Chapter 551: Master of the Academy

Chapter 551: The Master of the Academy

The narrow, congested street was now empty, devoid of any soul.

In the outer city, most of the gaunt, sallow humans cowered in their rooms, trembling, afraid to venture out.

“Could that rumbling just now mean the rebels have broken in?”

“Are the rebels really that formidable?”

“So it’s the rebels—they’re human like us. I hope they win.”

“What good would their victory do?”

“Can they really drive out the noble lords?

Even if they win a battle and steal the glory, who’ll clean up this mess?

When the noble lords get angry, they’ll take it out on us innocent commoners. Sigh, I reckon many will die horribly today.”

“But… they’re still our own kind. It’s the nobles who bully us…”

A group murmured among themselves, their thoughts tangled, each with their own opinion.

On the street, a man in black walked swiftly, his expression hurried.

Just then, a peculiar birdcall suddenly rang out.

The man in black’s expression shifted slightly, and he immediately headed toward the source of the call.

After about a few dozen breaths, his figure appeared in a abandoned courtyard.

In the courtyard stood two people: one was the familiar Wu Xiang, the other a large, fat man draped in silk and satin.

“Steward Li, a momentous event!” the fat man said, the flesh on his face jiggling.

This fat man was a member of the rebels, long lying low in Cloudblood City.

His business had gone quite smoothly, earning the favor of nobles, and he had some connections in the inner city.

Thus, whatever happened in the inner city, he could get word of it first.

“What exactly happened?” asked the black-clad Steward Li.

First the tremor, then the Blood Tiger Gang’s strategist said someone was slaughtering in the inner city.

“Dead, all dead!” the fat man said anxiously, his mind in chaos, words jumbled.

“Calm.” Steward Li’s voice was crisp, steadying the fat man’s mind.

Only then did the fat man settle down, organizing his words: “A powerful figure entered the inner city and killed… the Strange God’s daughter, a princess!”

“What… killed the princess?” Steward Li’s breath quickened.

The so-called princess was the offspring of the Strange God!

That was the Strange God, a divine-level powerhouse, the one who suppressed the Kuijin Realm.

And yet, someone had killed her!

This was poking a hole straight through heaven!

“Is Thornblood hunting him down?” Steward Li asked.

Now he felt uneasy, unsure whether to take this person into the rebels.

After all, it could bring disaster upon them.

“No!” the fat man shook his head. “He’s the one killing those nobles!”

“What?” Steward Li didn’t understand.

After slaying the Strange God’s princess, he didn’t flee, but kept killing those half-human, half-monstrosities in the city—was he courting death?

The city had over a dozen Heaven-level experts stationed there.

That mysterious powerhouse was so ferocious.

“If he had left at once, he might have survived. But now, killing nobles… I fear he’s already surrounded by Thornblood’s elders!” Steward Li guessed, his heart racing.

“No!” the fat man said. “He’s already killed all of Thornblood’s elders!”

“What?” Steward Li was utterly stunned.

He could hardly believe the fat man’s words.

Cloudblood City might not be a major city, but it still had over a dozen Heaven-level experts.

All killed?

What kind of ruthless man was this, so powerful?

After all, their own rebel force was considered one of the strongest in the vicinity.

They had only three Heaven-level experts.

And now, a ruthless man had come and butchered all of Cloudblood City’s Thornblood elders?

“Is this true?” Steward Li still couldn’t believe it.

“Absolutely true. I’ve already sent this news to the leader!” the fat man said earnestly.

If he weren’t certain of the information, how would he dare pass it to the leader?

The leader was a thorn in Thornblood’s side. If the leader came to Cloudblood City because of this and was ambushed by Thornblood, he would die without a burial.

Steward Li studied the fat man, his gaze deep.

The fat man’s scalp tingled.

Wu Xiang then spoke: “I trust Brother Chu.”

Steward Li’s eyes shifted and changed, and finally he said slowly.

“He killed Thornblood’s elders and is rampaging through the city—this will surely draw the Strange God’s attention.

We must hurry to the inner city and warn him to leave!”

Steward Li’s thought was simple: go see if it was true.

If it was, then help that person escape quickly.

After all, that was the Strange God.

Man… no matter how strong, how could he contend with a god?

This Kuijin Realm had a full ninety-nine Strange Gods seated in power!

Mortals who rashly offended divine might were doomed to die.

As for helping Wu Xiang receive Qi Yuan, that had already been cast from his mind.

That Qi Yuan might have some skill, having killed over a dozen inner hall disciples of the Blood Tiger Gang, but how could he compare to the fearsome lord rampaging through the inner city?

“Let’s go!” Steward Li said.

The fat man gritted his teeth: “I’m coming too!”

Wu Xiang said nothing; his silence meant he did not object.

A few people hurried toward the inner city, their minds teeming with thoughts.

The outer district now was a blend of silence and clamor.

Some humans cowered in their rooms, while others fled the city with their families.

Li Steward was accustomed to such sights.

"I hope the Demon God hasn't acted yet, otherwise... that senior is in danger!"

The notion that Demon Gods were invincible had been etched into their minds since birth.

After all, those terrifying Demon Gods—not to mention their divine power—their mere stature of a hundred zhang made them impossible for Heaven-grade Weapon Masters, who could only wield faint celestial forces, to contend with.

"Don't worry, Li Steward. Demon Gods usually seclude themselves in cultivation and rarely descend," said Fatty.

Demon Gods were exalted; even a Heaven-grade master might never see one in a lifetime.

"If a Demon God had descended, by now it would have already begun to suppress that senior.

That senior could slay an elder of Thornblood, so facing a Demon God, he might hold out for a dozen breaths.

Within those dozen breaths, the shockwaves of battle would surely reach us," Wu Xiang reasoned logically.

If a Demon God had descended, the shockwaves from slaying that senior would have been audible here.

This reasoning was sound; the only flaw was if the Demon God was stronger than imagined, killing the senior in an instant without any sound of battle.

Of course, there was another possibility that Wu Xiang hadn't even considered.

The three headed toward the inner city. Suddenly, Li Steward's eyes widened as he gazed ahead, his face filled with disbelief.

"What is that?"

He was utterly horrified.

Wu Xiang and Fatty also stared wide-eyed, their faces showing incredulity.

The fat on Fatty's face trembled involuntarily.

Ahead, at the entrance to the inner city, stood a colossal being!

The giant was a hundred zhang tall, and the towering city wall before it seemed like a toy.

Its dark gray scales, robust body, and upright blood-red demon horns all proclaimed the might of this terrifying entity.

"A Demon God!"

"It's the Demon God Darkpupil!"

Its deep red pupils, like lanterns hung high, were cold and merciless.

Li Steward met the eyes of that hundred-zhang-tall terror, and his body trembled involuntarily.

It was the instinct of all living things!

The Demon God had truly descended!

What could be done!

His mind was in turmoil, but suddenly, his focus sharpened.

"No, why isn't this Demon God moving at all!"

Li Steward noticed the anomaly.

The others also snapped to attention, now carefully examining the Demon God's terrifying form.

"Its eyes are bleeding!" "Its shoulder is missing a chunk—so much blood!"

"No, look—there seem to be words on its body!"

They looked and saw that on the upper half of that towering figure, large characters had been carved.

Blood oozed out, as if filling the letters with paint, and the dripping blood resembled a golden border around the words.

"I am in the midst of mortal transformation; whoever disturbs me shall be like this beast!"

Li Steward read these words with a trembling voice, his heart churning with shock.

Just twelve characters, lacking any literary flair, yet Li Steward sensed a domineering aura.

To slay a Demon God, erect its corpse, and leave words upon its body.

What boldness!

What majesty!

……

"Master... you're back?" Zhao Yan, anxious, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Qi Yuan return.

However, when he saw that Qi Yuan's robes were completely stained with blood, his worry returned.

"Master, did you wipe out the Blood Tiger Gang?" Zhao Yan couldn't help asking.

"Ah, the Blood Tiger Gang? I forgot." Qi Yuan had indeed forgotten.

This time, he had slaughtered his way through the inner city, his blade chipped from the carnage.

Fortunately, he was not only born with divine strength but also ran fast, comparable to the middle school classmates netizens often speak of.

After half a day of busy work, he had indeed forgotten the Blood Tiger Gang.

"The Blood Tiger Gang is still there? Master, the blood on you?" Zhao Yan was bewildered, not knowing what had happened.

"It's nothing, I just casually killed a Demon God," Qi Yuan said lightly.

"Master, don't say such things carelessly!" Zhao Yan quickly urged.

"It's getting dark; I need to sleep," Qi Yuan said, heading toward his room.

Zhao Yan watched his master's back, wanting to speak but stopping.

He was worried that the Blood Tiger Gang would come to trouble his master.

"Alas," Zhao Yan sighed.

About a quarter of an hour later, a knock came at the door.

Zhao Yan, on edge, walked to the courtyard: "Who is it?"

"It's me!" a crisp voice came.

Hearing the familiar voice, Zhao Yan's face lit up with joy.

"Hongmei, it's you!"

The door swung open, and Hongmei, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, stepped inside.

Seeing the familiar figure, Zhao Yan's face showed happiness.

Three years ago, he had picked up a gravely wounded, unconscious girl in Yunxue City.

That girl was the Hongmei before him.

Hongmei was different from ordinary women; she always dreamed of seeking the legendary "Academy."

It was from Hongmei that Zhao Yan had first heard of the "Academy."

The master of the "Academy" was a mysterious being.

He wandered through the realms, taking on disciples, and compiling ancient texts.

Now, the master of the "Academy" was in the realm of Kuijin.

If they could meet the master of the Academy, join the Academy, and serve him, then perhaps they might… gain his protection, or even leave this realm.

"Three years without seeing you, Zhao Yan, you haven't changed a bit!" Hongmei looked at Zhao Yan, her face radiant.

"Hongmei, how did you come back?" Zhao Yan's face held barely suppressed joy.

Once, he had harbored feelings for her.

"I have good news for you…"

"You found the Academy?" Zhao Yan exclaimed happily.

"Yes!" Hongmei nodded. "Two years ago, I sought the Academy's trail, and finally met its disciples. After some trials and hardships, I passed the tests and joined the Academy."

Hongmei spoke lightly, but Zhao Yan knew the process must have been far from simple.

"Congratulations!" Zhao Yan was genuinely happy for her.

Joining the mysterious Academy meant escaping this cage.

"Now, the master of the Academy has come to the Dark Pupil Domain to gather the affairs of the world and compile ancient texts, so I came along with some senior sisters and brothers," Hongmei said. "Since it's not far from Cloud Blood City, I thought I'd come back for a visit."

She looked at Zhao Yan, her gaze complex, tinged with a hint of affection.

"Hey, last time you wouldn't leave with me. Now that I've found the Academy, would you like to join it with me…? Oh, if you're worried about your master, you can bring him along!" Hongmei looked at Zhao Yan expectantly.

Back then, she had invited him to search for the Academy together, but he had refused.

"I…" Zhao Yan's face showed hesitation. "My master's nature won't allow him to go to the Academy.

He raised me with great difficulty; I must care for him in his old age and see to his final rites!"

He always remembered his master's kindness.

Moreover, now that his master had offended the Blood Tiger Gang, how could he abandon him?

Hearing this, Hongmei felt a pang of disappointment.

Yet it was precisely this nature of Zhao Yan's that she valued, wasn't it?

If he were cold and heartless, she wouldn't have come to like him.

"I'll be staying here for a while anyway. Is it all right if I lodge here?" Hongmei didn't bring up inviting him to join the Academy again.

After all, she wasn't certain he would be accepted.

"No problem!" Zhao Yan said happily.

"By the way, has anything interesting happened in Cloud Blood City lately? You know, the master of the Academy wants to record the great events of the world and compile them into a book."

"Seems… not," Zhao Yan shook his head.

Their conflict with the Blood Tiger Gang was a big deal to them,

but from a historical perspective, it was a trivial matter.

"Never mind, we can talk slowly," Hongmei said casually.

Reuniting with an old friend was like rain after a long drought.

…

In the mountains.

A young girl followed behind an old man in a long robe, her face showing a naive expression.

"Grandfather, has something major happened? I rarely see you smile like this."

The old man in the robe was weathered, his back hunched, like an old man worn down by the years.

Yet he was the renowned master of the Academy.

"I am in the process of descending to the mortal realm. Whoever disturbs me shall meet the same fate as this beast!"

"Excellent, excellent! This scene alone in the realm of Kuijin makes it all worthwhile!"

The master of the Academy laughed heartily, having not been so joyful in a long time.

Hearing this, the young girl immediately received the newly gathered information. Moments later, her face showed a moved expression.

"I never thought such a hero would appear even in enemy-occupied territory," she sighed.

To slay a god of deceit in enemy territory—

what did that mean?

It meant enemies would come without end.

It meant the whole world would turn against him!

The gods of deceit in Kuijin would gather to kill him together.

Even if he escaped this calamity, gods from other realms would come after him; there would be no place to hide.

"Such a hero—I truly wish to meet him. I do not want… after the Divine Wood Universe falls, for no one to know that we once had a brilliant civilization, and those selfless, admirable heroes who came one after another!"

The book the master of the Academy intended to write was called *An Outline of Realm History*.

He feared that after the Divine Wood Universe was destroyed, no one would remember this great and radiant universe.

That its civilization would wither away until it was forgotten by all.

Thus, he traveled the world, measuring with his feet, recording with his pen, writing *An Outline of Realm History*.

(End of this chapter)