Chapter 1176: Rewards

The void rippled as four figures emerged from it, their bodies wreathed in terrifying fluctuations; some even bore obvious wounds, clearly having endured an intensely fierce battle.

These four were the four Vice-Heads of the Ancient Tianyuan Academy.

All were King-level existences.

They had previously intercepted the various Kings under the All-Beings Demon King, and the wounds on their bodies were the result.

Among them was a young woman clad in deep blue jade armor and golden boots, her entire being radiating a domineering and sharp aura.

This was Vice-Head Lan Lan Lingzi.

However, the one Li Luo had seen before was a skin-skinning transformation of the All-Beings Demon King; this one was the true original.

"Congratulations, Head, on felling one crown of the All-Beings Demon King." At this moment, a figure as bulky as an iron tower spoke to Wang Xuanjin. His upper body was bare, his skin flowing with black light as if cast from black iron, covered in glaring scars, each one subtly emitting a terrifying fluctuation.

His name was Han Yin Yue, another Vice-Head of the Ancient Tianyuan Academy.

Wang Xuanjin showed little joy, merely saying, "I have little credit. If not for those young ones in the Little Chen Heaven forcing the All-Beings Demon King to divide his attention and shattering a fragment of his will, I would have been unable to deduce the Demon King's flaw, and the 'Zhao Tian Mirror' could not have locked onto him."

Lan Lan Lingzi lowered her gaze slightly, saying with some regret, "It is all my fault. In my carelessness, the All-Beings Demon King took a trace of my skin-essence. It transformed into my appearance to deceive the two Vice-Heads remaining in the academy, causing these students to enter the Little Chen Heaven prematurely."

Clearly, she had already learned of the All-Beings Demon King's previous scheme.

Wang Xuanjin waved his hand, smiling, "The All-Beings Demon King is too eerie; his methods are impossible to guard against. Even I did not foresee this, so how could it be blamed on you?"

"Moreover, this time was a case of stumbling into success. If it had not used your skin to mislead Wu Yu and the others, perhaps the final outcome of the Little Chen Heaven contest would have been unpredictable."

"Oh?" Lan Lan Lingzi was somewhat surprised, and the other three Vice-Heads were equally puzzled.

Wang Xuanjin chuckled lightly and said, "Do you know which student stood out the most in this conscription mission?"

"It must be the top student from the Tianxing Hall of one of the two academies, right?" the Vice-Head named Han Yin Yue rumbled.

Lan Lan Lingzi's eyes shifted slightly, saying, "I previously heard that the Ancient Holy Light Academy produced a genius possessing a Double Ninth-Rank Light Aspect this time. Could it be her who shone brightly in this mission?"

"Double Ninth-Rank Light Aspect?" The other three Vice-Heads exclaimed in surprise. A Double Ninth-Rank below the Marquis seal was extremely rare, and moreover, it was a Light Aspect.

Such a person was practically born to purify the aberrant.

Wang Xuanjin smiled, "That young girl with the Double Ninth-Rank Light Aspect was indeed outstanding. Given time, she will likely become another Light King that makes the aberrant tremble in fear."

"However, in this mission, there was another little one who was even more stunning, and it was in his hands that the fragment of the All-Beings Demon King's will was defeated."

A point of light appeared at Wang Xuanjin's fingertip, expanding into a light mirror. At that moment, the image of Li Luo appeared within the mirror.

At this time, he seemed to be in a coma. A girl held him, her exquisite face showing hidden worry, while another girl with crimson long hair cut her wrist, pouring her fragrant, flowing blood into his mouth.

"This little one is named Li Luo. Although he is only at the Nine-Star Tian Zhu Jing realm, he controlled the power of a Marquis-sealed Beast Spirit." Wang Xuanjin said.

"The power of a Beast Spirit? Did the All-Beings Demon King not unleash its erosion?" one Vice-Head asked in surprise and suspicion. They knew the All-Beings Demon King's methods well; under its gaze, the Beast Spirit power, which carries a fierce nature, would be greatly amplified. How could that student named Li Luo, who is only at the Nine-Star Tian Zhu Jing realm, withstand such erosion?

"Did the Head intervene?" Lan Lan Lingzi asked.

Wang Xuanjin smiled, "Although I intervened to dissolve some of the All-Beings Demon King's erosion, that could only happen if this little one had withstood the first wave of erosion; otherwise, I would not have had time."

"How did he withstand it?" the other Vice-Heads found it unbelievable.

"He possesses Three Palaces and Six Aspects, one of which is a supporting aspect of the Light Aspect. He used a certain Mi Fa to transform the power of the Marquis-sealed Beast Spirit into Light Aspect power, thereby neutralizing the fierce nature contained within." Wang Xuanjin explained.

"What a resilient character, what a clever little one, what a peculiar method." Lan Lan Lingzi praised. Although Wang Xuanjin spoke simply, with their insight, they naturally knew how difficult this was; it was absolutely something an ordinary person could not achieve.

However, they immediately recalled something and asked, "Is he also from the Ancient Holy Light Academy?"

In their memory, no student possessing Three Palaces and Six Aspects had appeared in this year's Ancient Tianyuan Academy.

Wang Xuanjin shook his head, saying, "He is not from the Ancient Holy Light Academy, nor is he a student of our Ancient Tianyuan Academy."

The four Vice-Heads were all somewhat stunned.

Wang Xuanjin smiled lightly at Lan Lan Lingzi, "He is from the Holy Zhu Xuan Star Academy."

The other three Vice-Heads looked bewildered. A student from a Holy Academy? How could he come to participate in their Ancient Academy's conscription mission?

Lan Lan Lingzi, however, paused for a few breaths before speaking in surprise, "The Holy Zhu Xuan Star Academy where Old Pang serves as Head? Isn't that in the Outer Shenzhou?"

She seemed to calculate the time in her mind and suddenly understood, "They happened to come to the Ancient Tianyuan Academy for the academy-level evaluation?"

Wang Xuanjin smiled, "That All-Beings Demon King also wanted those skins as sacrificial offerings, so when it transformed into your appearance to issue the conscription order, it dragged in those students from the Holy Academies as well."

Lan Lan Lingzi and the others all showed strange expressions. If the All-Beings Demon King knew that the young man who defeated its fragment of will had entered the Little Chen Heaven precisely because of its false order, would it not be so angry that it would vomit blood?

Lan Lan Lingzi thought of that old fellow; it was said he had encountered considerable trouble as well. The Dark Cave suppressed by the Holy Zhu Xuan Star Academy had erupted, and even he had fallen into the seal.

This made Lan Lan Lingzi sigh softly in her heart. That stubborn old man.

However, the Ancient Tianyuan Academy now faces considerable trouble as well. Although the crisis of the All-Beings Demon King has been resolved, the troubles following it are each heavier than the last. Even we Vice-Heads are exhausted from running, so it is difficult to provide significant aid to the Holy Zhu Xuan Star Academy in the Outer Shenzhou.

For now, we can only hope Pang Pang Qianyuan can hold on a bit longer.

"Regarding the Holy Zhu Xuan Star Academy, I will have Wu Yu, Qing Man, and others provide more resource support later." Wang Xuanjin, seemingly knowing what Lan Lan Lingzi was thinking, spoke up.

Lan Lan Lingzi nodded slightly, then gathered her thoughts, her gaze turning toward the Little Chen Heaven, asking, "Now that the conscription mission is considered successfully completed, these students have paid a heavy price and should be given special commendation."

Wang Xuanjin said, "This Little Chen Heaven will provide a vast amount of cultivation resources for our Ancient Tianyuan Academy; naturally, we will not treat them poorly."

He pondered slightly, saying, "Moreover, those students who made outstanding contributions should also be rewarded."

Wang Xuanjin looked at the unconscious Li Luo in the light mirror before him, remained silent for a few breaths, then said, "Ten strands of 'Heaven and Earth Mother Qi' were born within this Little Chen Heaven. Let us distribute one of these strands among them according to their contributions, how about that?"

Hearing this, even Lan Lan Lingzi was slightly moved.

"Rewarding one strand of 'Heaven and Earth Mother Qi'? Isn't that too..." Vice-Head Han Yin Yue could not help but speak up, but the four words 'wasting precious resources' that reached his lips remained unsaid, after all, those students had indeed faced extreme peril this time.

The other Vice-Heads did not speak, but obviously held similar views. The 'Heaven and Earth Mother Qi' was too precious; even they, King-level experts, would be tempted. Especially since this item is essential for breaking through to the King realm, releasing this one strand would surely cause countless high-grade Marquises with potential to break through to the King realm to drool.

Wang Xuanjin smiled faintly, "The Emperor does not starve his soldiers. They came at such great peril; if we are still stingy, it would be somewhat chilling to the heart."

Seeing that Wang Xuanjin had already made his decision, the four Vice-Heads present said no more and all nodded.

"Then let it be done so."

Wang Xuanjin smiled, then extended his finger and gently waved it toward the Little Chen Heaven. In the next instant, the several King-level experts present saw wisps of mysterious smoke slowly rising from various places within this small space.

These wisps of smoke were imperceptible even to ordinary Marquis-sealed experts; only in the eyes of King-level experts could they be seen.

The smoke rose and gathered above the Little Chen Heaven.

Wang Xuanjin pressed his palm down. In the next instant, streaks of starlight appeared out of thin air and then fell into the Little Chen Heaven.

The direction in which the starlight fell was toward each and every student.

And among them, the strand that fell toward Li Luo was the brightest and most dazzling.