Chapter 67 How Could I Dare? Ask My Sword!

At that moment, the silence was terrifying.

This Xia Jiuxuan—he dared to strike a member of the imperial family! Wasn’t this outright rebellion?

No one dared to breathe, all eyes fixed on the indifferent young man. Even the Third Prince himself never imagined this lowborn would dare lay hands on him—not once, but twice.

“Xia Jiuxuan, you have some nerve! How dare you strike a prince? Kneel and await your execution!” shouted a teacher surnamed Zhao as he sprang forward.

At that moment, his mind was already calculating. Xia Jiuxuan had struck a prince; if he killed Xia Jiuxuan now, it would be a great merit—justified and beyond reproach. Even if Su Hongde intervened, would he dare oppose the imperial family?

“What nonsense are you spouting? In the Taixuan Academy, there are only apprentices—what prince is there? As the head of the First Institute, my status is equal to the head of the academy. Disciplining an unruly apprentice requires neither your interference nor your barking. Who do you think you are?” Xia Jiuxuan’s gaze swept coldly over Teacher Zhao.

“Xia Jiuxuan! Do you think a few words of sophistry will spare you from death? Today, for the honor of the imperial family, I, Zhao, shall strike you down!”

Desperate for merit, and being a peak expert of the Ninth Level of Profound Comprehension, Teacher Zhao didn’t hesitate to attack. Since Xia Jiuxuan had hidden his true strength, in the eyes of the onlookers, he was still just a small cultivator at the Palace Entry Realm.

Boom!

Teacher Zhao summoned all his true energy and brought his palm down with a thunderous force. Xia Jiuxuan stood motionless. He had been seeking an excuse to kill, and now this fool had delivered himself.

“Die!” Zhao roared, already envisioning Xia Jiuxuan’s head exploding under his strike.

“Alas, this is self-inflicted. No one can save him now!”

“Dead now or dead later—if he isn’t killed now, he’ll die in the duel against Gu Ku anyway.”

“Exactly. He’s cut off his own path; there’s nothing more to say.”

“The price of arrogance... I’m smart enough to just muddle along, heh heh.”

The crowd murmured among themselves.

A few breaths later, everyone saw blood raining down from the air. A figure had been cleaved in two!

Xia Jiuxuan withdrew his sword, blood still dripping from its blade.

!!!

“What the—what just happened?”

“Teacher Zhao was cut down with a single sword!”

“How is that possible? A peak Ninth Level Profound Comprehension master, cut down by that boy in one stroke?”

“Inconceivable! What technique did Xia Jiuxuan use? I couldn’t see a thing!”

The entire scene erupted in utter shock!

Even the Third Prince and his entourage were left gaping in disbelief. This was beyond their wildest imaginings. Someone at the Palace Entry Realm, felling a Ninth Level Profound Comprehension expert in a single blow? Not even storytellers would dare such exaggeration!

Yet it had happened—right before their eyes.

“Does anyone else wish to kill me?” Xia Jiuxuan’s expression was calm as still water, his gaze sweeping the hall.

No one dared reply.

Then, Xia Jiuxuan lifted his still-dripping sword and pointed it at the stupefied Third Prince.

A violent tremor seized the prince’s heart; his legs began to shake uncontrollably. “Xia Jiuxuan, what are you doing? Don’t act rashly—don’t throw your life away!”

The Third Prince was terrified. Facing death, there was no trace of a prince’s dignity left. He knew all too well that if Xia Jiuxuan gave in to impulse, his life would end here.

“Step forward and answer me.” Xia Jiuxuan’s command was sharp and cold.

“Don’t do anything foolish,” the prince stammered, voice trembling.

“When the head of the Institute calls you forward, do you dare ignore it?” Xia Jiuxuan flicked his finger, and a thread of sword intent circled the Third Prince’s neck.

The prince’s pupils contracted violently; terror paralyzed him, and a yellow liquid ran down his leg, filling the air with a foul stench.

He had wet himself in fright.

Face pale with terror, he took a few steps forward and stammered respectfully, “Please, Master Xia, instruct me...”

“Tell me, who gave you the audacity to sentence my niece to three hundred lashes?” Xia Jiuxuan’s tone was icy.

Three hundred strokes—if truly delivered to Xia Ran, it would be a death sentence.

“Master Xia, after you issued your challenge to Gu Ku, the academy’s rules state that if you flee for over a month, your family will be held accountable. These are the academy’s regulations—it’s not my fault. Ask anyone if you doubt me.” The Third Prince, regaining a shred of composure, explained himself.

“Oh? Academy rules? Is that correct, Teacher Yao?” Xia Jiuxuan turned to Yao Yunya.

“Yes, such a rule does exist,” Yao Yunya nodded.

Hearing this, the Third Prince secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Surely now, this fiend wouldn’t kill him...

“Very well—rules are rules,” Xia Jiuxuan nodded, then his tone sharpened, “But—have I exceeded a month? There are still seven days left!”

He had counted with precision.

“This...” The prince’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Ask Gu Ku—it was he who told me to come and pass judgment, he who falsely claimed you had fled. It has nothing to do with me!”

Gu Ku, who had been silent until now, appeared outwardly composed, though the sight of Xia Jiuxuan slaying a Ninth Level expert in an instant had left him anxious.

“I said it—so what?” Gu Ku took two steps forward. “You made the challenge yourself, then failed to keep the date, and now you use this as an excuse to attack the prince—what is your intent? Clearly, you seek rebellion!”

“Heh—don’t try to pin treason on me. That won’t work.” Xia Jiuxuan sneered.

“You’re itching to kill me, aren’t you? Well, I’ve returned—your chance is here. I declare the challenge continues.” Xia Jiuxuan’s eyes burned with killing intent as he stared down Gu Ku.

“I refuse!” To everyone’s shock, Gu Ku didn’t hesitate in the slightest—he rejected the challenge.

“You missed the date. I won’t humor you!”

Gu Ku was terrified. Calculating his own strength—Second Level Profound Comprehension, even with all his treasures and weapons, at most he could kill a Fifth Level Profound Comprehension opponent. How could he face this monstrous youth?

To continue the challenge would be suicide—only a fool would not back down now.

“My heavens—Gu Ku has chickened out! The capital’s most notorious killer has finally lost his nerve!”

Gu Ku’s reputation wasn’t due to invincibility, but to his arrogance among his peers and his ruthless record in the Nirvana Institute’s killing fields—nothing more.

“Sorry, you already accepted the challenge that day. Refusal is invalid,” Xia Jiuxuan replied unhurriedly, watching Gu Ku as if he were a clown.

“I concede. You missed the date, and I am yielding. There’s no need for the duel!” Gu Ku persisted.

“Fine. Kill yourself, and I’ll accept your surrender,” Xia Jiuxuan said, arms folded.

“You!” Gu Ku’s face turned deathly pale. “Kid, don’t push me too far. Give each other a way out—maybe we could be friends one day! Don’t cut off your own path!”

“Friend? You? Not worthy. Whether you accept the duel or not, you’re dead today!”

Xia Jiuxuan had no more patience for games. He raised his black broken sword, ready to kill.

“Master Xia, please restrain yourself. In my opinion, Gu Ku has not broken the rules. You may not act further.” Just as Xia Jiuxuan was about to strike, Jiang Qingyang appeared in a flash, accompanied by several other institute heads.

“In your opinion? And why should I care for your opinion?” Xia Jiuxuan’s lips curled in a mocking smile; in a heartbeat, his figure blurred as he charged forward.

A scream rang out!

Gu Ku’s arm was severed.

“You cur, how dare you!” Gu Ku was both furious and terrified. Now the principal was here, and this man still dared to kill him—how could he?

“How dare I? Ask my sword!”

With a flick, Xia Jiuxuan’s blade flashed and sliced off Gu Ku’s head. The severed head flew through the air and landed squarely against the Third Prince’s chest.

The prince convulsed, and once more, a foul stench filled the air as he soiled himself in terror.