22: Chapter 22 If you're not ruthless, you can't stand firm.

"Principal Zhao Qing, I can testify."

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice. In the third row by the window, a young girl in white slowly stood up.

The girl had snow-white skin, cold and delicate features, and long, soft hair cascading down her shoulders. Her aura was clean and refined, carrying an ethereal, distant, and icy charm around her.

She was the universally acknowledged campus belle of the school, a top-tier genius demigod with supreme talent—Xiao Qingwu.

Xiao Qingwu's gaze was calm as she looked straight ahead at the principal, her tone resolute and impartial:

"Just now, Lu Ren took the initiative to deliberately lean close to Lin Ye, placing his palm on Lin Ye's shoulder for well over five seconds."

"Throughout the entire process, Lin Ye did not make a single move, neither dodging nor touching, remaining entirely passive. The one who initiated the forced Divine Kingdom connection first was Lu Ren."

Every single word was resolute and resonant, directly piercing through the truth.

As her voice fell, the entire class broke into an uproar.

No one expected that Xiao Qingwu, who was always cold and taciturn and never meddled in right and wrong, would actually take the initiative to stand up and testify for the notorious Lin Ye.

Ye Feng's expression instantly turned completely gloomy, his knuckles clenched tightly, and his heart was filled with disbelief.

Xiao Qingwu possessed top-tier talent and an extraordinary background, and she had always been arrogant and aloof. Why would she speak up for Lin Ye?

The principal's pupils contracted slightly as he looked at Xiao Qingwu, his tone solemn: "Are you sure? Didn't you see wrong?"

"I saw it crystal clear." Xiao Qingwu gently nodded, her cold eyes devoid of a single ripple: "Lu Ren's expression was deliberate and his movements stiff; it was clearly an intentional touch meant to trigger the forced connection. From beginning to end, Lin Ye did not make any active move."

Irrefutable evidence.

Inside the classroom, all discussions instantly died down, and everyone's gaze refocused on Lin Ye.

This F-rank trash god who had always been mocked by the whole school stood straight at his moment, his expression cold. Under everyone's gaze, he did not show a shred of wretchedness.

Lin Ye glanced sideways at Xiao Qingwu, who had stood up to testify. A trace of extremely faint surprise flashed across the depths of his eyes, but it instantly returned to an icy calm.

He had originally thought that regarding today's matter, no one would stand on his side.

Never had he expected that the first person to speak up and testify would actually be this genius campus belle who had always been cold, arrogant, and had zero interaction with him.

As her voice fell, the entire class broke into an uproar.

The principal was silent for a moment. The furious expression on his face slowly receded, his majestic brows and eyes relaxed slightly, and most of the oppressive aura around him dissipated.

He could naturally tell right from wrong; Xiao Qingwu's testimony straightforwardly settled the cause and effect—it was Lu Ren who deliberately made trouble and maliciously invaded.

Moreover, investigating it was actually very simple; all they had to do was check the Divine Kingdom Invasion Card. Besides, there were Divine Kingdom logs inside the Divine Kingdom. A brief check would make everything crystal clear, and no one could fake anything on this matter.

But even after understanding the ins and outs, the principal still looked at Lin Ye, his tone solemn and grave: "I admit that the root cause of this incident lies with Lu Ren, and you were acting in passive self-defense."

"But your methods were far too ruthless. Repelling the enemy and disconnecting the link would have sufficed; why did you have to shatter someone else's divine core and cripple a student?"

Facing the principal's questioning, Lin Ye's expression did not change, his tone calm yet carrying a piercing chill, every word clear:

"Principal, if you are not ruthless, you can't stand firm."

"I am already an F-rank trash god who is spurned by everyone and can be bullied at will. In this lawless age of deities where the strong prey upon the weak, if I had shown mercy and held back, I'm afraid the person you'd see tomorrow would be my corpse!"

A single sentence, direct and cruel.

The principal was speechless, unable to refute for a moment.

He knew deeply the cruel rules of the Divine Lord world; the weak never had the qualification for mercy. Although Lin Ye's words were cold, they were incomparably true.

"Forget it." The principal sighed heavily and waved his hand helplessly, his eyes full of entanglement: "Someone come, first carry Lu Ren to the infirmary and stabilize his physical injuries."

"I will report this matter truthfully to the Deity Administration Bureau and record it in the archives throughout the whole process. If what you said is true, Lu Ren deliberately initiated a forced invasion and bears the blame. Since you acted in justifiable self-defense with reason and evidence, you should not need to suffer any punishment."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire class broke into an uproar.

Many classmates who had originally waited to see Lin Ye punished wore expressions of utter astonishment, storms surging in their hearts.

Meanwhile, Ye Feng in the back row had a face as dark as the bottom of a pot. Anger surged in his chest as he stared fixedly at Lin Ye, feeling unwilling yet helpless.

"Lin Ye, Ye Feng, Xiao Qingwu, the three of you, follow me to the office."

With a stern expression, the principal dropped these words, turned around, and walked out of the classroom.

The three followed closely behind, walking all the way to the principal's office.

The academy's principal was named Principal Zhao Qing.

He was a retired combat deity of the Federation whose murderous, baleful aura had not yet faded. He had an explosive temperament and acted impulsively, utterly loathing despicable people who engaged in covert scheming and petty behind-the-scenes tricks. In his conduct and handling of affairs, he had always been fair and just, never favoring anyone based on family background.

Inside the office, the heavy wooden door slammed shut heavily.

Without any extra pleasantries, Principal Zhao Qing slammed a hand violently onto the office desk. The dull, booming sound shook the water cup on the table. His fierce gaze locked onto Ye Feng as he directly rebuked him angrily:

"Ye Feng! Do you think I don't know that you were the one instigating this behind the scenes?"

"Lu Ren is mediocre in aptitude, cowardly, and greedy for money. Without your secret instigation and heavy financial inducement, where would he get the guts to proactively touch someone else and initiate a forced Divine Kingdom invasion?"

"Relying on the Ye family's power to form cliques in school and secretly plot against classmates—your methods are filthy and despicable!"

Ye Feng's body stiffened, and he instinctively wanted to defend himself: "Principal, I..."

"Shut up!"

Principal Zhao Qing interrupted sternly, his tone tough and domineering without a shred of leniency: "No matter how great the power of the Ye family behind you is, inside my school, rules surpass everything!"

"If there is a next time, regardless of who is involved behind the scenes, I will directly escort you to the Deity Administration Bureau and deal with you for the felony of maliciously murdering a peer deity. No amount of pleading from anyone will be of any use!"

A direct and ruthless warning, without any concealment.

Ye Feng's face turned alternately green and pale, humiliation and anger intertwining, but he dared not talk back to this veteran retired soldier principal. He could only bite his teeth hard, lowering his head to endure it.

"Get back to your class!" Principal Zhao Qing waved his hand coldly.

Ye Feng clenched his fists and slowly turned around. The moment he walked out of the office, he suddenly turned his head, his cold and resentful gaze staring fixedly at Lin Ye, the killing intent in the depths of his eyes completely unmasked.

Their eyes met.

The corners of Lin Ye's lips curved up slightly, forming a demonic and chilling smile.

His lips moved slightly without making a single sound, the clear lip shapes directly revealing—

"I am waiting for you to come kill me again."

Provocative, arrogant, and unbridled.

Ye Feng's pupils shrank abruptly, his anger almost breaking through his reason. In the end, he still forcefully suppressed his fire, slammed the door, and walked out of the office.

Inside the office, at this moment, only Principal Zhao Qing, Lin Ye, and Xiao Qingwu remained.

Principal Zhao Qing reined in his furious emotions, his expression softening as he looked at Xiao Qingwu beside him, who stood tall, cold, and refined. His tone was filled with praise:

"Xiao Qingwu, you possess outstanding talent and an upright disposition. You are impartial when encountering matters and dare to speak the truth to testify. You are the most potential and powerful genius in our Cangnan City. Cultivate well, and you will surely step into the ranks of high-tier Divine Lords in the future."