Chapter 76: The Strong Break the Rules!

"I really want to kill someone right now. Whoever stops me is my enemy, and it will be a fight to the death!"

Ye Yuan said this to Feng Ruoqing, knowing that she had also come.

If Feng Ruoqing intervened, he would not be able to kill Zhang Heng.

This was a warning!

No one responded, but that was already a tacit agreement.

Zhang Heng laughed as if he had heard a funny joke. "Hahaha... Kill me? You must be that Ye Yuan, right? With your mere sixth-level Yuan Qi, you think you can cross realms to kill me? You and your servant are both equally overestimating yourselves!"

Ye Yuan showed no emotion and said calmly, "Did you act on your own, or were you instructed by someone? Speak, and I'll spare your life!"

Ye Yuan had no connection with this Zhang Heng, and Lü'er couldn't have offended anyone, so he didn't believe that the other had driven Lü'er to such a desperate state for no reason.

Zhang Heng had recognized Ye Yuan at a glance, which further confirmed his suspicions.

"What a joke! A sixth-level Yuan Qi brat, so arrogant you've lost your senses! You think that just because you passed the Earth-tier advancement and improved your realm, you have the capital to challenge an old-timer Earth-tier student? Spare my life? Go ahead and try!"

Although Zhang Heng was surprised by Ye Yuan's rapid progress, he didn't think Ye Yuan could threaten him.

He was three minor realms higher than Ye Yuan, with a small step in between—a gap in strength not so easily bridged.

Zhang Heng admitted Ye Yuan was a genius, but those who entered the Danwu Academy and became Earth-tier students were all geniuses among geniuses.

Ye Yuan sighed and said flatly, "There's really no common language with an idiot. Since you won't talk, I'll beat it out of you."

Without further ado, Ye Yuan raised his hand and struck with a Wave-Layered Heart Palm!

Eight Layers!

"Hmph! An ignorant fool who dares to underestimate me, facing me with a single palm!"

Zhang Heng naturally wouldn't just wait for death. Having lost his weapon, he too used his bare palms.

"Prajna Palm!"

Zhang Heng also struck with a first-grade upper-rank martial technique.

Zhang Heng had put great effort into this Prajna Palm, training it to the Great Completion stage, and he used both palms together, mobilizing even more Yuan power.

A smirk curled at the corner of Zhang Heng's mouth, as if he could already see Ye Yuan severely injured.

When the three palms collided, things did not go as Zhang Heng imagined. He felt a tremendous force transmitted from the opponent's palm through his own palms, instantly spreading throughout his body.

"Pfft!" Zhang Heng groaned, blood gushing from his mouth. His whole body, as if struck by a heavy blow, flew backward.

"Now, will you talk?" Ye Yuan spoke calmly, without any emotion.

Ye Yuan struck with anger, directly using the Eight Layers!

The Wave-Layered Heart Palm's Eight Layers was a palm technique capable of killing even a first-level Spirit Liquid realm cultivator. Zhang Heng was foolish enough to take it head-on; it would be unjust if he didn't die.

However, Ye Yuan deliberately held back his strength, only severely injuring Zhang Heng, in order to extract the identity of the person behind him.

Ye Yuan stepped forward twice, arriving beside Zhang Heng, looking down at him coldly. "Now, will you talk?"

"Pfft!" Zhang Heng spat out another mouthful of blood.

His entire arm was now broken, and his internal organs were severely damaged. His condition was pitiful. If not treated soon, even without Ye Yuan's intervention, he wouldn't live long.

"Talk... talk to your grandpa! Ha... haha... If you've got the guts, kill me! The Danwu Academy rules forbid students from killing each other! Go ahead! Kill me!" Zhang Heng's blood-stained teeth showed through his bitter smile.

Ye Yuan looked at Zhang Heng with pity and said coldly, "Academy rules? Rules are only meant to bind mediocrities like you. True strong ones break all rules to create their own! People like you can only live forever under others' rules—how pitiful!"

"Haha, anyone can talk big! If you've got the guts, break the rules and show me! A sixth-level Yuan Qi brat, babbling about breaking rules—how ridiculous!"

Zhang Heng clearly didn't believe Ye Yuan would dare to violate the academy rules, because in the academy's history, all who had done so were executed!

Except for that one person!

"Is that so? Then I'll break the rules right now. It's just that... you won't live to see it."

Ye Yuan raised his palm again, faint Yuan power swirling around it.

At this moment, Zhang Heng clearly felt the killing intent emanating from Ye Yuan.

To Ye Yuan, Lü'er was one of his closest people. Zhang Heng had driven her to use the Profound Ice Return to Dust—death was too good for him!

In his previous life, Ye Yuan had been unable to protect his loved ones. In this life, he had resolved never to let them be harmed, yet he encountered such a situation.

Beyond self-blame, Ye Yuan was furious beyond measure!

This palm came down without hesitation, and Zhang Heng no longer doubted Ye Yuan's resolve.

"I'll talk! I'll talk! Don't kill me! I... I was just following orders!" Zhang Heng finally couldn't bear the pressure and quickly shouted.

"Speak!" Ye Yuan's palm did not withdraw; he waited for Zhang Heng's answer.

"I'll talk, but you must promise not to kill me, or I'd rather die than speak!" Zhang Heng hardened his heart and threatened.

"Is that so? Then take it to your grave!" Ye Yuan urged his palm power, moving it closer to Zhang Heng.

"No, no, no! I'll talk, I'll talk! It was... it was Senior Brother Lin Tiancheng who ordered me to do it. I really just followed his orders! He's the chief disciple of the Miscellaneous Affairs Department; I had no choice but to obey! Junior Brother Ye, please spare me. I'll definitely help you testify against Lin Tiancheng!"

With some unknown strength, Zhang Heng crawled up and hugged Ye Yuan's thigh, crying and pleading.

"Alright, you can die now."

Ye Yuan released his palm force, and Zhang Heng died without even making a sound.

Whether he was following orders or not, for driving Lü'er to such a state, he deserved to die ten thousand times!

"Lin Tiancheng?" Ye Yuan thought for a moment before recalling who Lin Tiancheng was.

He hadn't expected such a small figure to have harmed Lü'er so badly. If he had known earlier, he should have taken precautions.

Just then, Lü'er's movements caught Ye Yuan's attention, and he quickly walked toward her.

Lü'er no longer had the strength to stand; she was crawling forward!

"Lü'er, what are you doing? Tell me what you need, and I'll do it for you!" Ye Yuan hurriedly called out as he approached.

Lü'er continued to inch forward, finally reaching the blue badge.

She reached out, picked up the alchemist badge, and pressed it to her chest, as if this blue badge was her entire life.

Ye Yuan quickly picked up Lü'er. After obtaining the badge, she finally couldn't hold on and fell unconscious, but a satisfied smile lingered on her lips.

Seeing the object in Lü'er's hand, his heart ached.

A badge that meant nothing to him was so cherished by Lü'er!

"Lü'er, thank you. Let's go home."