Thousands of miles below Qianxiao Peak, snow began to fall.
The world was draped in silver, a scene of serene desolation.
Mo Shuxin, having just returned from Anping City, frowned slightly at the sight.
"What is this?"
Qian Ying, her lips pressed into a thin line, explained, "The weather on Qianxiao Peak is directly tied to Qin Si's mood. Since our junior sister is in trouble, his unhappiness has manifested as this."
"Zheng Wuxin is already at Qin Si's cave dwelling. Auntie Mo, please follow me."
Qian Ying led Mo Shuxin up the mountain. As they reached the cave dwelling, she used a token to open the protective barrier.
"You're here," Zheng Wuxin said, her usually serene face clouded with deep concern. "I've just taken a look. This female Daoist friend's condition is relatively stable, though her aura is weak. However, for some reason, she hasn't woken up."
"On the other hand, Young Friend Bai's origin energy is severely depleted, and I have no means to replenish it."
Zheng Wuxin smoothed her plain Daoist robe and made way for Mo Shuxin.
Mo Shuxin conducted her examination, her frown deepening.
"The reason this female Daoist cannot awaken is because her Dao heart is shattered and her Dao bones are broken. Originally, her Dantian should have been destroyed as well, but Sheng Yi used some method to repair it for her."
Qian Ying nodded, "Indeed."
As the one who took over the care of Yue Shuxin after Bai Shengyi's treatment, she was well aware of Yue Shuxin's condition.
"I don't have any better treatment methods," Mo Shuxin said gravely. "As for Sheng Yi's origin energy..."
She paused. "Wuxin, I recall you still have a Nine Mountain Snow Lotus, don't you? Would you be willing to trade it for my Nine-Rank Disaster Heart Grass?"
Zheng Wuxin replied indifferently, "Take it if you need it. I've grown quite fond of this child."
Although Bai Shengyi had not stayed long at the Divine启 Academy, her dual cultivation in alchemy and her eagerness to learn had endeared her to many.
Zheng Wuxin was usually stern and aloof, intimidating many disciples. However, Bai Shengyi was different. Even when Zheng Wuxin wore a cold expression, Bai Shengyi still enjoyed visiting the Alchemy Peak.
"Then I won't be polite. I'll also need these medicinal ingredients..."
As Mo Shuxin spoke, Qian Ying and Zheng Wuxin, without hesitation, began to assist her.
An hour later, a jade-white pill was fed into Bai Shengyi's mouth.
"This will help her recover a bit, but whether she can fully recover will depend on herself."
No sooner had Mo Shuxin finished speaking than Qian Ying suddenly looked up and hurried out.
"Master!"
A gentle breeze rustled, and a figure in a green robe appeared.
"Where is your junior sister?" Qin Si's clear voice carried an uncharacteristic hint of emotion.
Upon receiving the message from Grey Shadow, Qing Lan had rushed back immediately.
He entered the inner chamber, covered in dust, and managed to utter, "There are a few more people coming behind me."
Qian Ying followed him in, leaving Mo Shuxin and Zheng Wuxin outside. Within a mere fifteen minutes, an alarm suddenly blared from the Divine启 Academy's mountain protection array.
"What's going on?"
Mu Xing, who was at the academy that day, rushed out and saw three male cultivators attempting to forcefully break through the mountain protection array to enter the academy.
Due to the previous internal chaos within the academy, the mountain protection array had been specially modified by Qing Lan. As a result, even formidable figures like Yue Bufan found it somewhat troublesome.
"Fellow Daoists, what is the meaning of this...?"
"Where is Qing Lan? That old fox! He's too ungracious. He received news about Alchemist Bai and kept it to himself. If my ears weren't so sharp, I wouldn't have known!" Yue Bufan was on the verge of shouting.
Mu Xing was taken aback.
"Elder Mu, these are friends of Grand Venerable Qing Lan. I will handle them. Please go about your business."
Fortunately, Mo Shuxin and Zheng Wuxin arrived at this moment.
"Gentlemen, please follow me this way."
...
Within Anping City.
The eighteen noble families were divided into two opposing factions.
"Lou Ye, what are you doing?"
A night had passed, and no one had slept. They had expected another fierce battle in the conference room with Venerable Qian Ying today. However, the moment they stepped inside, they were surrounded by the guards of the Lou and Mei families.
These guards, accompanying their family heads, were all at the Golden Core cultivation level.
As for the academy members, such as Zhan Jiuzhou, who were supposed to be in the conference room, they had vanished.
It was not difficult to imagine that this was also related to the Lou family and their cohorts.
The Mei family was the first to pledge allegiance to the Lou family. This was because the Lou family had promised to hand over the recipe for the Golden Core Breaking Pill to the Mei family once their plan succeeded.
The Mei family head emerged, smiling smugly. "Patriarch Zhan, there's no need to be anxious. Patriarch Lou merely has some matters he wishes to discuss with everyone."
"Discuss what?" Luo Feihua's sister, Luo Feiying, the representative of the Luo family, questioned coldly. "I don't see this as a discussion, but as coercion!"
"Presumptuous! Do you, a junior, have the right to interrupt when adults are speaking?" The Mei family head swung a palm towards her.
Luo Feiying easily blocked it, glancing at him with disdain.
Her silence spoke volumes.
This unspoken mockery so angered the Mei family head that he was about to make another move when he heard a sharp command from the Lou family head: "Enough!"
The Mei family head had no choice but to cease his action.
Luo Feiying's gaze deepened.
Mei Ruyi had always been driven by self-interest. His willingness to follow Lou Ye's lead clearly indicated that the Lou family had offered him something valuable.
"Everyone, surely you don't wish to live under the jurisdiction of the Divine启 Academy forever?"
"Why must we do whatever the Divine启 Academy says?"
"Why should all resources belong to the Divine启 Academy?"
"Why is the Divine启 Academy so high and mighty?"
"Everyone, don't you want to change all of this?" The Lou family head picked up his tea cup and took a sip, smiling faintly. "Now, the Lou family is offering you all this opportunity. Aren't you tempted—"
"Bang!"
The main door was kicked open with a thud, and Zhan Jiuzhou, leading a group of people, strode in impetuously.
"Patriarch Lou, you certainly have a good plan!" Zhan Jiuzhou mocked, crossing his arms coldly.
The Lou family head shot up from his seat, startled. "You... you're alright?"
Damn it!
What were those people doing?
Why was Zhan Jiuzhou still alive?
Zhan Jiuzhou raised an eyebrow coldly. "Thank you for your concern, Patriarch Lou. Not only am I fine, but I am also very much alive. Oh, and by the way, you wanted to see the Dean, right? Your wish is granted!"
As Zhan Jiuzhou spoke, everyone couldn't help but stand up, their bodies tensing.
What?
Qin Si was actually at the Divine启 Academy?
Hadn't he led a team to the outer continent to participate in the Divine启 Grand Gathering?
The reason they had clamored to see Qin Si earlier was precisely because they had calculated that Qin Si was not currently at the academy, and the other high-level cultivators of the Divine启 Academy were either outside the academy or dealing with demonic disturbances. If their eighteen noble families united, they could easily handle the Divine启 Academy in its current state.
But now, who could tell him when Qin Si had returned?
Outside the door, before the person even arrived, a powerful pressure, as heavy as the southern mountains and northern peaks, and as piercing as polar ice and snow, swept towards them.
"Thump! Thump!"
The Wei family head, the Tang family head, and Crown Prince Jin were the first to buckle under the pressure, falling to their knees.
"Dean Qin!"