16: I just happened to be passing by.

Seeing the message sent by Chen Qingyun, Chen Fei suddenly sat up straight.

The killer has been found?

That's too sudden, isn't it?

I originally planned to go straight home, but now it seems I must make a trip to Tianqing Academy.

Half an hour later, the train arrived at the station!

Chen Fei got off the train with the crowd and walked toward Shanhai Academy step by step.

"Wait, that person isn't a student from our Qianfeng Academy! He heard all of our deployment plans just now!" Liu Shaohu pointed at Chen Fei in front of him, gritting his teeth.

The others also realized this, quickly chased after him, and surrounded Chen Fei: "Student, are you a student of Shanhai Academy?"

Chen Fei was stunned for a moment. "I suppose so!"

Other than the first few days of school, he spent the rest of his time on the front lines. His growth process could be said to have little connection with Shanhai Academy.

Liu Shaohu narrowed his eyes and asked, "We are students of Qianfeng Academy. Could you tell us which grade you are in and give us directions?"

Chen Fei didn't suspect anything. "First-year. The place you're looking for should be the Battle Arena in the West District. Go in, turn left, and you'll arrive after passing a lake!"

After hearing this, Liu Shaohu and the others wore expressions that said, 'Just as we thought.'

"You really are an undercover agent sent by Shanhai Academy, aren't you? First, you scout out our strengths and deployments so you can go back and make arrangements, right?"

"Exactly! Shanhai Academy is truly calculating!"

"You guys just can't stand losing! Of course, the winner of this Three-Academy Exchange Competition gets to represent Tianqing City in the Hundred Cities Tournament, so you'll stop at nothing!"

"..."

Chen Fei: ???

What the heck?

Three-Academy Exchange Competition? Hundred Cities Tournament?

That sounds complicated. What does it have to do with me?

"You've misunderstood. I just happened to be passing by; I didn't intend to listen to your conversation!"

Having said that, Chen Fei turned around, intending to leave, showing no desire to stay.

"Xiao Qi, stop him!"

Liu Shaohu and the others were still furious. If Chen Fei didn't give them an explanation, they wouldn't let the matter rest.

So, they had a Wood Element Seven-Star Vine Monster use the Entangle Skill to keep Chen Fei there.

Suddenly, a flash of emerald green light passed over Chen Fei—it was the Jade Light Mantis's light barrier taking effect.

Chen Fei's face darkened!

These people are taking an inch and demanding a mile?

The Jade Light Mantis materialized on Chen Fei's shoulder.

The moment it appeared, a wave of bloody stench rushed forward, causing Liu Shaohu and the others who were approaching to freeze.

This Evil Qi, which could only be accumulated after killing countless beings, was something students like Liu Shaohu could not possibly withstand.

Without needing Chen Fei's command, the Jade Light Mantis first used Cage of Light, and immediately after, Light Blades were thrown out!

The Jade Light Mantis had clearly reached Tier 2, Rank 8. How could the opponent's Tier 2, Rank 3 Seven-Star Vine Monster possibly compare?

It couldn't even dodge one Cage, let alone the much faster Light Blades.

This was only because Chen Fei had the Jade Light Mantis hold back; otherwise, this one strike could have severely injured the Seven-Star Vine Monster.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. By the time Liu Shaohu and the others reacted, Chen Fei had already vanished.

"Xiao Qi, how are you?" Liu Shaohu squatted down to check the Seven-Star Vine Monster's injuries, only to find traces of Light Element healing on the wounds.

This must have been left by that Jade Light Mantis.

This left Liu Shaohu feeling both helpless and slightly relieved.

"Why are you all standing here?" The leading teacher, Tao Zhou, rushed over with the second-year students, only to find the group huddled together.

The only response Tao Zhou received was silence.

Tao Zhou was furious. "What happened that makes it so hard for you to speak?"

Seeing that no one spoke, Liu Shaohu bit the bullet and stepped up. "Teacher Tao, there was a first-year student from Shanhai Academy in our carriage just now.

We were afraid he heard our deployment plans, so we tried to keep him here.

But the other party summoned a... a Tier 2, Rank 8 Jade Light Mantis."

Tao Zhou ignored the preceding details, but the mention of Tier 2, Rank 8 caused his eyes to flicker involuntarily a few times.

He asked seriously, "Are you certain it was Tier 2, Rank 8?"

"Certain!" everyone replied in unison.

"Then what is that person's strength level?"

"We don't know!"

Tao Zhou: ...You fought with them and still don't know their strength level?

A bunch of idiots!

This really wasn't their fault!

Chen Fei had long since raised the Hidden Origin Art to the proficient level.

Even High-level Beastmasters might not be able to discern Chen Fei's cultivation, let alone these Intermediate Beast Masters.

Although this was just a minor incident, it cast a shadow over the first-year students of Qianfeng Academy.

Su Can, who was Intermediate Rank 5, already gave them a huge headache, and now there was Chen Fei, who was Intermediate Rank 8.

Was there even a need to continue this exchange competition?

Chen Fei didn't have time to bother with this group and rushed quickly to the school's Reception Room.

Chen Qingyun and his wife, Jiang Yiyi, and her father Jiang Nan were already there.

As Chen Fei pushed the door open and entered, everyone's gaze followed him.

The Hidden Origin Art was only at the proficient level; it could block the perception of High-level Beastmasters, but it couldn't block a Grandmaster-level Beast Tamer, let alone Jiang Nan, a King-level Beast Tamer.

Chen Qingyun and Xia Zhixue exchanged glances. "Xiao Fei is already an Intermediate Beast Master? That speed is impressive!"

The higher Chen Fei's talent, the happier they naturally were.

Jiang Nan also scrutinized Chen Fei from afar. He felt a certain curiosity toward this young man.

After all, there weren't many people left whom Jiang Yiyi constantly mentioned.

Especially when Jiang Yiyi relayed Chen Fei's words in their entirety, Jiang Nan realized that Chen Fei was much more mature than his peers.

Jiang Yiyi didn't dare speculate that the killer might be a teacher, but Chen Fei did, and he was very firm about it.

As for Jiang Yiyi, when she saw Chen Fei again, she felt a bit helpless: This guy finally showed up!

"Since everyone is here, can you explain the purpose of your visit?" Sitting in the main seat was Su Shanhai, the Principal of Shanhai Academy.

His hair was half-white, and his kindly demeanor carried a hint of authority.

Shanhai Academy was named after him.

Originally, he hadn't intended to show up, but since Jiang Nan had arrived, it would be inappropriate for him not to make an appearance.

"This is a long story. I'll let Brother Chen explain it!" Jiang Nan shifted his gaze toward Chen Qingyun.

Chen Qingyun didn't stand on ceremony. "Principal, do you know of a place called Listening to Rain Dock?"

Su Shanhai narrowed his eyes in recollection, then gently shook his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Seeing this, Chen Qingyun didn't say anything more. Instead, he switched to another topic and revealed the entire incident concerning "Floating Life, One Dream."

"Something like this actually happened?" Su Shanhai was extremely surprised.

Having someone scheme against his own students within his own school made Su Shanhai feel deeply humiliated.

If the parents hadn't come to him, he wouldn't have even known about these matters.

After a moment of contemplation, Su Shanhai sighed softly. "Since you've come forward after more than a month, I assume you have made some progress?"