April 18th, 350th year of the Anping Calendar.
This was the penultimate day before Su Yu and his group were to leave Nanyuan. Early the next morning, they would all gather and leave Nanyuan under the escort of the city guards and the powerful figures from the Great Xia Civilization Academy.
In the morning.
Su Yu had just woken up. When he opened his eyes, he was startled. There was an extra figure beside his bed.
"Awake?"
Liu Wenyan asked abruptly. Su Yu suppressed his thoughts and felt a bit helpless. The old gentleman was really scary in the early morning.
"Teacher, you're also awake."
"Getting old, I woke up long ago."
Liu Wenyan smiled. "Get up and have breakfast. After that, come to the academy with me. But don't stay with me today..."
"Huh?"
Su Yu's eyes flickered slightly. "Teacher, do you mean..."
"When do you think the Ten Thousand Races Cult will choose to make a move if they have a plan? Before tonight, the people from the Great Xia Civilization Academy will arrive. By evening, they won't have a chance."
Su Yu's heart trembled slightly. That's right. If he were from the Ten Thousand Races Cult, he would either make a move today or wait until they left and the number of city guards decreased before taking action.
So, it was very likely that the people from the Ten Thousand Races Cult would show up today.
"It's too dangerous to follow me!"
Liu Wenyan was still smiling. "Those guys are worried that I'll materialize my will. If they take action, they'll definitely target me first and kill me in advance to prevent me from materializing my will and stepping into the Teng Kong Realm in one go."
"So don't stay with me today, nor with other powerful figures. Just stay with teachers at the Qianjun Realm. There will be people protecting you."
"Teacher..." Su Yu quickly got out of bed. "Do they really dare to attack the Nanyuan Academy?"
"Of course they dare! People from the Ten Thousand Races Cult, some are afraid of death, some are greedy for life, some are crazy, and some are possessed. But even those who are greedy for life and afraid of death won't hesitate to draw their swords to achieve their goals!"
Liu Wenyan sighed softly and said, "These people are very strange! You say they're afraid of death, but sometimes they're even less afraid of death than we are. If they're sent to the Battlefield of the Heavens to face races like gods and demons, they'll be scared out of their wits. But when it comes to attacking their own kind, they'll be fearless instead."
"Maybe they think that since they're all from the human race, there's nothing to be afraid of. The ten thousand races are the truly terrifying ones. They won't hesitate at all when they raise their butcher's knives against the human race."
Su Yu frowned upon hearing this. Indeed, these people from the Ten Thousand Races Cult seemed very strange to him.
If they were sent to the Battlefield of the Heavens, these people could be scared to death.
When it came to courage, they hardly had any.
But when it came to causing destruction within the human race, these guys were bolder and crazier than each other. Even if they were threatened with beheading every day, they wouldn't be deterred.
"Is this being a bully within one's own group?"
Su Yu thought for a while and came up with a phrase.
Liu Wenyan smiled and said, "Not really. We don't consider them part of the human race, so it's not exactly being a bully within one's own group. But the meaning you expressed is correct. They do have such personalities. Weak towards the outside, cold-blooded towards the inside. Actually, there are many such people, and they've emerged one after another throughout history."
"And it's not just the human race that has such people. In fact, all races have them."
"When they betray their own race, in order to prove that their choice is right and to prove themselves, they'll be even quicker and more ruthless when they raise their butcher's knives against their former compatriots."
Liu Wenyan was used to it. "The human race... actually also has a group of such 'ten thousand races' within it!"
Liu Wenyan looked at Su Yu with a smile. "The human race actually also takes in such 'ten thousand races'. When they lose confidence and hope in their own race and defect to the human race, they'll also be very vicious when they attack their former compatriots."
Su Yu couldn't quite understand it, but he had read a lot of books and knew that there were indeed many such people.
Without asking any more questions, Su Yu got up and started washing up.
Soon, at the dining table, after eating for a while, Su Yu said, "Teacher, will they make a move today? There are so many students in the academy. Why don't we give them a holiday today?"
"There's no way. We can't give a holiday. There's no way to guard against thieves every day. If we give a holiday, we'll alert the enemy, and those guys won't show up."
"But..."
Su Yu was a bit worried. Once they really attacked, wouldn't so many students be affected?
"We've already made preparations. There will be people protecting you." Liu Wenyan sighed. "Don't think that we're cold-blooded and using you as bait. Hesitation leads to disaster!"
"Su Yu, remember that if one day you go to the battlefield and become a commander, then... what you have to do is make choices!"
"On one side are a thousand soldiers, and on the other side are ten thousand. You can choose to save those thousand people, or you can choose to let those thousand people hold back the enemy and use the ten thousand to wipe out a ten-thousand-strong legion of one of the ten thousand races. At this moment... how would you choose?"
"I..." Su Yu was a bit hesitant and said after a while, "I... don't know."
"You actually know, but you can't say it. You're intelligent and should understand how to choose. On the Battlefield of the Heavens, wiping out a ten-thousand-strong legion of one of the ten thousand races is very important and can even affect the local battle situation."
Liu Wenyan said softly, "This is the choice, the choice that the powerful and wise figures of the human race should make! Sacrificing a thousand people to wipe out ten thousand is to reduce the number of deaths in the future, because this ten-thousand-strong legion may cause even greater slaughter."
"Is it very cruel?"
Su Yu nodded silently. He hadn't thought about this problem before. When Liu Wenyan asked just now, he felt it was too realistic, too cruel, and too heartless.
"Su Yu, this is war!"
Liu Wenyan looked up at him. "Remember, this is war! It involves the survival of tens of billions of people in the human race, so we must make choices. Maybe you'll say that those thousand people are so innocent. Yes, they're too innocent. They're our comrades, our fellow soldiers. But... this is war!"
"Just like today, we know that the Ten Thousand Races Cult is very likely to attack the Nanyuan Academy today, but we also have to make a choice..."
"In the past two days, it's been a bit chaotic outside the city. Several villages have been attacked, and many people have died, hundreds of them!"
"We're struggling to cope, and the city guards' forces are dispersed. This can't go on. Only by concentrating our forces to wipe them out can Nanyuan be completely stabilized. So... at this time, we also have to make a choice."
"Should we let the students take more risks or continue to wait and let them slaughter more people?"
"In my eyes, the students are naturally a bit more important, but the people outside the city are also human lives. Su Yu, you students are all reserve soldiers, so... we've decided to let you take a bit more risks. This is also the path you'll take in the future."
Su Yu nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Teacher, I understand. I was just a bit worried just now. Just as you said, we're all soldiers. Although we're weak, from the day we entered the academy, we were actually soldiers. The choices you and the head of the academy made were right."
"It's good that you can understand. If you can't understand, there's no need to force yourself to understand." Liu Wenyan said softly. "If one day you reach a higher position and think that sacrificing a city like Nanyuan can kill ten or a hundred times more enemies, I hope you'll choose to do it."
"Even if you have to bear some infamy, don't hesitate."
Su Yu didn't say anything and continued eating. After finishing eating, Su Yu looked up at Liu Wenyan and said, "Teacher, after all that's been said, it's actually because we're not strong enough. If we were very strong and could crush our enemies, then all these choices wouldn't exist, right?"
Liu Wenyan suddenly smiled, a gratified smile.
"Well said, that's exactly the case. But we... are still not strong enough."
"Yes, I think it definitely will be. Because the human race is getting better and better, and there are more and more powerful people."
Liu Wenyan also nodded slightly. That was indeed the case.
The two didn't say anything more. After finishing eating, they walked towards the academy together.
...
"Ah Yu!"
Chen Hao hadn't seen Su Yu for two days. He knew that Su Yu was following Liu Wenyan to study, but he was still very happy at this moment and said, "I thought you'd been kidnapped by Teacher Liu. Finally, he let you come back. I feel like I'm almost at the fourth level of the Kai Yuan Stage in the past two days..."
"Yeah."
Su Yu nodded slightly. At this moment, outside the classroom, several teaching teachers seemed to pass by accidentally. In fact, Su Yu knew that they were patrolling.
Once a battle broke out, these teachers would take the students to evacuate at the first time.
"Haizi, follow me today. Don't go anywhere."
"What for?" Chen Hao was confused. He quickly nodded and said, "Okay, but what if I need to go to the toilet?"
"..."
Su Yu didn't bother to pay attention to him. After thinking for a while, he said again, "Later, go to the practical training building to get two swords. Today we'll have a practical combat drill."
"Huh, Ah Yu, aren't you afraid of getting beaten up?"
Chen Hao asked curiously, "You can't beat me. You always get beaten up every time."
"I think I can beat you now!"
Su Yu gave him a sideways glance. "Stop talking nonsense and just do as I say!"
"Okay, I'll listen to you!"
Chen Hao grinned. He was too lazy to use his brain. When following Su Yu, it was always Su Yu who came up with ideas.
Su Yu still had a drop of essence blood in his hand. After considering for a while, Su Yu quickly got up and walked towards the resource department with Chen Hao.
"Teacher, exchange for two drops of Iron Wing Bird essence blood."
"Su Yu, you're exchanging for this again?" The teacher at the resource department felt sorry for Su Yu. "Did your previous research fail?"
"Yeah."
"Then..."
"Teacher, I think I'm almost getting some clues. Exchange two more drops for me."
"Well... okay then!"
The management teacher was helpless. This little kid didn't know the importance and was too wasteful!
He'd regret it when he went to a higher academy in the future.
Another two drops of essence blood were exchanged for Su Yu. At this moment, Su Yu had three drops of essence blood in his hand, but he only had seven merit points left.
...
After wandering around the academy for a while, soon, Su Yu had a sword in his hand, and Chen Hao also held a sword.
Chen Hao thought that Su Yu was acting very strangely today. He got the swords but didn't go to practice or practice martial skills. He didn't know what had gotten into this guy.
At this moment, it was already noon.
Su Yu was holding three drops of essence blood in his hand and thinking about something. Three drops of essence blood could probably maintain a burst of power for about fifteen minutes. However, last time, his arm swelled after just five minutes. If it really lasted for fifteen minutes, his hand might be ruined.
"Fifteen minutes. It probably won't last that long. Even if the people from the Ten Thousand Races Cult attacked, they wouldn't dare to fight here for so long. If the time is too long, they won't be able to leave."
"However... I can't let others know when I use the essence blood to burst out power. Otherwise, it'll be troublesome. Unless it's absolutely necessary, don't use the essence blood. Besides, even if I burst out with the power of the Qianjun Realm, it won't change much."
The academy didn't lack teachers at the Qianjun Realm. The key was still the Wan Shi Realm and the Teng Kong Realm.
Su Yu looked around. His eyes flickered slightly. There were quite a few strangers in the academy. Although they weren't wearing armor, Su Yu still guessed that they were the city guards and some people from the Jifeng Hall.
It seemed that Nanyuan had also made preparations. The other side would either attack the Nanyuan Academy or the city lord's mansion.
While Su Yu was thinking, Chen Hao's communicator rang. Chen Hao quickly answered it, responded a few times, and then hung up the communicator. He looked at Su Yu and said, "My dad called. He said I should be careful today and not leave the academy. People from the Ten Thousand Races Cult have come, and many people have died outside the city in the past two days..."
While speaking, Chen Hao cursed, "These bastards! Don't let me meet them, or I'll cut them down one by one with my sword!"
"You?"
Su Yu glanced at him and didn't say anything. Chen Hao's face turned red with anger and he said angrily, "I can't do it now, but what about in the future? When I go to the War Academy, I'll complete the Kai Yuan Stage in one year, reach the ninth level of the Qianjun Realm in three years, the Wan Shi Realm in five years, and the Teng Kong Realm in ten years..."
"That's what geniuses can do. Are you... sure?"
"Get lost!"
Chen Hao looked dejected. It seemed a bit difficult.
Reaching the Teng Kong Realm in ten years was the treatment for geniuses.
However, twenty years should be okay, right?
Before the age of forty, it was considered the golden cultivation time for people. If one still couldn't reach the Teng Kong Realm at the age of forty, there would hardly be any hope in the future.
It wasn't completely hopeless, but as the physical body began to decline, the hope was very slim.
There were too many people who were stuck at the ninth level of the Wan Shi Realm for their whole lives.
Su Long was almost fifty years old. There was hope for him to progress from the Qianjun Realm to the Wan Shi Realm, but there was probably no hope for him to reach the Teng Kong Realm from the Wan Shi Realm.
Su Yu smiled and looked outside the academy. Had it started?
The other side had caused quite a stir outside the city, naturally to make the city guards or even the Dragon Martial Guards leave. The high-level officials in Nanyuan knew this, but they had to send people there.
Otherwise, who knew how many people would die outside the city.
"Sure enough, they're a group of unscrupulous bastards!"
Su Yu cursed softly and couldn't help thinking about what was going on in the Great Xia City Government. Could it be that they couldn't even send a few Teng Kong Realm experts to support?
The Ten Thousand Races Cult seemed to be acting without restraint. With such a big commotion, the remaining two thousand main forces of the Dragon Martial Guards didn't even seem to come to investigate.
Were they held up?
Was the power of the Ten Thousand Races Cult that strong?
...
At the same time.
In the Great Xia City Government.
Xia Longwu was fully armored, with an imposing manner, and sat majestically on the throne.
Soon, a Dragon Martial Guard quickly entered and said in a loud voice, "Report! City Lord, there have been unusual activities in twelve cities including Nanyuan, Tian Shui, Kai Shan, and Long Men. The Ten Thousand Races Cult has shown up!"
"All the city governments have sent requests for reinforcements. Should we send reinforcements?"
Xia Longwu's face didn't change, and he said calmly, "Send reinforcements. Fifty people in each team and rush to the twelve cities. Also send people to the other sixteen cities just in case."
"Yes, sir!"
The Dragon Martial Guard quickly retreated.
At this moment, an old man dressed as a scholar below said softly, "City Lord, it's a tactic to divert the tiger away from the mountain. I'm afraid their target is still the Great Xia City Government."
"I know."
"The Dragon Martial Guards have already sent out over a thousand people, and a large number of the city army has also left. The Great Xia City Government is now..."
Before the other person could finish speaking, Xia Longwu said calmly, "It doesn't matter! If we don't make them pay a painful price, they'll continue to cause trouble! If the Dragon Martial Guards don't leave, these guys won't dare to show their heads."
After saying that, Xia Longwu got up. "I'm afraid their target is me. They've diverted the Dragon Martial Guards around me, and even the powerful figures from the various major academies have been transferred away due to various matters. Now, ninety percent of the powerful figures in the Great Xia City Government have left..."
"City Lord, should we ask the Great Ming City Government for help..."
"Ridiculous! How shameful!"
Xia Longwu snorted coldly. "Our Great Xia City Government ranks higher than the Great Ming City Government. How could we ask them for help! Besides, there's no need! They're just a bunch of sneaky guys. I really want to see which bastards from the God Clan have sneaked in this time. Without the support of the God Clan, those guys wouldn't have the guts!"
The old man frowned. "The God Clan has sneaked in?"
"Definitely! Otherwise, how would the Ten Thousand Races Cult dare to run wild in the Great Xia City Government just by themselves? Well, the divine blood reserve in the Great Xia City Government has been used up, and they've just delivered themselves to us. In the past few days, I was still thinking about whether I should go to the Battlefield of the Heavens. Now it seems that there's no need to go."
Xia Longwu remained calm. "Later, you guard the city government seat. I'll go outside the city, kill a few bastards, and then come back!"
"City Lord..."
"Don't say any more!"
Xia Longwu's eyes were sharp. "Just a few beasts from the God Clan, what can they do to me? I was just worried that my Longwu Blade hadn't tasted blood for a long time. Now, finally, there's an opportunity!"
After saying that, Xia Longwu stepped out of the hall with a sonorous voice. "Once the God Clan members are dead, the Dragon Martial Guards will lead the city army to set out, wipe out all the members of the Ten Thousand Races Cult in the Great Xia City Government, capture them alive, and drag them all to the Great Xia City Government to be beheaded and displayed in public! Tomorrow, I want to see ten thousand heads fall!"
"Yes, sir!"
A low shout came!
In order to cooperate with the actions of the Ten Thousand Races Cult and draw out the God Clan, Xia Longwu had allowed the situation to be turbulent in the past few days for fear of scaring away those from the God Clan.
Now, it was time to close the net.
All the powerful figures in the Great Xia City Government who should have been transferred away had already left. Shouldn't they show up now?
There were now less than a thousand Dragon Martial Guards remaining in the city government seat, unable to form a thousand-man battle formation. Shouldn't they be satisfied?
"You want to kill me. I'll oblige you. I'm rather curious to see if you can actually kill me!"
A sneer spread out. Xia Longwu soared into the air, turned into a golden light, and instantly disappeared from the city lord's mansion. In the blink of an eye, he was out of the city.
...
"Xia Longwu!"
When the golden light flickered and disappeared, a cold snort came from outside the city government seat.
How audacious!
I thought this guy wouldn't dare to come out or would continue to wait for the other powerful figures in the Great Xia City Government to return. I originally thought that we still needed to increase our efforts to force Xia Longwu to show up. Who would have thought that he just came out directly like this.
"Let's go and surround and kill Xia Longwu!"
A low shout came out. The next moment, someone said coldly, "Surround and kill? The heads of all the major higher academies have left. Xia Longwu is nothing special. Do we still need to surround and kill him? Today, I'll cut off his head!"
"Foolish! Remember, surround and kill! Go all out and don't be careless!"
The person in charge shouted coldly, "Xia Longwu may have already half-stepped into that realm. Whoever wants to court death, I won't stop him!"
"Impossible. He's only been cultivating for so many years. How could he..."
"So, he must die! The Battlefield of the Heavens doesn't need one more invincible powerful figure of the human race!"
"Okay!"
Several people quickly reached an agreement to surround and kill Xia Longwu. That guy might have already half-stepped into that realm. They couldn't allow him to become stronger.
Several rays of light of different colors instantly disappeared, chasing after the golden light and disappearing near the Great Xia City Government together.