12: Chapter 12's greatest strength is his ability to endure hardship.

Wang Huan was aggressive, his voice booming like a great bell and his eyes like lightning as they locked onto Ning Yuan.

He took a step forward, his hand like an eagle's claw, grabbing straight for Ning Yuan's shoulder.

Sensing the threat to his master, Wang Zai let out a low growl from his throat, baring his sharp teeth.

Ning Yuan, however, remained calm and composed, even finding the leisure to reach out and knead the Corgi's round butt twice as a sign of comfort.

As expected.

There was no need for him to act at all.

"Wang Huan, how dare you!"

A low roar filled with endless fury exploded in the office.

Jiang Baihe stood up abruptly from his seat, his face so dark it looked like it was about to drip water.

Although restricted by academy regulations from directly using Martial Emperor-level power, the terrifying pressure originating from his level of existence shrouded the entire room like Mount Tai pressing down!

Wang Huan's expression changed suddenly; he felt as if an invisible giant hand was choking his throat, making it incredibly difficult to breathe.

His forward-charging body stumbled back several steps uncontrollably, his face deathly pale.

He hurried to bow and explain: "Dean Jiang! Please calm your anger! You may not know, but this person just heavily injured an exchange student from the Stone Python Clan at the academy plaza. His methods were brutal and his behavior was extremely atrocious..."

"Get lost!"

Jiang Baihe didn't listen to his explanation at all, throwing those two words directly at him.

Wang Huan was struck dumb on the spot.

How could the usually gentle, elegant, and even overly refined Dean Jiang lose his composure like this today?

The reason he dared to move against Ning Yuan just now was partly out of anger, and partly because he thought the kid was likely just an ordinary person who had gotten in through the back door.

After all, the official enrollment for the Martial Academy had long since ended; those coming in at this time were almost always in that situation.

To him, teaching a connected person a lesson to give the foreign friends an explanation was not inappropriate.

But looking at it now... the situation seemed completely different from what he had imagined.

Could it be that this kid's background was extraordinary?

He cautiously raised his head, re-examining Ning Yuan.

Could it be... Dean Jiang's illegitimate son?

Wang Huan secretly compared the looks of the two, and the more he looked, the more he felt there was a resemblance!

Both were equally handsome, and this kid even seemed to be the 'blue that excels the indigo,' surpassing Dean Jiang in his youth!

Looking at the kid again, facing the pressure of a Disciplinary Director like himself, he had remained calm from beginning to end, not even blinking an eye.

This kind of confidence was definitely not something an ordinary student could have!

Wang Huan instantly sucked in a breath of cold air.

Damn it!

It looks like I've really kicked a steel plate this time!

He was almost certain of his theory: this kid was definitely Dean Jiang's illegitimate son!

He had stumbled upon a major secret of the academy's upper management!

For a moment, his heart began to beat like a drum.

Watching Wang Huan's eyes darting around, Jiang Baihe instantly guessed what he was thinking, and his elegant face turned green with rage on the spot.

"Get out, get out, get out!"

He pointed at the door, furious.

"I think you're far too idle as the Disciplinary Director! Director Wang, perhaps you should go to the Star Pass and loosen up your muscles properly!"

With that, he flicked his sleeve abruptly.

A gentle but irresistible force swept up Wang Huan and threw him directly out of the office.

With a loud "thud," Wang Huan fell flat on his face outside the door.

Wang Huan was scared out of his wits and didn't dare to stay for a second longer.

The Human Race's Star Pass was a place of brutal slaughter. Having lived in comfort for years, his combat strength was far inferior to those fierce people who fought year-round; going there would cost him a layer of skin even if he didn't die.

He scrambled up from the ground and bowed repeatedly toward the office door.

"Dean Jiang! It was my eyes that failed to recognize Mount Tai! I was reckless! Another day, another day I will certainly come to apologize!"

With that, he fled without looking back.

He came in aggressively but left like a stray dog.

Ning Yuan watched the whole thing with utter calm, giving the man a two-word evaluation in his heart.

A clown.

Jiang Baihe sat back down, his face returning to its gentle state.

"Xiao Yuan, I've let you see something embarrassing."

Ning Yuan quickly waved his hand: "Ninth Martial Uncle, it's nothing."

Then, he briefly recounted the sequence of events that had occurred on the plaza.

"Xiao Yuan, you did the right thing."

After listening, Jiang Baihe nodded, indicating he shouldn't worry about it.

"You should have a general understanding by the time you arrived. Today's Ancestral Star is in a delicate period of change. Many foreign races have sent quite a few geniuses from their clans under the guise of 'exchange learning.' Of course, this isn't free; they've paid a massive amount of resources to the Federation for it."

"With more foreign students, various troubles naturally arise."

"Although our Human Race currently ranks fourth among the myriad races, many foreign races are not convinced. They always feel we rose too quickly and lack foundation."

"Furthermore, those foreign exchange students generally have very strong backgrounds and enjoy good treatment in the academy. Over time, this has bred the kind of situation you saw today."

"Competition between the younger generation isn't usually a big deal. However, there are always some traditionalists in the academy who feel the Human Race shouldn't make too many enemies and advocate for a soft approach. Therefore, they basically settle these conflicts with minor punishments, which has led to some foreign brats acting increasingly arrogant."

Hearing this, Ning Yuan suddenly understood.

It seemed that Wang Huan from earlier was one of those so-called "traditionalists."

For him to dare to favor foreign races so blatantly, he must have at least a Dean-level backer behind him.

"As elders, there are some things we ultimately cannot personally intervene in..." Jiang Baihe said, looking at Ning Yuan meaningfully.

Ning Yuan smiled.

"Ninth Martial Uncle, don't worry, I understand."

Jiang Baihe also smiled.

Talking to smart people saves a lot of effort.

Others might not know, but he did.

This Little Martial Nephew of his possessed the Star Sacred Bone and was a future Martial Saint.

Suppressing this group of so-called foreign geniuses would be as easy as taking something from a pocket, wouldn't it?

"Go ahead and do what you need to do! If the sky falls, your Martial Uncle will hold it up for you!"

Ning Yuan chuckled.

"With those words from you, I'm completely at ease."

A few mere foreign brats dared to act wildly in the highest institution of the Human Race's Ancestral Star?

They were asking for it!

He had already begun rubbing his palms together, eager to give it a try.

The two laughed together, the atmosphere very harmonious.

"Alright, Xiao Yuan, let's arrange your dormitory first."

Jiang Baihe opened his optical computer.

"The academy is mainly divided into three major departments: the Qi and Blood Academy, the Transcendent Academy, and the Flying Heaven Institute, corresponding to the three stages of Qi and Blood Warrior, Transcendent Warrior, and Flying Heaven Warrior. Since you are currently a Qi and Blood Warrior, the Qi and Blood Academy is the most suitable for you."

"How about this, I'll first arrange a single-occupancy detached villa for you over at the Qi and Blood Academy? Once you promote to Extraordinary, we can change locations."

Despite the Great Xia Martial Academy's vast territory, the number of students was also extremely large. Coupled with the fact that various cultivation sites occupied a lot of space, housing resources were actually quite tight.

Most students shared a villa with several others.

Those who could enjoy the treatment of a single-occupancy detached villa were all top-tier figures in the academy.

However, Ning Yuan unexpectedly refused.

He asked with feigned curiosity: "Ninth Martial Uncle, I heard our Martial Academy's library has an extremely rich collection. I'd like to live somewhere closer to it."

This was naturally related to his previous guesses about the system.

Living near the library might make it easier to trigger system missions.

Jiang Baihe was somewhat surprised to hear this.

"That works too. But living in a single villa doesn't stop you from going to the library, does it?"

He was a bit worried that Ning Yuan, having grown up in luxury, wouldn't be used to it.

Ning Yuan's face showed an incredibly sincere smile.

"I don't have many hobbies; I just love the fragrance of books."

This was pure nonsense.

Jiang Baihe shook his head with a laugh.

"Fine, as you wish. But those living over there are basically auditing students who entered through the 'librarian' channel. The accommodation is a standard villa for four. Are you sure?"

Hearing this, Ning Yuan was overjoyed. Didn't this align perfectly with the system?

He immediately patted his chest and guaranteed with a face full of righteousness:

"Ninth Martial Uncle, don't worry! My greatest strength is that I love to eat bitterness and can endure hardship!"

Jiang Baihe couldn't help but laugh.

This Little Martial Nephew of his was truly an interesting fellow.

He immediately completed the housing procedures for Ning Yuan and watched him leave.

Only when Ning Yuan's figure had completely disappeared from the office door...

...did Jiang Baihe slowly speak toward an empty corner.

"Shadow, long time no see."

A cold voice with a hint of metallic texture came from the void.

"You're a bit of a cowardly Dean."

The tone was blunt and full of sharp-tongued sarcasm.

The sip of tea Jiang Baihe had just taken almost made him choke.

He complained irritably: "Do you think I don't want to handle it? The relationships involved are intricate and there's too much at stake!"

The entity named Shadow gave another evaluation.

"Still cowardly."

Jiang Baihe rolled his eyes.

"Fine, fine, I'm too lazy to waste words with you. Get lost already. With me here, Xiao Yuan is perfectly safe in the Martial Academy."

The aura in the void slowly faded, leaving only a final echo.

"That Wang Huan from just now, mark him down."

Jiang Baihe picked up his teacup, his gaze instantly turning cold as he nodded.

"Don't worry, I know what to do."