"If the stage is filled entirely with students from the Sage Academy, it looks too ugly. Because I worry about looking bad, I won't go up. You do your best." After speaking, he patted Qiao Wenjian’s shoulder, ignoring the fiery glare from Qiao Wenjian.
Well, seeing this situation, what could the others say? They could say nothing. They could only smile and look at each other, conveying a single message: as long as you are happy, that is enough.
After this round, the remaining contestants were Zhu Yanyi, Jian Feiyan, Ouyang Tianyun, Qiao Wenjian, and Shenyang, a student from the Yuanwu Academy.
At this moment, everyone had lost interest in the competition. All those present realized that the Sage Academy was participating purely to cause trouble.
It was a proper competition. When trying to secure a spot, they used many methods. In the end, they snatched the spots. Everyone had no objections to that. However, after snatching the spots, they openly forfeited during the matches.
Why were they so willful? The problem was that they were willful, and others could only watch and say nothing. This made the other four academies feel very uncomfortable.
It was not because they lost. This was only a small competition, and losing would not be too embarrassing. However, no one wanted the Sage Academy to be so willful.
Perhaps for them, this was indeed a blow—a blow to their attitude. The things they cared about, some people simply did not care about.
To protect their students, the leading elders of the four academies came to find the Medical Elder and the others.
From the Shangmo side, it was not the leading elder who came, but Guan Feng. Guan Feng came purely to watch the fun. He wanted to see what their reaction would be when everyone was dissatisfied.
The Medical Elder and the Martial Elder smiled and dismissed their students. Then, they invited Guan Feng and the elders from the other three academies in. They brewed tea for them, acting as if they were sitting down for a casual chat.
"Medical Elder, although this is a small competition, don't you think your students have gone too far?" The leading elder from Yuanwu Academy spoke first.
The Medical Elder looked at the Yuanwu Academy’s leading elder. "Elder Ma, why do you say that?"
Elder Ma said, "This is a small competition. Gains and losses are not important. But acting like this is not right, is it?"
"Since Elder Ma thinks gains and losses are not important, where is it wrong for us to act this way?" the Martial Elder asked back.
Elder Ma said seriously, "A competition is a competition. At least be serious."
"I think our students are very serious. If they were not serious, how could they achieve their current results?" the Medical Elder replied, with a confused expression on his face, as if he did not understand the problem Elder Ma was raising.
Elder Ma hurriedly said, "I am not saying you are not serious. But during the semi-finals, don't you think it was too childish? How did rock-paper-scissors come into play?"
"You are talking about rock-paper-scissors. That is also a kind of competition." The Medical Elder and the Martial Elder laughed heartily upon hearing this.
Seeing them laugh like this, Elder Ma and the other elders present looked at each other in confusion, not knowing what had happened.
The Medical Elder sighed, then smiled. "Actually, how should I explain this? Let me put it this way."
The Medical Elder smiled brightly. "It was already good enough that they went on stage to play rock-paper-scissors. Their original intention was to decide who would enter the top ten and who would enter the top five right here below the stage.
Later, they said this was unfair. But they could not fight each other. So, they thought of rock-paper-scissors. Anyway, everyone felt their cultivation was set. Now, it depends on luck. Whoever has better luck does not have to struggle below."
"Pfft~" As soon as the Medical Elder finished speaking, Guan Feng sprayed his tea far away. What did he mean by "not having to struggle below"? It turned out that in the minds of the Sage Academy students, this competition was actually a boring hassle.
The other three elders who came with him looked at Guan Feng. Guan Feng coughed. "You continue talking. You continue talking. I just choked on the tea."
"Medical Elder, what you are doing is wrong," Elder Ma said seriously. "You must teach your students to be serious and responsible."
"Our students are very serious and responsible," the Medical Elder answered calmly. "Look, they participated according to the competition rules. They did not violate any rules, did they?"
The Medical Elder paused for a moment, then thought about it. It seemed true. They really had not violated the rules. But for some reason, Elder Ma still felt something was off.
Elder Qian from the Divine Emperor Academy coughed and spoke. "Medical Elder, I know the Sage Academy has always been free-spirited. But being too free-spirited is not necessarily a good thing."
The Medical Elder tilted his head and thought. "Has anything bad happened? I don't remember anything bad happening. And it seems everyone can accept this quite well."
"Medical Elder, we are talking about serious matters," Elder Qian frowned slightly. "As teachers, we must educate our students well. Don't you think the students of the Sage Academy are too lax?"
"What is wrong with being lax? If you have the ability, find a student from your academy who is stronger than ours," the Martial Elder cut in directly, stabbing Elder Qian with his words.
Elder Qian felt pain in his chest. Why were the teachers and students of the Sage Academy all the same?
Elder Hu from the Jingmei Girls' School spoke slowly. "Actually, I have no other meaning. It is just that the girls in your academy really lack a certain upbringing. In my opinion, they might as well come to our academy to study for a few years. At least change this lax character."
"I think our students are very good. If they were not good, they could not have defeated your students," the Medical Elder was too protective. He could not tolerate anyone saying his students were bad.
Elder Hu was speechless. In fact, she was truly envious of the several female students from the Sage Academy. Of course, she knew it was impossible to steal their students, but they could exchange learning. However, before she could speak, she received this protective remark from the Medical Elder. This made Elder Hu unable to voice her plans, even if she had the intention.
The Medical Elder looked at Elder Hu and said directly, "You want our students to learn the Charm Arts of the Jingmei Girls' School. To be honest, I would rather my students remain as they are now. Keep your Charm Arts to yourselves. The students of the Sage Academy really do not need them."
Elder Hu frowned slightly. "Medical Elder, Charm Arts can keep women at their most beautiful."
"That is a temptation for ordinary mortals. Our students are cultivators. They all know how to maintain their most beautiful state. For them, Charm Arts are actually useless."