NOVPUB"Heavenly Cang Demon Roc?" Shi Jian asked with perplexity.
"What is that? A Monster Beast?"
"There were Heavenly Rocs in ancient times, rumored to feed on dragons, possessing boundless strength, and bodies ten thousand meters in length, soaring across the Nine States.
Swallowing clouds and exhaling fog, summoning wind and calling rain, their magical powers vast and mighty."
Ragefire Venerable said, "During the Wild Desolation era, the Dragon Clan was a major tribe within the Monster Race.
Numerous ancestors from the Dragon Clan flew to Heaven Beyond Heavens, and could be said to be a group no one dared provoke.
Yet, the Heavenly Cang Demon Roc was so strong that it reached an agreement with the Dragon Clan—each year, it must be given some of the most wicked and evil dragons as food to ensure the safety of the other dragons."
"That powerful," Shi Jian exclaimed surprisingly.
"More than that," Ragefire Venerable continued, "the Dragon Clan traded for peace, but the Heavenly Cang Demon Roc was not satisfied. Unable to feed on the Dragon Clan, it turned its eyes toward the human race.
After all, the humans of the Wild Desolation era were incomparably feeble and no match for the Heavenly Cang Demon Roc."
Ragefire Venerable said, "Thousands and thousands of humans did not die in conflicts between races but were instead devoured by the Demon Roc.
Later, when the Heavenly Dao Academy was established, the heinous acts of the Demon Roc enraged the human saints.
The ten ancestral masters of the Heavenly Dao Academy joined forces to seal the Demon Roc.
And they built the Academy right above the Sealing Ground, pressing down on the Demon Roc for countless generations as punishment for its crimes against the human race."
"So that’s how it was, the ten ancestral masters truly were a blessing for our human race," remarked Shi Jian with emotion.
"Has something gone wrong with the Demon Roc now?"
"Originally, under the Suppression of the seal, the Heavenly Cang Demon Roc grew weaker and weaker.
It was estimated that in a few more centuries, it would perish and its Dao would dissipate," sighed Venerable Nu.
"Unfortunately, a few years ago, the Heavenly Roc Clan came to attack my Heavenly Dao Academy to rescue this Heavenly Cang Demon Roc.
That battle was also one of the few major battles our Heavenly Dao Academy has faced in recent years.
Although we slaughtered most of the strong members of the Heavenly Roc Clan, leaving hardly one in ten,
they still risked the annihilation of their clan to damage the seal of the Heavenly Cang Demon Roc."
"Are you saying the Heavenly Cang Demon Roc is about to break free?" Shi Jian asked in horror.
Based on Venerable Nu’s description, the Dragon Clan, so powerful back then, also made concessions to the Heavenly Cang Demon Roc.
This made it imaginable just how formidable it was.
The consequences would be unthinkable if it were to break the seal and emerge.
The ten ancestral masters had sealed it, and it’s likely the Heavenly Cang Demon Roc’s most resented target was their Heavenly Dao Academy.
Compared to the mighty Dragon Clan of the past, the current human race was also prospering.
If united, they wouldn’t have to worry about the Heavenly Cang Demon Roc.
However, although the human race was vast, they were not united.
Now that the Heavenly Cang Demon Roc was emerging, not only were others not helping, but many opportunists were trying to take advantage.
Otherwise, so many from the Imperial Rule Immortal Sect wouldn’t have convened to obliterate the Heavenly Dao Academy.
"It won’t be long before it emerges, and I’m afraid a bloodbath will be inevitable," said Venerable Nu.
"Whether our Heavenly Dao Academy can survive this devastating storm is also an uncertain fate."
Shi Jian nodded slightly, seemingly pondering over something.
"What are your plans, you two?" Ragefire Venerable asked.
"Master, naturally we want to stay and share the fate of the Academy," Shi Jian quickly replied.
Xu Zimei also nodded slightly.
"I’ll take you to see the Academy’s Dean. The Academy is currently arranging a grand formation; perhaps you can be of some help," said Ragefire Venerable.
"The Dean," Shi Jian asked excitedly.
"Our Dean has always been like a Divine Dragon, ever elusive. I’ve been at the Heavenly Dao Academy for such a long time and have yet to meet him."
"Has the dean never appeared before?" Xu Zimei asked out of curiosity.
The dean doesn’t like to make appearances, it’s usually Vice-Dean Li Changhe who manages everything on his behalf," said Venerable Nu.
"You will understand once you’re there."
..........
Following behind Venerable Nu, they walked on air as they left Vermilion Bird Island, heading westward.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a vast and grand golden palace.
Above the palace, the three characters "Great Dao Pavilion" caught their eye.
These three characters were full of Taoist charm, and just these words alone suppressed the surrounding void space.
Solemn and reverent.
Entering the hall, hundreds of people were seated cross-legged inside.
Each person had an aura of immense power about them, as violent as raging windstorms, including men and women, both old and young.
Xu Zimei looked up to see a woman seated in the foremost chair.
He was slightly taken aback, as he happened to know this woman.
It was the very same woman in white he had met before, who had lent him the token to enter the library.
He didn’t believe in coincidences, which meant that she had been keeping an eye on him all along.
"Is she the dean?" Even Shi Jian was taken aback.
"Our Heavenly Dao Academy’s dean is a woman?"
"Quiet," Venerable Nu glanced at Shi Jian, then lifted his gaze toward the woman at the front.
He said, "Dean, these are my two disciples. The academy is facing significant changes, and I believe many areas are short-handed.
I have brought them here to help."
"Still worried about the academy’s affairs?" the woman said with a light laugh.
Ever since the death of the Vermilion Bird, Venerable Nu had secluded himself on Vermilion Bird Island, no longer taking disciples, and had rarely appeared since then.
"We meet again," the woman said with an interested smile, looking at Xu Zimei.
"Greetings, Dean," Xu Zimei said, nodding slightly.
"You don’t have to be surprised. My previous interaction with you was to garner the help of the True Martial Holy Sect.
I had no other intentions," the woman said.
Xu Zimei nodded.
"Well, since you’re here, go find a place to sit on either side," the woman said, waving her hand.
Venerable Nu settled on the left, sitting together with other leaders from the academy.
Xu Zimei and Shi Jian sat slightly towards the back, on the far right.
"What is our dean’s name?" Xu Zimei asked Shi Jian in a low voice.
"I’m not sure, either. Our dean is quite mysterious," Shi Jian replied, shaking his head.
Above the hall, the woman was discussing the current state of Heavenly Dao Academy.
Xu Zimei already knew about the general situation.
This time, the guests from the Imperial Rule Immortal Sect included not only the native powers from the Supreme Domain but also the Ancient Dragon Dynasty, Pure Yang Immortal Sect, Heavenly Nether Sect, Merciful Ferry Sect, and some others from the Western Continent.
In this hall, nearly all the leaders of the academy were gathered.
That included many from the younger generation.
Xu Zimei even spotted Ji Ruobing among them.
"Isn’t she the Saintess of the Slaying Immortal Sect? Why would she be involved in this?" Xu Zimei wondered.
"This is her personal trial and choice; the Slaying Immortal Sect won’t be involved," Shi Jian explained.
"This has been the way of the Slaying Immortal Sect for generations; they do not intervene in the practices of their own Saint Heirs and Saintesses."
Shi Jian pointed to several young men and women sitting in the front rows, introducing them to Xu Zimei one by one.
