Reporting Layer by Layer, Visitors from Canglong Island

"Whoosh, whoosh~"

A fierce wind howled past Gu Yang's cheeks, making it hard for him to keep his eyes open.

A journey that would normally take Martial Academy disciples an hour was completed in barely fifteen minutes under Master Liao's full-speed sprint, and they arrived at Wan City.

That was only because Master Liao was carrying Gu Yang with him. Otherwise, he could have gone even faster.

Once martial cultivation reached profound realms, covering ten thousand miles in a day was no dream. True martial experts could even run faster than the airliners Gu Yang had flown in his previous life.

"Whoosh, whoosh~"

The gale faded. The two stopped at Wan City's western gate, and Gu Yang immediately began gasping for breath.

Though Master Liao had carried him while running, he was still panting heavily from exhaustion.

Master Liao gave him no time to rest at all and immediately led him toward Tianshu Ward.

They passed through Wan City's streets, soon arriving before Tianshu Ward's gates.

Though it was already late, the guards at the entrance recognized them at once. They respectfully acknowledged them and stepped aside.

"Later, when you meet the Academy Dean, answer whatever he asks truthfully. Do not even think about lying before him, understand?" On a small path within Tianshu Ward, Master Liao turned his head and warned Gu Yang.

"I understand, Master Liao." Gu Yang agreed aloud, but inwardly, he knew he could not guarantee that.

He had so many secrets. Was he supposed to confess everything just because the Academy Dean asked? What kind of joke was that?

The winding path led into seclusion. Other than vast stretches of bamboo forest, there was not a single building in sight.

A moment later, Master Liao led him to a stop outside a Bamboo Garden.

The next moment, Gu Yang heard Master Liao respectfully call out, "Academy Dean, Liao Wu requests an audience over an urgent matter!"

For a long while, not a sound came from within the Bamboo Garden. Master Liao gritted his teeth and called out once more, "Academy Dean, Liao Wu requests an audience over an urgent matter!"

Though he knew the matter was urgent, without the permission of the person inside, he still did not dare barge in with Gu Yang.

Fifteen minutes later, a faint, ghostly voice finally sounded from within the Bamboo Garden. "Is that Little Wu? Coming to disturb this old man's rest so late at night—do you know that is very immoral?"

"Academy Dean, it is urgent—urgent beyond measure!" Liao Wu gave a bitter laugh. Clearly familiar with the elusive Academy Dean's manner, he went straight to the point. "It concerns the mastermind behind the Specters. It is extremely important!"

"Behind the Specters... I suppose the one who discovered new information is the disciple standing behind you. Bring him in."

The Martial Academy's dean spoke again. Liao Wu immediately answered, then led Gu Yang into the Bamboo Garden.

"Academy Dean, that is what happened. This matter was far too important, which is why I came to disturb you so late. Please forgive me." A moment later, within the Bamboo Garden, Liao Wu explained Gu Yang's situation.

"It is no matter. Since it concerns something so grave, there is naturally nothing wrong with what you did." After pondering for a moment, the Academy Dean—a middle-aged-looking man with white hair and beard—raised his head and looked at Gu Yang. "Your name is Gu Yang, correct? Can you tell me how you discovered that person's exact location?"

"Reporting to the Academy Dean, after cultivating the Life-Slaying Saber, a strange power gradually arose within my heart. As long as I develop intense killing intent toward a target, I can vaguely sense that person's location."

Gu Yang had not lied. He had merely concealed his Dao Seed and talent.

Although the Academy Dean could sense that Gu Yang had held something back, he had not lied, so the man did not press further. He merely confirmed once more, "Can you truly guarantee that you can find him?"

"I can!" Gu Yang answered with firm resolve.

"Fine. You may return for now. Do not leave the Martial Academy over the next few days. Stay there and await my notice." With a wave of his hand, the Academy Dean asked no more questions and instead told the two to return and wait for word.

Await notice? Await what notice?

Could the Academy Dean be planning to personally verify whether what he had said was true?

Gu Yang did not understand, but he did not voice the doubt in his heart. He simply followed Liao Wu in bowing their farewell.

A moment later, the two departed.

Within the Bamboo Garden, the Academy Dean slowly rose to his feet and murmured, "The Life-Slaying Saber... Does cultivating this saber art truly produce such a wondrous ability? Why have I never sensed it...?"

As his eyes flickered, killing intent so dense it seemed almost tangible flowed from the Academy Dean's gaze.

Even more terrifyingly, that killing intent existed only within the Bamboo Garden. Even if Liao Wu and Gu Yang had been standing at the entrance, they would not have sensed the slightest trace of it.

Though Gu Yang felt stifled at being unable to return home, he could understand the reason.

After sending someone to inform his family that he was safe, Gu Yang remained in the Martial Academy, cultivating the Blood Nourishing Stance Art while awaiting the Academy Dean's notice.

At night, Gu Yang stood within that secluded Training Ground, practicing Stance Training with every punch and kick.

He understood very clearly that no matter how the matter of the Specters was ultimately resolved, he would at most be a participant.

Strength! What he lacked now was strength.

If he possessed sufficient strength, he would not need to rely on anyone else. He could charge straight to the place in his mind and cut down the person hiding behind the scenes with a single slash.

However desperately he craved it, strength could not be achieved in a single leap. It required vast amounts of sweat and effort before it could gradually improve.

One could gaze upon the starry sky, but one still had to keep both feet planted firmly on the ground.

For Gu Yang, what he needed most now was to continue cultivating the Blood Nourishing Stance Art and condense Blood Qi as soon as possible.

His punches and kicks, paired with the Breathing Method, unfolded into a complete set of Stance Training movements as smoothly as drifting clouds and flowing water.

As he finished the stance, a line of small text flashed before Gu Yang's eyes.

Blood Nourishing Stance proficiency +1

"Continue." Gu Yang glanced at it without joy or sorrow, then prepared to continue practicing his Stance Training.

But at that moment, a sharp cry suddenly rang out from the sky.

Gu Yang abruptly raised his head and saw a majestic giant bird near the Bamboo Garden he had just visited within Tianshu Ward beyond the Martial Academy walls. Its entire body was covered in gleaming silver steel feathers, and with a wingspan of more than two zhang, it soared into the heavens and shot northward.

"What kind of creature is that? Such terrifying pressure... The Martial Academy actually keeps such a ferocious bird-type Ferocious Beast?"

As he stared upward and muttered to himself, Gu Yang's heart stirred.

A giant bird had taken flight at such a time—could it be because of him?

The timing was too much of a coincidence. Other than that reason, Gu Yang could not imagine any other possibility.

At the same time, on the other side of the Martial Academy, Liao Wu was also looking up at the giant bird departing.

"The Academy Dean actually released the Silver-Winged Flying Eagle. It seems the lords from the island will be arriving before long."

Neither of them was wrong. That very night, just after Gu Yang finished practicing his Stance Training and was about to rest, he saw a radiant figure swiftly fly in from the north.

The figure passed over Wan City and stopped above the Martial Academy.

The next instant, Gu Yang heard a domineering voice ring out from within the glowing figure.

"Lu Yao, bring the disciple you mentioned to see me!"