A crescent moon hung like a silver blade high above the night sky. Deep within the wilderness surrounding the Inner Academy, more than a dozen figures darted swiftly through the treetops.
Whenever a burst of violent energy flared, the startled magical beasts nearby were slain instantly. Even those of 3rd Rank or higher could not last a breath under the attackers' might.
Before long, the shadows emerged from the dense forest and came to a halt upon an open clearing.
"This should be where the Inner Academy of Jia Nan lies hidden," one of them whispered, scanning the dark expanse ahead. "I must say... that Academy's Dean is truly remarkable—he managed to seal the entire Inner Academy within an independent space."
"Mr. Han, what do we do now?" another asked uneasily. "That spatial barrier conceals everything. We can't get inside."
Han Feng stood at the front, his expression calm and composed. He had gathered his men only hours ago—and he had no intention of giving the Academy time to prepare. Tonight, he would strike.
"Patience," Han Feng said coolly.
Closing his eyes, he released his Spiritual Power outward, sweeping across the night in search of any flaws in the spatial barrier's flow.
Moments later, his eyes snapped open. A faint smile played upon his lips as he stared at the empty clearing before him.
"You forget where I learned my craft," he said softly. "That Dean left this place long ago. This barrier has been unstable for years. Such a frail shell cannot stop me."
He stepped forward and formed a hand seal. Dou Qi surged violently through his body, flaring like a storm.
"Break!"
A deep-blue beam of light erupted from his palm, streaking through the darkness before slamming into the air ahead.
The beam halted abruptly five or six meters out. Then, the air began to twist and ripple as a translucent membrane of space slowly appeared.
At the point of impact, the blue light corroded the membrane like acid, melting it away bit by bit until a large circular breach was formed.
Han Feng's cold eyes gleamed. "This opening will hold for about three hours. We go in, strike fast, find Liu Xi, and kill him. Once he's dead, seize the Heavenly Flame immediately!"
"Understood!"
In an instant, the dozen black shadows darted through the rift and vanished within.
...
The disturbance, however, did not escape the Academy's notice.
Within minutes, the on-duty Elder had reported to Elder Qin Xuan.
"The spatial barrier has been disturbed—it's likely under attack!" Qin Xuan's expression darkened as he turned to the middle-aged man before him.
"Yes, Elder. The readings confirm it."
"Night intruders…" Qin Xuan muttered grimly. "Never a good sign."
He straightened sharply. "Elder Wang, Elder Zhao, come with me! Elder Li—inform the Grand Elder and have all remaining Elders enter high alert!"
Without another word, Qin Xuan's Dou Qi flared into wings as he shot into the sky, the two Dou Wang Elders behind him following close.
They soared above the Inner Academy, racing toward the mountain ridge where the barrier had been breached.
There—on the far slope—they saw them.
A dozen figures, their auras utterly foreign.
Qin Xuan's heart tightened. Intruders.
He raised his hand, Dou Qi flaring around him. "Black-Corner dogs! You dare trespass in the Inner Academy? Withdraw now, and you may yet keep your lives!"
A cold voice replied from among the shadows. "Attack. End this quickly."
The words had barely fallen when torrents of multicolored Dou Qi exploded outward—palm imprints, blood claws, and saber shadows rained down like a storm.
Qin Xuan and his two companions blanched, their instincts screaming to flee, but pride and duty held them fast. Their Dou Qi erupted in brilliant light as they braced for impact.
Boom!
The collision tore through the mountainside. Shockwaves ripped the air apart, and a roaring blast of smoke and debris engulfed them completely.
"Cough… cough…"
From within the smoke, a battered silhouette staggered out—robes torn, aura flickering. It was Qin Xuan. Using the smoke as cover, he forced himself into the air, wings trembling as he shouted hoarsely, "Enemies—Black-Corner—Han—!"
Before he could finish, his body convulsed and fell limp from the sky.
In that brief clash, two Dou Wang Elders had perished. Qin Xuan was grievously wounded. Three of the Inner Academy's high-ranking powerhouses had fallen in moments.
The disturbance could no longer be contained.
All across the Academy, mighty auras ignited like torches in the night.
"Mr. Han," one of the intruders said, "our ambush has failed. They know we're here."
Han Feng snorted. "Then no need to hide. We strike head-on."
...
At the Inner Academy's secluded loft — Grand Elder Su Qian's residence
Su Qian stood by the window, his sharp gaze fixed on the distant horizon where explosions flared. His eyes burned like a volcano ready to erupt.
With one palm pressed against the window frame, he growled, "Elder Li, there's no mistaking it now. Han Feng… that ungrateful wretch! How dare he!"
A cracking sound followed—the stone window sill crumbled under his hand, leaving a gaping hole.
The killing intent radiating from the Dou Zong Elder was so intense that Elder Li, standing behind him, struggled to breathe.
In a strained voice, Elder Li said, "Grand Elder, Elder Qin Xuan's fate seems grim. We don't know how many enemies have entered. What should we do?"
Su Qian exhaled slowly, forcing his fury into focus. "Elder Li—send my order. Alert the Elders guarding the Treasury Pavilion, the Qi Method Pavilion, the Technique Hall, and the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Since the Black-Corner scum dare set foot here…"
His eyes narrowed, voice cold as steel. "Then none of them will leave alive."
The instant he finished speaking, his figure blurred—and vanished.
Moments later, he reappeared midair along the path the attackers would take toward the Inner Academy's heart.
Suspended in the void, hands clasped behind his back, Su Qian's gaze swept over the dozen figures streaking toward him.
"All Dou Wang or higher…" His tone was calm, but his killing intent was suffocating. "A night raid formed entirely of elites. Han Feng, you've gone all out."
Hearing his name, Han Feng no longer bothered to hide. He drifted forward, coming to stand at the forefront of his forces.
A faint smile curved his lips, the elegance on his face hiding a predatory gleam. "How could I face a Dou Zong powerhouse without proper preparation? You should feel honored that I take you this seriously, Grand Elder Su Qian."
Su Qian let out a booming laugh. "Honored? Hah! If you were truly prepared, you'd have brought a Dou Zong of your own. But you didn't. Even a Dou Huang is but an insect before me—one strike is all it takes!"
Han Feng's smile deepened. "A Dou Zong is indeed mighty—but not invincible. In the Black-Corner Region, there are still those who can match you."
He stepped back slightly and raised his voice. "Gold and Silver Elders, please—show yourselves."
A mocking laugh echoed through the air.
"Han Feng, do you truly understand the price of calling upon us?"
Two voices overlapped—one deep, one cold.
The air distorted, and two ghostly figures emerged from the rippling space above: one shrouded in gold, the other in silver.
Su Qian's expression darkened. He drew his hands together, and the space around him quivered violently. "So... even you two have crawled out from your holes. No wonder he dares attack my Inner Academy."
The air between them grew heavy with killing intent.
Tonight, the battle for the Inner Academy had begun.
(End of Chapter)
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