After the upheaval in Shang Kingdom, Xuanji Academy, though not directly involved in any faction’s struggle, still suffered significant losses in an invisible way.
In recent years, two of the most outstanding students in the academy, Fa Xiaoyi and Lie Sisi—one dead and one missing—and Madam She Xiang has always treated Fa Xiaoyi as her apprenticed successor. After this incident, Sha Fei’s ruling faction naturally shifted their anger towards the Inner Court. The days ahead for the Inner Court will undoubtedly not be easy.
Compared to this, the Outer Court seems to have felt the least impact. Zhan BeiAo hailed from the Outer Court, and although he hadn’t returned for many years, with Sha Fei’s backing, the Outer Court can at least avoid some unnecessary trouble.
As for Qiu Chuzi, one of the few Dark Heavenly Masters in Polo City, he did not show himself throughout the whole incident, not to mention which side he supported.
The only thing that concerns Yue Jinghua right now is Shalman’s whereabouts.
Passing through the familiar grove, Yue Jinghua heard a burst of arguing voices. Listening to the noise, both sides were vehement in their quarrel, ready to come to blows at any moment of disagreement.
"If any of you dare to step forward, don’t blame my Five-Colored Wolf Spider for being impolite," that was Shalman’s voice.
The Outer Court, always peaceful, rarely had outside visitors. What happened today; could it be that Sha Fei held a grudge against the Outer Court and sent people to cause trouble?
Yue Jinghua quickly hid in the shadows of the trees, surveying the situation ahead.
She saw Shalman blocking the entrance of the Outer Court’s Cultivation Room, hands on her hips, eyes round and glaring, confronting a girl and a young man in blue clothes.
Not a sign of Qiu Chuzi anywhere.
"Where did this bumpkin come from, thinking you can use those clunky spiders to frighten me. Teng Wu, take both her and her spiders down in one fell swoop," said the girl, who was very aggressive, hands on hips, pointing and prodding at Shalman with her finger.
Shalman, being equally stubborn, turned red-faced with anger when prodded , showing no mercy with her hands.
"Five Elements Colored Spider," influenced by the time spent with Yue Jinghua, Shalman too adopted her temperament; no need for kind words if there’s no agreement, it’s time to act!
The Five Elements Colored Spider is a rare breed of Dark Spider recently bred by Shalman, encompassing gold, wood, water, fire, earth; each spider is as big as an ostrich egg. The Metal Gold Spider shines with golden light all over, impervious to blades and guns. The Wood Element Wood Concealing Spider specializes in ambush, hiding in various plants, able to change its color to camouflage and attack from the shadows.
The Water Element Diving Spider can dive flexibly underwater to hunt various Dark Beasts. The Fire Elemental Fire-Spitting Spider can spew fire walls as tall as a person, trapping prey within. The Earth Element Ground Spider can silently tunnel into the ground.
Although these five colorful spiders are only Fourth Rank Dark Beasts, the interplay of the five elements means they can match a Fifth-stage Peak Dark Beast in strength, far from the incompetent spiders the aggressive girl described.
Seeing that the man named Teng Wu had a reserved gaze, and his cultivation was indiscernible, Yue Jinghua was also curious to test his skills, so she did not rush to take action, instead observing from the sidelines.
Shalman’s eyes narrowed, her hands quickly forming Dharma Seals, and the five colorful spiders began to swirl around her like a spinning windmill, protecting her at the center.
The Earth Tunneling Spider was the first to act, disappearing into the ground with its dark brown body and swiftly tunneled towards the girl’s feet.
No sooner had a small mound formed on the ground than the man named Teng Wu acted upon hearing the movement. Without budging, a powerful Dark Power surged forth like a sword being drawn from its sheath, piercing through the earth and flipping the Earth Tunneling Spider on its back.
Shalman’s ears reddened as amongst the rapidly climbing colorful spiders, the Fire-Spitting Spider suddenly leapt forward, baring its fangs and spewing forth a wall of fire.
"Boom," a wall of fire roared towards him like a fire dragon. Teng Wu’s brow moved, and he struck out with his palm.
That palm power was exceptionally strange, instantly forming an invisible wall of energy. The fire clashed with the wall and was abruptly redirected towards Shalman.
"!" Relying on his Dark Spiders, Shalman was caught off guard and was about to be injured by his own kin.
It was at that moment when a figure swooped in like the wind, sweeping Shalman dozens of feet away.
"Hahaha, so much for the Royal Xuanji Academy. It’s nothing special after all. The tiny Shang Kingdom can’t even muster a decent master and still dreams of winning the Xuyang Trial, pah," the girl burst into laughter, bending over backward as she watched Teng Wu effortlessly defeat Shalman.
"You," Shalman, unable to contain his anger, turned and saw who had saved him. His anger turned to joy, "Jinghua, you, you’ve come back?"
Qiu Chuzi, that idle head of the academy, didn’t care much for mundane affairs, yet news always managed to reach him. Despite Sha Fei and others’ attempt to conceal last night’s events at the Lie Family Mansion, the news of Yue Jinghua leaving Polo City with her family still got to Shalman’s ears.
On one hand, Shalman was relieved that Yue Jinghua had escaped safely; on the other hand, she was inwardly saddened. Having known Yue Jinghua since childhood, she was Shalman’s only friend, and now even that sole friend had left, leaving her heart inevitably heavy.
"We’ll talk later," Yue Jinghua steadied Shalman.
She strode forward, snickering, "Tsk, I thought someone of note had arrived, but it turns out to be just two beggars from the street. Feels great defeating Shalman, does it? A Dark Heavenly Master takes pride in defeating a mere Dark Human, some people truly don’t know when they’re given face."
Upon hearing this, Teng Wu was taken aback, realizing that Shalman was only of the Dark Human Realm. The Five Elements Colored Spider, in his view, wasn’t really anything noteworthy. However, if the opponent was just a Dark Practitioner from the Dark Human Realm, it was a whole different matter. A cultivator from the Dark Human Realm capable of breeding a Fourth Rank Dark Spider was a rare sight even in the Dragon War Empire.
"Why is it you again, you swindling Pill Master, cheating people out of their livelihoods, give my bowl back," the girl who had been clapping her hands in glee snarled upon seeing Yue Jinghua, instantly rejuvenated.
"Miss, do not be reckless. Have you forgotten what the master said before we left? He told us to make connections with those who possess unique abilities. We are still in need of a Cultivator at home. These two young ladies here, if I’m not mistaken, must be students from Xuanji Academy. We should focus on important matters and not offend them," Teng Wu murmured into the girl’s ear.
After listening, the girl, still bearing an air of disdain, thought about the purpose of their trip and could only curl her lip and step aside.
Teng Wu cleared his throat and came forward, greeting, "I am Teng Wu, a merchant from the Yunhu Commerce. This is my young lady Yun Dengdeng. If we have caused any offense just now, please accept our apologies. We have come from afar to pay a visit to the Vice Principal of your esteemed academy—Xue Lingshang."