Wait a minute, where is my master?

Qingmu Academy, Ancestral Master Hall.

By the time the Old Dean arrived at this location, Qingyun and Lan Junyan had already been waiting at the entrance of the hall.

They had been discussing matters in a side hall next to the Ancestral Master Hall earlier.

So their arrival was somewhat quicker.

"Master."

"Teacher."

The two greeted respectfully.

"Mm."

The Old Dean nodded in acknowledgment but didn't engage in much small talk.

He stepped forward and pushed open the grand door of the Ancestral Master Hall, then flashed inside.

Standing at the entrance, Qingyun and Lan Junyan exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of confusion and solemnity.

A few moments passed.

The reverends who felt the strange fluctuations in the academy courtyards had gradually gathered at this location.

Leading them were the three long-unseen "Cold Friends of the Winter."

"Dean, Fairy Lan, why are you standing here? Has the Old Dean entered?"

Usually, Mr. Song would speak during official matters within the academy.

However, today, with Lan Junyan present, Song Xili, for some reason, found his legs going weak.

Thus, he conveyed a message to Mr. Mei to ask on his behalf.

"Oh, right, Elder Song had me ask this," Mr. Mei added after meeting Lan Junyan's gaze, as if possessed by some spirit.

Mr. Song inwardly: "...You wait till we get back!"

Lan Junyan heard this and his expression turned indescribable.

The scattering reverends behind the Cold Friends of the Winter slightly ruffled, then, as if by unspoken agreement, stepped back.

The events that had transpired in Qingmu City, even those reverends who focused on reading the classics oblivious of the outside world, had received the news.

They were afraid that Lan Junyan, known for his temperamental personality, might suddenly erupt.

"Ahem, Teacher has already entered, let's wait here. If there is any matter that needs discussion, Teacher will surely call us," Qingyun quickly interjected, seeing that the atmosphere was a bit off.

Hearing this, the reverends nodded and refrained from further speech.

Song Xili then stepped forward and put his arm on Mr. Mei's shoulder, ready to prevent any more startling statements he might make.

However, Mr. Song clearly underestimated another of his friends—Zhu Chuanren.

Mr. Zhu, being a loyal supporter of Lan Junyan,

now that he was face-to-face with him, naturally had to flatter him a bit.

"Fairy Lan, long time no see. You..."

Mid-sentence, Zhu Chuanren suddenly faltered. He realized that his life barely intersected with the other's and struggled to start a casual conversation.

He couldn't just ask him,

"What time is it now?"

"Or, is this piece of white jade on the ground yours?"

Zhu Chuanren is not one of those tactless fools!

Upon hearing his question, Lan Junyan simply nodded as if responding.

As for the faltering words of Mr. Zhu, Lan Junyan didn't mind. With that time, she would rather think about why the little Taoist looked at her that day when the Demon Cultivator approached the city.

But our Zhu Chuanren is clearly not one to give up easily. Otherwise, he wouldn't have silently supported Lan Junyan for so many years.

After wracking his brain and pondering for a while, an idea suddenly struck Mr. Zhu.

So, he repeated his previous question and managed to complete his polite inquiry.

"Mr. Lan, it's been a long time. How are your injuries from the incident in Qingmu City? I have a secret remedy here...."

Before he could finish, Mr. Zhu's mouth was covered by Mr. Song, who had rushed over.

"You two are truly dear friends of mine, afraid that my previous injuries weren't severe enough, that I hadn't lain down long enough, right?"

Mr. Song Xili roared telepathically at the two men while simultaneously offering Fairy Lan a smile uglier than crying.

Without Little Daoist Jin Xu around, if Mr. Lan really started something,

whether Qingyun would intervene or not was another matter!

After Mr. Zhu spoke, Fairy Lan's beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed.

At this movement, the gentlemen behind the trio instinctively stepped back two paces in unison.

Those who had just arrived at the scene, unaware of what had happened, also moved back under the urging of their friends.

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Zhu. My injuries have healed,"

Fairy Lan responded indifferently and perfunctorily, and then closed her eyes.

She assumed an attitude showing no interest in further idle chat.

The slightly furrowed brows also relaxed as if nothing had happened.

Mr. Song, who thought he was going to be in for another beating, felt somewhat surprised and kept pondering in his mind whether the other party had really changed her temper or was planning a reckoning come fall.

The gentlemen behind the trio shared a similar sentiment to Mr. Song Xili's.

Surprised, while also feeling disappointed at missing out on the excitement.

As for Qingyun, he stealthily glanced several times at his junior sister meditating next to him, thinking, "Has Junior Sister really taken to heart the teachings our teacher imparted?"

Little did he know, the moment Fairy Lan heard mention of her injuries from Qingmu City, she thought of Jin Xu. Thinking of Jin Xu, her curiosity about why he had looked at her then flared anew.

"Sigh, before that little Daoist left, I should have asked him. After all, he seemed easy to talk to, and though he is strong, he did not go all out when he fought me."

The crowd had varied thoughts—surprised, perplexed, or regretful.

Only Mr. Zhu, at this moment, his emotions were of ecstatic joy.

"Hehe haha, Fairy Lan thanked me for my concern! She thanked me!"

Just as Mr. Zhu Chuanren was about to let his joy overflow, about to perform a Nine Provinces Realm version of "Fan Jin's successful examination,"

the voice of the Old Dean finally came from the Ancestral Hall.

"Qingyun, gather all cultivators of Refining Void Realm and above in the council hall and wait for me."

"Yes, Teacher,"

Qingyun, standing outside the hall, bowed to the interior of the Ancestral Hall.

He then turned to the crowd in front and said, "Gentlemen, you've heard the teacher's orders. Let's head to the council hall to wait."

Having said this, he tapped the ground with his toe, floated into the air lightly, and using the power of the Sect Protection Array, conveyed the Old Dean's commands throughout Qingmu Academy.

Inside the Ancestral Hall.

The Old Dean of Qingmu Academy looked solemn.

He was standing in front of a high platform adorned with the statue of the Confucian Saint.

This platform was constructed from green and white jade, with not only the statue of the Confucian Saint on it but also small figurines of the ancestors of Qingmu Academy and plate holders recording their names and deeds.

These statues were arranged according to seniority and expertise, from high to low.

The format of the recorded names and deeds was more or less the same.

The only difference was that in front of those who had successfully ascended, there was a Golden Book and Jade Scroll.

In front of those who failed, there was a stone book that couldn't be opened.

The strange fluctuations that had spread across Qingmu Academy were emanating from a small statue at the foot of the Confucian Saint statue on the highest part of the green and white jade platform.

Based on past experiences, the appearance of these strange fluctuations meant that ancestors who had ascended to the Upper Realm had something to communicate to their descendants in the Lower Realm.

The content of the communication would generally appear inside the Golden Book and Jade Scroll.

However, for such a distinguished Upper Realm ancestor to send a message downward, this was a first-time occurrence for the Old Dean.

Moreover, the content of this message was truly bizarre.