Chapter 364: Preemptive Ambush

Today, Jia Nan Academy is clearly much livelier than in the past; the annual Inner Academy Selection Tournament is a longing and expectation in the hearts of the students.

However, beneath the smiling faces of Su Qian and the other high-ranking officials of Jia Nan Academy at this moment lies deep sorrow and anxiety.

"Dean, the arrangements for evacuating the Black-Corner Region are almost ready; we can begin implementation once the selection tournament concludes," Su Qian's voice carries a hint of hoarseness.

Although from the moment he learned of the existence of that Dragon Emperor beneath the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower, he understood that the future of Jia Nan Academy might be plunged into a vortex.

But he would never have dared to imagine that the Ancient Race and the super powers of the Central Plains were preparing to start a great war at Jia Nan Academy!

Did they not see that even their legendary Dean could not even be ranked among these people? If a real fight broke out, the mere aftermath of the battle could destroy the entire academy and even the Black-Corner Region until not even dregs remained.

"Hmm." Mang Qianchi nods with a grave expression; things have reached this point, and Jia Nan Academy is no longer something he, a mere Half-Saint, can protect.

Compared to heavy casualties, what is changing territory? Besides, this is a battle that must be won, and the compensation provided by the various major powers to Jia Nan Academy is enough to push the latter to a brand-new height.

However...

Mang Qianchi glances sideways at the "innocent" Su Qian, "Su Qian, you old fellow actually kept this hidden..."

"You have caused me such bitter suffering by hiding it!"

Su Qian's expression stalls, then he laughs freely: "That personage is not someone we can afford to offend; Dean, please do not make things difficult for me!"

Mang Qianchi hums, saying no more. That a peak Ninth Grade Supreme Magic Beast was hidden beneath his own territory was something he never expected, but he feels more relief; if he had been ignorant and reckless back then and gone deeper into the magma, he would likely not be here now.

As for Su Qian's concealment, Mang Qianchi naturally does not take it to heart; given the massive gap in strength, as long as one does not want to drag Jia Nan Academy down with them, playing the blind man is the most appropriate course of action.

"That Ice Saint is truly unfathomable!" Thinking of Xiao Han, Mang Qianchi feels a sense of dread; a powerhouse capable of laying out plans against the Soul Clan more than a decade in advance around the Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion is simply terrifying!

"Dean, when exactly will those powerhouses you mentioned arrive?" Su Qian asks hesitantly. Although his thought is not very polite, just relying on Mang Qianchi and the dozen or so Dou Zun powerhouses he brought, he fears they are not qualified enough!

"In about three days or so." As the founder of Jia Nan Academy, Mang Qianchi was naturally sent out as the vanguard.

The high-level members of the allied forces are not worried that the Soul Clan will kill their way over early; it has only been two days since the battle at Langtian City, and in this amount of time, Xuwu Swallowing Flame cannot even recover from his injuries.

"Then Dean, please come with me; I will introduce you to a few guests."

"Guests?" Mang Qianchi is startled, then follows behind Su Qian.

"Which senior is willing to take a step back this time?" Xiao Han looks around and says.

The number of people heading to Jia Nan Academy in advance naturally cannot be too large; otherwise, if the commotion is too great and attracts the attention of the Soul Clan, it will alert the enemy.

To make the necessary preparations, it is essential for one Nine-Star Dou Saint to remain behind.

Under various restrictive conditions, at least half of the top powerhouses in the allied forces need to stay. This is quite a blow to the many powerhouses who long to see the Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion.

Finally...

Xiao Xuan speaks up first: "I will stay behind this time."

The others have no doubts; among the three Nine-Star Dou Saints, Xiao Han is indispensable, as the powerhouses of Jia Nan Academy were all contacted by Xiao Han in the first place. To ensure a certain degree of fairness, it is natural to have Gu Yuan, a non-Xiao Clan Nine-Star, go over.

"Gu Lie, Gu Dao, you two will stay behind with Elder Xiao Xuan this time," Gu Yuan also speaks up immediately.

"Yes!" Gu Lie and the others respond in unison.

"........."

Subsequent personnel arrangements are also quickly finalized. Xiao Xuan voluntarily withdraws, and Gu Yuan also timely leaves behind all the High-level Dou Saints like Gu Lie and the Three Immortals of Gu Dao, while the other forces also each split off a portion of their key combat power.

The final result is this...

Xiao Han, the two Nine-Star Dou Saints Gu Yuan, Lei, Yan, Yao, and the leaders of the Heavenly Mansion and other forces, as well as nearly twenty Mid-Stage Dou Saints.

"Since that is the case, let us set off now." Xiao Han glances around a few times, withdraws his gaze, and waves his hand to tear open a rift in space.

"Hum~"

The empty void ripples without warning, and then dozens of figures step out slowly from the vortex. Even without any extra movements, their powerful auras still cause the space to twist slightly.

After a slight pause, Xiao Han looks toward a certain direction, "There!"

As soon as his voice falls, his figure vanishes abruptly, leaving behind a slowly dissipating afterimage in place. Seeing this, the others follow closely behind.

Tianyun Elder is strolling leisurely through Jia Nan Academy. Due to the Inner Academy Selection Tournament, the outer academy of Jia Nan appears somewhat quiet at this time. The few students and even instructors who pass by occasionally do not even notice this figure leaning on a cane and dressed like an old farmer.

Just as Tianyun Elder's gaze touches the location of the arena, before he can reveal a smile, he abruptly raises his head, staring at a certain spot in the void.

"Senior Tianyun, I trust you have been well!" Xiao Han's voice rings in Tianyun Elder's ears, and immediately after, the figures of a group of powerhouses appear in the latter's eyes.

"Gu Yuan greets Senior Tianyun." Gu Yuan, following behind Xiao Han, sees this familiar figure and also greets him with the etiquette of a junior; the others follow suit.

To this, Tianyun Elder merely nods faintly, then turns to Xiao Han, his tone sounding slightly unkind: "You brat are quite capable."

"That brat Hun Tiandi running into you, he can count it as his bad luck."

As a component of the final line of defense, Tianyun Elder deeply realizes how many measures Xiao Han has arranged here at Jia Nan Academy to wait for Hun Tiandi and the Soul Clan.

To put it bluntly, as long as Hun Tiandi steps in here once, he can basically announce the end of his life.

This brat Xiao Han is also quite generous; for an Eight-Star combatant like him, he did not hesitate to expend several Ninth Grade Medicinal Pills just to give him the ability to make a move.

Furthermore, the Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion perhaps hides some opportunities that might allow him to go further on the path of cultivation; the chance to survive must be seized.

"Let's go, I will take you to meet those few."

"I originally wanted to take a good look at those juniors," Tianyun Elder complains with feigned helplessness.

"This naturally cannot trouble you to lead the way personally, Senior; I will do it," Xiao Han hurriedly stops him.

"Oh?" Tianyun Elder, who had already turned around, looks back, and then continues to walk slowly toward the selection tournament site.

"Then you can take them over yourself."

Tianyun Elder's figure drifts further and further away, and Xiao Han and the others look at each other in dismay on the spot.

"This..."

"Senior Tianyun is still as unconventional as ever!" Gu Yuan laughs it off and says.

"Everyone, please follow," Xiao Han says, leading the way in front.

……

Soul World.

"Are you certain this is where the Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion is located?" Hun Tiandi asked Xuwu Swallowing Flame beside him.

Xuwu Swallowing Flame nodded, "Now we only need to find the corresponding terrain."

"I will gather men to investigate and clarify the places that match these characteristics." Fanaticism and excitement showed between Hun Tiandi's brows; a thousand years of plotting was finally about to succeed.

"Do not forget the agreement between you and me," Xuwu Swallowing Flame reminded him.

"That goes without saying," Hun Tiandi said with a smile; he was in a very good mood at this moment.

Following an order from Hun Tiandi, a group of Soul Clan experts infiltrated out from the Soul World and dispersed toward every corner of the Dou Qi Continent.