This was an underground cavern, the ground clearly artificially modified, possessing its own distinct layout.

Fiery red magma flowed slowly along the cracks, dividing the ground and forming a complex and massive array diagram.

The Second Elder, with only the whites of his eyes visible, sat on the ground, his voice chilling. “Last night on Oxhead Mountain, it seems there was more than one living soul.”

The Bone Envoy stood to one side, replying softly, “So what? Besides false leads and deadly traps, there’s nothing left on Oxhead Mountain.”

“Heh heh heh… you just let that Fang family brat return?”

“What else could I do?”

“You really think Dong A will protect him?”

“If Dong A doesn’t protect him, we lose only Fang Hueling. If Dong A does protect him, we get to watch the Dao Academy and the Enforcers’ Division bicker. What’s not to like?”

The Second Elder chuckled eerily again, patting the ground beside him. “Come, sit with this old man.”

Beneath his feet was magma, a searing and terrifying power contained within its slow undulation.

“I prefer to stand,” the Bone Envoy said.

“These young people today are more cunning than the last. Looking at you, I often feel old.”

“You are born with the冥眼 (Mystic Eyes), able to communicate with the Yin and Yang from birth. Naturally, you wouldn’t understand the struggles of us commoners.” The Bone Envoy’s face remained hidden behind a mask. “Lacking talent, we can only use our brains more.”

The Second Elder smiled and looked up at him. “Envoy, do you also think this old man is a conceited fool?”

The Bone Envoy deliberately avoided his gaze, replying softly, “Of course you are not a conceited fool. But you should know that I am not one either.”

“Your attitude and the Holy Maiden’s are exactly the same.”

“Is that so? I am honored.”

“When the Dao Child awakens, she will become the Holy Empress. Now you are equals, but then you will forever be beneath her. Are you willing to accept that?”

“There’s nothing to accept or not to accept.” The Bone Envoy smiled slightly. “We are all contributing to the sect. There is no high or low status.”

Having said his piece, he turned and left.

Everything that needed to be said had been said. Staying here, constantly wary of those eyes, was not a pleasant experience.

Once the Bone Envoy was far away, the Second Elder suddenly spread his arms, as if embracing something. “Who would have thought that the Nine Fiend Profound Yin Array would leave behind such pure Yin energy? Zuo Guanglie died for a purpose, truly the尊神 (Venerable God)’s will!”

The magma in the cracks suddenly flowed back, barely coalescing into a skull shape beneath his feet.

“So, Lu Yan,” the magma skull spoke, its voice low and hoarse. “Who is the conceited fool?”

“Heh heh heh heh, of course it’s you! Provoking Ye Lingxiao, isn’t that conceited enough?”

The Second Elder, whose true name was Lu Yan, lowered his head, focusing his Mystic Eyes on the fissures in the ground.

“The plan has reached this point, don’t let there be any more slip-ups…”

The skull vanished instantly, and the magma continued to flow slowly.

As if nothing had happened.

……

“Dean! Something bad has happened!”

Jiang Wang had just arrived at the gate of Dong A’s small courtyard when he saw a senior brother barging in.

Standing in the courtyard, he reported breathlessly, “The Enforcers’ Division has come to the Dao Academy to arrest someone! Vice-Dean Song has stopped them at the main gate! Vice-Dean Song told me to inform you immediately!”

“Understood.” Dong A stepped out of the house, walking unhurriedly.

The Enforcers’ Division? A thought struck Jiang Wang.

He suspected they had come to arrest Fang Hueling. Their hidden sentry had simply vanished; they would certainly demand an explanation.

He lived in Flying Horse Lane and always entered the Dao Academy through the back gate, so he didn’t know about this incident at the front gate.

The reporting senior brother led the way, while Dong A walked behind him, calmly asking about what happened.

Infected by his composure, the senior brother’s emotions also stabilized, and he recounted the events from beginning to end.

The matter itself was not complex. The Enforcers’ Division had suddenly arrived, claiming that a hidden sentry responsible for tracking Fang Hueling had disappeared, and they wanted to take Fang Hueling back for questioning.

Xiao Tiemian, who was giving a lecture, had immediately stopped them, demanding that the Enforcers’ Division produce evidence before making any arrests.

The two sides were deadlocked, and the incident later alarmed Vice-Dean Song Qifang. The Enforcers’ Division’s Chief, Dan Cha, had also personally arrived.

Because the situation had escalated to this point, they had to call upon Dong A.

Dong A’s face showed no emotion. After asking about the details, they arrived at the front gate.

Two Enforcers’ Division cultivators were restraining Fang Hueling, but Xiao Tiemian was blocking their way, refusing to let them leave.

Fang Hueling had a dark bruise around his right eye, indicating that he had suffered some hardship.

On the other side, Elder Vice-Dean Song Qifang, surrounded by a group of teachers and students, was also in a standoff with the team led by Dan Cha.

“Elder Song,” Dan Cha said respectfully, but his face showed no trace of respect. “I wonder what is the meaning of you obstructing the division’s law enforcement?”

Song Qifang was old and his eyelids drooped. He was about to speak when…

The crowd suddenly parted.

“Dean Dong is here!”

“Dean Dong, uphold justice for us!”

Even Dan Cha’s expression became serious.

“Dan, where do you intend to take my Dao Academy’s student?” Dong A asked indifferently.

“Dean Dong,” Dan Cha said with a smile. “The Enforcers’ Division suspects that the Mission Bingwu, which caused heavy losses to your Dao Academy students before, has another hidden story, so we have sent a hidden sentry to monitor Fang Hueling day and night. But last night, one of the Enforcers’ Division’s hidden sentries, a Zhou Tian realm cultivator, suddenly disappeared. The students of City Dao Academy are the future pillars of our Zhuang Country. For the safety of the Dao Academy disciples, we decided to take Fang Hueling back for questioning first.”

“You say Fang Hueling is related to the disappearance of your hidden sentry, but do you have any evidence?”

Dan Cha felt it was ridiculous. “That hidden sentry disappeared while monitoring him. What more evidence do we need? Whether or not it’s related to him will be known after interrogation!”

“So you plan to use torture to extract a confession, or directly search his soul?”

Dan Cha forced a smile. “Dean Dong is joking. The Enforcers’ Division has always been fair in law enforcement and follows regulations. How could we do that?”

Dean Dong was merciless. “You’re just a small chief. Why would I joke with you?”

In terms of position, the City Dao Academy Dean, the Enforcers’ Division Chief in each city region, and the City Lord all held high positions in their respective city regions. Judging by position, the City Lord was slightly higher, and the Dean and the Chief should be on the same level.

However, it was different in each city region. It was all about who was stronger, and whose words carried more weight.

In the past, when Song Qifang was in charge of the City Dao Academy, it was not uncommon for Dan Cha to break into the Dao Academy to arrest people. But now that Dong A was in charge…

How could Dan Cha, a Teng Long realm cultivator, hold his head high in front of Dong A?

“Dao Academy disciples may become my colleagues in the Enforcers’ Division in the future. The division will never use torture to extract confessions,” Dan Cha promised through gritted teeth.

Dong A looked around. “Which teacher doesn’t have class later? Accompany Fang Hueling to the Enforcers’ Division. Our Zhuang Country has its own laws. We will cooperate with normal questioning. But if you dare to use those dirty tricks from the prison, this dean will not allow it!”

“Dean, I’ll go. Fang Hueling was taken away during my class; I should be the one to step forward,” Xiao Tiemian said. He was known for his sternness and respected Dong A, a dean with a similar personality.

A tense standoff ended just like that. The people from the Enforcers’ Division dared not restrain Fang Hueling any longer, merely surrounding him.

Xiao Tiemian stayed by his side.

From beginning to end, Fang Hueling kept his head down and said nothing. But his eyes were very complex.

Before leaving, Dan Cha suddenly said, “Oh, right, Division Leader Ji will be coming to Maplewood City soon. He had dealings with Dean Dong in Xin’an City, so he might come to visit an old friend then.”

“Alright,” Dong A said expressionlessly. “If the swelling on his face has gone down, then he is welcome to come.”

Dan Cha: “…”

He had wanted to throw his weight around. But suddenly, he felt like he had learned something he shouldn’t have.

He had no choice but to leave in a hurry with his people.

……

Dong A, like a divine needle stabilizing the sea, calmed the Dao Academy’s morale. From beginning to end, he was stable and domineering.

Only Jiang Wang, who had been following Dong A from outside the courtyard, noticed that the hand he had behind his back clenched into a fist for a moment.

The place “Xin’an City” was specifically mentioned, perhaps wounding him.

Wounding this upright old man.