Chapter 345: Startling Changes At Jixia

At Middle Ground, Jixia Academy...

An elder dressed in ceremonial robes was sitting cross-legged in the center of a large Eight Trigrams altar.

He sat there unmoving in the middle of a huge array as if he was one with the universe. It was clear he was an advanced Great Sage cultivator.

He was surrounded by tens of thousands of energy rays, all penetrating into the void as if trying to probe into some indescribable thing.

Beside the elder was a row of gentlemen dressed in long traditional robes. They all gazed at the elder with the utmost respect.

This was because this elder’s status in Jixia Academy was second to none.

He was Jixia Academy’s founder, Fu Zi.

Fu Zi was born 8,000 years ago and from the same generation as Huang Shi. He was also one of the most powerful prodigies of his era.

It could be said that if not for that freak-of-nature Huang Shi, Fu Zi would have been the top cultivator of his generation!

It was even rumored that Fu Zi had used to hold a grudge against Huang Shi because of that.

Thereafter, Fu Zi and Huang Shi had joined forces to eliminate the Evil Spirits and successfully established the Great Wilderness Celestial Dynasty, reigning over the five regions.

At the same time, Jixia Academy had been established.

From then on, Huang Shi had been ruling over the eight wildernesses while Fu Zi held down the fort at Jixia Academy, teaching the prodigies from across the five regions.

Yes, teaching prodigies from across the five regions.

Ever since Jixia Academy had been established, its mission statement was to teach all without discrimination.

Any prodigy with extraordinary talent, regardless of which sect they were from or even if they were not from any sect, could join Jixia Academy.

This included Bodhisattvas from the faraway West Desert Land of Buddha, Saints from the major sacred grounds of Eastern Wilderness on student-exchange programs, and even demon royalty.

And Jixia Academy did fulfill its mission statement to teach all without discrimination. They did not discriminate against anyone because of their different backgrounds.

The highest number of prodigies could be found in this one place. It was also the best environment for cultivation and practicing techniques.

On top of that, Fu Zi poured a lot of effort into teaching his students. As a result, countless top prodigies had emerged from Jixia Academy.

Over the past 8,000 years, about half of those Sacred Leaders and Kings in the five regions had once studied at Jixia Academy or consulted Fu Zi on some cultivation issue.

Amongst them were the Divine Firmament Sacred Leader, Zhang Longyuan, in his youth, the Sonic Thunder Sacred Leader, Tianxiu, the Kun King, Kun Xu, and so on.

Those top prodigies would return to their own sects or races after completing their studies and end up becoming the Sacred Leaders, Kings, or Grand Elders.

It could be said that just by having those exemplary cultivators as its alumni, Jixia Academy had become the five regions’ most powerful authority.

In Middle Ground, you could disrespect any sacred ground, but you could never disrespect Jixia Academy.

You could disrespect any Sacred Leader, but you could never disrespect Fu Zi.

Fu Zi was definitely an elder who deserved respect.

...

This well-respected elder had been sitting cross-legged in the middle of the Eight Trigrams for several months.

A few months ago, a corpse had been sent to Jixia Academy. It had been cut in half.

This corpse came from the Middle Ground Buddhist Sect, and it was the most powerful Sage monk.

However, he was now chopped in half. And it was the only wound on the entire body. It was clear that the battle had been done and over with in a flash.

A one-kill move. He had died a very smooth death.

After an investigation, it was ruled that this was committed by the Lifeless King, one of the Evil Spirit Sect’s four great Kings.

There had been no news of the Lifeless King in the five regions for the past thousand years, so why had he suddenly killed this Sage monk in such an arrogant manner?

Did this mean the Evil Spirit Sect was being revived?

They then linked this incident to the significant increase in the number of prodigies over the past thousand years, especially over the past 100 years. All sorts of rare and unprecedented prodigies had sprouted up like weeds after the rain in the various sacred grounds.

This was definitely a sign that chaotic times were imminent. As one of the strongest cultivators in the five regions, Fu Zi was naturally sensitive to this fact.

After some careful consideration, he decided to expend a huge amount of energy to set up this ma.s.sive array in the Jixia Academy.

The ma.s.sive array formation was the forbidden array of the Dark Sky Sutra. It was touted as the most powerful divination array in all of the five regions.

Fu Zi could take a peek into the future with this array. He would have the ability to foresee what was to come.

Of course, this divination array was an absolute forbidden technique. No one was allowed to use it.

All those who tried to take a peek into the future would have to pay a heavy price—even a Thearch.

Unless absolutely necessary, even Fu Zi himself would not have taken such a big risk.

...

“Chaos. Absolute mayhem.”

Fu Zi, who had been sitting completely immobile for months, suddenly opened his eyes.

Everyone immediately turned and looked at Fu Zi. Their eyes met.

Shudder!

Everyone felt chills run down their spines. The lingering terror in Fu Zi’s eyes was just too scary.

It was like this wise, steady, kindly elder had seen the most horrific sight in the universe. Anyone who saw that look in his eyes shivered in fear.

Fu Zi slowly stood up. His array formation cracked inch by inch as if it had come in contact with something forbidden and was suffering the after-effects.

“Huang Shi, you are the only one who can find out what that glow was.”

Fu Zi’s voice was dry and raspy as he coughed out those words. The terror in his eyes faded into a neutral look.

His hair turned completely snow-white before disintegrating into ashes.

His body shriveled up, and he started to transform into a dried-up tree!

The transformation happened so quickly that it was completed in just a few breaths’ time.

The great Fu Zi, one of the most powerful beings across the five regions and the guardian of mankind whom even the Immortal Phoenix Queen didn’t dare to underestimate...

He turned into a dried-up tree just like that!

For a moment there, all the students were completely dumbstruck.

They were all steadfast, level-headed people, but what just happened was completely beyond anything they could have ever imagined.

Fu Zi, gone just like that!?

...

Rumble!

Suddenly, the s.p.a.ce over Jixia Academy froze.

All the students could feel themselves being shut out, unable to see Fu Zi’s body anymore.

Another figure suddenly appeared on that ancient altar—a figure dressed in Thearch robes and wielding a Thearch sword.

There was no avatar or even the slightest hint of aura radiating from him. Even so, he gave off a feeling that he was completely indomitable.

The Thearch’s voice was mild as he gazed afar. “Chaos is coming to the five regions.”

Slowly placing one hand on that dried-up tree, the Thearch erupted in a boundless divine light, making the entire Jixia Academy look like it was a deity’s palace.

In that instant, a fresh bud sprouted out of that dried-up tree and rapidly started to grow.

A white plum blossom bloomed on that new sprout before falling into the Thearch’s hand.

“I pledge that I will find that glow.” The Thearch muttered to himself as his eyes turned exceedingly sharp, “With me around, the five regions will never fall into chaos!”