Soul Emperor Martial God

A group of Heavenly Talents, after searching the Universe Rings on the bodies of the Sky Tiger Demon Hunting Team martial artists.

The assessment task was declared over.

The group set off on their journey back to Black Cloud Academy.

Black Cloud Academy is about a hundred thousand miles from here.

If flying at full strength, they could return in at most a day.

However, having just undergone a fierce battle and not in a hurry, there was no need to do so.

Flying at full strength would consume Primordial Power, which could cause fatigue or burden to the body.

...

Two days later, everyone returned to Black Cloud Academy.

The vice-principal had long been waiting there.

Inside Black Cloud Academy, in the open area of the square.

One by one, the Heavenly Talents took out their task scrolls.

The vice-principal walked up to each person, received the task scrolls, glanced at them, "Hmm, very good."

"The task is perfectly completed, the assessment passed."

Saying this, the vice-principal made a note on the task scrolls.

Each of the Heavenly Talents' task scrolls, the vice-principal glanced over, and then smiled with satisfaction.

Until he came to Xiao Yi, Tong Ye, and the previous two people, the vice-principal's face suddenly turned dark as water after glancing over the task scrolls.

"Task not completed, and it almost caused a great disaster."

Dissatisfaction was evident in the vice-principal's expression as he settled his gaze on Xiao Yi after glancing over Tong Ye and the other two.

"Tong Ye, Fang Yu, and Fang Yun, all went to Floral Spirit Sect according to the assessment task description."

The other two, named Fang Yu and Fang Yun, were brothers.

"Except you." The vice-principal said harshly, "The task description stated to obliterate Floral Spirit Sect before dawn, but you delayed."

"Do you know that if not for the good luck of Tong Ye and the other two this time, they would be dead in Floral Spirit Sect by now?"

"You hadn't officially started and already cost the lives of three fellow disciples."

Xiao Yi's face turned unpleasant at these words.

"May I ask something clearly?"

"Ask?" The vice-principal sneered, "I know what you want to ask."

As he spoke, the vice-principal casually tossed a scroll to Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi took it puzzledly, and upon opening it, his face turned to sudden realization.

This was a warrant from the Demon Hunting Hall.

The one being sought after on the warrant was Floral Spirit Sect.

However, the issue date of the warrant wasn't days ago but half a day prior.

"This warrant..." Xiao Yi frowned.

The assessment task given by Black Cloud Academy to obliterate Floral Spirit Sect was two days ago.

"Strange?" The vice-principal snorted coldly.

"Floral Spirit Sect secretly refining Human Pills, such evil elixirs, could deceive all major forces of Floral Spirit City, but not the Demon Hunting Hall."

"However, the Demon Hunting Hall has no authority..." Xiao Yi wanted to argue.

"No authority over them, right?" The vice-principal interrupted coldly.

"Truly, the Ancient Eight Halls, revered by everyone on this continent."

"But that doesn't entitle them the right to decide life and death."

"In the Central Region, killings happen everywhere, and lives are cheapest, conflicts, and slaughters among martial artists can't be controlled, not even by the Ancient Eight Halls."

"However, the life and death of martial artists from each Hall will certainly be managed by the Eight Halls."

"Floral Spirit Sect, on one hand, sells Floral Spirit Pills, causing many ordinary martial artists, including many nearby Demon Hunters, to suffer irreversible consequences."

"On the other hand, the sect's disciples and elders often ambush martial artists outside major cities, killing them to refine Floral Spirit Pills."

"Among them are also many wandering Demon Hunters."

Xiao Yi nodded, understanding the vice-principal's point.

The conflicts within the Central Region are numerous.

The Ancient Eight Halls, like the Demon Hunting Hall, are revered forces.

But that doesn't make them official authorities.

In the Central Region, there are no kingdoms or empires, nor any rules and laws.

Strength is the only rule here.

But, the existence of the Demon Hunting Hall, with branches across the continent, serves the purpose of providing Demon Hunters with maximum aid.

The life and death of Demon Hunters must naturally be managed by them.

Floral Spirit Sect killed many Demon Hunters, hence the release of this warrant by a branch of the Demon Hunting Hall.

The vice-principal stared coldly at Xiao Yi, "The task for the four of you was for Tong Ye to steal the Floral Spirit Pill recipe, Fang Yun and Fang Yu to assassinate the Young Sect Master and chief pharmacist of Floral Spirit Sect."

"Had you started early, Floral Spirit Sect would have been in chaos long ago, maybe even mobilizing the whole sect to fight you."

"Those three wouldn't have suffered, been tortured, and nearly died."

"Tong Ye stealing the pill recipe was because it was their criminal evidence that needed to be brought back."

"Fang Yun's task to kill the familiar alchemist because Floral Spirit Pills were mostly refined by him."

"Fang Yu's task to kill the Young Sect Master was because Floral Spirit Sect spared no effort to refine such evil elixirs to accumulate cultivation items for his use."

"Being the strongest among the four, the most difficult task was entrusted to you."

"Hey, I don't agree with that statement." Tong Ye said discontentedly.

"Shut up." The vice-principal shouted, "I'll settle your account later."

"If it weren't for your arrogance after infiltrating Floral Spirit Sect, how would you have failed, and alarmed the elders of Floral Spirit Sect, causing Fang Yun and Fang Yu to be exposed and then captured?"

Tong Ye pursed his lips, silent.

Xiao Yi furrowed his brows slightly, "Floral Spirit Sect is a major sect in Floral Spirit City."

"There are Saint Realm experts in the sect, yet I, just a Heavenly Extreme Realm, could completely wipe out their sect in the vice-principal's opinion?"

"What do you say?" The vice-principal said coldly, "Didn't you think I wasn't watching your fight with Wang Yue that day?"

"Wang Yue was already of Saint Realm cultivation, and as a direct disciple of a Twelve Peak Elder, he had the ability to fight across levels, being one of the Supreme Geniuses."

"Yet he couldn't withstand a few moves from you and was defeated."

"That Floral Spirit Sect, strong in Floral Spirit City, is nothing compared to the entire Black Cloud Region."

"The sect has at most a few strong ones around the Third Layer of the Saint Realm, what chance do they have against you?"

The vice-principal's face grew increasingly stony.

"This assessment, besides testing your strength, also assessed your trust and cooperation."

"You didn't trust the academy, nor did you trust Tong Ye and the others."

Xiao Yi shook his head, "I just entered the academy, and I'm not acquainted with Tong Ye and the others, how could I talk about trust."

"That's exactly why the academy gave this task." The vice-principal snapped.

"Each of you Heavenly Talents, no, each of you outstanding monsters."

"Before entering the academy, you acted independently, recklessly venturing into every perilous place."

"But after entering the academy, you have senior brothers, junior brothers, and teachers."

"In the future, will you still be the same?"

Xiao Yi understood the vice-principal's meaning very well.

Yet he still nodded firmly, "Yes."

"I'm used to being alone, now and always will be the same."

"If Black Cloud Academy's standards are contrary to this, or are dissatisfaction with my independence, I can choose not to enter."

After saying this, Xiao Yi shook his head and turned away.

...

The third update.