Xu Zimo pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "It seems your Heavenly Dao Academy really doesn’t have anything I want."
His purpose in coming here was the Nine-Curve God Flame. Now that he had helped guard the Myriad Treasures Tower, the divine fire was already as good as his.
As for other things, unless there was something that could greatly boost his strength for the Outer Heavens, nothing else mattered much.
"What do you mean 'your Heavenly Dao Academy'? You’re part of it too, you should have a sense of honor and disgrace," the woman in white snorted in reply.
"You definitely have a way, right? Don’t even think about True Martial Sacred Ground," Xu Zimo said.
Everyone knew that the Heavenly Dao Academy must have some method to deal with the Sky Blue Demon Roc. The only question was what kind of price it would cost. Otherwise, before the beast emerged, the Academy would have already left, why wait until now? Doing something that seems impossible anyway.
"I won’t hide it from you. Back then, before the Ten Founders left, as a precaution, they left behind a way to deal with the Sky Blue Demon Roc," the woman in white nodded. "This ties back to the origins of the Sky Blue Demon Roc."
Xu Zimo quietly listened without interrupting.
"It is said that long ago, between Heaven and Earth, there was a Golden-Winged Great Roc. This Roc fed on dragons and giant serpents every day, extremely powerful. It lived countless years, but eventually its lifespan came to an end. Unwilling to die, it soared seven times through the skies before finally reaching the legendary Vajra Wheel Mountain. But by then its body had already burned away completely, leaving only a Beast Core Glazed Heart. By chance, this Beast Core Glazed Heart merged with the Ninesky Fiendforce suppressed under Vajra Wheel Mountain, and thus the Sky Blue Demon Roc was born."
"Wait, Ninesky Fiendforce?" Xu Zimo frowned slightly.
He naturally understood how terrifying that energy was.
Between Heaven and Earth, there once existed three primordial energies.
One was Spiritforce. That was the primal energy for cultivation of all beings, of utmost importance.
Then there was Fiendforce and Deepforce.
Of course, some called Deepforce by another name: Clear Energy.
It was said these were the three most powerful energies that came into being when the Primordial Heartlands first split.
Deepforce rose to the heavens, Fiendforce sank into the earth, and Spiritforce spread across the mortal world.
"That’s right. When the Ninesky Fiendforce fused with the Beast Core Glazed Heart, it broke free of shackles, making it reach the Nirvana Void Realm," the woman in white said. "These things were told to me by the sages. As for whether they’re true, who knows."
"So the method you mentioned is what?" Xu Zimo asked.
"It’s still related to those three energies. Spiritforce is balanced and suitable for all beings to cultivate, without conflict.
But Deepforce and Fiendforce are natural enemies, like fire and water, they suppress each other," the woman in white explained.
"The Ten Founders left a secret: the Nineskies Deepforce could suppress the Sky Blue Demon Roc, sealing it once more. If there were a Nirvana Void cultivator to help, it could even be slain. But since we don’t have one, as long as we can seal it, that’s enough."
"Looks like you’re already prepared," Xu Zimo said.
"But I have little confidence, so I’ll still need your help then," the woman in white replied.
Xu Zimo thought it over. Helping guard the Myriad Treasures Tower was just part of his deal for the Nine-Curve God Flame, so that didn’t really count as helping.
But now, as a student of the Heavenly Dao Academy, and since he had found the Brush of Life and Death here, helping out wasn’t unreasonable.
"Alright," he nodded slightly.
"Before suppressing the Sky Blue Demon Roc, let’s clear out the Academy first," the woman in white smiled.
"Two each?" Xu Zimo asked.
"The Proud Dragon Ancestor and the Nine Suns Wanderer are yours. I’ll handle Thunder Demon and the Burning Heaven War General," the woman in white said.
Then the two split, heading in different directions.
Xu Zimo scanned the surroundings, quickly discerning where to go.
The Proud Dragon Ancestor was at the Glazed Palace, battling Venerable Min.
When Xu Zimo arrived, he saw it had already become a battlefield of blood and carnage.
The losses for the Academy this time would be incalculable.
Other than the standing Glazed Palace itself, all other structures around had been annihilated into the void.
Desolation everywhere, ruins and rubble.
From not far away, dragon roars still raged.
To the north of the Glazed Palace, countless serpents encircled a thunder dragon with a body of violet lightning.
Though the snakes were many, they were much weaker in strength.
Thunder surged into the skies, forming rolling thunderclouds above.
Endless lightning cascaded down, annihilating all the serpents within the furious storm.
"Venerable Min, once I destroy these red snakes, it will be your end," the thunder dragon spoke with human tongue, filled with killing intent.
"To make one last contribution to the Academy before death, my life has been worthwhile," Venerable Min laughed calmly.
Even at the brink of death, he remained tranquil, speaking with ease.
This time, the Academy’s Founders had gone to suppress the Sky Blue Demon Roc, so they needed to buy as much time as possible.
The red snakes were manifestations of his Spiritforce. But with the Proud Dragon Ancestor’s relentless slaughter, his energy was nearly exhausted.
If one looked closely, his face was pale, with sweat trickling down his forehead.
Behind him coiled his True Fate, the Red Snake.
The number of serpents dwindled, and even his True Fate was beginning to blur.
"Now!" the Proud Dragon Ancestor suddenly roared.
Catching a flaw, the dragon’s twisting body transformed into pure thunder.
It pierced through layers of void, lunging straight for Venerable Min’s abdomen.
The speed of that thunder was nearly imperceptible. Venerable Min no longer had time to dodge.
As the thunder dragon was about to strike him, a booming explosion suddenly erupted in front of him.
Dust filled the broken space, thunder remnants crackled, violet arcs flashing in the void.
Venerable Min, who had been ready to die, lowered his head slowly.
A hand had appeared in front of him, blocking the incoming colossal dragon claw.
Though that hand was but a fraction of the claw’s size, the power it carried was overwhelming.
Then the hand pressed forward lightly. With a dragon’s roar, the massive thunder dragon was blasted backwards.
Venerable Min swallowed hard and looked up. Xu Zimo stood before him.
"Rest. Leave the rest to me," Xu Zimo rolled his arm and smiled.
"You…" Venerable Min wanted to speak but found no words. "Be careful."
Finally, he retreated to the side, beginning to restore himself.
At this point he had no strength left, and he knew better than to force himself.
"Who are you?" the massive thunder dragon asked, glaring at Xu Zimo.