260: This party is a practitioner of formation!

Boom...

As the massive Immortal Boat, emanating a terrifying aura, slowly descended upon Lingxuan Province, its landing stirred up a cloud of dust and sand.

Even top-tier forces like Dao Asking Sect and Heavenly Sound Immortal Sect possess such vessels, but an Immortal Boat capable of carrying a thousand powerful Cultivators simultaneously... only a Holy Land could possess such a foundation!

Upon sensing such a colossal entity flying over the border of Lingxuan Province, the city guards immediately moved to stop it, but in the next moment, their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

"This is... the Eastern Region Academy's insignia..."

A guard, seeing the book-like emblem engraved on the Immortal Boat, felt his pupils contract sharply, and the hand gripping his Spiritual Artifact trembled slightly.

They, as guards of Lingxuan Province, should have inspected the incoming party.

But...

When they saw this Immortal Boat, their bodies tensed, but the powerful aura emanating from it, even unintentionally, left them with no desire to fight.

After the Immortal Boat departed, these guards instantly collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, cold sweat streaming down their faces.

In just a short while, the Immortal Boat directly bypassed the territories of some top-tier great forces, heading straight for Lingzhen Mountain.

"How overbearing of the Eastern Region Academy! This Immortal Boat, I fear, even our entire Sect's strength couldn't withstand it!"

The Sect Master of a Sect trembled, waving his hand to suppress the dissatisfied Sect members within his heart, granting permission for passage.

"Though I don't know the Eastern Region Academy's purpose in coming here, I only hope it doesn't affect my Sect."

The various Sect Masters in the eastern part of Lingxuan Province all harbored such thoughts.

No Sect dared to block it, no one dared to reprimand it, maintaining silence, allowing the Immortal Boat to pass over their Sect's territory.

Then they heard a calm yet powerful voice echoing across the sky.

"Everyone from the Academy... still well, I hope!"

In front of the Immortal Boat, a small, aged figure seemed to appear.

Even more miraculously, in front of this old man, that grand Immortal Boat actually stopped!

... ...

In Lingxuan Province, one man confronted one Immortal Boat. A moment later, a voice broke the solidified atmosphere.

"If Junior Martial Uncle had stayed at the Eastern Region Academy, he would likely be an Array Saint by now. Why endure becoming an outcast of the Academy?"

At the front of the suspended Immortal Boat, the burly man from the Eastern Region Academy looked at the old man standing alone before him, sighing in his heart.

"With the nine chimes of the bell and the shattered array core, how can you, without a Saint Grade Formation, contend with a Holy Land like the Academy?"

Yang Wu, the burly man, was the Martial Dao Dean of the Eastern Region Academy, a Holy Land, and a powerful Cultivator with one foot already in the Saint Realm.

"If Senior Brother is willing to surrender and confess, and hand over that item, the Academy will, out of consideration for past affections, overlook this matter and allow Junior Martial Uncle to return to the Academy and revitalize the Array Dao Academy!"

"Is that so? Then... what about the other Formation Masters of Lingzhen Mountain?"

The old man maintained his hands-behind-his-back posture, smiling as he questioned the group of powerful Cultivators on the Immortal Boat.

"Naturally, they will be executed for the crime of rebellion. They are merely ordinary Formation Masters; how could they compare even a little to Junior Martial Uncle?"

Seeing the old man seemingly about to make a move, Yang Wu quickly said.

It wasn't that the Academy was cold-blooded and ruthless; it was just that this incident back then had a huge impact on the Eastern Region Academy's reputation.

The old man before him was his Junior Martial Uncle, a Saint's Junior Brother, and also a powerful Formation Master with the hope of entering the Saint Realm, so his responsibility would naturally not be pursued.

As for the others who accompanied him, that was another matter entirely.

"Then there's nothing to discuss."

The old man's eyes remained narrowed, but the smile on his face slowly faded.

"I can't contend with a Holy Land, but blocking some small fry from the Academy, this old bone can still do it."

With that, he no longer wasted words with these Cultivators from the Eastern Region Academy. He took a step forward, his hands, which had been clasped behind his back, shot out.

Instantly, in the east, west, and north of this place, three colors—azure, white, and black—flashed.

Roar!

At once, a roar like that of a great demon, accompanied by this powerful force, resounded between heaven and earth. Vaguely, three array spirits, comparable to Yang Spirit Realm Cultivators, actually appeared out of thin air!

"This is... Junior Martial Uncle's incomplete Formation?" Yang Wu frowned.

The Eastern Region Academy was well-aware of the situation at Lingzhen Mountain, even having some understanding of this incomplete Formation. His frown now...

It wasn't because the Formation was too strong, but because this incomplete Formation seemed utterly inadequate in the face of their current lineup.

Only when four Formations were superimposed could they compare to a Yuanshen Realm Cultivator. Were these three incomplete Formations meant to be a joke?

"Attack and break the Formation! Our Academy has given Junior Martial Uncle his last chance..."

With that, three figures also emerged from behind him, rushing to the east, west, and north corners, intending to eliminate the array spirits.

As for the burly man, he slowly stepped out, carrying mountain-like pressure, heading straight for the old man!

However...

Just then, the Formation in the old man's hand changed again.

"What if it's an ancient incomplete Formation? We Formation Masters should not be limited by the incomplete Formation itself, but rather stand on the shoulders of the ancients and unleash even greater power from this incomplete Formation!"

As he spoke, the old man's position actually corresponded with the three spirits. Through the compensation of his own Realm and Formation level, this incomplete Formation... approached Perfection!

The three great array spirits—Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, and White Tiger—whose auras were originally only barely comparable to the Yang Spirit Realm, in this instant...

Broke through into the Yuanshen Realm!

At this moment, Yang Wu's earlier expression also became extremely solemn. He finally understood why the Eastern Region Academy had always maintained such a permissive attitude towards Lingzhen Mountain.

Even long before, when the status of Formation Masters was not high, they still established the Array Dao Academy. Everything...

Was because of the old man before him!

"Just one person, comparable to four Yuanshen Realm Cultivators. This is... a true Array Dao practitioner."

"It's a pity that even if you stop us, you still can't change the fate of Lingzhen Mountain's destruction," Yang Wu sighed.

He and the three Yuanshen Realm Cultivators here were only the visible lineup of the Eastern Region Academy; they were only... half of the fighting strength for this trip.

... ...

In Tianzhen City, within the Cui Family's courtyard, a figure suddenly rose.

"What? That person actually announced the disbandment of Lingzhen Mountain in front of everyone?" Patriarch Cui fell into ecstasy upon hearing this news.

Then, he gradually recovered, looking at the Elder from the Eastern Region Academy with a hint of respect, asking for his instructions.

"Elder Shang, the Mountain Lord of Lingzhen Mountain is currently preoccupied, and even the Formations he left behind are being broken. This is an opportunity for you and me to earn merit for the Academy!"

According to the agreement between the Cui Family and the Eastern Region Academy, as long as they captured as many Lingzhen Mountain disciples as possible during this trip and earned enough merit, then...

His Cui Family might have a chance to establish a connection with a colossal entity like the Eastern Region Academy!

"Oh!"

Elder Shang responded indifferently, not even looking at him.

"My grandson has been exhausted and ill these past few days, so this task of earning merit will be left to Patriarch Cui."

After speaking, he directly took Shang Hai and, under the astonished gaze of Patriarch Cui, strode away with vigorous steps.

Patriarch Cui: ???

It seems... a few days ago, this plan was proposed by Elder Shang himself, wasn't it?

How come...

He packed up and ran away?