C6 He Saw Someone Being Bullied..

Vast Martial City thrived thanks to the Martial Academy. It was the Academy's disciples who kept order within the city walls. Whether it was the guards at the city gates or the patrols on the streets, all were students of the Academy.

Few dared to cross the Academy's disciples, for the Academy itself was feared by all.

Upon entering the city, Chu Lin immediately noticed the Spiritual Energy in the air, once sparse, now rich and potent. "Incredible, such dense Spiritual Energy!" he marveled.

It was clear why the Academy was revered as the sacred ground for Martial Cultivators across the entire South Territory. Even the Spiritual Energy here, at the base of the mountain, was manifold denser than that of Great Barbarian City.

With his enrollment document in hand, Chu Lin navigated the bustling streets, where vendors hawked spiritual herbs and pills, their calls echoing between the buildings. The prices were astonishing, and Chu Lin silently congratulated himself on acquiring the Broken Copper.

Suddenly, the street ahead erupted in commotion and curses. The crowd swiftly parted, revealing several figures, two of which looked particularly disheveled.

Chu Lin looked up to see a young man and woman encircled by a group. The young man, about sixteen, had a sturdy build but bore bruises on his face as he glared at his aggressors. The girl, beautiful and barely fifteen, had a fiery figure and the delicate beauty of a budding lotus. She, too, faced the group with defiance.

"Yang Hu, I never knew you had such a pretty sister," sneered a man in his twenties, his yellow teeth bared in a lewd grin as his eyes roamed over the girl. "Hand over your enrollment document, and let your sister keep me company for a few days. Then we'll call it even for the bump you gave me, alright?" His companions laughed, ogling the girl with greedy eyes.

Yang Hu spat in disgust, shielding his sister behind him. "Hu Zhi, you're crossing a line. This is Vast Martial City. Once the Law Enforcement Team arrives, you're done for!"

Hu Zhi's smile widened. "Have you forgotten? My uncle Hu Ren patrols this part of the city. You're upset, sure, but what can you do? Lucky for my uncle, your father died early, or he'd never have risen to power."

Enraged by the mention of his father, Yang Hu lost control. "I'll fight you to the death!" he shouted, lunging at Hu Zhi with a clenched fist.

"You're out of your league," Hu Zhi taunted, his Spiritual Energy fortifying his fist to block Yang Hu's blow.

The onlookers paused, pitying Yang Hu as they recognized the uniforms of Hu Zhi's group as those of the Martial Academy.

"Brother!" The girl cried out in alarm, her eyes shutting tight in fear.

But when she opened them again, a lean figure in black stood before her, having dashed forward to shield her brother.

With a swift punch, the stranger sent Hu Zhi flying, a thud resonating as Hu Zhi hit the ground, blood spilling from his mouth in shock. He had the strength of Body Tempering Level Two, yet this person had effortlessly overpowered him.

Hu Zhi's face drained of color. He surmised that this newcomer must possess strength of at least Body Tempering Level Three.

Had Hu Zhi known that the youth before him was also at Body Tempering Level Two, his surprise would have been profound.

"Mr. Zhi!" Hu Zhi's fellow disciples rushed to his aid, eyeing the newcomer warily.

Dressed in black, Chu Lin stood tall, his youthful face marked by an unexpected air of authority. He had not intended to get involved in any conflicts upon his arrival, but Hu Zhi's insult to Yang Hu's father and his resemblance to Mu Rui had struck a nerve. Chu Lin felt an unbidden sympathy for Yang Hu and had acted without hesitation.

After injuring Hu Zhi, Chu Lin's face remained impassive as he uttered a single, icy command: "Scram!"

Hu Zhi glowered, his anger seething. He had wanted to lash out at Chu Lin, but one look into those cold eyes made him swallow his words, leaving the street in silence.

"Let's get out of here!" Hu Zhi bit down on his teeth and stormed off with his fellow Martial Academy students in tow. His usual bravado stemmed from his uncle being the captain of the Southern District Law Enforcement Team, yet he was inherently a coward when faced with true strength. To Hu Zhi, Chu Lin's remarkable abilities at such a young age suggested he might be a prodigy within the Martial Academy.

Despite his bitterness, Hu Zhi cast a spiteful look towards Yang Hu, his sister, and Chu Lin as he departed.

"I'm Yang Hu, and this is my sister, Yang Xiaoxiao. Brother, I can't thank you enough for stepping in to help us. Your kindness won't be forgotten," Yang Hu said, his gratitude evident as he watched Hu Zhi slink away in disgrace, bowing with a fist-in-palm salute.

Yang Xiaoxiao gave Chu Lin a small nod. The color had returned to her cheeks, which had been pale with fright, making her look radiant and captivating.

"I'm Chu Lin. I'm not a senior brother to you. It's my first time here; I'm looking to join the Martial Academy and pursue cultivation," Chu Lin replied with a casual smile, recognizing the decency in Yang Hu that made him someone worth knowing.

"You're new to the Martial Academy?" Yang Hu blinked in surprise, noticing for the first time that Chu Lin wasn't wearing the academy's uniform. His expression turned to one of amazement.

Both only fifteen, yet Chu Lin had managed to defeat Hu Zhi, who was at Body Tempering Level Two, with a single punch. Yang Hu might have found it easier to believe if Chu Lin were already a disciple of the academy. But Chu Lin hadn't even joined yet, lacking the extensive cultivation resources that Hu Zhi took for granted. This alone spoke volumes about the young man's extraordinary talent!