Chapter 756: Iron-Clad Armor

Not knowing why the dean had summoned him, but unwilling to delay, he quickly reiterated to Luo Yan and the others to keep a close watch on the fellow and prevent his escape. Only then did he follow the master teacher, hurrying towards the dean's office.

The Artifact Forging School spanned tens of thousands of acres, divided into areas for forging, offices, studies, and a dedicated section for level assessments. His branch of the Master Teacher Academy, affiliated with the Artifact Forgers' Guild, was located in the assessment area, quite a distance from the main office section.

As a Saint realm expert, he moved incredibly fast. In a short time, he arrived at the dean's private office, pushed the door open, and entered. Upon entering, he saw the dean and three vice-deans seated, seemingly in the midst of a discussion.

Zhao Bingxu, Dean of the Artifact Forging School, was one of the Ten Great Master Teachers. His standing within the entire Master Teacher Academy was extremely high, second only to the Dean of the Pill Dean. Seated upright, he naturally exuded an air of dignity and authority.

The dean's brows were furrowed, and the other three vice-deans also looked solemn.

"Dean, did you send for me?"

Yuan Hong stepped forward and, still puzzled, took his seat.

"You've arrived just in time. I called you here to discuss something," the dean said, nodding as Yuan Hong entered, and then flicked his wrist.

A soft whoosh sounded. The room's formation activated, completely isolating them from the outside. Even if outsiders attempted to eavesdrop, they would be unable to perceive anything. Naturally, until the formation was deactivated, no external messages could enter, ensuring their discussion remained undisturbed.

Seeing the dean activate even a seclusion formation, Yuan Hong felt a sense of unease.

"Since everyone is here, I'll explain," Dean Zhao Bingxu said, nodding and looking at them with a grave expression. "Just now, Dean Mi and Hall Master Mo urgently summoned us deans and informed us of a major incident!"

Yuan Hong's expression tightened. For Hall Master Mo and Dean Mi to personally convene such a meeting, it was undoubtedly a grave matter.

"Could it be... there's news of the old dean?" a vice-dean couldn't help but ask.

For the Master Teacher Academy, the greatest concern was the old dean's disappearance, leaving them without a central figure. If there was news, it would be the best possible outcome.

"No!" Zhao Bingxu shook his head. "It's... the emergence of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe!"

"The Otherworldly Demonic Tribe?"

Yuan Hong tensed up. As a high-grade six-star Master Teacher, he naturally understood the implications of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe. For the dean to activate a seclusion formation, their appearance must be more than just a simple emergence.

"Yes, Senior Purple Sun Saint Beast has gone missing. His fate is unknown; we don't know if he was captured or killed!" Zhao Bingxu said slowly, getting straight to the point. These four were the vice-deans of the Artifact Forging School and pillars of humanity. They were trustworthy, so there was no harm in revealing the information to them.

"Senior Saint Beast is missing?"

Yuan Hong and the others were all visibly shaken, their eyes wide with disbelief. While other matters might be accepted, this was simply too monumental! It was so significant that it was hard to comprehend.

Purple Sun Saint Beast, the old dean's formidable pet, had long reached the peak of Saint 1-dan, surpassing their own strength. For it to be captured, its fate unknown... how powerful must the invading Otherworldly Demonic Tribe members be?

"Yes, Senior Saint Beast lost contact before even having time to send a message," Zhao Bingxu confirmed. "Even I only know that he disappeared at Mount Leiyuan. It appears there's more than one member of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe; at least ten are at the Saint realm, and one is at least Saint 2-dan!" He had come straight here after his meeting with the Ten Great Elders, fearing any delay would cost them the best opportunity to rescue Senior Saint Beast.

"More than ten Saint realm Otherworldly Demonic Tribe members?"

"And one at least Saint 2-dan?"

The group trembled again. If their strength was truly as described, it was beyond their control.

"Can this matter... be reported higher?" Yuan Hong couldn't help but ask. With so many members of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe appearing simultaneously, even the powerful Master Teacher Academy would likely be unable to handle it. They would have to report it to a higher branch, requesting stronger master teachers from headquarters to intervene.

"Master Mu from headquarters has already arrived at the academy, and this matter has been reported," Zhao Bingxu explained. "His instruction is simple: he wants us to handle it ourselves. Whoever can rescue Senior Saint Beast will become the dean!"

"Become the dean?"

Everyone's eyes lit up. If the current dean could ascend to the head of the entire academy, the status of their Artifact Forging School would significantly rise, and surpassing the Pill Dean would be within reach.

"Yes, I called you here to tell you to investigate as quickly as possible," Zhao Bingxu affirmed. "Our Artifact Forging School must find him before the other schools do..."

"Alright!"

"Dean, rest assured, we will do our utmost!"

Yuan Hong and the others nodded in unison. This was not merely the dean's concern; it involved the entire Master Teacher Academy and all of humanity. Even without the condition of becoming dean, it was an undeniable responsibility.

"Very well. Now, about this matter, everyone go and prepare!" Zhao Bingxu nodded.

"Dean, I have something else to report!" Seeing the dean wave his hand, a vice-dean quickly stood up and spoke.

"I also have something..." Yuan Hong quickly interjected without hesitation.

"Both of you have matters? Dean Xiong, please go first!" Seeing two vice-deans simultaneously raise their hands, Zhao Bingxu looked over, puzzled.

Dean Xiong, whose full name was Xiong Bing, managed the Artifact Forging School's teaching area and had the most direct contact with the students.

"Alright!" Xiong Bing nodded. "It's like this: some time ago, a student applied for a trial, claiming to have discovered the ruins left by Senior Wu Yangzi. As you all know, such claims are common, so I didn't take it seriously. I simply granted them some academic credits and allowed them to proceed."

Wu Yangzi was the most formidable artifact forger in the Hongyuan Empire for the past ten thousand years. His fame was immense, making him an idol for many students. Every year, numerous students applied for trials related to him, but these were always based on hearsay, and they invariably returned empty-handed.

"Could it be... this time it's real?" Seeing him bring this up now, Yuan Hong couldn't help but ask, his breathing quickening. If it were true, it would undoubtedly cause a sensation throughout the entire Artifact Forging School. Even if nothing else, Wu Yangzi's name alone would drive countless artifact forgers into a frenzy.

"Whether it's real or fake, I can't judge yet," Xiong Bing said. "However, the one who completed the trial was... the Sixth Princess!"

"The Sixth Princess? Are you referring to... Princess Yu Feier?" Zhao Bingxu looked over. She was the only one referred to as the Sixth Princess. Although her cultivation was not impressive, she possessed royal blood. Even as one of the Ten Great Master Teachers, he had long heard of her.

"Indeed, it's her," Xiong Bing replied. "Not just her, but also Luo Qiqi from the second year, and Xing Yuan from the Xing family!"

"I've heard of Luo Qiqi; she's a well-known artifact forging genius in the second year. If properly nurtured, her future achievements are limitless!" Zhao Bingxu said. "As for Xing Yuan, is he that junior from Old Man Xing's family?"

"Precisely!" Xiong Bing nodded.

"Those few are quite capable and generally reliable," Yuan Hong mused, puzzled. "Why have they also started searching for Senior Wu Yangzi's ruins?" Every year, people searched for Wu Yangzi's ruins, but it always turned out to be false information. These individuals possessed respectable identities and statuses; why were they also pursuing such a lead?

"Whether they're reliable or not, I don't know," Xiong Bing said gravely. "I only know that they came to me today, claiming not only to have completed the task but also to have brought back the remains of Senior Wu Yangzi. This matter is too significant for me to handle alone, so I hoped to authenticate it with you deans."

"Authenticate? Alright, where are they?" Zhao Bingxu exclaimed, stunned to hear that remains had actually been brought. While others who sought Wu Yangzi's ruins almost always returned empty-handed, these few individuals claimed to have found the remains... If it were true, even he would be utterly shocked. Although he was a peak six-star artifact forger, he was still far inferior to Wu Yangzi.

"They're waiting outside. I'll have them come in immediately!" Xiong Bing quickly replied.

"Alright!" Zhao Bingxu nodded.

Xiong Bing stepped out and, a moment later, returned with three individuals. It was Xing Yuan, Luo Qiqi, and Yu Feier. Although Xing Yuan, Ye Qian, and others had returned from the Illusion Feather Empire much earlier, their flying spirit beasts were far inferior to the Purple Winged Skysplitter Beast. Coupled with delays on their journey, Yu Feier and her group, despite departing later, had arrived first. By the time everyone had gathered to make their report, it was already today.

"Xing Yuan (Luo Qiqi, Yu Feier) greets the deans!" The three clasped their fists in greeting.

"No need for formalities!" Zhao Bingxu said, stroking his beard as he looked at them. "You claim to have found the remains of Senior Wu Yangzi; is this true?"

"We are here precisely for this matter!" Xing Yuan nodded. "Please, deans, examine it for yourselves!"

With a flick of his wrist, a corpse appeared before them. It was the corpse they had found in the underground palace.

"This..." Upon seeing the corpse, Zhao Bingxu, Yuan Hong, and the others exchanged glances, their pupils involuntarily constricting.

Although Senior Wu Yangzi was captured by the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe and subsequently vanished, portraits of him existed, which some of them had seen. The corpse before them, though emaciated, was identical to those portraits. This meant... this person was most likely Senior Wu Yangzi! Could it be... they had accomplished a task that countless others had failed?

"Senior Wu Yangzi once forged a set of Iron-Clad Golden Armor for himself," Zhao Bingxu stated, rising to his feet and looking intently at the corpse. "Unlike other protective artifacts, it could be hidden beneath the skin. If... this item is present, then it proves this is truly him!"

"Iron-Clad Golden Armor?" Yuan Hong and the others were momentarily stunned. Even they had never heard of such a thing.

"Indeed!" Zhao Bingxu nodded. He approached the corpse and, with a gentle tap of his finger, a streak of sword qi sliced across its skin.

The skin split open, instantly revealing something beneath that shone like polished metal.

"It really is the Iron-Clad Golden Armor... This truly is Senior Wu Yangzi's remains!" Seeing what lay beneath the skin, Zhao Bingxu's fist clenched, and his breathing involuntarily quickened. While a corpse could be faked, the Iron-Clad Golden Armor could not, as its forging method had long been lost—even he did not know it! For the corpse before them to be wearing it, there was only one possibility: this was Wu Yangzi's corpse...

It was truly him!