Yang Ying also arrived at the Central Glacier Academy, choosing to observe from the rear during the standoff, treating Igor as a mere stranger.

Yang Ying was highly confident that no one would suspect any connection between Igor and himself; Igor’s disguise was flawless. Thanks to the psychic resonance channel between their clones, Igor could effortlessly suppress his psychic power to around three million. Coupled with the Sarnagan research on spiritual matters, concealing the Fourth Level signature was but a trivial exertion. Even Sandover, at the very peak of the Fourth Level, was thoroughly deceived, let alone anyone else.

The confrontation between the two factions immediately drew all attention to Igor, highlighting him in the center. In another person’s shoes, being stared at by so many Fourth Level entities might have induced a complete mental collapse.

"Come with me! Come with me." Sandover’s eyes flashed with sharp light, his words echoing directly in Igor’s ear, incessantly cycling a small command for him to obey.

This was the will of a god—lofty, utterly commanding, as if stating an irrefutable truth. Anyone below the Fourth Level, no matter how firm their willpower, could not help but be influenced, becoming immediately compliant.

"Regent King, we should respect the wishes of the potion’s inventor. Using such low tactics is beneath you," the Empress Dowager noticed Sandover’s clandestine maneuvers and immediately spoke up to intervene. Her voice was like a clear spring, mitigating the effect of Sandover's words. Unfortunately, her strength was less than his, and she could not completely erase Sandover’s influence. Aware of this, she shifted her gaze toward Yang Ying and Dao Feng. "Ahem."

Yang Ying coughed once, and all those nearby felt a deafening thunderclap reverberate through their spiritual domains. Lightning, in many myths, is considered the wrath of the gods. The sheer divine might contained within this single cough was in no way inferior to Sandover’s, even surpassing it in sheer ferocity.

Of course, these mind-influencing sounds were utterly useless against Igor. Yet, Igor feigned being affected by Sandover, only to be recalled by the voices of the Empress Dowager and Yang Ying. Shaking his body as if waking from a deep slumber, he shot a sharp glare toward Sandover’s faction and stated, "Regent King’s generous offer, I am unworthy to accept. However, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's proposal suits me perfectly. Pledging allegiance to the Imperial family is the duty of every subject of the Empire; I shall not shirk it."

"Insolent whelp, ungrateful wretch."

Sandover was inherently autocratic and hated any defiance of his will. Had he been born into royalty, he might have become a generation’s master strategist, but he was born into a minor noble house. Relying on his astonishing cultivation talent and the life-and-death struggles on the battlefield, he broke through to the Fourth Level, accumulated military honors, and steadily rose to the rank of Duke. Not long ago, taking advantage of the weakened state of the royal family, he successfully ambushed the Emperor, forcing the Empress Dowager and her daughter into submission to become the Regent King. He was, arguably, at the zenith of his life.

Yet, his ambition remained unquenched. Now, only one last, highest peak remained before him: the Imperial Throne. For Sandover, only by ascending this final summit could he prove that his life had not been lived in vain.

In his eyes, Igor was nothing more than an ant, someone he could crush effortlessly. If it weren't for the immense value Igor represented, Sandover would not have given him a second glance.

"Hmph!" Milleram suddenly coalesced into a mass of black smoke, teleporting behind Igor. Bypassing Du Neihao, he extended a withered palm and lunged for Igor. "A mere commoner without even a minor noble title dares to offend the dignity of the Regent King! Allow me to take him back for judgment!"

"Hold!"

Milleram’s action was like disturbing a hornet’s nest. Dao Feng instantly transformed into a streak of electric light and hurtled toward Milleram.

Seeing this, Sandover let out a cold sneer, strange ripples manifesting around his body. His figure vanished abruptly, only to reappear instantly before the electric light, intending to intercept Dao Feng. However, Yang Ying suddenly materialized, blocking him.

Yasuwen immediately followed Sandover downward, but the Empress Dowager lifted her hand, sending forth a curtain of light that blocked his path, preventing him from breaking through for the moment.

The other powerhouses under Sandover’s command also became entangled with the several Dukes brought by the Empress Dowager.

The weakest among them possessed the strength of the Upper Fourth Level. All could foresee the monumental changes the new awakening potions would bring to the Empire's future. Whoever secured these potions would effectively command the tide of destiny. Now, over the ownership of Igor, a battle was inevitable here.

All this occurred in an instant. By the time Milleram reached for Igor, the lightning that was Dao Feng had already struck before him.

Dao Feng’s entire body was 'enveloped' in electrical light, and the lightning in his hand coalesced into a long spear, stabbing toward Milleram’s forehead!

Milleram cried out in alarm, his pair of greasy green eyes blazing with hatred. The last time they met in the solar system, Dao Feng had used this exact move to severely wound him, piercing his chest with one strike and forcing him out of the fight instantly.

Meeting it again, Milleram still possessed no effective counter to this technique. Dao Feng had pushed his control over electricity to the absolute extreme. The seemingly simple stab contained subtle mysteries of time and space. With this single thrust, the space-time around Milleram was instantly locked down. Furthermore, Dao Feng's psychic strength held a slight edge over Milleram’s, making it impossible for Milleram to break the confinement. He could only brace to receive the blow.

Milleram raised both hands, emitting two puffs of black gas that condensed into twin black scythes. Of course, this was not enough; the last time Dao Feng had broken straight through his two scythes to inflict grievous harm. He needed more!

With a loud roar, four more arms suddenly extended from Milleram’s black cloak, each grasping a large scythe. Wielding six scythes in total, he formed a dense net of blades, hacking toward Dao Feng. This move had been long prepared; he intended to show everyone else that his previous severe injury was due to a sneak attack, not insufficient power.

"Well met!"

Dao Feng saw the six scythes cleaving toward him, their momentum fierce, seemingly determined to slice him into countless pieces. He was unwilling to mutually destroy Milleram, but he would not retreat. His right hand continued to drive the spear forward, while his left hand simultaneously conjured a shield of lightning to block in front of him.

Du Neihao, positioned not far away, realized the situation was perilous. He instantly transformed his body into a beam of light, wrapping up Igor and retreating into the distance—the direction of the Central Glacier Academy’s faculty group. Along the way, Du Neihao swept up dozens of professors, instantly moving several kilometers away.

Dao Feng’s spear pierced into the blade net. The black scythes and the lightning spear clashed thousands of times in that single moment. The other scythes hacked Dao Feng’s lightning shield tens of thousands of times. Such intense attacks generated shockwaves capable of obliterating the entire Central Glacier Academy.

Fortunately, he had sealed the entire space surrounding Milleram beforehand. This confinement originated from a static field, capable of isolating internal and external damage, ensuring the destruction remained contained within the enclosed volume.

Milleram, who was prepared, was indeed far harder to deal with than last time. Previously, the clash between Yang Ying and Sandover had violently disrupted the surrounding space-time, leaving Milleram unprepared for Dao Feng’s sudden assault. But now, there was no such opportunity. Milleram had anticipated Dao Feng’s attack. The three pairs of scythes moved unpredictably, their strikes relentless, sweeping and tearing everything like a tornado.

Du Neihao had only just materialized several kilometers away and was preparing to use a wormhole to whisk Igor away when Feimude suddenly burst forth from Sandover’s side, blocking Du Neihao. "Du Neihao, don't rush off! If you must go, leave this brat who offended the Regent King behind!"

In the sky above, the two factions had already engaged. Yasuwen was tying up the Empress Dowager. Although his strength was on par with hers, the disparity in their status prevented him from committing fully. He could only engage in skirmishes with agile movements, keeping the Empress Dowager preoccupied and unable to disengage.

Sandover’s faction, despite being outnumbered by the Dukes accompanying the Empress Dowager, did their utmost to entangle them, creating opportunities for Feimude.

"How can that be called an offense?" an elderly professor frowned. "Though the Regent King’s status is lofty, he cannot be unreasonable. What just occurred was merely the Empress Dowager inviting Igor to the palace, and Igor accepting. How can Regent King Sandover deem this an offense worthy of punishment? Moreover, you dared to engage in combat with the Empress Dowager—that is the true crime of disrespect."

"Little fellow, what are you? When I was dominating the world, your great-great-grandfather hadn't even been born yet!" Feimude roared with laughter.

"I am the Dean of the Faculty of Law here. According to Article Forty-nine, Subsection Two of the Imperial Noble Law, among the thirty-six defined scenarios for offending nobility, not one applies to Igor’s recent actions!" the old professor stated righteously.

"I have heard rumors of the potions Igor invented. Your blatant attempt to seize the potions, even resorting to striking members of the Royal Family, will certainly bring sanctions upon you!" Principal Pingxigu said with a stern expression.

"Silence!" Feimude roared, flames blazing fiercely, transforming into a fiery cloak behind him that dragged eighty percent of its length on the ground, scorching the surface into magma. "I have no patience for your debates! He pointed at Du Neihao: "You are a pharmacist; combat is not your strength. I won't make things difficult for you. Leave the person here, and you may go."

"That is impossible," Du Neihao shook his head.

"Then I shall take him by force!" Feimude conjured a greatsword the size of a door panel from flames and swung it down at Du Neihao.

Du Neihao conjured ring after ring of light in his hands, attempting to loop them around Feimude. Feimude swung his flaming greatsword, slicing through every ring of light.

When beings of the Fourth Level truly fought, their speed exceeded the limit of perception for Third Level masters. Before the professors could react, Feimude was upon them, reaching out a hand toward Igor.