High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2939: Chapter 1157: Cicada Shell

Seven ancient beings.

Three walk the Starry Sky Path.

Four walk the orthodox wizard’s path.

And among those walking the orthodox wizard’s path is an elderly ancestor of demons.

Very well, very balanced.

However, with the master’s departure and the Sea Demon King’s advancement, this seemingly balanced state seems to be at risk of being disrupted. Originally, the power of wizards held absolute dominance over demons, which is why demons, despite being so aggressive and having such a high conversion rate into witch demons, always end up on the losing side against wizards.

But now, with the Sea Demon King becoming one of the new ancient beings, the power between wizards and demons at the level of ancient beings has become balanced. Meanwhile, the power of the starry sky, which has always been in the Outer Domain, has become the strongest force among the three.

This transformation and comparison of power oddly reminded Zheng Qing of the era of the Three Kingdoms.

Among Wei, Shu, and Wu, the Wei Kingdom was the strongest, so the states of Wu and Shu had to band together for support—could it be that when the master accepted Old Yao into the First University, he had already considered this point?

Thinking about this, Zheng Qing instinctively touched his ear, recalling the blue mythical dragon lurking around the altar, feeling a bit uneasy: ”——What about R’lyeh?”

Though his question lacked context, the master evidently understood the young wizard’s concern.

”He is indeed the most significant variable.”

The master sighed softly: ”Originally, I thought the one advancing would be ’If foolish’ or other legends with older qualifications. But perhaps the long years have worn down their drive to the extent that Xiangliu, a very young legend, surpassed them. However, there’s no need to worry too much. You have helped him diminish his obsession, which is a considerable good fortune, and he will inevitably protect you in the days to come... Of course, if you simply pin your hopes on the moral level of the Sea Demon King, there are bound to be moments of disappointment in the future. Thus, that little dragon is indeed a very good signal.”

Speaking, he glanced down.

A faint blue snake mark suddenly appeared on the leaf boat, perhaps due to being in the high-dimensional world, the mark gained some vitality, meandering like a living being between the two wizards.

Zheng Qing suddenly recalled the incident when he was dragged into a dream by R’lyeh after returning from Quanke.

Those days, the tenant living in his ear had just transformed from an egg, hatching a highly ’active’ blue snake. According to R’lyeh, the blue snake was ’born from destined-to-be-destroyed obsession, life hatched from the depths of death,’ ’an existence unique.’

”In everything, there is a thread of life, and life cannot be annihilated.”

The master extended his finger, letting the little snake coil around his wrist and fingertips, his voice tinged with contemplativeness: ”Even an obsession doomed to destruction continually gives rise to new life... the meaning of this little creature’s existence is to incessantly consume the new life birthed from obsession, ensuring that the process of annihilating Curse Power does not encounter any unexpected incidents. R’lyeh used my sophora leaf as the contract paper, allowing it to become your contract spiritual beast, a very subtle gesture indeed.”

”Because he doesn’t quite get along with that elderly ancestor of demons?” Zheng Qing speculated with his limited imagination: ”Thus he requires the school’s support?”

The master neither confirmed nor denied.

”That is one aspect, but not entirely.”

He shook his head slightly, spreading his palm, allowing the little snake’s shadow to slither onto Zheng Qing: ”——All demons eventually meet their end in the demon ancestor’s stomach; R’lyeh breaking through this barrier is both fortune and opportunity. Without full preparation, the demon ancestor will not act against him in a short time. On the contrary, his emergence disrupted the existing balance between wizards and demons, hence the likelihood of wizards acting against him is significant.”

”And he is still in the adjustment phase after advancement... the weakest among all ancient beings.” Zheng Qing pondered, analyzing thoughtfully: ”The demon ancestor won’t act but also won’t assist, and may even add insult to injury. The three from the starry sky walk different paths from him and won’t interfere in these four’s internal conflict. So, he can only plead with you?”

Upon hearing this, the master chuckled: ”Pleading isn’t quite the case. Legends are already difficult to kill, not to mention ancient beings. Disputes between high-level wizards mostly end in suppression... In short, R’lyeh only furthered my previous arrangements... with this little dragon, you won’t need to worry about R’lyeh’s intentions for a long time. If you encounter trouble, you can even seek his help. If you can find him.”

Zheng Qing let out a long sigh.

The lost sense of security gradually returned, and his feline curiosity began to surface.

”You were the first wizard to break through as an ancient being, what about those ancient beings who disappeared before?” He recalled some words that had slipped from the master’s mouth a long time ago.

”I don’t know.”

The master shook his head very seriously: ”The only one whose whereabouts can be confirmed is Azathoth, the one who opened the Starry Sky Path, the first to step into the endless existence. He has dissolved into the vast and unfathomable darkness of the universe. As for the others, perhaps their fate is similar.”

This topic was somewhat heavy.

Zheng Qing felt a tinge of regret and hastily retrieved a thought that had flashed across his mind just moments ago: ”——Um, speaking of the starry sky, I seemed to see some starlight falling towards Buji Island just now... is the school over there okay?”

As he spoke, he repeatedly glanced at the master’s pocket.

Contemplating how he might subtly extract some ancient being or higher-level talismans from the master’s pocket, to help the school resolve its current troubles.

The master seemed to catch his drift and chuckled softly: ”You should remember my current rank.”

”Above ancient beings.” This detail Zheng Qing would never forget.

The master nodded and patiently offered an analogy: ”A more precise description is a concept transcending the universe and world. Like a dragonfly or cicada undergoing metamorphosis, it’s a very careful, very lengthy process. The shell breaks from the back, first the head probes out, then slowly the legs, wings, tail emerge. A cicada in metamorphosis is still very delicate and fragile, any overly intense activity could cause irreversible damage to its true form. Only when the entire body is out of the shell, washed by the ’extraterrestrial aura,’ can its body harden again. The narrative in novels where someone is struck by a thunderbolt then ascends to the Upper Realm is as ludicrous as an old farmer guessing how many large greasy pancakes the emperor eats in a meal.

After the golden cicada’s metamorphosis, it leaves behind a cicada shell or molt as a representation of its once existence, retaining it in this world. But you should understand, it’s merely a shell... only a shell remains.”

Zheng Qing suddenly grasped the implication of the master’s words.

The master before him is merely that ’shell.’

”——This shell can be used to intimidate, or handle some small troubles. But it remains just a shell, and cannot persist in this world forever. So, for the road ahead, it will be up to you all.”