Chapter 0703: Giving Up

Things gradually quietened down in the aftermath of the battle.

After the last corrupted Violet Vibrance mentor was subdued, Vice Principal Su Xin took a group of Dukes to attempt to seal the Umbra Cave. Unfortunately, the results were not ideal. Corruption continued to leak out, and even the combined efforts of the Dukes was only able to slightly alleviate the issue.

After trying for half a day, despite how unwilling Vice Principal Su Xin was, she accepted fate.

In the end, she informed all of the mentors to retrieve all of the college's resources, the Resonant Art Pagoda, the treasury, and all other libraries. This was the culmination of blood and sweat of the college's many years of existence. If the college wished to rebuild itself, it could not lack any of this.

The Tree of Resonant Power's burning had already brought about great damage to the college's foundation. If these possessions were lost, it would severely cripple the college.

Additionally, all of the important students, the future seedlings, had to be placated as well.

The college would be in complete chaos for a time.

When things finally calmed down, the numerous powers began to scatter and leave with downcast expressions. Today's changes concerned the entire Xia Kingdom, and none of them would be able to escape the repercussions.

Especially with the unsealing of the Umbra Cave. Endless corruption continued to pour forth from it, right next to the Xia Kingdom's most prosperous city.

This would affect those living in Xia City the most. It was the capital of the kingdom, and all of the headquarters of the largest factions were situated here as well. With these changes, they would now have to make decisions.

Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e did not approach Vice Principal Su Xin at this point. They knew that her heart was also a mess. As a result, they took Yu Lang, Bai Mengmeng, and Bai Doudou out of the college and back to the city.

Entering Xia City was like experiencing a whole different world. The atmosphere was still bustling and the streets were riddled with pedestrians, creating a scene of utmost peace and prosperity.

The changes within the college had not been felt by the common man.

Alas, this sort of blissful ignorance would only last till the end of the day. Once news spread, the most magnificent city of the Xia Kingdom would turn into a ghost town.

Li Luo and the rest continued moving with heavy hearts.

They quickly made their way back to House Luolan. After the rest were settled in, Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e made their way to find Ox Biaobiao and Cai Wei to inform them of what had happened.

"What? The Tree of Resonant Power has been burned down and the Umbra Cave was unsealed?!" Even Ox Biaobiao was completely flabbergasted upon hearing the news. Cai Wei similarly covered her mouth in shock, and her expression turned pale.

"The Origin Reversion Institute? I would never have expected that they would extend their tendrils all the way to the outer divine continents. They truly are a bunch of madmen." Ox Biaobiao had a similarly solemn expression. As he came from the inner divine continent, he had naturally heard of them.

"Uncle Biao, now that the Umbra Cave has been unsealed, corruption will endlessly flow from it. At the rate it's leaking out, I'm afraid the city will be covered by it in less than a month. At that point, it will be simply unfit for human life. We have to consider moving the headquarters," Li Luo continued.

The problem was that House Luolan possessed a defensive ward. If they chose to migrate, their ward would be taken apart, and this would pose a considerable risk to them. It was the reason why House Luolan was able to continue to survive.

"There is another problem. If we were to shift the headquarters, Uncle Biao would be affected as well," Jiang Qing'e reminded him.

Ox Biaobiao was acutely injured, and he could only possess the might of a fourth-grade Duke when he was inside House Luolan's headquarters. Once he left, his strength would drop drastically.

Ox Biaobiao removed a pipe of tobacco from his waist and took two puffs before sighing. "The defensive ward will definitely be ruined as it was constructed by your father for the sole purposes of protecting the inner areas. If the headquarters were to be moved, it would no longer be operational."

Li Luo replied, "The defensive ward being destroyed might be heartrending, but it is inevitable. We cannot stay and turtle up in Xia City. Once the corruption spreads, the defensive ward will not be able to protect us."

He sighed as well. "We have to give up on Xia City."

Although this was the bustling center of the Xia Kingdom's activity, so long as the Umbra Cave remained unsealed, he would have to give it up no matter how unwilling he was. That also applied to the royal court.

Jiang Qing'e nodded slightly. "Actually, the defensive ward is no longer as critical to House Luolan as it was before the Housemeet. Master and Mistress' illusory projections have already deterred any unsavory thoughts towards us. If they wish to covet our belongings, they will have to closely reconsider their decision as it will incur Master and Mistress' inevitable revenge. Thus, even without the defensive ward, House Luolan won’t be in as much danger as it was before the Housemeet." She agreed with Li Luo's decision.

The only remaining consideration was Ox Biaobiao's condition.

"Uncle Biao, the reason you're able to exhibit fourth-grade Duke strength inside the headquarters has to do with the defensive ward, right? No, more accurately, it should be because of the Divine Matter that is being guarded within the defensive ward, right?" Li Luo asked.

Ox Biaobiao grinned as he praised him. "Young Lord, you are astute. Your guess is correct. The Divine Matter is indeed the reason why I'm able to utilize fourth-grade Duke strength in the headquarters."

"In that case, things are simple. Even without the defensive ward, so long as we bring the Divine Matter along with us and place it in your possession, wouldn't you be no different from a fully capable fourth-grade Duke?" Li Luo clapped as he smiled.

"Well, that is one solution. However, Divine Matter is something that every Duke desires innately as it can give them the opportunity to break into the King Stage. With that in mind, do you still plan to leave such an important item in my possession?" Ox Biaobiao replied tentatively.

Li Luo retorted in a tone that made his displeasure known, "Uncle Biao, why would you speak such superfluous words when we are a family? The way I see it, if the Divine Matter can truly allow you to recover, then I'd happily give it to you. I believe if my father and mother were around, they would agree."

Ox Biaobiao had been stuck inside House Luolan for countless years, and could be said that he had watched Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e grow from young. In Li Luo's eyes, Ox Biaobiao was a trustworthy elder, and it was his secret protection throughout all these years that allowed them to flourish today without Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan around.

The value of their relationship far surpassed the value of the Divine Matter in Li Luo's eyes.

Ox Biaobiao glanced at Li Luo with a happy smile on his pudgy face. He had watched this youngling grow up and mature and naturally understood his personality and why he would say these words.

"Young Lord, you have matured." Ox Biaobiao sighed wistfully.

"Uncle Biao, if there are no problems, I will leave the dismantling of the defensive ward to you. All you need to do is leave Master and Mistress' natal flame to Li Luo to guard." Jiang Qing'e smiled. She would wholeheartedly support Li Luo's decisions.

Ox Biaobiao nodded. "Leave it to me."

Li Luo then turned to face Cai Wei. "Sister Cai Wei, could I trouble you to make preparations regarding the things going on within the headquarters? Especially our skygold and various important materials. Everything has to be taken away."

Cai Wei nodded solemnly. "Young Lord, you can rest easy. I'll arrange for everything to be done."

Once arrangements were made, Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e glanced at each other and sighed lightly. Who would have expected that House Luolan's headquarters would not be destroyed by external forces, but be voluntarily abandoned?

……

Regent's Palace

In a secret study.

The Regent gloomily glanced at the two figures that had walked out of the shadows. It was the youth with dual pupils of gold and silver and Shen Jinxiao.

"Xuan Chen, I want you to give me an explanation!"