NOVPUBWhen the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master swung his hand, endless rays of refinement glowed and emitted from him.
His right palm, with boundless might, pressed down towards Xu Zimei.
"Young man, no matter where you come from or how strong your backing is,
you should understand the principle that there are heavens beyond heaven."
As the palm descended, Xu Zimei truly felt a surge of pressure.
Even the pinnacle of immortality was not something he could confront at the moment.
However, if he wished to leave, the other could not stop him.
As the right palm was about to fall from the sky, a roar that could deafen reverberated around them.
The roar was so vigorous it seemed to rupture the eardrums of the several people present.
Following that, the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master’s right hand paused in mid-air, obstructed by a large paw.
The Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master slightly frowned, looking ahead of Xu Zimei.
Chaos was breathing heavily, its large eyes glaring at him.
The enormous body of Chaos occupied nearly half the space.
The majestic beastly might filled the surroundings densely.
"What is this?" Zhao Changfeng stood dumbfounded beside them, stunned as he observed Chaos.
"Monster Beast, a real beast from the era of Wild Desolation," the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master contemplated for a moment.
He said casually, "To be precise, it should be considered a Vein Beast."
He looked deeply at Xu Zimei, understanding that to subdue an existence from the era of Wild Desolation at such a young age,
and a Vein Beast that had Stepped into Immortality at that.
His heart quivered slightly.
He understood the pride of these Monster Beasts; even death wouldn’t make them serve humans as Vein Beasts.
And now, willing to do so by choice, he did not know how Xu Zimei had managed it.
"This must be your confidence," said the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master, retracting his hand and looking calmly at Xu Zimei.
"Did you think, relying on a Vein Beast that has Stepped into Immortality, you could just storm into Vermilion Academy?"
"I don’t wish to be an enemy of Vermilion Academy, which is why I have been speaking to you all with courtesy."
Xu Zimei spoke indifferently.
"But that’s as far as it goes. Even if it were not just a branch office but the Heavenly Dao Academy itself, how would it be?
I would still attempt to barge in."
After saying this, Xu Zimei started walking step by step towards the high platform.
He intended to take the Lihuo Vermilion Fire Body.
Zhao Changfeng beside him wanted to stop him, but was held back by the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master.
The Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master watched ahead with a serious expression.
Zhao Changfeng was somewhat bewildered beside him, not understanding why the Ancestral Master would fear a newly-immortalized Vein Beast.
Although Vein Beasts were much stronger than humans of the same realm,
Chaos was only at the realm of Mysterious Immortal, still far from the Immortal Extreme.
But Zhao Changfeng didn’t realize that the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master’s gaze was not on Chaos.
Instead, it was on the mass of dark mist beside Xu Zimei.
In it, he sensed an overwhelming threat.
Ever since he reached the Immortal Extreme, it had been a long time since he had encountered such danger.
The last time he felt this kind of crisis was probably when he met the Mortal Great Emperor.
He did not understand what that dark mist was.
But he knew that the mist was warning him.
If Xu Zimei safely acquired the Lihuo Vermilion Fire Body, everything would be fine.
Otherwise, a great terror would certainly occur.
The Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master took a deep breath, restraining the urge to take action in his heart.
This matter had to be reported to the Heavenly Dao main headquarters; it was no longer something their Vermilion Academy could handle.
Watching as Xu Zimei took away the Lihuo Vermilion Fire Body,
it was a fiery red Battle Body Bead, carved with the phantom image of the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast.
The bead was slightly warm to the touch, seemingly containing endless power.
...
"Don’t forget to thank the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master," Xu Zimei said with a faint smile to Yue Qingli, who was standing there in a daze.
"Ah," Yue Qingli was startled for a moment, then saw Xu Zimei casually toss the Battle Body Bead to him.
Yue Qingli took the Battle Body Bead, a bit at a loss for what to do next.
He hurriedly bowed to the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master and said, "Thank you for bestowing the bead, Ancestral Master."
The Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Xu Zimei with great seriousness.
You should know that the Hundred Great Battle Bodies were something everyone desperately sought after, something even certain Great Emperors would go out of their way to find.
And yet, Xu Zimei could so casually gift one to a disciple he had just taken on.
He took a deep breath and looked at Xu Zimei, asking, "May I inquire where you come from, young master?"
"Doesn’t your Vermilion Academy have students all over the world? You could always investigate it yourself!" Xu Zimei said with a light smile.
"Now that the young master has obtained the Lihuo Vermilion Fire Body, isn’t it time to leave as well?"
The Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master spoke earnestly, his tone neutral.
"Let’s go," Xu Zimei said with a smile, addressing the still-stupefied Yue Qingli.
Yue Qingli was completely shocked the entire time.
In his recollection, not to mention meeting the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master, even entering the academy was a dream to him.
And now, he had also received the so-called Hundred Great Battle Bodies.
Watching the backs of Xu Zimei and Yue Qingli as they left, the expression on the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master’s face gradually dimmed.
"Ancestral Master, we..." Zhao Changfeng started to speak and then hesitated.
"It’s alright, everything should proceed as normal. The matter of the Lihuo Vermilion Fire Body should not be mentioned for now," the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master said, shaking his head slightly.
"I will discuss this matter with the main academy."
"I understand," said Zhao Changfeng, nodding in a hurry.
"Additionally, have someone investigate his origins; the more detailed, the better," the Vermilion Bird Ancestral Master sighed softly.
He looked up slightly at the sky outside the Black Tower.
The sky appeared somewhat gloomy; the fierce storm seemed to have come to a stop.
He lamented, "In this era of destiny, more and more things are becoming inscrutable."
...
Xu Zimei and Yue Qingli left Vermilion Academy.
Yue Qingli quickly asked, "Teacher, where are we preparing to go?"
"Slaughter City," Xu Zimei replied.
"The capital of Lu Kingdom," Yue Qingli nodded in understanding, then hurriedly said.
"We’ll be passing by our Third-Eye Demon Clan; I’ll take you to have a look at our clan.
If they know I’ve taken a teacher, they will certainly be very happy."
Xu Zimei nodded; since it was on the way, there was no problem.
After leaving Vermilion Bird City, the two set off northward.
Since Yue Qingli was only in the Condensing Vein Realm, Xu Zimei didn’t rush him to integrate with the Lihuo Vermilion Fire Body.
He would have a much higher success rate if he waited until his condition was at its best.
They set off from Vermilion Bird City, passing through dozens of cities.
Among them, there were mountain ranges and gorges.
According to Yue Qingli, the Third-Eye Demon Clan had been living in the mountains for generations due to being shunned by the rest of the world.
Xu Zimei rode the Dark Heaven Tiger, while Yue Qingli kept up by jogging behind; this also served as a form of physical tempering.
The two of them thus moved forward, following the disappearing horizon into the distance.
After braving through wind and rain for nearly half a month, Xu Zimei and Yue Qingli finally arrived at Three-Eyed Mountain.
This was the so-called dwelling place of the Third-Eye Demon Clan.
The mountain wasn’t particularly high, but it was steep.
Oddly shaped rocks were scattered about the mountain; the occasional gust of wind whistling through them created an atmosphere of profound tranquility.
