Chapter 6322 The Current High Firmament Academy
“Brother San, it’s truly fortunate that I ran into you. Otherwise, I might never have seen you again,” Mu Qingyun said, her voice trembling slightly as she shook off the lingering fear of that possibility.
Moments ago, trapped within that sword formation, she had already fallen into despair and had just been waiting for death.
“What exactly happened? How did you end up running into them? How many from our High Firmament Academy have entered? Did Qingxuan also come with you?” Long Chen asked, his questions pouring out in a rush, one after another.
Back when Long Chen led the Dragonblood Legion away from the first academy, they directly charged into the Endless Desolation. Other than once seeking aid from the sweeping elder, he had almost no contact with the academy since then.
But now, with Mu Qingyun standing before him, the thought struck him like lightning—if she was here, then Yu Qingxuan had to be here as well. The moment her face surfaced in his mind, an inexplicable sense of worry welled up in his chest.
“Brother San, the High Firmament Academy today is nothing like before...” Mu Qingyun started to explain, her voice filled with excitement.
Back in the head academy, she had always called Long Chen senior apprentice-brother. But after getting more familiar with each other, and since Long Chen often called himself Boss Long San, she ended up calling him Brother San. As for Long Chen, he had always regarded her as his own younger sister.
Even though Long Chen had mentally prepared himself, Mu Qingyun’s tale still left him shaken.
It turned out the High Firmament Academy had been concealing its true strength for countless years, waiting patiently in silence. Now, with the nine heavens fully recovered, it had risen like a primordial beast awakening from a trillion-year slumber.
Countless sealed geniuses were awakened. Though she was one of the High Firmament Academy’s core disciples, Mu Qingyun had no idea where those ancient geniuses had been hiding.
Branch academies that had long lain dormant were now reawakening, adding their power to the whole. The academy’s karmic luck swelled without end, and true monsters started to walk its halls once more.
When Mu Qingyun, Yu Qingxuan, and the others were called back to the head academy, they were all stunned.
A full eight million experts stood prepared to enter the heaven region’s battlefield, and the vast majority of them were hundred-flame divine sprouts.
In the first academy, Mu Qingyun’s three-hundred-flame Sovereign flames had placed her among the strongest, second only to Yu Qingxuan. Yet when she returned to the head academy, she realized that such power was merely above average. For at that time, there were no fewer than seventeen disciples who had ignited five hundred Sovereign flames.
“Seventeen...?” Long Chen drew in a sharp breath.
Long Chen’s thoughts drifted back to the fallen academy—to the sweeping elder who spent his days endlessly pushing a broom; to Dean Bai Letian, whose strength always seemed to climb mysteriously when the academy needed it most; and to the palace master, who forced his way into the forefront of this era’s geniuses no matter how the times changed.
Long Chen’s heart trembled. It seemed the High Firmament Academy had been silently waiting for countless years, all in preparation for this moment.
Once, the academy had declined so far it nearly collapsed, its halls appearing broken down. But now, Long Chen realized—it had all been a meticulous disguise.
With its mask cast aside, the High Firmament Academy revealed its true self. It was a sovereign returning to its throne, reclaiming the majesty of the number one academy beneath the nine heavens and ten lands.
“It seems I won’t be able to keep my position as dean for long!” Long Chen laughed after hearing how many monsters had emerged.
However, his laughter carried only joy. The academy had long since become part of his heart; his feelings for it were no weaker than what he had once felt for the Xuantian Dao Sect.
If someone surpassed him and took his spot, he would only be proud. He wouldn’t feel even a shred of disappointment, let alone jealousy.
“Hehe, but who could possibly surpass Brother San?” Mu Qingyun said, grinning. “The High Firmament Academy now has monsters from every era, and they don’t even listen to Dean Bai Letian. But the moment the sweeping elder speaks, none of them dare to defy him. That’s the only reason things haven’t fallen into chaos.”
“Tch, who cares about them? Any monsters will become ants in front of my boss! That includes myself!” declared Xue Tu.
Within the dragon race, Xue Tu’s name was synonymous with ruthlessness. Few of his generation dared to face him.
However, in front of boss Long Chen, he was as obedient as a tame beast. That was the power of Boss Long San. Now Xue Tu understood why the terrifying monsters of the Dragonblood Legion were so hell-bent on following Long Chen.
He himself was living proof. Just by calling Long Chen “boss” a few times, he had been given the Divine Dragon Blood Blaze—a supreme divine ability. Following this boss was the best choice he could have ever made.
Seeing the reverence in Xue Tu’s eyes, and the respect of the other dragon experts, Mu Qingyun’s heart filled with pride. She said firmly, “Even if the High Firmament Academy is crawling with monsters now, I don’t believe any of them can stand shoulder to shoulder with Brother San.”
“Hahaha, well said!” Long Chen laughed. This girl was getting better at flattery.
Still, the thought of the academy overflowing with such monsters stirred his blood. He suddenly had the urge to see them for himself.
“Brother San, Big Sister Qingxuan is also here. But don’t worry about her. While she has never shown her Sovereign flames, in the head academy, anyone who dared to bully us would be beaten by her. Once, even a five-hundred-flame divine sprout was defeated in just three moves—without her ever showing her flames.” Mu Qingyun’s eyes shone with admiration.
Seeing Long Chen’s expression, Mu Qingyun curiously asked, “Brother San, what is it? Isn’t it good for big sister Qingxuan to get stronger?”
Long Chen’s first reaction upon hearing of Yu Qingxuan’s terrifying strength was to think of the memory of the Pill Ancestor. He realized she had likely awakened something hidden deep within her.
That thought pierced him like a blade. He remembered the agony she had endured in her past life. He had sworn she would never have to endure that suffering again—he wanted nothing more than to protect her.
However, beneath that vow lurked a heavier fear. Once Yu Qingxuan awakened all her memories, who would she truly be? Would she still be Yu Qingxuan, the woman he loved? Or would she once again become the Pill Sovereign? And if so... who was he to her?
You are him, you are not him...
That haunting voice echoed within his mind, dragging him back into memories he wished to bury.
“Brother San!” Mu Qingyun called out to him, drawing him out of his stupor.
Long Chen forced a laugh, masking the turmoil in his heart. “Of course I’m happy. If my wife is that strong, then I’ll just have to work harder. I can’t let my wife surpass me so easily, can I?”
Luckily, Mu Qingyun didn’t manage to grasp Long Chen’s true thoughts from his absent-minded reply.
She continued, “When I entered the heaven region’s battlefield, I actually picked up something good!”
A new item appeared in her hand. The instant the dragon experts laid eyes on it, their faces changed. One after another, they cried out in shock.