The expressions of several sect leaders varied, and all fell silent.
The formation behind them chimed softly, and Xiao Su and Wen Jinshu were also teleported over. Seeing Yan Jiaojiao confronting the five sect leaders, they both revealed astonished expressions.
And behind them, the last three selected scholars were successively teleported in, and astonishingly, Chen Bingbing and Yan Ruoxue, covered in blood, were among them!
At this point, the entire assessment was officially over, and the remaining scholars who had not emerged were also gradually teleported out of the forest.
Yan Jiaojiao, however, had no time to concern herself with these matters. She scanned the five sect leaders one by one and continued, "You all tacitly acknowledge the beast invasion. Yet, you still took no action, watching as innocent scholars died or were injured!"
Yan Jiaojiao's every word resonated with power, her imposing aura no less than that of the sect leaders seated on their chairs!
Below, there were still scholars from the previous Go Nan Academy. Those who had been admitted for years dared not speak to the sect leaders in such a manner. Seeing Yan Jiaojiao actually seeking justice for those eliminated, they were all astounded.
Only Xiao Su and Wen Jinshu, who had experienced the pursuit by demonic beasts together, showed discontent on their faces.
Yan Ruoxue and Chen Bingbing remained silent. Yan Ruoxue, in particular, dared not look up at the radiant Yan Jiaojiao, her hands kneading her clothes revealing her resentful emotions.
After a moment of silence, Sect Leader He Baifeng of the Wood Sect slowly spoke, "I have already dispatched disciples to heal the injured scholars who were eliminated. You are also a person admitted into our sect. There will be ample time in the future. If you have further words, it would not be too late to bring them up after the admission ceremony is completed."
"And what about the scholars who were cruelly murdered by demonic beasts?" Yan Jiaojiao did not back down. "A true man dies for his country and family with honor, and his words are silenced. Yet, in a mere entrance examination, your Go Nan Academy repeatedly makes participants sign waivers of life and death. Even when demonic beasts appeared, you did not halt the assessment, allowing these young lives to be lost in vain. Is such a wicked custom truly justifiable?"
Yan Jiaojiao's words were like thunder, striking all present. Every scholar had experienced the brutal assessment and felt its cruelty, yet they were helpless against such rules of the jungle.
However, who truly wished to die?
Luo Guiyuan's face was already flushed with anger. He most strongly believed that the strong should not bully the weak and saw no issue with the law of the jungle. Facing Yan Jiaojiao's denunciation, he merely considered her a rebellious daughter with no upbringing!
Luo Guiyuan immediately said, "If you are dissatisfied, you are welcome to withdraw from Go Nan Academy. Go Nan does not lack one scholar like you. Cease this clamor here!"
Yan Jiaojiao took out her identification token and, without the slightest hesitation, tossed it onto the ground. The token hit the ground with a resonant clatter, stunning all the scholars present.
This assessment was a near-death trial, and only ten people could pass. Yan Jiaojiao was actually giving up just like that?
Luo Guiyuan had not expected Yan Jiaojiao to be so resolute. He was both surprised and angry, "You are Yan Jiaojiao, right? It is said you were expelled from your main family. Truly, you are obstinate and incorrigible!"
Yan Jiaojiao sneered, "I have always refused to tolerate injustice. I severed ties with the Yan family precisely because the Yan family committed wicked deeds, just as I am returning your Go Nan Academy token. It is all because you disregard human life and act against ethical principles!"
"Do the weak have no right to speak? Everyone wants to be strong, and there will always be someone stronger than you. If one day you become weak and are cast aside like a worn-out shoe, what will you do? Will you deserve to die?"
"Demonic beasts intruded into the territory of Go Nan Academy, and you did nothing. In the future, if someone directly breaks into Go Nan Academy and slaughters at will, will you also stand by and watch as your painstakingly cultivated disciples die tragically? Were the scholars who died in the forest not also painstakingly cultivated by their parents? Is this your law of the jungle?"
Yan Jiaojiao questioned relentlessly, stepping forward step by step. Her imposing aura was unmatched. She spoke for the scholars who died before they could even utter a word, and she fought for this unfair world.
Luo Guiyuan was unable to answer any of her questions. He retreated step by step, and by the time Yan Jiaojiao finished speaking, his robes were soaked with sweat.
The disciples below also showed expressions of indignation, casting admiring glances at Yan Jiaojiao. These were words they wanted to say but dared not, and actions they wanted to take but were afraid to.
The practice of favoritism and stepping on the low to curry favor was already a norm in Go Nan Academy. Especially for the scholars admitted later, none of them were not "trained" well by their senior brothers and sisters. Although it was inevitable that the cycle would repeat later, there was always a deep-seated resentment in their hearts against such rules!
"Hahahaha!"
An inappropriate burst of laughter rang out clearly at this moment. Everyone turned to look, only to see Shangguan Yuan, the sect leader of the Water Sect, clapping his hands and laughing heartily. Clad in white, he possessed the demeanor of a refined scholar, yet he was laughing without restraint, even tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.
"Interesting, interesting!" Shangguan Yuan said as he laughed.
Yan Jiaojiao also turned her gaze towards Shangguan Yuan. It was evident that the other sect leaders were angered by her words, but only Shangguan Yuan was genuinely laughing heartily.
After laughing for a while, Shangguan Yuan finally stopped. He rolled up his sleeves, wiped away the tears from his laughter, and then stood up, bending down to pick up the identification token Yan Jiaojiao had thrown. He then used his sleeve to meticulously wipe off the dust from the token.
Subsequently, he strode up to Yan Jiaojiao's side. Before she could react, he naturally took Yan Jiaojiao's hand and thrust the token back into her grasp.
Yan Jiaojiao had not yet recovered when she heard Shangguan Yuan say, "Oh dear, you are truly amusing. Here, hold your token tight. Thinking that someone as interesting as you will be my disciple, I can foresee that the coming years will be very engaging. I have not met such a delightful disciple as you in a very, very long time."
The crowd erupted in an uproar. That was the sect leader of Go Nan Academy. Although the Water Sect had always been less popular, its sect leader, Shangguan Yuan, was also renowned for his aloofness. He had actually personally picked up the token and returned it to a scholar who had rejected Go Nan Academy?
No one could believe their eyes, not even Luo Guiyuan. He angrily questioned Shangguan Yuan, "What are you doing? If someone like this joins our Go Nan Academy, won't she cause chaos everywhere?"
"Not at all, not at all," Shangguan Yuan said nonchalantly, waving his hand. With a gentle push, he effortlessly pushed Luo Guiyuan back into his seat!
This clearly indicated that he intended to protect Yan Jiaojiao.
"You!"
Luo Guiyuan was choked with rage, but Shangguan Yuan turned to Yan Jiaojiao with a smile, "Little girl, are you still angry?"
Yan Jiaojiao looked at the token in her hand, her brow furrowed, carefully discerning where Shangguan Yuan's tears had fallen. She was somewhat bewildered by his sudden question, and even the imposing aura she had gathered seemed to have dissipated with his laughter and questions.
Was this person the sect leader of the Water Sect? He seemed, quite interesting as well.