Central Continent, within a certain city.
A large manor.
An ordinary elder from Hudao Academy, leading a large contingent of men, suddenly surrounded this manor, sealing it off completely.
"What is Hudao Academy doing here?!" a black-robed elder roared, rushing out from the manor accompanied by his own squad. "Get lost!"
"This place originally served as a branch outpost of our Hudao Academy," the Hudao Academy elder shouted loudly. "You, the Fengyun Family, seized it. Now, it's going back to its original owner!"
"Heh…" the black-robed elder sneered. "Who decreed that this place must belong to your Hudao Academy? Now, this place belongs to our Fengyun Family! If you dare to act, prepare for an all-out war with the Fengyun Family!"
"War it is, then! Hudao Academy is not to be bullied!" the Hudao Academy elder flew into a rage. "Charge in and reclaim what is ours!" he ordered with a wave of his hand.
"Kill!" The Hudao Academy contingent surged into the manor.
"Very well! I shall report to the Patriarch immediately and settle the score with your Hudao Academy!" the black-robed elder shot a deep, meaningful glance at the Hudao Academy forces. "We withdraw!" He waved his hand, leading his Fengyun Family men away.
This identical scene played out repeatedly in many cities across the Central Continent.
Hudao Academy forces launched attacks everywhere, reclaiming most of their branch outposts within a few days.
Naturally, during this process, Hudao Academy forces clashed violently with the forces of the four major powers: the Fengyun Family, the Xiao Clan, the Shenfeng Sect, and the Tianyan Sect, engaging in multiple skirmishes.
Both sides suffered casualties.
"Hudao Academy is taking advantage of their influence to bully others! Three days from now, the Fengyun Family will personally visit their gates to seek justice!" the Fengyun Family leadership publicly declared.
"Hudao Academy slaughtered members of my Xiao Clan! This vengeance must be repaid! A personal visit will be made in three days!"
"My Shenfeng Sect has already lost one hundred and fifty-two disciples at the hands of Hudao Academy! In three days, we will come demanding an explanation!"
"Numerous assets of my Tianyan Sect have been plundered by Hudao Academy. We will pay a visit in three days!" These three powers also conveyed their cold messages.
Swiftly, news spread throughout the entire Central Continent and even across the entire Tianxuan Continent.
"These four top-tier powers are preparing to move against Hudao Academy again!" All martial artists who heard the news began whispering amongst themselves.
Everyone understood clearly that the longstanding grudges between these four powers and Hudao Academy were merely finding a convenient excuse to stir up trouble.
"They've gone too far!" Many martial artists complained with indignation. "Commander Ye sacrificed himself alongside those five Otherworldly experts for the safety of our Tianxuan Continent. He is a hero of our world! And now, with Commander Ye gone, these four top-tier powers leap out to bully Hudao Academy!"
After all, just a short while ago, the invasion by the Otherworldly Army had plunged Tianxuan Continent into a crisis. It was thanks to the meteoric rise of Ye Yunfei, who nearly eradicated the alien forces, that peace was restored. The majority of people held Ye Yunfei in high esteem. Therefore, this move by the four top-tier powers against Hudao Academy naturally aroused widespread discontent.
"Let's go! Let's head to Hudao Academy together and lend them our support!" Many martial artists spontaneously mobilized, making their way toward Hudao Academy.
"Humph! This is utter nonsense!" Gu Chengzhu flew into a rage upon receiving the news. "Come, we're heading to Hudao Academy!" He immediately led a group of expert protectors from Hujie City towards the headquarters of Hudao Academy.
At this moment.
The conference hall of Hudao Academy headquarters.
All the senior members were gathered.
"Dean Xie Changkong, the Fengyun Family and the other three powers are clearly exploiting the situation and making no secret of their desire to find an excuse to move against our Hudao Academy," an ordinary elder stated angrily.
"Their primary target remains the Hudao Stele," Xie Changkong replied. "They've always coveted it."
"True!" the other senior members nodded in agreement.
"Soldiers approach, we meet them with arms. Water floods in, we hold it back with earth," Elder He said slowly. "Hudao Academy does not necessarily fear them."
"Issue the order," Xie Changkong commanded. "For these next three days, organize all students and have them intensify their cultivation of the Slaughter Formation! Furthermore, we senior members shall also participate in its training!" The Slaughter Formation had already become Hudao Academy's formidable hidden card.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the morning of the third day.
Around Hudao Academy, the hills and plains were crowded with martial artists.
Many had come to support Hudao Academy and boost its morale. Others had come specifically to witness the spectacle.
Rumble…
At the edge of the sky, dense clusters of flying vessels appeared, soaring through the air.
"The forces of the four top-tier powers have arrived!" All eyes turned in that direction.
Within moments, several dozen flying vessels arrived and halted outside Hudao Academy.
Then, squad after squad of personnel disembarked from the vessels.
They were precisely the forces of the Fengyun Family, the Xiao Clan, the Shenfeng Sect, and the Tianyan Sect!
Furthermore, the vast majority of the senior members from these four powers were present!
"Look! Those five, could they be the five reclusive elders of the Fengyun Family: Fengyun Xiong, Fengyun Huan, Fengyun Mu, Fengyun Hua, and Fengyun Bo? Weren't there rumors they had perished? They're actually alive!"
"Besides those five reclusive elders, the Fengyun Family has over thirty Grotto-Heaven Realm experts! Among them are many old antiques thought to have died long ago. So they're still alive!"
"Look! The Xiao Clan also has many old antiques appearing! The Xiao Clan also has over thirty Grotto-Heaven Realm experts!"
"Heavens! The Shenfeng Sect actually dispatched thirty-two Grotto-Heaven Realm experts!"
"The Tianyan Sect sent thirty Grotto-Heaven Realm experts!"
Gasps of astonishment rose incessantly.
Only now did people realize that these four top-tier powers possessed such an astonishing number of Grotto-Heaven Realm experts!
"Looking at this, these four powers have been concealing their true strength all along!"
"They've gone too far! When the Otherworldly Army invaded, they refused to reveal their true power or contribute to the defense of Tianxuan Continent.
Now that Commander Ye has annihilated the Otherworldly Army, they spring forth, baring their fangs to target Hudao Academy!" … Around them, many martial artists whispered in discussion, expressing outrage at the actions of these four top-tier powers.
At that moment.
Swish!
Suddenly, an elder from the Fengyun Family moved, swift as lightning, appearing before a group of over a dozen martial artists who were clustered together whispering.
"Were you just saying our Fengyun Family is dishonorable?" The Fengyun Family elder's sharp gaze fixed on those dozen or so martial artists as he questioned them coldly.