Wang Tong couldn’t remember the last time he had been this angry. Ever since becoming the vice-principal of Duanjin Academy, he was met with nothing but flattery and servility wherever he went. Yet today, Li Nian’er had the audacity to insult him. To make matters worse, she had done it in front of his own disciples from Duanjin Academy, not to mention his adopted son and nephew. Wang Tong burned with humiliation, not knowing where to hide his face.

But Wang Tong was also aware that Shenmu Academy was far from being as simple as it appeared. Otherwise, back during Ye Qingchen’s entrance test, he wouldn’t have stopped making things difficult for the boy just because Elder Yang had intervened. Putting on a brave front, Wang Tong looked at Li Nian’er, forcefully suppressing the rage in his heart. He sneered and said, "Fine, fine. Let’s set aside the issue of you attacking your fellow disciples. For your disrespect and verbal abuse alone, I, as the principal of the academy, have every right to expel you."

Li Nian’er knew Wang Tong was angry, but she wasn’t scared in the slightest. She retorted relentlessly, "You’re a truly shameless old man. You’re just the vice-principal of one academy, yet you dare call yourself *the* principal? You don’t have the authority to expel me. I know you’re in the Advanced Martial Emperor Realm and I probably can’t beat you. But if you keep spouting nonsense and showing no respect for your elders, I’ll still attack you. You can bet on it!"

Li Nian’er’s words left everyone speechless. They had seen audacity before, but nothing like this.

Wang Tong’s face turned ashen with rage. He knew that if he kept arguing, this impudent girl who didn’t know her place would say something even more shocking. He especially couldn’t maintain his composure after seeing the strange looks from the Duanjin Academy disciples, not to mention Wang Teng and Wang Meng.

Letting out a laugh born of pure fury, he said to Li Nian’er, "What a sharp-tongued girl. Do you think you can act so brazenly just because you have Elder Yang protecting you? Today, I will take his place and discipline you properly!"

Li Nian’er pouted and snorted coldly. "Take Elder Yang’s place? You think you’re worthy?"

This time, Wang Tong didn’t waste words. He chose to act directly. A beam of golden light shot from his hand, flying toward Li Nian’er.

"Ninth Level of the Martial Emperor Realm?" Li Nian’er exclaimed in surprise. She had assumed Wang Tong had only just reached the advanced stage of the Martial Emperor Realm, never expecting him to have actually attained the Ninth Level. The gap between each level within the Martial Emperor Realm was enormous. Although Li Nian’er was confident in her own strength, she knew she stood no chance against Wang Tong, who was four levels higher than her.

However, as Wang Tong’s attack closed in, Li Nian’er reacted swiftly. Her hands blurred in front of her chest, conjuring layers of shimmering water membranes.

Wang Meng couldn’t help but swallow nervously at the sight. Previously, Li Nian’er had effortlessly blocked his strongest attack with just a single water membrane, which he had assumed was the peak of her defensive skill. But now, she had consecutively summoned seven of them, each one just as powerful as the last. With such a formidable defense, she could stand there for days and he wouldn’t be able to lay a scratch on her. Wang Meng couldn’t believe the gap between them was so immense.

Yet, these seven water membranes that filled Wang Meng with such despair were no match for Wang Tong’s golden beam. It tore through the first three as if they were paper. The fourth membrane managed to slow the beam’s advance, but it only held for less than a breath before shattering completely. The final three membranes finally managed to drain half of the beam’s energy before they too were destroyed.

Knowing the vast difference in power between herself and a Ninth-Level Martial Emperor, Li Nian’er had already summoned her Mid-grade Treasure, Mirror Flower Edge, right after creating the water membranes. As the golden beam obliterated the last of her defenses, she raised the Mirror Flower Edge to meet it head-on.

BOOM!

A terrifying explosion erupted, making everyone’s ears ache. Ye Qingchen and Zi Xing stared anxiously at the center of the battle, their hearts filled with worry for Li Nian’er’s safety.

Soon, Li Nian’er’s figure was revealed. With the help of her treasure, she had managed to block Wang Tong’s attack, but the force had sent her flying back more than ten meters. Although she remained standing, a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth, and her doll-like face was deathly pale. Clearly, that single strike had inflicted significant injuries.

Even so, Wang Tong was utterly shocked. He hadn’t held back at all, intending to teach the little girl a harsh lesson, yet she had managed to block his attack. He was a vice-principal, a cultivator at the Ninth Level of the Martial Emperor Realm! It was already disgraceful to attack a junior, but to fail to subdue her in a single move was the height of embarrassment. Even with his thick skin, Wang Tong could feel his face burning.

Li Nian’er steadied the roiling qi and blood in her chest. She placed one hand on her hip, extended the other, and pointed an accusatory finger at Wang Tong. "Is this the full strength of Duanjin Academy’s vice-principal?" she sneered. "I’m afraid even my senior brothers at Shenmu Academy are stronger than you. If Duanjin Academy is filled with trash like you, I suggest you resign immediately. Stop misleading the students!"

Already feeling humiliated, Wang Tong was pushed over the edge by Li Nian’er’s mockery. He bellowed without a shred of composure, "You brat! You’re courting death, so I’ll grant your wish! I’ll kill you right now, and let’s see who dares to say a word!"

As he spoke, the phantom image of his Martial Soul materialized behind him. A terrifying Metal Attribute Energy erupted from his body, ravaging the surroundings. The nearby Spirit Beast corpses that had yet to be cleared away were instantly pulverized into dust upon contact with this power.

Despite her incessant taunts, Li Nian’er was keenly aware of the massive gap in strength between them. Wang Tong was clearly enraged, ready to throw all caution to the wind. Ye Qingchen and Zi Xing were also deeply concerned. As much as Ye Qingchen admired his senior sister’s fiery personality, he couldn’t see how she would get out of this now that she had truly enraged Wang Tong.

The energy roiling around Wang Tong swelled to its peak, and he radiated a sharp aura like that of a newly unsheathed sword. His eyes turned bloodshot. With a roar, he unleashed all the nature’s spiritual energy he had gathered, directing it at Li Nian’er. The terrifying Metal Attribute Energy instantly converged, forming dozens of foot-long golden beams that arrived in the blink of an eye