Zhou Hong feigned a look of bewilderment.
"Protector Wanyan, what do you mean? What did I do to deserve such audacity?"
"Are you still playing coy with me? Where did you take Zhang Wenbo? Confess immediately, or as a protector of the academy, I have the right to torture you, even to take your life, to uphold the academy's rules."
Zhou Hong was furious internally, but he maintained his innocent facade.
"Protector Wanyan, don't push me too far. Yes, I did go to see Zhang Wenbo just now. I asked him if he was the one who gave me that letter. Zhang Wenbo said it wasn't him and had nothing to do with him, so I left."
"Just like that?"
"Of course not. Not long after I left, a man in red descended from the sky. He seemed to have a grudge against Zhang Wenbo too. He grabbed Zhang Wenbo and said, 'Audacious Zhang Wenbo, how dare you and your family bully the weak! Now you will be taken to the celestial prison to reflect. If your family continues to commit wicked deeds, you will never be released.' Then, that man in red took Zhang Wenbo away. I thought I was dreaming at the time. Seeing you come for me now, I'm sure that scene wasn't a dream."
"Enough," Protector Wanyan roared.
"I'm telling the truth. Zhang Wenbo has now been captured and imprisoned in the celestial prison by a mysterious person. If I've told a single lie, may lightning strike me! If you don't believe me, I'll swear a blood oath to the heavens."
"Zhou Hong, dare to play games with me again, and I'll arrest you."
"Protector Wanyan, I know you dislike me. If you want to make a move, don't find an excuse, just do it. If you truly believe I captured Zhang Wenbo, then produce evidence. Without evidence, don't make baseless accusations."
"Zhou Hong, you just wait. If I find any evidence, humph." Protector Wanyan was helpless against Zhou Hong at the moment; without evidence, he couldn't do anything to him.
However, even though he couldn't do anything to Zhou Hong, as a protector, a small punishment was permissible.
"Zhou Hong, given your impudence just now, I shall impose a further punishment. You will remain suspended in mid-air for three days and three nights."
With that, Zhou Hong's body was once again immobilized in the air.
Zhou Hong was filled with boundless rage.
"Old dog Wanyan, you just wait," Zhou Hong roared in anger.
"You dare call me an old dog?" Protector Wanyan was also enraged.
"You are an old dog, an old dog, an old dog!" Zhou Hong, beyond caring, cursed several times.
Protector Wanyan trembled with anger. As one of the academy's protectors, he was being called an old dog by a student.
"Do you truly think I wouldn't dare kill you?" Protector Wanyan said coldly.
Just then, Lu Qianqian arrived.
"Protector Wanyan, I beg your mercy! Please don't be angry with Zhou Hong. He was just pushed too far, that's why he spoke impudently to you," Lu Qianqian hurriedly pleaded on Zhou Hong's behalf.
"Lu Qianqian, discipline your students properly. If they dare to be insolent in front of me again, I'll simply resign as a protector, but I will still eliminate him."
"Yes, yes, I will discipline him well."
"Hmph, then you will be suspended in mid-air for ten days and ten nights." Protector Wanyan glared at Zhou Hong angrily before leaving. His confinement of Zhou Hong was extended to ten days and ten nights.
After Protector Wanyan left, Lu Qianqian scolded, "Zhou Hong, are you trying to die?"
Zhou Hong's eyes were furious. He hadn't expected to be confined for ten days and ten nights this time, after being confined for three days and three nights previously by this old dog.
"Zhou Hong, if you truly push him too far, he can just stop being a protector of the Taigu Academy and kill you with a single blow. Haste makes waste, why bother?" Lu Qianqian advised.
No matter how unacceptable it was to Zhou Hong, he was helpless at this moment, solely due to the vast disparity in strength between him and the old dog Wanyan.
To break free from the confinement now, unless the Dark Golden Crow offered assistance, it was impossible.
"Instructor Lu, please go back first," Zhou Hong felt very annoyed and didn't want to face Lu Qianqian anymore.
"Take these ten days and ten nights to calm yourself," Lu Qianqian said helplessly.
After Lu Qianqian left, Zhou Hong frantically contacted the Dark Golden Crow in his mind.
"Brother Jin Wu, help me out, I've been confined."
"Heh heh, serves you right." The Dark Golden Crow let out a cold laugh, showing no intention of helping.
"Brother Jin Wu, although you can never leave my inner world, the one responsible for all this is my grandfather from my past life. It's not my fault. Besides, if I really die, won't you perish with me?"
"I'm no different from a dead person now, it doesn't matter."
No matter what Zhou Hong said, the Dark Golden Crow refused to help, even if Zhou Hong were to die.
Zhou Hong was helpless. It seemed the Dark Golden Crow had truly given up.
And so, Zhou Hong remained confined in front of the dormitory building, unmoving.
People passing by pointed and gossiped; some sympathized, others gloated. There were all sorts of people.
Regardless of wind or rain, Zhou Hong remained like a statue, unable to move.
Slowly, Zhou Hong's rage began to subside.
Instead of being angry, why not use that anger as motivation to break through his cultivation again?
Thus, Zhou Hong closed his eyes and gradually transformed the overwhelming anger in his heart into motivation.
Ten days and ten nights passed quickly.
The moment Zhou Hong regained his mobility, his realm also increased, advancing from the early stage of Nascent Soul to the middle stage of Nascent Soul.
"Hahaha, hahaha." Zhou Hong let out a wild laugh. He had actually turned his anger into motivation and broken through another level.
"Old dog Wanyan, come on, confine me again!" Zhou Hong said through gritted teeth.
Many people gathered in front of the dormitory building, looking at Zhou Hong in disbelief.
"Zhou Hong, you're too awesome! You broke through like this?"
"Tsk tsk, too strong. He turned his anger into motivation and forced himself to a higher level. Amazing."
At this moment, everyone was impressed. Although many were jealous of Zhou Hong and wished him ill fortune, they had to admit that Zhou Hong was indeed a peerless cultivation genius, capable of being pushed forward by even the slightest trigger.
Zhou Hong immediately returned to his dormitory and took a hot shower. The ten days and ten nights of wind and rain had been a torment. Fortunately, this torment had allowed him to successfully break through a level.
Soon, the news of Zhou Hong's breakthrough during his confinement spread throughout the entire Taigu Academy, shocking all teachers and students.
The next day, in a cultivation room within the Taigu Academy, Protector Wanyan also received the news. He was extremely angry. He had confined Zhou Hong for ten days and ten nights, intending to punish him, but Zhou Hong had used the opportunity to successfully break through a level. Wasn't this equivalent to giving him a great gift?
Of course, what made him even more fearful was Zhou Hong's incredible cultivation speed. Although Zhou Hong was still far from him, he couldn't help but feel scared. He was like a cockroach that couldn't be killed.