Chapter 474: Show of Force

’An eighty percent chance of becoming a Tier Eight Martial Emperor... Even if he offended the Profound Mystery Sect, those odds are worth following.’

’A chance like this doesn’t come around every year. For it to happen in the year I, Zhang Lie, enrolled... this must be an opportunity from the heavens.’

’No matter what, I have to follow that Xuan Ye.’

’Someone with his level of talent must have an unwavering will. I have to prove that I, Zhang Lie, can be useful to him.’

A determined glint flashed in his eyes. Zhang Lie turned and quickly vanished.

Ye Xuan soon arrived at Luo Cheng’s dormitory, room 457.

"Heh heh, all of you, squat steady. Don’t you dare spill a single drop. If anyone can’t hold their position, this guy here will be your example."

"Still daring to act tough with us? Freshmen will be freshmen. Remember, the first thing you need to learn here is how to obey."

"Hahaha, Brother Lang, look at these little punks. They’re used to acting all high and mighty on their own turf. Now that they’re in Gale Light Academy, they really think they’re hot stuff. This is the perfect time to let them know that getting into Gale Light Academy is no big deal."

"You little brat, you still dare to glare? What, are you planning to report us to the academy? Go on, report us! While the academy doesn’t allow private fights between disciples, they won’t really punish us unless it’s something serious. But what comes next for you will be an even more tragic ending."

"Hahaha."

Before Ye Xuan even entered Luo Cheng’s courtyard, he heard a series of sinister voices drifting out.

One voice was particularly arrogant, laughing with a malicious cackle. "I didn’t expect there’d still be a defiant one in this year’s batch," the voice gloated. "We taught him a pretty good lesson. He probably thought he was so amazing just because he’s from some big empire. He should think again. Who among those who enter Gale Light Academy is an ordinary person? Forget coming from some empire; even if you’re from a top-tier power, it means nothing here."

"Looks like he’s still not convinced. Let’s teach him another lesson."

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The soft thuds of blows came from the courtyard, punctuated by stifled grunts of pain.

Hearing these grunts, Ye Xuan’s expression changed instantly.

’That sounds like... Luo Cheng’s voice...’

BANG!

Ye Xuan had been about to knock, but he couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries now. With a single kick, he smashed the courtyard gate wide open.

In the courtyard, three young men were squatting in a corner, each balancing a washbasin full of water on his head. Their faces were etched with humiliation.

Ye Xuan recognized them at a glance; all three were new students from this year’s class.

On the other side, a young man lay on the ground in a wretched state while two others kicked and punched him. His body was covered in blood, but his face remained incomparably stubborn, his eyes filled with fury.

Who else could this young man be but Luo Cheng.

"Stop right there."

Seeing this, Ye Xuan barked a cold command, his eyes flashing with fury.

The two Martial Artists who had been dishing out the beating abruptly stopped and looked over.

In the center of the courtyard, two other Martial Artists who hadn’t joined in also shot sharp, sword-like gazes his way.

"Who are you? Why are you trespassing in our residence?"

The voice was gruff; it was the man who had been called Brother Lang.

"Young Master Ye."

Luo Cheng, looking utterly wretched in the corner, immediately cried out upon seeing Ye Xuan. A look of shame crossed his face; he was clearly humiliated by his current state.

The three new students balancing the water basins also showed a strange look in their eyes.

"So you two know each other. Looks like you came looking for someone, huh?"

This Brother Lang had the brawny build of a bear, but his eyes were sharp. He looked Ye Xuan up and down and asked with a hint of confusion, "You kid, you’re actually fine? Are the older students in your dorm not around?"

Ye Xuan glanced at the scene, instantly understanding what had happened. "They’re there," he said flatly. "But they’re rather kind and friendly."

"Hahaha, kind and friendly? Are you trying to be funny, kid?"

"Brother Lang, why waste time talking to him? He looks like one of this year’s freshmen, too. Since he’s here, we might as well teach him a lesson along with the others."

"The seniors in his dorm are probably useless. Let us help them teach this freshman a lesson."

The two older students who had been beating Luo Cheng let out a roar and immediately lunged forward.

The two flanked him, one on the left and one on the right, exuding a faint Evil Qi. Both were at Tier Five Second Layer, and every move they made released a shockingly powerful aura.

Facing their pounce, Ye Xuan didn’t move an inch. Just as their hands were about to grab him, he suddenly raised his own hands in a counter-move.

CRASH!

A dull thud echoed like the beat of a giant drum. The two felt as if they had slammed into a mountain. The immense force sent them stumbling back several steps, their faces flushing red as their blood roiled.

WAH!

A moment later, the two let out a cry as they finally caught their breath. For a second, they couldn’t even process what had just happened.

They quickly shouted in anger, "Brother Lang, we were just careless! Wait, we’ll capture him right now."

"Hold on." Brother Lang waved a hand, stopping the two. A trace of surprise appeared in his eyes as he stared coldly at Ye Xuan. "Not bad, kid. You’ve got some skills. No wonder you’re so fearless. What’s your name?"

Ye Xuan gave him a cold glance and said icily, "You’re not worthy of knowing."

He swept his Profound Sense over Luo Cheng and was relieved to find only superficial injuries and nothing serious.

Brother Lang’s expression instantly darkened. "Kid, this is Gale Light Academy. Judging by your strength, you must be one of the top new students this year. But let me give you a piece of advice: freshmen are freshmen. Don’t think you can stir up any trouble just because you have a little bit of strength. In Gale Light Academy, you’re nothing."

"Kid, state your name and apologize properly. If you do, I might consider giving you all another chance."

Ye Xuan sneered. "Should I be thanking you for that?"

Brother Lang’s gaze sharpened. "It seems you’ve chosen the hard way, kid."

As his voice fell, he took a sudden step forward, and a terrifying pressure instantly enveloped Ye Xuan.

"Brother Lang, leave this kid to us."

"Don’t be careless. All four of us will attack together. We have to take this kid down as quickly as possible,"

Brother Lang said via a private voice transmission.

He was also an older student at Gale Light Academy. Although he had only been here for a year, he was a Tier Five Third Layer Martial Sect. He had seen many geniuses and experts at the academy, so his perspective was quite broad.

Yet Ye Xuan’s earlier move had given him an inscrutable feeling, making him extremely wary.

So, despite his brash appearance, he wouldn’t underestimate his opponent when it was time to fight for real.

In an instant, the four older students in the courtyard surrounded Ye Xuan, locking down every possible escape route.

"I haven’t even made a move, and you’re already ganging up on me."

Ye Xuan sneered. "Fine. Let’s see what you so-called older students of Gale Light Academy are really made of."

Ye Xuan looked completely calm and unbothered.

"I hope you can stay that calm in a moment."

As Brother Lang finished speaking, SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! The four figures shot toward Ye Xuan like cheetahs on the hunt.

It had to be said, the students from Gale Light Academy were all extraordinary.

These four older students were all Tier Five Martial Sect disciples; even Brother Lang was only a Tier Five Third Layer Martial Sect.

But the momentum of their charge made Ye Xuan feel as if he were facing a vast, churning ocean.

It was as if he wasn’t being attacked by four Martial Sects, but by four Martial Venerables. The sheer force of their presence was startling.

If an ordinary Martial Artist were standing here, even a Tier Six Martial Venerable would be intimidated by this momentum and might even be put at a disadvantage.

Unfortunately for these four older students, they had run into Ye Xuan.

"Nice try."

The moment the four pounced, Ye Xuan let out a soft cry, his body blurring into a phantom.

From a distance, Ye Xuan’s body was like a small boat, tossed about on the stormy waves of their attacks. But no matter how they struck, the small boat that was Ye Xuan never capsized.

Waves of ferocious power washed over Ye Xuan, each one incredibly strong.

Ye Xuan nodded slightly. It was no wonder Luo Cheng was being bullied so badly by these guys. In terms of strength, Luo Cheng might not even be able to beat one of them in a one-on-one fight, let alone four.

Amidst their frenzied assault, Ye Xuan’s movements were like a phantom, quick as lightning. Their attacks couldn’t even touch the corner of his clothes, let alone land a solid hit.

"This kid is tricky. Everyone, stop holding back!"

Originally, because of the academy’s rules, the four older students had only wanted to assert their authority and put a freshman like Ye Xuan in his place.

But at that moment, the sharp-witted Brother Lang immediately realized they had met their match.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Following his furious shout, the four older students erupted with an even more powerful surge of Profound Power. Lights representing various elemental attributes of Profound Power swirled around their bodies, and their attacks instantly grew fiercer.

"You’ve got some skill. But unfortunately, it’s not nearly enough. Break!"

Ye Xuan had only wanted to test the cultivation level of Gale Light Academy’s students. After this brief exchange, he had a rough idea. His figure suddenly shot up, and in a flash, he delivered several kicks.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Amidst four dull thuds, the four older students were sent flying backward like kites with their strings cut, each spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Three of them crashed wretchedly to the ground. Only the older student called Brother Lang managed to stay on his feet, his legs skidding to a stop and carving two nearly ten-meter-long tracks into the dirt.

Wiping the blood from the corners of their mouths, all four had looks of utter shock on their faces.

And in the corner, the three new students balancing basins on their heads also wore expressions of disbelief.