In the stands of the entire martial arts arena, everyone was staring intently at the seven students from the Inner Courtyard.

Among the seven were both men and women.

But aside from their uniforms, not a single one of them looked like a student.

The man from the Leopard Institute, for instance, had a big beard and looked old enough to be some of the other students’ father.

The so-called female student from the Fox Institute was curvaceous and alluring, but she seemed to have crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, hastily smoothed over with some kind of powder. She looked very mature.

Just as the members of the Small Institutes in the crowd were voicing their doubts, the female student from the Fox Institute giggled. "How are we not students? I’m only eighteen this year. I was just born with a mature look."

As she spoke, she sauntered forward and stopped a short distance in front of the students from Liyan Academy, who were ranked first.

The so-called students from the other six institutes also walked out, one by one.

Suddenly... ROAR!

The cry of a Demon Bird rang out as Marquis Longyin, unable to restrain himself, descended from the sky on his mount.

His eyes were fixed on the Beast Flame upper echelons, led by Zeng Quan, as he couldn’t help but shout, "Have you no shame?"

Marquis Longyin’s face was a mask of fury...

Anyone could see that these seven were impostors pretending to be students.

But Zeng Quan replied coolly, "Marquis Longyin, what do you mean by that? Is it their fault for being born with a mature look?"

Li Wumian spoke with a sinister tone, "Marquis Longyin, you’re the one with no shame, aren’t you? Are you saying that people who look old or ugly must be looked down upon by you? Is that something a dignified Marquis should do?"

He turned the tables, accusing Marquis Longyin of being prejudiced against their looks.

The Beast Flame leaders sneered one after another. At this point, they had practically thrown all pretense aside. They were cheating openly, so what could anyone do about it?

If they said they were students, then they were students.

And following the words of the dean and vice-dean of the Celestial King Institute...

The members of the twenty eliminated University Institutes also began to chime in...

"Marquis Longyin, you are the Commander of the Order Enforcement Team. You have no right to question the students’ appearances. Your only job is to maintain order."

"Exactly. Why do you keep jumping out? Trying to get attention?"

"Hurry up! We still have to participate in the revival matches."

These shouts, coming continuously from the members of the twenty University Institutes, made the expression on Marquis Longyin’s face grow uglier and uglier.

At that moment, Dongfang Ren also walked slowly into the martial arts arena, his back hunched.

His eyes, brimming with killing intent, were fixed on Zeng Quan. He was here to protect the interests of the Small Institutes...

However, Zeng Quan and his group stared back at Dongfang Ren without flinching, their expressions still defiant, as if to say, ’What can you do to us?’

Zeng Quan even said, "I set the rules, and I have not been unfair in any way."

He was still clinging to the words Dongfang Ren himself had once said: the rules were his to decide, and as long as there was no unfairness, Dongfang Ren couldn’t interfere.

Dongfang Ren grit his aged teeth, his gaze slowly shifting toward the stands.

At this moment, the people from the Small Institutes had already stood up.

Their faces were flushed red, as if they would fight Zeng Quan and his cronies to the death with a single order from Dongfang Ren...

But Zeng Quan and his group remained fearless. ’If you dare to fight, we dare to accept.’

Although no one wanted Beast Flame Academy to collapse, this was now a battle of wills, a test of who was more ruthless and who could hold their nerve.

Before a true conflict erupted, neither side was willing to back down first.

Finally, Dongfang Ren took a deep breath, retracted his gaze from the Small Institutes, and looked back at Zeng Quan. "Change the group of Inner Courtyard students."

’I’ll try negotiating first...’ he decided.

But Zeng Quan showed no intention of yielding. "These are the students we are sending out. And yes, they are all at the Innate Ninth Layer."

Dongfang Ren’s old fists clenched and unclenched uncontrollably. The situation seemed to have reached a stalemate once again...

But suddenly...

A calm male voice rang out, "Liyan Academy, I wonder if you would be interested in accepting a new student?"

As soon as the voice was heard, countless gazes turned in its direction. They saw Lu Chao step out from the direction of Dragon Flame Academy, walking step by step to Dongfang Ren’s side.

He spoke again, "Liyan Academy, I’ve been temporarily expelled from Dragon Flame Academy. I wonder if you’d be willing to take me in?"

Instantly, the people from Liyan Academy were all stunned. ’What does he mean, expelled from Dragon Flame Academy?’

Everyone in the martial arts arena was also stunned. ’What trick is this Fake Lu Chao trying to pull now?’

Lu Chao continued, "Once you pass the third stage, you can expel me, and then I can return to Dragon Flame Academy."

When he finished speaking, everyone in the audience stared with wide eyes, understanding everything in an instant.

’Fake Lu Chao means he’s going to help Liyan Academy deal with those seven so-called Inner Courtyard students.’

’He’s going to use their own so-called ’no cheating’ rules to fight back against Zeng Quan...’

Dean Lion Institute was the first to snap out of it, shouting on the spot, "Nonsense! How can you—"

Before he could finish, Lu Chao cut him off coldly...

"You can bring in overaged, so-called students, but you won’t allow me to be expelled and join a new academy?"

"Aren’t you just afraid of Dragon Flame Academy passing the stage?"

"I’ve come out early now, and I’m the only one joining Liyan Academy. Isn’t that exactly what you wanted?"

"Kill me, and Dragon Flame Academy won’t be able to pass."

Lu Chao’s voice thundered across the entire arena!

He slowly raised the long spear in his hand, pointing it first at Zeng Quan and his group, then lowering it to aim at the seven so-called Inner Courtyard students. He then asked, "Seven of them against just me. What do you have to be afraid of?"

If Lu Chao joined Liyan Academy on the surface,

it would indeed be a seven-on-one fight. The other members of Liyan Academy would be of little help.

The entire arena fell silent...

Everyone looked at each other in dismay, and finally, almost all eyes turned to Zeng Quan and his group...

But Dongfang Ren suddenly looked away and whispered to Lu Chao, "Little brother, these seven at the Innate Ninth Layer are all top-tier experts of their level. Maybe you should just let it go."

He was worried that Lu Chao couldn’t win.

Marquis Longyin also landed abruptly beside Lu Chao and said, "Lu Chao, I remember the one from the Leopard Institute. He’s a very skilled assassin."

The meaning was also clear: he was advising Lu Chao not to be impulsive...

But Lu Chao just shook his head lightly. "Don’t worry, you two. I had a good night’s sleep and already reached the Innate Sixth Layer. I have Brother Dongfang to thank for that; I had many new insights while the Azure Flame Seven Walls were being repaired."

That was right. Lu Chao really had broken through directly after a night’s sleep.

Since arriving at Beast Flame Academy, Lu Chao had already broken through three consecutive layers.

This was related to his complete comprehension of the Star Fire Sparrow Meridian Map and also to the Azure Flame Seven Walls. But more importantly... Lu Chao was recultivating, and he was starting to get back into his groove.

However, Lu Chao’s words left Dongfang Ren and Marquis Longyin somewhat speechless.

’They have seven combat masters at the Innate Ninth Layer. You broke through to the Innate Sixth Layer, but is there really much of a difference between that and the Innate Fifth Layer?’

The Beast Flame upper echelons, including Zeng Quan, also exchanged glances. After a few whispered words, Zeng Quan made the final decision. ’As long as we get rid of this Fake Lu Chao, Dragon Flame Academy is guaranteed to lose... Agree to his terms!’