"Wait!" A magnetic male voice called out from a distance. Many students turned their heads to see Teacher Wei approaching with a placid expression.

"Wow, it’s Teacher Wei. What’s he doing here?"

"Hey, didn’t you see his expression? He’s pretending to be calm, I guarantee it! He must be jealous of Qin!"

"That’s right! Heh, now we’ve got a show to watch!"

"You guys don’t think Qin is no match for him, do you? Teacher Wei is at Earth Level, Tier Eight!"

"I don’t think so. If Qin were a nobody, why would His Majesty the Emperor think so highly of him?"

"Teacher Wei is pretty shameless. He’s already in his thirties. By the time Qin is thirty, he’ll definitely have reached the Celestial Level!"

Hearing the quiet discussions among the talented students in the crowd, Wei Qiang’s face gradually darkened. But he didn’t care. He just couldn’t stand this so-called youngest Marquis of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom. Just looking at that face made him furious! He wished he could go up and stomp on it a couple of times!

Qin Li was about to get into the carriage when he heard the shout and paused. Even Zhao Qianqian, who was already inside, couldn’t help but open the carriage door. She looked at Teacher Wei Qiang—a man who was fairly well-known in the Advanced Academy and held the title of Count—and wondered what he was up to.

"And you are?" Qin Li asked, looking at the man in his thirties who had walked up and was now sizing him up. He didn’t remember ever seeing or offending this person, but he could sense that he was likely a teacher at the Advanced Academy. ’Is he here to cause trouble for me?’

"I am Wei Qiang, the Earl of Thunderstorm! I am also a High Level lecturer at the academy. I’ve heard your strength is impressive, so I want to challenge you. What do you say, Teacher Qin Li? Do you dare to accept?"

As soon as Wei Qiang spoke, the surroundings fell completely silent. Many students stared at him in disbelief. Although this teacher’s character on campus wasn’t great and his words were always venomous, it was still shocking that he would provoke someone nearly half his age and a level beneath him.

’Besides, is he crazy? The Princess has clearly shown goodwill toward Qin. Who the hell do you think you are? Aren’t you ashamed to be issuing a challenge like this?’

Qin Li was momentarily speechless. To be honest, he had anticipated that his appointment as a teacher at this academy wouldn’t be without some turmoil, especially given his youth.

Qin Li had originally thought the students would be the first to cause trouble, but to his surprise, they actually admired him. In hindsight, it wasn’t hard to understand. Geniuses are lonely and proud. Very few people could ever earn their sincere respect. And Qin Li’s age, his power, and his accomplishments perfectly resonated with these young people’s hearts. His strength far surpassed that of his peers—the gap was simply too immense!

Thus, their initial jealousy had transformed directly into admiration!

The ones who were truly jealous and came looking for trouble, however, were his fellow teachers. Qin Li found it somewhat comical. He gave Wei Qiang a cool glance and said, "Why should I accept your challenge? I don’t know you, and I have no grudge against you. Don’t you think your actions are a bit inappropriate?"

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. Many students looked at Wei Qiang mockingly, thinking to themselves, ’This venom-tongued bastard has finally met his match.’

Wei Qiang’s face flushed red, then went pale. He glared at Qin Li and said, "There has always been an unwritten rule in the Advanced Academy: when Martial Artists challenge each other, the challenge must be accepted! Only a coward would refuse! I don’t want to hear anything else. Marquis Qin Li, I’m asking you: do you accept, or not!"

Qin Li’s expression grew cold. He said indifferently, "If it’s an unwritten rule, then it isn’t a rule at all. Whether I’m a coward or not is hardly for a frog in a well like you to judge. A challenge? You... are not worthy!"

"Well said!"

Somewhere in the crowd, a girl blurted this out in a clear, crisp voice, instantly triggering another round of roaring laughter.

Wei Qiang could no longer contain his rage. He sneered at Qin Li, "I thought the Empire had produced another incredible genius, but it turns out you’re just a useless pretty boy! I’m not worthy? This strength of mine, I cultivated it with my life on the line! My title of Count was personally bestowed by the Emperor! *I’m* a frog in a well? I’ve hunted countless Profound Level Spirit Beasts! And you... what the hell are you to spout such nonsense in front of me! Qin Li, I’m not afraid to tell you directly: I just can’t stand the sight of you!"

This was no longer a provocation; it was a direct personal attack. Many students stared at the agitated Wei Qiang in disbelief. Just then, someone noticed Teacher Yi Ning standing quietly nearby, and for many, it suddenly clicked. Although these students spent most of their time cultivating, nearly all of them came from powerful and noble families. How could they be lacking in worldly knowledge? Naturally, they had long known that Wei Qiang was pursuing Teacher Yi Ning.

’So he’s trying to play the hero in front of the woman he likes!’

"Are you finished?" Qin Li asked, gazing at Wei Qiang as if he were looking at an idiot.

"..." Wei Qiang stood there dumbfounded. He never expected that after he had said such scathing words, the man wouldn’t even show a hint of an expression, let alone furiously accept his challenge as he had imagined.

"Since you’re finished, you can leave. Oh, no, I mean, *I* can leave now, right?" Qin Li turned to get into the carriage. By comparison, the royal family’s Little Princess was far more endearing, having waited quietly for him in the carriage this whole time.

"You... You coward! You don’t deserve the title of Marquis! You’re even less worthy of being a lecturer at this Advanced Academy! What right do you have—"

Before Wei Qiang could finish, Qin Li’s body, which had been seven or eight meters away with his back turned, suddenly vanished. Wei Qiang instinctively felt something was wrong, but before he could even assume a defensive posture, a searing pain erupted on his face.

SLAP!

With the speed of a thunderclap, Qin Li had viciously slapped Wei Qiang across the face!

Then he threw down a parting shot, "What a disgrace!" and turned to walk away!

Only then did the spectating students react, letting out a collective gasp. Thanks to Wei Qiang, they had finally witnessed the true skill of the young Marquis!

"So fast! That was unbelievably fast! Heavens, is Teacher Qin really only at Earth Level, Tier Seven?"

"Teacher Wei didn’t even have a chance to react. It’s incredible!"

"Hmph, Qin used a sneak attack!" a dissenting male voice finally piped up from the crowd.

"Sneak attack my ass! You try launching a sneak attack and see if Teacher Wei doesn’t kick you into next week! Teacher Wei’s strength is nothing to scoff at. Just like Teacher Liang Luo, he’s at Earth Level, Tier Eight! And Teacher Wei is only in his thirties! Hmph!"

"Exactly! It was clearly Teacher Wei who wasn’t fast enough to defend himself!"

"Teacher Qin, I have to take your class!" a female student shrieked.

With his back still to them, Qin Li gave a wave and continued toward the carriage.

A towering rage erupted in Wei Qiang’s eyes. His chest heaved violently as he suddenly roared, "Qin Li, you dare sneak attack me! I’ll kill you!"

SHIIING! Wei Qiang’s sword was unsheathed from his hip. An astonishing aura erupted from his body, and the surrounding students, most of whom were at the Profound Level, couldn’t withstand the pressure and scrambled backward.

Bu Tong stood by a third-floor window, looking down. A cold sneer touched his lips. ’Things are going even more smoothly than I thought,’ he mused. ’It’s Qin Li’s first day at the academy, and he’s already caused such a huge commotion. That Wei Qiang, a man whose pride knows no bounds, has finally done the right thing for once. I’ll have to reward him properly later!’

"Teacher Wei, stop!" Liang Luo, who was also at Earth Level, Tier Eight, shouted with false sincerity from a distance. He had no intention of stepping forward to stop him. Instead, fanning the flames, he added, "He’s a Marquis favored by the Emperor! If you harm him, you’ll have a hard time explaining yourself!"

From another side, Yi Ning shot Liang Luo a cold look, cursing inwardly: ’Despicable man!’

At that moment, the Little Princess, Zhao Qianqian, spoke coldly from within the carriage. "Teacher Wei Qiang, I will report everything that has happened today to my father, the Emperor, exactly as it occurred. I believe he will make a fair judgment. However, in my personal opinion, you are no longer fit to be a lecturer at the Advanced Academy!"

Wei Qiang froze, stunned that the Little Princess would defend Qin Li so staunchly. His anger flared even hotter, and he bellowed, "I am a noble too! And I challenged him! He dared to insult me! As a noble, I have the right to retaliate! Moreover, Your Highness, venerable Princess, in this academy, your status... is merely that of a student. You have no right to lecture me! Qin Li, die!" Roaring with fury, Wei Qiang shot up from the ground, swooping down on Qin Li from above.

At this point, Wei Qiang had no way to back down. As a man of extreme pride, he could not allow anyone to wound his self-esteem, and the Little Princess Zhao Qianqian’s words had just done so, severely.

For someone to have reached Earth Level, Tier Eight in his thirties, he was undeniably a genius Martial Artist. Wei Qiang wasn’t afraid that his words would truly anger the Emperor enough to seek revenge on him. Because if that happened, no one would ever dare to pledge allegiance to the Cyan Dragon Royal Family again!

Wei Qiang held nothing back with this sword strike, cleaving viciously toward Qin Li, who had already turned around and was watching him with a cold smirk.

The Sword Qi was intensely cold!

Evidently, the combat skills Wei Qiang cultivated were also Attribute Combat Skills—and a very rare Ice Attribute at that!

The cold smirk on Qin Li’s lips drove Wei Qiang further into a frenzy.

"Die!"

Wei Qiang bellowed, and the very air around them seemed to freeze. The power of an Earth Level Martial Artist was truly no small matter.

At this moment, several ghost-like figures swiftly approached Qin Li’s carriage, surrounding it protectively. These were the Princess’s guards, normally invisible to all.

BANG!

A heavy, muffled thud echoed out. Wei Qiang’s body was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string. (To be continued. If you would like to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available, supporting the author and legitimate reading!)