Chapter 949: Who Called Me?

During their conversation, many Spirit Race members had already completely subdued Lu Feng and the others and followed along.

Surrounded by so many Spirit Race members, they were already at the end of their strength. If the enemy hadn't needed blood sacrifices, they would have died long ago. It was only natural that they couldn't hold out much longer.

Zhang Xuan remained silent throughout the Spirit Race's siege, not even looking at them.

Since the other party mistakenly believed he was the Golden Leaf King, they wouldn't dare kill the captives. As long as they weren't dead, there was still hope.

They marched forward, and before long, a massive structure appeared before them.

Built against the mountain and stretching for several miles, it lay hidden under the dim sky, cold and eerie, giving off a strange feeling.

So massive?

Zhang Xuan's eyebrows jumped.

The underground cavern was a passage connecting the human world and the battlefield beyond the domain. Under normal circumstances, though dangerous, there shouldn't be too many Spirit Race members. But this structure could accommodate hundreds of thousands of people. Could it be... that the Spirit Race had broken through the seal and settled here?

If so, the Hongyuan Empire would truly be in danger.

Even two hundred Spirit Race members were more than the empire could handle. If hundreds of thousands emerged, even the Qingyuan Empire would be terrified.

Following behind them, he quietly activated his Eye of Insight and looked into the building.

Inside, it was quite empty, with no signs of life.

Your Highness, this is the base we've built over the past two months. It can station tens of thousands without issue! If the army comes, it can fully provide shelter.

Tong Yue smiled, seeking credit.

Hmm, Zhang Xuan nodded, concealing his Eye of Insight and breathing a silent sigh of relief.

So it was built in advance. He had thought it was already filled with Spirit Race members.

It seemed the seal had been compromised, but not to the point where these creatures could enter freely.

From their words, he could deduce two points.

First, summoning that so-called Green Leaf King required a master teacher sacrifice; it wasn't a simple matter of coming at will.

Second, they were likely an advance force sent to build a base and find a way to establish a connection across the seal. Once successful, a full-scale invasion might follow.

If that happened, the trouble would be immense.

Lost in thought, he followed closely behind Tong Yue and entered the cluster of buildings.

These buildings were distinctly different from human ones, better at gathering the surrounding killing aura. Cultivating Killing True Qi here would yield twice the results with half the effort.

It seemed the Spirit Race also had elites, no less skilled than human formation masters.

No wonder. If they weren't so powerful, they wouldn't have been able to oppress humanity without resistance before Kong Shi appeared.

I've long heard that Your Highness is well-versed in architecture and formations. If anything is unsuitable, I can immediately send someone to make changes...

Tong Yue looked over.

No...

Just as he was about to say no changes were needed, Zhang Xuan's heart stirred.

It seemed this fellow still hadn't confirmed his identity and wanted to test him.

He didn't know whether the Golden Leaf King was proficient in architecture and formations. If he suggested corrections and the king wasn't skilled, he'd be exposed. If the king was skilled and he gave wrong advice, that would also be trouble.

It seemed this fellow wasn't stupid; he had dug a trap in the blink of an eye.

In this situation, speaking was problematic, and not speaking was equally problematic.

Is this how you speak to your king? Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow, his face darkening.

Since answering might be wrong and not answering might also be wrong, he simply wouldn't dwell on the issue.

I... Tong Yue's body stiffened, realizing his question had been presumptuous, and his face turned pale with fear.

A king could speak or not as he pleased; it wasn't for a subordinate to question.

Enough, I have no time for your nonsense. Take those humans to a separate密室, and ensure no one comes within thirty meters!

Not lingering on the issue, Zhang Xuan said.

Yes! Seeing that he wasn't being punished, Tong Yue nodded, relieved, and turned to make arrangements. After a while, he returned: Your Highness, I've arranged for those people in the palace ahead...

Hmm, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Your Highness, be careful. Humans are cunning and have strange methods. I fear they might harm you...

Tong Yue said.

A bunch of chickens and dogs! Even if I stood still and let them attack, what could they do to me? Zhang Xuan sneered, clasping his hands behind his back as a powerful aura rose from within.

Yes!

Feeling this power, Tong Yue's eyebrows jumped.

With his strength, killing him wouldn't require even a finger.

Don't let anyone come near. I'll be back shortly!

With a cold snort, Zhang Xuan clasped his hands behind his back, stepped forward, and disappeared into the palace ahead.

Yes!

Tong Yue nodded. After he disappeared, he frowned and turned to give orders: Someone!

Captain...

Soon, a Spirit Race member hurried over.

Go to the seal and check if anyone has come through today...

Tong Yue said.

Yes!

The Spirit Race member nodded and quickly dashed out.

Though he was ninety percent convinced, he still needed to confirm. This matter was of great importance; there could be no mistakes.

...

Inside the palace.

Dean Lu Feng and the others were trapped inside, bound in shackles, their cultivation suppressed by special means. They lay slumped on the ground, utterly weak.

It seems we're doomed this time...

A master teacher said with a bitter smile.

Indeed, but it's a pity we didn't kill more Spirit Race members... An old man shook his head.

They're not killing us; I wonder what they want to interrogate. But even if I die, I won't say a word... A master teacher gritted his teeth.

The Spirit Race and master teachers were mortal enemies. The fact that they weren't killing them was clearly suspicious.

Even if they died, they wouldn't betray humanity.

By the way, Lu Feng, the rest of us are near the end of our lives, but you're still young, and you're the dean of the Alchemy Academy at the Master Teacher Academy. Why did you come here?

An old man couldn't help asking.

Hearing this, the others also looked over.

They had been pursued all these days without time to ask. Now that escape was impossible and death imminent, everyone wanted to know the reason.

Those who came here were mostly those with no future or hope. But Lu Feng was not only the dean of the academy's top faculty but also a half-step Divine Sense realm expert. Why had he come?

I... It's a long story! It's my own fault...

Lu Feng shook his head.

If he hadn't provoked Zhang Xuan, how could he have ended up like this?

What exactly happened? Were you framed? A master teacher couldn't help asking.

I offended someone I shouldn't have, and I volunteered to come! Lu Feng said.

Though it was a near-certain death mission, he didn't regret it.

Being a dean was contributing to humanity; being here was the same. It was just that here, even if he died, he would die unknown.

Offended someone? The others grew even more curious.

As the acting dean of the Master Teacher Academy and a half-step Divine Sense realm super-strong, who had he offended to be sent to this place of certain death?

Yes, I offended a student! Lu Feng nodded.

A student? Everyone was stunned.

You're a teacher and a dean. Offending a student led to this... That student must be incredibly fierce!

Is he... a descendant of a sage clan? An old man, recalling something, couldn't help asking.

No, just an ordinary student from the Huanyu Empire! Lu Feng said.

From the Huanyu Empire? They exchanged glances, even more confused.

A person from a second-rate empire had sent you, an acting dean, here? What on earth happened?

I know you don't believe it. To be honest, I've been reflecting these days, and it feels like a dream too.

Seeing their expressions, Lu Feng gave a bitter smile: Let me tell you about his entry into the academy, and you'll understand what happened...

Shaking his head, Lu Feng recounted everything he knew about Zhang Xuan's time at the Master Teacher Academy, omitting matters concerning Teacher Yang as they involved higher-level master teachers.

A twenty-year-old youth challenged Vice Dean You Xu's medical skills and won?

His lectures drew crowds so large that all teachers and students were electrified?

At a young age, he tamed a Saint Domain second-level sacred beast?

He touched the Golden Origin Cauldron of the Master Teacher Academy, and it acknowledged him as its master?

...

Listening to Zhang Xuan's many deeds, everyone was dumbfounded.

A person who had entered the academy only a few months ago had caused such a stir...

Was it true?

With such a genius, how could you have come into conflict with him?

A master teacher couldn't help asking.

Don't teachers usually like talented students? With someone so extraordinary, you should have liked him. Why did things turn sour?

It was precisely because he was too extraordinary that I suspected... he was a Spirit Race king infiltrating the academy. Otherwise, how could he be so young yet possess such strength and understanding of so many auxiliary subjects?

Lu Feng gave a bitter smile, then shook his head: Later... later I realized how absurd that idea was!

He had always thought the other was a Spirit Race king, but after meeting Teacher Yang, he realized how ridiculous his thoughts were.

A Heaven-recognized master teacher's student—could he be a Spirit Race member? Ridiculous!

Absurd? Why absurd? If it were me, I'd think the same. A genius has to have limits. Understanding so much at twenty—who could believe it?

Yes! I had the same suspicion!

And you were sent here just because you suspected him?

The master teachers frowned.

If such a minor matter warranted such severe punishment, it was an overreaction.

You still don't understand. Let me properly introduce this Zhang Xuan, Master Zhang...

Seeing their thoughts, Lu Feng shook his head and was about to explain when he heard the palace door creak open, and a head poked through the crack.

Eyes gleaming, it looked over.

Who called me?

The huge face grinned, looking exceptionally ferocious.