Chapter 281: The Final Rankings!

Chapter 281: The Final Rankings!

"You've got some sense in you, I'll give you that!"

Yan Cangtian released Tong Chengtai's collar and reached into his own pocket, rummaging around for a while before producing a muddy-looking pill. With a hefty slap, he shoved it straight into Tong Chengtai's mouth and forced him to swallow it.

"W-What did you make me eat?" Tong Chengtai said as he retched, trembling all over.

"Don't worry. As long as you behave and remember not to mess with Ling Feng in the future, help him when it's beneficial, and keep him safe when it's risky, I can guarantee you a long life. Otherwise... Well, hehe..."

Yan Cangtian grinned maliciously. "You know my alchemy skills. Even the divine imperial physician can't undo the poison I refine. If you doubt me, feel free to try. Without the antidote I’ll provide every six months, you'll rot from the inside out."

"Y-You're lowly scum!" Tong Chengtai's face turned purple with rage, but no matter how hard he tried to vomit, he couldn't expel the poison.

"Hehehe..." Yan Cangtian chuckled while raising an eyebrow. "You're lowly, so I'm lowly. Well, time's almost up before dawn. Vice-Director Tong, hurry up. If Ling Feng doesn't make it into the top ten in tomorrow's announcement, I have a thousand ways to make you suffer.

"You should know that even if I kill a vice-director or academician, even that old man, Mu Yunsang, can't touch me."

With that said, Yan Cangtian patted Tong Chengtai's shoulder and shot him a look that said, 'Take care of yourself.'

In the next moment, Yan Cangtian vanished from the villa without a trace.

A half-step emperor was indeed extraordinary.

"Yan Cangtian, I'll remember this!"

Tong Chengtai was on the brink of madness, but even though he was unwilling and resentful, he could only follow Yan Cangtian's orders and alter the final results.

Quickly dressing and throwing on a large cloak, Tong Chengtai hurried back to his office.

...

The medicinal herb garden.

Ling Feng was sat cross-legged on the steps in front of the main hall, slowly using the True Art of Xuanyuan.

Finally, Yan Cangtian returned in high spirits. He patted Ling Feng's shoulder and laughed heartily. "Kid, there's no doubt this time. Just wait for the good news tomorrow."

"Thank you, Elder Yan!"

Ling Feng bowed to Yan Cangtian. Even without needing to inquire about the process, just from Yan Cangtian's words, Ling Feng believed that everything was settled.

"Hehe..."

Tong Chengtai twitched at the corner of his mouth. I would never have changed the ranking if it weren't for that cursed Yan Cangtian! Never!!!

But he hadn't expected Lin Xian'er to change her view of him because of this, which was a stroke of luck in his misfortune.

"Hehe, Xian'er, you're right. I've reflected on it a lot since yesterday. Indeed, we should be objective."

Tong Chengtai clenched his fist and sternly lectured Lin Xian'er, saying, "You truly are my most outstanding student. Only you dare to speak so frankly to me!"

"Hehe, so you were testing me, Teacher." Lin Xian'er wiped her tears and smiled. Suddenly, she remembered that Ling Feng still had a misunderstanding about her teacher, so she needed to clarify things with him tonight.

"Alright, you may leave now."

Yan Cangtian's palm print on his face hadn't completely faded yet, and he didn't want his students to see it; that would be too embarrassing!

"Mhmm, mhmm. I'll take my leave. You must be busy, Teacher." Lin Xian'er left the office happily, feeling once again the greatness and nobility of her teacher.

Mhmm, this feeling... It's really nice!

Sigh...

Watching Lin Xian'er leave with excitement, Tong Chengtai rubbed his hot face and muttered to himself, "Could it be that I was truly in the wrong before...?"

The once power-corrupted Tong Chengtai suddenly began to examine his inner self.

Perhaps, with the passage of time, his edges had gradually softened, and the person who once dared to speak out against injustice, who dared to defy authority, had slowly been stifled by himself.

"Ridiculous, truly ridiculous..."

Tong Chengtai shook his head with a bitter smile. "Yan Cangtian, Yan Cangtian... Perhaps, this lesson isn't such a bad thing for me after all..."

He was secretly curious about the young man named Ling Feng.

It seemed like he wasn't hearing that name for the first time.

"If there's a chance, I should see what makes this Ling Feng kid so extraordinary. Even Yan Cangtian, that old lunatic, is willing to stand up for him..."

Tong Chengtai muttered to himself.