Chapter 47: Where's the Great Top-Student Jiang?

Zhang Hua recognized that blade, and so did the others.

It was Chen Sanyan’s blade!

The blade was too fast, too eerie.

Silent and imperceptible, leaving no trace.

“The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—and behind the oriole, there’s an eagle. Hahaha…”

Ji Ziling laughed, doubling over with mirth, not even minding her own injuries.

Nor did she have time to deal with the Star Demon beside her.

Chen Sanyan had been invited by Zhang Hua as an ally.

Yet now, he had struck Zhang Hua with a blade, becoming the final oriole.

“Leave the Star Demon…”

The three from Kexiang roared, charging toward the newcomer.

He wore ordinary martial attire, his head tightly covered, revealing only a pair of eyes.

“Die! I’ll kill you!”

Zhang Hua screamed hysterically, ignoring the pain from his severed hand as he swung his sword, slashing toward the masked man.

The blade rose again, still silent and untraceable, like an antelope hanging its horns—leaving no trace.

Swoosh

Blade met sword, sliding along the blade before striking the hilt, then swiftly retracting.

Clang

The long sword fell. Though seemingly unharmed, the hand that held it had gone limp, unable to lift again.

Zhang Hua screamed once more, blood gushing from his mouth as soon as he opened it.

His left hand transformed into a palm, golden Star Power surging forth. The three from Kexiang were forced back but landed lightly, unscathed.

Holding the Special Star Demon, the masked man retreated in a flash.

“Stop!”

A Kexiang student shouted angrily, about to give chase.

“Don’t pursue him. That person is very strong and doesn’t wish to harm us.”

The Kexiang woman called the student back, a trace of solemnity flashing across her fair face. “The priority now is no longer the Star Stone. Deploy the Protective Shield.”

“Yes.”

The Kexiang students quickly retrieved their instruments and set up the energy shield.

More and more Star Demons were gathering here. In their current state—injured and crippled—breaking through was impossible.

Deploying the shield and recovering their strength was now the most urgent task.

Once the shield was set up, the group entered it, hiding inside.

As for the two Star Cloud Peak Star Demons, after being severely wounded, they had retreated into the Star Demon horde. Having followed the Special Star Demon, they had gained some intelligence.

Due to the earlier Starlight Force Bomb’s effects, the survivors numbered fewer than twenty.

Kexiang School set up four Protective Shields to shelter everyone.

Ji Ziling casually cast healing spells on herself and Ying Yanxue, then treated the four beside her before sitting cross-legged.

“Thank you, Senior Sister.” The four, all students of the Martial Arts School, expressed their gratitude and immediately began to recover.

Inside the other shields, the Kexiang School members carried oral Healing Medicine.

Though not as powerful as healing abilities for external wounds, it provided significant help for internal injuries.

The Martial Arts School students watched eagerly. Though the earlier Starlight Force Bomb hadn’t targeted them, its immense power had left many severely wounded, bleeding profusely and on the brink of death.

“Treat the Martial Arts School students’ injuries,” the leading Kexiang woman ordered.

“Yes, Senior Sister.”

Only then did the Kexiang members step forward to assist.

“Give… give me some treatment too.”

A weak voice came from Zhang Hua, who leaned against the shield, his face pale and his forehead drenched in sweat.

Beside him lay a severed hand.

At the wound, starlight shimmered, staunching the bleeding.

Cao Ye sat beside him, watching expressionlessly.

“You still have the nerve to ask us to treat you?”

Ji Ziling opened her eyes, furious. “Look at those corpses—they’re all because of you!

And our collective severe injuries are also because of you!”

“I suggest we throw him out. It’d be better if the Star Demons ate him.”

A student from the Martial Arts School, barely managing to stabilize his injuries, spoke out angrily.

A Kexiang student was equally furious: “Yes, throw him out for the Star Demons to eat.”

The recent Star Power explosion had also killed two from Kexiang—how could they not be enraged?

Zhang Hua’s heart sank in panic. He was about to speak when his injuries worsened, causing him to spit out another mouthful of blood.

Cao Ye continued watching expressionlessly, making no move.

Ignoring the blood still flowing, Zhang Hua pleaded fearfully, “I was blinded by greed, and I’ve realized my mistake. For this incident, I’m willing to compensate. Once we return to the city, I will make it up to their families.”

“Compensate? Can you afford that?” the students from both schools roared. “These are lives—several lives!”

“Believe me, I will do everything I can to make amends for them, even if it takes my entire life. I truly understand my wrongdoing now. I will take care of their families.”

Struggling to rise, Zhang Hua supported himself on his elbows, almost crawling forward: “To the brothers who have fallen, rest assured. I, Zhang Hua, swear here that I will spend my life repenting and making amends.”

After speaking, his face twisted in pain as he kowtowed heavily several times, but his arm lightly brushed against Cao Ye.

“Now you realize your mistake?” Ji Ziling watched coldly, showing no trace of sympathy.

Ying Yanxue said nothing, her expression icy.

Cao Ye remained calm, observing Zhang Hua, who was now kowtowing desperately to save his life. Gone was his former confidence and brilliance, replaced only by wretchedness and disgrace—hardly the image of a top student anymore.

Glancing at Zhang Hua’s arm, Cao Ye finally spoke: “Better treat him. Let them spend their lives atoning.”

Zhang Hua quickly looked up, his pained face filled with sincerity and remorse: “I am willing to spend my life atoning.”

“Better to throw him to the Star Demons,” Ji Ziling said coldly.

“Yes, throw him to the Star Demons.”

“Better to let him atone.”

With Cao Ye having spoken, some Martial Arts School students began to waver.

But others still insisted on throwing Zhang Hua out to become Star Demon fodder.

A flicker of something unusual passed through the eyes of a female Kexiang student: “Treat him. Make sure he doesn’t die, and reattach his hand.”

“Senior.”

The Kexiang student who had shared a Protective Shield with Zhang Hua was dissatisfied. Why should they? Kexiang had also lost people. If not for Zhang Hua, the Special Starstone would surely have been theirs.

“Enough. As members of Kexiang, we should act impartially. Once back in the city, hand Zhang Hua over to the Federation,” the Kexiang woman said sternly. “The unauthorized use of a Starlight Force Bomb must be thoroughly investigated! We have no authority to deal with him ourselves. I will also report everything truthfully to the Federation.”

The Kexiang students fell silent.

Yet, her words seemed to hint at a monumental achievement? If they simply killed Zhang Hua, it might feel satisfying, but what about the Federation’s eventual investigation? Unauthorized use of military-grade weapons was a serious charge. If they killed him, the clues…

“Just connect it,” the Kexiang woman said plainly. “Everyone, let me introduce myself. I’m Tang Ruoxi from Kexiang School.”

“Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue from Martial Arts School…”

Everyone introduced themselves one by one, getting acquainted.

“Huh? Why isn’t Jiang Changkong, the top student, here?” a light exclamation came.

“Jiang Changkong, the top student?” The Martial Arts School students looked bewildered. “Is that Jiang Changkong who’s at the peak of stellar qi?”

“Peak stellar qi? You must be joking. Top student Jiang can defeat Star Demons at the late Star Cloud stage.”

Zhang Xiaoyu said discontentedly, “What’s going on with you all? Don’t you know him?”

“I sent Changkong back to the city,” Ji Ziling said. “He’s quite capable, but it’s too dangerous here. I didn’t let him come.”

“Oh, I see,” Zhang Xiaoyu and the others suddenly understood.