You don't want your secret to be revealed by others, right?-Chapter 444 - 39, Rampant

Why?

Lin Yue pondered for a moment and then said, "Since the headmaster has asked this, it must be more than just a formal occasion, right?"

However, such a minor ceremony for the inauguration of merely five Fengtian Order officers seemed hardly deserving of the attendance of so many high-ranking dignitaries.

"Your Highness will understand shortly."

The Divine Pivot Institute’s headmaster chuckled mysteriously, his small eyes squinting as he laughed, and then he fell silent.

Don’t want to talk but still asking me, this fatso is really cheap... Lin Yue muttered to himself in his mind.

After a short while, as guests from various powers had all arrived, the Divine Pivot Institute’s headmaster suddenly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before he began to speak:

"Today my Divine Pivot Institute appoints five new Fengtian Order officers. Your willingness to grace this occasion with your presence brings honor to my institute; it is also, in a way, our institute’s explanation to Great Yong."

His voice echoed through the hall.

"Also, to prevent any mishaps, my Divine Pivot Institute has decided that from now on, these five Fengtian Order officers will enter long-term seclusion within the core grand formation of our institute, to ensure absolute security."

Core grand formation?

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow slightly.

The core grand formations of the Divine Pivot Institute, Heavenly Punishment Department, and Dawn Platform, these three major institutional establishments without exception were personally crafted by the Divine Emperor, impenetrable even by Proving powerhouses.

However, the core grand formation was fundamental to the institutions, and in principle, only the top brass was allowed entry.

And yet, he had received a secret about the two institutions at the Sixth Ring Level, fundamental to the existence of the three institutions—how could they possibly allow newly appointed Fengtian Order officers to stay within long term?

But only the Divine Emperor, Crown Prince, and the highest leaders of the three institutions were privy to this secret.

The headmaster was definitely deceiving everyone... Lin Yue surmised.

To announce it publicly at this time, he was either making people think that there was no chance to kill the Fengtian Order officers, or he was... baiting?

The former didn’t make much sense unless they really entered the core grand formation; otherwise, wouldn’t it be easy to find out it was a lie, as long as the Fengtian Order officers still existed?

The latter was almost like saying that this was the last chance to kill the Fengtian Order officers...

Just then—

"Boom!" A terrifying aura suddenly erupted, pervading the entire hall.

From among the guests nearest to the five Fengtian Order officers, one’s body suddenly exploded into an illusory, almost dreamlike silhouette, rushing towards the officers with a torrent of murderous intent!

"As expected!"

A cold sneer born of Divine Thought instantly resonated in everyone’s mind.

With a sweep of the Divine Pivot Institute headmaster’s sleeve, a dozen-zhang-tall twelve-story pagoda suddenly appeared out of thin air in the hall. Misty light began to cascade from the top of the pagoda, instantaneously enveloping the five Fengtian Order officers!

The illusory silhouette slammed into the light falling from the pagoda, causing mere ripples without any effect.

Only then did everyone realize that the silhouette was an old man in a black robe with white hair, displaying a strange smile and a mysterious yet terrifying presence.

"Boom, boom, boom—"

At that moment, three more equally terrifying auras burst forth within the hall, each belonging to a Saint-level powerhouse, distinctively the three great elders of the Divine Pivot Institute.

The three elders acted together, reaching toward the black-robed old man.

However—

"Heh..."

With a mocking chuckle, the black-robed old man stood still, and for some reason, the auras emitted by the three elders suddenly faltered, as if struck, they turned into streaks of light and retreated at high speed!

The astonished onlookers were taken aback.

Just one exchange, and the three great elders were repelled?

Although the Eye of Heaven in Jingzhou suppressed them, and Great Cultivators could not employ Heaven and Earth Law, nor could Saints unleash their Inner Heaven and Earth Domain, the black-robed old man had evidently not deployed his Inner Heaven and Earth Domain either, yet he so easily repelled the three great elders!

With such strength, even if not on par with figures like the headmaster of the Divine Pivot Institute and other royals who followed the Heavenly Reversal Path, he would undoubtedly dominate among ordinary Saints.

"It really is you..."

The Divine Pivot Institute headmaster with squinting eyes stared at the black-robed old man, speaking in a low tone, "Duanmu Yan?"

The crowd, upon hearing this, were utterly shocked.

Duanmu Yan?

There might be more than one person in the world named Duanmu Yan, but the name Duanmu Yan associated with a Saint-level powerhouse, there was only that figure from a century ago!

Once a revered figure of the Heavenly Punishment Department who later colluded with the Demon Clan; his family was eradicated, and it was said that Duanmu Yan himself was banished to Eternal Night.

He had reappeared now?

And, having defeated the three great elders of the Divine Pivot Institute in a single encounter, he seemed even stronger than a century ago!

However, what the crowd could not fathom was that while Duanmu Yan was indeed formidable, this was Di Hong City, where powerhouses like the headmaster of the Divine Pivot Institute were present. How could Duanmu Yan dare to appear so openly? Wasn’t this like jumping into the net?

Lin Yue, however, was thoughtful.

The headmaster of the Divine Pivot Institute had indeed intended to lure out the murderer of the five Fengtian Order officers.

While he knew the murderer was unpredictable, he hadn’t expected it actually to be Duanmu Yan?

But why... why did Duanmu Yan dare to show himself?

"Oh?"

The black-robed old man chuckled lowly, "So Headmaster Gongsun’s earlier words were truly meant to compel an old man to act? When did you realize it was me?"

"I, Gongsun Jue, do not have that ability," the Divine Pivot Institute headmaster said coldly. "But even if I cannot see that those five Fengtian Order officers died in a Dream, do you think Second Prince wouldn’t notice?"

"Second Prince..."

The black-robed old man fell silent for a moment and then sneered, "So it was Second Prince, but... even if Second Prince could tell, what of it?"