Being challenged so brazenly, Ye Chen had no intention of backing down. After all, his sign-in mission was to become the number one in Spirit Hall. At times like this, there was no need to be humble—he had to show off. He needed to impress Bibi Dong to raise her expectations, only then might he have a shot at regaining his freedom.
And these five clowns? Perfect for warming up.
Cracking his neck with a few sharp pops, Ye Chen grinned and looked at the five burly men standing before him.
"Quick question," he said casually. "Does the academy intervene in private duels? Like, if someone dies… will a teacher step in to deliver justice?"
That made the group burst out laughing.
"Justice? Ha!" one sneered. "This is Spirit Hall Academy, boy. If you're weak enough to die, you die. No one's going to lift a finger, even if you're the Pope's personal disciple."
"Right. As long as you don't cause mass destruction, no one cares how you fight," another added, smirking. "You could drop dead tomorrow and no one would bother collecting your corpse."
They all laughed louder, convinced Ye Chen was just a scared freshman. They had heard his name from Su Mei and thought he might be tough. But now? He looked like an easy target.
Killing him would make for a pretty good night, one of them thought darkly.
"So that's why even someone like Senior Sister gets bullied," Ye Chen muttered, mostly to himself. "It's not that she's weak—it's that Su Mei's jealous and trying to isolate her."
With that, Ye Chen summoned his Seven-Star Abyss Sword. A surge of soul power exploded from his body, strong enough to rustle the surrounding trees with a violent gust of wind.
The short-haired leader of the group suddenly felt a suffocating pressure bear down on him. His expression darkened.
"What the hell? He's only a Level 40 Soul Elder, but this power—! Even I, a Level 53 Soul King, feel overwhelmed. This is bad—"
Before he could finish his thought, a blade of red light flashed across his vision—a horizontal, crescent-shaped slash too fast to dodge.
A sharp, icy chill struck his waist.
"No… this can't be…"
His field of vision tilted as his consciousness faded. Moments later, he collapsed to the ground, his last image being a row of legs—his own upper body now separated from them.
For a moment, the nearby students froze, but after glancing toward the commotion, most just kept walking. A few gasped in surprise, but the indifference quickly returned.
Everyone went on with their business like nothing had happened.
Ye Chen sighed inwardly. No wonder Spirit Hall is so powerful…
Its new generation is forged in blood. In this ruthless environment, only the strong survive. The weak don't even deserve to breathe. It was brutal—completely inhuman.
Yawning, he headed for Dorm 3 on the 10th floor of the west building and collapsed onto the bed.
Fortunately, the academy provided individual dorms, saving him the hassle of roommates. After a quick breakfast the next morning, he made his way to the Advanced Class.
Unlike the main buildings, the Advanced Class was tucked away in a quiet courtyard behind the mountain. Ye Chen had asked around a lot before finding it.
As he pushed open the front gate, his eyes immediately landed on Hu Liena. She stood with a tall young man who bore a strong resemblance to her—most likely her older brother.
There were only about seven or eight people inside. Aside from Hu Liena, her brother, and a red-haired youth, the rest were clearly prodigies—each over level 50, with one even at level 59. None looked older than eighteen.
"Ye Chen, over here!" Hu Liena called out, waving.
Since he'd helped her teach Su Mei a lesson, her attitude toward him had changed drastically.
"Bibi Dong's coming?" Ye Chen asked as he walked over, eyes flashing.
He didn't want to stay trapped in Spirit Hall—it was a waste of time and a distraction from his real plans. But if he could sign-in in front of Bibi Dong… then everything might change.
He smiled faintly. This could be my chance.
Just as he reached Hu Liena's side, he felt a hostile gaze burning into him. Glancing to the side, he saw the red-haired youth staring at him with barely restrained anger—like a jealous lover ready to explode.
"Who's that guy, Senior Sister?" Ye Chen asked with a smirk.
Hu Liena glanced over and immediately frowned. "Annoying pest. I don't like him."
"Oh? Then who do you like?" Ye Chen teased.
A blush flashed across Hu Liena's flawless face. Though it faded quickly, Ye Chen didn't miss it.
"Just stand still and stop talking nonsense," she said, giving him a playful glare.
Right then, a divine aura descended.
Bibi Dong landed gracefully from the sky, radiating majesty, her scepter in hand. She was as untouchable as ever—elegant, cold, and breathtaking.
She scanned the courtyard until her eyes landed on Ye Chen.
"Come here," she said, raising a hand.
"…Me?" Ye Chen blinked, puzzled, but stepped forward.
The closer he got, the harder his heart pounded. Her figure, her beauty—it was overwhelming. His fingers twitched with a dangerous idea.
If I just reach out and touch her… maybe I could flip this whole power dynamic.
"You're staring," Bibi Dong said coldly.
Ye Chen chuckled. "Master, when you look this good, how can anyone not stare?"
Then, in an unexpectedly soft voice—barely audible—she said, "So I'm only beautiful when I dress up?"
Ye Chen scratched his head and leaned in, whispering, "Master, even bare-faced, you're the most stunning woman in the world. Peerless."
Her face didn't change, still calm and aloof—but her words bit coldly.
"Say one more word, and I'll cut out your tongue."
Moments later, she summoned Hu Liena to stand beside Ye Chen.
Then she turned to the gathered students and declared in a commanding tone:
"From this moment on, I hereby betroth Hu Liena to Ye Chen. Their wedding will be held soon."
The courtyard went dead silent.
Ye Chen blinked in shock. This… can't be real, right? There must be a catch.
And indeed, Bibi Dong continued:
"However, any who object may challenge Ye Chen in battle. Win, and you shall become Hu Liena's fiancé. The wedding duel will be held in three days!"