The numerous core disciples in the area saw what happened, and they all decided to noiselessly go back and continue whatever they were doing previously. None of them dared to say anything, but they all knew that the freak that had been banished to the forbidden zone at the back of the academy had returned.

Xiang Shaoyun had caused a sensation in the academy when he had first joined. Because he was the new disciple with the best physique, his fame had surpassed even the eight freaks that the academy had concealed. After he was banished, he slowly faded from everyone's mind.

With Xiang Shaoyun's return and the big commotion he had just caused, they realized that he wasn't crippled like what the rumors said. In fact, his strength had grown to a terrifying level. They all rejoiced that they had never offended Xiang Shaoyun, while those who had done something to offend him were starting to feel uneasy. One ought to know that Xiang Shaoyun was personally escorted back by an elder. The meaning behind that was obvious enough for everyone to see.

Xiang Shaoyun couldn't be bothered to care about what everyone was thinking. He returned to Lady Shura's villa and asked the three, "Is everyone fine?"

Lady Shura and the Han Clan sisters all shook their heads.

"What actually happened here?" Xiang Shaoyun asked Lady Shura.

"Some people set their eyes on us after seeing that you weren't around," said Lady Shura nonchalantly.

"Ok. I'm back now so you don't have to worry anymore. I'll go over to my place first. I'll come again when I'm done," said Xiang Shaoyun. He instantly understood what had happened. His enemies must have been the ones to create trouble for the three women.

He couldn't deal with the issue right away, and it wouldn't be proper for him to make Xiao Wei wait too long. Thus, he only stayed a short while before leaving for his new residence with Xiao Wei. Lady Shura and the Han Clan sisters had all noticed Xiao Wei as well. Thus, none of them dared to say anything else.

Xiang Shaoyun followed Xiao Wei to a serene villa, and joy immediately filled his eyes at what he saw. The villa was even larger than Lady Shura's, with three main buildings. Numerous old trees were planted around the garden, and streams of clear water flowed about. Underneath the streams were glossy pebbles, and numerous fishes frolicked about in the water. At the shore of the streams were numerous spirit herbs and flowers, filling the air with a faint fragrance.

It was really a very decent villa. It even had a formation, one that increased the density of spiritual energy within the villa. Someone cultivating for a long term at a place like this would be able to advance rapidly.

"This is the best villa available for the core disciples, and you can consider it a compensation for what you had gone through for the past year," said Xiao Wei. "Of course, if you want to continue staying here long term, there will be some conditions."

"What? There are conditions? I thought this was supposed to be compensation," Xiang Shaoyun grumbled sullenly.

"That may be the case, but you have still disobeyed the grand guardians. If we don't give you some pressure to prove that your choice is right, the grand guardians won't be too happy. You have to know that all of them had wanted to take you as a disciple, and you had rejected all of them," said Xiao Wei. "With your strength, it won't be hard for you to stay here long term. You only really need to stay qualified as an owner of this villa."

"What do you even mean by that?" Xiang Shaoyun was confused now.

"What I mean is that this villa is too good. It has an independent gravity cultivation room and a much higher concentration of spiritual energy than other villas. It represents an excellent cultivation environment that many core disciples will long for. Take care," said Xiao Wei before vanishing into thin air.

Xiang Shaoyun finally had some inkling of what Xiao Wei was hinting at. However, he dismissed it with a laugh. In any case, this was now his place. If anyone dared to challenge him for it, then nobody could blame him for showing no mercy. Sure enough, the moment he settled down in his new villa, the news spread through the entire academy.

"I heard that the 1 Dragon Villa of the core disciples' residential area has now been occupied."

"Who's the one who managed to qualify for it? Is it Baili Yixiao the Smiling Swordsman? He is the only one qualified to stay there."

"No. It's that Xiang Shaoyun who had triggered a nine-star phenomenon. He has returned from the forbidden zone behind the academy and has even grown stronger. In the first fight he got involved in after his return, he sliced off a few experts' arms. His ranking has now moved up to 2,888th position."

"That's nothing! How is he qualified to move into the 1 Dragon Villa? I can't accept that!"

"Sure, you are free to disagree. News has been released by the elders that those capable of defeating Xiang Shaoyun will be able to move in there. Of course, for now, only those on the Serpent Fowl List are allowed to challenge him. Those on the Jiao Luan List and Dragon Phoenix Academy can't challenge him for now."

"Oh? I see. Interesting. A lot of people on the Serpent Fowl List have entered the Dragon Ascension Realm. With their strength, it wouldn't be hard for them to trample Xiang Shaoyun."

...

As the news of Xiang Shaoyun's return spread, a few one-armed disciples gathered at a different core disciple's villa.

"How can Xiang Shaoyun do that!" a furious voice rang out.

The voice did not belong to the owner of the villa. It belonged to a follower who was also brother to the owner. His name was Di Shang, whereas the villa belonged to Di Lin. Di Shang was the one who suggested Yue Huangquan and company to go create trouble for Lady Shura and the Han Clan sisters. He had not imagined that Xiang Shaoyun would suddenly return and attack so mercilessly. That was too excessive! However, none of them had considered that their action of trying to kidnap Lady Shura and the Han Clan sisters by force was also excessive.

"The alliance master needs to seek justice for us!" Yi Xuan and company begged.

If it wasn't for the fact that they were decently strong, just losing an arm each was enough to leave them barely alive. They wouldn't even have the strength to return here.

"Go and focus on healing. Since you all have your severed arms with you, I believe you will be able to reattach them. I will give you a satisfactory conclusion for this," Di Shang placated the group.

The only thing Yi Xuan, Yue Huangquan and company could do was leave with sullen expressions. The only thing they could do was hope that the Di Alliance would do something about this. Otherwise, the reputation of the Di Alliance would go down the drain because of them. Once that happened, it wouldn't be easy to recover the lost reputation.

"Damn it! How should I even begin to tell the ninth brother this?" Di Shang cursed after they left.

At this time, someone beside him said, "The alliance master is in seclusion. He will definitely leave the seclusion with a higher cultivation level. We shouldn't disturb him right now. I heard something earlier, so we might be able to make use of the Glacier Palace people. They might be interested in the Han Clan sisters. After all, they all cultivate the Icefrost Physique."

"How confident are you?" Di Shang asked.

"Not 100 percent confident, but I don't think inciting a conflict between them will be a problem," answered the other person.