Chapter 40: The Gold Medal Mentor
A furious shout exploded, its echo shaking the entire city.
A terrifying aura swept across the plaza in an instant.
Every single person’s eyes widened in shock, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
It was as though a primordial beast of legend had descended, ready to slaughter the entire city.
Whoosh!
A streak of light flashed from the heavens, landing before Nangong Lei.
It was a middle-aged man.
He stood at a height of six feet, clad in an opulent purple robe, moving with the bearing of a dragon and the stride of a tiger. His presence radiated authority without a trace of anger; in his eyes, sharp flashes of brilliance flickered, making it impossible for anyone to meet his gaze directly.
An overwhelming aura erupted from his body, sweeping across the entire square like a storm.
The sheer strength of this aura left everyone aghast.
“A Marquess-level powerhouse!”
Jun Zhantian’s pupils contracted, instantly recognizing the strength of the newcomer.
Above the Divine Sea Realm lay the Heaven-Man Realm.
Above the Heaven-Man Realm was the Marquess Realm.
Every Marquess-level expert could be granted noble titles and great responsibilities.
To the Grand Qian Dynasty, those of the Marquess Realm were the backbone of the nation, indispensable figures.
Jiangning was but a remote town; even Heaven-Man Realm experts hadn’t appeared for many years. Yet now, a Marquess-level powerhouse had arrived.
However—
This man’s entrance was overbearing, and he spoke as a representative of the Royal Martial Academy.
Clearly, he had not come with peaceful intentions!
“Dongfang Ming, the Gold Instructor of the Royal Martial Academy—why is he here?”
Master Wu, standing nearby, exclaimed in shock, recognizing the identity of the middle-aged man.
Dongfang Ming hailed from the Dongfang Family, one of the Four Great Clans.
The Dongfang and Nangong families had always been close allies.
But even more significant were those words: Gold Instructor!
Within the Royal Martial Academy there were four ranks of instructors—Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron—each teaching one of the four levels: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow.
Dongfang Ming was a Gold Instructor, responsible for guiding the Heaven-level disciples.
The title Gold Instructor alone was a golden signboard, a symbol of prestige.
In the outside world, such a figure was on par with the governor of an entire province.
Jiangning City lay within Qingzhou, but the Grand Qian Dynasty comprised eighteen provinces—thus, the weight of a Gold Instructor’s presence was clear.
For such a prominent figure to come to Jiangning—could it be for Nangong Lei?
“A Marquess-level powerhouse!”
“A Gold Instructor!”
Ji Yuntian’s gloomy eyes reignited with fervor, his face alight with excitement.
“Haha! Heaven itself has opened its eyes and sent a Gold Instructor—now, Jun Wushuang is doomed, and the entire Jun family is finished.”
“Jun Wushuang, so what if you defeated Nangong Lei? In the end, the winner takes all in this world.”
“You could win a thousand, ten thousand times—but once you’re dead, it all means nothing.”
“Let’s see how you struggle now!”
The arrival of Dongfang Ming filled Ji Yuntian with unshakable confidence.
He believed that, with Dongfang Ming’s Marquess-level might, Jun Wushuang would be crushed even if he had three heads and six arms.
A salted fish is just a salted fish.
Even if it flips over, it’s still just a salted fish!
“Uncle Ming, you must avenge me!”
Nangong Lei cried out, his voice aggrieved.
“Nangong Lei, how did you end up so badly injured?”
Nangong Lei’s grave wounds caused Dongfang Ming’s brows to furrow.
He pressed a palm to his body, sealing his injuries.
Then, fetching a precious healing elixir, he swiftly aided in Nangong Lei’s recovery.
The Dongfang and Nangong families had long been allies, and Nangong Lei’s older brother, Nangong Tianxuan, was Dongfang Ming’s own disciple.
By chance, Dongfang Ming had been passing through and sensed Nangong Lei’s aura, prompting him to investigate.
He had not expected to witness such a scene upon arrival.
He was utterly astonished.
“Uncle Ming, that brat bullied me! He relied on his local influence and launched a shameless sneak attack. I was caught off guard and fell into his trap. Had you arrived a moment later, I would have met a miserable end!”
Nangong Lei pointed an accusing finger at Jun Wushuang, laying out his complaint.
I am the genius of the Nangong Family.
How could I lose to a bumpkin?
Humiliation!
This is the greatest shame of my life!
He must die—his bones ground to dust!
Only with his blood could my humiliation be cleansed!
Nangong Lei’s heart was filled with resentment and murderous intent. His gaze toward Jun Wushuang was merciless.
Dongfang Ming turned, his eyes like blades, locking onto Jun Wushuang.
Fourth level of the Myriad Phenomena Realm!
He had employed a forbidden technique. The killing intent was so intense it even unsettled Dongfang Ming himself.
A forbidden technique!
Only a select few ever qualified to master such martial arts.
He had not expected to encounter one here.
And the grade of this forbidden technique seemed high—it allowed Jun Wushuang at the fourth level of the Myriad Phenomena Realm to defeat Nangong Lei, who was at the first level of the Divine Sea Realm.
If he could acquire it—
It would become his ultimate trump card!
At this thought, a glimmer of greed flickered in Dongfang Ming’s heart.
“Boy, you defeated Nangong Lei?”
Dongfang Ming questioned haughtily from above.
“Yes.”
Jun Wushuang answered crisply, without a hint of denial.
“Do you know the consequences of harming a disciple of my Royal Martial Academy?”
Dongfang Ming sneered, staring straight at Jun Wushuang, clearly ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
“Aren’t you going to ask why we were fighting in the first place?”
Jun Wushuang’s expression was calm, utterly fearless.
“There’s no need to ask, nor do I care.”
Dongfang Ming shook his head.
“All I know is that you bullied Nangong Lei, bullied a disciple of my Royal Martial Academy.”
“For this alone, you deserve death!”
“No one may lay hands on my academy’s disciples. Whoever tries must pay the price!”
Forceful!
Tyrannical!
Dongfang Ming’s words sent a chill through everyone’s heart.
Royal Martial Academy!
Those five words pressed down upon them like a mountain, making it hard to even breathe.
“Does the Royal Martial Academy always act so unreasonably?”
Jun Wushuang retorted.
“Reason?”
Dongfang Ming snorted in disdain.
“The fist is reason, power is reason. My Royal Martial Academy is reason!”
“No matter how right the weak may be, they can only beg on their knees.”
“And you, are weak!”
As a powerhouse of the Dongfang Family and a Gold Instructor of the Royal Martial Academy, Dongfang Ming looked down upon all.
To him, Jun Wushuang was nothing but a backwater bumpkin.
If not for the forbidden technique, he would not have bothered to give him a second glance.
As for trampling others beneath his feet—
He saw nothing wrong in it.
For he was fated to stand above all.
“So this is a Gold Instructor of the Royal Martial Academy—just another piece of human garbage!”
Jun Wushuang laughed, his smile icy, any respect for the Royal Martial Academy gone.
“Insolence!”
“How dare you insult the Royal Martial Academy so brazenly! How dare you call me garbage! You must be courting death.”
“Since that is the case, I will flay your skin, tear out your tendons, and leave you with no grave!”
“Your arrogance will doom your family as well—if the son is unteachable, the father is to blame. I will wipe out your entire clan with my own hands!”
Dongfang Ming erupted in rage. He raised his right hand, grasping at Jun Wushuang.
The crowd held their breath.
Everyone believed Jun Wushuang was finished.
At that moment—
Jun Wushuang raised his hand and produced a token of purple gold.
The characters “Southern Guardian” gleamed, stabbing into Dongfang Ming’s eyes.
His hand froze midair, unable to move another inch!