Chapter 695: Giving Up

The aftershocks of the academy's battle were gradually fading.

After the last contaminated Purple-Glare Mentor was brought under control, Vice Dean Suxin was the first to lead a number of Marquis-rank experts in an attempt to seal the Dark Cave, but the effect was minimal. Under the ceaseless erosion of the Evil Thought Qi, the seal jointly laid by the many Marquis-rank experts could only serve to slow things down a little.

So after half a day of trying, even though Vice Dean Suxin was deeply unwilling, she could only dispiritedly give up.

In the end, Vice Dean Suxin ordered all the mentors to begin gathering every resource within the academy—the Divination Art Tower, the treasure vault, the various resource depots. These were the accumulated fruits of the academy's many years of effort, and they would be indispensable if the academy was to be rebuilt in the future.

The burning of the Phase Force Tree had already dealt the academy a grievous blow; if these accumulated resources were lost as well, the academy would truly suffer a devastating loss of vitality.

And the dismissed students also needed to be pacified at this time.

For a moment, the academy was a scene of utter chaos.

And as the situation at the academy briefly stabilized, the leaders of the various factions began to take their leave one after another. Their expressions were all extremely solemn, because today's upheaval affected the entire Daxia, and none of them could escape its impact.

In particular, with the eruption of the Dark Cave, Evil Thought Qi kept pouring out without end, and the most prosperous region of Daxia bore the brunt of it.

Especially Daxia City, which was right at hand—the central hub of Daxia, where the headquarters of all the top factions were located. So these factions all needed to consider their choices going forward.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge did not go to find Vice Dean Suxin at this time. They knew the latter's mood must be terrible, so they simply took Yu Lang, Bai Bai Mengmeng, Bai Bai Doudou, and the others, quietly left the academy, and hurried back to Daxia City.

After entering Daxia City, the atmosphere within the city was still boiling. The streets were full of pedestrians, a scene of great peace and prosperity.

The ordinary people in Daxia City clearly did not feel the upheaval at the academy much.

However, this liveliness and prosperity could only last until today. Once the news spread, this most magnificent city of Daxia would soon become an empty city with no inhabitants.

Li Luo and his group were all in exceptionally heavy spirits.

Then they hurried back to the House Luolan Mansion. After settling Yu Lang and the others, Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge immediately called for Niu Niu Biaobiao and Cai Wei, and told them everything about the academy's upheaval.

"What? The Phase Force Tree was burned down, and the Dark Cave was opened?!"

Even Niu Niu Biaobiao could not help turning pale at this news, looking quite shocked. Cai Wei beside him could not help covering her little mouth, her face going white.

"The Return-to-One Society? I didn't expect this faction's tentacles to have already spread to this Outer Shenzhou. What a bunch of lunatics." Niu Niu Biaobiao's face turned solemn. Coming from Inner Shenzhou, he had clearly heard of this faction before.

"Uncle Biao, the Dark Cave has been opened, and Evil Thought Qi is now pouring out without end. At this rate, within a month it will likely cover a thousand li in every direction, and when that happens, Daxia City will become unfit to live in."

"Our House Luolan Mansion headquarters will probably have to consider relocating as well," Li Luo said slowly.

But the problem now was that the House Luolan Mansion headquarters had a guardian grand formation. If the headquarters moved, this grand formation would certainly be damaged, which was an enormous risk for the House Luolan Mansion. After all, the guardian grand formation had contributed the most to the House Luolan Mansion's survival amid so much coveting.

"And there's another problem... if the headquarters relocates, Uncle Biao's strength will also be greatly affected," Jiang Jiang Qinge reminded from the side.

Niu Niu Biaobiao had once suffered a severe injury. He had said before that within the House Luolan Mansion headquarters, his strength could match a Fourth-Grade Marquis, but once he left the headquarters' range, his strength would drop sharply.

Niu Niu Biaobiao pulled a smoking pipe from his waist, took two puffs with a smacking sound, his face showing a contemplative look, and said, "As for the guardian grand formation, once it's moved it will indeed shatter. After all, the grand formation was originally built by your father with the headquarters as its core. Once the headquarters moves, the meaning of guardianship naturally cannot be sustained."

Li Luo said, "It is indeed painful to have the guardian grand formation destroyed, but the current situation forces us to move. We can't just hole up in Daxia City and wait for the Evil Thought Qi to spread over later, when the guardian grand formation won't be able to endure within it either."

He sighed and said, "Daxia City will most likely have to be abandoned."

Although Daxia City was the central hub of Daxia, as long as the Dark Cave could not be blocked, no matter how painful it was, the Wang Ting could only choose to give up.

Jiang Jiang Qinge nodded slightly and said, "Actually, the guardian grand formation's significance to the House Luolan Mansion is no longer as strong as it was before the Mansion Sacrifice. The projections of Master and Mistress still deterred many ill-intentioned people. If they covet the House Luolan Mansion again, they have to consider dealing with the possible revenge when Master and Mistress return in the future."

"And now our relationship with the Princess has deepened, and both sides are in the same camp. Also, with this great upheaval, any faction will be affected. I think in the short term, no faction should have the spare strength to target us."

"So, even without the guardian grand formation, the House Luolan Mansion going forward will not be like it was before the Mansion Sacrifice."

In her words, she was agreeing with Li Luo's plan to relocate the headquarters.

And the only thing that needed to be considered was Niu Niu Biaobiao's physical condition.

"Uncle Biao, the reason you can exert the strength of a Fourth-Grade Marquis within the headquarters should still be because of this guardian grand formation, right? No, more accurately, it's the core object that constructs the guardian grand formation—that piece of 'Divine Nurturing Substance,' isn't it?" Li Luo asked contemplatively. Niu Niu Biaobiao laughed and praised, "The young mansion master is truly clever. Your guess is correct. That 'Divine Nurturing Substance' is the key to my having Fourth-Grade Marquis strength within the headquarters."

"Then isn't it simple? Since the guardian grand formation is useless anyway, just dismantle it directly and take the 'Divine Nurturing Substance.' When the time comes, place this thing with you, Uncle Biao, and won't you be a walking Fourth-Grade Marquis?" Li Luo clapped his hands and laughed.

Niu Niu Biaobiao said, "Doing this is indeed feasible, but the 'Divine Nurturing Substance' holds a fatal attraction for every Marquis-rank expert, because it brings the chance to break through to the 'King Realm.' Are you sure you want to place such an important thing on me, young mansion master?"

Li Luo heard this and said, somewhat displeased, "Uncle Biao, we're family, so let's not say such useless things. In my view, if that 'Divine Nurturing Substance' can really heal your injuries, then I'll just give this thing to you directly. I think if my father and mother were here, they would agree with me doing this."

Niu Niu Biaobiao had been at the House Luolan Mansion for so many years; one could say he watched Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge grow up. In Li Luo's eyes, Niu Niu Biaobiao was a trustworthy elder. In the years Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan were away, it was also because of Niu Niu Biaobiao's secret protection that the two of them were able to grow up.

The value of this bond, in Li Luo's heart, was absolutely not something the 'Divine Nurturing Substance' could compare to.

Niu Niu Biaobiao looked at Li Luo, a smile appearing on his greasy face. He had watched Li Luo grow up, so he naturally knew the latter's character and understood that these words came from Li Luo's heart.

"The young mansion master has grown up," Niu Niu Biaobiao sighed.

"Uncle Biao, if there's no problem, the dismantling of the grand formation will still need to be done by you. When the time comes, we just need to hand Master and Mistress's Lifebound Candle Flame to Li Luo for safekeeping," Jiang Jiang Qinge said with a smile. As for Li Luo's decision, she naturally supported it unconditionally.

Niu Niu Biaobiao nodded and said, "Leave this matter to me."

Seeing this, Li Luo looked at Cai Wei again: "Sister Cai Wei, everything on the headquarters' side—you need to start making preparations here, especially the headquarters' funds and all the important materials. These must be taken away as much as possible."

Cai Wei nodded solemnly and said, "Don't worry, mansion master. I will take care of these."

After making these arrangements, Li Luo exchanged a glance with Jiang Jiang Qinge, and both let out a soft sigh. Who could have imagined that the House Luolan Mansion headquarters would ultimately not be broken through by some other faction, but that they themselves would choose to give it up...

The Regent's Mansion.

In a sealed study.

The Regent's face was somewhat gloomy as he looked at the two figures that appeared in the shadows before him—precisely the gold-and-silver double-pupiled man and Shen Shen Jinxiao.

"Lord Zhu Xuan Chen, I need you to give me an explanation!"