Whoosh!
Instantly, all eyes fell on Qin Zi.
Everyone knew that the Lu family harbored deep resentment toward Qin Zi. After all, Lu family's expulsion from Ziyun Academy was directly tied to him.
Yes, Qin Zi was the spark.
It wasn't that the Lu family had been expelled just because of their conflict with Qin Zi; it was a culmination of their long-standing misconduct, which had caused the academy's upper echelons to lose patience.
Of course, for the Lu family, Qin Zi became the target of their hatred.
Unable to shake the academy, they turned their attention to Qin Zi.
At that moment, Qin Zi felt a surge of nervousness.
Ever since learning of Senior Brother Jin's "pillar of strength" legend, Qin Zi had been comparing their power levels. He realized that even if they were at the same realm, he wouldn't be confident in defeating such a monstrous talent. Let alone the fact that Jin Zhi was five realms ahead of him.
Jin Zhi was a Saint of the Seventh Heaven!
If Jin Zhi chose to sacrifice him to avoid conflict with Lu Qian, Qin Zi knew it would be hard to resist.
However!
Jin Zhi didn't even glance at him.
Instead, Jin Zhi's cold eyes locked on Lu Qian, and he said calmly, "I think there's been a misunderstanding."
"Oh? What misunderstanding?"
Lu Qian raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face—was Jin Zhi trying to cozy up to him? Naive!
But in the next moment, Jin Zhi's eyes flashed with icy light. He spoke coldly, "When I told you to step aside, it wasn't a request. Since when did I say you could set terms?"
Whoosh!
Lu Qian's smug expression instantly froze!
His mouth twitched as if an invisible slap had struck him at his moment of triumph.
The shame cut deep!
"Jin Zhi!!"
Lu Qian roared, unleashing a storm of fury, his aura exploding toward the heavens. "Do you really think you're invincible among your peers?!"
"I'm not invincible, but dealing with you is more than enough."
Jin Zhi responded flatly.
"Good! Jin Zhi, still as arrogant as ever! But let me remind you, no one stays undefeated forever. You may improve, but so do others. Never rest on your laurels!"
Lu Qian's voice rang out, firm and resolute.
"Resting on laurels?" Jin Zhi frowned, disinterested. "I'm not one for fancy words or overthinking."
Then, he added indifferently, "For frogs in a well, all I need to do is block your well, and you'll never see the sky."
"You!!!"
Lu Qian was livid.
During his time at the academy, Jin Zhi had always overshadowed him. Though it had infuriated him, he hadn't fought over the spotlight. But now, even after leaving the academy, Jin Zhi continued to act as though Lu Qian was beneath him. Did Jin Zhi truly think so little of him?!
"Both of you are top talents of the Ziyun Domain. There's no need to let such a minor issue escalate into hostility."
A soft, melodic voice suddenly broke the tension.
Everyone turned toward the source.
It was a woman dressed in white, moving gracefully across the water as if she were a goddess. Her ethereal beauty and poised demeanor left the crowd in awe.
"Lady Luoshui!"
"The Goddess of the Luo family!"
People gasped, their expressions filled with admiration and reverence. The woman was not only stunning but also a top-tier talent with noble status.
"Miss Luoshui."
Lu Qian, who had been flushed with anger just moments before, immediately donned a warm smile upon seeing her.
Jin Zhi, however, merely glanced at her and asked, "What do you mean by 'minor issue'?"
Luoshui hesitated for a moment before offering a gentle smile, "It seems I misspoke. This is certainly no minor matter, but it also shouldn't lead to open conflict between two prominent figures like yourselves. How about this—why not compromise and let it go?"
"No problem here."
Lu Qian smiled ingratiatingly at Luoshui, then looked at Jin Zhi with a dismissive glance.
"In honor of Miss Luoshui, I'll let it go today. But the condition remains the same—have him kneel and apologize, and the leaf is yours."
"Thank you, Young Master Lu."
Luoshui gave Lu Qian a graceful smile before turning toward Jin Zhi. "What do you say, Jin Zhi?"
Jin Zhi stared at her quietly for a long moment before asking, "Stepping forward is easy for me. Why should I step back?"
That!!!
His words stunned everyone. Even the sweet smile on Luoshui's face froze in place.
She had never encountered such a direct refusal before. It was something completely outside her experience.
"Uh..."
After an awkward silence, she forced a smile. "Consider it as giving me some face. Would that be too much to ask?"
Jin Zhi looked at her and asked, "Are we close?"
Slap, slap!
This comment was even harsher than the last. It was like an invisible slap across Luoshui's face, leaving her speechless.
Luoshui was utterly shocked.
She had made her grand entrance, assuming everyone would offer her respect. Yet Jin Zhi hadn't shown her even the slightest deference.
You think you're a somebody.
But to him, you're just another person.
There was no more effective way to humiliate someone than this.
Luoshui, who had always seen herself as highly esteemed, was left blushing red, deeply embarrassed.
"You've gone too far, Jin Zhi!!"
Lu Qian could no longer contain himself, roaring in rage. His aura exploded with the brilliance of seven distinct laws, illuminating the sky.
Jin Zhi remained unphased, saying coolly, "It's a question of self-awareness. What makes her think her 'face' is more important than my junior brother's dignity?"
Whoosh!
Behind him, Qin Zi trembled.
Junior brother?
This cold and distant Senior Brother Jin, who hadn't exchanged a single word with him, truly regarded him as a junior brother?
But then, Qin Zi quickly realized—this wasn't about sentiment. It was about duty!
Jin Zhi was responsible for leading this expedition, and as a responsible leader, he wouldn't allow those under his care to suffer indignities.
Suddenly, Qin Zi's perception of the cold and aloof Jin Zhi changed—he realized that Jin Zhi's strength was not only a matter of physical prowess!
"Enough talk. Let's fight!"
Lu Qian, filled with rage after seeing his goddess humiliated, leaped forward in a fury. He launched himself at Jin Zhi, fists blazing with seven intertwining strands of law energy.
"Seven-Star Heaven Shatterer!"
His punch seemed to summon the stars, with seven blazing stars forming a constellation in the sky. As the stars aligned, they merged, becoming a single destructive force!
The aura emanating from this punch was enough to cause widespread panic among the spectators.
"Law fusion!"
"What terrifying power! Is this the true strength of the Lu family?"
"Get out of the way!"
The sheer pressure from the attack made everyone uneasy, as though the air itself had become stifling.
Qin Zi, too, felt his whole body tense up.
He could feel the vast gulf between himself and such power.
The gap was enormous.
Buzz!
Suddenly, an overwhelming burst of life force surged skyward like crimson clouds. A blood-red beam of light shot through the merging seven-star energy in the sky.
Boom!
In the next instant, the seven-star constellation collapsed like fireworks, and a figure fell from the sky like a meteor.
Thud!
Lu Qian crashed to the ground, landing on one knee, his right hand pressing against the ground for balance while his left hand clutched his chest. Blood spurted uncontrollably from his mouth.
Spurt!
Jin Zhi hovered in the air, his back to the crowd. The life force around him gradually receded, returning to calm.
He turned his head slightly, his voice as cool as ever:
"I told you, for frogs stuck in a well, blocking the well is enough to ensure you never see the sky again."