184: Hot potato

“Iron Punishment, I always knew you were capable. Now that you’ve successfully broken through to Dou Zong, when will you be willing to take over my position as Great Elder in the Inner Academy?”

As Great Elder’s words fell, the entire Law Enforcement Peak instantly plunged into a strange silence.

Mo Xuan, Ice Red, and Huang Dashan, the three Elders, exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.

Dean Lei Tian frowned even tighter, his expression slightly sunken, clearly not expecting Great Elder to suddenly throw out such a proposal.

Take over as Great Elder of the Inner Academy?

This was a thankless task.

Iron Punishment raised an eyebrow, his gaze calm as he looked at Great Elder, his voice low and firm.

“Great Elder, what do you mean by this?”

Great Elder laughed heartily, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out, his eyes glinting with cunning, just like an Old Fox.

He patted Iron Punishment’s shoulder, his tone so warm it sounded less like he was discussing academy authority and more like he was promoting some incredible benefit.

“Iron Punishment, you are already a Dou Zong. Wouldn’t it be a waste of your talent to remain in the Outer Academy? The Inner Academy desperately needs a powerhouse like you to hold down the fort!”

“Moreover, the Inner Academy’s resources are far more abundant than the Outer Academy’s. The core cultivation area of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, the precious secret manuals in the Dou Technique Pavilion, and even the Dean’s previous cultivation platform—all of these can only be allocated by the Great Elder.”

He lowered his voice, leaned in closer, and spoke mysteriously.

Drawing a big picture!

It was blatant drawing a big picture!

Iron Punishment’s mouth twitched slightly. This familiar tactic was exactly the same as when those two old fellows tricked him into taking over the Law Enforcement Department back then!

They had said the same thing back then.

“Iron Punishment, although the Law Enforcement Department is tiring, it holds great power! Look, you make the rules for the academy, who would dare disobey? And resources are prioritized, so your cultivation speed will definitely be fast!”

What was the result?

After he took over, he discovered that the Law Enforcement Department was a mess, constantly dealing with student brawls and Elder squabbles, leaving him with almost no time for cultivation!

Now Great Elder was trying the same trick again?

Iron Punishment chuckled, directly refusing.

“Great Elder, I’m not interested in power. The Law Enforcement Department already keeps me busy enough.”

Iron Punishment looked at Great Elder’s coaxing demeanor, a colder sneer forming in his heart.

This Old Fox claimed he would accompany him for a few years, but in reality, he probably couldn’t wait to wash his hands of it and enjoy himself freely.

He crossed his arms, his tone indifferent.

“Great Elder, you’re not planning to have me clean up the Inner Academy’s mess for you these past few years, are you?”

Great Elder’s smile froze, then he quickly reverted to his amiable appearance, waving his hand.

“Oh, Iron Punishment, you’re being too formal! What kind of mess could the Inner Academy have? It’s nothing more than some juniors competing for glory and occasional minor frictions between Elders.”

“Oh?”

Iron Punishment raised an eyebrow, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. He already understood Great Elder’s intentions.

The Ethereal Flame Seal, the Central Plains families, and the Inner Academy’s conflicts—which of these wasn’t a hot potato?

He snorted coldly, saying,

“Great Elder, are you planning to make me the scapegoat?”

Great Elder’s smile remained, feigning surprise.

“Oh, Iron Punishment, those are harsh words! With your strength and methods, wouldn’t these matters be easily handled by you?”

Iron Punishment didn’t bother with pleasantries and directly exposed him.

“The Ethereal Flame Seal loosens every few years, requiring a large amount of Dou Qi to reinforce each time. A slight mistake could lead to a backlash.”

“As for those Central Plains families, their people run rampant in the Inner Academy, yet each has a profound background. They cannot be touched or scolded, so one can only turn a blind eye. Great Elder, you must have endured a lot of frustration over the years, haven’t you?”

He chuckled.

Great Elder’s smile finally faltered a bit, and he coughed twice.

“Well, that… it is a bit tricky, but with your personality, you might just be able to keep them in check.”

Iron Punishment scoffed.

“Keep them in check? Heh, are you asking me to be an enforcer, or a mediator?”

Great Elder was speechless, only able to give an awkward smile.

Great Elder of the Inner Academy?

It sounded glorious, but it was actually a thankless and arduous task!

Although the Outer Academy’s Law Enforcement Department had to deal with those desperate outlaws from the Black-Corner Region, at least they could act on their grudges—fight if they were unhappy, and call for a group beatdown if they couldn’t win alone. How unlike the Inner Academy, where one was so restricted?

The people from the Central Plains families lorded it over the Inner Academy, yet Jia Nan Academy couldn’t hit them or scold them; they could only swallow their anger.

As for the sealed Ethereal Flame, it was a ticking time bomb that could cause a great disaster if not handled carefully!

Seeing Iron Punishment’s resolute attitude, Great Elder no longer insisted, merely smiled meaningfully, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave.

“Fine, Iron Punishment, whenever you come to your senses, you can always find me in the Inner Academy.”

His tone was calm, yet it carried a subtle, profound meaning, as if he had long anticipated that Iron Punishment would one day enter the Inner Academy.

Then, his gaze shifted, falling upon Lei Tian, the corners of his mouth curving slightly with a hint of teasing.

“As for Lei Tian, you, the Dean of the Outer Academy, need to work harder. Why have you been stuck at Peak Dou Huang for so long?”

Upon hearing this, Lei Tian’s expression instantly stiffened, and his mouth twitched, clearly hit where it hurt.

As the Dean of the Outer Academy, his inability to break through to Dou Zong had indeed been somewhat embarrassing. Especially being called out by Great Elder in front of Iron Punishment, it made him feel even more dejected.

“Great Elder is joking. Breakthroughs cannot be rushed.”

Lei Tian let out a dry laugh, forcing a response.

Great Elder laughed heartily, said no more, and with a flash of his figure, transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the sky.

After he left, the atmosphere on Law Enforcement Peak finally eased slightly.

Mo Xuan, Ice Red, and Huang Dashan, the three Elders, exchanged glances, tacitly refraining from speaking further.

After all, Lei Tian’s stalled breakthrough was no longer a secret among the academy’s higher-ups.

Iron Punishment glanced at Lei Tian and said indifferently,

“Dean Lei, the path of cultivation indeed cannot be rushed.”

Lei Tian took a deep breath, barely suppressing his displeasure, and forced a smile.

“Elder Iron Punishment is right.”

However, a hint of unwillingness flashed deep in his eyes.

Both were high-ranking officials in the Outer Academy, yet Iron Punishment had already stepped into Dou Zong, while he still lingered at Peak Dou Huang. This gap made him feel a subtle sense of urgency.

“It seems it’s time to visit the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower!”

Lei Tian mused to himself.

Since there was nothing else, the Elders and mentors gathered there naturally dispersed.

Upon returning to the Alchemy Department, many students, unable to contain their curiosity, gathered around.

“Senior Brother Jiang! What was that soaring aura on Law Enforcement Peak just now?”

A young student eagerly asked.

“That’s right, Senior Brother Jiang, we felt a terrifying pressure from afar, and even the flames in our Medicine Cauldrons trembled!”

Another student echoed, his eyes full of excitement.

Dong Hua was currently leaning against a pillar in the Alchemy Department’s main hall, his arms crossed, a faint smile playing on his lips, looking very much like an enlightened recluse.

“Senior Brother Jiang, you are so knowledgeable, please tell us!”

Several quick-witted students immediately brought chairs, and some even diligently offered a cup of hot tea.

Dong Hua slowly sat down, took the teacup, gently blew on the tea surface, and then slowly began to speak.

“That aura just now was someone breaking through to Dou Zong.”

“Dou Zong?!”

The students’ eyes widened instantly, and they gasped.

“Oh my god!”

“Could it be Dean Lei Tian? Or Elder Iron Punishment from the Law Enforcement Department?”

Someone guessed.

Dong Hua shook his head, saying indifferently,

“Cultivators should avoid being overly ambitious. Instead of worrying about others’ realms, it’s better to first refine your own pills.”

Upon hearing this, the students nodded in agreement, but the shock and yearning in their eyes remained undiminished.

After all, that was Dou Zong!

Looking across the entire Jia Nan Academy, only a handful of people had reached that level!