Chapter 559: Shifting Winds and Clouds

"Have you heard? Duan Tianlang and the others from the Profound Mystery Sect were actually hiding in Santafe City in the Bright Moon Empire. But Gale Light Academy found them, sent out their experts, and captured them."

"I heard that the vast Santafe City was half-destroyed in that one battle, with countless dead and injured."

"It was terrifying. You should have seen it. I heard Gale Light Academy sent out more than ten Martial King experts. The fight was so intense, a tall mountain near Santafe City was completely flattened."

"Duan Tianlang, the Vice Sect Master of the Profound Mystery Sect, is a Tier Seven Third Layer expert. A single palm strike from him can sever a river. But among the experts Gale Light Academy sent, there was supposedly a Martial Emperor. Duan Tianlang couldn’t even last ten moves against him before he was defeated."

"Brother, where did you get your news? What I heard was that Director Huangfu Xiuming of Gale Light Academy returned, flicked his finger, and Duan Tianlang dropped dead! And with that same finger, he split the entire Santafe City in two."

"What? Director Huangfu Xiuming of Gale Light Academy is back from the Profound Domain?"

"It looks like this time, the Profound Mystery Sect and Gale Light Academy are in for a fight to the death."

Just one day later, news of this battle flooded every empire, tribe, and city across the Dream Realm Plain. And the more the news spread, the more exaggerated and astonishing it became, making it impossible to tell fact from fiction.

In just a few short days, the conflict between Gale Light Academy and the Profound Mystery Sect continued to ferment amidst public discussion.

For nearly a hundred years in the Dream Realm Plain, while there had been occasional friction between the major powers, most of it was just minor skirmishes. The rare fall of a Martial King expert was already considered earth-shattering.

But recently, the grudge between the Profound Mystery Sect and Gale Light Academy had captured the attention of every Martial Artist. The clash between these two great powers could even decide the future landscape and destiny of the Dream Realm Plain.

So when news from Santafe City broke, the entire Dream Realm Plain erupted.

The major powers that had been calmly watching the show could no longer sit still.

The upper echelons of some top-tier powers naturally had access to accurate information. The capture of the dignified Vice Sect Master of the Profound Mystery Sect was an undeniable sign that the conflict between Gale Light Academy and the Profound Mystery Sect had reached its most intense phase.

If these two great powers were allowed to continue fighting, the entire Dream Realm Plain would be plunged into misery and chaos.

Immediately, the major powers began contacting each other frequently, preparing to join forces to resolve this grudge.

Of course, they weren’t sure if they could actually resolve the grudge, so some powers with disciples at Gale Light Academy immediately sent people to bring their disciples back.

They had sent disciples to Gale Light Academy only to take advantage of its excellent resources. Now that something so major had happened, with the two sides on the brink of a fight to the death, no power was willing to let its disciples get caught in the center of this maelstrom.

In just a few days, many disciples in Gale Light Academy’s outer courtyard either took on missions to go out and train or took leave to go home. The academy was suddenly half-empty.

"Hmph, these students. When they were enrolling, they were all scrambling to get in. Now that the academy is in crisis, every one of them runs faster than a rabbit."

The instructor at the mission office, who received news of many students leaving every day, was fuming with rage.

Another instructor in a green robe sneered from the side, "There’s nothing to be done about it. Aside from a small number who were recruited from all over the Dream Realm Plain, the vast majority of our students come from the major powers. They’re fine with letting them enjoy the benefits, but if you really ask them to risk their lives, how could the major powers agree?"

"Sigh. In truth, although Gale Light Academy is known as one of the three top powers in the Dream Realm Plain, most of the time, we’re just training experts for other powers."

"Who can we blame?" The green-robed instructor sighed. "This has been our academy’s principle, passed down for over a thousand years."

The other instructor fell silent for a moment, then said melancholically, "If every disciple who trained at our academy over the years had ultimately become a permanent member, Gale Light Academy would have long since become the number one power in the Dream Realm Plain and unified it."

"Is that so?" The green-robed instructor chuckled, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "I actually think it’s the exact opposite. If our academy were just another sect like the others, I’m afraid it never would have survived to this day. It would have been carved up and divided by the major powers long ago."

The other instructor was taken aback, lost in thought.

The mass departure of students didn’t affect the normal order of Gale Light Academy. Vice Director Ge and the others also remained as elusive as ever.

However, when the Profound Mystery Sect received the news, they were utterly enraged. They demanded that Gale Light Academy immediately release Duan Tianlang and the others, or else they would attack and completely annihilate the entire academy in the coming days.

When this news got out, it sent shockwaves everywhere. No one could remain calm any longer.

The Bright Moon Empire also expressed its opinion on the matter. It first severely reprimanded both the Profound Mystery Sect and Gale Light Academy, criticizing the two powers for turning the Bright Moon Empire into their battlefield.

Subsequently, the Bright Moon Empire publicly punished Santafe City’s City Lord, Zhu Jingyi, by docking his salary for five years.

Faced with the Profound Mystery Sect’s rage and the Bright Moon Empire’s condemnation, Gale Light Academy naturally paid them no mind.

Right now, Ye Xuan and the others’ primary goal was to break Duan Tianlang and his men and make them talk.

The true purpose behind the Profound Mystery Sect’s actions against Gale Light Academy had always been a mystery. Now that they had finally captured a high-ranking member of the sect, they were naturally determined to extract some intelligence from him.

In a deep, underground prison in Gale Light Academy’s inner courtyard, Duan Tianlang was strung up high, covered in blood.

"Hahaha, Ge Puzi, you lot can just give up. You want to get information from me? In your dreams! You may have captured me, but it won’t be long before your Gale Light Academy is completely wiped from the face of the Dream Realm Plain."

Duan Tianlang’s hands and feet were pierced by Profound Chains. After many days of recovery, his injuries were mostly healed, but his power was completely sealed, leaving him weaker than even a Tier Two Martial Artist.

Before Duan Tianlang stood Ge Puzi, Jiuchen, Elder Yao, and Elder Dong, frowning with grim expressions.

For the past few days, they had tried everything, exhausting all their methods, but still couldn’t pry open Duan Tianlang’s mouth. His willpower was firm, and his cruelty toward himself was far beyond that of an ordinary person.

Ge Puzi said in a low voice, "Is there really nothing we can do?"

Elder Yao shook his head. "In the world of pills, there are a few types that can make a Martial Artist speak the truth. But Duan Tianlang’s body has been tempered by the Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill. Ordinary pills have no effect on him at all."

Elder Dong also nodded. "Moreover, he is a Tier Seven Third Layer Martial King. My Peak of Sixth Grade Soul Power can’t penetrate his mind. Unless he is willing to speak of his own accord, we have no other way."

Duan Tianlang sneered, "Beg me. If you all kneel and beg me, maybe I’ll be in a good enough mood to spill some secrets."

He chuckled darkly, seeming to have no regard for his own life or death. In reality, he knew very well that Ge Puzi and the others had captured him to either threaten the Profound Mystery Sect or get information from him. As long as he didn’t say a single word, his life would not be in any real danger.

Ge Puzi, his face grim, looked at the constantly jeering Duan Tianlang and asked, "What about Xuan Ye? Does he have a way?"

Although Ye Xuan was only a student at Gale Light Academy, after spending so much time with him, they had come to see him as an equal.

Especially after the terrifying display Ye Xuan had put on in Santafe City, even Jiuchen didn’t dare to look down on him in the slightest.

Elder Yao frowned. "Young Master Ye just checked Duan Tianlang’s injuries on the first day and then left. He’s been tinkering with something in the refinement room for the past two days. I didn’t ask what."

Duan Tianlang suddenly sneered, "It seems your Gale Light Academy has truly run out of tricks, pinning your hopes on a teenager. It’s so ridiculous I could laugh my head off. What good can a brat like that be?"

"Is that so? Then I’ll show you exactly what good I am."

Suddenly, a cold voice came through as the door opened, and Ye Xuan walked in from outside.

Ge Puzi’s eyes lit up. "Xuan Ye, do you have a way?"

Ye Xuan said nonchalantly, "What do you think, Vice Director Ge? I’ve spent the last few days working on this just to pry this guy’s mouth open."

Elder Yao and the others were overjoyed.

For some reason, even though they had been at a complete loss, hearing Ye Xuan’s words filled each of them with confidence.

Duan Tianlang scoffed, his blood-stained face full of disdain. "I don’t believe it. Even Dong Boson and his lot can’t do anything to me. What can a stinking brat like you do? You’re just putting on a show."

His eyes were filled with ridicule, clearly full of confidence in his own perseverance and willpower.

Ye Xuan walked up with a smile. "You’ll find out soon enough whether I’m just putting on a show."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Xuan pried open Duan Tianlang’s mouth and shoved a foul-smelling, dark green pill inside. The stench was so intense that it almost made Duan Tianlang vomit.

After swallowing it, a nauseated Duan Tianlang spat repeatedly and cursed, "What the hell was that pill you gave me? Why did it stink so much? Dammit!"

Ye Xuan took a few steps back and said with a grin, "Trust me, you’ll grow to love the taste."

Elder Yao asked doubtfully, "Young Master Ye, what kind of pill did you give Duan Tianlang? I’ve already tried. No Seventh-Grade Pill of the truth-telling variety has any effect on him."

Ye Xuan gave a strange smile. "This pill of mine isn’t a Truth Elixir to make him spill his guts. The Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill has major side effects, and it does create a short-term resistance to most pills. That’s why truth-type pills are indeed completely ineffective against him."

Elder Yao asked, confused, "Then you..."

He didn’t understand what other kind of pill, besides a truth-type one, could make Duan Tianlang obediently reveal the secrets in his heart.