Elder Hong looked at Elder Mo doubtfully and asked, "Little Mo, didn't you say that girl was inside?"
Elder Mo blinked, also confused.
Didn't that girl say she had arrived at the sacred land?
Why couldn't anyone be seen?
"Perhaps she left? Or perhaps... she didn't come?" Elder Mo said tentatively.
Several people were covered in dirt, their bodies muddy and their faces as black as the bottom of a pot.
So they had been digging here for half the day?
Digging for air?
Only Xuan Yuan lowered his head, his expression heavy.
He had indeed felt the vibration of the barrier. This barrier would not issue a warning without reason; someone must have come and intended to steal the treasure.
As for whether it was the little girl, he didn't know.
Could it be that this person was extremely powerful, triggering the barrier, but then quickly escaping?
Being able to withdraw swiftly before they arrived indicated that this person's strength was superior to any of them.
If such a person were targeting the sacred land's supreme treasure, it would be a huge problem.
He exchanged a glance with Bai Yunzheng, and they nodded at each other.
The group checked the spirit stones, finding no abnormalities.
However, Bai Yunzheng's sharp eyes discovered that the spiritual energy of the giant stone was several times more potent than before.
Why was that?
Bai Yunzheng was puzzled. Could it be related to the little thief who had sneaked in earlier?
He frowned and pondered.
Bai Ran, the little thief, the giant stone...
What was the connection between them?
Since Ran girl had notified Elder Mo, she would definitely have come given her personality. But at this moment, the barrier acted up, and when they arrived, there was no one to be seen. Instead, the spiritual energy of the giant stone had increased manifold.
A flash of inspiration struck him. Just as Bai Yunzheng was about to grasp it, a disciple covered in blood stumbled in from the tunnel entrance.
"No, no good... a group of monsters emanating black energy has suddenly appeared in the academy and is slaughtering the academy disciples!"
What! Monsters emanating black energy!
Demonic creatures!
The faces of the group turned grim, and they quickly left the cave entrance.
The scene before their eyes and the strong smell of blood in their nostrils caused their heads to pound and their veins to bulge.
The entire academy seemed to have descended into hell.
Flames burned everywhere, dyeing the sky crimson, and thick, choking black smoke filled the air.
Dense swarms of demonic creatures flew in the sky, a vast, dark mass that enveloped the entire academy.
Countless disciples lay scattered on the ground, with severed limbs and broken bodies everywhere, and blood flowed like a river.
The surviving disciples fled in terror, crying uncontrollably.
Not far behind them, several grotesque-looking demonic creatures were devouring a captured female disciple.
Wails echoed through the bloody sky.
"Hui'er! Hui'er!" Elder Mo landed quickly, anxiously searching for Fang Tianhui in the vast crowd.
"Quickly go find Ran girl," Xuan Yuan said to Bai Yunzheng, gritting his teeth.
Xuan Yuan understood that their strength was insufficient to deal with so many demonic creatures. Having Bai Ran there would increase their chances of victory.
Bai Yunzheng nodded solemnly.
The elders drew their weapons, their expressions grim, and charged towards the demonic creatures devouring the female disciple, engaging them in a fierce battle.
Xuan Yuan stood on the rooftop, looking at the surviving disciples in various corners.
"Those who still have strength, stand up! Follow this old man to fight!"
His voice was loud and solemn, with great penetrative power. His gray hair fluttered in the breeze, his eyes filled with killing intent and fury.
The disciples listened, wiped away their tears, and half of them shakily stood up.
They bit their lower lips tightly, their eyes red, but filled with boundless fighting spirit.
The disciples picked up their blood-stained weapons and, with shouts, charged towards the demonic creatures before the elders.
On the other side, in the royal palace, dense numbers of demonic creatures also appeared in the sky, slaughtering the common people of the Vermilion Bird Kingdom.
The once peaceful imperial capital became a horrifying sight. Some citizens wept bitterly over their dead loved ones, while others knelt on the ground, their foreheads bleeding, begging heaven for protection.
Bodies lay everywhere, a sight that chilled the bone and struck terror into the heart.
The Vermilion Bird Kingdom's sky was blood-red, as if mourning the plight of its people.
"Your Majesty! Those monsters are incredibly powerful! The army can barely hold on!" Bai Yang clenched his fists, barely suppressing the tears that threatened to fall.
Murong Chen rubbed his temples.
How could so many monsters emanating black energy suddenly appear?
"Dispatch ten dark guards to eliminate the monsters and protect the citizens."
"Go find Master, and be quick!" Murong Chen shouted at Bai Yang.
Bai Yang burst out of the door and rushed towards the Star Picking Academy.
Murong Chen's eyes were weary. The new emperor had just ascended the throne and had not yet consolidated his power. The appearance of countless monsters at this time was undoubtedly his greatest challenge.
On the other side, Bai Ran slowly opened her heavy eyelids.
Long Jinhan was channeling spiritual energy into her body. "You're awake?"
"Thank you," Bai Ran knew he had saved her. She owed him a favor.
"Between us, there's no need for thanks," Long Jinhan gently helped Bai Ran up and handed her a pill. "Take it."
Bai Ran did not refuse, took the pill, and ate it.
"Where is this?"
Long Jinhan poured her a cup of water and handed it to her. "This is my courtyard in the lower realm. Little girl, just rest and recover."
He looked at Bai Ran's weak appearance and was somewhat angry.
She was truly reckless. If he had arrived any later, she might have died, did she know that?
More than half of her vital essence had been lost. If not for an Emperor-tier pill, she might have lost all her cultivation.
Such recklessness made him unable to stop fearing.
Noticing his worried gaze, Bai Ran smiled. "Didn't I survive?"
Hearing this, Long Jinhan's stern and charming face immediately turned gloomy.
This damnable little girl, she really didn't care about herself.
He raised his hand and flicked her forehead hard.
Jing Yun stood quietly to the side, looking at Bai Ran with displeasure.
The Venerable suddenly disappeared, leaving behind such an important matter, and came to find her?
And he even took out an Emperor-tier pill to save her? Did she know how precious an Emperor-tier pill was?
Why should a woman from the lower realm make the Venerable care so much?
Jing Feng suddenly appeared and patted Jing Yun. "Stop complaining. I know your little thoughts."
He had witnessed the Venerable's unprecedented gentle expression from the shadows, and every move of the Venerable shocked him.
Jing Yun, the fool, facing the Venerable's back, naturally couldn't see, and naturally couldn't perceive the Venerable's change.
Jing Feng looked at the Venerable and sighed. The Venerable had truly fallen for her. As a subordinate, he naturally couldn't say much.
Moreover, having stayed by Bai Ran's side for so long, Jing Feng also felt that no woman had ever been as terrifying as her.
It was as if the two were destined by heaven.
"It seems you're quite pleased with this woman from the lower realm?" Jing Yun asked.
"Seeing is believing. I won't say much more. If you get to know her, you'll know that identity doesn't represent anything," Jing Feng raised an eyebrow at Jing Yun. "Besides, have you ever seen the Venerable care about anyone?"
Jing Yun lowered his head, unable to refute.
But this did not mean he would accept her.
If her goal was to use the Venerable to ascend and harm him, Jing Yun would eliminate her even if it cost him his life.