112: Chapter 112 Kill Order

[After the battle on the dueling platform, your reputation at Xingzhi Academy was thoroughly established.]

[The name "Yuan Chen" spread like wildfire both inside and outside the Array Academy.]

["Three fingers to break three arrays, three steps to settle the world"; the disciples even gave you a nickname: "Yuan Three-Steps."]

[You almost spat out your drink when you heard this nickname. This naming skill was exactly the same as those "One Sword Immortal" or "Xiao Half-Step" characters from the web novels in your past life.]

[However, you didn't mind. Having a big reputation had its advantages.]

[At least now, no one dared to pull any petty tricks in front of you.]

[Array Master Qiu Long also officially confirmed your status as the primary teaching assistant, no longer assigning anyone else.]

[Even during a private conversation, Qiu Long took the initiative to ask you: "Yuan Chen, your understanding of arrays has indeed exceeded my expectations."]

["Are you interested in researching higher-level things?"]

[Your heart stirred; this was exactly what you wanted.]

[Although he didn't say it explicitly, you knew that "higher-level" must involve things related to the level of an Array Master.]

[Accessing knowledge at the Array Master level would not only improve your own array cultivation but also allow you to gain a deeper understanding of Xingzhi Academy's core array system.]

[You showed just the right amount of surprise and anticipation, quickly accepting the offer.]

[Qiu Long gave you a jade slip recording introductory insights of an Array Master, letting you study it on your own first.]

[You accepted it as if it were a priceless treasure, though it was all an act.]

[After all, you had already thoroughly researched the insights of an Array Master long ago.]

[In reality, the contents of this jade slip were just mediocre to you, but you still read through it carefully.]

[Because within it, you discovered some clues regarding the core array philosophies of Xingzhi Academy.]

[These things might be useful for your subsequent investigation of the academy.]

[However, while you had gained a firm foothold within the academy, trouble from outside began to follow one after another.]

[Three days after Wu Mao and Tian Ziying were expelled from the academy, both families simultaneously issued kill orders.]

[The Wu Family offered a bounty of one thousand high-grade immortal crystals for your head.]

[The Tian Family offered a bounty of eight hundred high-grade immortal crystals to capture you alive and return you to the Tian Family.]

[With the two families combined, the total bounty was one thousand eight hundred high-grade immortal crystals.]

[In the Central Province cultivation world, this price was enough to drive a large number of rogue cultivators and small factions into a frenzy.]

[When the news reached your ears, you were in your cave dwelling looking through the jade slip Qiu Long had given you.]

["One thousand eight hundred high-grade immortal crystals?" You raised an eyebrow.]

[To be honest, this price wasn't low, but it wasn't enough to make you feel fear.]

[With your strength, you could kill as many ordinary rogue cultivators as they sent.]

[What truly concerned you was the high-end combat power the two families might deploy.]

[Both the Wu Family and the Tian Family were great clans of the Central Province, each having at least one or two Daluo Immortal ancestors in their ranks.]

[If the ancestors of both families personally intervened, it would indeed be tricky without exposing your true cultivation.]

[Just as you were considering a countermeasure, Zhou Mingyuan's message arrived.]

["Yuan Chen, the Heavenly Demon Hall has noticed the kill orders from the Wu and Tian families."]

["The Hall Master personally gave the word: you are a member of the Heavenly Demon Hall, and anyone who dares to move against you is an enemy of the Heavenly Demon Hall."]

["The Wu and Tian families have already received a warning from the Heavenly Demon Hall; they should restrain themselves somewhat."]

["But I suggest you do not leave the academy alone in the near future."]

[You replied politely, but in your heart, you had already made your own judgment.]

[The protection of the Heavenly Demon Hall could stop the families' overt actions, but it couldn't stop assassinations.]

[Moreover, the reason the Heavenly Demon Hall was protecting you was only because you were a pawn they had planted in Xingzhi Academy.]

[If one day you lost your value, the protection of the Heavenly Demon Hall would vanish along with it.]

[Therefore, you couldn't place all your hopes on others; you still needed your own strength.]

[In the following days, you continued your work as a teaching assistant while using your spare time to conduct a secret investigation within the academy.]

[Through your relationship with Qiu Long, you gained permission to enter some of the Array Academy's restricted areas.]

[Under the pretext of asking array-related questions several times, you entered the Outer Academy's array scripture library.]

[You didn't find any earth-shattering secrets, but you noticed some interesting things.]

[A portion of the scripture library was sealed off, requiring Inner Academy clearance to enter.]

[You tentatively asked Qiu Long, and he told you those were the core array scriptures of the Inner Academy, which only Inner Academy instructors and the Dean were qualified to consult.]

[You nodded, having already set a goal in your heart.]

[If Xingzhi Academy really had some unspeakable secrets, those core scripture libraries were the most likely places to hide clues.]

[But now was not the time.]

[You needed higher clearance, or a legitimate opportunity to enter the Inner Academy.]

[In the blink of an eye, you had already been at Xingzhi Academy for over half a month.]

[This evening, Qiu Long suddenly called you to his courtyard.]

["Yuan Chen, the academy has a batch of external missions tomorrow that require an elder to lead the team," Qiu Long said.]

["The mission involves going to the Nanxi Mineral Vein to collect spirit ores for seven days."]

["Originally, this mission shouldn't have been yours, but someone above... specifically named you to go."]

["You just need to take ten disciples with you. The mission isn't difficult, but on the journey... "]

[He didn't finish his sentence, but you had already guessed it.]

[It seemed the Tian and Wu families didn't just have people inside the Array Academy, but even at higher levels.]

[Leaving the academy to execute a mission.]

[This was the perfect opportunity for the Wu and Tian families to assassinate you.]

[You asked about the specific route and schedule of the mission, and Qiu Long told you everything.]

[This was the only thing Qiu Long could do to help you.]

[The Nanxi Mineral Vein was located three hundred miles south of the academy, and the path would pass through several desolate valleys.]

[Those valleys were practically natural ambush sites.]

[You returned to your cave dwelling, took out your transmission jade pendant, and sent a message to Long Batian.]

["Brother Long, I'm going on a long trip tomorrow, and there might be some trouble."]

["If it's convenient, could you help me keep an eye on the recent movements of the Wu and Tian families?"]

[After sending the message, you began to make preparations.]

[You took several items out of your storage space: three disposable defensive Formation Plates, two bottles of top-tier spirit-recovery pills, and a Ninth-grade Killing Array Flag.]

[Finally, you took out a special Formation Plate, upon which was carved a ninth-grade trapping-and-killing array that you had personally improved.]

[If the Wu and Tian families really sent people, you would guarantee they never returned.]

[You sat cross-legged and closed your eyes to rest.]

[Tomorrow, it was time to head out.]