Chapter 144: Provocation at the Door

Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy.

Today was the momentous day of the enrollment examinations.

Ever since Mo Xingyun's defeat by Jiang Taixu ten years ago, Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy had fallen into complete decline, never holding entrance examinations again.

Now, after a decade of silence, the enrollment examinations were reopening.

For the academy, this represented a brand-new beginning.

Yet, Lin Mengyao was exceedingly nervous at this moment.

Because Mo Xingyun was absent, and Jun Wushuang was nowhere to be found.

The current academy was left with only three people: herself, Liu Yiyi, and A Man.

Liu Yiyi possessed a gentle disposition, while A Man was reckless and impetuous.

With no one else to turn to, Lin Mengyao had to steel herself and preside over the enrollment examinations alone.

Within the academy grounds, over thirty youths from humble backgrounds had traveled from various corners of the empire.

While the Imperial Martial Arts Academy attracted tens of thousands of applicants, Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy could only muster thirty-eight candidates in total, making the scene appear remarkably modest and impoverished.

Even so, this was a promising start.

Therefore, Lin Mengyao resolved to manage the examinations with the utmost care.

With both her master and young master absent, she had to maintain order and uphold the academy's dignity.

"Welcome, everyone, to Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy for our enrollment examinations. I am the chief examiner, Lin Mengyao!"

Lin Mengyao stepped forward, presiding over the proceedings.

Liu Yiyi and A Man stood on either side of her, lending moral support.

The thirty-eight arrivals all hailed from humble families.

Knowing how hard-earned this opportunity was, none of them caused any trouble.

"Now, we shall proceed with the first test!"

Lin Mengyao managed the process with calm efficiency.

"Wait!"

At that very moment, an arrogant voice violently interrupted the proceedings.

Crash!

The next instant, a large crowd aggressively forced their way in from the outside.

Draped in luxurious silks and exuding formidable auras, these individuals looked completely out of place amidst the surrounding impoverished district.

The young man and woman leading the group possessed extraordinary bearings and an intensely overbearing presence.

"My, how utterly filthy! I never expected such a wretched place to exist within the imperial capital, simply staining my shoes."

"It is a slum, after all. Quite standard. With the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy located here, this place could never prosper."

"They are merely a bunch of lowly commoners. Sharing the imperial capital with them makes me sick to my stomach. I truly wish to step on them and crush them to death."

The privileged youths from the Imperial Martial Arts Academy wore expressions of profound disdain and contempt.

Accustomed to looking down from on high, they had always despised those of humble origins.

Today, they had clearly come to cause trouble.

"You must be Lin Mengyao?"

The leading young woman fixed her gaze like lightning upon Lin Mengyao, her eyes cold, proud, and brimming with jealousy.

This was Dongfang Biyu, the newly appointed young lady of the Dongfang clan.

Though inferior to Dongfang Li, Dongfang Biyu possessed the Mirage Imperial Physique, and her cultivation had already reached the sixth stage of the Heaven-Human Realm.

Following Dongfang Li's tragic demise, she had stepped into his shoes to become the clan's representative maiden.

However, Dongfang Biyu possessed a rather unsightly appearance.

A birthmark that defied all removal marred her face, making her look quite grotesque.

In contrast, Lin Mengyao was not only ethereally beautiful but also possessed the Myriad Sword Sacred Physique.

Lately, she had even begun to acquire the reputation of the foremost beauty in the imperial capital.

How could Dongfang Biyu not feel consumed by jealousy and rage?

Her presence here today was not merely to sabotage the entrance examinations, but specifically to humiliate and torment Lin Mengyao.

"You are not welcome here. Please leave!"

The visitors clearly harbored malicious intent.

Without offering any polite pleasantries, Lin Mengyao directly issued an order to expel them.

"Heh, we come as we please and go as we wish; that is hardly something within your control."

Nangong Fei chuckled with utter contempt from the side.

Clad in extravagant robes, Nangong Fei wore arrogance written all over his face.

Though his innate talent and strength were far from weak, he had long been overshadowed by Nangong Tianxuan, denied any chance to truly shine.

But now, everything had changed.

Nangong Tianxuan was dead, and his own golden age had finally arrived.

As the new young lord of the Nangong clan, he now wielded immense authority and commanded absolute obedience.

"Where is Jun Wushuang? Wasn't he rather arrogant before? Tell him to crawl out here! This young lord intends to break his legs today and force him to kneel like a dog on the ground!"

Nangong Fei declared in a haughty, overbearing tone.

Everyone knew that Jun Wushuang had been missing for nearly two months.

He was neither seen alive nor found dead, with not a shred of news surfacing.

Nangong Fei merely dared to run his mouth now that he thought it safe.

"Ah, I nearly forgot. Jun Wushuang has vanished, and your dean has also departed without returning. Now, the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy is left with nothing more than you three kittens."

"Tsk, tsk, how truly pathetic. You have fewer people here than the dogs I keep at home."

"In my opinion, there is no need for this academy to continue operating. You might as well shut your doors early!"

Nangong Fei said loftily, treating everyone present as if they were invisible.

"Lin Mengyao, despite your humble birth, your talent is quite remarkable. What do you say? Would you consider becoming my concubine? I can arrange for you to enter the Imperial Martial Arts Academy, ensuring you a lifetime of wealth and glory."

Nangong Fei stared at Lin Mengyao, the corners of his lips curling upward into a smug smile.

"Get lost!"

Faced with the blatant provocations of Dongfang Biyu and Nangong Fei, Lin Mengyao responded with a single, freezing word.

Boom!

A piercing sword intent soared into the sky, transforming into an illusory blue lotus that gleamed with sharp, intimidating brilliance.

Over the past two months, Lin Mengyao's strength had advanced once more.

She had already attained the sixth stage of the Divine Sea Realm.

Combined with her Myriad Sword Sacred Physique, she was fully capable of battling warriors of the Heaven-Human Realm.

"The Myriad Sword Sacred Physique truly lives up to its reputation. If given another year or two, I fear no one below the Crown Prince could possibly suppress you."

"What a pity, a great pity. As you are now, you are still no match for me!"

"Your dean is absent, and Jun Wushuang is missing. Do you seriously believe you can block this young lord's path with just yourself?"

"Let me tell you, your enrollment examinations will not continue today. I said it, and nothing can change that fact!"

Nangong Fei proclaimed pompously.

Although not all students from the Imperial Martial Arts Academy were present today, at least a thousand of them had turned up.

Knowing that Mo Xingyun and Jun Wushuang were away, they had deliberately chosen this moment to provoke the academy.

Today, they intended not only to ruin the entrance examinations but also to trample Azure Cloud Martial Arts Academy beneath their feet to wash away their past humiliation.

"I will make my stance clear here and now: whoever dares to participate in this examination will have their legs broken and be tossed out of the imperial capital!"

Nangong Fei swept his gaze across the crowd, roaring with arrogance.

The assembled applicants fell into a nervous silence, trembling with fear.

Yet, at that exact moment.

A single figure stepped forward, completely ignoring Nangong Fei's threat as he walked steadily toward Lin Mengyao.

It was a taciturn youth, yet his eyes burned with unwavering determination.

"Well, look at that! There actually is someone courting death!"

"Since that is the case, this young lord shall grant your wish!"

"Consider it killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, allowing the others to witness the consequences of opposing me."

A cold glint flashed in Nangong Fei's eyes as he beckoned with his hand.

Instantly, a profound-tier student lunged forward fiercely, heading straight for the silent youth.

"Daring to defy Young Lord Nangong, you must be utterly tired of living!"

The profound-tier student grinned hideously, unleashing a ruthless strike intended to snap the youth's legs as a warning to everyone else.

Bang!

Right at that moment, a figure suddenly surged forward like a cannonball being fired, moving with terrifying speed and ferocious power.

Before the profound-tier student could even react, he was sent flying directly into the distance.

He hurtled backward for over a dozen meters before crashing heavily onto the ground, violently coughing up a large mouthful of fresh blood.

Witnessing this scene,

The entire audience erupted in shock!