"What is there to be afraid to admit? Are they not just trying to flaunt their status?"

Hu Yiqiu spoke with disdain.

"No!"

Jiang Chen shook his head and said seriously, "If it were just that, I wouldn't have asked Dean Sun to bring the principal! He Tianwei has been following us to Southern Maniac Mountain before returning."

"What? He Tianwei followed you back?"

Hu Yiqiu was slightly stunned, frowning as he realized the complexity of the matter.

"Jiang Chen, did you discover something at Pure Land Rock?"

Sun Yao asked softly.

Jiang Chen glanced at Sun Yao, then looked at Jian Cangqiong and Hu Yiqiu, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Jian Cangqiong and the others froze for a moment, their expressions becoming solemn. They understood the meaning in Jiang Chen's eyes, as he was asking if Sun Yao was trustworthy!

"Dean Sun is from the older generation of the academy. A hundred years ago, he was a teacher. After breaking through to the Unity Realm Stage, he was promoted to dean. He is absolutely loyal to the academy and can be trusted."

Jian Cangqiong said seriously.

Sun Yao was slightly taken aback, puzzled by the situation.

"Dean Sun, my apologies, the matter is too serious, and I had to confirm. I hope you understand."

Jiang Chen cupped his fists toward Sun Yao in apology.

"It's okay, but... is it really that serious?"

Sun Yao waved his hand, a hint of disbelief in his eyes, feeling that Jiang Chen might be exaggerating.

However, he did not blame Jiang Chen; for Jiang Chen, a cultivator in the Divine Infant Realm Early Stage, it might indeed be a big deal even if it seemed trivial to himself.

Noticing Sun Yao's expression, Jiang Chen immediately understood his thoughts.

Without arguing, Jiang Chen turned to Hu Yiqiu, "Master, you haven't been to Net Rock Mountain since setting up the Academy's Great Array, have you?"

"Indeed! After setting up the formation, I came to this Southern Maniac Mountain, and Lu Buping went to Net Rock Mountain. He didn't like me, and I didn't like him, so I never went there—out of sight, out of mind."

Hu Yiqiu answered casually, then paused and frowned at Jiang Chen, "Is there a problem at Net Rock Mountain?"

"While cultivating at Pure Land Rock, I discovered a formation inscribed within, and it's a formation base!"

Jiang Chen said in a deep voice.

"The formation within Pure Land Rock isn't a formation base, though!"

Sun Yao looked at Jian Cangqiong and the others with doubt.

"Has someone else set up a formation there?"

Jian Cangqiong frowned and asked in a deep voice, "What kind of formation?"

"It should be the Four Symbols Demon-Breaking Formation!"

Jiang Chen said solemnly.

"Four Symbols Demon-Breaking Formation? Lu Buping, that old bastard, even helped the academy set up an offensive-defensive formation?"

Hu Yiqiu said in surprise.

"No, it's not an offensive-defensive formation. Based on the formation method, it's intended to break the formation—it's meant to destroy the Five Elements Bagua Formation you set up, Master!"

Jiang Chen spoke earnestly.

"What?"

"A formation breaking another formation?!"

"Destroy the Protecting Institute Great Formation!?"

Jian Cangqiong and the others exclaimed, standing up from the stone bench.

"I understand now!"

Hu Yiqiu's face darkened, recalling some of Lu Buping's past actions.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes moments later, "That bastard Lu Buping, he wanted to take control of Southern Maniac Mountain, not for status but to control the Protecting Institute Great Formation! The formation base of the protective array is here, and since he can set up the Four Symbols Demon-Breaking Formation, he must have the ability to control the Protecting Institute Great Formation! That damn old fool! What is he up to?"

"I didn't expect it to be like this!"

Jian Cangqiong's eyes exploded with cold intent, "Lu Buping has betrayed the academy!"

Everyone had always thought that Lu Buping wanted to take control of Southern Maniac Mountain for the status of the four great elders. Li Yukun was a strong figure in the Late Integration Realm, Jian Cangqiong's father-in-law, Li Qingzhu was Li Yukun's daughter, Jian Cangqiong's wife, and Dao Yeming was Jian Cangqiong's sworn brother. These three mountains were intricately linked, affecting Jian Cangqiong as the dean.

Therefore, everyone assumed Lu Buping was just picking someone without close ties to the others—a soft target, rather than thinking about the foundation of the Protecting Institute Great Formation.

Sun Yao paused, glancing at Hu Yiqiu and Jian Cangqiong, slightly surprised.

He wasn't surprised by Hu Yiqiu and Jian Cangqiong's attitude towards betrayal and harm against the academy; he was surprised that they so readily believed Jiang Chen's words!

"Jiang Chen, are you sure about the Four Symbols Demon-Breaking Formation? Are you sure the method used is to break the formation? And especially the Protecting Institute Great Formation?"

Sun Yao frowned at Jiang Chen, speaking seriously.

"I'm sure, and I know where the other three formation eyes are!"

Jiang Chen nodded heavily, "While cultivating in Qingmu Forest, I also sensed a subtle formation fluctuation, one different from the Protecting Institute Great Formation. At the time, I didn't think much of it, assuming it might be a formation set by the dean, until I discovered the formation base within Pure Land Rock and realized something was off."

"Based on this setup, the other two formation eyes should be at Blue Water Pond and Fire Path Mountain!"

"He's this bold? Daring to place formations where people frequently go?"

Sun Yao spoke in surprise, a hint of skepticism in his eyes.

"There's nothing particularly bold about it; the Four Symbols Demon-Breaking Formation has a special feature where formation eyes are deeply hidden until activated. Only the formation base is easy to find, and..."

Jiang Chen glanced at Hu Yiqiu and Jian Cangqiong, speaking softly, "In the academy, only my master and the dean are array masters. The dean focuses on Sword Dao and wouldn't frequent these places. Although my master practices the Way of Water, he..."

Glancing at Hu Yiqiu's wine gourd, Jiang Chen said softly, "My master seems not to need to go to Blue Water Pond to cultivate and comprehend, and with his cultivation, he doesn't need further insights at Blue Water Pond. Not to mention, he doesn't get along with Elder Lu and wouldn't go to Net Rock Mountain, while Pure Land Rock is occupied by Lu's sect members."

At this point, Jiang Chen sighed, "Had I not decided to cultivate at Pure Land Rock on a whim today, and had Dean Sun not pointed out that He Tianwei was detecting the power fluctuations around me, I would have overlooked this matter."

"That old thief, such deep schemes!"

Hu Yiqiu's face darkened, killing intent filling his voice, "I shall go and kill that old scoundrel now!"

As he spoke, Hu Yiqiu prepared to leap into action.

"Master, wait!"

Jiang Chen quickly raised his hand to stop Hu Yiqiu, "What reason do you have to kill him?"

"Didn't he set up the Four Symbols Demon-Breaking Formation, intending to break the Protecting Institute Great Formation? Isn't that reason enough?"

Hu Yiqiu looked at Jiang Chen in surprise, a hint of confusion in his eyes. He couldn't believe Jiang Chen would plead for Lu Buping.

"Who said he set it up?"

Jiang Chen spoke again.

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