Feng Yanran was starting to understand Ling Xiao. He was someone who never shied away from challenges. The tougher the task, the more enthusiastic he seemed to tackle it.
“Hahaha, good to know, Miss Yanran. Where’s the Heavenly Origin Pagoda located?” Ling Xiao asked with a laugh.
“It’s easy to find. Just look from a high vantage point,” Feng Yanran said, pointing into the distance.
Ling Xiao leaped into the air, soaring dozens of metres, and gazed far off. Sure enough, a majestic tower stood piercing the clouds.
Unlike the Moonlight Pagoda, which wasn’t used for cultivation, the Heavenly Origin Pagoda was designed specifically for it. It housed numerous cultivation rooms, with better effects the higher you went.
Countless warriors from the Divine Phoenix Continent coveted a chance to cultivate there, but only students from Divine Phoenix Academy and Clear Void Academy were eligible.
However, there was a catch: without sufficient strength, you’d be swiftly expelled.
The relationship between Divine Phoenix Academy and Clear Void Academy was far from friendly, with constant competition. Fights over cultivation rooms were common.
Ling Xiao would need to think carefully before attempting to enter.
“What’s that?” Ling Xiao’s gaze shifted, noticing a bustling courtyard near Divine Phoenix Academy. He turned to ask Feng Yanran.
“That’s the newly established Divine Phoenix Medical Academy,” Feng Yanran replied. “Divine Phoenix Academy has always outshone us in healing and alchemy. This time, they’ve recruited Masterful Heavenly Venerable Sun Shang from the Heavenly Dragon Continent, strengthening their advantage. To completely drive Clear Void Academy out of the elixir market, they founded this separate medical academy.”
“Just established?” Ling Xiao asked.
“To be precise, it hasn’t officially opened yet. Tomorrow is the founding ceremony, where many prominent figures will attend to offer congratulations. Though we at Clear Void Academy aren’t thrilled, we still have to send representatives,” Feng Yanran said with a sigh.
“I’ll go take a look tomorrow,” Ling Xiao said. He had no fondness for Sun Shang but didn’t plan to openly oppose him so soon. Disguising himself would be wise.
“No problem. Tomorrow will be lively. Besides the medical academy’s founding, they’re holding their opening ceremony. The new students will likely all show up,” Feng Yanran nodded.
She was unaware of the grudge between Ling Xiao and Sun Shang. If she knew, she might not have let him go.
The next morning, many Clear Void Academy students, including some instructors, went to Divine Phoenix Academy to join the excitement. Ling Xiao, naturally, was among them.
He went alone, not informing Ji Mingkong or the others, worried he might act impulsively and endanger them if they came along.
Indeed, Divine Phoenix Academy’s location was far superior to Clear Void Academy’s. Clear Void was situated in the countryside, barely even a suburb of the imperial city, while Divine Phoenix Academy stood at the heart of the city, facing the imperial palace.
Today, the imperial city was bustling, even more so than the day before. Crowds gathered at the grand Divine Phoenix Plaza, where the previous day’s recruitment had taken place, stretching as far as the eye could see.
News of the Divine Phoenix Medical Academy’s founding had spread across the continent long ago. Many warriors had arrived early, some just in time, all calculating the date.
With the near-collapse of the Holy Dynasty on the Heavenly Dragon Continent, warriors on the Divine Phoenix Continent were growing concerned about their own land’s safety.
Rumours swirled that a major announcement regarding the True Demon Empire would be made at Divine Phoenix Academy’s opening ceremony.
Many came not just for the spectacle or to offer congratulations but to learn concrete news.
The fate of the world concerns every man!
Warriors, especially, felt a strong sense of responsibility.
On such a lively day, it would be odd if nothing happened.
“The Divine Phoenix Medical Academy’s founding and opening ceremony won’t end peacefully,” a figure wearing a menacing ghost mask said with a faint smile from within the crowd.
The masked figure was, of course, Ling Xiao.
No one was with him, though, to his surprise, Feng Yanran had brought Ji Mingkong and the others to the scene.
Fortunately, his disguise held, and they didn’t recognise him—or perhaps they did but chose not to approach.
With the ghost mask, Ling Xiao clearly didn’t want to be identified. If they came over, anyone with half a brain would know it was him.
The sky was overcast, as if the heavens themselves disapproved of Sun Shang’s betrayal. Yet, despite the gloomy weather, the atmosphere remained electric.
“That’s Masterful Heavenly Venerable!” a voice shouted, and countless eyes turned to the high platform.
Sun Shang, followed by many new students, all wore Divine Phoenix Academy’s uniforms embroidered with phoenix patterns, exuding dominance and majesty.
Mo Wushang, Qin Bixue, Bai Qianjiao, and Hong Li were among them.
“There’s even Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable!” Ling Xiao’s pupils contracted as he spotted the man in an instructor’s uniform at the front of the line.
“His cultivation has reached such a level!” Ling Xiao was even more shocked to see Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable had broken through to the Cave Heaven Realm. Though only at the early stage, his aura was distinctly different from that of a Celestial Realm warrior.
“Good! Very good! You’re truly Moonlight Sect’s greatest genius besides me. This is perfect—defeating you too easily wouldn’t be exciting!” Ling Xiao took a deep breath, staring at Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable. Beneath the mask, where no one could see, a thrilled smile spread across his face.
On the platform, everyone was brimming with pride, basking in their glory.
Joining the Divine Phoenix Continent’s most prestigious academy was an immense honour. They revelled in the envious and jealous gazes, holding their heads high like proud roosters.
“Mingkong, stay calm!” As Ling Xiao studied familiar faces, Ji Mingkong below the platform was growing restless.
Fortunately, Feng Yanran and the others held her back, or she would have acted.
Ling Xiao could hate the Holy Dynasty, but Mo Wushang, Dao Wuming, and Sun Shang had been nurtured with immense resources by the dynasty.
They had no right to betray it.
Seeing their smug faces, Ji Mingkong’s anger was nearly uncontrollable.
