"But..."
"But what?" Yan Ruxue sent a magic projectile directly at the person's location. Fortunately, the person had already sensed something was wrong and dodged quickly, otherwise, they would have been hit by Yan Ruxue's attack.
"You're crazy!" Although the person had always listened to Yan Ruxue, she didn't think her status was lower than Yan Ruxue's. After all, they had now pledged allegiance to another academy, and they would all start as the lowest-ranking junior sisters. There was no hierarchy among them.
She was merely being polite to Yan Ruxue because Yan Ruxue was currently the highest in cultivation among them. However, Yan Ruxue had always treated them this way, even resorting to violence at times, which had displeased them.
"Am I crazy, or are you thinking too highly of yourself?" Yan Ruxue looked at the female disciple with a mocking expression. "You were the one who actively sought me out back then. I don't need help to achieve what I want to do. But what about you? If I hadn't introduced you, do you think you could have left Gunan Academy?"
"Hmph, everyone knows that the former Gunan Academy was a place envied by all. Now, it's a place everyone avoids! Disciples who enter here are like entering a tomb for the living. Even if they leave, they will never be looked up to by others again. You don't want to voluntarily withdraw because you have nowhere else to go."
"But you have no connections to get into other academies, so you had to beg me! Since you're asking for favors, then listen to me obediently! I have no need to put on a show for you!"
The people were flushed with anger by Yan Ruxue's words.
Their situation was indeed as Yan Ruxue described.
The only difference was that they could indeed report to other academies if they wished. Their talent must have been good to have been admitted to Gunan Academy.
However, the thought of entering another academy and being mocked, ridiculed, and looked down upon by other disciples made them reluctant. Coincidentally, they knew Yan Ruxue had a way, and she could even make them meritorious in other academies, elevating them in the eyes of others. So why shouldn't they?
Gunan Academy was indeed doomed anyway, so their current betrayal wasn't doing anything wrong. Instead, it was bringing relief to the other people in Gunan Academy.
"We understand."
Though their hearts were unwilling, they could only be forced to obey.
"Hurry up and get out!" Yan Ruxue finally experienced the feeling of being superior. Ever since entering Gunan Academy, her good talent had been overshadowed by others, and her good family background had also been surpassed. Here, she hadn't enjoyed any sense of superiority. Instead, she was often trampled underfoot by Yan Jiaojiao.
Now, she could also give orders to others and do as she pleased. This feeling further fueled her ambition.
This was the life she wanted, definitely not a life of being trampled underfoot by Yan Jiaojiao!
"Yan Jiaojiao, just you wait. I will definitely trample you underfoot in broad daylight and bring about your ruin!"
...
Time passed in a flash.
The day before the Grand Academy Competition, everyone boarded a teleportation array, preparing to head to the competition venue.
This year's Grand Academy Competition was randomly assigned to Mount Wuliang. It was heard that the opening of the Wuliang Secret Realm was imminent, so everyone could probably guess that the Wuliang Secret Realm would be the competition venue.
Unfortunately, they found out too late. Otherwise, they would have had enough time to investigate information about the Wuliang Secret Realm.
However, the good news was that people from other academies also found out the location only a day in advance, so there was no possibility of cheating.
If everyone was at the same starting line, they would have a significant advantage.
Not every disciple of Gunan Academy could participate, so those who were not going stood on a high platform to see them off.
The two sect leaders accompanying the disciples to the competition were Luo Guiyuan and Shangguan Yuan, who had recovered relatively quickly. The other sect leaders would stay behind to guard the academy and protect the other students from harm.
"As long as we don't come in last place."
"We'll be waiting to celebrate your return."
Given Gunan Academy's current situation, they didn't dare to hope for overly good results. They just hoped the academy wouldn't be disbanded.
Those standing on the teleportation array couldn't help but smile.
"Alright."
In fact, after the special training of these past few days, they had gained immense confidence.
However, no matter how they explained it to these disciples now, they would only think they were trying to comfort them. So, it was better to wait until the end and let the results speak for themselves.
Everyone couldn't help but look at Yan Jiaojiao.
She had fully recovered now. After this period of tempering as a mentor, her inherent coolness had been honed into an even sharper edge, making her appear like a peerless sword drawn from its scabbard, earning admiration.
"Be extremely careful when you go this time."
Although the sect leaders of other factions wore smiles, they were all somewhat worried.
The former top academy had fallen to such a state, and everyone must have felt a sense of loss.
As sect leaders, they had once held positions of power, second only to one. Now, they had to be cautious. Some sect leaders had been in low spirits for a long time.
Yan Jiaojiao's gaze swept across everyone's faces. She could truly understand their feelings. After all, when she discovered that she had transformed from an ancient ancestor into a young girl with a shattered inner core on the verge of death, she had cursed the Heavenly Dao relentlessly.
In fact, the people of Gunan Academy were more fortunate than her. She had started accumulating from a negative value.
They at least had a foundation.
Once they endured this period, everyone would have a bright future.
"We're departing."
Everyone had expected Yan Jiaojiao to give a rousing speech before departure. However, Yan Jiaojiao merely said three concise words and then nodded at everyone before activating the array.
Everyone watched in a daze as all of them disappeared into the array.
After a while, they sighed, "As expected of Junior Sister Jiaojiao... ruthless and few words..."
Yan Ruxue and a few others were huddled at the back of the crowd. Seeing Yan Jiaojiao leave, they no longer lingered and turned to leave.
"Hey, where are you going?"
The other disciples of Gunan Academy were very indifferent to Yan Ruxue and her group. After all, these people had the strength to compete but dared not represent the academy. While they knew it was voluntary and couldn't be forced, Yan Ruxue was one of the main culprits and had not made any amends. The others were quite displeased.
"What's it to you? The academy is about to disband, can't we go home first?"
"How dare you speak like that! The academy will not disband!"
Yan Ruxue summoned her spiritual whip and repelled everyone, sneering, "There's no need to talk to these people. What's there to say to a bunch of people who are about to become stray dogs? Let's go."
They had thoroughly fallen out with the disciples of Gunan Academy.
"Let them go," the sect leader said with a grim face as he walked out. "From now on, they are no longer disciples of our Gunan Academy."
Yan Ruxue sneered, "Who cares? Let's go!"