Outside the residence, although it was cordoned off, a large number of students had still gathered and showed no signs of leaving.

Everyone wanted to see what the Snake Demon, with its terrifying aura, actually looked like.

The Vice-Dean had been inside for quite some time. Just a moment ago, everyone had felt the immense aura he released and immediately grew excited. This was the Vice-Dean vanquishing the demon.

They all strained their ears, listening for any commotion from inside the residence. Gradually, it became deathly silent within.

The Vice-Dean was truly one of the Ancient Academy’s top experts. He settled the matter as soon as he acted; the Snake Demon went silent, and its aura dissipated.

They figured it wouldn’t be long before they could see the Snake Demon’s corpse.

Just then...

BOOM...

A wall on the second floor of the residence suddenly collapsed, and a massive creature came crashing down without warning. The crowd cried out in shock, scrambling to get out of the way as the ground trembled as if in an earthquake.

A moment later, the students stared with horrified eyes at a spot on the ground. There, a Giant Snake nearly twenty meters long lay in a pool of blood, covered in wounds. Its body was a mottled color with cloud-like patterns and a yellowish-brown stripe down its back. Its appearance was ferocious and terrifying. Its scales were a shocking sight, each one looking harder than sheet metal.

Everyone gasped, their mouths hanging wide open. They were utterly stunned. A Giant Snake this big was simply unheard of.

Even for Martial Cultivators, whose experience far surpassed that of ordinary people, a Giant Snake of this size was truly frightening.

"Is that the Snake Demon? Heavens, it’s terrifying!"

"If that Snake Demon ate people, it would swallow us in one gulp."

"I’m really curious, how on earth did this Snake Demon sneak in?"

The students whispered among themselves. Seeing the Giant Snake, many of their faces had turned pale. They were all flowers raised in a greenhouse; when had they ever seen a Giant Snake like this?

Everyone kept backing away. Although the Giant Snake lay in a pool of blood, no one knew if it was dead or alive.

It was entirely possible that it was just playing dead. These were intelligent creatures, and extremely cunning.

From the second floor of the residence, a handsome young man suddenly leaped down, landing right beside the colossal Giant Snake. With an imposing air, he planted a foot on its head.

This scene left the students utterly awestruck.

"The Snake Demon has been eliminated. There’s no need to be afraid," he announced in a clear, loud voice, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

"The strongest new student?"

After the scene from that morning, everyone knew this residence belonged to the strongest new student. Now, a Snake Demon had run rampant in his home, yet he was completely unscathed.

’Judging by his appearance and posture, could it be that he was the one who killed the Snake Demon?’

’Then what about the Vice-Dean???’

The Vice-Dean walked out unhurriedly from the first floor of the residence. He glanced at the showboating Tu Xiao’an with a slightly displeased expression, then adjusted his composure and addressed the students gathered outside. "This Snake Demon snuck into the Ancient Academy, but it has now been slain by student Tu Xiao’an. I am very gratified. The younger generation is truly formidable."

"What..."

The crowd was astonished. ’So the strongest new student really did kill the Snake Demon? Does that mean the Vice-Dean just went up there to watch?’

"Dean, that Snake Demon must be a Rank Three Demon Spirit, right?"

That terrifying aura of the Snake Race had pervaded the Ancient Academy, making many tremble with fear. But if it was a Rank Three Demon Spirit, could the strongest new student really kill it?

Or had the Vice-Dean intentionally given the credit to the strongest new student?

What exactly was the relationship between the strongest new student and the Vice-Dean? For a mere new student to get a private residence and enjoy the same treatment as a high-level instructor right after enrolling—that was completely unprecedented.

If this Snake Demon wasn’t a Rank Three Demon Spirit, but only at the Rank Two Spirit Monster Level, then it couldn’t have undergone Transformation. And if it couldn’t transform, how could such a massive creature have snuck into the Ancient Academy?

’Were the academy staff all blind?’

This wasn’t some small snake; it was a behemoth nearly twenty meters long.

Therefore, it must have been a Rank Three Demon Spirit that used Transformation to infiltrate the Ancient Academy.

If that were the case, another question arose. The strongest new student’s power was undeniable, but the claim that he could kill a Rank Three Demon Spirit was still unconvincing. ’If you’re that incredible, what are you even doing at the Ancient Academy?’

’Who here is qualified to teach you? You’d need an instructor-level expert, at the very least.’

Many mulled over these questions and came to a conclusion: the strongest new student and the Vice-Dean had a very close relationship. After all, the Vice-Dean had unleashed his immense aura earlier.

It was impossible that he hadn’t made a move. So, the Vice-Dean must have been the one to kill the Snake Demon and then gave the credit to the strongest new student.

’Could it be that the strongest new student is the Vice-Dean’s grandson?’

’Or his maternal grandson? Or perhaps his secret love child?’

’The strongest new student? No, the student with the strongest connections...’

’In any case, the relationship between the two was extraordinary.’

The Vice-Dean had no idea his one sentence had sparked so much wild speculation in the students’ minds. He beckoned to Tu Xiao’an.

Tu Xiao’an walked over to the Vice-Dean’s side, appearing rather obedient.

The Vice-Dean said gravely, "This time, a Snake Demon infiltrated the Ancient Academy to commit violence. Although student Tu Xiao’an vanquished the demon, we were ultimately a step too late. There were casualties. A student has died at the hands of the Snake Demon."

"A student was killed by the Snake Demon?"

This statement sent another shockwave through the crowd. This was the strongest new student’s residence, and he himself was standing right there, hailed as a snake-slaying hero. If he was fine, then who died?

"Bring him out."

The Vice-Dean wore an expression of deep sorrow. He was really playing the part.

Immediately, a student covered in wounds was carried out. It was a cold corpse, long devoid of any signs of life.

"Luo Zixiong???"

In that instant, someone recognized the deceased. "Isn’t that Luo Zixiong, the Biological Controller from last year’s Advanced Class? How could he have been killed by the Snake Demon?"

And what was Luo Zixiong doing inside the strongest new student’s residence?

Tu Xiao’an, mimicking the Vice-Dean’s mournful expression, stepped forward and said, "Actually, the real snake-slaying hero was Senior Luo Zixiong. He was passing by my residence when he sensed Demon Qi inside. He rushed in to save me but was unfortunately killed by the Snake Demon. The heavens are jealous of geniuses!"

He wanted to cry to enhance the atmosphere, but unfortunately, Tu Xiao’an couldn’t squeeze out any tears. His acting wasn’t as good as the old man’s.

Oh... so that’s what happened.

So Luo Zixiong was the first to discover the Snake Demon and had fearlessly charged in to save someone.

What a moving and heroic act.

Everyone looked at Luo Zixiong, covered in wounds and blood, his eyes forever closed, and they were instantly filled with respect.

To charge in against such a terrifying Snake Demon and try to vanquish it... he was truly a lone hero.

The discussions on site reached a fever pitch. Luo Zixiong was considered a renowned expert at the academy, second only to the students of the Super Genius Class.

Judging by the crowd’s reaction, Tu Xiao’an and the Vice-Dean’s double act hadn’t aroused any suspicion. This was all part of their grand deception.

The real Snake Spirit, Tu Xiao’an, had instead become a snake-slaying hero, free from suspicion. And although Luo Zixiong was dead, he had at least died with a good reputation.