Casualties emerged on both sides, dropping from the sky like dumplings into boiling water.
Surrounding spectators fixed their gazes on Pingnan Academy, although they kept a considerable distance to avoid getting entangled in the conflict.
Pingnan's Headmaster assessed the battle's surroundings. The casualties within Pingnan Academy were severe; many students in the vicinity had been injured or killed.
Fury ignited within him, and he crushed a jade pendant.
The opposing party was no weaker and perhaps even stronger. They were forcing him to retreat. He could only hope that the former head would emerge from seclusion soon to rescue Pingnan Academy from this crisis.
A place on the mountainside exploded, revealing an elderly figure who emerged at a leisurely pace. He walked in the air, as if ascending invisible steps.
This sudden event drew everyone's attention. Both sides ceased their actions, fixated on the elderly man.
Individuals from the Su family and Qianqiu Sect retreated to the spiritual boat's deck. Su Zijie glanced at his team on the deck. Many of them were wounded and bore various injuries. Even so, they stood strong, their determination undeterred.
On the other side…
"It's the former head. He's emerged from seclusion."
"The former head is here. Let's see how arrogant the other side remains."
"Please, Old Headmaster, kill these wicked enemies!"
The instructors from Pingnan Academy saw their former head and cheered as if they had found a savior.
The old man didn't care about those lecturers, but looked at the deck.
"Zhou Deyu." The old Head Master of Pingnan Academy recognized the ancestor of Qianqiu Sect standing on the deck.
"It's me." Zhou Deyu was not intimidated, he naturally also knew the old headmaster of Pingnan Academy.
"It seems that the Qianqiu sect is really living and going back, if that's the case, then let me learn how you have improved over the years!"
Seeing that his hard work has been ruined, the old headmaster's heart was also filled with anger, and moved his hands as soon as he finished speaking.
Ancestor Qianqiu was also not to be outdone, and directly blasted out with a palm.
However, Ancestor Qianqiu took three steps back under this palm.
"Have you broken through to the middle stage of the Profound Origin Realm?"
Ancestor Qianqiu felt the force coming from his hand. If he hadn't learned a little about the "Yi Jin Jing", I am afraid that he would definitely not be as simple as taking a few steps back with this palm. up.
"You are wise." The old master of Pingnan Academy didn't care about Qianqiu's exclamation at all, and directly greeted him with another palm.
The same was true for Ancestor Qianqiu. Even if he loses, he must go forward bravely. This was his pride in being a strong man in the Profound Origin Realm.
However, the difference in realm by one level, coupled with Qianqiu Ancestor not being an ultimate genius, made his injuries worsen with each exchange.
Black and White Duo charged forward upon seeing this. Both were prodigious talents, and their cultivation techniques were exceptional. Together, their strikes were difficult to separate from one another.
Particularly the Nine Yin Bone-Grasping Claw; it unexpectedly lashed out at Pingnan's former head in an unguarded moment. However, he couldn't withdraw his hand, the more he fought, the more vexed he felt.
Though his realm was lower, the skirmish grew fiercer. They even teamed up three against one, an apparent bullying of the Pingnan Former Headmaster.
"Old Devil Zhou, no deep grudges or past hatreds! Can't we sit down and talk?" The former head of Pingnan realized that if the battle continued, he would suffer.
Zhou Deyu averted his gaze, pretending not to notice or hear, adopting an "I know nothing" demeanor.
Su Zijie looked skyward.
"Stop!"
Black and White Duo had just communicated to him that several powerful beings were probing the area, including some that posed considerable challenges.
Upon hearing this, Black and White Duo stopped immediately and landed on the spiritual boat's deck.
"Young friend, might Pingnan Academy have offended you?"
At this time, he also saw clearly that this person who had reached the late stage of the Heavenly Martial Realm was obviously the leader among these people.
Su Zijie ignored him, taking a couple of steps forward and retrieving a talisman from his storage ring, the same one he had obtained from the family's treasure trove.
He activated it by infusing spiritual energy. The talisman ignited, transforming into a radiant light that shot toward the sky, then morphed into an immense hand that blotted out the sun, descending upon Pingnan Academy.
This sight struck terror into the instructors, especially the former head, who quickly activated a defensive formation.
However, what good was the formation? It barely endured for two seconds before shattering beneath the giant palm.
"Trouble," hidden observers murmured as they saw the formation destroyed. Swiftly, they employed their abilities to rescue their juniors from Pingnan Academy. Those who weren't saved would meet their end beneath the palm.
Su Zijie's expression remained unchanged. Survival of the fittest was the law. He had tried reasoning with them, but kind words were wasted on stubborn ghosts. There was nothing he could do.
The entire Pingnan Academy, except for the former head and those whom their family elders had managed to save, suffered severe casualties.
However, those who had been rescued didn't dare complain. The power of that palm was at least at the later stage of the Profound Origin Realm, if not peak. Their success in rescuing anyone was already an accomplishment.
As for the head of Pingnan Academy, his right arm was severed, and his strength could only manifest at the early stage of the True Martial realm.
"Take him away. Let's go back!" He believed that his recent display had already deterred many.
Pingnan Academy was only the beginning.
He was Su Mo's father and knew well that the instigator behind all this hadn't met his end yet.
If not for that individual, how could Pingnan Academy have crippled Su Mo's cultivation and expelled him? Even the two True Martial realm experts by his side, one had died, and the other was heavily injured.
For now, the Su family had no choice but to endure.
After speaking, Su Zijie entered the interior of the spiritual boat.
Zhou Deyu also turned his gaze to Pingnan's former head, uttering, "Don't force me to take action."
The former head understood his situation was dire and submitted.
The spiritual boat turned and retraced its route.
Chu Nan watched the spiritual boat pass overhead again and began a conversation with his master within his mind.
"Master, did Pingnan Academy really get wiped out like that?"
Chu Nan still found it somewhat unbelievable. Under that palm, even at such a distance, he felt as if he were suffocating.
"Yes! However, it seems these people are not simple." The old man sighed, "The spiritual boat, the spiritual symbols… Could they be from the Divine Land? But how could people from the Divine Land come here? It appears to be a vendetta.
"Are you interested in following them to find out?" The old man enticed Chu Nan.
"Huh? You want to follow?" Chu Nan was a bit speechless. So, when you flee, you're just watching from the sidelines, huh?
But Chu Nan merely grumbled a few words and then set off in pursuit. Could he catch up to the spiritual boat though?