Chapter 990: Execution of You Xu

"Dean!"

Arriving at the center of the training ground, Elder Mi and others came forward to greet him.

Zhang Xuan nodded, then looked up at the high platform where Master Mu and an old man were standing. The old man, who appeared to be in his fifties, possessed a cultivation base as vast as the sea, having reached Saint 4-dan, just like King Jinye and King Qingye whom Zhang Xuan had previously encountered.

Saint 3-dan, the Fetal Soul realm, also known as the Nascent Soul realm, is where the spiritual embryo no longer resembles a pill but an infant. Reaching this stage deepens one's understanding of nature, allowing them to absorb the energy of heaven and earth with every breath for their own use. Saint 4-dan, on the other hand, is the Primordial Spirit realm, where the nascent soul transforms into a primordial spirit.

Killing someone at this level is exceedingly difficult. That's why Zhang Xuan deliberately orchestrated a situation where the two kings would fight each other, allowing him to eliminate numerous Otherworldly Demonic Tribesmen in one fell swoop. This master teacher had also reached such a level; even in the Qingyuan Conferred Empire, they would be considered top-tier. Why would someone like him be here?

"This must be the Master Wu Rufeng, the peak 7-star master teacher you mentioned earlier!" Zhang Xuan transmitted his voice.

"Yes!" Elder Mi nodded, "He is the Vice Hall Master of the Master Teacher Pavilion in the Qingyuan Conferred Empire. He's a bit rigid and despises evil..."

Just as he was about to elaborate, Master Wu, standing on the platform with his hands behind his back, looked down coldly. "Elder Mi, has your Dean arrived? Making us wait this long, what an immense display of arrogance!"

"I... I suppose I am the Dean with the 'immense display of arrogance' you mentioned..." Zhang Xuan stepped forward, bowed, and offered a wry smile. He had received the message, then helped Wei Ruyan take some medicine, which was why he arrived a little late. Judging by the expressions of those around him, they had probably been waiting for a while.

"You are he?" Master Wu glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "Culminate Saint? It seems Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy is no longer what it once was!"

He had come from the headquarters and knew that the academy had ultimately appointed a young man in his twenties as Dean. He had wanted to see who this person was, but upon arriving at the academy, he hadn't even seen a shadow of him. Moreover, after the Assembly Bell was rung, it took nearly twenty or thirty minutes for him to appear... Most importantly, his clothes were covered in dust, as if he hadn't even changed... It was the epitome of neglect!

Furthermore, his strength was only at Culminate Saint, not even reaching Saint realm... How could someone with such power become the Dean of a Master Teacher Academy? It was a complete joke!

When Master Mu left, Zhang Xuan had not yet undergone the succession ceremony, and the matter of taming the spirit beasts and Saint beasts of Cloudmist Ridge was unknown to him. Moreover, it had not been discussed with Master Wu. Thus, the latter was unaware that the young man before him, despite his youth, possessed a brilliance that overshadowed countless other deans, a light that even the gods could not conceal.

"Master Wu..." Hearing this, Master Mu on the side felt a little awkward and quickly lowered his voice. "Master Zhang has extraordinary talent, and he also has a powerful teacher..."

"Hmph!" Before he could finish, he was interrupted. Master Wu's face darkened. "A powerful teacher is one thing, but one's own strength is also essential! Enough, let's not discuss this further. Later, I'll have him write a self-reflection explaining his administrative negligence and mistakes, and then headquarters will no longer pursue the charge of dereliction of duty..."

"Write a self-reflection?" Zhang Xuan was stunned. That phrase felt so distant... Did a Dean also have to write one? This fellow was taking his anger out on him the moment he arrived; it seemed he wanted to establish his authority... But... he had never even met him, let alone offended him. Why was he causing trouble?

Scratching his head, Zhang Xuan's face was a picture of conflict. If this guy was truly determined to cause trouble, should he summon the puppet and give him a good beating first?

"Master Wu..." As he pondered, Master Mu on the side hastily interjected, "Master Zhang only assumed his position three months ago, and most crucially, it was he who captured..."

"Enough! For such a traitor to appear in a venerable academy, he, as Dean, bears significant responsibility. Everyone is here now, so let's quickly pronounce the verdict. There are more important matters to attend to afterwards!" Interrupting his explanation, Master Wu waved his hand, disinclined to waste any more words.

"Yes!" Master Mu nodded reluctantly, then scanned the surroundings. "Everyone, you've been called here for an important announcement!"

"Important announcement?" The numerous master teachers below the platform simultaneously looked over, each filled with curiosity. For two 7-star master teachers to ring the Assembly Bell and come specifically to make an announcement, the matter must be significant.

"The Master Teacher Pavilion has always taken it upon itself to eradicate the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, and most of us master teachers also make this our life's goal. However... while some strictly adhere to this, others opportunistically exploit loopholes and engage in despicable acts!" As he spoke, Master Mu's expression gradually grew solemn. "If it were an ordinary cultivator, betraying humanity or selling out friends when facing a life-or-death crisis might be excusable, as the great fear of imminent death is not something everyone can withstand. But for a master teacher, who typically enjoys the admiration of countless people and the reverence of billions, failing to uphold their principles at a critical moment is an unforgivable crime! To put it simply, it's a loss of integrity; to put it more severely, it's an act of betrayal against humanity!"

Master Mu's voice resonated through the surroundings.

"Betraying humanity?"

"But if it's a master teacher, it's indeed unforgivable!"

All the teachers and students below the platform nodded in agreement. While master teachers enjoy an elevated status, they must also bear corresponding responsibilities. Every high-level master teacher is cultivated at great cost by humanity. To betray at a critical moment is a crime for which one deserves to be executed by all.

"Silence, everyone. Today, I'm going to talk about just such a master teacher who betrayed humanity!" Seeing that the crowd's emotions had been stirred, Master Mu gestured with a large hand and continued, "This person, for his own safety, disregarded the principles of a master teacher and caused over twenty peak 6-star master teachers to go missing, their fates unknown! He even caused an elite of humanity, who treated him as both teacher and friend, to never return! Yet, he shamelessly returned to the academy, teaching and educating, enjoying various offerings and the respect of countless master teachers... What do you all think should be done with such a person?"

"There's such a person? Kill him!"

"Betraying humanity is a grave crime, leaving no room for discussion."

"Causing over twenty 6-star master teachers to be missing, their fates unknown—such a heinous crime is enough to warrant death several times over!"

"Master Mu, who exactly are you talking about? Could it be a teacher from our academy?"

Hearing the question, the crowd below the platform erupted in an uproar. Two 7-star master teachers had come here and immediately spoke of betrayal, mentioning teaching and educating, implying that the person to be judged was connected to Hongyuan Academy.

Without answering the crowd's questions, Master Mu flicked his sleeve and lifted his head. "Bring the person down!"

Following his words, a Saint Beast's cry echoed in the air. A Saint-level Tiger-Eagle Beast flew down, and with a shake of its body, a figure from its back plummeted to the ground.

"This... this is Dean You Xu?"

"It really is Dean You! Could he have betrayed humanity?"

"Didn't he have a life-and-death medical duel with the Dean and was taken away after losing? How could he be here?"

"For the past two years, he's been cultivating those medicinal herbs within the academy. When did he ever communicate with the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe?"

"I even attended his classes, and when the Dean challenged him last time, I still resented the Dean in my heart..."

Seeing clearly the figure that appeared on the platform, the crowd below burst into an uproar. Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. Three months ago, when the Dean challenged You Xu, many people cheered him on, believing him to be an elder of high prestige and moral standing. They never dreamt that he would turn out to be a traitor to humanity. For two 7-star master teachers from the Qingyuan Master Teacher Pavilion branch to come and declare this so decisively in public, it must be irrefutable and beyond doubt.

"I'm sure I don't need to say much about this person; you all recognize him!" Master Mu snorted, then looked at You Xu, who lay on the ground like a pile of mud. "Will you confess yourself, or shall we have the Teacher's Guild directly issue an official notice?"

The Master Teacher Pavilion is a branch of the Teacher's Guild. An official notice issued by it is equivalent to an imperial edict. Once read aloud, it is automatically recorded in the ledgers of both the Teacher's Guild and the Master Teacher Pavilion, making it accessible for inquiry by any branch. Simply put, once such a notice is issued, it's set in stone, akin to publicly declaring one's crimes, leaving no room for rebuttal.

"I..." You Xu's lips trembled. If he confessed himself, at most only the academy personnel would know. But if an official notice was issued, the entire Teacher's Guild and Master Teacher Pavilion would become aware, meaning he would be infamous for eternity.

"I'll confess..." After only a brief hesitation, You Xu nodded. After all, he had already confessed to his crimes; there was nothing left to conceal.

"Very well, then speak to all the master teachers present!" Seeing that he was willing to confess, Master Mu waved his hand.

"Yes!" You Xu gritted his teeth, "It was my fault. I harmed the old Dean..." He then quickly recounted the details he had previously confessed to Zhang Xuan. This time, he spoke in even greater detail. After hearing his words, all the master teachers below the platform clenched their fists, veins bulging on their foreheads.

"Kill him!"

"I can't believe You Xu is such a person. He's simply the scum of master teachers!"

"It's laughable that I even attended his classes and respected him as a senior. It's truly a stain on my life!"

"It must be the Dean who saw something was wrong with him, initiated the life-and-death medical duel, discovered the problem, and then handed him over to Master Mu!"

"What you're saying is very possible. If it weren't for the Dean, we would certainly have been deceived by this scoundrel..."

All the teachers and students were utterly incensed. Betraying humanity, following the orders of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, framing colleagues, leaving the old Dean's fate unknown, plunging the entire Master Teacher Academy into chaos... Each of these atrocities was actually committed by this fellow. Just as Master Mu said, he was simply unforgivable!

"Since you have confessed your guilt, I won't say any more unnecessary words. Now, I shall pronounce the decision of the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion..." Seeing the crowd's righteous indignation, eager to rush forward and beat the man to death, Master Mu looked around, took out a scroll, and slowly unfurled it.

*Swish!* A beam of light illuminated the air, and a cold, emotionless voice rang out.

"You Xu, for betraying humanity and framing master teachers, has violated the regulations of the Master Teacher Pavilion and crossed the bottom line of a master teacher. Therefore, his master teacher status is hereby revoked, and he shall be publicly beheaded!"

"Publicly beheaded?" Upon hearing this decision, You Xu's face turned pale, and he collapsed to the ground as if his soul had left him, his eyes devoid of any light.