"You want to save Yan Jiaojiao but don't want to get us killed!"
Some disciples who had initially wanted to remain neutral were now finding it difficult to do so.
No one knew what would happen when the gates of the Wanglei Secret Realm opened. If a beast tide directly surged out, they would be in dire straits. The elders no longer had any teleportation arrays; they wouldn't be able to escape.
Moreover, although there were many disciples here, they had all fled for their lives in the secret realm earlier. Did they really think they could stand against a beast tide in a different location?
"Why don't you wait a little longer? We've all seen Yan Jiaojiao's strength. She was so powerful before; perhaps she has some special life-saving artifact this time? If you go in now, you'll only be a burden to Yan Jiaojiao."
The disciples chimed in, their words clearly indicating they didn't want the elders to open the gates.
The disciples of Gonan Academy had crimson eyes. They had known these other academies were unreliable, but they hadn't expected them to be so utterly undependable.
"We don't need your help. If you can't help us open the gate, then find a way to send us in. Regardless of your intentions towards the people of Gonan Academy, at least the disciples of Gonan Academy are united. We will face this together."
Jiang Yiling, being stubborn by nature, was filled with anger at their opposition to rescuing someone.
The disciples from other academies, seeing this, stopped pretending and laid their cards on the table: "Then you can go to your deaths yourselves! Don't drag us down!"
"Elders, I suggest we leave first. Once everyone else is gone, you can find a way to open the gates for them. We are genuinely curious if these people are truly willing to die for a mere Yan Jiaojiao!"
The elders' faces changed instantly.
Were they not afraid of death just because these disciples were?
It wasn't just one or two monsters! It was a beast tide!
Even if they themselves entered, they might not be able to retreat safely. Did these disciples think they could?
And what about opening the secret realm gates to let them in? If that happened, what would their reputation be? Wouldn't everyone know that they had stood by and watched others rush to their deaths?
They were the organizing committee behind this event. If their credibility plummeted, who would participate in the Academy Competition in the future?
The Academy Competition always brought them substantial "middleman profits," and these disciples were essentially free labor, helping them find spiritual herbs and treasures in the Wanglei Secret Realm. Although they wouldn't get everything, who would willingly give up such a benefit gained for free?
It was precisely for this reason that they absolutely could not do anything that would ruin their reputation.
Even though there had been people making underhanded moves behind the scenes over the years, they all understood that some things simply could not be brought out into the open.
"Stop talking nonsense. While everyone is here to compete and determine a winner, you are all outstanding future talents of the Boundless Continent, the future pillars of the Boundless Continent. How could we stand by and watch you rush to your deaths?"
"We will find a solution to this matter ourselves. As for you disciples, let's settle your scores now."
"In any case, the scores are shared. The items in Yan Jiaojiao's wooden token have already been counted as points."
"Referee."
These people didn't give the Gonan Academy disciples a chance to speak again, immediately calling for someone to calculate the points.
The disciples of Gonan Academy turned red, wishing they could fight these people right then and there.
"They're doing this on purpose!"
Yan Jiaojiao had led them here this time precisely to ensure Gonan Academy remained stable, wasn't disqualified, and wouldn't be disbanded.
Moreover, they had a strong chance of winning first place.
If Gonan Academy caused trouble again at this point and didn't participate in the final round of competition, all their previous efforts would be in vain.
And the academy would be disbanded.
Since Yan Jiaojiao had put them forward, she must have had a way out.
The crowd gradually calmed down. Wen Jinshu said, "Let's stay calm for now. Our points will definitely place us in the top three. Since the elders said they would find a way, let's wait for them to figure something out. After the Academy Competition is over, we can then find a way to save Yan Jiaojiao."
"Don't forget, Yan Jiaojiao still has Xiao Hei with her."
"Alright!"
Although everyone still harbored some worry in their hearts, the Academy Competition was the most important objective of their journey. If they couldn't return with a ranking, Yan Jiaojiao herself might not be satisfied.
"Then let's count our points first. We're in a hurry, so please be quick."
Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately became displeased.
"Why should your points be counted first? Aren't we in a hurry too? Are you thinking of calculating your points and then forcing the elders to open the gates so you can kill us all? How can you be so malicious?"
"So, to prevent your own academy from being disbanded, you'll go to any lengths."
The crowd now stood on common ground. Although some disciples from smaller academies understood the urgency of the Gonan Academy disciples, this matter truly involved their own interests, so they didn't dare to object.
After all, once the Wanglei Secret Realm reopened, no one knew what would happen.
"Gonan Academy is one of the most closely watched among our academies, and it has always been in first place. I propose this: let's all wait a bit longer. Let Gonan Academy be the grand finale."
The elders shared the same thought as the disciples from other academies.
Since they were going to wait, the Gonan Academy disciples would have nothing to say. Moreover, if they tried to open the gates again, others would surely stop them.
"We—"
"Alright, no more arguments. Let's proceed as decided."
The elders didn't give Jiang Yiling and the others any chance to speak.
Jiang Yiling and the others were furious, but they couldn't refute it now.
"They're doing this on purpose!" Sheng Mobai said with a dark expression. He was a figure of some standing, but here, no one cared about that.
Especially now that everyone's lives were at stake, these people would be even less likely to agree to their demands.
This was simply a battle they couldn't win.
If they insisted on entering now, even the elders might intervene to stop them.
Not only might they be unable to enter, but even if they did, they would likely have little combat effectiveness left and wouldn't be able to help Yan Jiaojiao.
Jiang Yiling punched the ground: "We are useless..."
The other disciples quickly comforted Jiang Yiling: "Senior disciple brother, please don't worry, perhaps—"
Before the disciple could finish speaking, the people from Shengbai Academy openly taunted: "Some academy disciples, you don't need to be so afraid of losing. The excuses you come up with are pathetic. From my perspective, Yan Jiaojiao probably stayed inside on purpose, right? So you could use this opportunity to slip away?"