Batian Martial Soul

"But his last name is Ling?" The headmaster repeated in confusion, trying to find some clues from the last name. He couldn't help but wonder what the connection between Ling Xiao and the Jiang family was, and why Jiang Zhunian was so persistent in taking him away?
"Could it be that this person is the illegitimate son of the head of the Jiang family?" The Grand Dean guessed secretly in his heart, but such an idea was too absurd, so he quickly shook his head and put the idea behind him.

However, Jiang Zhunian didn't seem to want to give him too much time to think. He interrupted the headmaster's thoughts coldly: "Don't guess. It's not as complicated as you think. I just want to ask you, are you going to hand over the person or not?"

This sentence was like a heavy hammer, hitting the headmaster's heart hard. He knew very well that Jiang Zhunian's attitude had already shown the Jiang family's determination, and their coming this time was no joke.

The headmaster took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm. He knew that Ling Xiao was not only a disciple that the Tianxia Association focused on training, but also a rising star that he personally had high hopes for. How could he easily hand him over to the Jiang family?

So, he smiled and said, "Brother Jiang, this is a bit too much. Ling Xiao is, after all, a disciple of the Upper Court of Tianxia Hui. I have recently personally recommended him to join the Secret Court and become one of the most core disciples of Tianxia Hui. Although your Jiang family is powerful, you can't just open your mouth and want to take away the Secret Court disciples of Tianxia Hui, right? If you do this, how can I put the face of Tianxia Hui at that time?"

As soon as the Grand Dean finished speaking, the whole scene fell into a brief silence. The atmosphere between Jiang Zhunian and the Grand Dean became increasingly tense, as if a storm was about to come.

"Face?" Jiang Zhunian had a sneer on his face. He shook his head slightly, as if he was mocking the dean's naive idea.

He said in a deep voice: "Grandmaster, I hope you can remember that in this world, the value of life always exceeds the so-called face. If one day, Tianxiahui really disappears, how much will those empty faces be worth? You are not really going to let the entire Tianxiahui fall into a situation of hostility with the Jiang family of Donghai just for Ling Xiao, right?"

Jiang Zhunian's words were like a sharp sword, piercing the heart of the Grand Master. His words were full of unquestionable authority and calm reason, which made the Grand Master fall into deep contemplation.

The headmaster's expression changed significantly after hearing these words, and his hesitation became more and more obvious. He knew that although Ling Xiao was gifted and had unlimited potential, he was not the only disciple in Tianxiahui. If the Donghai Jiang family was really offended because of Ling Xiao, it would be a misfortune for the entire Tianxiahui.

He began to weigh the pros and cons in his mind, thinking about the relationship between Ling Xiao's value and the fate of the entire Tianxia Association. He realized that they could not let the entire sect fall into crisis for the sake of a disciple. Doing so would not only be unfair to other disciples, but also irresponsible to the entire Tianxia Association.

Seeing the hesitant expression of the Grand Dean, Jiang Zhunian's voice slowed down a bit. He knew that his words had worked.

He continued, "My Donghai Jiang family has no intention of being an enemy of the Tianxiahui, but we must take Ling Xiao away. I'll give you three days to consider. If you can't make the decision, let your headmaster make the decision. Goodbye!"

He stood up, his eyes were firm, and he turned around and left without hesitation or dragging his feet. Every step he took was powerful, as if he was giving the Tianxiahui a final ultimatum. He clearly conveyed a message: If the Tianxiahui did not hand over Ling Xiao, the Jiang family would never give up.

When he reached the door, Jiang Zhunian stopped again and looked back at the headmaster, with a tone of provocation and contempt:
"By the way, the reputation of the number one in the world is indeed awe-inspiring, but he has disappeared for many years. I'm afraid that your Tianxia Association has only been relying on his residual prestige to barely support it over the years? I think that if you choose to rely on our Jiang family, then Tianxia Association can still sit firmly on the throne of the second place in the Southern Region. Why not?"

His words were like a heavy hammer, hitting the headmaster's heart hard.

The headmaster's face turned pale instantly. He knew that although Jiang Zhunian's words were harsh, they were also true. Over the years, the Tianxiahui had indeed been relying on its past reputation to maintain its superficial prosperity, but its real strength had long been far less than before.

Jiang Zhunian seemed very satisfied with the effect of his words. He raised a smug smile and left with his men. The headmaster was left standing alone, his face solemn and his heart surging.

He knew that this matter not only concerned Ling Xiao's safety, but also the future of the entire Tianxia Association. He had to consider it carefully and make a correct decision.

The headmaster stood there, his eyes deep, as if he was caught in a whirlpool of deep thought, unable to calm down for a long time. He looked at the dead leaves falling outside the window, feeling mixed emotions, as if the fate of the entire Tianxiahui rested on his shoulders.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice heavy: "What do you three think about this matter?"

The Second Dean said without hesitation: "Hand it over!"

His tone was firm and resolute. "Ling Xiao is indeed extremely talented and is the hope for the future of our Tianxia Association, but we must look at the current situation rationally. It is really not worth it to offend the Jiang family because of him. The Jiang family is a powerful force in the East China Sea and acts in a domineering manner. Although they are not as powerful as the Empress' Palace, they are not someone that our Tianxia Association can easily provoke."

He paused and continued, "If the ancestor was still alive, perhaps we could still fight against the Jiang family, but now, the ancestor has been missing for a long time, and our Tianxiahui is not as strong as before. If the Jiang family really wants to destroy our Tianxiahui, it will be easy. We can't let the entire sect fall into crisis because of Ling Xiao."

Listening to the Second Dean's words, the First Dean couldn't help but sigh. He understood that although the Second Dean's words were mixed with some selfishness and dissatisfaction with Ling Xiao, it was also out of consideration for the future of the sect. After all, as the top leaders of the sect, they must weigh the pros and cons and make the decision that is most beneficial to the sect.

However, Ling Xiao's talent and potential cannot be ignored. He is the future hope of the Tianxiahui, and a disciple they have cultivated with great efforts. The Grand Master felt very reluctant to hand him over so easily.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as if trying to calm his inner turmoil. He knew that he was in a dilemma. A wrong decision could lead to a crisis for the entire Tianxiahui.

He must carefully consider and make a decision that will protect the interests of the sect while not letting Ling Xiao suffer any injustice. (End of this chapter)