Chapter 26: The Dean Is Up to No Good

Chapter 26: The Dean Means Trouble

Silently admiring, Qin Zhe handed the Heart of Lava to Liu Qingzhi and said, “Minister, this crystal isn’t just my spoils; you deserve a share too. Please keep it.”

After speaking, he added, “This thing is the giant’s core. Without it, the entire giant would collapse. I’m a martial artist and can’t absorb spiritual energy; it would be wasted on me. Besides, once we’re out, the academy will need this for studying giants. It’s not appropriate for me to keep it.”

Hearing Qin Zhe’s words, Liu Qingzhi didn’t refuse and accepted the Heart of Lava, storing it away with spatial techniques.

“This crystal is quite valuable. I can’t let you suffer a loss. Once we’re out of the secret realm, I’ll find some spiritual items useful to martial artists to exchange with you.”

Seeing how sincere the minister was, Qin Zhe secretly rejoiced and tentatively asked, “Minister, I have a question. Has anyone in the Immortal Path ever tried practicing martial skills using spiritual energy to operate martial arts techniques?”

“Using spiritual energy to operate martial arts techniques?” Liu Qingzhi frowned. “Martial arts techniques were created by martial predecessors based on true energy and require true energy to assist. The essence of spiritual energy is the celestial spirit energy wandering between heaven and earth, while true energy is generated through martial cultivation. Their natures are completely different and cannot replace each other. Some tried related experiments years ago, but the results were not very good and were eventually abandoned.”

“Not very good results?” Qin Zhe pressed, especially interested since it involved both Immortal and Martial paths.

“I only heard about it and don’t know the details. If you’re interested, you can check online after we get out of the secret realm; there should be plenty of information.”

Liu Qingzhi said this and then made a sword gesture. A streak of light shot up in the distance and flew over—it was the flying sword she had dropped when hit earlier.

Seeing Liu Qingzhi summon back the sword, Qin Zhe knew it was time to leave. Without hesitation, he reached out to take her hand.

But before he could touch the minister’s hand, she suddenly withdrew it.

Qin Zhe’s hand grasped at empty air, puzzled. When he turned, he saw the minister gazing at the horizon with a subtle expression.

“Minister?”

“It seems the academy has already detected abnormalities in the secret realm.”

Liu Qingzhi said this abruptly, then withdrew her gaze and glanced at his outstretched hand. After seeming to make a decision, she gently placed her hand in his.

Qin Zhe noticed the change in her expression and was deeply curious.

What’s gotten into the minister?

At that moment, two streaks of light suddenly appeared in the distant sky, approaching rapidly one after the other.

Academy personnel?

Qin Zhe frowned slightly, stealing a few glances at Liu Qingzhi.

Those two streaks moved incredibly fast—much faster than Liu Qingzhi’s sword light.

In the blink of an eye, they were already close.

The two figures revealed themselves—one was none other than the academy’s dean, Wang Chongguo!

The other...

Qin Zhe swallowed hard; he felt utterly trapped by the minister.

Though he didn’t know who accompanied Wang Chongguo, the moment this person arrived, his gaze locked onto the hand Qin Zhe was holding, with an expression as if he wanted to sever that hand with a single sword strike.

The beautiful and kind-hearted minister actually set me up?

Qin Zhe found it hard to believe and turned his head awkwardly, unable to read anything from her face.

Liu Qingzhi, however, remained calm, her expression no different from usual.

“Dad, what are you doing here?”

Qin Zhe’s legs went weak at the sound, almost dropping to his knees on the spot.

Dad?

The newcomer was Liu Qingzhi’s father!?

“Qingzhi, here’s the situation. I invited your father to the academy for tea. Coincidentally, something happened in the secret realm. He was worried about you, so he came in with me.”

Wang Chongguo smiled warmly and looked at Qin Zhe.

“Let me introduce this student to you. This is Liu An, the director of the Haicheng Supervision Bureau, and your Minister Liu’s father.”

My god, he’s the father of my minister!

Dean, you really mean trouble!

Qin Zhe almost cursed, glancing at the silent Liu An standing there, breaking out in a cold sweat.

The director of the Haicheng Supervision Bureau—a truly powerful figure!

Since Qin Zhe’s arrival in this world, he hadn’t really left the academy, but he had heard of the Supervision Bureau.

It’s the official law enforcement department of the Dragon Kingdom, similar but distinct from the police.

The bureau’s duty is to combat crimes related to cultivators. It’s the fundamental force that enforces laws on cultivators in this world and the most powerful executor!

Qin Zhe was sizing up Liu An, and Liu An was doing the same to him.

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere was indescribably tense.

Wang Chongguo deliberately caused trouble, pretending not to notice and made no move to ease the awkward tension.

“Dad, let me introduce you. This is Qin Zhe, a fourth-rank martial artist and a member of our Discipline Inspection Department.”

Liu Qingzhi spoke as she grabbed hold of someone from behind.

Qin Zhe was under immense pressure from Liu An’s stare and wanted to pull away, but instead was caught tightly, tears welling in his eyes.

Minister, that’s not playing fair!

You pick a fight with your dad, so why drag me into it?

I’m innocent!

Suddenly hearing that Qin Zhe had fourth-rank cultivation, Liu An showed a hint of surprise, his gaze scrutinizing.

Wang Chongguo raised his eyebrows and stared deliberately at Qin Zhe.

The Immortal Path’s sixth rank naturally has strong perception.

Yet Wang Chongguo couldn’t sense any substantial aura from Qin Zhe.

Partly because Qin Zhe’s cultivation was too weak, and partly because he had entered the Immortal Martial Path, whose aura differs completely from ordinary cultivators.

Unable to make an accurate judgment, Wang Chongguo instinctively chose to trust Liu Qingzhi.

Fourth rank in martial arts? That’s a treasure!

The limit for martial artists is fifth rank, and it’s difficult to reach. Fourth rank already qualifies as a top-tier martial expert.

Moreover, once a martial artist reaches fourth rank, their strength undergoes a qualitative leap.

It’s accepted that martial artists are generally weaker.

But when facing a high-rank martial artist, even practitioners of the Immortal or Demon Path at the same rank dare not claim they can easily suppress them!

Leaving all that aside, it’s remarkable for a student to reach fourth rank!

Our academy’s Martial Arts Department is hiding such a figure?

Wang Chongguo marveled silently and put aside his mischief.

“Qingzhi, I’ve been briefed by Yao Jing about the giants appearing in the secret realm. The Student Council is searching everywhere in the secret realm for the academy’s students and has issued evacuation orders. You and Qin Zhe ventured deep into the scorched land—have you found anything?”

“Yes. Qin Zhe struck down a giant and obtained a crystal, which seems to be the giant’s core.”

Liu Qingzhi nodded. “I was injured and unconscious earlier, so I’m not sure about the situation…”

Before she could finish, the ever-silent Liu An interrupted, unsettled.

“You were injured?”

“A minor wound.”

Liu Qingzhi frowned, her expression flashing a trace of displeasure.

Seeing this, Liu An opened his mouth, clearly wanting to show concern, but seeing his daughter’s face, he grudgingly gave up.

Qin Zhe stood to the side, observing the brief interaction between father and daughter, amazed.

No wonder the minister can silence even the director of the Supervision Bureau with a single look!

Impressive, truly impressive!

(End of chapter)