The original story describes this person as having no children, living a lonely and miserable life. He has a strange personality, extensive experience, and a special status as an elder of East Hua Academy.
After Lin Xiao entered East Hua Academy, he set his sights on Elder Qiong, intentionally or unintentionally approaching him, and deliberately showing off his talent to seek guidance. He slowly won over the eccentric old man.
He even went so far as to kneel down, expressing his willingness to recognize him as a foster father and take care of him in his old age!
This completely moved the old man!
In recent years, the reason Lin Xiao's cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds is inseparable from this "foster father" using public resources for private gain, secretly providing support with the academy's logistics "resources."
He could even take what belonged to the public and give it to his foster son.
"Lin Xiao, how are you?"
Elder Qiong looked at Lin Xiao, who was bleeding from all orifices in his arms, his breath weak, and in a miserable state. He felt a sharp pain in his heart.
"Fa... teacher, I can still hold on..."
Lin Xiao forced himself to stay awake, opening his heavy eyelids. Looking at the worried, white-haired old man in front of him, he felt a warmth in his heart. He was about to call out that familiar address, but realized the situation was wrong and quickly changed his words.
At East Hua Academy, the term "godfather" and "godson" could not be easily exposed, otherwise, it would be easy to give others a handle.
Seeing Lin Xiao beaten into this miserable state, "Elder Qiong" could not suppress the anger in his heart. After years of companionship, he truly regarded Lin Xiao as his own son.
Now, his own son had been beaten like this!
How could he let it go!
"Chen Beiyuan, you have a cruel heart. As fellow students of East Hua, you have been so ruthless to Lin Xiao, disregarding the feelings of your classmates. Do you think that because of your top family background and connections, you can ignore the Academy Rules and wantonly bully the Poor Family students!"
"If it weren't for this old man's timely intervention, you'd probably be covered in blood!"
"As the East Hua Chen Family, one of the Empire's top aristocratic families, you have received the nation's grace. Yet, you harbor a cold-blooded scoundrel like this. The East Hua Chen Family is likely just a hollow name..."
An old person who refuses to die is a thief!
Elder Qiong immediately twisted the truth, placing Lin Xiao in a "disadvantaged" position. He then morally bound all the students of the Academy from Poor Families and commoner backgrounds together, directly trying to provoke conflict!
This move was incredibly vicious!
The East Hua Academy students from noble families and aristocratic backgrounds were naturally at odds with the students from Poor Families and commoner backgrounds. Even those who could be friends were few and far between.
The conflicts between them had long been brewing!
Just a tiny spark could ignite the conflict, causing it to explode.
He deliberately downplayed his earlier actions, positioning himself on the side of justice.
This whole performance was a masterclass in manipulating people.
At this moment, the audience was already buzzing with murmurs, indicating that his attempt to twist the truth was starting to work!
Chen Beiyuan's gaze was sharp, and he watched coldly, taking in everything that was happening. He understood that Elder Qiong was likely going to rely on his seniority and high-ranking position in the academy to criticize him, judging him from a moral high ground!
He might even try to tarnish the reputation of the East Hua Chen Family!
His scheming and ruthlessness were truly beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Anyone else would probably be led around by this old bastard, saddled with one damning label after another!
Unfortunately for him, he had picked the wrong person!
Did they really think he, the destined villain, was made of mud?!
Just talking smack?!
That's his specialty!
"What a twisted, hypocritical old dog!"
"What did you say?!"
Elder Qiong, who was ready to continue laying on the accusations and strive to get Chen Beiyuan expelled from the academy, nearly exploded from the sudden "scolding."
His eyes glared at Chen Beiyuan, and the surging aura of his peak Rank 6 Battle King burst forth, intending to intimidate him.
"I said you're a twisted, hypocritical old dog!"
Chen Beiyuan ignored the pressure, his expression unchanged. He stepped forward, meeting Elder Qiong's fierce gaze, as well as the looks of surprise, shock, mockery, and disdain from the surrounding crowd. A smirk curled his lips.
"You say I was ruthless, but when Lin Xiao was shouting and trying to kill me, why didn't you, you old dog, come out and bark?
Comradeship? Did Lin Xiao show any sign of comradeship just now?!
He attacked me viciously, disregarding any sense of camaraderie. It's acceptable for him, but when I choose to fight back in kind, it's not?
He's weak, so he's right?
I'm strong, so I'm wrong!
Have you lived all these years for nothing?!
He clearly wasn't as strong, yet he dared to challenge me to a bet. He brought this upon himself!"
"You…"
Seeing Chen Beiyuan, despite the pressure, call him an old dog, "Elder Qiong" nearly exploded with rage. The arm he held around Lin Xiao trembled.
If he wasn't concerned with treating Lin Xiao's injuries, he would have slapped Chen Beiyuan to death!
"You what you? As a high-ranking member of the Academy, you twist black and white, interfering in the Academy Competition. According to the East Hua Academy Rules, unless a contestant concedes, interference is forbidden. Yet, before the competition's outcome, you forcibly intervened, placing your personal authority above the Academy's rules. What do you intend to do?!
After interfering with the competition, you dared to bully the weak, using your cultivation to suppress others, intending to harm me. With the cultivation of a Battle King peak, you bullied a student. You're not fit to be a teacher!
Afterward, you still rely on your age and experience, using deceptive words to stir up the emotions of the students and turn black into white, making a big deal out of it. Do you really think everyone is a fool?!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the originally noisy audience seats became instantly silent.
At this moment, everyone focused on the battle stage, on the figure with his hands clasped behind his back, of extraordinary bearing, noble and majestic.
No one expected Chen Beiyuan to dare point at a peak Rank 6 Battle King and curse him, calling him an old dog without holding back at all.
One must know that a Rank 6 Battle King was enough to support the facade of a second-rate family.
However, Chen Beiyuan wasn't finished. He stepped forward again, coldly staring at the "old dog". His aura at this moment actually surpassed the other person's, and he roared:
"Old dog, you're not even worthy of speaking about the East Hua Chen Family?!"
"Since the founding of the Empire, the East Hua Chen Family has guarded the Empire's borders generation after generation, defending against Fierce Beasts and Alien Races. It has been hundreds of years. Once the Chen Family's children reach adulthood, they all join the military and take on important positions, guarding the Empire's territory. The Chen Family's children suffer casualties of no less than hundreds every year, and those who are injured and disabled number even more. Over the past hundreds of years, the blood shed by my East Hua Chen Family for the Empire is enough to dye the Empire's territory you stand on red.
I, Chen Beiyuan, dare to say it today in front of all the East Hua Academy students and all the high-ranking officials of the Academy: [The East Hua Chen Family is worthy of the Empire.]
Now, the Chen Family's children are protecting their home and country on the borders, shedding blood and sweat, and you are here turning black and white, wantonly slandering the soldiers on the front lines, smearing those who silently guard the Empire!
Old dog! What is your true intention?"
"Do you really think the sword in my hand is blunt?!"