"My words are evidence!"
Xiao Yi's face sported a frosty hue as he stared intently at Li Bin, enunciating each word, "What? Do you have an objection?"
Li Bin swallowed reflexively.
His complexion turned deathly white.
Under Xiao Yi's oppressive aura, it felt as if an invisible giant hand was clutching his throat, leaving him unable to make the slightest sound. Even his legs were trembling. He could only muster the strength to stand before Xiao Yi.
Li Bin let out a long breath of foul air and said somberly, "Director Xiao jests. This subordinate wouldn't dare have any opinion." After a pause, he asked, "Director Xiao, would you subordinate to send someone to help you handle these corpses?"
Xiao Yi waved his hand and then looked toward Shadow Demon and the others, "Take down the masts on the ship for me, and hang their corpses on them. We're heading back to the imperial capital!"
The Shadow Demon and the rest promptly took action.
The masts were disassembled.
One by one, corpses were suspended from the masts.
A total of ten masts.
Each one hung with more than a dozen bodies, shouldered by two Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouses. Xiao Yi swept his gaze over Li Bin and said indifferently, "City Lord Li, I shall take my leave first!"
A group of figures soared into the sky.
As he watched the ten masts laden with corpses, Li Bin felt a chill run down his spine and could no longer stand, collapsing to the ground with a thud. Breathing heavily, his pale face was filled with shock and fear, and he looked toward the enforcing soldiers at his side, "Quick, send a message to the imperial capital..."
He looked up at Xiao Yi and the others, growing distant and disappearing into the void.
Li Bin realized he was soaked in cold sweat and murmured to himself, "It's over, this is going to cause major trouble!"
In the imperial capital, Xuanwu Square.
This vast square located in Beicheng was the main battlefield for the Xiaoshanhe Institute's Genius Battle, set to begin in half an hour.
The grand Xuanwu Square was nearly empty.
Hai Wei, Yu Huaxian, and Li Jinjun sat on a high platform, and their expressions were somber.
Amidst a whooshing sound.
Ye Heng's figure appeared in the square. He bowed to the three of them and said solemnly, "Three elders, I have ascertained the situation. Everyone has gone to the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"
"Shanhe Martial Arts Academy?"
"The one established by Chen Shuiwen and others?"
The three Yu Huaxian were taken aback.
Chen Shuiwen, after leaving the Xiaoshanhe Institute, was set on creating a martial arts academy of his own.
Through the connections of Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao,
Chen Shuiwen got in touch with heavyweights such as Three Seas Mountain, Wendao Villa, the Beitang Family, and the Nangong Family. Supported by these giants, Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Villa dispatched experts to populate the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.
The Beitang and Nangong families provided herbal and alchemical resources.
The Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, even before its establishment, had already overshadowed the Xiaoshanhe Institute in terms of influence.
"They changed their inaugural grand ceremony, originally scheduled seven days from now, to today. Anyone attending the founding ceremony will receive ten pieces of silver as a gift. Right now, the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy has gathered several hundred thousand people, and…"
Ye Heng nodded gravely and continued, "I have just heard that Chen Shuiwen announced that anyone who joins the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy today and becomes its disciple will receive resources for cultivation worth a hundred thousand pieces of silver. Moreover, those with exceptional talent can even become disciples of masters in the Tao Tribulation Realm and even the Dharma Manifestation Realm. Now, everyone is heading there!"
Yu Huaxian and the others' faces changed simultaneously.
All the hustle and bustle of the world is for profit.
Just by attending the opening ceremony, one could receive ten Silver, which was hardly different from picking it up for free; naturally, the common folk would head that way.
Moreover, simply by joining the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy today, one could obtain cultivation resources worth a hundred thousand Silver—these offerings alone could attract countless powerhouses to give it a try.
A hundred thousand Silver!
For many people of modest family background, that was a substantial sum.
And more importantly...
They could possibly become disciples under masters of the Tao Tribulation Realm and Dharma Manifestation Realm, a dream coveted by so many, wasn't it?
Chen Shuiwen's move hit the Xiaoshanhe Institute right where it hurt!
Yu Huaxian slammed his hands hard on the table, his eyes a fiery red: "That bastard Chen Shuiwen, he wants to put an end to our talent competition!"
"What are we to do now? Before Xiao left, we promised that there would be no issues, but now..." Hai Wei said with a worried face.
Li Jinjun offered a wry smile, "Shall we... raise the rewards too?"
This was their first mission after siding with the Xiaoshanhe Institute.
If they messed this up...
How could they continue to mix in at the Xiaoshanhe Institute in the future?
Yu Huaxian shook his head: "It's no use!"
Xiaoshanhe Institute, at best, had the trillion Silver that Xiao Yi won, whereas behind Chen Shuiwen's Shanhe Martial Arts Academy stood multiple forces like Three Seas Mountain, Wendao Villa, the Beitang Family, and the Nangong Family.
Any one of these forces was wealthier than the Xiaoshanhe Institute.
In terms of money, resources, and foundation...
The Xiaoshanhe Institute had no advantage whatsoever.
As they were pondering...
A streak of golden light descended from the sky, landing instantly before them. This golden light was none other than Little Lin, who stood upright with a human-like grin, "It looks like you guys are in trouble!"
"Why have you come back? Where's Xiao Yi? Didn't he return with you?"
Yu Huaxian and Ye Heng were taken aback, looking around, yet they found no trace of Xiao Yi.
Little Lin chuckled and scanned Ye Heng, "Little Ye, not bad at all! Already at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. It seems that you haven't been slacking off in the days I was away!"
"Uncle Master Little Lin..."
Ye Heng gave a wry smile, "Shouldn't we be more worried about other matters right now?"
Little Lin nodded, "Don't worry, the boss already knows about the situation here. He sent me to tell you guys, the talent competition is on hold, and he wants you all to go to Shanhe Martial Arts Academy to watch the show!"
"Go to Shanhe Martial Arts Academy to watch the show?"
Yu Huaxian and the others were stunned.
Ye Heng's eyes shone, "Is Master at Shanhe Martial Arts Academy?"
Yu Huaxian laughed heartily, the gloom on his face clearing entirely, as he looked at Hai Wei and Li Jinjun, "Let's go to Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, we finally get to see Xiao Yi take action personally again!"
Since they had wiped out the Great Jin Kingdom, it had been some time since he had seen Xiao Yi in action.
Hai Wei and the others were taken aback.
Li Jinjun murmured, "Xiao Yi indeed is a real dragon among men, but the forces behind Shanhe Martial Arts Academy are formidable, what good can he do by coming back alone?"
Little Lin glanced at him, speaking lightly, "You'll find out soon enough!"
Everyone promptly headed in the direction of Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.
Each person's heart was filled with both confusion and anticipation.
The Xiao Yi, who had created countless miracles before, how would he deal with Shanhe Martial Arts Academy this time?