I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1659 - Ninety-Eight: Targeting

Chapter 1659: Chapter Ninety-Eight: Targeting

Just when everyone thought that the group of students who had successfully undergone Soul Casting at Unparalleled Academy would shake the foundations of the great families in alliance form, an unexpected force made its move.

The Dutian Heavenly King, under the pretext of quelling turmoil, captured graduates of Unparalleled Academy throughout Xiehe and forcibly dispersed so-called alumni and networking meetings.

This targeted action clearly communicated to Xiehe that the Dutian Heavenly King was very dissatisfied with the actions of Unparalleled Academy.

As for the elite families, they naturally supported this move wholeheartedly—not because they were against Unparalleled Academy, but because they loathed the loosely organized cultivators who switched from old to new powers.

Compared to past disturbances in villages and towns that could be suppressed by dispatching a squad of city guards, now it was necessary to have Fierce Realm powerhouses accompany them.

The root cause was still Unparalleled Academy, and since the Dutian Heavenly King was willing to rectify the chaos, the elite families naturally provided a series of conveniences.

And when this news finally reached Red Cloud Mountain, it was also infuriating for the municipal officials and elders, including Du Ting.

According to the news from Da Lin City, after the Dutian Heavenly King started targeting the Unparalleled alumni association, many cultivators who had passed through Dragon Gate chose not to return to Red Cloud Mountain but rather to join elite families.

Although the academy still had an overwhelming number of students, it still left people feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

But Du Ting and the others knew they were just responsible for transmitting messages and cooperating; the real responsibility for the academy lay with the dean.

Therefore, this urgent meeting was to discuss Unparalleled Academy’s stance in the face of Dutian Heavenly King’s actions.

In the midst of his busy schedule, Tang Luo, sitting at the head of the meeting with a poker face, listened to the discussions of others.

"In my old view, the Dutian Heavenly King’s suppression of the academy is a foolish move, and ultimately, it is ineffective,"

The dark-skinned and stocky Shen Dafa seemed a bit excited as he pointed at the sand table in the hall: "Since ancient times, the more oppressed people are, the more they will resist. Not only will the king fail to disperse the alumni association, but he will only unite the graduates more. When the time is ripe and the dean calls, surely disciples from all states will respond, and then the king will reap the consequences of his own actions!"

"During this period, the academy could also provide conveniences for these captured disciples. Haven’t many retreat facilities been opened up on Nanping Peak? We could invite those fleeing students to stay there. With the dean and the lord of Slaughter Palace presiding, even if An Yuanxi learns of these people’s whereabouts, would he dare make things difficult?"

Shen Dafa’s words led everyone to nod in agreement. For these municipal officials, they were just worried about not having the opportunity to network with these academy graduates, and An Yuanxi’s actions provided the academy with a perfect excuse.

"Brother Shen speaks wisely. I have detailed information on all enrolled students, and it couldn’t be better to invite the disciples of Marshal Star Pavilion to locate them one by one!"

After agreeing with Shen Dafa, Du Ting immediately proposed a supplementary plan and then turned to Tang Luo asking, "Dean, what do you think about arranging it this way for now?"

It was evident that everyone was keen on Shen Dafa’s proposal, as gaining people’s hearts during hard times is often more lasting than adding splendor to what’s already splendid.

Unfortunately, these people seemed to have forgotten the original purpose of establishing the academy.

"There’s no need to deal with the Dutian Heavenly King, nor to contact the graduates,"

Tang Luo blandly said to the crowd: "The management department is merely a window for the academy to garner resources. The academy’s primary responsibility is to nurture those children who lost their homes and families due to war into adults. Let’s not confuse means with ends."

"But Dean, the two matters are not contradictory!"

Not knowing Tang Luo’s real identity, Shen Dafa spoke frankly: "Shen believes that the Lord and his wife must particularly trust the Dean to have entrusted all affairs of Unparalleled City to the Dean’s oversight. Shen also knows that a powerhouse like the Dean would not care about those loosely organized cultivators who completed Soul Casting. However, now that the Lord is penalized in Ying City, we subordinates must strive to gather strength for him. There is such an opportunity right now; these graduates from the academy could potentially become the Lord’s support. If the Dean is too busy with official matters, this task can be given to us, and within ten years, surely we can muster a thousand warriors to serve at the Lord’s command!"

Shen Dafa’s eyes were sharp, his tone sincere, and his words stirred the blood and roused agreement from everyone.

"The Academy understands the desire of you all to serve."

Tang Luo said indifferently, "But you all have not understood; this kind of thing can be done by noble clans, noble families, even sects, but the academy cannot do it. If it were done, the noble families would regard the academy as an enemy, and lone cultivators would also be wary of the academy, so this matter need not be discussed further."

Having said this, he did not say another word, rose, and left.

...

Zhongzhou, Pingshan City

"My lord, there has been no movement from Unparalleled Academy; could it be that they fear the renown of the patrol and dare not make a move?"

An Yuanxi, holding a book, put down the document in his hands, and asked with a frown, "Are you sure the message has reached Red Cloud Mountain?"

"The message was spread by the Wind Media channels in Western Longzhou, and many major organizations have spies in Unparalleled City; the message surely reached them."

The garrison commander, responsible for suppressing the chaos, assuredly said, "Now that there’s still no movement in Unparalleled City, it is probably true that they don’t dare to defy the patrol. Maybe I should think of another strategy!"

Although unaware of why An Yuanxi targeted Unparalleled Academy, since he had deduced the superior’s thoughts, as a subordinate, he naturally needed to spare no effort to satisfy his lord.

Originally planning to provoke Unparalleled Academy to act by targeting its graduating disciples, then condemn them in the name of the patrol.

However, he had not expected the opponent to be so cowardly; the message had been sent days ago, yet the other party acted as if nothing had happened.

Missing this step of getting them on the hook, all subsequent schemes turned into fantastical illusions, which for the garrison commander, eager to earn merit in front of Feather God, equated to failure.

"No need."

The jade-faced An Yuanxi raised his hand and dispelled the idea in mid-air: "Since the academy doesn’t bite, there’s no need for further trials. Right now, the most important task for the patrol is to investigate the whereabouts of the Han Family, and to recall the searching troops, leaving only a small part outside."

"As you wish, my lord."

After the garrison commander nodded in agreement, he asked, "Who should lead the remaining troops?"

"Do you have someone in mind?"

An Yuanxi raised his chin and asked his subordinate.

"Actually, for such a simple search mission, any patrol officer could handle it, but if we are to choose the most suitable, it would be the group from the Xiang Family."

As if tasting the words in his mouth, during his long service under the patrol, he had never seen a clan more merciless than the Xiang Family.

The command given by the patrol was to capture, but whenever the warriors of the Xiang Family took action, rarely were the captured not severely injured.

Especially after knowing that Unparalleled Academy was a venture founded by the Void Grandmaster, the methods of these Xiang Family disciples became even more frantic.

If one were to appoint a force within the current Wind Department that could deliver the greatest damage to Unparalleled Academy, the Xiang Family would be the first choice.