Mingxi and her father were indifferent to Wei Lanzhi's desperate escape.

Mingxi had not taken Wei Lanzhi seriously from beginning to end, while Ming Zhiyun had long since let go.

"Even if she made a mistake, she is still your mother. Is it not too much to expose her shortcomings in front of so many people and humiliate her publicly?

Setting aside the facts, are you truly blameless?"

The young man's voice was firm and righteous, filled with 'moral conviction'.

Mingxi looked up at the young man who spoke. She didn't recognize him, but based on Wei Lanzhi's position just now and the slightly familiar young woman behind him.

Wei Lanzhi's stepson?

He seemed to be a good son who loved his stepmother.

"What are you talking about, kid? It's not like Ming Shen forced her to jump out and twist the truth, is it? Can't Ming Shen refute and prove herself?"

"Exactly! And what the hell is 'setting aside the facts'? Which brain-dead idiot came up with such a terrible line? It's disgusting."

How did that saying go?

After entering the pass, there will be great Confucian scholars to debate the scriptures for me.

Mingxi is now a true top-tier Beast Tamer, the future pillar of Dragonflower Country. She can have flaws, but she will never allow others to slander her at will.

Facing the pointing fingers of the crowd, Ji Youhao's chest rose and fell slightly, his face looking somewhat unpleasant.

Wei Lanzhi was only his stepmother. Out of respect for his father, he was willing to give her some dignity, but there was no real affection.

Therefore, he wasn't genuinely standing up for Wei Lanzhi; rather, he disliked Mingxi's forceful manner of publicly humiliating his stepmother and exposing the truth of her remarriage back then.

What he found even more unacceptable was the subtle disdain in the eyes of the people around them when they looked at his family, which formed a stark contrast to their awe and admiration for Mingxi.

He believed he was no worse than Mingxi.

The reason he hadn't grown as quickly as Mingxi was entirely due to limitations in resources and opportunities.

Although Mingxi came from an ordinary background, he knew very well that she had always been supported by the Fu Family, a prominent family from Jianghuai. He heard she had even climbed up to the top-tier Chu Family.

If he had such a background and resources, why would he worry about not reaching her level?

"Even if Aunt Wei did something wrong back then, she is still your birth mother and your elder! Do you have no filial piety or upbringing?"

He deliberately shouted 'filial piety' and 'upbringing' loudly, attempting to occupy the moral high ground. His gaze swept over the surrounding students, parents, and invited guests, seeking their approval.

In his opinion, most of the people present were parents and would definitely not like such disobedient and unfilial children, fearing that they would follow suit.

However, what responded to him were even more contemptuous glances and whispers.

"Bah! Still have the nerve to talk about filial piety?"

"What era is this? Do you still want to use the 'parents are never wrong' rhetoric to morally blackmail Ming Shen? How shameless!"

"When his stepmother took his father's hard-earned money and gave it to his family, why didn't he mention parental obligations?"

"This young man looks decent, but he's just like his stepmother. Indeed, like father, like son."

Ji Youhao's face instantly flushed red.

Ji Chengang, who had originally wanted his son to speak up—even if it couldn't improve their relationship with Mingxi, at least to make everyone understand that Mingxi's actions were also problematic—was now filled with embarrassment.

He chuckled twice, forcing himself to appear calm, and said, "Xiao Xi, don't misunderstand. Your brother Youhao didn't mean anything else. He actually has always admired you."

As he spoke, he nudged his son's arm, winking.

"...Yes, actually, ever since you, Mingxi sister, made a name for yourself in the Changheng Cup, I've been following you and am very familiar with you and your Beast Tamers."

He truly was a man who slept in the same bed as Wei Lanzhi.

These father and son are really shameless.

Of course, her old father was absolutely fine. Wei Lanzhi wasn't so outrageous in her younger days. Besides, it's perfectly normal for her father to have been young and ignorant, mesmerized by beauty back then, right?

Furthermore, who hasn't fallen for a few scumbags when they were young?

Yes. Mingxi is just that double-standard.

"What exactly do you want to say?"

Mingxi's voice was clear and cold, like a mountain spring, with an expression that said, 'You can keep spouting nonsense, let's see if I'll listen.'

Ji Youhao met the young woman's calm, unruffled gaze, which carried a condescending, scrutinizing air. The anger and frustration in his heart intensified.

He took a deep breath. "I've always wanted to have a Beast Tamers battle with you to see how big the gap is between me and a genius like you. I just don't know if Mingxi sister is willing to give me this opportunity?"

"You... want to challenge me?"

Mingxi was somewhat surprised. It wasn't that she looked down on Ji Youhao, but for young people like him, she could now easily defeat a hundred, if not a thousand, simultaneously.

Where did he get the courage to challenge her?

There's no Liang Jingru in this world either.

"I know I'm definitely not your opponent, so what I mean is a 1vN team battle mode, where your opponent can only be your Aninos."

Mingxi understood. This Ji Youhao clearly wanted to step on her to rise.

She hadn't yet gone to the Yushou Center to update her information, so besides the few people who had witnessed Black Pearl's evolution firsthand, there was no related news outside.

Ji Youhao probably thought Black Pearl was still just a Shi-level pet.

In a 1vN team battle, the opponent wasn't without a chance of winning.

Tsk.

Scheming dog.

"Tsk, if you're so capable, why don't you challenge Golden Yuanbao? You're already shameless enough to do 1vN, and you're still picking Xiao Xi's weakest pet. Are you bullying our Black Pearl because she's only 1 year old?"

Fu Yifan couldn't stand it any longer and mocked him unceremoniously.

Shao Dingding and Fu Sushu also rolled their eyes, unleashing a dynamic light wave on Ji Youhao.

Biubiubiu.

"That's not how you say it. What's the point of a power-crushing match? Mingxi sister, as a top-tier Beast Tamers famous throughout the alliance, you wouldn't refuse even °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° a small challenge from a D-level Beastmaster like me, would you?"

Ji Youhao's skin was indeed thick enough. He stared directly at Mingxi, looking as if refusing would mean she wasn't a big shot.

"It's possible." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Mingxi's voice was without a ripple. "But I need to remind you, my Black Pearl just completed its evolution a while ago, so are you sure you want to challenge it?"

Ji Youhao was stunned.

Aninos evolved again?

Damn it!

How old was that mermaid!

However, a King-level pet in a 1vN battle isn't without a chance. If he could defeat a King-level pet, he would certainly receive even more praise.

"Of course."

Looking at his expression, Mingxi knew what he was thinking with her Bright Crystal toes.

Mingxi smiled. "As you wish. I also promised the principal that I would play a few exhibition matches at the school anniversary, so I'll use you to warm up."

Shu Shaoguang quickly stepped forward, smiling and agreeing, "Hahaha, in that case, let's move to the battle arena now."

Originally, the exhibition matches were scheduled after the special guests' speeches.

It's good that they're starting early now.