Chapter 380: Chapter 380. Intruder During the Emergency

“I am glad you are so interested studying our past, Lin Mo,” Li Shi said.

“It’s Amon,” Amon corrected.

They were in a small classroom. Amon had been visiting her every day for the past few days to request a private study session. He claimed he had read interesting subjects in several history books inside the library. He brought different books to Li Shi every day to discuss the subjects.

“I’m sorry. I’m still not used to your name change. Please note, however, that your official name registered in the Royal Academy’s record will remain Lin Mo. Your name which is immortalized in the stone steles, marking your status as this Royal Academy student, will also remain Lin Mo. We won’t make a change. If we do, it will be a problem if every student starts changing their names at the drop of a hat.”

“I understand. I don’t mind about those records,” Amon said.

“Still, I have to say. Why busy yourself with this theory study?” Li Shi asked. “You always got perfect scores during the theory test. It’s not like you need it. Please understand that it’s not that I don’t welcome you, but you have less than half a year until the graduation contest, which I’m sure you will earn the right to participate in. Why don’t you focus on cultivating and training like other senior students to prepare for the contest?”

“I’ve prepared for it since I entered the freshman class,” Amon answered. “I’m not the kind of man who makes a last-minute preparation. I find learning about history relaxing. It soothes my mind. It helps me concentrate later when I cultivate and train, so the time I spend here won’t reduce my chance in the contest.”

“In that case, I’m happy to be of assistance,” Li Shi said.

They heard the alarm then.

“What was that?” Li Shi asked. It didn’t sound like the alarm of the Royal Academy.

The alarm intensified. Not long after, the Royal Academy’s own alarm sounded. An announcement followed.

“Attention, all teachers and students. The Qishurg City is currently under siege by a massive swarm of spirit beasts. The kingdom soldiers guarding this city are fighting the swarm but are heavily outnumbered. The mayor has issued an emergency broadcast for every cultivator to help defend this city. We will do our parts.

“Students, please go to the main entrance. Potions and talismans to help with the battle will be distributed there. Those without proper weapons can visit the armory to borrow weapons. Your academic points will not be deducted for these weapons.

“After gathering your tools, please follow the teachers’ instructions at the main entrance. Teams will be formed with a teacher as the team leader. You are to follow their instructions and defend this city. This is what we have been preparing you for, students. Do not shirk your responsibility. Those we found not participating in the defense will be expelled once this is over, while those who participate will get extra academic points depending on their performance. Fight well, and good luck!”

“Spirit beast swarm…? How can this be?” Li Shi said. “In all recorded history, I’ve never read a record about a spirit beast swarm on a city as large as this. Spirit beasts don’t coordinate with each other. They can’t form an alliance big enough to threaten a large human settlement.”

“Perhaps this is just a drill?” Amon asked.

“No. This sounds too serious to be a drill. The alarms also sound genuine,” Li Shi replied. “As impossible as I think it is, the city is being threatened. We must protect it!”

“I will follow you, tutor Li Shi,” Amon declared.

“I’m relieved to hear that. I will be counting on you. Let’s go!”

When they were just about to exit, the classroom door suddenly opened. Yong Baili was the one who opened the door. “Tutor Li Shi! It’s good that I find you!” He exclaimed.

“We are just about to head out to help with the city defense,” Li Shi informed.

“Scratch that. We have another urgent problem,” Yong Baili said.

“What can be more urgent than the city getting attacked?” Li Shi asked.

“It’s the Spring of Life. An Guan received an alarm notifying him that an intruder had entered the hall where the Spring of Life is.”

“What?! Really?” Li Shi asked. There was indeed an alarm built in the words of power inside the cave containing the Spring of Life. If someone intrudes, the alarm will sound inside the offices of the four people with access. These four were Principal Li Niang, Lao Zen, An Guan, and herself. She was not in her office right now, so she didn’t hear the alarm. She did not doubt Yong Baili’s claim, though. He was An Guan’s right-hand man. She trusted him.

“An Guan sent me to find you so we can check on the spring,” Yong Baili said.

“Why didn’t he go check it himself?” Li Shi asked.

“Because he needs to help with the city defense,” Yong Baili answered. “There has been sighting of mythical beasts among the spirit beast swarm. The city is in a dire state. I’m sorry to say this, but among the four with access to the Spring of Life, you have the lowest cultivation. Principal Li Niang, Lao Zen, and An Guan have departed to fight the mythical beasts attacking this city. That’s why they sent me to ask you to check on the Spring of Life.”

Although the safety of the city was important, the Spring of Life was equally so. It was the lifeblood of the Royal Academy. The spring under this academy was one of the only two in this country. Its importance couldn’t be understated. Even if they lost this city, they needed to ensure the Spring of Life was safe.

“All right. Let us go check the Spring of Life,” Li Shi said.

“I will aid you,” Amon said.

“Student Amon… You should go and help with the city’s defense,” Li Shi said.

“I have already seen the spring, and you might need my help down there. You can blindfold me again if you want.”

“This…,” Li Shi was undecided.

“I don’t have access to the Spring of Life, but An Guan told me to check it out. We can’t follow protocols during this unusual crisis and we don’t have time to argue. The intruder might have done something to the water while we dilly-dally. We need to move, now!” Yong Baili urged.

“Okay. Follow me, you two,” Li Shi said. She rushed toward the private courtyard where the entrance to the underground cave was.

*

The kingdom soldiers couldn’t block all the spirit beasts, especially the flying ones. Unlike the capital, it didn’t have the forcefield barrier to stop flyers. Additionally, although the number of soldiers stationed in this city was decent, it was not enough to consider an army. The authority didn’t have enough manpower to keep this spirit beast invasion at bay.

Some parts of the walls had even been broken. The spirit beasts were pouring in like tidal waves. Cultivators, who chose to stay bystanders but had not yet gone hiding, had no choice but to engage the spirit beasts.

In the sky above, Lao Zen was battling the Doom Bat. The senior captain battling this spirit beast earlier had been wounded and was forced to retreat. Lao Zen could fight the Doom Bat, but he couldn’t kill it by himself, not with other spirit beasts keeping him distracted.

Principal Li Niang was a distance away, fighting another mid-mythical beast, an Inferno Mare. It was a giant horse with axe-like horns, and its body was fully ablaze with raging flames.

“Damn it! How come so many mythical beasts are here? They shouldn’t even live in the vicinity!” Lao Zen cursed as he forced the Doom Bat back.

He looked down and saw teams of teachers and students fighting the spirit beasts on the ground. They were facing a swarm of giant lizards.

An earthquake occurred. The ground cracked and split. A colossal snake burst out of the ground. Its gigantic mouth swallowed a good many cultivators, who fell into the chasm when the ground split.

Lao Zen was speechless when he sensed the aura of this colossal snake. It was another mid-mythical beast, and its aura was even stronger than that of the doom bat he was facing.

“Such sweet fragrancesss! This melodious tunesss! I can’t resist itsss! Where do you pestsss keep this treasuresss?” The colossal snake exclaimed.

Lao Zen didn’t understand what the snake was spouting about. All he knew was he couldn’t let such a powerful spirit beast free rein in the city. However, before he could fly down to engage the snake, he was assailed by a high-pitched sound. The sound came from the Doom Bat, which had returned.

“Don’t worry about down here! We will take care of it!”

Lao Zen heard a familiar voice. The voice was from Ha Gild. The old tutor was riding a giant eagle even larger than the Great Eagle. Its feathers were mostly golden, except for its head part, which had a pair of long crimson feathers. This was the Great Peng Eagle. It was a lower mythical beast and Ha Gild’s pet. Whatever was causing the spirit beasts to wreak havoc in this city seemed not to affect cultivators’ tamed beasts.

Two other tutors and a squad of battle puppets aided Ha Gild in battling the colossal snake. They kept it from causing destruction to the city. One of the two was An Guan.

An Guan turned and spoke to the third tutor, “Be careful! This snake is too powerful for you. Let Ha Gild and I fight it. You focus on support!”

“Got it!” Yong Baili replied.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep