Chapter 445: Departure

Li Luo hadn't expected that a send-off originally meant to be joyful would instantly turn heavy once Dean Pang stepped out.

Yet he understood that Dean Pang was not exaggerating; he was merely laying out all the facts. Even if many people already knew these facts, sometimes, until the critical moment arrives, many choose to ignore them, after all, people will instinctively avoid cruel things.

On the silent square, the wind brushed past, yet it could not blow away the heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

In the crystal mirror, Pang Pang Qianyuan gazed at the silent square and slowly said, "I originally did not want to say these words at such a time, because it would bring pressure to the students participating in the Saint Cup War, but I have no choice; I need you to carry the future of the Saint Zhu Xuan Star Academy into this campaign."

"This is not a competition, but a cruel war."

Li Luo gazed at Pang Pang Qianyuan's figure; he vaguely felt that Dean Pang Pang Qianyuan now carried a sense of urgency. What was the reason? Was the situation deep within the Dark Cave continuously deteriorating? If they could not bring back the Dragon Bone Saint Cup, what would become of the Saint Zhu Xuan Star Academy in the future?

A soft sigh rose in his heart, but competing for the Dragon Bone Saint Cup was no easy task; they could only do their utmost to strive for it.

"I will not say much else; I have only one request, or rather, a plea..."

His gaze shifted, turning toward the position of Li Luo and the others on the high platform; they would represent the Saint Zhu Xuan Star Academy in battle.

Pang Pang Qianyuan's expression became solemn; he bowed slightly before them, lowering his head.

"Use all your abilities to bring back the Dragon Bone Saint Cup; you will be the heroes of the Academy!"

"Your names will be permanently engraved on the Academy's stele."

"Of course, most importantly... I will thank you on behalf of those students who might be buried within the Dark Cave in the future."

When those final words fell, the crystal mirror suddenly fluctuated violently, then returned to darkness; Dean Pang Pang Qianyuan's figure vanished completely, leaving only his voice echoing in the square.

The square remained silent and soundless.

Everyone fell silent; the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

Vice Dean Su Xin raised her hand, and the crystal bead fell back into her palm; gazing at the atmosphere in the arena, she felt somewhat helpless; indeed, expecting the Dean to regulate the mood was impossible.

He always acted simply and brutally, directly throwing this immense pressure out to bear down on the students who would represent the Saint Zhu Xuan Star Academy in battle.

Fortunately, these students were already the most elite of the Academy; they should be able to withstand this pressure.

Vice Dean Su Xin slowly said, "I will not say any superfluous words; only one sentence remains."

Her gaze turned toward the direction where Li Luo and the others stood.

"May all of you return in triumph."

On the square, the faces of countless students gradually gathered emotions; their eyes unknowingly turned somewhat red; the next moment, deafening shouts resounded throughout the entire Academy.

"Return in triumph!"

"Return in triumph!"

Vice Dean Su Xin formed a seal with her fingertips; a pillar of Xiangli light erupted, merging into the massive Xiangli tree behind her; then everyone saw a thick branch, like a giant python, hang down, the branch shimmering with strange light and wriggling rapidly at that moment.

In a short while, it transformed into a green wooden gateway.

Accompanied by a creaking sound, the gateway slowly opened; light surged within, and it was unknown where it led.

"Enter from here, and you will enter the venue of the Saint Cup War; of course, I will accompany you throughout." Vice Dean Su Xin pointed at the opened green wooden gateway, then smiled again; she waved her hand lightly, and on the Xiangli tree, green leaves about ten zhang in size slowly unfolded one by one, crystal light surging upon them, forming green light mirrors.

"Do not worry that everyone in the Academy will not see your brilliant performances; these Spirit Leaf Mirrors will project your movements in the Saint Cup War, so unleash all your skills and let our Academy remain in cheers from now on."

Hearing Vice Dean Su Xin's seductive voice, everyone in the delegation could not help but smile.

"If everyone is ready, then let us depart."

Vice Dean Su Xin did not say any more; she stepped out first, walking straight into the green wooden gateway; immediately, energy light surged, swallowing her figure.

Then came the team led by Gong Gong Shenjun and the Princess from the Four-Star Academy.

Jiang Jiang Qinge, Duze Duze Honglian, and others from the Three-Star Academy.

Senior Zhu Zhu Xuan, Ye Ye Qiuding, and others from the Two-Star Academy.

And finally, Li Luo, Qin Qin Zhulu, and others.

At the moment of stepping into the gateway, Li Luo turned to look back; on the exceptionally spacious square, the eyes of countless students carried deep hope, while the deafening shouts of triumph continued to reach them for a long time.

"Dean, you really know how to put pressure on people."

He muttered once and walked into the green wooden gateway.

And when the delegation of the Saint Zhu Xuan Star Academy departed.

In the deepest depths of the Dark Cave.

In the void, violent energy formed by earth, wind, fire, and water seemed to surge restlessly; Pang Pang Qianyuan sat cross-legged in the void; those turbulent energies of heaven and earth would automatically dissolve when still a zhang away from his body.

Here, countless strange, low whispers penetrated everywhere; these whispers emitted extremely powerful pollution power; even a Fenghou expert would find it difficult to endure for long here.

But Pang Pang Qianyuan's face remained as calm as an ancient well.

His deep eyes gazed at the distant space, where the space presented a state of violent distortion, as if two worlds were colliding.

A crack was torn open from there.

Behind the spatial rift, a black river could be seen flowing; that Heihe emitted an indescribable evil and strangeness, as if condensing all the ill omens and negative emotions of the world.

Black waves rolled; in the Heihe, a huge shadow of no visible end suddenly appeared.

It seemed to be a black giant fish; on every scale of its body, a ferocious and painful human face seemed to float, looking terrifying.

The black fish swam in the Heihe; its pupils were a grim white; its gaze pierced through the obstacles of space and locked onto Pang Pang Qianyuan.

"Pang Pang Qianyuan, have you already placed all your hope on those little things?"

In the void, a damp, cold, and dark voice came from an unknown place.

Pang Pang Qianyuan gazed indifferently at the black fish in the Heihe but had no intention of conversing with it, because the Alien Race was inherently good at stirring up the darkness in people's hearts; over these years, he had dealt with this Fish Chi King too much and knew how strange and difficult it was to deal with.

"Pang Pang Qianyuan, the Heihe is constantly growing; you cannot resist it; when the Heihe floods into the Dark Cave, both your Academy and this land where it stands will become our food."

The black fish's giant tail slammed down, splashing up waves of black water ten thousand zhang high.

It let out a light laugh and then gradually sank into the depths of the Heihe.

Pang Pang Qianyuan watched the disappearing black fish, only then slightly frowning his brows and sighing softly in his heart.

A young face flashed through his mind; that was... Li Luo.

In the delegation of the Saint Zhu Xuan Star Academy, elites emerged in droves, and there was even the monstrous existence of Jiang Jiang Qinge, who almost certainly held the title of the strongest student of the Three-Star Academy, yet he held high hopes for this Li Luo, who was merely from the One-Star Academy.

That said, this might turn out to be an unexpectedly brilliant move.

After all, he is, at the very least, the son of Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan.

And what's more, he belongs to Li Li Tianwang's lineage.

I hope he won't disappoint me.