"You stinky master, put me down right now! We're here!"
At this moment, Zi Yan, held in Hun Changqing's hand, writhed and struggled like an eel. Her tender little face was full of frustration and displeasure. She even used her little paws to tug at Hun Changqing's black robe, her tone full of dissatisfaction.
Su Qian, whose face showed anger at seeing Zi Yan being held by Hun Changqing, found her seemingly angry but actually incredibly affectionate attitude towards Hun Changqing strange, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.
Hun Changqing quickly released his grip on Zi Yan's collar. Zi Yan immediately felt a loosening behind her, a sense of weightlessness as she fell. Zi Yan quickly mobilized her internal battle qi, and instantly, a pair of small, delicate, light purple battle qi wings appeared behind her, flapping the air and emitting waves of energy.
With the appearance of her battle aura wings, Zi Yan finally stabilized her falling body and slowly regained her balance in the sky. Then, pouting, she turned around angrily, her large, bright eyes, like amethyst gems, glaring at Hun Changqing. Pointing a delicate, white finger at him, she said discontentedly,
"Master! Couldn't you have told me before you let go! Do you know how scary it is to suddenly let go like that? What if I hadn't reacted in time and fell to my death? Are you willing to let your obedient and adorable disciple die like that?"
Hun Changqing looked at her ... A sullen Zi Yan revealed a playful smile, and said sinisterly,
"Hehehe... my good disciple, even if you're really so stupid that you can't even use your Battle Qi Wings at this mere few thousand meters in the air with your peak Battle King reaction speed, then for your Void Ancient Dragon body, falling from this height is nothing more than a tickle." Upon
hearing this, Zi Yan's angry expression froze, her finger pointing at Hun Changqing trembled slightly, and her rosy lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to retort, but felt unable to speak. In the end, she could only angrily make a face at Hun Changqing.
"Hmph! You stinky master, I'm ignoring you! Also, your laughter is awful!"
Zi Yan said this and quickly flapped her Battle Qi wings, turning and flying towards Su Qian at a speed that surprised everyone.
Hearing Zi Yan's complaint, Hun Changqing was slightly taken aback at first. Then, staring at Zi Yan's retreating figure as she flew towards Su Qian, he stroked his chin with his smooth fingers, thinking to himself,
"Have I been too lenient with this disciple lately? It seems I need to discipline her properly."
Meanwhile, Zi Yan, who was flying, suddenly felt a chill behind her, instantly making her hair stand on end and goosebumps rise all over her body. She quickly accelerated again, putting distance between herself and Hun Changqing.
"Although I don't like your disciple, she's right this time. I also think your smile is quite unpleasant,"
Medusa, standing beside Hun Changqing, chimed in untimely, causing Hun Changqing's expression to instantly turn cold, his aura growing even more sinister, his eyes filled with gloom.
"Medusa has become too unruly; it's time to teach her a lesson."
Hun Changqing glanced at Medusa out of the corner of his eye, making a decision in his mind. A series of "brutal" images flashed through his mind, causing a cold smile to creep onto his lips.
Medusa, on the other hand, felt a chill run down her spine, causing her to tremble slightly. She tightened her collar, and as if remembering something, glanced at Hun Changqing before wisely shutting her mouth, afraid to provoke him further, lest he come up with some new trick to torment her.
Su Qian stared at Zi Yan, who had unfurled her battle aura wings and flown to him, her face filled with bewilderment. He couldn't help but ask,
"Zi Yan... what's this...?"
The mischievous Zi Yan, seeing Su Qian's blank expression, rolled her large eyes around as if she wanted something. Imitating Hun Changqing, she flashed a strange, sinister smile, revealing her cute, small canine teeth.
"Hehehe... Su Qian, you old geezer, I'm back."
Su Qian: ...
Su Qian's face was filled with confusion. His throat bobbed, as if he wanted to say something, but his mouth opened and closed slightly, ultimately uttering nothing. He was frightened by Zi Yan's appearance; he wondered if Zi Yan had been corrupted by Hun Changqing.
However, Su Qian quickly noticed that Zi Yan's previously sinister smile had instantly transformed back into the innocent and radiant smile he once knew. He immediately facepalmed, realizing he'd been tricked by Zi Yan. Helplessly, Su Qian asked,
"Zi Yan, what's going on?"
"Hehe~"
Zi Yan grinned, revealing her cute little tiger teeth, and walked to Su Qian's side, explaining...
Seeing that Zi Yan had already caught up with Su Qian, Hun Changqing turned his attention to the battle arena below. He had come to Canaan Academy with a purpose.
Hun Changqing wanted to try creating a force to plunder resources for him. Although he had no experience in this area and didn't know if it could be run, he had to try. Even if he failed, he wouldn't lose anything, right?
Creating a force naturally required talented and capable individuals, and many, many such people were needed. Canaan Academy had many such people.
"Ew~ Such a strong aura of blood!"
Just as Hun Changqing's attention was focused on the students below, the remaining traces of battle on the arena immediately caught his eye. He vanished into the sky in a flash, appearing before Wu Hao, who was slowly rising from the ground.
Wu Hao saw the terrifying black-robed figure appear before him in an extremely bizarre way, and instantly, his hair stood on end, a chill running down his spine.
Sensing the aura emanating from the black-robed figure, as deep and deadly as an abyss, Wu Hao felt his blood stop flowing, all his organs cease functioning, as if he were on the verge of death.
Wu Hao's teeth were chattering wildly, making a "crunching" sound. His eyes were filled with terror as he looked at Hun Changqing. Although he was ruthless and merciless in the Black Corner Region, known as the "Blood Asura," it was only now, standing before this black-robed figure, that he truly understood what an Asura was!
"Senior...?"
Wu Hao, seeing Hun Changqing scrutinizing him, suppressed his fear and tentatively called out in a trembling voice.
Hun Changqing ignored Wu Hao's attempt to speak, instead stroking his chin with his slender white fingers and continuing to scrutinize him. Under Hun Changqing's gaze, Wu Hao felt as if he were being roasted over a fire, enduring unbearable torment; the short time felt like an eternity.
All the students nearby, including Lin Xiuya, remained silent, heads bowed, afraid to look at the terrifying figure. They sensed a strange, almost demonic power emanating from that pitch-black figure; simply looking at him caused their souls to stir uncontrollably, as if they were being pulled in—a terrifying and eerie sight.
"Not bad, the battle aura is quite special, blood-attribute battle aura. Combined with this blood energy and killing intent, its power will definitely be considerable. The talent is also quite good."
After a short but incredibly long period of time for everyone present, Hun Changqing finally withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and nodded in satisfaction.
Wu Hao, upon hearing Hun Changqing's words of praise, was initially taken aback, but his fear lessened considerably. A thought flickered in his mind, and he began to speculate.
At this moment, Zi Yan explained things to Su Qian. Although Su Qian still had some doubts, he also felt more relieved, even though he was still quite suspicious of Hun Changqing.
But according to Zi Yan, if Hun Changqing really had ulterior motives, he wouldn't need to put on this master-disciple act. And Zi Yan was now quite affectionate towards Hun Changqing, which reassured Su Qian considerably. The heavy weight that had been pressing on his heart for the past few days had finally been lifted.
Relieved, Su Qian saw Hun Changqing disappear back into his group of students, and his heart immediately tightened again. What the hell was he up to now? He quickly swooped down and landed beside Hun Changqing, a look of surprise and uncertainty on his face. He bowed and asked,
"Senior, what's going on?" Hun
Changqing glanced at Su Qian, a hint of mockery on his face.
"Elder Su Qian, why are you so agitated? If I really wanted to do something, could you stop me?"
Su Qian's words froze instantly, a look of helplessness appearing on his face. He thought about it carefully and realized it was indeed true; this person's strength really did allow him to act so recklessly.
Then Hun Changqing ignored Su Qian and looked at Wu Hao, saying,
"Boy, what's your name?"
"Boy, Wu Hao!"
Wu Hao didn't dare to be negligent when Hun Changqing asked him, and quickly replied,
"I saw that you looked very unwilling just now. Was it because you were not strong enough to lose to the person on the stage?"
Hun Changqing asked with interest.
"This... yes, senior!"
Wu Hao hesitated for a moment, but still answered truthfully. "Want to become stronger? Joining my faction will allow you to grow faster."
Wu Hao was taken aback at first, then a thought struck him. He wasn't stupid; he had vaguely guessed it from Hun Changqing's praise earlier. He wasn't particularly resistant to Hun Changqing's recruitment. He could see that even the Grand Elder of his academy seemed helpless against Hun Changqing, indicating that he was an extremely powerful expert. Joining his faction might be an opportunity for him.
Canaan Academy was ultimately just an academy. As such, the students would eventually graduate; they couldn't stay in the academy forever.
After graduation, those with powerful backers would naturally return to their own factions, while those without would join other factions. Except for a very few, most students wouldn't consider becoming a lone, solitary cultivator.
Now that a terrifyingly powerful figure like Hun Changqing had offered him a position, Wu Hao didn't feel he had any reason to refuse. However, he sensed an extremely evil aura emanating from Hun Changqing, which made him somewhat worried. He didn't know exactly what this organization did and feared it might be a trap from which he would be doomed.
"Senior... I..."
For a moment, Wu Hao hesitated, his words faltering, his heart filled with conflicting emotions. He didn't want to give up this opportunity, yet he was also filled with concerns.
Hun Changqing saw Wu Hao's hesitation, chuckled, and pointed to Zi Yan, who had landed from the sky and was staring at him with a blank expression, standing beside Su Qian. He said,
"I know what your concerns are. This little girl was also a student of your Canaan Academy before, I think she was number one on that ranking list. Now she's my disciple, and she's almost broken through to Dou Wang and become a new Dou Huang, having only been my disciple for a few days . What do you think?"
Hun Changqing directly used Zi Yan to promote him. After all, she was the big sister of Canaan Academy before, and the students would feel a sense of kinship with her, a fellow student of Canaan Academy, so they wouldn't have too many concerns about joining Hun Changqing's faction.
Hun Changqing was quite self-aware. He never thought of attracting people to his faction with his personal charm. Just his strange and evil aura alone would be enough to scare people away, let alone attract them.
Hun Changqing never expected his recruits to be truly loyal; that was unrealistic. He possessed no charisma, nor did he have the skill to win people over.
The organization he wanted to create simply operated like the companies he'd built in his previous life: pay salaries, the more they worked, the more they earned. As long as they generated profit for Hun Changqing, he wouldn't hesitate to give them a little something.
And leaving wouldn't be like his previous companies, where you could just submit a resignation and walk away. Want
to leave? Sure, come up with a large sum of resources to buy your freedom, then you can go wherever you want. If you can't, well, Protector Bo will teach those who break the rules a lesson.
Hun Changqing had already figured out the basic operating model for his organization and was even preparing to establish a Punishment Hall. Anyone who dared to betray him or leave without permission would face relentless pursuit.
Those captured would naturally experience the punishment system copied entirely from the Soul Hall's torture methods by Hun Changqing. The experience was absolutely exquisite; Hun Changqing had never seen anyone remain normal after enduring the Soul Hall's lavish services. Hai Bodong was the first person Hun Changqing selected to be placed in the Punishment Hall.
This model was most suitable for Hun Changqing: he provided the money, his subordinates did the work, and if they didn't perform well, the Punishment Hall would provide ample benefits and terrifying punishments, allowing Hun Changqing to completely disregard the loyalty of his subordinates.
After hearing Hun Changqing's words, Wu Hao stared in shock at Zi Yan beside him, his face filled with disbelief. He knew perfectly well what the ranking Hun Changqing mentioned was—the ranking he had just been vying for! He couldn't believe that such a young girl was actually the number one on that previously mysterious ranking!
On the dueling platform, Lin Xiuya's face showed a hint of fear upon seeing Zi Yan beside Hun Changqing. Some students who recognized Zi Yan also looked terrified, clearly having been defeated by her.
Zi Yan, observing the expressions of the surrounding students, wore a smug expression, patted her flat chest, and raised her head towards Hun Changqing, seemingly boasting about her achievements.
Hun Changqing ignored the seemingly foolish Zi Yan, instead looking at Wu Hao, awaiting his choice.
Seeing the reactions of those around him and Lin Xiuya, Wu Hao naturally knew that this girl was indeed the former number one expert on the rankings. His concerns instantly dissipated, and his mind raced. After a moment's thought, he decided he couldn't miss this opportunity, so he quickly bowed to Hun Changqing and respectfully said,
"Thank you for your kind offer, senior. I am willing!"
Hearing Wu Hao's agreement, Hun Changqing nodded in satisfaction, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
Seeing Wu Hao make his choice, Su Qian naturally couldn't say anything more. This was an academy; they couldn't decide the students' future.
Suddenly, Hun Changqing turned to Su Qian and said, "Elder Su Qian, how about we discuss a collaboration?"
Su Qian was taken aback, somewhat confused, and asked, "What do you mean by collaboration, senior?"
"I see many promising talents at Canaan Academy. I want to establish a force there, but I don't think much of the mediocre students in the Black Corner Region. I want to recruit from within Canaan Academy, having these students join my force after graduation. Of course, I won't force them; Elder Su Qian only needs to promote my force when they graduate."
Hun Changqing wanted to hold a campus recruitment fair similar to those at his previous university, directly recruiting from Canaan Academy graduates. He wanted to bring in the geniuses who could successfully graduate from the inner academy, saving time and ensuring high quality—each one a genius among thousands.
Moreover, given Elder Su Qian's prestige within Canaan Academy, a simple recommendation and promotion would naturally attract a large number of students without powerful backers to join. Then, senior student Zi Yan could occasionally return to demonstrate her strength and offer promises to graduating students, instantly increasing the manpower pool.
"This…"
Su Qian hesitated. He couldn't comment on the students' choices, but if he were to promote the academy and something went wrong, wouldn't Canaan Academy's reputation be completely ruined? Hun
Changqing, aware of Su Qian's concerns, explained the general operating model of his organization. These novel ideas quickly caught Su Qian's eye.
Seeing Su Qian's interest, Hun Changqing smiled and continued,
"Elder Su Qian, if you cooperate with me, Canaan Academy will be inextricably linked to the organization I've established. Then, if anyone wants to invade Canaan Academy, they'll naturally have to ask for my permission first. What do you think, Elder Su Qian?"
Su Qian was now somewhat tempted. If the benefits of joining Hun Changqing's faction, as he described, were true, he wouldn't mind recommending such a good place to his students. Even if they weren't satisfied after joining, they could still leave, only requiring the expenditure of resources—far better than the factions on the continent that hunted down those who left their sects.
Even if it turned out to be a trap, Su Qian could simply use his own resources to redeem the students. Of course, all of this was based on Hun Changqing adhering to the rules, which Su Qian could only trust at this point.
After all, Hun Changqing had no reason to lie to him. His faction was located within the Black Corner Region; if it were truly a trap, Su Qian wouldn't bring another batch of students into it after the first.
If Hun Changqing wanted to force his way in, Canaan Academy, though weak, would fight back fiercely. Hun Changqing's roundabout approach would be pointless; he might as well just wipe them out now. Why waste time arguing?
After pondering for a moment, Su Qian decided to agree, but then a thought struck him, and he said to Hun Changqing,
"If it's really as you say, senior, I can agree. However, recently, a force adjacent to my Canaan Academy called Demon Flame Valley
has clashed with my Canaan Academy students multiple times, resulting in heavy casualties, including some exceptionally talented students. It is a major threat to my Canaan Academy. With this force around, it will be much harder for you to recruit talent. Therefore, I humbly request that you join us in annihilating Demon Flame Valley."
Fearing Hun Changqing might disagree, Su Qian quickly gave Zi Yan a wink, and Zi Yan immediately understood. She rushed forward, tugging at Hun Changqing's black robe with her delicate white hands, blinking her bright eyes and making an adorable face, saying in a soft, sweet voice,
"Master~"
Hun Changqing found Zi Yan's behavior amusing, slapping her hand away and pinching her smooth, white cheek, saying,
"Alright, stop pretending. I know what kind of person you are. I'll agree to Su Qian's request."
It was just a Dou Zong faction; he could easily wipe it out. Besides, they would be cooperating with Canaan Academy in the future, so he naturally wouldn't object to such a small matter.
Zi Yan was initially annoyed by Hun Changqing pinching her cheek and was about to protest, but feeling the cool, soft touch of his hand, she felt a strange sensation. Her face flushed slightly, and she lowered her hand, letting Hun Changqing rub her cheek.
Upon hearing Hun Changqing's agreement, Su Qian, no longer noticing Zi Yan's unusual expression, was overjoyed. The Demon Flame Valley was indeed a thorn in his side, and everything he had told Hun Changqing was true. However, the Valley Master's strength was too formidable, leaving him helpless. Now, with Hun Changqing's help, annihilating the Demon Flame Valley would be a piece of cake.
Su Qian quickly bowed to Hun Changqing and said,
"Thank you for your help, Senior! May I ask your title and the name of your faction? I'll inform the students when I arrive."
Hun Changqing was taken aback by Su Qian's question. He seemed genuinely unaware of the question. He stroked his chin with his fingers, pondered for a moment, and then gave a sinister smile.
"Hehehe... Ghost Soul... Ghost Soul Venerable... The faction's name is... Underworld Palace..."