Chapter 849: Rosy Clouds and Dan Clouds

At the Master Academy, the ruined Elders' Council Hall.

Looking at the rubble before them, Master Wood and the others still felt a chill in their hearts.

The many buildings of the Elders' Court, no one knew how many years they had stood, housing countless precious antiques and traces left by predecessors, and now... they had completely turned into ruins.

Just by his aura, he had crushed this place into such a state, and even the Seal Master Hall could not withstand it. This Master Yang's strength was truly terrifying.

"It seems... Master Zhang's destructive ability was learned from Master Yang!"

Wei Ranxue couldn't help but speak up.

The group of elders exchanged glances, all nodding with bitter smiles.

When Master Zhang entered the academy, although he had damaged various buildings, there was always a pattern to it, and it wasn't intentional. But this Master Yang was different; with one burst of anger, the entire Elders' Court collapsed...

This destructive ability was far greater than Master Zhang's.

At the slightest disagreement, he would tear down walls, tear down houses...

Fortunately, they hadn't done anything to his student. If someone had actually injured him, wouldn't the entire Master Academy, and even the entire Hongyuan Empire, have been dismantled by him?

"Luckily, the Elders' Court was protected by formations, preventing the news from spreading. Master Yang also considered our face and deliberately restrained his strength, not shattering everything completely. Otherwise... our Master Academy would become a laughingstock across the entire Master Hall!"

Master Wood said.

"Indeed!" Everyone felt a solemn awe.

Indeed, he had clearly pulled his punches, shattering the Council Hall, the Seal Master Hall, and all the buildings of the Elders' Court only as a震慑. With his heaven-defying strength, if he truly wanted to kill, not to mention the ten elders present plus Master Wood, even the Master Hall of the Qingyuan Title Empire might not be able to contend with him.

"Within a day, repair all these buildings. Also, send out word of the new dean's appointment and invite all factions to attend the ceremony..."

Master Wood continued.

Everyone nodded in unison.

"By the way, regarding Master Yang's matter, all of you are masters, so I need not say more—you know how to handle it. Keep your mouths shut; no one is to speak of it! Otherwise, you will be charged with betraying the human race!"

Spreading his hands, Master Wood's gaze was like a knife.

A master of Master Yang's peak level—his whereabouts, appearance, and even his students—are the greatest secrets of humanity, not something people like them could discuss or debate.

If the news leaked and something went wrong, even dying ten thousand times would not be enough to atone.

"Yes!" Understanding the gravity of the matter, everyone nodded.

"Lu Feng, what about you?"

Seeing everyone agree, Master Wood turned to Lu Feng, who stood not far away.

He had a conflict with Master Zhang and had been punished because of it. If he harbored resentment, it could easily lead to unpredictable trouble.

"The Elders' Court ended up like this because of me. I will donate all my assets to repair this place, and then voluntarily request to be stationed at the Earth Sea!"

Lu Feng said.

"Go to the Earth Sea?"

"This..."

Hearing his decision, everyone's expression changed. Even Elder Mi frowned: "Have you thought it through..."

"I have thought it through. Before, I had too many expectations for the dean position, which made me lose my original heart. Going to the Earth Sea, I will find myself again. Even if I die there, it will not be in vain for a lifetime of pursuit!"

Lu Feng nodded, his expression resolute.

He was not inherently bad; he just wanted too much to become dean and prove himself among the ten elders.

Now that a new dean had been appointed, there was no hope left. Looking back on past events, it all seemed like a dream, and he realized how ridiculous his previous actions had been.

Master Kong founded the master profession not for enjoying lofty status, nor for vying for power, but to guard humanity and strive for the race...

But once one tasted the pleasures of power, even the firmest heart would gradually be corroded, losing the original faith.

"Alright, since you have made this decision, I will postpone reporting your matter and continue to retain your six-star master status. However... I hope you will keep your promise and not let the Master Hall down!"

Master Wood said.

"Thank you, Master Wood!"

Hearing that his report would be postponed and his six-star master status retained, Lu Feng's eyes reddened. The scene of his oath when he first became a master appeared before him, and it seemed as if countless hot blood was still slowly surging in his chest.

"Zhao Bingxu, you are responsible for inviting the various factions to attend the ceremony. Remember, do not reveal Master Zhang's identity as dean for now! His current strength is insufficient; safety must be ensured. After the succession, when he obtains the Dean's Order, the rest will be fine..."

No longer paying attention to Lu Feng, Master Wood turned and instructed.

"Yes!" Zhao Bingxu nodded.

"Mi Zhu and Wei Ranxue, you two are in charge of internal academy affairs and calming the emotions of the various institutes..." Master Wood continued arranging, but before he finished, he suddenly felt the ground shake, and a huge roar sounded like an explosion.

"What's happening?"

Hearing that the sound was not far away, Master Wood's pupils contracted. He led the elders as they flew up together and looked straight in the direction of the sound.

Not far from the academy, a mansion had collapsed with countless houses destroyed, and the explosion was coming from that place.

"That's... Master Zhang's mansion!"

Mi Zhu's pupils contracted, and he couldn't help shouting.

He had heard about Prince Huai giving Zhang Xuan a mansion and had investigated it, so he naturally knew where the latter lived.

How... had it suddenly become like this?

"Could it be that Master Zhang, in a fit of anger... tore down his own house?"

Wei Ranxue swallowed.

What a luxurious mansion it was. It was said that Prince Huai had spent an untold amount of money on its decoration, and now it had directly turned into a pile of rubble. Dozens of large courtyards had been blasted beyond recognition.

It looked even worse than the Elders' Court!

They only knew that Zhang Xuan tore down things wherever he went... but tearing down his own house in anger... that was a bit too exaggerated!

They had seen crazy people who went around beating others, but never someone who, when crazy, beat themselves!

"He didn't tear it down intentionally. Look..."

Without answering them, Master Wood suddenly narrowed his eyes and pointed forward.

Boom!

As he spoke, from the very center of the rubble, there was another violent roar, and a mass of colorful rosy clouds suddenly emerged, shining light in all directions.

"This is... Rosy Clouds and Dan Clouds?"

"Rosy Clouds and Dan Clouds? Legend has it that they only appear when refining eighth-grade pills..."

"The higher the grade of the pill, the more heaven-defying it is, and it must endure heaven's condemnation. Rosy Clouds and Dan Clouds are a type of heavenly tribulation, existing only in eighth-grade pills. What is Master Zhang refining? Why would this appear?"

...

Recognizing the appearance of the clouds, several elders identified them, nearly going crazy.

Rosy Clouds and Dan Clouds, as the name suggests, only appear when refining pills, and only when reaching eighth-grade pills. Yet one had appeared before them. Could it be that Master Zhang... was refining an eighth-grade pill?

"It's not an eighth-grade pill. If it were, there would also be tribulation in these rosy clouds. There is none... which means the pill being refined hasn't reached eighth grade. However, even so, it is at least seventh-grade peak, and it has probably reached... the Dan Wen level to have such momentum!"

Frowning, Master Wood said.

He had once been fortunate enough to witness the scene of an eighth-grade pill forming. Not only were there rosy clouds and dan clouds, but the alchemist also had to endure a lightning tribulation. Only then could the pill be round and full, and upon appearing, it would give birth to intelligence.

The one before them had only dan clouds, no lightning tribulation, indicating the grade was not yet sufficient.

"A seventh-grade peak pill at the Dan Wen level?"

Everyone's mouths twitched.

This... was probably even more precious than some ordinary eighth-grade pills!

Pills are classified into: Formed, Plump, Perfect, and Dan Wen!

A Dan Wen level pill—despite all the alchemists in their entire Master Academy, they had only heard of it, never achieved it. Master Zhang had refined a pill of that level and succeeded...

Was it real?

"Let's go take a look!"

The elders could no longer restrain themselves and flew straight over.

...

Hongyuan Empire Imperial Palace.

A middle-aged man was sitting at a golden table, reviewing memorials.

The Emperor of the Hongyuan Empire, father of Yu Fei'er, Yu Shenqing!

At this moment, Yu Shenqing gently moved the brush in his hand, and true energy swirled around, forming shapes of various mythical beasts, like dragons and tigers, giving a sense of majesty that made one dare not approach.

Although he had not displayed his strength, his every move exuded a pressure that dominated heaven and earth. This emperor's strength was probably not inferior to Elder Mi and the others, having reached the peak of Saint Domain First Layer.

"Your Majesty, the banquet is ready."

A eunuch entered.

"Mm."

Stopping the wandering brush, Yu Shenqing rubbed his brow: "What does Fei'er say? Has that Zhang Xuan been invited?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the princess said that Master Zhang has accepted the invitation and will come tonight."

The eunuch smiled.

"That's good. I want to see what kind of young talent dares to want my daughter as his maidservant!"

Yu Shenqing snorted.

"Your Majesty, this Master Zhang has caused quite a stir in the academy. He should be a man of great ability. However... wanting the Sixth Princess as a maidservant is indeed a bit too arrogant."

The eunuch said.

"Indeed. My daughter, a proud daughter of heaven, I can't bear to say a harsh word to her, yet he dares to toy with her. I want to see if this fellow has three heads and six arms or ten heads! When he arrives, I must teach him a good lesson and make him know his place..."

Yu Shenqing's gaze turned cold. He was about to continue when he suddenly heard a rumble from the ground.

"What's that? Go check!"

Raising an eyebrow, he waved his hand.

"Yes!" The eunuch hurried out.

After a short while, he returned with a strange expression: "Reporting to Your Majesty, it's... the mansion Prince Huai gave to Master Zhang. He... tore it down himself!"

"He tore it down himself?"

Yu Shenqing was stunned.

"Yes, this Master Zhang went to the Artifact Refinement Academy, and the Artifact Refinement Academy collapsed; he went to the Physician Academy, and the Physician Academy collapsed; he went to the Alchemy Academy, and the Alchemy Academy was ruined... This time, he just returned to his residence, and the residence turned into rubble..."

The eunuch quickly said.

"Tears down wherever he goes?"

Yu Shenqing's mouth twitched: "This... banquet, see if you can cancel it, or at least don't let this Zhang Xuan come! No, canceling abruptly is inappropriate. How about this: go invite Formation Master Wu and have him set up more than a dozen reinforcement formations in the banquet hall to prevent any mishaps!"

"Yes!" The eunuch nodded.