NOVPUBThe four protectors, all four of them instantly froze on the spot.
Their faces showed embarrassment, and they exchanged glances, each discerning the shock in the others’ eyes.
"You may return," Zhao Changfeng said with a slight frown to the others.
The four hurriedly nodded, took a few steps back, and fell silent.
"Your Excellency, how about we both take a step back?" Zhao Changfeng turned to look at Xu Zimei and spoke indifferently.
"Why should I yield? You’d have to have the strength to negotiate with me first!" Xu Zimei replied lightly.
"Do you really think our Vermilion Academy has no one?" Zhao Changfeng said calmly.
Although Vermilion Academy was not like the Heavenly Dao Academy, with such a long history and many ancient beings,
the academy was not only backed by Heavenly Dao Academy, but it ultimately had its own foundation.
Since its establishment, the academy had taught countless students.
And there were innumerable powerful individuals among them.
Since its founding, few knew just how strong the Vermilion Academy truly was.
The outside world was full of speculation and lacked particularly accurate information.
Xu Zimei chuckled lightly, gripping his Curved Blade Tyrant Shadow tightly with his right hand.
Dark spiritual energy was gathering on the blade while it trembled gently.
He took step by step toward Zhao Changfeng.
Zhao Changfeng frowned slightly but did not show weakness.
The aura of a peak Saint Vein Realm practitioner was gathering around him.
As the dean of Vermilion Academy, he was also the strongest figure of the academy in public.
"Your Excellency, must you be an enemy of our Vermilion Academy today?" Zhao Changfeng asked lightly.
"Hand over the Lihuo Vermilion Fire Body, and I’ll leave without another word," Xu Zimei responded.
"That’s impossible," Zhao Changfeng shook his head.
The spiritual energy in his hands burst forth, and his True Fate Emergence manifested.
It was a fiery red Vermilion Bird phantom.
The illusion was so lifelike, as though a real Divine Beast had descended.
Powerful beastly might spread throughout the entire Vermilion Bird City.
Wildfire Rampage blazed, covering the skies with fierce flames.
The Vermilion Bird shrieked, its piercing cries resonating across half the firmament.
When the Vermilion Bird spread its wings, the entire sky was obscured by their overwhelming span.
The Vermilion Bird, with its sharp eyes, fixed a relentless gaze upon Xu Zimei as if it would dive down at him the next moment.
Xu Zimei snorted coldly.
Raising the Tyrant Shadow high in his hand, a dragon roar emanated from within.
The soul of the Shadow Dragon hidden in the Tyrant Shadow was activated.
A hundred-meter-long, Black Dragon with intense dragon might emanating from its body flew out from the Tyrant Shadow.
The Shadow Dragon soared toward the heavens, breaking through the sky.
It penetrated the Vermilion Bird’s blockade, coiling at a position high above and watching Zhao Changfeng with a predatory stare.
At this moment, an imposing aura surrounded Xu Zimei.
He waved the Tyrant Shadow in his hand slowly, a wisp of dark mist flashing across the Shadow Dragon’s eyes.
With a thunderous roar, it charged directly towards the Vermilion Bird.
The Vermilion Bird screamed in kind, sweeping across the sky with a devastating onslaught of flames to collide.
The sky seemed to melt in the inferno.
Its body was engulfed in layers of intense fire.
When the two clashed, there was an explosive "boom."
A myriad of shockwaves spread outward.
Half of the space collapsed.
The two combated fiercely, the dragon’s roar clashing with the phoenix’s cry, as Demonic Qi collided with the fierce flames.
The rumbling explosions continued to resonate in the sky.
The Shadow Dragon’s massive body entwined the Vermilion Bird, attempting to imprison it.
Meanwhile, the fire on the Vermilion Bird grew more intense, relentlessly assaulting the body of the Shadow Dragon.
Zhao Changfeng saw this scene and frowned slightly.
He continuously strengthened his own True Fate while swiftly commanding the Vermilion Bird.
Xu Zimei, however, remained calm and collected.
He casually waved his hand, and a surge of Creation Force was infused into the Shadow Dragon’s body.
After merging with the Creation Force, the Shadow Dragon’s momentum immediately became overwhelming.
With a single flick of its tail, it sent the Vermilion Bird flying into the void space beside them.
Advancing, it tore forcefully with its dragon claws, gripping the two pairs of wings of the Vermilion Bird.
With another roar, it brutally ripped the wings apart.
And in the moment the wings broke off, the Shadow Dragon pressed forward again.
Surrounding the Vermilion Bird completely with its body, it extended its right claw and crushed the Vermilion Bird’s head.
Accompanied by a mournful cry, the Vermilion Bird completely dissipated in midair.
Beneath, Zhao Changfeng spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale, retreating several steps backward.
The direct damage to his True Fate made it difficult for him to bear.
And just now, the opponent hadn’t even used his True Fate.
This caused Zhao Changfeng to take a deep breath, becoming extremely cautious of Xu Zimei.
...
"Even Dean Zhao has been defeated, huh," the young men whispered among themselves.
Some couldn’t believe it.
"Could this guy be a mighty one rejuvenated to youth?
He looks only a few years older than us, how can he be so powerful?"
"Those Saint Heirs and Saintesses from the Imperial Rule Immortal Sect don’t seem as monstrous as this one, do they?"
Listening to the surrounding people chatter, the four protectors beside them helped Zhao Changfeng to his feet.
They were all looking at Xu Zimei with great caution.
Xu Zimei chuckled softly, turning his head to the stunned Yue Qingli beside him.
"Follow me."
"Ah, oh, right," Yue Qingli immediately snapped back to reality.
He silently followed behind Xu Zimei.
Watching as Xu Zimei took steps toward the interior of Vermilion Academy.
The two disciples at the entrance didn’t dare to stop him.
"What is he going to do?" Thunder Protector said, puzzled.
"Not good, the Lihuo Vermilion Fire Body," Zhao Changfeng reacted instantly.
Everyone hastily headed towards the Vermilion Academy.
...
Passing through the fiery red gate of Vermilion Academy, the inner scenery of the Academy began to come into focus.
"So this is the Holy Institute," Yue Qingli said, marveled by the surrounding scenery, visibly moved.
Within Vermilion Academy, buildings hundreds of stories high were everywhere.
Above, floating islands could be seen, while countless disciples in neat red robes moved about below.
Tall mountains and clear waters were hidden in the distant fog, revealing only faint outlines.
A Vermilion Bird structure a thousand feet tall stood in the middle of the Academy.
For all who entered the gate, the first sight to behold was definitely this Vermilion Bird structure.
...
Gazing at the scene he had once dreamt of, Yue Qingli stood there transfixed.
"What are you dawdling for?" Xu Zimei said indifferently.
"Teacher, what are we doing here?" Yue Qingli asked hastily.
"To retrieve something," Xu Zimei replied.
As he spoke, he led Yue Qingli toward a tower within the Academy.
It was widely known that Vermilion Academy possessed the Lihuo Vermilion Fire Body.
But this Lihuo Vermilion Fire Body had always been kept within the Academy, never bestowed upon any disciple.
This was also what many found odd.
Xu Zimei brought Yue Qingli all the way to the front of the Black Tower.
This Black Tower was a hundred stories tall, the top end not visible at first glance.
There were few students around the Black Tower, which seemed to be a kind of Forbidden Land.
Two figures in black robes stood guarding the entrance to the Tower.
When Xu Zimei and his companion arrived, they were immediately stopped by the robed figures.
