C23 Deterrence of Fate Academy

"Why do you insist on making an enemy of Fate Academy?"

One was clad in black, the other in white. The pair were inseparable, like twin brothers. Together, they demanded, "Release Zhuang Hong and surrender the ultimate treasure. Then, we'll take you to the headquarters to face judgment."

"Have you lost your minds?"

The mysterious woman regarded the Black and White Sheng Sages as if they were fools, her tone cool and detached. "Fate Academy really oversteps its bounds, meddling even in the affairs of the Essence Returning Sect."

"The capable must shoulder more responsibilities," the sages replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Fate Academy is a dominant force in Purvavideha, and the Abandoning Continent has long forbidden the presence of Immortal Platform experts. It's a time-honored rule."

"A time-honored rule? So by that logic, if Su Mo were to reach the Immortal Platform Stage one day, you'd come to capture him too?" The mysterious woman gestured toward Su Mo, who was refining the second Rule Stone.

The sages turned, their faces twisted into a sneer. "That third-level Dao Palace trash will never reach the Immortal Platform Stage in his lifetime."

Su Mo rolled his eyes, thinking the sages were quite out of touch.

Under the guidance of a top-tier expert like the mysterious woman, not only would reaching the Immortal Platform Stage be within reach, but so would ascending to the ranks of Dao Slashing King, Half Saint, and Saint Level. After all, even the least accomplished of the Heaven Devouring Devil Pot's nine previous owners had attained the Saint Level!

"Disagree?"

The Black and White Sages seemed to pick up on Su Mo's skepticism and mocked him, "With your flimsy aura and lack of combat experience, any prodigy from our Fate Academy could easily dispatch you."

"There might be some truth to that."

The mysterious woman furrowed her brow and, after a moment's thought, proposed, "Fine, send someone from Fate Academy to challenge Su Mo in Uttarakuru, but they must be under thirty years old."

The Heaven Devouring Devil Pot once housed a training ground for life-and-death combat. But after tens of thousands of years, it had fallen into disrepair. Now, anyone not at the Immortal Platform Stage who entered seeking to train was simply signing their own death warrant.

If a continuous flow of geniuses were to challenge Su Mo, he might quickly ascend to the Immortal Platform Stage.

"You're in no position to bargain with us."

The Black and White Saints' presence surged as they spoke with icy detachment.

"I'm not here to bargain; I'm giving you orders."

The mysterious woman, with Zhuang Hong's help, had stabilized the Heaven Devouring Devil Pot. Her aura slightly heightened, she ripped through the void and appeared before the Black and White Saints in an instant.

This time, the mysterious woman didn't resort to her fists. She swung the Heaven Devouring Devil Pot, aiming it at the Black Saint's cheek.

"How presumptuous!"

The Black and White Saints moved as one, their coordinated attack unleashing deadly moves on par with a full-force strike from a Saint Level powerhouse!

"Hahaha."

Meng Xinghun cackled with glee, his voice chilling as he declared, "Blade Sovereign, Su Mo, your end is nigh!"

"You seem quite thrilled."

Su Mo shrugged nonchalantly, eyeing Meng Xinghun. "If I were you, I'd make a run for it immediately, without wasting a moment."

"Flee? Why should I..." Meng Xinghun began, shrugging off the suggestion.

Crack!

Before Meng Xinghun could finish, the outcome had already unfolded above.

The Black and White Saints, now apart, stood poised in the void—united, they rivaled a Saint Level entity; divided, merely mid-level Half Saints.

The Black Saint, dabbing the blood from his lip, spoke gravely, "Do you truly wish to antagonize Fate Academy?"

"I've alerted the Main Sect; reinforcements will soon be here!"

The White Saint declared frostily.

"Alert the Main Sect? I'm afraid that's futile. I've sealed off the surrounding void; your messages have been intercepted," the mysterious woman stated coolly.

"Kill them!"

The Black and White Saints realized the gravity of the situation—their defeat here could tarnish the reputation of Fate Academy in Dark Peak City. If word reached the Eastern Divine Region, the headquarters would undoubtedly discipline them.

Worse still, the Main Sect might dissolve their branch entirely!

Their current predicament left only one solution: eliminate the mysterious woman and exterminate every living soul within hundreds of miles of the Essence Returning Sect to prevent any leaks.

Only in this way could we ensure the message remained confidential!

"You're out of your depth!"

The mysterious woman was livid, seemingly releasing a seal within her, causing her aura to skyrocket. Hovering in mid-air, she pointed out two fingers.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Two streaks of icy light ripped through the void, growing larger in the pupils of the Black and White Saints until they aimed straight for their foreheads.

"Spare those you can."

In the nick of time.

A brilliant golden light burst forth from the main hall of Fate Academy in Purvavideha, shooting a beam skyward that reached above the Essence Returning Sect in an instant.

"You're on a path to self-destruction!"

A resonant voice boomed, laden with a heavy threat.

"Enough chatter!"

Clearly fed up with these tactics, the mysterious woman effortlessly drew the Black and White Saints into the Heaven Devouring Devil Pot and gave it a pat. Instantly, a stream of blood-red light burst forth, tracing the path back to the beam's origin.

The speed of the blood-red light was astonishingly fast.

Swoosh!

Despite the vast distance between the Essence Returning Sect and Fate Academy, the blood-red light arrived in a mere moment!

At the Fate Academy headquarters.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Three venerable elders emerged from their seclusion, uniting to fend off the blood-red assault.

Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!

Yet, their efforts fell short.

Even together, the formidable elders were driven back by the relentless blood-red light, coughing up blood in defeat.

Having repelled the three elders, the blood-red light morphed back into the form of the mysterious woman who spoke with eerie calm, "I've slain the Black and White Saints of the Fate Academy in Dark Peak City. Any objections?"

"Hehe, none whatsoever, not a single one."

Before an elder could respond, a light chuckle echoed from the depths of the Fate Academy.

Crack!

Space itself split open, revealing a stooped old crone before the mysterious woman.

"It's good that you have no objections. Just refrain from any further scheming behind my back. Martial cultivators under thirty may challenge Su Mo, but anyone over thirty who dares to cause trouble for Su Mo should expect no mercy from me."

The mysterious woman barely acknowledged the old crone, her gaze shifting to the forbidden depths of Fate Academy before she transformed into a streak of cold light, lashing out at the elder.

Swish!

With a composed expression, the old woman deftly maneuvered her hands, deflecting the icy assault.

"This is outrageous! We must dispatch our strongest to besiege this insolent individual!"

"We cannot let this slide!"

"Fate Academy must bare its teeth!"

As the mysterious woman vanished, the three elders unleashed furious roars, seemingly emboldened by the old woman's presence.

Puchi!

Yet, within seconds, the old woman coughed up blood, her complexion turning deathly pale.

"Elder Yin, are you okay?"

The sight of her distress sent the three elders into a frenzy, as they quickly inquired about her well-being.

After wiping the blood from her lips, the old woman reassured them, "I'm fine. The adversary likely feared the Celestial Secret Elder and thus restrained their power."

"Elder Yin, what level of cultivation does that person possess?" one elder ventured to ask.

"There are questions better left unasked!"

The old woman shot a stern glance at the inquirer and spoke gravely, "Inform Dark Peak City's Fate Academy to send geniuses under thirty to Uttarakuru to apprehend Su Mo and atone for their transgressions!"

"Yes!"

The elder hastily agreed, not daring to counter the old woman's wishes.

With her covert instructions issued, the old woman stared in the direction of the mysterious woman's disappearance, murmuring, "Has the Child of Fate spoken of by the Celestial Secret Elder emerged? After years of suppression, could Uttarakuru be on the cusp of a golden age?"

"Let it be. Whether a prodigy or not, anyone who crosses Fate Academy will ultimately turn to dust, dissipating like smoke in the wind."

"And as for you, the arrogant one, there will be someone ready to confront you."