Chapter 738: Iron Clothes and Golden Armor

Not knowing why the dean wanted to see him, but since he was summoned, he dared not delay. He once again instructed Luo Yan and the others to keep an eye on that fellow and not let him escape. Only then did he follow this renowned teacher and hurriedly walk toward the dean's office.

The Forging Academy covered an area of no less than tens of thousands of acres, divided into the forging zone, office zone, study zone, and a place specifically for grade assessments.

His branch of the Forging Masters Guild's Master Academy was precisely in the grade assessment area, still a considerable distance from the so-called office zone.

As a Saint Domain powerhouse, his speed was extremely fast. Before long, he arrived at the dean's exclusive office and pushed the door open to enter.

Entering the room, he saw the dean and three vice deans sitting inside, seemingly discussing something.

The dean of the Forging Academy, Zhao Bingxu, was one of the Ten Great Masters!

His status in the entire Master Academy was second only to the dean of the Alchemy Academy, holding an extremely high position.

Seated in the room, he naturally exuded an air of dignity and authority.

At this moment, the dean's brows were furrowed, and the other three vice deans also looked solemn.

"Dean, you were looking for me?"

Stepping forward, Yuan Hong, full of confusion, sat down in his own seat.

"You've come at the right time. I called you over to discuss something!" Seeing him arrive, the dean nodded and flicked his palm.

Whoosh!

The formation in the room activated, completely isolating them from the outside world.

Even if outsiders tried to spy, they could not detect anything.

Of course, before the formation was broken, no external information could be transmitted in, nor could it affect those inside.

Seeing the dean even activate the formation, Yuan Hong found it strange.

"Since everyone is here, I'll speak." Dean Zhao Bingxu nodded and looked over with a grave expression: "Just now, Dean Mi and Hall Master Mo urgently summoned us deans and told us about a major event!"

Yuan Hong's expression tightened.

For Hall Master Mo and Dean Mi to act on their own authority and personally convene them, it was certainly no small matter.

"Could it be... there's news of the old dean?"

One of the vice deans couldn't help but ask.

For the current Master Academy, the biggest issue was the old dean's disappearance, leaving everyone without a leader.

If there were news, that would be for the best.

"No!" Zhao Bingxu shook his head: "It's... the appearance of the Spirit Clan!"

"The Spirit Clan?"

Yuan Hong's whole body tensed.

As a Six-Star High-Grade Master, he naturally knew what the Spirit Clan represented.

For the dean to activate the formation that blocks spying, it was probably more than just their appearance.

"Mm, Senior Ziyang Sacred Beast has gone missing, fate unknown—whether captured or killed." Without beating around the bush, Zhao Bingxu spoke slowly.

These four were vice deans of the Forging Academy and pillars of humanity, worthy of trust. Revealing the news to them was fine.

"Senior Sacred Beast missing?"

Yuan Hong and the others all shuddered, their eyes wide.

If it were other matters, they could accept it, but this matter was too big!

So big that it was hard to believe.

Ziyang Sacred Beast was the old dean's spirit beast, its strength already at the peak of Saint Realm One, stronger than all of them. If it was captured, fate unknown... how powerful were the Spirit Clan members that appeared?

"Yes, Senior Sacred Beast didn't even have time to send a message before its trace was lost... Even I only know it disappeared at Lei Yuan Peak. It seems there are more than one Spirit Clan member, at least over a dozen reaching the Saint Domain, and at least one reaching Saint Realm Two!"

Zhao Bingxu said.

After the meeting of the Ten Elders, he came straight over, afraid of delaying and missing the best opportunity to rescue.

"Over a dozen Saint Domain Spirit Clan members?"

"At least one reaching Saint Realm Two?"

Everyone shuddered again.

If that were truly their strength, it would be beyond their control.

"Should this matter... be reported?" Yuan Hong couldn't help but ask.

With so many Spirit Clan members appearing at once, even if the Master Academy was strong, it might not be able to handle it. They could only report to a higher branch and let headquarters send stronger masters.

"Master Mu from headquarters has already arrived at the academy, and the matter has been reported. His meaning is simple: let us handle it ourselves. Whoever can rescue Senior Sacred Beast will become the dean!"

Zhao Bingxu said.

"Become dean?"

Everyone's eyes lit up.

If the man before them could become the dean of the entire academy, the status of their Forging Academy would greatly increase, surpassing the Alchemy Academy in no time.

"Mm, I called you here to say that we must investigate as soon as possible. Our Forging Academy must find it before the other academies..."

Nodding, Zhao Bingxu stated his intention.

"Good!"

"Dean, rest assured, we will do our utmost!"

Yuan Hong and the others nodded simultaneously.

This was not only the dean's personal matter but also involved the entire Master Academy and all of humanity. Even without the condition of becoming dean, they could not refuse.

"Mm, alright. That's all. Everyone, go prepare."

Zhao Bingxu nodded.

"Dean, I have something to report!"

Seeing the dean wave his hand, a vice dean quickly stood up and said.

"I also have something..." Yuan Hong did not hesitate and quickly spoke.

"Both have matters? Dean Xiong, you go first."

Seeing two vice deans both had matters, Zhao Bingxu looked over with confusion.

Vice Dean Xiong, Xiong Bing, managed the teaching area of the Forging Academy and had the closest contact with students.

"Alright!" Xiong Bing nodded: "It's like this. Some time ago, a student applied for a trial, claiming to have discovered the ruins left by Senior Wu Yangzi... Such things, as you all know, happen often, so I didn't take it seriously and casually gave some credits, letting them go."

Wu Yangzi was the most powerful forger in the Hongyuan Empire over the past ten thousand years, with great fame and an idol for many students. Every year, many students applied for trials related to him, but they were all based on hearsay and returned empty-handed.

"Could it be... this time it's real?"

Seeing him bring this up at this moment, Yuan Hong couldn't help but ask, his breathing a little rapid.

If it were true, it would certainly shake the entire Forging Academy.

Not to mention anything else, just Wu Yangzi's reputation alone would drive countless forgers crazy.

"Whether it's real or not, I can't judge yet. However, the one who completed the trial is... the Sixth Princess!" Xiong Bing said.

"The Sixth Princess? You mean... Princess Yu Fei'er?"

Zhao Bingxu looked over.

There was only one who could be called the Sixth Princess.

Although her strength was lacking, she was of royal blood. Even as one of the Ten Great Masters, he had long heard of her.

"Exactly. Not only her, but also Luo Qiqi from the second year and Xing Yuan from the Xing family!"

Xiong Bing continued.

"I've heard of Luo Qiqi. She's a famous forging genius in the second year. With proper nurturing, she has unlimited potential! As for Xing Yuan, is he that junior from Old Xing's family?"

Zhao Bingxu said.

"Exactly!"

Xiong Bing nodded.

"These people are all quite good and should be reliable. How come they started searching for Senior Wu Yangzi's ruins too?" Yuan Hong found it strange.

Every year, people went looking for Wu Yangzi, but all results were false. These individuals had no weak identities and statuses; why were they like the others?

"I don't know about reliability, but I only know that they came to me today, saying not only did they complete the task, but they also brought back Senior Wu Yangzi's remains... This matter is significant, and I dared not act alone. I hope to identify it together with the deans!"

Xiong Bing said solemnly.

"Identify? Good. Where are they?" Hearing that they had actually brought back remains, everyone was startled, and Zhao Bingxu couldn't help but ask.

Others who went looking for Wu Yangzi's ruins basically returned empty-handed. These people claimed to have found his remains...

If it were true, even he would be shocked.

Although he was a Six-Star Peak Forger, he was still far inferior to this Wu Yangzi.

"They are waiting outside. I'll have them come in now." Xiong Bing hurriedly said.

"Good!" Zhao Bingxu nodded.

Xiong Bing withdrew and after a moment, brought three people in.

They were Xing Yuan, Luo Qiqi, and Yu Fei'er.

Although Xing Yuan, Ye Qian, and others had returned from Huanyu Empire long ago, their flying spirit beasts were far inferior to the Purple Wing Sky Roc. Plus, they had delayed some time on the road, so Yu Fei'er and the others, though starting later, arrived first.

It was only today that everyone gathered and came to report.

"Xing Yuan (Luo Qiqi, Yu Fei'er) pays respects to the deans!"

They clasped their fists.

"No need for formalities!" Zhao Bingxu stroked his beard and looked over: "You say you found Senior Wu Yangzi's remains. Is that true?"

"We came precisely for this matter!"

Xing Yuan nodded: "Please, deans, examine it!"

With that, he flipped his wrist, and a corpse appeared before everyone.

It was the corpse found in the underground palace.

"This..."

Seeing the corpse, Zhao Bingxu and Yuan Hong exchanged glances, their pupils involuntarily contracting.

Although Senior Wu Yangzi was captured by the Spirit Clan and later disappeared, portraits of him existed, and they had seen them. The corpse before them, though somewhat emaciated, was identical to the portraits in every way!

In other words... this person was most likely Senior Wu Yangzi!

Could it be that they had completed a task that countless others could not?

"Senior Wu Yangzi once forged a set of [Iron Clothes and Golden Armor] for himself. Unlike other protective weapons, it could be hidden beneath the skin. If... this item is present, it proves that this is truly him!"

Standing up, Zhao Bingxu looked over with a grave expression.

"Iron Clothes and Golden Armor?"

Yuan Hong and the others were startled.

Even they had never heard of this.

"Indeed." Zhao Bingxu nodded, approached the corpse, and lightly tapped his finger. A sword qi sliced straight toward its skin.

Rip!

The skin split open, revealing what lay beneath—like metal, shining with light.

"It truly is the Iron Clothes and Golden Armor... This is indeed Senior Wu Yangzi's remains!"

Seeing the appearance beneath the skin, Zhao Bingxu clenched his fist, his breathing quickening.

The corpse could be faked, but the Iron Clothes and Golden Armor absolutely could not be counterfeited, because the forging method had long been lost. Even he did not know the technique!

Since the corpse before him wore it, there was only one possibility: this was Wu Yangzi's corpse...

Genuine beyond doubt!