80: Chapter 80 Unexpected

Just as Colin was about to speak, an aged yet resonant voice suddenly descended from the sky.

"Students, first of all, I want to congratulate you. Regardless of whether you completed your mission, you have all successfully survived!"

"I believe that with the experience from this mission, it will surely be of great benefit to you when you participate in the Great Expedition in the future!"

As the voice rang out, the previously chattering square instantly fell silent, and Colin was naturally no exception.

Upon hearing this opening statement, Byron felt he had nothing left to complain about; in fact, he even thought this kind of opening was quite good.

As soon as this thought emerged, Byron shook his head repeatedly. How could he have such a thought? He must have truly been brainwashed by these words.

"Furthermore, we will not forget the promise we made to you earlier."

"After returning to the academy, the points in your hands can be used to exchange for anything from the Ghost Marrow Crystal Nest Plane."

Hearing this, the eyes of the many students present lit up, becoming excited, and naturally, Byron was no exception.

Although he hadn't left his residence for over a month, that did not mean he had been resting on his laurels.

He did not hoard the results of his subsequent research like a miser, clutching them tightly for fear that releasing them would allow others to take advantage.

He knew very well that while knowledge might seem important, it actually wasn't that significant because it lacked scarcity; it was better to exchange it for things that were useful to him.

Furthermore, he didn't exchange everything for points; he chose to keep some more important knowledge.

Although he didn't know if the academy already possessed this knowledge—after all, only heaven knows how many wizards had visited this plane—he would just assume they didn't. In any case, he wasn't lacking those few points.

"As the saying goes, equivalent exchange. As long as you have enough points, you could even exchange for the entire Ghost Marrow Crystal Nest Plane!"

Hearing this, no one in the square even lifted an eye; the excitement they had felt before entering was completely gone.

People still need to be realistic; even in daydreams, they wouldn't dare to imagine such a thing.

The old man who was speaking saw this scene, but his expression did not change at all as he continued.

"Very well, everything that needed to be said has been said. Now, you may return to the academy."

Hearing this, Byron let out a sigh of relief.

It was finally over; he could return to his previous life.

It wasn't that life in the Ghost Marrow Crystal Nest Plane was bad, it was just that the academy had free knowledge he could take advantage of.

The moment he thought about how he hadn't been able to take advantage of any free knowledge for these three months, Byron felt he had lost out on so much.

Although it was all just basic knowledge for the apprentice stage, it was better than nothing, especially since it was free.

Before the old man had even finished speaking, the crowd in the square could no longer hold back and began to discuss among themselves.

"We can finally return to the academy. Three months have passed in the blink of an eye. I wonder how the experimental materials in my Laboratory are doing."

"Whew—although this mission was long and difficult, it's not bad to be able to study quietly at the academy for the next three years without being disturbed."

"Ah! Damn it, my points aren't enough. If I use them to exchange for experimental materials, it'll be good if I don't end up emptying my magic stones..."

"..."

Listening to these noisy sounds, the robed wizard standing not far behind the old man frowned, looking displeased, and wanted to speak up to reprimand them.

However, after glancing at the old man standing at the front and seeing that he showed no displeasure—and even wore a smile—he ultimately swallowed his words.

The robed wizard was not the only one whose expression changed; the other four wizards also had various, differing expressions upon seeing this.

Just as everyone was talking, the square beneath their feet suddenly burst into light.

Dense lines of light formed individual runes, eventually creating a Magic Array that enveloped the entire square.

The next moment, the figures of the students standing on the square suddenly disappeared, and the once-crowded square became empty.

Seeing this, the old man sighed with emotion: "The mission ended in the blink of an eye. Why does it feel like not much time has passed? It feels as if it just started yesterday."

After saying this, the old man shook his head, then changed the subject: "Although the mission has ended, we must still complete the final cleanup work."

"Check to see if any students remain in the Wizard Settlement. As for those still in the Desert, we'll just have to say they were unlucky."

Once these words were spoken, the other wizards did not speak but began to investigate on their own.

Finally, confirming that no students remained in the Wizard Settlement, those Official Wizards also stepped into the teleportation array on the square, preparing to return to the academy.

As their figures disappeared, the entire Wizard Settlement seemed like a phantom, dissipating bit by bit into the air until not a trace remained.

Meanwhile, the Ghost Marrow Crystal Nest Plane instantly fell silent, and everything returned to its previous state, as if the events of the past three months had all been an illusion.

...

On the other side, when the six Official Wizards stepped out of the teleportation array and saw the scene that appeared before their eyes, the smiles on their faces vanished instantly without a trace.

Especially the old man standing at the front; a terrifying aura surged out from his body instantly, causing the seawater beneath his feet to churn immediately.

Never mind the seawater, even the weaker ones among the wizards standing behind him found their breathing becoming somewhat rapid, appearing unable to withstand it.

At this moment, the six of them were standing above a vast, boundless ocean. Looking around, not to mention land, they couldn't even see an island.

However, through analysis of the creatures in the sea, they were able to confirm that they were still in the Boundless Sea and had not been teleported to another ocean.

The Boundless Sea was the very ocean that the Dark Eclipse Wizard Academy was near, and it was also the ocean that Byron and Gray had passed through on their way to the academy.

At this point, how could these Official Wizards not understand that they had been plotted against? The teleportation channel had been interfered with; otherwise, they should be at the academy now, not here.

And the target of the perpetrator, without needing to think twice, was definitely those students.

The old man looked at the scene before him, laughing in extreme anger: "Good, good, good! The academy hasn't gone looking for trouble with those rats hiding in the gutters, but they have actually come knocking on our door themselves!"

"Do they really think our academy is made of mud? Can just anyone come and test us?!"

Hearing the old man's words, the young-looking wizard asked in confusion.

"Sir, do you know who is behind this?"

The old man replied: "To be able to use interference technology on space teleportation within the Wizard Continent, besides the major academies, only those Dark Wizards possess this technology. So, there is no need to guess; it must be them!"

The old man did not explain too much. After saying this, he turned to look behind him.

"What we need to do next is to rush back to the academy with all our might, report the news, and mobilize the mentors still at the academy to search and rescue with full effort!"

After saying this, the old man scanned the group with icy eyes, his tone cold.

"At this point, I hope you all understand the importance of the matter and do not do anything unnecessary."

"Furthermore, this is also an opportunity for us to reduce our own culpability."

Once these words were spoken, the other Official Wizards nodded seriously. Without needing the old man to say anything more, they scanned the area and flew off in the direction they had determined.

Watching the figures of the five wizards disappear, the old man narrowed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.

Meanwhile, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in his palm, and then immediately disappeared.

After doing all this, the old man also flew off in the direction of the academy.