After ten days of flight, Heavenly Tome Academy's treasure ship finally arrived at the Imperial Capital of the Great Jin Dynasty.
This was an Immortal-grade city, built high in the sky, hidden among the white clouds—appearing and disappearing, filled with ethereal immortal energy. Above the city hovered a dense golden sea of qi luck, within which coiled a Qi Luck Dragon so awe-inspiring that it made people tremble at the sight.
With a thought, Ian Song activated his Luck-Sight Golden Eyes.
"Holy crap!"
He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—the amount of qi luck in that golden ocean was far beyond billions. If he could seize all of it, he might even be able to cultivate all the way to Immortal Emperor.
Suddenly, his expression tightened as he sensed a majestic gaze fall upon him.
It was a pair of eyes as huge as lanterns—cold, emotionless, and overlooking all beings from above.
Ian Song quickly retracted his Luck-Sight Golden Eyes. He understood that his spying had drawn the Qi Luck Dragon’s attention.
He hadn’t expected the Qi Luck Dragon to be so sensitive.
The Imperial Capital had nine city gates.
Heavenly Tome Academy was one of the three great academies of the dynasty, and could enter through the Kun Gate.
At the city gate, people from Golden Dragon Academy were already waiting to receive them.
Although the academies were rivals, they still had to put on a show of courtesy.
As they approached the gate, Ian Song stowed away the treasure ship and led the teachers and students down to the city entrance.
"May I ask your name, fellow Daoist? Are you the leader of this group?"
A middle-aged man in gold robes led the Golden Dragon Academy group forward, sizing up Ian Song as he asked.
Ian Song replied, "I am Ian Song, chief teacher of Heavenly Tome Academy’s Lower-Division Class Five. May I ask your name, fellow Daoist?"
"Hahaha!"
Suddenly, a young man burst out laughing. "So Heavenly Tome Academy knows it’s going to lose, and just sent a bunch of nobodies to fill the numbers? Looks like Heavenly Tome Academy is getting worse and worse!"
The speaker was a young man, his brows full of arrogance and unruliness.
"No!"
Ian Song shook his head. "It’s because the academy doesn’t need to send anyone stronger. With me here, it’s enough."
"What did you say?"
The young man's face turned cold. "Say that again if you dare!"
Ian Song smiled. "I said, with me here, it’s already enough. Got it? If you still can’t understand, there’s nothing I can do—I’ve already made it as simple as possible."
"Hehe, maybe the other side just doesn’t have a brain!"
Hannah Dongli Frost chimed in.
"How dare you!"
The young man flew into a rage and was about to attack Hannah Dongli Frost, but was stopped by the gold-robed middle-aged man. "Teacher Dongfang, calm down!"
Then the gold-robed man turned to Ian Song. "Teacher Song, we teachers are talking. It’s not proper for your student to interrupt so casually, is it?"
"That’s right!" Ian Song nodded in agreement, then scolded Hannah Dongli Frost: "How can you say someone has no brain? Even if you know he doesn’t, you shouldn’t say it out loud. That’s just hurtful. Apologize to Teacher Dongfang!"
"I’m sorry, Teacher Dongfang. I misspoke just now!" Hannah Dongli Frost stifled her laughter and apologized sincerely.
The young man’s face turned ashen, his eyes filled with icy hostility.
"Enough. Let’s drop the matter and head into the city!"
The gold-robed middle-aged man said.
Half an hour later, the teachers and students of Heavenly Tome Academy were settled into a large estate.
Soon after, a senior teacher approached Ian Song, gloating: "Teacher Song, your student’s caused trouble. Do you know who that Teacher Dongfang is? He’s the only son of Prince Dongfang, destined to inherit the title. You’d better think about how to clean up this mess, or if he retaliates, it could drag the whole academy down!"
Ian Song shot the teacher a cold look.
"Bang!"
In the next instant, Ian Song struck, sending the teacher flying into the estate’s lake with a splash.
"Ian Song, what are you doing?"
The drenched teacher burst out of the water, looking utterly miserable, and shouted angrily at Ian Song.
Other teachers and students were drawn by the commotion and hurried over.
They all stared in shock at the scene.
"Do you know what kind of person I hate most? People like you!" Ian Song said coldly. "If you knew who he was, why didn’t you warn me sooner? Now you’re just playing the armchair critic—trying to see me make a fool of myself?
Don’t forget, I’m the team leader for this Tri-Academy Summit. Take my advice and drop your little schemes—if it happens again, I’ll have the academy replace you!"
"...You...!"
The teacher was left speechless with rage.
The other teachers quickly realized what was going on. Some recognized the prince’s heir, but kept quiet on purpose, hoping the prince’s heir would cause trouble for Ian Song.
"And you lot?"
Suddenly, Ian Song turned his gaze to the other teachers. "You’d better focus your energy on the upcoming debate. If you keep playing petty games in front of me, don’t blame me for sending you all back!"
"Teacher Song, that’s going too far. It was you and your student who offended the prince’s heir—why take it out on us? If you’re so tough, go deal with the prince’s heir yourself!"
One teacher said mockingly.
"Whoosh!"
In a flash, that teacher was sent flying into the lake as well.
"Ian Song, you’ve gone too far!"
The teacher climbed out of the lake, glaring coldly at Ian Song.
Ian Song swept his eyes over the group with disdain. "Useless, all of you. Heavenly Tome Academy has lost ten times in a row, and none of you reflect on it—you just keep scheming. I’m not just talking about you two, but all nine of you. If you’re so capable, try beating me together. If you win, I’ll apologize. If you can’t, then during this Tri-Academy Summit, you’ll do as I say. If you dare disobey, I’ll cripple you!"
The nine senior teachers were furious—Ian Song was too arrogant.
After all, the nine of them were all mid-Void stage cultivators, yet they were being so openly dismissed.
"Fine, but you said it—no backing out if you lose!"
"Don’t worry, I keep my word!" Ian Song said firmly.
"Go!"
In the next moment, all nine Void stage teachers attacked together.
But in the very next instant—
"Bang, bang, bang!"
All nine were knocked back, crashing heavily to the ground. To their shock, they realized their cultivation was sealed.
"See? You didn’t believe me when I said you were useless. Now what? All nine of you together couldn’t take even a single move from me!" Ian Song mocked.
The twenty senior and intermediate students were visibly stunned.
So strong!
Unbelievably strong.
The junior students, however, remained calm. They didn’t know Ian Song’s exact cultivation, but they knew their teacher was powerful.
"Alright, someone help these useless teachers to their rooms. Before the summit starts, everyone is to stay put!"
With that, Ian Song strode off to his own room.