Chapter 110: Brewing Incoming Storm.
The Mystic City was in upheaval. The mysterious incident had left countless people questioning their eyes and their very understanding of the heavens.
Everywhere, the topic of the purple mist dominated the air.
Streets buzzed with voices, and teahouses overflowed with restless discussions.
Many who were lucky enough to have benefited from the miraculous haze could not contain their excitement.
They told their friends, their families, even strangers, about the sensation of cultivation flowing freely through their meridians, about bottlenecks breaking like thin glass.
Rumors and gossip spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the city within hours.
While those in the streets celebrated with joy, having already benefited from the blessing, the crowd inside the Array Association Stadium finally came out.
It was then the city at large discovered the true extent of the miracle.
"What?! You broke through two stages in one sitting? How is that possible?!" one man shouted in disbelief.
"You’re already preparing to sit for the Array Master examination? Impossible! I’ve known you for years!" another cried, his face twisted in awe.
"Why do you look so... different? Your aura is completely transformed."
"What do you know?" came the sharp reply of a bystander. "Everyone inside the stadium was touched by heaven’s blessing. You can’t imagine what it was like."
"Really? Heavens, I shouldn’t have missed that lecture..." a man lamented, clutching his head.
"Ha! Mark my words, Young Master Wu has created a legend today. Who would have thought his open lecture would invoke such divine favor?"
Excitement, jealousy, and reverence all intertwined as the story grew wilder with every retelling.
The ordinary people could only sigh at their missed chance.
Meanwhile, Jun Wu had already been escorted back to his mansion under heavy guard.
His status had undergone a transformation overnight.
His influence now surpassed anything a single clan could hope to achieve.
He was no longer just the young master of the Jun clan.
He was a figure the entire city, perhaps even the region held at the highest esteem.
Recognizing this, the City Lord himself had deployed an elite team of guards to stand watch around Jun Wu’s mansion.
The once ordinary mansion was now ringed with powerful martial artists whose sharp gazes never wavered, blades and arrows ready for the slightest disturbance.
Mystic City had, in the blink of an eye, transformed into sacred land within the Soaring Cloud Region.
Inside the City Lord’s mansion, the atmosphere was heavy.
Gathered within a grand hall sat the Frostwind Academy’s Vice Dean, the Vice Dean of Mystic Path Academy, and the heads of several major associations.
Their expressions were solemn, their voices hushed.
The situation was as delicate as it was unprecedented.
Never before in history had an individual invoked a heavenly blessing through something as mundane as a lecture.
Even in the legends of ancient times, there was nothing comparable.
Thus, they knew they must tread carefully.
Whatever the heavens intended, Jun Wu had become a pivotal figure. He might very well be the key to unraveling the mysteries of the world itself.
"What should we do?" the president of the Mystic City Array Association asked, his voice low and grave.
Jun Wu was part of his association, and he felt a fierce responsibility toward him.
From that lecture alone, his own understanding of array formation had leaped forward by bounds he never imagined.
He knew he was only a step away from becoming a true Master.
But Jun Wu was not just a prodigy in arrays anymore—he was their benefactor, their hope, a beacon that could lead the region through its darkest hour.
Therefore, nothing must be allowed to happen to him.
The Alchemy Association president broke the silence. "Can we assign a Master to protect him at all times? An ordinary warrior will be useless if stronger powers move."
"I don’t think even a Master Warrior would suffice," the Frostwind Academy Vice Dean countered with a grave shake of her head.
Her sharp eyes swept across the room.
"Do you truly understand the gravity of what just occurred? The heavens recognized his actions and blessed him. Who among us would not covet such a figure for their own region, their own clan? If word spreads, every power under the sky will set their eyes upon Mystic City."
She paused, letting her words sink in. "We must also consider the Jun clan itself, as well as the Gong clan and other hidden clans. The balance of power in the region has already shifted. If we do not act swiftly, we will drown in the storm that is coming."
"So, what should we do?" the Array Association president pressed, his frustration evident. "We cannot waste time dwelling on problems—we must find a solution."
Silence fell again.
The weight of responsibility pressed on their shoulders.
They all knew it: the situation was as dangerous as it was delicate.
What they needed was not just protection but a powerful deterrence, a presence strong enough to make even ambitious enemies hesitate.
"I’ll protect him."
The sudden voice from the entrance made everyone’s head snap around.
"Dean!"
Both the City Lord and the Vice Dean of Mystic Path Academy leapt to their feet, their faces filled with respect.
For the others present, it was the first time they had laid eyes on the famous Dean of Mystic Path Academy, a figure shrouded in legend.
"Please, sit," the Dean said amicably, his voice carrying both warmth and authority.
The Vice Dean quickly vacated his seat, offering it to him without hesitation.
The Dean took the chair and swept his gaze across the assembly. "Since you all understand the weight of today’s event, I will not waste words. We must prepare for the worst."
"The worst?!" someone echoed, brows furrowing as nervous murmurs spread.
"I will not hide the truth from you," the Dean said evenly. "Many believe the Jun clan to be powerful, but in truth, they are merely a Tier-3 force at best."
His words struck like thunder.
"There exist Tier-2 and even Tier-1 forces beyond our region. When news of this blessing spreads, what do you think will happen when such powers turn their eyes here?"
A sharp hiss of breath filled the room.
Cold sweat trickled down spines.
Within the Soaring Cloud Region, the Jun aristocrats were considered uncrowned kings.
But now they learned there were forces far greater, forces that could sweep them aside as if crushing ants.
The Dean did not give them time to recover. "Furthermore, there are ancient, hidden forces lurking within our very borders. Their intentions are unknown, but I assure you, they are anything but good."
"This is a troubled time. If we wish to protect this opportunity, we must be prepared." His gaze fell on the Frostwind Academy Vice Dean.
"I alone am not enough. I must meet with your Dean. I hope the Old Mistress still has the same fierceness when she was still in her youth." His lips curved faintly before he turned to the City Lord.
"Increase the city’s defenses to their maximum. Monitor every corner, every person. If you detect the slightest trace of suspicious activity, report it directly to me without delay."
If they wished to change their fate and avoid repeating the mistakes of those who vanished before them, then everything must begin here—with Jun Wu.