Elder Bai used his own Elemental Power to conceal them, and Tang Wushuang’s master failed to notice their presence. After searching the area several times, he finally let his guard down.

Hiding in the shadows, Tang Wushuang’s master timed his attack for the moment Lin Yun dodged. He unleashed a palm strike, and a powerful surge of Elemental Power instantly immobilized Lin Yun.

Against a Primordial Ocean Realm expert, Lin Yun was completely powerless to resist. His body was frozen, and he could only watch helplessly as the Yue Family Martial Artist charged at him.

Just as the Yue Family Martial Artist was about to strike Lin Yun, a vast aura erupted in the sky. Simultaneously, a finger formed of Elemental Power shot through the Martial Artist’s head.

In a single instant, the Yue Family Martial Artist was dead on the Martial Arts Arena. The figures of Zhong Lin and Elder Bai slowly materialized.

The moment he saw the two men, a chill ran down the spine of Tang Wushuang’s master. He tried to flee immediately, not daring to linger for a second. However, Zhong Lin looked toward the spot where the master and disciple were hiding and said softly, "Since you’re here, why be in such a hurry to leave? Is a mighty Primordial Ocean Realm expert also a coward who lurks in the shadows?"

As he spoke, Zhong Lin reached out with his right palm and tapped the empty air. The figures of Tang Wushuang and his master were suddenly revealed.

Now that things had come to this, Tang Wushuang’s master knew he had fallen into Zhong Lin’s trap. He feared that everything he had done had been under Zhong Lin’s control from the very beginning—Zhong Lin probably even knew about the Blood Burst Pill.

With grim expressions, Tang Wushuang and his master waited for Zhong Lin’s verdict. The ball was now in his court. Using the Yue Family to attempt to murder a student from the Academy’s Genius Class... the consequences could be severe or minor. It all depended on what Zhong Lin decided.

"The Blood Burst Pill... Your Yue Family is truly audacious," Zhong Lin said, ignoring Tang Wushuang and his master to address the Yue Family with a cold shout. "I gave your Yue Family face by allowing you a duel with Lin Yun, and it seems you now think you can challenge the entire Yanhuang Academy?"

Hearing Zhong Lin’s words, the faces of the Yue Family members turned deathly pale. To be accused of opposing the Academy—it was a crime of the highest order, one they could not possibly bear.

"Guards!" Zhong Lin roared. "Bind the members of the Yue Family! They will be dealt with after the Academy’s Elder Council has reached its decision." Within moments, over twenty Stewards from the Punishment Hall appeared and firmly restrained them.

Once that was done, Zhong Lin finally turned his gaze to Tang Wushuang and his master. "You two are quite a pair, colluding with outsiders in an attempt to murder a Genius Class student. Let’s go. We’ll continue this in the Main Hall. I want to see if there is any justice left in this Academy."

Caught red-handed, Tang Wushuang and his master didn’t dare to talk back. They could only follow Zhong Lin and Elder Bai to the Main Hall. Zhong Lin brought Lin Yun along as well. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Everything had gone according to Zhong Lin’s plan. Shortly after they arrived at the Main Hall, the various powerful figures of the Academy began to arrive. Finally, once the Director was present, Zhong Lin laid out all the information and evidence he had gathered for everyone to see.

Zhong Lin recounted the events one by one: how Tang Wushuang and his master had used the Blood Burst Pill, intending to use the Yue Family to murder his student; and how, when discovered, Tang Wushuang’s master showed no remorse and even tried to kill Lin Yun himself.

After listening to Zhong Lin, the Director’s expression remained unchanged, but the look he gave Tang Wushuang and his master turned chillingly cold.

"Director, it was a moment of foolishness! I beg you to issue my punishment," Tang Wushuang’s master said, bowing his head in admission of his guilt. Any further denial was pointless. The evidence was irrefutable, and they had no choice but to submit.

"Hmph." The Director snorted coldly at his words. What Tang Wushuang’s master had done this time had truly gone too far, and to make matters worse, Zhong Lin had found ironclad proof.

"Vice Director Zhong, you are in charge of the Punishment Hall. Therefore, you shall decide this matter. They have broken the Academy’s rules, so punish them as you see fit," the Director said to Zhong Lin. It was clear to everyone that Zhong Lin already had a course of action in mind, so leaving the matter to him was the best choice.

The Director’s words made his stance clear. Tang Wushuang and his master had no choice but to accept their fate.

"Tang Wushuang and his master, for using such insidious methods in an attempt to murder a Genius Class student, should, according to Academy rules, have their Cultivation crippled and be expelled from the Academy."

"However, in light of the contributions this master and disciple have made to the Academy, I will grant them leniency. As for the Yue Family, who dared to challenge the prestige of our Academy, we shall immediately dispatch our experts to utterly exterminate them," Zhong Lin announced in a loud voice.

Not crippling the Cultivation of Tang Wushuang and his master was to be expected. After all, their statuses were not simple—one was a powerful Elder of the Academy, and the other was a member of the Royal Family.

Zhong Lin was well aware of this. Everything he had done this time was for Lin Yun’s sake.

With the verdict passed, all the members of the Yue Family present at the Academy were executed that very day. The Academy then dispatched a Primordial Ocean Realm expert to hurry to the Yue Family estate in Yang City.

Facing the wrath of Yanhuang Academy, the fate of the Yue Family of Yang City was sealed. They would exist no more.

"I do not wish to see anything like this happen again in the future," the Director said with pointed casualness, and then left.

His words were, of course, meant for Tang Wushuang and his master. Zhong Lin’s actions had served as a warning to them, as well as a declaration of his own stance to the Director.

’Although Lin Yun has no power or influence, he is now my student. If you try to kill him using such despicable means, I, Zhong Lin, will not let the matter rest.’

Tang Wushuang and his master understood Zhong Lin’s intentions perfectly. Nothing needed to be said aloud; everyone present understood the unspoken message. From now on, they would likely feel a new sense of trepidation when scheming against Lin Yun. Zhong Lin had made his position clear: if this happened again, not even their high statuses would save them from punishment.

「Three days later.」

The Yue Family of Yang City was effortlessly eradicated by the Academy’s expert. The Yue Family of Yang City was no more in the Yanhuang Country.

Sitting in the Bamboo Courtyard, Zhong Lin looked at Lin Yun and smiled. "I didn’t truly punish Tang Wushuang. Do you have any questions about that?"

With a small smile, Lin Yun, who had already guessed some of his master’s reasoning, replied, "I understand."

"Haha, a Martial Artist’s training isn’t as simple as building a cart behind closed doors. You’ve been at the Academy for nearly a year. While staying here guarantees your safety, it’s ultimately more harmful than helpful to your journey in the Martial Arts."

"One day, you will have to leave the Academy, and I believe that day is not far off. In two years, the competition for the Southeast Domain’s Green Talent List will begin."

"By destroying the Yue Family, I’ve sent a warning to many other families. When you go out to gain experience, Tang Wushuang won’t be able to use them to come after you. Even if he wants to use the power of the Yunlu County Prince’s Mansion, he won’t dare to be so blatant about it anymore."

"There will still be danger, but at least they will have to be much more restrained. This is all I can do for you. Go. A Martial Artist is not a bird in a cage. When it’s time to venture out and temper yourself, you must go. I trust that the next time I see you, you will have a pleasant surprise for me," Zhong Lin said calmly.