Chapter 294 The deacon feigns blindness, the steward kneels in welcome! No one dares to stand against the Holy Son's imposing presence!

In the Mission Hall of Sky Dome Academy, where geniuses gather and power dynamics are complex, who among those who reached the position of Deacon Elder isn't a shrewd individual who has weathered many storms and is adept at assessing the situation?

In the current situation, which side held more weight...

...and which side he should stand on...

...for this middle-aged Deacon Elder...

...there was absolutely no need to hesitate for even a single breath.

Therefore,

when Lin Yao desperately clung to his pant leg like a drowning man grabbing a final straw, tearfully begging for help,

the Deacon Elder's reaction

was so simple and direct that it left everyone dumbfounded.

His face was expressionless.

With even a hint of imperceptible disdain, he very naturally pulled his leg out from Lin Yao's dust- and blood-stained hands, and then... subconsciously took a small step back.

Having done all this,

he seemed to instantly enter a state of meditation, slightly raising his head, his gaze focused intently on a certain piece of scrolling information on the distant mission light screen, his brow slightly furrowed as if contemplating an extremely profound academic problem, completely ignoring Lin Yao's desperate wails at his feet, the countless shocked gazes around him, and the tense atmosphere in the field.

That appearance of "I'm just a passing quiet Elder focused on looking at missions" perfectly interpreted what it meant to be selectively blind and professionally playing dumb.

This sudden ignore, which lacked any acting skills whatsoever, plunged the entire area at the entrance of the Mission Hall into a brief silence once again, followed by an even more intense uproar!

"Holy... Holy crap?! Am I seeing things? The Deacon Elder... he pulled his leg away?!"

"More than just pulling it away! He even took a step back! That expression... it was as if he was afraid of being touched by something filthy!"

"Pretending... pretending not to see? This... this is too fake!"

"Hahaha! This is killing me! This Elder is a real talent! That 'it has nothing to do with me, don't come near me' expression is simply perfect!"

"Nonsense! Look at who's standing opposite him! A Heavenly Saint Student! His status is equivalent to the Inner Court Dean! Just yesterday, he insta-killed the tenth on the earth ranking, forcing Manager Elder Song to step in and save the person! For this kind of death star... no, he's a Prodigy, would a mere Deacon Elder dare to intervene?"

"Exactly! Never mind just a beating, even if he truly crippled Lin Yao, as long as there's a sufficient reason, the Academy would likely favor this future Saint King seed. If the Deacon Elder stood out now, wouldn't he be walking right into the line of fire?"

"Tsk tsk, it seems Lin Yao really kicked a steel plate today—no, he kicked a city wall! Even the Deacon Elder is playing dumb, who else can save him?"

"I'm afraid that as long as our Sacred Student doesn't actively provoke those top monsters on the Heaven Ranking, he can basically walk sideways in this Academy from now on!"

The onlookers discussed animatedly.

Their faces were filled with excitement, wonder, and the look of someone watching a good show.

Jiang Yun's dominance,

the Deacon Elder's tactfulness,

this kind of highly contrasting and dramatic scene

greatly satisfied their gossip-seeking mentality.

Zhao Tiezhu, Lin Kuo, and Xiao Yutian were also looking at each other, their faces filled with disbelief.

In their eyes,

a Deacon Elder in the Academy

was a big figure who held a certain amount of power, was usually solemn, and possessed the authority to decide the life and death of students!

They were existences that Common students like them needed to look up to and revere.

But now,

such a big figure,

in front of Jiang Yun,

actually chose to play blind so bluntly.

He didn't even dare to say a single polite word.

He directly showed an attitude of not daring to interfere and not being able to interfere!

This huge contrast

made them feel extremely surreal.

It was as if they were truly realizing for the first time

just how startling the power and status currently possessed by their fellow townsman brother from City C

actually was!

How truly incredible it was!

Lin Yao lay on the ground.

Watching the whole process of the Deacon Elder pulling his leg away, stepping back, and playing dumb, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His mind went blank, and he was immediately swallowed by boundless despair and coldness.

It's over... even the Deacon Elder doesn't dare to intervene... Does Jiang Yun really dare to ignore all the rules?

Will he... really kill me?

Watching Jiang Yun's approaching steps, which felt like the God of Death's summons, the last shred of hope in Lin Yao's heart completely shattered.

Extreme fear overwhelmed everything,

including his pathetic dignity and twisted resentment.

"No! Please don't! Jiang... Big Brother Jiang Yun! Sacred Student! I was wrong! I really know I was wrong!"

Lin Yao scrambled to turn around.

He kowtowed frantically toward the approaching Jiang Yun, his forehead striking the hard jade floor with muffled thuds, instantly becoming red, swollen, and bleeding.

Tears and snot flowed down his face.

His voice was hoarse and distorted by fear.

"I was blind! I was possessed! I shouldn't have bullied them! I shouldn't have spoken so arrogantly! I won't ever dare to do it again! I beg you, spare me this once! Just let me go like a fart! I promise, in the future, if I see Zhao Tiezhu and the others—no, if I see any classmate from City C, I'll take a detour! I definitely won't dare to offend them in the slightest! I beg you!"

He kowtowed like a woodpecker.

His appearance was miserable and pathetic to the extreme.

It formed a stark contrast, like Hell and Heaven, with his haughty and overbearing attitude from just moments ago.

However,

Jiang Yun's steps did not pause in the slightest. The chill on his face remained, and his eyes looked coldly at Lin Yao, who was kneeling and begging for mercy like a pile of mud.

"Now you know you were wrong?"

Jiang Yun's voice was calm and steady.

"Too late."

As the words fell,

he raised his hand again.

Slap!!!

Another crisp slap that made one's teeth ache!

This time, the force seemed even heavier!

Everyone saw Lin Yao fly out sideways again as if struck by a galloping giant beast, screaming as he directly knocked over several empty waiting benches, finally crashing heavily onto the ground further away and rolling several times before stopping.

He lay on the ground.

Motionless.

Only a faint groan proved he was still alive.

His entire face was swollen like a pig's head, mangled and bloody; his nose seemed to have collapsed, his mouth was crooked, blood mixed with saliva constantly flowed out, and blood seeped from all seven facial orifices. His appearance was miserable to the point where people couldn't bear to look!

Hiss!!!

A synchronized sound of cold air being sucked in rang out across the field!

Ruthless!

Too ruthless!

This second slap

was clearly delivered with anger!

Even if Lin Yao didn't die,

he would likely have to lie in bed for several months.

A damaged Foundation would be the least of his problems!

"My god... that slap..."

"It hurts just watching! The Sacred Student is truly enraged!"

"Serves him right! Who told him to have a foul mouth and itchy hands, bullying others and then kicking a steel plate!"

"But... if he keeps hitting him, someone might actually die, right? The Academy's side..."

"The Academy? You can tell by the Deacon Elder's reaction..."

Just as everyone was trembling with fear,

wondering if Jiang Yun would continue to strike,

or even directly cripple Lin Yao,

an old but vigorous voice, filled with obvious displeasure and authority, rang out from deep within the Mission Hall like a great bell.

"What is this clamor and noise about?! Where is the decorum!"

The voice contained a thick power.

It instantly drowned out all the noise.

It clearly reached everyone's ears.

The crowd automatically parted like a tide to create a path.

An old man wearing deep purple Elder robes, with white hair and beard, a lean face, and eyes as sharp as a hawk's, walked slowly out from the interior of the Mission Hall with his hands behind his back.

His steps were steady, and his entire being naturally exuded an aura of authority from long being in a high position and in charge of a region. Wherever his gaze fell, the noisy students couldn't help but hold their breath and lower their heads.

"It's the Manager Elder of the Mission Hall!"

"The Manager Elder is out! He's the true person in charge of the Mission Hall, a Brick Stone Rank powerhouse!"

"This is good. With the Manager Elder stepping in, this farce should be over, right?"

"The Manager Elder has always been known for being impartial and valuing rules. Seeing someone causing trouble and hitting people on his territory, he's probably going to be furious!"

"Although the Sacred Student has a special status, the Manager Elder is very senior. He probably won't easily back down!"

"There's a good show to watch! Let's see how the Manager Elder handles this!"

The crowd that recognized the old man's identity became restless again.

They discussed animatedly.

Zhao Tiezhu and the others also felt their hearts tighten.

The hearts they had just set down were raised again.

This Elder looked like someone not to be trifled with.

His aura was more than a level stronger than the Deacon Elder who was playing dumb just now!

Lin Yao, who was paralyzed on the ground and on the verge of death,

heard this voice.

As if experiencing a final burst of lucidity,

he struggled to raise his mangled face.

Looking at the approaching Manager Elder Lü,

a faint light of hope burst forth in his eyes once again!

Using his last bit of strength,

he made a hoarse sound like a broken bellows.

He crawled toward Manager Elder Lü.

Wailing as he crawled,

"Manager... Manager Elder! Help... save me!"

"He... Jiang Yun! He's crazy! He's committing violence openly in the Mission Hall! He wants to kill me!"

"Look... look at what he's done to me! He completely ignores the Academy's rules! He's disregarding your authority!"

"I beg the Manager Elder to uphold justice for me! Punish this madman severely!"

He spoke with tears and snot, adding oil to the fire, trying to portray himself as an innocent victim and Jiang Yun as a heinous thug who broke the rules.

The Manager Elder stopped walking.

His gaze swept over the miserable Lin Yao, who looked like a dead dog on the ground, then at the damaged counters and benches around him. Finally, his gaze, sharp as a knife, landed on the only person standing in the field, the calm-looking Jiang Yun.

His brow furrowed deeply.

His face clearly showed signs of displeasure and rising anger.

In the area under his jurisdiction,

such a violent conflict had occurred,

and someone was even seriously injured.

This was undoubtedly a provocation to his authority!

His face darkened.

His voice carried an unquestionable sternness.

He shouted at Jiang Yun:

"Who are you? Why are you openly beating a fellow student and destroying public property in the important grounds of the Mission Hall?!"

"Do you still have the Academy's laws in your eyes? Do you still respect this old man?!"

This questioning

carried the pressure of a high-level Brick Stone Rank powerhouse.

It pressed down toward Jiang Yun like a mountain!

Many students around felt their breathing hitch.

Their hearts felt heavy.

Zhao Tiezhu and the others' hearts instantly jumped into their throats.

They looked at Jiang Yun worriedly.

The onlookers also held their breath.

Staring intently at the field.

The Manager Elder was indeed upright and unyielding.

He directly held him accountable!

How would the Sacred Student respond?

Confront him head-on?

Or explain?

Just at this tense moment when everyone thought the conflict was about to escalate,

the middle-aged Deacon Elder, who had been focused on looking at missions earlier, now appeared silently beside the Manager Elder with extreme speed, like a ghost.

He leaned in slightly.

He leaned into Manager Elder Lü's ear.

With an extremely low but fast speed that allowed those nearby to faintly hear,

he quickly said a few things.

Everyone only saw

that during the Deacon Elder's whispering, the Manager Elder's face, which was originally full of authority and anger, changed drastically at a speed visible to the naked eye!

First, his eyebrows shot up.

A flash of bewilderment crossed his eyes.

Then his pupils contracted slightly.

Showing obvious surprise and doubt.

Immediately after,

the anger on his face receded rapidly like a tide, replaced by a complex expression mixed with shock, realization, and a hint of lingering fear.

When his gaze landed on Jiang Yun again,

it had completely changed!

It was no longer one of scrutiny and questioning,

but had turned into deep observation and an imperceptible hint of... reverence?

The Manager Elder took a deep breath,

as if to calm the waves in his heart.

Then,

under the shocked and stunned gazes of everyone,

this Manager Elder of the Mission Hall, known for being impartial and authoritative, actually stepped forward quickly and arrived in front of Jiang Yun.

A very warm, even somewhat respectful smile quickly appeared on his face. He cupped his fists and gave Jiang Yun a deep bow. His voice was loud and clear, echoing in the silent hall.

"Manager Elder of the Mission Hall, Li Lü, greets the Heavenly Saint Student!"

"I did not know the Sacred Student was visiting and failed to welcome you properly. I hope the Sacred Student can be magnanimous!"

As soon as these words were spoken,

in an instant!

The entire place fell dead silent!

One could hear a pin drop!

Everyone,

including Zhao Tiezhu, Lin Kuo, Xiao Yutian, and Lin Yao, who was dying on the ground but still had a shred of consciousness left, all widened their eyes and opened their mouths. They were like statues, staring blankly at this unbelievable scene before them!