"So it is," Dean Xie Changkong said mildly.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Suddenly, he accelerated as if shrinking the distance of space. Taking a series of steps, he closed in on that mountain peak before the dozen or so Grotto-Heaven Realm experts could even react.
The footwork he executed was too profound, difficult to pin down.
Swish!
Xie Changkong's eyes were like cold lightning, tearing through the void, awe-inspiring as he fixed his gaze on those dozen or so Grotto-Heaven Realm experts.
The hearts of those dozen or so Grotto-Heaven Realm experts all lurched, a sense of foreboding rising within them.
"Afraid? He's already severely injured, a tiger with no teeth. Let's join forces and kill him!" one Grotto-Heaven Realm expert roared.
"That's right! Kill Xie Changkong, and Hudao Academy will be at our mercy! Let's attack!" another Grotto-Heaven Realm expert shouted.
Boom!
Before those dozen or so Grotto-Heaven Realm experts could even make a move, Xie Changkong took the initiative. He practically stormed right into their midst in a single step, unleashing a terrifying amount of energy.
The vast pressure of that energy immediately caused the surrounding space to tremble violently.
Boom! Boom!
Xie Changkong plunged alone into the midst of more than a dozen Grotto-Heaven Realm experts, initiating the fight directly as if he moved like a blazing sun passing through snow.
Thump!
With a single punch, he sent a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert flying, blood spraying from his mouth in succession.
"Die!"
Another Grotto-Heaven Realm expert held a silver long halberd in his hands, which continuously enlarged, resembling a pillar propping up the sky as it cleaved towards Xie Changkong.
Fearless, Xie Changkong met it with a fist, his physical body forcefully confronting that long halberd. His palm was imbued with turbulent, surging energy.
Crack!
The silver long halberd was instantly smashed into pieces, scattering in fragments.
Boom!
Xie Changkong followed up with another punch. That Grotto-Heaven Realm expert let out a miserable scream as he was sent flying backward.
"Wasn't he severely injured? How is he still so powerful?!"
At this moment, a chill ran down the spines of the dozen or so Grotto-Heaven Realm experts.
"Let's get closer, work together against him. Don't give him a chance to pick us off one by one!" someone yelled.
"Come on then!" Xie Changkong bellowed. In a series of punches, he battered the one who had just shouted, making him cough up blood repeatedly before being sent flying.
Xie Changkong's combat prowess was astonishing, his divine might intimidating, thoroughly shaking those Grotto-Heaven Realm experts.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
At this moment, the six Guardian Elders, Dean Zhou, and Ye Yunfei had all arrived.
The six Guardian Elders charged towards the dozen or so Grotto-Heaven Realm experts, joining the fray.
In just a few moves, they had those dozen or so Grotto-Heaven Realm experts utterly overwhelmed, screams of pain ringing out.
Ye Yunfei and Dean Zhou, meanwhile, dashed towards Dean Shangguan.
Dean Shangguan was tied to a tall iron pillar at the peak of the mountain.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Just as Ye Yunfei and Dean Zhou were about to reach that iron pillar, two middle-aged men simultaneously appeared, blocking the path.
Both were Grotto-Heaven Realm experts!
These two Grotto-Heaven Realm experts had been specially left here to guard Dean Shangguan.
"That's Ye Yunfei!"
The two Grotto-Heaven Realm experts both fixed their eyes on Ye Yunfei, their eyes gleaming.
"Seize him!"
The two Grotto-Heaven Realm experts simultaneously moved, charging towards Ye Yunfei.
"Be careful!" Dean Zhou took a step forward, shielding Ye Yunfei behind him.
Boom...
Dean Zhou attacked directly. Both palms expanded simultaneously, like two millstones, smashing forward.
Seizing this opportunity, Ye Yunfei activated the Heaven Shadow Robe and vanished in an instant.
"Eh? Where's Ye Yunfei?"
The two Grotto-Heaven Realm experts and Dean Zhou were all startled.
The next moment.
Swoosh!
Ye Yunfei had already appeared beside Dean Shangguan.
With a wave of his hand, Ye Yunfei pointed.
Hum...
The Five Elements Spiritual Swords shot out simultaneously, severing all the vermilion-gold iron chains binding Dean Shangguan.
Then, Ye Yunfei waved his hand, transporting Dean Shangguan into the Phantom Tower.
Ye Yunfei's movements were simply too fast.
Even those two Grotto-Heaven Realm experts couldn't react in time.
"Excellent!"
Dean Zhou, seeing Ye Yunfei rescue Dean Shangguan, couldn't help but be overjoyed.
"It's terrible! Xie Changkong's injuries are already healed! He's fine! We need to leave, now!"
Right at this moment, a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert exclaimed in horror.
Hearing these words, the Grotto-Heaven Realm experts from those top-tier forces in the Central Continent immediately began to tremble, feeling their hearts turn to ice.
This was Xie Changkong, after all, one of the most top-tier experts in the Central Continent!
Now, his strength was restored, and he had returned completely!
They all clearly knew how terrifying Xie Changkong was at his peak!
They were utterly incapable of standing against him.
"Not only Xie Changkong, everyone else's injuries are healed too. They're all fine! Run!" someone cried out in panic.
Instantly, those Grotto-Heaven Realm experts lost all will to fight, each turning on their heels to flee.
They were thoroughly frightened.
They couldn't handle a single Xie Changkong.
Add the six Grotto-Heaven Fifth Stage Guardian Elders into the mix, and staying here meant only death.
"After them!"
The six Guardian Elders gave chase simultaneously.
"Where do you think you're running?!"
Xie Changkong was even faster. In one step, he caught up to one of the Grotto-Heaven Realm experts.
He extended one large hand, like a massive stele descending from the sky, slamming down towards that Grotto-Heaven Realm expert.
"Dean Xie, spare me!"
That Grotto-Heaven Realm expert was terrified, crying out desperately.
Bang!
Xie Changkong gave him no chance. The giant palm descended, smashing half of that Grotto-Heaven Realm expert's body on the spot.
Splat!
Then, he added another punch.
Ah!
With a final scream, the remaining half of that Grotto-Heaven Realm expert's body also exploded completely, his form and spirit annihilated.
From the beginning of the fight until now, this was the first Grotto-Heaven Realm expert to fall.
The other Grotto-Heaven Realm experts, witnessing this, were scared out of their wits, exerting every ounce of their power to flee into the distance.
Swoosh!
Xie Changkong activated his movement technique. In one step, he was behind another Grotto-Heaven Realm expert.
"Xie Changkong, I'll fight you to the death!"
Knowing he couldn't escape, that Grotto-Heaven Realm expert gritted his teeth, turned around, and attacked Xie Changkong.
But it was useless.
In less than two moves, Xie Changkong punched his body into pieces.
Another Grotto-Heaven Realm expert perished.
Ah!
From another direction came a scream. One of the Guardian Elders had killed a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert in just a few moves.
Like wolves and tigers, Xie Changkong and the six Guardian Elders pursued into the distance.
For the previous period, Hudao Academy had been suppressed too harshly.
Now, with Xie Changkong and the six Guardian Elders' injuries recovered, naturally, they were going to vent their anger fiercely.
Ye Yunfei and Dean Zhou did not follow them, returning instead to the academy and arriving at the mountain peak where Dean Shangguan usually resided.
Ye Yunfei brought Dean Shangguan out from the Phantom Tower.
Then, he took out a Marvelous Marrow Divine Vessel Pill and gave it to Dean Shangguan to consume.
Ye Yunfei had prepared this Marvelous Marrow Divine Vessel Pill specifically for Dean Shangguan.
One had to admit.
The effect of the Marvelous Marrow Divine Vessel Pill was truly outstanding.
A short while later.
Dean Shangguan regained consciousness.
Dean Zhou briefly explained the general course of events to Dean Shangguan.
"Dean Shangguan, you should first enter the secret chamber to go into closed-door cultivation for recovery. I believe that in a few days, you will be fully restored to your former self. This bottle of Treasure Pills is for you to replenish your vitality."
Ye Yunfei took out a jade bottle and handed it to Dean Shangguan.
"Vice Dean Ye, thank you," Dean Shangguan said gratefully.
Then, he entered the secret chamber and began his recovery in seclusion.
Less than half an hour later, Xie Changkong and the six Guardian Elders all returned.
"Haha, today's battle was way too satisfying!"
"In this battle, we killed six Grotto-Heaven Realm experts!"
"From now on, let's see who dares to provoke our Hudao Academy again!"
...
Everyone was in the highest spirits, exuberant and triumphant.
"Vice Dean Ye, truth be told, the greatest credit belongs to you!"
Finally, everyone's gazes fell upon Ye Yunfei.