Ling Yun waved his hand, signaling Xiao Yanran and Yan Ruyu to calm down, and then told them everything about how the Immortal Martial Academy had taken their family members away.

"Don't worry too much. They won't kill your family members before I appear at the Immortal Martial Academy!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yanran angrily said:

"Xianwu Academy is known as the number one academy in Zhao Kingdom and the head of the prestigious sects. Its dean, Chen Qingquan, is even called the most perfect man in history. Why would he do something as heinous as kidnapping and extortion?"

Yan Ruyu, her pretty face also showing indignation, said:

"When I first learned that I had become a martial artist, my first thought was to go to the Immortal Martial Academy to cultivate. I never expected that it would be no different from other sects. They would do anything for resources!"

Both women were angry with the Immortal Martial Academy, but neither of them complained that their family members were kidnapped because of Ling Yun.

Ling Yun was very pleased and comforted him with a smile:

"Don't worry. If any of your family members are harmed, it's all my fault, Lingyun. Go to sleep! It's not us who are worried, it's the Immortal Martial Academy!"

Xiao Yanran and Yan Ruyu stood up, their expressions returning to calm.

Just as she stepped out of the room, Xiao Yanran suddenly turned back, her pretty face flushed, and said:

"Brother, if you rescue my mother this time, I... I will agree to renew our marriage contract!"

Ling Yun's face froze instantly. What did that mean? Agree? Enter into a marriage contract?

This girl probably has some misunderstanding about me!

Seeing no joy on Ling Yun's face, Xiao Yanran said in embarrassment and anger:

"What's with that look? I finally made up my mind to give you this chance, don't be ungrateful!"

After saying that, Xiao Yanran rolled her eyes at Ling Yun and drifted away.

Yan Ruyu also stopped, her face flushed with embarrassment as she lowered her head, too shy to look at Ling Yun, and whispered:

"Um... if my brother can rescue my father, I... I'm willing to marry you!"

After saying that, she covered her face and ran away shyly.

"Oh dear, what a tragedy!"

Ling Yun rubbed his face and continued to study the Starry Sky Sword Technique.

The next morning,

In front of the Mo family gate, Zhang Mingyuan and Mo Xin'er looked at Ling Yun and his group with great reluctance, their eyes filled with the sadness of parting.

Zhang Mingyuan knew that today's parting might be the last time the brothers would meet.

"Brother, you have your own things to do, so I won't stop you. Have a safe journey!"

Ling Yun and A Bao hugged Zhang Mingyuan and patted him on the shoulder, saying:

"May we brothers meet again under the stars someday. Goodbye!"

Ling Yun and his group rode away.

Zhang Mingyuan only looked away after the figure had completely disappeared.

Abao didn't unfold the map, but pointed ahead and said:

"Five thousand miles further ahead is the Academy City, named after its proximity to the Immortal Martial Academy. It is the last city in the western part of the Zhao Kingdom."

After speaking, he looked at Ling Yun.

"Brother, it's time to settle things at the Immortal Martial Academy!"

Ling Yun nodded slightly, "It really is time for a resolution!"

Changing the subject, Ling Yun asked with a smile:

"Aren't there any famous restaurants in the Academy City?"

Abao scratched his head, thought for a moment, and said:

"It looks like roast duck!"

"Hehe~ After we finish dealing with the Immortal Martial Academy, let's go to the Academy City for roast duck!"

...

At this moment, outside a valley isolated by a light barrier on the back mountain of the Immortal Martial Academy, Dean Chen Qingquan knelt before the light barrier and respectfully said:

"Senior, the Wood Spirit Witch is in Ling Yun's hands. He will arrive at the Immortal Martial Academy in five days at most, and we will need your help then!"

"Um?"

Three breaths later, a surprised and doubtful voice came from inside the light screen. The voice was very soft, but it caused ripples to spread across the light screen that was blocking the laws of heaven.

"Does the Zhao Kingdom have cultivators of a higher realm than you? Do you really need this Emperor to intervene?"

Chen Qingquan said:

"Ling Yun's strength should not be underestimated. The remnant soul of the founder of the Spirit Sword Sect surrendered immediately upon seeing him. The Falling Cloud Sect was forced to close its mountain for a hundred years, and the Purple Sun Sect even changed its sect leader."

The annihilation of the Nangong family terrified the two major families of Beiming and Dongfang, who knelt down and begged for mercy.

In particular, the Qi family, one of the ten great families of the Tianyuan Dynasty, was wiped out completely.

Although a weakling at the third level of Martial Soul wouldn't do such a thing, no one has ever seen Lingyun Protector make a move, which suggests that he might be a powerful figure hiding his true strength, just like you.

I don't have much confidence that I can beat him!

Upon hearing this, the figure within the light screen remained silent. After a moment, he surveyed the entire Zhao Kingdom with his divine sense and then said:

"You're overthinking it. The most powerful cultivator in Zhao is Lin Zhennan, the sect leader of the Ziyang Sect, who is at the Refining Void Realm."

I scanned Ling Yun with my divine sense; he was indeed at the third level of Martial Soul Realm. Perhaps he possessed a secret technique that could forcibly enhance his strength!

He paused, then said in a deep voice:

"Your concerns may be valid. I was able to set up a great array at the Immortal Martial Academy to isolate the Heavenly Dao, otherwise I would not have been able to make a move."

"It would be even better if you could kill Ling Yun and obtain the Wood Spirit Witch!"

Chen Qingquan stood up, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said:

"Yes, sir!"

Upon exiting the back mountain, Chen Qingquan immediately ordered the elders to set up a large array to isolate the Heavenly Dao from perception.

The senior in the back mountain has a cultivation level that is far beyond the heavens. If he does not shield himself from the secrets of heaven, he will be detected by the heavenly Dao as soon as he makes a move. He will either be punished by the heavens or be directly teleported to the Great World.

The Golden Cloud Continent can only accommodate cultivators at the Integration Realm. Once someone exceeds the Integration Realm, they will automatically ascend.

Some powerful forces use magical artifacts that isolate cultivation levels from the Dao, but at most they can only block cultivation levels above the Mahayana stage. Once one exceeds the Mahayana stage, even the most powerful magical artifacts cannot stop them.

The senior from the back mountain possessed a magical artifact that surpassed even that of the Golden Cloud Continent, which, combined with the array, prevented him from being detected by the Heavenly Dao.

Three days later, Ling Yun and his group entered the territory of the Immortal Martial Academy, which was only a thousand miles away.

"Young friend Ling, please wait!"

"Young Master Ling, we will help you!"

"Master Ling, wait for us!"

"..."

Then, Lin Zhennan, the sect leader of Ziyang Sect, Ji Ziyue, the president of the Zhao Kingdom branch of Yuanbao Chamber of Commerce, and Zhao Zhengyang, the emperor of Zhao Kingdom, each led thousands of cultivators from afar.

Upon seeing the three forces, Ling Yun was slightly taken aback, not expecting them to come.

Lin Zhennan said angrily:

"The Immortal Martial Academy is despicable! They actually threatened you with the lives of your mother-in-law and father-in-law to force you to hand over the Wood Spirit Witch!"

Upon receiving the news, I led the elites of the Ziyang Sect here!

Ling Yun's face stiffened. What? Mother-in-law, father-in-law?

Before he could speak, Ji Ziyue said:

"Young Master Ling, you are a distinguished guest of the Yuanbao Chamber of Commerce. The Yuanbao Chamber of Commerce will definitely help you if you are in danger; it is our duty!"

"Without you, Master Ling, there would be no me as I am today. Your affairs are of paramount importance to the Zhao Kingdom!"

Zhao Zhengyang said that he had brought all the officials from the Zhao State's Imperial Sacrifices Office.

Although they couldn't offer much help, Ling Yun was very gratified and clasped his hands in greeting:

"Thank you all. You may go back now. I can handle this matter on my own!"

Ji Ziyue quickly said:

“No, there’s an unimaginable being in the back mountain of the Immortal Martial Academy who might be able to fight Young Master Ling to a standstill. Don’t forget about Chen Qingquan too. You deal with that one in the back mountain, and we’ll take care of Chen Qingquan and the rest of the Immortal Martial Academy!”