A faint smile appeared on Li Fengyuan's lips.
He slowly stood up.
The movement itself was unhurried, almost lazy—but something about it made the atmosphere shift.
"I didn't expect," he said lightly, "that a mere level-1 Array Master would think so highly of himself."
The classroom froze. Everyone's eyes widened, and they couldn't believe their ears.
It seemed like Li Fengyuan had finally snapped, and now even against an elder, he wanted to argue.
Elder Wei's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What did you say?"
Li Fengyuan met his gaze directly.
His tone remained calm, but every word landed clearly.
"You said Array Masters are powerful and respected?"
He paused.
Then his voice turned just a fraction colder.
"But tell me… where does that confidence come from?"
A ripple passed through the room.
No one dared to speak.
"Is being an Array Master enough to look down on others?"
Li Fengyuan continued.
"Are you saying that we should respect you just because you are an Array Master?"
He took a small step forward.
"Then what about the cultivators who fight on the front lines? What about those who gave their lives defending Lingzhuo City?"
Li Fengyuan was obviously hinting that one's respect doesn't stem from a profession but from what one has contributed.
Previously, Elder Wei was talking as if becoming an Array Master would save the world from Demonic Beasts and that people who saw them should bow their heads.
Silence!
"Or…" Li Fengyuan tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharpening, "do their lives simply not matter to you?"
Elder Wei's expression darkened.
"Watch your words," he said coldly.
But Li Fengyuan didn't stop.
"If not," he continued calmly, "then where does this arrogance come from?"
"To stand here and declare superiority as if others are beneath you?"
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"But I suppose…"
He paused deliberately.
"It's to be expected from someone of the Wei Clan."
The words fell like déjà vu. It was similar to what Elder Wei had said to Li Fengyuan.
"Tsk! Tsk! So arrogant," Li Fengyuan said softly, "and with so little respect for others."
The entire classroom felt as if it had been struck silent.
Zhao Dazhu nearly collapsed in his seat.
He actually dared to say it…
Zhao Dazhu knew that Li Fengyuan was extremely arrogant with little regard for others, but he still avoided confronting elders and teachers.
Xiao Mei's eyes also widened as she glanced at Li Fengyuan.
She felt Li Fengyuan was becoming more and more unrecognizable.
Elder Wei's face darkened completely.
A cold aura spread faintly from his body.
"You dare—"
He cut himself off, but the anger was already evident.
His eyes locked onto Li Fengyuan like blades.
"Li Fengyuan," he said slowly, each word heavy with pressure, "do you think that just because you come from the Li Family, you can speak without consequence?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"As your instructor," Elder Wei continued, his tone turning sharp and authoritative, "I have every right to discipline you."
"For your disrespect. For disrupting my class."
A faint pressure descended, subtle yet unmistakable.
Not enough to harm, but enough to suppress.
"Now," he said coldly, "apologize before I report you to the principal."
A collective gasp nearly escaped the students.
Being reported to the academy—that was something every student feared.
It didn't matter whether one was right or wrong.
Once a matter reached the higher-ups, the academy would almost always side with the instructor.
After all, maintaining authority was more important than individual fairness.
And worse—
Their families would be notified.
Parents who didn't care about the details.
Parents who only saw "you caused trouble in the academy."
In the end, the result was always the same.
Punishment.
Scolding.
Disappointment.
Because of that, most students would rather bow their heads and admit fault—even when they knew they were right.
It was a foolish system.
But fear made it effective.
But Li Fengyuan was not the same as them.
Even in his previous life, he had never been someone who avoided trouble.
Yes, he disliked dealing with his parents afterward—
But compared to others?
The threat of being reported meant far less to him.
"Hmph!"
Li Fengyuan let out a faint scoff.
His expression didn't change in the slightest.
"On what basis would you like to report me?"
"If you want to report, then go ahead. I would also like to see what pretext you come up with."
The words fell without hesitation.
This had gone too far.
There was no turning back now.
Elder Wei stared at him for a moment.
Then—
He laughed.
But there was no amusement in it.
"Good," he said coldly. "Very good!"
His sleeves flicked sharply.
"Since you insist—then let's see how long you can remain this arrogant."
Without another word, he turned and left the classroom.
The moment the door closed behind him—
The tension exploded.
Whispers erupted instantly.
"Is he crazy…?"
"He actually dared…"
"He's finished…"
…
Zhao Dazhu grabbed his head.
"Bro… this time you really went too far…"
Even his voice trembled slightly.
But Li Fengyuan simply sat back down.
As if nothing had happened.
As if he had merely swatted away something insignificant.
"What? Do you think I am afraid of him?"
Li Fengyuan replied to Zhao Dazhu.
"Let me tell you, people like him—if you give them an inch, they will take a mile. Don't let them scare you."
Time passed.
No one dared to leave.
No one dared to speak too loudly.
The atmosphere remained suffocating.
Then the door opened again.
Elder Wei returned.
But this time, he wasn't alone.
A second figure walked in behind him.
The moment the students saw who it was, every single one of them stiffened.
The principal had arrived.