The next morning, Dragon's Hidden Mountain Estate.
Despite moving into a "Cultivation Paradise," life still had to go on.
Wang Fang and Shan De were both beaming. The gentle nourishment of the Spirit Gathering Array had cured Shan De's chronic cold legs and smoker's cough overnight, making him look ten years younger. Wang Fang was thrilled to see the wrinkles on her face visibly fading.
"Xiao Hu, this place is truly magical! It's just this girl, Xiao Su, making me feel so awkward. A high-society heiress serving us tea every day…" Wang Fang lamented while getting Shan Qing ready for school.
Shan Qing was far more excited. She wore her usual ordinary T-shirt and jeans, but in the morning spiritual mist, her skin glowed, giving her a beautiful, healthy complexion.
"Mom, let's go! I'm finally going back to school! Bro, you promised to take me to the Longcheng Elite Academy today!"
Shan Hu was sitting by a stone table in the courtyard, sipping tea brewed with Spirit Spring water and looking over Su Qingxue's new procurement list. He nodded. "Go ahead. Qingxue, arrange a shell company in the Capital first. It will be dedicated to procuring rare materials, preventing the Su Clan from attracting too much attention."
"Yes, My Lord," Su Qingxue replied respectfully.
Shan Hu stood up and patted his sister's head. "Let's go. Your brother will personally drop you off today and hold the fort."
Longcheng Elite Academy.
This was the most exclusive private high school in Longcheng. Students were all the children of the rich and powerful. The entrance was a parade of luxury cars, none costing less than a million.
When Shan Hu parked his family's ancient, hand-me-down Volkswagen Santana, worth less than fifty thousand yuan, at the school gates, it stuck out like a sore thumb.
"Bro, maybe… maybe I should just walk in myself," Shan Qing said, embarrassed.
Shan Hu chuckled. "What, ashamed of your brother's car?"
"No! It's just… I'm worried someone might scratch your Santana."
Shan Hu ignored her, parking the car casually in the most prominent spot available—a space usually reserved exclusively for the School Board Chairman.
Shan Hu stepped out, locked the door, and stood there in his cheap T-shirt amidst the luxury cars. Yet, his presence felt stronger than anyone else's.
Shan Qing, clutching the enrollment papers Su Qingxue had prepared, led Shan Hu into the school.
"Well, well, well, isn't this Shan Qing? Didn't your family live in that run-down neighborhood? Did you take a wrong turn and end up at the Elite Academy?"
As they reached the main academic building, a shrill voice rang out.
A girl named Zhao Xiaolin, dressed in a lavishly expensive designer uniform, blocked their path with two hangers-on. She was Shan Qing's former classmate, used to bullying her because her family had "some" money.
"Zhao Xiaolin, my enrollment is none of your business," Shan Qing frowned.
Zhao Xiaolin sneered, scanning Shan Qing's faded jeans, then glancing at Shan Hu. She burst into laughter.
"Enrollment? Can your family afford the tuition? Elite Academy costs 300,000 yuan per semester! Is that what you call your whole family's net worth?"
She then spotted the Santana parked conspicuously outside, her eyes full of contempt.
"And this must be your brother? Did he drive that junk heap here to apply for a security guard job? How embarrassing!"
A male sycophant behind Zhao Xiaolin chimed in, "Hahaha! A Santana! That thing's a twenty-year-old antique! Even my nanny's car is better!"
Shan Qing's face flushed red with anger, and she clenched her fists.
"My brother is not a security guard! Stop talking nonsense!"
Shan Hu pulled his sister behind him. His expression remained calm, but a flicker of impatience crossed his eyes. He had lived for ten thousand years. This kind of petty, mortal bullying made him want to yawn.
"Are you done talking? If so, get lost," Shan Hu said flatly.
Zhao Xiaolin froze, surprised by the sheer commanding presence of the man in the cheap T-shirt. But her confusion quickly turned to heightened anger.
"Get lost? Who do you think you are? Do you know who my dad is? He's the Marketing Director of the Wang Group! I'll make one phone call, and your piece of junk will be towed and scrapped!"
The Wang Group? Shan Hu's lips curled into an amused, cold smile upon hearing the name.
"The Wang Group? What a coincidence. That Santana… was personally delivered to my housekeeper, Xiao Su, by your Chairman, Wang Dingtian, begging us to accept it last month."
Zhao Xiaolin was bewildered. "Nonsense! Chairman Wang would never give a car to someone like you!"
Just then, an even more arrogant voice rang out from behind them.
"Well, well, this is getting interesting. Zhao Xiaolin, why are you wasting time arguing with a plebeian?"
The newcomer was Wang Lei, a senior. He wore a custom uniform and a limited-edition watch—he was the grandson of Wang Dingtian, Chairman of the Wang Group!
Wang Lei immediately spotted the old Santana parked in the chairman's spot, his eyes flashing with fury.
"Who the hell parked that garbage there? Tow it now!" Wang Lei pointed at the Santana, his tone utterly aggressive.
He walked up to Zhao Xiaolin. He saw Shan Qing and his eyes brightened for a moment, then instantly showed disdain.
"It's you?" Wang Lei knew Shan Qing was a "poor relative" from the old district.
"Shan Qing, what gives you the right to be at the Elite Academy? Who filed your papers? I warn you, stay away from Zhao Xiaolin. Your kind only drags down the quality of this school."
As he spoke, Wang Lei reached out to shove Shan Qing's shoulder, trying to force her away.
For Shan Hu, this was the line. He could tolerate mortal provocation, but he would absolutely not allow anyone, in any way, to touch his sister.
The instant Wang Lei's hand was about to make contact with Shan Qing, a chilling wave of killing intent flashed in Shan Hu's eyes.
He didn't even move.
"Kneel."
He uttered only two words, barely a whisper.
No one heard it, and no one saw anything happen. An invisible, condensed wave of Immortal Emperor Consciousness instantly locked onto Wang Lei.
Wang Lei felt an overwhelming, irresistible force—like an entire mountain range collapsing—suddenly press down on his spine! He didn't even have time to scream.
Thump!
His knees smashed against the ground with a sickening dull sound.
Wang Lei's body lost all control. He was kneeling on the cold marble floor directly in front of Shan Qing, his posture utterly humiliating.
The immense pressure made the veins bulge on his forehead; cold sweat instantly soaked his collar. He tried to stand up, but felt as if he was pinned down by an invisible, crushing mountain, unable to move a single muscle!
He looked around frantically, seeing no one fighting, not even a ripple in the air.
"Wang Lei! What are you doing?" Zhao Xiaolin cried out in shock.
Wang Lei tried to answer, but only painful growls escaped his throat. He was stuck in the position of a full, ceremonial apology directed at Shan Qing.
Shan Hu looked down at the trembling Wang Lei, his eyes icy.
"My sister. Are you, an ant, allowed to touch her?"
Shan Hu's voice was quiet, but the sheer pressure in it made Wang Lei's soul tremble.
Shan Hu walked up to Wang Lei and placed his foot lightly on Wang Lei's limited-edition watch.
"That watch… is part of the blood money your grandfather begged my housekeeper, Xiao Su, to accept after he crippled himself, right?"
Wang Lei's pupils dilated instantly! He knew! He knew about the humiliation, the self-mutilation at the hospital!
"You…"
CRACK!
Shan Hu applied slight pressure. The million-yuan watch shattered instantly into a thousand pieces.
"Starting today, don't ever appear at the Longcheng Elite Academy again. Otherwise, kneeling will be the least of your worries."
Shan Hu withdrew his foot, took the hand of his stunned sister, and calmly led her toward the Dean's office.
Only after Shan Hu's back disappeared did Wang Lei feel the terrifying pressure recede like a tide. He instantly collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air, drenched in sweat.
"Wang Lei, what is wrong with you? Why did you kneel to her?" Zhao Xiaolin rushed up, asking in horror.
Wang Lei's face was ashen. He looked in the direction Shan Hu had vanished, his eyes filled with nothing but absolute terror.
He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single coherent word. He knew he had just provoked someone far, far beyond the realm of ordinary human power!
Meanwhile, in the Dean's office, Shan Hu handed the enrollment papers to the trembling Dean.
"This is my sister. If she faces any bullying or hears any unpleasant rumors in this school…"
Shan Hu didn't finish the sentence, only offering a simple, flat smile.
"I have a short temper."
The Dean, whose eyes were darting toward the window where Wang Lei was still crumpled on the ground, nodded vigorously, sweat dripping down his face. "Mr. Shan… please rest assured! Your sister will be the most honored student in this academy! There will be no rumors, ever!"