Let's Perish Together
In a blaze of fury, Yeop Hyeon pointed at the Changmok Academy students and bellowed at Ji Yuan Zhang.
"You asked what I wanted, Dean. My answer is simple—no peace, no compromise with those bastards. Just the five of us fighting to the death!"
"Let's fight!"
Mu Yun Qi stepped forward with a shout.
"Dean Ji, ever since I joined Canglan Academy, I haven't been able to proudly show my face in public! If my identity got out, people would treat me like a dog from Changmok Academy!"
He jabbed a finger at Yeop Hyeon.
"Today, these punks dared invade Canglan Academy and kidnap Yeop Hyeon's little sister. It's a blatant provocation—they're looking down on us! If we back off now, they might sneak in while we're sleeping and shit on our faces. Better to perish together right here than live like that!"
Bai Ze nodded gravely at his words.
"Perish together!"
Ji An Zhi said nothing. But her hand was already resting on the hilt of her knife at her waist.
Ji Yuan Zhang shrugged at I Hyeon-chang, as if to say he had no choice.
"Looks like negotiations are off the table."
The dean chugged his liquor with ferocious momentum. In that instant, a tremendous pressure erupted from his entire body.
Kiriririk—!
The ground within a hundred zhang around him split open like a watermelon being cleaved. At the same time, the condensed pressure shot forth.
Its target: I Hyeon-chang!
I Hyeon-chang's face drained of color. He'd assumed Ji Yuan Zhang would hand over Yeop Hyeon first and bide his time with the rest. He never imagined the man would choose mutual destruction.
Ji Yuan Zhang had his reasons too. If he abandoned Yeop Hyeon, Mu Yun Qi and Bai Ze would leave Canglan Academy immediately. Ji An Zhi might even turn against him.
Besides, Changmok Academy already feared the power Yeop Hyeon had displayed.
In other words, wasn't Yeop Hyeon their hope against Changmok Academy?
How could he hand him over?
As long as Yeop Hyeon lived, they had hope. Without him, even if the rest survived, Canglan Academy's fate was sealed.
No genius would ever join an academy that betrayed Yeop Hyeon.
With Ji Yuan Zhang making his bold move, the Changmok Academy side darkened.
The Divine Fusion Realm experts surrounding him hurriedly withdrew their forms.
This was a peak Myriad Laws Realm powerhouse!
Going to war with a master like that meant most of Changmok Academy's warriors wouldn't survive.
I Hyeon-chang's face twisted in agony. They ruled the entire Jiang Kingdom—a colossal force. They couldn't afford mutual destruction with a crumbling academy like Canglan.
But if things continued, Changmok Academy would become a bloodbath!
"Dean Ji, stop this!"
At that moment, an elder in gray robes appeared in the arena.
Ji Yuan Zhang turned to him.
"What the hell are you doing here, you old fart?"
The elder was none other than Gang Wol-cheon, the former lord of Jiang Kingdom!
He was one of the four peak Myriad Laws Realm experts in Jiang Kingdom.
Gang Wol-cheon gave a wry smile.
"Should I just sit back and watch half of the Imperial City get blown away by your hand?"
He shifted his gaze to I Hyeon-chang.
"Brother I, I didn't expect things to escalate this far. How about we both take a step back for today?"
"You think that's possible?"
I Hyeon-chang pointed at the corpses.
"After those kids died like dogs? You expect me to swallow that?"
Gang Wol-cheon furrowed his brow. If Jiang Kingdom weren't on the brink of war with the imperial court, he'd smash both academies to pieces.
He replied, "Brother I, Changmok Academy has held the top spot for nearly a millennium since its founding. Among them, Jiang Kingdom's branch is the finest. If you push this fight, Canglan might vanish, but Changmok will suffer heavy losses against Brother Ji's might. You'd tarnish a thousand years of history."
I Hyeon-chang clenched his fist without a word. His body trembled.
"With your talent, Brother I, you could even enter the Yeongjeon of Changmok Academy's main branch in Central Divine Continent someday. But if Changmok crumbles by your hand today, that dream dies too."
Yeongjeon!
I Hyeon-chang's eyes gleamed.
Entering the Yeongjeon was the ultimate goal for any Changmok Academy member.
"This all started with the young ones. So, Brothers Ji and I, why not leave it to them and step back?"
"Fine by me!"
Ji Yuan Zhang answered.
"No issue here!"
I Hyeon-chang glared at Ji Yuan Zhang and raised his voice.
"Brother Gang, then I have one request. Our academies go to war, but no one over twenty-five can join. If violated, you judge the rights and wrongs."
Ji Yuan Zhang and Gang Wol-cheon exchanged glances, puzzled.
No Changmok student seemed capable of handling Yeop Hyeon. It should've been Ji Yuan Zhang proposing this.
Gang Wol-cheon looked at Ji Yuan Zhang, who looked at Yeop Hyeon. Yeop Hyeon shrugged.
"No problem on our end!"
Ji Yuan Zhang eyed I Hyeon-chang.
"They say it's fine. We're good then? Let's go!"
At Ji Yuan Zhang's command, Yeop Hyeon and the Canglan disciples left Changmok Academy.
Gang Wol-cheon sighed softly and departed.
I Hyeon-chang stared sternly at the corpses, lost in thought.
Yeosu approached to speak, but I Hyeon-chang cut him off.
"You did great! This mess is all thanks to you!"
Yeosu's face soured.
The Divine Fusion Realm experts' gazes toward him weren't kind either.
They knew Yeosu had driven away Yeop Hyeon when he came to join. That arrow had returned with devastating force!
If they'd accepted Yeop Hyeon, Canglan Academy couldn't have lifted its head for a century!
But they'd lost that genius to Canglan.
No one had predicted Yeop Hyeon's power. Today's events proved it was their worst mistake.
I Hyeon-chang regretted not being there himself. Had he seen Yeop Hyeon, they wouldn't have lost a once-in-history genius.
Moments later, he spoke to an elder beside him.
"Is Chang Jung, who oversaw the entrance exam, still in the academy?"
"Yes."
"He's worthless. Kill him."
"Understood!"
The elder left.
I Hyeon-chang turned to Yeosu.
"Reflect on yourself."
As he ascended the mountain, he added, "Spread word to all Changmok branches in Qingzhou. Anyone who helps us crush Yeop Hyeon and Canglan Academy gets Earth-tier superior Hyeon Gi, body techniques,功法, and five hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones."
The Qingcang Realm divides into three great continents: Qingzhou, Central Divine Continent, and Canglan Continent.
Qingzhou hosts the mighty Daeun Empire, nearly a hundred nations large and small, various factions, and mysterious mountain sects.
Even mountain sects don't underestimate Changmok Academy—it's spread across the entire Qingcang Realm.
The strongest branch is in Central Divine Continent, where martial arts flourish most—not in Daeun Empire.
Changmok branches in Qingzhou nations operate like vassal states, each building their own power.
They compete but can unite when needed.
The召集令—Assembly Order.
A struggling branch calls for aid from others.
It's never free; the issuer pays dearly.
But Changmok's reward was absurdly massive.
Earth-tier superior功法, body technique, Hyeon Gi, and five hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones.
Even against Divine Fusion Realm foes, countless warriors would flock.
It'd drive martial artists mad with greed!
Countless messenger birds flew from Changmok Academy in all directions.
Meanwhile, Yeop Hyeon's deeds spread instantly across the Imperial City. Changmok couldn't contain the rumors.
The city buzzed.
The forgotten Canglan Academy had clashed head-on with Changmok—and won!
The shocking part: Yeop Hyeon had slain Fen Jue, one of their top geniuses, and carved "Changmok Academy" with their corpses.
Yeop Hyeon's name echoed through the Imperial City again. This time, some already revered it!
Sword cultivators always drew worship easily.
Ultimately, the city saw crumbling Canglan Academy anew.
Ji Yuan Zhang and the disciples returned to Canglan Academy. Yeop Ryeong waited at Canglan Hall.
Spotting Yeop Hyeon, she ran and leaped into his arms. No tears—just tightly clenched lips and a fierce hug.
Gazing at Yeop Ryeong in his embrace, Yeop Hyeon's icy expression melted like thawing frost. He gently stroked her hair.
"I promised I'd come back, didn't I?"
Then he spotted a woman in a wheelchair at a distance.
"What should I call you?"
"Luk Gu-ga."
"Thank you, Miss Luk, for watching my sister."
"You're the National Scholar of Jiang Kingdom. Standing by you isn't strange. But Changmok won't end here—be careful."
With that, Luk Gu-ga turned and left Canglan Hall.
Yeop Hyeon called after her.
"I'll keep your words in mind!"
Luk Gu-ga nodded. Her figure vanished in an instant.