Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

Deep within Purple Cloud Academy, on a high platform, a group of powerful elders overlooked the duels happening in the square below. One elder, with a hooked nose, smiled and said:

"The young generation of your Purple Cloud Academy doesn't seem that impressive. If this continues, it looks like all of your disciples at the first-layer Heavenly Saint level will be swept away by Eagle Kong alone."

"Impossible!"

A burly man beside him instinctively retorted, "Our Purple Cloud Academy is full of talent. Do you think a mere Eagle Kong can overturn everything?"

"Haha, indeed, so many talents—just look at how many are lying on the ground. Every single one of them is quite remarkable,"

the hooked-nosed elder said with a faint, mocking smile.

The burly man was left speechless, his face turning red with anger, but he had no rebuttal. The situation was clearly not in their favor.

The hooked-nosed elder, sensing his advantage, pressed on, still smiling:

"Although things are not looking good for you right now, anything is possible. Perhaps your Purple Cloud Academy is hiding a genius even stronger than Eagle Kong, someone who simply doesn't wish to reveal their strength."

"Why don't we place a little wager? There's that newly discovered Skyfiend True Gold mine at the border of our two domains. If you win, the mine is yours. If we win, the mine belongs to us."

His words immediately drew silence from the surrounding elders.

Skyfiend True Gold!

That was an incredibly valuable resource, capable of crafting imperial-level weapons. It was a treasure trove worth fighting for.

"Dream on!"

"You want to take advantage of us? Keep dreaming!"

"Don't even think about it!"

"I'll roast you alive!"

The elders of Purple Cloud Academy quickly recovered, each one fuming and shouting in anger.

"Haha, do the elders of Purple Cloud Academy have such little faith in their disciples? If they knew, wouldn't they be heartbroken?"

The hooked-nosed elder laughed coldly.

"Don't try to provoke us. It won't work! Only fools would fall for such a blatant trap!"

"Exactly!"

"Do you take us for fools like Yu Linzi?"

The elders of Purple Cloud Academy scoffed, not letting themselves be baited.

"Are you in a position to make such a bet?"

At that moment, a calm, commanding voice echoed across the platform.

Immediately, all eyes turned toward the edge of the platform, where, without anyone noticing, a middle-aged man in a purple robe stood with his back to the crowd, his hands clasped behind him, gazing up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.

It seemed as though he were observing the heavens.

"The Palace Master?!"

The eyes of the Purple Cloud Academy elders widened in shock. The Palace Master had appeared! It was well known that the new Palace Master of Purple Cloud Academy was as elusive as a dragon, rarely seen as he was often in seclusion.

"Purple Cloud Palace Master?"

A flash of caution crossed the hooked-nosed elder's eyes. He had long heard rumors that the new Palace Master of Purple Cloud Academy had been dispatched from the Human Race's Sacred Hall, with a background that was nothing short of astounding. Not only did he possess the strength of a quasi-emperor, but he also carried the aura of a future emperor.

"Can you make the decision about the Skyfiend True Gold mine?"

The Purple Cloud Palace Master asked again, still facing away from the group.

"I…"

The hooked-nosed elder hesitated, realizing he had no authority to make such a decision. He had only been trying to flaunt some bravado, fully expecting the Purple Cloud elders to refuse the bet outright. Now, with the Palace Master seemingly willing to take him up on the offer, he found himself unable to respond.

Moreover, a sense of pressure weighed on him. Could they really win this gamble?

"Is it that you can't decide, or are you afraid to bet?"

The Purple Cloud Palace Master asked in a flat tone.

"I…"

The hooked-nosed elder's face stiffened, leaving him at a loss for words.

One of the Purple Cloud Academy elders smirked and said:

"Elder Eagle Loss, why are you hesitating? Don't you trust that boy out there? He's already sweeping the floor with our disciples. Surely you believe in him, or will this news hurt his pride?"

The words were thrown back at him.

The hooked-nosed elder's face flushed with rage, nearly ready to explode.

It was his disciple dominating the battlefield, so how had the tables turned, making him the one to feel ashamed?

"Fine! I'll contact our Palace Master right now!"

With a cold snort, he sent a transmission, seeking permission to proceed.

Moments later, a response arrived:

Granted!

His heart raced with excitement as he turned to the Purple Cloud Palace Master and declared:

"I'll bet! I want to see how your worthless disciples could possibly defeat Eagle Kong today!"

His confidence surged once more. After all, he had already verified that there were no standout geniuses among Purple Cloud Academy's current disciples. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to bring Eagle Kong to challenge them in the first place. After all, once the challenge was issued, if their disciple was killed, the older generation could not intervene.

"Haha, you want to bet, but our Palace Master hasn't agreed to the wager,"

one of the Purple Cloud Academy elders retorted.

"Exactly! The Palace Master was just asking; he didn't say he'd accept your challenge. Don't get ahead of yourself."

Another elder chimed in.

The elders of Purple Cloud Academy shifted their stance, flip-flopping between sides like grass in the wind. It was a bit shameful, but they had no choice. The academy's interests came first.

"Bet."

The Purple Cloud Palace Master said calmly.

"Palace Master, please reconsider!"

"The mine is too valuable!"

The elders' expressions changed drastically, filled with concern. If something went wrong, they wouldn't escape responsibility.

Purple Cloud Academy wasn't an independent force; it was a branch of the Human Race's Sacred Hall, subject to its authority.

"Don't worry. I observed the stars last night. We won't lose,"

the Purple Cloud Palace Master replied with a faint smile. He slowly turned to reveal an… ordinary face.

Yes, his appearance was quite average. His individual features were all handsome, but when combined, they seemed to cancel each other out, leaving him looking completely unremarkable.

An angel's kissed silhouette.

A face beaten by a slipper!

"Stargazing? Is that… really reliable? Can it predict a peerless genius?"

One elder muttered under his breath.

"It can."

The Purple Cloud Palace Master nodded firmly, then lifted his gaze to the sky, murmuring to himself,

"Yes… they've arrived."

Boom!

Suddenly, a massive beam of light descended from the heavens, sending a shockwave through the air, causing everyone's robes to flutter.

When the light faded, a large group of people appeared. Among them were several middle-aged men, along with a group of spirited young individuals.

"Friend, may I borrow your son?"

The Purple Cloud Palace Master flashed before Qin Chuan, grinning, and then, in an instant, he was in front of Qin Zi.

"You!!"

Qin Zi barely had time to react before he was grabbed by the collar like a little piglet and tossed into the sky.

"Defeat him, and I'll make you my personal disciple!"

The commanding voice echoed in Qin Zi's ears as he was launched like a cannonball toward the arrogant Eagle Kong in the sky.