Tribulation of Myriad Races

Great Xia Cultural Research Academy.

The academy was as quiet as ever, but things did not feel peaceful.

It was already October.

The new students had entered the academy for about two months. The number of people in the academy had increased. The number of experts had also increased.

Some were the dao protectors of the myriad race students while some were the dao protectors of the students from influential families. There were a lot more experts in the academy compared to back when Su Yu was still in the academy.

At the same time.

Heart Cultivating Pavilion.

The elders were having a meeting. Naturally, this meeting was unrelated to Wan Tiansheng. He was still in the middle of seclusion, attempting to break through into the Sunmoon Realm. Nowadays, Yuan Qingdong would chair most of the meetings. He was no longer as arrogant as he was. The time he spent here had taught him the importance of keeping a low profile. In fact, he had became even more subdued after Hong Tan became a Sunmoon.

There were a lot of topics to cover in today’s meeting.

When everyone arrived, Yuan Qingdong started speaking, “The first matter on the agenda is Faculty Head Zhou’s return. He has completed his punishment in the Vanguard Regiment after killing a Sunmoon enemy. His student, Zheng Yuming, will be returning as well.”

He paused slightly to glance at Hong Tan and continued, “The Knowledge Seeking Realm intends to let him lead the Character Faculty again. Or to be precise, the Single Character Faculty. Any thoughts on this?”

He scanned the crowd. When he saw that everyone was looking at Hong Tan, he looked at Hong Tan as well. Hong Tan completely ignored them. He was busy wondering if Bai Feng was back.

“If there are no issues, this matter is settled.”

Yuan Qingdong forced himself to smile and said, “Including me and Faculty Head Hong, the academy has regained some of its strength. We will have three Sunmoons in the academy before long.”

Nobody said anything.

Yuan Qingdong was already used to this. He continued, “The second matter is related to what happened yesterday. The Heavenly Hunt Pavilion has entered the Human Realm. They are spread everywhere, including Great Xia. Keep an eye out for any suspicious individuals. The members they sent are very strong. If you encounter one, aim to delay things and wait for reinforcements.”

“Thirdly, October has arrived. The murders have yet to stop. Knowledge Seeking Realm wishes to ask Faculty Head Hong Tan about Chen Yong. When is he coming back?”

Hong Tan looked up with a surprised expression and said, “I’m the one whose student has gone missing, but you’re asking me? Instead of rescuing him, you’re asking me?”

“…”

Yuan Qingdong couldn’t even be bothered to argue. In the past, he would definitely argue strongly against Hong Tan. But he had realized that it was pointless. None of these people were afraid of the Knowledge Seeking Realm.

“So be it. If Chen Yong remains missing until December, the ruling of the three Invincibles will come into effect.”

Hong Tan did not care. Whatever.

Yuan Qingdong continued, “Fourthly, Elder Jia and the others have been in seclusion for too long. Things are getting rather chaotic lately. Unless the seclusion concerns their lifespan, try to get them to leave earlier.”

Nobody replied either. Seclusions were considered the private affairs of these elders. None should disturb an elder in seclusion as nobody knew if that would end up interrupting an important phase of the elder’s cultivation.

“Fifthly, the Knowledge Seeking Realm is urging us to investigate Lan Tian’s whereabouts if possible. Recently, the sects in the Myriad Race Cult are showing signs of merging together. A large number of myriad race experts have entered the Human Realm as well. Lan Tian is the only higher-up of the cult we know about…”

Again, nobody replied. This had been the normal sight as of late. After saying all that, Yuan Qingdong exhaled and paused slightly.

“Finally, the Knowledge Seeking Realm wishes that Elder Zhao Li can pay a visit to Grandstar City and get in contact with Su Yu. They hope he can assist with the production of higher-level ability blood essence and provide the human race with some important cultivation resources…”

Not waiting for anyone to say anything, he explained, “That has nothing to do with me. I’m only here to pass their message. Don’t ask me anything. I don’t know. If you refuse, make it clear and I will pass your words to the Knowledge Seeking Realm. That’s all.”

He knew he would be reproached for making that request. And he didn’t want to be reproached. Thus, he made it clear that he was only the messenger. This request had nothing to do with him. He did not care about anything else.

Su Yu might have left, but he still enjoyed a lot of support in the academy. Ignoring the multiple character faction, Elder Huang and Elder Nie of the neutral faction and the newly promoted Elder Zhao Li were all supporters of Su Yu.

There were also supporters of Su Yu among the talisman faction. And there was no need to mention the pillmaking faction that had always been allied to the multiple character faction.

Thus, Yuan Qingdong could guess the kind of reaction he would receive upon making that request.

Surprisingly, Hong Tan did not flare up. Instead, he nodded, “If the rumors are true and that kid is capable of producing Sunmoon ability blood essence, it is indeed something worth learning. Not even me and Bai Feng can do that. But he might have lost himself, transforming into a murderous madman. Tell the Knowledge Seeking Realm that anyone not afraid of death is free to try. But forget about Elder Zhao Li.”

Hong Tan smiled, “Yes, you guys should really try. I reckon if you send a ninth-stage Sunmoon, the Sunmoon will be fine. At worst, that kid will seal the city again. I believe the human race will provide help when that happens.”

He grinned. Yes. Just go. Was Su Yu still someone they could threaten and order around?

He was now a hegemon of a region, the mayor of an ancient city. Even Invincibles would suffer upon incurring the wrath of an ancient city. Sunmoon? If they were brave enough, they were free to go. Did they really think that Su Yu was still the same Su Yu who had been forced to leave by them back then?

Hong Tan continued, “I recall that Great Ming King is the Invincible in charge of watching over the Knowledge Seeking Realm at the moment. Is this an order of Great Ming King?”

“No.”

“Who did the order come from, then?”

Yuan Qingdong answered with a numb expression, “The nine families. I’m unsure. Most of the time, they’re in charge of all the trivial affairs of the holy land. Don’t ask me. It has been a while since I last returned.”

Hong Tan said, “How about this? Get the Knowledge Seeking Realm to provide some resources. We can try to produce our own Sunmoon ability blood essence as well. But we will require a large amount of Sunmoon blood essence for our experiments. I hope the Knowledge Seeking Realm can provide us with a few thousand drops for our research.”

“I’ll pass the message.”

Yuan Qingdong maintained his numb expression. He was only the messenger. He knew nothing else.

Hong Tan was very surprised. Was this guy not going to argue against even such a request? Did…this guy get bullied so much he was starting to lose his mind? What a weird guy.

Yuan Qingdong couldn’t be bothered to argue. Arguing would only bring him more trouble. Great Xia was at the very center of all the recent disturbances. He could already smell the incoming danger and crisis.

This was not a place he could stay for much longer. Those people from the Knowledge Seeking Realm weren’t here so they couldn’t feel the changes here. But he could feel it clearly. He needed to leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, he might even end up losing his life.

Wan Tiansheng had been in seclusion until now. Previously, Yuan Qingdong was quite pleased about this as it allowed him a free reign over the academy. But now, he was starting to feel nervous and uneasy.

The entire Great Xia Cultural Research Academy felt like a ticking time bomb. If he was still here when it exploded, not even his corpse would remain.

After a while, Yuan Qingdong stood up, “That’s all. I will probably enter seclusion soon. If there’s nothing important, don’t look for me. Vice Principal Xia and Vice Principal Su can handle everything during my absence.”

Leaving those words behind, he left.

The elders were left looking at each other blankly. Yuan Qingdong had changed into an entirely different person from when he first arrived. In the beginning, he wanted to interfere in everything. But now, he was trying very hard to not get involved in anything. Why was he acting like they had been suppressing him? Wait, they had indeed been doing that.

“Faculty Head Hong, how are things on your side? With the opening of the Multiple Character Faculty, things are getting very chaotic. All sorts of people are entering your faculty. Can you handle it?”

Hong Tan smiled, “It’s fine. Everything will be fine again after Prefect Xia completes his dao affirmation. These students are only accepted to ease up our relationship with the myriad races. As of late, the students from the major races have been happily learning from us. With this, Great Xia’s relationship with the races behind them will improve as well.”

“…”

What nonsense was that?

Everyone was rendered speechless. Was it even possible for the relationship between the human race and the other major races to improve?

Nope. For some reason, things had felt very weird in Great Xia as of late.

***

At the same time. Top floor of Heart Cultivating Pavilion.

Wan Tiansheng abruptly looked at the academy gate. He looked like he was both crying and smiling at the same time. The kid had returned. How fast. So fast that he didn’t know what to do anymore.

“Sigh. It’s time for Fatty Xia to return as well.”

After sighing, Wan Tiansheng smiled again. So be it. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Since the kid was already here, it was time for Fatty Xia to stop wasting time outside and return as well.

The Martial Dragon Guard should start assembling as well. Most of the local experts had also returned.

In fact, Great Xia had withdrawn most of its forces from the Allheaven Battlefield.

“Liu Wenyan and the others should return as well. It’s also time for Xia Yunji and the others to enter the Sunmoon Realm.”

Wan Tiansheng listed one matter after another. It was time to get the plan started.

The abrupt rise of Great Xia’s multiple character faction, traces of an Invincible ruin, and clues of Chen Yong’s whereabouts. That was not enough. Someone at Ji Hong’s level had to participate as well. That fellow had investigated this matter for such a long time. It was time for him to show the results of his investigation.

Looking in the direction of the Talent Fostering Bureau, Wan Tiansheng smiled. That fellow sure was brazen. He actually had the courage to continue investigating. If Great Xia hadn’t helped conceal parts of his involvement, he would have been discovered long ago.

At times, being too brazen wasn’t a good thing. But this time, it would play nicely into the plan they had been working on.

After thinking about all that, Wan Tiansheng looked in Yuan Qingdong’s direction. What a surprise. This did not align too nicely with the plan. Yuan Qingdong should have acted even more domineeringly. He should be asking for help from his backers instead of enduring silently.

Yuan Qingdong’s behavior had strayed from Wan Tiansheng’s expectations.

A change was needed.