Chapter 57: Enlightening Han Yu

They traveled for about an hour.

On the way, Xia Jiuxuan constantly checked the situation inside the Slaughter Arena with his mind. At the moment, the arena held dozens of puppets, their cultivation talent growing ever higher, able to absorb and refine more resources. Xia Jiuxuan sent in all his profound crystals and a few spirit stones, ordering the puppets to cultivate at full speed. With so many puppets, each capable of entering a state of total immersion, their collective cultivation speed was hundreds of times that of ordinary cultivators.

From yesterday until now, Xia Jiuxuan had advanced another stage, reaching the seventh level of the Palace Entry Realm.

“If I use up all these resources, I estimate I’ll only reach the first level of the Profound Link Realm,” he thought.

Resources were simply too scarce. Especially after reaching the Profound Link Realm, the resources required to advance grew exponentially.

Before long, the two of them arrived at the flying beast grounds and rented a Snow Eagle, renowned for its speed.

“Han Yu! What are you doing here?”

Just as Xia Jiuxuan and Han Yu were preparing to depart, a young girl in a green dress, accompanied by several others, appeared behind them.

“Weiyu, I…”

Seeing the girl, Han Yu’s face turned bitter.

“Idiot, can’t even speak properly,” the girl spat with disdain.

“Weiyu, I’ve successfully joined the Supreme Profound Academy! Give me another chance, I promise I’ll devote myself to you.” Han Yu couldn’t let go; no matter how heartless she was, he still held onto a shred of hope.

She sneered, “Really? Who do you take me for? I saw it with my own eyes—you joined that latrine of a school and think I don’t know? Still trying to fool me?”

“I—” Han Yu’s face flushed red, wanting to explain, but a slap rendered him speechless.

The slap didn’t come from the girl—it was Xia Jiuxuan.

“Pathetic. Don’t embarrass me here, come with me.”

Xia Jiuxuan truly couldn’t bear it. Of all things, he despised sycophants the most, especially those who grovel and cling even when rejected.

“Well said! You pathetic wretch, do you ever look in the mirror? What makes you think you’re worthy of me? I was only with you before because your family had ancient scrolls and treasures I could trade for resources. Did you ever think I’d actually care about you?” the girl declared openly, relishing the chance to rile him up.

“Are you angry?” Xia Jiuxuan asked Han Yu, who looked on the verge of tears.

“Yes,” Han Yu nodded.

“Promise me, next time you see her, slap her for me,” Xia Jiuxuan said coolly.

“I… alright!”

Han Yu nearly refused, but he had been deeply moved today and learned one thing: a man must be strong.

So, almost against his own will, he nodded.

“And who are you? You want him to slap me? Why wait for next time? Pathetic, come on, do it now!” The girl, infuriated, thrust her face forward.

Han Yu clenched his fists, lowered his head, and stayed silent.

“Come on, hit me. Even if I lent you ten times your courage, you wouldn’t dare. You’re useless, a lump of mud. Do you really think you’re anyone?”

She pushed her face close, berating him mercilessly.

Smack!

A resounding slap sent the girl stumbling backward.

“Wang Weiyu, so what if I hit you? From today on, you’ll regret everything! And as for the things you swindled from me, I’ll take them all back—or I’ll kill you!”

For the first time, Han Yu raised his head, and a murderous light flickered in his eyes.

“You! How dare you hit me, you pathetic wretch…” Wang Weiyu was stunned that he’d actually struck her. “Brother Qing, kill him for me!”

The group behind Wang Weiyu surged forward.

“How dare you hit my Yu’er! I’ll end you!”

As they charged, Xia Jiuxuan didn’t intervene—instead, he took a few steps back. He wanted to see if Han Yu would keep cowering or finally stand up.

“Come, kill me! If you don’t finish me today, I’ll make you regret it!” Han Yu didn’t back down, utterly transformed from his former self.

“Acting tough? Die!”

A young man drew his sword and lunged directly at Han Yu’s brow.

Bang!

Xia Jiuxuan struck, sending the youth flying with a single palm.

“Young master!”

“Brother Qing!”

Seeing their companion defeated, the others were terrified. Their young master was at the ninth stage of the Palace Entry Realm, yet the opponent had sent him flying with a single blow—how strong must he be?

“You bastard, our young master is the son of the Lord of Lihuo Island! Hurt him, and you’ll be doomed!” one of them threatened.

Xia Jiuxuan merely shrugged, gesturing to Han Yu. “This has nothing to do with me. If you want revenge, bring more people and find him.”

With that, he leapt onto the Snow Eagle, Han Yu following immediately.

“Trying to run? Stop them!”

“Let them go!” The wounded youth glared hatefully at Xia Jiuxuan, signaling his group to retreat.

Only he knew how terrifying that youth’s strength was. Seeking trouble now was suicide; there would be time for revenge later.

...

Xia Jiuxuan guided the well-trained beast southeast.

“Do you know why I didn’t help you kill them?” Xia Jiuxuan asked. By his usual code, he would have eliminated all threats, but this time he had deliberately held back.

“You wanted to leave some trouble for me to resolve myself,” Han Yu answered without hesitation.

Xia Jiuxuan was a little surprised. “You’re learning. Next time you meet them, take action. Leave none behind.”

Han Yu hesitated. “But my strength…”

“Are you doubting my abilities?” Xia Jiuxuan replied coldly.

Han Yu’s heart skipped a beat. The headmaster really intended to nurture him.

Without delay, he knelt and vowed, “I wouldn’t dare! From now on, I’ll devote myself to training under you, and I swear never to bring you shame!”

Xia Jiuxuan looked him over, then said, “You’re lucky. From now on, don’t call me headmaster—call me teacher.”

Delighted, Han Yu kowtowed. “Disciple greets Teacher!”

Xia Jiuxuan beckoned him up. “Get up. Remember your words—don’t embarrass me.”

“Even if I die, I’ll never shame you, Teacher!” Han Yu replied, filled with emotion.

“Good. Then jump down.”

At that moment, the Snow Eagle was soaring ten thousand feet above the ground.

As Xia Jiuxuan’s words fell, Han Yu leapt straight off!

Given his current cultivation, he would be shattered to pieces by the fall. Yet he didn’t hesitate for an instant.

Even Xia Jiuxuan was taken aback by such decisiveness.

A teachable student indeed!

Xia Jiuxuan dived with the Snow Eagle, kicked off, and caught Han Yu with his true energy, hauling him back up.

“Heh, Teacher, isn’t my courage bigger now?” Han Yu grinned foolishly.

Xia Jiuxuan didn’t answer, focusing on driving the Snow Eagle at breakneck speed toward the southeastern sea.

After flying for a day and a night, they landed on a vast island.

By coincidence, the island was now called Lihuo Island.

He remembered Su Hongde saying he had been defeated here by a sword cultivator twenty years ago.

Xia Jiuxuan’s destination lay in a crevice beneath the island’s eastern cliffs.

“I wonder if the secret vault is still there.”

Eager to obtain the treasure, Xia Jiuxuan quickened his pace.

“Where did these mongrels come from? Who dares fly a beast over my island? Get down here!”

At that moment, a sword light shot into the sky.

In a flash, the Snow Eagle’s head was severed. Xia Jiuxuan’s face darkened as he grabbed Han Yu and dove sharply toward the ground.