The disturbance at the Willow God Association's headquarters once again stirred great commotion throughout the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy. Everyone knew that Liu Bai had achieved yet another breakthrough.
Originally, apart from the members of the Willow God Association, most of the new students would have only sighed in admiration, not paying much attention. However, after the previous student exchange event, many now understood that without true experts standing guard within the academy, their dignity would be trampled upon by others. Thus, seeing the top-ranked student on the Heavenly Ranking grow even stronger filled them all with a sense of shared pride.
When they saw Liu Bai walking out from his place of seclusion and appearing by the lakeside, the Willow God Association instantly erupted with excitement. Countless figures surged forward, eager to catch a glimpse of their mysterious and rarely seen president.
Among them, the little witch of the Willow God Association, Su Ling'er, was naturally the fastest. Besides Li Qing and a few others, almost no one in the association could compare to her in strength. After all, this girl was currently the undisputed number one on the Spirit Ranking.
"Brother Liu, did you just make another breakthrough?" Before she even arrived, Su Ling'er's cheerful voice rang out.
Liu Bai smiled faintly. He raised his hand, and a slender finger lightly pressed against the forehead of the reckless girl, flicking it gently.
"You little troublemaker, why are you always the first to rush in? Did you forget that I told you to focus on your cultivation?"
"I didn't forget! I've been training really hard every day. It's just that you always show up when I'm on my break…"
Even she didn't sound convincing when she said that, let alone Liu Bai.
The girl was not yet fifteen years old, about the same age as Mu Chen, yet her cultivation had already reached the Heaven Fusion Realm. Although Liu Bai's guidance played a major role, her talent was still astonishing.
At present, Su Ling'er had already become somewhat of a celebrity within the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy. Even many elders had begun to pay attention to her.
It couldn't be helped—her age advantage was simply too great. Many of her peers were still struggling in the Spiritual Movement Realm, like Mu Chen, who was still stirring up waves in the Spiritual Road at this very time.
"Alright, everyone, back to your training. What are you all standing around for?" Seeing the crowd grow larger, Liu Bai quickly waved his hand.
He had no intention of becoming a spectacle for others to gawk at.
Just as he was about to turn around, his expression suddenly shifted. He looked up toward the northern direction of the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy.
From that direction, a crimson pillar of light suddenly shot into the sky from a grand hall, accompanied by a sharp and urgent chime that echoed across the entire academy.
The sudden scene drew the attention of nearly every student in the academy. Countless astonished gazes turned toward the source of the crimson light, confusion and alarm flashing in their eyes.
"This is bad!"
Liu Bai, who had also been uncertain at first, suddenly recalled something when he saw that crimson pillar. His heart sank as he urgently turned to Su Ling'er. "It's the Blood Chime. Something has happened!"
"The Blood Chime? What's that?" Su Ling'er's playful expression vanished, replaced by solemnity.
Though she didn't know what the Blood Chime was, anything capable of making Liu Bai so tense could not be a minor matter—and certainly not a good one.
Liu Bai's expression grew serious as he explained, "The Blood Chime is a special spiritual artifact of the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy. It can be purchased from the Spiritual Value Hall, but it's extremely expensive.
Moreover, ordinary students have no right to buy it. Only those ranked in the top ten of the Heavenly Ranking are allowed to do so.
The artifact serves as an alarm. When the holder faces mortal danger and crushes the main chime, the secondary chime left in the academy will shatter, producing this sound to signal for help."
However, according to the information Liu Bai had, all of the current top ten students of the Heavenly Ranking were within the academy. So who could have activated the Blood Chime?
Just as Liu Bai was puzzling over it, a figure suddenly rushed in from outside. Judging from the turbulent spiritual energy fluctuations, the newcomer seemed to be in great haste.
"Liu Bai!" Before the person had even landed, she had already locked her gaze onto him. Upon seeing him, a hint of relief flashed across her face.
"Fairy Yue Qing? What happened? Don't tell me that Blood Chime was related to you?" Liu Bai asked quickly.
Yue Qing didn't waste words and nodded directly. "It's Hong Xiao! She led a team out for training. I was worried about accidents, so I exchanged a Blood Chime and gave it to her. I never expected something would actually happen!"
Liu Bai's face darkened in surprise.
Of course he remembered who Hong Xiao was. Wasn't she the violent girl from the Hunting Battle who had chased Hua Zinan across the sky with a whip?
"How many people were in their group, and how strong were they?" Liu Bai asked, his tone calm but his eyes sharp.
"This time there were over twenty members. The leaders were Hong Xiao and another senior at the Early-phase of Heaven Transformation Realm. The weakest among the rest were at the late-Phase of Heaven Fusion Realm. Their strength was considerable," Yue Qing replied.
It was precisely because that team was so strong that the situation was alarming. For Hong Xiao to have activated the Blood Chime meant that the enemy they encountered was terrifying beyond measure.
Liu Bai's expression turned grave. "Let's go find the Headmaster. We must inform him immediately and see how the academy plans to respond."
Yue Qing nodded firmly. That was her original thought as well. However, the main hall where the Headmaster resided was not a place one could enter freely. That was why she had come to Liu Bai, who had close ties with the two Grand Elders of the Spiritual Artifact and Spiritual Array Halls.
Her decision proved correct. Liu Bai immediately led her toward the Spiritual Artifact Hall.
Elder Chi Huo, though a Grand Elder, was in charge of the Spiritual Artifact Hall and thus had no authority over such matters. At that moment, he was still busy in his refining chamber, completely unaware of what was happening outside.
While Liu Bai and Yue Qing made their way to the hall, inside the great hall at the academy's center, the atmosphere was heavy.
Headmaster Tai Cang sat at the main seat, surrounded by elders, each wearing grim expressions.
"Headmaster, what's going on?" asked Mo You, the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, in a deep voice.
The ringing of the Blood Chime was no small matter for the Punishment Hall, as they were responsible for maintaining security and order within the academy.
"Was it one of the top ten on the Heavenly Ranking who encountered danger outside?" another elder asked.
The Heavenly Ranking's top ten were of great importance to the academy. Otherwise, there would be no need for a unique artifact like the Blood Chime, nor would its purchase be restricted to them.
At the top of the hall, Headmaster Tai Cang's face was cold and solemn. He shook his head. "No. This time, the ones in danger are a team of students on an external training mission. According to the Spiritual Value Hall, the third on the Heavenly Ranking, Yue Qing, once exchanged for a Blood Chime. She herself didn't leave the academy, so it must have been given to someone under her command."
"Based on the fragments of information transmitted by the Blood Chime, the one who attacked our students appeared as a mass of blood shadows. I suspect it may be Yu Yuan of the Blood Demon Dragon."
"Yu Yuan!"
That name caused Mo You's expression to darken immediately.
The Punishment Hall had previously attempted to hunt down Yu Yuan but failed, and Gu Tianyan, who led the mission, had been tricked by him instead.
If that hunt hadn't failed, perhaps this incident would never have happened.
"Headmaster, this involves the lives of over twenty students. We must act immediately. I will dispatch members of the Punishment Hall for rescue!"
Since the attacker was Yu Yuan, the older generation of elders could not personally intervene.
It wasn't that the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy wanted to abide by any so-called rules with such murderers, but rather that the Northern Heaven Continent was filled with powerful and chaotic forces. Even though the academy's position was unshakable, many top-tier powers were constantly watching them, waiting for a chance to replace them.
Moreover, the Academy had once made an agreement with the Demonic Dragon Palace that neither side would dispatch Elders. The grudges between their younger generations were to be resolved by their own abilities. If the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy were to send out Elders first, then the Demonic Dargon Palace would also take action. By that point, the resulting clash would be far too great and might even engulf the entire Northern Heaven Continent.
Just as Mo You was about to leave and dispatch his men, three figures suddenly entered the grand hall.
"There's no need. Why not let my disciple handle this matter instead?"
Everyone turned toward the sound of the voice and saw Elder Chi Huo entering with Liu Bai and Yue Qing.
"Elder Chi Huo, you?" Many of the Elders could not help but frown.
Why was the Artifact Refining Institute getting involved in such a matter? Everyone knew that the people of the Artifact Refining Institute were a group of weapon fanatics whose combat strength was generally unimpressive aside from their refining skill.
At this moment, Liu Bai stepped forward and said with a light smile, "Dean, Elders, my speed is relatively fast. It would be better if I head out first. The Academy can send additional forces afterward to provide backup."
Having just completed his Inate Five Spirits Disk, Liu Bai wanted to test its true power. This situation was the perfect opportunity.
Dean Tai Cang's gaze swept over Liu Bai, and he immediately sensed the tremendous change in him. Compared to the Hunting Battle, Liu Bai's strength had increased several times over. Even his cultivation realm had risen by two stages. Tai Cang could not help but feel secretly amazed.
"The enemy is likely the Blood Demon Dragon, Yu Yuan. Since you are willing to go, Liu Bai, then proceed. Consider this an official Academy mission. The Blood Demon Dragon is also listed on the Bounty Rankings. If you can complete this task, I will personally reward you with five million Spiritual Values and one Supreme-grade Spiritual Artifact."
The moment those words fell, the expressions of the gathered Elders were filled with astonishment.
Liu Bai's pupils slightly contracted.
What shocked everyone was not the five million Spiritual Values but the promised Supreme-grade Spiritual Artifact.
It was well known that although the Spiritual Value Hall claimed to offer anything for exchange, Supreme-grade Spiritual Artifacts were not among the available items. Whenever one appeared, it was immediately redeemed, leaving countless people stockpiling vast amounts of Spiritual Value in anticipation.
"A Supreme-grade Spiritual Artifact is worth over eight million Spiritual Values, and that's assuming one is even available. In fact, only the top-ranked bounty on the Bounty Rankings offers such a reward. I did not expect the Dean to be this generous."
Elder Chi Huo was overjoyed and said with excitement, "Good disciple, go without worry. Once the mission is complete, I will personally forge that Supreme-grade Spiritual Artifact for you. I guarantee you will be satisfied."
Such was the benefit of having an Artifact Refiner as a teacher—custom-made rewards.
After all, since the Academy was providing the materials, Elder Chi Huo would not hold back. Whatever he refined would undoubtedly be of the highest quality.
"Thank you, Teacher."
After obtaining the Blood Chim's location from Dean Tai Cang, Liu Bai wasted no time and immediately departed for the rescue.
Yue Qing opened her mouth but remained silent.
She was fully aware that although her strength was considerable, her speed was not her strong point. If she insisted on going, she would only slow Liu Bai down. In a situation where every minute mattered, one minute could mean one more life saved. She dared not let her willfulness hinder the mission.
Liu Bai transformed into a streak of radiant light and vanished in an instant. His speed was so fast that even several Elders failed to react in time.
"Hmm, this child's speed is truly astonishing. That must be a movement technique of high grade," said Mo You, the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, in surprise.
A smile appeared on Dean Tai Cang's face as he spoke. "If I'm not mistaken, that should be a form of Rainbow Transformation Art, ranked as an High-Level Spirit-grade movement technique. This technique specializes in speed, and in terms of long-distance flight, it could rival even certain Deity-grade Arts."
"It seems my decision was correct."
He even began to consider whether he should pay a visit to the Northern Sea Dragon Kun, a senior he deeply respected. He knew that this elder possessed an even more powerful version of the technique—the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Art.
That was a Low-level Deity-grade movement technique, said to have originated from the Golden Crow Clan's divine flying art, allowing one to move at near-limitless speed.
As one of the few top-tier Divine Beasts of the world, the Northern Sea Dragon Kun had inherited the extreme speed of its progenitor, the Kunpeng, and possessed numerous powerful flying techniques.
Tai Cang had once learned that the old Dragon Kun not only possessed his own clan's flight technique but had somehow obtained the Golden Crow Clan's Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Art as well.
"If Liu Bai, who has fused with the spirit essence of the ancient Golden Crow, could cultivate that Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Art, it would be a perfect match."
Of course, there were no free meals in the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy. Such a reward would only be offered once Liu Bai achieved enough merit.
However, with Liu Bai's current strength, it seemed that day was not far off.
Thinking of this, Dean Tai Cang could not help feeling slightly anxious. The Northern Sea Dragon Kun had been in seclusion for a long time. If this continued, he might have to provide the reward from his own pocket.
That would not do at all.
.....
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