Associate Professor Tang's Wrath

"Fang Yu? A coefficient score of 1.5?" A flicker of surprise crossed Associate Professor Tang's eyes. Naturally, she knew of Fang Yu. He had left a deep impression on her during the Wuling Martial Junior College assessment. After all, junior college students who reached Entering the Minute with their saber technique were exceedingly rare; even in Huguang Martial University's Earth Academy, only a dozen or so university students had attained that level. Yet... Associate Professor Tang remembered clearly that his Life Level was merely Level 20... Weapon skill was vital, but Life Level was the true foundation. For a fourth-year freshman, achieving a coefficient score of 1.5 was extraordinarily difficult. One had to know that the higher a coefficient score went, the harder it was to raise further. The 1,000,000 Star Coin prize established by Huguang Martial University for freshmen not only required placing first, but also required a coefficient score of 1.4 or higher... Which indirectly showed that among Huguang Martial University's previous classes of fourth-year freshmen, not every first-place holder could reach 1.4. "How did he pull that off?" Associate Professor Tang asked directly. "Tell me everything about Fang Yu's recent situation." As a young Earth Martial Artist and newly appointed director of the fourth-year division, her attention outside of cultivation was mainly focused on the thousands of upperclassmen... She had not paid much attention to the two hundred or so freshmen. "Yes." "Ever since the practical combat period began, Fang Yu's coefficient score ranking has remained very high, basically stabilizing within the top three," Teacher Li said, having prepared the materials in advance. "The Scarlet Flame Squad he joined has an average strength of Level 22, and they've spent more than half their time fighting in the Wilderness Zone. It's clear he has been working extremely hard." "He and Fan Xing have been competing for first place the entire time, though he was always at a disadvantage." "I originally estimated that both he and Fan Xing might manage to reach a coefficient score of 1.5 in the final stage," Teacher Li said. "However, the odds were that he would fall short of Fan Xing." "According to the assessment data from the Junior-College-to-Undergraduate Upgrade, Fan Xing's Life Level was 24.1, and he joined the Black Ice Squad led by an Earth Academy student. From every angle, it should have been very difficult for Fang Yu to compete with him," Teacher Li explained. "I never imagined Fang Yu would actually be the first to push his coefficient score to 1.5." Associate Professor Tang looked thoughtful. Since Fang Yu had consistently remained in the top three, that ruled out any possibility of him having struck it lucky by scavenging. Such cases had happened before. Years ago, a first-year freshman during their first Primordial Star actual combat had come across a mortally wounded Level 30 fierce beast, snatched the kill, and seen their coefficient score instantly surge from 1.2 to 1.5, seizing first place on that year's freshman leaderboard. "Fang Yu's squad was weaker and had been trailing the whole time," Associate Professor Tang murmured. "Yet his coefficient score surged abruptly. There are only two possibilities." "First, his squad encountered a large beast pack exceptionally suited for them to slaughter!" "Second, his strength made a breakthrough—for example, awakening a Star Aspect." Associate Professor Tang said calmly, "This Fang Yu has extraordinary talent in technique. If he truly awakened a Star Aspect, he would be a rare seed of talent." "The moment he returns to base, go find him immediately and ask him about it." "If he awakened a Star Aspect, bring him straight to me for further testing," Associate Professor Tang said. "As teachers, our primary task is to stay informed of our students' developments. If someone truly reveals great potential, we must nurture them without delay." "Understood," Teacher Li nodded. "I will keep close watch." As they worked together longer, he had come to understand Associate Professor Tang's style better and better. She was somewhat rigid, virtually unwilling to gamble on a student's potential, strictly adhering to rules and regulations. On the other hand, she was exceedingly fair, never stingy toward students who had already demonstrated talent, always providing support right away. Working under a superior like this had its pros and cons. "Is there anything else?" Associate Professor Tang inquired. "Yes. It's regarding the Earth Academy student, Xia Tao." Teacher Li seemed somewhat hesitant, observing the shifts in Associate Professor Tang's expression as he considered how to frame his words. "Xia Tao?" Associate Professor Tang narrowed her eyes slightly. "The nephew of Earth Martial Artist Xia Kaishan?" "Yes," Teacher Li nodded. "Xia Tao's talent is reasonably decent." "Decent talent? Mediocre," Associate Professor Tang said, shaking her head. "Relying on his family background to throw his weight around. With such favorable cultivation conditions, he only reached Great Accomplishment of Entering the Minute in the second semester of his junior year. It was only by leaning on his high Life Level that he barely qualified for the Earth Academy. Moving forward, his progress will only grow slower." "If you ask me, he has no business being in the Earth Academy," Associate Professor Tang said impassively. Teacher Li's heart stirred; he knew where she stood and how to proceed. "Associate Professor Tang," Teacher Li said directly, "just now, the Base Inspection Section notified me that civilian martial artists filed reports claiming Huguang Martial University students robbed them of treasures and injured them." "Judging from their strength, the perpetrator was formidable—at least Level 26 or higher," Teacher Li said. "Level 26?" Associate Professor Tang understood at once. "Was it Xia Tao?" "Is there evidence?" Among the fourth-year students, those whose Life Level reached Level 26 were rare to begin with, amounting to mere dozens in total. Furthermore, many of them had gone to other space bases. In other words, there were only about a dozen viable suspects. Narrowing it down wouldn't take long. "Actually, over twenty civilian martial artists filed reports—all victims. Three were severely injured, and thirteen sustained minor injuries... Based on the figures the victims provided, the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures looted from them have a total value exceeding 1,500,000 Star Coins..." Teacher Li said. "And I've already pulled up the sales records of the Black Ice Squad. The treasures they sold closely match the data submitted by the complainants." "Preliminary findings indicate he was behind all five assault cases involving civilian martial artists," Teacher Li said. "However, because no fatalities occurred, the Black Ice Squad members' coefficient scores saw no penalty fluctuations... So there is no direct proof." As he spoke, Teacher Li continued observing Associate Professor Tang's expression. "Five cases? So many injured?" Associate Professor Tang's face darkened, a harsh glint flashing in her eyes. "Why wasn't this reported to me sooner? Has this Xia Tao always been so arrogant and lawless?" She had taken over as the fourth-year director less than two months ago. She had a general idea of all the Earth Academy students' dossiers and had heard a bit about Xia Tao... but she hadn't expected him to be so ruthless. "He has always been domineering," Teacher Li added. "In fact, there are also two reports from students claiming Xia Tao plundered their Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. One of them... was filed by the Scarlet Flame Squad, which Fang Yu belongs to." "The civilian martial artists didn't know the identity of the martial artists who robbed them, so their reports lacked specific targets." "But reports like the one from the Scarlet Flame Squad named him directly," Teacher Li said. Associate Professor Tang's expression had turned thoroughly grim. Another possibility crossed her mind. "Xia Tao must have taken part in multiple practical combat assessments," Associate Professor Tang said, her tone icy. "What about before? Were there no complaints then?" "There were." "However, Xia Tao was weaker back then—he was only Level 24 during the last practical combat assessment, so he didn't cause significant harm or fallout," Teacher Li hurried to explain. "Furthermore, Professor Wu was preoccupied with his cultivation, so these matters... ended up being shelved." "Preoccupied with cultivation?" Associate Professor Tang scoffed. How could she not understand? Because Xia Tao's past misdeeds hadn't created a massive stir, her predecessor, Professor Wu, had swept them under the rug. "Associate Professor Tang, should we investigate?" Teacher Li asked proactively. "Investigate!" Associate Professor Tang's eyes turned arctic. "Dig all the way to the bottom! How can we tolerate students corrupting our academy's standards? Once the Black Ice Squad returns, lock every single one of them in their rooms immediately! Cut off their communications, forbid them from leaving, and interrogate them separately! Don't give them a chance to coordinate their stories!" "Understood." Teacher Li hesitated, looking conflicted. "Detaining other students is straightforward enough, but Xia Tao is an Earth Academy student... I don't have the authority to arrest him." Just as with Advanced Martial Artists—even if they committed a crime, the regular police could not arrest them at will, but had to report to the specialized Martial Arts Inspection Department for a decision. Being an Earth Academy student represented more than just a contract tier; it conferred privileged status. "What are you afraid of?" Associate Professor Tang frowned. "Associate Professor Tang, it isn't that I'm afraid, but the university regulations are what they are," Teacher Li replied with a wry smile. "Rest assured, I will issue you an arrest warrant." Associate Professor Tang glanced at her subordinate. "However, take the intelligence data you just provided, compile a summary immediately, sign it with your digital signature, and send it to my university administrative account." She could see right through Teacher Li's thinking. He didn't want to take the blame. If she didn't sign the arrest warrant herself, he would never make a move on Xia Tao. Yet she was no fool either; she wouldn't sign an arrest warrant based purely on a few spoken words from Teacher Li... Proper protocol had to be followed to verify the information. "Understood." Teacher Li felt relieved. He knew that doing this would leave Associate Professor Tang dissatisfied with him, labeling him as someone unwilling to shoulder responsibility. However! Without an arrest warrant, Teacher Li thought to himself, if Xia Kaishan raises a ruckus later and Associate Professor Tang claims she was kept in the dark and that I took it upon myself to make the arrest, I won't have a leg to stand on. ... 8:00 AM on September 8, outer region of the North Cliff Mountains. "Time to head back!" "What a haul this trip was—even bigger than our first one." "Fang Yu is an absolute beast! A Level 27 shadow leopard, and he actually took it down through sheer grit!" The members of the Scarlet Flame Squad moved cautiously through the mountain forest, heading toward the space base. They chatted in hushed whispers while keeping watchful eyes on their surroundings. Even though Fang Yu possessed astonishing strength, everyone on the squad knew anything could happen in the Wilderness Zone; caution was always paramount. Fang Yu walked at the very front of the formation. "Hm?" Fang Yu came to an abrupt halt and turned toward the high mountains to the right. He faintly caught subtle tremors echoing through the ground. "What is it?" Bai Chen, Qin Yang, and the others were weaker, and their hearing was noticeably inferior. Yet merely two seconds later: Thud! Thud! Crack! The earth trembled, accompanied by the crashing sound of numerous trees being toppled and the faint, swelling chorus of countless wolf howls. "Awoooo! Awooo!" The rolling howls were laced with madness, causing the faces of everyone in the Scarlet Flame Squad to blanch in unison. A beast tide! Right then. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Through the mountain forest to the right, a dozen or so figures could faintly be seen sprinting wildly for their lives, panic-stricken as if fleeing some horrifying terror. "That's... Xia Tao." Fang Yu recognized the disheveled figure fleeing at the very front with a single glance.