Chapter 0596: The Secret

Within Vice Principal Su Xin's office.

Li Luo was quietly sitting at attention for once, looking extremely eager and honest. Vice Principal Su Xin couldn't help but smile at this sight. "There's no need to put on an act in front of me. I'm sure that you've taken all of Mentor Shen Jinxiao's words to heart... and want to repay him in some way."

Anxiously shaking his head in response, he said, "Vice Principal, you shouldn't malign me! Everyone knows that I, Li Luo, am exceptionally filial towards my teachers. Although Mentor Shen Jinxiao is heartless, vain, cruel, and all around terrible, I truly DO respect him from the depths of my heart."

"The Holy Tree Marrow Crystal is an exceptional cultivation resource that even Violet Vibrance mentors desire. Thus, Mentor Shen Jinxiao merely voiced what was on everyone's minds," Su Xin explained.

Li Luo continued to innocently sit by, only giving a frank reply. "But I feel that our efforts are deserving of the reward... Cough! We almost died for it after all..." He clearly expressed his covetous desire for the Holy Tree Marrow Crystal.

Vice Principal Su Xin gracefully took a seat, even taking the initiative to pour Li Luo a piping hot cup of tea. "Truly a straightforward brat."

Taking the words as a compliment, he grinned. "It's only because I trust you, Vice Principal Su Xin. You're the one teacher that all the students of the Astral Sage College adore! In fact, you're even more trustworthy than that old man Principal Pang Pang. When it comes to rewards and punishment, there is no one better fit to make a judgment!"

Su Xin helplessly shook her head. "Li Luo, your silver and honeyed tongue causes me to feel concern for all the innocent girls that will inevitably be tricked by you."

“Cough. Well, Vice Principal, I'm already an engaged man. You can't slander me like this!"

"Your engagement? Jiang Qing'e dotes on you way too much. There's no way she'll be able to keep you in check."

Not deigning to continue bickering with a child, she took a long sip of her tea. "You can relax. You have done the college an immeasurable service. I won't keep such simple rewards like three Holy Tree Marrow Crystals from you. If you truly want one that much, I'll give the order to have some sent to you immediately."

"Wow! Thank you, Vice Principal!"

"The mixed-level competition was exceptionally dangerous this time around. You have paid no small price to eke out a victory and bring honor to our college. How can we mistreat you?" Su Xin sighed.

Thinking back to the events at the Red Clay Province, Li Luo couldn't help but to ask, "Vice Principal, I've always had this thought at the back of my mind. Could the Other Disaster of the Blackwind Empire have been caused by human hands? That crimson knight-general clearly belongs to some sort of mysterious faction."

Su Xin's expression turned grave, but she did not hide anything from him. "Your mixed-level competition was closely observed by numerous experts from the sage colleges. The appearance of the crimson knight-general and his fusion with an Other has also caused Elder Ling Yu significant concern. His expression changed upon seeing it, and he even blurted out their name. The Origin Reversion Institution."

"What? That's the faction?"

"It's not just any faction. It's a terrifying and titanic organization possessing monstrous might. You simply cannot comprehend the terror they can inflict upon the world. However, the Origin Reversion Institute is usually only found on the Central Divine Continent. Who would have expected them to spread their tendrils upon the East Divine Continent? It looks like the wheels have started turning once again. They can be considered the nemesis of the Academic Federation. No... perhaps it's more apt to say that their beliefs and ours are as incompatible as fire and water."

"What sorts of beliefs?" Li Luo tentatively asked.

"Mankind is full of different factions with differing approaches to dealing with the Others. The faster we can come to a consensus, the better. After all, you've seen the horrifying devastation the Others can bring. "

Li Luo nodded solemnly. He had personally witnessed Others devouring humans like livestock in the Red Clay Province. Even the most stalwart and ironhearted individuals would be filled with fury upon that sight.

The Others did not possess any form of conscience or mercy, they were simply the agglomeration of negative emotions. The more of which were born from the human race, the better for them.

Their existence was a source of disaster for all.

"However, the Origin Reversion Institute is not the same. They wish to coexist with the Others. In their eyes, the Others are simply the manifestations of the dark side of humanity. They claim that they are still a part of humanity and have only been temporarily separated from our true selves. As a result, the human race has declined by not embracing them! After all, the human race was incomparably glorious in the past. Thus, to reclaim that prosperity, one would have to fuse with two. This is the true meaning of their chant, the reversion to one's so-called origins to bring about their true form. The crimson knight-general you met had utilized such means to strengthen himself," Vice Principal Su Xin accurately explained.

Li Luo's expression changed for the worse. "A bunch of lunatics."

"Yes, they truly are lunatics. In order to allow for more Others to descend upon our world, they have constantly attempted to crack apart the borders separating the worlds. They incite Other Disasters and wreak destruction before culminating in an attempt to fuse with the strongest Others. This allows them to find their ‘true forms.’" At this point, traces of killing intent gushed out of Vice Principal Su Xin uncontrollably. "They don't care for the people dying for their goals. It's just a mere number. So long as they can attain their true form, nothing else matters, not even lives."

These words cause a frown to form upon Li Luo's face. A bunch of madmen were inciting disasters around the world whilst countless Kings and Dukes were forced to enter the Nobles' Battlefield to block the Others from descending upon humanity. At the same time, these crazy bastards continued to drag their feet and were even releasing vile Others onto the unsuspecting innocent. Truly an infuriating thought!

"Aren't there any peak experts who can get rid of these cancerous tumors?" Li Luo asked curiously.

"The strength of the Origin Reversion Institute far exceeds your imagination. Even if the Academic Federation brings their full force to bear, they are unlikely to wipe them off the face of the world. Furthermore, they'd take the opportunity to burrow themselves even deeper. They are an extremely insidious group, and no one knows the extent to which they have infiltrated the ranks of the valiant. You simply can't tell who belongs to their faction. They are a sleeping dragon, and even I fear the thought of facing them." Vice Principal Su Xin sighed lightly.

Li Luo could feel a chill run down his spine. This sort of information was way out of his grade! In the eyes of the Origin Reversion Institute, House Luolan was no more than an ant. Even the Xia Kingdom could be completely destroyed if they so wished.

The Blackwind Empire was a history lesson for all to see. An empire no more powerful than the Xia Kingdom could be devastated by the Origin Reversion Institute without difficulty.

This was a true peak faction of the world.

Li Luo heaved another sigh. Forget about it. This problem was not something that a puny Resonant Master should be concerned about. He'd leave it in the capable hands of the powerhouses of the Academic Federation.

Vice Principal Su Xin did not continue to speak on the topic. Knowing more only added unnecessary stress upon the individual. The Origin Reversion Institute was not something that the Astral Sage College could afford to scuffle with.

"In any case, let's move on. Might you have guessed why you're here?" She flashed Li Luo a smile.

Li Luo's mind raced through countless possibilities, but he opted to remain silent.

Vice Principal Su Xin opened up her palm, and a blinding radiance emitted from an object within her grasp. It was a dark-golden chalice the size of a palm. There was a golden dragon sculpted upon it, the tail and the head formed the handles of the chalice. An indescribable sense of suppression exuded from its very presence.

It seemed as though tremors were occurring throughout the room in its very presence.

At that very moment, the roar of a dragon from ancient times echoed through his mind, seemingly transcending through space and time to arrive at his very location.

Li Luo seemed a little shellshocked as he continued to stare at the chalice, his heart trembling and his eyes wide.

This was the artifact they had been fighting for.

The legendary Dragon Bone Holy Grail.