Chen Guan wasn't surprised by Dean Mang's appearance; instead, he was even more shocked by the strength Gu Xun'er displayed.
While the Dean's attack had been rather casual, devoid of any fighting skills, it was still more than a mere Dou Zun could withstand, as Gu Xu's performance attested.
Yet, Gu Xun'er had easily neutralized it without batting an eyelid, her strength likely rivaling even Dean Mang's.
Peak Dou Zun!
Gazing at Gu Xun'er's delicate features, Chen Guan formed a rough idea.
This strength was vastly superior to that of the original Trajectory.
While the current Gu Clan was by no means the strongest of the eight clans, Gu Xun'er was undoubtedly worthy of the title of the foremost among the younger generation!
"Haha, you little girl, are you kidding me? I just sparred with an old friend I haven't seen in years. Is that not okay? You Gu Clan are a bit too petty."
Dean Mang hadn't expected a junior to be as skilled as himself. Shocked, he quickly calmed down, waving his beard and making jokes, shifting the blame.
Gu Xun'er remained smiling, refusing to argue. This resigned attitude made Mang Tianchi feel a little embarrassed to argue, so he could only laugh and let the matter go.
After all, as a senior, arguing with a younger person wouldn't sound good if it got out.
"Mr. Mang, Brother Chen, Cousin Xiao Yan, please come in."
Seeing the matter settled, Gu Xun'er politely led the three into the central VIP area, then excused himself and departed to prepare for the ceremony.
Without Gu Xun'er present, the remaining three, still holding a special relationship, naturally chose three adjacent empty seats.
"Senior, are you truly the Dean of Canaan Academy?"
After taking his seat, Xiao Yan belatedly asked, his gaze averted, as if he had discovered something truly remarkable.
"Nonsense! Besides me, Mang Tianchi, who else dares to call me that?"
Mang Tianchi glared, as if his authority was being questioned. His expression was displeased, frightening Xiao Yan, who flinched.
"Thank you again, Dean, for your assistance this time,"
Chen Guan said with a smile. While the assistance was entirely unnecessary, it was a gesture he appreciated.
It also gave him a glimpse into Gu Xun'er's abilities, which was a welcome development.
"Damn, are you kidding me? What's our relationship? Let alone the fact that you two are elite graduates of Canaan Academy, even if he were just an ordinary student, I'd still back him up. People from Canaan Academy aren't to be trifled with!"
Mang Tianchi truly loved to babble about whether he was kidding or not. He had a playful demeanor, but he was still very pleasant to be around.
Xiao Yan, standing nearby, was meeting the legendary Inner Court Dean for the first time. Hearing his boasts, he could only smile knowingly.
Technically speaking, he hadn't even graduated from Canaan Academy yet!
Furthermore, when he first entered Canaan Academy, he was aiming for the Fallen Heart Flame. Now, facing the head of the academy, he
couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. Chen Guan, on the other hand, was the complete opposite of Xiao Yan. Far from feeling guilty, every time he saw the Dean, he couldn't help but think about how to get some free manpower...
It was the same back at Dragon Island, and it was just as true today.
"Why aren't you saying anything, kid? What are you up to?"
Chen Guan rolled his eyes at the Dean, his expression becoming slightly more serious.
"There's something I really need the Dean's help with." Seeing the other man looking like he was about to slip away, Chen Guan quickly grabbed him and added, "It's nothing serious. After I arrived in Zhongzhou, I ran into a friend, also from our Inner Court, named Li Chang'an."
"When I first arrived, he helped me a lot. Later, by chance, he entered the Soul Palace and provided me with a lot of information about the Soul Palace. But after the Alchemy Conference, he disappeared and has not been heard from since. I'd like to ask the Dean to investigate. With your status, you should be able to investigate much more easily than I can."
Without waiting for Mang Tianchi to express his opinion, Chen Guan unloaded everything.
Both for public and private reasons, Chen Guan desperately wanted to find this former classmate. Before he disappeared, he had been able to anticipate and respond to any and every movement in the Soul Palace, truly mastering the art of strategy.
But after his disappearance, the Soul Palace was left in the dark and became much more passive. The difference was palpable.
As for the possibility that the Soul Palace had already discovered him and secretly suppressed him…
Chen Guan had considered it, but he still found it unlikely.
Firstly, Li Changan wasn't like Elder Mu Gu; as long as he was vigilant, the Soul Palace wouldn't be able to find any evidence.
Secondly, if the Soul Palace truly realized he was a spy and eliminated him, given their nature, they would have been eager to show off their achievements to him.
However, the fact that the Soul Palace hadn't made any move until now was enough to explain the problem.
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After hearing Chen Guan's story, Mang Tianchi's brow furrowed slightly, seeming to be somewhat embarrassed.
But he had just made such a bold statement; refusing now would be humiliating.
Glancing at the sound barrier enveloping the three of them, Mang Tianchi murmured, "I remember this, but I can't guarantee we'll find the person. The Soul Clan has been active lately, recruiting many from the Soul Palace. This is no secret among the Eight Clans. I suspect this Li Chang'an you mentioned was most likely taken into the Soul Clan. The Soul Clan is so powerful, no one knows how many powerful individuals they harbor. Let alone you juniors, even I, if taken into the Soul Clan, would probably be at the mercy of fate, let alone contacting the outside world."
These words came from Mang Tianchi's heart, a rare honesty without a trace of exaggeration.
When it comes to the Soul Clan, even the leader of the Thunder Clan, let alone him, would likely be powerless.
"I understand. Dean, just keep an eye on it. Think positively. No news is good news."
Chen Guan nodded and smiled. This was his intention. Chen Guan
had considered Mang Tianchi's speculation before, so from the beginning, he had never expected that asking him for this matter would be a sure thing.
If Mang Tianchi had promised it, Chen Guan would have been unwilling to believe it. This reaction now only proved that the Dean was sincere.
"That's good. I'll do my best."
As the two talked, the area began to bustle with activity. Many familiar faces appeared one after another.
Among them were Hun Ya and his two guards, as well as Huo Zhi, Huo Xuan and others from the Yan Clan. When they saw Chen Guan and Xiao Yan, they either gave him a sinister look or nodded in a friendly manner.
In response, Chen Guan simply ignored Hun Ya and nodded in response to the Yan Clan members.
At that moment, Chen Guan turned his gaze to the left of the platform and spotted a group of people gathered there. They were mostly members of the younger generation of the Ancient Clan, led by Gu Xun'er. Among them were several Black Annihilation Army commanders he had seen from afar, Ling Quan, with whom he had clashed before, and several unfamiliar yet powerful young men.
He suspected these individuals were the so-called Four Great Commanders.
"It seems the Ancient Clan's coming-of-age ceremony is going to be quite a spectacle. The others are fine; there are certainly some within the eight clans who rival them, but this Gu Xun'er... wow, she's one-of-a-kind!"
Following Chen Guan's gaze, Mang Tianchi spotted the young people of the Ancient Clan and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
He spoke of Gu Xun'er with unparalleled praise, clearly impressed by the previous test.
"Will the Dean fight her?" Chen Guan inquired with a chuckle.
"Are you kidding me? Even if this girl is a peak Dou Zun, there's still a huge gap between her and me. I was just giving her face before. But from today on, that clan emblem... I'm sure I can defeat her!"
Mang Tianchi was furious, but as he spoke, his confidence began to wane.
Chen Guan saw through her, but kept his gaze fixed on Gu Xun'er, his mind racing.
She was actually a Nine-Star Dou Zun!
But with such strength, the benefits of entering the Heavenly Tomb would be very limited. Could it be that Gu Xun'er wanted to take this opportunity to directly enter the Ninth Transformation Realm?
Or perhaps she had some other motive?
"Dong!"
Just as Chen Guan was contemplating how to proceed after entering the Heavenly Tomb with Gu Xun'er around, the sound of an ancient bell suddenly resounded throughout the world. The bell's resounding sound spread throughout the vast mountain range, eventually spreading outward.
In an instant, the bustling square fell silent.
"The time has come. Let the ceremony begin!"
Following the resounding chimes of the bells, a resounding, yet still, voice suddenly emanated from the void. The terrifying pressure within that voice caused many in the square to gasp.
"A Dou Sheng, a true Dou Sheng!"
Feeling this pressure, emanating from the depths of their souls, many in the outer areas gasped, their eyes burning with unconcealed shock.
The central area, however, reacted more calmly. Dou Shengs were truly transcendent, yet those seated here possessed no simple backgrounds or experience, many of whom also descended from ancient races.
They had seen so much, grown accustomed to it, and become numb.
Yet, even so, the yearning in their eyes remained intense.
Sainthood, even for those with Dou Emperor bloodline, was an unattainable goal!