Chapter 691: The Burning Phase Force Tree

The phase force tree had been set ablaze.

Blazing black fire began to burn upon the phase force tree—a scene that shook the heart.

That towering, magnificent giant tree, every leaf and branch burning, the flames so fierce they were clearly visible even within Daxia City itself.

It was as if an entire sky were burning.

The raging inferno reflected in everyone's pupils.

Within the entire academy, it seemed as if every sound had vanished at this moment. Whether it was the Violet Light mentors led by Vice Dean Suxin, or the students currently retreating, they all at this instant raised their heads, their gazes lost as they stared at this scene.

That towering, ancient phase force tree recorded the history of the Saintly Mystic Star Academy. Generation after generation of students had once cultivated beneath its vast branches, and batch after batch of students had charged forth from here into the Dark Cave to carry out purification missions.

This phase force tree carried the memories and emotions of every teacher and student of the Saintly Mystic Star Academy.

So when it caught fire now, there were even young female students who could not help but cry out.

The phase force tree's massive form swayed, as if letting out a gentle low hum, soothing those weeping students.

At this moment, even some mentors had reddened eyes, their gaze moist.

At a position slightly toward the outer edge of the battlefield, Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge were also somewhat lost in thought, and then a trace of anger surfaced in their eyes. Toward the Saintly Mystic Star Academy, the two of them actually both harbored some gratitude. Back when the House Luolan Mansion was in turmoil, Jiang Jiang Qinge single-handedly bore the burden. Even then she had already revealed astonishing talent—talent enough to make those forces in the Extreme Flame Mansion that coveted House Luolan Mansion regard Jiang Jiang Qinge as a thorn in their side.

At that time, Jiang Jiang Qinge had borrowed the name of the Saintly Mystic Star Academy, which made those forces in the Extreme Flame Mansion wary, preventing them from attempting to assassinate her and cut her down early.

Later, Li Luo also entered the Saintly Mystic Star Academy. Although it had only been a short year, his progress within that year was closely tied to the academy.

Even at the final House Luolan Mansion Grand Sacrifice, although the academy still maintained neutrality, it still did its utmost to provide him with covert assistance—in particular, the academy left a fallback path for him and Jiang Jiang Qinge.

It could be said that the Saintly Mystic Star Academy had given the two of them the greatest possible care.

Although this was also because it had taken a fancy to their potential, this kindness, Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge still had to keep in their hearts.

So right now, when they saw that phase force tree catch fire, anger rose in their hearts as well.

"Shen Shen Jinxiao, you treacherous dog!" From the side came Instructor Xi Chan's ice-cold voice. Her gaze was like a knife as it fixed on Shen Shen Jinxiao behind the gold-and-silver heterochromatic man. Although she had always found this man disagreeable, she had never imagined he would betray the Saintly Mystic Star Academy.

That gold-and-silver heterochromatic man had clearly been brought here by Shen Shen Jinxiao.

Moreover, those polluted Violet Light mentors within the academy must also be Shen Shen Jinxiao's handiwork, because only he had the time and opportunity over these years to use an imperceptible method, through daily contact, to leave traces of pollution in the hearts of these Violet Light mentors.

This required a very long period of lurking and scheming, which meant Shen Shen Jinxiao had long since betrayed the academy.

Even... Instructor Xi Chan touched her veiled cheek, killing intent surging in her eyes. She suspected that the reason she had been wounded by the Fish Demon Curse in the Dark Cave back then might also have been Shen Shen Jinxiao's plot. Fortunately, she had not been within the academy's range at the time, and Li Luo happened to have Dean Pang's Three-Phase power available to borrow, otherwise she might have ended up just like those polluted Violet Light mentors, directly corrupted into a puppet right now.

"What a true calamity."

Li Luo sighed. It was a pity his strength was insufficient, otherwise no matter what, he would have found a chance to cut down this Shen Gou first.

Jiang Jiang Qinge was briefly silent, then said: "The Saintly Mystic Star Academy this time is likely to face an unprecedented great calamity."

"Not just the Saintly Mystic Star Academy."

Li Luo shook his head, his voice growing much heavier: "The phase force tree has been destroyed, and the Dark Cave may also have problems. When the time comes and the Evil Thought Qi gushes forth, that will be a terrifying disaster."

"It won't happen. The Dean is still guarding the Dark Cave. With him there, nothing will go wrong." Instructor Xi Chan retorted.

Li Luo gave a bitter smile and said: "Instructor, the phase force tree has been burned by someone, and Dean Pang still hasn't made a move... Clearly, it's not that he doesn't want to act, but that he's already been held up. Even thinking toward the worse possibility, Dean Pang right now might not even be able to save himself."

Jiang Jiang Qinge nodded, her exquisite, fair features appearing extremely solemn: "This conspiracy is more terrifying than any of us imagined. This dark hand called the 'Return-to-One Society' is shrouding all of Daxia."

Instructor Xi Chan was briefly silent. How could she not know that Dean Pang's failure to appear by now meant something had gone wrong? Yet she still clung to a glimmer of hope—after all, Dean Pang was the only King-level expert in Daxia, and only he possessed the power to steady the world.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge's hearts were also very heavy, because when the nest is overturned no egg remains whole. If the Saintly Mystic Star Academy were truly destroyed, then all of Daxia would no longer be at peace. They had seen the tragic scene of the Black Wind Empire during the Holy Grail War—if this scene appeared in Daxia... what an unbearable thing that would be.

But, faced with this heaven-toppling change, with their strength, there was simply nothing they could do.

This level of contention was no longer something they, or even any ordinary Marquis-level expert, could change.

This Return-to-One Society is too terrifying.

At this moment, Li Luo thought of the Red Armored General they had encountered in the Black Wind Empire... it was the mysterious force behind him that had overthrown that once-prosperous empire. Were these two the same?

In midair, Marquis-level experts from other forces such as Yu Yu Hongxi and Douze Yan also paled somewhat because of the sudden change before them. They had already given their all earlier, yet still failed to withstand that gold-and-silver heterochromatic man. The latter's strength and methods were truly terrifying.

The Return-to-One Society—truly worthy of being the bizarre force that all the world's superpowers were exceptionally wary of and guarded against.

"Vice Dean Suxin?" Yu Yu Hongxi's gaze turned toward Suxin, because she noticed that the latter's body was trembling slightly, her emotions seemingly somewhat out of control.

"I will kill you!"

Vice Dean Suxin's eyes were blood-red, filled with hatred. She stared fixedly at the gold-and-silver heterochromatic man. The next instant, the void behind her shattered, and four Marquis Platforms materialized, then directly, carrying the energy of heaven and earth, smashed down toward the latter like four mountains.

Countless runes flowed across the four Marquis Platforms, and where they passed, the void seemed to show signs of collapse.

The gold-and-silver heterochromatic man merely shook his head, gave a casual wave, and a surge of profound light shot forth, transforming into a dark-yellow giant ruler. As the ruler slammed down, it seemed to carry the force of shifting mountains. The four Marquis Platforms that had come to suppress him were instantly sent flying backward by the ruler's strike, and the violent shock caused even cracks to appear on those four Marquis Platforms.

Puchi.

Vice Dean Suxin spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, the majestic phase force around her body churning violently, yet her gaze remained fixed on the gold-and-silver heterochromatic man.

"Vice Dean Suxin, you must stay calm."

The gold-and-silver heterochromatic man revealed a smile and said gently: "Because right now, it hasn't yet reached the most desperate moment."

He tilted his ear slightly, assuming a listening posture: "Listen?"

All the Marquis-level experts present furrowed their brows tightly. Immediately after, their expressions suddenly changed drastically, and gaze after gaze sharply shot toward the base of the burning phase force tree. There, it seemed a massive, cold aura was spreading out like a flood.

Within it, there seemed to be countless inexplicable whispers mixed in.

That was... the Evil Thought Qi from within the Dark Cave!

As the phase force tree burned, the Dark Cave it had been suppressing finally began to show cracks.