Chapter Sixty-Four: A Momentous Occasion!

After leaving the Divine Armory Pavilion, Xu Wen gathered a vast collection of medicinal herbs, packed them into his storage ring of over a thousand square meters, and hurried back to Azure Cloud Academy to resume his secluded cultivation.

That very day, in the Academy Head’s office at Azure Cloud Academy, more than twenty vice deans from the major academies and elders of the faculty were gathered around the conference table. Their expressions were grave, the atmosphere solemn and heavy.

“Is the news reliable?” The speaker, seated at the head of the table, was an elderly man with white hair at his temples and a face marked by compassion and wisdom. Now over one hundred and seventy years old, he was the most renowned Nine-Star Fifth Rank Grand Magus in the Azure Cloud Empire, and also served as a consecrated advisor to the imperial family. The past three emperors had all been his students.

In the Azure Cloud Empire, his words carried even more weight than the emperor’s at times. Most of the empire’s elite, generals, and elders from noble families were either his disciples or the disciples of his disciples. In any institution, the mere mention of the name “Kezef” would command instant respect.

Yet today, this most venerated elder of the empire showed a rare trace of worry in his eyes.

Standing at a distance outside the conference table, a palace guard dressed in the ceremonial garb of a Six-Star Swordmaster bowed his head respectfully. “The message has already reached the palace. His Majesty is furious. There can be no doubt as to its authenticity.”

Dean Kezef paused in contemplation, the wrinkles on his brow deepening. “It’s those two places again—Harman and Luyun. Once people go there, no word ever returns.”

“Harman is an Eight-Star, Eighth Rank Fire Magus. His equipment and potions are the finest our academy provides any fire mage. If not even he has sent word…” The speaker was the Vice Dean Nodin, a Nine-Star, First Rank Grand Magus, seated to the dean’s right. “I believe something is amiss, Dean. We should send a larger team for a thorough investigation.”

The other academy heads all nodded in agreement. “Dean Harman has been gone for over two months. Even riding a Firecloud Eagle, a response should have arrived within a week. For so much time to have passed, they must be in grave danger.”

“Indeed.”

“And now, of all coincidences, both locations are beset by ‘beast tides.’ Could this be related?”

The room fell silent as Kezef raised his hand, and only his voice sounded in the office. “No one knows Harman’s strength better than I do… Unless the enemy has reached the mid-tier of Nine-Star power, he wouldn’t be in danger. If something has happened, this incident threatens not only our Azure Cloud Academy, but the entire Azure Cloud Empire.” The old man’s voice was resonant, guiding the mood and thoughts of all present.

“Three months ago, the Joseph family—over three thousand seven hundred souls—were slaughtered. Over forty thousand in Yuanlang Village were raided by a mysterious mercenary group, with more than twenty thousand dead…” The news from Kezef’s lips had been kept under strictest secrecy; either incident would be a shocking revelation if made public.

“It was my fault then for not linking these two incidents and dealing with them together. When several disciples of the Joseph family pleaded, I relented and allowed Harman to simply take a small team to investigate.”

“Dean, there is no need for self-blame. I too agreed at the time. With Harman and his teachers, I believed they could handle anything. No one could have foreseen this.” Nodin interjected.

Kezef sighed. “It turns out we overlooked something. Now, with beast tides erupting in both places, there must be some connection we have yet to discover—perhaps even someone orchestrating these events. Such a person could not be ordinary; their strength would have to rival that of the Eight Great Houses.”

At these words, everyone’s expression changed.

“The Eight Great Houses are far too prominent to commit such atrocities. That is precisely why I am troubled. When did such a powerful and mysterious force arise within the Azure Cloud Empire?”

Kezef’s words brought a brief sense of solace, only to heighten everyone’s anxiety again.

Indeed!

The Joseph family was a fire mage clan of moderate size, with thousands of mid- to high-level mages and warriors. All were slaughtered on their own territory, not a single survivor, the tragedy only discovered days later by those returning from travels. Without the power of a Great House, this could not have been accomplished—and even the Eight Great Houses of the capital might not have executed it so flawlessly.

As for the massacre in Yuanlang Village, it was even more incredible.

Yuanlang Village, near the Monster Beast Mountains, was famed for its martial prowess and constant emergence of talent. Of its tens of thousands of residents, nearly half were former mercenaries, including many Six and Seven-Star experts. The village’s guards and patrols were equivalent in strength to the centurions of a small city, perhaps even stronger than the Joseph family.

Yet such a formidable mercenary village was decimated overnight by a small group of mysterious assailants who killed over ten thousand, destroyed the settlement, and forced the survivors to flee to nearby towns.

Even one of the Eight Great Houses of the capital could not have accomplished such a feat!

Alas…

The intelligence had come too late.

By the time they had gathered these facts, Harman and his colleagues had already vanished without a trace.

Now, beast tides of Six and Seven-Star magical beasts were sweeping the towns neighboring the Joseph family and Yuanlang Village, virtually wiping out every settlement within thirty miles.

At this moment!

The imperial palace, enraged, had ordered the Adventurer’s Guild to issue bounties and summon adventurers and mercenary bands to restore order at both sites. At the same time, palace guards and high-ranking magi were forming a special investigation team and inviting teachers from Azure Cloud Academy to join them in searching for the mastermind behind the scenes.

The palace had also realized that such dual calamities must conceal an unknown conspiracy and intended to involve Azure Cloud Academy in the investigation.

However, the palace was unaware that Harman and his fellow deans had already gone ahead to the two locations and disappeared.

It was precisely the disappearance of Harman and his group that had prompted Kezef to summon all the academy’s Eight-Star and above Grand Magi, preparing to select candidates to head to the two sites.

After a moment of silence—

“This matter can no longer be taken lightly. In my reply to the palace, I will request to take personal charge of the Joseph family investigation. As for Yuanlang Village, I will persuade His Majesty to have Elder Lin emerge from retirement for the task.”

Kezef surveyed the gathered deans, his lips moving slightly.

“Dean Nodin will remain to oversee academy affairs. For the Joseph family, I will need ten deans to accompany me.”

At these words, the assembled elders straightened their backs in resolve.

Soon after, dozens of Eight-Star and above experts appeared in the skies above the capital!

Kezef and his party stood majestically atop their double-headed eagle mounts, gazing down the imperial avenue at the endless procession of adventurers and mercenary groups heading off into the distance. After a sweeping glance at his companions, they split into two parties and parted ways in the sky above the capital.