Another three days passed.
Qin Chuan had killed two more Quasi-Emperors from the demon race, both of them being at the third level of the Quasi-Emperor realm. Because the news of the previous Quasi-Emperor's death hadn't spread in time, the next one unknowingly walked into the same trap.
In other words, they were handing themselves over.
Though technically, they weren't exactly human.
Qin Chuan calculated that four Quasi-Emperors had fallen by now. If the news spread fully, he estimated that no more Quasi-Emperors would fall for the trap. Therefore, he needed to make the most of the remaining time.
"Kill!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
At that moment, Qin Zi was locked in a fierce battle with a fivefold demon saint. The two fought with equal intensity, neither gaining the upper hand.
Qin Zi was thrilled.
With his cultivation at the third level of the Saint realm, he could stand toe-to-toe with a fivefold demon saint. What an incredible feat of prowess!
He was almost beginning to worship himself.
"Fivefold Saint? Not bad!"
He laughed heartily, his body rising into the sky, transforming into a radiant golden sun—the signature move of the Devouring Sun Emperor Technique.
Ever since learning that he was being assessed by the Devouring Sun Emperor Palace, Qin Zi had cleverly used this technique in every battle. This was, in his mind, akin to ingratiating himself with an interviewer during a job interview.
He believed it would score him some extra points.
"Ahhh!"
As the golden sun bore down, the fivefold demon saint could no longer resist. With a final scream, he was reduced to ashes.
Qin Zi retracted his glowing form and floated in the air. Glancing around with a domineering presence, he boldly shouted:
"Who else?!"
He intended to show off.
But the next moment…
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Several enormous auras descended from the heavens, as if divine beings had arrived. Gigantic figures appeared from the distance, racing toward him like the embodiment of heavenly wrath.
Four Quasi-Emperors.
Their divine might was as vast as the ocean.
"Fractured Star Academy!"
Qin Chuan's eyes lit up. He recognized the leader—it was none other than the head of the Fractured Star Academy. The others seemed to be the academy's elders, probably Supreme Elders. Each of them was at the fourth or fifth level of the Quasi-Emperor realm, and one elder was even stronger.
Were they here to provide more experience points?
But his excitement quickly faded as he realized something—their auras lacked any killing intent.
So, what were they here for?
Meanwhile, Qin Zi, now terrified, shrank back like a frightened puppy. He didn't dare shout any longer, plastering an awkward smile on his face.
He looked as if he wanted to flatter them, but was too scared to know how to start.
"Juniors…"
Just as he was about to speak, the head of Fractured Star Academy interrupted him with a cold tone, "Come with us."
"Go where?"
Qin Zi asked cautiously.
At the same time, he nervously glanced toward the sky, silently pleading to the senior from the Devouring Sun Emperor Palace, You can't break your promise! You said you'd step in when a Quasi-Emperor shows up!
"Where else but Fractured Star Academy," the academy head replied icily.
In truth, the sight of this brat made the academy head want to kill him on the spot. The last time Qin Zi had come to blockade their gates, his arrogance had been insufferable.
But the academy head had to restrain himself.
"Why are we going to the academy?"
Qin Zi asked timidly, hunching over in fear.
The head of Fractured Star Academy sneered at Qin Zi's fake humility, "To clean the toilets."
"What?!"
Qin Zi's eyes widened, frozen in shock. He had never heard of anyone humiliating a genius like this.
Cleaning toilets?
He'd rather be killed!
Of course, that applied to most so-called geniuses, but Qin Zi was not like most.
His breathing grew rapid, and his eyes sparkled as he blurted out, "Really?!"
Now it was the academy head's turn to be stunned. I said that to disgust him, but why does he seem… excited?
The headmaster's face twitched.
He let out a cold snort and said, "Cleaning the toilets is just the beginning. You'll also be washing clothes, planting crops, and even emptying chamber pots!"
"No problem! I can work hard!"
Qin Zi eagerly nodded.
He feared this rare opportunity might slip away, so he was willing to go to any lengths to survive.
The head of Fractured Star Academy couldn't believe his eyes.
In all his life, he had never encountered a young man this shameless. He had no words left.
With a wave of his hand, the academy head encased Qin Zi in a surge of energy and, along with the other elders, flew back to Fractured Star Academy.
Meanwhile, Qin Chuan, still hidden by his invisibility cloak, stood dumbfounded.
He blinked a few times, sensing that something wasn't right.
Fractured Star Academy isn't going to kill Qin Zi?
"Could it be because they hate him so much, they want to take him back for torture? Maybe they plan to break him slowly?"
Qin Chuan speculated, then followed them to see what would happen next.
Quasi-Emperors were incredibly fast. Before long, they had reached Fractured Star Academy.
Upon arriving, Qin Zi saw the blockade flying vessel hovering outside the academy gates, with none other than Senior Brother Jin standing on board in his golden robes.
"Senior Brother Jin!"
Qin Zi called out in excitement, feeling the joy of seeing a familiar face in a foreign land. He shouted, "Why are you here?!"
Of course, he knew that Senior Brother Jin had come to blockade the academy.
But seeing someone familiar filled him with such happiness that he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"Yes, I came to blockade the academy."
Jin Zhi's face instinctively showed a faint smile, but it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by his usual cold indifference.
After a pause, he added, "And I came to bring you back."
"What?!"
Qin Zi's eyes widened as he stared at Jin Zhi, then turned his gaze to the head of Fractured Star Academy, as if suddenly realizing something.
The academy head's face turned dark.
He disdainfully looked away, as though tossing garbage, and flung Qin Zi onto the blockade flying vessel.
"Get lost."
He spat coldly.
Qin Zi blinked, then tentatively asked, "What about cleaning the toilets and emptying the chamber pots…?"
The headmaster clenched his fists in rage, barely holding back from hitting him. Gritting his teeth, he growled, "Don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities for that in the future!"
Qin Zi shuddered, nervously laughing, "Then maybe I'll pass…"
He made up his mind—he would never return to Fractured Star Demon Territory.
Judging by the headmaster's expression, if they ever caught him again, it wouldn't just be about cleaning toilets. He feared they'd end up scrubbing him instead or dumping him out of the chamber pot…
"Let's go."
On the blockade flying vessel, the otherwise invisible elder of Ziyun Academy spoke with a smile.
"Hmm."
Jin Zhi nodded calmly.
Before long, the blockade flying vessel took off, transforming into a golden streak, vanishing into the sky.
Back at the gates of Fractured Star Academy…
The academy head and the Supreme Elders coldly watched the golden light disappear, their eyes filled with resentment.
If they could, they would have slain these two young humans right then and there.
Two peerless geniuses, with the potential to become future emperors, could only spell more trouble for the demon race in the years to come…
Meanwhile, aboard the blockade flying vessel…
It took Qin Zi a while to calm down from the relief of escaping with his life.
He looked at the cold, distant figure of Senior Brother Jin standing at the bow and expressed his gratitude:
"Thank you, Senior Brother Jin. If it weren't for you, I would've died in the demon territory."
"No need to thank me. It was just a convenient stop on the way."
Jin Zhi replied in his usual cold, emotionless tone.
"Hehe..."
The usually invisible elder of Ziyun Academy let out a good-natured chuckle, bringing a bit of warmth to the otherwise chilly atmosphere.
Qin Zi immediately realized that things weren't as simple as Jin Zhi claimed.
This so-called "convenient stop" likely involved circling the world!
His father had once said, "The world is round. If you're willing to circle it, every direction, every location is on the way."
With that thought, Qin Zi's nose tingled with emotion, and his voice trembled as he said, "Senior Brother Jin, thank you… truly…"
He had only met Jin Zhi twice, they weren't close, and they had barely spoken. Yet this senior brother had traveled across countless miles, risking his life to save him. What kind of bond was this?
"I already told you it was on the way…"
Jin Zhi, seeing Qin Zi getting emotional, turned around in a panic, unsure how to respond.
He had no parents and had never attended school. From a young age, he had infiltrated human society and pretended to be a rogue cultivator, living alone. Because of this, he never learned how to interact with others.
In truth, he longed for human friendship.
But he was both insecure and proud. He knew he was exceptional, yet feared others wouldn't like him. So, he always maintained a cold demeanor, as if to say, It's not that I can't fit in—it's that I don't want to!
At that moment, Qin Zi looked at him seriously and asked, "Senior Brother Jin, do you need a friend?"
"Huh?"
Jin Zhi's mouth fell open.
Qin Zi continued:
"I know you aren't as cold as you seem. I don't know why you hide your true self, but I understand that pretending doesn't bring happiness. So… would you like to be friends with me?"
"Uh… I… uh…"
The domineering youth who had just swept through Fractured Star Academy was now flustered and at a loss for words, stammering in confusion.