Chapter 2230 - 1197: Blood Clothes 4

"Wonderful!" Sheng Yanlin’s spirits were lifted, and the next second, he couldn’t help but tear up, "Heaven has eyes, finally I, Sheng Yanlin, have waited for this day!"

"Congratulations, Elder Sheng, for cleaning your house and returning to the Academy, it’s right before you!" Yang Xiao clasped his hands and offered his congratulations.

The distance from Taian City to Yiling City, where the Yiling Academy is located, is not far. According to the initial plan, their Patrol Defense Office set the forward command center for this mission in the Provincial Office within Taian City.

At that time, Chief Commissioner Gu will also be stationed at the Shangjing Headquarters for unified command, a long-pondered move from the General Bureau.

"Regarding recent intelligence on the Pseudo Dean of Yiling Academy, Sheng Nijingxuan, Elder Sheng, your judgment was correct. He has indeed made some preparations."

Tai Wenqin lowered his voice, "Yiling Academy spent a hefty sum to hire Netherworld Envoy Apostles from the Chamber of Commerce to assist, and there are three of them. The Patrol Defense Office has already confirmed the identities of two, and this is their information; the last one’s is still under investigation."

"These three people exist as secret weapons, so the Patrol Defense Office judges they would never rashly enter Yiling City."

"They will secretly station outside the city. If the situation changes, they will immediately enter the city for support, coordinating from inside and outside to deal with you and the people you bring."

"However, the Patrol Defense Office sent a message, telling you not to worry about these people. At that time, they will seal the city under the guise of a search for Evil Cultivators, imposing a city-wide lockdown. The Patrol Defense Office will also dispatch experts to assist in blocking and intercepting them from outside the city. If they dare try to force their way in, the Patrol Defense Office’s experts will solve these troubles for you."

"Recently, personnel movements inside the Academy have also been frequent. Many experienced elders have been transferred out of Yiling City, and the Academy now has many new faces, among whom there is one you should find interesting."

Sheng Yanlin extended his hand to take the photo Tai Wenqin handed over. At just one glance, Sheng Yanlin’s emotions ignited, and he cursed through gritted teeth, "It’s Song Canghai, I should never have let this old bastard go back then!"

"Who is this person?" Yang Xiao looked at the photo and curiously asked.

The photo was of an old man with white hair, seemingly older than Elder Sheng. This photo appeared to be taken secretly, capturing only half of his side profile.

The old man was surrounded by people, looking quite impressive. He was tall and lanky, dressed in a white robe, with an Ancient Sword hanging at his waist. At first glance, he indeed had an air of a reclusive sage.

"When I first became the Dean, he was already the vice-chair of the Elder Council, with formidable strength, having surpassed the Half-step Nether Realm back then."

"But this old man’s heart was not in the right place. Arrogant because of his talents, he always wanted to become the Vice Dean of the Academy to contend with me, and when I refused, he harbored a grudge."

"He controlled the Academy’s Treasure Pavilion and conspired with outsiders multiple times to steal treasures from it. I discovered it, and according to the rules, he should have been severely punished — at the very least, stripped of his powers. But considering he had made contributions before, I let him go with just being expelled from the Academy. I didn’t expect...," Sheng Yanlin gritted his teeth, "that Sheng Jingxuan would bring him back. How dare he come back?"

"Not only has he returned, but he’s already been made the Vice Dean, holding a status higher than the Chief Elder." Tai Wenqin, being straightforward, didn’t understand the intricate twists of domestic matters and said whatever he had to say.

"I... hai... hai hai..." Sheng Yanlin was so furious that he couldn’t stop coughing, clearly enraged.

Yang Xiao quickly reached out to pat Elder Sheng’s back, advising, "Elder Sheng, please don’t get angry and harm your health. This man is an old associate of Yiling Academy. Our Patrol Defense Office might find it challenging to directly act against him. What is his current strength?"

Since he has already assumed the position of Vice Dean and was expelled from the Academy by Sheng Yanlin, he must now be firmly on Sheng Jingxuan’s side, making conflict between the two parties inevitable.

Before Tai Wenqin could speak, Elder Sheng spoke up, "Back then, he already exceeded the Half-step Nether Realm. After all these years, with his talent and skill, he’s likely long stepped into the Netherworld Realm. Even Yang Yunluo from Ru Lin Academy might not be his match."

"Exactly. The intelligence from the Patrol Defense Office states the same, advising caution in your approach." Tai Wenqin nodded.

"Besides him, Yiling Academy has at least three other Half-step Nether Realm experts and an unspecified number of combatants at the Peak of Ghost Level. That’s most of the potential fighters." The intelligence from the Patrol Defense Office was quite detailed.

The real factors affecting the battle are mainly these high-level apostles. Currently, the opponent’s high-ranking fighting forces are pretty much laid out on the table.

Setting aside the three Netherworld Envoys hired with substantial funds by the Chamber of Commerce, the other experts are concentrated in the main battleground of Yiling Academy.

Known high-rank battle strength includes two Netherworld Envoys, the Academy traitor Song Canghai, and the Pseudo Dean Sheng Jingxuan. Since Sheng Jingxuan relies on medication to maintain his Pseudo Realm, the former, Song Canghai’s strength, should be even more formidable.

Additionally, there are three others at the Half-step Nether Realm, with an unknown number of Peak of Ghost Level experts.

On our side, besides Elder Sheng himself being a genuine Netherworld Envoy, the reinforcements from the Mo and Liu families must also include Netherworld Envoys. Calculating this way, the advantage is actually on our side.

Yang Xiao didn’t bother to think whether the Patrol Defense Office could stop the three Netherworld experts from the Chamber of Commerce. If even that much can’t be handled, then the Patrol Defense Office might as well disband. Everyone should just go their own way.