"But just because the Academic Palace is honored as the First Academy, you elders get to strut around all pleased with yourselves?"

"And just because this old man spends years in seclusion, with no time to manage the Academic Palace’s affairs, you decide you can ignore me altogether?"

"Forget it." Dean Huoo shook his head.

"This old man truly has no time to concern himself with the Academic Palace’s affairs."

"After the Ancient Emperor’s Tomb, when the Heavenly Talents who are tempering themselves outside return, this old man will lay down the post of Dean, and you can choose another."

"Old Dean, absolutely not." The faces of the elders all changed drastically.

"My mind is made up. No need to say more." Dean Huoo shook his head.

To him, the disciples he had taught in his life were spread all under heaven.

The Martial Artists who had come to seek his guidance, and whom he had personally instructed, were countless.

But those who could truly enter his line as Direct Disciples were very few.

Years ago, he had watched, eyes wide open, as an unrivaled Monster had no fate with the Academic Palace.

Today, he had watched, eyes wide open, as the other of the twins displayed such brilliance—so brilliant that even he could hardly imagine it.

Thinking back to those years ago, to that other twin, that Sword Dao Monster he failed to keep, his heart was a mixture of a hundred flavors, regret pushed to the extreme.

No wonder he had actually flown into such a rage today.

"Think carefully about why such a farce happened today."

When his words fell, Dean Huoo sighed, turned around, and left.

On the spot, the group of elders all wore expressions of shame and said nothing more.

Fate, perhaps, is just like this: a fleeting moment stirs unknown gears, twisting more and more of tomorrow’s unforeseen and unprepared-for events.

If Dean Huoo were to learn that the one who came today to wreak havoc in his Heavenly Hidden Academy was in fact that Sword Dao Monster who had no fate with the Academic Palace back then...

That the twins were actually the same person.

That the twins’ talent was far more terrifying than what had been shown.

Then his regret today would surely be far from just this.

Of course, all this is only "if," and there is no "if" in this world.

...

In the distance.

The three Masters of the Main Hall and Xiao Yi had already left the Heavenly Hidden Territory.

And the gazes the three Masters of the Main Hall cast at Xiao Yi were even more blazing than before.

"Uh." Feeling those gazes, Xiao Yi was a little embarrassed.

"Three Masters of the Main Hall, there’s no need to look at me like that." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Eh." The Flame Hall Master waved his hand and said, "Brat, there’s no need for you to keep saying humble words."

"That kid Mo Youu was given full-force nurturing by that old geezer surnamed Luo, and on top of that he had the Sword Emperor Origin, yet he still wasn’t even able to withstand a single move from you."

"Tsk, tsk, this old man really doesn’t even know how to describe a freak like you anymore."

"But it was my first time seeing that expression on the face of the fellow surnamed Luo, so frantic and beside himself—tsk tsk, just thinking about it makes me laugh."

The Flame Hall Master’s temperament was the most straightforward; he said whatever came to mind.

"Heh." Xiao Yi only let out an awkward laugh.

"But it’s good." The Flame Hall Master flew to Xiao Yi’s side and heavily slapped his shoulder.

Under that fiery red robe, he was like a cloud of flame.

"Such a monstrous freak is one of my Flame Hall’s people. Good, very good." The Flame Hall Master’s face was full of joy and satisfaction.

The Demon Hunting Hall Master gave a sideways glance. "Before that, he was a Demon Hunter of my Demon Hunting Hall."

"Hehe." The Medicine Venerate Hall Master smiled. "Of course, he’s also one of my Medicine Venerate Hall’s..."

"No." The Demon Hunting Hall Master cut in. "I remember a certain someone said before that compared to that kid Yi Xiao, the one under your command who’s one of the Ten Great Hall Masters seems to have an even more illustrious record..."

"I never said that." The Medicine Venerate Hall Master immediately glared.

"Yes, yes, yes." The Flame Hall Master echoed, "And wasn’t there something about absolutely not cutting off mission ties with Black Cloud Academy?"

"When it came to that kid Yi Xiao, you hesitated quite a bit."

The Medicine Venerate Hall Master’s expression changed. "Old Yan, if you want to condemn someone, why worry about a lack of pretext?"

"When have I ever hesitated?"

"Since this old man has acknowledged that kid Yi Xiao as the successor of my Medicine Venerate Hall, how could I not stand on his side?"

The Medicine Venerate Hall Master was clearly talking nonsense with his eyes wide open, but his face didn’t flush and his heart didn’t race.

Today, he had seen with his own eyes Yi Xiao’s Fire Control and strength.

Such terrifying Fire Control Ability was simply a natural-born Alchemist’s foundation.

As for Yi Xiao’s refining skills, he had already witnessed them back at the Main Hall.

The enormous rewards granted by the Three Halls’ Main Hall had been completely refined in just a few hours.

With such an outstanding successor, who would be willing to let him go?

"Uh." Xiao Yi first let out an embarrassed sound, then stopped flying and bowed to the three of them.

"Today, this junior thanks the three Masters of the Main Hall."

The Demon Hunting Hall Master waved his hand. "Didn’t we already say it? Since you’re the successor of our Three Halls, then coming here to help you is what we should do."

Xiao Yi nodded. "No matter what, I still need to express my thanks."

"Also, this junior will probably part ways with the three Masters of the Main Hall here."

"Hm?" At his words, the three of them immediately furrowed their brows.

"You... still aren’t willing?" The Demon Hunting Hall Master hesitated for a moment and asked.

Xiao Yi shook his head. "This junior is used to being free and unrestrained, and truly doesn’t like those shackles..."

The Demon Hunting Hall Master interrupted him. "The position of Ancient Eight Hall Masters—each one is incomparably exalted, something everyone covets."

"Once you take over, you can command the Ten Main Halls under you, the countless Main Halls in the Central Region, and the million branch halls spread across the continent—your authority would be boundless."

"But you’re something else: you can take over three halls in one stroke, yet you still shy away from it."

"With such a temperament, you’re all the more rare." The Medicine Venerate Hall Master smiled and nodded.

The Demon Hunting Hall Master smiled and said, "You’re young; disliking those shackles, we understand."

"We never said we wanted you to focus your mind on handling affairs."

"Even if you were willing, we wouldn’t allow it. A Monster like you should be spending your time cultivating; as for the hall’s affairs, the various Main Hall Masters and Vice Hall Masters of the Main Hall will handle them for you."

"We old fellows will also let you adapt slowly, we won’t force you right away, so you can rest easy."

Xiao Yi nodded. "This junior thanks the three Masters of the Main Hall for their great favor."

"However..."

"However?" The three Masters of the Main Hall all knitted their brows tightly.

Xiao Yi smiled. "However, the reason this junior is leaving now is only because, after that great battle just now, I gained some insights in Martial Arts."

"I want to find a place and directly enter seclusion, and after that go take part in the grand event of the Ancient Emperor’s Tomb."

"So that’s it." The three Masters of the Main Hall let out a breath.

"Then as for returning to take over..."

Xiao Yi’s tone turned serious as he interrupted, "This junior has only one question for the three Masters of the Main Hall. If someday, this junior were to commit a heinous crime, violating the Eight Palaces’ iron rules..."

"Would the three Masters of the Main Hall still insist, as you do today, that this junior take over the Three Halls?"

The three Masters of the Main Hall froze at once. "A heinous crime, violating the Eight Palaces’ iron rules?"

The three of them fell silent.

But that silence only lasted a few seconds.

The Demon Hunting Hall Master was the first to speak. "By asking like this, you’re making it clear you won’t explain the details—you only want our answer."

"Correct." Xiao Yi nodded seriously.

...

The second update.