That night, Su Yu stayed over at Liu Wenyan's faculty residence.
It was Su Yu's first time spending the night at Liu Wenyan's home. Everything was fine—except for how many times the old man got up during the night, which woke Su Yu up several times.
Indeed, time spares no one.
Without manifesting his will, Liu Wenyan, even though he was at the Thousand Pound Realm, was still just an ordinary old man.
…
Thanks to practicing the Origin Absorption Technique once and drawing in vital energy, Su Yu had felt that his cultivation speed had significantly increased over the past two days.
It was likely due to the tempering of his body by that vital energy—his nine apertures had briefly opened.
With his left ear aperture opened, Su Yu now felt that the right ear aperture was also close to unlocking.
"I should find a chance to reveal that I've reached the fourth level of the Opening Origin stage. After all, I've been at the third level for half a year. It wouldn't be strange if I suddenly had a stroke of luck and advanced."
And what's wrong with having strong cultivation talent?
He used to focus on learning the languages of the myriad races and didn't train hard—what's wrong with putting in effort now?
Now that he was trying, rapidly advancing to the fourth or even fifth level wasn't that unbelievable, was it?
With these thoughts in mind, Su Yu followed Liu Wenyan to the academy again the next day.
By staying close to Liu Wenyan, Su Yu was learning a great deal more than before.
…
In the office.
The Headmaster arrived again. Seeing Su Yu present didn't surprise him—he had already heard about it yesterday.
"Tianshui City nearby was attacked over the past two days. The city guards suffered heavy casualties."
"As for Nanyuan…" The Headmaster paused slightly before continuing, "A small village near the mountains was attacked last night. Many were killed. Only a few children hiding in a cellar survived. It was the work of the Myriad Clans Cult. The city guards are already pursuing them."
Liu Wenyan's face turned cold. "Animals!"
He quickly suppressed his anger and said, "So they've finally come to Nanyuan. Same old tactics—create chaos and disperse our forces. They must be after something big."
Then he asked, "The Dragon Martial Guard still hasn't located their main force?"
"No."
The Headmaster looked helpless. "They're deeply hidden. Nanyuan lacks the manpower to cast a wide net. Otherwise, we risk being defeated in detail."
"What's the situation with Great Xia Prefecture?"
Liu Wenyan grew anxious. The Myriad Clans Cult had really come.
Nanyuan was just a small city with weak defenses. Great Xia had elite forces—just a bit of support would make the cult hesitate.
"The City Lord has already sent a call for reinforcements. But other cities are also asking for help. Great Xia Prefecture still has to guard its own capital against the cult's disruptions, so…"
"No reinforcements?" Liu Wenyan snapped. "Then request help from the major academies!"
The Headmaster replied with a sigh, "We did. But recruitment for the front lines is ongoing, and many students and teachers from the major academies have already gone to the battlefield. They haven't returned. The academies also need to be protected—they're more important than Nanyuan, so…"
"Not even a few Soaring Realm cultivators can be spared?"
Liu Wenyan became increasingly frustrated. "They have plenty of Soaring Realm cultivators. Just a few would be enough. The cult can't have invested too many elite forces into Nanyuan!"
The Headmaster looked vexed. "Don't take it out on me—it's no use. Like I said, every city is asking for help. Nanyuan's not strategically important. Naturally, Great Xia prioritizes more critical cities."
Liu Wenyan sighed. "A vast Great Xia Prefecture, and we're still being run ragged by the cult. The Dragon Martial Guard… what a disgrace!"
Cough, cough!
A voice came from outside. "Instructor Liu, the Myriad Clans Cult just picked the right moment. Ten days ago, 3,000 Dragon Martial Guards were dispatched to the Battlefield of the Heavens, so we're indeed short-staffed."
"That's your problem for failing to keep that secret. I didn't know those 3,000 left—but the Myriad Clans Cult did. Isn't that your own failure?"
Liu Wenyan didn't mince words. "Even if it's not the Guard's fault, it's still the Great Xia Prefecture's fault. Clearly, the cult has spies in your ranks. Otherwise, how would they have known your main force left and chosen this time to strike?"
The Dragon Martial Guard personnel outside said nothing—because it was true.
The cult arrived shortly after the Guard's main force left. The information had clearly been leaked.
If the Dragon Martial Guard had been present, the cult wouldn't have dared act recklessly.
"Now's not the time to argue!"
The Headmaster interrupted. "Old Liu, how about you contact the Great Xia War Academy and borrow a few Soaring Realm cultivators?"
"I already asked this morning. But even if they come, it'll take at least a day."
"They agreed to send someone?"
"They did. But…" Liu Wenyan sighed. "They won't stay long. Once they escort the students, they'll leave. They won't help defend the city."
"That's fine!"
The Headmaster was overjoyed. At least someone was coming.
Liu Wenyan, however, didn't share his enthusiasm. Still grumbling, he said, "Even if the Guard left, the fact that the Great Xia Prefecture is being toyed with like this is embarrassing. Maybe we've grown too complacent in these peaceful years."
Only Liu Wenyan dared say this out loud—the Headmaster wasn't going to touch that subject.
The Dragon Martial Guard personnel outside didn't argue either. It really was shameful. The Great Xia Prefecture, known for its mighty warriors, was now flustered by the Myriad Clans Cult. It didn't reflect well on their reputation.
Su Yu simply listened quietly. He didn't interrupt.
This was a matter for Nanyuan's higher-ups. He had no right to weigh in.
As for Liu Wenyan, Su Yu found it a little strange. Though he had some status, his combat power was weak. Discussing these affairs with him didn't seem particularly useful.
Noticing Su Yu glancing at him, Liu Wenyan chuckled. "What's this? Looking down on your teacher?"
"Of course not."
"You are!"
"I really wasn't!"
"I can tell you were!"
At that moment, Liu Wenyan acted like a child, insisting on winning the exchange. Smiling, he said, "Just wait—you'll see why your teacher gets to be part of these discussions!"
Su Yu didn't quite understand what he meant. Liu Wenyan didn't explain either.
The Headmaster seemed like he wanted to say something but held back.
He just hoped that moment wouldn't come—because if it did, it would mean a loss far too great.
…
Across the street from the academy, in a tall building.
A middle-aged man's lips trembled slightly. "The city guards have gone out. Aside from a few guarding the gates and the City Lord's residence, the rest are all out hunting down the Bloodfire Cult."
"And the Dragon Martial Guard?"
A woman asked. The man shook his head. "No sign of them."
"The Dragon Martial Guard is still in the city. Also... Nan Yuan plans to transfer those gifted students to the Great Xia Prefecture. They're leaving the day after tomorrow."
The man reported, and the woman frowned slightly. "A bait?"
"Possibly."
The man was also unsure. "It seems too sudden to pull them out. The order came just yesterday. It might be meant to lure us out. What do you think we should do?"
"Have any powerful individuals entered Nan Yuan City recently?"
"There shouldn't be…"
"Shouldn't be?"
"There's no way to confirm it. We can't monitor everything around the clock, but our informants haven't reported anything. Nothing from the City Lord's Mansion or the Nan Yuan Intermediate Academy."
The woman fell silent, lost in thought. After a moment, she said, "We can't let them leave. If they do, even if we massacre the academy, the credit will be halved. The top talents for this year's pre-exam will be gone, and our superiors won't be pleased."
"I understand," the man replied, hesitating. "But… with the Dragon Martial Guard still here, they're probably stationed within the academy. If we act rashly and fail, it'll be a disaster."
Just then, the communicator beside him lit up. He glanced at the message—it looked like a spam ad, but his expression changed subtly.
"We either call off the operation, or we act fast!" he said quickly. "News from the Great Xia Prefecture—Liu Wenyuan requested reinforcements from the Great Xia Civilization Academy today, and they agreed. They'll be sending someone soon to escort the gifted students out of Nan Yuan."
"Damn it!"
The woman cursed. "Liu Wenyuan again! That old bastard! He's only one step away from manifesting his Will, though he likely won't make it. But even so, I didn't think the Civilization Academy would actually respond to him… He's got more influence than I expected."
The man stayed quiet. Once her temper cooled, he said, "So what now? City Lord Wu Wenhai and the Dragon Martial Guard leader Xia Bing are both at Soaring Realm Tier Two. If the Civilization Academy sends people, we'll have to abort…"
He hesitated, then added, "The Great Xia Prefecture is powerful. We only had this chance because the Dragon Martial Guard's main force left. Once they return… we'll have to retreat. But why is the higher-up pushing so hard this time?"
Some deeply buried operatives would be exposed in this operation. Even if they succeeded, the cost was high.
Many agents had spent years building their cover. Even killing a few top students might not justify such losses.
The woman, of higher rank in the cult, knew more than he did—he was merely the coordinator.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't know," she said coldly, then added, "But it's not that complicated. What we need is chaos in the Great Xia Prefecture and for the Dragon Martial Guard's main force to return. They've gone to the Battlefield of the Heavens to confront the Celestial Yi God Clan."
The man's face changed. "The Celestial Yi? That's the God Clan we've aligned with. Does that mean…"
"The God Clan fears the Dragon Martial Guard?" he asked, not daring to voice the thought aloud.
The woman sneered. "The God Clan doesn't fear them! But the Gods are currently attacking the Heaven-Eye Clan. If the Dragon Martial Guard interferes, it'll disrupt the plan."
"The Heaven-Eye Clan?!" the man asked quickly. "The Gods are declaring war?"
"No. Just… restoring order," the woman said cryptically before shifting back. "You, me, and a Hall Master at Soaring Realm Tier Four will act tonight! He'll take on Xia Bing, I'll hold off Wu Wenhai, and you'll lead the strike on Nan Yuan Academy!"
"Destroy the academy and we're done. We evacuate immediately."
"Tomorrow evening. We move at dusk."
As her voice faded, the man hesitated, but still replied, "Understood!"
Dusk was chosen because the students would be gone by then, scattered and unable to regroup effectively. After the strike, they could escape under cover of night.
The man had no issue with that—it made strategic sense. He was just concerned. After obeying, he reminded her, "Aside from Wu Wenhai and Xia Bing, I'm worried Liu Wenyuan might get provoked into manifesting his Will. That would complicate things."
"True. That's a potential risk."
The woman didn't dismiss his concern. "But we have three at the Soaring Realm. They only have two, and both are Tier Two. Even if Liu Wenyuan does manifest his Will, without time to temper his body, he'll only have Willpower strength—not physical strength. You should be able to handle him."
"Well…"
The man began to argue, but the woman's gaze turned cold. "He's over seventy. His body's already in decline. Even with Willpower manifestation, he's nothing. Don't tell me you're scared of Liu Wenyuan?"
"No!" the man said quickly. "I'm just worried that if I focus on Liu Wenyuan, there'll be no one to handle the other Dragon Martial Guards. They're at Ten-Thousand Stone tier. We have those too, but if they form a battle array, even Soaring Realm fighters will have trouble."
"You're only talking about a worst-case scenario. Liu Wenyuan has failed for years to manifest his Will—what makes you think he'll do it now?"
Though she said this, she added, "Have the Tier Four Hall Master handle all of the Dragon Martial Guard. Xia Bing is only Tier Two—he can handle it! Once you kill Liu Wenyuan, assist him with the Guard."
"Understood."
The man felt relieved. With a Tier Four present, the odds looked better.
He himself was Soaring Tier Two. The woman was even stronger, a Hall Master in the cult—Soaring Tier Three, peak stage.
For a small city like Nan Yuan, assigning two Soaring Realm experts from the cult was already unprecedented.
In contrast, Nan Yuan only had the City Lord and the Dragon Martial Guard Captain at Soaring Realm.
The Great Xia Prefecture's elites were all on the frontlines. The rear was left relatively weak. The cult, meanwhile, didn't need to defend territory and could redeploy at will.
"True Gods are eternal," the woman murmured.
The man echoed softly, "True Gods are eternal."
God Clan!
Their eyes gleamed with fervor—eternity, immortality!
If they could enter the Divine Realm and bathe in the mythical Divine Transformation Pool, shedding their human roots and becoming true Gods… they could live forever.
Infinite life.
The man's eyes burned. This mission had earned him a generous reward of divine merit. Another dozen or so of these, and he'd be eligible for a chance to enter the Divine Realm.
"Fifty years… I have to get into the Divine Realm within fifty years, or I'll die of old age…"
He murmured inwardly. He hadn't wanted to betray humanity—but he wanted to live.
He couldn't forget his teacher, a powerful Soaring Tier Nine cultivator who'd wasted away in bed, body failing.
Even Soaring Realm cultivators only lived about 150 years.
He was already in his sixties. His body hadn't started to decay yet, but in over ten years, he'd only gone from Tier One to Tier Two. Making it to Tier Nine in this lifetime? Hopeless.
Only by joining the God Clan could he escape death.
"I'm not wrong. Humanity can't compete with the myriad races. The Human Realm's restrictions can't hold them back. Eventually, we'll fall. It's inevitable. My choice is right!"
His face gradually steeled with resolve, faith burning brighter.
The God Clan—even those in the Soaring Realm could live for a thousand years. With a millennium of time, surely he could take another step forward.
That would be eternal life. Endless time.