Lin Hai!
The moment he saw him, Smith's heart instantly tightened.
He actually found me here?
In addition to Lin Hai, Smith also noticed several familiar faces among the executors nearby.
Among them were the four elite executors from Jinghai College—each one a seasoned fourth-level powerhouse.
"President Lin, long time no see," Smith greeted with a calm smile.
Since there was no use in trying to escape, he gave up the idea entirely.
"Boy, I've been thinking about you day and night since the last time we met," Lin Hai's composed tone couldn't hide the fury brewing beneath.
"Really? I'm flattered that Dean Lin misses me so much," Smith replied nonchalantly.
"You've managed to elude the Executive Department of Jinghai College time and again. I'll give you that. But this time, I won't give you another chance."
Lin Hai's eyes burned with rage. He had finally cornered Smith in person.
It was time to avenge Lin Yun's death—tenfold.
Smith appeared calm, but inside his mind raced for a solution.
Lin Hai was a fifth-level powerhouse. The executors he brought could easily challenge someone at the same level.
His trump cards—One and Three—were formidable, but even with the tailed beasts summoned, escaping might still be impossible.
"I must be the first fugitive to warrant such a large-scale operation led by the South District's strongest," Smith said, chuckling softly.
"Yes, you are indeed the first in history. So I'll make sure you enjoy the honor of being that 'first person.'"
With that, Lin Hai suddenly reached out to grab Smith.
Though it looked like a simple move, Smith felt a crushing pressure descend on him instantly.
Not even the Thunder Bull King, a fifth-level Thunder Spirit, emitted this level of intimidation.
"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique!"
Smith's hands moved swiftly, forming seals in an instant.
"ROAR!"
A fierce wooden dragon burst from the earth, jaws wide open, lunging at Lin Hai.
"Bang!"
With sheer brute strength, Lin Hai caught the dragon's jaws with both hands and tore it apart like paper!
Such was the terrifying might of a fifth-level strength-type ability user.
"I was careless last time and let you escape. Not this time."
Standing atop the corpse of the wooden dragon, Lin Hai drove his fist downward with the power of a landslide.
"So fast!"
Strength-type abilities enhanced every physical trait—attack, defense, and speed. Smith's Sharingan caught Lin Hai's movements, but his reflexes couldn't keep up.
Only thanks to the enhanced senses of Sage Mode was Smith able to dodge just before the punch landed.
"Boom!"
Though he avoided the direct blow, the resulting shockwave sent him tumbling back, blood surging inside him.
"I'll beat you half to death and drag you back myself!"
Lin Hai's voice rang out again, followed by another devastating punch, so quick that Smith couldn't even form a seal in response.
"Not good!"
Just as the fist was about to connect—
"Boom!"
A deafening clap of thunder split the clear sky, and a blinding bolt of purple lightning struck the ground.
Faster than Lin Hai's punch, the lightning forced him to divert his attack. He redirected his fist and met the bolt head-on.
"BOOM!"
Lin Hai stumbled back a few steps, but he remained unharmed. Only a strength-type user could physically resist lightning.
Another bolt of lightning struck and coalesced into a human figure before Smith.
It was Jiang Lei!
"Dad!"
Smith's heart surged with relief.
Jiang Lei turned to see his son. The boy had grown so much in half a year. He smiled with pride.
"You did well, son. You didn't bring shame to your father."
"Of course!" Smith grinned, standing tall.
"Jiang Lei, your lightning system's as powerful as ever," Lin Hai commented, his tone unreadable.
"Lin Hai, you're not laying a hand on my son."
Lin Hai's face turned cold. "Your son destroyed my son's spiritual core. He must pay in blood."
"Nonsense! Your son died trying to ambush mine. He deserved what he got. You failed him as a father, not me."
Jiang Lei's voice thundered, lacking any formal restraint.
"So, you're determined to oppose me?" Lin Hai's gaze darkened.
"Damn right. If I don't protect my son, who will?"
Lightning sparked around Jiang Lei as his spiritual pressure surged.
"You think you alone can protect him?" Lin Hai said coldly.
He could take Jiang Lei, leaving the others to finish off Smith.
"Dean Lin, count me in."
A calm voice cut in as a figure in purple emerged from the woods.
It was Xi Yan, the second director of Huaihai College's Executive Department.
Lin Hai scowled. "Director Xi, are you here on behalf of the Xi family or Huaihai College?"
"I represent only myself. You may interpret that however you wish," Xi Yan replied evenly.
Though his words were neutral, his presence alone meant he would not stand aside.
With Xi Yan, the balance of power shifted. Lin Hai no longer held the advantage.
Still, his face merely darkened. "Both Executive Directors of Huaihai College are here. Should I take this as an official stance? Where's Wang Daochuan?"
As if summoned, the president of Huaihai College, Wang Daochuan, appeared.
"Lin, isn't this a bit excessive?" he asked, shaking his head.
"I knew you old bastard wouldn't be far behind," Lin Hai muttered.
"So this means Huaihai College is declaring war against Jinghai?"
"Why not? Think I'm scared?" Jiang Lei shouted.
Xi Yan remained silent—his stance clear.
Wang Daochuan sighed. "Smith is our student. If he's to be punished, it's by us."
A tense silence followed as the confrontation teetered on the edge of eruption.
The two great colleges of the region now stood toe-to-toe, their greatest fighters ready for war—all for the sake of a single student.
Smith.
Because if a father doesn't protect his son, who will?
Yearly access offer 50 percent and monthly offer 25 percent
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)