Chapter 896: Revisiting Yunwu Ridge

"Yes!"

The many master teachers below, despite their reluctance and frustration, nodded and retreated from the battlefield upon hearing it was a decision made by the Master Teacher Academy.

"Dean Zhao, you stay and arrange for all the students. For now, avoid conflict with the spirit beasts. Elder Mi and I will go to Cloud Mist Ridge." Zhang Xuan said as he watched the others retreat.

"No, this won't do! I'm going with the Dean..." Upon hearing he should stay, Zhao Bingxu became anxious and quickly shook his head. Even with the Dean's recent significant progress, he was still only at the initial stage of Chrysalis Realm. Going to Cloud Mist Ridge, which was full of Saint Beasts, would be suicidal. He felt he had to follow, even if it meant risking his life, to ensure the Dean's safety.

"What? You recognize me as Dean, but now you won't even listen to my orders?" Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow. "If you don't listen, then neither of you will go. I'll go alone!"

"Dean..." Zhao Bingxu was filled with anxiety.

"These students do need to be arranged, Dean Zhao, you should go back for now!" Elder Mi waved his hand, then sent a telepathic message: "Go back and prepare immediately. Also, find Master Mu and the others. You have two hours. If we don't come out within two hours, attack directly... I'll stay by the Dean's side and risk my life to ensure his safety for two hours!"

"This..." Zhao Bingxu paused, then nodded. "Alright!"

"Let's go!" Though unaware of what was said in the telepathic message, Zhang Xuan didn't mind. He called out, and he and Elder Mi rode a Saint Beast straight towards Cloud Mist Ridge. Zhao Bingxu gritted his teeth and hurried back towards the Master Teacher Academy.

Mid-air, his fists clenched. "Dean, you absolutely must not be harmed..." He knew the Dean was going to negotiate for the sake of the master teachers below. While this might seem to compromise the academy's dignity, it protected humanity's living strength. To bear the blame himself, just to prevent more master teachers from being harmed – this breadth of mind and spirit... They had indeed chosen the right person! Teacher Zhang was a trustworthy master teacher... a true master teacher who had grasped the Teacher's Heart! Just like Master Kong in his time, he was compassionate and selfless, acting for the greater good of the world. Perhaps, they were truly witnessing the birth of a legend.

The Saint Beast flew swiftly, reaching Cloud Mist Ridge in no time. Elder Mi stood by a window, his voice full of vigor, resonating in all directions. "Mi Zhu of the Master Teacher Academy has arrived as promised! May I ask where the kings are? Please come out and meet!"

"Please board this eagle beast; it will bring you to us. Your Saint Beast should remain outside the mountain. I fear a difficult negotiation might place it in an unjust position!" A faint voice echoed. Elder Mi's Fire Dragon Saint Beast was also a beast. In a negotiation between humans and beasts, if things went awry, helping its master would mean betraying the beast race, and helping the beast race would mean betraying its master. Either way, it would be a dilemma.

"Alright!" After giving an instruction to his Saint Beast, Elder Mi's body swayed. He flew down from its back, then, with an aerial grab, enveloped Zhang Xuan in his true qi and landed on the back of an eagle beast nearby.

"Caw!" The eagle beast let out a long cry, spread its wings, and soared. This creature had reached the Chrysalis Realm, its body sleek and grey, moving like lightning. It was similar to the Azure Eagle Beast Zhang Xuan had tamed before, but much more powerful.

"Dean, please don't reveal your identity for now. Just say... you're one of my students! If they attack, I'll find a way to get you out..." Elder Mi secretly transmitted.

"No need for such trouble. How can we negotiate without revealing our identities?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"Well... these Saint Beasts have always been at odds with our Master Teacher Academy. Even if these recent events hadn't happened, we would have wanted to wipe them out... Unfortunately, these creatures always hide in their den. Over the years, the Academy has sent many people, and even the royal family has dispatched quite a few, but all have vanished without a trace, presumably meeting a grim end!" Elder Mi explained.

"Sent many people?" Frowning, Zhang Xuan suddenly recalled the numerous skeletons he had seen behind the Earth Vein Spiritual Liquid pond. It was possible those were from one of the teams sent by the royal family or the Master Teacher Academy.

"Cloud Mist Ridge is perpetually shrouded in fog, its terrain complex, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. These Saint Beasts, remaining here, are like a thorn in humanity's throat; we've long wished to eradicate them, but it's... too difficult!" At this point, Elder Mi seemed to recall something, his expression grave. "Furthermore, this group of Saint Beasts doesn't seem to be merely occupying the mountain. The old Dean knew something about them, but he disappeared before he could elaborate! According to historical records, the disappearance of Senior Wu Yangzi back then also seems to be connected to Cloud Mist Ridge!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed. He knew a great deal about Wu Yangzi and had even obtained his hidden treasure. If this was indeed connected to Cloud Mist Ridge, then the Spirit Exorcism race might also be involved. "Could it be... related to the ruthless one?" After obtaining Wu Yangzi's treasure, he had specifically questioned the ruthless one, but that entity only had a heart remaining, with many memories lost. It only knew about the underground palace and not much else. But Wu Yangzi's disappearance was linked to the Spirit Exorcism race... Could these Saint Beasts also have some connection? It was quite possible! For a super expert, who was infinitely close to Saint Realm 2-dan, to be captured so close to the Master Teacher Academy in Hongyuan City, it would be truly difficult for the Spirit Exorcism race to achieve alone.

"Yes, precisely. Because of this, Saint Realm experts have also infiltrated the area to investigate the truth, but unfortunately, they haven't succeeded either. I also came to this place seven hundred years ago... If it weren't for the old Dean saving me back then, I might have died long ago..." Elder Mi's face flushed. Seven hundred years ago, when he had achieved significant strength, he had also wanted to investigate the mysteries of this place and secretly infiltrated it. However, he hadn't gone far before being beaten to the brink of death. If not for the old Dean, he wouldn't be here today.

"Oh!" Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, surprised that Dean Mi had such an experience. Although he had entered once, Cloud Mist Ridge was indeed very strange. If not for his Traceless Soul, let alone stealing the Earth Vein Spiritual Liquid, he would likely have been beaten to death on the spot, just like Wei Changfeng.

"So, try not to reveal your identity later, or I fear something unexpected might happen..." Elder Mi said after explaining the reasons.

"Understood, we'll adapt as needed!" Zhang Xuan nodded. If it truly involved so much, the Saint Beasts of Cloud Mist Ridge might indeed go mad if they knew he was the Dean. Even with the Purple Sun Beast and the Golden Origin Cauldron, escaping from mountains of Saint Beasts, Sub-Saints, and Half-Saints wouldn't be easy.

As the two spoke, the eagle beast beneath them flew through the thick mist and arrived at a mountain peak. Zhang Xuan looked around; it was surprisingly a familiar place—the location of the Earth Vein Spiritual Liquid.

"Caw!" The eagle beast let out a cry and flew straight down. Elder Mi's body swayed as he landed, with Zhang Xuan following closely.

"Mi Zhu of the Master Teacher Academy, accompanied by a student, has arrived! We request a meeting with the kings of Cloud Mist Ridge!" Taking a step forward, Elder Mi's aura, at the peak of Saint Realm 1-dan, surged forth.

"Dean Mi, come inside and we can talk!" A faint voice came from the cave ahead. Immediately, two Half-Saint level Black Spirit Leopards emerged, looking at the two and gesturing them inside, like two guards.

"Let's go!" Taking a deep breath, Mi Zhu nodded and led the way inside. Zhang Xuan looked around and noticed that there were still many Sub-Saint and Half-Saint level spirit beasts guarding the area, though their numbers were significantly fewer than his previous visit. It seemed they had been dispatched to fight the Master Teacher Academy.

Following the cave inwards, they soon reached the spacious rock cavern where the spiritual liquid had once been stored. There, they saw ten Saint Beasts at the peak of Saint Realm 1-dan seated within. As the two entered, the beasts' gazes were like lightning, filled with cold killing intent.

"Mi Zhu, you dare to come here with just a Chrysalis Realm student? You've got guts!" One of them, a Golden Bear-Tiger Beast at the peak of Saint Realm 1-dan, glared at them with icy eyes. Mi Zhu, Dean of the Beast Tamer School of the Master Teacher Academy, was a name the Saint Beasts of Cloud Mist Ridge had long heard of.

"I'm here. Let's discuss how to resolve the conflict between the Master Teacher Academy and Cloud Mist Ridge! If this continues, I fear both sides will suffer heavy losses!" Elder Mi waved his hand.

"Heavy losses? What if both sides suffer heavy losses? You humans stole our Earth Vein Spiritual Liquid, severing our foundation! We might as well fight to the death and have a good slaughter!" A Crimson Flame Lion at the peak of Saint Realm 1-dan roared.

"Stole the Earth Vein Spiritual Liquid?" Elder Mi's brow furrowed.

"Precisely! This is where we stored the Earth Vein Spiritual Liquid, and now it's completely empty. Only you humans could be so despicable..." the Crimson Flame Lion said. Elder Mi turned to look and indeed saw an empty pond not far away. Although devoid of anything, he could still feel the dense spiritual energy within. This was the very heart of Cloud Mist Ridge, guarded by countless Saint Beasts and Sub-Saints. To be able to steal the spiritual liquid under such circumstances... Who was this master who accomplished it? He recalled that even when he had achieved great strength, he hadn't even reached halfway up the mountain before being beaten to near-death, let alone this central area. To enter, steal something, and still escape alive... it was truly a feat that avenged humanity!

"I have no knowledge of this matter!" Filled with admiration internally, Elder Mi showed no emotion on his face as he waved his hand. "You say humans did it, but do you have any evidence? And who exactly?"

"No knowledge? You think a mere 'I don't know' will suffice to brush it aside?" The Golden Bear-Tiger Beast snorted.

"It's not about brushing it aside. If you have no evidence, it's an unproven accusation, and coming to me is useless. I only represent the Master Teacher Academy! Let's talk about the conflict between our two sides!" Elder Mi didn't dwell on that issue. "Our skirmishes are minor and wouldn't concern the Master Teacher Hall. But if this escalates, leading to widespread death and destruction, I'm afraid Cloud Mist Ridge might cease to exist, easily wiped out! I don't need to elaborate; you should already be aware of this, otherwise, we wouldn't have coexisted peacefully for so many years!"

"Before, we had the Earth Vein Spiritual Liquid and hope for advancement, but now it's different..." Hearing his words, the Golden Bear-Tiger Beast waved its massive paw. "We can reconcile, but the Master Teacher Academy must compensate us with fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones and help us build five hundred Level 6 Spirit Gathering Formations in Cloud Mist Ridge. If you agree, I will immediately withdraw the spirit beasts!"