CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: WHOSE FAMILY PUTS A SECRET ROOM ON THE CEILING!!! _1

The academy retreated swiftly. The numerical advantage of the Baylong Religion, coupled with inside help, compelled the Peacock Sword Sect to abandon Qinghe Academy and retreat to the Government Office to preserve their strength.

The situation in the Government Office was also grim. Of the two Elite Gold Level disciples originally stationed there, one was lured away, his survival currently unknown, while the other was secretly killed and impersonated by a cult follower of the Baylong Religion. Fortunately, the impersonator was a Secret Silver Level cult follower, who was beheaded on the spot when his disguise was exposed.

Xun Cong initially had the upper hand but was tragically ambushed by the Shadow of the Blood Dragon within the Blood Dragon Barrier enveloping Qinghe City, sustaining serious injuries.

Soon after, the third-generation Blood Dragon Envoy and the Shadow of the Blood Dragon attacked in concert, forcing Xun Cong to retreat. Left with no choice, Xun Cong, despite his injuries, forcefully slew the Shadow of the Blood Dragon and eventually managed to escape.

Unfortunately, this was merely a stopgap measure. Even if the Shadow of the Blood Dragon was annihilated, as long as the Blood Dragon Barrier remained, it would regenerate after a while.

Luckily, the third-generation Blood Dragon Envoy, wary of Xun Cong’s combat prowess, did not continue the pursuit. The Envoy reasoned that if Xun Cong, despite his injuries, could slay the Shadow of the Blood Dragon, then if Xun Cong were to turn on him in a desperate fight, the Envoy would suffer severe injuries, if not death.

As for Wang Linchi, he had successfully infiltrated the cult followers of the Baylong Religion.

He put on the robes of the Baylong Religion’s Blood Dragon Vein and used Soul Seed·Hall of Thoughts and Soul Seed·Soul Courtyard to change his appearance and aura, transforming himself into a low-level cult follower. He was currently sweeping through the academy.

He did so not only to save his own life but also to fish in troubled waters.

Every member of the Baylong Religion was a villain. Few students managed to escape the academy; most were killed by these cult followers.

Besides, ordinary people also suffered greatly, with countless dying at the hands of these Baylong Religion cult followers.

The reason was simple: they needed a vast amount of blood to maintain and enhance the Blood Dragon Barrier.

This process also enhanced the strength of the Blood Dragon Vein cult followers. After all, the Blood Dragon was related to blood, and as cult followers of the Blood Dragon Vein, they naturally grew stronger through blood sacrifice.

"You look unfamiliar?" A mid-level Blood Dragon Vein cult follower blocked a patrolling Wang Linchi, his expression somewhat odd.

"Huh?" Wang Linchi feigned confusion.

"You must be new here," the other party muttered to himself, then looked at Wang Linchi with ill intent. "You’re only at the White Porcelain Level, but that should be enough."

"Come with me; a great opportunity has fallen into your lap."

After saying this, he led Wang Linchi away, regardless of whether Wang Linchi agreed or not.

Wang Linchi found the direction vaguely familiar.

Going to the treasury? Damn, they’re not planning for me to scout, are they? Wang Linchi immediately realized.

With the students, ordinary people, and even Awakeners all killed for the blood sacrifice, the task of scouting would naturally fall to their own cult followers. After all, the cult followers bore the Dragon Clan Brand and could not possibly betray them.

Wang Linchi also had this brand, but it was a fake he had fabricated, resembling the real one only in aura.

Upon reaching the treasury, Wang Linchi breathed a sigh of relief. Only one Mountain Copper Level Blood Dragon Vein cult follower was present. If there had been any Secret Silver Level ones, he would likely have been exposed; a counterfeit was, after all, still a counterfeit and could never pass for genuine. He felt somewhat confident dealing with a Mountain Copper Level opponent, but there was still a risk of exposure.

White Porcelain Level cult followers were low-rank, Black Iron Level were mid-rank, Mountain Copper Level were high-rank, and Secret Silver Level was equivalent to a hall master, managing the other cult followers. Elite Gold Level members could become a Dragon Vein envoy, like the third-generation Blood Dragon Envoy.

This high-rank Blood Dragon Vein cult follower glanced at Wang Linchi and nodded. "Go in and take a look. If there are no traps, come back and report."

The rules within the Baylong Religion were strict, and the lower ranks had no power to resist the commands of their superiors. Beyond deterrence through power, there was also the control exerted by the Dragon Clan Brand. The higher one’s status, the stronger their Dragon Clan Brand, and the greater their authority. For example, a high-rank cult follower held the lives of any mid-rank and low-rank cult followers under their purview in their hands. It was precisely this life-or-death threat that made the Baylong Religion act so fanatically and efficiently.

Who would dare to disobey or resist when their life was held by others?

They also didn’t worry about Wang Linchi stealing anything. When the time came, they could use the Dragon Clan Brand to force him to surrender everything.

Without saying a word, Wang Linchi walked straight into the treasury.

He was quite familiar with Qinghe Academy’s treasury. He had taken a Secret Silver Level book-type Soul Appearance Soul Tempering Method from here last time.

This was his second visit.

The difference was that this time no one was guarding it, and all protective measures had been activated. If one acted rashly, the result would be death without an intact corpse. Otherwise, why would they have let Wang Linchi in? They clearly had some experience with this.

This is all superficial wealth; none of what I need is here, Wang Linchi thought.

He needed an Epic Level Soul Seed and the Soul Secret Technique for the "Hundred Treasures Soul Refining Method." The "Hundred Treasures Soul Refining Method" was the Secret Silver Level Soul Forging Method Wang Linchi had initially obtained from the former dean.

There must be another secret vault. I have to find it. Wang Linchi was sure the academy’s treasury couldn’t be this simple. To put it bluntly, this trove wasn’t worthy of the academy’s true wealth.

With the aid of Soul Seed·Hall of Thoughts, Wang Linchi could search meticulously. The only drawback was that he had to walk around to cover the area, and although his Thought Field had improved, it hadn’t improved by much. Walking wasn’t an issue; the main concern was that time was pressing. The Baylong Religion cult followers were waiting outside.

Thus, Wang Linchi needed to find the entrance to the secret vault as quickly as possible.

After searching around for a while, he found nothing, making Wang Linchi a bit anxious. Could it be that there’s really nothing?

Logically, that shouldn’t be the case. If this was all that remained, then Qinghe Academy would be laughably poor. Surely the dean hadn’t already cleared it out before being captured? No, that’s not realistic.

"How’s the situation inside?"

The voice of the high-rank cult follower came from outside the door, tinged with impatience.

Wang Linchi, however, had no time to respond. His extensive Soul Vision, combined with his Thought Field, continued to scan the area.

Suddenly, he looked up. A faint, unusual fluctuation appeared on the ceiling.

You put the secret vault in the ceiling? Who would have thought of that... Wang Linchi was somewhat speechless.

His Thought Field indeed couldn’t detect the ceiling; he wasn’t tall enough for its range to cover that high. That’s why he had found nothing after walking around; even his Soul Vision had missed this blind spot.

Normally, a secret vault would be underground or hidden along a wall. It was rare for anyone to think of placing it in the ceiling.

The man outside is getting impatient. I have to find a way in, fast. Wang Linchi detected the sounds from outside the treasury and felt a surge of tension.