Chapter 239: My Heart Knows No Fear

"When we enter the Dark Cave this time, we'll be in the outer region. Within this area, the academy has expended great effort to build purification strongholds. Once we go in, we'll be teleported directly to the corresponding purification stronghold according to the number on our 'Green Wood Heart-Protection Token'."

"These strongholds will also have many other squads. Then the mission for all our squads next will be to purify the surrounding area centered on this stronghold."

On the bustling, noisy square, while waiting for the academy's instructions, Jiang Jiang Qinge was patiently briefing Li Luo and the others on some information about the Dark Cave.

Li Luo and the others picked up the green wooden token and took a look, and sure enough, they saw the number "thirteen" in the corner.

"These surrounding areas also have some purification towers set up by the academy. Purification runes are inscribed within the towers, but because of the constant erosion of the evil-thought power, these purification runes have all been depleted. So we need to take the purification dust given to us by the academy and recoat the runes in the purification towers, activating the towers' power."

"Once a purification tower is activated, it will emit a purification light screen, and the evil-thought pollution in this area will be gradually purified."

Li Luo and the others listened with looks of wonder on their faces, finally understanding what exactly they were supposed to do after entering the Dark Cave.

"Sounds like it shouldn't be too hard?" Li Luo said.

Tian Tian beside him smiled, crossing her arms over her chest. Her somewhat loose clothing was squeezed into rather magnificent waves as she said, "When activating the purification tower, purifying power will disperse, which will stimulate any aberrations that might exist in this area. At that time, they will gather toward the purification tower."

"In other words, at that moment, we might fall into a siege by aberrations. If we slip up, either we successfully activate the purification tower and purify the aberrations, or... we might not even have a chance to escape and get wiped out directly."

Li Luo smacked his lips.

"Since the academy's setup inside the Dark Cave is so thorough, why not keep the Dark Cave open long-term and maintain the energy of these purification towers?" Li Luo asked again, somewhat puzzled.

From what Jiang Jiang Qinge and the others had said, these purification tower devices were clearly extremely useful. If that were the case, why close the Dark Cave and give these evil-thought energies time to make a comeback?

Jiang Jiang Qinge said calmly, "Because of the Black Tide."

"Every so often, a Black Tide erupts from deep within the Dark Cave. The so-called Black Tide is the ultimate compression of evil-thought energy, a power spewed out from the Dark World. It's extremely terrifying."

"Under the sweep of the Black Tide, even a titled Marquis-level expert has to be extremely careful. So the purification of the Dark Cave has always been a back-and-forth process. When the Black Tide comes, we need to retreat from the Dark Cave. But when we do, the purifying power in the towers will be erased by the Black Tide. We can only wait until the Black Tide recedes, then come back to activate these purification towers and purify the areas polluted by evil-thought energy. If we don't do this, the evil-thought energy will grow denser and denser, birthing more aberrations. Eventually, they'll try to break through the seal and come into our world," Jiang Jiang Qinge said slowly.

Li Luo's expression shifted slightly. This Dark World was truly terrifying. It was clearly just a crack, yet it had tied down the entire strength of the Saintly Zhu Xuan Star Academy.

He didn't ask why they didn't find a way to resolve it completely. Obviously... they probably didn't have that ability.

Senior Qiu Bai and Tian Tian beside them watched Jiang Jiang Qinge patiently explaining things to Li Luo, their gazes both a bit strange. This side of Jiang Jiang Qinge, they really hadn't encountered much before.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's personality wasn't one for long-winded lectures with people. If it were anyone else here, she'd most likely be too lazy to say a single word.

And from this, one could also see how good Jiang Jiang Qinge was to Li Luo.

This made the two of them feel a bit incredulous. Could it be that Jiang Jiang Qinge really did consider herself Li Luo's fiancée?

This Li Luo, what virtue or ability does he have?

Amid their complicated feelings, time slipped away quietly. In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed. By now, the setting sun in the sky had begun to slant downward, and the scorching sunlight had taken on a slight chill.

Boom!

Suddenly, a deep sound rang out, startling many students on the square.

Their gazes turned, and they saw the massive Green Wood gate shudder violently at this moment. From the cracks in the gate, it seemed as if a piercing shriek rang out, gusts of sinister wind.

As if something was slamming against the other side of the gate.

The students from the higher-star academies on the square were fine, but the freshmen from the One-Star Academy were scared pale, fear in their eyes.

But just at this moment, on the Green Wood gate, ancient and mysterious patterns bloomed with light. Layers of halos blossomed, gradually smoothing out the trembling.

"This is caused by the academy's Purple-Glow mentors gradually going deeper and engaging in battle with some powerful aberrations," Jiang Jiang Qinge said calmly, casually explaining to Li Luo.

"But generally when it reaches this point, it's time for us to start entering as well."

And as if to echo her words, not long after she finished speaking, a Purple-Glow mentor staying behind at the academy declared loudly, "All students, prepare."

"Four-Star Academy students and Gold-Glow mentors, enter the Dark Cave first!"

As his voice fell, the Gold-Glow mentors and Four-Star Academy squads who had long been ready set off in silence. Then everyone gripped their weapons tightly and stamped the ground hard. At that moment, the ground itself seemed to tremble.

"My heart knows no fear."

"Our kind endure forever."

Low, unified voices rang out. The voices seemed to contain a powerful conviction, and finally, like an army setting out, they poured into the massive Green Wood gate.

Many freshmen were so awestruck by this spectacle they couldn't speak. Only now did they understand just how vast the gap was between them and these Four-Star Academy students.

This wasn't just a gap in strength, but also in temperament.

After four years of cultivation at the Saintly Zhu Xuan Star Academy, they had long grown accustomed to the dangers of the Dark Cave, and had developed an initial resistance against aberrations.

No wonder when they usually encountered these Four-Star Academy students, the other party's gaze toward them always carried a hint of mockery and condescension. After all, what they had experienced was something these freshmen couldn't possibly imagine.

Li Luo also silently watched this rather spectacular scene. This too was the foundation of the Saintly Zhu Xuan Star Academy—not only outstanding, powerful mentors, but also these young generation who were practically the finest in the entire Great Xia Kingdom.

Compared to this, the Luo Lan House was truly worlds apart.

"They say this is a battle creed passed down from the Academy Alliance, handed down through generations, to strengthen one's own conviction."

Jiang Jiang Qinge said this, then continued, "The Gold-Glow mentors and these Four-Star Academy students will enter the junction between the deep and outer regions of the Dark Cave to deal with some who slip through the net. At the same time, they'll serve as mobile support, deploying wherever an emergency arises."

This wave of people setting out lasted half a quarter-hour.

Half a quarter-hour later, when the last Four-Star Academy student's figure disappeared into the Green Wood gate, Jiang Jiang Qinge was the first to stand up. She tilted her head slightly, gazing at the Green Wood gate standing at the base of the Phase Force Tree. On her exquisitely beautiful face, a faint luster glowed. Her slender figure stood tall, her legs long and straight beneath her battle skirt, long boots on her feet.

The azure-blue short cape that had accompanied her for many years fluttered lightly. She looked sharp and dashing. Just by standing here, she had already become the most dazzling person on the Three-Star Academy side.

She held her heavy sword, resting its tip lightly on the ground.

Clang.

"My heart knows no fear."

"Our kind endure forever."

Her clear, cold voice rang out, and then all the Three-Star Academy students rose solemnly, resting their weapons on the ground, producing a deep sound.

"My heart knows no fear."

"Our kind endure forever."

The azure-blue short cape fluttered lightly as Jiang Jiang Qinge stepped forward first. Senior Qiu Bai, Tian Tian, and Li Luo all hurried to follow.

Behind them came the Three-Star Academy, then the Two-Star Academy, a tide of figures.

The massive Green Wood gate was right before them. In the opened crack, it was dark and lightless, not knowing where it led.

Just as they were about to enter, Jiang Jiang Qinge tilted her head slightly, looking at Li Luo following closely behind. Their gazes met for a moment, neither speaking a word, and then they stepped out.

The surging dim light had already swallowed their figures whole.