Chapter 147: Dragon Soaring Academy

"What did you say?" Gu Yixiang, caught off guard by Lin Xiaobao’s lack of restraint, felt an indescribable emotion stir within her.

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Lin Xiaobao immediately changed the subject: "Who is that man? Why are so many people going over to pay their respects to him?"

Lin Xiaobao’s gaze fell upon an elderly man who appeared to be in his sixties. With snowy white hair and beard, he wore a look of gentle benevolence. On his table, there were no rare resources for trade; instead, a few withered twigs picked up from the ground were strewn about in a haphazard fashion.

Yet, many people approached him, bowed, and then stood in silence, their eyes fixed intently on his tabletop. Although Lin Xiaobao did not recognize these individuals, he could sense from their bearing that each of them held a position of considerable status.

"Wait... Dean Kuang? How did he end up here?" Gu Yixiang seemed equally surprised as she looked at the old man.

Dean Kuang? Lin Xiaobao looked at Gu Yixiang with a puzzled expression. During his time in Blood Wind City, he had become familiar with many of the world's powerhouses. Even if he couldn't recognize them on sight, he had heard their names, but this "Dean Kuang" was a complete mystery.

Observing Lin Xiaobao’s confusion, Gu Yixiang explained, "On the Longxiang Continent, there is a unique place called the Longxiang Academy. It is located at the intersection of the four great empires, and almost every reputable sect in the mystical world has benefited from the academy’s grace."

"Grace?" Lin Xiaobao was even more bewildered.

After Gu Yixiang’s explanation, Lin Xiaobao finally understood. The Longxiang Academy was a faction that remained largely detached from worldly affairs. When recruiting students, they focused solely on individual talent, disregarding birth, background, and even moral standing.

To the Longxiang Academy, anyone with sufficient talent was worthy of seeking the truths of the world. Within its halls, all were treated equally and received the same education; what one achieved thereafter depended entirely on personal talent and effort.

Furthermore, the Longxiang Academy never involved itself in the struggles between factions. Because their students included both the righteous and the wicked, they were deeply respected by both sides across the Longxiang Continent, and no one dared to provoke them. Beyond the academy’s inherent power, the sheer number of their alumni spread across the world made them a force no single power could hope to challenge.

Kuang Lizhen was the current Dean of the Longxiang Academy. Given his status, he had no reason to attend an auction like this. While everyone was puzzled by his presence, it did not stop those who had benefited from the academy from coming forward to pay their respects.

A faction like this could actually survive? Lin Xiaobao found this concept baffling. In his previous world, such a power would either be controlled by some hidden hand or crushed beneath the wheels of history. Yet, he knew Gu Yixiang would not lie to him. It seemed the values of this world differed vastly from those he had known.

"I was once a student at the Longxiang Academy myself, so I must go pay my respects. Would you like to join me?" Gu Yixiang asked after finishing her explanation.

"Of course! It would be a great honor to meet such a prominent figure up close!" Lin Xiaobao immediately agreed.

With that, the two walked toward Kuang Lizhen. By now, more than a dozen people had gathered around him, including Wei Zhiye, who had clashed with Lin Xiaobao earlier. However, the arrogance was gone from Wei Zhiye’s face, replaced by an expression of extreme reverence.

"Student Gu Yixiang pays her respects to Dean Kuang!" Upon reaching him, Gu Yixiang straightened her posture and bowed respectfully.

Lin Xiaobao quickly followed suit: "Junior Lin Xiaobao pays his respects to Dean Kuang!"

Dean Kuang glanced at Lin Xiaobao. He showed no sign of disdain for the young man’s cultivation level, instead looking at him with a kind, benevolent expression before turning his gaze back to Gu Yixiang. "Yixiang? I never imagined that after all these years, you would achieve so much. I remember your talent for formations was no less than Chen Zhong’s when you were a student. Stand here and observe as well."

"Yes!" Gu Yixiang, as if transported back to her academy days, bowed respectfully once more and stepped aside, her eyes fixed on the seemingly random arrangement of withered twigs on the table.

Formations? At the mention of the word, Lin Xiaobao became invigorated. He focused his gaze on the twigs and swept his spiritual sense over them. Such a subtle formation!

He had previously speculated about the twigs, but had failed to detect any fluctuation. Now, with his spiritual sense, he finally perceived the mystery within. Suddenly, he felt as if he had been pulled into a strange space.

The sound of countless galloping hooves mixed with heart-rending cries of battle filled his ears. The ground trembled rhythmically, and in an instant, a massive force of warriors, wielding pitch-black blades and charging like a tidal wave, loomed over him.

The horses were clad in black armor; the men were clad in black armor; combined with those dark, lethal blades, the visual impact was overwhelming. Lin Xiaobao looked around and discovered that, besides himself, the ground was littered with corpses.

Under the intensifying pressure, Lin Xiaobao’s breathing grew ragged. He realized that if he did not react, he would be reduced to nothing in the next moment. In a split second, a Dharma sword appeared in his hand—the very Cangyan Sacred Sword he had detonated against the Third Elder back at the Long family. With no time to consider the consequences, he let out a roar and swung the blade with wild intensity, unleashing a wave of fire from its tip.

The opposing black cavalry fell in droves amidst screams, but as the front line collapsed, more surged forward to replace them. Facing the relentless tide, Lin Xiaobao swung his sword again and again, killing endlessly, only to find that the black cavalry was inexhaustible.

He felt his spiritual energy draining rapidly, yet the pressure bearing down on him showed no signs of receding. Cold sweat drenched his body.

It was not only the Lin Xiaobao trapped in the mystical space who was sweating; the Lin Xiaobao standing before Dean Kuang was also drenched in cold perspiration. His fists were clenched so tightly that the veins on his arms stood out, and an uncontrollable, boundless killing intent radiated from him, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

The onlookers stared at him with confusion. What exactly had this boy comprehended from the formation? Everyone present was a student of Kuang Lizhen, the weakest among them already at the mid-stage of the Dao Body Dharma Manifestation realm. Yet, while they could sense that a formation was hidden on the Dean's table, none of them had experienced such a profound reaction.