Chonghua Academy

By the Three Suns Lake.

Dozens of figures in various attire gathered in small groups around the Three Suns Lake, looking at the chaotic remnants of the battle with thoughtful expressions.

"Daoist Guo, with such a sudden change in the earth veins, shouldn't your Celestial Observation Bureau offer an explanation?"

A refined man in a prefectural official's uniform looked at an old Daoist beside him, his words full of questioning. The old Daoist's expression was also grim as he said, "Prefect Yue, are you blaming this humble Daoist? On normal days, when my Celestial Observation Bureau regulates feng shui, Your Excellency the Prefect also interfered quite a bit. If higher-ups investigate, I fear Prefect Yue will also find it hard to escape blame."

This refined official was the Prefect of Baling Prefecture, Yue Yan, and the old Daoist was an Enshrined Official of the Baling Prefecture Celestial Observation Bureau, Guo Zheng.

"Daoist Guo is mistaken."

Hearing Guo Zheng's words, Yue Yan smiled faintly and said, "Regulating the feng shui of the earth veins is the responsibility of your Celestial Observation Bureau. What does it have to do with this official? As for the interference Daoist Guo mentioned, it is even more baseless."

Saying that, Yue Yan gently tapped the folding fan in his hand and said, "This official, as the Prefect of Baling, naturally must consider the common people. Your bureau's regulation of the earth veins' feng shui greatly affects the lives of the common people. What this official did before was merely fulfilling my duty."

"You!"

Guo Zheng's beard trembled with anger upon hearing this. He was about to say something, but seeing Yue Yan's composed demeanor, he forcefully held back.

This Yue Yan came from Chonghua Academy and was indeed a glib talker. He had served as an Enshrined Official of the Celestial Observation Bureau in Baling Prefecture for many years, but he had never gained the upper hand when arguing with Yue Yan.

"Yue Yan, do not be so disrespectful to Daoist Guo."

Seeing Guo Zheng's expression, a middle-aged man in a green robe, with a face full of smiles, walked between the two to mediate.

"Daoist Guo, since the earth veins have stabilized, let this matter pass. Do not let it affect your cultivation."

The speaker was the Deputy Head of Chonghua Academy, Dong Zhuo Wu, and also Yue Yan's teacher. Therefore, as soon as Dong Zhuo Wu spoke, Yue Yan cupped his hands at Guo Zheng.

"Daoist Guo, This Yue misspoke. I hope Daoist Guo does not take it to heart."

"Hmph!"

Seeing Yue Yan's demeanor, Guo Zheng still did not have a good expression. In terms of rank, he was only half a rank lower than Yue Yan, and should not have been suppressed by Yue Yan like this, but he always suffered losses. The main reason was this Deputy Head Dong.

Whenever the two sides had a conflict, Dong Zhuo Wu and Yue Yan would always sing and echo each other to let the matter pass. Even if he wanted to argue, it would ultimately lead nowhere.

This Dong Zhuo Wu was a great Confucian in the Fate Knowing Realm, whose strength could rival a Void Refinement Realm cultivator, and he was the de facto power holder of Chonghua Academy. On the territory of Chonghua Academy, he truly could not move this great mountain.

Guo Zheng did not want to argue with these two anymore and walked straight to Jia Yi's side, saying, "Fellow Daoist Jia, are you sure we truly don't need to go down and help?"

Jia Yi glanced at Guo Zheng upon hearing this and said faintly, "If Grand Official Guo can go down, please try."

Guo Zheng was speechless upon hearing this, not knowing what else to say. He could only silently return to the Celestial Observation Bureau's ranks.

After the ground shook, he immediately determined that the epicenter of the tremor was this Three Suns Lake. However, when they arrived, the Three Suns Lake had been completely baked dry, revealing the beast-headed ghost gate.

It was just that that gate was truly Anomalous, and the surrounding ground was also covered by a powerful force. No matter what method he used, he could not enter.

He hoped Su Mu was alright, otherwise, the head on his neck would likely be hard to keep.

A Void Refinement True Immortal of Ming Dian, Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppressing Camp, and a favored person of the current Crown Prince. Any one of these identities was enough to make him lose his appetite and sleep.

Just then, the bottom of the lake, which had already cracked from the heat, suddenly shattered, and a figure flew out from within the beast-headed ghost gate, slamming heavily onto the ground, forming a deep pit.

It was Su Mu.

Looking at the deep pit at his feet created by himself, Su Mu clenched his fist, hearing the bones crackling in his palm, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

After refining the Lifebound Divine Fire of Zhu Rong, Su Mu's cultivation base did not increase much, but his physical strength reached a new level.

Although he hadn't tried it yet, Su Mu vaguely felt that an ordinary Void Refinement Realm cultivator probably couldn't injure him.

Seeing Su Mu appear, Guo Zheng immediately went to greet him, pointed at the beast-headed ghost gate that Su Mu had smashed, and asked, "True Immortal Su, this..."

Su Mu looked at Guo Zheng upon hearing this, recognized the Celestial Observation Bureau attire on him, and said, "The earth veins here have been suppressed by This Su, but the culprit, the demonic cultivator Bai Yan, has escaped."

Upon hearing Su Mu's words, Guo Zheng immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Su Mu was safe and sound, and the earth veins had stabilized. His head was safe.

"True Immortal Su must be tired. Why not go to the camp to rest for a while? Leave the rest to us."

Guo Zheng was in a joyful mood and was about to invite this great official, Su Mu, back to the camp to express his gratitude, when Dong Zhuo Wu, who had been observing from the side, suddenly walked over.

"This Dong has long heard of True Immortal Su's reputation. Meeting you today, it truly lives up to its name."

At this moment, Dong Zhuo Wu, who had been observing, suddenly walked to the side of the two, his gaze somewhat probing as he looked at Su Mu.

"I wonder if you could tell This Dong in detail about what happened beneath this beast-headed ghost gate?"

Dong Zhuo Wu still had a smile on his face, and his tone was very polite, but it gave off a condescending, superior feeling, which made Su Mu frown.

"Who are you?"

Hearing Su Mu's question, Dong Zhuo Wu smiled faintly and said, "Deputy Head of Chonghua Academy, Dong Zhuo Wu."

"Unfamiliar."

Hearing Dong Zhuo Wu's identity, Su Mu replied without politeness, then carefully controlled his strength and walked towards Jia Yi.

He could now almost confirm that Jing Mu Yan's identity was a Ming Dian cultivator. Although he had escaped using a substitute method before, it was clearly not as complete as Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell, unable to transfer all the damage.

Unless Jing Mu Yan could completely clear the Houtu Divine Fiend that he had struck into his body within these few short days, otherwise, when Su Mu returned to Ming Dian, he could easily capture him.

However, he had delayed for some time in Zhu Rong's divine temple. If he prolonged it further, he feared that long delays would lead to many complications.

"True Immortal Su, isn't it too rude to leave like this?"

Seeing Su Mu's demeanor, the smile on Dong Zhuo Wu's face remained unchanged, but Yue Yan, as his disciple, stepped forward, placing a hand on Su Mu's shoulder, wanting to hold him back.

Although Yue Yan was Dong Zhuo Wu's disciple, he had also entered the Fate Knowing Realm last year and had no fear of a lucky fellow like Su Mu.

However, what surprised Yue Yan was that his seemingly firm grip could not budge Su Mu at all, as if what he was holding was a towering mountain!