Fire Clouds Press the Borders, Nangong Descends!

Eastern Xuan Academy, atop the Five Peaks.

The sky, once clear and bright, was now shrouded in a thick, oppressive gloom.

The disciples within the academy had long sensed the abnormal atmosphere. The usually bustling training grounds had fallen silent, the sound of reading aloud had vanished, replaced by hushed whispers.

"Can you feel it? The atmosphere today is strange. I feel like something big is about to happen," a disciple in blue robes said in a low voice to his companion beside him.

"Yeah, I've felt restless since morning. I can't even calm down to cultivate," another disciple agreed, his eyes full of worry. "I heard some senior brothers saw the elders heading to the Council Hall early this morning, and they haven't come out since. Something major must be brewing."

"Could it be... related to the Nangong Family?" a voice chimed in, voicing the guess no one wanted to face.

"Don't say that..."

Just as anxiety gripped the entire academy, a glaring crimson appeared on the horizon.

It was a blazing sea of fire clouds, as if the sky itself had been torn open, surging violently toward the Eastern Xuan Academy. Within the fire clouds, countless streaks of light flickered, like heavenly soldiers descending, carrying an aura of world-destroying might.

"What is that?!" a sharp-eyed disciple spotted the anomaly first, pointing at the fire clouds in terror, his voice shrill.

"It's the Nangong Family."

An elder suddenly appeared above the academy, his expression calm, signaling for everyone not to panic. "That is the Nangong Family's insignia—the Blazing Sky Fire Cloud Banner."

"Everyone, return to your respective peaks! The Eastern Xuan Academy will handle today's matter!"

The elder's words exploded like thunderclaps in everyone's ears.

"It's our Nine Flames Peak's Elder Lin! Elder Lin is mighty!"

"I've got Elder Lin's collection of art books, high-definition and watermark-free! 10 spirit stones a piece, no tricks! First come, first served!"

"Me, me, me! Give me one..."

Elder Lin in the air stumbled, nearly falling.

"Get back right now!" Elder Lin roared in exasperation.

These little brats were utterly lawless! How dare they distribute it without his personal review!

The Blazing Sky Fire Clouds drew closer, the pressure growing stronger. It was like an invisible mountain, crushing the breath out of everyone.

The academy's Mountain-Protecting Array, sensing this terrifying pressure, activated automatically. Layers of pale golden light rose up, weaving into a massive barrier that radiated divine light, enveloping the entire Eastern Xuan Academy.

The two forces hadn't clashed yet, but they were already testing each other, the friction of Spiritual Power gilding the edges of the sky.

Finally, the Blazing Sky Fire Clouds descended.

Like a meteor falling, with a deafening roar, it slammed violently into the Eastern Xuan Academy's Mountain-Protecting Array!

Boom—!

The violent tremors, as if tearing the earth apart, spread to every corner of the academy.

Some weaker disciples grunted, hurriedly releasing Spiritual Power to protect themselves.

The Mountain-Protecting Array trembled fiercely, but its light remained steady—truly worthy of being the academy's treasured mountain guardian!

The fire clouds slowly dispersed, revealing what lay within.

It was a massive Flame Warship, forged entirely from Crimson Gold Divine Iron. The hull was covered in intricate flame runes, radiating a scorching heat that made one's heart tremble. Compared to Nangong Yan's previous ship, this one was several times more magnificent, its size worlds apart.

Atop the warship's mast hung a huge banner—the Nangong Family's Blazing Sky Fire Cloud Banner—snapping loudly in the wind, arrogant and domineering.

On the warship stood hundreds of Nangong Family guards in fiery red battle armor, each exuding powerful auras, their eyes cold as if they were hellish asuras, chilling to the bone.

And at the very front of the warship stood a young man in a Purple Gold War Robe.

His face was handsome, purple flames blazing around him, radiating a kingly aura.

This was the Nangong Family's young master—Nangong Huo!

Nangong Huo stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze coldly sweeping over the Eastern Xuan Academy below, like an eagle surveying its territory, his eyes full of contempt and fury.

"Eastern Xuan Academy, where is the Academy Lord? Come out and see me!" Nangong Huo's voice exploded like thunder across the heavens and earth, carrying an undeniable authority that made the entire academy buzz.

The sound rolled like a tide, reaching every corner of the Eastern Xuan Academy. Those who heard it felt their hearts jolt, as if struck by an invisible sword, their very souls trembling.

Atop Xuanqing Peak, inside the Purple Bamboo Pavilion.

Xuanyuan Che slowly put down the scroll in his hand, looked up at the massive Flame Warship in the sky, and a playful smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"The main event has finally arrived," he murmured softly, his eyes full of anticipation.

Glancing at Mu Qingxue, who was in seclusion comprehending the Guixu Sword Intent behind him, Xuanyuan Che stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes.

"Not bad talent. Worth this young master's effort in grooming."

"Let's see how my cheap master handles this first."

Inside the Eastern Xuan Academy's Council Hall, the atmosphere was heavy.

Lu Xuanchen sat at the head, his expression calm as still water, but his eyes were like sharp swords, fixed tightly on the Flame Warship outside the hall.

Inside the hall, several Supreme Elders and peak elders had gathered, their expressions solemn, brows tightly furrowed.

They had all heard Nangong Huo's voice. The pressure and killing intent within it made it clear that this matter would not end peacefully.

"Academy Lord, the Nangong Family has come with hostile intent. Nangong Huo himself has descended. This will be a tough nut to crack," an elder said, his voice full of worry.

"Indeed. Nangong Yan and Nangong Lie were killed—the Nangong Family will never let this rest. Nangong Huo's personal visit this time is surely to demand an accounting. This situation... will not be easy to resolve," said another elder.

"What are you panicking for!" Lu Xuanchen slammed his hand on the table with a thunderous crash, cutting off the clamor. His gaze swept across the crowd as he spoke in a low, firm voice, "Our Eastern Xuan Academy has stood in the Eastern Wasteland Domain for tens of thousands of years. The Nangong Family merely has a foothold in the Central Continent with richer resources—they're not some top-tier power there either.

"Do you think this Prefect is as ignorant as you? Hearing 'Central Continent' sends you into a flurry of worry—what are you panicking for, I ask you?

"Our academy is, at the very least, the overlord of the Eastern Wasteland. How could we fear a mere Nangong Family! When soldiers come, we block them with generals; when floods rise, we stem them with earth. Whatever they want, we'll see it through to the end!"

Lu Xuanchen's words were forceful and resolute, carrying an undeniable authority that shamed the few wavering elders into steadiness.

"The Prefect speaks truly! Our Eastern Xuan Academy will never bow to any force!" It was one of the four Supreme Elders, the hot-tempered Nether Abyss Peak Lord.

"Exactly! If the Nangong Family dares to attack, we will give our all and fight them to the death!" The crowd voiced their support one after another, their fervor rising and morale surging.

Lu Xuanchen rose to his feet and looked out beyond the hall: "Let us go, everyone. This Seat will accompany you to meet this young master of the Nangong Family."

With that, Lu Xuanchen strode out of the Council Hall first, followed closely by the elders, their expressions resolute.

The group rose into the air and flew toward the Flame Warship.

Soon, Lu Xuanchen led the high-ranking members of Eastern Xuan Academy to the front of the Flame Warship, standing opposite Nangong Huo at a distance.

The two factions, with several Saint Realm experts, faced off across the void!

The atmosphere was tense, on the verge of eruption—only a single spark was needed to ignite it.

Lu Xuanchen stood in the air above the academy and cupped his hands from afar: "This Seat is Lu Xuanchen, Prefect of Eastern Xuan Academy. May I ask what business brings the young master of the Nangong Family to our academy today?"

His tone was calm as still water, neither servile nor arrogant.

Nangong Huo's gaze was icy, his fury burning even hotter.

"Business?" Nangong Huo's lips curled into a faint, cold smile, his voice as piercing as frozen steel. "Prefect Lu, are you playing dumb with me? The Ninth Elder of my Nangong Family, Nangong Lie, and my younger brother, Nangong Yan, both died within the territory of your Eastern Xuan Academy. How do you explain this?"

Nangong Huo's words cut straight to the heart, unceremoniously exposing the root of the conflict.

The air in the vicinity instantly turned perilously dangerous.

Hearing this, Lu Xuanchen smiled faintly: "Young Master Nangong's words miss the mark. Elder Nangong Lie and Young Master Yan did indeed fall within the territory of our Eastern Xuan Academy.

"But this matter is not the fault of our academy. Rather, they..."

"Brought it upon themselves."

"Brought it upon themselves?" Nangong Huo laughed as if he had heard the greatest joke, throwing his head back in a roar filled with mockery and rage. "A fine 'brought it upon themselves'! Prefect Lu, do tell—how exactly did the people of my Nangong Family bring it upon themselves? Did they court death of their own accord?!"

Nangong Huo's laughter cut off abruptly, his gaze turning razor-sharp. A terrifying pressure erupted from him like a mountain flood or a tidal wave, Spiritual Power raging as it slammed down against the Mountain-Protecting Array below.

"If you cannot give this Young Master an explanation today, do not blame my Nangong Family for leveling your Eastern Xuan Academy!"

Nangong Huo's voice carried a bone-chilling murderous intent that echoed through heaven and earth.

Behind him, several elders above the Saint Realm stood in a line.