Chapter 884: Zhang Xuan's Transformation

"Witch soul? The Sovereign is a deity, a sacred beast that has lived since ancient times. You have offended its dignity by daring to act against Cloud Mist Ridge. It will surely tear you limb from limb, extract your soul, and avenge me..."

The Golden Bear-Tiger Beast roared.

It seemed extremely loyal to this so-called Sovereign, even holding it in fervent worship.

It refused to believe that the other was a witch soul, instead defining it as a deity.

Zhang Xuan shook his head. A mere remnant soul, no matter how powerful, how strong could it be?

If it were truly that terrifying, it wouldn't have been stuck guarding Spirit Mist Mountain all this time, unable to descend.

"If this Sovereign is as formidable as you claim, seeing you like this, it would have come out by now, wouldn't it?" Zhang Xuan said.

"The Sovereign will not abandon me. Treating me like this, it will surely kill you..." the Golden Bear-Tiger Beast roared.

Though it said this, fear was evident in its eyes.

Its relationship with the Sovereign was merely one of mutual benefit: it offered sacrifices, and the other bestowed power or earthly vein spiritual liquid.

Even if it were beaten to death, the Sovereign would simply choose another spokesperson; it wouldn't intervene to save it. Otherwise, it wouldn't have stood by and allowed that cauldron to beat it into this state.

Sensing its panic, Zhang Xuan knew his sowing of discord had taken effect. With a thought, his Teacher's Heart stirred, and the Heavenly Teacher's Voice resounded: "Earlier, you said you wanted to sacrifice Elder Mi and me. Have you been using master teachers' lives for sacrifices all these years?"

This creature had just said it would sacrifice Elder Mi and himself, along with many master teachers, and the other had immediately agreed. It seemed this transaction had become a tacit understanding, going on for a long time.

Combined with the many bones he had seen here before, it wasn't hard to guess that the so-called sacrifices were carried out using master teachers' lives.

Such matters were extremely serious, and the other would surely not let other sacred beasts know. He could only try asking.

Perhaps he might get the answer he wanted.

"You're talking nonsense..."

The Golden Bear-Tiger Beast hurriedly shook its head, but before it could finish, it saw the young man before it growing increasingly tall and straight, like a majestic deity. It wanted to deny it but found the words wouldn't come out. Its tone shifted, as if it could no longer control its mouth, and it spoke: "Yes! The Sovereign devours the flesh and blood of master teachers, then bestows spiritual liquid and opportunities for breakthrough to spirit beasts!"

Previously, Zhang Xuan's Heavenly Teacher's Voice only worked on humans; its effect on spirit beasts was less potent. But now, having comprehended the Teacher's Heart, even the latter could be easily swayed.

"Devours the flesh and blood of master teachers?"

Elder Mi clenched his fists, his body trembling.

He had thought the sacred beast of Cloud Mist Ridge was merely a threat, not affecting the overall situation. He never expected it to be a man-eating demon.

Had he known earlier, he would have exterminated it long ago.

The other had been sacrificing master teachers, probably for countless years, and no one knew how many had died at its hands.

"Are those white bones in the cave the remains of master teachers?" Zhang Xuan's face also darkened as he continued.

"Yes! They are master teachers who came to challenge the mountain over the years. The Sovereign devoured their flesh and blood, leaving only a pile of bones. In return, it used its great power to alter the terrain, forming a natural grand formation that gathers earthly vein spiritual liquid, making the spirit beasts of Cloud Mist Ridge stronger and stronger!"

The Bear-Tiger Beast continued.

Although it dared not openly hunt master teachers, every year, quite a few went missing during trials or disappeared for various reasons. Killing dozens or hundreds a year was easy.

"Since this Sovereign devours the flesh and blood of master teachers, it cannot be a mere witch soul. Where is it?"

Rage burning in his heart, Zhang Xuan pressed on.

A witch soul is a spirit; to survive, it needs a physical body to nourish it. Otherwise, it is easily affected by the Five Declines of Soul Power and grows weaker.

The reason Mo Hansheng had managed to survive for tens of thousands of years was due to the Nine-Heavens Lotus Fetus. Without that divine object, he too would have long vanished into the river of history.

To have lived for who knows how many years and to feed on the flesh and blood of master teachers—it surely couldn't be just a witch soul.

"I don't know where it is either. It only appears when sacrifices are made here..."

The Bear-Tiger Beast said.

"Sacrifices here?" Zhang Xuan frowned, looking around with his Eye of Insight.

He had been here once before and had examined the place thoroughly, finding nothing special.

If this "Sovereign" appeared here and held sacrifices here, could there be something unusual about this place?

Under the Eye of Insight, the surroundings still showed nothing special—just an ordinary cave.

"Right, that creature appeared earlier; I can trace its path..."

Suddenly recalling something, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

The other was a witch soul, coming and going without a trace. Others might not detect it, but with his Eye of Insight, he should be able to find some clues.

Focusing his mind, the patterns in his eyes grew denser. He looked toward where the "Sovereign" had appeared and indeed saw faint traces extending deeper into the cave.

"Dingding, this one is yours—do with it as you please!"

Seeing that there was a trail to follow and having asked what he needed, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and strode deeper into the cave.

This Golden Bear-Tiger Beast, aiding the tyrant and hunting master teachers, had crossed his bottom line; naturally, it could not be spared.

"Do with it as I please? Great... I like that!"

With an excited roar, Jinyuan Cauldron leaped up and flew straight toward the Bear-Tiger Beast.

"What are you doing?"

Seeing the other's excited, menacing look, the Golden Bear-Tiger Beast stiffened in terror: "Master Zhang, I am willing to acknowledge you as my master. Please don't kill me, ah..."

Before it could finish, it screamed in agony. The huge cauldron descended from above, sitting down right on its face. The raging charcoal beneath sizzled against it, and a fragrant smell wafted through the air.

"Gulp!"

The Crimson Flame Lion, Ironback Bear, and other beasts all swallowed hard, feeling their throats go dry.

Damn.

Too twisted. Thank goodness they had submitted; otherwise, they would surely end up like this one—unable to live or die...

Especially the Bear-Tiger Beast's face... once majestic like a bear and tiger, now it was flattened like a toad...

...

"Master Zhang!"

Ignoring the cauldron that was thoroughly enjoying beating the beast, Elder Mi hurriedly followed.

Here, he dared not openly address the other as Dean, so he used "Master Zhang."

"That 'Sovereign' is extremely powerful. I think discretion is the better part of valor. Let's report to headquarters and decide later..."

Coming close, he quickly transmitted his voice.

That Sovereign had, with a wave of its hand, elevated a severely injured Saint realm one to Saint realm three. Such ability was too terrifying.

If the Dean went to find it recklessly, and without bringing Senior Jinyuan... he feared there would be danger.

The best course of action was to report to headquarters and have a higher-level master teacher come down.

"If that Sovereign sees its loyal subordinate killed, it will surely flee. Sending someone from headquarters will take at least ten days to half a month—too late!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

That creature was a remnant witch soul, which would be of great help to him. How could he let someone else handle it?

Once the master teachers from headquarters came, at most they would praise him a few times. The benefits would be out of reach. Better to solve it himself.

"This..."

Elder Mi hesitated: "Then I'll have Master Mu and the other elders come over, so we can look out for each other..."

"No need. You stay here. I'll just go in and take a look. If there's danger, I'll escape on my own, no need for you to say."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

This "Sovereign" was at least at Saint realm four or five. The reason he dared to seek it out was, first, he had the Cruel One in hand, and most importantly, he still had a Heavenly Path Volume in his mind!

This had formed when he took Dean Jiang Qingqin as his student, and he had never used it. No matter how formidable that creature was, could it be stronger than the Heavenly Path?

With one book, even the Cruel One would kneel, let alone a remnant witch soul.

Of course, he couldn't tell anyone this, not even Elder Mi, who was sincere with him.

"Dean..." Seeing him refuse to listen and insist on entering, Elder Mi quickly blocked his way.

"Alright, go out now. Tell the Crimson Flame Lion and the other kings to call back the spirit beasts that fought and gather at Cloud Mist Ridge. Then inform Elder Zhao Bingshu that the negotiations are complete and let the participating students return to the academy to rest."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand: "They must be tired after fighting for so long."

"This... Yes!"

Seeing the Dean had given orders, Elder Mi dared not refuse and could only nod.

"Here are two hundred high-grade spirit stones. Check how many students died this time, compile a register, and use these for compensation."

Sighing, Zhang Xuan took out a pile of high-grade spirit stones.

Exactly two hundred, no more, no less.

Although he loved money as much as his life, some things had to be done.

The beast tide at Cloud Mist Ridge was caused by his theft of earthly vein spiritual liquid. So many students had died; he should do something for them.

Spirit stones couldn't bring back the dead, but they could make their families' lives better, offering some consolation.

"This... Dean, compensating the students is the academy's responsibility. How can you pay out of your own pocket!"

Seeing him produce so many high-grade spirit stones, Elder Mi was startled and quickly waved his hands.

Although the other was the Dean and wanted to help the deceased students, he didn't need to use his own money. The academy, even the Master Teacher Pavilion, had corresponding policies.

These master teachers died for humanity, for righteousness; naturally, they couldn't just disappear into obscurity.

"Take it!" Raising his brows, Zhang Xuan waved his hand: "No matter what the academy does, this is from me."

"Yes!"

Seeing his clear gaze, genuinely intent on giving these spirit stones to the students who died in battle, Elder Mi had no choice but to accept them.

His admiration for this new Dean grew even more.

Only someone truly selfless, who regarded money as nothing, was worthy of being Dean!

"From now on, I will learn from the Dean, be noble and upright..."

He made a silent decision.

"Alright, go quickly. Just leave me here. Don't worry..."

Having given his instructions, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, said no more, and followed the path revealed by his Eye of Insight, striding deeper into the cave.