Chapter 2994: Turning Hostile

Chapter 2994 -2997: Turning Hostile

Changling Academy’s grand council hall.

At this moment the hall was deathly quiet, one vast aura after another faintly fluctuating.

On the main dais there were three seats, one in front and two behind. Down below on either side were eight seats each. The left row was occupied by seven people from Changling Academy, with that Lower Supreme Realm expert sitting at the head. On the right sat Li Qingzhu, Li Yukun, and Sang Zhenye, with two seats left empty in front and two behind.

Right now, the expressions on the faces of Li Qingzhu and the other two looked rather ugly, yet they could only swallow their anger.

All three of them had only just broken through to the Saint Realm, but opposite them sat six Saint Monarch Realm experts and one Lower Supreme Realm expert. The seven were releasing their pressure in a subtle, intermittent way, pressing down on the three.

Those seven, however, acted as if they hadn’t seen the trio’s expressions at all, chatting and laughing among themselves, giving no indication they intended to acknowledge them.

This was them putting on a show of dominance. As for Changling Academy being merged into Changlin Academy, all the experts were aware it was something that couldn’t be changed. If they didn’t merge into Changlin Academy, they would inevitably be targeted by the other five great academies.

Still, a merger was a merger; they still wanted to seize some initiative. That was why they were thinking to suppress Li Yukun and the others a bit first, so they could hold more advantage in the negotiations later.

Outside the grand hall, a group of five flew over. When they reached the front of the hall, Jian Cangqiong’s brows knit slightly, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. He shot Tai Yuan a look, then turned his gaze to Jiang Chen.

Tai Yuan’s expression also changed slightly, his face looking a bit sheepish. He hurriedly tried to send a voice transmission, but Jiang Chen spoke first: “Old Jin, let them see for themselves that Changlin Academy is not lacking in experts!”

Hum!

A terrifyingly powerful aura suddenly erupted from Jin Baisheng’s body, slamming down hard on the seven Changling Academy elders in the hall.

Inside the hall.

The seven Changling Academy elders’ faces changed dramatically.

Bang bang bang!

Thud! Thud!

A series of explosive sounds rang out. The chairs under the seven of them couldn’t withstand the pressure and all shattered, sending the seven crashing heavily to the floor.

Li Yukun and the other two were slightly stunned, then a look of satisfaction flickered in their eyes.

“If you don’t intend to merge into Changlin Academy, you can leave. No one will try to keep you. If you’re really qualified to represent Changling Academy, we’ll leave this instant and won’t have the slightest reluctance!”

A cold voice rang out at the hall’s doorway as Jiang Chen, face frosty, walked into the grand hall. Following behind him were Jian Cangqiong and Jin Baisheng, both with anger on their faces, while Tai Yuan and Su Ruoyun wore expressions full of awkwardness and displeasure.

However, their displeasure wasn’t aimed at Jiang Chen, but at the seven elders inside the hall!

These people had completely failed to see the situation clearly. Was this really the time for them to put on airs?

The seven elders’ expressions shifted. The Lower Supreme stared angrily and said, “Jiang Chen, what’s the meaning of this?”

“What’s the meaning? It means that you want to come to Changlin Academy, but we may not even want you.”

Jiang Chen replied coldly.

The seven elders’ faces changed instantly, a look of shock flashing in their eyes.

“Y-you… what did you say?”

One elder stared at Jiang Chen in disbelief, thinking he’d misheard.

“What? You really thought Changlin Academy’s foundation was as poor as the rumors say?”

Jiang Chen let out a cold laugh. As he spoke, he walked forward and directly sat down on one of the secondary seats beside the main position. Gesturing toward the main seat, he called lightly, “Sword Teacher, sit. Today is the meeting for Changling Academy’s submission. You sitting in the main seat is exactly right.”

“What submission? Jiang Chen, what are you talking about? This is a merger between our two academies, not Changling Academy submitting!”

An elder shouted.

“Is that so? Seems I misunderstood then.”

Jiang Chen raised his brows and stood up. “Since that’s the case, then there’s no need for this meeting. Teachers, Old Jin, let’s go back. Changlin Academy only needs subordinate forces; we have no need for a force that wants to stand as our equal to join us!”

As his words fell, Jiang Chen headed straight for the outside of the hall.

“A bunch of idiots. You can’t even see what kind of situation it is right now and you still want to take advantage? You’re really dreaming.”

Jin Baisheng gave the seven elders a mocking look, then stepped after Jiang Chen. Jian Cangqiong and the others all followed behind the two with their heads held high and chests out.

Yes, we’re here to accept their submission, not to accept a merger. If you don’t agree, that’s fine. We simply won’t negotiate.

The seven elders all turned deathly pale. No negotiations? If there were no negotiations, wouldn’t they be facing the harassment of the five great academies all on their own?

“Jiang Chen, wait!”

The Taiyuan Chancellor hurriedly called out, stepping sideways to block Jiang Chen’s path.

“Chancellor Tai Yuan, this dean is standing here today as the Chancellor of Changlin Academy’s Battlefield Realm Domain Branch Institute.”

Jiang Chen looked at Tai Yuan with a cold gaze.

Tai Yuan’s expression shifted slightly as he suddenly remembered that although Jiang Chen’s strength was far inferior to his, Jiang Chen’s status in Changlin Academy was extremely high. Just the position of Domain Branch Institute Chancellor was enough to put him on equal footing with Tai Yuan. After all, Changlin Academy was a superpower, whereas Changling Academy, after the Academy Alliance’s dissolution, was nothing more than a first-rate force.

“Dean Jiang, it was this old man who misspoke! I must ask Dean Jiang to stay.”

Tai Yuan clasped his fists toward Jiang Chen in salute.

“Chancellor Tai Yuan, originally this dean was willing to give you face for the time I once studied at this Changling Academy and have a proper discussion with you all. But now, I don’t see the necessity.”

Jiang Chen said coolly, “To recklessly suppress three of the four chief elders of Changlin Academy, you really have some nerve!”

“Chancellor Tai Yuan, today, for the sake of the fact that we once studied together under Teacher Zhao, I’ll let you off once. If there’s a next time, I’ll wipe Changling Academy out! Remember that.”

Jiang Chen’s gaze turned icy. “Changlin Academy must not be insulted! Changlin Academy’s chancellor must not be insulted! Changlin Academy’s elders must not be insulted! Changlin Academy’s students must not be insulted either!”

Tai Yuan’s face changed completely, a look of shock appearing in his eyes. He hadn’t expected Jiang Chen to actually speak of annihilating Changling Academy.

The seven elders’ faces were all as ugly as could be. They glanced at Jin Baisheng to the side, panic flashing in their eyes.

“Dean Jiang, please quell your anger!”

Su Ruoyun looked at Jiang Chen with a complicated expression and spoke softly.

When she’d first met him back then, the young man before her had only been a Divine Infant Realm junior who wanted to come to the academy to study. Yet now, facing Jiang Chen, even she felt a sense of oppression.

In the short span of just over ten years, this young man had grown to a height that, in a certain sense, absolutely required her to look up to him.

“Dean Jiang, us entering Changlin Academy is still of help to Changlin. After all, Changlin Academy has some gaps in its lineup of experts, we…”

Su Ruoyun thought it over. As far as Changling Academy merging into Changlin Academy, the only ones who might actually be of some use were probably people like them.