Chapter 133: Shameless Bastard

Outside Purple Cloud City, a group of people rode atop a formidable pack of demon beasts, traversing the territory belonging to the demon clan. To dare pass through so boldly without being challenged by the beasts, their identities were clearly extraordinary.

Such a grand procession could not go unnoticed in Purple Cloud City. Even as they entered, their presence stirred considerable commotion.

At the forefront were two women. One wore a flowing red gown and stood atop a carriage drawn by a majestic lion with fiery red mane. The other donned a teal dress and was pulled by a unicorn. Both were stunningly beautiful, especially the woman in teal, whose very stance on the carriage exuded nobility.

“This contest for the quotas is about to begin. The mentors asked us to come to Purple Cloud Academy to pay a visit, but I’m not interested in merely making a courtesy call,” the woman in red suddenly spoke from the carriage.

“Senior Sister Yan, what do you have in mind?” Mu Xue asked beside her.

“Purple Cloud Academy, Xiao Qin Academy where you belong, and my own Ting Feng Academy are known as the three great academies. Since they are grouped together, it means there are many prodigies within. Simply paying a call is dull; it’s necessary to size up the future rivals,” Yan Muge said with a cool pride.

Mu Xue smiled faintly, sensing that Yan Muge was itching for a challenge.

With that, the group pressed onward toward the heart of Purple Cloud City, the Purple Cloud Academy itself.

At the academy’s grand gate, Shen Qingyun and Feng Chuxun happened to meet Yan Muge’s entourage as their demon beasts barreled in.

Naturally, Shen Qingyun halted, and the beasts came to a stop. Frowning, he looked up at the dignified Yan Muge atop the carriage.

Yan Muge’s figure flickered as she descended gracefully from the carriage, her gaze icy as she addressed Shen Qingyun: “Is there no one else at Purple Cloud Academy? Just the two of you?”

A peculiar expression crossed Shen Qingyun’s face. “Are you here to find someone from Purple Cloud Academy?”

“Exactly!” Yan Muge nodded.

“Oh, just go inside then,” Shen Qingyun gestured toward the academy’s gates and began walking forward alongside Feng Chuxun.

Yan Muge frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

“You’re looking for someone from Purple Cloud Academy, right?” Shen Qingyun turned to her. “They’re all inside.”

Without waiting for a response, he continued on.

“Stop right there!” Yan Muge’s voice was sharp. “Did I tell you to leave? Stop them!”

At her command, several figures leapt from the carriage, all radiating spiritual power at the late stage of the Soul Phase, though with varying strength. They blocked Shen Qingyun and Feng Chuxun’s path.

Shen Qingyun’s steps faltered, a frown darkening his brow. This woman seemed ungrateful; he had already told her where to find the people she sought. Judging by the force she commanded, her status was clearly not ordinary.

Turning back, Shen Qingyun said, “I told you the Purple Cloud Academy people are inside. You can simply go and find them yourself. Why block our way?”

“Why waste effort searching for them? Aren’t you also students of Purple Cloud Academy?” Yan Muge sneered.

Shen Qingyun glanced at her helplessly. “You’re mistaken; we’re not students of Purple Cloud Academy.”

“Who are you trying to fool?” Yan Muge scoffed. “The rules of the three great academies forbid outsiders from entering. If you weren’t Purple Cloud students, how could you have left the gate unscathed?”

Shen Qingyun rubbed his brows, no longer interested in arguing. “Then what do you want?”

“You should have just admitted it earlier,” Yan Muge said coldly.

Shen Qingyun’s face darkened. Were she not a woman, he would have struck her already.

“I challenge you!” Yan Muge pointed at Shen Qingyun.

Shen Qingyun was momentarily taken aback, appraising her from head to toe. She was beautiful and well-formed.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. No mercy in a fight, and you’re so pretty—I’d hate to accidentally hurt you,” he said teasingly.

The group blocking his path was embarrassed; this guy was outrageously arrogant.

Yan Muge sneered, “You think you can hurt me?”

Shen Qingyun waved his index finger playfully. “Drop the word ‘think’; it’s the least respect you can show me. And if I hurt you, it might just be the mildest of outcomes.”

Feng Chuxun stared at him wide-eyed, feeling as though she no longer recognized him.

“Chuxun,” Shen Qingyun called softly, but after a moment received no reply. Turning, he found Feng Chuxun looking at him with a strangely unfamiliar expression.

Scratching his head, Shen Qingyun couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her. Just then, Feng Chuxun quietly asked, “Are you really the leader?”

“...” Shen Qingyun was stunned, then smiled faintly and whispered, “Good brother.”

Resigned, he stepped forward with a gloomy look.

“Release your soul form, or you won’t have another chance,” Yan Muge said with contempt.

“I don’t need my soul form against you,” Shen Qingyun shook his head.

“Such arrogance!” Yan Muge unleashed her soul form with full force. A fiery red light blazed as flames roared, and a phoenix wreathed in fire appeared.

“A phoenix as a soul form—impressive,” Shen Qingyun couldn’t help but praise. The phoenix, king of birds and among the mightiest of demon beasts, promised that with time it would soar to great heights.

When the Purple Cloud Academy’s students emerged and Ye Zhong arrived, Yan Muge and Shen Qingyun were already engaged in combat. The dazzling phoenix soul form instantly captured everyone’s attention.

“That’s the emblem of Ting Feng and Xiao Qin Academies,” Ye Zhong noted upon seeing the carriage’s insignia.

The students looked toward the girl fighting Shen Qingyun, wondering if she was from one of the two great academies. Curiosity rose—why was she fighting Shen Qingyun?

Could Shen Qingyun, who had defeated their own, easily overcome this girl?

“Boom!”

A fierce flame spell erupted, forming a miniature phoenix that struck toward Shen Qingyun’s body.

He casually dodged. Once again, the attack failed to land. Yan Muge’s frustration turned to anger as she shouted, “Why do you keep dodging? Are you even a man?”

“Whether I’m a man or not doesn’t need your judgment. You should try hitting me first,” Shen Qingyun teased, causing the Purple Cloud students to feel unsettled by the stark contrast.

Where was their invincible, inscrutable Shen Qingyun?

“I’m standing right here, and you don’t dare strike. Clearly, you’re no man,” Yan Muge suddenly ceased her assault, standing there defiantly.

Shen Qingyun’s voice drifted to her ear, “Since you say that, I’ll indulge you once.”

With his experience, Shen Qingyun saw through Yan Muge’s cheap provocation.

“Got you!” Yan Muge smiled triumphantly, eyes scanning her surroundings.

“Above!” She tracked Shen Qingyun’s movement, leapt upward, her body suddenly engulfed in flames like a queen bathed in fire.

“Bang!”

The sound of impact rang out as Shen Qingyun’s figure appeared, his right hand forming a palm strike that landed squarely on Yan Muge.

The crowd saw a figure stumble out of the flames, falling down in a disheveled heap.

Several figures rushed forward to help—Yan Muge’s academy disciples.

Shen Qingyun’s tall, graceful figure landed lightly and said calmly, “You lost.”

Yan Muge knelt on the ground, her hand on her chest, glaring at Shen Qingyun with a mix of shame and anger. “You bastard, shameless!”

The curious crowd glanced at Shen Qingyun, eager to know what had transpired in the flames.

“I told you, no mercy in a fight,” Shen Qingyun said coolly.

His words only deepened their curiosity. Among those present, only Ye Zhong had witnessed what truly happened inside the flames.

Even he thought Shen Qingyun had gone too far. But as an outsider, he dared not reprimand him.