Chapter 163 [If you have the guts, raze this school to the ground!]

Su Jingxing was still acquiring energy stones, considering that subsequent array formations could be continuously stacked upon them.

He had not yet returned the ancient text titled *Elementary Array Formation*, keeping it safely stored in his palm space. According to the disclosures made by the He family, one-quarter of the map leading to the Mausoleum of King Qin was hidden within *Elementary Array Formation*.

Could this copy of *Elementary Array Formation* be the exact one currently in Su Jingxing's possession?

He harbored this doubt because he knew that most of the ancient texts in the library of the Qinghe Branch of Xuantian University were merely reproduction copies. If the map revealed by the He family was hidden within the original edition, then Su Jingxing might just be experiencing a false joy.

At this thought, Su Jingxing suppressed his racing heartbeat, took a deep breath, and steadied his mind.

Activating the "Voice-to-Ear Realm" secret technique, he listened to his surroundings to ensure no one was about.

He retrieved *Elementary Array Formation* from his palm space and examined it page by page with utmost care.

However, after reading through the entire book once, he found no anomalies.

The second read yielded nothing, and the third was the same.

"Is it fake?"

Su Jingxing stopped turning the pages, closed the book, and frowned in thought.

He had personally fetched *Elementary Array Formation* from the top floor of the Xuantian University library, and he had even tested the array explanations recorded inside himself—they were entirely accurate.

The He family claimed that *Elementary Array Formation* contained one-quarter of the map.

Yet, despite his thorough search, Su Jingxing had found nothing.

This situation left only two possibilities.

Either the *Elementary Array Formation* mentioned by the He family was not a replica, but the original edition.

Or, the map was indeed hidden inside *Elementary Array Formation*, but it was invisible to the naked eye and required a special method to be revealed.

Just like the final page of the secret manuals *Eight Steps to Ascend the Dragon* and *Nine Steps to Tread the Heavens*!

"It seems I'll have to trouble Brother Goose again," Su Jingxing murmured.

Such hidden mechanisms cast upon secret manuals had unique unlocking methods.

Randomly trying to force it would only destroy the manual along the way.

The innate ability of the giant white goose, however, did not suffer from this hassle.

A flash of light, and it would immediately reveal itself!

With this thought in mind, Su Jingxing put *Elementary Array Formation* back into his palm space, stepped out of his office, made up an excuse about needing to head home, and directly returned to his courtyard at the foot of the mountain.

Once home, he swiftly entered the back mountain, soared into the sky from amidst the forest, pushed *Eight Steps to Ascend the Dragon* to its absolute limit, accelerated to his top speed, and headed straight for the Qingyun Mountain Range.

...

At the same time, Xuantian University.

The spacious president's office was packed with all the top senior officials of the school.

Among them were President Ma Shifeng, Dean of the Martial Arts Academy Han Zong, Library Curator Liang Yiqing, Logistics Director Gu Shiyang, Chief Guard Jiang Cheng, and Liu Jufen, who had come from the Xuantian main campus to relax at the Qinghe branch.

Among these individuals, Han Zong, Liang Yiqing, Gu Shiyang, and Jiang Cheng were all Rank-Four martial artists, representing the highest combat strength of the Xuantian Qinghe Branch.

Barring exceptional circumstances, these four men would almost never appear in the president's office simultaneously.

Yet at this moment, not only was Ma Shifeng's expression solemn, but Han Zong, Liang Yiqing, and the other three also wore deep frowns and anxious looks.

"Everyone already knows the situation. Now tell me, what should we do?"

Amidst the oppressive atmosphere, Ma Shifeng broke the silence. "The major powers across the entire city and prefecture will soon find out about this. Once those people arrive, there will be no more peace to be found on campus!"

"A lack of peace is secondary; the main issue is that outsiders entering the campus will have no scruples. If our students stay here, some are bound to get hurt," the Dean of the Liberal Arts Academy said softly.

"Then what is there to discuss? Just directly announce a long vacation!"

Han Zong bellowed in a voice as loud as a firecracker, "Compared to the people coming from outside, I am even more furious at the one who leaked this! Damn it, he actually said that the four ancient texts containing the map are kept right here in our school! Isn't that complete nonsense?"

"It's not nonsense. It's true," Liang Yiqing sighed in response.

What?

Everyone froze upon hearing this.

Ma Shifeng widened his eyes in disbelief and asked, "Old Liang, what have you discovered?"

"Ever since those three groups of people broke into the library by night to seize the landscape map, I specifically investigated some confidential records. As it turns out, I actually uncovered a secret," Liang Yiqing explained in a deep voice.

"This secret concerns the whereabouts of the Mausoleum of King Qin!"

"The Qinghe City stands beneath Qingyun Mountain, and the Mausoleum of King Qin lies beneath Qinghe City."

"There are quite a few records of this phrase in related ancient texts. Following this clue, I investigated further and discovered that the map recording the location of the Mausoleum of King Qin was indeed broken into four parts four hundred years ago and hidden within four ancient texts."

"Namely, the leaked *Elementary Array Formation*, *Elementary True Qi*, *Elementary Elixirs*, and *Elementary Spirit Weapons*."

"These four ancient texts were indeed placed in our school library from the very beginning. However, over the course of several centuries, *Elementary Spirit Weapons* was lost two hundred years ago, and *Elementary Elixirs* was borrowed by someone seventy years ago and has yet to be returned."

"The remaining two, *Elementary Array Formation* and *Elementary True Qi*, have managed to stay until now."

"However, just a few days ago when I went to look for these two books, only *Elementary True Qi* was still there. *Elementary Array Formation* had suddenly vanished!"

"...What do you mean by vanished?" Ma Shifeng forced himself to remain calm as he asked in a low voice.

"Just that it's gone. No traces, no borrowing records, no one touched it, it simply disappeared."

Liang Yiqing's gaze flickered.

"Old Liang, looking at you like that, do you have your suspicions?" Gu Shiyang asked.

"Suspicion? Things have come to this, Old Liang, what are you still pretending for? Hurry up and tell us—who on earth took *Elementary Array Formation*?" Han Zong urged upon hearing this.

"I can tell you, but I'm not entirely certain," Liang Yiqing pondered aloud. "Remember when those three groups broke into the library at night, and I only discovered the third person—the Rank-Four martial artist—right at the very end?"

"Are you saying that mysterious Rank-Four martial artist took *Elementary Array Formation*?" Ma Shifeng frowned.

"Correct."

Liang Yiqing nodded heavily. "Aside from him, I can't think of anyone else who fits the suspicion."

"Even if we know it was him, there's nothing we can do about it," Jiang Cheng said in a deep, booming voice, his tall and burly frame tensing. "Of the four ancient texts, only *Elementary True Qi* remains. How are we supposed to explain this to those prying individuals?"

"Explain?"

Han Zong glared and shouted, "We aren't the ones who lost the ancient text! Why on earth should we explain a damn thing to outsiders?!"

"If you don't explain, can you appease the experts from the major powers who are about to arrive?" Gu Shiyang retorted sharply.

"So what if they arrive?!"

Han Zong snorted coldly. "If they have the ability, let them tear the school down and raze it to the ground!"

"You—"

"Cough, cough~"

A light cough interrupted the bickering pair.

It was Liu Jufen. Narrowing his eyes, he spoke in a low, alluring tone, "Let's put other things aside for a moment. I'm very curious about *Elementary True Qi*—what does the map hidden inside it look like?"