System's Super Sect-Chapter 487 - 485. I Choose Death (2)

Celestial Academy’s Outer Courtyard and Inner Courtyard are separated by several mountains. Compared to the covert nature of the Inner Courtyard, the Outer Courtyard is visible even from thousands of meters away. If someone from Bright Mirror Lake were looking for Ji Liangping, they wouldn’t shout at the Outer Courtyard but would rush directly to the Inner Courtyard. After all, anyone whose presence is felt even from thousands of meters away and is above the Divine Profound level—such presence can’t be stopped by anyone at Celestial Academy.

"Disperse now."

Ji Liangping spoke to the Inner Courtyard disciples, then immediately headed toward the Outer Courtyard. Over a thousand disciples exchanged a few words and quickly scattered like birds and beasts, while the elders hurriedly followed Ji Liangping’s steps toward the Outer Courtyard. Just as the group stepped onto the Outer Courtyard grounds, they encountered the Outer Courtyard Director, Yan Shouke, striding toward the Inner Courtyard. Though generally distinct from each other with no intersection, everyone has always thought of Yan Shouke as a very composed person.

But now, he seemed panicked in his strides, not resembling the demeanor associated with the Divine Profound Realm, but more like a defeated house servant.

Ji Liangping directly asked, "What’s going on?"

"Dragon God Sect’s Elder Yang Xibi is visiting!" Yan Shouke said, shocking everyone.

Though Ji Liangping wasn’t as outwardly startled as others, his facial expression hardly looked any better. He couldn’t fathom why someone from Dragon God Sect’s Mountain Suppression Realm would visit the Celestial Academy, given that the two entities had nothing to do with each other.

"Where is he?"

"Director, follow me." Yan Shouke gestured, leading everyone briskly toward the Outer Courtyard Main Hall, as if moving slowly would cost him his feet.

When they arrived at the Outer Courtyard Main Hall, Ji Liangping first noticed the dense crowd of Outer Courtyard disciples outside the perimeter of the Main Hall, bustling with noise, yet he was in no mood to disperse them. Proceeding further, he saw the guards outside the Main Hall; one glance was enough to know they were all Divine Profound Upper Realm — only a formidable Four-star Influence would employ such grandeur, using Divine Profound Upper Realm individuals merely as guards or attendants.

Entering the Main Hall, he saw a robust middle-aged man sitting in the chair that usually belonged to Yan Shouke; even before seeing his face, the aura he emitted made Ji Liangping feel like he was gazing up at a mountain.

The middle-aged man was the mountain; Ji Liangping was merely someone standing at the foot.

Ji Liangping thought to himself: This person should be the legendary Dragon God Sect’s Mountain Suppression Realm Elder Yang Xibi.

"Elder, I am the humble Ji Liangping. May I ask what you seek?"

As Ji Liangping bowed, Yang Xibi slowly stood up.

He smirked slightly, saying, "Director Ji, there’s no need to be nervous. I’ve come here simply to inquire about someone. You know the Immortal Sect’s Sect Leader Wen Ping, right?"

At these words, Ji Liangping’s heart skipped a beat, hesitating before nodding.

Although he wished to deny it, Yang Xibi had reached this place already, indicating that the investigation was thorough; shaking his head would serve no purpose.

Seeing Ji Liangping’s nod, Yang Xibi continued, "I heard that the Immortal Sect Leader Wen Ping once saved a woman in Cloud Sea City and even killed a Divine Profound Upper Realm power for her. Based on the intel gathered in Cloud Sea City, you brought her to Celestial Academy after the rescue, correct?"

Ji Liangping hurriedly feigned regret, saying, "Elder, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten. Back in Cloud Sea City, I indeed had dealings with Sect Leader Wen, where he merely casually saved a maid being bullied. I saw that she was pitiful, so I brought her to the academy for cultivation, hoping she could change her life through her efforts."

"An ordinary maid?"

"Yes."

"Bring her over."

"This... Elder, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. Among the tens of thousands of Outer Courtyard disciples, many are cultivating outside; finding her would be challenging."

Ji Liangping immediately appeared troubled.

"Challenging?" Yang Xibi suddenly moved close to Ji Liangping, towering over him despite Ji Liangping’s hurried bow, smirking at him. As Ji Liangping raised his head, his back instantly felt cold; those eyes carried a hunter’s gaze, looking at prey, waiting for it to show a flaw.

At this point, the atmosphere turned somewhat eerie.

Not a single person dared to breathe audibly amidst the silence.

After a while, Yang Xibi spoke coldly, his gaze, filled with murderous intent, swept over everyone present, "You can concoct your stories; anyway, she’s someone the Dragon God Sect wants. If by tomorrow morning I don’t see her, every ten respirations afterwards, I’ll kill a Profound Realm disciple from your Celestial Academy, continuing until none remain. Remember, it’s not me whom you need to meet, but the one above me. If my patience runs thin, it’s ten breaths a person; if the one above me runs thin, there won’t be a Celestial Academy left."

Finishing his threats, Yang Xibi patted Ji Liangping’s shoulder, offering a knowing look before stepping away.

He’s smart; if she were merely a common maid, Ji Liangping would have brought her here immediately, even initiating a rapid search if she were outside the academy.

He believed, without doubt, this woman is still somewhere within Celestial Academy.

But with tens of thousands at the academy, he certainly couldn’t locate her himself. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

As Ji Liangping was about to turn around, just shifting his face slightly, he heard Yang Xibi instruct the dozen Divine Profound Upper Realm guards outside, "Guard this place, allowing only Director Ji to come and go until my return tomorrow! You lot, since there’s an Inner Courtyard here, I’m too lazy to visit it myself; go check it out, guard the exits, and kill anyone attempting to flee."

After Yang Xibi’s departure, the Inner Courtyard elders and stewards looked increasingly apprehensive.

All gazes converged on Ji Liangping, At these few words, Celestial Academy had become meat on the chopping block?

Although every Hundred Sects Alliance entity could claim unity, the Four-star Influence Dragon God Sect held a different status than theirs; as for Celestial Academy’s level, it’s negligible in a wider universe. If some were to perish, the Hundred Sects Alliance would hardly intervene.

The worst part is, everyone knows that Shi Hua is indeed the one the Mountain Suppression Realm power wants.

Yet Ji Liangping’s stance clearly implies he won’t hand over Shi Hua. Otherwise, why would he concoct such a story?

"Director, you should hand over Shi Hua."

"Indeed."

Voices of agreement arose at once.

Ji Liangping responded with a cold glance before striding out of the Main Hall.

As he left, the word started spreading furiously across the Outer Courtyard. The Outer Courtyard disciples were surprised but not panicked, as Dragon God Sect’s powers threatened Profound Realm and above only. Ji Liangping sought to control the message within the Outer Courtyard, but the Dragon God Sect members, upon reaching the Inner Courtyard, made the news public swiftly, plunging the Inner Courtyard disciples into despair and prompting escape attempts.

Naturally, they were severely wounded and tossed back.

Suddenly, anxieties gripped everyone in the Inner Courtyard.