Aquatic Clan Surrounds the Island, Intimidation and Provocation

The schemes of the Dragon Palace had been quietly advancing in the shadows for several months.

When those more covert infiltration methods repeatedly faltered against the Academy's seemingly loose, yet actually incredibly rigorous Heart-Questioning system and daily surveillance.

A sense of impatience began to permeate the upper echelons of the Dragon Palace. Since purely clandestine tactics were ineffective, they needed to exert further pressure with overt force.

To coordinate with the hidden operations, this was a further manifestation of the Turtle Prime Minister's plan to "isolate their influence" and "seek out vulnerabilities."

On this day, before the sky had brightened, the sea was blanketed in a faint Morning Mist. Myriad Dao Academy was as tranquil as ever, with only the morning bell ringing out, melodious and clear.

However, this serenity was soon shattered by a dull, low rumble emanating from the deep sea.

"Hum—"

It was as if countless giant conch horns had been blown at the same moment; the sound was dull yet possessed immense penetrating power, instantly drowning out the morning bell and spreading throughout the inside and outside of the Academy!

Immediately following this, the previously calm sea began to churn violently, as if some colossal entity were awakening from the seabed.

"Look! What is that?!" Some of the beings in the Enlightenment Zone on the periphery of the Academy pointed in terror toward the distance.

As far as the eye could see on the horizon, massive walls of water rose from nothingness, stretching on endlessly like moving mountain ranges, closing in on the floating continent where Myriad Dao Academy was located!

Atop the water walls, banners fluttered and blades stood like forests. Dense ranks of aquatic soldiers were arrayed in strict formation, clad in sturdy armor and wielding sharp weapons, radiating sky-high demonic energy and a murderous intent!

Shrimp soldiers surged like tides, crab generals gathered like clouds, and Sea-Patrolling Yakshas stood proudly on the crests of waves holding Water-Parting Halberds. Among them, squads of Flood Dragon Knights riding sea beasts wove through the ranks, their auras fierce and imposing.

The massive military formation emitted a suffocating pressure, encircling the entire Academy continent from all sides, leaving no room for escape!

The sunlight was blocked by the Shrouding the Heavens water curtains and the malevolent energy of the army, causing the sky to dim significantly.

This was by no means comparable to the ceremonial guard with patrol duties that Ao Xin had brought that day; this was a true, battle-hardened elite naval force of the Dragon Palace!

The sheer number and the overwhelming momentum were enough to easily annihilate many so-called blessed immortal mountains in the Primordial world!

The military formation halted about five hundred zhang from the Academy. This distance was already within the range of conventional long-range divine abilities, and the sense of oppression was palpable.

The leading general, clad in profound black dragon-scale armor and holding a Water-Parting Dragon-Patterned Axe the size of a door panel, possessed a deep and unfathomable aura.

He was none other than a peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal and a fierce general of the Dragon Palace, named Ao Zhan.

Ao Zhan did not immediately launch an attack. He pointed his giant axe forward, his voice like thunder, rolling out and deliberately avoiding the name of the Primordial Chaos Sage, aiming directly at the Academy:

"Listen well, Myriad Dao Academy! You have presumptuously established a dojo in the East Sea, gathered unknown beings, disrupted the spiritual order of the East Sea, and even shown disrespect to the Crown Prince of the Dragon Palace!

Today, by the decree of His Majesty the East Sea Dragon King, I have come to hold you accountable!

You are limited to one stick of incense to open your gates, hand over the person in charge who offended the Crown Prince, and immediately disband the Academy so all disciples may leave the East Sea! Otherwise..."

He paused, his killing intent erupting. Behind him, thousands of aquatic soldiers roared in unison, the sound waves shaking the heavens and causing the seawater to boil!

"Otherwise, the army will press forward, trample this tiny patch of land, and leave not even a chicken or dog alive!"

A naked threat of force! Using the pretext of maintaining "East Sea Order" to carry out the act of forced dissolution!

This commotion had long since alarmed the entire Academy.

Xuanjizi, Elder Teng, Yun Xi, and all the other disciples, regardless of their cultivation level, had quickly gathered in the air on the periphery of the Academy. Looking at the Dragon Palace naval force that blotted out the sky, everyone wore a grave expression.

Even Xuanjizi, feeling the massive malevolent energy gathered by the military formation and the undisguised peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal pressure from Ao Zhan, felt his heart sink.

This was no longer a personal conflict; it was a head-on collision between factions!

"What a grand display!" Jin Li clenched his fists, his body of metal and stone humming as his fighting spirit surged.

"They want to force us out, or force the Sage to act..." Elder Teng's gaze was heavy, seeing through the opponent's calculations.

Yun Xi's face turned slightly pale, but she stood firmly by Xuanjizi's side, her Literary Qi flowing silently.

Those beings still in the Enlightenment Zone were scared out of their wits; some collapsed to the ground, while others scrambled toward the Academy seeking protection, creating a scene of total chaos.

Xuanjizi took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. He knew that he must not show weakness at this moment, nor could he be intimidated by the opponent's momentum.

He stepped out from the crowd, hovering within the protective light barrier of the Academy, facing Ao Zhan's gaze—which felt like a physical weight—and the killing intent of the thousands of aquatic soldiers.

He responded loudly, his voice clearly carrying into the enemy formation with the aid of his Literary Qi:

"General Ao Zhan! My Myriad Dao Academy is the dojo of Sage Wanhua. We preach here in accordance with the Heavenly Dao, have never disrupted the order of the East Sea, and have never actively provoked the Dragon Palace.

As for the events of that day, there is a public consensus on who was right and who was wrong. For you to lead a massive army to surround us today and issue threats in an attempt to destroy a Sage's Dao Lineage—could it be that the Dragon Palace intends to become an enemy of the Sage?"

He once again pointed out that this was a Sage's dojo, raising the level of the conflict and questioning the intentions of the Dragon Palace.

"Hmph! Do not try to use the Sage to pressure me!"

Ao Zhan sneered. He had clearly received instructions and was well-prepared for this. "His Majesty the Dragon King respects the Sage, which is why we have come here to 'hold you accountable' rather than start a war directly!

If you comply with the order, all will be well; if you resist, you are seeking your own destruction! In that case, even if the Sage blames us, it will be because you brought it upon yourselves!"

He packaged the Dragon Palace's actions as "acting according to the law," shifting the responsibility for any potential Sage-level wrath onto the Academy, his words extremely cunning.

"What a fine 'brought it upon yourselves'!" Xuanjizi's voice also turned cold. "Our Academy stands here without having violated any laws of the Dragon Palace, yet the General demands we disband the moment you open your mouth.

On what rule is the demand to hand over our fellow disciples based?

Could it be that the word of the Dragon Palace is the iron law of the East Sea, allowing you to decide life and death and destroy Dao Lineages at will? How is this behavior any different from that of demons?!"

He seized upon the arrogance and unreasonableness in the opponent's words, denouncing their wrongdoing with increasingly sharp rhetoric.

"Insolent!" Ao Zhan was enraged. With a swing of his giant axe, a massive water blade that spanned the sea and sky manifested out of thin air, carrying the momentum to tear everything apart as it slashed fiercely toward the protective light barrier on the periphery of the Academy!

"It seems you lot won't shed tears until you see the coffin! I shall break this turtle shell of yours first and see how long you can keep your mouths shut!"

He chose to strike! Rather than committing his entire army, he used his own formidable cultivation to launch a probing attack, both to display his might and to search for flaws in the defensive formation!

The massive water blade radiated the terrifying power of a peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, causing ripples in space wherever it passed!

This strike was far more powerful than the casual blow Ao Xin had dealt that day!

"Activate the formation!" Xuanjizi had been prepared; he, along with Elder Teng, Yun Xi, and the other core disciples, instantly pushed their Literary Qi to the limit!

The Wanhua Guardian Formation manifested once more. Runes of logic swirled frantically across the light screen, condensing the Literary Heart and will of the disciples along with the Literary Qi of the academy's Earth Vein to meet the heaven-shaking water blade head-on!

"BOOM--!!!!"

A collision far more violent than the last erupted! The light was blinding, and an energy storm swept across the sea and sky!

The protective light screen twisted violently, emitting a groan of unbearable strain, and Xuanjizi and the others presiding over the formation all spat out a mouthful of blood simultaneously.

The Registered Disciples with weaker cultivation turned deathly pale, barely able to remain standing.

Yet, the light screen still did not break! It had only dimmed significantly, clearly having endured immense pressure.

A flicker of surprise crossed the eyes of Ao Zhan. Although he hadn't used his full strength, he had still exerted seventy percent of his power, yet it was still blocked by this strange formation?

"Form up! Myriad Dragons Overturning Seas Wave! Wear them down until they die!" Ao Zhan stopped fighting alone and immediately issued the order.

Seeing that the formation's defense was astonishing and not easily breached by force, he intended to use his army to form a formation.

Relying on an absolute advantage in numbers and power, he would launch continuous, saturated attacks to grind away the enemy's defense!

Thousands of the aquatic race responded in unison, their demonic aura soaring to the heavens. They began to move according to the profound battle formation, drawing upon and gathering the vast Power of Water Essence as if the strength of the entire ocean had been mobilized.

It transformed into waves of destructive undercurrents, giant surges, ice spikes, and water thunder, launching a relentless bombardment against the seemingly precarious Wanhua light screen like an endless rainstorm!

The aquatic race surrounding the island had turned their intimidation and provocation into a tangible military strike! Myriad Dao Academy was facing the most severe test since its founding!

All the pressure fell upon that light screen constructed of logic and Literary Qi, and upon the shoulders of every single academy disciple standing behind it.