There was every reason for Lin Xiao to harbor such deep hatred and resentment toward Chen Beiyuan.
Putting aside the repeated humiliations and suppression that had cost him all his dignity...
This time alone—the opportunity to transform into a dragon—
had come at an enormous price.
On the surface, he had successfully completed the Dragon Transformation, soaring into the heavens and breaking free of his previous limitations.
But behind the scenes...
He had sacrificed far more than anyone knew.
Although the Nameless Medical Scripture had protected him, his cultivation was still far too weak.
After soaking for three consecutive days in the depths of the Poison Dragon Abyss, both his body and soul had been contaminated by dragon venom, leaving behind an irreversible aftereffect.
His fertility...
was gone.
Everything still functioned physically.
But it had completely lost its vitality.
In other words...
He was destined to leave behind no descendants.
For all practical purposes, he was no different from being impotent.
The truth struck Lin Xiao like a crushing psychological blow.
His heart had already begun to twist into something darker.
However...
As the type of miracle doctor protagonist who excelled at patience and hiding his true emotions, Lin Xiao quickly regained control of himself.
"First, I'll leave the secret realm and tell my godfather the good news."
Principal's Office
Jiang Baiyi paused while reviewing a document, as though sensing something.
He raised his eyes.
The next moment, Chen Beiyuan suddenly appeared out of thin air on the office sofa—
In exactly the same position where he had been before using the token.
At the same time, the rust-covered Blood Dragon Token in his hand rapidly corroded before turning into a wisp of smoke and vanishing.
Chen Beiyuan wasn't surprised.
With the collapse of the secret realm, this "key" had naturally lost its purpose.
At that moment, he clearly noticed that Jiang Baiyi's gaze had become noticeably more uncertain.
The Eighth-Rank Battle Emperor had obviously sensed the drastic changes in his physique.
After all...
Chen Beiyuan's physical body was now comparable to a Sixth-Rank Divine Weapon.
Most Sixth-Rank Battle Kings—
and even quite a few Seventh-Rank Battle Emperors—
couldn't match the strength of his flesh.
Compared to before entering the secret realm...
The difference was like heaven and earth.
As one of the world's strongest experts, Jiang Baiyi would have to be blind not to notice.
The imperial princes who had bathed in dragon blood before had never experienced such an outrageous improvement.
Jiang Baiyi smiled.
"It seems you've gained quite a harvest from this trip, Beiyuan."
Chen Beiyuan calmly returned the smile.
"It's all thanks to Principal Jiang's generosity."
"I merely received a few insignificant benefits."
Jiang Baiyi's words carried hidden meaning.
Chen Beiyuan's response was equally flawless.
The dragon egg had already been hidden inside the System Space.
No matter how powerful Jiang Baiyi was, there was no way he could detect the existence of the System.
Without the dragon egg—the greatest secret—
A sudden increase in physical strength alone wasn't enough to cause any real trouble.
At most...
Jiang Baiyi would suspect that he had discovered some hidden opportunity inside the secret realm.
Unfortunately...
The realm had already collapsed.
There was no longer any way to verify anything.
Besides...
Would Jiang Baiyi really risk making an enemy of the Donghua Chen Clan over nothing more than an unconfirmed suspicion?
Did he think Chen Beiyuan was some ordinary nobody who could be bullied at will?
The Donghua Chen Clan was the Empire's greatest military force.
Their power wasn't reserved solely for foreign enemies—
It could just as easily be turned inward.
Because of that...
Chen Beiyuan was completely confident.
Jiang Baiyi naturally understood where that confidence came from.
Since discovering the truth was now impossible...
He might as well earn some goodwill with a simple favor.
After all...
At Chen Beiyuan's current rate of growth, within a hundred years he would undoubtedly stand shoulder to shoulder with Jiang Baiyi as one of the world's supreme experts.
"Hahaha!"
"Beiyuan, you're exactly like your father."
"Every word you speak is watertight."
He laughed heartily.
"How about this?"
"When you have free time, come visit Donghua Academy more often."
"You're one of us."
"This academy is your home."
"It wouldn't hurt to come home once in a while."
"I also know about the unpleasantness during the Academy Tournament."
"I'll personally take care of it."
"I'll settle every grievance from before."
Chen Beiyuan smiled warmly.
"Then I'll leave it in your capable hands, Principal Jiang."
He already had a good idea what kind of favor Jiang Baiyi intended to offer as a gesture of goodwill.
Outside the Medical Institute
Space rippled.
Lin Xiao suddenly appeared in a secluded corner.
Crack!
The token in his hand slowly split apart before shattering into several worthless pieces of scrap metal.
The Poison Dragon Token was nothing more than a one-time key to enter the secret realm.
It could only be used once.
Jiang Baiyi wasn't reckless enough to hand the true key to a complete outsider.
The value of a Large Secret Realm...
Was beyond ordinary people's imagination.
The favor owed by Qiong Baicang had only been worth a single opportunity to enter it.
Lin Xiao silently stared at the broken fragments in his palm.
He clenched them tightly, allowing the sharp metal to pierce his skin.
His understanding of the strength and foundations possessed by the great powers deepened even further.
Everything he had risked his life to obtain...
Was considered utterly insignificant by those standing at the top.
"One day..."
"I'll eradicate every one of you parasites..."
Suppressing the turmoil and ambition boiling inside him, Lin Xiao walked out of the corner and headed toward the Medical Institute.
He wanted to share the good news of his successful Dragon Transformation with his godfather.
However...
The moment he arrived...
He froze.
His expression changed dramatically.
The Medical Institute was already surrounded by academy executives, enforcement officers, and countless Donghua students.
A massive crowd had gathered.
At the center of it all—
His godfather, Qiong Baicang, was being dragged off his hospital bed by several investigators who had previously been guarding him.
Heavy shackles bound both his hands and feet.
Like a worn-out old dog...
He was dragged out of the ward and brought before the crowd for public judgment.
"Qiong Baicang!"
"Following a thorough investigation, the inspection committee has confirmed your crimes of embezzling and withholding academy resources."
"By direct approval of the Principal, you are hereby stripped of all administrative positions."
"From this moment onward, you are no longer a member of Donghua Academy."
"What awaits you now is the fair and impartial judgment of Imperial law."
Vice Principal Liu spoke with righteous conviction before the gathered students.
At that moment...
He appeared to be justice incarnate.
Meanwhile...
The filthy, disheveled Qiong Baicang lay at his feet like a criminal awaiting sentence.
Just as Jiang Baiyi had once said—
Some things could only be used once.
If you chose not to use them to protect yourself...
Instead exchanging them for your godson's uncertain chance at becoming a dragon...
Then someone had to bear the consequences.
After all...
The academy still owed every student an explanation.
Official business had to be handled officially.
There was no other choice.
And conveniently...
It also served as an effortless favor.
A single effortless favor...
And the Child of Destiny's godfather was gone.
Such was the power of authority.
-------------------
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