"A wanted notice from Black Cloud Academy?"

With the words of Hengtian Palace Master, even Chengfeng Hall Master furrowed his brows.

Chengfeng Hall Master squinted his eyes, as if recalling something.

"The vice dean of Black Cloud Academy, I’m aware that your academy can issue wanted notices."

"But, the wanted notices from the other Five Halls are also issued by your Black Cloud Academy, and then distributed by the Five Hall Masters?"

"If I’m not mistaken, you, the vice dean, have connections all over the Central Region, with Jiang Liuhuo, Bai Yue, Jin Juexuan, and others being your friends."

"All friends?" Hearing this, Xiao Yi stared coldly at the vice dean.

All these Main Hall Masters and Vice Hall Masters in the Main Hall, such as Jiang Liuhuo, Jin Juexuan, Bai Yue, Jingj Wu, are indeed all friends of the vice dean?

Xiao Yi recognized these Main Hall Masters and Vice Hall Masters because they were already renowned in the Central Region for many years, and renowned for their achievements in each hall.

He used to have the habit of investigating major forces and intelligence on some illustrious strong individuals.

The purpose being to understand the affairs in the Central Region more quickly and easily.

Moreover, he already held the identity of a Martial Artist in Wind Shattering Hall, making it easy to access this information.

Thus, he could easily recognize these Main Hall Masters and Vice Hall Masters.

However, that’s all he could do—namely recognize them and roughly know their identities; truly understanding them was another matter entirely.

In contrast, Chengfeng Hall Master had served as a Main Hall Master in the Wind Shattering Hall Main Hall for many years.

The intelligence he knew, along with his understanding of these Main Hall Masters and Vice Hall Masters, was naturally deeper.

Words coming from Chengfeng Hall Master would naturally be accurate.

At this time, the vice dean felt Xiao Yi’s cold gaze and hurriedly spoke, "Xiao Yi, don’t misunderstand."

"You were once a disciple of Black Cloud Academy; you should know that our academy has ties with the various halls."

"We often undertake some difficult tasks for the halls and can issue wanted notices within them."

Yes, Xiao Yi knew this well.

Black Cloud Academy had ties with the halls.

The reason being that the vice dean was one of the ten great Hall Masters of the Medicine Venerate Hall.

Alchemists naturally have friends all over the world; although Medicine Venerate Hall isn’t in the same Alliance Hall as Black Demon Hall, Wind Shattering Hall, etc., overall, its relationship with each hall is rather good.

Thus, Black Cloud Academy can be considered a force or a Demon Hunting Team that takes and completes these tasks.

At the same time, due to these relationships, Black Cloud Academy has certain privileges.

Like issuing supplementary wanted notices.

The normal procedure is issuing a wanted notice first, then having Martial Artists complete it.

While at Black Cloud Academy, Xiao Yi recalled, like during the Floral Spirit Sect incident, the task was completed first, and the notice was supplemented later.

With the unique nature of Black Cloud Academy, issuing wanted notices in the halls, and even having famous Main Hall Masters assist directly is certainly possible.

But...

"Vice Dean." Xiao Yi’s eyes remained icy as he stared at the vice dean.

"I advise you not to lie to me; having been at Black Cloud Academy, you naturally understand my character and skills."

Xiao Yi’s expression was serious, and his tone was equally solemn.

Upon hearing this, a complex expression briefly flashed on the vice dean’s face before he replied firmly, "I haven’t lied to you."

Xiao Yi coldly said, "Then explain to me why, aside from in the Black Cloud Region, Black Cloud Academy also issued notices in the Six Dragon Territory?"

"Black Cloud Region already has the Main Halls of various halls in it."

"You could have just issued the notices in the Black Cloud Region’s Medicine Venerate Hall, Heavenly Mechanism Hall, Black Demon Hall, etc."

"Why issue one notice in Black Cloud Region, another in Six Dragon Region, and yet another elsewhere, only to have each replaced by various Main Hall Masters?"

"And these Main Hall Masters posting notices on behalf of Black Cloud Academy are all your friends."

Xiao Yi knew the vice dean to be a decent person, but quite skilled in diplomacy.

So, Xiao Yi wasn’t entirely convinced by his explanations and directly questioned him further.

If they were going to issue notices, why have the Main Hall Masters do it, why not have Black Cloud Academy issue them openly?

"It’s just a coincidence," the vice dean replied solemnly.

"The Medicine Venerate Hall Main Hall did lose a batch of invaluable Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures."

"And the most suspicious ones are those friends behind you, whose movements are usually low-profile, yet coincidentally appeared nearby."

"That batch of treasures was supposed to be escorted by our academy to Medicine Venerate Hall."

"Naturally, their loss was first reported to Medicine Venerate Hall, and due to its seriousness, a wanted notice was issued directly."

"As for the other halls’ notices," the vice dean smiled lightly.

"Your friends truly possess remarkable skills."

"The Medicine Venerate Hall’s notice and the Main Hall Enforcement Team couldn’t do anything about it."

"Thus, our academy had to issue notices in other halls as well."

"It’s just that due to my many friendships, those Main Hall Masters happened to assist."

"Really?" Xiao Yi frowned.

"Really." The vice dean nodded affirmatively, "Your friends are indeed highly capable."

"Without Chengfeng Hall Master and Hengtian Palace Master appearing early and laying a Great Formation to trap them here, solely relying on our previous pursuit from the Six Halls wouldn’t suffice."

"Besides, I know what you’re questioning," the vice dean said seriously.

"But you once were a disciple of Black Cloud Academy; you should know how all the elders down to the disciples in our academy conduct themselves."

"Would Elder Yun Yuan, Hui Deacon, Elder Hei Xuan, and others, including Tong Ye, Qin Yi, and all other disciples, stoop to falsely accusing people?"

"Who would commit such a crime of imposing unwarranted guilt?"

"Since the academy issued a notice, there must be a reason."

Xiao Yi furrowed his brow, as the vice dean’s words were logical and contained nothing particularly suspicious.

"Alas." As the vice dean spoke, he sighed.

"Regarding your friends behind you, considering your sake, I could dismiss it as a misunderstanding and withdraw the notice."

"As for those lost Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, I’ll find a way to resolve it for you."

"However, you..." The vice dean pointed at Xiao Yi, his hand trembling, "You shouldn’t have been so impulsive just now."

"Jin Juexuan is the Heavenly Mechanism Main Hall Master, and you killed him publicly; the consequences..."

"If you still regard me as the vice dean, and trust me as a senior, accompany me to the Heavenly Mechanism Hall to apologize."

"I assure you, even if I must risk my life, I will negotiate on your behalf to the very end."

The vice dean’s eyes were filled with sincerity.

Xiao Yi furrowed his brows tightly, for he realized that the sincerity in the vice dean’s eyes couldn’t be feigned.

The concern in the vice dean’s words was absolutely genuine.

"Xiao Yi, put down the sword." The vice dean now spoke in a stern tone.

"Come with me to the Heavenly Mechanism Hall, and leave the rest to me."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi frowned.

At that moment.

Bai Bingxue below mumbled, "Black Cloud Academy?"

Bai Bingxue seemed to recall something and instantly moved to Senior Swordswoman’s side.

"Master, Black Cloud Academy, some days ago when we encountered that fierce female, she seemed to mention it."

"Hmm?" Senior Swordswoman, upon hearing this, seemed to recall something and furrowed her brows.

At this moment, the vice dean’s expression abruptly changed.

Even though the vice dean’s reaction was swift, this change of expression was fleeting.

However, Xiao Yi, being perceptive, caught sight of it.

...

First Chapter.