Chapter 264: Is He Dead?

The scene shifts back ten months; Xuanzi is waiting at the entrance of Dragon Valley, when his complexion suddenly changes and he darts backward.

The black spatial rift suddenly becomes unstable, violently shifting its shape.

"This is…"

Xuanzi's expression instantly turns anxious.

Although he doesn't know exactly what happened, the chaotic spatial force before him can only indicate one thing—

The opposite space has gone out of control!

As a Level‑98 Super Douluo just one step away from a Limit Douluo, Xuanzi knows exactly what this means.

If it continues like this, he'll probably never see Tang Wulin again in this lifetime.

He knows full well he can't let things develop this way, yet Xuanzi has no way to stop it.

The spatial force can only be mastered by a Limit Douluo; even as a Super Douluo, Xuanzi is still just a Super Douluo, and since his martial soul is not of the spatial type, he is powerless over what is happening.

As time passes, the rift widens, and Xuanzi can only retreat repeatedly, eyes fixed on the ever‑changing crack, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tang Wulin within.

Unfortunately, he must be disappointed; even when the rift expands to its maximum, he never sees Tang Wulin's figure.

And as the rift reaches its fullest size, it finally erupts completely.

The terrifying spatial turbulence nearly prevents Xuanzi from controlling his body in the air; he darts several thousand meters away, watches the rift fade and vanish, and can't help shedding two hot tears.

"Mu En, I've wronged you!"

He looks to the heavens and weeps, his heart filled with despair.

Before coming, who could have imagined that the next heir of the Sea God Pavilion Master would die here like this? In the worst case, it's no different from dooming the Academy's next several hundred years of future.

And thinking of Mu En's connection with Tang Wulin makes him even more sorrowful.

He blames himself for another leadership mistake; the first two incidents were severe, but the first had Zhang Lexuan absorb a hundred‑thousand‑year soul ring, the second had several reserve members turn the tide in the tournament, and this time there's truly nothing left.

Even though he's devastated, he can't reverse this loss: Ma Xiaotao is missing, Tang Wulin was swallowed by spatial turbulence, and Huo Yutong's reaction to the news is unknown; the Academy's future suddenly turns bleak in a very short span.

Xuanzi wipes his tears and flies toward the Douluo Continent.

He intends to bring this sorrowful news back to the Academy.

In a sense, his action also fulfills Tang Wulin's wishes.

Because after discovering Tang Wulin caught in the spatial turbulence, he didn't linger a single minute and chose to leave, wasting no time.

…………

"Ugh!"

Huo Yutong's hand slips, instantly rendering the carved soul‑guide core useless; a small amount of energy leaks out, leaving a tiny wound on her finger.

Xuan Ziwen furrows his brow.

"Huo Yutong, what's been happening to you these days? Why are you so out of sync?"

He is still very satisfied with this student from Sleek; talented and diligent, and if she develops normally, her future achievements will surely surpass his.

Yet for the past few days, for some reason, she keeps making mistakes she shouldn't, appearing unable to settle her mind.

Huo Yutong, with blood still on her finger, also furrows her brow.

"I don't know why either; lately I keep feeling a fluttering in my chest."

In recent days, she can clearly feel the Eye of Fate above her head constantly warning her.

Based on past experience, this signals that something terrible is about to happen, yet she has no idea what.

This sense of crisis from the Eye of Fate, mixed with her own anxiety, makes her unable to get into the zone.

Juzi, worried, looks at her with concern and says to Xuan Ziwen, "Teacher Xuan, perhaps Yutong has been too tired lately; let her rest a bit."

As she previously mentioned, she returned to the Sun‑Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy after the holiday, but her schedule is clearly much tighter; most of her time is spent outside the Academy, doing who‑knows‑what.

Xuan Ziwen sighs helplessly.

"Fine then, Yutong, I'll give you a few days off; recover your condition and be sure to return to normal after the holiday, understand?"

"Mm."

Huo Yutong knows this likely isn't solved by a few days' rest, but she can't explain that to Xuan Ziwen, so she merely nods.

At that moment, a doorbell rings; someone is ringing the doorbell.

The few exchange glances, all a bit surprised.

Because Xuan Ziwen's temperament is particular, he specifically told others not to disturb him when he's busy, so in the past year‑plus, visits during his lectures have been few and far between.

He gets up, opens the door, and his expression becomes even more surprised.

Standing outside is none other than Fan Yu.

He naturally knows this soul‑guide teacher from Sleek; they've spoken before, and he holds a good opinion of the young eighth‑level soul mentor, so he politely asks:

"Do you have business? Are you here for Yutong?"

"Mm." Fan Yu hurriedly nods, his face urgent, "Quickly bring Yutong out, something big has happened!"

Seeing his urgent expression, Xuan Ziwen feels an ominous premonition.

He turns and says, "Yutong, you heard that, go out and talk."

"Alright."

Huo Yutong, having heard Fan Yu's words, tightens her expression and walks out of the lab.

Xuan Ziwen closes the lab door, sits beside Juzi, and sighs.

"I have no idea what's happening, but it's odd that a teacher from Sleek has to inform us; the situation is probably not good."

Juzi looks worried.

"Could it be that the exchange program has been halted?"

Hearing that, Xuan Ziwen's face also stiffens.

"Probably not, right?"

If Huo Yutong just left like that, he would really be somewhat reluctant.

At that moment, a mournful sound suddenly came from the doorway.

"Impossible—!"

The emotion in that sound was extremely sorrowful, to the point that even through the laboratory's large door, the two people inside instinctively shuddered.

The two exchanged a glance, then rose together, opened the door, and walked out.

They saw Huo Yutong, who was usually polite to everyone, grabbing Fan Yu's collar and pinning him against the wall, anxiously asking, "Teacher, you're joking, right?"

Fan Yu said with a sorrowful expression, "Huo Yutong, I'm heartbroken too, but this is the truth."

His words felt like a dagger piercing the girl's chest; her legs went weak, she released her grip on Fan Yu's collar and knelt to the ground.

Her expression was deeply reflected in Juzi's pupils.

In her impression, Huo Yutong was always full of vigor; this was the first and only time she had seen her so weak and desperate.

Three months later, Shilake Academy exchange student Huo Yutong left the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and returned to Shilake Academy to receive treatment for her mental illness.

On the same day, Juzi also left the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and officially joined the army.

The wheels of history began to turn.

(End of chapter)