79: Activate the courtyard protection formation

Deep within the Inner Academy, the forbidden stone chamber.

The Great Elder stood before two ancient stone gates, forming a seal with his hands, a brilliant starry rune condensing on his fingertips.

He took a deep breath and suddenly pressed the rune into the groove in the center of the stone gate!

"Buzz—!"

The stone gates trembled violently, and dense, ancient patterns surfaced on their exterior, as if some dormant power was being awakened.

"Esteemed seniors, Jia Nan Academy is in grave danger; I implore you to leave seclusion and lend your aid!"

The Great Elder's voice was low and solemn, echoing within the deep stone chamber.

"Boom—!"

The stone gates slowly opened, and a vast aura, sealed for a long time, surged out like a tide. The air inside the entire stone chamber seemed to solidify for an instant!

Two aged figures, one following the other, stepped out from within the stone gates.

The person on the left was lean, with snow-white hair and a face as sharp as if carved by a knife. His eyes were as keen as a hawk's, and golden Dou Qi faintly circulated around him, slicing even the air into fine fragments.

Elder Qian, Peak Dou Zong!

The person on the right was burly, with grizzled whiskers and a face crisscrossed with wrinkles, yet his eyes were bright and spirited. Heavy earth-yellow Dou Qi coiled around him, and with every step he took, the ground subtly trembled, bearing a mountain-like weight.

Elder Wu, Peak Dou Zong!

The moment the two appeared, the atmosphere inside the entire stone chamber became extremely oppressive.

Elder Qian coldly swept his gaze over the Great Elder, his tone indifferent, tinged with impatience.

"Little Ye, why did you call the two of us out?"

Elder Wu also frowned, his voice deep like thunder.

"This old man was at a critical juncture in his seclusion. If it's nothing major, you better give a reasonable explanation!"

Facing the seniors' questioning, the Great Elder dared not be negligent. He quickly cupped his fists and said in a deep voice.

"Esteemed seniors, the Blood Demon Sect, in alliance with the Hall of Souls, has launched an all-out invasion and is now approaching the academy gates!"

"The Hall of Souls?!"

Upon hearing this, a sharp, cold glint flashed simultaneously in the eyes of Elder Qian and Elder Wu!

"Hmph, that Old Ghost Blood Demon fellow's guts are certainly growing bigger!"

Elder Qian sneered, and the golden Dou Qi around him faintly began to boil.

Elder Wu narrowed his eyes, his voice low.

"The Hall of Souls is involved too? It seems this matter isn't so simple."

The Great Elder nodded and said gravely.

"The enemy is coming aggressively, accompanied by at least three Soul Hall Protectors, all of them Dou Zong level. If the two of you do not intervene, the academy may not be able to resist!"

Elder Qian snorted coldly, flicking his sleeve.

"Mere Soul Hall Protectors dare to run wild in my Jia Nan Academy?"

"Old Wu, how about stretching our muscles?"

Elder Wu grinned, battle intent rising in his eyes.

"Exactly my thought! After being in seclusion for so long, my bones are stiff. They'll be perfect for loosening them up!"

As his voice fell, the aura around both men erupted, and the pressure of a Peak Dou Zong swept out like a storm, causing the entire stone chamber to tremble violently!

Seeing this, the Great Elder felt slightly relieved and said in a deep voice.

"With the two seniors holding the fort, the academy is safe!"

Elder Qian glanced at him and said indifferently.

"Enough flattery. Lead the way!"

"Yes!"

The Great Elder said no more, his figure flashing as he was the first to rush outside.

Elder Qian and Elder Wu exchanged glances, then transformed into two streaks of light, following closely behind!

Tonight, Jia Nan Academy would certainly make the invading enemies pay a price in blood!

Deep in the void, Mang Tianchi floated quietly, his gaze like a torch.

His rough palm gently stroked the heavy ruler on his back. The ruler's body was ancient and massive, faintly flickering with lightning patterns, containing world-destroying power.

"Little Ye's performance is quite good, remaining calm in the face of danger and commanding properly..."

Mang Tianchi nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"It seems choosing him as the Great Elder back then was a wise decision."

His gaze pierced through layers of space, landing on the Great Elder. Watching him calmly organize and swiftly mobilize the Inner Academy's forces, he felt quite satisfied.

But soon, his brows furrowed slightly again.

"But are the people from the Hall of Souls really that foolish?"

Mang Tianchi muttered softly, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"One Old Ghost Blood Demon, Peak Dou Zong, plus three Soul Hall Protectors at the Eight-Star Dou Zong level..."

"They think they can take down Jia Nan Academy with just this lineup?"

He sneered and shook his head.

"Jia Nan Academy has the Academy Protection Array, and those two old fellows, Little Qian and Little Wu, holding the fort. If a real fight breaks out, this small force from the Hall of Souls is simply not enough!"

Mang Tianchi's gaze gradually deepened, seeing through some hidden conspiracy.

"The Hall of Souls has always acted insidiously and cunningly; they would never do anything without absolute certainty!"

"Wait a little longer..."

He slowly tightened his grip on the heavy ruler, a cold glint flickering in his eyes.

"I suspect there's a bigger fish that hasn't shown up yet!"

"If there truly is a Hall of Souls Venerable hidden in the shadows."

Mang Tianchi's mouth curved into a cold, sharp arc. The aura around him subtly vibrated, and the surrounding void faintly began to twist.

"Then this old man doesn't mind giving them a 'surprise'!"

His figure remained still, still concealed in the void, but the heavy ruler in his hand emitted a faint, low hum, like a dormant fierce beast, ready to pounce and devour at any moment!

Tonight, if the Hall of Souls truly dared to cross the line, he would make sure they understood what it meant to enter and never return!

"Boom—!"

Following a brilliant starry light that shot into the sky, a massive light screen suddenly appeared above the entire Jia Nan Academy, like an inverted bowl, enveloping the entire Inner Academy.

Ancient runes flowed across the light screen, each one containing vast Dou Qi fluctuations, suppressing even space itself!

The Academy Protection Array—the Heavenly Gang Array—was activated!

"This, this is the Academy Protection Array?!"

An Inner Academy disciple looked up at the sky, his pupils shrinking, his face filled with disbelief.

"What's going on? When the Blood Demon Sect people attacked a few days ago, the academy didn't activate the array!"

"Just how many enemies have come this time?!"

The surrounding students instantly became agitated. Many faces turned pale, and terror surfaced in their eyes.

The Academy Protection Array was only activated when the academy faced annihilation. The last time it was opened, one would have to look through Jia Nan Academy's oldest records to find out!

"Everyone, immediately gather around the respective elders!"

A tutor shouted sternly, his voice like thunder, instantly quieting the noisy discussions.

"Don't run around! If you don't want to die, quickly find a place to hide!"

Another elder added coldly, his gaze solemn as he scanned the surroundings.

"Hurry! Move quickly!"

The students finally awoke from their daze, rushing towards the nearest tutors or elders.

Those who reacted quickly had already hidden inside nearby buildings or array nodes, while those who stood frozen were dragged away by their companions.

"Why are you standing there like an idiot? Do you want to die?!"

A senior student fiercely slapped the dazed junior beside him and cursed angrily.

"This situation is absolutely critical! The Blood Demon Sect has probably sent out its entire force!"

"Their entire force?!"

The junior student trembled all over, his voice changing pitch.

"Then, then can we still hold them off?"

The senior student did not answer, only clenching his fists tightly, his gaze fixed on the academy's periphery. There, bloody mist was already spreading, and countless black shadows could vaguely be seen approaching like a tide!

Killing intent, overwhelming the heavens and covering the earth!

On a certain high platform.

Several stronger Inner Academy disciples gathered together, their expressions solemn as they watched the bloody torrent in the distance.

"Something's not right. Although the Blood Demon Sect is fierce, they alone wouldn't cause the academy to prepare so seriously."

One of them said softly.

"You mean..."

Another person's pupils contracted.

"The Hall of Souls."

The third person coldly spat out those two words, instantly causing the breath of the surrounding people to catch.

"What if the Hall of Souls is also involved?"

The few people exchanged glances, all seeing deep apprehension in the other's eyes.

The Hall of Souls—that was a behemoth that even the major forces in the Central Plains feared!

"Stop thinking about it!"

The leading disciple gritted his teeth and said.

"Hurry up and help maintain the array nodes. Every bit of effort counts!"

"Right! We'll fight to the death if we have to!"

The group stopped hesitating and quickly rushed toward the nearest array node.

The Blood Demon Sect's army was already approaching the edge of the Academy Protection Array, led by none other than the Old Ghost Blood Demon!

He trod on empty air, his crimson robes flapping in the wind. His sinister gaze swept over Jia Nan Academy inside the light screen, a cruel arc curving at the corner of his mouth.

"Hehehe, Jia Nan Academy, after tonight, you will be erased from the Black-Corner Region!"

Following his command, countless Blood Demon Sect disciples frantically charged the great array, while the Soul Hall Protectors concealed themselves within the black mist, waiting for their opportunity!