"If one thing is mishandled, I fear the academy won’t be destroyed by the Sky Blue Demon Roc, but instead by the hands of these people," Xu Zimo said.
"Our Heavenly Dao Academy has helped many in the past. I don’t believe that, in this time of crisis, no one will come to our aid," Pure Water said solemnly.
"In today’s world, everyone only sweeps the snow in front of their own doors. The fact that they don’t take advantage of the academy’s misfortune and strike while the iron is hot, well, isn’t that already a kind of help in disguise?" Xu Zimo laughed. "You expect them to come to our rescue? I think the chances are slim. At best, some rogue cultivators like Blood Butcher might appear, but the imperial lineages? Not likely."
"Why not?" Pure Water still asked, unwilling to accept it.
"Every decision of an imperial lineage affects the future of their lineage’s path. Unless they were gambling everything, they won’t choose to oppose so many other imperial lineages," Xu Zimo said. "Of course, that’s only my judgment. Perhaps there may be one or two righteous and loyal souls who really will come."
As the two chatted, the skies above had already begun to change color.
The rumbling sound of thunder resounded from the heavens.
Outside, one could clearly hear people attacking the academy’s violet barrier.
Although this violet barrier was strong, under the continuous barrage of attacks, it didn’t last long.
With the sound of shattering, a vast and mighty aura pressed down from above.
Countless figures, each accompanied by rolling, overwhelming momentum, stood in the sky.
Each of these figures was like a blazing sun, dazzling and radiant, burning fiercely.
This matter at Heavenly Dao Academy had spread wide, its waves reaching far and wide.
It was no exaggeration to say that the eyes of the entire continent were fixed here.
Whether it was the factions joining the battle or those still watching on the sidelines, all were focused on this vast land.
"We’ve arrived. Does Heavenly Dao Academy not plan to send anyone to greet us?" a loud laugh rang out from the crowd above.
"That’s Universal Deliverance True Immortal of the Merciful Voyage Sacred Ground," Pure Water quickly explained to Xu Zimo.
"The foremost general under Master Merciful Voyage in her day."
Master Merciful Voyage was also a Grand Emperor, but she disliked using the title of emperor, so the world called her ‘Master.’
"It really is lively," Xu Zimo said with a smile, gazing at the sky above where each figure exuded such dominance and momentum like an ocean.
"Merciful Voyage Sacred Ground, Ancient Dragon Dynasty, Pure Yang Sacred Ground, Dark Heaven Sacred Ground, Imperial Throne Sacred Ground, Radiant Flame Confederacy, and the Crescent Imperium."
Among these seven powers, the first five were all imperial lineages of the Middle Continent.
The latter two, Radiant Flame Confederacy and the Crescent Imperium, were more interesting.
Radiant Flame Confederacy was merely a city-state, yet it had produced a true Grand Emperor, the Flame Emperor.
Flame Emperor commanded all the fires of the world and, in his youth, left behind countless legendary tales.
The city was located between the Mad Race and the Myriad Beast Race, standing amid storms of war.
Because of the ceaseless fighting between the two races, Radiant Flame Confederacy was naturally not spared from hardship.
It was said that in his youth, Flame Emperor alone defended the city, striking so hard that neither the Mad Race nor the Ten-Thousand Beast Clan dared to invade again.
On that war-torn land, Radiant Flame Confederacy might have been the most peaceful place of all.
Both Radiant Flame Confederacy and the Crescent Imperium lay in the Western Continent, and both had produced Grand Emperors.
Calling them imperial lineages would not be an exaggeration.
………
This time, the seven great imperial lineages had come to attack Heavenly Dao Academy, but they had not committed their entire forces.
Instead, they sent representatives.
Just as Imperial Throne Sacred Ground sent Thunder Demon, and Merciful Voyage Sacred Ground sent Universal Deliverance True Immortal, the others too had sent strong figures forward.
"Nine Suns Wanderer, Proud Dragon Ancestor, Heaven-Burning War General, Dark Ancestor, Half-Moon Saint…" Pure Water muttered each name as she recognized them. Then she sneered: "And all these Supreme Sects nearby, Crimson Leaf Valley, Sky River Sect, Cloudfall Sect… Do they really think our academy is so easy to bully?"
"You sure know a lot of people," Xu Zimo chuckled.
"Actually, we received word about the factions planning to attack long ago. I even looked into their records beforehand, so of course I know some," Pure Water replied. "So what do we do now?"
"Relax," Xu Zimo said calmly as he leaned back against the stone bench.
"Relax? Do you mean to sit still and wait for capture?" Pure Water asked.
"Our task is only to guard the Treasure Tower. All we need to do is wait for those who want to seize it to come," Xu Zimo answered.
Pure Water nodded slightly. She slowly drew the whip from her waist, flames burning crimson red across its length.
………
At this moment, it seemed the academy had heard Universal Deliverance True Immortal’s words.
This time it wasn’t Vice Dean Li Changhe who appeared, but Venerable Nu, stepping into the sky.
His gaze swept across the gathered figures.
Although any one of them was a peerless expert, each one at the level of Immortal Ascension,
Venerable Nu showed no fear or hesitation.
He merely said calmly, "Our Heavenly Dao Academy is in the midst of upheaval and accepts no outsiders. Whoever dares force their way into the academy, kill."
"A starved camel may be larger than a horse, but your old ancestors are tied down by the Sky Blue Demon Roc. What power do you have to resist us now?"
The Nine Suns Wanderer sneered, pure yang energy surging around him as if he had become nine blazing suns shining across the world.
The surrounding void was burned into nothingness.
At his side, the Heaven-Burning War General also erupted in flames, though his fire was not pure yang.
Instead, it burned with countless kinds of flames, Pure Yang Fire, Purple Star Flame, Sacred Flame, Nether Ghost Fire, Red Lotus Karma Fire…
It was said this Heaven-Burning War General had obtained flames left behind by the Flame Emperor himself, and since then had scoured the world for powerful fires to refine.
The two of them stood like twin suns in the sky, suppressing everything below.
Their radiance and flames even seemed to outshine the sun overhead.
Of course, this was not because they surpassed the sun itself, but because their presence was nearer, heavier, more immediate.
"Who says no one is here?" Just as the standoff tightened, a thunderous shout came.
Everyone turned their heads quickly.
A towering burly man strode barefoot across the horizon.
He stood several zhang tall, his figure like a giant.
His muscles rippled, bare-chested, with a massive meteor hammer strapped to his back.
He wore only brown shorts on his lower half.
With every barefoot step, vast stretches of void shattered beneath him.
"Mad Lord of Seven Lifetimes," someone whispered upon seeing the burly figure.
"The academy is in peril, Kuang Qianting has come to aid it."
The man gave a light shout, his voice shaking the heavens, echoing in the ears of all present.
"Mad Lord of Seven Lifetimes, Kuang Qianting," many around murmured, murmurs spreading like ripples.
"Why is he here?"
"I heard he once cultivated at Heavenly Dao Academy. Likely he’s come to help."