Chapter 575: Taiqing Order
Watching the Firebird gradually disappear from view, Wei Yunhang’s expression turned extremely grim. He snarled through clenched teeth, "Lin Yun, do you think you’re safe just because you’ve escaped Taiqing Academy? The surrounding ten thousand miles are all under our jurisdiction. I’d like to see just where you can run."
With that, Wei Yunhang shouted an order to the crowd of Taiqing Academy Disciples below: all Core Disciples, Direct Disciples, and Inner Sect Disciples who were uninjured were to immediately head to the major cities and towns under the Academy’s jurisdiction.
The Core Disciples, Direct Disciples, and Inner Sect Disciples numbered at least ten thousand in total. In an instant, Taiqing Academy, like a giant machine, roared to life under Wei Yunhang’s command.
The Core Disciples mounted Cyan Cloud Cranes, their destination naturally being Fire City, while the remaining Direct Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples headed for the other towns.
With a grim expression, Wei Yunhang left the main plaza and went to the Taiching Hall. Ignoring everyone else, he walked straight up to the Taiqing Institute Director, bowed, and spoke.
"Master, I want to launch an all-out hunt for Lin Yun and his group..."
The Taiqing Institute Director was supportive of Wei Yunhang, but one of the Supreme Elders interjected, "Yunhang, you want to mobilize the Main Seat Elders and the other Elders? Have you forgotten our promise not to interfere in this matter?"
Hearing this, Wei Yunhang straightened his posture and looked directly at the Supreme Elder. "Supreme Elder, have you not yet seen how powerful Lin Yun is? This is our best chance to eliminate him. If we let him escape Taiqing Academy’s territory, who will be able to kill him in the future?"
"I’d wager that in less than ten years, not even you Supreme Elders will be able to handle Lin Yun. Surely you all understand the folly of releasing a tiger back to the mountains?"
Wei Yunhang questioned him bluntly. Right now, only one thought occupied his mind: find Lin Yun and kill him in one fell swoop. As for Lu Bingning and the other two women, the thought of their beauty stirred a hot desire within him.
"Insolence..." Wei Yunhang’s attitude instantly infuriated the Supreme Elder.
Just then, Wei Yunhang’s master, the Taiqing Institute Director, spoke up at the opportune moment. "Martial Uncle, please don’t be angry. Yunhang was likely just being impetuous. But he truly is thinking of Taiqing Academy’s best interests. Lin Yun is a ferocious tiger; we absolutely cannot let him escape."
As the Taiqing Institute Director spoke to placate him, the Supreme Elder’s face darkened. He shot a glance at Wei Yunhang, then left the Main Hall without another word.
After this Supreme Elder left, the other five Supreme Elders also departed one by one, including Qin Feng’s master.
The Six Supreme Elders had all left, each one of them seething with suppressed anger.
Only Wei Yunhang, his master, and a group of Main Seat Elders remained in the Main Hall. Just then, Wei Yunhang’s master retrieved a Token from his Space Ring and handed it to him.
"Yunhang, this is the Taiqing Order," the Taiqing Institute Director said calmly. "With this Token, you can mobilize all of Taiqing Academy’s Disciples and Elders, as well as all our subordinate powers. Go on and do what you must. I will be waiting for your good news."
After handing the Taiqing Order to Wei Yunhang, the Taiqing Institute Director also left the Main Hall. The Six Supreme Elders were now clearly displeased with him, so he decided not to interfere any further in the matter of Lin Yun, placing all authority in Wei Yunhang’s hands.
The Taiqing Order was a Token that only the Taiqing Institute Director possessed. With it, Wei Yunhang now had the authority to command everyone in Taiqing Academy and all of its subordinate powers, with the sole exception of the Supreme Elders.
Holding the Taiqing Order, Wei Yunhang commanded the assembled Main Seat Elders, "All Main Seat Elders, proceed to the major towns at once! You must block all escape routes and not allow Lin Yun or his people to get away. The moment you find Lin Yun’s location, report it to me immediately."
With Wei Yunhang holding the Taiqing Order, the Main Seat Elders had no choice but to obey. After respectfully acknowledging the command, the Main Seat Elders exited the Main Hall one by one.
With the Taiqing Order in hand, things became much more convenient for Wei Yunhang. He dispatched not only the Main Seat Elders, but the regular Elders as well.
Aside from a skeleton crew left to maintain the Academy’s daily operations, Wei Yunhang sent everyone else out. Their objective was singular: find Lin Yun’s whereabouts.
In just half an hour, Wei Yunhang had arranged everything. He had cast a massive dragnet, and he was confident that with it in place, Lin Yun had absolutely no chance of escaping Taiqing Academy’s domain.
But that wasn’t all. Wei Yunhang also commanded Taiqing Academy’s various subordinate powers to keep a close watch for Lin Yun and the Flawless Palace Disciples, and to report to him the moment they were spotted.
After arranging all this, Wei Yunhang walked out of the Main Hall. As he strolled, he pondered where Lin Yun might have gone.
"Lin Yun, you’re barely hanging on to life. Let’s see how far you can run," he muttered coldly. Now that all pretenses between them were gone, Wei Yunhang was determined not to give Lin Yun any chance of survival.
’If I can’t kill Lin Yun this time, it’ll be even more impossible next time. If I keep letting him grow stronger, I’m afraid I won’t even be his match soon enough.’
This was the first time Wei Yunhang had ever felt such a thing. When he compared himself to Lin Yun, he had the distinct feeling that his own talent was inferior. In Lin Yun’s presence, he could sense the vast gulf between them.
At this thought, Wei Yunhang shattered a nearby stone lantern with a single punch and said in a cold voice, "Lin Yun, you brought all of this upon yourself. Don’t blame me for what comes next."
’A threat like this must be nipped in the bud.’ That was Wei Yunhang’s thought, and he was acting on it.
The entire Taiqing Academy was abuzz with activity. Disciples and Elders continuously flew out, heading in all directions. The ten-thousand-mile area under the Academy’s control had effectively been turned into a giant prison.
And this prison had but one purpose: to capture and kill Lin Yun and his companions.
It had been years since Taiqing Academy had gone to such lengths to hunt down a single person. As the news spread to the Academy’s subordinate powers, hundreds of them, large and small, sprang into action.
In Fire City, for instance, the various great families, led by the Wei Family, immediately sealed the city gates. People could enter, but no one could leave. Moreover, several Celestial Spirit Realm experts were stationed at each gate, verifying the identity of every person who entered.
Caught within this massive, inescapable dragnet, Lin Yun’s group was now completely directionless. Guiding the Firebird, Bai Zhicheng had no idea where to go, and Qin Feng and Mo Qingliu were even more clueless.
Lacking a clear direction, Bai Zhicheng’s group naturally slowed down. Soon, Lu Bingning and the others caught up with them. Once the groups converged, Lu Bingning warned them that the Disciples and Elders from Taiqing Academy were closing in and they needed to come up with a plan, fast.