"
The next moment, an incomparably powerful momentum, like a mountain ten thousand fathoms high, pressed down directly.
Xia Yu was caught off guard; his feet sank, and he almost knelt to the ground.
The next instant, he forcefully straightened up.
Not only that, he tried hard to stand up.
Yet, he found himself utterly powerless.
This is a powerhouse.
Xia Yu knew it clearly.
He could not resist even the force of the momentum alone.
However, Xia Yu never admitted defeat!
"Rise!"
The veins all over Xia Yu's body bulged, and he struggled hard to straighten his chest.
Gradually, Xia Yu straightened his legs.
Still, he was unable to straighten his chest.
Xia Yu stared with wide eyes, his bloodshot eyes full of capillaries.
The greater the oppression, the less willing he was to yield!
Ever since the moment his mother left, he had told himself that at any time, he had to rely on himself!
A person could only rely on himself!
His backbone would never kneel!
He knew that once he knelt, he would never be able to get back up.
"Give me, rise!"
Inside his body, the Ancestral Dragon power of the three Micro-worlds was outputting wildly.
A muffled drum-like sound came from his heart.
There was a feeling of being unbearably overburdened!
Yet, he still refused to concede defeat and struggled to straighten his chest.
Even a fraction of an inch would do!
Suddenly, a surge of battle intent soared into the sky from Xia Yu's body.
As if sensing Xia Yu's unyielding spirit, the battle intent burst forth.
Bolstered by the battle intent, Xia Yu slowly straightened his chest.
"Elementary battle intent?"
The woman let out a cold hum of surprise.
Originally, she had thought that a mere momentum would be enough to make Xia Yu kneel down.
Using her identity to mete out punishment, she would crush Xia Yu's fighting spirit and prevent him from ever making any further progress in the future.
She had not expected this fellow to be so stubborn, actually possessing battle intent as well.
"You think that by comprehending elementary battle intent, you can withstand this?"
The woman said coldly. With a thought from her, Xia Yu's just-straightened chest bent down once again.
Puff!
A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.
Xia Yu forced his head up, glaring fiercely at the woman, and suddenly broke into a smile.
His mouth was full of blood!
Blood trickled down his gums, drop by drop.
"Woman, do you think you can make me submit?"
"I will never submit!"
Xia Yu let out an angry roar from the depths of his throat.
The next moment, a layer of golden light suddenly appeared on his body and instantly burst into flames.
Chapter 31: Advancement of Battle Intent
"Roar!"
In mid-air, a beast-like roar suddenly resounded.
Wisps of golden light condensed into a tall figure.
A hundred zhang tall, clad in golden battle armor, he wielded a giant axe.
Lowering his head, his gaze like lightning, he glanced at Xia Yu.
Streams of golden flames were burning wildly across his body.
The next instant, he plunged straight down, rushing into Xia Yu's body.
"Intermediate battle intent? Burning battle intent!"
At this moment, the woman's expression finally shifted.
A minor cultivator in the Spirit Origin Realm had comprehended intermediate battle intent?
Are you kidding me?
The next moment, she saw Xia Yu straighten his chest.
In Xia Yu's eyes, golden flames seemed to be burning, brimming with fierce battle intent.
"Heh, woman!"
Xia Yu lunged forward, throwing a punch straight at her.
"Stop!"
Suddenly, a stern shout came from the horizon.
At the same time, a figure dashed over like lightning, slapping a palm toward Xia Yu and blocking that punch.
This person was none other than Xia Yu's master.
Xia Yu's body was sent flying back soundlessly.
Su Deyu frowned slightly, then returned to his normal expression.
He hadn't expected the power of Xia Yu's punch to be so formidable.
"Take your junior brother back," Su Deyu instructed Shen Yuxuan.
"Dean Su, stepping in like this isn't quite within the rules, is it? Do you think my Shengwu Academy has nobody left?" the woman said coldly.
In fact, she had harbored killing intent all along, waiting for Xia Yu to strike so she could kill him in a single blow.
However, she hadn't expected Su Deyu to appear, and his movements were even faster than hers.
Inwardly, she cursed what a pity; this Xia Yu deserved to die!
"Qi Huang, truly worthy of being a true disciple of Shengwu Academy, having entered the third layer of the Emperor Realm at such a young age."
Su Deyu said with a smile, "As for whether my actions are within the rules, it's not up to you to decide. Is there a problem with me disciplining my own disciple?"
Qi Huang fell silent.
"Su Deyu, to argue so sophistically, are you still as shameless as ever?"
Suddenly, a voice came from mid-air.
Before the sound had even faded, a figure appeared.
"Qi Huang greets Master." Qi Huang hurriedly bowed in salute.
The newcomer was none other than Qi Huang's master, Vice Dean of Shengwu Academy Yuan Pingtian.
Moreover, he was a vice dean with actual executive power; the dean was his own elder brother Yuan Pingdao, a direct descendant of Yuan Dehai.
"Su Deyu, aren't you going a bit too far by bullying my disciple like this?"
Su Deyu still wore a smile as he said, "Vice Dean Yuan, saying that is what goes a bit too far. I haven't even touched your disciple—how have I bullied her?"
"If you want to fight me, you don't need to look for excuses!" Su Deyu said with a smile. "How about it, shall we have a fight?"
Yuan Pingtian narrowed his eyes and remained silent.
He knew he couldn't beat Su Deyu.
In the entire Shengwu Academy, only his older brother could best Su Deyu by a narrow margin.
Otherwise, Wen Dao Academy would have been taken over by Shengwu Academy long ago.
He certainly wouldn't go looking for humiliation!
Su Deyu smiled and said, "It's good that you don't want to fight. Let the children handle matters among themselves; certain rules must be abided by."
"Otherwise, if no one plays by the rules, do you think any of the younger generation in your Shengwu Academy could escape the palm of my hand?"
Yuan Pingtian narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Are you threatening me?"
Su Deyu's expression darkened as he said coldly, "What kind of person do you take me for?"
"Am I that kind of person? I'm merely stating a fact to you—these are the rules set down back then by our ancestors and His Majesty."
"What's more, my Wen Dao Academy currently has only three disciples. How many does your Shengwu Academy have?"
"I am simply letting you understand one thing: do not break the rules! If you break the rules, your Shengwu Academy cannot afford the consequences!"
"Let the younger generation's matters be handled by the younger generation. What is the meaning of you, a Great Expert of the Emperor Realm, running out here?"
"My disciple is also of the younger generation; is she not allowed to advance her cultivation quickly?"
At this moment, Yuan Pingtian felt like slapping Su Deyu to death. You've managed to say every conceivable argument yourself!
"Cultivation at the Emperor Realm still counts as a young person? I am also in the Emperor Realm; does that mean all of us count as the younger generation?"
Su Deyu sneered.
If this fellow dared to say he was also part of the younger generation, he would immediately slap him flying.
Hearing Su Deyu's words, Yuan Pingtian was also stunned.
In the Daxia Dynasty, there were only two people with the highest cultivation: the ancestor of the An family and Shengwu Academy Dean Yuan Pingdao. Both were Half-Saints.
In reality, a half-step Saint was still in the Emperor Realm.
It was just that they had been stuck at the peak of the Emperor Realm for a long time; as they grew older and their cultivation increased, they were virtually invincible among their peers.
They had also gained some comprehension regarding the Saint Realm, yet they could not enter the Saint Realm.
Thus, the title of Half-Saint came to be.
If the Emperor Realm also counted as young people, then truly everyone would count as young people.
"Hmph! Of what use is mere verbal trickery? Even if the two true disciples of my Shengwu Academy don't make a move, the inner sect disciples are more than enough for that brat to handle. Anyone who dares to kill people from my Shengwu Academy must die!"
Yuan Pingtian seemed to feel it was not certain enough and said coldly, "No one can protect him, not even you!"
Su Deyu smiled, turned around, and walked away with an air of carefree grace.
"Master, are you just going to let him leave like this?" Qi Huang couldn't help asking.
"Otherwise what? I can't beat him anyway. That old fellow is at the Great Perfection of the Peak Emperor Realm; the two of us combined are no match for him either."
Yuan Pingtian said irritably. Today had been an unlucky outing, and today Shengwu Academy had also suffered bad luck.
Hearing his master's words, Qi Huang naturally couldn't say anything more.
However, he looked toward Xu Weilin and said coldly, "Why didn't you make a move directly to kill Xia Yu? Do you know that if you let him run away this time, who knows when we'll be able to kill him next?"
"As long as he isn't killed, the face of our Shengwu Academy will keep being slapped."
Xu Weilin narrowed his eyes, not daring to say much.
He knew very well what Qi Huang's strength was and what her status in Shengwu Academy was.
Precisely because of this, he hadn't made a move earlier, wanting to make a single breakthrough charge into the Emperor Realm.
"You think silence is useful? I'm telling you, the inner sect is responsible for this matter, and you, Xu Weilin, are responsible. If you can't kill Xia Yu, you can forget about stepping into the Emperor Realm."
With that, Qi Huang turned and vanished from sight.
A long while later, Xu Weilin looked at Qi Huang's retreating figure in silence.
Only, deep in his heart, he had already cursed Qi Huang countless times over.
Even you, an Emperor Realm cultivator, can't do it, nor can the Vice Dean, yet you take your anger out on me. For this alone, I, Xu Weilin, look down on you.
Of course, such things could only be said in his heart.
He didn't dare voice them aloud; otherwise, he figured his head would roll.
Glaring fiercely at the surrounding inner sect disciples and seeing the schadenfreude on their faces, Xu Weilin's expression darkened.
He said coldly, "I tell you all to cultivate diligently, but none of you ever take it seriously. The entire Shengwu Academy has had its face slapped repeatedly by a little kid in the Spirit Origin Realm. Do you have any shame left? Do you still plan on stepping outside?"
The inner sect disciples: "..."
At that moment, a figure descended from the sky.
"Where is Xia Yu?" Seventh Princess An Qing asked anxiously.
Chapter 32: Lilac Glaze Pill
"Greetings, Seventh Princess!"
The inner sect disciples of Shengwu Academy hurriedly bowed in salute.
Xu Weilin also nodded slightly to show respect.
"Where is Xia Yu?" An Qing waved her hand and asked coldly.
Hearing from Duanmu Wenshan that Xia Yu and Shengwu Academy had come to blows, she had rushed over at the very first moment.
She hadn't expected that upon arriving in the capital, Xia Yu wouldn't seek her out immediately.
Instead, he had gone straight to Shengwu Academy without even pausing for a step.
What she expected even less was that this fellow actually hadn't presented her jade pendant.
What kind of place was Shengwu Academy? To charge straight in like that without a word—it would be a miracle if nothing went wrong.
Hearing Seventh Princess An Qing ask again, Xu Weilin wore a complex expression.
This Seventh Princess An Qing was the most beloved princess in the Daxia Dynasty, immensely favored by the imperial family.
Her six older brothers were all above her, and when she was born, His Majesty the Emperor had been incomparably overjoyed.
Furthermore, Seventh Princess An Qing possessed astonishing talent in the sword dao and was even best friends with Lady Shangguan Mingyue.
Judging by her appearance, she was very nervous about Xia Yu. If she and Xia Yu had a good relationship...
In an instant, Xu Weilin thought of many things.
Hesitating for a moment, he still spoke respectfully, "Replying to the Seventh Princess, if the Xia Yu who came to cause trouble just now is the Xia Yu you know, he has gone to Wen Dao Academy."
"Did he see Sister Mingyue?"
"Lady Shangguan is not in the academy; she went out several days ago."
"Not here?" An Qing frowned. As soon as she returned, she had been meditating on sword intent and forgot to send a message to ask first.
"Then what about Xia Yu and your academy?" An Qing looked at the surrounding scene and asked coldly, "How are Xia Yu's injuries?"
Xu Weilin's expression stiffened as he said, "Replying to the Seventh Princess, in my opinion, his injuries are not heavy."
An Qing nodded slightly, her gaze flickering.
The next moment, without saying another word, she turned and left.
Xu Weilin watched Seventh Princess An Qing's retreating figure, his brows deeply furrowed.
After pondering for a moment, he turned and left, heading straight back into Shengwu Academy. He needed to find his master; Xia Yu must absolutely not be left alive.
He couldn't even be allowed to stay overnight.
Seventh Princess An Qing was his goddess.
He knew very well that he was unworthy of Shangguan Mingyue. Retreating to second best, An Qing was the best choice.
However, he had seen that trace of light in An Qing's eyes.
And he had seen the direction An Qing left in—that was the direction of Wen Dao Academy.
Xia Yu must die!
......
"Master, no matter what, please save my sister!"
In the grand hall of Wen Dao Academy, Xia Yu gave a deep bow toward Su Deyu.
"I have already notified Junior Brother Lin to come. Don't worry too much; I have already suppressed a portion of your sister's injuries."
Su Deyu smiled warmly.
At that moment, a voice came from behind.
"Senior Brother, what urgent matter requires calling me out? I'm already swamped to my wit's end!"
Xia Yu looked back and saw an extremely thin man with heavy dark circles under his eyes and unkempt hair.
His deep cyan robe looked almost black, and his entire body exuded the scent of medicinal herbs and sulfur.
"Xia Yu, call him Uncle-Master. Junior Brother Lin, take a look at my newly accepted disciple," Su Deyu said with a smile.
Xia Yu knew that curing his sister depended entirely on this alchemist before him.
Although his appearance was truly a bit too poor, Xia Yu knew that the more formidable a person was, the stranger their quirks tended to be.
"Xia Yu greets Uncle-Master Lin!"
Xia Yu respectfully gave a deep bow.
Lin Hulun glanced at Xia Yu and said offhandedly, "Not bad, very young."
After thinking for a moment, he produced a jade bottle and handed it to Xia Yu.
"This is Uncle-Master's welcome gift—a bottle of Monarch Realm Pei Yuan Pills, for you."
"Many thanks, Uncle-Master Lin!" Xia Yu respectfully accepted them.
"Alright, I've seen your disciple. If there's anything else, spit it out quickly; don't waste my time."
Lin Hulun's voice sounded somewhat dry and hoarse.
Xia Yu was a bit dazed. This Uncle-Master spoke so directly; he was clearly completely clueless about worldly social graces.
Su Deyu naturally knew Lin Hulun's personality and didn't mind in the least.
He smiled and said, "Junior Brother Lin, it's like this: Xia Yu's sister, Xia Yao, has water and fire forces spontaneously generating within her body under very peculiar circumstances. I'd like you to take a look."
"No time. My Lilac Glaze Pill still hasn't been successfully refined yet, and I'm busy!" Lin Hulun directly refused.
"The situation is serious!" Su Deyu emphasized his tone.
Lin Hulun paused.
He nodded and said, "Lead the way."
With that, he turned and walked out the door, only to suddenly stop when he reached the entrance.
"Where is she? Lead the way."
Lin Hulun glared at his senior brother with a matter-of-course expression.
Su Deyu smiled and took a stride to lead the front.
Looking at Xia Yao on the bed, Lin Hulun directly reached out to take her pulse.
The moment his fingers touched her pulse, his expression darkened, and he furrowed his brows.
His expression carried a heavy weight mixed with curiosity.
At this moment, Xia Yu held his breath, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Hulun withdrew his hand.
However, he said nothing, closed his eyes, and fell into silence.
In a flash, Xia Yu was overcome by a bad premonition.
His heart leaped into his throat.
"Nothing must go wrong!" Xia Yu clenched his fists tightly.
A full quarter of an hour passed before Lin Hulun let out a long sigh and said, "Her constitution is very special, bearing a strong resemblance to the legendary combination of the innate Fire Constitution and Water Constitution."
"Logically speaking, with such mutually conflicting water and fire constitutions, her body should have collapsed long ago. I don't know what kind of object is suppressing her water and fire forces."
"However, it is very obvious that whatever is suppressing her water and fire forces is slowly losing its power."
"If I'm not mistaken, the water and fire forces inside her body are terrifying! Once the suppressing object can no longer hold out, she will undoubtedly die!"
Instantly, Xia Yu felt his hands and feet turn cold.
"Uncle-Master Lin, is there any other way? As long as there is, I will definitely get my hands on it," Xia Yu said through clenched teeth.
"I have no way." Lin Hulun shook his head.
"Uncle-Master Lin, can you think of another way?" Xia Yu instantly grew anxious.
Lin Hulun glanced at Su Deyu, who nodded heavily in return.
After a moment of silence, Lin Hulun sighed and said, "There is a way, but this method only temporarily suppresses the water and fire forces, and it has a sequela."
"How this sequela will affect her in the future, I cannot say for sure."
"What sequela?" Xia Yu hurriedly asked.
"My method is to use a large amount of water-attribute pills and fire-attribute pills to form two forces within her body to counteract the water and fire forces emanating from her."
"However, this method is equivalent to indirectly fueling her water and fire forces. Though temporarily suppressed, when they erupt in the future, it will be even more violent."
Xia Yu was stunned. He had used this exact method before.
Hateful! The Nameless Old Man had only left behind pill formulas and knowledge of sovereign, minister, assistant, and courier herbs, but nothing on diagnosing illnesses.
For a moment, Xia Yu didn't know what to do either.
At that moment, Xia Yao slowly opened her eyes and said, "Alright, let's listen to the senior."
"Sister, we can't be rash, no! Don't forget, we can still go look for Sister Mingyue," Xia Yu hurriedly said.
"Sister Mingyue? Who is Sister Mingyue?" Lin Hulun suddenly asked.
"A friend of the Seventh Princess. She's the one who introduced us to come to the capital to find Sister Mingyue."
"Don't know her." Lin Hulun raised an eyebrow.
"Shangguan Mingyue. Her background and origins are rumored to hail from another Divine Prefecture, with a very deep background," Su Deyu offered an explanation.
Lin Hulun fell silent.
"If you go look for her, that's fine too; perhaps she has a way. But I only have this method. If you're willing to use it, come find me."
"I'm leaving."
Lin Hulun stood up and walked out without a trace of hesitation.
Xia Yu hurriedly accompanied him to the door. Just as Lin Hulun was about to leave, Xia Yu suddenly spoke up, "Uncle-Master Lin, sulfur cannot be used in the Lilac Glaze Pill."
"What did you say?"
Lin Hulun abruptly turned around and stared fixedly at Xia Yu.
Chapter 33: Xia Yu Refining Pills
"I said, sulfur cannot be used in the Lilac Glaze Pill."
Faced with Lin Hulun's gaze, Xia Yu inexplicably felt a twinge of panic.
"You understand alchemy?" Lin Hulun asked.
"I understand a little bit," Xia Yu said modestly.
After all, this person was his uncle-master, and being modest was always a good thing.
However, upon hearing Xia Yu's words, Lin Hulun's expression sank as he said coldly, "To understand is to understand, not to understand is not to understand. What does 'understand a little bit' mean?"