Chapter 56: Tianlong Guild

On the day of the year-end competition, Wei Kuangdao and his people broke in and ran wild. Although there was no danger, the competition was left unsettled, and each instructor assessed the students in batches, with no separate competition.

For students who had been half-hearted in their cultivation and had average talent, this was naturally a great thing. However, individual elite students had other thoughts.

"Boss Yang, this year's year-end competition was suddenly canceled; for us, this is quite a blow!" Guo Xiong's face was gloomy, his brow furrowed into a ball, clearly troubled.

"Brother Guo, your cultivation has improved by leaps and bounds this year, with Peak Gathering Essence Realm strength, just one step away from entering the Third-Tier Martial Master. If the competition had proceeded as usual, you would certainly have been able to stand out; this is truly a pity!"

Ye Zhan looked regretful. You know, students who achieved good results in the year-end competition would all be given generous rewards by the academy, and even a monthly allowance to support their cultivation.

"Guo Xiong, your luck this time is indeed bad; if you want to blame someone, blame the Sacred Martial Hall!" Yang Sheng sighed helplessly, then continued: "Nie betrayed the academy, but I'm afraid no one can shake the Rock Society for a while. They are leaderless, I'm afraid there will be trouble in the days to come!"

"Brother Yang, why don't we join the Eight Desolations Society! I heard that Ling Xiao also has a great background. If we join his command, the Eight Desolations Society's power will grow, and we won't have to worry about the Rock Society's revenge!"

Ye Zhan looked excited, but as soon as he finished speaking, Guo Xiong opposed it.

"It's not that simple. Those few in the Rock Society are no weaker than Boss Yang. Even without Nie Xing, no guild can compare to them for a while. If we leave now and rashly join the Eight Desolations Society, the other party will definitely retaliate strongly, and we might even be treated as cannon fodder by Ling Xiao; that would be bad!"

Yang Sheng nodded, but didn't speak, his face gradually sinking.

Similar scenes were happening among several groups in Tianyuan Academy, all much the same. Although Nie Xing had left the Tianyuan Academy, the prestige of his Rock Society remained, and few dared to underestimate it.

In Lu Fan's residence, another fierce argument was beginning.

"What? You want me to form a guild!" Lu Fan opened his mouth wide, looking speechless, and said reluctantly: "I have no interest in playing house with a bunch of kids; find whoever you want!"

Ling Yao was furious. She had tried to persuade him, but Lu Fan didn't give her any face at all. They were kids, did he really think he was some big shot?

She said resentfully: "Lu Fan, I'm telling you, if you don't listen to me, that old fox Liu Changsheng will come knocking in minutes. An innocent man is guilty of a crime because of his treasure; not to mention that crystal furnace, you yourself are very strange!"

She paused, then said viciously: "I think Liu Changsheng and the elders would very much like to know how a disciple with mediocre aptitude could improve by leaps and bounds in just a few months, and even fight a Peak Martial King."

Lu Fan was slightly stunned, then his brow furrowed, his face gloomy. No one would ever figure out his own strangeness. But if these people really came to seek his secrets, it would be endless trouble.

"Lu Fan, you're right to listen to me. As long as you form a guild, I'll block Liu Changsheng for you, and you won't have any trouble at all!" Ling Yao chuckled, looking slightly smug. However, in her eyes, there was a trace of suspicion; she was also very interested in Lu Fan's changes.

Lu Fan's face was ugly. After Wei Kuangdao and the others left, Liu Changsheng and the elders had wanted to question him. He had too many secrets to explain clearly, so he had used the principle of avoiding trouble and claimed he was exhausted, returning to cultivate.

He hadn't expected Ling Yao to sneak into his residence in advance, opening with a threat, then softening her tone, only to make such an "unreasonable" request.

"I'm afraid of you! Do whatever you want!" Lu Fan shook his head, looking impatient. The other party was his teacher and his grand-disciple, so he would just indulge a junior! As for that guild, he wouldn't get involved in the future; Ling Yao could do whatever she wanted.

Ling Yao was happy, her eyes filled with smiles, and she asked with interest: "I'm really curious, what did you do to Wang Wu? She has been in seclusion for days, her aura soaring, actually entering the late stage of the Tendon Refining Realm, and she seems to have understood the Rune Dao in an instant; even I can't see through her!"

Lu Fan rolled his eyes, thinking this gossip-monger was truly nosy, but he didn't dare say it out loud. After all, she was his grand-disciple, and Yue Ru's temperament was passed down; he wouldn't deliberately provoke her, at least not for now.

"She has been secretly practicing Rune Dao, maybe she had an epiphany! That's nothing strange." Lu Fan looked impatient, almost showing her the door. But these words fell into Ling Yao's ears, making her excited.

"What? She has been secretly practicing Rune Dao!" Ling Yao was shocked, her bright eyes turning, and she said: "I didn't expect anyone in the Wang family to practice Rune Dao. Now there's going to be a good show!"

"Wang family? A good show?" Lu Fan was slightly startled, curious: "A Nie family just appeared, seemingly with a background, and now this Wang family? What are these big family disciples doing in such a remote country? Does the Dragon Tower really have such great charm?"

Ling Yao frowned, staring at Lu Fan's face, shocked. She hadn't expected that a casual remark would hit the nail on the head; such keen observation was truly terrifying. But thinking of Lu Fan's previous means, she felt it was normal.

"The Dragon Tower is a Secret Realm, and it will open in a few months. With your means, you will certainly have a spot, don't worry!"

Ling Yao didn't dwell on this question and changed the subject: "These days, several Rune Masters from the academy have gone to the Dragon Tower to survey the restrictions, otherwise they wouldn't have let Wei Kuangdao and his people run wild, and you would likely have been pestered by a bunch of old men, insisting on figuring out your secrets."

Her face gradually darkened. She had investigated Lu Fan long ago; his rapid progress in a few months was suspicious. She had originally thought he was another disciple of Yue Ruxue, but now it seemed impossible.

She had already received news from the Dark Council that Yue Ruxue had practiced improperly, almost suffered a cultivation deviation, and had been in seclusion for months, never appearing. It was impossible for her to have taken Lu Fan as a disciple recently, and as for earlier, it was even more impossible, otherwise Lu Fan wouldn't have had the name of a martial arts waste.

Lu Fan vaguely sensed Ling Yao's state of mind, but didn't point it out, nor did he have the heart to ponder it, just saying indifferently: "I've already promised you to form the guild; as for those elders, it's all up to you! If there's nothing else, you should leave quickly, I need to cultivate!"

Ling Yao smiled prettily, not taking Lu Fan's blatant dismissal to heart, and chuckled: "Okay! I'm leaving. Oh! By the way, Wang Wu has a great background. Since you are ambiguous with her, I'll keep an eye on it for you in the future! If you can really make something happen with her, I can also intervene in the Wang family!"

"Bang!"

The door was closed, leaving Lu Fan alone, but he didn't find peace; his heart was slightly rippling.

"This little girl Ling Yao is truly a handful. I just shook off Wang Wu, and she wants to help me provoke her; isn't this just looking for trouble!"

He smiled bitterly. This girl was a little demon; even if he had met her in his previous life, he would likely have a headache. He couldn't use his strength on his little grand-disciple at all; I'm afraid that when he recovers and his identity is exposed in the future, there will be more trouble.

"Forget it! Forget it! When the boat reaches the bridge, it will be straight; we'll talk about the future later!"

Lu Fan shook his head, calmed his mind, and took out the blood-colored breastplate to study it.

In front of the Wulian Tower, a group of students gathered in front of a notice, excited and discussing animatedly.

"Tianlong, what an imposing name. If we join this guild, who will be able to bully us in the future?"

"Haha! Lu Fan is actually forming a guild. With his name as the first of the third-term students and the honor of being the chief disciple, following him, we'll be eating and drinking well in the future."

"Look at this, this is the means of our academy's number one. Gathering Essence Realm members get a monthly allowance of fifty gold coins; Tendon Refining Realm members get two hundred gold coins and a Second-Tier Spirit Tool..."

Everyone was rubbing their hands, excited, shouting that they wanted to join.

Just then, Elder Bai walked over, his face very ugly, and roared: "Hmph! What are you doing gathered here in broad daylight? Has the year-end assessment passed? Come, come, follow me into the Wulian Tower; I must see how much skill you brats really have!"

Everyone's face turned ashen, wailing and cursing in their hearts.

The crowd dispersed, but the news of the "Tianlong" guild spread like wildfire. Student residential areas, Secret Spirit Street, the library... Tianyuan Academy's major cultivation hubs were all filled with people discussing it. Lu Fan had shown his means and was already a figure in the limelight; adding "Tianlong" was like adding oil to fire, making it even more lively.

Academy students respected martial arts. A youth like Lu Fan, who was so outstanding in strength and could even trade a few blows with older experts, was even more enviable and respected. The so-called name of a waste had vanished, and many people's favor toward him increased greatly.

In just two or three hours, streams of people gathered in the academy and came toward Lu Fan's residence.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Lu Fan had just calmed his mind when a series of urgent knocks came from outside. He frowned, subconsciously sensing with his spiritual power.

Xiao Ling'er, in a water-green dress, was standing in front of the door, her face slightly anxious, looking behind her from time to time.

"Come in!"

Lu Fan's voice came, and Xiao Ling'er pushed the door and entered, grabbing Lu Fan's arm and pulling him toward the door!

"Ling'er, what are you doing?" Lu Fan was a bit confused, but his tone wasn't impatient. He had had some misunderstandings about the girl before, but they had already dissipated.

"Lu Fan, hurry up and come with me, if we don't leave now, it'll be too late!" ===== CHAPTER 57 =====