Shen Yue rose from his seat with a sharp scrape of wood against stone, his expression dark and indignant.
"NIE LI!"
His voice cut through the classroom.
"The Sacred Family has lived for over three centuries! We are one of the top families standing at the summit of Glory City. It is not for the child of an ordinary family to slander us!"
The room stiffened.
Students exchanged uneasy glances. No one liked Shen Yue—but no one liked opposing the Sacred Family either.
Shen Yue scoffed and folded his arms.
"This Scarlet Flame Explosion Inscription," he said evenly, "was written in the notes of the first-generation household head himself. When we, the descendants, discovered it after dividing the notes, we must assume that the first household head's vision was far beyond common understanding."
Nie Li lifted his gaze calmly, completely unfazed.
Hmph. As expected of the Sacred Family. Speaking with forced words while evading responsibility.
In my previous life, they fled immediately when the Snow-Wind Monsters attacked.
His eyes narrowed.
Going so far as to say he's from a prominent family and that I'm from an ordinary one—he's clearly using it as a threat.
"Student Shen Yue is quite overbearing," Nie Li said, leaning back slightly and sighing theatrically.
"Fortunately," he added lightly, "Glory City has strict laws."
Then, with a half-serious, half-mocking smile, he continued,
"Otherwise, I really would worry that the Sacred Family might make a move against me."
The tension thickened.
"As one of the prominent families," Nie Li went on, tilting his head slightly,
"won't the Sacred Family ensure my safety? If something were to happen to me, I'm afraid it would leave a stain on your family's name. That would reflect rather poorly, wouldn't it?"
A sharp intake of breath echoed through the room.
Shen Yue's face darkened, veins bulging at his temple.
Before he could respond—
A calm voice cut in.
"That won't be necessary," Karma said.
His voice wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze settling on Shen Yue—not aggressively, not dismissively.
Politely.
"If Nie Li's safety is a concern," Karma said casually,
"the Uzumaki family will ensure it."
Silence.
Not a single laugh.
Not a single whisper.
Karma's eyes swept across the room—unhurried, unbothered—before returning to Shen Yue.
"Any issue with that?" he asked mildly.
The weight of those words landed like a mountain.
Shen Yue stiffened. Several students subconsciously lowered their gazes.
The Uzumaki family.
The fourth major family.
The richest.
The strongest.
An unseen influence woven through Glory City like veins beneath skin.
Karma folded his hands.
"Any incident involving him," he added, his tone still even,
"will be treated as an Uzumaki family matter."
A pause.
Then, quietly,
"We take such matters very seriously."
Shen Yue clenched his teeth.
"…Karma," he said stiffly, "this is a Sacred Family affair."
Karma smiled faintly.
"Then you should be grateful," he replied calmly,
"that I'm not choosing to make it a city affair."
The implication struck like a hammer.
Across the room, students exchanged uneasy glances.
This was no longer just about Nie Li.
A line had been drawn.
Nie Li blinked and glanced sideways.
"…You didn't have to step in that hard."
Karma shrugged lightly.
"Influence is only useful if people remember it exists."
Behind them, Du Zhe swallowed.
Lu Piao stared, starstruck.
From the corner of the room, Xiao Ning'er watched Karma quietly, her heart pounding for reasons she didn't fully understand.
Ye Ziyun observed silently, a faint, thoughtful smile touching her lips.
Shen Yue snapped,
"Detestable!"
Everyone in the classroom understood something new.
Nie Li possessed knowledge that threatened old pride.
And Karma Uzumaki was willing to stand in front of it.
From this moment onward, the Sacred Family would think twice.
Not because they feared Nie Li—
but because they feared what would happen if the Uzumaki family decided to care.
At that moment, the classroom door slid open with a whoosh.
A figure entered.
"Here is the Book of Divine Lightning Fire," one of the elders announced.
Two elderly figures stood silently, their gazes fixed on the open book resting on the desk.
One of them narrowed his eyes.
"Copying… This is quite a great scandal for the Sacred Family."
The other elder stroked his long beard slowly.
This book is written in an ancient language. I only understand the fragments of it.
Their eyes moved to the page Shen Xiu had ordered opened.
"How talented is Nie Li?" a third elder murmured.
"I've checked the student records," Lu Ye said calmly.
"Nie Li only has a Red Soul Realm."
The elder sighed softly and nodded.
"Hmm. Such a pity. So knowledgeable, yet such poor aptitude. Otherwise… his future would have been brilliant."
After a moment, the elder turned away.
"Ye Sheng," he said, "arrange the position of Collection Deacon for him."
"Yes," Ye Sheng replied without hesitation.
The elder's eyes hardened slightly.
The Lord intends to protect Nie Li.
"I'll remember what happened today!" Shen Xiu said coldly.
Nie Li didn't look bothered in the slightest. He leaned back, resting his chin on his hand, a crooked smile on his face.
Huh. A professor publicly threatening her student in class… what a joke.
His eyes sharpened briefly.
No need for you to come looking for me, I'll come to you.
Outside, the tiled roofs of the Holy Orchid Institute glinted under the sunlight.
Nie Li's gaze drifted upward as his thoughts settled.
I can't antagonize the Sacred Family too much yet, he thought.
I'm still too weak.
As class ended, students poured into the walkways, voices buzzing.
"Have you heard? A guy in the Practitioner Beginner Class discovered that the Sacred Family's Scarlet Flame Explosion Inscription was copied!"
"I heard their instructor was furious. Her face was completely swollen!"
"There are even rumors that the Sacred Family Head was rejected by the City Lord when they paid a visit!"
The whispers spread like wildfire.
Nie Li walked calmly through the crowd, a faint smile on his lips.
From behind, Karma watched him with mild amusement.
"Careful," Karma said casually. "You're enjoying this a bit too much."
Nie Li chuckled. "Maybe."
Inside Vice Principal Ye Sheng's Office
The doors slammed open.
"VICE PRINCIPAL YE SHENG!"
Shen Xiu stormed inside, fury radiating from her.
"NIE LI IS DISRESPECTFUL AND PUBLICLY TALKED BACK TO THE INSTRUCTOR DURING CLASS!" she shouted.
"This is extremely rude! I request that Vice Principal Ye Sheng have him expelled!"
Ye Sheng sat behind his desk, hands folded, expression unreadable.
"Let me consider this matter further," Ye Sheng said calmly.
"After all, expelling a student like him would have a significant impact."
Shen Xiu's eyes flashed.
"Vice Principal," she pressed, "what is there to consider? If he is not expelled, I won't be able to continue teaching this class!"
Ye Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly.
This Shen Xiu doesn't know when to back off, he thought.
He raised his head.
"That is not necessary," he said evenly.
"This matter is over."
Shen Xiu froze.
Bloody old man! she cursed inwardly. So he's protecting Nie Li?!
She turned sharply and stormed out of the office.
Ye Sheng stood and walked toward the window, gazing over the academy rooftops.
Shen Xiu is relying on her Sacred Family status. She's grown far too overbearing.
He sighed quietly.
With his knowledge, Nie Li won't end up in the bottom three. Even if he did, the Lord would surely make a move to recruit him.
Outside, sunlight bathed the Holy Orchid Institute.
Unnoticed by most—
The balance between families had already begun to shift.
And somewhere within the academy…
A certain Prince sat back, quietly observing it all.