"Qin Yang, you should explain properly to Teacher Wu! Why aren't you defending yourself?" Lou Mengyu panicked, noticing Martial Heaven's genuine anger.
"Only weaklings need..." Qin Yang began, but Lou Mengyu swiftly covered his mouth before he could finish.
Jin Wanshan rolled his eyes, feeling utterly speechless: You're really determined to provoke Martial Heaven to his limits, aren't you?
Lou Mengyu hastily explained, "We were buying spirit medicine earlier. Lian Feng said his classmate was missing, so we went to search. Teacher Wu, please don't blame Qin Yang for... for acting... like that. He was simply worried about our classmate's safety."
Unable to describe Qin Yang's methods, Lou Mengyu recounted the entire incident in detail.
Lian Feng stepped forward urgently. "Teacher Wu, blame me instead! I begged Qin Yang to help find Lin Wan'er for me!"
Lin Wan'er hadn't realized all this stemmed from her disappearance! Overcome with fear and gratitude, she felt deeply indebted to Qin Yang. Even if Teacher Wu hadn't intervened, Qin Yang's actions would have kept her safe.
Jin Wanshan added, "Qin Yang was defending the dignity of our Celestial Academy! A petty little faction from some Northern Plains city dares to treat us this way. If we don't punish them, how can we maintain our standing on the continent? We'd be too afraid to even step outside the academy gates!"
Martial Heaven raised an eyebrow, scanning the scene with divine sense. In the distance, spectators watched - their eyes held no malice, only a hint of satisfaction.
So Qin Yang really hadn't done anything wrong?
"The underground palace in the mountain outside the city... was that your doing too?" Martial Heaven asked.
"And if it was?" Qin Yang replied bluntly.
Martial Heaven fell silent, while Lou Mengyu kept tugging at Qin Yang's sleeve.
"You did defend the Celestial Academy's dignity," Martial Heaven said suddenly. "Though there are merits, there are also faults. Merits and faults cancel each other out. No punishment, no reward."
Lou Mengyu, Jin Wanshan, and the others relaxed. Teacher Martial Heaven had judged the matter fairly after all.
Qin Yang shrugged. He'd never wanted any recognition anyway.
As for the distant spectators, who would dare voice any complaints? Those who had previously criticized Qin Yang had already been... eliminated by his hand.
After what had transpired in Fanxing City, how could they possibly remain here any longer?
Martial Heaven declared they would depart immediately, but Qin Yang objected.
"Most of our classmates haven't had a chance to replenish their supplies," Qin Yang said. "They still need to purchase the pills and magical artifacts they desire."
Martial Heaven frowned. The entire city was in chaos—was this boy suggesting they stay to shop?
The other students stared at Qin Yang in disbelief. How could he have such nerve? Who would want to shop now?
Qin Yang pressed on: "Besides, I've already stated that those who dare challenge Celestial Academy shall be eradicated root and branch, without mercy—"
Lou Mengyu covered his mouth again, her stomach churning at the sight of scattered body parts. "He says he's hungry. We should eat first."
The onlookers felt their scalps prickle as goosebumps spread across their bodies. This walking disaster still wanted to linger...
"Stop dragging me!" Qin Yang protested as Lou Mengyu pulled him away.
She glared at him. "You're deliberately provoking Teacher Wu! He's the Discipline Committee Chairman! You killed so many people, and he's already showing leniency by letting you off. What more do you want?"
"What do you mean 'showing mercy'? As if I'm some rare treasure!" Qin Yang snorted. "Was I wrong?"
"Right, right! You weren't wrong at all!" Jin Wanshan pushed from behind, shoving Qin Yang into the Wanshan Chamber of Commerce. "Those people deserved death, but your methods were... too direct!"
"If you knew how vile the Guiyan Gang was, you wouldn't think that way!" Qin Yang sighed.
Some things can't be understood through words alone. Only by witnessing their depravity firsthand could one truly comprehend. Killing them was mercy - grinding their bones to dust would have been more fitting.
"What else do we need?" Jin Wanshan changed the subject.
The other students continued shopping, moving quickly to depart sooner.
Throughout Fanxing City, the residents no longer saw these "guests" as easy prey. Instead, they treated them like honored ancestors, fearing any displeasure might summon Qin Yang to their shops...
Night fell outside Fanxing City.
The group assembled, and Martial Heaven produced a small boat-shaped magical artifact. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it soaring into the sky.
The magical flying ship continued to grow larger, its length now spanning over a hundred meters.
"Are you leaving already? I haven't even finished tempering Lou Mengyu's body!" Qin Yang called out. "Return my demonic beasts first."
Martial Heaven cast a deep look at Qin Yang. Whether he gave back the beasts or not made little difference now. With a flick of his divine will, the demonic beasts trapped in the Imprisonment Tower were instantly released.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three colossal mountains materialized abruptly - a volcanic peak, an icy mountain, and a frozen colossus - crushing countless trees in their wake.
Most classmates had no idea Qin Yang possessed such demonic beasts, having assumed the Tian Swallowing Beast was his only remarkable creature.
The sight of these three massive mountains left them utterly astounded.
Among the three beasts, the Nine-feathered Ice Phoenix spread its wings, its resplendent plumage eliciting gasps of admiration. Even Lou Mengyu's eyes sparkled with wonder at the sight.
The Fire Dog and Old Turtle, however, merely opened their eyelids briefly to glance at the crowd before resuming their slumber.
Confinement? they seemed to say. I've been napping for decades, you know!
"Return!" Qin Yang waved the Demon Realm Ring in his hand.
The atmosphere turned awkward as the three demonic beasts ignored Qin Yang completely.
"Honored guests, please move aside!" Qin Yang said politely.
Instantly, the Fire Dog and Old Turtle transformed into twin beams of light, entering the Demon Realm Ring.
The Nine-feathered Ice Phoenix glared at Qin Yang and snorted coldly, "I thought you'd forgotten about us!"
Just as it was about to enter the Demon Realm Ring, the phoenix added, "Boy, I warn you - this venerable one is a lady!"
With that, it too transformed into a streak of light and entered the Demon Realm Ring.
"Ahem! Um, since we're setting off, shall we go?" Qin Yang suggested.
He had hoped to use the Nine-feathered Ice Phoenix's power to temper Lou Mengyu's body and collect some blood for refining the Body Tempering Pill. It seemed he'd have to wait for another opportunity.
The group resumed their journey and soon arrived at the Celestial Pathway.
The massive artifact flying ship appeared small before this colossal structure, like a giant time tunnel.
"Wow, so this is the entrance to the Celestial Pathway!" Qin Yang marveled.
Looking around, Qin Yang asked, "Aren't you all surprised?"
His classmates shook their heads, simultaneously thinking, "Perhaps this is what they call a country bumpkin."
After entering the Celestial Pathway, everything changed. The majestic mountains, vast oceans, and beautiful clouds had vanished. All that remained were concentric rings of swirling light.
"What happens if we accidentally fall?" Qin Yang asked, peering cautiously over the edge of the flying ship.
"You'd materialize directly in the Stellar Sea," Martial Heaven replied.
Qin Yang shrank back. Wasn't that practically the same as dying?
Martial Heaven suddenly turned to Qin Yang and warned, "There might be some complications ahead. Should I store you in the Demon Realm Ring for safety?"