Zhang Ke hesitated for a moment before looking at Shu Feng and speaking slowly. "Shu Feng, the three of them framed you for stealing money, and the evidence is conclusive. However, considering you're all classmates, could you perhaps let them off the hook? What if, instead of expelling them, we just give them a major demerit and place them on probation?"
Shu Feng replied expressionlessly, "I ask only that you handle this matter impartially, Principal, and give me justice."
A complex expression flickered in Zhang Ke's eyes. With a soft sigh, he said, "Very well. Wang Mo, Zhou Haifeng, and Xu Gang—the three of you stole from a fellow student, then framed another. You have violated school regulations and broken the law. You are all expelled. Have your parents come to the school tomorrow to handle the paperwork!"
"No, Principal! It was all Xu Gang's idea! Don't expel me, please don't! I know I was wrong!"
The moment Wang Mo snapped out of his shock, his face drained of color. He let out a wretched scream and began to sob loudly, snot and tears streaming down his face.
Zhou Haifeng, his face pale, cried out, "Principal, don't expel me. I know I was wrong! I'll never do anything like this again!"
His face ashen, Xu Gang wailed, "No! Principal, I didn't do it! They teamed up to frame me! They're the ones framing me!"
"Principal Zhang, you have no authority to expel these poor children! I'm reporting this to the school's board of directors! I'm taking this matter to the board!" Xu Chenghai's expression changed drastically as he bellowed.
"Are you Xu Chenghai?"
Two officers in the uniforms of the Anti-Corruption Bureau strode in, their expressions stern as one of them spoke.
A sense of foreboding crept into Xu Chenghai's heart. "I am Xu Chenghai. What is this about?"
One of the Anti-Corruption Bureau officers stated flatly, "You'll have to come with us."
"I need to make a call! Let me make a phone call!" Xu Chenghai shouted, his face white and his body trembling.
"Go ahead," one of the officers said coolly.
Xu Chenghai managed to connect the call and said in a panic, "Brother, it's me! The Anti-Corruption Bureau is here!"
Xu Chenghai's older brother was Xu Canghai, the pillar of the Xu Family. He was also Xu Gang's father and an immensely well-connected director on the board of Lei Jiang Third Middle School.
Xu Canghai's furious voice erupted from the phone: "Who in the hell did you people provoke? They've come for me, too!"
Xu Chenghai stared at Shu Feng in terror, his eyes flashing with disbelief. 'It's him! How could he have this much power? How can a mere poor kid wield so much influence?'
Seeing that everything was settled, Gao Wen smiled. "Come on, Shu Feng. It's my treat. The few of us should have a proper get-together!"
Shu Feng replied, "Okay, Brother Gao Wen! But before that, I need to get certified for something. My Ancient Mo Language has reached Level 7."
Ancient Mo Language was an extremely old language, and within the Guardian Flame, it served as a proxy for one's cultivation level. Reaching Level 7 in Ancient Mo Language meant that Shu Feng's cultivation had reached the stage of a Seventh-level Spirit Warrior Apprentice.
Gao Wen's eyes lit up with excitement. "Level 7! Excellent! Excellent! This really is a big deal!"
Although a Seventh-level Spirit Warrior Apprentice was still laughably weak in Gao Wen's eyes, it was enough to get into Shuijing High School's Genius Class. If Shu Feng was lucky enough to make a push, getting into the Celestial Pride Class would be even more remarkable.
Shuijing High School was one of the three great academies for cultivating Spiritualists in the Qianyuan Republic. As long as they didn't die prematurely, most graduates of its Celestial Pride Class went on to wield great power in various fields across the Qianyuan Republic later in life.
If Shu Feng managed to get into Shuijing High School's Celestial Pride Class, he could very well become a major figure in the Qianyuan Republic one day. Doing him a favor now was an incredibly worthwhile investment.
Ding Xiaoxue walked over and asked curiously, "Brother Gao Wen, it looks pretty lively over here. What happened?"
Gao Wen chuckled. "Oh, just a small matter! Shu Feng's Ancient Mo Language has reached Level 7. We're planning to head back to headquarters. Want to come with us?"
Ding Xiaoxue replied, "Sure!"
「Beiling Street. Guardian Flame Headquarters, Captain's Office.」
"Ah Feng, are you here to treat us to a meal?" Ma Jin said with a grin, casually setting aside the financial magazine he was reading on the sofa.
Shu Feng said with a grateful expression, "Brother Ma Jin, I really owe you for this."
Ma Jin grinned widely. "Shu Feng, those mortals trying to frame one of us noble Spiritualists are just courting death. As long as you were innocent, even if I hadn't stepped in, the Captain and the others would never have let you be wronged."
Zhou Yang frowned slightly. "Ma Jin, mortals are an important part of society, too. That tone of yours... it's discriminatory. It's one thing to say it amongst ourselves, but if the higher-ups were to hear it, it wouldn't be good for your career."
Ma Jin replied nonchalantly, "Got it, Captain."
Zhou Yang said with a resigned sigh, "Xiaofeng, you're here for a reason, I take it?"
Shu Feng smiled faintly. "Captain, I've advanced to a Seventh-level Spirit Warrior Apprentice. I'm here to register it."
"A Seventh-level Spirit Warrior Apprentice! Excellent! Excellent! Nicely done! HAHA, Ah Feng, I knew you could do it!" Ma Jin's eyes lit up with excitement as he roared with laughter.
Shu Feng's Cultivation Talent was only a 1. Back in the day, Ma Jin's had only been a 3. Seeing Shu Feng advance so quickly to a Seventh-level Spirit Warrior Apprentice made Ma Jin ecstatic; it was as if he were seeing his past self, who, after receiving the help of a Noble Lady, had progressed by leaps and bounds and ultimately entered Shuijing High School's Celestial Pride Class.
"Well done." Zhou Yang smiled warmly and quickly updated Shu Feng's file. "As of today, your monthly salary will be 70,000. You'll also receive three Basic Spirit Cultivation Pills and three Contribution Points each month."
"By the way, Xiaoxue. I remember you're also here to update your information. Have you advanced to Spirit Warrior?"
The moment Zhou Yang spoke, all eyes in the room immediately fell upon Ding Xiaoxue.
Only by advancing to a Spirit Warrior could one become an official member of the Guardian Flame. In all of Lei Jiang City, a metropolis with a population of several hundred thousand, there were only five Spirit Warrior Level experts tasked with its protection. This fact alone highlighted their rarity.
Ding Xiaoxue gave a radiant smile. "I broke through just a few days ago. I'm a Spirit Warrior now!"
Gao Wen exclaimed in admiration, "That's incredible! Xiaoxue, you're truly amazing. Don't forget about us when you're a big shot in the future."
Ding Xiaoxue laughed good-naturedly. "Don't worry. When I'm a big shot someday, I definitely won't forget you all!"
Ma Jin clapped Shu Feng on the shoulder with a sly grin. "Heh, a genius lives up to the name! Ah Feng, you're going to have to work even harder!"
Shu Feng nodded slightly, a fiery glint in his eyes. 'As expected of Ding Xiaoxue! While I've been improving, she hasn't stopped for a second.'
Gao Wen asked curiously, "Xiaoxue, how much Spiritual Power did you have when you advanced to Spirit Warrior? If you'd rather not say, just pretend I never asked!"