# Chapter 114: The Old Man's Threat
Not long ago, they had looked at Lin Feng with arrogant and contemptuous gazes, insulting him as a lowborn commoner.
Now, the "lowborn commoner" they spoke of had not only slapped Zuoqiu across the face but had also easily defeated the talented Bai Ze.
If Lin Feng was a lowborn commoner, what were they? Even worse than lowborn commoners!
"A bunch of arrogant bastards. I wonder if today will teach you any lesson."
A harsh voice rang out from among the commoner faction, causing all the noble disciples to darken their faces.
"Shut up. If you have the guts, fight me."
A cold shout rang out, causing the speaker's gaze to freeze.
"Rong Yan, you only pick on those weaker than you. Why don't you try me?"
The two groups exchanged words, each side clashing against the other, until the old man spoke coldly: "All of you, shut up."
The crowd fell silent at the old man's words. In the Heavenly One Academy, every teacher possessed formidable strength—none were weak. They all had to show some respect, and even those noble disciples of high birth dared not act recklessly.
In the Imperial City, nobles were as numerous as oxen hair, and the Heavenly One Academy gathered many talented noble children. Those who could serve as their teachers were no nobodies.
"What a disgrace. Have you forgotten what day it is today?"
The old man swept his cold gaze across the crowd, and everyone immediately fell silent.
The old man stepped forward, arriving beside Bai Ze, and said flatly: "Get up."
Bai Ze raised his head, looking at the old man, a trace of shame flashing in his eyes. Before everyone, he had been defeated by an outsider—where was his face now? He would surely be ridiculed in the future.
"Teacher."
Bai Ze stood up, his head still lowered, too ashamed to lift it.
"Hmph, you still have the face to call me teacher?" The old man snorted coldly, causing Bai Ze's face to flush even redder. Even his teacher looked down on him now.
"On the path of martial arts, you cultivate martial arts, but you also cultivate the heart. There are countless strong people on the continent; no one dares claim to be the strongest. Whether in strength or talent, there are always those better than you. What matters is inner strength—having a resilient, persistent martial artist's heart. Victory is not a cause for pride; defeat should bring shame, but not decadence. Instead, it should drive you to strive harder and become stronger."
The old man's words rang in Bai Ze's ears, shaking his heart like the morning drum and evening bell, awakening him from his stupor.
"Teacher, I understand." Bai Ze bowed slightly to the old man, extremely respectful. His teacher had taught him another profound lesson.
"Since you understand, step back and reflect deeply."
The old man said coldly, then turned his gaze—landing on Lin Feng.
At this moment, Lin Feng was also sizing up the old man, secretly surprised in his heart. The academy relied on teachers to guide and assist disciples in their martial cultivation. The Heavenly One Academy, located in the Imperial City, recruited people with outstanding talent. The teachers here were indeed extraordinary—a few words had easily pulled Bai Ze back from his decadence, teaching him to know shame and then rise again.
But although the teachers of the Heavenly One Academy were formidable, they were still teachers of the Heavenly One Academy. Lin Feng, however, was not even a member of the Heavenly One Academy—yet he had humiliated its students.
"At a time when our academy is recruiting, you come to cause trouble. Let me ask you—what is your intention?"
The old man looked at Lin Feng and spoke abruptly, causing Lin Feng's gaze to freeze.
Him, Lin Feng, causing trouble? From beginning to end, it seemed he had only been forced to fight back.
"Outside my academy, you bully my Heavenly One disciples. Are you insulting the Heavenly One Academy, saying we have no one?"
Seeing Lin Feng silent, the old man spoke again, his voice icy.
The noble disciples were stunned for a moment, then sneered. In the Heavenly One Academy, not only were the students divided into factions, but many teachers were as well. This old man was undoubtedly part of the noble faction.
Lin Feng was about to be in trouble! Offending a teacher—how could that end well?
The commoner disciples were speechless. Though they knew the old man was twisting the truth to punish Lin Feng, they dared not speak up. After all, the old man was a teacher of the Heavenly One Academy. Setting aside his strength, his status alone was higher than theirs. They couldn't afford to offend him. They could only blame Lin Feng for his bad luck in encountering such a protective teacher.
Lin Feng's gaze turned mocking as he looked at the old man and said: "It seems to me that when Zuoqiu said he wanted to teach me a lesson, I recall you saying that those without recommendation letters were no longer bound by restrictions. Therefore, Zuoqiu was allowed to make a move against me. But now, you say I deliberately caused trouble and insulted your Heavenly One Academy. Let me ask you—as a teacher and senior of the academy, do you just spout lies with your eyes wide open?"
"How dare you!"
The old man suddenly roared, his gaze turning cold and domineering. "I know what I've done. Do I need you to teach me? What do you think you are?"
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold smile in his heart. Strength was everything. With strength, one could be so overbearing, even twisting right and wrong, creating something out of nothing.
Just like this old man now. He had thought Zuoqiu could handle Lin Feng, so he had specially exempted Zuoqiu and incited him to attack. Yet now, he said Lin Feng had insulted the Heavenly One Academy—utterly outrageous.
"Senior, how can you be like this? They clearly provoked first."
Duan Feng said discontentedly. He would soon be a member of the Heavenly One Academy and naturally wanted it to be good. But on his very first day, Lin Feng had clashed with the academy.
And it was the senior teacher of the academy who was twisting the truth.
"Shut up. Don't forget that you will also be a member of the Heavenly One Academy in the future. Unless you don't want to enter the Heavenly One Academy."
The old man coldly swept his gaze over Duan Feng, his tone carrying a hint of threat.
Duan Feng wanted to say more, but Lin Feng stopped him and said flatly: "Duan Feng, you will also be a student of the Heavenly One Academy in the future. This matter has nothing to do with you."
After speaking, Lin Feng turned his gaze back to the old man: "According to your meaning, what do you plan to do with me?"
"Provoking the dignity of the Heavenly One Academy—you should have been killed. But considering that these days are our academy's recruitment period, a good day, I won't kill you. I'll just cripple your cultivation and let it go at that."
The old man spoke as if stating something very ordinary, yet a murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
Lin Feng's talent was outstanding, but his strength was still too weak. How could he resist? The old man could destroy him easily, not even considering him worth mentioning.
Moreover, precisely because Lin Feng had good talent and was not joining the Heavenly One Academy, the old man wanted to cripple him. This way, he could reduce a strong opponent for the academy's students.
Perhaps Lin Feng was going to the Snow Moon Holy Academy.
"Cripple my cultivation. You say it so easily."
Lin Feng's expression turned cold. These powerful people were all extremely overbearing—killing when they wanted, crippling when they wanted, without allowing any questioning.
In their eyes, no matter how high your talent, if you had no use to them, they would destroy you.
In this world where people devoured each other, only strength mattered. Whether academy or sect, it was all the same—only interests.
But fortunately, Lin Feng was not afraid now. The strength Meng Qing had displayed at the tavern made him very reassured.
And Meng Qing herself had said she had the ability to protect him.
Meng Qing was not fond of words, yet she had made such a bold claim so casually. How could she not have sufficient backing?
"Teacher, why must you be so angry?" At this moment, a faint voice rang out. A figure walked out from behind the crowd and said to the old man: "His talent is so outstanding. If he were willing to join our Heavenly One Academy, he would surely become a powerful figure in the future."
It was a young man with long hair draped over his shoulders. His voice was gentle, clear and delicate. What was even more astonishing was his appearance—too handsome, even beautiful, more beautiful than a woman.
Wen Aoxue—cold plum braving the snow, handsome as a demon.
"Why is he here?" Seeing Wen Aoxue appear, many were startled.
Even the old man turned his gaze to him and nodded slightly.
"What do you think of what he said?"
Turning his gaze back, the old man spoke to Lin Feng again, causing everyone to freeze. Wen Aoxue was indeed different—with just one sentence, he had made the teacher listen to his opinion.
"Join the Heavenly One Academy?" Lin Feng glanced at Wen Aoxue, then shook his head: "I'm not interested."
"Oh?" The old man's gaze froze as he swept his eyes over Lin Feng and said coldly: "An ungrateful wretch. I give you a chance, even let you enter the academy, yet you give it up. Since that's the case, don't blame me."
(To be continued. For the fastest updates and no ads, please visit.)