure sprang to their feet. No one dared to remain sitting.

That was power!

A power that belonged to Sea Subdue King Zhao Jiuxiao!