Badass Celestial Emperor Returns!

(22) A Provocative Smile

"Third rank." Head Teacher Hei Su said as he retracted his hand. No matter how many times he checked Zi Yingjun's dantian, it was still in the third rank. "Zi Clan won this season's Three Clan Academy Competition." he solemnly announced. A strange look appeared on every single one of them.

Hei Clan have solemn looks in their eyes, Jin Clan gazed on Zi Clan in disdain. As for Zi Clan's reaction, they were stupefied. Admiring and hateful gazes were sent to Zi Yingjun but he remained unmoved. The two clan decided to send their gifts tomorrow and the competition ended like that. Head Teacher Zi Lao Shui kept Zi Yingjun beside him, continuously praising his tactics.

Zi Yingjun only nodded, not even smiling or frowning. He looked really calm which gave his appearance a tranquil temperament. In his mind, he was praising the old man's recipe of Cultivation Base Deceiving Pill. Ah, he was only a young man when he met that old alchemist who him taught him his legacy. Though he did not admit Zi Yingjun as his disciple, with his old physique, he taught every knowledge and pill recipes to Zi Yingjun like how a master taught his student. Their interaction started at first when Zi Yingjun kindly helped the old man from a near death situation.

Zi Yingjun smiled coldly in his heart. He is undoubtedly satisfied with his scheming abilities that he was able to fool three clans at the same time. Well, they can discover he is part of the murder if they can hire a capable investigator. In Southern Border, there is a super force that produced witty and cautious cultivators. Investigating the truth is their greatest pride as many demonic cultivators and sinful people has been detained by them. With their abilities and if they use a special method, they can break Zi Yingjun's Cultivation Base Deceiving Pill.

Unfortunately, that clan wont meddle with a small-scale force's conflict. As a result, Zi Yingjun can live freely and Jin Xuan Meng will get punished accordingly. However, Jin Xuan Meng have a chance to prove his innocence but it is quite low. Unless he wants to be humiliated and become a laughing stock, Jin Xuan Meng wont use that secret as a proof he have nothing to do with Hei Xue's death. Zi Yingjun is already fooling everyone of them and this is just the start, there will be more schemes he can come up to.

The news of Zi Yingjun claiming the first place in the Three Clan Academy Competition immediately reached Zi Clan. Most of the clansmen were unwilling to accept it while those who knew little about his origin, started to admire him. It is already late at night and Zi Yingjun decided to rest after cultivating. He pondered for a moment when he recalled something important.

"It's impossible for Zi Ming Yun to gift all Zi Xian's assets to the two clan in these sixteen years." he sat upright on his bed, the pale moonlight that sneaked in his room illuminated his serious expression. After a moment of thinking, a sly smile hung on his face. 

"Meng'er, you killed Hei Xue?" Jin Xuan Pei asked. He stood in front of the open window that showcased the full bright moon. His study was not lit with candle. The moonlight permitted freely inside as a silhouette in gold brocades stepped out of the dark.

It was a young woman within her fifteenth age. She have an incomparable beauty that can match Jiang Mei Hua. Her eyes though, were in the color of gold.

"Brother, you know I wont kill a person! Besides, even if Im strong, I won't use such unrighteous method just to win!" Jin Xuan Meng clenched her fist with her eyes pleading at him.

"Then how did you get Hei Xue's armaments?" he turned back with a cold look. Jin Xuan Meng gritted her teeth. She recalled the scene before she came out of Spirit Beast Valley.

"Someone left it. There is a guy, he knows my true gender. Brother, we both know if they found out, Jin Clan will kill us! I chased that guy but he evaded my attack and his qiankun bag fell. That is where I got the qiankun bag. He is cloaked so I don't know how he looks like but his voice, I recognized it." she hesitantly said. Jin Xuan Meng rubbed her arm then looked up to her elder brother. "Zi Yingjun."

"Him?" puzzled, Jin Xuan Pei frowned. Zi Yingjun is a third rank Qi Refinement cultivator, how can he take down Hei Xue in one move? "Meng'er, are you sure?"

"It was him! Now that Im thinking about this, Zi Yingjun plotted to win first place." Jin Xuan Meng also cant believe it but when she heard his voice over and over again, she is sure the cloaked man was him.

"If it was Zi Yingjun, how did he deceive that old hag?" Jin Xuan Pei trusted his younger sister. The two of them had been scheming other people all their lives and each wont lie to the other.

"Brother, no matter what, Zi Yingjun's scheme may look flawless but there are no perfect plan. We can prove he killed Hei Xue."

"You are right, let us investigate him first." he glanced behind him, whereas the moon's reflection flickered within his deep yellow iris.

The next morning, it was exactly Sunday. Zi Yingjun was called over the main hall of Zi Clan. That is to accept the tributes of both Jin and Hei Clan then receive the reward of Zi Clan. He also wont miss this chance to take over his late birth mother's assets.

"Jin Clan presents a thousand spirit crystals with an inferior level sword in space attribute."

"Hei Clan presents a thousand spirit crystals and a bow made of hundred years old ice in the inferior level."

"Hoh. Yingjun made a good contribution to our clan. Servants, receive the gift." Zi Ming Yun was ecstatic. The shame his clan suffered through generations was finally replaced.

"Clan Leader, where are you taking the compensations?" an attractive voice rang out amidst the chattering of envoys and elders. Zi Yingjun who is standing below the clan throne, turned to Zi Ming Yun with a provocative smile.