Evan Chu glared angrily at Marcus Gongsun across the Life-and-Death Platform. "What’s your deal? Isn’t it forbidden for anyone to interfere here? You actually dared to block me from killing that scum. If you don’t give me a satisfactory explanation, I swear I’ll fight you to the death!"
A murderous aura radiated from him, so intense it seemed to freeze the air itself. Watching from the side, Dean Xavier felt his scalp go numb.
Just then, Roxanne and Jenny rushed to Evan’s side. Seeing the blood at the corner of his mouth, they both asked in unison, "Evan, are your injuries serious?"
Being cared for by two stunning beauties was basically the coolest thing ever. Down below, countless spectators shot Evan envious looks. One flashy guy even grumbled, "Why couldn’t I be the one injured up there? With beauties like that worrying for me, dying would be totally worth it!"
"With your sorry mug? Dream on! If you want beauties, try again in your next life!" a male student nearby shot back instantly.
After Dean Xavier handed Evan a healing pill, Evan didn’t swallow it right away. Instead, he tucked it into his storage belt. To him, these injuries were nothing. Just a couple days ago, he’d healed up from two broken ribs—so what was this?
But Dean Xavier’s gaze toward Evan was different. That pill was a fifth-grade healing elixir, worth at least twenty high-grade Starstones. He only had three in total, and if it weren’t for Evan’s monstrous talent, he’d never have parted with something so precious.
Although Marcus Gongsun had waved his palm as if it were nothing, Dean Xavier knew exactly how much force was behind it. A Heaven Martial Realm expert’s casual strike could kill any Earth Martial fifth-level cultivator, but Evan had only been injured. For a moment, Dean Xavier was left speechless by the result.
"I’m not dying just yet. It’d be a waste to use it now. Thanks, old man. But Marcus Gongsun still owes me an explanation today—don’t try to stop me." Evan forced his anger down to the bare minimum.
Roxanne and Jenny stared at him, faces full of worry. Jenny urged, "Evan, you should take the pill. Don’t leave any hidden dangers."
"Jenny, Roxanne, I’m fine! I get how you feel, but am I really that weak as your man? Today, I’ll show you just how strong I can be!" Evan’s voice rang loud and clear, so everyone could hear him.
Down in the crowd, Quinn Wu trembled all over at those words—especially the part about being 'your man.' What did that mean? It meant the woman he’d always admired, Jenny Sima, had already become someone else’s, and he hadn’t even realized it.
No wonder she’d always ignored his advances. In that instant, all Quinn wanted was to kill Evan Chu. His killing intent spiked, fueled by jealousy and rage.
Ryan Ouyang, still shaken, quietly asked Marcus Gongsun, "Vice-Dean, why did you stop our duel? I was confident I could finish him in three moves."
Marcus Gongsun shot Ryan a look. "Ryan, if it weren’t for your father’s sake, I wouldn’t have bothered saving you. You think you could kill him in three moves? Let me tell you: if I hadn’t blocked his attack just now, you’d be dead—dead and gone."
With your current strength, you’re not even fit to carry his shoes. To be blunt, not even the academy’s number-one ranked student might be his match. Do you get it now?"
Ryan Ouyang stood there like a statue, Marcus Gongsun’s words stabbing into his chest like a sword. The blow hurt more than any physical pain—this was psychological devastation.
"How is that possible? How could he be so strong? Just now, he couldn’t even take one of my sword strikes—how could this be?" The question kept spinning in his mind.
Just then, Marcus Gongsun walked up to Evan Chu with a big smile and said, "Evan, I know you’re pretty pissed right now, but I had no choice. Ryan is the son of an old friend—I couldn’t just stand by and watch you kill him."
Evan Chu was so frustrated he nearly coughed up blood. The anger he’d just suppressed flared up again, and he felt like punching Marcus Gongsun right in the face.
Killing him was out of the question—a casual palm from Marcus had shattered Evan’s strongest attack. The gap in strength was obvious; Evan wasn’t stupid enough to pick a fight he couldn’t win.
He couldn’t do it now, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t do it in the future. In Evan’s mind, Marcus Gongsun was already marked for death—it was just a matter of time.
"You’re shameless! If I’d been weaker and he killed me, would you have just watched? What do you know about fairness, about life-and-death duels? You don’t respect anyone at all!" Evan didn’t give Marcus Gongsun any face, shouting straight at him.
"I know this wasn’t fair. But relax—if you were in danger, someone would’ve saved you too. Dean Xavier here wouldn’t let you die. Go ahead and name your price. I know you’re the best at squeezing compensation out of people." Marcus Gongsun sighed helplessly. For the sake of his friend’s son, he’d have to pay up big time.
Evan Chu never let things slide. Last time, his extortion was still fresh in everyone’s mind. This time, he was probably going to drain years’ worth of Marcus’s savings.
Evan slowly calmed his anger, glanced at the two women beside him, then at the still-shaken Ryan Ouyang, and finally smiled. "Fine. If you can meet my demands, I’ll let it go. But if anyone dares mess with my women again—even a Heavenly King—I won’t let it slide."
Evan’s words made Quinn Wu even angrier down below—he almost charged onto the Life-and-Death Platform to settle things right then. The woman he’d chased for so long was already Evan’s, and now everyone knew it. The humiliation was unbearable.
"I want three stalks of Soul Snow Grass, and double the original Starstone stipend for a full year. That’s my bottom line. If you won’t agree, I don’t mind fighting you for real. Sure, I’m not your match now—but that won’t always be true. Unless you kill me today, one day I’ll cut you down with my sword."
Marcus Gongsun’s expression flickered. Evan’s demands were way too high—Starstones were incredibly rare, and even all his assets could only cover half a year. As for Soul Snow Grass, that was a Heaven-tier spirit herb, and the academy only had one stalk. He’d need Dean Xavier’s approval to get it.
For a moment, he had no idea how to respond. Refusing outright in front of so many people was impossible, but agreeing was just as hard. Instinctively, he glanced at Dean Xavier, who was grinning mischievously.
"Evan, we probably can’t meet your first demand. Soul Snow Grass is Heaven-tier, and the academy only has one stalk. But I can promise you the Starstone stipend for a year on Marcus’s behalf—as compensation for his years of service to the academy," Dean Xavier said.
"Only one stalk? How can I get more Soul Snow Grass?" Evan knew the herb was crucial for Luna the sword spirit. Once he broke through to Earth Martial Realm, he could finally learn the heaven-defying Ninefold Stellar Transformation technique—but Luna hadn’t taught him yet because her soul was still too weak.
"Usually, you can only get it at auctions. If Soul Snow Grass shows up, I’ll do my best to get it for you."
"Evan, this isn’t the place for a long talk. Let’s go somewhere else. Since the dean has agreed, you should be satisfied, right?" Marcus Gongsun said.
After all, having the academy’s two deans revolve around a single student was a huge loss of face—and it directly affected the academy’s reputation.
Dean Xavier nodded knowingly at Evan, and Evan didn’t want to push things too far. If he could quickly get Soul Snow Grass and Starstones, he could finally settle things for both the Bloodshadow Berserker Lion and Luna the sword spirit.
"All right, old man, let’s head to your office!" Evan said. Then he turned to the two women: "Don’t worry about me. I know what I’m doing. Today, I’ve officially acknowledged you both as my women—so get along from now on!"
Jenny Sima and Roxanne Lin both nodded. In fact, Roxanne had long treated Jenny as Evan’s woman—Evan just hadn’t noticed yet.
"Sister Roxanne!" "Sister Jenny!" The two women smiled at each other.
Dean Xavier and Marcus Gongsun leapt into the air, vanishing in a few blinks. Evan wasn’t about to fall behind—he instantly activated Shifting Position and chased after them.
"Evan Chu, don’t you dare leave! I’m gonna kill you!" Quinn Wu finally exploded, shouting as Evan departed.