Chapter 744: Lo Ruoxi

"Alright, arrange for them to settle in at the academy. Tomorrow, they'll start choosing their teachers..."

After finishing his instructions and arranging for the senior students to lead the new arrivals to their accommodations in the academy, Elder Mi swayed slightly and returned to the small pavilion.

"Teacher Zhang, you won't be staying with them. Those communal dorms aren't suitable for cultivation. Come back to the academy with me first, and I'll arrange a private residence for you!" As one of the Ten Elders, he had the authority to arrange student accommodations. It was only natural that a top genius like Teacher Zhang couldn't stay in a mixed-gender dormitory like everyone else.

"Thank you, Elder Mi..." Understanding the implication, Zhang Xuan quickly clasped his fists in gratitude. He had too many secrets, so a private residence was naturally the best option.

Mo Gaoyuan summoned his Langya Saint Beast, and the three of them boarded its back, flying straight towards the academy. The matters at the reception area would be handled by the senior students, and with Teacher Bai present, there was nothing to worry about.

The Saint Beast flew swiftly. Before long, a massive campus appeared in their sight. The Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, capable of accommodating a hundred thousand master teachers, boasted lakes and mountains within its grounds. From the sky, it resembled a royal city. Even the City of Ten Thousand Kingdoms in the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance paled significantly in comparison. No wonder it was said that countless top geniuses from various empires gathered here; its sheer size alone dwarfed that of smaller kingdoms and empires.

"This is the Elite Zone, where only the most outstanding master teachers from each year in the academy reside. Take my writ and find the student in charge to arrange your accommodation. Hall Master Mo and I will go report that matter to the other elders!" Soon after, the Langya Saint Beast stopped above a particular area. Elder Mi flicked his wrist, and a token landed in Zhang Xuan's palm.

Taking the token, Zhang Xuan looked down. Below, green hills and clear waters were dotted with exquisite small courtyards, standing side by side. Each courtyard was equipped with a Spirit Gathering Formation, radiating spiritual energy. Even before entering, one felt refreshed and invigorated.

"As expected of the Elite Zone, truly extraordinary!" After a glance, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but nod. These Spirit Gathering Formations were far more advanced than the array disks he had carved, all reaching six-star level. Combined with other methods, cultivating here would undoubtedly be much faster than anywhere else. It seemed that only the academy's most outstanding geniuses could reside here; otherwise, even with the immense wealth of the Master Teacher Academy and the Master Teacher Pavilion, they couldn't afford to supply such facilities.

"Alright, I'm heading down!" Without another word, he leaped from the Langya Saint Beast's back. Elder Mi and Mo Gaoyuan exchanged a glance, and the Saint Beast beneath them flashed, flying straight forward. The news about the Intrepid Tribe was of utmost importance, and they could not afford to delay.

A few minutes later, the two arrived at a sealed room. This room contained eleven seats, each representing a distinct status. These were the positions of the Ten Master Teachers and the former old academy head. A powerful formation sealed the room, ensuring that whatever was discussed within would not be leaked.

"Why were we called here so urgently? What's the matter?" As soon as the two had settled, several elderly men pushed the door open and entered, each with a furrowed brow. The last time they were summoned so urgently was when the old academy head went missing. What had happened this time to warrant such a grand summoning by Elder Mi and Hall Master Mo?

"Please, sit first. We'll discuss once everyone has arrived!" Elder Mi waved his hand. The newly arrived elders nodded in unison and took their seats. It wasn't long before the door opened again, and more elders entered. Soon, all eleven seats were filled.

"Elder Mi, Hall Master Mo, please tell us what's happening as soon as possible!" The oldest-looking white-bearded elder waved his hand.

"Yes!" Elder Mi nodded, then with a flick of his wrist, a recording jade token appeared in his palm. "Before I speak, please take a look at this..." With a tap of his finger, a scene of ruins, freshly left by a battle, appeared before everyone. While on the mountain, he had recorded the traces he saw.

Seeing the ruins displayed in the jade token, the elders were initially puzzled. However, after watching for a moment, their brows furrowed, and their expressions grew grim. "This is... a trace left by an Intrepid Tribe battle? What happened to Senior Ziyang?" The white-bearded elder couldn't help but ask. Everyone turned to look at him. As Ten Elders and peak six-star master teachers, even by merely observing the traces left in the recording jade token, they could deduce the identities of the combatants.

"Senior Ziyang... is missing!" Elder Mi stated. "Missing?" The master teachers were simultaneously stunned; even Mo Gaoyuan looked incredulous. Earlier, when they were outside, Elder Mi had only mentioned discovering traces of the Intrepid Tribe without going into detail. Even Mo Gaoyuan hadn't realized that the Ziyang Beast had been ambushed by the Intrepid Tribe and its fate was unknown.

"Well, here's what happened..." Elder Mi dared not conceal anything, recounting his agreement with the Ziyang Beast and the situation on the mountain.

"How audacious to come to Hongyuan City and abduct the Ziyang Saint Beast! If we don't capture these Intrepid Tribe members, where will the Master Teacher Academy's reputation stand?" The white-bearded elder waved his hand, his eyes glinting. The Ten Master Teachers governed the entire academy, with each also overseeing a specific department. For instance, Elder Mi was not only an elder of the academy but also the head of the Beast Taming Department. This white-bearded elder was indeed the head of the Martial Arts Department, Xu Changqing.

"This isn't about reputation right now; it's about Senior Ziyang's safety!" a female elder snorted. She was Wei Ranxue, head of the Jinghong Department.

"Senior Ziyang is the old academy head's spirit beast. It has fought side-by-side with us through life and death, eliminating countless members of the Intrepid Tribe and earning immense merits. If something truly happened to it, how could we possibly face the old academy head in the future? And how could we continue to stay here, ranked among the Ten Master Teachers?" "Indeed! Senior Ziyang's safety is paramount. We have no leads right now, so we cannot act rashly!"

Elder Mi waved his hand. "Right now, it's best to investigate quickly and ascertain Senior Ziyang's whereabouts. If it's still alive, we must find a way to rescue it. If it's truly been killed, I'll risk my own life to avenge it!"

"I agree, but I think it's best to proceed covertly. If we make too big a move, we might alert them and fall into their trap." "Yes, if the Intrepid Tribe dared to attack Senior Ziyang, they might very well target our academy. While investigating, we must be careful not to fall for their 'lure the tiger out of its mountain lair' scheme!" Two more elders added.

"What you're saying is exactly what I'm worried about. I fear they deliberately left traces to lure us into a trap..." Elder Mi frowned. The traces left on Thunder Far Peak were so obvious that he had always worried it was an Intrepid Tribe conspiracy and hadn't dared to act rashly. Otherwise, he would have already searched everywhere; how could he have waited until now?

"Senior Ziyang has endured countless trials and tribulations, and its strength surpasses ours. If even it couldn't resist, then even if we find it, it might be very difficult to rescue!" After a moment of discussion, with no immediate leads, the head of the Pill Department interrupted their deliberations.

Everyone nodded. The Ziyang Saint Beast was at the peak of Saint 1-dan, the same level as them. However, as a Saint Beast, its combat power far exceeded theirs. The fact that even it couldn't resist, and had no time to send a warning, indicated the terrifying power of the opponent. If they were to find such a powerful opponent, what could even they do?

"In a few days, Master Mu from the Conferred Empire will arrive to establish a new academy head and investigate the old head's cause of death. At that time, we can quietly report this matter and ask him to help with the investigation!" The head of the Pill Department said.

"This..." Everyone hesitated. Reporting every incident would surely make them, the Ten Master Teachers, appear incompetent, wouldn't it?

"I know what you're worried about. But being able to silently trap Senior Ziyang means the opponent's strength has exceeded our imagination. This matter *must* be reported!" The head of the Pill Department waved his hand. The Pill Department was the Master Teacher Academy's foremost department, and as one of the Ten Master Teachers, his words carried significantly more weight than the others'.

"Very well..." Everyone nodded, just about to continue discussing their next steps, when the head of the Pill Department flipped his hand, revealing a communication jade talisman in his palm. He glanced down at it, and then his eyebrows shot up.

"Everyone, follow me, Master Mu has arrived!" "Already here? How so fast?" "Didn't they say he'd arrive in a few days?" "Senior experts act in ways we can't fathom. Have you forgotten, over a month ago they said he would arrive, but he never did..." "That's true!" Everyone was utterly bewildered.

This Master Mu, from the Conferred Empire, had been said to have left headquarters over a month ago, yet he never arrived. Now, just after saying he would come in a few days, he was already here. It was completely unexpected.

Amidst their discussions, everyone walked out and arrived at the Elders' reception hall. Indeed, they saw a white-bearded elder seated there, and not far from him sat another person, a woman around twenty years old.

"Master Mu!" Upon entering the room, everyone clasped their fists, their expressions respectful. This Master Mu was a seven-star master teacher, a true figure of immense power. Even they dared not show the slightest disrespect.

"Yes, let me introduce you. This is Teacher Luo, she's... a junior of mine. She has already reached the six-star level and wishes to come here to teach temporarily and gain experience. I might have to trouble you to help arrange things for her!" Master Mu stood up, indicating the woman beside him as he introduced her.

"A junior?" Everyone was startled and turned to look at the woman. They saw her stand up and bow to the master teachers. "Ruoxi greets the elders!" The woman clasped her fists.

"A six-star master teacher? She reached the six-star level at such a young age?" Everyone was stunned. This Luo Ruoxi appeared to be only around twenty years old, yet she had successfully passed the six-star master teacher examination. Her background and status were truly astonishing! It seemed that Master Mu calling her his junior was likely a polite lie. It would be very difficult for a mere seven-star master teacher to cultivate a six-star master teacher of around twenty years old. She was probably a descendant of a prominent Saint Clan, specifically sent here for experience and to gain prestige. Only such families could cultivate such a genius. Such incidents had occurred before.

"Teacher Luo has achieved so much at such a young age, it truly makes us feel ashamed. Alright, I'll arrange things for you now. May I ask... what are your specialties, and which department would you like to join?" The head of the Pill Department said with a smile.