Chapter 270: Taken Hostage!

Li Canghai stood on the stone steps of the training ground.

Sunlight filtered through the branches, scattering dappled light and shadow.

The surrounding air was thick with tension and anticipation.

Though his heart was full of expectation, he knew all too well that the opportunity before him might be the only attempt of his entire life.

The youths around him wore expressions of disappointment. Lost whispers swirled around his ears, as if ruthlessly stabbing at his heart.

"That's right, what you said makes sense."

The leading middle-aged Instructor's tone was cold, tinged with a hint of disdain.

"But there's certainly no hope of entering the Academy now."

With those words, the Instructor turned and left, as if casting Li Canghai's dream aside behind him.

Watching the Instructor's back gradually recede, the unwillingness in Li Canghai's heart surged like a tide.

His gaze was firm, like a storm brewing. Inwardly, he swore to himself. I cannot give up just like this!

Just as the few of them were about to summon their Puppet Armor and leave.

Li Canghai's voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence.

"Instructor, sir! This humble one has an unreasonable request — would you grant it?"

He shouted loudly, his tone sonorous and forceful, like a bolt of lightning cleaving through the stifling sky.

The surrounding youths were stunned.

Their gazes all turned toward him, hearts filled with astonishment.

Li Canghai — this aged Master had never before shown such resolve in front of them.

Li Canghai's voice echoed across the training ground, breaking the original stillness.

His heart pounded like thunder, his gaze locked onto the middle-aged Instructor in charge of recruiting new students.

His eyes revealed determination and longing.

Sunlight spilled over him, as if draping him in a layer of mysterious radiance, making his figure seem all the more towering.

The Instructor heard the call and slowly halted his steps.

He turned his head, slightly startled.

A hint of confusion crossed his face, and his eyes showed a scrutinizing look.

"What is it?"

His voice was cold as cast iron, as if he were none too pleased with Li Canghai's sudden action.

Li Canghai took a deep breath.

Feeling the hot blood surging in his chest, he clenched his teeth and inwardly encouraged himself.

He slowly opened his mouth, his voice at this moment appearing exceptionally firm.

"This humble one would not dare deceive you, sir. My Family Ancestor was once a fellow disciple of the Saint Venerable."

"But for various reasons, he was never able to be brought into the Saint Sect Spirit Mountain."

His words were like a sharp sword, piercing into everyone's hearts.

It made the surrounding youths look at each other, their shock beyond measure.

"This humble one wishes to beseech you, sir — could you speak a word for me within the Spirit Mountain Institute of the Saint Sect, and bring my Family Ancestor's spirit tablet into the Holy Mountain?"

The moment this plea left his lips, the air seemed to freeze.

The middle-aged Instructor's pupils abruptly constricted.

In an instant, they turned as sharp as a hawk's, and his gaze revealed disbelief and shock.

"A fellow disciple of the Saint Venerable! How could that possibly be!"

A youth could not help but cry out.

His voice seemed especially shrill on the empty training ground, immediately causing a stir.

The other youths discussed among themselves, astonishment and unease interwoven on their faces.

"Has the Master gone senile? To actually say such nonsense!"

Another youth shook his head in disbelief, brows tightly knit, afraid that Li Canghai's words would bring them trouble.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged Instructor's expression gradually turned severe.

He stared coldly at Li Canghai, as if trying to see right through him.

"You must know that insulting the Saint Venerable and deceiving the sect are capital crimes."

He said slowly, his tone full of icy authority.

Li Canghai felt a chill wash over him, but he was unwilling to retreat.

Inwardly, he prayed silently, hoping his words could garner even a sliver of attention.

"I see you are too old, so I will not hold it against you. If you spout more nonsense, do not blame me for being impolite!"

The Instructor snorted coldly, his gaze full of disdain.

As if he had already treated Li Canghai's words as nothing.

Then, he turned around and swiftly departed with the other Instructors.

Leaving Li Canghai standing alone in place, his heart full of helplessness and unwillingness.

Seeing this, Li Canghai, eyes clouded with desperation, actually chased after them.

He even made a move to snatch the other's Puppet Armor summoning Dharma Artifact!

"Sir! Sir! What I said is all true!"

"Hm? Insolence!"

The middle-aged Instructor's eyes blazed with fury.

Then, without a shred of hesitation, he drew the sword at his waist and slashed at him.

Snatching a Academy Instructor's Puppet Armor summoner was itself a capital crime.

So naturally, he had no need to hold back.

But just as his longsword was about to touch Li Canghai's body.

The sleeve on his arm billowed without wind.

In the next instant, a massive pulling force swept over in an instant.

Bang…

The middle-aged Instructor was actually dragged flying over ten meters, heavily crashing to the ground.

And his Puppet Armor summoner was now in Li Canghai's hand.

By the time he clambered up, his face was pale, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

Clearly, his injuries were severe.

This made a thick look of horror surface on his face.

What had just happened?

Why had he been unable to resist at all before being flipped to the ground?

After all, his physique test back then had been A-rank lower!

And the other party was even an old man!

Meanwhile, in Li Canghai's hand, a talisman wreathed in green smoke slowly burned to ash.

"A cultivator's talisman!"

"How could that possibly be!"

"Could his family really have had a cultivator ancestor!"

The severely wounded middle-aged Instructor could not believe it.

And Li Canghai seemed to no longer be willing to believe anyone would help him.

So before anyone could react, he picked up the longsword from the ground and strode over to place it against the middle-aged Instructor's neck!

"Master!"

"Master, don't!"

"You dare! Surrender at once!"

"..."

Watching Li Canghai's movements, everyone nearby — whether Academy students or the Academy's people — was greatly alarmed.

Those Instructors even drew their swords in unison, charging toward Li Canghai.

But at that very moment, Li Canghai fiercely swung the longsword in his hand.

Pfft!

Blood splattered.

"AHHH!"

A small gash was cut open on the middle-aged Instructor's neck. Fortunately, it had not struck a vital point.

"Everyone back off!"

"Take one more step and I'll take his life!"

"The talisman I just used was left by my Family Ancestor!"

"My Family Ancestor was a great cultivator of late-stage Qi Refining back then. The talismans he left behind were comparable to a peak Qi Refining strike."

"Now, after all these years, it can barely wound a mortal!"

"And I've said this so many times, yet not a single one of you was willing to listen!"

Li Canghai's face was ferocious, his eyes bloodshot.

His whole person no longer resembled his usual kindly self, but radiated a savage aura, roaring like a wild beast. "In that case! Why should I, Li Canghai, hold back!"

"If in this life no one is willing to seek justice for my Family Ancestor, then I will do it myself!"

"Summon your Puppet Armor!"

Li Canghai stared at the middle-aged Instructor he held hostage, his eyes crimson, his face flushed red!

Clearly, what he meant to take hostage was not the middle-aged Instructor at all, but the other's Puppet Armor!

And a Third Order Battle Puppet Armor equal to a top-tier Golden Core True Monarch would undoubtedly bring about an extremely massive disaster!