"Oh?"
Ye Yunfei looked up, gazing toward the distant horizon.
He saw a tall, imposing old man with light gold-flecked eyes striding through the air, his sleeves billowing in the wind, swift as lightning. In the blink of an eye, he had arrived before the crowd.
Boom...
An overwhelmingly majestic pressure descended from the heavens, startling every student present, making their legs tremble and their faces turn pale.
"Kid, you have quite the nerve, daring to lay hands on a member of my Xiao Clan.
Put Ziyang down at once!"
The tall old man said, looking down with a stern gaze that fell upon Ye Yunfei.
Boom!
As the tall old man's gaze landed on him, Ye Yunfei instantly felt his body grow heavy, as if a great mountain were crushing down upon him.
A Fifth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm expert!
Ye Yunfei's expression grew somewhat solemn.
Given Ye Yunfei's current strength, he was no match for even a Grotto-Heaven First Level expert, let alone a Fifth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm master.
"Xiao Zuyuan, you come rushing to Hudao Academy and act against my student. What is the meaning of this?!"
At that moment, Xie Changkong had already strode forward to stand beside Ye Yunfei. With a flick of his sleeve, he dissipated the pressure Ye Yunfei was bearing and spoke with a dark expression.
Whoosh, whoosh…
A large group of Hudao Academy's high-ranking members came soaring through the air, landing on the field.
"Dean Xie, it's been a long time."
The tall old man gave a faint smile.
This tall old man was named Xiao Zuyuan, a top-tier expert of the Xiao Clan.
"This boy is vicious and bloodthirsty, with an insolent and wild nature. He has killed or injured many of my Xiao Clan disciples. I came today precisely to take him away.
I hope Dean Xie can uphold great righteousness and hand him over to me."
Xiao Zuyuan pointed at Ye Yunfei as he spoke.
"Hah, old man, you jest.
In everything I do, I abide by a simple principle: If others don't provoke me, I won't provoke them.
But if they provoke me, I will repay them doubly.
Since members of your Xiao Clan initiated the provocation, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
Before Xie Changkong could even reply, Ye Yunfei laughed heartily.
"You little beast! How audacious!
To dare be so disrespectful before me.
Now I can see just how arrogant and domineering you usually are!
Dean Xie, you saw it too, didn't you?"
Xiao Zuyuan raged.
"Xiao Zuyuan, I quite agree with Ye Yunfei's words."
Xiao Changkong replied coolly.
"Dean Xie, what do you mean by that? Don't tell me you intend to shield this little beast?!"
Xiao Zuyuan's expression darkened.
"Xiao Zuyuan, please leave.
If a student of my Hudao Academy commits an error, the Academy itself will naturally investigate and handle it. It is not for outsiders to interfere and dictate."
Xie Changkong said coldly, projecting immense authority.
"Dean Xie, you…"
Xiao Zuyuan fumed.
"Kid, release Ziyang immediately! Otherwise, I'll make sure you die without a place to be buried!"
Xiao Zuyuan glared at Ye Yunfei, his cold eyes flashing like lightning.
Boom…
A formidable surge of Soul Power abruptly crushed toward Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei swiftly mobilized the Soul Power within his Soul Sea to resist.
At the same time,
he clenched his right hand forcefully.
Crunch!
Xiao Ziyang's body was immediately torn apart utterly, dying on the spot.
"Old man, I refuse to let go."
Ye Yunfei met Xiao Zuyuan's gaze directly and sneered.
"You little beast! You're asking for death!"
Xiao Zuyuan exploded with rage in an instant, a tidal wave of fury soaring skyward.
Xie Changkong stepped forward, placing himself in front of Ye Yunfei.
"Xie Changkong, hand that little beast over at once.
Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Xiao Zuyuan said through gritted teeth.
"Ye Yunfei is a student of Hudao Academy. I will not hand him over."
Xie Changkong replied evenly.
"Hah…
Xie Changkong, you cannot protect this boy!
I advise you to hand him over."
A voice sounded from afar.
Then, flames lit up the sky as a red-robed elder radiating light strode over.
Another Fifth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm expert!
Rumble, boom…
The world filled with the roar of spiritual energy. In the distant sky, several more Grotto-Heaven Realm experts appeared in succession, each with sleeves fluttering as they strode forth, arriving one after another.
Including Xiao Zuyuan, a total of seven Grotto-Heaven Realm experts had come!
Moreover, all of them were at the Fifth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm!
With the arrival of these seven Grotto-Heaven Realm experts, the very atmosphere grew incomparably heavy.
All the students felt their breath become labored, their spiritual energy stagnating, their faces pale.
Grotto-Heaven Realm experts were terrifying. Merely the slight traces of aura they unintentionally leaked was almost unbearable for the surrounding students.
The gazes of all seven Grotto-Heaven Realm experts fell upon Ye Yunfei.
Xie Changkong, the six Guardian Elders, Dean Shangguan, and Dean Zhou all shifted their positions, forming a tight circle around Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but feel a flicker of gratitude.
These high-ranking members of Hudao Academy truly treated him well.
"You barge into Hudao Academy without permission, showing utter disregard for our institution!"
Dean Shangguan demanded angrily.
"Hmph, Dean Shangguan is quite full of himself.
Even we are not allowed in now?"
A green-robed elder sneered.
These seven Fifth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts all hailed from the top forces of the Central Region. Each was a lordly figure, a venerated ancestor in their own right, holding high positions and prestigious reputations that shook the world.
They naturally did not take someone like Dean Shangguan, a mere Grotto-Heaven First Level expert, seriously.
"You should leave.
Hudao Academy does not welcome you."
Xie Changkong said with a dark, cold expression.
"Hah, Xie Changkong, now that we've come, we won't leave so easily.
Unless you hand this boy over for me to take away.
Furthermore, I am quite interested in the Hudao Stele. I would like to borrow it for a closer appreciation."
A black-robed elder laughed heartily.
This black-robed elder was named Feng YunChi, a top-tier expert of the Fengyun Family.
"Correct!
Hand over Ye Yunfei and the Hudao Stele, and we will leave immediately.
Otherwise, sending us away won't be so easy."
The green-robed elder sneered.
This green-robed elder was named Sheng Tiance, a top-tier expert of the Shenfeng Sect.
The other several Fifth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts all wore mocking smiles.
"So you came for the Hudao Stele after all.
The Hudao Stele is a token left behind by the Academy Founder, the most sacred object of our Hudao Academy.
Anyone who dares to covet the Hudao Stele makes an enemy of Hudao Academy.
Now, leave immediately. Otherwise, Hudao Academy will regard you as enemies."
Xie Changkong's piercing gaze locked onto the seven Fifth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts as he spoke coldly.
"Xie Changkong, are you certain?"
The red-robed elder who was radiant with light asked with a cold smile.
This red-robed elder was named Lian Yankong, a top-tier expert of the Tianyan Sect.
"Certain."
Xie Changkong answered.
The atmosphere instantly grew even more tense, reaching its breaking point.
"All students, retreat to a distance immediately!"
Dean Shangguan turned and ordered the surrounding students in a grave voice.
Immediately, the students who had come to watch spread their movement techniques and rushed into the distance.
Including Wen Zi, Xiao Hui, Wu Heishan, Dugu Huan, and Yuan Dayong—all five had been instructed by Ye Yunfei to leave as well.
"Hah, Xie Changkong, in the past I might have held some caution towards you, but now, you can hardly protect yourself.
Very well, today I shall see if you still have the ability to stop us from taking Ye Yunfei and the Hudao Stele!"
Lian Yankong suddenly burst into laughter.
Amid his laughter, he suddenly reached out, grabbing towards the Hudao Stele.
Boom…
A massive hand grew larger and larger, emitting a dazzling light, intricate runes blazing brightly, blotting out the sky and covering the earth. In an instant, it stretched into the air above Hudao Square, grasping for the Hudao Stele.
"Halt!"
A Guardian Elder shouted angrily, slashing out a palm strike like an inverted heavenly river, directly forcing Lian Yankong's massive hand to retreat.
"Dean Shangguan, Dean Zhou, you two protect Ye Yunfei."
Xie Changkong ordered softly.
Then, Xie Changkong and the six Guardian Elders simultaneously stepped forward, unleashing their spiritual pressure.
Xie Changkong was at Grotto-Heaven Sixth Level. The six Guardian Elders were all Fifth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm.
"Hah, let's do this. What are we waiting for?"
Lian Yankong laughed.
Thus, the seven Fifth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts also released their pressure.
Boom, rumble…
The entire Hudao Academy began to shake.
"Ye Yunfei, let us fall back."
Dean Shangguan and Dean Zhou, one on the left and one on the right, protected Ye Yunfei as they retreated.
Dean Shangguan and Dean Zhou were only at Grotto-Heaven First Level. Faced with a battle of this scale, they were simply powerless to intervene.
A great battle was on the verge of erupting before their eyes.