Chapter 236: The Opening of the Dark Cave

After Ye Chengying appeared that night, the Seven Star Pillars appeared one after another, subsequently drawing gasps and commotion.

"That one is called Wang Chao, from the Wang family, one of the three great noble families of the Great Xia. He possesses a lower eighth-grade Golden Crystal Beast Resonance. Among the Seven Star Pillars, if we are talking about defensive power, he is likely the strongest..."

Amidst Instructor Xi Chan's voice, Li Luo and the other two looked over. Wang Chao was a burly youth; his skin had a faint golden luster flowing across it, and standing there, he was like a golden wall, giving one a sense of solidity and invulnerability.

"That is Zhong Taiqiu. His father is one of the few Viceroys in the Great Xia who governs three prefectures. He possesses a lower eighth-grade Demon Python Resonance."

The man named Zhong Taiqiu had a rather ordinary appearance. His eyes narrowed into slits when he smiled, giving him an unremarkable air, but if one sensed carefully, there was a faint, slippery, and cold feeling to him.

"A Viceroy of three prefectures."

Upon hearing this, Li Luo clicked his tongue. This power was somewhat extraordinary; compared to Shi Kong's old man from before, he was more than a grade stronger.

However, perhaps because he had beaten up too many sons of Viceroys over the past half-year, Li Luo found this Zhong Taiqiu somewhat unpleasant to look at.

"The girl on the far left is called Qiao Yu. She can be considered the one with the most ordinary family background among the Seven Star Pillars. The fact that she was able to stand out step by step from among so many students shows her own capability."

"She possesses a lower eighth-grade Lightning Resonance and has a fiery personality; she hates evil as much as she hates a personal enemy. I hear she looks down on those children of famous families who use their family status to decorate themselves. Li Luo, you must not provoke her; a Young Manor Master like you is naturally at odds with her."

The girl named Qiao Yu had short, ear-length silver hair that made her look capable and sharp. Her fair face was also quite beautiful, and her looks were not inferior to Ye Chengying's. Her attire was quite simple: a pale cyan shirt and long trousers, with straight, long legs.

Regarding Instructor Xi Chan's warning, Li Luo was a bit speechless and said with a wry smile, "Instructor, in your eyes, am I that kind of philandering Young Manor Master?"

Instructor Xi Chan's eyes held a smile as she swept a glance at Bai Meng, saying, "Aren't you?"

Li Luo shook his head helplessly. He really didn't know how the instructor could have such a misconception about him. Perhaps people who looked good naturally had such troubles, but this wasn't something he could choose.

"The last of the Seven Star Pillars, you should have also come into contact with him: that Young Manor Master of the Golden Sparrow Manor, Si Tianming... He only recently ascended to the Seven Star Pillars."

"Si Tianming, huh..."

Li Luo looked from afar at the man whose bright green hair was extremely conspicuous in the crowd and smiled. He didn't have any bad feelings toward this person.

By this point, the Seven Star Pillars of the Astral Sage College had all made their appearance.

From this, one could see how much importance the Astral Sage College placed on the opening of the Dark Cave. In the past, they were so elusive that one couldn't even see a single Seven Star Pillar, yet now they had all appeared.

As more and more students gathered, light suddenly condensed on a small branch of the Resonance Power Tree, and immediately after, the figure of Vice Dean Suxin appeared in everyone's sight.

In the past, Vice Dean Suxin was always composed and gentle, but today, her expression became stern for the first time, and a faint pressure radiated from her.

"Students, the purpose for summoning you all here today, I presume you already know."

"The Dark Cave is about to open, and the dark energy pollution within is spreading wildly. If it is not purified in time, as the pollution intensifies, it will eventually invade our world, and at that time, the Astral Sage College will bear the brunt of it."

"Therefore, this year's purification mission will also begin at this time."

"Because the pollution this year is exceptionally severe, after discussion by the college's top leadership, it has been decided that the Purple Glow teams of the First Star Academy will also participate in the purification mission. However, the First Star Academy's Purple Glow teams must find a Third Star Academy team to lead them before they can enter the Dark Cave."

As Vice Dean Suxin's voice rang in everyone's ears, it also caused some low gasps. Many from the higher star academies cast their gazes toward the First Star Academy side; it was likely the first time that even First Star Academy teams had to enter the Dark Cave to carry out purification missions.

On the Fourth Star Academy side, the Princess frowned slightly and said, "It seems the pollution within the Dark Cave this time is even more severe than in previous years."

Although the Astral Sage College was only letting the First Star Academy's Purple Glow teams enter this time, this was clearly just a preliminary attempt. In the future, this level would continue to be opened up, and by then, the First Star Academy's Golden Glow teams might also have to enter.

This was enough to show that the situation inside the Dark Cave was even more dire.

As the Princess of the Great Xia, her worries were clearly heavier than others. After all, the Astral Sage College was also located within the Great Xia; once the Dark Cave truly spiraled out of control, not only would the Astral Sage College suffer, but the Great Xia would also face a devastating blow.

This was something she could not tolerate under any circumstances.

Beside the Princess, Gong Shenjun also nodded, his expression serious as he said, "I don't know what the situation is like deep inside the Dark Cave. I previously suggested to the college, why not open the Dark Cave and let all parties in the Great Xia participate to help suppress it? But the college only said the time was not yet right."

The Princess said, "I suppose the college has its own considerations. After all, the Dark Cave is of great importance; if any mistake occurs, the consequences would be too severe."

"Perhaps," Gong Shenjun said slowly, looking at Vice Dean Suxin's figure.

At this moment, Vice Dean Suxin's voice sounded again: "This opening of the Dark Cave, as usual, will see the Purple Glow instructors enter first to push forward, clear out some overly powerful Otherkind, and simultaneously go deep into the Dark Cave to provide assistance to the Dean."

"The second batch will be the Fourth Star Academy teams, to maneuver and clean up any stragglers."

"As for the Third Star Academy teams and Second Star Academy teams, they will use the various safe purification points within the Dark Cave as bases to execute purification missions."

After methodically finishing the various arrangements, Vice Dean Suxin's expression became increasingly solemn. She looked at the several Purple Glow instructors beside her and said, "Arrangements complete, next..."

"Prepare to open the Dark Cave."

Hearing this, the several Purple Glow instructors also nodded with solemn expressions.

The next instant, the energy between heaven and earth began to boil violently. Under the shocked gaze of the many students, Vice Dean Suxin and the other several Purple Glow instructors' figures seemed to transform into suns of energy of different colors. That majestic and vast Resonance Power sounded as if it were causing tides to flow between heaven and earth.

An inexplicable pressure covered the entire college.

Swish!

Immediately after, several beams of Resonance Power light shot out abruptly, intertwining in mid-air as if forming a complex and ancient light pattern. The light pattern slowly descended from the void and landed on the trunk of the Resonance Power Tree.

Boom boom!

At this moment, the Resonance Power Tree suddenly began to shake violently. This incomparably massive, sky-supporting tree was like a giant beast awakening; its branches, like giant dragons, spread and entangled, finally gradually forming an ancient portal about several dozen feet large at the base.

The portal looked as if it were cast from ancient wood, emitting an extremely primitive aura, with streaks of miraculous light patterns spreading and intertwining.

Creak.

With the appearance of the ancient wooden portal, the tightly shut, heavy wooden doors slowly opened a crack at this moment.

Behind the crack, it was pitch black.

Woo!

It seemed as if a chilling, eerie wind whistled out from within, causing the temperature of the plaza to plummet. An inexplicable sense of fear surged into the hearts of all the students.

They looked in terror at the dark crack of the ancient wooden portal.

Was that... the so-called Dark Cave inside?