Chapter 2601: Chapter 2604: So Much Respect

Sizzle!

Boom!

At the summit of the Southern Maniac Mountain, streaks of lightning burst forth, and waves of Thunderous Force spread out.

The students of Changlin Academy were already used to it.

For half a month, the Southern Maniac Mountain seemed to be bombarded by thunder. The only difference was that the Thunder Descent typically comes from the sky, whereas here, it was directly exploding at the mountain summit.

Initially, some students, instructors, and elders of the academy who wished to cultivate in seclusion were slightly displeased. In Changlin Academy, the only one cultivating the Thunder Path was Tong He.

The brothers Tong He and Tong Hai were resented by the academy for having once chased after Jiang Chen, despite it being clarified as a misunderstanding. Even though they had become elders, with one being among the four Great Elders, some people in the academy were still not fond of them.

The only reason being Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen’s influence in Changlin Academy had reached an unprecedented level. Previously, Jian Cangqiong would jokingly remark that Jiang Chen’s words held more sway than his in the academy. But it wasn’t a joke; in some aspects, Jiang Chen’s words indeed carried more weight.

And now, Jiang Chen once again timely rescued the academy, once again bringing benefits for everyone. All members of the academy, including this year’s freshmen, felt extreme gratitude towards Jiang Chen, filled with reverence!

Some elders approached the Southern Maniac Mountain wanting to talk to Tong He, but upon discovering it wasn’t Tong He causing the disturbance but rather Jiang Chen and his brothers, everyone quickly backed off.

No one in the academy complained anymore about the thunder from the Southern Maniac Mountain affecting cultivation or being noisy. Some students had even automatically set up a perimeter at the foot of the mountain.

When someone unaware asked, the answer was that Senior Jiang was cultivating.

Instantly, more students guarded the foot of the Southern Maniac Mountain!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two figures leapt from the central position of the academy towards the Southern Maniac Mountain.

"Cangqiong, there’s no need for you to escort me. You’d better hurry to Jingge Tower. This time, the main court has indeed gone all out, even splitting some of the original Daobao. This only happens the first time, you know. Going for cultivation will be beneficial for you. I’ll go up and see that young lad by myself. Are you worried I’ll harm him?"

Ouyang Song teased as he spoke.

This time, Ouyang Song came because of a report from Changlin Academy to procure new pseudo-Daobao for the academy.

Hu Yiqiu and Yun Tao, after returning from the Abandoned Plains, had all gone into seclusion. Jian Wuheng and others also received the Necro Spheres Jiang Chen sent via Yun Tao, so they all went into seclusion as well, leaving only him to come.

Jian Cangqiong smiled slightly, "Elder Ouyang, it’s not that I’m worried you’ll harm him, but without someone to guide you, you can’t go up!"

"Can’t go up? What do you mean?"

Ouyang Song was taken aback for a moment as he glanced at the summit of the Southern Maniac Mountain, "Is there a Formation set up above?"

"There is a Formation, but that’s not the main point. Look over there."

Jian Cangqiong raised his hand, pointing ahead.

The two were already approaching the foot of the Southern Maniac Mountain as Ouyang Song turned his head and took a glance, suddenly freezing in place.

"What’s going on? Is that young lad even closing off the mountain for cultivation?"

Ouyang Song’s face was full of confusion and incomprehension.

At this time, a group of students sitting in Panxi were cultivating at the foot of the Southern Maniac Mountain, with teams patrolling. Just as the two arrived, two teams were exchanging patrol duties.

"It’s not a mountain closure, it’s that the students have voluntarily come to guard, and Jiang Chen himself doesn’t even know about it."

As Jian Cangqiong landed with the two, he explained with a chuckle.

"Voluntarily organized?"

Ouyang Song was still a bit confused, full of astonishment.

"Indeed, when the students learned that the commotion at the summit was due to Jiang Chen and his brothers’ cultivation, they spontaneously came here to guard, intercepting some unaware who wanted to go up the Southern Maniac Mountain to cultivate - core students and even elders."

Jian Cangqiong smiled slightly, "The last time Jiang Chen was cultivating at the academy, causing a great commotion, the students did the same. Once they realize there’s no significant activity on the summit, these students will quietly leave."

"Quietly leave?"

Ouyang Song continued walking, still in a daze.

"Yes, I have tried to advise them, telling them it wasn’t necessary to do so, as Jiang Chen wouldn’t be disturbed during cultivation, but the students won’t listen. They said..."

Jian Cangqiong paused slightly, gently sighing, "They said they owed too much to Jiang Chen. During the academy’s great calamity, Jiang Chen turned the tide, saving the lives of all faculty and students. All the resources he gained in Mingqian Realm were given to the academy. This time again, he saved the academy. They are endlessly grateful.

They feel they can never repay Jiang Chen and thus wish to protect him for once. They know it’s unnecessary, but they enjoy the feeling of doing something for Jiang Chen!"

"Enjoy the feeling of doing something for Jiang Chen? Because of gratitude?" Ouyang Song now somewhat understood.

"Greetings to the Principal! Greetings to Elder Ouyang!"

At this moment, a shout rang out as the two had arrived at the foot of the mountain, and someone recognized Ouyang Song.

"Principal, Elder Ouyang, are you here to find Junior Jiang?"

A youth, who had already broken through to the Virtual Refinement Realm and became an academy instructor, looked at Ouyang Song, with a trace of vigilance in his eyes, softly inquiring.

"Don’t worry, if he’s cultivating, we won’t disturb him!"

Jian Cangqiong helplessly explained.

The youth nodded, waved his hand, and the students guarding the mountain path made way.

"Is Jiang Chen held in such high respect at your academy?"

As Ouyang Song walked, he playfully asked, "Do they know about Jiang Chen? Do they know that Jiang Chen suffered unfair treatment at Changling Main Court and self-exiled from the academy? Would they still want to go to the main court?"

"Ah, Elder Ouyang..."

Jian Cangqiong hadn’t expected Ouyang Song to bring this up and was too late to stop him.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

In an instant, the two were surrounded by dozens of students.

"Elder Ouyang, what did you just say? Junior Jiang suffered unfair treatment at Changling Main Court and self-exiled from the academy?"

The youth who had just inquired looked sternly at Ouyang Song.

"This..."

Ouyang Song froze for a moment, looking towards Jian Cangqiong, "They don’t know?"

"They didn’t know; your words are precisely the issue we were worried about, so..."

Jian Cangqiong looked helplessly at Ouyang Song and then turned to the student, "Zhang Qian, some matters are not easy to explain. You have awakened the Fire Path Bloodline; going to Changling Academy will be more beneficial for you."

"This young lad is the one who awakened the Bloodline Power and successfully broke through to the Virtual Refinement Realm?"

Ouyang Song gave Jian Cangqiong a glance and then turned to Zhang Qian, "Zhang Qian, when I leave in a few days, you can come with me. You’ve been admitted directly to the main court."

This student was indeed Zhang Qian, who, after being eliminated in the main court assessment, went back to seclusion, reactivated his Bloodline Power, and broke through to the Virtual Refinement Realm.