72: Old Yan's funeral

Three days later, Jia Nan Academy, Heroic Soul Mausoleum.

A fine rain drifted from the gloomy sky, as if even the heavens were mourning the funeral.

Inside the mausoleum, rows of stone tablets stood cold and silent, each carved with the name of a deceased—there were students, instructors, and even an Elder from the Outer Academy.

In front of one newly erected stone tablet, Jiang Donghua stood quietly, rain dripping from his hair, yet he seemed oblivious.

“Old Yan...”

Jiang Donghua softly uttered the name, and the image of that burly man reappeared before his eyes.

More than half a year ago, on the journey from Black Iron City to Jia Nan Academy, bandits ran rampant, and the desperadoes of the Black-Corner Region were even more brazen.

At that time, Jiang Donghua and a few companions hadn't even stepped into the Dou Practitioner realm, and could only tremble in fear when facing robbers.

But Yan Feng, that Seven-Star Great Dou Master, just grinned, clenched his fist, and with a burst of Dou Qi, he scattered those fierce ruffians with a few punches and kicks.

“You brats, once you enter Jia Nan Academy, don’t you dare disgrace me!”

“After you study for a few years, you’ll be able to smash these trash Dou Practitioners with one punch, just like this master.”

Those were the words Yan Feng often had on his lips.

But now, not even a corpse remained; after all, he had exploded into a bloody mist, replaced by the Blood Puppet of the Blood Demon Sect, and no one even knew his true time of death.

Jiang Donghua clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

“Blood Demon Sect!”

His voice was low, yet it seemed to suppress a rage on the verge of eruption.

On the Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy plaza, tens of thousands of students gathered, the air thick with suppression and anger.

Many had red eyes, their fists clenched, nails digging deep into their palms.

Their instructors, senior brothers and sisters, and even close friends, were confirmed overnight to be Blood Puppets of the Blood Demon Sect; some were immediately killed by the Law Enforcement Team, others self-destructed into bloody mist.

“Why?!”

A young man suddenly stood up, his voice hoarse, his eyes burning with the flames of hatred.

“My master taught me for three years! He taught me Dou Technique, taught me alchemy, and even protected me when I broke through! How could he—how could he be a puppet of the Blood Demon Sect?!”

The question was like a spark, instantly igniting the crowd's fury.

“Exactly! How can the Blood Demon Sect be so audacious in Jia Nan Academy?!”

“My senior sister was so gentle, how could she be a Blood Puppet?!”

“Blood Demon Sect... The Blood Demon Sect deserves to die!!!”

Waves of angry shouts rose higher and higher, some even drew their weapons, their eyes boiling with killing intent, wishing they could immediately rush to the Blood Demon Sect for revenge.

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, a bolt of Lightning Light crashed onto the high platform.

“All of you, shut up!!!”

Lei Tian’s roar thundered like lightning, making everyone’s eardrums ache and instantly silencing them.

He stood in the center of the high platform, uncharacteristically devoid of his usual impatience, instead, his gaze swept over everyone with cold solemnity.

“Angry? I’m angrier than all of you!”

He suddenly waved his hand, and a bolt of Lightning Light struck the ground, creating a scorched crack.

“But do you think the Blood Demon Sect would be so foolish as to send a Seven-Star Dou Wang to declare war on Jia Nan Academy?!”

Everyone was stunned.

Lei Tian sneered and continued.

“That Blood Demon Sect has a Peak Dou Zong level expert; even if the ancestors of your families came out, they might not gain any advantage.”

“And it hasn't been confirmed that the old fellow from the Blood Demon Sect sent him.”

“Besides, with your strength, what revenge can you seek? You can't even kill an Elder-level expert of the Blood Demon Sect!”

Lei Tian took a deep breath, his tone uncharacteristically softening.

“I know you’re hurting, but don’t let anger cloud your judgment!”

“For the Blood Demon Sect to play such a game, there must be a greater conspiracy behind it! If you rush out for revenge now, you’ll only die in vain!”

His gaze was like electricity, sweeping over everyone.

“Want revenge? You can! But first, get stronger!”

“When you have the strength to storm the Blood Demon Sect’s lair and twist off Old Ghost Blood Demon’s head, I’ll personally lead you there!”

The entire place was silent.

The students on the plaza silently left, one after another.

They gritted their teeth, clenched their fists, and swallowed the unvented anger.

Some wept softly, some had icy gazes, but in the end, everyone just silently turned and walked towards their respective cultivation grounds.

Get stronger, then seek revenge!

This was the only choice they could make.

Jiang Donghua stood still, watching the gradually dispersing crowd, his heart a mix of emotions.

Yan Feng, that instructor who always had a stern face but would guide him at critical moments, just died like that?

“You are the second person in this world who was good to me...”

Who was the first?

Perhaps a memory long blurred, perhaps a figure he could never see again.

That senior sister... “She just died like that?”

Jiang Donghua took a deep breath, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

“When my cultivation improves, I will avenge you, Old Yan.”

“At least I’ll kill an Elder-level fellow from the Blood Demon Sect to commemorate your spirit in heaven!”

He silently made a vow in his heart, then composed himself and turned his gaze to the two people beside him.

“Liu Mingyu, Liu Yuting?”

Jiang Donghua was slightly surprised, then showed a smile.

He hadn't seen The Liu Siblings for more than half a year.

Liu Mingyu, Dou Zhi Qi Ninth Stage, had a slender build and a hint of composure in his features.

Liu Yuting, Dou Zhi Qi Eighth Stage, had a delicate face with a touch of stubbornness, and her eyes were much firmer than they had been half a year ago.

“Brother Donghua!”

Yuting’s eyes lit up, and she quickly stepped forward.

Liu Mingyu also nodded, saying in a deep voice.

“Long time no see.”

Jiang Donghua looked them over and smiled.

“You two have made quite a bit of progress.”

Liu Mingyu gave a wry smile.

“Compared to you, we’re far behind.”

Jiang Donghua was already at the Dou Master realm.

But The Liu Siblings were still stuck at the threshold of Dou Zhi Qi, unable to break through.

“Perhaps in a month or two, I’ll be able to step into the Dou Practitioner realm.”

His tone held no boasting or deliberate humility, merely a simple statement of fact.

Jiang Donghua raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze lingering on Liu Mingyu for a moment.

“Oh? It seems you haven’t been idle these past six months.”

Liu Mingyu smiled faintly and said.

“The Liu Siblings still have to thank Brother Jiang.”

“Over the past half a month, thanks to Brother Jiang's influence, we have gained many benefits.”

He was referring to Jiang Donghua’s influence within the Academy; ever since Jiang Donghua had distinguished himself before the Law Enforcement Team and Elder Mo Xuan, many students who had previously disdained The Liu Siblings had become much more polite.

Even some cultivation resources that had been withheld were reallocated to them.

Many students from remote areas, as long as they hadn't entered the Dou Practitioner realm, would have some things taken away by their senior brothers above them.

But when those senior brothers heard that The Liu Siblings had some connection with Jiang Donghua, who was temporarily in the limelight in the Alchemy Department...

Yuting also nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude, but she quickly and firmly said.

“Brother Jiang, you have already helped us a lot. Next, we want to rely on ourselves.”

Her voice was soft, yet it conveyed a stubborn resolve.

Jiang Donghua looked at them and suddenly smiled.

“Alright, since you two say so, I won’t meddle further.”

He patted Liu Mingyu’s shoulder and said.

“However, if you truly encounter trouble you can’t solve, remember to come find me.”

“I’m usually in the Alchemy Department. If you can’t find me, then find my master, Mo Xuan.”

“You two are the first friends I made from Black Iron City to Jia Nan Academy!”

Liu Mingyu nodded, solemnly saying.

“Definitely.”

The three chatted briefly, then went their separate ways.

Jiang Donghua watched The Liu Siblings’ departing figures, a slight sigh in his heart.

“These siblings are much more composed than they were half a year ago.”