The four women halted their steps and fixed their gazes on the people ahead. Their eyes swept over the badges on the newcomers’ chests, and their brows furrowed at once.
It was members of Black Horn, one of the Inner Academy Top 10 Societies.
Yan Huang’s headquarters territory had been seized from Black Horn.
Unlike other societies formed spontaneously by students, this one was a dedicated training outpost established in the Inner Academy by the Black Horn Empire itself.
Any student from the Black Horn Empire who entered the Inner Academy was required to join Black Horn, uniting as one to advance and retreat together.
The Third Prince and his group, who had shared a shuttle ship with them upon arrival, had joined Black Horn. Sure enough, they were among the people blocking the path now!
At this moment, however, the leader was not the Third Prince but Wu Yan, a fellow new Inner Academy student.
Wu Yan was the younger brother of Black Horn’s former leader, Wu Tie. He had just entered the Holy Land Academy Outer Academy this year, passed the Special Exam ahead of schedule to enter the Inner Academy, recently advanced to the Mystic General Realm, and even defeated a senior at the bottom of the General Star List. He was undoubtedly a dark horse.
After entering the Inner Academy, Wu Yan had heard that his useless brother had lost the society’s territory to some guy named Yan Zhen. He had been itching to take it back ever since.
But Black Horn’s current leader, intimidated by Yan Zhen’s lingering prestige, refused to make a move on those four junior sisters. Wu Yan couldn’t understand it.
No matter how strong Yan Zhen was, he had entered the Holy Land and was no longer an Inner Academy student. Even if he came back, he couldn’t interfere in Inner Academy affairs.
With the leader stubbornly refusing to act, Wu Yan had no choice but to take matters into his own hands.
Now that he had advanced to Mystic General and made the rankings, his confidence had soared. He had brought along a group of his fellow new students to block the four women’s path.
It had to be said that the Yan Huang Four Beauties were strikingly beautiful. Wu Yan stepped forward proactively and said, “Ladies, hold on a moment. I’m Wu Yan, a newcomer who’s just joined Black Horn. I have an important matter I’d like to discuss with you four. Would you do me the honor of joining me for a meal?”
Mi Xue’er despised these pretentious types the most. She snapped irritably, “No time! Say what you have to say, or piss off!”
Yan Ruyu’s attitude was more amicable. “Please speak plainly if you have business with us. We’re in a hurry.”
Yan Meng’er pulled a grumpy kitten face, glaring at the unwelcome intruders.
After days of cultivation training that had left them utterly exhausted—like overworked corporate drones—they just wanted to hurry back, take a nice bath, and crash into bed. They had no patience for pointless dinner invites.
Just being blocked like this had already soured their moods to rock bottom.
As for Xiao Xinyan, spotting the Third Prince in the crowd made her face darken even more. Memories of how they had humiliated her brother and injured her fueled a surge of anger in her heart.
“. . .”
Wu Yan’s smile froze on his face. Irritation flared in his heart, but he kept up his “friendly” demeanor and said, “You ladies sure have spirit! Since you’re so straightforward, I’ll get right to it here—we at Black Horn want to partner with Yan Huang.”
The four women all frowned but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
Wu Yan went on, “Right now, Yan Huang only has you four Mystic Masters. Among the many Inner Academy societies, that’s on the weaker side overall. Yet you’ve claimed a vast territory fit for one of the Top Ten Societies, making you a juicy target in the eyes of the others. It’s only a matter of time before they gang up on you.”
He smiled and continued, “We’re interested in Yan Huang’s territory too—after all, it was originally ours. But rather than fight over it, why not a win-win? Black Horn can offer Yan Huang protection, serve as your knights in shining armor. Just let us station ourselves in your territory and share those facilities!”
Wu Yan seemed highly confident in his proposal. “That’s my pitch. What do you ladies say?”
The four women simultaneously gave him the look one reserves for fools.
Yan Ruyu responded politely, “Sorry, but we’re four girls and don’t want to live with boys. I hope you understand.”
Mi Xue’er didn’t bother hiding her disdain. “Do you think we’re stupid enough to invite the wolf into the henhouse?”
Yan Meng’er huffed in agreement. “Shameless, saying stuff like that. A puny Mystic General playing knight? Take a good look in the mirror~~~”
Xiao Xinyan added coolly, “You’re wasting our time.”
The Black Horn members’ expressions turned ugly at these words.
They were all Inner Academy new students, sheltered by their society and untested in real fights. Proud and arrogant, how could they stomach being rejected and mocked by four little girls?
Wu Yan’s face hardened as well. “Four Mystic Masters—what right do you have, what ability, to hold such a huge territory? Hand it over nicely, and everyone gets along. But since you’ve spurned our kindness, don’t blame us for getting rough!”
With a wave of his hand, the dozen or so new Black Horn members surrounded the four women, leaving only the Third Prince standing with Wu Yan.
“Won’t there be trouble?”
Inner Academy fights had rules. Whether individual duels or society battles, they had to take place openly on the arena stages. Ganging up like this in private would draw punishment.
But Wu Yan was brimming with assurance. “Your Highness, rest easy. I’ve greased the right palms—the patrolling instructors won’t come this way. Transformation Butterfly’s experts just entered the tower yesterday for cultivation and won’t emerge anytime soon. They have no backup. Once they’ve tasted enough pain, they’ll agree to our terms!”
Changing territory ownership required the society leader to initiate a society battle, then report to the elder in charge of that area after winning. It was a cumbersome process.
Since Wu Yan wasn’t the leader, he couldn’t call a society battle. That’s why he had devised this “protection racket” scheme.
The encircled four women felt a chill but quickly formed a back-to-back circle and drew the Mystic Artifacts Yan Zhen had given them for protection.
Twin blades: Shadow Dream.
Long sword: Red Jade.
Hand crossbow: Blowing Snow.
Soft whip: Heartless.
Mystic Power surged into the artifacts. The twin blades shimmered like phantoms, the long sword glowed crimson, the hand crossbow condensed icy bolts, and the soft whip crackled with lightning.
Though only at the Mystic Master realm, three of them were reincarnators, and they all bore Yan Zhen’s Extreme Flame Imprints. They had no fear of this ragtag mob.
The real threats were Wu Yan and the Third Prince, both One-Star Mystic Generals. They’d need the Extreme Flame power for a surprise attack to stand a chance.
The Third Prince unleashed his formidable Mystic General aura, poised to strike.
Wu Yan gripped a pair of massive hammers and said coldly, “Last chance: cooperate now, or after you’ve learned your lesson?”
Yan Ruyu was about to reply when she sensed a familiar presence. She looked up into the sky.
The other three women felt it too and gazed at the clear sky above.
A single point of starlight flickered.
Wu Yan and the Third Prince suddenly felt a premonition of danger and jerked their heads up.
Colorful starlight loomed larger and larger in their vision!
—How could there be a star in broad daylight?
Before they could react, the starlight engulfed them.
Boom!
Starlight crashed to the ground in the middle of the day, splintering the earth in a spiderweb of cracks. A terrifying shockwave erupted, instantly hurling the nearest Third Prince through the air and scattering the Black Horn members in all directions.
The four women, being at the center of the encirclement, were largely shielded from the blast.
As the commotion died down, the Third Prince steadied himself and looked over.
There stood a handsome youth wreathed in blazing flames, one foot pinning Wu Yan to the shattered ground like a dead dog. Blood trickled from Wu Yan’s mouth, his face twisted in terror, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Recognizing that familiar face, the Third Prince felt as if struck by lightning. “Yan… Yan Zhen?!”
