Chapter 444: The Heavy Send-off

The next day at the Astral Sage College, the atmosphere was exceptionally solemn.

Beneath the Resonance Power Tree in the center of the college, the crowd surged like an ocean; almost every student had gathered here, and the roar of their voices soared to the heavens.

Countless fervent gazes were cast toward the front, where a group of spirited students stood tall and ready for departure.

They were the Astral Sage College delegation that would participate in the Holy Grail War.

The delegation was selected from the four grade levels, consisting almost entirely of Purple-Gold students from each.

Li Luo stood in the ranks of the First Grade, and as he looked at the dense, endless sea of people in the plaza, he couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion; in this atmosphere, it was truly impossible not to feel one's blood boiling.

"I feel like my life is about to take off."

Just as Li Luo's heart was surging with emotion, a sighing voice came from beside him.

Li Luo glanced sideways to see Yu Lang with a flushed face, looking impassioned and heroic.

"How many drinks have you had to get this drunk?" Li Luo smiled and said.

Yu Lang snorted coldly and said, "Li Luo, don't get cocky. I have a feeling that once the Holy Grail War ends, I will become the most handsome guy in the First Grade of the Astral Sage College. By then, countless beautiful female students and seniors will feel the charm of me, Yu Lang."

"They will definitely be here, cheering for the return of a hero!"

"The title of 'Most Popular with Female Students' that you snatched from me, I will definitely take it back myself!"

Li Luo was about to speak, but suddenly thought of something, so he rubbed his chin and said, "Heroes always need tragedy to set them off; are you sure you can handle that?"

Yu Lang said without hesitation, "No matter what I have to face, I, Yu Lang, have no fear! Li Luo, you have no idea what kind of iron man I have become after nearly a year of tempering, so no matter how big the storm is, I can withstand it!"

Li Luo gave a thumbs up: "Yu Lang, you have finally grown up. I believe that in this Holy Grail War, you will definitely shine brilliantly!"

Facing this sudden encouragement and praise from Li Luo, Yu Lang looked at him with some suspicion: "Why does it feel like you're trying to trick me again?"

Li Luo frowned and said in a deep voice, "It breaks my heart that you would say that."

Yu Lang curled his lips; you black-hearted maggot, as if I'd believe you.

While the two were exchanging idle chatter, the atmosphere in the arena grew even more intense. Li Luo and the others looked up to see Vice Dean Su Xin and a group of the college's top brass appearing.

The appearance of the top brass this time was more complete than ever before, showing just how much the college valued the Holy Grail War.

On the high platform, Vice Dean Su Xin stepped forward and scanned the crowd, and the boiling noise in the arena gradually quieted down.

"Students of the Astral Sage College, today our delegation will set off to participate in the Holy Grail War. This is the highest-level grand ceremony among all colleges in the Eastern Divine Continent. As for how important it is... I think perhaps we need to invite someone to explain it to everyone." Vice Dean Su Xin's gentle, clear voice rang in everyone's ears.

All the students looked on in confusion, followed by some whispering; in such an occasion, who could be more qualified than Vice Dean Su Xin?

Amidst those doubtful gazes, a crystal bead slowly rose from Vice Dean Su Xin's hand. A few seconds later, the crystal bead rapidly expanded, turning into a crystal mirror surface. The mirror shimmered, gradually turning into a dark, lightless color.

Li Luo stared at the darkness within the crystal mirror, his heart stirring slightly.

Then he saw the darkness gradually receding, as if light were emerging within it. A figure sitting cross-legged appeared in the darkness, and simultaneously appeared in the crystal mirror, clearly visible to all the students.

A middle-aged man in green robes with white eyebrows.

He sat cross-legged in the darkness, as if he were a mountain supporting the heavens; even if the world were to collapse, he would still hold it up.

It was none other than Dean Pang Qianyuan, whom Li Luo had seen in the Dark Cave!

"As expected..." Li Luo couldn't help but smile. In this Astral Sage College, besides this person, who else could make Vice Dean Su Xin remain so respectful?

However, because Dean Pang Qianyuan had not appeared in the college for many years, many students looked confused when his figure appeared in the crystal mirror. Yet, they could faintly sense a terrifying aura emanating from that figure, so they dared not discuss it rashly.

At this moment, Vice Dean Su Xin's voice rang out: "Students, it seems I need to introduce him to you... This person is the Dean of our Astral Sage College, Pang Qianyuan."

As soon as these words were spoken, countless students were instantly shocked.

Boom!

The next moment, deafening exclamations resounded throughout the plaza.

All the students were completely stirred and boiling over. They looked at the green-robed middle-aged man in the crystal mirror with shocked and reverent eyes. In the Astral Sage College, this Dean was a legend, especially for students who had only entered in recent years...

Pang Qianyuan had never appeared in the college in these years, which led many students to know him only through word of mouth.

It was said that this Dean was the only King-level powerhouse in the entire Great Xia!

King-level; in the eyes of many young students, this was simply a legendary realm, and the fact that the Astral Sage College could have such a special status in Great Xia was entirely built by this Dean!

It was just a pity for many students that they had never been able to see the Dean with their own eyes until now.

Yet who would have thought that today... Pang Qianyuan would actually appear!

Although it was a projection, it was the real Dean!

"Dean!"

"Dean!"

Countless cheers, like a landslide, resounded.

In fact, it wasn't just the students who couldn't control their emotions; even many of the college's Gold-tier and Silver-tier instructors looked at the green-robed middle-aged man in the crystal mirror with excitement.

There was no help for it; in the Astral Sage College, this Dean was their faith.

In the crystal mirror, the green-robed middle-aged man looked at those young and excited faces, a smile appearing on his weathered face. Then he stretched out his palm and pressed down gently, and the commotion in the plaza vanished in an instant.

Everyone looked at him with burning gazes.

"It is a pity that I can only appear before you in this form. I, as a Dean, am indeed very irresponsible. I hope you little ones don't mind."

In the crystal mirror, Pang Qianyuan's laughter rang out. The voice seemed to have a composure that would not be shaken even if the sky fell, making people feel inexplicably at ease.

"Unknowingly, it has been four years again, and it is time for the Holy Grail War to begin."

"Under normal circumstances, perhaps I still wouldn't have appeared, because the situation I am in requires me to remain fully vigilant at all times. But the Holy Grail War is different; it is a day I have been waiting for."

"Do you want to know why?"

Pang Qianyuan's eyes gradually became deep at this moment.

"Because I need the Dragon Bone Holy Grail, and the Astral Sage College also needs the Dragon Bone Holy Grail."

"Of course, I understand that it is not just our Astral Sage College that needs it; every college on the Eastern Divine Continent needs it..."

"But I do not have the ability to worry about other colleges. I only know that every year, young students from the Astral Sage College lose their lives in the Dark Cave. They clearly had such a bright future, yet they were forever buried in the cold and dark Dark Cave."

"Do you know how many students have been buried in the Dark Cave of the Astral Sage College over these many years?"

Pang Qianyuan slowly closed his eyes.

At this moment, countless students in the plaza heard the sound of leaves rustling. They looked up at the southwest corner of the sky-covering Resonance Power Tree. The leaves there were shaking with a clatter, and they could see that each leaf was engraved with a young face and a name.

Those were the students who had sacrificed themselves in the Dark Cave.

Year after year, every additional leaf there represented one less student in the Astral Sage College.

The atmosphere in the plaza became heavy without anyone realizing it.

Previously, some of them only thought that the Holy Grail War was about the honor of the college, but at this moment, Pang Qianyuan had directly revealed the bloody reality before their eyes. What they were fighting for was not honor, but the reduction of student casualties in the college over the next four years.

Those were fresh lives just like their own.

Perhaps, in the next opening of the Dark Cave, some of them might never be able to walk out again.

And this Holy Grail War, which determined the ownership of the Dragon Bone Holy Grail, in a sense, also determined their fate for the next few years.

In the heavy atmosphere, many gazes began to turn toward the delegation on the high platform.

Li Luo could clearly feel that in these gazes, there was a great deal of hope and gratitude emerging.

In this atmosphere, even Yu Lang could not maintain his cheeky grin, and he gradually restrained his smile.

He looked at Li Luo in silence and asked, "Can we get the Dragon Bone Holy Grail?"

"Who knows." Li Luo sighed.

Yu Lang pursed his lips.

"Li Luo."

"Yeah?"

"If during the Holy Grail War, you think I have any use that can help you, don't worry about the consequences. Even if you use me as bait and throw me out, I will accept it!"

Li Luo blinked, his smile a little awkward, and he hurriedly laughed it off.

"Look at what you're saying, would I do that to a good brother?!"