The Earth Demon Old Ghost sneered coldly. In his eyes, Su Qian was hardly worth a glance—and the elders standing behind him even less so. If not for the lingering fear of Mang Tianchi's name, he would have already begun his assault.
Su Qian could feel the suffocating chill radiating from the old ghost's body, making his heart tighten. He knew very well that he was no match for this man.
Once a cultivator reached the Dou Zong realm, the difference between each star was immense. Few in history could fight beyond their rank. But as the Grand Elder of Jia Nan Inner Academy, Su Qian could not retreat. If he allowed the old ghost to seize a student openly, the academy's reputation would be forever tarnished.
'Let's hope at least one of the Protectors decides to step in before I'm beaten to death…'
Suppressing his turmoil, Su Qian raised his hand to halt the furious elders behind him. He knew that if this battle escalated into a full-scale war, the entire academy would be reduced to rubble.
His voice dropped low. "Xiao Yan cannot be taken away today. And you—an elder of your generation—bullying a junior is shameful. Let me accompany you for a few rounds instead."
A flicker of delight crossed the Earth Demon Old Ghost's eyes. Su Qian's offer was exactly what he had been waiting for. He had no true intention of destroying the Inner Academy; even for him, that would be too risky. What he wanted was to publicly display his overwhelming power—forcing them to hand over Xiao Yan willingly.
A wicked grin spread across his face as he stepped down from his bamboo palanquin, folding his hands behind his back. His tone oozed venom. "Then this old ancestor will 'guide' you on behalf of Mang Tianchi. So long as the other elders and students don't interfere, I'll spare their lives."
"Understood, Old Ancestor!" answered First Elder Fang Yan and the rest of Demon Flame Valley's followers with fanatical reverence.
Su Qian took a step forward, his expression calm but solemn. "All Inner Academy elders, hear my command: no matter what happens next, none of you are to interfere."
"Grand Elder, but you—" Elder Qin Xuan's voice trembled with concern.
"Obey!" Su Qian barked, his tone sharp as steel.
"…Yes!" Qin Xuan answered reluctantly, falling back with the others.
In the next instant, Su Qian's aura burst forth—vast and majestic—rolling outward like a raging sea. Space itself seemed to ripple and distort under the immense pressure.
Across from him, the Earth Demon Old Ghost's gaze remained filled with arrogance and disdain. He took a light step into the air, appearing dozens of meters away, one hand folded behind him while the other extended lazily forward.
The meaning was clear: I'll even fight you with one hand.
Though his aura appeared calm and contained, its weight was suffocating—like a mountain pressing down, an ocean without end. Su Qian's oppressive presence washed over him, but the old ghost didn't so much as flinch.
He had reason to be proud. As a high-level 7-Star Dou Zong, his power towered over Su Qian's mere 3-Star strength. The gap between them was greater than that of a Dou Wang and a Dou Huang.
Su Qian's expression did not change. His aura locked tightly around the battlefield, probing for any flaw, any weakness he could exploit. He had no choice but to be cautious—one mistake could cost him his life.
The clash of Dou Zong auras formed a circular domain that spanned hundreds of meters, forcing all onlookers—Inner Academy elders and Demon Flame Valley experts alike—to retreat far beyond its boundary.
Even so, the pressure seeped downward, causing weaker students below to gasp for air. Even seasoned figures like Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing wore solemn expressions.
Among the crowd, Xiao Yan watched tensely, unable to make sense of the situation.
"Why would that old ghost suddenly target me?" he muttered, brows furrowing.
Beside him, Xun'er's voice was soft but steady. "Don't worry, Brother Xiao Yan. Jia Nan Academy's foundations run deep. Even a 7-Star Dou Zong can't easily shake it."
But inside, she sighed. 'If things turn bad, I'll have to take him away… even if he resents me for it.'
Xiao Yan forced a faint smile. "It's not the battle that worries me—it's why this Earth Demon Old Ghost would come for me in the first place. I've never offended him… someone must be pulling the strings."
At that moment, Yao Chen's weary voice echoed in his mind.
"This reeks of the Hall of Souls, boy. They excel at manipulating others—using one blade to strike through another. My traitorous disciple, Han Feng, was ensnared by them in just the same way…"
"Hall of Souls…"
Murderous light flared in Xiao Yan's eyes. The Hall of Souls had destroyed his clan, kidnapped his father, and now sent this old ghost to capture him. The fury in his chest boiled like a storm.
Then a spark of realization flashed through his mind. He looked up at the dueling figures in the sky, then toward the distracted elders and students.
'Right now… no one can stop me. The Heavenly Flame… this is my chance!'
Turning to Xun'er, he spoke quickly, "Stay here, don't move. I need to handle something. I'll be right back, and then we'll leave together."
"Brother Xiao Yan, what are you planning? Do you need my help?" Xun'er asked, worry flooding her eyes.
Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "No need. I'll return soon."
Without another word, his body blurred and vanished, leaving only a faint ripple in the air.
"Teacher," he called softly once he reached a deserted corner.
A tired yet firm voice echoed from his ring. "Xiao Yan, my Spiritual Power is limited. Be quick."
As soon as Yao Chen finished, a surge of spiritual power erupted from the black ring, cloaking Xiao Yan's figure, masking his presence and boosting his strength.
Under that veil, Xiao Yan darted through the academy shadows, slipping unseen toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower—the heart of the Inner Academy's Heavenly Flame.
While he moved, the sky above exploded with motion.
Su Qian and the Earth Demon Old Ghost finally clashed. Cold sweat ran down Su Qian's temple; his aura faltered under the crushing pressure. If he didn't act soon, he'd be completely suppressed.
His eyes sharpened. With a fierce stomp, he launched himself forward like a comet, tearing through the air toward his opponent.
The Earth Demon Old Ghost smirked. With a flick of his wrist, five streaks of icy light shot from his fingertips, whistling through the air like blades.
Su Qian's sleeve swept outward, summoning a surge of Dou Qi that shattered the icy bolts in an explosion of frost. Yet the moment they broke, his momentum stalled.
"Humph."
The old ghost struck like lightning. His palm, wreathed in bone-chilling cold, slammed downward. Su Qian barely managed to meet it with a desperate counterpalm.
Boom!
Frost exploded across the sky. Su Qian staggered back, his robe and hair coated in a sheen of white ice, his breath escaping in a muffled groan.
The Earth Demon Old Ghost had the chance to strike again—but instead, he withdrew, hovering leisurely in the air, watching Su Qian's disheveled figure with amusement.
A cruel grin split his face. He didn't truly want to kill Su Qian—just to humiliate him, to reclaim the pride he'd lost to Mang Tianchi all those years ago.
Whether or not it restored his reputation… didn't matter.
As long as he enjoyed himself.
(End of Chapter)
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