Chapter 276: Red City Orthodoxy in Chunyang

Chen Mobai’s awe-inspiring and righteous stance made Hua Zijing and the other student council executives feel a sense of shame.

Even Bian Yiqing, a Grandmaster of the Sonic Arts with extensive experience, couldn't help but look on with profound admiration. This young man's genuine and heartfelt sense of honor for the Martial Arts Academy made even Bian Yiqing, his teacher, feel a twinge of self-reproach.

Behind Bian Yiqing, Meng Huang'er gazed at Chen Mobai with a trace of resentment. Yet, hearing his words, she couldn't help but wonder if the immense pressure of upholding the academy's honor was why he had to sacrifice their love.

“Look, Daoist Master Ling has been defeated.”

At that moment, a commotion erupted across the plaza.

Chen Mobai and the others immediately looked up at the large screen. In the central display, Daoist Master Ling, the Chief of the Heaven-Mending Academy, slowly faded away with a frown, a sword wound visible on his chest.

In the duels within the Minor Crimson Heavens, both participants were mere projections, so there was no risk of injury or death. This allowed them to unleash their most powerful and devastating spells without inhibition. Of course, this was limited to spells, as external magical artifacts could not be brought into the illusory realm of the Minor Crimson Heavens.

“It seems other academies in the Immortal Gate still have capable individuals. I thought I’d be the one to hand the Chiefs of the three great academies their first defeat.”

Chen Mobai’s words, spoken without any attempt to lower his voice, immediately drew the attention of students from other academies watching in the plaza. Everyone wondered who possessed such arrogance to speak in that manner. But when they saw the young man, surrounded by student council members and dressed in the Martial Arts Academy’s red and black robes, they gasped in surprise.

“The last Chief of the Four Great Academies has finally appeared.”

“Is it Zuo Qiushi?”

“Zuo Qiushi is history. After he graduated, the new Chief of the Martial Arts Academy is a Foundation Establishment cultivator who only enrolled five years ago.”

“Wouldn’t that be disastrous? With the Minor Crimson Heavens opening in our Crimson City Grotto-Heaven, and the Martial Arts Academy, as the local powerhouse, lacking Zuo Qiushi, wouldn’t it just let the Chiefs of the other three academies flaunt their power?”

“What do you know? Even though Zuo Qiushi graduated, he entered the Minor Crimson Heavens yesterday. Without the aid of his synchronized magical artifact, he’s merely a mid-tier late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

“That’s even worse; there’s no excuse left.”

Hua Zijing heard the onlookers’ remarks, and veins pulsed on her smooth, fair forehead. If not for the fact that she was representing the Martial Arts Academy, she would have retorted on the spot. Didn’t they just witness the Chief of the Heaven-Mending Academy being defeated! And it was quite normal for former President Zuo Qiu to be defeated.

“What is the background of this person?” At that moment, Chen Mobai pointed with keen interest at the person who had defeated Daoist Master Ling. He noted the person’s serene expression, and beneath a single, straight eyebrow, a pair of incredibly sharp, sword-like eyes radiated an unprecedented confidence. Indeed, to defeat the Chief of the Heaven-Mending Academy head-on and in plain sight was an unparalleled honor for anyone. This honor also imbued the victor with an unmatched sense of self-assurance.

“Sima Xingyu, the Chief of the Pure Yang Academy from seven years ago.”

The one who answered him was Ming Yu.

“You know him?” Chen Mobai was very surprised.

“Seven years ago, I had just joined the student council and attended that exchange conference with the then-president. Sima Xingyu was already brilliant back then, second only to the then-Chiefs of the Four Great Academies.”

After hearing Ming Yu’s words, Chen Mobai nodded slightly. The screen displayed Sima Xingyu’s cultivation level: Foundation Establishment, Eighth Layer. This person also had the foundation of the Pure Yang Scroll and was a sword cultivator, likely practicing the “Primal Yang Sword Art,” rumored to be second only to the Immortal Gate’s top sword techniques.

Daoist Master Ling had only just reached the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment this year. As the Chief of the Heaven-Mending Academy, he was exceptionally talented. However, facing Sima Xingyu, who possessed a higher cultivation and a more potent cultivation method, his defeat was understandable.

“Taishi Shu has also been defeated.”

At that moment, Taishi Shu, the Chief of the Kunpeng Academy and another focus of attention, a graceful young woman with an ordinary appearance, slightly furrowed her brows, staring in disbelief at her right arm, which had been severed at the elbow. Facing her was a bald, eyebrowless man with a face full of crimson, coiling beard. He stood proudly in mid-air. With a sword-finger slash from his right hand, Taishi Shu’s primal magnetic field completely disintegrated under the incredibly domineering Primal Yang Sword Qi, and her projection was cleaved in two. She was defeated even more thoroughly than Daoist Master Ling.

After defeating Taishi Shu, the red-bearded, bald man laughed uproariously, brimming with unbridled arrogance.

“Who is this formidable general?” Chen Mobai asked again, his face full of interest.

“Though I’ve never seen him, I heard legends about him as a child. If I recall correctly, he should be Xiahou Weihuan, the Chief of Pure Yang Academy twenty years ago, known as ‘Crimson Beard, Peerless Sword.’”

“Xiahou Weihuan… a good name.” Chen Mobai murmured, gazing at Xiahou Weihuan, who now occupied the center of the screen, his face showing clear admiration. The upper left corner displayed his cultivation level: Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer. However, judging by the sword strike he used to defeat Taishi Shu, Chen Mobai felt that this person might have already reached the perfected stage of Foundation Establishment.

While reaching the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment as an academy Chief was an extraordinary achievement, when facing these individuals from Pure Yang Academy who exploited their seniority, they could only accept defeat.

“So, now only Zongzi, the Chief of the Jumang Academy, remains.” Chen Mobai spoke, looking at the last remaining academy Chief in the large screen’s grid, who now commanded everyone’s attention. His opponent was also from Pure Yang Academy. However, Zongzi’s practiced Spring God Art excelled at endurance, so even with a superior opponent, he couldn’t be defeated quickly. Thus, a stalemate ensued.

Even so, the Chiefs of the three great academies had been humiliated by Pure Yang Academy, losing their previously undefeated aura of absolute dominance. Instantly, all those watching the grand opening of the Minor Crimson Heavens across the Immortal Gate’s Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands erupted into a flurry of discussion.

At that moment, Xiahou Weihuan, from the center of the large screen, uttered a statement that made everyone from the Martial Arts Academy present flush crimson. The statement was: “The true legacy of Crimson City belongs to Pure Yang!”

Chen Mobai’s admiration for him instantly vanished. “This person has a good name, but a bad character.” After uttering this with disgust, Chen Mobai turned to Bian Yiqing and asked how he could enter the Minor Crimson Heavens.

“I have twenty slots provided by Gongye Zhixu, and I’ve already registered you as the Chief.” Bian Yiqing instructed Chen Mobai to present his student ID card, helping him activate the entry. “The Minor Crimson Heavens has just opened and is still in its internal testing phase. Everyone who projects in undergoes real-name authentication. Once inside, you’ll bear the identifier of the Martial Arts Academy’s Chief and, like those three, you’ll be a target for everyone.”

After activation, Bian Yiqing’s eyes showed concern. The Chiefs of the three great academies, who had been undefeated just the day before, now stood at two losses and one draw. This was merely because the Minor Crimson Heavens had only just opened to the academies and schools. If it were to fully open later to the entire Immortal Gate’s Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, beyond just universities, there would be countless hidden late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators from various organizations and enterprises. These individuals, eager to prove themselves and gain renown, would undoubtedly first challenge the Chiefs of the Four Great Academies as their matched opponents.

“Don’t worry, late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators won’t be matched against me.” Chen Mobai, however, looked completely unconcerned.

Upon hearing his words, Bian Yiqing paused for a moment, then, recalling the Minor Crimson Heavens’ matching mechanism, his expression cleared in realization. But almost immediately, he felt a slight pang of distress. Among the Four Great Academies, only their Martial Arts Academy’s Chief wasn’t a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, which would be somewhat embarrassing to acknowledge publicly. If Zuo Qiu hadn’t graduated yet… As this thought crossed his mind, Bian Yiqing remembered Zuo Qiushi’s rather unremarkable performance after projecting in without his magical artifact. He then felt that having Chen Mobai as Chief was actually quite good. At least Chen Mobai could sweep through early and mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. As long as he wasn’t matched against a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and remained undefeated, he would always have an excuse.

As Bian Yiqing was thinking this, Chen Mobai had already completed his projection. His physical body stood in the Crimson City Grotto-Heaven’s plaza, yet he felt his consciousness split, as if a part of him had entered a dream. Though he couldn’t feel his limbs, he could freely execute any spell or cultivation technique he had mastered.

After he projected in, the central grid on the large screen, which had gone blank after Daoist Master Ling’s defeat, suddenly displayed Chen Mobai’s figure, clad in the Martial Arts Academy’s red and black robes. The upper left corner showed his identity identifier and basic information: Certified Contemporary Chief of the Martial Arts Academy! Foundation Establishment, First Layer!

This was like a lighthouse in the dark night, or a guiding star in the twilight, instantly drawing the attention of all early and mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators already projected into the Minor Crimson Heavens, who, due to their lower cultivation, couldn’t be matched against the Chiefs of the other three great academies. In mere moments, Hua Zijing saw the match count in the upper right corner, which had been at zero, instantly skyrocket to 100, mirroring the numbers seen by the Chiefs of the other three great academies earlier.

“Is the Martial Arts Academy out of people? How could they send someone who just reached Foundation Establishment?”

“With their Five-Tier Spirit Vein requisitioned by the Immortal Gate, they might genuinely be overtaken by Pure Yang Academy and drop out of the top four.”

“I wonder who the first lucky one will be?”

The murmuring discussions from the plaza reached Meng Huang’er’s ears, stirring a complex mix of emotions within her. She was furious that outsiders so easily dismissed Chen Mobai, yet also secretly hoped he would suffer a complete defeat, seeing it as retribution for the scoundrel who had toyed with her heart.

At that moment, Zongzi, the Chief of the Jumang Academy, relying on his abundant vitality and spiritual power, finally wore down and defeated the Foundation Establishment true cultivator from Pure Yang Academy, becoming the only academy Chief with a perfectly undefeated record. After this duel, Zongzi did not click for another match, but chose to exit the Minor Crimson Heavens. Unlike the ten easy opponents from yesterday, today’s opponents were clearly well-prepared. He needed to carefully consider his tactics and countermeasures to preserve his undefeated record.

Thus, in the Minor Crimson Heavens, only one academy Chief remained: Chen Mobai.

In the dormitories of the Flowing Light Academy, Shi Wanyu, who was watching highlights of the Minor Crimson Heavens with her roommates, saw Chen Mobai and her delicate, fair cheeks flushed faintly. He had actually become the Chief of the Martial Arts Academy.

Soon, under the gaze of cultivators from the entire Immortal Gate, Chen Mobai clicked the match button in the upper right corner. With a flash of fire, the first lucky contender appeared before everyone. Chen Mobai looked at his opponent, and couldn’t help but show a look of surprise. It was someone he had met before.

“It’s me! Hahahaha, the heavens have truly opened their eyes! I can’t believe I have this chance to inflict the most crushing defeat upon you, the Chief of the Martial Arts Academy, before billions in the Immortal Gate!”

The opponent, with a buzz cut, black vest, and long pants, revealed his heavily muscled arms and shoulders. Combined with his tattoos, he appeared incredibly formidable and dangerous.

“Congratulations, lucky fellow. What was your name again… Wenxiong?”

“It’s Wen Xiong!”

The buzz-cut youth was indeed Wen Xiong, the very person Chen Mobai had once humiliated on the train by flaunting his Martial Arts Academy admission. To Chen Mobai’s surprise, he had also reached Foundation Establishment. Given that he was a student of Pure Yang Academy, his talent was undoubtedly exceptional, so reaching Foundation Establishment after five years was understandable.

“Alright, I’ve got it. As the first opponent I defeat in the Minor Crimson Heavens, your name will be etched into history alongside my legend.” Chen Mobai said this, raising his right hand. In truth, he could have silently crushed Wen Xiong’s spiritual consciousness with the Divine Control Slash, but that wouldn’t have been dramatic enough. What was he here for? He was here to achieve worldwide renown and restore the glory of the Martial Arts Academy! Every duel needed to be won decisively and also leave every spectator utterly amazed. To ensure everyone knew that Chen Mobai, the Chief of the Martial Arts Academy, was unrivaled among early and mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators!

“Go ahead and boast; I’ll make you vanish into ashes under the Heaven-Burning Grand Art!”

Yet Wen Xiong was brimming with even greater confidence. It was unclear whether Pure Yang Academy had universally adopted the goal of supplanting the Martial Arts Academy, or if Wen Xiong simply despised Chen Mobai and yearned to personally defeat him in public, thereby erasing the humiliation that had almost consumed him.

“Die! Heaven-Burning…” Despite his dismissive words, Wen Xiong acted with extreme seriousness, immediately unleashing the most powerful Heaven-Burning Spirit Fire he had cultivated.

Then, he only saw a brilliant deep purple sword light. The sword light flashed, and his projected avatar in the Minor Crimson Heavens had already turned to ash. He couldn’t even block one sword strike! How was this possible?

Wen Xiong’s true body, standing on the other side of the plaza, stared with wide, disbelieving eyes. Shi Wanyu of the Flowing Light Academy saw this scene and cheered, clenching her small, delicate white fists.

At that moment, Chen Mobai had already clicked the match button again. The second opponent entered. First impressions are always the most memorable. Chen Mobai didn’t even bother to ask this opponent’s name. Just as the newcomer was about to speak, he was met by a brilliant deep purple sword light.

Another sword strike!

After seeing the second opponent turn to ash, the entire Immortal Gate was stunned.

“Those who can withstand one of my sword strikes may state their name.”