Chen Hao smiled. The smile was somewhat bitter, yet also carried a trace of warmth.
Su Chen walked over to Li Yang and Zhang Wan to check on their injuries. The medicinal efficacy of the Snow Ginseng was still at work; their injuries were healing rapidly, far better than anticipated.
"Let's go home," Su Chen said. "The mission is complete. It's time to report back to Lord Qian Renxue."
The squad slowly trekked through the ice and snow, heading south. The blizzard in the Extreme North gradually subsided. A rainbow appeared in the sky, arching across the heavens above the frozen plains, as if paving a road of triumph for them.
Tian Dou City, Heroic Spirits Academy
Half a month later, the squad finally returned to Tian Dou City.
Qian Renxue personally came to the city gates to welcome them. The moment she saw the thirty-three young students marching through the gates alongside Su Chen and Ares, a rare smile graced her face.
"Welcome home." Qian Renxue's voice was not loud, but every word was as warm as a spring breeze.
"My Lord, the mission is complete." Su Chen dropped to one knee, presenting the jade box containing the remaining Snow Ginseng and a recording soul tool with both hands. "The Void Cult's base in the Extreme North has been destroyed. This is the research data we collected."
Qian Renxue accepted the jade box and the soul tool, nodding gently. "Rise. You have all fought hard. I've already had hot water and food prepared. Go and rest first; we will celebrate properly at the victory banquet tonight."
The students cheered joyously; the exhaustion and hardship of the past few days vanished completely in this moment. They supported one another as they walked into the academy, smiles on every face.
Su Chen didn't go to rest. He followed Qian Renxue into her office.
"You did exceptionally well," Qian Renxue said, sitting behind her desk, her fingers lightly tapping the tabletop. "The Void Cult's base in the Extreme North was one of their most crucial research facilities. With it destroyed, their research into the power of the Void will be set back by at least three years."
"But the Void High Priest escaped," Su Chen said. "And he said something to us that I think is very important."
"What did he say?"
"He said that the Lord of the Void will not spare us. That the Void Cult will not spare us. The Tian Dou Empire will be destroyed, and everyone will die."
Qian Renxue's fingers stopped tapping, her expression turning solemn. She remained silent for a long time before raising her head to meet Su Chen's gaze.
"What do you think the Lord of the Void is?"
Su Chen pondered for a moment before saying, "I initially thought that the 'Lord of the Void' they spoke of referred to a powerful figure, like a cult master or pope. But after this mission, I've formed a new theory."
"What theory?"
"The Lord of the Void might not be a person," Su Chen said. "It could be a force, a will, an entity that transcends living beings. I sensed a lot of resentment within that black sphere—the souls of those murdered by the Void Cult, sealed inside the sphere and turned into nourishment for the power of the Void. If the Void Cult has similar research bases all over, conducting the same rituals, then all of this gathered resentment... could it coalesce into something... terrifying?"
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed slightly. She leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping the desk once more, this time at a rapid pace, betraying her inner unease.
"Your conjecture aligns perfectly with the analysis of our intelligence department," Qian Renxue said. "What the Void Cult is doing might not merely be researching the power of the Void—they could be creating an entity. An existence condensed from endless resentment and the power of the Void, one powerful enough to annihilate the entire continent."
"We need to stop them," Su Chen said.
"We are already working on it." Qian Renxue stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at Tian Dou City. "The Tian Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and Spirit Hall have reached an agreement to jointly oppose the Void Cult. But that is not enough. The Void Cult's influence is too vast; their bases are scattered across the entire continent, and some are even hidden on overseas islands. We must destroy them one by one. It will take time, it will take strength, and it will take sacrifices."
She turned back to look at Su Chen. "Do you know why I established the Heroic Spirits Academy?"
Su Chen shook his head.
"Because the standard Soul Master cultivation system is far too slow," Qian Renxue said. "For a Soul Master to go from awakening their Martial Soul to becoming a Soul Sage takes at least thirty years. We don't have thirty years; we might not even have three. Therefore, I needed a new method of cultivation—one capable of rapidly producing powerhouses."
"The Heroic Spirits Academy is that very attempt." A glint flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes. "Through actual combat, through pressure, through the crucible of life-and-death tempering, students can break through their limits in the shortest possible time and awaken the true power of their Martial Souls. Chen Hao awakening the Solar Will during this mission is the perfect example. Without this mission, he might never have awakened it in his entire life."
"But that is incredibly dangerous," Su Chen said.
"I know," Qian Renxue replied. "That is why I made you the strategist. Because you can not only protect them, but also teach them how to survive in the face of danger. You are not just an ordinary teacher; you are their guardian."
Su Chen fell silent. He recalled the myriad dangers of the mission—Chen Hao nearly having his soul extracted, Lin Xue almost being killed by the shockwave, Ares' arm getting snapped. An indescribable heaviness weighed on his heart. It was a profound concern for his students, but also a moment of self-doubt—could he truly protect them?
"Don't overthink it," Qian Renxue said, seemingly reading his mind. "You have already done remarkably well. Go and get some rest. I have an important decision to announce at the victory banquet tonight."
"What decision?"
"You will find out when the time comes."
That Night, Heroic Spirits Academy Grand Hall
The grand hall had been decorated to resemble a banquet hall. The long tables were laden with all sorts of delicacies—roast meats, seafood, pastries, fruits, alongside various beverages and wine. The students had changed into clean clothes and sat around the tables, chatting and laughing in a highly spirited atmosphere.
Su Chen sat on Qian Renxue's right, while Ares sat on her left. Ares' right arm had been reattached, but it was still encased in a cast and suspended in a sling, making him look somewhat comical.
"Come, let us raise our glasses." Qian Renxue stood up and raised her goblet. "To our heroes, cheers!"
"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses in unison and drained them.
The banquet proceeded in a joyous atmosphere. The students toasted one another, sharing amusing anecdotes and thrilling moments from the mission. Chen Hao was surrounded by a group of students who urged him to demonstrate the Solar Will. He sheepishly scratched his head, claiming his soul power hadn't recovered yet and he couldn't perform it.
Lin Xue sat in a corner, quietly eating some fruit. Her Shadow Cat Martial Soul made her habitually linger in the shadows, and tonight's victory banquet was no exception.
Su Chen walked over to Lin Xue with his wine glass in hand. "We have you to thank for the success of this mission."
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