Chapter Sixty-Eight: Harman’s Tragic Fate

This was trouble!

Xu Wen glanced at the blue-robed youth standing behind the white-robed boy, who wore a faint smile. He was startled: this fellow was no simple character—one sentence had drawn everyone into the matter. Now, if he insisted on leaving, judging by the looks from the students, all the disciples of the Fire Magic Division would surely try to stop him.

But if he stayed…

His predicament would only grow more dangerous. News about the Ael and Salem families likely hadn’t spread yet. If there were spies from these families or the Dark Empire in the nearby towns, the teacher sent ahead to scout might have already exposed their whereabouts!

“Well, waiting might not be a bad idea.”

Though anxious inside, Xu Wen’s expression remained unchanged. He nodded, turning to walk beneath a tree, where everyone sat down together.

“What are their identities?” Xu Wen asked quietly.

“The one in white is Senior Sakchi—the strongest in the Fire Magic class. Last year’s tournament, he was the second strongest among our second-year students in the Fire Magic Division. It’s said his strength is at the Four-Star, Fifth Tier. Within the academy, he’s ranked in the top fifty or so,” replied the senior who had previously suggested sticking together, now completely composed.

“...Four-Star, Fifth Tier.” Xu Wen raised his eyebrows slightly. The other was at most nineteen, so young to have reached Four-Star, Fifth Tier; he had hopes of advancing to the Seven-Star Mage level before forty. What surprised Xu Wen even more was that, with such strength, Sakchi was only ranked about fiftieth among the second-years…

It seemed the Azure Cloud Academy truly harbored many prodigies.

However!

Sakchi’s Four-Star, Fifth Tier strength didn’t faze Xu Wen. Though currently only Four-Star, First Tier himself, he was confident that if they truly fought, his chances of victory were higher—unless Sakchi also possessed multiple Four-Star Imperial-grade spells.

He was more concerned about the blue-robed youth who had stopped the white-robed boy…

“Him?” Feili glanced at the blue-robed youth and his companions seated nearby, lowering his voice. “He Chen, a prodigy from the Alchemist class. His strength is somewhere between Four-Star, Seventh Tier and Four-Star, Ninth Tier. He’s the only one in our Fire Magic Academy who can suppress Sakchi and earn his respect.”

“So, he’s the strongest in the Fire Magic Academy?” Xu Wen looked over, meeting Sakchi’s warning gaze and He Chen’s smile. Xu Wen smiled and chose to ignore the former.

“Hmph.” Sakchi turned his head toward He Chen. “That kid doesn’t respect me, Brother Chen—why did you stop me just now? I haven’t met such a ‘troublemaker’ in ages; I really want to teach him a lesson.”

“He’s not a student from our Fire Magic Division.”

He Chen glanced back at him, his tone calm.

“Not a junior disciple? Hmph, then there’s even less reason to help him…” Sakchi grew angrier recalling the boy’s earlier mockery. It was the first time someone dared slight him in front of so many people.

“Is this the time for that?” He Chen suddenly raised his voice, glaring at him. “You still have the mood to discipline a junior? Stop making trouble! If you have time, think about how to get through this crisis! The Dark Empire’s agents may be nearby!” His tone was full of disappointment.

Seeing He Chen’s genuine anger, Sakchi shrank back, falling silent at once.

Just as things quieted down, an unwelcome voice rang out:

“Brother He, may I have a word?”

Sakchi looked up in surprise, his eyes widening again. But when he saw He Chen’s warning glance, he immediately turned away with a snort, like a mouse before a cat.

Retracting his gaze, He Chen nodded to Xu Wen. “Of course. Please sit.”

Xu Wen took a seat next to He Chen and several other high-level Fire Magic students.

“I’ve heard Brother He has good connections in the Fire Magic Academy. I’d like to ask about Dean Hallman.”

With that, all nearby students’ eyes focused on him, including Sakchi, who had turned his face.

“Dean Hallman?” He Chen was startled, scrutinizing the unfamiliar youth before him. “You are…?”

“I am Dean Hallman’s newly accepted disciple. I’ve been secluded in his training chamber for the past six months,” Xu Wen replied, as if dropping a thunderbolt among the students.

“What!”

“Dean Hallman’s personal disciple?”

Shock appeared on every face around him, with Sakchi’s expression the worst. He glanced at Xu Wen, then at He Chen, his fists tightening and relaxing repeatedly.

“What proof do you have?”

He Chen looked at Xu Wen with a near-incredible expression. He knew well the significance of being Dean Hallman’s personal disciple.

Though Hallman wasn’t the strongest Fire Mage in the Azure Cloud Empire, he had devoted his entire life to the study of fire magic. His dedication and spirit were famous throughout the Azure Cloud Academy! Those whom he favored were never ordinary talents, and with Hallman’s character, he would surely spare no effort in nurturing them.

“It was Teacher Drey who came to the training chamber to inform me about the evacuation. Teacher Mopersen also knows about me.”

Of course, Xu Wen wasn’t foolish enough to show the booklet Dean Hallman had given him—many would gladly bury him in some remote wilderness for that.

He Chen’s gaze became more complicated upon hearing Xu Wen’s response…

A Three-Star, Second Tier Fire Mage, likely a young disciple from the Hortonklin family—what talent did he possess to make the esteemed Dean Hallman break tradition and accept him as a disciple?

If not for the Dark Empire’s invasion; if things had gone smoothly and he was nurtured by Dean Hallman, this young man before him would certainly become an outstanding Grand Magus, perhaps even a Magister!

But alas…

He Chen cast a regretful glance at Xu Wen and recounted the rumors he had heard months ago from teachers in the Alchemist class.

“What?!”

Xu Wen’s gaze froze, doubting his own ears. The surrounding students, hearing this news for the first time, crowded closer to inquire.

Dean Hallman was in trouble?

He Chen’s expression was very complicated as he sighed.

“The teachers once strictly forbade me from leaking this news, but after today’s events, it’s not hard to guess the dean’s predicament. The Joseph family massacre, the Yuanlang Village tragedy, and several beast tides—all may have been traps set by the Dark Empire! Their goal was to draw out the powerful figures of Azure Cloud Academy and the Royal Palace!”

He Chen looked once more at Xu Wen, whose face was pale and spirit desolate.

“Dean Hallman was among the first to disappear. The other deans followed, along with many adventurers and mercenaries from the imperial capital… The beast tide lasted a long time… The dean never sent any word back.”

At this, many cast sympathetic glances at Xu Wen.

To fall into the Dark Empire’s carefully laid traps—Dean Hallman’s fate was predictable. In the end, the one who suffered most was Xu Wen: had nothing gone awry, he could have become a Magister under Dean Hallman’s meticulous guidance…

Fate had played a cruel hand.