The commotion caused by the divine site continued growing. As a result, dozens of organizations, big and small, came to the Dragon Phoenix Mountain Range. Many of them suffered from the devouring phosphorus bug and the poisonous miasma, while some entered the tunnel and attempted to break the seal only to be badly injured. In short, most of them were either injured or killed.
An entire month passed, and not a single organization managed to break into the so-called divine site. Just as some of the organizations were about to get their Heaven Battling Realm experts out, the Dragon Phoenix Academy finally made an announcement.
A Heaven Battling Realm elder from the Dragon Phoenix Academy appeared, directly deterring all the other organizations from whatever they had in mind. He even announced that the place was one of the academy’s restricted cultivation zones. Those who dared to continue damaging it would be killed without mercy.
The announcement sobered many people from their madness. They realized that the so-called divine site was merely the academy’s trap, something they had set up to trick those who got overly greedy.
It was no wonder the academy had done nothing even though the place was so close to it. It turned out that the academy had long known everything.
Just like that, many organizations started leaving, forgetting their desire for the divine site. The three villains also heard the news, and all three vanished promptly.
Deep inside the Dragon Phoenix Academy, the grand guardians gathered yet again.
“Those people tend to get forgetful without being taught a lesson. It’s like they’re all brainless,” said a gold-haired old man with a sneer.
The purple-haired old man said, “Each time we recruit a new batch of disciples, there will be some disturbances. It must be the works of the other three academies. They are obviously trying to exhaust the talents of our academy and waver the hearts of our disciples. Those bastards are still not willing to give up on their evil schemes!”
“This time, we managed to awe quite a lot of people. I believe the rumors will stop. In my opinion, it’s time we open the primary Dragon Phoenix Battlefield and inspect the children,” said a heroic man.
A beauty said, “It’s better if we open the primary Dragon Phoenix Battlefield in about five years. It’s still too early now.”
“You’re right, but this time, the other three academies are suddenly changing their minds, claiming that our previous period of 10 years per battle is too long. They are demanding that the period be shortened to five years. If we don’t open the primary Dragon Phoenix Battlefield, the children of our academy won’t have the chance to improve rapidly. In three years, they will completely fall behind the disciples of the other three academies. At that time, we will take last place,” said the heroic man.
“We can’t rush to make a decision. For a momentary glory, are we sacrificing the foundations of these children? It won’t be good in the long term. We should just open it in the fourth year, giving them a rapid burst of growth during the final year. At that time, if they still end up losing to the other academies, we’ve already tried our best,” said the purple-haired old man. “By the way, which of you know what’s going on with that child?”
“Not long ago, he seemed to have accepted a mission at the Nisha Range. Two children in his faction had returned with the mission completed, but he has yet to return,” someone answered.
“Old Purple, you still have your eyes set on him? Forget it. I heard he had already combined his nine powers. I’m afraid he has really created history,” said the gold-haired old man.
“Yes, I heard that as well. I even know about that child entering the goldmen territory and becoming their honored guest,” said the heroic man.
“Looks like the gravekeeper elder taught him well,” said the purple-haired old man with a sigh. “Let’s meet him after he returns. We need to see if he has really combined the nine powers. If that’s really the case, we need to work together and nurture him into the academy’s future pillar.”
At this time, the beauty said, “My subordinates recently reported that the kid had returned to the Dragon Phoenix Mountain Range and was even seen together with three of the Seven Villains of the Bloodsin City. The three seemed to have forced him into the poisonous miasma, and he’s been missing since then.”
“What? Why are you only saying that now?” a few people cried out in alarm.
An awkward look covered the beauty’s face as she said, “I thought we agreed to not interfere with the affairs of the children. We need to let them grow amid danger. Only then will they have great accomplishments in the future. That was why I didn’t interfere.”
“Shit. That child is someone the gravekeeper elder has personally taught. How long has it been since the gravekeeper elder had last spoken? If something bad happens to that kid, what are we supposed to say to the gravekeeper elder? Quick, search for that kid’s update. If we can’t find him, just capture the three villains to give the gravekeeper elder an answer,” said the purple-haired old man in an irritated manner.
“On it,” said the beauty. She was aware she had made a wrong choice, and she quickly took responsibility, hoping to make up for her earlier mistake.
…
While the Dragon Phoenix Academy searched for Xiang Shaoyun, he was still trapped within the endless darkness. He was now a part of the darkness, as if he would remain in this state forever. In this state, he had a dream, a dream about his father, Xiang Yangzhan.
“You unfilial son, everything I had built was lost in your hands. Instead of snatching everything back, you’re instead happily living your life outside the sect? You are a disappointment, a waste of all the years I spent raising you!”
“Father, are you still alive? If you are, you need to come back and slaughter Di Batian and all those other bastards! Your son is really too weak and is not a match for them.”
“Bullshit, you’re my son. How can you be such a coward? Do you want me to cripple you? If you can’t solve that, I will disown you!”
“Father, don’t leave, please, don’t leave!”
…
Xiang Yangzhan vanished from the dreamland, replaced by the remarkably beautiful Ye Chaomu.
“Big brother, you are the most handsome and capable man in the world, but you are really a big disappointment. I already have a person I love, so I won’t be visiting you anymore. Take care.”
“Mumu, even you are abandoning your big brother? I thought you loved your big brother the most? Have I doted on you all these years for nothing?”
“In my heart, you are a man capable of propping even the heavens up with your shoulders. But you are currently akin to a worthless pile of mud. A tiny setback is enough to eliminate the fight in you. No wonder you lost everything Father left behind. You are a disappointment!”
“No, that’s not true. Mumu, listen to me…”
Ye Chaomu vanished, replaced by others. Di Lin, Xia Yunxi, Xia Liuhui, Lu Xiaoqing, Gong Qinyin, Liang Zhuangmin…they started appearing one after another, some looking at him with disdain, some speaking words of encouragement. It was a chaotic dream.
Abruptly, Xiang Shaoyun woke up from his dream and roared, “No! I, Xiang Shaoyun, will not fade away just like this!”
