Chapter 285: Water Mirror Immortal Academy

"Yes." Qianjue Shan said.

Xiao Lingwei couldn't help but ask: "Master, do you know who is behind the control of the Flowing Light Secret Realm?"

Qianjue Shan's expression slightly paused.

"They are related to Tian Jiaocheng."

"Tian Jiaocheng again—what exactly is Tian Jiaocheng?" Yuan Yao wondered curiously.

Qianjue Shan did not give a direct answer: "When you all reach Tian Jiaocheng in the future, perhaps you will understand."

And Zong Rao, hearing their conversation, lowered her lashes, a hint of gloom flashing in her eyes.

Zong Rao smiled and said: "Come, let me check your injuries."

"You guys are really thick-skinned and tough, managing to come back alive under such a powerful existence." She said teasingly.

Cang Li said: "Second Elder, we're not just thick-skinned; we're resistant to beatings. Thanks to Master letting us climb the heavenly ladder since childhood, our bodies are much stronger than others'."

"Your injuries are healed; go climb the heavenly ladder." Qianjue Shan's voice came slowly.

Hearing that, Cang Li's expression stiffened slightly, then he replied with a wry smile: "Okay."

"Third Senior Brother, is that expression reluctance? Didn't you just tell Master you would cultivate diligently?" Yuan Yao said deliberately.

Cang Li said: "Willing, of course willing!"

Qianjue Shan's lips twitched slightly, showing some helplessness and a touch of relief.

Qianjue Shan said softly: "For these few days, just rest and recover. When your injuries are mostly healed, come to Heaven's Destiny Pavilion to find me."

"Yes, Master." The six replied in unison.

Just then, a familiar system voice sounded in Yuan Yao's sea of consciousness: 【Target Qianjue Shan, Awakening Value reached 30. Target Song Yan, Awakening Value reached 45. Target Xiao Lingwei, Awakening Value reached 46. Target Xue Jin, Awakening Value reached 49. Target Ying Wuji, Awakening Value reached 35. Target Zong Rao, Awakening Value reached 36.】

【Target Cang Li, Awakening Value reached 50. Congratulations, host, you have earned a one-day lifespan reward. Current lifespan reaches 1,088 days.】

Yuan Yao froze.

During these days in the Flowing Light Secret Realm, she had almost forgotten the existence of the 250 System.

Yuan Yao inquired with her thoughts: "250, why did you have no response at all earlier in the Flowing Light Secret Realm?"

【Host, after entering the Flowing Light Secret Realm, this system's permissions were locked, unable to respond to you.】

"Why?"

【Perhaps there are too few capturable targets in the Flowing Light Secret Realm.】

Hearing that answer, Yuan Yao frowned tightly; she didn't believe it.

"Perhaps?"

The 250 System wanted to play dead.

"Why won't you tell me? Why do you always hide things from me?" Yuan Yao said, her spirits low, tone desolate.

The 250 System hesitated a moment, then finally said: 【Host, this system can only reveal a bit of information. The master of the Flowing Light Secret Realm will detect this system's existence; if the system is discovered, it will cause a great turmoil.】

Finally, it added: 【It is disadvantageous to you.】

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao half-believed, half-doubted.

【Host, please continue completing the mission to capture the target characters to earn lifespan rewards.】 the 250 System said.

Yuan Yao guessed it was intentionally changing the subject, making her even more curious about what the "250 System" actually is.

…

The next morning.

Many senior brothers and sisters of the Carefree Sect, upon learning that Yuan Yao had emerged from her training in the Flowing Light Secret Realm, came to Heavenly Martial Peak to find her.

Moreover, they brought all sorts of fun trinkets and delicious delicacies.

Yuan Yao happily accepted them.

The senior brothers and sisters were eager to hear about Yuan Yao's extraordinary experiences in the Flowing Light Secret Realm.

Thus, Yuan Yao wove her experiences in the Flowing Light Secret Realm into a gripping story to tell them. Naturally, many embarrassing secrets she cleverly concealed.

"Junior Sister, you're really clever! You actually managed to fool the White Wolf Emperor and the Demon Lord Kui Shen!" a senior sister laughed.

Yuan Yao feigned shyness: "Not at all."

"Junior Sister, what do you think of Fellow Daoist Xie Zixu's looks?"

Yuan Yao's expression paused, then she said: "Quite good-looking."

"Junior Sister, do you know that in the past two years, Xie Zixu has risen remarkably; it's rumored he broke through to the Spirit Transformation Realm at just seventeen, making him virtually unmatched in the cultivation world!"

"Is Xie Zixu really that formidable?" one senior brother doubted, saying, "Senior Brother Ying is already at the early stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm at sixteen—I actually think Senior Brother Ying surpasses Xie Zixu."

After speaking, he turned his head toward Yuan Yao: "Junior Sister, what do you think—who is stronger, Xie Zixu or Senior Brother Ying?"

The gazes of the other senior brothers and sisters also fell upon her in unison.

Yuan Yao: "……"

"Naturally, my junior senior brother is stronger!"

"Since you, Junior Sister, said that, it must be that Senior Brother Ying is stronger!" that senior brother exclaimed proudly.

One senior sister asked: "Junior Sister, have you heard about what happened a few days ago?"

"What happened?" Yuan Yao immediately became interested.

"A few days ago, all the teachers and students of the Water Mirror Immortal Academy were brutally killed." The senior sister continued: "This incident shocked all forces in the Ninth Province. Fan Quan Immortal Venerable directly issued a mission: whoever can uncover and arrest the culprit will be rewarded with 100,000 top-grade spirit stones."

"Did everyone at the Water Mirror Immortal Academy really die?" Yuan Yao frowned.

The senior sister said: "Rumor has it there were two survivors: a child under eight, and an elderly servant. At the time, the child was hidden by his father, who is also an instructor of the academy, in a secret room; the servant happened to be out purchasing goods and escaped disaster."

"Now, this matter has caused a huge uproar in the Ninth Province. After all, many powerful cultivators graduated from the Water Mirror Immortal Academy." Another senior sister said.

Yuan Yao's heart suddenly tightened, her expression turning grave.

"Where is Senior Brother Ao Su?!"

Upon hearing this, the senior brothers and sisters present showed shifting expressions.

One senior brother said, "Senior brother Ao Su went to the Water Mirror Immortal Academy two days ago."

Yuan Yao recalled that Ao Su's grandfather was the director of the Water Mirror Immortal Academy; if the academy suffered such a disaster, Ao Su's grandfather was likely unable to escape it.

Her mood instantly grew heavy.

Yuan Yao suddenly lost interest in chatting with the senior brothers and sisters, yet she still asked some detailed questions about the calamity that befell the Water Mirror Immortal Academy.

But they did not know much either.

The senior brothers and sisters stayed for a little over half a shi, then left.

After they left, Yuan Yao immediately sent a comforting message to senior brother Ao Su.

But Ao Su did not reply for a long time.

Yuan Yao guessed that Ao Su might be deeply grieving, with no time to attend to her message.

Yuan Yao had also seen Ao Su's grandfather, a very kind old man whose brows and eyes always bore a smile.

Who, after all, could be so madly ruthless as to annihilate the entire Water Mirror Immortal Academy?