Chapter Thirty-Four: Ding Family Town

Zhao Qing had already left, leaving only seven people behind. Chen Long's eyes flickered as he glared viciously at Chen Bo, gritting his teeth. "I know you must have only gotten into Tianyang Academy because of your sister."

"I, Chen Long, want to see how a useless good-for-nothing who can't even cultivate manages to survive in Tianyang Academy. Just don't bring shame to the Chen family and drag us down with you."

He glanced at the other two family groups before continuing, "There are countless geniuses and prodigies at Tianyang Academy. Here, we have no advantage at all. If we want to do well, we must stick together, make others wary of us. What do you think?"

Though his tone seemed conciliatory, there was an undercurrent of threat. As Chen Long's loyal lackeys, Chen Yizhang and Chen Yue immediately chimed in, "Brother Chen Long is right. We should form a group. But in any team, there has to be a leader."

"I think Brother Chen Long is the most suitable. Not only did he suggest we band together, but he's also the strongest among us, and his father is the Grand Elder of the Chen family. By any measure, Brother Chen Long should lead us."

The three from the other families exchanged glances; among these six, Chen Long was undoubtedly the strongest. Chen Yizhang and Chen Yue were about as strong as them individually, but the two Chen family members had a powerful combined technique. The three of them together were no match for the Chen family siblings; they had no choice but to compromise.

Seeing the other families agree, Chen Long nodded in satisfaction, having long since disregarded Chen Bo. Did a useless waste think he could stir up any trouble?

Only the Zhang family prodigy kept a close eye on Chen Bo. Unlike the brainless brute Chen Long, he was shrewd, having grown up under the influence of his father, who managed the Zhang family's business. He didn't believe Chen Bo had gotten in through connections.

If Tianyang Academy allowed backdoor entries, especially for someone useless, he simply couldn't believe it. This was an academy that dared to cripple even royal descendants; would they really open the back door for Chen Bo?

He was convinced Chen Bo was hiding a great secret—so tremendous that even Tianyang Academy took notice and gave him a special place. Perhaps a priceless treasure map, a legendary cultivation manual, or some miraculous life-and-death elixir.

This thought stirred greedy desire in his heart. But remembering Chen Bo's apparent closeness with the academy instructors—especially the terrifying Yu Shifei—made him wary.

Besides, if the academy knew about Chen Bo's treasure and still tried to win him over, it probably meant the treasure was no longer in his possession. The Zhang family prodigy lost his nerve; not even in a thousand lifetimes would he dare steal from Tianyang Academy.

For now, currying favor with Chen Long, the strongest and most gifted among them, seemed the wisest move.

Chen Long ignored Chen Bo, and Chen Bo couldn't have cared less; after all, the guy wasn't a woman, so being targeted by him was nothing to fear!

Just as Chen Bo was about to find his dormitory, he suddenly saw a group heading his way.

There were six of them, clearly new students by their attire. They looked at the group from Yan Town with a hint of amusement. The leader called out, "Well, look who it is! Aren't these the prodigies from Yan Town?"

"My, my, isn't this strange. How did Tianyang Academy end up recruiting this bunch? One of them looks at least eighteen. Hm? Why are there only seven of you? That one over there looks familiar!"

He stared at Chen Bo, thought for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, now I remember! Aren't you the so-called worthless young master from the Chen family in Yan Town? I heard you fell from being a peerless genius to a cripple with shattered meridians about a year ago."

"Tsk tsk, if even someone like you can get into Tianyang Academy, the others can't be much better! Seems Yan Town gets worse every year. Wouldn't it be better to merge with our Ding Family Town sooner rather than later?"

"Once you're part of Ding Family Town, maybe you'll even make it as a third-rate little clan! Don't worry, in Ding Family Town, we'll take good care of you—no need to fear any ruffians coming to cause trouble."

This was Ding Kuan, eldest son of the Ding family in Ding Family Town, which neighbored Yan Town, and a renowned prodigy himself.

The feud between Yan Town and Ding Family Town stretched back centuries. When the Yuan Beasts attacked, their first target was Yan Town. Yan Town called for aid, but Ding Family Town refused, citing a lack of manpower.

Later, when the Yuan Beasts decided Yan Town was too tough a nut to crack and turned on Ding Family Town instead, the tables flipped. Ding Family Town sought help from Yan Town, but Yan Town ignored them, making up some excuse.

Thus the grudge was born. After the Yuan Beasts retreated, both towns openly denounced each other, causing a stir across the entire Tianyang region.

Over the centuries, the rivalry only deepened. Just over a decade ago, it erupted into a full-scale armed brawl, prompting the provincial city to send troops to restore order.

The scandal even reached the imperial court; the emperor, enraged, doubled both towns' taxes, threatening to double them again if it happened once more.

If they still didn't learn their lesson, everyone from both towns would be sent to the frontier as laborers. Only then did things calm down for a decade or so.

Of course, that was just on the surface. Secretly, the undercurrents between the two towns never ceased; neither would let the other off. Even the younger generation, like Chen Bo, knew the old stories.

Now, faced with their century-old rivals and such open mockery, the hot-tempered Chen Long couldn't hold back. "Hmph! Don't lump that backdoor good-for-nothing in with the rest of us!"

"If anything, it's a miracle you lot from Ding Family Town even made it into Tianyang Academy! Yan Town has academy instructors recruiting every year, while for Ding Family Town... well, isn't it every two years at best?"

"I don't know how you have the nerve to judge us—a bunch of losers!"

"Brother Chen Long is right! Ding Family Town is full of petty people—your ancestors were petty, your descendants will be too! Tianyang Academy admitting you is the biggest joke of the year!"

"What do you mean by that, Yan Town? Looking for a fight?" someone from Ding Family Town couldn't help but shout.

Ding Kuan sneered, "Don't stoop to their level. They're not even qualified to make us angry. Our real competition is the geniuses from across Tianyang, not a bunch of losers from Yan Town."

"Damn you, Ding! Say that again if you dare!"

"I said you losers from Yan Town aren't even worth our anger. What are you going to do about it?"

"Brother Ding Kuan is the number one prodigy in Ding Family Town; he could annihilate all of you from Yan Town on his own!"

"Damn it, let's settle this! Bastard!"

"Screw it, let's fight!"