Chapter 232: Information on the Other Beings

The next day, after Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge handed over the affairs of Lu Lan Mansion to Cai Wei, they went with Yu Lang, Bai Bai Mengmeng and the others back to the Holy Void Star Academy.

After entering the academy, Li Luo felt his tense body quietly relax quite a bit, as if just arriving at the academy made the sense of security grow stronger.

However, he also noticed that some of the students from the higher-star academies this time had lost their usual leisurely air, and instead each and every one of them wore solemn, much more austere expressions.

It was probably related to that "Dark Cave."

After all, once the purification mission began, these higher-star academy students would enter the Dark Cave, where they might encounter terrifying "Other Beings," and once they made contact, casualties could very well occur.

The two words "casualties" might sound simple, but when the ones dying before your eyes are classmates you've spent every day with, the mood of those involved would surely become especially grievous.

After entering the academy, Jiang Jiang Qinge and Yan Yan Lingqing parted ways with Li Luo's group, then the others also left one by one, leaving only Li Luo and Bai Bai Mengmeng to head to the dormitory cottage together.

And when the two arrived before the cottage with smiles on their faces and a cheerful atmosphere, they saw a figure sitting on the stone steps in front of the building, with the shade of a nearby tree stretching over and completely enveloping his body.

If you weren't paying attention, you'd simply overlook him and step right over him.

Fortunately, Li Luo was fairly observant and noticed his figure, promptly holding back the unheeding Bai Bai Mengmeng, and at the same time asked in puzzlement: "Student Xin Fu, what are you squatting here for? You look... kind of pitiful."

There's a kind of lonely feeling of a left-behind child.

Only then did Bai Bai Mengmeng notice Student Xin Fu, and she hurriedly apologized: "I'm sorry, Student Xin Fu, I didn't see you just now."

Student Xin Fu raised his head, and from beneath his hood what seemed to be a resentful gaze was cast out.

Li Luo glanced at him and asked in surprise: "You didn't spend the whole holiday here, did you? Didn't you find any friends to go out and have fun with?"

Student Xin Fu silently lowered his head. After coming to the Holy Void Star Academy, the number of people he'd spoken to could be counted on one hand—what ghost of a friend would he have?

Seeing him like this, Li Luo guessed it out: this guy normally didn't talk, probably because of his own shadow aspect, his presence was always very weak, causing people to overlook him without thinking, so during his time at the Holy Void Star Academy, he probably hadn't made any friends.

"Too tragic," Li Luo sighed.

Bai Bai Mengmeng also looked at Student Xin Fu with sympathy and said: "Student Xin Fu, next time we go out, we'll definitely bring you along."

"When I left before, I actually wanted to call you, but I looked around and didn't see you, so I had no choice but to go," she explained.

Student Xin Fu looked at Bai Bai Mengmeng's innocent, sweet little face and said softly: "I was sitting right here when you left."

Bai Bai Mengmeng's smile froze, and she said weakly: "I'm sorry, I really didn't see you."

Student Xin Fu shook his head, and in a soft sigh carried much bitterness.

"Yo, everyone's here."

And just then, a voice suddenly came from behind. The three looked over and saw Instructor Xi Chan walking over. She had a tall figure, with a thin veil over her face, which actually gave her a kind of intellectual beauty.

The three hurriedly greeted her.

Instructor Xi Chan nodded at the three of them and said: "Since you're all here, let's begin the lesson. There's something important I need to tell you today."

After saying that, she turned and walked toward her small courtyard. From her footsteps, Li Luo likewise sensed a certain murderous air, and he already vaguely knew what Instructor Xi Chan was about to say.

It was most likely about the Dark Cave.

The three hurried to follow, and with Instructor Xi Chan they arrived at the spacious pavilion in the small courtyard.

The four of them sat down on the ground.

"Actually, regarding what I need to say, you may have heard some of it one way or another—it's about the Dark Cave," Instructor Xi Chan didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

Then she briefly went over some information about the Dark Cave once more.

Because he had already learned of the Dark Cave's existence from Jiang Jiang Qinge beforehand, Li Luo's expression was quite calm, while Bai Bai Mengmeng and Student Xin Fu were much more shocked—especially Bai Bai Mengmeng, whose fair little face had slightly changed color, with a faint trace of fear in her eyes.

None of them had expected that the Other Beings were actually so close to them.

"This month the academy will launch the purification mission. Squads from the Two-Star, Three-Star, and Four-Star academies will all participate, and we've received news that the pollution inside the Dark Cave has grown more severe this time, with even some outer regions beginning to be polluted, so when the time comes, your One-Star academy's Purple Light squads may also be conscripted."

Instructor Xi Chan's gaze was somewhat stern. She stared at the three of them and said slowly: "Conscription is mandatory and cannot be refused, otherwise you'll be expelled from the academy."

"The Dark Cave threatens not only the Holy Void Star Academy, but if the Dark Cave were truly allowed to erupt, the entire Great Xia would be plunged into disaster. So whether it's for the academy or for your respective families and loved ones, you have no reason to flee."

Li Luo and the others' expressions were similarly solemn. Although they likewise felt dread and fear toward the so-called "Other Beings," having become Purple Light students, they were also the best among their peers, so they didn't really lose their composure too badly.

"However, generally speaking, even if you're conscripted into the Dark Cave to carry out the purification mission, some higher-star academy squads will be arranged to lead you, pass on experience to you, and protect you." Seeing that none of the three voiced any objection, Instructor Xi Chan gave a slight nod, which counted as being fairly satisfied.

"Mentor, could you tell us in detail about the information on these Other Beings?" Li Luo deliberated for a moment, then opened his mouth to ask.

Whether or not they'd be conscripted into the Dark Cave to carry out the purification mission, they had to understand the information on these Other Beings clearly, because even if they didn't encounter them now, in the future, they would eventually run into them.

"This information really should be told to you."

Instructor Xi Chan nodded and said: "Regarding the Other Beings, as I've told you before, it's because the Dark World gathered the evil thoughts of the human race, and the Other Beings were born from within those evil thoughts."

"The Other Beings are bizarre and powerful, strange and varied in form, twisted and terrifying. The Other Beings are roughly divided into four grades: Corrosion Grade, Calamity Grade, Annihilation Grade, and Other Being King."

"Corrosion represents erosion. Corrosion Grade Other Beings initially possess the power to erode the human heart. Because they are formed from countless evil thoughts, once polluted by their power, they will awaken the evil thoughts deep within a person's heart. The evil thoughts suppress reason, and your body will be controlled by the Other Being, reduced to a puppet under its manipulation."

"This kind of erosion is the signature power of the Other Beings... Over these years of purifying the Dark Cave, the academy has clashed with the Other Beings countless times, but in fact quite a few of the casualties ultimately came from those companions who were inadvertently polluted by evil thoughts."

Hearing this, even Li Luo had cold sweat breaking out on his back. These Other Beings were indeed terrifying and bizarre—didn't this mean that while fighting them, one also had to constantly watch out for whether one's companions had their deep-seated evil thoughts stirred up by them?

A sudden strike thrust at you at a critical moment would be enough to catch you off guard and die full of regret.

"Corrosion Grade Other Beings are also divided into White Corrosion and Red Corrosion... The reason for this distinction is that the evil thoughts emitted from the bodies of these two will intensify and gradually transform from white to red."

"White Corrosion grade Other Beings have strength roughly around the second stage of the Diviner Realm, while Red Corrosion grade Other Beings are at the third stage of the Diviner Realm... If you go carry out the purification mission, the targets will most likely be Other Beings of this grade."

"By the same logic, Calamity Grade Other Beings correspond to the strength of the General-Appointing Realm."

"Annihilation Grade Other Beings are equivalent to our human race's Marquis Realm powerhouses. Once this kind of Other Being appears, even a flourishing city will be turned into a dead city by it."

"As for the Other Being King..."

Mentioning an Other Being of this level, even Instructor Xi Chan's eyes flashed with a trace of fear, and she said slowly: "I truly hope we won't encounter an Other Being of this level, because every appearance of an Other Being King represents a true disaster. The evil-thought pollution it possesses will turn an entire country into a land of madness, chaos, and distortion."

The pavilion fell silent, and an inexplicable chill made Li Luo and the others all shudder.

Although Instructor Xi Chan didn't state it explicitly, it was obvious that if an Other Being King appeared, probably only a human King Realm powerhouse would be able to contend with it.

Instructor Xi Chan took a deep breath and continued: "Generally, Other Beings have twisted and terrifying appearances, but the stronger an Other Being is, the more it will come to resemble our human race. So in the future, whether in the Dark Cave or anywhere else, if you see an Other Being that looks exactly the same as us with no difference..."

A shadow flashed through Instructor Xi Chan's eyes, and her hand unconsciously gently stroked the cheek covered by the thin veil as she said softly: "Then run."

Li Luo and the others exchanged glances, and finally nodded obediently.

"Next, let's continue today's lesson."

"As for the purification mission within the Dark Cavern, no specific news has arrived yet, so you may continue your cultivation in the coming days."

Instructor Xi Chan let out a soft sigh.

"I hope it won't truly come to the point where you must also intervene."

For if it reaches that stage, it means the corruption within the Dark Cavern this time will become exceptionally severe, which would truly be no good news.