"Beep--" The personal terminal emitted a sharp, short beep, quite different from its usual gentle tone; this was the highest level of encryption alert.
Xiao Han swiped his finger across the screen, and a deep blue light illuminated his instantly solemn face.
The intelligence was displayed line by line.
He glanced at the first few words, and his pupils contracted sharply. A chill rose from the bottom of his heart and quickly spread throughout his body.
A major incident has occurred at the Imperial Capital Academy!
The intelligence was chilling, every word carrying an ominous air: a vice-principal of the academy, who was usually respected, was actually a mole of the Blood Fiend Hall who had been lurking for many years! This fiend had already launched a blatant attack, gathering a large number of experts dispatched by the Blood Fiend Hall. The operation was extremely swift, and taking advantage of everyone's unpreparedness, they forcibly took control of several core restricted areas within the academy.
"You old scoundrel, you've been hiding it well!" Xiao Han gritted his teeth. The contrast between the usually kind face of the vice principal and the ferocious expression in the intelligence report made him feel nauseous. He always talked about the safety of the academy during meetings; he was a complete hypocrite.
The information on the screen continued downwards, and a line of text made his breath catch in his throat. His fingers, gripping the terminal, turned white from excessive force. "Instructor Lin Qingxia fiercely resisted, attempting to sabotage the Blood Fiend Hall's important scheme, but was ultimately outnumbered and forcibly suppressed. Currently... her fate is unknown!"
"Mentor Lin..." Xiao Han's throat bobbed, and Lin Qingxia's slightly cold but always resolute face seemed to flash before his eyes. If anything were to happen to her... A surge of anger welled up in his chest, and the veins on his temples throbbed faintly.
At the end of the intelligence report, the bold, scarlet words sent a chill down his spine. "The young master of the Blood Fiend Hall, 'Blood Young Master,' has secretly arrived in the Imperial Capital and is personally overseeing the academy!"
Blood Young Master! Xiao Han was familiar with this code name. Rumor had it that although he was young, he was extremely cunning and ruthless, making him the most troublesome figure among the younger generation of the Blood Fiend Hall. He had actually come to the Imperial Capital Academy? The Blood Fiend Hall's ambitions this time were far greater than expected.
Xiao Han suddenly stood up straight; the blood-red words on the terminal screen were exceptionally glaring.
We must get back to the university immediately!
He clenched his fists suddenly, his knuckles making a soft cracking sound. Blood Fiend Hall, Blood Young Master... Very well, it's time to settle all the old and new scores!
Their scheme is aimed directly at the ancient secrets hidden beneath the "Dragon-Locking Well," a forbidden area within the academy.
This person's strength is unfathomable, far surpassing the blood-robed monster we encountered earlier!
Time is of the essence!
Xiao Han made a quick decision and, following the map, found an underground transportation line leading to the Imperial Capital.
He was on a maglev train specifically designed for illegal human smuggling. Inside the carriage, the stench of sweat, blood, and cheap alcohol was overwhelming and nauseating.
The passengers were mostly desperate criminals or shady "cargo."
The environment is harsh, but the speed is incredibly fast, and it can avoid most official checkpoints.
The train sped through the dark underground tunnel.
Two days and one night of bumpy travel.
Xiao Han finally arrived at the outskirts of the Imperial Capital still brightly lit and bustling, yet rife with undercurrents.
He didn't head straight for the Imperial Capital Academy; instead, he found a temporary place to stay.
He used a secret method known only to Su Linglong to send a unique signal: The person has returned, provide immediate assistance!
At this moment, in the secret chamber of the Su Family.
Su Linglong, dressed in an elegant long dress, was frowning as she dealt with the many urgent matters concerning her family caused by the turmoil in the Imperial Capital.
Suddenly, a specially made sensing jade talisman trembled slightly, and a pattern unique to her and Xiao Han appeared on it.
Her delicate body trembled slightly. Beneath that cool demeanor, a mix of surprise, worry, and relief flashed through her mind, but she forcibly suppressed them in an instant.
She quickly regained her composure and decisiveness, and issued a secret family order to mobilize the most secretive force of the Su Family hidden in the Imperial Capital, arranging for trusted confidants to meet Xiao Han at a Su Family secret estate in the Imperial Capital.
Under the cover of night.
Xiao Han evaded numerous eyes and ears and successfully arrived at the heavily guarded secret manor.
Deep within the manor, in an elegant and quiet room.
Xiao Han met Su Linglong.
After a few days apart, she had lost some weight, and her beautiful face showed undisguised anxiety and worry. However, the moment Xiao Han appeared safely, her tense body relaxed slightly without her noticing.
"You're finally back." The very slight tremor in Su Linglong's voice quickly disappeared.
Without time for pleasantries, she went straight to revealing more detailed and brutal inside information.
"The traitor within the academy is Executive Vice Principal Wang Daoming," Su Linglong's tone turned cold. "This man is incredibly cunning; he has already completely sided with the Blood Fiend Hall. Mentor Lin... is indeed trapped by them, at the bottom of the [Dragon-Locking Well], the academy's first forbidden area. That place has been transformed by the Blood Fiend Hall into an extremely terrifying Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation!"
"Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation?" Xiao Han's pupils shrank sharply.
"Based on the intelligence we have received."
Su Linglong continued, "The Su Family, the military, and the forces within the academy loyal to the Dragon Nation all want to retaliate immediately, but Wang Daoming and the Blood Fiend Hall are far too well-prepared."
"They've threatened us with the lives of many students and instructors within the academy. With the mysterious 'Blood Young Master' and several Martial King -level elders from the Blood Fiend Hall present, we're hesitant to launch a full-scale attack for the time being."
Xiao Han clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned slightly white from the excessive force.
Su Linglong looked at him, her voice lowered slightly. "Xiao Han, that 'Blood Young Master' is targeting Mentor Lin."
"He intends to utilize Mentor Lin's SSS-level Extreme Ice Phoenix Martial Soul power, combined with the millennia-old earth vein dragon energy accumulated beneath the [Dragon-Locking Well], to perform some kind of evil ritual that could significantly enhance his own strength, perhaps even helping him break through to a higher realm. Time is probably running out."
The atmosphere in the quiet room was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
The night was as dark as ink, so thick it was impossible to see through.
Xiao Han changed into the special stealth suit prepared by Su Linglong. This suit was made of rare materials and could isolate him from divine sense detection and energy fluctuations to the greatest extent.
With a swift movement, he disappeared into the deep shadows beneath the bustling nightscape of the Imperial Capital, his target the Imperial Capital Academy, a place whose defenses had been raised to the highest level and which had now become a den of dragons and tigers!
Su Linglong stood by the window, watching that resolute figure disappear into the night.
He immediately turned around and acted swiftly, mobilizing all available resources of the Su Family to create chaos around the academy, hoping to give Xiao Han a chance to infiltrate and fight for his life!
In the Imperial Capital Academy, between the shadows of night and reality, a figure silently darts about.
Xiao Han's newly awakened [Eternal Night Void Emperor] (pseudo) Martial Soul grants him the profound ability to "Void Walking".
The latest internal defense map and secret passage information of the academy provided by Su Linglong were clearly presented in his mind.
He was an invisible blade, piercing straight into the heart of the academy—the [Dragon-Locking Well]!
At this moment, the Imperial Capital Academy appear relaxed on the outside but are actually very strict on the inside.
Under Xiao Han's [Void-Piercing Divine Eyes], the Blood Fiend Hall experts who were hidden in the shadows of buildings, behind flower beds, and even blended into the night, as well as the controlled academy guards, had nowhere to hide.
Their souls emanated a faint, blood-red, malevolent light, cold and lifeless.
The only way to [Dragon-Locking Well] is through a dark and winding path.
The air was filled with the stench of blood and strange energy fluctuations.
Suddenly, around the corner ahead, four powerful auras exploded out!
The leader, dressed in the robes of an academy instructor, had a sinister face; he was none other than Zhao Wuji, a veteran Martial Grandmaster Peak master who had betrayed the academy!
Beside him stood three black-clad assassins from the Blood Fiend Hall, all Late Martial Grandmaster Stage, their killing intent palpable as they stared intently at their surroundings.
"Be on guard! This place cannot be lost!" Zhao Wuji's voice was hoarse.
Before he finished speaking, Xiao Han stepped out from the shadows above them!
The terrifying aura of the Peak Sixth Level of the Martial Master Realm erupted with a thunderous roar!
"Who goes there?!" Zhao Wuji looked up in shock.