38: Top Secret

Huang Qisheng took a deep breath.

Duan Tiancheng walked over. That youth really was Lin Yan.

"Principal Duan."

"The Secret Realm has dissipated."

"Only your school's Lin Yan came out."

"My son and a team of Martial Artists from the Family were all lost inside."

"Do you need to give me an explanation?"

Hearing his words,

Duan Tiancheng chuckled lightly.

"Explanation?"

"Let's not even mention that life and death within a Secret Realm are unpredictable."

"Just based on your violation of the Martial Artists Association's regulations by forcefully monopolizing the area,"

"No matter how many die, it's entirely deserved."

"You...!"

Huang Qisheng's face darkened with anger.

Duan Tiancheng's expression turned cold, his right hand resting on the hilt of the great sword before him.

"Utter one more word of nonsense."

"You can see if I'll need to explain anything to the nation after I kill all of you right now!"

Lin Yan, who had remained silent until now, raised an eyebrow.

This was the first time he had seen Old Duan take action.

He never expected this old man to be so overbearing and forceful.

"Good!"

The crowd watching from afar raised their arms in approval.

"Well said, Principal Duan!"

"Exactly!"

"This Huang Family has been lawless for too long, finally they've hit a steel plate!"

"That young master who died in the Secret Realm probably wasn't a good egg either."

"Serves them right."

Huang Qisheng's face alternated between green and white.

A slap in the face!

No!

This couldn't even be called a slap in the face anymore; this was rubbing the Huang Family's face into the ground with furious friction.

But the problem was, he truly didn't dare say another word.

This was the power and status under the Martial Dao civilization.

Unless a key figure from the Jing Family, which his Huang Family relied on, was here.

But that was clearly unrealistic.

Just as Duan Tiancheng said, where's the evidence?

Also, they had indeed violated the regulations.

"Let's go!"

Huang Qisheng gave a cold glance at Lin Yan behind Duan Tiancheng, then turned and left.

The strongest freshman.

Hmph.

A Prodigy that hasn't grown up is nothing!

You'd better not give me a chance to catch you!

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Tian Rang, watching from a distance, also glanced at Duan Tiancheng and Lin Yan before leading the Tian Family members away.

Duan Tiancheng put away his great sword, turned to look at the Youth in Black behind him, his tone helpless.

"You kid."

"Causing trouble for me the moment you leave school, is that it?"

Lin Yan took off his baseball cap and shrugged.

"Although I struck first,"

"they brought it upon themselves."

Duan Tiancheng's expression froze.

What kind of logic was that?

Before he could speak,

Lin Yan swiped on his wristband.

"I'm planning to go to the next Secret Realm."

"Are you coming?"

Duan Tiancheng was speechless.

"Are you treating me, this old man, as your bodyguard?"

Lin Yan looked at him with surprise in his eyes.

"Aren't you?"

"Didn't you say I should tell you if I'm leaving the school?"

Duan Tiancheng felt choked.

He suddenly had a strong feeling that one day he would be choked to death by this kid's words.

"Do you know who you just offended?"

Lin Yan gave him a look reserved for idiots.

"Of course I know."

"The Huang Family of Modu, a third-class Family."

"Their superior is the second-class Jing Family, which Jing Anxiang and Jing Pengtian from Anyi University belong to."

Duan Tiancheng held his forehead.

"Since you're so clear about it, how dare you still run around everywhere now!"

Lin Yan smiled.

"Otherwise, should I just stay at school?"

He thought for a moment.

"Old Man Duan."

"If you had two choices now."

"One is to cultivate in seclusion for over a month, raising your cultivation by two or three levels."

"The other is to gain experience everywhere, raising your cultivation by a whole major Realm or more."

"Which would you choose?"

Duan Tiancheng didn't hesitate in the slightest.

"Of course, gain experience everywhere."

After he finished speaking, his expression paused, and his eyes fixed intently on Lin Yan.

"You mean..."

Lin Yan nodded.

"Yes."

"I can do it!"

He paused briefly.

"At most, they'll send people to follow me into the Yellow-Tier Secret Realm."

"Those people won't be my match."

"So the only danger is likely something like today."

Hearing this,

Duan Tiancheng immediately fell into hesitation.

To be honest,

Raising one's cultivation by two or three levels through over a month of seclusion was already a goal beyond the reach of most people.

The other choice was even more like a fantasy.

But when he thought of this kid's series of beastly actions recently... he slightly turned his head, his eyes meeting Mo Fan's under the distant giant tree.

"Kid."

"The way you look now, at least change your clothes first."

"Come back with me first."

Lin Yan keenly caught his movement, glanced into the distance, his eyes filled with confusion.

Just giant trees.

Not a single person in sight.

What was Old Man Duan looking at?

He really wanted to say he had brought clothes.

"Alright."

...Somewhere on Blue Star.

Before a long table under dim lights.

"The probe is complete."

"Same as that Gu Chen."

"Besides Duan Tiancheng, Mo Fan from the Dragon Nation's Black Ice Modu Branch is also by that kid's side."

A hoarse voice sounded softly.

"Duan Tiancheng."

"Former member of the Dragon Nation's Black Ice Modu Branch."

"Retired after being injured on a mission, founded Haotian University."

"cultivation should be around the fourth or fifth level of the Seventh Rank."

"Mo Fan."

"Member of the Dragon Nation's Black Ice Modu Branch."

"A target with a Seven-Star Threat Index over a decade ago."

"Current cultivation, unknown. Most likely at the high levels of the Seventh Rank or invincible within the Seventh Rank."

Several figures in black robes tapped their fingers on the table.

"Recommend dispatching second-level members to intervene against the two."

"Then sacrifice the fifth-level member, the Tian Family, which has most likely already entered Black Ice's field of vision, to carry out the kill."

"Agree."

"Feasible."

"I think."

"To increase the operation's success rate."

"We can bring that Huang Family into the fold."

"At this stage, their success rate would be very high."

"With two Dragon Nation third-class Families acting together, that Lin Yan will definitely die."

The expressions of the few paused.

"Good suggestion."

"Indeed."

"Then let the Tian Family handle it. They're already in Black Ice's sights anyway."

...Haotian University.

Principal's Office.

Lin Yan kept glancing at the lazy young man on the sofa.

Was this why Old Man Duan wanted him to come back first?

Who was he?

Duan Tiancheng and Mo Fan exchanged glances.

Will you do it or shall I?

You do it.

Alright then.

Mo Fan sat up slightly straighter, cleared his throat.

"Lin Yan, eighteen years old, born in..."

Duan Tiancheng held his forehead.

Lin Yan's mouth twitched slightly.

Why did this feel so familiar.

"Ahem..."

"This."

"Can you just get to the point?"

Mo Fan's expression froze.

Duan Tiancheng's face showed helplessness.

"Let me do it."

He composed himself.

"Kid."

"What you're about to hear next will be top secret."

"No matter what decision you make, you must keep it to yourself after hearing it."

He slid over a Confidentiality Agreement.

"Understood?"

Lin Yan looked at the thick stack of papers on the table before him.

"Um..."

"Can I choose not to listen?"

"Cough... cough..."

Mo Fan, who had just taken a sip of tea, choked.

Duan Tiancheng, who had just finished preparing how to start, froze.

Damn it!

Shouldn't he be looking curious and nodding solemnly?

Why doesn't this kid ever follow the script?

"NO!!"