The cold and domineering words instantly echoed throughout the scene.

In contrast to the usual taciturn and unsmiling demeanor.

At this moment, Elder Yun Yuan clearly seemed to have an aura about to reveal itself.

"Cloud Abyss Sword? Such bold words." Elder Tongtian sneered.

"Although you are one of the three Peak Sword Cultivators."

"But you are just on par with our elders at Heavenly Sword Peak."

"And you dare to speak such words?"

Elder Yun Yuan remained silent.

But he alone blocked the aura of all the Academy Elders.

"Hmph." Elder Tongtian’s expression turned cold, "Xiao Yi is incorrigible, and also exceptionally ferocious."

"Today he dares to cause such a disturbance at the Heavenly Hidden Academy, even injuring people with his sword."

"In the future, he might even commit massacres all around."

"If anyone dares to shelter this villain, don’t blame our Heavenly Hidden Academy for being unkind, and we’ll take them down as well."

"That’s right." The surrounding Academy Elders nodded.

"Our Heavenly Hidden Academy cannot tolerate such provocation from a young brat."

"Seize this boy." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The faces of all the Academy Elders showed anger as they made their move once again.

Xiao Yi’s expression changed slightly, and he gripped his sword tightly.

Though he knew Elder Yun Yuan’s strength was formidable, the elders of Heavenly Sword Peak and the other Academy Elders were not to be underestimated either.

"No need to act." At this moment, Elder Yun Yuan, who hadn’t paid any attention to the Academy Elders, glanced at Xiao Yi and said.

Xiao Yi nodded upon hearing this.

Bang... Bang... Bang...

At this moment, powerful auras attacked.

Be it fierce Sword Qi, raging Palm Wind, or immense Formation Power...

The Academy Elders had already made their move, leaving no room for reservation.

However, these Sword Qi, Palm Wind, and Formation Power, when they struck the Sword Qi vortex, could not harm it in the slightest.

Instead, they all dissipated upon the Sword Qi vortex.

"How is this possible?" Elder Tongtian’s face changed.

He had already uttered this phrase multiple times today.

But now, not even the combined efforts of all the elders could break through Elder Yun Yuan’s Sword Qi defense.

Could this defense, known as the strongest among Peak Sword Cultivators, truly be this powerful?

The faces of the Academy Elders turned extremely grim.

"Elder Tianjian." Elder Tongtian frowned as he looked to the elder of Heavenly Sword Peak.

The elder of Heavenly Sword Peak shook his head.

At this point, Elder Yun Yuan slowly opened his mouth, looking directly at the elder of Heavenly Sword Peak.

"Tianjian, you are no match for me now."

"In the past, your Sword Heart was sharp, but now it wavers."

"If I don’t conceal my sword, you are not my opponent."

"If you don’t regain your Sword Edge, you probably can’t even withstand a single strike from him."

The elder of Heavenly Sword Peak heard this, his expression complicated.

"As for you." Elder Yun Yuan looked at the Academy Elders.

"You are not qualified to break my Cloud Vortex Sword Qi."

"If you truly wish to capture Xiao Yi and me, let those old guys from your Academy come out in person."

With that, Elder Yun Yuan looked at Xiao Yi, "Elder Tongtian, you have already defeated him and even wounded him."

"Let this matter end here."

"Very well." Xiao Yi nodded.

With indifferent eyes, he glanced around at the Heavenly Hidden Academy Elders.

Finally, he looked at Qing Lin and the others in the seats of the Academy, then at Elder Yun Yuan, and uttered a few calm words.

"Farewell."

Yes, calm.

Xiao Yi’s face and tone were very calm at this moment.

After speaking, he turned around and left.

The surrounding Martial Artists watched his proud figure, his calm face, and shook their heads.

The seats of the Black Cloud Academy, most of the disciples gritted their teeth.

Only Qing Lin remained silent, his expression complex.

He didn’t know why, but when he saw Xiao Yi’s calm face, a wave of sadness swelled in his heart.

That seemingly proud back, for some reason, appeared inexplicably desolate to him.

Qing Lin couldn’t understand, yet he believed his feelings were right.

That proud figure eventually faded into the distance, disappearing from everyone’s sight.

That calm face hadn’t appeared on Xiao Yi for a long time.

And now, it appeared once again.

Just as it had when he first came to the Central Region, so calm, so... alone.

...

The battle on the Martial Arts Arena resumed at some point.

The Hundred Schools Competition was not over yet.

But for most people present, the battles of the Hundred Schools Competition no longer held any interest.

The brilliance of the entire Hundred Schools Competition had long been overshadowed by that solitary young man who walked away.

In the seats of the Black Cloud Academy, no one cared about the competition anymore.

They didn’t even have the previous fighting spirit.

Qing Lin coldly looked at the vice dean, "You owe me an explanation."

"What?" The vice dean glared at Qing Lin, "That look, are you planning to act against me?"

"No." Qing Lin shook his head, his expression especially serious.

"I won’t act, but at worst, I’ll expel myself from the Black Cloud Academy."

"You dare?" The vice dean’s expression turned cold.

"You know my character." Qing Lin’s voice was icy, "You know very well whether I dare or not."

"You..." The vice dean’s face darkened, "What explanation do you want? That kid wouldn’t listen to me. Even if I expelled him from Black Cloud Academy, he wouldn’t yield. What could I do?"

Elder Yun Yuan had already left the Martial Arts Arena and returned to the Academy seats.

"I don’t believe you would give such an order." Elder Yun Yuan directly looked at the vice dean, "If I’m not mistaken, that’s Senior Luoo’s decision, isn’t it?"

The vice dean looked at Elder Yun Yuan’s icy gaze and the indignant looks of the surrounding Academy Disciples, shook his head,.

and casually erected a barrier. His heavy expression suddenly disappeared, and he sighed.

"Yes." The vice dean nodded.

"It was when I was about to leave for the Heavenly Hidden Academy that Senior Luoo suddenly gave this command."

"If Xiao Yi refused to withdraw from the third round of the competition, expel him from Black Cloud Academy?" Elder Yun Yuan squinted and asked.

"Yes." The vice dean nodded again.

"On the way here, I already knew that with Xiao Yi’s character, he would never compromise."

Elder Yun Yuan spoke again in a deep voice, "Senior Luoo only said to expel Xiao Yi from the academy; having Xiao Yi join the Heavenly Hidden Academy was your idea, wasn’t it?"

"Yes." The vice dean nodded again, "I thought that if in the future Black Cloud Academy couldn’t protect him, having the protection of the Heavenly Hidden Academy wouldn’t be bad."

"Unfortunately, he still refused."

"Why?" Qing Lin’s eyes were already filled with anger. "Why did Senior Luoo do this?"

"I told you." The vice dean shook his head, "It concerns the next great event, and also involves a quota."

"This quota, our Black Cloud Academy doesn’t have on its own."

"But Senior Luoo has it, and he chose to give it to Mo Youu."

The vice dean paused, then continued, "And the Heavenly Hidden Academy itself has a quota, obtained during the last Hundred Schools Competition."

"And to use this quota, the Heavenly Hidden Academy must win first place in this Hundred Schools Competition."

"If..." The vice dean sighed, "If Black Cloud Academy had won first place in the Hundred Schools Competition that year, this wouldn’t be happening today."

"Alas."

"What exactly is this grand event?" Qing Lin asked through gritted teeth, "Worth making both academies so anxious?"

The vice dean’s expression turned serious and he slowly said a few words, "Ancient Secrets, Ancient Emperor’s Tomb."

Qing Lin’s face changed, but his eyes still burned with fury, "But this is unfair to Junior Brother Xiao Yi, why expel him from Black Cloud Academy..."

The vice dean shook his head, hands clasped behind his back, interrupting, "Black Cloud Academy was never just one person’s academy."

"Nor is it the academy of the elders and deacons."

"It is the academy of all you Academy Disciples."

"If you consider him your fellow disciple, does it matter whether Xiao Yi is in Black Cloud Academy or not?"

...

Second update.