50: So you're a very bad dog?

After Jiang Donghua stepped through the entrance of the Alchemy Department, the two guards finally slumped down in relief, their backs already soaked with cold sweat.

The square-faced guard swallowed, his voice trembling.

"It's over, it's over. That is Elder Mo Xuan's Disciple! If he holds a grudge, the two of us will probably be kicked out of the Academy."

The tall, thin guard's face was deathly pale, but he stubbornly insisted.

"W-what is there to be afraid of! Didn't he let it go just now? Besides, who told him to dress like a beggar..."

"Shut up!"

The square-faced guard cursed in a low voice.

"Do you know what kind of temper Elder Mo Xuan has? Half a year ago, there was a Great Dou Master-level deacon who had his cultivation crippled and was immediately expelled from the Academy the very next day, just because he deducted his Disciple's pill quota!"

Hearing this, the tall, thin guard's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed onto the ground.

Inside the Alchemy Department, Jiang Donghua was completely unaware of the panic of the two people behind him, or rather, he simply couldn't be bothered to care.

He slowly walked through the long corridor. Many Alchemy Department students along the way glanced sideways at him; some frowned in distaste, some looked at him suspiciously, but soon, whispers began to spread.

"Wait, isn't that Jiang Donghua?!"

"Jiang Donghua? The guy personally taken in as a Disciple by Elder Mo Xuan?!"

"Hasn't he been in closed-door cultivation for half a year? How did he end up looking like this?"

Jiang Donghua turned a deaf ear to these discussions and walked straight toward the depths of the Alchemy Department.

However, just as he turned the corner, a sharp, mean voice suddenly rang out.

"Oh, isn't this our genius, Jiang Donghua? Half a year in seclusion, and you've somehow managed to regress?"

Jiang Donghua paused, raising his eyes to look.

In front, a young man wearing a luxurious purple and gold Alchemist robe stood with his arms crossed, a mocking sneer hanging on his lips.

Behind him were several other well-dressed Alchemy Department students, all wearing looks of ridicule.

Liu Qingya, a First-Grade Alchemist in the Alchemy Department, was one of the outstanding figures among the younger generation of the Jia Nan Academy, and also Elder Mo Xuan's former registered Disciple.

Half a year ago, Elder Mo Xuan made an exception and announced he would take in a personal Disciple.

According to tradition, Mo Xuan only took one person every few years.

Liu Qingya was originally the person everyone thought was most likely to be chosen.

His talent was remarkable; he could refine First-Grade healing medicine early on and had even touched the threshold of a Second-Grade Alchemist.

However, just when he was full of confidence, Mo Xuan suddenly brought back an unknown Jiang Donghua and even directly promised him the treatment of a First-Grade Alchemist!

"How could a country bumpkin who doesn't even understand the basics of alchemy deserve this?!"

Liu Qingya was consumed by jealousy. For the past six months, he had targeted Jiang Donghua everywhere and even secretly tried to trip him up, but unfortunately, this guy was nowhere to be found.

In six months, he hadn't even managed to see him once.

"Who are you?"

Jiang Donghua spoke lazily.

"Can any random Tom, Dick, or Harry now enter the Alchemy Department and start howling?"

Liu Qingya was stunned at first, then his face went from white to green, and then from green to black, his entire face twisting as if someone had violently stomped on it.

In his entire life, no one had ever dared to call him a random nobody.

"You... you dare!"

His voice trembled, his fingers clenched tightly, his nails nearly digging into his palm.

Jiang Donghua lazily picked his ear, flicked his finger, and a piece of earwax stuck squarely onto Liu Qingya's handsome face.

"A good dog doesn't block the way."

He yawned, his gaze sweeping over him contemptuously.

"Since you've been standing here the whole time, you must be a very bad dog, right?"

"Hiss—"

A collective gasp of cold air immediately sounded around them.

"I-is this guy crazy?!"

A female student covered her mouth, her eyes wide.

"That's Liu Qingya! The Eldest Young Master of the Liu family! An Eight-Star Dou Zhe! His father is a renowned Dou Ling Expert in Huanan City!"

A tall, thin student nearby exclaimed in a low voice, his tone filled with disbelief.

"It's over, it's over. Jiang Donghua will probably be carried out horizontally today..."

Some people shook their heads and sighed, already foreseeing the miserable outcome.

Veins bulged on Liu Qingya's forehead, his entire face flushed crimson, and the rage in his eyes seemed about to erupt.

"Jiang! Dong! Hua!"

He enunciated each word, his voice sounding like it was squeezed out from between his teeth.

"You are courting death!"

Before his voice faded, Dou Qi suddenly erupted around him. Pale green cyclones wrapped around his arms, and his robe rustled loudly even without wind.

"It's the Liu family's profound rank mid-level cultivation method—Azure Mist Art!"

Someone cried out in alarm.

"Quick, step back! Senior Brother Liu is serious now!"

Several students hurriedly retreated, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

Liu Qingya sneered savagely, clenching his right fist. Dou Qi frantically gathered, and faint wind blades even circulated around the edge of his fist!

"profound rank low-level Dou Technique—Wind Breaking Fist!"

He threw a punch; the force of the fist tore through the air, letting out a sharp sonic boom, heading straight for Jiang Donghua's face!

This punch was enough to send an ordinary Dou Practitioner flying backward while spitting blood!

However, Jiang Donghua didn't even lift an eyelid.

Just as the punch force was about to touch the tip of his nose, he suddenly raised his hand and lightly snapped his fingers.

*Snap!*

The crisp sound was particularly jarring in the silent corridor.

The next second, Liu Qingya's fist was forcibly halted in mid-air!

"W-what's going on?!"

Liu Qingya's pupils contracted, and the arrogant expression on his face instantly froze.

He realized in horror that his Dou Qi... was completely suppressed by an invisible force!

"Move! Move for me!"

He roared frantically internally, but his body was immobilized, as if suppressed by an invisible mountain; he couldn't even move a single finger!

Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

Jiang Donghua slowly walked forward and reached out to pat his cheek. The force was neither heavy nor light, yet it sounded as loud as if it had slapped everyone's face.

"That's it?"

Jiang Donghua tilted his head, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Eight-Star Dou Zhe? profound rank cultivation method?"

He shook his head and sighed.

"Trash."

As his voice fell, he lightly flicked his fingertip.

*Bang!*

Liu Qingya was sent flying backward like a broken kite, slamming violently into the wall ten meters away, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out!

"Hiss—"

A collective gasp of cold air sounded throughout the entire area once again.

Everyone's eyes were wide, their jaws nearly dropping to the floor.

"O-one move?!"

A student stammered, his voice trembling.

"Senior Brother Liu... was instantly defeated?!"

Another person rubbed his eyes, suspecting he was hallucinating.

"How is this possible! Senior Brother Liu is an Eight-Star Dou Zhe!"

Someone cried out in shock, his face filled with disbelief.

Jiang Donghua picked his ear, lazily glanced at the slumped Liu Qingya on the ground, and said indifferently.

"Next time you block the way, weigh yourself first to see how much you're worth."

Having said that, he put his hands in his pockets and slowly walked toward the depths of the Alchemy Department, his retreating figure so carefree it made people grit their teeth.

Only a floor littered with dropped jaws and the terrified, slumped figure of Liu Qingya remained.

"A Dou... Dou Master?!"

Someone in the crowd tremblingly shouted these two words, instantly setting off the entire scene!

"Half a year ago, he was only a Two-Star Dou Zhe! How is that possible?!"

A student's face turned deathly pale, his voice completely changed.

"This cultivation speed is even more terrifying than those monsters in the Inner Academy!"

Another person muttered to himself, his eyes filled with shock.

Liu Qingya lay sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving violently, blood continuously spilling from his mouth. But compared to the physical pain, the humiliation and shock in his heart made him feel almost suffocated!

Half a year ago, a Two-Star Dou Zhe.

Half a year later, instantly defeating an Eight-Star Dou Zhe in one move!

What kind of concept was this?!

Which genius in the Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy didn't spend one or two years just to break through from the low-level Dou Practitioner stage to the Dou Master stage?

Even those top students hailed as prodigies could never cross such a massive gap in just half a year!

But Jiang Donghua did it!

"Pfft—!"

The more Liu Qingya thought about it, the angrier he became, and he spat out another mouthful of blood, his entire face as pale as paper.

He stared intently at Jiang Donghua's retreating figure, his eyes filled with venom, yet deep inside, an unprecedented feeling of fear and powerlessness surged forth.

Compared to him, what was he?

A random nobody?

He was probably not even as good as a random nobody!

"Senior Brother Liu! Are you alright?!"

Several followers rushed forward in a panic, trying to help him up.

"Get lost!"

Liu Qingya pushed them away, struggling to stand, but his legs wouldn't stop trembling.

The gazes of the surrounding students pierced him like needles, containing shock, pity, and even... schadenfreude!

"Heh, Liu Qingya usually acts arrogant and tyrannical because of his family background, but today he finally met his match!"

Someone sneered softly.

"Serves him right! Let him oppress us all day, now he's run into a tough opponent, hasn't he?"

Another person quietly agreed.

Although these discussions were quiet, they entered Liu Qingya's ears word for word, making him furious with shame!

"Jiang Donghua... Jiang Donghua!"

He gritted his teeth, his nails digging deeply into his palms, blood dripping through his fingers.

"This humiliation today, I, Liu Qingya, will definitely repay a hundredfold!"