Wang Meng and Wang Teng both wore expressions of unwillingness and helplessness, knowing that Wang Tong’s actions were an attempt to protect them.

Needless to say, Wang Meng, who had been adopted by Wang Tong as an orphan, owed his very life to him. Now, seeing Wang Tong forced to self-destruct, he felt utterly powerless. Wang Meng collapsed to the ground, tears of agony streaming from his eyes.

Wang Teng stood there as if petrified. Ever since he was a child, Wang Tong had doted on him. When Wang Tong became the vice dean of Duanjin Academy, the Wang Family had truly risen to prominence. Wang Teng had always relied on Wang Tong’s reputation to throw his weight around. Now, with Wang Tong gone, his only pillar of support was lost; how could he not be devastated?

In Zi Xing’s heart, beyond her shock, there was a profound sense of disbelief. This was a cultivator at the Ninth Level of Martial Emperor Realm, a figure who could command the wind and rain in the outside world. Even within Central Celestial Academy, he would certainly be considered a high-ranking member. Yet such a person had been forced to self-destruct by a single remark from Elder Yang. It seemed this Elder Yang was far more terrifying than she had ever imagined.

Elder Yang, however, simply shook his head and murmured to himself, "You were a man of character, at least. It’s just a pity you offended someone you shouldn’t have. I understand your choice to self-destruct. You feel that dying in such a humiliating way doesn’t merit leaving a complete corpse behind for others to mock."

Elder Yang knew that with Wang Tong’s strength at the Ninth Level of Martial Emperor Realm, a true self-detonation would likely reduce everything within a hundred-mile radius to rubble in an instant. He certainly would not allow that to happen, especially since many disciples of Central Celestial Academy were still undergoing their trials in this Secret Realm.

With this in mind, Elder Yang extended a withered finger and tapped repeatedly at the empty air. A barrier began to rise around Wang Tong, intended to contain the terrifying force of the impending explosion.

Wang Tong nodded at Elder Yang gratefully, his last wisp of worry dissipating into thin air.

At that moment, regret flooded Wang Teng. If I hadn’t provoked Ye Qingchen, then Wang Meng wouldn’t have stepped in. Li Nian’er wouldn’t have gotten involved, and my uncle wouldn’t have been driven to such a humiliating self-destruction. This is all my fault. I underestimated Ye Qingchen far too much!

Watching Wang Tong’s body begin to swell, everyone turned away, unable to bear the sight.

But just then, the violent aura surging around Wang Tong began to calm, and his expanding body slowly returned to its original form.

While everyone wondered what had just happened, Elder Yang snorted coldly and said impatiently, "Mu Changfeng, are you going to meddle in my affairs too?"

Elder Yang’s words made both Li Nian’er and Zi Xing’s expressions change drastically. They never expected Mu Changfeng to appear here.

Seeing the astonishment on Zi Xing’s face, Ye Qingchen asked in confusion, "Senior Sister Zi Xing, who is this Mu Changfeng?"

Recovering from her shock, Zi Xing looked at Ye Qingchen as if he were a monster and said, "That’s the Headmaster of our Central Celestial Academy. You don’t know him?"

No wonder Zi Xing was so surprised. The first thing every disciple had to do upon entering Central Celestial Academy was to thoroughly study the academy’s code of conduct. The very first rule in that code was an introduction to the Headmaster of Central Celestial Academy, Mu Changfeng. What Zi Xing did not know, however, was that Ye Qingchen had never even seen a code of conduct, let alone known Mu Changfeng’s name. Nevertheless, when Ye Qingchen heard that the Headmaster of Central Celestial Academy himself was about to appear, his heart still trembled with shock.

Soon after, everyone saw a figure materialize beside Wang Tong. The man appeared to be in his sixties with graying hair, yet his face was as smooth as a baby’s. Garbed in a green Taoist robe, he exuded an otherworldly aura. No one saw when or how this person appeared. It was as if he had always been standing there, as natural as the Way itself. This display of power alone was enough for everyone to feel the formidable strength of the newcomer. Especially when they heard Elder Yang call out his name, everyone realized that this was none other than the elusive Headmaster of Central Celestial Academy, who was as hard to glimpse as a divine dragon.

The crowd hurriedly paid their respects. Mu Changfeng simply waved his hand, a smile as warm as a spring breeze on his face, and said to Elder Yang, "Dean Yang, regarding today’s matter, could you give me some face and let it go?"

Elder Yang curled his lip and did not answer. Perhaps the deans of other academies would be deeply respectful upon seeing Mu Changfeng, but Elder Yang was different. He acted as if even the Headmaster was beneath his notice.

He turned his head toward Li Nian’er and asked, "Young Mistress, should we give him this face?"

In truth, Wang Tong’s earlier actions had already extinguished Elder Yang’s killing intent. Mu Changfeng’s intervention provided a convenient out, allowing him to spare Wang Tong’s life. However, the final decision still lay with Li Nian’er. If she had not cooled off, it would mean showing disrespect to Mu Changfeng, and Wang Tong would have to die today.

Li Nian’er was not an unreasonable person. When Wang Tong was about to self-destruct, she had already planned to ask Elder Yang to save him at the last moment. Now that Headmaster Mu Changfeng had personally intervened, she had no reason to press the matter further. In response to Elder Yang’s question, she simply nodded her agreement.

Seeing her agree, Elder Yang breathed a sigh of relief. While he wasn’t afraid of Mu Changfeng, there was no need to escalate such a trivial matter into an ugly confrontation. Now that Li Nian’er was pacified, everything could be resolved easily. He turned to Mu Changfeng and said, "Mu Changfeng, I’ll give you this face today. But if Duanjin Academy dares to bully our Divine Wood Academy again, it won’t be settled so easily."

Mu Changfeng did not get angry at Elder Yang’s disrespect. He simply nodded, still smiling affably, and turned his gaze toward Ye Qingchen and Zi Xing.

Feeling the Headmaster’s gaze upon them, Ye Qingchen and Zi Xing’s bodies involuntarily tensed. This was a legendary figure. Many disciples trained at Central Celestial Academy for countless years without ever catching a single glimpse of him.

Noticing their tension, Mu Changfeng smiled and said, "The two of you performed very well."

After speaking, he stretched out his hand and pointed lightly at Ye Qingchen and Zi Xing. The disciple tokens on their waists immediately floated toward him. He then shifted his gaze to Wang Teng and, with another point of his finger, summoned Wang Teng’s disciple token as well.

Mu Changfeng swiped his hand over the three tokens. Instantly, they gleamed brightly as a series of numbers shimmered into existence above them.