Chapter 139: Cousin Really Deserves to Die!

White Heron Academy.

Shen Xinglan stood before a massive multi-dimensional display, watching the admissions assessment of the Empire's First Military Academy.

Everyone said that White Heron Academy was a dwelling place for immortals, unaware that despite its ancient and refined architectural style, it housed just as many high-tech devices as the outside world.

In fact, White Heron Academy had priority access to certain smart devices that were not open to the general public or ordinary educational institutions.

There was no helping it, simply because it was the Empire's premier martial arts academy.

Furthermore, White Heron Academy maintained close ties with the imperial family and the military department.

A middle-aged man with loose long hair and a robust physique walked in. He glanced briefly at the screen, looked at Shen Xinglan, and asked, "Xinglan, why are you interested in this year's admissions process? Is there someone in there you care about?"

"Master." Shen Xinglan bowed respectfully to Xuanuan Mingjing and said, "I'm just curious."

"You were never curious before," Xuanuan Mingjing said expressionlessly.

Shen Xinglan had never shown any interest in admissions; whoever came in, he was always the top student anyway.

Yet this time, he had unexpectedly come to watch the assessment footage, presumably because his heart was set on someone or he had ulterior motives.

"A friend of mine is also participating in the assessment." Shen Xinglan's gaze landed on Phoenix's face on the screen as he spoke, "I wanted to see if she could pass successfully."

"Are you referring to Her Royal Highness the Princess? When I saw her application documents earlier, I was quite surprised as well." Xuanuan Mingjing also looked at Phoenix, saying, "It has always been rare for royals to be willing to come to our White Heron Academy. The Empire's First Military Academy or the Royal Naval Academy are where they usually find what they want, and those align better with their interests."

"We seek the Heavenly Dao, while the royal family seeks the Kingly Way. What people look for is different," Shen Xinglan replied.

"Some seek the Kingly Way, while others seek tyranny. What kind of 'Dao' it truly is depends entirely on whose mouth it comes from."

"..."

Shen Xinglan smiled without answering.

This was a question he neither could nor dared to pick up.

His master could speak without restraint—after all, he was the headmaster of White Heron Academy and a grandmaster of his generation.

And what about himself?

The Shen family's status was already sensitive; if any more treasonous remarks came from him, it would likely stir up another massive storm.

With the Tang Clan extermination case fresh in memory, they had no desire to repeat past mistakes.

Xuanuan Mingjing shifted his gaze to Tang Fei, who stood beside Phoenix, and asked, "When you went down the mountain last time, did you guide a youth from the Old Soil?"

"His name is Tang Fei." Knowing that his master was already aware of Tang Fei's existence, Shen Xinglan smiled and said, "Although he comes from Planet Blue, he is indeed very talented. He has also participated in this admissions assessment."

"What do you think?" Xuanuan Mingjing asked.

"Think about what?"

"Can he enter our White Heron Academy?"

Shen Xinglan smiled and said, "Whether he can enter White Heron Academy depends entirely on a single thought from Master..."

Xuanuan Mingjing was the headmaster of White Heron Academy and held absolute authority here.

If he favored Tang Fei, even if Tang Fei did not secure first place, he could still recruit him.

If he disliked Tang Fei, even if Tang Fei won first place, he could still keep him out.

White Heron Academy evaluated not only strength but also moral character.

And moral character was the deadliest weapon of all.

The most ordinary words or actions, once infinitely magnified and maliciously interpreted, could ultimately become evidence to send you to the gallows.

Xuanuan Mingjing glanced at Shen Xinglan and said, "Let's wait and see. Let's see who can pass three consecutive trials and obtain that Heart of the Grim Reaper..."

"I heard the content of this assessment was personally set by Master?"

"That's right." Xuanuan Mingjing nodded and said, "I merely casually picked a few maps—just some little tricks to test human nature."

"Content devised by Master is naturally extraordinary."

"You mustn't pick up bad habits from them," Xuanuan Mingjing said.

"This disciple will keep Master's teachings in mind."

"Alright, take your time watching. Wake me up when the results are out."

"Yes, Master."

After Xuanuan Mingjing left, Shen Xinglan's gaze settled on Tang Fei's face.

"Tang Fei, did you truly accept my invitation?"

---

Tang Fei did not want to walk at the very front because he did not know whether the things waiting ahead were ghosts or humans.

Nor did he want to walk at the very back because he didn't know if the hand tapping his shoulder belonged to a person or a spirit.

The unknown was always the most dangerous thing.

Silently, he led Phoenix toward the center of the crowd, trying as hard as possible not to draw attention.

Regrettably, someone noticed anyway.

Just as they settled into position, the man in front suddenly turned around and said to Phoenix, "Cousin, stay right behind me. I'll protect you."

Tang Fei looked at this fellow with guarded eyes. Cousin? Was he Phoenix's cousin?

Phoenix glanced at Tang Fei and introduced him, "Yu Huoshui. My cousin."

"Brother Yu, hello." Tang Fei greeted him with a smile, saying, "The Seven Stars of March are renowned, and I've long heard of Brother Yu's great name."

Yu, as in the Zhong and Yu clans—the Empress's maternal family.

This was genuine royalty, not someone to be easily provoked.

Among the Seven Stars of March, Yu Huoshui was indeed listed as one of them.

He hadn't expected him to participate in this admissions assessment as well.

What? Did he want to enter White Heron Academy too?

"Hehe..." Hearing Tang Fei utter the words "Seven Stars," Yu Huoshui's gaze sharpened slightly, and he chuckled, "You know, ever since you defeated Qin Jianyi, the name of the Seven Stars... has almost become a disgrace."

Yu Huoshui wasn't lying; he was speaking the absolute truth.

The Seven Stars of March were the most anticipated group of young people in Phoenix City.

Each of them shone brilliantly, and any one of them could easily be the protagonist of a movie or TV drama.

Unfortunately, things began to change the moment Qin Jianyi was defeated by a young refugee from the Old Soil...

"What Seven Stars? They couldn't even take down a guy from the Old Soil."

"Trodden underfoot by a savage, the title of the Seven Stars is undeserved."

"They just have good backgrounds; when it comes to cultivation and strength, they're vulnerable to a single blow..."

People didn't dare say such things to their faces, but behind their backs, they wagged their tongues endlessly.

When enough people discussed it, it became a trend.

Qin Jianyi's defeat seemed as though the entire Seven Stars had been wiped out by Tang Fei.

Even Yu Huoshui and the others felt deeply unsettled whenever they thought about it. If Qin Jianyi was beaten by Tang Fei, didn't that prove the Seven Stars had been beaten by Tang Fei?

Fortunately, Shen Xinglan stepped in with his "courtyard lecture," otherwise the pride of the Seven Stars truly would have been utterly disgraced by that useless Qin Jianyi.

What an utterly exasperating fellow.

"..."

Tang Fei wore a surprised expression and hurriedly explained, "Actually, I didn't truly defeat Qin Jianyi. He deliberately gave way. If the two of us had fought to the death, I wouldn't have been his match at all..."

"We saw it with our own eyes; could it be fake?" Yu Huoshui narrowed his eyes into a smile and said, "I just didn't expect you to come and join the White Heron Academy admissions assessment so soon. With Brother Yu's—ah, Brother Tang's strength, taking first place must be as easy as reaching out and taking it, right?"

"I'm just trying my luck casually, honestly without any certainty at all," Tang Fei said with a smile.

Even though that was what he thought in his heart, he couldn't afford to expose it right now.

The assessment had only just begun... he had no desire to become a public enemy of everyone.

"Brother Tang, there's no need to be modest. Today, we've all entered the illusion together to participate in this assessment—it's fate... Brother Tang's strength is formidable and unfathomable, so please take good care of us."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I must ask Brother Yu to take care of me."

"I certainly don't have the strength to defeat Qin Jianyi."

Suddenly raising his volume, Yu Huoshui spoke loudly, "Fellow students, let me introduce you. The person beside me is the renowned classmate Tang Fei. His battle with Shen Qingping was utterly breathtaking, and his demonstrated survival skills in the wilderness were awe-inspiring, becoming an official school video that every student was required to watch. I even spent one star coin to watch it myself, and I truly benefited immensely."

"Even General Tianlang Qin Jianyi fell to his hands and willingly conceded defeat. With such an expert in wilderness survival among us, he will surely lead us to overcome all obstacles and reach the final step... Didn't Dean Si say so? Friendship first, competition second. Don't you all agree?"

While others might fear Shen Qingping and Qin Jianyi, or the Shen and Qin families, Yu Huoshui certainly did not.

Right in front of everyone, he threw out the direct descendants of the Shen and Qin families to elevate Tang Fei's reputation, turning them into stepping stones for Tang Fei's path to success.

However, this behavior also pushed Tang Fei directly onto the roasting fire.

Weren't you profound in cultivation? Weren't your wilderness survival skills formidable?

Then why don't you lead everyone forward?

Building someone up to destroy them was a childish tactic.

Yet, it was exceptionally effective.

Especially when everyone needed you, that effect became even more pronounced.

"Agreed!" Everyone shouted in unison.

"I also watched classmate Tang Fei's forest survival map, and I really learned a lot..."

"If the two of us were placed in the forest together, I would have zero defense capabilities and would have been wiped out by him long ago..."

"Too amazing, truly worthy of someone from the Old Soil..."

Chen Long, standing beside Yu Huoshui, shouted out, "Since classmate Tang Fei's wilderness survival skills are so formidable, why doesn't he walk at the front and lead us out of this King of Hell Canyon?"

"I agree."

"I agree too. Classmate Tang Fei, won't you help us out?"

"That's right, you have an innate premonition for danger... Perhaps you can lead us out without a single hair harmed."

"Classmate Tang Fei, you wouldn't be stingy, would you?"

Sure enough, instigated by Yu Huoshui, these fellows began backing him into a corner.

They wanted to force Tang Fei to walk at the front and become their vanguard pathfinder.

During the first trial at the Geyser Bridge in the middle of the river, everyone had witnessed with their own eyes what happened to the very first person who fell into the water—the moment he fell, he was eaten clean by piranhas.

Since this King of Hell Canyon could serve as the second trial, it was clearly much more difficult than the first, and the danger coefficient must have increased exponentially.

Whoever went first, died.

Tang Fei looked at Yu Huoshui, thinking to himself that it was no wonder a certain martial arts novelist hated cousins so much...

Cousins really deserved to die!