Qinglu Academy, True Martial Department, training hall.

The atmosphere was deathly still and silent, and the students and teachers all gathered around the training hall with darkened faces.

Some gritted their teeth and seethed.

Some looked frustrated and disappointed.

Some tightly pursed their lips, their faces red and aggrieved.

In the nearby seats sat several injured students. Some had bruised and swollen faces, others with broken bones, and some were unconscious.

In the center of the training hall stood a handsome and strong-looking young man with ash-gray hair. He wore a fierce and malevolent expression and emitted a ruthless aura.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he ran his eyes across the audience and twisted his lips disdainfully.

“Is there anyone else…who doesn’t want to admit defeat?” he said in a frivolous voice.

The audience erupted. The male students almost shattered their teeth in rage and their eyes almost bulged out. The female students clenched their fists and their faces were suffused with anger.

The instructors didn’t say a word, but they were all livid.

A quarter of an hour had passed since the conflict started, and eight students from the True Martial Department had fought one after another.

Every one of them was considered an elite student and possessed the strengths of the Heaven Ascension Stage. Everyone had high hopes for them once they graduated from the academy. If they joined the army, then they would be quickly promoted to the commander level. If not, then they would soon rule a territory or become an overlord.

However, the eight students had been utterly defeated and withstood less than one hundred moves!

Their defeat was too tragic!

The teachers and students were most ashamed and embarrassed by the fact that the opponent was just a servant of a successor from the Heaven Axis Holy Land.

Standing in the middle of the hall was a servant called Mu Qing. He was born with terrifying strength and had astonishing combat experience.

A servant displayed his mighty powers in the training hall and utterly defeated eight of the most dazzling students in the academy like he was invincible.

Everything that happened felt like a hard slap to the faces of the teachers and students, causing a huge blow to their self-esteem!

There was no need to guess to know what sort of impact it would have on Qinglu Academy’s reputation if words got out. They would become a laughingstock.

“Why is no one speaking?” The contempt in Mu Qing’s eyes deepened.

Some students were about to charge into the arena when they heard his provocative remark, but the teachers around stopped them. It wasn’t the time to act impulsively.

However, Mu Qing sneered more disdainfully, “Haha, I already said that the Qinglu Academy students are not good enough, but you refused to accept it. You thought I was just mocking and humiliating you all. But isn’t it obvious now? What else do you have to say?”

Everyone’s eyes blazed with seething anger. An outsider was showing off his power and looking down on them in their territory.

An expression of sorrow suddenly clouded some students’ faces. Is the academy’s thousand years of reputation going to be destroyed?

“Allow me!” a deep voice boomed out as a gray-robed man stepped forward.

“Senior Brother Wang Ying!”

Many students’ eyes lit up as they recognized that the gray-robed man was an elite of the True Martial Department. He was said to have been in closed-door cultivation to attack the upper Heaven Ascension Stage.

However, no one expected the conflict to alarm Wang Ying, though his appearance gave the students hope again.

“No way!”

Unlike the students, the teachers’ expressions dramatically changed, and they rushed forward to stop him.

After Gu Yunting and other peerless figures left, Wang Ying was regarded as one of the strongest in the True Martial Department.

If he also lost, then Qinglu Academy would be truly utterly defeated. The students and teachers would never be able to lift their heads again, and their reputations would be completely destroyed.

The consequences were too serious, so they would rather him not fight than lose.

At least, they could protect their dignity a little.

“There isn’t compromise in a battle of martial arts. I, Wang Ying, would rather lose than back down!” Wang Ying stated in a resolute tone as he strode onto the arena.

Everyone’s spirits were lifted. One after another, they applauded Wang Ying’s courage, turning the still atmosphere lively.

But the teachers sighed secretly. They were well aware of Wang Ying’s strength, and they knew that he had little hope of defeating Mu Qing.

“Haha, it looks like you are very popular. But to me, you are just someone coming to throw away your life,” Mu Qing mocked.

“Stop talking nonsense! Let’s see what you have!” Wang Ying was clearly holding back his anger.

With a flash, he charged forward like an enraged dragon.

Wang Ying was no doubt very strong. At least, he was considered one of the strongest at the Heaven Ascension Stage.

But to everyone’s dismay, Wang Ying also lost after exactly one hundred moves!

Mu Qing launched a deadly palm strike at his body. If he hadn’t blocked the attack with his arms, the palm strike would have ripped open his chest and killed him on the spot.

Even so, his arms were crippled, his bones crushed and his body blasted across the air before slamming into the ground dozens of feet away, staining the beautiful stone floor with his blood.

The atmosphere instantly stilled, and it became palpably silent.

All students’ eyes were wide with disbelief, and their faces skewed with despair and sadness.

If even Wang Ying was defeated, who else in Qinglu Academy could compete with Mu Qing?

The teachers turned ashen-faced. The scene they least wanted to see had happened. The result of the battle would spread quickly through the city and the reputation of Qinglu Academy would be completely destroyed when that happened.

“You’re not bad to be able to withstand one hundred moves of mine. But unfortunately, there are too many people like you in the Ancient Wasteland Domain. You’re not even qualified to join the Heaven Axis Holy Land.” Mu Qing scanned the audience. Even though he was only a servant, he still exuded a fierce and imposing bearing.

Many people couldn’t help but wonder how strong Mu Qing’s master would be if even a servant was that strong.

All the teachers’ faces were clouded over, and their hearts sank to a point of despair and helplessness.

A slight scoff suddenly came from the tall platform in the farthest part of the training hall.

It was from a young man sitting with his back facing the crowd.

He was dressed in a golden robe that matched his shiny golden hair. Even when he was sitting down, his back was spear-straight and he radiated a dazzling aura.

Everyone knew that his name was Nangong Huo, and he was Mu Qing’s Young Master and a true successor from the Heaven Axis Holy Land!

Mu Qing curbed his arrogance, and his expression changed when he heard the scoffing. He respectfully stepped towards Nangong Hua, asking, “Young Master, did I perform not good enough just now ?”

“We’re here as guests. It’s not right to not pick up your mess,” Nangong Huo responded without turning his head around. His voice was uniquely deep and charismatic.

Mu Qing breathed a sigh of relief and quickly picked up Wang Ying from the pool of blood while he grunted in agony. He tossed him to the students in the distance. “Look after him! I don’t want to create a mess in your place!”

With a wave of his sleeve, he cleaned the blood stains on the ground, then he bowed to Nangong Huo from behind, and returned to the center of the hall.

Everyone’s eyes blazed with fury. How dare they treat Senior Brother Wang Ying like trash?!

Wasn’t that the greatest humiliation?

Nangong Huo seemed unaware of their reactions. Or perhaps, he didn’t care.

His back was still facing the crowd like he disregarded them. He was still drinking and chatting with the young men and young women next to him.

The young men and women were also successors from the Heaven Axis Holy Land. They only swept a glance over everything and smiled before retracting their gazes. It was as though they also didn’t care.

Wasn’t their leisurely attitude a sign of arrogance and conceit?

The atmosphere was so silent and still that it felt suffocating.

“Oh right, has Lin Xun come yet?”

Mu Qing’s voice was tinged with discontent. He had resumed his superior and contemptuous attitude.

“Isn’t it said that he defeated six Cyclic Derivation cultivators by himself? Why has he become a coward? Is he not even brave enough to come and face me?”

Mu Qing’s words seemed to set off a bomb as the students all erupted with anger. They could no longer hold themselves back.

“Who do you think you are? Do you think you are worthy of facing Little Instructor Lin?”

“If Little Instructor Lin is here, do you think you will be qualified to speak?”

“How dare you call Little Instructor Lin a coward!”

Everyone raged. Lin Xun had become a legendary figure they all admired and respected. How could they allow someone to slander him?

Even some teachers couldn’t stand it anymore. They spoke up one after another, criticizing Mu Qing for going too far!

It suddenly became a little chaotic.

Mu Qing scrunched his brows and thundered, “What a joke! If he has the guts, why hasn’t he shown up until now? Do you think that I have a lot of time to waste with you all? Or do people in Qinglu Academy only know how to chatter? As I said, whoever refuses to accept the truth, stand forward now!” His thunderous voice reverberated throughout the hall, silencing the uproars and criticism.

The teachers’ expressions changed.

“Of course, if the teachers don’t like it, they can also come forward. I don’t mind playing with you guys too.”

Mu Qing's eyes were ice-cold, piercing with disdain.

His words were too arrogant and crazy. He was just a servant yet he dared to insult them without restraint. That alone was infuriating enough for students.

But now, he even challenged the teachers of the Qinglu Academy. His flippant attitude angered the students so much that their lungs almost ruptured.

Almost every teacher in the Qinglu Academy was at the Cyclic Derivation Stage. How would they do something so degrading to themselves?

However, they couldn’t control their expressions from turning worse in the face of provocation from Mu Qing, a servant.

“Haha.”

Mu Qing laughed, ”It seems that the Qinglu Academy is disappointing. No one here is competent. I can’t help but suspect that Lin Xun, whose ‘brilliance fills the capital’, is also not as great as rumored.”

“I won’t let you say that about our Little Instructor Lin!” Following a furious roar, a chubby young man charged at Mu Qing like he was crazy.

It was Little Fatty Liu Hui, a student in class 9C. As a rune master, he couldn’t be compared to Mu Qing in terms of strength.

However, he lost control of his anger and went berserk when he heard Mu Qing repeatedly insult their Little Instructor Lin. He wanted to kill Mu Qing even if it cost him his life!

The teachers paled and even the students were caught off guard. But it was too late to stop him.

Mu Qing’s eyes glinted coldly. A little ant like him dares to stand up to fight me?

Does he have a death wish?!

He decided to teach the kid a ruthless lesson that he would never forget in his life!

Buzz!

Jet-black lights gathered around Liu Hui’s fingertips, but Mu Qing stood still like he was waiting for Liu Hui to come to die.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

But to his surprise, a figure suddenly appeared and blocked Little Fatty Liu Hui.

“Huh?”

Mu Qing frowned, raised his eyes and saw a handsome young man in a moon-white robe. His figure was graceful and his deep-black eyes were unfathomable. His bearing also seemed extraordinary.

However, Mu Qing quickly dismissed him. He didn’t see anything particularly special about the young man.

“Who the hell is stopping me? Let go of me! I’m going to fight him! How can I let trash like him insult Little Instructor Lin?” Little Fatty Liu Hui roared, flames almost spewing from his eyes.

He was so blinded with rage that he didn’t notice who was standing right in front of him.

“Little brat, do you not recognize me?!”

The familiar voice took Liu Hui aback. Then, as though he regained his soul, he lifted his head to see a familiar handsome face.

He couldn’t believe his eyes. “Heavens, has my vision been clouded with anger? Why does it look like I just saw a ghost...”

PA!

He was slapped on the back of his head. ”You performed well today, but if you swear in front of me again, I won’t let you off!”

All the teachers and students froze.

They were originally simmering with anger, filled with despair and helplessness, and losing control of their emotions, but the familiar figure standing in front of Liu Hui struck them dumb.

Mu Qing didn’t notice everyone’s reaction. He only heard the little chubby youth call him ‘trash’!

“Kid, hurry up and get lost. No one can save this little bastard today!”

Following a loud bellow, murderous intent filled the air and Mu Qing launched a palm strike directly for Liu Hui’s head.

He was unbeatable among the students of Qinglu Academy and no teacher dared to speak out at him. He was impressive and invincible.

However, a little fatty who hadn’t even reached the Heaven Ascension Stage insulted him in his face. How could Mu Qing protect his dignity if he didn’t kill him?

Boom!

The surrounding space exploded as a terrifying blast of wind and black light from the palm strike blotted out the sky, snapping the teachers and students awake from their dazed state.

Then, they saw a scene that they would never forget in their lives.

During that critical juncture, Lin Xun, who was standing in front of Liu Hui, made a slap in the air and swatted Mu Qing away like a fly…