Chapter 878: Arriving at Cloud Mist Ridge Again

"Yes!"

The many masters below, though filled with reluctance and resentment, nodded upon hearing that it was a decision made by the Master Teacher Academy, withdrew from the battlefield, and retreated.

"Dean Zhao, you stay and arrange for all the students. For now, avoid conflict with the many spirit beasts. Elder Mi and I will go to Cloud Mist Ridge."

Seeing the crowd retreat, Zhang Xuan said.

"That won't do. I must go with the Dean..."

Hearing that he was to leave, Zhao Bingxu was anxious and quickly shook his head.

Even if the Dean had made great progress recently, he was only at the initial stage of the Cocoon Seal realm. Going to Cloud Mist Ridge, which was full of sacred beasts, was simply courting death. Even if it cost him his life, he had to follow behind to ensure safety.

"What, you acknowledge me as Dean but now refuse to obey orders?"

Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow. "If you don't listen, then neither of you will go. I'll go alone!"

"Dean..." Zhao Bingxu was frantic.

"These students indeed need to be arranged. Dean Zhao, you go back first!"

Elder Mi waved his hand, then transmitted his voice: "Go back and prepare immediately. At the same time, find Master Mu and the others. The time limit is two hours. If we don't come out within two hours, launch a direct attack... I will stay by the Dean's side and do my utmost to ensure his safety for two hours!"

"This..." Zhao Bingxu was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "Alright!"

"Let's go!"

Though he didn't know what the other had transmitted, Zhang Xuan didn't mind. He called out, and together with Elder Mi, rode the sacred beast straight toward Cloud Mist Ridge.

Zhao Bingxu gritted his teeth and hurriedly flew toward the Master Teacher Academy.

In the air, his fists clenched.

"Dean, you must not come to harm..."

He knew that the Dean was going to negotiate for the sake of the many masters below. This might seem to compromise the academy's dignity, but it protected the vital forces of humanity.

Taking the blame upon himself, only to ensure that more masters were not harmed—such breadth of mind and spirit...

They had indeed chosen the right person!

Master Zhang was a master teacher one could rely on... a true master teacher who had comprehended the heart of a teacher!

Like Master Kong of old, compassionate and righteous for the world.

Perhaps they were truly witnessing the birth of a legend.

...

The sacred beast flew swiftly, and before long, they arrived at Cloud Mist Ridge. Elder Mi stood by the window, his voice full and resonant, echoing in all directions.

"Mi Zhu of the Master Teacher Academy has arrived as promised. May I ask where the kings are? I request an audience!"

"Please sit on the back of this eagle beast. It will bring you to us. Leave your sacred beast outside the mountain. I fear that if negotiations go poorly, it will be caught between loyalties!"

A faint voice came through.

Elder Mi's Fire Dragon sacred beast was also a beast. Now that humans and beasts were negotiating, if trouble arose, helping its master would mean betraying the beast race, and helping the beasts would mean betraying its master. Either way, it was a dilemma.

"Alright!"

Instructing the sacred beast, Elder Mi shook his body, flew down from its back, grabbed in the air, and used true energy to envelop Zhang Xuan, landing on the back of an eagle beast not far away.

"Chirp!"

The eagle beast let out a long cry, spread its wings, and took flight.

This creature had reached the Cocoon Seal realm, its body a bluish-gray, streamlined like lightning.

It resembled the blue eagle beast Zhang Xuan had tamed before, but was even more powerful.

"Dean, don't reveal your identity first. Just say you are... one of my students! If they attack, I'll find a way to send you out..."

Elder Mi transmitted secretly.

"No need for such trouble. How can we negotiate without revealing identity?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"This... these sacred beasts have always been at odds with our Master Teacher Academy. Even without the events of the past two days, they would want to raze it. Unfortunately, these creatures have always been holed up in their lair. Over the years, the academy has sent many people, even the royal family has sent quite a few, but all have disappeared without a trace, likely meeting with foul play!"

Elder Mi said.

"Sent many people?" Frowning, Zhang Xuan suddenly remembered the many bones he had seen behind the Earth Pulse Spirit Liquid pool.

Perhaps those were from one of the teams sent by the royal family or the Master Teacher Academy.

"Cloud Mist Ridge, shrouded in mist all year round, with complex terrain, easy to defend and hard to attack. These sacred beasts, staying here, are like a thorn stuck in humanity's throat. We've long wanted to eliminate them, but... it's too difficult!"

Speaking of this, Elder Mi seemed to recall something, his expression grave. "Moreover, these sacred beasts don't seem to be mere bandits occupying a mountain. The old Dean knew something, but he disappeared before he could elaborate. According to historical records, Senior Wu Yangzi's disappearance also seems to be related to Cloud Mist Ridge!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed.

He knew a great deal about Wu Yangzi, even having obtained the treasure he left behind. If it was indeed related to Cloud Mist Ridge, then the Heterodox race might be involved.

"Could it be... related to the Cruel One?"

After obtaining Wu Yangzi's treasure, he had specifically asked the Cruel One about it, but that fellow only had a heart left, and many memories were lost. He only knew about the underground palace, nothing more.

But if Wu Yangzi's disappearance was related to the Heterodox race... could these sacred beasts also have some connection?

Perhaps it was possible!

In Hongyuan City, so close to the Master Teacher Academy, to capture a super powerhouse infinitely close to Saint Domain Layer 2, it would be truly difficult for the Heterodox race alone.

"Yes, precisely because of this, to investigate the truth, Saint Domain experts have infiltrated, but unfortunately, none succeeded. I came here seven hundred years ago... If not for the old Dean's rescue, I might have died long ago..."

His face reddening, Elder Mi said.

Seven hundred years ago, when his strength was mature, he too wanted to probe this place. He sneaked in, but before going far, he was beaten nearly to death.

If not for the old Dean, he wouldn't be here today.

"Oh!" Not expecting Elder Mi to have such an experience, Zhang Xuan smiled slightly.

Though he had been inside once, Cloud Mist Ridge was indeed very strange.

If not for his soul puppet, he would have been beaten to death on the spot like Wei Changfeng, let alone stealing the Earth Pulse Spirit Liquid.

"So, try not to reveal your identity later, or I'm afraid something might go wrong..." After explaining the reason, Elder Mi said.

"Mm, we'll adapt as we go!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

If so much was involved, the sacred beasts of Cloud Mist Ridge, knowing he was the Dean, might indeed go mad.

Even with the Purple Sun Beast and the Golden Origin Cauldron, facing a mountain of sacred beasts, Exalted Saints, and Half-Saints, escaping wouldn't be easy.

As the two spoke, the eagle beast beneath them flew through the thick mist and arrived at a mountain peak.

Zhang Xuan looked and saw it was a place he knew well—the location of the Earth Pulse Spirit Liquid.

"Chirp!"

The eagle beast cried out and flew straight down. Elder Mi shook his body and landed on the ground, with Zhang Xuan following closely.

"Mi Zhu of the Master Teacher Academy, along with my student, has arrived. I request an audience with the kings of Cloud Mist Ridge!"

Stepping forward, Elder Mi's aura as a Saint Domain Layer 1 peak expert surged forth.

"Elder Mi, come in and speak!"

A faint voice came from the cave ahead, followed by two Half-Saint-level Black Spirit Leopards walking out. They looked at the two and made inviting gestures, like two guards.

"Let's go!"

Taking a deep breath, Mi Zhu nodded and led the way inside.

Zhang Xuan looked around and saw that there were still many Exalted Saint and Half-Saint level spirit beasts guarding the area, but their numbers were far fewer than last time.

It seemed they had been sent out to fight the Master Teacher Academy.

Following the cave inward, they soon arrived at the empty rock cavern that once held the spirit liquid. There, they saw ten Saint Domain Layer 1 peak sacred beasts seated. Seeing them enter, their eyes were like lightning, filled with cold killing intent.

"Mi Zhu, bringing a Cocoon Seal realm student here—quite bold!"

Among them, a peak Saint Domain Layer 1 Golden Bear-Tiger Beast looked over with icy eyes.

Mi Zhu of the Master Teacher Academy, Dean of the Beast Taming Academy, was well-known to the sacred beasts of Cloud Mist Ridge.

"I have arrived. Let's discuss how to resolve the conflict between the Master Teacher Academy and Cloud Mist Ridge. If we continue fighting like this, I fear both sides will suffer!"

Elder Mi waved his hand.

"Both sides suffer? So what? You humans stole our Earth Pulse Spirit Liquid, cutting off our foundation. At worst, we'll fight to the death and slaughter to our hearts' content!"

A peak Saint Domain Layer 1 Crimson Flame Lion roared.

"Stole the Earth Pulse Spirit Liquid?" Elder Mi frowned.

"That's right. This is where we stored it. Now it's empty. Only you humans are so despicable..." said the Crimson Flame Lion.

Elder Mi turned to look and indeed saw an empty pool not far away. Though empty, one could still feel the rich spiritual energy within.

This was the very center of Cloud Mist Ridge, guarded by countless sacred beasts and Exalted Saints. Under such circumstances, to have the spirit liquid stolen... just who was this expert?

He remembered that when his strength was at its peak, he hadn't even reached the mountainside before being nearly beaten to death.

To enter, steal something, and still live... it was a great relief for humanity.

"I know nothing of this matter!"

Though filled with admiration, his face showed nothing. Elder Mi waved his hand. "You say it was done by humans. Do you have evidence? And who was it?"

"Know nothing? You think a simple 'know nothing' will suffice?"

The Golden Bear-Tiger Beast snorted.

"It's not about glossing over. Without evidence, it's an unsolved case. Coming to me is useless. I only represent the Master Teacher Academy. Let's talk about the battle between us!"

Elder Mi did not dwell on the issue. "Our skirmishes are minor; the Master Teacher Hall won't intervene. But if it escalates, causing widespread suffering, then Cloud Mist Ridge may no longer have a reason to exist and will be easily wiped out. You should know this without my saying, otherwise, we wouldn't have coexisted peacefully for so many years."

"Before, with the Earth Pulse Spirit Liquid, we had hope for advancement. Now it's different..."

Hearing his words, the Golden Bear-Tiger Beast waved its thick paw. "If you want a truce, it's simple. The Master Teacher Academy must compensate us with fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones and help build five hundred Level 6 Spirit Gathering Arrays on Cloud Mist Ridge. Then I will immediately withdraw the spirit beasts!"