The sky had just begun to brighten, the sun had not yet fully risen, and only a few strands of orange-red light fell into Mingdu City. However, a considerable crowd had already gathered near the underground arena.
The commotion from last night had been so great that even those deep in sleep had vaguely heard several loud explosions. As soon as they got up in the early morning, they saw the scene on the street.
Many soldiers were stationed around the area to maintain order and keep ordinary people from approaching, but the onlookers still refused to leave. They watched from afar and kept speculating about what exactly had happened last night.
Lin Xiao glanced at the crowd from a distance, his feet never stopping as he quietly returned to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
After seeing Huo Yuhao and the others at that time, he had known that the people from the Holy Spirit Cult would still attract the attention of Shrek Academy; he just hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly.
Moreover, from just a distant glance at the traces left by their battle, Lin Xiao could roughly judge their cultivation realms. He only didn't know how many of Nangong Wan and the others inside had survived.
Although it was still early, many students were already moving about in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Checking the time, Lin Xiao didn't return to the dormitory and headed straight toward the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
However, the atmosphere inside the hall seemed different from usual; many of the experiment tables were still empty.
"Lin Xiao, you're here so early?"
A metal door opened, and Lin Jiayi's figure emerged from inside.
"Teacher?" Lin Xiao greeted him. "Did I come too early? Why are there so many fewer people here?"
"It has nothing to do with the time," Lin Jiayi shook his head. "Didn't you feel what happened last night?"
"I felt it," Lin Xiao nodded. "I just don't know exactly what happened."
"Someone attacked Mingdu." Lin Jiayi's expression darkened. It was rare for Lin Xiao to see Lin Jiayi display a face tinged with anger.
"It was…" Lin Xiao hesitated.
"Based on the Hall Master's judgment of their cultivation, it should be people from the three great empires," Lin Jiayi slapped the experiment table beside him. "These people really don't take the empire seriously at all, coming to Mingdu whenever they want and leaving whenever they please."
As Lin Jiayi spoke, he let out a soft sigh. "The Hall Master has already taken people to pursue them. Since he didn't notify you, you don't need to concern yourself with this matter for now."
"Mm." Lin Xiao nodded lightly. Just as he was about to speak, the ground beneath his feet suddenly shook violently.
The fierce tremor seemed as if it would flip the ground over. The materials and equipment placed on the nearby experiment tables all fell to the floor. Only after that did several loud booms ring in their ears.
"Boom, boom, boom, boom—"
Four bursts of explosive light flared up simultaneously in the four directions of Illustrious Virtue Hall. The close soul engineers had no time to react before their bodies were hurled high into the air and slammed heavily against the ceiling.
Although some soul engineers had followed Jing Hongchen out of Illustrious Virtue Hall to chase the attackers from last night, many remained here. In the midst of these successive explosions, dozens of figures vanished outright.
Lin Xiao stepped forward, throwing himself over Lin Jiayi to knock him to the ground. His left arm rose, and a massive device resembling a metal box appeared beside him. Silver-gray light glowed on his left arm as specks of metal formed into a huge shield that enveloped the two of them.
In the next instant, Lin Xiao, Lin Jiayi, and the massive metal device were forcibly shoved more than ten meters by the enormous impact. The bloody scent mixed with screams instantly filled their nostrils.
"What's going on!"
Lin Jiayi struggled to prop up his upper body. What met his eyes was a scene filled with explosive smoke and dust and a red mist of blood.
Lin Xiao lightly shook his head, his brows also furrowing.
In his memory, Illustrious Virtue Hall would indeed suffer an assault, but wasn't this attack coming a little too early?
Before he could think it through, he heard Lin Jiayi cry out in shock again. "The custom-installed soul guide… This is bad. Someone must have learned that the Hall Master took people away; they're taking advantage of the weakness to strike!"
Lin Jiayi's words instantly snapped Lin Xiao back to his senses.
The Body Sect's assault on Illustrious Virtue Hall must have been prepared for a very long time. They weren't wooden puppets; they wouldn't foolishly wait until that fixed moment to launch a surprise attack.
At this time, because of the disturbance caused by Shrek Academy in Mingdu, Jing Hongchen had taken many experts to pursue them. In the eyes of the Body Sect, there could be no better opportunity than this.
"Teacher, we should leave here first. The attackers won't stop at this."
As the sounds of explosions gradually died down, Lin Xiao helped Lin Jiayi to his feet, only to have his arm suddenly seized tightly.
"Teacher?"
Lin Xiao turned to look and saw Lin Jiayi staring fixedly at him.
"Lin Xiao, can I trust you?"
Lin Xiao nodded. "Of course."
"Then come with me." Lin Jiayi abruptly pulled Lin Xiao and rushed deeper into Illustrious Virtue Hall. "Even if I die, Illustrious Virtue Hall must not fall."
"I know your current strength probably already surpasses mine. The teacher hopes that at this moment, you can stay and help me this once."
Lin Xiao looked at Lin Jiayi's slightly short and stout back, nodded, and said, "Alright."
Just as Lin Xiao had taken two steps, a black shadow suddenly flashed past his eyes, its sharp killing intent completely unconcealed.
Looking around, many such figures had appeared in the surroundings. Clearly, people from the Body Sect had taken advantage of the explosions from the stationary soul guide shells to breach Illustrious Virtue Hall's defenses and charge in.
"Teacher, be careful!"
Lin Xiao yanked Lin Jiayi's arm, pulling him behind for protection. Black, black, black, black, black, black, red, red, eight soul rings rose around him. On the eighth soul ring, four distinct golden patterns were clearly visible.
Not only was the black-clothed person in front stunned, but Lin Jiayi froze on the spot.
He had long known that Lin Xiao's soul ring configuration was different from ordinary soul masters, but Lin Xiao rarely made a move in the academy, so this was the first time he learned that Lin Xiao actually possessed two hundred-thousand-year soul rings.
In the brief moment the black-clothed person before him was dazed, Lin Xiao raised his left hand. A silver-gray short blade flashed past with specks of light resembling stars. A fine head instantly soared into the sky.
The other black-clothed people around seemed to notice the activity on Lin Xiao's side, and more than ten figures moved in unison to surround him.
However, before they could get close, dozens of cannon barrels slowly materialized in the air from unknown origins.
The surrounding smoke and dust made it difficult for everyone to clearly see the exact appearance of those barrels, but the icy killing intent pierced through the haze and chilled everyone to the bone.
The massive metal device beside Lin Xiao emitted a faint glow. In the next instant, with a "Boom—", the entire interior of Illustrious Virtue Hall was once again filled with a layer of bloody mist.
"There's an expert here!"
Someone shouted those words. As the voice fell, Lin Xiao felt countless gazes land on him, and a surge of killing intent rushed straight toward the back of his head.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are 40 early chapters available on Patreon
[email protected]/facficmax10--------(@→a)