The sudden turn of events left Teacher Zhou overwhelmed. He stared at Sun Youcai on the ground, unable to recover for a long time.
"He, he's not dead, is he? How is that possible?"
"How could it not be? He is dead," Mo Qi said with a slight smile.
"Did he fall and die by accident?" Teacher Zhou asked, trying to comfort himself.
Mo Qi rolled his eyes. "If thinking that makes you feel better, then I'll tell you, I killed him."
Teacher Zhou's mouth twitched. "Don't brag. You have the highest cultivation among all of them, but you're only at the True Immortal realm, and so is he. How could you kill him with one strike?"
Mo Qi had used a special elixir to deliberately conceal his cultivation. To others, he appeared to be at the True Immortal realm at that moment.
A student in the crowd, witnessing Mo Qi kill Sun Youcai with a single blow, was spurred into action. He suddenly unleashed a palm lightning strike, hitting Teacher Zhou.
Teacher Zhou felt a pain in his back and turned to glare furiously at the student, Wu Qincha. "You're seeking death!"
As he spoke, he formed a hand seal, preparing to deal with Wu Qincha.
Mo Qi chuckled. "You want to learn from me? You've only learned the superficial aspects, not the essence. Let me show you how to strike for a sure kill. Watch this!"
As he spoke, a Sky-Turning Seal appeared in his hand, and then he struck!
"This is infuriating!" Teacher Zhou roared in fury. "You're using me for teaching? Haven't you looked in the mirror? What right do you have to teach me? I could crush you with a single palm."
Then, Teacher Zhou calmly summoned a black banner. With a wave in the air, the heavens and earth trembled. Dense black mist surged out, instantly filling the entire space.
The mist poured out like a tide, engulfing those in its path.
Many struggled, screaming and shouting, rising and falling within the swirling black mist, before finally being swallowed.
"Hahaha..." Teacher Zhou laughed wantonly. "This is what you should be learning from me. What I usually teach you is just the surface; today, I'm teaching you the real substance. But you'll never reach this level in your lifetime, so just learn and be content. Don't be resentful; this is fate, this is the gap!"
Mo Qi felt extremely vexed. "You're still spouting nonsense when death is at your doorstep. I really want to shut your mouth, but my abilities are limited. I can only kill you, not subdue you. This is a matter that pains me deeply."
"You still want to subdue me and you're pained? That's hilarious," Teacher Zhou said, swinging the black banner with a whooshing sound. The entire space shook with his movements. The black energy surged like colossal waves, rolling and powerful.
Mo Qi simply pointed his finger. The Sky-Turning Seal suddenly enlarged, its dazzling white light like sharp blades, tearing through the giant waves of black energy layer by layer. The Sky-Turning Seal tumbled, striking towards Teacher Zhou like a setting sun in the Milky Way.
Teacher Zhou was somewhat surprised. He unfurled his black banner and shook it fiercely, attempting to knock the Sky-Turning Seal to the ground.
However, the black energy merely swirled into the white light for a moment before being torn apart.
The Sky-Turning Seal continued its unstoppable descent towards Teacher Zhou, the pressure of a falling giant star bearing down on him.
Teacher Zhou was so oppressed that he could barely breathe, finding it difficult even to move.
He finally realized something was amiss. "This is... the Sky-Turning Seal?"
Mo Qi chuckled. "You have good taste, but I don't necessarily need the Sky-Turning Seal to kill you."
As he said this, Mo Qi paused his hand, and the Sky-Turning Seal halted in mid-air.
The immense and heavy pressure still bore down on Teacher Zhou. He wiped the sweat from his brow. "We can try other methods."
Teacher Yue gritted his teeth. "For a beast like this, if you can kill him, just kill him. What's with all the methods?"
Mo Qi nodded. "I also think we can try other methods."
Teacher Zhou breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, without the Sky-Turning Seal, let's have a fair duel."
Mo Qi suddenly pressed forward. The Sky-Turning Seal whistled through the air, tumbled, and with a resounding crash, landed on the ground, flattening Teacher Zhou without surprise. Dust kicked up around the impact, lingering for a long time.
Mo Qi clapped his hands. "I only said we could try, I didn't say we had to."
Mo Qi's display of power impressed many.
Earthlings had always been a topic of dread, but though unspoken, everyone knew they couldn't avoid the reality.
On the contrary, they had always existed, hidden among them, perhaps silently draining their blood.
But everyone could only pretend not to see or hear.
Because they were like beasts; it was better not to wake them. If you did, they would roar ferociously at you, perhaps even devour you.
But now, Mo Qi had easily eliminated two earthlings, giving everyone a glimmer of hope and a strong pillar of support to rely on.
Perhaps their long-held forbearance was all in anticipation of such a figure, who would descend from the heavens, raise his arms, and call out, prompting everyone to respond with fervent enthusiasm.
"Teacher Mo, Teacher Mo!" everyone shouted excitedly, surrounding Mo Qi.
However, a few people in the crowd quietly slipped away, leaving furtively.
After everyone calmed down, Teacher Yue asked, "Teacher Mo, what are your plans?"
Everyone was smart enough to understand.
Mo Qi naturally knew what he meant: "You killed people from the earthling faction, stirred up a hornet's nest, and brought the trouble to the academy. You can't just walk away. What are your plans?"
Mo Qi stated directly, "I will eliminate the four great families, then lure them out, sweep away all the earthlings, and then draw out the forces behind the earthlings and eliminate them all together."
Everyone was stunned!
It sounded so simple when he said it!
They shook their heads, thinking it was just boasting. Anyone could boast.
Teacher Yue suddenly felt Mo Qi was extremely unreliable and then felt immense pressure. The Heavenly Rank Academy was beyond saving!
Seeing that no one trusted him, Mo Qi boldly surveyed the crowd. "Who will accompany me to the four great families?"
Everyone retreated. "I won't go, I won't go."
Dugu Jun said, "I will!"
In a woodshed of the Lingdu Sect, Murong Yanran was busy chopping wood and cooking.
When the Tuoba family attacked, Cang Shan was no match. To protect Murong Yanran, Cang Shan voluntarily abdicated his position as sect leader and surrendered. The Tuoba family took him in without a fight, making him a hall master.
Murong Yanran wanted to leave but was forcibly kept behind, spending her days in the back courtyard and kitchen.
This was because Tuoba Gu, the son of the current Lingdu Sect leader Tuoba Qiu, had taken a liking to Murong Yanran. However, Murong Yanran was unmoved, so Tuoba Gu punished her by making her work in the back courtyard, attempting to break her spirit through torment until she surrendered willingly.
He believed that once she experienced the hardships of being a servant, she would eventually offer to become his young madam.
However, he had underestimated Murong Yanran's perseverance and resolve.
She actually worked with great vigor. Even when Tuoba Gu deliberately found people to provoke her, she never yielded or retreated.
Tuoba Gu was starting to lose patience. He planned to resort to force.
"Damn it, the entire Lingdu Sect is mine now. Don't the people within the Lingdu Sect belong to me?"
At this moment, he entered the woodshed and saw Murong Yanran splitting wood. He smiled and said, "Miss Murong, are you accustomed to the work in the woodshed?"
Murong Yanran felt extremely troubled and said speechlessly, "I'm accustomed to it. It's nothing major. People must learn to accept their fate and recognize reality. Once you recognize reality, you'll find it easier to adapt."
"You still haven't recognized reality," Tuoba Gu said, his smile vanishing, replaced by a cold demeanor. "You only have two choices now: either come with me, or die."
Murong Yanran replied almost without hesitation, "Then let it be death."
Tuoba Gu was taken aback by her decisiveness.
Murong Yanran continued splitting wood listlessly, the air becoming unusually tense.
"Then go to hell," Tuoba Gu finally lost his patience. He formed his right hand into a claw and reached towards Murong Yanran.
However, the direction he pointed his right hand was towards Murong Yanran's chest!
It was unclear whether he intended to kill her or molest her!
Murong Yanran, filled with shame and anger, directly swung her axe towards his monstrous claw.
Tuoba Gu's cultivation was far superior to hers. Seeing the attack, he didn't dodge but met it head-on with his hand.
With a clang and a shower of sparks, when everything settled, Tuoba Gu's palm had firmly grasped the axe like a vise, unmoving.
Tuoba Gu's face broke into a smug smile. "Can you still escape my grasp?"
Murong Yanran felt utterly disgusted. She released the axe with both hands and turned to leave.
Tuoba Gu casually threw away the axe, a smile plastered on his face, and unhurriedly pursued her.
In the courtyard, a figure suddenly blocked their path. "Young Master, the Sect Leader is looking for you."
Tuoba Gu saw it was Cang Shan and became enraged. With a casual wave, he sent Cang Shan flying several feet, where he rolled onto the ground.
"You always ruin my plans! Last time you said my father was looking for me, and when I went back to ask, he wasn't looking for me at all. I didn't settle the score with you then, and you dare to try the same trick again? Do you think I'm afraid to kill you?" Tuoba Gu roared.
Cang Shan struggled to his feet and looked back. Murong Yanran had returned.
Looking further, he saw disciples from all directions converging.
Tuoba Gu laughed heartily again. "Hahaha... I've made ample preparations today. There's no way you can escape my grasp. I told you, you only have two paths: either submit to me, or die."
Cang Shan glanced at Murong Yanran, a look of helplessness on his face.
Murong Yanran wore a look of tragic resolve. She took a dagger from her sleeve. "I know I cannot escape this fate and have long been prepared."
Though a smile graced her lips, the helplessness in her words and the unwillingness in her eyes were subtly revealed.
Tuoba Gu stood there, stunned. He wanted to keep her, but what was the use of keeping something unattainable?