518: Chapter 518 Crimes

A few days later.

Fangcun Tower came to life. A layer of pitch-black bark grew over the entire building, with branches sprouting in some places and slender green leaves swaying in the breeze.

If anyone were to go deep underwater, they would find that the massive tree roots were densely packed, at least several thousand meters long.

This was Peach Blossom's true form, a peach tree. Liu Xuan had her use cultivating deep within the underwater Spiritual Vein as a cover to secretly set up the teleportation grand array directly on her root system, integrating it with the entire Biyou Pool Earth Vein Grand Array.

"It's a pity I don't have the full authority token for the Biyou Pool grand array. Otherwise, with Peach Blossom's roots spreading throughout Biyou Pool, we might not even need to flee."

Biyou Pool was a top-tier fourth-rank water vein. With the grand array's reinforcement, even the Yao Beasts of the Black Prison couldn't conquer it. If Peach Blossom took full control and borrowed the power of the fifth-rank Spirit Treasure, the avici karmic fire mirror, through her Divine Soul connection with Liu Xuan, she would be comparable to a Soul Transformation true body for a short time. There might even be a chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

However, this was nearly impossible. The Biyou Pool grand array was controlled by the Academy's True Lord Guanxin. Even Demon Lord Chixia only had partial authority, let alone Peach Blossom Demon Lord.

"Master, something has happened at the immortal workshop!"

Liu Xuan was perfecting the teleportation grand array when Luo Xin flew over in a panic, saying urgently, "A group of high-level Cultivators from the Academy has come and sealed off our immortal workshop, saying that you, Master, have violated the Academy's rules."

Liu Xuan withdrew his Divine Sense from underwater and looked toward the pool's edge.

Whoa! Good heavens, they were all people from the Academy wearing Confucian robes. Among them, Golden Core True Persons were gathered in groups, and there were even several Nascent Soul True Lords.

"Husband, do you want me to step in and drive them away for you?" Peach Blossom came to Liu Xuan's side, looking toward the pool's edge with eyes full of killing intent.

"No need for now!"

Liu Xuan turned to look at the crimson clouds to the north and said gently, "I am but a Golden Core True Person; such a large display isn't needed to target me. This isn't our home ground, so let's endure it for now."

"Alright, I'll listen to you, Husband." The killing intent in Peach Blossom's eyes dissipated, and she gave Liu Xuan a sweet smile.

Liu Xuan didn't care much about the Liu Family Immortal Workshop being sealed. As long as Peach Blossom didn't fall, any targeting he faced wouldn't affect the overall situation.

"Focus on your pregnancy. I'll go and see what's going on!"

Liu Xuan unhurriedly finished the Formation lines he had been drawing, then summoned a Flying Boat and leisurely flew toward the immortal workshop by the pool.

The Flying Boat stopped above the immortal workshop. Liu Xuan looked down to see a crowd of Academy Cultivators blockading the streets, forbidding any shops from opening. A large group of high-level Academy Cultivators had gathered at the central Guanghui Tower.

There were six Nascent Soul Cultivators in total, divided into two groups facing each other, seemingly arguing about something.

Most were familiar faces. One side consisted of True Lord Nianci (Middle Nascent Soul Stage), True Lord Ding Shaoxia (Middle Nascent Soul Stage), True Lord Fang Duyuan (Middle Nascent Soul Stage), and an unfamiliar Early Nascent Soul Stage True Lord.

The other side was Liu Xuan's Father-in-law, True Lord Haoran, and his natal spirit beast, Demon Lord Yue Chen.

"Greetings, True Lords!" Liu Xuan descended from the Flying Boat, flew to True Lord Haoran's side, and bowed with cupped hands. "This son-in-law pays his respects to Father-in-law."

After paying his respects, Liu Xuan didn't rush to ask anything but sent Luo Xin to call over the sisters in the immortal workshop.

"This humble wife pays respects to Master!"

"Master, I'm scared~"

...

Before long, more than twenty young women gathered around Liu Xuan. They were all young and beautiful, with low cultivation levels.

When had they ever seen such a scene? Each one looked terrified, crowding around Liu Xuan, fearing he would hand them over to take the blame—even though many didn't even know what Liu Xuan was accused of.

"Don't cry, don't cry!" Liu Xuan reached out to wipe the tears from a particularly timid girl's eyes and comforted her, "It has nothing to do with you. With me here, no one will bully you."

Seeing such a scene, True Lord Haoran pressed his hand to his forehead and sent a divine transmission: "You brat, show some restraint. So many high-ranking Academy officials have come knocking; even I won't be able to help you!"

While comforting the female Cultivators, Liu Xuan asked True Lord Haoran via divine transmission, "Father-in-law, you are more familiar with the Academy than I am. What is True Lord Guanxin's attitude?"

In Biyou Pool, the only person Liu Xuan truly feared was True Lord Guanxin, who held the authority over the grand array. The other True Lords couldn't stir up much trouble, including Demon Lord Chixia in the northern waters.

"True Lord Guanxin is occupied with a myriad of affairs and coordinates everything. He wants stability, so he likely isn't involved."

"However!" He changed his tone and said seriously, "Demon Lord Chixia and Peach Blossom Demon Lord have a grudge. Now that three high-ranking Middle Nascent Soul Stage members of the Academy have stepped forward, you two should keep a low profile!"

True Lord Haoran didn't say it explicitly, but his meaning was clear. This wasn't Star Academy. Peach Blossom Demon Lord had neither the home-field advantage nor background support; she shouldn't be as arrogant as before.

"True Lord Guanxin is a reasonable person. As long as you don't go too far and we accept a small loss, this matter will pass. With True Lord Guanxin presiding, no one will dare to act recklessly," True Lord Haoran advised.

Liu Xuan nodded. As the saying goes, to suffer a loss is a blessing!

Just as he was about to ask his Father-in-law what other conditions they had besides sealing the Liu Family Immortal Workshop, someone on the opposite side couldn't hold back any longer.

True Lord Nianci's Junior Brother, Ye Jinghong, jumped out and shouted, "Liu Xuan, your crimes have been exposed. Get over here and surrender immediately."

"Oh?" Liu Xuan asked solemnly, "I wonder what crime I have committed?"

"You still dare to play dumb!" Ye Jinghong pointed at the group of Academy women behind Liu Xuan. "You used evil methods and Charm Technique to harm my Academy's Disciples for profit. Everyone has the right to execute such a person!"

"So it was evil methods and Charm Technique. I was saying that Head of the Liu Family is excessively handsome; it turns out it's not normal!"

A male Cultivator watching from the side nodded in agreement. "No wonder he could surpass me in looks. It turns out he used Charm Technique. He won unfairly!"

...

"If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext," Liu Xuan sneered. "Could it be that the Academy is filled with scum like you who slander others at will?"

"Presumptuous!" True Lord Nianci's shout, infused with dharmic power, instantly silenced everyone present.

"The Academy is not for you to disparage. Whether or not you used evil methods and Charm Technique, open your Divine Soul and allow this seat to investigate, and all will be known."

Liu Xuan narrowed his eyes, his expression turning cold. He was willing to take a small loss, but not a massive one like this.

Opening one's Divine Soul for another to inspect was no different from handing over one's life.

Although Liu Xuan's Divine Soul was special and foreign souls entering his Sea of Consciousness couldn't harm him, it would expose the fifth-rank Spirit Treasure in his Sea of Consciousness and the unique nature of his soul.

True Lord Nianci clearly wasn't actually checking for Charm Technique; she came with malicious intent. Obscuring or deceiving would be meaningless.

"Heh~"

Liu Xuan gave a disdainful laugh and said loudly, "I have long admired the Academy. The person I respect most in this life is the founder of Gentlemans Academy, Lady Yaoguang Demon Saint!"

With a solemn expression, he cupped his hands toward the direction of the Beast Taming Sect's Main Mountain to the north and sighed:

"I thought the True Lords and Great Scholars of Gentlemans Academy were all virtuous and reasonable Seniors. I didn't expect there to be hypocrites like you as well!"

Liu Xuan suddenly pointed at Ye Jinghong and True Lord Nianci. "Just because her Junior Brother lost to me in a duel, she distorts the facts, fabricates charges, and seeks to take my life."

"Does someone like you even deserve to be called a scholar?!!"