Chapter 76: Li Xun’s Visit

Li Xun slowly opened his eyes and glanced around. Everyone was long gone, leaving him alone in the vast, empty hall.

He rubbed his temples, looking a little impatient.

“Fine. I’ll check the place first. If I don’t find anything useful, it’s not too late to pay a visit to Tianwu Academy,” Li Xun muttered, standing up with his hands clasped behind his back.

With a swift whoosh, Li Xun vanished from the hall.

In the blink of an eye, Li Xun now floated high above the Longyang Secret Realm, hands behind his back and eyes scanning below. What greeted him was nothing but a barren stretch of empty land.

A flash of surprise crossed Li Xun’s face. He could understand the secret realm vanishing, but even the towering, majestic mountain that once stood here was gone too? Still, the shock quickly faded from his expression.

Li Xun landed and carefully searched every inch within a hundred miles of where Jade Pool Mountain used to be, but came up empty.

Pausing for a moment, a conclusion quickly surfaced in his mind: “The missing trial disciples from my sect likely vanished along with Jade Pool Mountain and the Longyang Secret Realm.”

Li Xun let out a helpless sigh and was about to turn and leave, when a sudden rustling burst from the grass behind him.

“Who’s hiding back there and playing tricks? Show yourself!” Li Xun spun around, a chill flashing in his eyes.

The noise in the grass stopped instantly, as if nothing had happened at all.

Seeing this, Li Xun ignored it and turned to leave.

Deep within a forest drenched in a sinister, eerie air, wild grass and all sorts of rare treasures grew rampant. In the tangle of green, a few pairs of blood-red eyes darted through the brush.

Suddenly, shadows streaked past as several massive beasts lunged out.

A pack of fifth-rank Bihai Crocodiles burst forth with terrifying speed, launching themselves at Li Xun and intent on tearing apart this intruder in an instant.

Looking up, Li Xun saw a group of huge Bihai Crocodiles looming over him. Their bodies glowed with a greenish sheen, each about three feet tall and five feet long, scales glinting menacingly, claws razor sharp. Cold, dreadful energy radiated from them as they lunged with gaping, bloody jaws, clearly hoping to snap Li Xun’s head clean off.

“Just a few fifth-rank beasts, yet you dare act so wild?” Li Xun said coolly. With a flicker, he blurred right past the Bihai Crocodiles. In the next moment, the beasts floating midair exploded into five clouds of blood, raining down to feed the land.

“Looks like things are exactly as the Tenth Elder said. If I want to know what really happened, I’ll have to visit Tianwu Academy myself. So be it.” Li Xun glanced around, shook his head and sighed.

With another sharp whoosh, he tore through the air, shooting straight towards Tianwu Academy.

……

Tianwu Academy, now peaceful and thriving. After earning Nangong Wentian’s rewards and building up strength from their time in the secret realm, Gu Qingyi and the others sensed breakthroughs ahead and entered seclusion within the Epiphany Tower.

At the central arena, academy disciples sparred atop the stage.

Crowds jammed every corner. The packed arena buzzed with cheers and chants as people shouted support for the two onstage. The place was alive with excitement.

Thanks to the Marrow-Cleansing Fruit Gu Qingyi’s group brought back, Nangong Wentian distributed them to all the academy’s servant disciples, helping everyone take their first steps on the path of cultivation—treating all equally.

Watching the students’ passion from above, Nangong Wentian grew curious to see what surprises these newly-initiated cultivators might bring.

“You’re all remarkable. Not long ago, you just started cultivating and already achieved so much! This is truly an auspicious day for Tianwu Academy! Hahaha!” Laughing heartily, Nangong Wentian agreed to judge the spar and looked over the arena crowd, unable to contain his joy.

“Thank you, Headmaster. We’ll never forget your kindness. Who would’ve thought people like us, just ordinary folk, could one day become admired cultivators!” As soon as these words fell, everyone below dropped to one knee in unison, gratitude shining in their eyes.

In respectful tones, they continued, “Everything we have is thanks to you, Headmaster. That’s why we never dare slack off in training. It’s only with your guidance that we’ve come this far!”

“At Tianwu Academy we treat everyone fairly. I understand your gratitude, but keep working hard!” Nangong Wentian looked at the crowd, openly pleased by their heartfelt joy.

“Don’t let today’s little success make you complacent,” he said. “This is just your first step. There’s a long road ahead, so keep pushing forward!”

“Don’t let down the academy and me,” Nangong Wentian said, standing tall with hands clasped behind him, his gaze sweeping the disciples.

As one, they called out, “We’ll take your words to heart, Headmaster! We’ll cultivate diligently and never let you or the academy down!”

Nangong Wentian burst into booming laughter and waved for everyone to rise. “Good! That’s the spirit I want to see from Tianwu Academy’s students. I look forward to the day you all shine bright and bring honor to the academy!”

But even as he grinned, Nangong Wentian’s smile froze. He had sensed an incredibly powerful energy racing toward them.

In an instant, a suffocating pressure blanketed the skies above Tianwu Academy. Thunder rumbled and dark clouds rolled in—threatening to split the heavens open with bolts of lightning at any moment.

The students below, who’d just been laughing and celebrating, all turned grave as they stared up at the storm. There was a tension in the air, as if a fearsome enemy had arrived.

“Who are you, skulking around out of sight—are you too afraid to even show yourself?” Nangong Wentian shouted, ignoring the pressure as he called up into the sky.

“So you must be the headmaster of this place, Nangong Wentian?” A voice boomed above, but no one could see its source.

It was as if the voice carried the force of heaven itself—unquestionable, overflowing with terrifying might. It echoed through everyone’s ears like a command they could not defy.

Students with weaker cultivation were crushed by the pressure, forced to their knees and clapping their hands over their ears in a desperate effort to block it out.

“That’s right, I’m Nangong Wentian, headmaster here. May I ask why you’ve come to Tianwu Academy? If it’s revenge you want, then I’ll fight you myself!” Calling upon his own cultivation, Nangong Wentian forcefully pushed back against the dreadful aura.

“I fear nothing!” Nangong Wentian declared, unleashing his full power.

“I am Li Xun, Sect Master of the Sky Sword Sect!” Gradually a figure appeared in the sky. The two locked eyes, Li Xun’s face utterly calm as he greeted Nangong Wentian.

“I’ve come today to investigate something. After entering the Longyang Secret Realm, my Sky Sword Sect’s disciples vanished without a trace—just like those of other sects.” Li Xun swept his gaze over the crowd.

“But except for your Tianwu Academy, the losses to other sect disciples were minor, and your students gained massive rewards from the secret realm. Shouldn’t I suspect your disciples of killing and robbing others?” Li Xun’s face darkened abruptly, and a terrifying aura poured from him.

“Sky Sword Sect is one of the top factions in the land—do you have any proof for these accusations? Or are you blaming Tianwu Academy just because your disciples were too weak and got themselves killed?” Nangong Wentian’s own aura flared in defiance, colliding with Li Xun’s—the clash between them was immense.

“There’s no evidence right now. But when every sect suffered losses except yours—and your disciples emerged unscathed—it’s hard not to suspect you.” From above, Li Xun’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at Nangong Wentian, then shook his head.

“Hand over those disciples from that day so I can question them myself.” His gaze turned sharp.

“Since you’ve asked, I’ll say this—my disciples are all still in seclusion. Why not wait until they’ve finished, then question them yourself?” Nangong Wentian replied without a hint of courtesy.

Li Xun nodded and replied in a leisurely tone, “Very well. I’ll wait here for your disciples to end their seclusion—and ask them about what happened myself.”