Wu Caicai’s sharp cry echoed in all directions across Battle Valley.

Instantly, Zeng Quan’s voice caught in his throat. A flurry of expressions crossed his face as the Beast Flame higher-ups behind him took a heavy step forward.

But before any of them could speak, Marquis Longyin cut in...

"General Dean Zeng, you can change the rules. You can even say that Wu Caicai is not allowed to join Dragon Flame Academy on the spot."

"However, I heard every word of Zheng Zhuhe’s threat, telling Lu Chao to surrender."

"I can charge him with the crime of interfering with the second stage of the competition at any moment."

As his voice fell, the expressions on Zeng Quan and the others’ faces instantly froze.

"Even without Wu Caicai joining, Zheng Zhuhe’s threat is grounds for a charge. Lu Chao cannot be disqualified from the second stage."

Marquis Longyin added emphatically, inwardly filled with admiration for Wu Caicai.

’If Wu Caicai hadn’t suddenly joined Dragon Flame Academy, I would have been in a very passive position.’

’Zeng Quan would have instantly declared Dragon Flame Academy defeated for only having nine members, and then we would have had to waste time arguing about it.’

’The outcome might have still been favorable in the end, but it would have opened the door to too many unpredictable factors.’

’Now, there’s no issue. If you dare say Wu Caicai can’t join Dragon Flame on the spot, then I dare to drop all pretenses and bring charges against Zheng Zhuhe.’

’To put it bluntly, if Zeng Quan were to change the rules again, he’d risk losing public support.’

’Whereas I, Marquis Longyin, would gain the support of many. The Small Institutes would also back me.’

’Zheng Zhuhe shouldn’t have made any threats. He should have just acted.’

’He’s still too young.’

Seeing the ugly expressions on Zeng Quan and the others, Marquis Longyin added softly.

This made Zeng Quan and the other Beast Flame higher-ups abruptly glare in Zheng Zhuhe’s direction. ’Damn it... you just had to run your mouth.’

’If Zheng Zhuhe had just attacked instead of using Wu Caicai to threaten Lu Chao into surrendering, Marquis Longyin wouldn’t have been able to interfere either.’

’We could have still argued that it was a conflict between students of the Celestial King Institute and the Tiger Institute, so what business was it of his?’

But now...

Since Zheng Zhuhe had made a public threat, the matter now fell squarely within Marquis Longyin’s jurisdiction.

While Marquis Longyin and Zeng Quan’s group were locked in a standoff... Zheng Zhuhe remained completely oblivious to the fact that he had just run his mouth.

He stared at Wu Caicai’s back in Battle Valley, then whipped his head back to Lu Chao. "Fake Lu Chao, you dare shoot an arrow at me?"

Meanwhile, Wu Yiyi also failed to realize that Zheng Zhuhe had said too much.

Instead, she shrieked at Wu Caicai, "You dare to join Dragon Flame Academy? Aren’t you afraid our uncle will drag you back and lock you up?"

There was no trace of an act in her voice now, only endless hatred...

Wu Caicai paid her no mind, instead flashing toward Lu Chao.

Lu Chao ignored Zheng Zhuhe as well, smiling as he said to Wu Caicai, "Miss Caicai, welcome to Dragon Flame Academy. After we parted at Yinzhou Mountain, we find ourselves fighting side-by-side once more."

Just last night, Wu Caicai had mentioned that she wanted to leave the Tiger Institute and was eager to join Dragon Flame Academy.

The moment she announced her withdrawal from the Tiger Institute, Lu Chao knew she would immediately declare her intention to join Dragon Flame Academy.

That’s why he had fired the arrow, to buy Wu Caicai time to distance herself from Zheng Zhuhe.

Now, everything had fallen into place.

But Wu Caicai gave a bitter smile. "I’m the one who’s caused you all this trouble. I’m going to find Little Sister Xiaoping and the others now. My father will probably really drag me back home. Before Zeng Quan makes his announcement, I’m going to go fight to my heart’s content."

With that, a shadow fell over Wu Caicai’s eyes. She flashed past Lu Chao, their shoulders brushing.

Last night, she had told Lu Chao and the others from Azure Flame that she wanted to find a way to convince her family to let her join Dragon Flame Academy.

But now, what awaited her was... her father’s thunderous wrath.

Lu Chao took a deep breath but didn’t turn around.

Instead, he looked up at Zheng Zhuhe and Wu Yiyi on the cliff. Then, Lu Chao spoke again, "Zeng Quan, I’ve been disqualified from the second stage, correct? In that case, I’m free to do as I please now, aren’t I?"

As he spoke, Lu Chao drew his bow, aimed at Zheng Zhuhe, and let another arrow fly with a resounding WHOOSH.

The arrowhead, like a blazing Fire Sparrow, shot toward the cliff where the Inner Courtyard students stood.

Zheng Zhuhe’s expression shifted again, and he shouted coldly, "You ambushed me before, and now you dare to shoot at me again? I’ll have you know that I, the strongest prodigy of the Saint Bone Zheng Family, am not someone you can oppose!"

With that, Zheng Zhuhe drew his sword and leaped directly off the cliff, looking as though he was about to kill Lu Chao.

In mid-air, he moved to intercept Lu Chao’s arrow...

But just then... CRACK!

Lu Chao’s arrow suddenly split into two in mid-air.

One half flew toward Zheng Zhuhe, while the other slightly altered its course, instantly streaking past his side.

BANG...

The instant Zheng Zhuhe shattered his half of the arrow, a sound came from behind him... Aaaah!

It was Wu Yiyi’s shriek of pain.

In that instant, Zheng Zhuhe, who had been gearing up to kill Lu Chao, froze.

His expression changed drastically as he thought of the other half of Lu Chao’s arrow. He whipped his head around to see Wu Yiyi collapsed on the ground, half an arrow embedded in her shoulder, bloodstaining her clothes.

"My lady..."

The guards cried out in alarm and rushed toward Wu Yiyi.

Zheng Zhuhe ignored Lu Chao, flashing back onto the cliff. "Yiyi, are you alright?" he asked with concern.

Just then, Lu Chao’s voice rang out again...

"The strongest prodigy of the Saint Bone Zheng Family? So this is all you amount to."

The words struck Zheng Zhuhe’s heart like a hammer. His face flushed crimson as he whipped his head around to glare at Lu Chao.

But Lu Chao had already turned his horse away, ignoring him completely.

As for Wu Yiyi...

Lu Chao had, of course, seen through her entire act. He was also certain that she was the one who had goaded Zheng Zhuhe into using Wu Caicai to threaten him.

Thus, he’d returned the favor with half an arrow—a preliminary lesson.

At that moment, Wu Yiyi’s guards roared, "Fake Lu Chao, you dare to harm our lady? I’ll kill you!"

They looked ready to charge out and kill him, but members of the Order Enforcement Team immediately appeared and blocked their path coldly.

Lu Chao paid Wu Yiyi’s group no mind, instead turning to Luo Wendeng...

"It seems we haven’t won yet. In that case, let’s continue. Let’s make sure the remaining opponents completely lose their ability to fight."

"Of course, I can’t interfere. I’ve been disqualified from the second stage, after all."

At Lu Chao’s chilling words, Luo Wendeng and the others charged out again without a second thought. Wu Caicai gritted her teeth and followed... Every one of them was seething with pent-up fury, and now they were going to continue venting it to their hearts’ content.

Seeing this, the students from the University Institutes in Battle Valley shrieked, "No! We surrender!"

"Not an option. General Dean Zeng won’t allow it," Tan An sneered, charging toward the so-called surrenderers.

’Whose fault is it that Zeng Quan is targeting us? Whose fault is it that he won’t declare Dragon Flame Academy the winner? If he won’t announce it, we’ll keep fighting. We’ll let every single one of you taste the pain of broken bones. If you want to cry about it, go cry to Zeng Quan.’

Toward these students from the University Institutes... 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Luo Wendeng and the others had no intention of going easy on them. They had ganged up, a thousand against ten. Go easy on them? Hell no.

Finally...

Zeng Quan’s voice finally came down: "Dragon Flame Academy is victorious in the second stage!"