Chapter 316: Pessimistic Qianlong Academy, a Misunderstanding!

The meeting room was filled with silence.

Yeah, what if Su Yu doesn't make it here by tomorrow?

Everyone fell into silence.

At first, Su Yu hadn't emerged from seclusion, and the crowd didn't show despair.

After all, even if Su Yu didn't come to participate in this academy competition, everyone believed they could pull Qianlong Academy up from the brink of death.

After all, this team could be said to be the best Qianlong Academy has ever fielded.

Even if they couldn't become one of the top five academies, maintaining a first-rate academy's position would still be easy.

But now.

If Su Yu doesn't come, Qianlong Academy is destined to be saddled with a reputation of deceiving the world and stealing fame.

Under such a reputation, even if Qianlong Academy maintains its first-rate status this time, recruiting next year will be extremely difficult.

Just this reputation alone is enough to make many parents urge their children to give up Qianlong Academy.

This is what everyone is worried about.

A faint weariness appeared between Zhao Tianxing's brows.

Although this matter has nothing to do with Qianlong Academy, the public won't think that way.

They will only believe what they see, and they won't care about what they don't see.

What they see is that Su Yu didn't come.

A person ranked tenth on the Heavenly Pride Ranking didn't come to the academy competition, while those ranked lower than Su Yu did.

Unconsciously, the public already had an answer in their hearts.

For a martial arts academy, top-tier resources are one thing, and a good reputation is just as important.

Zhao Tianxing even suspected that among these voices, there were people from Jingwu Academy fanning the flames.

The relationship between Jingwu Academy and Qianlong Academy has always been poor.

Previously, Qianlong Academy had always been the top academy of Daxia, firmly stepping on Jingwu Academy.

And with some uncontrollable events occurring, Qianlong Academy gradually declined.

Jingwu became the undisputed first, fiercely venting the anger of having been stepped on by Qianlong Academy.

Zhao Tianxing waved his hand and said wearily.

"Alright, let tomorrow be as it comes; we'll meet force with force, and as long as we have a clear conscience, that's enough!"

"But!"

Everyone still wanted to say something, but Zhao Tianxing directly cut them off.

Zhao Tianxing looked solemnly at everyone and spoke in a low voice.

"I don't care what impact this matter has on Qianlong Academy; I just want to say one thing."

"You must absolutely not let these rumors affect your condition tomorrow; I want you to conduct yourselves magnanimously in the academy competition, not be aggressive online!"

"Let the public think what they will; we just need to stay true to Qianlong Academy's original intention."

"Besides..."

Zhao Tianxing paused, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"I've already received news from Li Zhangsheng that Su Yu has emerged from seclusion, is packing up, and is preparing to rush over to us!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was instantly delighted.

"Really?"

Even Chu Hong and Xiang Shaoyun couldn't help but look toward Zhao Tianxing.

Although Chu Hong has never really looked up to Su Yu until now, in this situation only Su Yu stepping forward can completely dispel all the rumors.

Zhao Tianxing gave a slight smile.

"Really!"

Everyone instantly burst into joy.

Tian Ming clenched his fist and laughed loudly.

"Hahaha, I want to see what those people's faces will look like when Su Yu comes out!"

Everyone showed a smile.

Watching everyone's smiles, Zhao Tianxing silently withdrew from the room.

He came to a rooftop, took out a cigarette, lit it, and drew a deep breath.

A wisp of mist slowly exhaled.

At this moment, Zhao Tianxing seemed to have aged several years.

The words just now were entirely Zhao Tianxing's own; from beginning to end he had not received a reply from Li Zhangsheng.

In other words, Su Yu is still in seclusion now.

Those earlier words were merely meant to comfort Xiang Shaoyun and the others, hoping they wouldn't feel so much pressure and could show their true selves in the academy competition.

Zhao Tianxing's gaze was somewhat weathered as he slowly looked toward the direction of Qianlong City.

"Kid, if you don't come again, I won't be able to hold out!"

The night passed without a word.

Night fell, the newborn sun took over the moon's work, and strands of golden light showered the earth.

It awakened all living beings.

On the rooftop, Zhao Tianxing stood silently, not knowing how many cigarette butts he had dropped beneath his feet.

Dense and numerous, it was clear that over the course of one night, Zhao Tianxing's inner anxiety had reached a certain level.

This public opinion, for Qianlong Academy, was nothing short of a storm.

And Qianlong Academy is merely a lone leaf boat amidst those successive storms.

No support whatsoever.

They can only rely on themselves.

When Zhao Tianxing finished his last puff of cigarette, he fiercely crushed it underfoot, and the world flickered slightly.

The weariness and vicissitudes on Zhao Tianxing's face vanished instantly, and when he reappeared in view, his expression had already become vigorous and spirited.

He slowly walked onto the corridor and spoke loudly.

"Everyone, it's time to set off!"

Doors opened one by one, and youths in colorful clothes walked out laughing.

Xiang Shaoyun walked over, placed his hand on Zhao Tianxing's shoulder, and said with a laugh.

"Old man, watch closely—this time we'll surely beat the shit out of the five academies!"

"Hmph, I'm afraid if you don't beat others' shit out, your own shit will get beaten out!"

Chu Hong said disdainfully.

Xiang Shaoyun's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Little Chu, is your skin itching again?"..

Chu Hong's mouth twitched slightly; frankly, every time he fought Xiang Shaoyun, the outcome was one-sided, and he was always tormented to the brink of death by Xiang Shaoyun.

But in such occasions, Chu Hong's pride forced him to let out a cold snort and stay silent.

Tian Ming said with a laugh.

"Principal, let's go—today we'll let the world see how formidable Qianlong Academy is!"

Tian Ming held two jade stones in his hand, the stones flashing with extremely pure light.

Zhao Tianxing smiled faintly, leading the crowd out of the hotel toward a stadium in the center of Jingdu.

Jingdu has only one stadium, covering an extremely vast area—just the football field could fit over ten or twenty of them.

It is also the only place capable of hosting the Academies' Grand Competition.

Every year's Academies' Grand Competition takes place there.

After all, the intensity of the Academies' Grand Competition is even more terrifying than the college entrance exam.

Even the weakest possess Flying Heaven Realm cultivation, while the strongest have reached Full Moon Peak, only half a step away from entering the ranks of Great Sun Grand Masters.

Moreover, in past Academies' Grand Competitions, there have been cases of students breaking through to Great Sun Grand Master; the three Half-Emperors are a good example.

Therefore, the venue requirements are extremely strict.

In all of Daxia, the only venue usable for hosting is Jingdu's stadium.

At this moment, the streets of Jingdu, big and small, are already filled with fervent crowds, all heading in one direction.

Stadium!

If one looked down from the heavens, one could see a sea of heads, like constantly flowing water, walking toward the stadium's location.

As a martial arts academy, Qianlong Academy has a dedicated passage.

But it was still seen by the surrounding populace.

Many people looked into Qianlong Academy's ranks, as if searching for something.

"Huh? Why isn't Su Yu visible in Qianlong Academy's ranks?"

"Hehe, you wouldn't know this, but Su Yu's record is something Qianlong Academy fabricated to deceive the Martial Artists Association; if we brought Su Yu here, wouldn't that expose the ruse?"

"Impossible! Can records even be fabricated?"

Someone exclaimed in surprise.

"That's right—think about it, Su Yu defeated Chu Hong, both from Qianlong Academy; if Chu Hong held back, wouldn't that make Su Yu's victory over him?"

Moreover, think about it—Su Yu is merely at Star Peak; how could he defeat a Half Moon expert? This has never happened in Daxia's history.

Someone explained.

That person nodded thoughtfully.

"Oh, I see—I thought Su Yu was formidable, but he's just a showpiece!"

"Strictly speaking, it's not a showpiece; Star Peak strength is enough to rank Su Yu in the top thirty, but such fabricated achievements are disgraceful to us."

"Qianlong Academy is no good place; to boost its reputation, it actually used a student as an experiment—of course Su Yu, that guy, is no good either, actually agreeing to it."

Someone disparagingly said toward Qianlong Academy.

Moreover, someone spat and gave a cold snort.

"An academy like this still existing is just wasting Daxia's resources; being strong doesn't make one a martial arts academy."

Hearing the townsfolk's words, even if Zhao Tianxing's temper were good, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.

They could say he's fine, but to say Qianlong Academy—

For Zhao Tianxing, that's not allowed!

But the other party is ultimately just a civilian; if I, a dignified Marquis-level Expert, were to act now...

then Qianlong Academy's reputation would be utterly ruined.

Behind him, the Qianlong Academy's sequence members also had grim faces, showing discontent.

"Principal!"

Zhang Xiaobai and the others couldn't help but look toward Zhao Tianxing.

Their fists were clenched tightly, and one could see a diligent urging constantly pulsing above their fists.

They were already suppressing their inner anger.

Zhao Tianxing said in a deep voice.

"Calm your hearts; your goal is this Academies' Grand Competition!"

Although Zhao Tianxing said that, his face remained extremely grim.

And just then, Zhao Tianxing's mind stirred slightly.

He hastily pulled a jade slip from his bosom, and upon seeing the message on it, Zhao Tianxing's face lit up with a brilliant smile.