Su Qian faced his opponents—men who appeared ready to fight to the death—and his expression turned grim.
If they truly unleash everything…
His gaze flickered subtly toward the other battlefields.
The Gold and Silver Elders pressed together, their voices merging into a single, resonant declaration.
"Old Su—go to hell! "
Their auras fused. A suffocating pressure rolled toward Su Qian in relentless waves.
He settled into his stance. Dou Qi gathered in his palms.
The battle was about to erupt—
And the Gold and Silver Elders launched themselves.
Toward the Academy's exit.
At lightning speed.
Silence.
Everyone present stared at the rapidly shrinking figures.
A flock of crows flew overhead.
We prepared for a final, desperate struggle… and this is what we get?
Su Qian recovered first.
His movement technique ignited. He gave chase.
But the twins' fused Dou Qi propelled them faster. Perhaps it was the "Weakest Dou Zong" curse. Perhaps it was simply fate.
He could not catch them.
"Su Qian! Give up!" Their mocking laughter drifted back. "You cannot catch us, hahaha!"
"Old Su! No need to see us off! You're far too slow!"
Su Qian's face flushed crimson—rage, shame, or both.
His mind wavered. His Dou Qi circulation stuttered. His speed dropped by a fraction.
"You mother—!"
"BRAKE! BRAKE! STOP! "
Their triumphant mockery died mid-syllable.
A wall of water materialized before them—massive, absolute, inescapable.
They tried to halt. Their speed was too great. The distance was too short.
THUD. THUD.
Two dull impacts.
Not crisp enough. Need more practice.
The water wall appeared fluid. It was, in fact, harder than stone—and coated with the adhesive force of a powerful current.
"Glu—glu—glu—!"
Their faces submerged. Their struggles grew frantic. Drowning sounds filled the air.
Su Qian halted.
He watched the flailing, choking duo and slowly exhaled.
If those two had escaped…
With their strength, if they chose to scheme against the Inner Academy in secret, no one but myself could withstand them.
The water wall dissolved.
The Gold and Silver Elders hung in the air, drenched, gasping.
They prepared to flee again.
A figure materialized before them.
Profound blue robes. Calm, aged features.
An Eight-Star Dou Zong aura pressed down upon them.
Their hearts turned to ash.
Shui Ye raised his hand.
And behind the gold-robed elder—
Silver Robe's eyes flickered.
Ruthless.
His palm slammed into Gold Robe's back.
Gold Robe never anticipated betrayal from his own brother—his companion of decades, bound by blood and battle.
Unprepared, unguarded, he launched forward like a cannonball directly toward Shui Ye.
"I curse your entire family—you—!"
Blood sprayed from his lips. His curse remained unfinished.
Shui Ye's palm met his chest.
He plummeted.
Silver Robe did not spare his brother a glance.
He circulated every drop of his Dou Qi and fled.
"Isn't his entire family… his own family?" someone murmured.
He did not fly far.
A red figure materialized directly in his path.
A slender, beautiful leg extended.
KICK.
Silver Robe's body folded around the impact. He became a projectile—a football, a meteor—hurtling backward.
He caught up to his brother mid-air.
Together, they crashed to the ground beside Han Feng.
Queen Medusa lowered her leg.
Han Feng stared at the two broken figures before him.
Gold Robe's chest was caved in. His breathing was shallow, irregular. Silver Robe was in similar condition.
My last helpers.
Gone.
His expression curdled.
Earth Demon Old Ghost.
Took the benefits. Never appeared.
Damned wretch.
Earth Demon Old Ghost, from beyond the grave: You'll see me when you come down.
Han Feng's gaze swept across his surroundings.
The Jia Nan Academy elders had encircled him. The unfamiliar Dou Zong experts stood at key points, blocking every possible escape route.
And circling in the sky above—
A massive, sinuous form.
The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor of Heavenly Serpent Mansion.
"I did not expect Heavenly Serpent Mansion to involve itself with Jia Nan Academy."
Bai Ya's expression was one of profound disdain.
"I am no longer with Heavenly Serpent Mansion." His voice dripped with contempt. "Do not attempt to associate me with them."
Han Feng blinked.
He's… distancing himself? To protect Heavenly Serpent Mansion from Black-Corner Region retaliation?
"Who are you people?" His voice was strained. Desperate.
Medusa. Shui Ye. Jin Mo. Bai Ya. Hai Bodong.
They regarded him with cold, dispassionate silence.
Xiao Jietian stepped forward.
"Who we are," he said pleasantly, "is not something a dead man needs to know."
A pause.
His smile widened.
"You may take your questions to hell."
Han Feng's face stiffened.
He knows.
He knows I've been trying to contact—
His hand, concealed behind his back, ceased its subtle movements.
"And don't think your little tricks went unnoticed." Xiao Jietian's tone was almost conversational. "We've been aware all along."
Another pause.
"It seems your helper has no interest in helping you."
Han Feng's heart plummeted.
Protector Xuan. Where ARE you?
He had been reaching out frantically, desperately. Each attempt vanished into the void like a stone dropped into an endless sea.
That boastful wretch. "Any problem. Any condition. I can solve anything."
Lies. All lies.
But he could not give up.
With four Dou Zongs and a host of Dou Huangs and Dou Kings surrounding him, escape was impossible.
Only one hope remained.
"I accept your terms!" His voice cracked. "Any conditions—I agree to them all! I will give you the Heavenly Flame in my possession! Only—save me! "
Silence.
The surrounding crowd exchanged glances.
"Has the Medicine Emperor lost his mind?"
"Perhaps he had reinforcements waiting. But with our current lineup…"
"Probably ran off already."
Each word struck Han Feng's heart like a hammer.
Xiao Jietian's expression remained pleasant.
But inwardly, his calculations had shifted.
He's calling for the Soul Hall protectors.
If that's the case…
New plan.
His Divine Sense extended.
[Xian'er. Seal the surrounding void completely.]
[The Soul Hall protector must not escape.]