123: Shocked Li Jun

Li Jun's mind was reeling, his legs felt like jelly, and he was practically half-dragged, half-pulled forward by Zhang He.

He followed these impeccably uniformed men, climbing up a path at the foot of the mountain.

"Leader... this... where are we going?"

Li Jun's voice was still tearful. He didn't dare to make a fuss now, only asking cautiously.

Zhang He glanced at him, annoyed.

"Didn't I tell you? To see your daughter."

"But... but this mountain..."

Li Jun's words got stuck halfway.

He realized the path under his feet was wrong.

How was this a mountain path?

It was clearly a staircase paved with bluestone slabs, excessively smooth and wide enough for three or four people to walk side-by-side.

There were even stone railings with simple carvings on both sides of the path.

This path was embedded directly into the steep mountainside, winding upwards and disappearing into the clouds.

To carve out such a path in a place like Kunlun Mountain... how massive an undertaking must this have been?

How much manpower and resources would it have required?

He had seen clearly when he drove here earlier that the mountain was treacherous, not a place an ordinary construction team could even reach.

"This... this path is..."

Li Jun stammered, pointing at the smooth stone slabs beneath his feet, his face filled with an incomprehensible expression.

Zhang He's expression was calm, as if this was just a trivial matter.

"Oh, this path."

"The principal of this academy thought climbing was too much effort, so he built it casually."

Li Jun's eyes instantly widened.

Casually?

Built?

He stood with his mouth agape, unable to utter a single word.

On the perilous peaks of Kunlun Mountain, to carve out a smooth stone road several kilometers or even longer, just for the convenience of walking?

Is this something a human could do?

Is this Yu Gong moving a mountain, or Jingwei filling the sea?

"He... your principal... he... who exactly is he?"

Li Jun felt his tongue getting tied.

"He has that ability."

Zhang He didn't explain further, merely dropping that one sentence.

"It's just that current car technology isn't quite there yet; the engine power isn't enough to climb such a steep slope, so only a pedestrian path was built."

"Just make do with walking."

"Make do"... Li Jun looked at this incredibly magnificent mountain trail, and hearing that phrase, he felt his fifty-plus years of worldview being repeatedly rubbed into the ground.

His mind was no longer filled with fear.

Nor was it shock.

Instead, it was a massive, absurd emotion mixed with awe.

Would someone capable of such a feat, or rather, an "organization" capable of such a feat, really try to swindle his daughter out of her living expenses?

Would they trick his daughter into having her kidneys harvested?

What kind of international joke is that!

What would they gain?

His daughter's two ounces of kidney?

Li Jun's face flushed red then paled.

He remembered the video he posted online, his tearful accusations, the tens of millions of views, and the furious comments below.

An indescribable shame and regret welled up in his heart.

He wasn't a fool; he was just blinded by the fear of loving his daughter too much.

Now, reality had given him a resounding slap.

He was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

Li Jun stopped, bowing deeply to Zhang He.

"Leader, I'm sorry."

"I... I caused trouble for the country."

Zhang He glanced at him and sighed.

"Alright, it's enough that you know you were wrong."

"Hurry up and go, your daughter is waiting for you up there."

"Yes, yes!"

Li Jun nodded repeatedly, no longer showing any of his previous fear or resistance, his steps becoming much lighter.

He wanted nothing now but to quickly ascend the mountain, find his daughter, and then... then apologize to her properly.

Meanwhile, on the Martial Arts Training Ground at the Peak of Kunlun, the atmosphere was at its peak.

The Magic Cultivation Department's arena competition had entered the fierce stage of contending for third place.

"Damn it, Qing Yuan is too ruthless!"

Liu Lian leaned against the railing, marveling at the figure on the stage who was blasting her opponent with Spells, sending him scurrying with his head in his hands.

"She just went out for a break and came back with her combat power directly skyrocketing."

Xie Wangsheng, beside him, pushed his non-existent glasses, calmly analyzing.

"It's not that she's become more ruthless; it's that her practical combat experience has increased."

"Look at her Spell connections; there isn't a single superfluous movement, all aimed at defeating her opponent as quickly as possible. This is all experience gained from fighting in Qingxia Temple and Gusu."

Fang Yuan nodded heavily beside him, his face full of agreement.

"Exactly! Li Qingyuan's progress is immense! She has already won three consecutive matches; as long as she wins this one more, third place is secured!"

Because Fang Yuan and Zhang Qiqi's earth-shattering duel ended in a draw, with both tying for first place, the ownership of third place became the biggest highlight of the Magic Cultivation Department.

At this moment, on the arena, Li Qingyuan's opponent had just conceded and left the stage.

She stood in the center of the arena, breathing slightly, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead.

She won.

Just one more win.

As soon as she thought of this, Li Qingyuan's mind involuntarily brought up the image of her father's angry, roaring face on the phone, and her mother's silent crying in the video.

Dad, Mom... when I get a good ranking, and after the academy goes public, you will understand.

Your daughter isn't doing anything illicit.

She is protecting this world!

She shook her head, suppressing these chaotic thoughts, and refocused her attention on the arena.

Her last opponent had already stepped up.

"Li Qingyuan, this is as far as you go."

The opponent was a serious-looking male. As soon as he came up, he immediately brought out his Magical Artifact, a short ruler emitting a chilling aura.

"Third place is mine."

Li Qingyuan didn't speak, only silently raised her hand, Palm Thunder flashing in her palm.

The battle was about to begin!

"Here it comes, here it comes! The final match for third place in the Magic Cultivation Department!"

Liu Lian instantly perked up, craning his neck.

"Quick, place your bets! I'm betting on Junior Sister Qing Yuan to win! Who's with me?"

Han Li rolled his eyes at him.

"Stop messing around, watch carefully. Li Qingyuan's advantage is practical combat experience and Spell burst power, but she's fought three consecutive matches, so her Qi consumption must be considerable. The opponent is well-rested; it's hard to say who will win."

On the arena, the battle had already erupted.

The male was clearly well-prepared, immediately activating his Magical Artifact ruler to create a large area of ice mist, attempting to restrict Li Qingyuan's movement and vision.

Li Qingyuan remained calm, forming hand seals, and streaks of lightning snakes moved around her, evaporating all approaching ice mist.

She didn't choose to clash head-on but instead used her more agile footwork to move quickly around the arena, searching for her opponent's weaknesses.

"Do you see? This is the difference!"

Han Li pointed at the arena.

"The previous Li Qingyuan would have definitely just launched a Palm Thunder. But now, she knows how to use tactics."

Seeing that the ice mist was ineffective, the male immediately changed his move. With a wave of his Magical Artifact ruler, dozens of sharp ice cones appeared out of thin air, showering down on Li Qingyuan.

"Thunder Shield!"

Li Qingyuan low-cried, and a large shield woven from lightning instantly appeared in front of her.

The ice cones crashed into the Thunder Shield, producing crackling explosions and shattering into a sky full of ice crystals.

Just when everyone thought she would continue to defend, Li Qingyuan made an unexpected move.

She actively withdrew the Thunder Shield!

Under the cover of the swirling ice crystals, her figure transformed into a flash of lightning, instantly disappearing from her original spot.

"Not good!"

The male's heart pounded. He immediately activated his Magical Artifact ruler to protect himself.

But it was too late.

A flash of lightning had already appeared behind him.

Li Qingyuan's palm, enveloped in dazzling electric light, gently pressed against his back.

"Zzzzz—"

A faint current passed through his body, and the male went numb all over, instantly losing control of his body and falling straight down.

The entire venue was silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous cheers.

Li Qingyuan, victorious!

She stood in the center of the arena, listening to the cheers around her, her chest heaving violently.

She did it.

Magic Cultivation Department, third place.

She looked up at the distant sky, as if she could pierce through the clouds and see the figure walking step by step towards the mountaintop.

Dad, I didn't disappoint you.