Chapter 285: Waving a Feather as a Decree

The young man was none other than Hu Yong, Long Yuyin's fiancé.

"Nie Li, how dare you injure Long Yuyin! You must have a death wish!" Hu Yong stepped forward and grabbed Nie Li by the collar.

"All of you are from the Dragon Seal Family?" Nie Li looked coldly at Hu Yong and his group, letting out a snort.

"Today I'll make sure you die knowing why. My name is Hu Yong, and I'm Long Yuyin's fiancé!" Hu Yong glared at Nie Li with rage. Nie Li's brazen composure only fueled the fire burning in his chest.

"Long Yuyin's fiancé? The one she crippled? I can't believe you'd actually stand up for her," Lu Piao said, glancing pointedly down at Hu Yong's crotch before bursting into three loud laughs. "Don't think your threats mean anything to us, and don't think we don't know the rules of the Celestial Spirit Institute. If you dare lay a hand in here, I'll actually be impressed!"

Hu Yong's face twisted with humiliated fury. He tightened his grip on Nie Li's collar, his expression turning vicious: "Don't think I wouldn't dare touch you!"

"Then go ahead and try," Nie Li said calmly, looking at Hu Yong without the slightest concern.

Hu Yong was seething. He had brought nine Celestial Destiny realm experts with him — there was no way Nie Li could resist. But the damned rules of the Celestial Spirit Institute meant he couldn't make a move inside its walls!

Hu Yong let go of Nie Li and stared at him, a cold glint flashing through his eyes. "Don't think that Institute rules can protect you forever. You're way out of your depth trying to play games with me! Hu Tian, take these three along. Let's invite our three esteemed guests somewhere private for a nice little chat!"

"Yes!" A cruel smile crept across Hu Tian's lips. "Gentlemen, shall we go?"

They couldn't kill Nie Li and the others — the Institute would investigate — but teaching them a lesson was certainly within reach.

The combined pressure of nine Celestial Destiny realm experts bore down on Nie Li and Lu Piao, rendering them immobile. The intention was to drag them to a secluded corner. Xiao Yu, however, was completely unaffected. He was only a hair's breadth away from the Fourth Destiny realm, though he made no move, silently weighing his options. If it came to a fight, he alone couldn't handle this many Celestial Destiny experts.

He hadn't expected Hu Yong to resort to such underhanded tactics just to save face.

"Heh, looks like childish tricks are all you're good at," Nie Li said with a contemptuous glance at Hu Yong. "It's like kids fighting in a schoolyard — I punch you, you punch me back. How incredibly immature!"

Seeing that dismissive look in Nie Li's eyes, Hu Yong nearly exploded. He felt utterly belittled. "Still talking tough when death is staring you in the face!"

"You really think you can take us today? Dealing with you lot, I wouldn't even need to lift a finger myself!" Nie Li folded his arms across his chest, a mocking smile playing at the corner of his lips as he regarded Hu Yong.

"None of you have even reached the Celestial Destiny realm. If I can't take you three away today, I'll write my name backwards from now on!" Hu Yong snorted furiously. He already thought of himself as arrogant, but this Nie Li fellow was even more brazen — facing so many of them, he still dared to speak this way. "Take them away!"

No sooner had the words left Hu Yong's mouth than a slightly weary, low voice came from behind: "Young Master Hu, I'm afraid you won't be taking these three anywhere."

"I'm taking them today. I'd like to see anyone who dares stop me!" Hu Yong snapped in irritation. He wanted to see who would dare stand up for Nie Li and his friends. He turned his head to look, and his gaze froze.

Two figures were walking slowly toward them. Hu Yong recognized both — one was Nanmen Tianhai, the other Huang Yu. Both were elder-level figures, high-ranking members of the Celestial Spirit Institute. Even the higher-ups of the Hu family had to treat them with utmost courtesy. Moreover, Hu Yong himself was a student of the Institute, subject to its rules!

"Young Master Hu, within the Celestial Spirit Institute, you cannot act as you please. These three students are among the most talented of our young generation. No one is permitted to lay a hand on them. Even if they have committed some offense, it is the Institute's Disciplinary Hall that must pass judgment," Huang Yu said, fixing Hu Yong with a steady, grave gaze. "Young Master Hu is also a student of this Institute. Whether now or in the future, should you dare openly violate our rules, then we will have no choice but to impose penalties."

Hu Yong's heart sank with frustration. Only then did he realize that Nie Li had outmaneuvered him.

With Nanmen Tianhai and Huang Yu present today, there was absolutely no chance he could touch Nie Li. Worse still, with these two elders keeping watch, he wouldn't be able to make a move in the future either. Hu Yong seethed inwardly and shot a vicious glare at the three of them.

"Just a moment ago, Young Master Hu said that if you couldn't take us away, you'd write your name backwards!" Lu Piao said with a cheerful grin at Hu Yong.

"Just you wait. I won't let you off easy. Once you reach the Celestial Destiny realm, don't even think about stepping outside the Institute — go out once and die once!" Hu Yong cursed through gritted teeth. He swept a glare over his nine Celestial Destiny experts and barked, "Let's go!"

The group cast one last vicious look at Nie Li and the others, then turned and left.