87: Dead Tree

When the leaders of the various major forces in the Black-Corner Region fled back to their respective territories in disarray, the first thing they did was to gather all their subordinates and reprimand them sternly.

"Listen up, all of you! From now on, if anyone dares to provoke Jia Nan Academy, I'll be the first one to flay him!"

Crimson Fiend Gate Master Li Tianxiong slammed the table, his face ashen.

"Gate Master, what if, what if it's an accident~"

A young Disciple asked, mustering his courage.

"An accident?"

Li Tianxiong sneered, then suddenly erupted, grabbing the Disciple's neck.

"Then you'd better die cleanly! If Jia Nan Academy catches even a hint of a handle, I'll hang your entire family on the spirit death tree!"

As the three words "spirit death tree" were uttered, the entire hall instantly fell silent.

All the Disciples involuntarily shivered.

At the same time, within the Mysterious Yin Cult, Nine Yin Old Woman was lecturing her followers.

"You all know about that tree, right?"

Her eerie voice sent chills down everyone's spines.

"Over three hundred Dou Ling Experts and above, all completely drained of blood!"

A young female Disciple suddenly fainted, but no one dared to help her; everyone stood rooted to the spot, their faces pale.

"Remember,"

Nine Yin Old Woman's bone staff heavily struck the ground.

"From now on, when you see people from Jia Nan Academy, you all better walk around them! If anyone dares to cause trouble, this old woman will turn him into new 'fertilizer'!"

Chu Kuang roared at his Disciples.

"Remember well what happens if you provoke Jia Nan Academy!"

Soon, the terrifying legend of the "spirit death tree" spread throughout the entire Black-Corner Region.

That unknown ancient tree was now given the ominous name "spirit death tree."

It was said that every leaf on it was soaked in the fresh blood of Dou Ling Experts, and every line on its trunk was the wail of a wronged soul.

Even more terrifying, everyone had witnessed with their own eyes how the Dou Huang expert and two Dou Kings hanging on the tree were crushed by spatial power right before their eyes!

"I heard that under that tree, you can still hear the wails of wronged souls!"

In a tavern, a mercenary whispered.

"Shh! Keep your voice down!"

His companion nervously glanced around.

"I heard that people from Jia Nan Academy can monitor the entire Black-Corner Region through that tree."

Sometimes, things get more exaggerated as they spread.

And so, one tree, one massacre, completely intimidated the entire Black-Corner Region.

From then on, no force dared to target Jia Nan Academy, and even the most brutal desperadoes would involuntarily lighten their steps when passing through Peace Town, fearing to disturb the legendary "spirit death tree," and even more afraid that their own necks would end up swinging there.

And all of this was the effect Mang Tianchi wanted; without a single soldier, just one tree made the entire Black-Corner Region tremble in fear!

When Jiang Donghua heard these rumors, he couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly.

"It seems this timeline hasn't changed after all; it's just that I came too early."

He turned to look at his Master, Mo Xuan, and saw that this normally ethereal old fellow was now leisurely sitting behind a desk, holding a Medicine Ceremony in one hand and a teacup in the other, occasionally taking a comfortable sip.

"Master, when the Blood Demon Sect attacked that night, your old self's escape speed truly opened your Disciple's eyes."

Jiang Donghua couldn't help but complain.

Mo Xuan's old face flushed upon hearing this, but he quickly returned to his aloof sage-like appearance, stroking his beard as he said,

"Cough cough, this is called knowing how to protect oneself, understand?"

Jiang Donghua's mouth twitched, recalling the scene from that night.

At that time, he was concentrating on meditating in the alchemy room, interrupted by a sudden panic. The door was suddenly yanked open by Mo Xuan, and he was naturally pulled out by one hand.

Before he could even react, this Master, who usually walked slowly, instantly manifested Dou Qi Transformation Wings and performed a profound Movement Dou Technique. His escape speed was incredibly fast!

"Master, you're really skilled with that Movement Dou Technique!"

Jiang Donghua said faintly.

"Even the several Dou Huang experts who were chasing from behind were left in the dust."

Mo Xuan's old face turned even redder, but then he became self-righteous again.

"What do you know! This is called 'as long as the green hills are there, there's no need to worry about firewood'! If this old bone of mine were to break there, who would teach you alchemy?"

Jiang Donghua helplessly massaged his forehead.

His Master usually taught him that "alchemy is like being a person, one must be down-to-earth," yet at a crucial moment, he ran faster than anyone else!

"But speaking of which, I saw the Dean make a move that night. Tsk tsk, the way he used spatial power, truly worthy of a Dou Zun Expert!"

Mo Xuan suddenly lowered his voice and said mysteriously.

Jiang Donghua secretly thought to himself.

Didn't your old self escape the fastest at that time?

How did he still have the leisure to turn back and watch the show?

Seemingly seeing through his Disciple's thoughts, Mo Xuan lightly coughed.

"This old fellow was observing the enemy situation! Besides, the older one gets, the more one must know how to preserve one's life. This is a profound truth I've summarized after living for so many years!"

He stroked his beard, revealing a profound expression.

Jiang Donghua was completely speechless.

He finally understood why Mo Xuan could live to such an old age in Jia Nan Academy.

This Old Fox's ability to preserve his life probably made even the Dean bow down in shame!

Seeing Jiang Donghua's "I understand" expression, Mo Xuan couldn't help but puff out his beard and glare, saying,

"Stinky Kid, you think I'm joking with you now? Do you know why I didn't stop you last time when you asked Lei Tian for that Earth Grade Mid-Tier Movement Dou Technique? If you master that thing, at least escaping on the continent won't be a problem!"

"I have taught at Jia Nan Academy for decades and have taken a dozen or so personal Disciples, but which one of them has stayed here all the time? They either return to their respective families or go on adventures on the continent."

Watching the old fellow about to continue speaking,

Jiang Donghua shrugged and leaned lazily back in his chair, saying,

He counted on his fingers.

"Dean Mang Tianchi, a Five-Star Dou Zun, and there are two Peak Dou Zong experts guarding the Inner Academy. Xuan-rank Combat Skills in the library can be chosen at will, and Alchemy Department resources are plentiful. If I were to run out and wander now, wouldn't I be out of my mind?"

Mo Xuan was choked into silence for a moment, but quickly straightened his face and said,

"Hmph! Do you think hiding in the academy means everything will be fine? I've seen many geniuses in my day who thought they could enjoy the shade by relying on a big tree, but in the end~"

"In the end what?"

Jiang Donghua raised an eyebrow.

"In the end, in the end, they all did quite well!"

Mo Xuan suddenly changed the topic, stroking his beard proudly.

"Because they all listened to me; they preserved themselves when they should, and they ran when they should!"

Jiang Donghua.

"..."

This old fellow, how did he end up praising himself while talking?

Seeing his Disciple's speechless expression, Mo Xuan lightly coughed and said seriously,

"In short, practice your Lightning Flash Shadow Step well. Don't think that Earth Grade Mid-Tier Dou Technique is some common goods; in the entire Black-Corner Region, the forces that can produce a Movement Dou Technique of this level can be counted on one hand!"

Jiang Donghua nodded; he agreed with that point.

He stretched, saying lazily,

"As an Alchemist, I naturally have to stay honestly in Jia Nan Academy."

Mo Xuan nodded in satisfaction, thinking to himself,

"The youth is teachable!"

This was truly his Disciple, Mo Xuan's Disciple!