Chapter 607: They Fell Down!

Amid the cries of agony, Feng Yu was frantic.

Falling straight down from over a thousand meters, even if he was a five-star master teacher and a Mortal Transformation Sixth Layer powerhouse, he would still lose half his life.

These spirit beasts were all tamed, each flying steadily—how could they just fall down?

It was... that kid's roar!

After a moment of stunned silence, he understood: it must have been that guy's roar just now.

Like a dragon's cry from the heavens, it meant nothing to humans, but to spirit beasts, it was unbearable. Not vomiting blood midair and passing out was already good.

Stop now! Fly for me!

Knowing this was no time for such thoughts, he roared and urgently communicated with the spirit beast beneath him.

But he tragically discovered that these spirit beasts were as good as dead—not only did they not respond, but they were trembling, lacking even the strength to fly.

Damn it!

Looking at the ground growing closer below, Feng Yu felt like vomiting blood.

What kind of mess was this?

He had prepared the formation and had Chen Mo act to block the opponent without fail, never dreaming that the other side also had sonic attacks—and more ferocious than his!

Chen Mo's music was beautiful to hear, could be performed elsewhere for money, but this guy's sonic attack was lethal...

Hong Qian, I'll be back...

He roared madly, but before he finished, he felt a sudden jolt beneath him and a tremendous impact force transmitted upward.

Thud!

His whole body slammed heavily onto the ground, smashing a huge crater. The violent impact surged through him, breaking who knows how many bones, and he coughed up mouthfuls of blood.

He had come to block Hong Qian and the others from entering the imperial capital, but instead of stopping them, he and his men were nearly half-dead from the fall... Just thinking about it drove him crazy.

Struggling to stand, he looked around and saw Chen Mo and the others in even worse shape—all lying on the ground, with more breath out than in. If not rescued in time, they would all die on the spot.

These people were only at Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer, not weak in combat, but falling from such a height had finished them off. If not for using the spirit beasts beneath them as meat shields to cushion the fall, they would surely have been killed outright.

Damn it...

The more he thought, the angrier he got. He roared again, hastily took out healing pills, and fed them to the others.

He had come confidently to block them, thinking it would be easy, but instead of stopping them, he had killed several spirit beasts and severely injured himself...

Hong Qian, and that guy, I won't let you off...

He roared again, fury blazing.

...

They fell down?

Down below, Feng Yu was about to explode with rage, while up above, Master Hong and the others stared wide-eyed, dumbfounded.

They knew Master Zhang was formidable and might pull off some unusual trick, but they never dreamed it would be this unusual...

A single roar sent over a dozen spirit beasts falling from the sky, their masters unable to control them... That was too fierce!

Didn't that mean anyone who rode a spirit beast to chase him would face the danger of falling?

Will they... die from the fall?

Swallowing his saliva, Master Hong couldn't help asking.

After all, they were master teachers of the same rank as him. For such strong individuals to die not from defeat in battle but from falling out of the sky—if word got out, they'd be mocked for centuries, a lifelong stain.

From such a height, they probably won't die, but it's enough to suffer. Forget them; let's hurry to the imperial city. If they're blocking us like this, something must have happened.

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

There was no other way. Though he could fly, the opponent had a Mortal Transformation Sixth Layer powerhouse—he couldn't win in a fight.

After thinking it over, this was the only move.

As for whether they'd die, that wasn't his concern.

If they wanted to cause trouble for him, they had to be prepared to face the consequences... Honestly, this was already light.

Right, let's go.

Having become a five-star master teacher, he was naturally not soft-hearted. Master Hong nodded, urged the spirit beast beneath him, and continued flying toward the direction of Huanyu Imperial Capital.

Without Chen Mo's zither attack, all the spirit beasts recovered and flew swiftly. A few minutes later, a majestic building appeared before them.

Grand, imposing, exuding a sense of nobility.

This is the Huanyu Imperial Palace. Flying spirit beasts are not allowed to approach. Let's land at the square ahead.

Master Hong pointed forward, and the spirit beast beneath him immediately circled toward the square outside the palace, descending slowly.

As soon as they dismounted, several master teachers in robes approached.

Master Hong, you've arrived...

The speaker had four stars shining on his chest—a four-star master teacher.

"Zhuang Qin, didn't I tell you to inform the teacher? Why... not only is there no one to welcome us, but instead Teacher Feng and his people came?"

Teacher Hong frowned.

This Zhuang Qin was not from the Huan Yu Empire, but from the Hong Feng Empire's Master Hall, sent ahead to arrange matters after their arrival.

Earlier, it was said that contact had been made with the people of Huan Yu Empire, referring to him.

"You ran into Teacher Feng?" Zhuang Qin's face changed, looking over with worry: "He... didn't do anything to you, did he?"

"No!" Teacher Hong shook his head, looking over with confusion: "What on earth is going on!"

"I reported the news of your arrival today to Teacher Wei. He sent a flying spirit beast to have us welcome you, but... before we could take off, Teacher Feng and his people stopped us... You know, he's a five-star master teacher, I had no choice..."

Zhuang Qin explained with a grim expression.

He was supposed to go meet everyone, but... the flying spirit beast was taken away, leaving him only able to wait here anxiously.

Fortunately, it seemed nothing had happened.

"I heard from Feng Yu that there are three fewer slots. Is that true?"

Knowing that this Zhuang Qin was not to blame, and since everyone had suffered no loss, Teacher Hong stopped dwelling on the issue and continued asking.

"Yes," Zhuang Qin nodded. "For the Huaqing Pool cultivation, each of the four vassal states gets three slots, totaling twelve. The Huan Yu royal family also gets three, making fifteen in all."

Teacher Hong and the others nodded.

The Huaqing Pool opens once every ten years, with only fifteen slots. These matters were known to all, no secret.

"These fifteen slots were a rule set by the founding ancestor, Emperor Huan Yu. Everyone knows it, and it has never changed, but... this time is different!"

Zhuang Qin hesitated: "Princess Fei'er of the Hong Yuan Empire, upon hearing the news of the Huaqing Pool opening, came specially and demanded... four slots! The royal family gave up one, and it was decided that the remaining three would come from the four vassal states..."

"Princess Fei'er?"

Teacher Hong was taken aback.

The Hong Yuan Empire was a first-class empire. What resources did it lack? Why come to a second-class empire to snatch slots?

And demanding four at once!

Besides... who was this Princess Fei'er?

Never heard of her!

"Princess Fei'er... is a student at the Hong Yuan Master Teacher Academy. I heard she is... the senior of Crown Prince Ye Qian..." Zhuang Qin said awkwardly.

Though his words were vague and hesitant, after listening for a while, everyone understood.

Crown Prince Ye Qian was also a talented master teacher. Three years ago, he was recommended by the Huan Yu Empire's Master Hall to study at the Hong Yuan Master Teacher Academy.

And this Princess Fei'er was also a student, said to be quite famous, and even the senior of Crown Prince Ye Qian. The latter, probably out of admiration or other motives, deliberately mentioned the mystery of the Huaqing Pool, invited her, and tried to curry favor, leading to this situation.

To be famous at a master teacher academy, she must be at least a half-step five-star master teacher. Coupled with her identity as a princess of a first-class empire, she was indeed worth the crown prince's acquaintance.

No wonder Teacher Feng said earlier that the crown prince had taken three slots. In that sense, he indeed gave them away.

"A second-class empire currying favor with a first-class empire by offering slots is nothing unusual, but... has the emperor said how the slots will be allocated?" Teacher Hong looked over.

As a lower-ranked empire, offering slots to befriend higher-ranked master teachers and empires was understandable, and this was acceptable.

But... with four vassal states contributing three slots, there had to be some rule for distribution, otherwise, no one would be convinced.

"The emperor told us to resolve it ourselves. Tonight, the crown prince will host a banquet at the Eastern Palace to set the rules and settle the matter..." Zhuang Qin said.

He had reported that Teacher Hong and the others would arrive today, and Crown Prince Ye Qian had thus decided to host a banquet tonight to resolve the issue.

That was why Feng Yu had obstructed them.

If they were trapped in the air for a day and unable to move, missing the banquet, it went without saying that the three slots would come from their Hong Feng Empire.

After all, there were only three slots. Losing one was unacceptable to anyone. Since someone wasn't coming and could be the scapegoat, why not? Besides, who told them to arrive late?

"I suspect this wasn't just Feng Yu's idea. The old fellows from the Qian Feng and Zhu Yue Master Halls were also involved!"

Having figured out what was going on, Teacher Hong snorted.

Blocking them also benefited the other two powers, so it wasn't likely the plan of the Feng Yuan Empire alone. Rather, it was agreed upon by those few, with Feng Yu just being the frontman.

Fortunately, Teacher Zhang had thwarted their plan. Otherwise, the three slots would definitely have come from them!

In that case, they would have come for nothing.

"Since it's a banquet, it's still early. Let's go back to the lodging first, and I'll pay a visit to those old bastards!"

Teacher Hong flicked his sleeve.

As a five-star master teacher, he had his dignity and pride. To be schemed against before even arriving—how could he swallow that? Naturally, he had to retaliate!

"I've already prepared lodging nearby. I'll take you there."

Knowing this was a conflict between five-star master teachers, beyond his involvement, Zhuang Qin changed the subject and led the way. After a few steps, he suddenly remembered something and looked over with confusion: "Teacher Hong, from the looks of it... Teacher Feng must have been well-prepared to cause you trouble. How did you... get away?"

"Well..."

Teacher Hong hesitated: "We met in the air, and then... they fell down."

"Fell down?"

Zhuang Qin stood frozen, dumbfounded.