44: Ten Academies Discuss Dao, Chu Feng VS Zhou Yan!

Night fell.

Xie Wuwang stood by the window with his hands behind his back, watching the clouds roll and unfurl outside, his face ashen.

Although his master, Moyuan, had expended great effort to stabilize his injuries, the humiliation of kneeling and begging for mercy in the Ten Saints Plaza that day burned his soul like a poisonous fire, day and night.

Chu Feng!

That name had almost become his inner demon. How could a lowly servant dare to steal what he loved, and how could he step on his dignity to rise to prominence in one go?

Footsteps sounded behind him, steady and carrying a hint of scorching aura.

Xie Wuwang didn't turn around, but a cold arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Zhou Yan greets the Saint Child."

The newcomer was none other than Zhou Yan, the Chief Disciple of Yan Yang Institute. His build was sturdy, like a small mountain.

"Junior Brother Zhou, there's no need for such formality."

Xie Wuwang slowly turned around, his face now showing a slightly weary expression.

"I summoned you here today because there is a matter of great importance concerning the Tiansheng Academy's reputation and our own, which I wish to discuss with you."

Zhou Yan's expression tightened upon hearing this.

"Saint Child, if you have any commands, Zhou Yan will not hesitate even if it means death!"

Xie Wuwang sighed, his tone filled with helplessness.

"Junior Brother Zhou, do you know about that newly admitted Chu Feng?"

Zhou Yan frowned, his tone carrying undisguised contempt.

"He's just a good-for-nothing who got lucky and received the Ten Saints Inheritance.

If not for the Saint's legacy, what is he? How can he be compared to you, Saint Child?"

Xie Wuwang waved his hand, then said meaningfully,

"But now, bearing the name of the Inheritance, he is arrogant and dismissive of everything. Yesterday, I heard that he openly declared in Jade Balance Hall that all the Chiefs of our Tiansheng Academy are mere namesakes.

Especially the Nine Suns Burning Heaven Skill of Yan Yang Institute, he said it's not even fit to carry his shoes, far inferior to the sword dao of Jade Balance Hall."

"What?"

Zhou Yan instantly erupted in rage, and the fire-attributed spiritual energy around him uncontrollably leaked out, causing the temperature in the hall to suddenly rise.

The cultivation technique of Yan Yang Institute was his pride, and even more, his reverse scale.

"A good-for-nothing who relies on women for protection, how dare he comment on our Yan Yang ultimate skill? I'll cripple him!"

Xie Wuwang sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he hastily tried to dissuade him.

"Junior Brother Zhou, calm your anger. This child is currently favored by Dean Pei and Dean Su. If you provoke him privately, it will inevitably give others cause for criticism and give them a handle against you."

Zhou Yan was consumed by anger: "Are we just going to let him insult our sect like this?"

"Naturally not." Xie Wuwang changed the subject, "However, the Ten Halls Dao Debate Tournament is approaching.

On the Dao Debate Stage, disciples from each hall compete fairly, and punches and kicks have no eyes. If, in full view of everyone, you accidentally cripple him... I imagine no one will be able to find fault.

At that time, not only will you be able to openly teach him a lesson, but you will also be able to step on the halo of the Ten Saints Inheritance and become the champion of this Dao Debate Tournament."

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Yan's mind seemed to already be imagining the admiring gazes of the crowd upon him.

"But only the Chief Disciples of the ten halls can participate in the Dao Debate Tournament. Chu Feng has only just become an inner disciple, he—"

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Wuwang interrupted him with a gloomy face.

"I heard he has already become the Chief Disciple of Jade Balance Hall."

"What?" Zhou Yan looked incredulous, "Dean Pei actually chose him as the Chief Disciple, has she gone mad?"

Although Xie Wuwang also found it strange, this just gave him an opportunity.

He stared into Zhou Yan's eyes, his voice full of temptation.

"I am still recovering from my serious injuries, so the champion of this tournament must be you."

Saying this, he grabbed Zhou Yan's shoulder.

"I want you to fiercely trample him underfoot in front of everyone, make him wail and beg for mercy like a dead dog, and ruin his reputation!"

The simple-minded Zhou Yan was stirred to a fever pitch by these words. He clasped his fists heavily and said,

"Saint Child, rest assured, on the Dao Debate Stage, I will cripple him and make him kneel and beg for mercy like a dog."

The words 'kneel and beg for mercy like a dog' fell into Xie Wuwang's ears, making his face instantly turn extremely ugly.

Zhou Yan also realized and immediately explained,

"Saint Child, don't misunderstand, I wasn't saying you were like a dog... I meant Chu Feng would kneel and beg for mercy."

Xie Wuwang took a deep breath, took out a jade bottle, and handed it over.

"I have a Blazing Sun Burst Pill here. This pill can increase the explosive power of your fire-attributed spiritual energy by 30% in a short period, enough to handle any unexpected situation.

Take it for emergencies, and make sure nothing goes wrong."

Zhou Yan did not doubt him; instead, he was deeply grateful, feeling that the Saint Child not only gave him an opportunity to make a name for himself but also considered him so much, making him even more devoted.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Saint Child. Zhou Yan will not fail you!"

Watching Zhou Yan's grateful figure depart, a sinister smile appeared on Xie Wuwang's face.

"Chu Feng... I'd like to see how you're going to recover this time."

... The next day.

Dao Debate Courtyard.

A colossal, circular white jade plaza floated in mid-air. As the morning sun rose, golden rays cascaded down, illuminating the entire Dao Debate Stage in a brilliant splendor.

At this moment, the viewing stands around the Dao Debate Stage were already a sea of people. Tiansheng Academy disciples surged in like a tide, searching for the best vantage points, their clamor soaring to the heavens.

To the north of the Dao Debate Stage, on the tallest and most magnificent main viewing platform, ten jade seats, each emanating a different aura, were arranged in a row.

The Hall Masters of the ten major halls of Tiansheng Academy were already seated, each with profound auras and imposing pressure that made it difficult to look directly at them.

Dean Moyuan sat in the center, dressed in a brocade grey robe, his expression solemn, his body radiating the immense pressure of the Soul Transformation Stage, like a stabilizing force, holding the entire venue in awe.

Behind each Hall Master stood the Chief Disciple of their respective hall.

Behind the Hall Master of Yan Yang Institute, Zhou Yan stood with his arms crossed, the faint Golden Core Stage spiritual pressure emanating from him causing a stir among the Chief Disciples of other halls nearby, who all turned to look.

"Zhou Yan has actually broken through to the Golden Core Stage."

However, when everyone's gaze swept past Dean Pei Qingying of Jade Balance Hall, an uncontrollable uproar instantly erupted throughout the entire venue!

Standing beside the most beautiful Female Sword Immortal in the Eastern Domain was not Shi Yue or Lin Qiushui, the strongest in Jade Balance Hall as everyone expected, but Chu Feng in a white robe.

"Chu Feng, why is he standing behind Dean Pei?"

"That position is for the Chief Disciple!"

"You still don't know? Chu Feng became the Chief Disciple of Jade Balance Hall yesterday."

"Has Jade Balance Hall gone mad, to actually make Chu Feng the Chief Disciple?"

To let a newcomer at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment represent a hall in such an important Dao Debate Tournament seemed utterly childish to everyone.

Even Su Muxue was surprised when she saw Chu Feng standing behind Hall Master Pei Qingying.

On the high platform, the other Hall Masters also cast questioning glances.

Chu Feng seemed oblivious to the uproar below, merely standing calmly beside Hall Master Pei Qingying.

Hall Master Pei Qingying was even more unconcerned, even letting out a lazy yawn and whispering,

"Good disciple, remember to apply medicine for me after you're done fighting."

Hearing this in such an occasion, even Chu Feng couldn't keep a straight face.

At the inn, it was due to the circumstances, but now that they had returned to the Tiansheng Academy, there were countless female disciples in Jade Balance Hall, yet she still wanted him to apply medicine.

Just as his thoughts wandered, Moyuan slowly rose.

"Silence!"

His voice, like a great bell, resonated between heaven and earth.

"The Ten Saints Dao Debate is a grand event of our Tiansheng Academy, aimed at testing the cultivation achievements of disciples from each hall and engaging in discussions and sparring."

After a brief opening, Moyuan flipped his palm, and a jade talisman emitting a faint glow appeared in his hand. It was a magical artifact used to randomly draw the match-up list.

"Now, I announce that the Ten Saints Dao Debate Tournament officially begins!

The first match will be selected by the jade talisman!"

He injected spiritual energy, and the jade talisman immediately burst into brilliant light, with countless light and shadows rapidly circulating within it.

Everyone's hearts were pounding, anticipating the first match.

The light gradually faded, and two names slowly condensed on the jade talisman, clearly reflected in the void.

When they saw the two names, the entire Dao Debate Stage fell silent for a moment, then erupted in gasps of astonishment.

Chief Disciple of Yan Yang Institute: Zhou Yan

Chief Disciple of Jade Balance Hall: Chu Feng