It's definitely over.

He did not wish to waste any more time. Striding directly to the front, he drew a superior spirit stone from his Cosmic Ring and tossed it onto the table.

“I’m here to enroll. That’s the tuition.”

He spoke in a crisp, decisive tone.

The superior spirit stone gleamed with a crystalline brilliance, far surpassing the dullness of the inferior stones, which could hardly compare. Though officially valued at a hundred times that of an inferior stone, in truth, on the black market, each superior stone could be exchanged for at least a hundred and thirty inferior stones.

Li Miao’s action was nothing short of ostentatious, bordering on insolence.

The others in line, all waiting to register at the Outer Academy, instantly voiced their displeasure.

The youth at the very front, a lean boy of fourteen or fifteen, was the first to snort. “No manners at all! Even if you’re wealthy, you should wait your turn. The Huangting Academy isn’t a place for just anyone, especially not the arrogant and conceited!”

Clearly, this young man had been here before; his family was likely well-off, hence his disdain for such displays of wealth.

The official in charge of admissions, a man in his thirties, nodded in agreement. “That’s right. If you want to join the academy, you must follow our rules. Back to the end of the line—you’ll get your turn.” He fiddled with the superior spirit stone for a moment, then tossed it back to Li Miao.

Dozens of scornful eyes fixed on Li Miao, their contempt plain on their faces.

Li Miao, bemused, returned the spirit stone to the table. “Just give me an Outer Academy disciple’s identification. I don’t need to attend classes.”

With that, he released his cultivation aura, his mid-Condensing Reality stage might surging forth without reservation. A strong wind swept through, sending those nearby staggering from the pressure.

The admissions officer, only barely initiated in the Condensing Reality realm, was startled by Li Miao’s formidable presence. It took him a moment to recover before he asked, wary and uncertain, “Who exactly are you? With your cultivation, you could easily be an Outer Academy instructor. Why would you want to be an ordinary disciple?”

Li Miao shrugged. “For fun.”

“For fun?”

The dozens present were stunned.

They had seen their share of idle young scions from powerful families, but the wealthy usually sought their pleasures in the bustling city—bidding extravagantly at auctions for rare treasures, spending prodigiously at brothels for the company of talented beauties, or gambling on life-and-death matches at fighting pits.

Never had they seen anyone come to a place like Huangting Academy—a sanctum of the immortals—simply “for fun.” Even those who harbored such thoughts would claim to seek learning and cultivation. None had ever so baldly stated their intention to play, as Li Miao just had.

The superior spirit stone glimmered on the table. The crowd took a long moment to regain their wits.

“My friend, this isn’t appropriate,” said the admissions officer, Yang E, his face troubled.

Li Miao’s attitude was far too cavalier. Should the academy’s administrators learn that he had admitted such a disciple, he would be unable to bear the consequences.

The youth at the front scowled. “So what if you have money and a bit of cultivation? No need to show off! If the Dean saw such arrogance, he’d surely—” The jealousy in his tone was unmistakable.

But before he finished speaking, he caught sight of two figures arriving swiftly through the sky, and his words died on his lips.

They moved with astonishing speed; just moments ago, they were distant shapes, but in the blink of an eye, they had descended upon Pangshan City, alighting before the academy gates.

Neither employed a flying treasure, yet both traveled so swiftly—they were clearly Transcendence Realm experts!

The arrival of such formidable figures exuded an extraordinary presence. The entire northwest corner of Pangshan City fell silent. Even the little demon girl Xiaoyun was forced to lower her head, her shoulders trembling under the oppressive might of these human powerhouses.

Li Miao looked closely.

One was an elder dressed in snow-white robes. His long eyebrows, hair, and beard were all pure white, yet his features were those of a man of thirty, his face radiant, his hair gathered in a Daoist topknot. He had the air of an immortal, a being beyond the mortal coil.

The other, also an elder, bore not a trace of the immortal’s demeanor. Clad in crimson robes, his hair the color of fire, his entire being radiated an overwhelming sense of dominance—commanding and terrifying even without anger, like a demon lord.

At the sight of this man, Li Miao’s pupils contracted.

This red-haired elder was none other than Master Sunflame, whom he had encountered at the Hundred Herbs Sect just over a month ago!

Just over a month prior, Li Miao had acquired the Spirit Butterfly from Consort Qi and, curious about its abilities, inadvertently attracted the attention of Master Sunflame, a formidable Transcendence Realm cultivator and the butterfly’s former owner, nearly bringing disaster upon himself.

Fortunately, his cultivation was insufficient to bind the butterfly. He had stowed it away in his Cosmic Ring before being discovered.

Even so, Master Sunflame had caused a scene at the Hundred Herbs Sect—injuring both the Sect Master Xu Yong and Steward Huo Zhong, interrupting an alchemical refinement, and seizing the piece of cosmic crystal Li Miao had given Xu Yong before departing in arrogance.

Li Miao still remembered Xu Yong’s words: Master Sunflame was the strongest in Tianxia County, one of the most powerful independent cultivators in Longquan Prefecture, known as the Red Demon, his cultivation long at the peak of the Transcendence Realm!

A dangerous figure, without question.

Now, the Spirit Butterfly remained quietly hidden in Li Miao’s Cosmic Ring. If Master Sunflame discovered it, he would likely kill Li Miao on the spot.

Li Miao was gripped by anxiety.

Yet as the two elders appeared, the crowd’s reaction was one of delight.

“Dean!”

Someone called out.

Immediately, the throng bowed and saluted the immortal-like elder.

They had just been speaking of the Dean, and here he was in person.

A sense of schadenfreude swept the crowd as they fixed sympathetic eyes on Li Miao.

“Greetings, Dean.”

“Greetings, Dean!”

The chorus of salutations grew louder, spreading outward as more people noticed the immortal’s arrival. Even those several streets away paused to pay their respects.

Such was his prestige: all honored him sincerely, none out of mere formality.

Over thousands of years, the virtue of Huangting Academy had become deeply ingrained in the hearts of all. Even the core disciples of major sects like Crimson Sky Sword Sect, Thunderclap Gate, and Thousand Clouds Mountain had studied here; its influence was immense.

Sage Qianji, the Dean for centuries, had established a reputation in Pangshan County that none could rival. That he was so beloved and respected was only natural.

Sage Qianji gently raised his hand, an invisible force lifting the crowd from their bows. Smiling kindly, he said, “There’s no need for ceremony. I have a guest today and cannot linger.”

He turned to Master Sunflame and said, “These young ones are rather stiff with their formalities—do forgive them, my friend. Come, Master Sunflame, please come inside.” He offered the guest place with genuine warmth.

Many of the young cultivators did not recognize Master Sunflame from Tianxia County. Curiosity burned in their hearts—what sort of person was it that the immortal Dean himself would personally receive?

Yet none dared inquire further.

Just then, at the admissions office, the same youth who had earlier scorned Li Miao suddenly called out, “Dean, please wait! There’s someone here causing trouble—such a black sheep must not be admitted to Huangting Academy!”

He had previously said, “If the Dean saw this…” Now that the Dean truly stood before him, he could not let the opportunity pass.

Before, only a handful nearby had witnessed Li Miao’s actions. As soon as the youth spoke, the news spread to the thousands present.

Where the presence of the Dean had brought calm, now the academy gates were abuzz with excitement.

“What? Someone dares cause trouble at the gates of Huangting Academy?”

“Even Lady Yang Chunxue from the City Lord’s Mansion is waiting in line—who is bold enough to cut in?”

“Ha, a rare spectacle! And to think the Dean himself is here—this will be good to watch!”

The crowd’s chatter grew; every eye, guided by the youth’s accusation, now focused on Li Miao.

Li Miao darkened, glaring at the troublemaker, wishing he could thrash the brat then and there.

All this time, his greatest fear had been Master Sunflame discovering him. Now, with Master Sunflame present, he was already on edge. And just as Sage Qianji was about to move on, this brat’s shout drew all eyes back to him!

The two elders halted, turned, and regarded Li Miao. Sage Qianji asked the youth, “What is this about?”

“Dean, sir!” the youth declared, filled with righteous indignation. “This man has shown our academy the utmost disrespect—not only did he cut in line, but he tried to humiliate Senior Brother Yang E with a superior spirit stone! What’s worse, he openly declared that he’s joining Huangting Academy not to study the Dao of cultivation, but just to play!”

“Such behavior is a disgrace to our academy’s traditions—he must be severely punished as an example to others!”

The young man recounted Li Miao’s “offenses” with dramatic flair, his words ringing out for the thousand-strong crowd to hear. Li Miao became the target of their righteous wrath.

Even passersby, with no connection to the academy, looked upon him with utter contempt.

Li Miao, now the subject of universal scorn, could only manage a helpless, wry smile.

Sage Qianji’s kindly expression did not falter. He was not angered by the youth’s complaint, but turned to Li Miao and asked, “Young friend, is what this child says true?” He paid no mind to Xiaoyun, the demon cultivator at Li Miao’s side—it was clear that such a lowly demon was beneath his notice.

Master Sunflame also watched Li Miao with keen interest.

Li Miao, still tense for fear Master Sunflame would sense the Spirit Butterfly, had managed to calm himself after a moment. Any nervousness he now displayed would only be seen as awe in the Dean’s presence.

Faced with Sage Qianji’s question, he nodded. “Yes, it’s true.”

He would have liked to deny it, but he had indeed done everything the youth described; there was no argument to be made.

Rather than lie or quibble, it was better to admit it frankly.

After all, Sage Qianji would hardly deal harshly with a junior over such matters—a light punishment at most. His real concern was Master Sunflame, a true devil. As for the famed immortal Dean, Li Miao felt only a measure of respect, not fear.

Li Miao’s candid answer sparked a wave of discussion.

“He dares admit it? This one’s got guts.”

“Hah, what’s the use of lying? The Dean’s perception is keen—no one can fool him.”

“Just wait and see—no one has dared make trouble at Huangting Academy for a long, long time.”

The crowd looked on with the relish of those awaiting a spectacle, certain that Li Miao was finished and would never again show his face in Pangshan City.

But to their astonishment, Sage Qianji did not show anger or displeasure. Instead, he stroked his beard and smiled. “I have seen many arrogant young men in my time, but it has been long indeed since one dared make such a scene at my academy’s gate. Young man, what is your name, where are you from, and what brings you here?”

Master Sunflame, standing beside him, also looked on with amusement, eager to see how the Dean would handle this impudent youth.

Since matters had come to this, Li Miao saw no reason to hide anything. He squared his shoulders and replied, “Junior’s name is Li Yuan. No sect, no master, no registry—I wander the world, making my home wherever I go. From the moment I was born, I’ve been looking for someone to fight. That’s why I’ve come here.”

He sighed inwardly, knowing that after today, his name would be known throughout Pangshan City.

His words caused a stir.

“No sect, no master, no registry—and so arrogant?”

“He came to Huangting Academy looking for someone to fight? Is he mad?”

“He’s doomed. Absolutely doomed.”

All looked on, convinced he was finished.

Even Xiaoyun at his side wore a pitiful expression, gazing at the two elders as if pleading for mercy with her eyes.

Yet Sage Qianji remained unruffled, and Master Sunflame even raised his eyebrows, a look of appreciation in his eyes.

Their reaction unsettled Li Miao, making him feel something was amiss.

Sage Qianji said mildly, “Excellent—such courage is admirable. I rather like you. Now tell me, who did you come to Huangting Academy to fight?”

With his experience, the Dean had already seen through Li Miao’s cultivation. It was precisely because of this that he was willing to speak further; he wanted to see what sort of person this exceptionally gifted young man was. Were he mediocre, the Dean would have handed him over to the city guards long ago.

Geniuses, after all, are often afforded special treatment.

Li Miao caught the meaning in Sage Qianji’s gaze, but Master Sunflame’s approving look made him uneasy.

He replied, “I heard from Xie Shuangren that there’s a prodigy named Chi Xia’er in the Inner Academy, whose cultivation is very high. I wanted to spar with her. But she’s currently in the eleventh level of Purgatory, which I can’t access, so I—”