Coming Out of Seclusion

One year later.

The atmosphere in the main hall of the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy was somewhat solemn.

"Please speak freely, everyone. How can we break through the tortoise shell of the Dragon Demon Palace?"

Dean Tai Cang, seated at the head of the table, spoke calmly, but the oppressive atmosphere he exuded was impossible to conceal.

"Anyone who has a solution, or who can recommend someone, is welcome to do so, as long as it's within the capabilities of the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy."

It remained completely silent.

In the war between the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy and the Dragon Demon Palace, both forces paid a heavy price. What's worse, there was no sign of the war ending, and it could continue for who knows how many years.

In terms of a protracted war, the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy is actually at a disadvantage. On the one hand, the Dragon Demon Palace has a more profound foundation than the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy.

On the other hand, as one of the Five Great Academies, the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy must bear the weight of its crown if it wishes to wear it.

Countless top spiritual academies are eyeing this position covetously. The Saint Spiritual Academy, the top of the Five Great Academies, has always wanted to kick the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy out of the ranks of the Five Great Academies and support a new one.

Therefore, if the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy suffers too heavy a loss, even if it wins the war, it will still be taken down by other spiritual academies. This is something that the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy cannot help but fear.

However, the Dragon Demon Palace is different. They only need to manage their own small territory in the Northern Azure Continent, so they can fight freely. As a result, the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy is quite frustrated in dealing with them.

It's not that there isn't a way to quickly resolve this. The greatest advantage of the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy lies in its high-end combat power, the Bei Ming Long Kun. The latter's strength Ninth Grade Sovereign can easily defeat the combined forces of several Supreme experts from the Dragon Demon Palace.

However, the Dragon Demon Palace was incredibly lucky and actually found an Ancient Relic, the Great Sumeru Demon Pillar, and an Ancient Defense Array.

The Great Sumeru Demon Pillar was one thing, given the difference in strength, but even so, they were not afraid at all with the Bei Ming Long Kun.

However, that Ancient Defense Array was like a thick tortoise shell, which even the Bei Ming Long Kun himself could not break, and could only remain in this state of stalemate.

"Sigh!" Someone sighed again.

Tai Cang frowned, then his expression suddenly changed, and he rushed out. The other Elder also sensed the strange movement coming from the depths of the academy and followed closely behind.

"Hiss!" Everyone gasped in unison.

"Dean, could it be...?" Zhu Tian asked cautiously.

"That powerful being from the Lower Plane?"

Tai Cang nodded solemnly. At this moment, deep within the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy, the location of the Eighth Level Spirit Gathering Array was shrouded in dark clouds, and even the celestial phenomena in that area had changed, being directly covered by ice and snow.

"Oh? I wonder how strong that person is now?" Bei Ming Long Kun appeared beside the group.

"Lord Bei Ming!" Tai Cang and the others bowed in greeting.

"Hmm." Bei Ming Long Kun nodded faintly, his deep gaze fixed on the location of the strange phenomenon.

Inside the Grand Array.

The area within a hundred feet of Xiao Han had become his domain, with a massive tornado of Spiritual Power hanging upside down and pouring down on the white-robed figure below.

"My goodness!" Ice Emperor exclaimed from the side, "This kid's caused quite a commotion!"

Two hours later, Xiao Han's aura gradually calmed down, and the strange phenomena in the sky gradually subsided and disappeared.

"Boom!"

As Xiao Han slowly opened his eyes, his body trembled slightly, and the surrounding Spiritual Power surface exploded, with sonic booms echoing throughout the entire space.

"Not bad, you've completely absorbed and digested the power of the inheritance this time." Just as Xiao Han was examining himself, Ice Emperor said calmly from the side.

As one of the top figures among the ancient Dou Di, the Ice Emperor still possesses considerable abilities. At the very least, she enabled Xiao Han to skip the initial Dou Emperor Tier and advance a few more steps. This time, she even helped Xiao Han's cultivation increase again after the Spiritual Power Conversion.

"I wonder what level I am?" Xiao Han couldn't help but wonder.

Then, his expression shifted, "It seems I've disturbed someone?" Without waiting for Ice Emperor to react, he put her into his ring and sped away from the Spirit Gathering Array.

"Third Grade Sovereign?!" Bei Ming Long Kun exclaimed in astonishment as soon as he sensed Xiao Han's aura.

"Third Grade Sovereign?" Xiao Han nodded. Not bad. This level of cultivation is second only to Bei Ming Long Kun and Dean Tai Cang. In fact, if they really fought, Tai Cang probably wouldn't last more than a few minutes before he would take him down.

Seeing Xiao Han's unchanging expression, the others couldn't help but secretly marvel. There was indeed no comparison between people. They thought about how they had gone through countless hardships to advance to the first rank, while this person had directly reached the Third Rank.

But then he thought about the terrifying combat power that Xiao Han had shown when they first met, and immediately gave up. Since he was no match for him, why make things difficult for himself?

Bei Ming Long Kun was now even more certain that his investment was correct. The powerful beings who ascended from the Lower Plane were indeed extraordinary, but this one was definitely among the top among the powerful beings in the Lower Plane.

At least he had never heard of any powerful being from another plane who had broken through the shackles of Lower Plane and possessed the terrifying cultivation of Third Grade Sovereign being after completing the Spiritual Power Conversion for the first time.

"I congratulate you on your successful completion of your seclusion," said Bei Ming Long Kun with a smile.

"I must thank Bei Ming for his help," Xiao Han said with equal ease.

"I suppose there are still many things about this Great Thousand World that you don't understand. Let me take the liberty of saying a few words and introduce them to you."

"Would you be so kind as to move in for a chat?"

Xiao Han readily agreed, as he was completely clueless about the Great Thousand World and quickly thanked him, saying, "Then I'll trouble you Bei Ming."

"No trouble at all."

"Please follow me."

Bei Ming Long Kun led Xiao Han away, leaving the other Elder looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Dean, what's Lord Bei Ming...?"

"Never mind that," Tai Cang waved his hand and said, "Let's continue to think of a strategy to deal with the Dragon Demon Palace."

"Yes."

On the other side, Xiao Han, who was closely following Bei Ming Long Kun, suddenly asked:

"Has your college encountered any difficulties?"

Bei Ming Long Kun paused for a moment, then regained his composure. "What makes you say that?"

Xiao Han explained, "From what I've observed, the atmosphere at your academy is much more somber than that of a typical academy, as if a great battle is about to unfold."

"And..."

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "When I first arrived at your academy, the Elder and Dean Tai Cang seemed to have mistaken me for someone from a force called the Dragon Demon Palace."

Xiao Han speculated, "Could it be that the Dragon Demon Palace and the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy have a conflict?"

Bei Ming Long Kun paused for a moment, then made no attempt to conceal anything, and slowly said, "What you say is true. My Northern Azure Spiritual Academy is indeed at war with a force called the Dragon Demon Palace."

"This has been going on for two years now."

"Well!"

With a sigh, Bei Ming Long Kun said, "Please forgive me for making a fool of myself in front of you."

"It's just the Dragon Demon Palace; my Northern Azure Spiritual Academy doesn't even consider it a threat."

"Let me give you a brief introduction to the Great Thousand World," said the Bei Ming Long Kun, as it continued to stride forward.

Just then, Xiao Han's voice came from behind, "I wonder if Your Excellency Bei Ming would be willing to inform me of the troubles my esteemed academy is facing?"