Chapter 519: The Mixed-Level Competition Becomes Serious

On the White Jade Plaza, everyone was horrified by the words of Elder Elder Ling Yu. The Dark Abyss was an extremely dangerous place, and the aberrations within were the mortal enemies of all humanity. Once released, it would undoubtedly be a calamity more terrifying than any natural disaster.

In the silent, oppressive atmosphere, Elder Elder Ling Yu slowly spoke again: "Of course, whether the shattering of the Dark Abyss in the Blackwind Empire was caused by human hands is still only speculation for now. But since we cannot rule out this possibility, once you head to Red Sand Prefecture, you should remain that much more vigilant."

"The Blackwind Empire is now overrun with aberrations, the malice pollution within it constantly deepening and expanding. So what changes have occurred in the depths of that region, even we have been unable to ascertain."

"However, this old man conjectures that, judging by the ever-intensifying malice pollution in the Blackwind Empire, an 'Aberration Nest Gate' may have already formed within."

Li Luo's heart chilled slightly when he heard this. When he had first entered the Sacred Phoenix Star Academy, he had learned from Mentor Xi Chan about this so-called "Aberration Nest Gate"—it was the gateway connecting to the Dark World. Once this gateway took shape, aberrations would pour out in an endless stream. It was unimaginable what a terrifying state the depths of the Blackwind Empire must be in by now.

"After the 'Aberration Calamity' in the Blackwind Empire erupted, the surrounding dynasties, nations, and forces also dispatched Marquis-level experts to investigate, but they all ultimately returned heavily wounded. Based on their encounters, there may already be the existence of an Aberration King in the depths of the Blackwind Empire." Elder Elder Ling Yu continued to drop bombshells.

The students present all swallowed hard, their faces pale, undisguised terror in their eyes.

Aberration King... Elder, the question you've just raised is beyond the syllabus.

This isn't something we students should know about, is it?

"Telling you all this isn't meant to frighten you, but to make you understand the severity of the matter. Because the mission you are undertaking this time is also extraordinarily important. The 'Aberration Calamity' in the Blackwind Empire is gradually intensifying, but we don't have sufficient capability to eliminate it in a short time, so for now we can only adopt a strategy of containment."

"This containment involves constructing a massive extraordinary array to lock down the four borders of the Blackwind Empire, preventing the aberrations from spreading to other nations."

"The various extraordinary array nodes are now being completed step by step. And the mission for you in Red Sand Prefecture is ultimately to construct one such extraordinary array node—and this is also the final node... Once this node is formed, the containment will be complete."

"At the same time, the surrounding forces of the Blackwind Empire will also carry out some interference in other regions, to prevent your actions from being noticed by some powerful beings within the Blackwind Empire, and to buy you more time."

Elder Elder Ling Yu's flame-like eyebrows moved slightly, and his face grew solemn as he said: "Fellow students, I hope you will not treat this operation as merely a competition. Because whether you succeed or not may determine whether the aberrations of the Blackwind Empire spread and run rampant. Once the extraordinary array containment fails, it will undoubtedly be another disaster, and countless people will die because of it."

The expressions on the faces of the many students in the arena gradually grew solemn.

Li Luo also frowned slightly and exchanged a glance with Jiang Qing'e. Without realizing it, this Mixed-Level Competition seemed to have become much more serious.

A mission of this level... the difficulty is no small matter.

However, they truly had no reason to refuse. Not only because of the final championship, but also because the aberration problem was something no one could escape from.

Although the Blackwind Empire was extremely far from the Great Xia Kingdom, if left uncontrolled, it would ultimately become a tremendous hidden danger.

"With so many Sacred Academies in the Outer Shenzhou of the Eastern Region joining forces, along with various dynasties, empires, and other powers, can they not resolve the 'Aberration Calamity' of a single Blackwind Empire?" Li Luo whispered.

The Eldest Princess heard this and shook her head, saying: "It's not as simple as you think. Each Sacred Academy has its own suppression mission, and the heads of these academies hardly dare to leave their academies even half a step. Haven't you noticed that even for the Sacred Cup War, the ones who appeared from each academy were only some Vice-Heads? It's not that these academies don't value the Sacred Cup War, but because those Heads simply cannot leave—or rather, dare not leave."

"As for other forces like dynasties and empires, apart from those neighboring the Blackwind Empire, who would truly be willing to dispatch experts deep into the 'Aberration Calamity'-ravaged land of doom? To be honest, the scheming and infighting among these nations and forces may well be no less terrifying than the aberrations themselves."

"Moreover, Elder Elder Ling Yu just said that an Aberration King is suspected to exist within the Blackwind Empire, which makes things even more complicated. After all, only King-level experts can contend with the existence of an Aberration King, and looking across the Outer Shenzhou of the Eastern Region, King-level experts can be counted on one hand..."

"So, for now, containment is indeed the best strategy."

Li Luo said: "The Academy Alliance is so powerful—can't they dispatch even one King-level expert?"

The Eldest Princess sighed softly and said: "Although the Academy Alliance is powerful, there are so many places in this world ravaged by aberrations—can they really attend to all of them? If not for the Sacred Cup War, perhaps even Elder Elder Ling Yu would not have appeared here."

"The Academy Alliance being able to suppress so many Dark Abysses is already doing its utmost. You can't really treat them as saviors. After all, this isn't a matter for the Academy Alliance alone—the transcendent forces in this world aren't limited to the Academy Alliance."

"And finally..."

The Eldest Princess shot Li Luo a look and said: "King-level experts can't just be dispatched at will. Such figures, even within the Academy Alliance, hold extremely high status. Before the intelligence on the aberrations within the Blackwind Empire is thoroughly clarified, experts of this level cannot easily be deployed. After all, if one were lost... even the Academy Alliance would feel the pain acutely."

Li Luo was slightly stunned, then nodded and said: "I've learned much."

The Eldest Princess smiled charmingly and said: "Actually, the Academy Alliance is quite clever. Taking advantage of the special timing of the Sacred Cup War, they gather the elites from each academy. And deploying us students will attract far less attention, avoiding notice from those powerful aberration beings within the Blackwind Empire."

"Once the extraordinary array node in Red Sand Prefecture is set up, the 'Aberration Calamity' of the Blackwind Empire can be initially contained."

Li Luo nodded. The gathering of elite teams from these major academies was itself a force not to be underestimated. Their One-Star House members might be unremarkable, but among the Three-Star and Four-Star Houses, there was no shortage of General-level experts. Such strength, placed in any nation of the Outer Shenzhou of the Eastern Region, would be a force that could not be looked down upon.

For instance, in their Luo Lan Mansion, aside from his father and mother, the strongest were the three Grand Elders who had reached the Tiangang General Stage, and the hidden Biao Shu.

While they were speaking here, Elder Elder Ling Yu on the high platform, after making the situation clear, waved his hand and said: "Fellow students, I won't say any more unnecessary words. I only hope that after you arrive at Red Sand Prefecture, you will follow the guidance of the Spirit Mirror and complete the mission."

"And the champion of this Mixed-Level Competition will be the team with the highest accumulated points."

"The specific rules for point accumulation will be known to you once you arrive at Red Sand Prefecture and study the Spirit Mirror."

"Do you have any other questions?"

Hearing Elder Elder Ling Yu's question, everyone fell silent.

Seeing this, Elder Elder Ling Yu nodded and said: "Since that's the case... then prepare yourselves. The teleportation is about to begin."

"We shall await your good news here."

The instant his words fell, Li Luo and the others saw intense, blinding light erupt from the White Jade ground beneath their feet. The light surged like a flood, swiftly engulfing their figures.

The space within the White Jade Plaza twisted violently at this moment.

After merely a dozen breaths, accompanied by the roar of the energy torrent, the figures in the arena vanished completely in an instant.

Outside the plaza, the students of the many academies watching this scene also understood.

The Mixed-Level Competition had truly begun at last.