Chapter 17: Competing for the Golden Leaves

At the treetop of the phase force tree, towering like a giant building, Lin Feng and Xu Xu Shanyue, the two people in charge of the First Academy and the Second Academy, had also gotten into a dispute over the distribution of the golden leaves.

"Xu Xu Shanyue, you should understand how many outstanding students our First Academy has gathered. Their talents far surpass those of the other academies in Nanfeng Academy, so if they can be given better cultivation conditions, the results they achieve will also far surpass those of the other students," Lin Feng said in a deep voice.

Xu Xu Shanyue snorted coldly: "The First Academy is indeed outstanding, but that doesn't mean my Second Academy is full of trash who don't deserve to enjoy the golden leaves, right? Besides, there are fifty golden leaves in total on the phase force tree, and forty of them are already in the First Academy's hands. Aren't you satisfied yet?"

Lin Feng frowned and said: "This isn't a matter of being satisfied or not. It's that the students of the First Academy are inherently able to bring out greater value from the golden leaves."

"I'm not targeting the students of your Second Academy, but the fact is just that."

Xu Xu Shanyue sneered: "You just want to squeeze every resource out of Nanfeng Academy, so you can teach a few more students who can enter the 'Shengxuan Star Academy,' add some luster to your resume, and eventually get promoted to Shengxuan Star Academy yourself, right?"

In fact, not only did many students regard Shengxuan Star Academy as their goal, but even the instructors of these mid-tier academies also regarded it as a holy land. All their efforts were aimed at entering Shengxuan Star Academy to teach, which would greatly enhance their status and future achievements.

Having such a goal wasn't a bad thing, but Xu Xu Shanyue felt that Lin Feng was too utilitarian in his actions and only cared about his own interests. Just like when he kicked Li Luo to the Second Academy back then, there really wasn't much need for it. After all, even though Li Luo had an empty phase, he wouldn't have actually held them back.

At that time, Lin Feng probably did it more to use Li Luo to establish his authority, so that the outstanding students of the First Academy wouldn't dare challenge the authority of someone who had only recently arrived at Nanfeng Academy.

Lin Feng's expression darkened considerably upon hearing this, and he said: "Xu Xu Shanyue, don't make trouble out of nothing."

The other instructors of Nanfeng Academy nearby, seeing the two of them arguing heatedly, hurriedly spoke up to mediate.

The old dean named Wei Sha was also a bit troubled. The golden leaves on the phase force tree were already scarce, and every academy wanted to get more. This was understandable, since the students' achievements were also tied to the evaluation and promotion of their instructors.

However, Lin Feng had been pestering him about this matter for a long time, and he had always been putting it off. But looking at today, he still had to give an answer.

Wei Sha's gaze swept over the many figures on the phase force tree below. After pondering for a moment, he said: "The golden leaves of the Second Academy cannot be handed out without reason. After all, just because the First Academy is more outstanding, we cannot completely strip the students of the Second Academy of their desire to pursue progress."

"If you all want to fight for the golden leaves, then the students will have to fight for it themselves."

"How about this: the First Academy and the Second Academy each find three students. The phase force level requirement cannot exceed the Six-Seal Realm. The two sides will compete. If the First Academy wins in the end, then the Second Academy will hand over five golden leaves. But if the Second Academy wins, then the First Academy will need to hand over ten golden leaves from your share to the Second Academy."

As the old dean's words fell, Lin Feng and Xu Xu Shanyue immediately stopped arguing, their brows slightly furrowed.

"Dean, why does the First Academy have to lose ten golden leaves if they lose?" Lin Feng asked dissatisfiedly.

Wei Sha smiled and said: "Because the dispute over the golden leaves was raised by you first. Besides, the First Academy is inherently stronger. If a heavier price isn't paid, why would the Second Academy bother to fight you for no reason?"

Lin Feng frowned, thought for a moment, and finally said: "Fine."

In this kind of competition, although it was capped at the level of Di Liu Yin, their First Academy still had a great advantage.

Xu Xu Shanyue, on the other hand, was somewhat hesitant. Although the First Academy would have to hand over ten golden leaves if they lost, he understood that the First Academy was, after all, the face of Nanfeng Academy, and the quality of its students far surpassed that of all other academies.

"Dean, our Second Academy only has two people who have reached the Six-Seal level right now," Xu Xu Shanyue said helplessly.

Lin Feng smiled and said: "Don't worry, the students of the First Academy won't let things drag on to that kind of stalemate for you."

Xu Xu Shanyue's face darkened, and anger welled up in his eyes.

The old dean sighed and said: "Little Xu, don't worry. Even if we lose, I'll make it up to the Second Academy next year. Right now, the academy grand exam is only a month away."

Hearing the old dean say this, Xu Xu Shanyue fell silent for a few breaths, and finally could only nod somewhat dejectedly. Clearly, in the old dean's heart, the First Academy, as the face of Nanfeng Academy, could indeed enjoy some privileges that the Second Academy did not have.

Regarding this, Xu Xu Shanyue also knew he couldn't blame the old dean, because this was human nature. With the most outstanding First Academy right there, would they favor the Second Academy instead?

"Then I'll go make the arrangements." After saying this, Xu Xu Shanyue flipped himself down from the treehouse.

Lin Feng, with a smile on his face, also turned around to make arrangements.

Meanwhile, at a slightly lower position, Bei Kun finally retreated with his men in a somewhat disheveled and unwilling manner. After all, Li Luo completely ignored his provocation, and on the contrary, his unorthodox tactics also made his side a bit wary.

Young people were the most hot-headed. In fights between students, even if it meant breaking their heads for the sake of face, they would grit their teeth and tough it out. Who had ever seen someone who would just call people from home to beat someone up at the slightest provocation?

There was simply no sense of rules at all!

And as Bei Kun and the others fled in disarray, many students of the Second Academy looked at Li Luo with somewhat strange expressions. Clearly, they hadn't expected Li Luo to use this method to defuse the other side's provocation.

"Isn't this... a bit too much of a violation of the rules?" Zhao Kuo also scratched his head, came to Li Luo's side, and said in a low voice.

Li Luo gave him a lazy, disdainful look and said: "He's allowed to bully me, an empty phase, but I'm not allowed to bully others with my power?"

"That's not really how it should be put..." Zhao Kuo wanted to argue, but for a moment had nothing to say, and could only shake his head. This young lord's methods seemed a bit unorthodox.

While they were talking, Xu Xu Shanyue's figure appeared ahead. He clapped his hands, directly gathering all the students of the Second Academy, and then briefly explained the upcoming competition with the First Academy.

And as soon as the words were spoken, the crowd immediately rose up in indignation.

"This First Academy is going too far! They already occupy forty golden leaves, and they're still not satisfied? They still want to come and snatch ours?"

"This competition has no chance of winning at all. Our Second Academy only has two people who have reached Six Seals now."

"Sigh, we might as well just admit defeat."

"."

However, after a moment of indignation, many students of the Second Academy became pessimistic. After all, the strength of both sides was right there. Even with the restriction of the Six-Seal Realm, the Second Academy was still at a disadvantage.

Seeing the low morale of the Second Academy students, Xu Xu Shanyue also sighed helplessly, then arranged: "The competition will be fought by Zhao Kuo and Yuan Qiu."

"Teacher, don't worry. I definitely won't disgrace our Second Academy. I'll let them know that the Second Academy isn't easy to mess with." Zhao Kuo was fired up, his face full of fighting spirit.

Yuan Qiu was a tall, slender girl. She was quite calm and asked: "Then who's the third person?"

Xu Xu Shanyue's gaze swept over the many students of the Second Academy, and everyone his eyes passed over dodged his gaze, clearly lacking the confidence to step up.

Finally, he looked at Li Luo. After all, although Li Luo had an empty phase, he was skilled in phase arts. If one really talked about combat power, within the Second Academy, he was only second to Zhao Kuo—of course, now Yuan Qiu had to be added to that.

"Li Luo, you do it."

Xu Xu Shanyue made his decision and said: "Don't feel pressured. It's fine even if you lose. Later, you'll go up first. Fight until you can't hold on anymore, then admit defeat and step down. If possible, try to consume as much of the opponent's phase force as possible. That way, the chances of winning for the people after you will be a bit higher."

Li Luo wasn't really surprised at being picked, since there were indeed only a few people in the Second Academy who could fight.

But clearly, Xu Xu Shanyue's positioning of him was as cannon fodder, to be used to consume the phase force of the opponent's participants.

Li Luo's eyes became somewhat profound. He had originally wanted to keep a low profile, but now it seemed even the heavens wouldn't allow it.

Old Xu, you have absolutely no idea what kind of existence you've picked today. The light on your face today might be even more dazzling than the sun.

*Slap. *

Xu Xu Shanyue's palm landed on Li Luo's shoulder, making him stumble. A dissatisfied voice came: "Why are your eyes so glazed? You didn't get scared, did you?"

And so, the momentum Li Luo had just built up was immediately broken down by that slap.

(End of this chapter)