Chapter 971: Executing You Xu

"Dean!"

Arriving at the center of the training ground, Elder Mi and the others came forward to greet him.

Zhang Xuan nodded and looked up at the high platform, where he saw Mu Shi and an old man standing.

This old man, appearing to be in his fifties, possessed a cultivation that was vast as the ocean, and surprisingly, like the Golden Leaf King and Azure Leaf King he had encountered before, he had reached the fourth level of the Saint Domain.

The third level of the Saint Domain, the Fetal Infant realm, also known as the Nascent Soul realm, where the primordial embryo is no longer a pill but takes the form of an infant. Reaching this level deepens one's understanding of heaven and earth; with every breath, one can absorb the energy of heaven and earth for one's own use.

The fourth level of the Saint Domain is the Primordial Spirit realm, where the Nascent Soul transforms into the Primordial Spirit.

At this level, killing someone is extremely difficult. For this reason, he had deliberately set a trap to make the two kings fight each other, thereby annihilating all the alien tribesmen in one fell swoop.

This master teacher had also reached this level. Even in the Qingyuan Enfeoffed Empire, he would be considered top-notch. Why would he come here?

"This should be the Wu Rufeng, Wu Shi, of Seven Star upper grade you mentioned before?" Zhang Xuan transmitted his voice.

"Yes."

Elder Mi nodded: "He is the vice hall master of the Master Teacher Hall in the Qingyuan Enfeoffed Empire. He is somewhat rigid and abhors evil..."

Just as he was about to elaborate, Wu Shi on the platform clasped his hands behind his back and looked down coldly: "Elder Mi, has your dean arrived? Keeping us waiting all this time—quite the airs!"

"I... should be the one you refer to as the dean with great airs..."

Zhang Xuan stepped forward, bowed, and gave a wry smile.

After receiving the news, he had helped Wei Ruyan take some medicine, so he arrived a bit late. Judging by the looks of those around, they had already been here for a while.

"You are?"

Taking a look, Wu Shi raised an eyebrow: "Half-Saint巅峰? It seems Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy is not what it used to be!"

He had come from the headquarters and knew that the academy had finally appointed a young man in his twenties as dean. He wanted to see who it was, but when he arrived at the academy, he didn't even see a shadow.

Even after the assembly bell was rung, it took nearly twenty to thirty minutes for him to show up... Most importantly, his clothes were covered in dust, as if he hadn't even bothered to change...

This was the utmost negligence!

Moreover, his strength was only at the Half-Saint巅峰, not even reaching the Saint Domain... With such strength, he could be the dean of a master teacher academy?

How ridiculous!

When Mu Shi left, Zhang Xuan had not yet held his succession ceremony, and the matter of taming the spirit beasts and sacred beasts of Cloud Mist Ridge was unknown. Besides, he hadn't mentioned it to Wu Shi. Therefore, the latter did not know that the young man before him, though young, had experiences that would overshadow countless deans, a brilliance that even gods could not obscure.

"Wu Shi..."

Hearing this, Mu Shi on the side felt somewhat embarrassed and quickly lowered his voice: "Zhang Shi is exceptionally talented and also has a powerful teacher..."

"Hmph!"

Before he could finish, he was interrupted. Wu Shi's face darkened: "A powerful teacher is the teacher's strength; one must also be strong oneself! Enough, let's not discuss this. Later, have him write a self-criticism, explaining his negligence and mistakes in management. The headquarters will no longer pursue his dereliction of duty..."

"Write a self-criticism?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

That word felt so distant... Even a dean had to write one?

This guy, as soon as he arrived, took out his anger on me. He must be trying to establish his authority...

But... I've never even met him, let alone offended him. Why is he looking for trouble?

Scratching his head, Zhang Xuan was full of conflict. If this guy insisted on causing trouble, should he call out the puppet and give him a good beating first?

"Wu Shi..."

As he was pondering, Mu Shi on the side quickly spoke: "This Zhang Shi only succeeded three months ago, and most importantly, it was he who captured..."

"Enough! A dignified academy producing such a traitor—he, as the dean, bears great responsibility. Now that everyone is here, let's quickly pronounce the verdict. There are important matters to attend to later!"

Interrupting his explanation, Wu Shi waved his hand, too lazy to waste words.

"Yes."

Mu Shi had no choice but to nod and looked around: "Everyone, the reason I called you here is to announce an important matter!"

"Important matter?"

The many master teachers below looked up, all filled with curiosity.

Having two Seven Star master teachers ring the assembly bell and specifically come to announce something—it must be significant.

"The Master Teacher Hall has always taken the eradication of the alien tribes as its duty, and most of us master teachers also take this as our life's goal. But... while there are those who strictly enforce it, there are also those who cut corners and engage in shady dealings!"

At this point, Mu Shi's expression gradually turned grim.

"If it were an ordinary cultivator, facing a life-and-death crisis, betraying humanity and selling out friends might be forgivable, after all, the great fear between life and death is not something everyone can withstand. But as a master teacher, enjoying the admiration of countless people and the reverence of billions, failing to hold fast to one's original heart at a critical moment is unforgivable!"

"To put it simply, it is a loss of perseverance; to put it seriously, it is a betrayal of humanity!"

Mu Shi's voice resounded around.

"Betrayal of humanity?"

"But if it's a master teacher, it is indeed unforgivable!"

All the teachers and students below nodded.

While master teachers enjoy a lofty status, they must also bear corresponding obligations.

To become a high-level master teacher, each one is cultivated at great cost by humanity. Betraying at a critical moment can be said to be an enemy of all.

"Everyone quiet down. Today I'm going to talk about such a traitor to humanity—a renowned master!"

Seeing the crowd's emotions stirred, Master Mu waved his hand and continued, "This man, for his own safety, disregarded the ethics of a master, causing over twenty six-star high-rank masters to be missing, their fate unknown! He even caused the elite of humanity, who had treated him as a teacher and friend, to never return! Yet he shamelessly returned to the academy, teaching and educating, enjoying various offerings and the respect of countless masters... What should we do with such a person?"

"There's someone like that? Kill him!"

"Betraying humanity is a grave crime, no room for discussion."

"Causing over twenty six-star masters to be missing, their fate unknown—such a serious crime is enough to warrant death several times over!"

"Master Mu, who exactly are you talking about? Is he a teacher at our academy?"

...

Hearing the question, the audience erupted in uproar.

Two seven-star masters had come here, speaking outright of betrayal and mentioning teaching and education—the person to be judged was connected to Hongyuan Academy.

Without answering the crowd's questions, Master Mu flicked his sleeve and lifted his head: "Bring the man down!"

With his words, a sacred beast's cry sounded in the air. A tiger-eagle beast of the sacred level flew down, shook its body, and a figure on its back crashed heavily to the ground.

"This... is Dean Youxu?"

"It really is Dean You. Could he have betrayed humanity?"

"Didn't he have a life-or-death duel with the Dean over medical skills, lose, and then get taken away? How did he end up here?"

"For the past two years, he's been planting those medicinal herbs in the academy. When did he ever communicate with the alien race?"

"I even attended his classes. Last time the Dean challenged him, I resented it..."

Seeing the figure clearly on the stage, the audience erupted in uproar. Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.

Three months ago, when the Dean challenged Youxu, many had cheered for him, thinking he was old and highly respected. They never dreamed he would be a traitor to humanity.

The two seven-star masters had come from the Qingyuan Master Hall branch and spoke so decisively in public—it must be irrefutable, no need to doubt.

"This man, I need not say much; you all know him!"

With a snort, Master Mu looked at Youxu, who lay on the ground like mud: "Will you confess yourself, or shall the Teacher's Guild issue a 'Guild Letter' directly?"

The Master Hall was a branch of the Teacher's Guild. A Guild Letter issued by it was equivalent to an imperial edict. Once read, it would be automatically recorded in the books of the Teacher's Guild and the Master Hall, accessible from any branch.

In other words, once this was issued, it was as good as a done deal, equivalent to reading out the indictment, with no possibility of rebuttal.

"I..."

Youxu's lips trembled.

Confessing himself would at most be known to the academy, but issuing a Guild Letter would make it known to the entire Teacher's Guild and Master Hall, leaving a lasting infamy.

"I confess..."

Without hesitating long, Youxu nodded.

After all, he had already admitted his crimes; there was nothing left to hide.

"Very well, then speak before all the masters present!"

Seeing he would confess, Master Mu waved his hand.

"Yes!"

Youxu gritted his teeth: "It was my fault. I harmed the old dean..."

Soon, he recounted what he had previously confessed to Zhang Xuan, repeating it again.

This time, he spoke in more detail. After hearing his words, all the masters below clenched their fists, veins bulging on their foreheads.

"Kill him!"

"I never thought Youxu was such a person. He's a disgrace to masters!"

"How laughable—I attended his classes and always respected him as a teacher. It's a stain on my life!"

"It must have been the Dean who saw something wrong with him, challenged him to a life-or-death duel over medical skills, investigated the problem, and handed him over to Master Mu!"

"You say that, and it might be true. If not for the Dean, we would all have been deceived by this scum..."

...

All the teachers and students were in an uproar.

Betraying humanity, following the orders of the alien race, framing colleagues, causing the old dean to be missing, throwing the entire Master Academy into chaos...

All these charges were committed by this man.

As Master Mu had said, it was utterly unforgivable!

"Since you have confessed your guilt, I won't say more. Now I pronounce the decision of the Qingyuan Empire Master Hall..."

Seeing the crowd seething with indignation, all eager to rush up and beat the man to death, Master Mu looked around, took out a scroll, and gently unrolled it.

Swish!

A beam of light shot into the air, and a cold, emotionless voice rang out.

"Youxu, for betraying humanity and framing masters, has violated the regulations of the Master Hall and crossed the bottom line of masters. He is hereby stripped of his master status and sentenced to beheading in public!"

"Beheading in public?"

Hearing this decision, Youxu's face turned pale. He collapsed to the ground as if his soul had left him, his eyes devoid of any light.