Chapter 267: The Outpost Transmission Tower

It was two days later when Jiang Qing'e, Li Luo, and the others finally hurried back to the purification outpost.

Looking at the outpost covered by the massive light barrier, Li Luo and the others couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. During these two days of travel, they had kept their minds constantly on edge, fearing that they might encounter another evil-thought illusion left behind by it, leading to unnecessary complications.

In this vast region, there was likely no place safer than this outpost; only upon returning here could they truly relax a little.

The group walked into the outpost, travel-worn and dusty. The outpost was relatively empty at the moment, with few students around, presumably all out executing purification missions.

After entering the outpost, they did not stop, but headed straight for the location of the transmission tower at the center of the outpost.

Only there could they send the intelligence regarding that Calamity-grade Other back to the academy, and only after the academy received the intelligence could it take countermeasures.

If that Calamity-grade Other were only devouring other Others elsewhere, that would be fine, but the fear was that once its strength recovered to a certain degree, it would come to where the outpost was located.

After all, to an Other, the fresh flesh and blood of the human race and their rich seven emotions and six desires were equally attractive, for those were the sources of evil thoughts.

And if they were truly targeted by a Great Calamity-grade Other, then for everyone at this outpost, it would be the worst possible news.

It might even eventually evolve into the most tragic outcome.

All the students in the entire outpost would be slaughtered.

This was a major event sufficient to shake the academy.

At the thought of that result, everyone present, including Jiang Qing'e, had their expressions become extremely heavy and solemn.

Because they were also at this outpost; if it truly reached that point, it would be difficult for them to stay out of it.

"Sister Qing'e!"

As the group was traveling in silence, a surprised voice suddenly came from the side. Jiang Qing'e paused her steps, and Li Luo's gaze also followed the sound.

Then they saw two teams ahead, and among them was a familiar graceful figure; it was Si Qiuying.

They hadn't expected her to be at this outpost as well; they hadn't encountered her before.

Beside Si Qiuying were Yi Lisha and Qian Ye; the two of them also revealed enthusiastic smiles upon seeing Li Luo.

Si Qiuying trotted over and asked with some confusion, "Sister Qing'e, at this time, shouldn't you all be preparing to go open up a Level 3 Purification Tower? Why have you come back?"

Jiang Qing'e glanced at her and the team members behind her, saying, "Are you all planning to go out to execute a mission?"

Si Qiuying nodded obediently.

Jiang Qing'e pondered slightly and said, "Call off the mission. Don't leave the outpost for now."

Her relationship with the Si siblings was decent, and the Golden Sparrow Mansion and the Luolan Mansion could at least be considered to have the same stance. Although this was more about the interest games between major mansions, when she could offer a reminder, Jiang Qing'e would not just stand by and watch.

Si Qiuying was instantly stunned, and the team members behind her, as well as another Three-Star Academy team cooperating with them, were also full of confusion.

However, Jiang Qing'e's prestige in the Three-Star Academy was not low, so that Three-Star Academy team did not mock them after hearing such an absurd statement, but instead asked doubtfully, "Student Jiang, has something happened?"

Tian Tian rubbed her brow and said, "We encountered a wandering High-grade Other in the outer region that was devouring other Others everywhere. Its strength is visually estimated to be Calamity-grade, and it might even be Great Calamity-grade..."

"According to our deduction, it should have run out from the depths of the Dark Cave."

As her words fell, expressions of sheer horror appeared on the faces of that Three-Star Academy team, as well as Si Qiuying, Yi Lisha, and the others, and they exclaimed, "A Great Calamity-grade Other?!"

The captain of that Three-Star Academy team had an unusually mature appearance, though he was not old, with a face full of stubble. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and laughed dryly, "Are you all really not joking?"

Qiu Bai said irritably, "Otherwise, do you think we ran all the way back here because we were bored?"

Yi Lisha hesitated for a moment and said, "If that Great Calamity-grade Other is in the outer region, it might not necessarily come to the outpost, right?"

"What if it does?" Li Luo smiled helplessly.

Yi Lisha was speechless. With their lineup, if they encountered an Other of that level, they probably wouldn't even have the ability to escape; it would be a total wipeout.

This was truly not a gamble they dared to take.

"That Other is devouring other Others on a large scale, likely to recover its own strength. Once it recovers to a certain point, it will most likely head in the direction of the outpost. If you go out now and happen to run into it, you might not be able to bear the cost," Jiang Qing'e said again, then stopped talking and continued to walk quickly toward the center of the outpost.

Li Luo and the others followed, leaving Si Qiuying and the others looking at each other in dismay, not knowing what to do.

"What should we do?" Qian Ye asked helplessly.

They had already planned their advancement route and were intending to do something big, only to suddenly receive such terrifying news.

Yi Lisha rubbed his chin and said, "Although academy points are important... I feel that they still don't compare to one's own life."

The bearded captain of the Three-Star Academy team cooperating with them also sighed and said, "If someone else had told me this news, I might not have believed it, but Jiang Qing'e's words..."

"We really have no choice but to believe it."

After all, they had been classmates for three years. Even if they didn't have many opportunities to interact with Jiang Qing'e usually, they still understood her cold and arrogant personality well.

Jiang Qing'e would not deign to play any petty tricks on them.

"Let's stay and see the situation first." Finally, the bearded captain made a decision.

The others nodded.

Yi Lisha watched the backs of Jiang Qing'e and Li Luo, rubbed his chin, and suddenly said, "Li Luo seems to have become much stronger."

Qian Ye's eyes also narrowed slightly, and he said, "I felt it too. Although the Li Luo of the past wasn't weak in combat power, his Resonant Power level was still slightly weaker. His strength was due to his dual resonances, but seeing him this time, he gives me the same feeling as when I see Qin Zhulu."

"It seems this trip to the Dark Cave has brought him a great improvement. How does this guy feel like he might really become the number one among the new students?" Yi Lisha sighed.

Beside them, Si Qiuying bit her lip, her thoughts complex. Could this Li Luo really have had such a huge improvement in just half a month?

She had witnessed Qin Zhulu's strength; that day, the latter had fought two alone, crushing and defeating Yi Lisha and Qian Ye, the strongest in their team. It was simply terrifyingly strong.

Therefore, even though Li Luo's team had won first place in the New Student Ranking Battle, in the hearts of many new students, if one were to talk about the strongest new student, it would likely be Qin Zhulu.

Li Luo and the others were only able to get first in the ranking battle because they hadn't met Qin Zhulu.

But now, Li Luo might not necessarily be weaker than Qin Zhulu.

And at his current rate of improvement, he might truly have the possibility of becoming the real number one new student.

That sentence Jiang Qing'e said that day seemed not far from being realized.

The center of the outpost was an exceptionally tall stone tower, which was also the hub of the outpost. The protective light barrier covering the outpost was emitted from here.

Walking into the stone tower, it was quite empty. In the middle of the stone tower was an ancient, dark yellow tree root, with its rhizomes extending and connecting to the stone tower.

On the ground where the tree root was located, there was an array diagram formed by complex light patterns. This was a transmission array; every few days, the academy would transmit many resources here.

There were some ordinary instructors from the academy in the stone tower, but their strength was ordinary, and they were only responsible for maintaining order.

Jiang Qing'e, Li Luo, and their group first found an instructor and told them the intelligence they had obtained.

"What? A Great Calamity-grade Other?!"

Upon hearing this intelligence, the instructor's expression changed drastically in an instant, and their startled cry echoed in the tower, startling the other instructors to gather around as well.

A panicked atmosphere permeated the tower.

After all, these instructors were not combat personnel; they only distributed and exchanged resources normally.

"Instructors, now is not the time for panic."

Seeing this, Li Luo said in a deep voice, "We need to send the intelligence back to the academy immediately and have the academy send reinforcements."

"In addition, if possible, I hope to issue an alert to let other teams out executing missions start heading back to the outpost. Firstly, it is extremely dangerous to be alone outside, and secondly, in case that Great Calamity-grade Other really attacks, our combined strength will count as a bit more power."

Hearing Li Luo's suggestion, these instructors nodded repeatedly.

Jiang Qing'e, however, thought of something and suddenly asked, "When is the next time the transmission tower will be activated?"

The transmission array here could not be opened at all times; it had time restrictions, generally opening once every seven days, after which it needed to accumulate energy.

Several instructors looked at each other upon hearing this, and then their expressions gradually became somewhat ugly.

They pointed to a large pile of resources stacked in the tower, and their voices also became dry.

"Just an hour ago..."

"The transmission tower just finished its transport."