The Sky Academy acted very fast.

Li Tianlan and his partners got the news when they were attending the Snipe Lesson. Meanwhile, the personnel transfers of the Sky Academy spread throughout the academy.

Ye Fengcheng, Tribulation, Liu Xiuyuan, and Bai Youming.

From their behind, it was not difficult to see the choice and attitude of the several big groups in Zhongzhou State toward the Sky Academy. The transfer of Tribulation, Ye Fengcheng, and even Bai Youming were undoubtedly the results of the secret cooperation between the Academics, Giant Group, and the Wang family of Beihai. As for the matter that Liu Xiuyuan joined the Sky Academy, it was a major movement that the Special Warfare Group conducted in order to manage the teaching affair office and help the extremely passive Gu Yunxia to turn the tables.

But it was clear that Kunlun City’s seemingly brilliant move was indeed a bad move. On the surface, Liu Xiuyuan’s stance could not be changed for the time being. But privately, as Li Tianlan’s fierce dog, if Liu Xiuyuan joined the teaching affair office, Li Tianlan would be able to grasp some of the situations in the office through him in a sense.

Moreover, Tribulation was transferred to the Political Department.

Tribulation was really someone on his own side, unlike Zhuang Huayang, who was merely a cooperator of his.

Li Tianlan’s roots at the Sky Academy finally stabilized.

Facing the general trend of Zhongzhou State or even of the Dark World, he was as small as an ant.

But at least in the Sky Academy, he had the qualifications to join the game.

Liu Xiuyuan, Liu Dongyu…

Perhaps neither Gu Yunxia nor Gu Youlan had expected that the father and daughter were two magnifying glasses that Li Tianlan put beside them. What they did most of the time was under Li Tianlan’s secret observation.

Now Li Tianlan’s foundation was still weak, but he had basically built his team. Compared with his weak foundation, his strength was his biggest shortcoming.

“The new instructor of the Actual Combat Lesson is actually a nominal disciple of Jade Pool. Qiancheng, she’s from the Border Control Corps, right? Well, do you know her?”

Sitting in the last row of the school bus, Li Baitian asked casually as he looked at the announcement on the screen of his wristwatch.

“Bai Youming is the First Miss of the Bai family. It is said that the name was given by Great Master Wuwei, so she’s also one of the nominal disciples of Great Master Wuwei. Her relationship with Hua Qingfeng—the leader of Shadow Sect and also the expert who ranks tenth among the top ten contemporary masters in Zhongzhou State, is kind of like student and teacher. Her status in Jade Pool is special. Although she is merely a nominal disciple, she enjoys the treatment the same as that of the direct disciples. She mainly practices Floating Life Sword Storm and Flying Fire Meteor Sword. She’s now at the stabilization phase of the Thunder-shocking Realm and has the battle strength that is arguably excellent than that of Yang Mengjiang. This time she came to the Sky Academy, which was unexpected.”

Ning Qiancheng pulled open the window of the school bus and lit a cigarette, saying calmly.

Nearby them, there were several students from other dorms who were going to class with them. Smelling the smell of cigarettes floating inside the bus, nobody spoke. A few people who were closest to them got up in silence and moved away from them.

Ning Qiancheng put out the cigarette calmly and looked at Li Tianlan without saying anything.

“What’s the matter? Is there anything you can’t tell me?”

Li Tianlan asked smilingly as he noticed the looks in Ning Qiancheng’s eyes.

“Bai Youming might come here with evil intentions this time…”

Ning Qiancheng cast a glance at Wang Yuetong after hesitating for a while.

The little princess had already put her arms around Li Tianlan’s neck. While biting his ear, she said coquettishly, “Qiancheng is the confidant of Marshal Dongcheng, thus, there’s gossip that he cannot say casually. Bai Youming is the niece of Bai Qingqian—the secretary of Guandong Province, and she’s also Marshal Dongcheng’s niece-in-law. In terms of reputation, Bai Youming is even as famous as my Second Uncle.”

“It seems that Marshal Dongcheng and Bai Qingqian have been estranged from each other over the years. There’s great conflict between Bai Qingqian and the Old Master of Dongcheng Clan. Of course, Bai Youming is going to help her aunt. The Old Master thinks highly of you, but that’s not the case with Bai Qingqian. What’s more, the aunt and niece are members of the Bai family. Bai family, Zou family, and Dongcheng Clan are the backbone that forms the Giant Group in Zhongzhou State. Dongcheng Clan values you, but if the Bai family doesn’t like you, Dongcheng Clan, especially Marshal Dongcheng, will be put in a pickle then.”

Li Tianlan’s expression was calm.

If that was the case, Dongcheng Wudi was not alone, because perhaps he himself would be put in a pickle too. Most of the time, the “enemy” who was not the true enemy was the most troublesome. If Bai Youming really made trouble for him, he must consider how to retaliate without damaging his relationship with the Gaint Group. After all, no matter what Dongcheng Clan planned to do, at least it treated him well now.

“But it is said that Dongcheng Qiuchi and Bai Youming are on good terms, and this may be a key to breaking the ice.”

Wang Yuetong continued to advise Li Tianlan.

“Let’s take it one step at a time. It’s not necessarily what we think it is.”

Li Tianlan smiled quietly, but there was a flash of meditation in his eyes.

After Master of Samsara Palace and Governor of Sigh City challenged two Invincible Realm experts from Kunlun City respectively, the transfers of Sky Academy were quickly made public.

The transfers involved four people, namely Ye Fengcheng, Tribulation, Bai Youming, and Liu Xiuyuan.

Ye Fengcheng represented the Wang family of Beihai.

Bai Youming’s joining the Sky Academy signaled the intention of the Giant Group to meddle in the academy.

Liu Xiuyuan joined the teaching affair office and represented Gu Xingyun’s face. Even if the Zhongzhou God of War was going to compromise, a fig leaf was required.

Liu Xiuyuan was the fig leaf.

And in the dark, the special group which was sent to Huating to investigate the cause of Gu Changjiang’s death and Yang Mengjiang’s disappearance had secretly withdrawn to Youzhou.

That was the real compromise. This did not mean that Gu Xingyun had given up investigating the truth, it was just that he was too busy for the moment. For Li Tianlan, the longer the period, of course, the better.

Gu Xingyun was allowed to have a fig leaf by all parties.

Tribulation, however, represented the voice of Sigh City in the Sky Academy. Sigh City and the Academics were allies, but allies and friends were two different things.

So, judging by the outcome, the Wang family of Beihai, the Giant Group, and even Sigh City gained in the deal led by the Academics.

The Academics, however, gained nothing!

Li Tianlan was not surprised. Once again, he smelled clearly the aura of intrigue.

He severely injured (later killed) Zhong Shaofeng, killed Gu Changjiang, besieged Yang Mengjiang, and killed Xu Yunzong…

At this moment, he suddenly realized that he seemed to have pushed something forward inadvertently. The smell of intrigue was so palpable that it was almost overwhelming.

It was veiled and fierce. He knew there was something in the wind.

June 15th…

“With less than a month and a half to go, what are the Academics up to?” he thought.

He breathed deeply and looked calmer.

In the general trend, he was just a small potato, but inadvertently, he became a very important pawn. Many things were beyond his control.

“Am I going with the flow or against it?”

“Go against it…”

Li Tianlan said to himself silently and shook his head with a wry smile. How was he qualified to go against the tide?

“Senior brother, what are you thinking about?”

Looking at the thoughtful and silent Li Tianlan, Wang Yuetong asked softly.

“I’m thinking about the Snipe Lesson we’ll have a while later.”

Li Tianlan came to himself and laughed casually.

In the Dark World, no matter how powerful one was, he could never ignore the marksmanship. After he entered the Fire-flaming Realm, ordinary bullets could pose less threat to him. But some specially-made guns, with their special bullets, could still be deadly. Getting shot once or twice may be nothing serious, but a few more shots could kill him. The Sky Academy divided the Firearms Lesson into Firearms Control Lesson and Snipe Lesson, which showed that the academy attached great importance to this aspect.

If we simply compared these two lessons, the importance of Snipe Lesson was definitely above that of Firearms Control Lesson. Snipe Lesson emphasized both theory and practice and was divided into sniping in the battlefield and special sniping. Instructor Wang Tianqing was a master of marksmanship. He was a member of one branch of the Wang family of Beihai and his aptitude on Martial Arts was limited. What was worse, he was even unable to enter the Thunder-shocking Realm in his lifetime. But when it came to marksmanship, he was a veritable wizard. He was good at making guns, refitting them, and using them brilliantly. In this respect, he was not inferior to Wang Shaojie, the group leader of the Firearms Lesson. In terms of sniping, Wang Tianqing was far superior to Wang Shaojie.

It was said that Wang Tianqing was skilled at using a heavy sniper rifle with a ferocious look. Although he was merely at the Fire-flaming Realm, with that sniper rifle, he was unable to make the blood of the majority of Thunder-shocking Realm experts freeze. That was almost a limit that guns could achieve.

In Li Tianlan’s mind, it was okay even if he couldn’t use other firearms well. Nevertheless, he would strive for the best no matter what in Snipe Lesson.

“Senior brother, don’t worry. It’s okay. I’ll talk with my father’s younger male cousin a while later. He won’t deduct your credit even if you fail.”

Wang Yuetong giggled. All this showed that she knew Wang Tianqing very well. “I’ll accompany you to the shooting range tonight. I’m a good sniper. I’ll teach you.”

Li Tianlan smiled at her and nodded.

Although Wang Tianqing was a member of one branch of the Wang family of Beihai, that branch was of great significance. Being the chief instructor of sniper tactics of the Wang family of Beihai, he was a well-deserved high official in this family. It was likely that he personally taught Wang Yuetong marksmanship.

The school bus arrived at the teaching building.

Li Tianlan and his partners got out of the bus and hurried to the classroom in silence.

The classroom of Snipe Lesson was located on the third floor. There were few classmates around Li Tianlan and the whole teaching building was quiet, because he was almost late.

He was about to step around the corner on the third floor.

All of a sudden, a calm, gentle voice came round the corner of the fourth floor.

“Bulky man, you’re a freshman. You should get to know the school first, especially your class. Everyone in this class is outstanding in the academy. Even if you have the strength, you should keep a low profile, and then consider other matters after you know the situation. Do you know?”

“Okay.”

A deep voice answered, quiet and resolute.

The calm, gentle voice went on, “Look out for two people in this class. You’d better leave them alone now and in the future. One is Gu Youlan, the direct disciple of the First Elder of Kunlun City; the other is Li Tianlan, who is even valued by the headmaster. Furthermore, the latter is heartless and cruel. In his hands, no matter who you are, you may not end well.”

Li Tianlan subconsciously stood where he was, due to shock.

It did not occur to him that he should now have such a terrifying reputation in the Sky Academy.

The two men came down the stairs and their footsteps drew nearer.

A middle-level leader of the teaching affair office accompanied a man of about 30 years old to slowly go downstairs.

Li Tianlan finally realized why the 30-year-old man was called “bulky man”.

That was simply not an apt description for him.

He was more like a little giant!

He was a very muscular man with a firm and chiseled face who was nearly two meters tall. His momentum was steady yet fierce, like high mountains and raging fire.

Subconsciously, Li Tianlan’s pupils contracted slightly. Feeling the almost overwhelming force, he was heavy-hearted.

“Is this a freshman?”

“Is this a freshman who just came to register?” he thought.

The teacher, who accompanied the bulky man, saw Li Tianlan. He froze at once. He thought of what he had just said, and though he did not know whether Li Tianlan had heard it or not, he was a little guilty himself at first. He paused and forced a smile, saying, “Tianlan, you’re here.”

“Hello, teacher.”

Li Tianlan greeted him with a warm smile.

The teacher nodded and walked on to the classroom with the bulky man.

The bulky man moved but stopped abruptly.

“Are you Li Tianlan?”

His gaze fell directly on Li Tianlan as he asked. However, it wasn’t a hostile tone. But the oppressive feeling which he exuded naturally made Li Tianlan straighten up instinctively.

“Yes, I am.”

Li Tianlan answered calmly.

The bulky man took a deep breath. The next second, he hurried down the steps and walked directly toward Li Tianlan.

Li Tianlan was taken aback and his body shook.

Unexpectedly, the bulky man who walked up to him suddenly got down on one knee in front of him.

He was nearly 150 kilograms, but he didn’t seem obese. As his tall and strong body knelt, the entire corridor seemed to shake violently.

The bulky man slowly lowered his chiseled face and said in a deep voice, “Xu Chu, pay my respects to Young Master Tianlan.”

Everyone present was dumbfounded.

Even Young Master Tianlan himself was completely confused.