109: Lu Sheng's answer

“Did…we win?”

On Beacon Tower No. 99, Lu Sheng sat dazedly atop a pile of corpses, his gaze fixed on the vast expanse of black mist before him.

Listening to the roars that echoed like a mountain tsunami, Lu Sheng’s heart remained undisturbed.

Did…we really win?

But the Captain is dead!

Wang Yang, he’s dead!

He sacrificed his life to protect me!

Lu Sheng seemed to have fallen into a state of extreme bewilderment.

Like a Vicious Beast driven to hysteria, now calmed, it stood trembling in place.

Thump, thump, thump!

Footsteps approached, and the members of Squad 56 appeared on Beacon Tower No. 99.

Each of their eyes was blood-red.

So much so that, seeing Lu Sheng sitting alone on the Beacon Tower, their bodies couldn't help but tremble.

That golden glow didn't just illuminate Lu Sheng's vision.

Although they were below the Beacon Tower, they still saw that instant of brilliance!

When that instant of brilliance flashed, they already knew that their Captain had vanished from this world.

But… as soldiers of the Tianxing Army, they had their mission.

Even if they fought to the last moment, they absolutely could not allow the Otherworldly Demon to break through the Tianxing Great Wall’s blockade.

And now, with the Otherworldly Demon’s retreat, they finally had time to climb onto the Beacon Tower.

Looking at Lu Sheng, who sat dazedly atop the corpses, suddenly, the third oldest among them rushed to Lu Sheng’s front, grabbed his collar, and lifted Lu Sheng entirely.

The third oldest's pupils were red, and he seemed to have a hint of moisture in his eyes.

“What the hell are you still sitting here for? The Captain died for you, and this is how you repay him???”

“I really don’t know what the Captain was thinking, saving a good-for-nothing like you!!!”

“Lu Sheng, if you’re still a man, pull yourself together! Don’t sit here like a damn woman!”

“If you have the guts, go kill a few more Otherworldly Demons, don’t let the Captain’s death be meaningless!!!”

The third oldest’s roar entered Lu Sheng’s ears.

Only then did Lu Sheng gradually recover from his dazed state. He looked at the third oldest, who was as thin as a monkey, and suddenly showed a terribly bleak smile.

“Third Brother… Captain, the Captain is dead!!!”

“Why?? Why??”

“Why did he save me?”

Lu Sheng’s words seemed incoherent.

From the moment Wang Yang rushed in front of him, taking that fatal blow for him, a question had lingered in Lu Sheng’s heart.

Why?

Why did Wang Yang save him?

Even though Wang Yang’s words had briefly sobered Lu Sheng, with the retreat of the Otherworldly Demon, this question, which had enveloped Lu Sheng’s heart, once again crept into his mind.

So much so… it was like a Heart Demon, clinging to Lu Sheng, making him unable to recover no matter what.

Slap!

Suddenly, the third oldest slapped Lu Sheng directly across the face.

He furiously yelled at Lu Sheng, as if disappointed: “You’re a damn coward!!! The Captain saved you because you’re from the Star Academy!! Your future is to stand among the heavens!!”

“Only those of you who stand among the heavens can truly guarantee the safety of the Tianxing Great Wall, do you understand, you damn fool!!!”

The third oldest roared frantically.

Those piercing sounds constantly stimulated Lu Sheng’s nerves.

Lu Sheng’s bewildered expression gradually cleared with the third oldest’s words.

However, his eyes still held a dazed look.

“The Captain… said something similar.”

Lu Sheng mumbled dazedly.

Seeing Lu Sheng’s appearance, the third oldest’s eyes grew even redder. He wanted to say something but found his throat choked, unable to speak.

Finally, he released his grip on Lu Sheng’s collar and let out a long sigh.

“Alright, Third Oldest!”

At this moment, the other members of Squad 56 finally couldn't stand it anymore. One of them walked to Lu Sheng and the third oldest, gently patting the third oldest’s shoulder.

“Let this kid calm down here. The Captain’s death…”

“Lu Sheng is also very sad!”

The third oldest’s emotions still seemed agitated. He gave Lu Sheng a cold glance and snorted.

“I just don’t want to see the hope the Captain bought with his life wasted here for nothing!”

“You damn well think about it yourself!”

With that, the third oldest walked directly down the Beacon Tower.

And when the third oldest’s figure disappeared from the Beacon Tower, a wailing cry echoed from below the Beacon Tower.

“Sigh!”

The members of Squad 56 suppressed their inner sorrow, leaving Lu Sheng to sit quietly on the Beacon Tower while the others departed.

Lu Sheng sat dazedly on the corpses, his gaze fixed on the black world before him.

Gradually, as time passed, the confusion in Lu Sheng’s eyes slowly receded.

After an unknown amount of time, a shocking killing intent suddenly flashed in Lu Sheng’s eyes.

“Otherworldly Demon, huh…”

Lu Sheng murmured softly, but an extremely cold voice slowly emerged from his mouth.

“You all deserve to die!”

After speaking, Lu Sheng slowly stood up. Looking at the flickering flames of the Beacon Tower, Lu Sheng remained silent for a long time.

Suddenly, a gentle voice slowly sounded beside Lu Sheng.

“So… do you have an answer now?”

Hearing these words, Lu Sheng abruptly looked in the direction of the voice.

He saw Lin Xuan, who had appeared on Beacon Tower No. 99 at some unknown point.

Lin Xuan, in his Zhongshan suit, stood quietly on the city wall, appearing incredibly dazzling in this dark world.

“Did you arrange this?”

A sharp glint appeared in Lu Sheng’s eyes.

Lin Xuan looked at Lu Sheng, smiled, then shook his head and chuckled, “I wouldn’t go so far as to waste the lives of my Tianxing Army just for you to find an answer!”

“In my eyes… they are worth ten, even a hundred times more than those Otherworldly Demons!”

“They are all heroes of Great Xia. If I could, I wouldn’t want them to die.”

“But I simply cannot do it, nor can the Ten Saints of Great Xia, nor can anyone in the entire Great Xia today!”

Listening to Lin Xuan’s words, the sharpness in Lu Sheng’s eyes slowly diminished, and he gradually calmed down.

Lin Xuan looked deeply at Lu Sheng and said gently, “So you still haven’t answered my question. Have you found your answer?”

Lu Sheng said indifferently, “Is my answer that important? Does answering your question mean the Captain wouldn’t have died? Does it mean those guarding the Tianxing Great Wall wouldn’t have died?”

Facing Lu Sheng’s words, which carried a hint of disdain, Lin Xuan’s face showed an extremely serious expression.

He looked earnestly at Lu Sheng, then nodded heavily.

“Yes, it can!!!”

In an instant, Lu Sheng’s body trembled violently. He looked at Lin Xuan, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

“Why?”

“Because…”

Lin Xuan’s eyes sparkled as he said in a deep voice.

“You are the only one in Great Xia who has broken the limit of Qi and Blood, and your Sword Dao talent surpasses even Old senior Kong!”

“In everyone’s eyes, you might be the one destined to ascend to a Saintly Position in Great Xia’s future, but in my eyes…”

“Perhaps your existence… is that of the one who will turn the tide!”

Lin Xuan’s words echoed continuously in Lu Sheng’s mind.

Turn the tide?

What tide?

Does it refer to Great Xia’s current situation?

Lu Sheng fell silent.

Silent for a long time.

Lin Xuan didn’t mind, simply standing quietly on the city wall, looking at Lu Sheng, waiting for his answer.

After an unknown period, Lu Sheng’s voice slowly sounded.

“If I could… I would really like to exterminate this bunch of scum!”

Hearing these words, a relieved smile finally appeared on Lin Xuan’s face.

“Good! I understand!”

Lu Sheng looked up at Lin Xuan at this moment and suddenly smiled: “Aren’t you afraid that my answer is insincere?”

Lin Xuan also smiled, a rather hearty laugh.

“If your answer goes against your true feelings, then you won't be able to pass the test of the Heart-Questioning Steps. Of course, perhaps you have a way to deceive the Heart-Questioning Steps, but…”

“You can't deceive me!”

Lin Xuan gazed deeply at Lu Sheng, his figure beginning to blur.

“Of course, I don't know what the future holds, but if you can always maintain your true self…”

“I believe the day when the universe is turned upside down will arrive very soon!”

As his voice faded, Lin Xuan's figure was no longer on the city wall.

But Lin Xuan's voice was deeply embedded in Lu Sheng's ears.

“The day the universe is turned upside down, huh?”

Lu Sheng took a deep look at the black world before him, and finally, a smile curved at the corner of his mouth.

“I think… it will happen!”

...On the Otherworldly Demon Battlefield, a group of people walked silently through the dark world.

The leader was none other than Lan Zhan.

Behind Lan Zhan were Lu Sheng and the other four.

The invasion of the Otherworldly Demons not only changed Lu Sheng's mindset but also strongly impacted the other four youngsters.

So much so that… when Lan Zhan found them, all five were silent, and even their Aura had become somewhat listless.

As they walked, the atmosphere grew increasingly silent.

Lan Zhan, who was leading, stopped. He turned around, and although his face showed some fatigue, after seeing Lu Sheng and the other four, a surge of anger involuntarily ignited within Lan Zhan.

“All of you, cheer up!!”

“What's wrong with you? It's just an Otherworldly Demon invasion, isn't it? You'll see scenes like this often in the future. Are you going to waste so much time settling down every time?”

“Remember this!”

“If you want this scene not to happen again, each of you, after returning to the Academy, train yourselves to death! Only by becoming stronger can you prevent such scenes from happening again!!”

“Do you all understand?!”

Lan Zhan's roar was like a heavy hammer, striking fiercely in everyone's minds.

In an instant, except for Lu Sheng, the expressions of the other four youngsters flickered, and after that flicker, faint glows began to shine in their vision.

Seeing this, the anger in Lan Zhan's heart also diminished a bit.

He knew that what he wanted to see had appeared.

Immediately, his tone softened a bit.

“Alright, if anyone didn't know, they'd think our Tianxing Great Wall had fallen. You need to remember, we achieved a great victory this time!”

“Many powerful Otherworldly Demons… were slain by us!”

“Understand?”

Lan Zhan said in a deep voice.

“Understood!”

The five replied in unison.

Lan Zhan nodded, then continued to lead the five towards Tianxing City.

After an unknown period of walking.

The majestic city gradually came into their view.

On the city, members of the Tianxing Army still stood guard, their faces serious as they looked towards the Otherworldly Demon Battlefield.

When Lan Zhan and the others reached the foot of the Tianxing City wall, the old soldier who had watched Lan Zhan and his group leave earlier poked his head out from the Tianxing City wall, looked at Lan Zhan and the others, and grinned.

“You're back?”

“I heard you won a big victory this time?”

The carefree voice made Lu Sheng and the other four feel a sense of detachment from the situation in Tianxing City.

Lan Zhan looked up and smiled at the old soldier, saying, “Hahaha, we killed a lot of demon brats. This time, it was a great victory!”

The old soldier's eyebrows twitched slightly. After a chuckle, he withdrew his head, seemingly giving an order.

Then, the heavy city gate slowly opened.

A vibrant Aura wafted from Tianxing City.

“We're back!”

Lan Zhan looked at the open city gate, a smile also appearing on his face.

Lu Sheng and the other four's previously silent expressions also showed a few other emotions as the city gate opened.

Then, Lan Zhan led Lu Sheng and the other four slowly into Tianxing City.

However, just as they entered Tianxing City, they noticed rows of Tianxing Army soldiers standing at the city gate.

The old soldier who had been on the city wall earlier had appeared at the city gate at some unknown point.

Compared to his previous carefree demeanor, the old soldier at this moment was somewhat more serious and solemn.

Lan Zhan led Lu Sheng and the other four slowly forward. When they reached the city gate, the old soldier suddenly shouted in a low voice.

“Salute!!”

“Welcome, Tianxing Heroes, home in triumph!!!”

The old soldier's voice suddenly became extremely powerful and resonant, instantly echoing.

And as his voice fell, the rows of Tianxing Army soldiers around them also strained their voices, roaring.

“Welcome, Tianxing Heroes, home in triumph!!!”

A tiger-like roar echoed from the city gate, as if shattering the clouds in the sky.

However, Lu Sheng and the other four fell silent after hearing this sound.

Tianxing Heroes… did they truly deserve to be called heroes?

They had only guarded the Tianxing Great Wall for a day because of a mission.

Yet, on the Tianxing Great Wall, countless Tianxing Army soldiers guarded that black world day and night.

Their only light was the flames burning on the Beacon Tower.

The title of hero… was truly difficult for them to accept!

“Hehe, the youngsters did very well, especially that kid named Lu Sheng. Amazing! He killed dozens of Third-Grade Otherworldly Demons, and countless Second-Grade Otherworldly Demons!”

The old soldier stood in front of the rows of Tianxing Army soldiers, saying with a chuckle.

Lu Sheng, behind Lan Zhan, was stunned. He hadn't expected this old soldier to know him, or even the number of Otherworldly Demons he had killed.

At this moment, Lan Zhan explained in Lu Sheng's ear: “The Tianxing Army's token can capture the strength and number of Otherworldly Demons you slay. Some high-ranking Tianxing Army officials can check this.”

“Heh, you're awesome, kid. When I checked, I was startled.”

Lan Zhan's voice carried a hint of surprise and a smile.

And Gu Yun and the others beside Lu Sheng also showed shocked expressions after hearing Lu Sheng's achievements.

They were all Martial Artists in the Hundred Meridians Realm, especially Xia Kong, who was in the Middle Stage of Body Refining's Third Layer.

They had also killed many Otherworldly Demons on the Tianxing Great Wall, but compared to Lu Sheng, there was still a long gap.

After all, Lu Sheng had single-handedly guarded Beacon Tower No. 99 for a long time after Wang Yang's death!

That period happened to be the most intense time of the Otherworldly Demon attack.

It was precisely because of this that so many Otherworldly Demons died under Lu Sheng's Dragon Slayer Sword.

“Alright, now that you're back, study hard, and in the future… the safety of our Tianxing Great Wall will depend on you youngsters!”

The old soldier smiled slightly at Lu Sheng and the other four, revealing his yellowed teeth.

Then, after Lan Zhan and the old soldier exchanged a few words, he led Lu Sheng and the other four slowly back to Star Academy.

Looking at the gates of Star Academy, Lu Sheng and the other four felt more or less emotional.

Just over a month ago, they were still youngsters who had just joined the Martial Arts Academy, and now, they were considered people who had truly been on the front lines.

This feeling also made them feel a bit emotional.

“Alright, you have seven days of vacation. Use these days to settle down and consolidate your cultivation. After seven days…”

“We'll begin the third phase of training!!”

Lan Zhan looked at the five, dropped a sentence, and then left, leaving Lu Sheng and the other four standing at the main entrance.

The five exchanged glances, then said their goodbyes and returned to their respective dormitories.

In Lu Sheng's dormitory, Lu Sheng sat cross-legged on his bed, his gaze fixed on the Void Realm, his thoughts stirring slightly.

The System panel appeared directly before Lu Sheng.