Chapter 1601: The New Vice Dean

Hearing Li Luo's clear, youthful laughter, everyone present was inwardly amazed—a meeting gift of a King-slaying item, the extravagance of it was almost unimaginable.

Pang Pang Qianyuan smiled and said with some emotion, "I never imagined that the one-star academy student who was chased all over the place by the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf in the Dark Cave back then would now have such astonishing achievements. Our Sacred Mystic Star Academy is blessed."

The onlookers couldn't help but chuckle.

"Uh..."

Li Luo couldn't help but smile and shake his head. He remembered it just as clearly—back when he first entered the Dark Cave, the academy's purification squad was attacked by the Smiling Face Demon. To resolve the crisis, he had unsealed the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf, set one beast against another, and took care of the Smiling Face Demon. It was also during that incident that Pang Pang Qianyuan helped him seal the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf.

Later, the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf helped Li Luo escape danger time and again. It could be said that without the convenience Pang Pang Qianyuan had given him, his path afterward would have been far more difficult.

And then there was the Golden Jade Mystic Elephant Blade, Pang Pang Qianyuan's former blade. The blade still accompanied Li Luo to this day, though after repeated tempering, it was long past its original form.

"Many thanks back then, Dean Pang, and to Sacred Mystic Star Academy as well," Li Luo said sincerely, cupping his fist.

In that simple sentence lay his deep feelings for Sacred Mystic Star Academy. During the most turbulent period for House House Luolan, Sacred Mystic Star Academy had been the greatest talisman for him and Jiang Qing'e. Precisely because of that, he had always regarded himself as a member of Sacred Mystic Star Academy over the years, even taking its name upon himself to earn resources and reputation for the academy.

Both Pang Pang Qianyuan and Vice Dean Suxin could clearly sense the sincerity in his words, and a look of gratification surfaced in their eyes.

"Li Luo, thank you as well over these years. If not for the resources you secured for the academy, Sacred Mystic Star Academy probably wouldn't have held on until now," Vice Dean Suxin said gently.

Managing the academy all these years, she had endured immense pressure—at times even feeling on the verge of collapse. But fortunately, Li Luo had repeatedly achieved dazzling results in the Academy Alliance under the name of Sacred Mystic Star Academy, giving them breathing room and allowing them to hold on until Pang Pang Qianyuan's seal was lifted.

So she was also grateful that back then the academy had not yielded to pressure from other powers and abandoned its protection of Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e. Otherwise, Sacred Mystic Star Academy might have lost the two most extraordinary monstrous talents it had ever seen since its founding.

"We're family, no need for such courtesies. Whatever you want to do in the future, I, Pang Pang Qianyuan, will give you my full support." Pang Pang Qianyuan generously cut off the mutual thanks. The bond between them ran too deep—they were bound to be the most loyal of allies.

"Li Luo, I'd like to invite you and Jiang Qing'e to take on the position of Vice Dean of Sacred Mystic Star Academy. I wonder if you'd be willing?"

Hearing Pang Pang Qianyuan's sudden proposal, Li Luo paused. He knew the Vice Dean title was largely nominal, meant only to deepen the bond between them—so that Pang Pang Qianyuan and he would become even closer.

He looked toward Jiang Qing'e, who indicated she had no objection, but would follow whatever Li Luo arranged.

"What's Yu Lang's current status?" Li Luo thought for a moment and asked.

Yu Lang, who was behind them, immediately bared his teeth at this. Just agree if you're going to agree—what's the meaning of asking that?

"Yu Lang currently serves as an instructor at Sacred Mystic Star Academy," Vice Dean Suxin said with a smile.

"Then it's settled. From now on, I'm the Vice Dean of Sacred Mystic Star Academy." Li Luo turned with a beaming smile toward Yu Lang and reminded him, "When you see me from now on, remember to address me by my title."

Yu Lang rolled his eyes in exasperation. This kid would stop at nothing just to get a little edge.

Pang Pang Qianyuan was deeply gratified, then he looked toward the direction the three Demon Kings had retreated earlier, his expression growing solemn as he said, "Li Luo, your slaying of the Fox Charm King has greatly eased our pressure, but this Other Disaster is not yet over."

"The Aberration King and the Fox Charm King were originally hiding deep within the Other Disaster, preparing the Descent Ritual, yet this time they suddenly rushed out. I suspect their Descent Ritual has made some progress..."

At these words, the previously jubilant atmosphere atop the city wall from the great victory instantly froze, and everyone's expressions gradually grew heavy again.

Everyone knew the Descent Ritual was meant to summon the "Eight-Headed Black Demon King"—a being of terror beyond imagination. The so-called Four Demon Kings were merely its generals, and even those generals alone had nearly brought Great Xia to ruin. If the so-called "Eight-Headed Black Demon King" truly descended, what kind of terrifying scene would that be?

Even with a powerful reinforcement like Li Luo, it likely wouldn't be enough to turn the tide.

Li Luo's expression also grew solemn as he said, "Great Xia's ambient energy is far more barren compared to the Inner Shenzhou. The Eight-Headed Black Demon King is at the peak of the Three-Crowned King tier, so a full descent isn't that easy for it. Moreover, if it had truly descended, it wouldn't have sat by and watched the Fox Charm King be slain by me. So I suspect the Descent Ritual hasn't been fully completed."

Pang Pang Qianyuan nodded and said decisively, "Next, I'll gather intelligence on the depths of the Other Disaster, and all parties should prepare for an offensive. With the Fox Charm King slain by you, the situation is in our favor. We must seize the moment and resolve this Other Disaster as quickly as possible—we can't give the 'Eight-Headed Black Demon King' the chance to truly descend."

"I'll provide support on my end as well," Li Luo nodded in agreement.

As the two most powerful figures in Great Xia today, once they had made their decision, it was settled: Great Xia would launch an offensive until the Other Disaster was completely eradicated and the capital of Great Xia was recovered.

Thus, over the following days, the various forces began to rest and regroup.

At the same time, news of this battle outside South Wind City spread through every channel to every power in Great Xia, and in an instant, the entire nation was shaken.

In the Northern Domain's Wang Ting, within the royal palace.

The former Regent Gong Yuan, draped in a yellow robe, sat at the highest seat. Below him were the top experts of the Northern Domain, such as Zhu Zhu Qinghuo of Extreme Flame Fortress and Si Qing, the Lord of House House Jinque, among others.

To Gong Yuan's right stood another tall, upright figure—Gong Gong Shenjun.

Yet at this moment, the atmosphere in this place that represented the peak of power in the Northern Domain's Wang Ting was extremely oppressive. Everyone, Gong Yuan included, listened to the spy's report with dark, fearful expressions.

"What did you say?!"

"Li Luo of House House Luolan has returned, and he's brought countless experts, including a King-tier powerhouse, and he himself slew the Fox Charm King—one of the Four Demon Kings—in this battle?!"

The silence lasted for a moment. Si Qing, Lord of House House Jinque, was the first unable to contain his inner horror, and his trembling, terrified voice rang out jarringly within the great hall.

Yet no one paid attention to the terror in his voice, because even Gong Yuan's face was twitching uncontrollably.

No one had expected that this name, which had vanished for years and which they had long since stopped caring about, would at this moment be brought back to their memory in such a shocking way.

Gong Gong Shenjun, standing to the right of the throne, also couldn't help but space out at the name. In his mind flashed that once somewhat youthful face of a boy.

In just a few short years, Li Luo had actually reached this point?!!