Boom boom—
A powerful pressure surged out, suddenly pressing down on Li Hongtai, causing the surrounding space to tremble slightly.
The Grand Elder made his move!
The Academy's Grand Elder was named Qu Jingshan.
He was a Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer expert, his aura surging like the sea, immensely majestic.
His expression was mildly angry, and he looked at Li Hongtai with coldness in his eyes.
"You junior are very rigid. It was indeed the correct choice not to let you become the Dean back then!"
"Who do you think has sustained the Academy for two hundred thousand years since the Dark Ages?"
"It's the connection through Grand Elder Su Qingmeng! Empress Hongye! The Jiang Clan has been an ally of our Cloud Top Academy since before the Dark Ages, and they still are!"
"If not for that, when the Academy was weak, it would have long been completely swallowed by the surrounding Immortal Dao Lineages!"
"Do you really think the position of Dao Child in this generation is for people to compete for?"
"If Divine Son Jiang was unwilling to come, then so be it, but since he has come, we cannot not give Empress Hongye Face!"
"That is an existence we cannot afford to offend! Moreover, all of us Old Ancestors have long had this intention!"
"The Golden Great Era is about to return. At that time, we old geezers still have a chance to attain the Great Emperor Dao. Are we going to let a Saint King Realm like you protect our Dao?"
"Truly rotten beyond repair!"
"In my opinion, you can also give up your position as Grand Elder."
Qu Jingshan's voice was like a great bell, carrying a soul-shaking pressure.
Li Hongtai listened to every word, his heart filled with immense torment.
But he also knew the answer.
It turned out that from the very beginning, there was no room for discussion on this matter.
His own thoughts were not important at all; the future of Cloud Top Academy was important.
This was clearly a choice to take a side!
Boom—
At this moment.
A terrifying aura came, and a figure appeared as the Void Realm tore open.
The person who arrived was Su Qingmeng.
Her gaze coldly swept over Li Hongtai, then looked at the Old Ancestors, saying in a deep voice without concealment:
"Ye'er has recently discovered some clues within the Jiang Clan. Some scoundrels are setting up schemes within the Jiang Clan, creating external enemies and planting internal troubles, and they are currently investigating them one by one."
"Now, I have every reason to suspect that regarding the matter of the Academy's Dao Child, someone might be secretly instigating discord between the Academy and the Jiang Clan at this time."
"I want to take Li Hongtai away to search his Soul. Do any of you have objections?"
As her words fell, Wang Hongtu and the Old Ancestors' expressions were startled, and they all looked at Li Hongtai in unison.
Li Hongtai's expression froze, and in an instant, his Face became panicked.
Everyone was silent for a while.
Qu Jingshan was the first to ask, "Grand Elder, is this true?"
"Naturally!"
A cold light flashed in Su Qingmeng's eyes, and she said coldly again, "What's the point of keeping a useless person like him, who doesn't even have a Supreme Realm cultivation, in the position of the Academy's Grand Elder? It's better to directly search his Soul and see who else is behind him giving orders."
Qu Jingshan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Grand Elder, wait a moment. If there really is a problem, Li Hongtai holds a high position, and there might be a Restriction during the Soul search. Let me inquire first."
Su Qingcheng did not speak, indicating her tacit approval.
Qu Jingshan then looked at Li Hongtai with a solemn gaze.
"Li Hongtai, I know you would not betray Cloud Top Academy. Now that you are acting this way, is someone behind you giving instructions?"
"Or rather, you should think about whether you've been used by someone?"
"Tell me everything truthfully."
Li Hongtai's heart suddenly trembled, as if a stone tablet had fallen from his heart.
Decades ago, he met a child with a similar Heart-Nature.
His talent and state of mind were both extraordinary, and he immediately developed a fondness for his talent, so he took him as his Personal Disciple.
This person was Lin Chen!
At that time, during their return journey, the two encountered Lin Chen's enemies.
After a fierce battle.
Li Hongtai was severely injured, and he paid a huge price to escape with Lin Chen.
Afterward, he learned that Lin Chen had offended the Everlasting Immortal Clan Jiang Family, and his entire family had been wiped out.
This matter involved great significance.
Li Hongtai had never mentioned it to anyone.
Severely injured, and with a deep blood feud with his own Disciple.
In Li Hongtai's heart, he naturally had no good impression of the Jiang Clan, and was even extremely disgusted by them.
Hence, the current scene.
Li Hongtai knew the matter was serious, so he no longer dared to conceal it and immediately revealed everything: "At that time, I didn't think too much about this matter, but now that I think about it, there are indeed peculiarities. The strength of the person who attacked me that day was unknown, even far surpassing mine! Why would such a person personally make a move for a mere Lin Chen?"
Clearly, after Su Qingmeng said that someone had been secretly instigating discord with the Jiang Clan, he suddenly realized.
If the matter back then was truly done by the Jiang Clan, how could they not have found him?
They would have probably come knocking on his door long ago!
Li Hongtai also immediately understood that he had truly been used by someone.
Qu Jingshan angrily rebuked him for not striving, saying, "You are truly muddled! For the sake of a Disciple, you almost pushed Cloud Top Academy to be an enemy of the Jiang Clan. All these years, you've truly lived in vain!"
Su Qingmeng also had an extremely disdainful expression and asked, "Where is this Lin Chen? Just kill him!"
Li Hongtai frowned tightly, disregarding many things, and bravely tried to dissuade her:
"Grand Elder! This child Lin Chen has a good Heart-Nature and extraordinary talent. It is now clear that someone was secretly setting up a scheme in the matter back then!"
"Lin Chen is also completely unaware. Can you let me personally explain it clearly to him, turn enemies into friends? He could also be a pillar of our Cloud Top Academy in the future!"
He was still unwilling.
Dean Wang Hongtu and the Old Ancestors shook their heads repeatedly.
Qu Jingshan said, "Grand Elder, this matter originated from you, so you should make the decision."
The next second.
Su Qingmeng struck fiercely, hitting Li Hongtai hard on the chest.
He immediately spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his Face pale, and his Saint King Realm cultivation instantly collapsed.
Li Hongtai was crippled.
"How can years of hatred be easily resolved?"
"First, come with me. I still need to search your Soul. What if you, old dog, didn't tell the truth?"
The Old Ancestors' Faces twitched slightly.
They understood that she was holding a grudge!
However, a Grand Elder whose cultivation was crippled was not worth them protecting.
Swish—
In a flash, Li Hongtai was taken by Su Qingmeng to the Peach Garden Grotto-heaven.
"Ye'er, come quickly. I've crippled this old dog's cultivation. Are you still angry?"
Su Qingmeng said with a smile, as if she had done something worthy of praise.
Then she explained everything that had just happened to Jiang Ye again.
Jiang Ye was immediately delighted after hearing it.
An ordinary name, family all dead, a mortal body but extraordinary talent, good Heart-Nature... and he has a feud with the Jiang Clan!
Most likely another Protagonist of Destiny!
Cloud Top Academy truly hides many talented individuals!
He looked at Li Hongtai, a smile playing on the corner of his lips: "Where is this Lin Chen now?"
Li Hongtai frowned slightly, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
"Now that the position of Dao Child is already in Your Highness Divine Son's grasp, why bother with a small Lin Chen?"
Jiang Ye pouted after hearing this, too lazy to waste words with him.
He looked at Su Qingmeng and said directly, "Aunt Meng, search his Soul. Let's see who else is secretly causing trouble."
Su Qingmeng's eyes turned cold, and a trace of Emperor's might suddenly emerged from her.
The terrifying aura enveloped Li Hongtai, instantly stripping away his memories.
Li Hongtai's pupils immediately widened, his eyeballs bloodshot, his expression extremely painful.
Boom—
The next moment, Su Qingmeng directly crushed his Divine Soul.
Lin Chen's Master, deceased!