The realm instantly shattered, revealing his old room. His eyes darted around until he saw someone resembling him. At first he thought he was looking at a mirror, but he didn't have one. The figure stared back for a brief moment before turning into a trail that rushed forward into his palm.
Having been absent for three days again, punishments awaited him at the academy. The good thing was that his strength had advanced just enough to earn him a second year there.
He walked into the sitting room. It was quiet as always, smelling of herbs. Clearly there was no food in the house, but the academy cafeteria offered decent meals, and with the gold coins he still had, purchasing food would not be a problem.
He walked, as always, to the academy. Once again the gate was closed, but when the gatekeeper saw him he rushed forward, opening it as if someone important were about to enter.
Li Xuan knew too well that the man wanted money—he had given him an emerald coin a few days ago—but he had no money to waste. He simply stepped through the small opening the man had made.
"Hey," the man stammered to himself, his face falling with disappointment.
Li Xuan walked toward the inner courtyard, which was quiet but filled with noise coming from different classrooms. The academy buildings each had four floors, each belonging to a different class. First-year students were housed in the building closest to the gate, from 1H to 4H. The higher classes were deeper inside, beyond other gates he could barely see and would not reach until the year ended.
The second floor, as expected, was where he and the others were placed. He hadn't heard of Xiao Fengqi in the last few days, but he expected to soon.
"I've always wondered why we have so many failures at Mingdu State Soul Academy," a voice far too familiar said. He prayed it would be someone else as he turned.
The moment his eyes met the strange figure's, he froze. After missing so many days of school, he was due for punishment — and who better to deliver it than the vice chancellor of student management.
"Meet the vice chancellor," Li Xuan said, clasping his hands together in reverence, but the middle-aged man did not seem pleased.
"Do you think your father owns this school, that you can come and go whenever you want? I shouldn't have to remind you of the rules and regulations, should I?"
The man took one deliberate step, then another, approaching with eyes sharp like a hawk on its prey. His dark gaze was terrifying, especially since his wisdom spiritual essence was a dark crow, an attribute excellent for torturing students.
"Student apologizes for mistakes," Li Xuan said, keeping his words as short as possible; each was weighed before his lips opened.
Black smoke escaped from the man's body, leaving traces in the air. This ominous energy made Li Xuan feel as if he were inhaling the scorched feathers of a bird under the midday sun.
He lowered his eyes, not daring to look up. The man towered over him, standing tall like an unyielding mountain.
"You must be Li Xuan."
The vice chancellor raised his glasses above the bridge of his nose, staring at him as if Li Xuan owed him money or punishment.
"Yes," Li Xuan replied. He did not bow to just anyone, especially rich brats, but someone who tortured students for sport was not to be trifled with. The man acted like the head of the disciplinary committee, operating specifically within the inner academy.
Li Xuan couldn't help but wonder who had reported him. He had skipped lessons for what felt like forever, and teachers took little effort with attendance unless you were a genius. He had one likely guess.
"You are the savior of losers, aren't you?" the man asked.
That question hit hard; the fingers of Li Xuan's clasped hands dug into his skin. This man, indeed, was dark—just like his devil attribute.
"Yes."
The vice chancellor laughed. "Aren't you one foolish, bold brat? I hope you know what offenders get."
His sharp gaze intensified; Li Xuan could feel it tear through him as if scanning his soul like a lie detector.
Li Xuan slowly knelt on one knee.
"Haha, I still don't understand why you fools still exist in my Mingdu Academy," the vice chancellor said.
He raised his foot and stomped on Li Xuan's knee, pressing harder until it crushed to the ground with a loud thud. Li Xuan flinched from the pain.
"You come late, your cultivation is weak and useless," the man said, walking around Li Xuan and scanning every inch of him as if he carried an explosive device.
"Know one thing: my Mingdu Academy isn't for losers. You look like a beggar in the wrong place." His insults cut deep. This was the main reason Li Xuan hated nobles, but the vice chancellor wasn't one; his cultivation made him arrogant even in front of elites.
Li Xuan's heart clenched. He wanted to throw a few words back at this arrogant old man, but he had no right to.
"Oh," the vice chancellor said, his gaze sharpening. "Are you angry, young man?"
"Hmph," Li Xuan sneered.
The man stomped his foot and raised the other, sending it flying into Li Xuan's back. It landed with a thud that sent him farther than the Zhao family minions had.
His face struck the ground, scraping his nose and forehead.
"Stand up," the vice chancellor ordered, even before his foot returned to its original position.
"You dare show your boldness in front of me. Do you think we grow strong by sitting around? Get out of my Mingdu right now," he shouted, loud enough that birds perched on nearby branches flew away in panic.
He pointed a finger at Li Xuan. "Fools like you shouldn't even be allowed in here." He placed his hand behind his back, his eyes locked on Li Xuan like a hawk.
Li Xuan stood and clenched his fists. He was used to humiliation, but this was a new level—especially coming from a professional like the vice chancellor. The man had qualified for higher positions in the academy but had denied them all just to torment students.
"Vice chancellor," Li Xuan said, stepping forward. "Don't you think you've gone too far?"
The vice chancellor shot him a sharp look that sent a bright rush through Li Xuan's eyes. He stumbled back. "Soul attack."
Li Xuan muttered to himself; the old man was more terrifying than he had thought. Indeed, one of the most powerful figures in Mingdu State Soul Academy, the attack tore through his brain, making his vision blur.
"Fool, since you desire, I will drag your corpse out of her myself."
Li Xuan covered his face with his palm, trying to recover from the attack. His ears rang so loudly that he barely heard the man's words.
The vice chancellor dissolved into dark mist and appeared before Li Xuan in an instant. His hand shot out and grabbed Li Xuan's neck, yanking him upward.
"Your bravery is indeed worthy of attention," the man said with a smirk that lasted a heartbeat before his lips twitched. "But brave men do not often live long enough to see the next morning."
He sank his fingers deeper into Li Xuan's neck. Li Xuan couldn't find the opportunity to unleash his own strength, let alone draw a breath.
The vice chancellor flung him free; Li Xuan landed on his knees, his hands pressing the ground as he stared at the concrete beneath him, gasping for air.
"Young man, you are only a five-turn spirit lord. Don't get too proud."
His shoe extended into Li Xuan's view. The man slowly lifted it until it met Li Xuan's chin, forcing his face up to meet that sharp gaze.
Li Xuan's fingers dug into the concrete, nails bending from the strain. This was another humiliation he had to endure without fighting back, like a useless slave.
He tried to keep his eyes calm, but the rage in his chest roared like a volcano about to erupt.
"Li Xuan, you must be a descendant of the Li family. Pathetic, just like your ancestors, but brave with stupidity running through your veins. Aren't you tired of being walked upon?" the vice chancellor asked, an obvious taunt.
All the bad memories flashed in Li Xuan's mind: the time Zhao Lin trashed their house, the ambush set by the Zhao family minions, and the pathetic Feng family boys. His heart ached. Now this man, who should have acted like a chancellor rather than an overgrown bully, humiliated him.
His face lowered to the ground under the strain of the man's boot. "But still, my Li family fights back against all odds," he said through clenched teeth.
"Haha, pathetic," the vice chancellor let out a hollow, emotionless laugh.
This man behaved more demonic than the stories students casually told—stories about the deadly crow perched on the tree, staring down with a murderous gaze.
"My Li family isn't something fools can walk on," Li Xuan said, chest heaving with anger.
The vice chancellor's boot moved from his chin back to its original position. Then instantly it moved again, landing squarely on his chin with a hard thud that sent him flying in a curve before he hit the ground.
Rubble scattered as Li Xuan's body struck like a meteor. Dirt covered his clothes as he skidded half a meter from where he had landed. This had been more painful than anything before; it was the first time he had been sent flying as if he weighed nothing. Compared to this man, the Zhao family minions seemed pitiful.
Li Xuan coughed up a mouthful of blood and lifted himself from the ground. There were likely no overseers around; most were in the classrooms by then.
His vision blurred and his ears rang like metal being struck rapidly, producing endless reverberations.
"Is this the true worth of the last Li family descendant? Hope you can treasure your failure forever," the vice chancellor sneered.
He dissolved into a dark mist once again, materializing a short distance away.
Li Xuan got to his feet when he had the chance, his chest heaving. Pain tore through every muscle, more intense than before; luckily his bones had not broken. If this old man had meant to kill him, he could have done so long ago with a strength comparable to a venerable.
"You have failed to protect your family's name and honor," the man said. "You have failed."
Li Xuan's fists clenched. "Why does the Li family matter to you? My family's problems are mine to finish."
"You mean ours."
The vice chancellor dissolved into black mist and reappeared above Li Xuan, his hand raised above his head.