Zhu Chang staggered, as if all the strength in his body had been drained, and collapsed onto the ground.
His face was ashen, and he felt his life had turned bleak.
At this moment, Zhu Chang was filled with regret.
Knowing that Zeng Qiyan was heartless, why did he have to follow him to the bitter end, only to end up in such a state?
If he had stayed at Langya Academy, at worst, he could have lived out his remaining years peacefully and contentedly.
Now, with his cultivation lost and abandoned, he was left with no support and his future was bound to be desolate.
As a cultivator, who didn't have enemies in the world? Zhu Chang had offended many people before. He could imagine that once those people learned of his plight, they would surely not let him go.
Zhu Chang knew he was finished!
Not long ago, he had mocked Langya Academy for being on its last legs, only to find that he himself was the first to go!
"What about me? Although I haven't reached the Emperor realm, I'm quite skilled at teaching students."
Wu Kong's face was filled with panic, truly fearing that he too would be abandoned.
"Wu Kong is quite decent."
Zeng Qiyan, showing a sliver of conscience, spoke up for him.
"Your cultivation is insufficient, so teaching is out of the question. However, you could serve as a handyman."
Liu Song said indifferently, this was considered giving Zeng Qiyan some face.
"A handyman?"
Wu Kong's heart sank.
When he was at Langya Academy, he was deeply loved by his students, with many vying to become his disciples.
Now, he wasn't even qualified to be a teacher and could only be a handyman.
This drastic change left him feeling bitter.
"What, you're not happy?"
Liu Song's voice carried a hint of displeasure.
Wu Kong quickly forced a smile and said, "I'm willing, I'm very willing. Thank you, Elder Liu, for your guidance."
Ultimately, he lacked the backbone to give up this golden opportunity to enter Shengling Academy.
Zeng Qiyan quickly selected his twenty most trusted individuals and secretly left with Liu Song for Shengling Academy. He was too ashamed to face the more than eight thousand teachers and students.
Wu Kong was tragically left behind to clean up the mess.
When he announced that Shengling Academy did not want these people, the crowd was first met with silence, and then erupted into deafening curses.
They had promised to take them to Shengling Academy, but halfway there, they had changed their minds and decided they were no longer wanted.
A sense of being toyed with and humiliation welled up in everyone's hearts.
What was even more infuriating was that Zeng Qiyan didn't even offer an explanation and had simply fled in secret.
The more than eight thousand teachers and students were enraged, cursing Zeng Qiyan's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Then, their attention turned to Zhu Chang and Wu Kong, calling them ungrateful wretches and scoundrels.
It was precisely these two who had come forward to incite and persuade them, and it was by believing their slander that they had fallen into their current predicament.
Wu Kong was spat upon by the crowd and nearly beaten to death. Terrified, he fled in a hurry.
Zhu Chang, dejected, gritted his teeth and cursed, "Zeng Qiyan, you are so ungrateful, you will surely face retribution. Just you wait, you will lose your bet with Ji Mo and ultimately have to kneel at the gates of Langya Academy and curse yourself as a bastard ten thousand times."
He quietly slipped away, trying to avoid the crowd, intending to find a secluded place to live in hiding, hoping to survive until Zeng Qiyan's downfall.
Meanwhile, a few pairs of malicious eyes had been keeping a close watch on Zhu Chang's movements. Seeing him leave, they secretly followed.
In the eyes of some, Zhu Chang, having lost his cultivation, was a plump sheep. The wealth accumulated by an Emperor realm cultivator was enough to stir evil thoughts and lead to murder for gain.
"Since Shengling Academy doesn't want us, then we'll return to Langya Academy."
Someone in the crowd shouted loudly.
"Can we still go back? Ji Mo publicly stated that he wouldn't want us anymore."
Many felt uneasy, for they had left with harsh words, vowing never to return to that godforsaken place.
"Who does Ji Mo think he is? With so many of us returning, Song Zhenwei will likely be overjoyed and welcome us warmly."
The vast majority were still confident, believing that Song Zhenwei had no reason to refuse their return.
This group returned to Langya Academy, only to be blocked at the school gate.
Langya Academy's stance was firm; they would not accept these people again.
These people immediately erupted.
They had thought that saying they wouldn't come back if they left was just lip service, but it turned out to be true. Langya Academy was determined not to have them.
Many in the crowd broke down on the spot, weeping bitterly, their intestines filled with regret.
Others cursed incessantly, railing against Ji Mo for being unappreciative and predicting the downfall of Langya Academy.
As a result, powerful figures from within the academy appeared and dealt with these people.
Enraged, these individuals attempted to incite teachers and students to force their way into Langya Academy, compelling Song Zhenwei to yield.
However, they did not succeed.
From within the academy, a sword light shot straight into the sky, shattering the clouds. A terrifying pressure rippled outwards, leaving these people too scared to even breathe.
They then realized that Langya Academy possessed an immortal sword, and if they dared to act recklessly, they would face certain death.
"Hmph, Langya Academy has less than three thousand teachers and students left. Let's see how you can sustain yourselves."
Many people snorted coldly, waiting to witness the decline of Langya.
Inside Langya Academy.
Song Weixi asked Song Zhenwei, "Old man, are we truly not taking these teachers and students back?"
"No, since Mr. Ji said not to, we will firmly not accept them."
Song Zhenwei's attitude was resolute; he had decided to follow Ji Mo's lead in everything.
Song Weixi's brows furrowed. Langya Academy had always been operating at a loss, barely managing to sustain itself. Now, with nearly eighty percent of its students gone, it meant an eighty percent reduction in income, and it was unlikely to survive.
Cultivation was the most expensive endeavor.
If Langya Academy could not provide sufficient resources for students to cultivate, it would inevitably face closure.
"We need to hold on for at least three to four months, until the academy's ranking competition concludes. Once we achieve a good ranking, all difficulties will be resolved."
Song Weixi rubbed her smooth brow, contemplating where to find money.
"Daughter, for the sake of the academy, it seems I'll have to sacrifice your happiness?"
Song Zhenwei looked at Song Weixi with a face full of shame.
This startled Song Weixi, her face draining of color. "You old fool, you're not planning to sell me for money, are you? To sacrifice my happiness?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Even if I wanted to sell you, someone would have to want you."
Song Zhenwei shook his head and said helplessly, "Actually, I've been saving a dowry for you all along. Since it seems you're not going to get married anyway, this money can only be used to tide us over now."
"A dowry?"
Song Weixi's eyes widened. "With your stinginess, what kind of dowry could you have prepared? How many days could this money keep the academy running?"
Song Zhenwei sighed, "It's not much, just enough for the academy's expenses for two to three years."
"Two to three years!"
Song Weixi was dumbfounded, then her eyes welled up with tears. For the first time, she clearly understood what parental love like a mountain meant.
Enough to support the academy's expenses for two to three years, this was no small sum.
However, Song Zhenwei's next sentence made her explode with anger.
Song Zhenwei said, "Originally, I intended to pay to get you married, but I never expected that no one would want you even if you paid them."
The感动 in Song Weixi's eyes instantly turned into fury, and she began to argue with her old father.