Defection

As night fell, the sky had cleared, casting a calm over the Jiang family manor. Inside the dining room, a round table was laden with various delicacies. Horn, preparing to return to Linzhou the next day, had just called Tang Yuxin and Lin Zixuan to assure them of his safety. The news of Horn's birthday banquet, which had turned into the annihilation of the Su family, had spread throughout Tianhai. However, no one knew that Horn was responsible. Meanwhile, the Jiang family had begun absorbing the Su family's assets, causing speculation that the Jiang family had a hand in their downfall. The tension in Tianhai was palpable.

Mr. Jiang excused himself to take a phone call. When he returned, his face was creased with worry.

"Grandpa, who called you?" Jiang Wan asked.

"Ge Dongsheng, the president of the Alchemist Association in the Imperial Capital," Mr. Jiang replied.

Ge Dongsheng, a seven-star alchemist, had originally been invited to attend Horn's birthday banquet and was expected to help the Jiang family refine seven-star elixirs. Xia Qingying had played a key role in securing his assistance. However, by the time Ge Dongsheng arrived at the Su family's residence, the massacre had already occurred, and Horn, Jiang Wan, and the others had left. Upon learning that the Jiang family was taking over the Su family's assets, Ge Dongsheng decided to pay them a visit.

The atmosphere grew tense as the gravity of the situation set in. Ge Dongsheng wasn't just a skilled alchemist—many powerful figures owed him favors. If he was angered, the Jiang family could face serious consequences. No one knew how strong Ge Dongsheng truly was, but his influence alone could summon a devastating response.

Breaking the silence, Mr. Jiang said, "Ge Dongsheng will be here in an hour. He says it's a visit, but it could just as easily be an investigation. The Su family's ties to him run deep."

Horn remained calm. "He's just the president of the Alchemist Federation," he said lightly. "As long as I'm here, the Jiang family has nothing to worry about."

Despite his assurance, Mr. Jiang and the others were visibly uneasy. Ge Dongsheng's reputation carried weight, and while Horn was a talented alchemist, his influence wasn't as far-reaching within the Xia Kingdom.

Suddenly, Mr. Qiao's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw it was a video call from Nie Jiuxuan. After leaving the Alchemist Association, Nie Jiuxuan had dedicated himself to overseeing the alchemy club at Changsheng Academy. He had exchanged contact information with Mr. Qiao before leaving.

When Mr. Qiao answered the call, the video revealed the night sky at the entrance to Changsheng Academy. Nie Jiuxuan's voice carried a hint of urgency.

"Senior Su, are you there?"

Horn answered, "I'm here."

Nie Jiuxuan took a deep breath before explaining. "The Vice President of the Academy didn't want us to contact you, but I thought you should know. The Yang family from the Southwest is here. The remaining two of the three Yang brothers have shown up, demanding we hand you over. They've even ordered the entire academy to kneel before them."

Yang Hai, the illegitimate son of the Yang family, had previously attempted to capture Horn, but his plan had been foiled by Lin Zixuan, Mr. Wei, and others. Yang Hai, along with his brother Yang Zhen, had died at Horn's hands. Now, the surviving Yang brothers sought revenge.

"Senior Su, should we return to Linzhou immediately?" Mr. Wei asked, alarmed.

Horn remained composed. "No need," he replied. "As long as the formation I set up is in place, Changsheng Academy is safe."

Turning back to Nie Jiuxuan, Horn said, "Don't end the video call. I want to see everything as it unfolds."

Mr. Wei and Mr. Qiao exchanged glances, unsure of what to expect from the formation Horn had prepared. It was said to be a seven-star formation, capable of killing monks in the Heavenly Star Realm and possibly even stronger foes in the Sky Moon Realm. But whether it could take on opponents in the middle stage of the Sky Moon Realm remained to be seen.

Back at Changsheng Academy, Lin Zixuan, Tang Yuxin, Wang Menglu, and Lu Lin stood at the entrance, flanked by students. In the sky above them hovered two figures: Yang Teng, the eldest of the three Yang brothers, and his brother Yang Yi. Yang Teng exuded the formidable power of someone in the mid-stage of the Sky Moon Realm, while Yang Yi had reached the peak of the Heavenly Star Realm. Both were oblivious to Horn's recent actions in Tianhai, unaware that their brothers had already been avenged.

Lin Zixuan's cold gaze locked onto the two brothers. She clutched a jade token that Horn had given her, slowly channeling her spirit energy into it to activate the formation.

"Yang Zhen and Yang Hai deserved to die," Lin Zixuan declared, her voice icy. "Are you two prepared to join them?"

Yang Yi sneered. "Lin Zixuan, you're only in the early stages of the Creation Realm, yet you dare challenge us? You're delusional if you think you can stand against us."

Yang Teng nodded, addressing the crowd below. "If any of you want to live, kneel now!"

At his command, two figures stepped forward from the crowd. One was the Ghost-Eyed Elder, and the other was the One-Armed Sword Demon—two powerful, yet morally ambiguous, men Nie Jiuxuan had hired to protect the academy. But now, seeing the strength of the Yang brothers, they had chosen to defect.

The Ghost-Eyed Elder dropped to his knees. "Seniors, I am willing to assist you in eradicating the Academy."

The One-Armed Sword Demon followed suit. "As am I."

Nie Jiuxuan's face flushed with anger. "You two traitors! You promised to protect the academy!"

The Ghost-Eyed Elder chuckled darkly. "Nie Jiuxuan, do you think we'd stick around for a Pheasant Academy? We were only here for the profit."

Yang Teng's voice boomed through the night. "Changsheng Academy will fall tonight!" His aura intensified as he prepared to strike.

But Lin Zixuan stood firm, her hand gripping the activated jade token. The formation Horn had set up began to hum with energy, a silent storm brewing just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed.