Chapter 1018: Don't Be Nervous

President Han was truly going crazy.

He simply couldn't understand why these students trusted this unreliable dean so much.

No matter what, he had spent two days and two nights with them; their cooperation, if not seamless, had developed a certain默契... Under normal circumstances, even if someone ordered them to attack, their feelings would make them hesitate...

Yet, without any pause, they sent him flying...

It wasn't just obedience—it was blind faith!

Especially just now, when he had even explained the consequences: if this guy chose the wrong node, everyone might die, yet they still followed without hesitation...

This was like staking their very lives on this young man without a moment's doubt... Even for a dean, such trust without any discernment was too much!

They were simply fanatical followers who ignored all consequences and blindly believed.

Struggling to rise from the rubble, he looked up at the sky again and saw that Zhang Xuan's formation flag had already left his hand, flying straight toward a node.

"It's over..."

His pupils contracted.

He had analyzed this node before—it was the most turbulent and violent point. Once the flag was inserted, instead of releasing the energy, it would likely trigger an explosion.

He never thought that Han Xu, with all his reputation, would die here, killed by a clueless fool... The thought was heartbreaking and filled him with sorrow.

Boom!

Just as he was wallowing in grief, feeling there was nothing left to live for, the violent energy below finally accumulated to its peak and surged forth.

Hum!

The intense tremor made the earth boil. The students standing by the pit stumbled and fell to the ground, even Teacher Wu and the others showed fear.

"This time it seems even fiercer..."

His pupils contracted, President Han's face darkened, his eyes full of disbelief.

The energy surging from below this time was many times stronger than before; the seal above seemed about to be torn apart at any moment.

If such immense power had existed before, not only would he have been unable to withstand it, even with twenty thousand students, it would have been useless.

What had happened? Why had the power suddenly increased so much?

"It's over..." President Han showed despair.

The previous power had taken immense effort to contain; now, with such fury, there was no need to think—the seal would surely fail, and the massive energy would explode, turning thousands of kilometers into dust.

Just as he felt hopeless, thinking everyone might die here, he heard the floating Dean Zhang raise his eyebrows.

"Easy, don't be nervous, just a little poke!"

With these words, the formation flag that had flown out earlier suddenly accelerated, stabbing straight toward the node he had identified.

Whoosh!

The moment the true energy touched the node, the seal, which had been on the verge of exploding, calmed down like a stroked cat, losing its ferocity. With a "pop," it settled, becoming as gentle as a pool of clear water.

Then, a rumble came from the node, and a powerful force shot straight into the sky, like a balloon punctured with a hole, the massive air current seeming to tear the sky apart.

"This... solved?"

Frozen stiff, President Han rubbed his eyes vigorously.

Wasn't this node the most violent and fierce? How did inserting the flag smoothly release the energy, achieving an effect he had never even dared to imagine?

He wasn't the only one with this expression. Liu Mo, who had just flown back from far away, was also dumbfounded.

Without using a formation plate, without even looking at the terrain, he just took the flag and casually inserted it... and the violent currents stopped. Was this really a technique in formation mastery? I've studied formations for years, but I've never heard of such an operation!

He quickly turned to look at the students below, but they showed no surprise, as if they had long known the dean would easily stop the violent energy.

He and his teacher, President Han, had spent two days and two nights without success, but this guy came, spent a few dozen minutes, casually asked for a flag, inserted it... and it was done...

Could it be that when this guy said the two of them were stupid... it wasn't sarcasm but the honest truth?

Full of frustration, he watched Zhang Xuan descend step by step from the air, stopping above the students.

"Everyone has worked hard these past two days. The隐患 here is completely resolved. Quickly rest and recover your strength!"

"Thank you, Dean!"

"I knew there was nothing the dean couldn't solve!"

"That President Han was so confident, claiming to be a七星 peak formation master, but he doesn't seem that impressive!"

"The more incompetent people are, the more they boast. Look at our dean—so capable, yet does he ever brag?"

"Yeah, the dean is really too low-key..."

...

Hearing the dean admit with his own mouth that the problem was resolved, everyone below erupted in an uproar, their faces flushed with excitement as they sat cross-legged on the ground to begin recovering.

Two days without rest had taken a heavy toll on them, and many had even suffered serious injuries.

However, none were too severe; given time, they could recover quickly.

Arranging for everyone to cultivate and recover their strength, Zhang Xuan personally treated those with the most serious injuries. After nearly an hour of busy work, seeing that all the students were fully healed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

No wonder... these students all trust him unconditionally, without a second thought... It turns out he doesn't see himself as a dean, but as a teacher, friend, and comrade to each one...

Witnessing this scene, President Han and Liu Mo smiled bitterly, finally understanding why, in the critical moment, these students did not trust the two of them but had unwavering faith in this Zhang Xuan.

The four academies under the Qingyuan Enfeoffed Empire each had a dean of high status, no lower than theirs. Such a figure, showing no impatience toward some four-star or five-star masters, but instead caring for each one individually... this alone was something countless people could not achieve.

Alright...

After handling these matters, Zhang Xuan returned to Master Wu and the others, then turned to President Han and the other two, hastily clasping his fists: "My apologies, the situation was urgent just now, and I feared delays would lead to mishaps. Please forgive any discourtesy!"

Dean Zhang, you flatter us. It was we who were rash...

Han Xu and Liu Mo's faces flushed red, wishing they could find a hole to crawl into.

Originally, they had good intentions, fearing that any mistake would lead to an irretrievable situation, but as a result, they nearly caused a major disaster. The thought filled them with shame.

Fortunately, Dean Zhang was not one to stand on ceremony and had them knocked down; otherwise, they would have become sinners in history.

The dissipated energy will take some time to clear, and the seal hasn't fully opened yet. How about we return to Fire Source City first and wait for the War Master Hall's people?

Zhang Xuan said.

Although he had resolved the hidden danger in the seal, entering would still take some time, especially since the狂暴 energy would need at least two or three more days to completely dissipate.

Moreover, the War Master Hall and the other three academies hadn't arrived yet, so they needed to wait for them.

Good!

Nodding, the group boarded flying sacred beasts and flew toward Fire Source City.

The Master Hall had an independent mansion, where they settled in. As for the students, Zhang Xuan arranged for Dean Zhao and others to take them back first.

The ruins were fraught with danger; it was too risky for the students to go there, so it was better to send them back to the academy.

After waiting a day in the mansion, the deans and elders of the three academies, along with the War Master Hall members, all arrived.

Liao Chong had taken Zheng Yang to the War Master Hall headquarters and did not come, but instead two other chiliarchs came, both stronger, having reached the peak of Saint Domain Triple.

Are you Dean Zhang Xuan?

One of them showed strong hostility the moment he saw Zhang Xuan.

He had heard of the War Master Hall's defeat and knew that this dean, though only at the Quasi-Saint level, had astonishing combat power, no weaker than their war masters.

Yes!

Dare you compete with me?

This chiliarch's fighting spirit boiled.

Compete? Zhang Xuan looked helpless. Truly, what one fears comes.

He just wanted to be a quiet handsome man—was that so hard?

Being too outstanding was also exhausting!

Well, dare you or not? The chiliarch pressed, eyes fixed on him.

We've only just met; fighting and killing is so uncivilized. Come, have a drink. I'll treat you... Zhang Xuan took out a wine gourd, his expression sincere.

The chiliarch shook his head: "If you don't want to fight, that's fine. But I'll find a way to prove that the War Master Hall cannot be insulted lightly!"

Seeing that he wouldn't fight but instead wanted to drink, the chiliarch snorted coldly and turned away.

Through inquiry, Zhang Xuan learned that this war master was called Feng Xun, a belligerent member of the War Master Hall. Hearing that a dignified war master had gone to test ordinary students and been thoroughly beaten, he felt a strong enmity and wanted to compete with this Zhang Xuan.

The other leading chiliarch of the War Master Hall was called Jiang Yuan. On the surface, he seemed amiable, but his eyes also burned with fighting spirit.

War masters had always been synonymous with invincibility, yet they had repeatedly stumbled at Hongyuan Academy. As chiliarchs, they naturally wanted to reclaim their dignity.

Uncle-Master, this time our Qingyuan Empire has sent four people: me, Master Wu, President Han, and Liu Mo, whom you've all met. The War Master Hall, besides Jiang Yuan, Feng Xun, and Zhuo Qingfeng, has twelve war masters. As for the three academies, three deans plus elders make nine people... That means about thirty of us will enter the ruins this time.

Mu Shi came over and explained in detail.

Mm! Zhang Xuan nodded.

Originally, Zhao Bingshu and others wanted to go in as well, but he didn't agree.

This ruin was fraught with danger; if they all went in, the academy would be left without a single elder, inevitably falling into chaos.

According to calculations, the ruins will open tomorrow, and we need to set out early in the morning... Mu Shi said.

Good!

Zhang Xuan nodded, took his leave from Mu Shi, and returned to his own courtyard. Just as he was about to rest, he saw Luo Ruoxi sitting on a stone bench in his yard, one hand supporting her cheek, lost in thought.