Chapter 12: Next time, even if Bibi Dong comes, she won't be able to protect you!
Qian Yang didn't even lift his head, responding indifferently: "Yeah, I asked for it at the Supreme Pontiff Palace yesterday."
The image of the Supreme Pontiff Palace flashed briefly in his mind—the towering black-and-gold structure at the heart of Spirit City, guarded by Titled Douluo-level powerhouses. Yesterday, when he stood before Bibi Dong, the pressure from her twin Martial Spirits—the Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor—had been like a mountain pressing down. Even so, he had still calmly requested the immortal herb illustrated guide from Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan, right under her gaze.
As soon as his words fell, Yan, who was on the side, couldn't help but sneer. The voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for the surrounding students to hear clearly: "Looking for Uncle Yue Guan? I'm afraid you went to the Supreme Pontiff Palace again, angered the Supreme Pontiff, got beaten up by Her Majesty, and then just happened to ask Uncle Yue Guan for a book, right?"
Once these words were spoken, the few students around who were listening with pricked ears couldn't help but chuckle, their gazes falling uniformly on Qian Yang, carrying a bit of mockery as if watching a show. In Spirit Hall Academy, where strength and background determined everything, provoking someone tied to the Qian family was akin to courting disaster—but Yan clearly didn't care.
Qian Yang's fingers, which were turning the pages, suddenly paused, and the air around him seemed to turn cold in an instant.
He slowly raised his head, looking at Yan with icy eyes, a mocking arc curling at the corner of his mouth.
Before Yan could react, a crisp slapping sound, "Pa!", exploded in the classroom!
Qian Yang had stood up at some point, his right hand still lingering in mid-air. There was no expression on his face, but his tone carried a bone-chilling coldness: "Hu Liena, it seems you can't control your lackey well. Since that's the case, I don't mind helping you discipline him properly."
Yan was completely stunned by this sudden slap. He clutched his burning left cheek, the searing pain spreading along his nerves, causing him to instantly regain his senses.
Growing up, as a genius heavily cultivated by Spirit Hall and one of the future candidates of the so-called Golden Generation, the people around him either feared or fawned over him; never had anyone dared to slap him in public like this!
"You... you dare hit me?!" Yan's voice was trembling with anger, his eyes filled with disbelief and rage. His spirit power surged uncontrollably, pale yellow light overflowing from his body. A century spirit ring appeared beneath his feet—that was the spirit ring he had absorbed after breaking through Rank 10 and officially becoming a Spirit Master. At this moment, fueled by his rage, the light of the spirit ring was exceptionally dazzling.
He clenched his hands into fists violently, and raging flames instantly ignited from his palms. His Flame Lord Martial Spirit faintly manifested behind him, a distorted fiery silhouette radiating scorching heat that caused the surrounding air to warp slightly. "I want you to apologize to me! And I want you to pay the price!"
Yan roared, completely disregarding that this was a classroom, and the flaming fist smashed straight towards Qian Yang's face—this punch not only used spirit power but also carried the burning effect of his first Spirit Ability, Flame Fist. Clearly, he was blinded by anger.
Seeing this, the surrounding students exclaimed and retreated, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire. Xie Yue and Hu Liena also didn't expect Yan to act so rashly; although they were used to fighting in the Spirit Arena under Bibi Dong's supervision, this was still a classroom. They wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.
Just as the flaming fist was about to touch Qian Yang, a jet-black light with a reddish tint suddenly erupted from Qian Yang's palm!
The God-Slaying Spear appeared out of thin air, its shaft engraved with ancient, blood-like patterns, emitting a dense aura of slaughter reminiscent of the Killing God Domain once displayed by legendary figures like Tang Hao in the outside world. The spear intercepted the attack with terrifying precision.
"Clang!"
The flaming fist smashed heavily against the shaft of the spear, emitting a harsh metallic sound. Yan felt a huge recoil force coming from his fist; the flames were instantly suppressed by the Killing Intent contained within the God-Slaying Spear, and his arm went slightly numb. He looked up in shock, only to see that there was no fear in Qian Yang's eyes—only a cold, abyss-like killing intent.
Following that, two deep purple spirit rings slowly rose from beneath Qian Yang's feet.
That dense purple light was far more dazzling than Yan's century spirit ring. The oppressive fluctuations of thousand-year spirit rings caused the entire classroom to feel suffocating. When Xie Yue and Hu Liena saw these two spirit rings, their expressions changed drastically, their eyes filled with disbelief:
"Double... double thousand-year spirit rings?!"
You must know, even monsters like them—personally guided by Bibi Dong and possessing top-tier innate spirit power—could only absorb hundred-year spirit rings as their first rings. Absorbing a thousand-year ring at that stage would normally cause the body to explode from the overwhelming spirit energy.
Yet Qian Yang stood there unharmed, his aura steady, as if such a feat was completely natural. This completely overturned their understanding of Spirit Master cultivation!
"Then I'll kill you today and see what Bibi Dong can do about it!"
Qian Yang's voice was icy, without a trace of warmth. He tightened his grip on the God-Slaying Spear slightly, and the red light on the shaft grew more intense, a terrifying Killing Intent enveloping Yan.
Yan was so frightened by this Killing Intent that his whole body stiffened. The arrogance from moments ago shattered instantly—he could clearly feel that Qian Yang was not bluffing. That spear… truly carried the aura of someone who had walked through death.
Before anyone could react further, the first spirit ring beneath Qian Yang's feet suddenly lit up. Deep purple light poured into the God-Slaying Spear:
"God Splitting Stab!"
A dark red spear radiance condensed at the tip, emitting a sharp, ear-piercing whistle as it shot straight toward Yan's chest!
The speed of this strike far exceeded what a Spirit Master of Yan's level could handle. Xie Yue's pupils shrank sharply. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, spirit power surging as his Moon Blade Martial Spirit manifested. The curved blade flashed with pale purple light as he slashed toward the incoming spear radiance.
"Qian Yang! Stop! This is the academy—you cannot kill!"
Hu Liena also shouted urgently, her fox-like eyes flashing with anxiety: "Qian Yang, calm down! Yan was just acting on impulse!"
But Qian Yang had no intention of stopping.
Memories from his past life told him clearly—people like Yan would only become more troublesome if not crushed early. Moreover, Yan's words had subtly mocked not only him, but also Qian Renxue, the pride of the Qian family. That was something he would never tolerate.
"Boom!"
Xie Yue's Moon Blade collided with the spear radiance. For a brief moment, the two forces stalemated—but immediately after, Xie Yue's expression changed drastically.
A terrifying, tyrannical killing force surged through the blade into his body, like a tidal wave crashing through his meridians. His spirit power trembled violently, his arms went numb, and he was completely unable to resist.
"Pfft!"
Xie Yue spat out a mouthful of blood as his body was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the classroom wall. Cracks spread across the surface, and his Moon Blade nearly slipped from his grasp. His eyes were filled with shock.
The God-Slaying Spear, now unobstructed, continued forward with unstoppable momentum.
Yan's face turned deathly pale. His legs went weak, and under the suffocating pressure of that killing intent, he couldn't even muster the courage to dodge. He could only watch helplessly as the spear tip approached—closer and closer—like the scythe of death descending.
Just at that critical moment—
A yellow figure suddenly appeared in front of him!
A powerful surge of spirit power erupted, and five spirit rings rose beneath the newcomer's feet—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple! Clearly, this was a Spirit King above Rank 50, far beyond the students present.
"Clang!"
Teacher Li raised his hand, condensing a dense barrier of yellow spirit power that barely intercepted the spear attack. The barrier rippled violently under the impact, like a lake struck by a falling boulder. Even Teacher Li's arm sank slightly, his expression turning grave—clearly, he had not expected such overwhelming power from a mere student.
His face darkened as he shouted sharply: "Nonsense! This is Spirit Hall Academy, not the Spirit Arena! If you want to fight, take it to the arena where even Spirit Elders supervise matches! If anyone dares act recklessly here again, I will report directly to His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff!"
Qian Yang stared at Teacher Li for a moment. The killing intent in his eyes slowly receded, like a tide withdrawing.
With a flick of his wrist, the God-Slaying Spear dissolved into streaks of dark-red light and disappeared. However, the lingering aura in the air still made everyone's hearts pound.
He then turned his gaze back to Yan, his voice as cold as winter frost:
"Yan, listen carefully. Today, for the sake of Teacher Li, I'll spare your life."
He paused slightly, his eyes narrowing with dangerous intent.
"But next time—even if Bibi Dong comes in person, she won't be able to protect you!"
The entire classroom fell into dead silence.
Teacher Li stood there, feeling a headache coming on. One side was the direct bloodline of the Qian family, tied to the former Supreme Pontiff Qian Daoliu, and the other was a core disciple personally nurtured by Bibi Dong.
No matter which side it was… neither was someone a mere Spirit King like him could afford to offend.