Heavens' Laughter

Courtyard, Soaring Academy.

Those who had passed the trials were arranged in neat lines, with more lines forming as others joined.

Each person stood in anticipation, their gazes fixed on the instructors positioned at the front, waiting for them to finally speak.

Feng Shen stood with an air of effortless confidence, a toothpick rolling between his lips as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

To his right was his personal servant. On his left, his little maid clung closely.

Not far from the trio, the Ninth Princess lingered, her posture elegant yet subtly restless, her gaze flickering toward the demon as though she was worried he would look in her direction.

After all, Hè Jun had hoped she had done a good job.

She had taken it upon herself—or rather, had discreetly ordered it done—to spread the rumors far and wide.

These rumors whispered that the men and women slaughtered during the first trial had met their fates at the hands of her brothers.

It was a calculated move, a seed of suspicion sown with care, and now Hè Jun waited anxiously to see if it would bear the fruit she intended.

Or else…

Hè Jun knew all too well that if they didn't believe her, her head would be as good as gone.

A shiver ran down her spine as she gulped, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead despite the chill in the air.

"Please grant mercy upon me, Heavenly Dao…" Hè Jun whispered under her breath.

She felt as though she were already standing on the execution stage, the weight of the axe looming above her.

Her fate now hinged on the Heavenly Demon's judgment, on whether he deemed her innocent or guilty.

The waiting was excruciating, a suffocating terror that left Hè Jun feeling like a prisoner in her own skin.

"Um… Second Young Master… why does the Ninth Princess keep glancing over here?" Yùn Yì whispered, her voice low as she leaned closer to him, twirling a lock of her hair between her fingers in a nervous, distracted motion:

"Did you do something to her?"

Yùn Yì's eyes flickered toward the Ninth Princess, who, despite trying to maintain an air of composure, seemed to be struggling with an inner turmoil that made her appear as though she were having some sort of midlife crisis.

Shrugging his shoulders casually, Feng Shen glanced over at the woman in question, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Who knows," he mused, his voice laced with a hint of amusement, "maybe she feels like her time is running out… her life, that is~."

Feng Shen chuckled softly, as though the notion amused him more than it should. His gaze lingering on the Ninth Princess, almost predatory.

Of course, Feng Shen had no intention of letting this woman live.

After all, the Ninth Princess knew far too much, and that alone made her a liability.

She wasn't under his control through loyalty or favor—only fear.

And those who were bound by fear were always the quickest to betray.

Feng Shen had seen it happen countless times before.

Besides, the Ninth Princess no longer served any purpose to him.

There was nothing she could offer that would make her worth keeping around, especially if her knowledge was more dangerous than useful.

In the end, her fate was sealed, her usefulness long expired.

'Next time I get my hands on this princess, I'll rip her life away with a single, satisfying punch~! Blow her head off clean~. And then, I'll send her entire family into the Reincarnation Cycle.' Feng Shen thought to himself.

The dark amusement bubbling inside him was almost too much to contain.

Feng Shen had to clamp down on it, forcing himself to suppress the laughter that threatened to explode from him.

Seeing the Second Young Master trying to hold back a massive grin, Yùn Yì tilted her head in confusion for a moment, but then it hit her like a bolt of lightning:

'Now I get it!'

Yùn Yì understood exactly what was happening now.

Her eyes narrowed as she glanced back at the Ninth Princess:
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'This bitch is trying to steal my man!'

A flash of possessiveness surged within Yùn Yì:

'How dare she!'

Yùn Yì knew that many women would inevitably develop a crush on her Second Young Master, and she was fine with that.

She knew he would have plenty of wives, after all.

But there was one thing Yùn Yì had to be—number one.

She was the one who decided which women were worthy and which weren't.

And as far as Yùn Yì was concerned, the Ninth Princess was not allowed!

The woman was far too tomboyish, too wild, and not at all the type of woman who could hold the title of a wife.

'I will not allow this!'

So, Yùn Yì cast a quick glance at the other woman she wasn't particularly fond of, but had accepted due to her status with the Second Young Master.

Leaning in slightly, she whispered across to her, her tone laced with subtle irritation:

"Hey, what are we going to do about this bitch?"

No response…

Cai Xiu stared ahead, her gaze distant and unfocused, as though she were lost in a world of her own.

Her eyes appeared empty. Her mind replayed the events of last night on an endless loop—the visit from her Master.

Who had shown no mercy…

Cai Xiu could still feel the weight of his power, the sting of his "punishment".

'Why was he so rough?' Is what repeated over and over in her mind like a broken record.

Feeling ignored, Yùn Yì rolled her eyes in annoyance, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

She huffed, turning her head to the side with a defiant pout, then glanced back toward the front.

A sense of clarity washed over Yùn Yì, mixed with frustration—she understood now that she would be alone in this matter.

No one else would take action.

The problem was hers to deal with, and Yùn Yì wasn't about to let anyone, especially the Ninth Princess, enter the Second Young Master's harem:

'Fine… I'll deal with this bitch by myself.'

Suddenly…

A loud voice was heard:

"The Headmaster is arriving! No more whispering!"

As those words fell…

The doors of the front entrance creaked open, revealing the Headmaster.

He was an imposing figure, a bird-man with a majestic avian head, feathers glistening in shades of deep black and gold.

His wings folded at his sides, and his sharp talons gripped a cane, which he held.

He was dressed in a flowing black robe. As he walked out alone, the silence that followed him felt heavy.

Nobody dared to utter a word. The students immediately straightened their postures, their backs rigid and their eyes fixed forward with respect.

On the other hand, Feng Shen couldn't help but smile widely as he observed the Headmaster.

The sight of a Demi-Human running the Soaring Academy struck him as incredibly hilarious.

'You can't make this up…' Feng Shen thought.

The absurdity of it was almost too much to bear.

Naturally, Feng Shen showed no respect—he would never offer such a thing to anyone, especially not to a Demi-Human.

Instead, he casually yawned, his disinterest clear as day.

Standing in front of the instructors, the Headmaster paused and cleared his throat.

He scanned the sea of faces before him, his sharp, observant eyes lingering on each one as if weighing their worth.

When the Headmaster's gaze landed on a certain young man, yawning with blatant disrespect, a weary sigh escaped him.

'This younger generation shows no respect anymore…' he thought to himself, a pang of disappointment in his chest.

The Headmaster's talons tightened around his cane, the slight frustration hidden beneath his calm exterior.

Shaking the negative thoughts from his mind, he opened his mouth:

"First, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you who have successfully passed the Three Trials. Welcome to the Soaring Academy. This is a time for growth and learning."

The Headmaster paused for a second:

"Remember that the knowledge you gain here will not only shape you, but will also prepare you for your future endeavors. Whether you choose to join a sect or pursue your own path, the experiences and lessons you acquire at this academy will guide you every step of the way."

The Headmaster paused once more for a second, as he glanced back at the instructors:

"Now, I will allow the instructors to select the students they wish to teach."

As the Headmaster finished speaking, he stepped to the side, his movement deliberate and purposeful.

It was a subtle signal, a clear indication that the formalities had ended and the next phase had begun.

Knowing the signal had been given, the instructors began taking turns, each choosing the students they wished to teach.

One by one, the students stood in silence, their hearts racing as they anxiously awaited.

'If I don't get chosen, I'm blaming it on the alignment of the stars!'

'please, pick me! I promise I'll only use my powers for minor inconveniences!'

'I've been training my whole life for this… well, actually, I trained for like, two days. But still!'

'I'm superb at carrying heavy things. One of the instructors has to choose me, right?'