Chapter 1471: Chapter 1472: Another Captive
On the other side.
In the academy’s great hall, the Elders gathered once more to discuss important matters.
“A disciple just brought news; the forty-ninth battlefield has the ability to weaken the Heavenly Tribulation, and Cai Kun, single-handedly, withstood the tribulations of dozens of cultivators. We can basically confirm that this person is the hidden master sneaked in secretly!”
“Continue to observe him secretly. If any threatening action towards the academy is detected, take immediate action!”
The Elders were not surprised by the news about Li Xiaobai. Anything was normal for this top master. As of now, his assistance to sect disciples in crossing the tribulation is a great benevolent act. If this continues, the disciples with profound cultivation levels will only increase.
“Moreover, the number of cultivators in the sect has been decreasing alarmingly recently. Disciples haven’t noticed yet, but Fen Tian has already sensed it. More people will inevitably notice soon. The academy’s foundation must not be shaken, we must make a decisive decision.”
“Should we pin this on Cai Kun? His background is unclear, and his cultivation is unfathomable. It seems he is one of our kind. How about having a group of disciples delivered to him for dinner?”
The Elders whispered among themselves, harboring a colossal secret. Within the academy, only two people didn’t partake in their schemes. One was the Peach Blossom Saint Lord with a detached mindset, and the other was Elder Fen Tian with his solitary, peculiar, and violent disposition.
“It’s decided then!”
The scholarly-looking Headmaster said calmly.
“Good!”
…
Beneath Burn Heaven Peak, Li Xiaobai retracted the forty-ninth battlefield.
He checked his attribute point panel.
[Host: Li Xiaobai!]
[…]
[Defensive Power: Spirit Void First Heavenly Layer (Boundless Tribulation 0/5) Can Advance!]
[…]
After another round of cultivators crossing tribulations, Li Xiaobai’s system defense successfully increased a notch, directly surpassing the Immortal Platform Realm, reaching the Spirit Void First Heavenly Layer, a realm exclusive to true disciples.
Even someone as strong as Damo was only at the Spirit Void Second Heavenly Layer. This round of Heavenly Tribulations was almost entirely against cultivators of the Immortal Platform Realm. Li Xiaobai managed them effortlessly, gaining wealth rapidly while elevating his cultivation level by several tiers.
Unfortunately, no cultivators of the Spirit Void Realm came to cross tribulations. Otherwise, his cultivation could have soared. Perhaps it was because he had just entered the cultivation world, and the Transcendent Realm cultivation was still at the lower tier. So, the system, aside from the Boundless Tribulation, did not set any other breakthrough conditions.
But this also reflects from another perspective that even reaching the Spirit Void Realm one is still quite weak. Just like before in the Immortal Spirit Continent and the Central Origin Realm, the initial cultivation realms had no other condition restrictions besides accumulating attribute points. As cultivation deepens, the necessary restrictions become more numerous.
“I need to keep up the effort!”
“I should find some cultivators of the Spirit Void Realm later. Damo isn’t bad; in a few days, I should ask him if he needs to cross tribulations?”
Li Xiaobai murmured to himself. Although he seemed to have offended him quite a bit before, making money wouldn’t harm.
Back on Burn Heaven Peak, in the Elixir Hall.
Elder Fen Tian, uncharacteristically, was not producing elixirs but instead sitting cross-legged on the ground; his eyes flashed with a fierce light upon seeing Li Xiaobai.
“Burn Heaven Peak is short of materials recently. As my adopted son, head down the mountain to find some. If you fail to return, I’ll use you as a material!”
Elder Fen Tian said menacingly.
“Foster father, the Headmaster asked me to deliver a message: in a few days, it’ll be the grand sacrificial elixir ceremony. You’re invited to attend, make sure to be there.”
Li Xiaobai didn’t take the bait. He knew what materials Elder Fen Tian referred to. This old man was obsessed with alchemy and required live human beings instead of ordinary materials and treasures. While others used herbs for alchemy, this old man used cultivators.
He would not aid and abet; if cultivators were needed, Fen Tian should go and catch them himself, as long as it didn’t involve his human trafficking, whatever goes.
“Grand sacrificial elixir ceremony?”
“What’s the point of attending it?”
“They merely covet my alchemical skills and wish to glimpse the legendary Divine Hand. It’s better to have the Headmaster procure some materials for me; that’s more practical!”
Upon hearing Li Xiaobai’s words, Elder Fen Tian spoke dismissively, showing disdain for the so-called grand sacrificial elixir ceremony.
“However, there are materials at the grand sacrificial elixir ceremony. All disciples of the academy will gather, countless materials at your disposal!”
Li Xiaobai said calmly.
“Brat, are you trying to trick this old man? Everyone knows that the academy has lost too many cultivators recently. If I were to make a move now, wouldn’t that be admitting guilt as the chief culprit?”
“You go capture some cultivators and bring them here. If any trouble arises, this old man will cover for you!”
Elder Fen Tian’s expression was cold, his tone sinister.
“Too many cultivators lost, what do you mean foster father?”
Li Xiaobai asked. He had heard such talk many times but didn’t understand why everyone was so secretive about the reduction in academy cultivators!
“The academy is short of nearly ten percent of its disciples. They’ve all perished and become someone else’s food. Haven’t you noticed that I haven’t been secretly testing elixirs on disciples lately?”
Elder Fen Tian squinted and said, “I thought you went out and became different from before. But it turns out you’re just as clumsy, failing to notice even such obvious affairs!”
“Food?”
“Could they have been eaten?”
Li Xiaobai’s heart skipped a beat. Could there be fierce beasts hidden in the academy, or could this be a story of cannibalism?
“You seem not only different now but also lack memory clarity?”
“Besides those few, who else in the academy could eat people?”
“These people can’t disappear without a reason. The academy needs someone to take the blame. My legendary Divine Hand is perfect for the job.”
Elder Fen Tian said as a trace of viciousness flashed in his eyes. Everyone knew he often used disciples for alchemy, but couldn’t expect someone to exploit this fact for framing. Although there’s no solid evidence yet, if he makes any wrong move, the blame will fall on him immediately.
“I can’t act, my foster son, you must relieve my worries. Bring a batch of fresh alchemy materials within three days, or else we’ll have to use some other realm cultivators as feed!”
Elder Fen Tian said with a sinister smile, looking greedily at the batch of ransom-awaiting cultivators on Burn Heaven Peak.
“Rest assured, foster father. In three days, I will make sure you see fresh ingredients! More than enough!”
Li Xiaobai stood up and bade farewell, leaving the Elixir Hall.
Elder Fen Tian’s words were more chilling than the person himself. From what it seems, there’s a master in the academy consuming people, specifically academy disciples. Isn’t he in great danger flaunting his presence within the academy?
“I recall hearing before that what’s consumed isn’t human flesh, but the Bloodline Power within cultivators, enhancing one’s own self after feasting. It turns out even academy cultivators are merely reared existences…”