Chapter 210

Chapter 210: King of the Real World!

Xuanjie.

　　Xuanjie is a separate world that Xianbao Pavilion reopened, located within the Guanxuan Domain. At this moment, the entire Xuanjie was packed with people, incredibly lively.

　　This martial arts tournament drew the largest crowd of spectators in history — not only were there more people watching on-site than ever before, but the total number of viewers would also be the highest ever recorded.

　　Because Xianbao Pavilion had distributed tens of millions of cloud recorders to numerous worlds for free, and each recorder could livestream the Xuanjie tournament in real time.

　　Even the worlds below had received cloud recorders from Xianbao Pavilion. Their goal was to ensure the entire universe could watch this tournament, for this was their Young Master’s first tournament since arriving in the real world — and after this tournament, Yang Jia could rightfully be crowned king of the real world.

　　Both Guzhe Sect and the Heavenly Court had already submitted. It could be said that in the entire real world, the Guanxuan Domain now had no rivals. As long as Yang Jia claimed first place, he would immediately become the king of the entire real world.

　　Ancient Civilization.

　　The Ancient Civilization had also received a cloud recorder from Xianbao Pavilion — and a high-grade one at that. A massive luminous screen ten thousand zhang wide floated above the capital of the Ancient Civilization, positioned perfectly so that everyone in the entire city could watch.

　　Nan Tianqi stood before the great hall with a group of powerful figures from the Ancient Civilization. She wore a flowing, wide-cut long dress, her hair draped over her shoulders. Compared to before, she had matured considerably, her brows and eyes radiating authority.

　　Now that Nan Yuan had gone into seclusion, she had become the true ruler of the Ancient Civilization.

　　The Ancient Civilization was also developing very rapidly, as they had received star-core crystals and cultivation techniques that Ye Tianming had entrusted someone to bring down from above.

　　Nan Tianqi gazed at the luminous screen, her eyes filled with an unspoken anticipation.

　　Elsewhere.

　　In a small town, a woman walked straight into an academy. The moment she entered, a guard blocked her way. “Who goes there? How dare you trespass in Guanxuan Academy.”

　　The woman simply produced a token.

　　At the sight of that token, the guard’s expression changed instantly. He dropped to his knees at once, his voice trembling with fear: “I pay my respects to the Inspector!”

　　The Inspector!

　　This woman was none other than Nan Lingzhao.

　　Nan Lingzhao ignored the guard and walked straight into the academy. By then the academy had already received word, and the headmaster hurried out with the academy’s staff to greet her in person. The headmaster at the front wore a fawning expression. “Inspector, you……”

　　Nan Lingzhao pressed her right hand downward. “Kneel.”

　　Thud!

　　The headmaster and the others were instantly suppressed and forced to their knees, all of them utterly bewildered.

　　Nan Lingzhao walked straight into the depths of the academy. She descended to an underground chamber, and the moment she opened the iron door, she was struck with shock at the sight before her.

　　The dim dungeon was filled with naked women, some of them no older than thirteen or fourteen. They stared at Nan Lingzhao as she entered, their eyes full of terror.

　　Nan Lingzhao’s face turned ashen. She swept her sleeve, and dozens of garments flew toward the women. She said in a gentle voice, “Don’t be afraid. I am the academy’s Inspector, and I’ve come to rescue you. Put these on first……”

　　The Inspector!

　　Upon hearing Nan Lingzhao’s words, the women in the room burst into tears.

　　A moment later, Nan Lingzhao turned and walked back to face the kneeling academy staff. The headmaster at the front, seeing that everything had been exposed, went pale. He hurried to speak: “Inspector, I am the nephew of Elder Yue of Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy……”

　　”Silence!”

　　Nan Lingzhao fixed the headmaster with a gaze sharp as a sword. “As the head of this academy, you abused your authority for personal gain and committed such vile and filthy acts. By law, you deserve death!”

　　The headmaster was horrified and quickly said, “I am the academy headmaster — you have no authority to punish me, Inspector. You……”

　　Nan Lingzhao stepped forward and struck him across the face.

　　Crack!

　　The headmaster’s head exploded outright.

　　The others who witnessed this were instantly paralyzed with fear. Some with weaker nerves fainted on the spot.

　　Nan Lingzhao swept a cold gaze over the remaining academy staff. “You all deserve death as well.”

　　Everyone was horrified. One of them quickly said, “Inspector, you are abusing your authority. We are only accessories — by law, our crimes do not warrant death. You……”

　　Nan Lingzhao suddenly drew her sword.

　　Swish!

　　A flash of sword light swept through the room, and the heads of everyone present fell to the ground, blood spilling across the floor.

　　Nan Lingzhao cast a cold glance at the bodies. “It’s precisely because the law wouldn’t put you to death that you deserve to die.”

　　With that, she turned and walked back to the group of women. Their faces still bore traces of fear.

　　Nan Lingzhao said gently, “Don’t be afraid……”

　　One of the women suddenly stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Nan Lingzhao. “My lady, please, save the other sisters too.”

　　Nan Lingzhao’s brows furrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”

　　The woman wept, “They captured many other sisters and sent them to different places. One of those places — I know it’s Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy……. My lady, please go and save them.”

　　Nan Lingzhao’s expression darkened at once. She looked at the women in the room. “Stay here. The inspection bureau’s people will arrive shortly — they will make arrangements for you. I’m going to Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy.”

　　With that, she turned to leave.

　　The woman suddenly called out, “My lady.”

　　Nan Lingzhao turned to look at her. The woman met her gaze. “My lady, you will offend many, many people. They are not just one person — they are a vast network of vested interests……”

　　Nan Lingzhao was silent for a moment, then said softly, “If I had investigated to the end back then, perhaps he wouldn’t have……”

　　With that, she turned and vanished into the distant horizon.

　　The Fang Family.

　　The Fang family remained as quiet as ever, and compared to before, they had become even more marginalized — because the younger generation of the Fang family no longer had anyone in the main branch of Guanxuan Academy.

　　Without young members in the main branch of Guanxuan Academy, it meant the Fang family’s next generation had no path to officialdom.

　　And now, the entire Fang family could be said to be completely sidelined.

　　Fang Yu had already entered retirement mode, spending his days reading books or walking his dog, rarely stepping outside.

　　”Grandfather!”

　　Just then, Fang Qian came running into Fang Yu’s courtyard. “Grandfather, the academy is livestreaming the tournament between Ye Tianming and Yang Jia.”

　　Fang Yu, who had been watering his flowers, immediately set down the watering can and turned to look at Fang Qian. “In the real world?”

　　Fang Qian nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes! Grandfather, let’s go watch.”

　　Fang Yu was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “You go.”

　　Fang Qian said, “Grandfather, I can’t go.”

　　Fang Yu looked at her. Fang Qian smiled. “Did you forget? I’m not a student of Guanxuan Academy — I can’t get in.”

　　Fang Yu looked at Fang Qian. “Child, have you ever blamed your grandfather?”

　　With Fang Qian’s abilities, joining the main branch of Guanxuan Academy would have been more than within her reach. But because he had been too upright in the past, he had made countless enemies within the academy, and after the incident with Ye Tianming, the entire academy now had no desire to see the Fang family regain power.

　　Fang Qian had, in truth, been dragged down by him.

　　Fang Qian shook her head. “Grandfather, I’ve never blamed you. It’s just……”

　　Fang Yu said softly, “The clan members are all blaming you, all complaining, aren’t they?”

　　Fang Qian nodded.

　　It wasn’t just her who couldn’t enter the main branch of Guanxuan Academy — the entire Fang family was barred from it. That meant the younger generation of the Fang family had no path forward at all. Watching their peers from the same generation rise higher and higher, they naturally felt a deep sense of imbalance.

　　Before long, the Fang family might not even qualify as a third-tier noble house.

　　After a long silence, Fang Yu said, “Grandfather has let you all down.”

　　He had always wanted to be as upright and incorruptible as his ancestor Fang Yu, to do more for this world and make it a little more just — but reality was cruel.

　　Fang Qian smiled softly. “Grandfather, let’s not talk about that. I’m planning to find a spot outside the academy to watch this martial arts tournament. Grandfather, I’ll have you know — the first time I ever saw that Ye Tianming, I knew he was destined for greatness. See? My judgment is pretty good, isn’t it?”

　　Fang Yu laughed. “Yes, my granddaughter has the best judgment in the world.”

　　Fang Qian burst out laughing.

　　Fang Yu said, “Go on, go watch.”

　　Fang Qian said, “Grandfather, are you really not coming?”

　　Fang Yu shook his head. “Your grandfather is old. I don’t feel like watching the excitement. You go.”

　　”Alright then!”

　　Fang Qian waved her hand and turned to leave.

　　After Fang Qian left, Fang Yu turned and walked to a great hall. Inside stood a statue — the statue of the Fang family’s ancestor, Fang Yu.

　　Fang Yu gazed at the statue for a long, long time, then said softly, “Ancestor…… I have failed our clan!!”

　　Guanxuan Academy.

　　Outside, everyone was cheering in unison: “Young Master! Young Master!”

　　Inside a library, a young man sat with his head down, busy at work.

　　This person was An Yan.

　　Not far in front of An Yan sat another man — Fa Zhen.

　　They were still at Guanxuan Academy, but ever since the incident, both had been completely sidelined. The two of them now worked in the literary institute, holding positions of no small rank — both were chief administrators of the institute — but they held no real power.

　　Fa Zhen suddenly said, “Aren’t you going to watch?”

　　An Yan shook his head.

　　Fa Zhen looked at An Yan. “An Yan, I want to give up.”

　　An Yan looked up at Fa Zhen. Fa Zhen shook his head. “Haven’t you noticed? If those above are corrupt, then no matter how hard we work below, it’s useless. An Yan, we can’t change this world. We really can’t.”

　　An Yan said nothing.

　　Fa Zhen continued, “Reform has always flowed from the top down. Of those who tried to push it from the bottom up, how many ever succeeded? The great reform of Guanxuan Academy back then only happened because the Guanxuan Sword Master was behind it. But now, the class structure has solidified. They’ve banded together…… and it’s not just those at the top — those below have banded together too, forming one interest group after another. An Yan, I’m not afraid to die, but……”

　　He shook his head. “But we truly cannot change this world. We have to accept reality.”