Chapter 74: Galaxy
In the darkness, the clouds dispersed, and the moon rose, leaving everyone in a sorry state.
Trees lay scattered haphazardly in front of the building, like the aftermath of a tsunami, with the Exorcism Committee headquarters' outer walls cracked, exposing gnarled rebar barely holding up the thirty-three-story building, on the verge of imminent collapse.
Everyone gathered at the entrance, utterly exhausted. Jiang Hong, taking off his pot, sat blankly on the stairs, the scene reminiscent of a post-earthquake disaster.
Chen Zhen still stood on the balcony, seemingly in a daze.
"Chen Zhen!" Qi Wei, descending on his dragon, which then disappeared into the air, called out. Everyone looked up towards the balcony.
Cao Bin called out again, prompting Chen Zhen to withdraw his divine light and come down.
All the lights in the square in front of the Exorcism Committee were out, making the moonlight unexpectedly bright that night. A dragon's cry echoed in the distant sky, and a black dragon soared away under the moonlight.
"Lu Xiu still hasn't given up?" Ke Da stood up, looking towards the distance.
The dark Lu Xiu had fled, but Lu Xiu was surely still in pursuit. Cao Bin said to Jiang Hong, "Lu Xiu! Stick to the plan! Conserve your strength! Jiang Hong, call him back."
Jiang Hong looked into the distance, hesitating, when An Jie also arrived, saying, "Let him come back. Don't chase any further; it's dangerous."
Jiang Hong asked, "What if he can catch up to that guy?"
Cao Bin replied, "Even if he can, he shouldn't chase. Revenge is a dish best served cold, even if it takes ten years."
Jiang Hong said, "He's going to be angry."
Ke Da teased, "Are you afraid of his anger? Come on, kid, can't you handle him? Don’t tell me Lu Xiu has you completely wrapped around his finger."
Cao Bin advised, "Summon him, he'll listen to you."
With all six top exorcists gathered, Jiang Hong, with some reluctance, took out the dragon scale he wore on his chest and, after a moment's contemplation, called out, "Lu Xiu—!"
Almost instantly, a mist formed in front of him, and Lu Xiu appeared abruptly. Realizing Jiang Hong was safe, he quickly understood what had happened.
"Stop chasing, it's too dangerous," Jiang Hong said, bracing himself for Lu Xiu's anger.
Surprisingly, Lu Xiu didn’t get angry but simply acknowledged with a grunt.
"Everyone's here," said Cao Bin. "Let's start the second phase."
Qi Wei, looking at the shattered Exorcism Committee building, exclaimed in shock, "What are we going to do about this?"
Ke Da, relishing the chaos, said, "That's not my problem anymore. You guys deal with it, I’m with Qingqiu University now!"
Chen Zhen, with a serious expression, interjected, "Stop joking around. An Jie, get ready to start."
Everyone sighed in relief. Jiang Hong quietly asked Lu Xiu, "What are we going to do now?"
"Are you hurt?" Lu Xiu responded, concerned about Jiang Hong instead of answering the question. He took Jiang Hong’s hand, their fingers intertwining naturally. Reflecting on the brief yet intense past half-hour, Jiang Hong felt as if he had survived a great ordeal.
During that half-hour, everyone seemed calm and composed, but looking back, the situation was incredibly perilous.
"I’m fine," Jiang Hong said, unconcerned about himself and focusing only on Lu Xiu. "What about you?"
Lu Xiu signaled that he was unharmed and added, "Fortunately, you spotted him. I was able to handle him this time..."
Jiang Hong knew exactly who Lu Xiu was referring to as "him." During their conversation, he noticed Chen Zhen watching him intently, his gaze seeming to hold a deeper meaning.
"What about Fang Yifeng?" Cao Bin suddenly asked.
Chen Zhen subtly gestured for silence with a 'shush,' indicating that even among allies, it was better to keep critical information under wraps.
Ke Da expressed confusion: "?"
Chen Zhen felt compelled to explain to everyone: "I've sent someone on a separate mission to gather intelligence on the enemy's headquarters during this chaos."
Understanding the sensitivity, everyone tacitly agreed not to probe further.
An Jie calmly announced, "I'm beginning the spell now."
All eyes turned to An Jie. As he raised his hand, Jiang Hong felt an incredibly strange sensation; it was as if his body had dissolved, yet his consciousness remained. He felt like a gust of wind, or as if he had merged into a river, struggling against its rapid current.
He tried to reach for Lu Xiu but realized that in this vast river, he couldn't touch anything. Everything just passed by him, leaving him alone.
"Jiang Hong!"
Countless voices called out around him, some unfamiliar, some familiar... Familiar? Who was that?
"Jiang Hong! Wake up! It's not over yet—!"
"Jiang Hong!"
"Jiang Hong!!"
"His name is Jiang Hong? I'll join in too, Jiang Hong! Jiang Hong!"
"Bring him back... he's still alive..."
"Jiang Hong! Time to wake up! Get up and save the world!"
Suddenly, the room brightened, lights blazing, followed by the distant sound of cheering from outside.
"Huh?" Jiang Hong was shocked to find themselves in the S-Class activity room at Cangqiong University!
An Jie glanced at the wall clock and said, "Precise landing, spellcasting complete."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Ke Da was the first to head for the door, declaring, "I'm off to take a shower."
"Has the celebration not ended yet?"
"To be precise, it hasn't even officially started yet." Cao Bin's shirt was half torn, revealing his wheat-colored, muscular torso and an attractively slim waistline, looking like they had just brawled in a bar.
Cao Bin added, "I'll change my clothes too. Everyone, please proceed to the audience area later."
Xuan Hezhi said, "I'll coordinate the external defenses."
An Jie cautioned, "Remember, absolutely do not encounter your own selves from this time period."
Lu Xiu commented, "We'll wait a bit longer."
Jiang Hong rushed to the window and peered out. The other side of the administrative building was the stage. He and Lu Xiu were currently watching fireworks on the campus road, soon to fly across the campus towards the secret portal.
"Oh my god!" Jiang Hong exclaimed loudly, "This is... time travel? We've returned to the past!"
An Jie moved to sit aside and answered, "Yes."
Fireworks began outside, very close to their location. The elite S-Class exorcists started leaving, while Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong remained in the activity room, waiting.
"We went to the administrative building after watching the fireworks," Lu Xiu explained to Jiang Hong, "so we need to wait until the fireworks are over to avoid encountering ourselves from this time."
Jiang Hong marveled, "So that means there are two of me in this timeline! Amazing!"
Lu Xiu observed Jiang Hong, the bright light bulbs in the room adding a warm glow. Outside, the fireworks seemed to burst right at the window, illuminating their faces with its light.
"Yeah," Lu Xiu pondered and replied, "It is quite incredible."
"But what would happen if I met myself?" Jiang Hong asked, curious yet slightly frightened by the prospect.
Lu Xiu: "Do you remember? At this point in time, we never encountered ourselves who traveled back from the future."
Jiang Hong nodded in agreement – indeed, they hadn't, as he hadn't even known where he was going then.
"So, you can't greet your past self right now," Lu Xiu said, joining Jiang Hong by the window to watch the fireworks. It was Jiang Hong's second time seeing them, but this close proximity made it even more magical.
"What are we going to do later?" Jiang Hong asked. "Will there be more enemies?"
After pondering for a moment, Lu Xiu replied, "Not necessarily, but we'll be safe once we're back at the school. I have a performance at 9:45. Will you come watch?"
Excitedly, Jiang Hong responded, "Of course! I even prepared the pot earlier!"
Lu Xiu laughed and said, "I need to get ready first, but we need to find a place for you."
"Should I go find our class?" suggested Jiang Hong.
As the fireworks ended, the stage rose, and the administrative building slowly deconstructed. The walls of the S-Class classroom vanished, transforming into a floating platform that gently rotated in the air. The bar faced the center stage, becoming the perfect viewing area for the audience!
Lu Xiu suggested, "You can stay here too, but I need to go prepare now."
"Go ahead!" Jiang Hong smiled. "Perform well later!"
Lu Xiu appeared to have more to say, hesitating for a moment, then finally patted Jiang Hong's head with a slight smile on his lips.
"I'm off," Lu Xiu said. "See you later."
Jiang Hong thought for a moment and decided to retrieve his speaker from the dormitory to bring out Old Sun. The exterior of the activity room was now crisscrossed with staircases, which emerged as the building deconstructed, resembling bridges connecting the dormitories and academic buildings. Everywhere, from rooftops to the cafeteria’s terrace, students gathered to view the school’s anniversary celebration.
Jiang Hong, discerning his direction, headed back via the staircases, but soon spotted Anjie not far off.
Clearly, Anjie was puzzled, as he had never been to Cangqiong University before.
“Could you show me around your school?” Anjie asked.
“Of course,” Jiang Hong replied with a smile. “I was just heading back to my dormitory.”
The night at Cangqiong University felt like a dream. As Jiang Hong guided Anjie, passing the cafeteria, he casually introduced the school. It was Anjie's first visit, and he listened intently.
“Boss, have you never been here before?” Jiang Hong inquired.
Anjie responded, “No, I wasn’t really interested before. I wouldn’t have come today if not for Chen Zhen’s request.”
Jiang Hong’s initial impression of Anjie was of him standing in the Exorcism Commission’s hall, holding an umbrella, surrounded by black-clad attendants, angrily telling Lu Xiu, “You are forbidden from entering the Commission,” much like a gang leader or a pampered heir.
Then, during a mission in Guangzhou, he inadvertently noticed that Anjie’s health bar was only a few thousand and his mana was pitifully low, making the Commission’s second-in-command seem shockingly weak.
But after tonight, Jiang Hong instantly recognized Anjie’s formidable power – the ability to traverse time! With such power, one could virtually rule the world!
Hence, Anjie's image suddenly grew much larger in Jiang Hong's eyes.
“Boss,” Jiang Hong couldn’t help but flatter, saying, “You can travel through time! That’s incredible!”
“I can’t teach you,” Anjie replied. “Don’t get any wild ideas.”
"Oh, no, no," Jiang Hong quickly demurred, "My magical powers are too weak, I couldn't possibly learn that. My dormitory is just ahead."
Anjie, fiddling with his headset, quipped, "Cao Bin, your direct disciple is about to become my fanboy."
Jiang Hong hurriedly interjected, "Ah! No! Second Boss, don't say things like that!"
Anjie teased, "He’s even taking me to his dormitory."
Jiang Hong: “……”
Anjie surveyed the surroundings and remarked, "Your living conditions here are quite good."
Jiang Hong wasn’t really listening; his mind was full of thoughts about time travel and grandfather paradoxes. He couldn’t help but ask again, “Why couldn’t I see myself just now?”
Anjie explained, "Because before you came here, you hadn't encountered your future self."
Jiang Hong asked, "Ah? How did you know that?"
Anjie elaborated, "If you had seen yourself, wouldn’t you have made a fuss about it? So, once your past self sees you, it creates a causal paradox on the timeline. Because your past self did not see your future self returning through time, but you just now caused that paradox."
Jiang Hong nodded and replied, "Right."
Anjie continued, "This could create contradictory facts in this universe, leading to chaos in the fundamental laws of cause and effect, with the most likely consequence being – annihilation."
Startled, Jiang Hong said, "Annihilate the whole world?"
Anjie clarified, "Not necessarily. It hasn't happened yet, but it might result in the annihilation of both versions of you in the different timelines, causing a collapse of all the events you've influenced. In any case, the consequences are severe."
Jiang Hong comprehended, "Oh, I see. So, this ability... shouldn't be used carelessly."
Anjie: "Yes."
Jiang Hong: "But if you sent Dark Chen Zhen back in time to meet his past self, wouldn't that annihilate him? Couldn't this skill be used to defeat bosses?"
Anjie: "It's possible, and I've considered it. But Huanying's involvement is too extensive. Triggering an annihilation chain could be disastrous. You don't know how far their influence reaches. We might eliminate the boss, but it could end the world."
Jiang Hong, always curious, would ask questions with a wild imagination, sometimes not even understanding his own queries. However, only four people would seriously answer him—Lu Xiu, Cao Bin, Anjie, and Chen Zhen—without joking around. Anjie taking his question so seriously made him feel a bit embarrassed.
Anjie: “？？？”
Anjie saw Jiang Hong fetch a Tmall Genie and walk back.
The host's voice announced: “Today is the 10th anniversary of Cangqiong University. Although our principal is still absent, let's ask everyone, whose performance are you most looking forward to?”
Shouts were everywhere, some distant, some close, but all discernibly chanting “Principal Cao.”
Back in the activity room, Jiang Hong and Anjie sat at the bar, as the host continued: “I hear your voices, it’s Director Xuan Hezhi, right!”
This was met with a chorus of boos.
While preparing drinks for Anjie, Jiang Hong laughed heartily, wondering where Lu Xiu was and if he was ready for his performance.
Anjie glanced at the clock and grumbled: “How long will this noisy event last?”
Jiang Hong: “Until ten, huh?”
Anjie: “?”
Jiang Hong: “Nothing.” He thought to himself that Lu Xiu was scheduled to perform at 9:45, close to the final act. He must be incredibly popular! Could the final performance be Cao Bin?
Xuan Hezhi took the stage, first summoning a bunch of plants, then putting a traffic cone on his head as a hat, and starting a real-life version of Plants vs. Zombies. Anjie, not interested in watching, stood up to play pool.
Jiang Hong laughed heartily at the bar, clutching his stomach in amusement. The performances today were indeed splendid!
Host: "Thank you, Director Xuan, for the wonderful performance. As the evening progresses, let's now welcome Teacher Keda from F4, shall we?"
Chen Zhen's voice came from the WeChat group: "Anjie, won't you come down to watch?"
Anjie: "No, thanks. It's unbearable. Cao Bin, how about letting your disciple learn from me?"
Jiang Hong immediately protested: "No, no! Boss, please stop joking around!"
Then, Ge Gen Tuolu Keda took the stage. Dressed in a huge mascot outfit, he impersonated Psyduck, waving his arms and hopping around in a lively dance.
"Oh my goodness!" Jiang Hong laughed so hard he nearly cried, watching the literal “Character Breakdown Party”. He watched as Keda, dressed as Psyduck, suddenly froze mid-dance. Then Xiao Pi ran up and wound him up, causing the huge Psyduck to wiggle its bottom energetically on stage.
Keda, as Psyduck, started throwing snacks into the audience. Under the influence of magic, the snacks spiraled around, even flying up to the bar in the activity room.
Jiang Hong thought he would never be able to look at Keda the same way again after tonight.
Chen Zhen in the WeChat group: "They shouldn't be coming back."
Anjie, wearing headphones, countered: "No, they will come. I saw it in the surveillance while you were busy fighting Gonggong."
As Keda’s performance ended, suddenly, the lights in the entire venue dimmed.
Surprised exclamations arose from various corners of the campus, with many students thinking it was part of the show, clapping in anticipation.
Anjie remarked: “This time, they’re coming from the sky.”
Jiang Hong quickly looked up, spotting a dark red fireball slowly approaching in the sky. His phone beeped with a message from the WeChat group voice chat.
Jiang Hong opened it and put on his headphones.
Host: “Alright, up next…”
But his voice halted. Everyone gradually began to sense something. At that moment, Cao Bin, now changed into a new outfit, walked onto the stage. He casually switched off the host's microphone, put on a single-ear headset on his left ear, and adjusted it slightly.
"Please allow me to take over for the next part." Cao Bin's voice was magnetic and seductive. His white shirt and waistcoat made his slender waist stand out, his tall figure complemented by straight black trousers and shiny leather shoes, standing confidently on the stage.
The audience erupted into applause again, but gradually, some students started noticing the fireball in the sky—getting closer and bursting with sun-like flares. Jiang Hong, observing with the naked eye, noticed the flames were surrounded by darkness!
Many students initially thought it was part of Cao Bin's prepared stage effect, but others had already stood up, gazing into the sky, realizing the danger.
Chen Zhen: "They only sent one opponent, they're underestimating us."
An Jie: "Their initial target was the school committee. The school's offensive strategy clearly aimed to hold us back."
"What you see now is our enemy," said Cao Bin calmly. "This isn't part of the show, but there's no need to panic. Everyone, look up. Do you see it? Right above your heads, yes, that red fireball..."
In the group chat, Chen Zhen said, "Jiang Hong, can you identify it?"
Jiang Hong took out the Omnibook, pointing towards the sky, revealing the creature's health bar.
"Zhu... Zhu Rong," Jiang Hong said. "It's chanting, preparing to use magic. Be careful."
Cao Bin, somehow receiving Jiang Hong's message—perhaps someone was relaying it to him—added, "This is Zhu Rong, one of the five ancient gods, but not the deity itself. Rather, it’s a being resurrected by an organization called 'Yinghuo,' using a unique method to revive one of the ancient gods..."
The students finally began to stir, no one specifically maintaining order, but the unrest lasted only a few seconds as everyone adhered to the venue's protocol.
Cao Bin, keeping his eyes on the fireball in the sky, said, "I suspect its main attack method is a meteor of fire. But when facing such a formidable enemy, try not to attack it before it makes its move."
An Jie: "Enough already, teaching students at a time like this..."
The fireball hovered mid-air. The entire campus fell silent, everyone holding their breath, their breathing seemingly synchronized in a certain rhythm, three, two, one...
The fireball suddenly erupted, like a bright sun appearing in the night sky, followed by a downpour of meteoric fire raining down on the school!
Everyone, including Jiang Hong, instinctively raised their hands to protect their heads, but in the next second, a flood surged up, followed by a dragon's roar!
"Lu Xiu!" someone began shouting.
The dragon's true form appeared, carrying a towering tidal wave, rising up under the gaze of the entire campus. Jiang Hong yelled out but dared not call out Lu Xiu's name, fearing he might inadvertently summon him.
Its black body radiated golden light, covered in sealing runes, soaring into the sky, surrounded by rolling steam and a vast ocean-like tornado. Then, it suddenly turned in the air, roaring fiercely!
A mountainous tidal wave materialized from nowhere, a furious sea crashing over the black dragon's body, rolling towards Zhu Rong, extinguishing the sky-full of fireballs. Everywhere was engulfed in smoke, revealing the glowing figure of a giant, Zhu Rong appearing—like Gonggong.
Following that, the black dragon soared again, bringing up a sky-full of mist, which condensed into rolling clouds. It was the first time Jiang Hong had seen Lu Xiu using his dragon's natural abilities in battle, like the ancient records of "clouds following the dragon," truly possessing the tremendous power to turn the clouds and rain!
All the students were screaming wildly. Cao Bin slowly placed his right hand on his left waist, intently watching the battle.
Keda had taken off the duck costume, arriving at the base of the battlefield. With a few leaps, he reached the level of the activity room. In his right hand, he held a small dagger, shimmering coldly.
Jiang Hong immediately recognized the dagger.
"Is that the Soul Piercer?" Jiang Hong asked. "Is it called the Soul Piercer?"
He remembered Lu Xiu once drawing golden-red blood with the Soul Piercer, a dagger capable of breaking through appearances and directly harming the essence.
"Yes," Keda answered. "Step back, protect your eyes. If you have sunglasses, put them on."
"Come over here," An Jie calmly said, directing Jiang Hong to take cover behind the pool table.
Zhu Rong roared furiously in the air, unleashing another wave of meteoric fire upon the earth, while the black dragon rolled within the clouds, thunder and lightning forming, gathering around the golden sealing runes on its body, creating an oddly powerful and beautiful sight.
In the next moment, Cao Bin's body began to emit bursts of thunder, slightly levitating off the ground!
Jiang Hong was shocked, whispering, "Principal Cao can actually use thunder magic?!"
"Yes," An Jie said calmly. "It's normal for you not to know. It's not his family's secret technique, and he rarely uses it, even in the Demon Hunting Committee."
Jiang Hong suddenly remembered the first time he saw Cao Bin take action—over the Jialing River in Chongqing, breaking through the Wuzhiqi defense line, Cao Bin descended from the sky, bringing down a torrent of thunder.
Darkness enveloped the world, lit only by constant flashes of lightning and the glow of the fiery meteors, resembling an apocalyptic scene. Lightning passed between the black dragon and Cao Bin, as if they were the positive and negative poles of the world's electricity!
The second wave of fiery meteors approached, and suddenly, millions of giant green leaves appeared in the air, floating gently as if using softness to overcome strength, resisting the meteor bombardment.
As the third wave of fiery meteors was about to be released, the lightning gathered by the dragon concentrated and, with the dragon's long chant, millions of thunderbolts cascaded down like a waterfall, not aimed at Zhu Rong, but converging in mid-air like a river turning sharply, aiming upwards at Keda!
In that instant, Jiang Hong understood what Keda meant by "watch your eyes," as he felt his vision nearly blinded! All the lightning was drawn towards Keda, focusing on the Soul Piercer dagger, and Keda shouted, "Go!"
The intense thunderstorm was suddenly retracted, and the world fell silent. Cao Bin drew the thunder to himself and released it again, and within half a second, Keda raised his hand, sending out a starburst that instantly attached to Zhu Rong's body.
Keda: "Dodge the explosion!"
With a thunderous explosion, a hurricane-like shockwave spread. Jiang Hong immediately grabbed onto the pool table, surrounded by flying glass shards. At the last moment, Lu Xiu appeared in front of Jiang Hong, holding him and turning to shield him with his back. An Jie slid under the bar, and Keda ducked down.
The explosion burst sideways, ten meters up in the air, leaving the ground unaffected. Zhu Rong was severely damaged, and after a moment of silence, the screams of thousands ensued.
Lu Xiu steadied Jiang Hong and then disappeared again with a water escape technique.
But Zhu Rong was not annihilated, instead gathering a huge fireball, as if preparing a final move. The dark fire slowly condensed in the air, forming a massive, terrifying face, swallowing all light in the night, hissing, "One day, you too will face this ultimate..."
What had happened earlier was merely a warm-up, and Cao Bin had been waiting for this moment. He leaned forward slightly, right hand pressing his left waist, ready to draw his "Instant Light Blade."
Then, he pulled a streak of golden light from the void.
"Here comes what you fear most, excited?" Cao Bin bellowed.
The Sword of Wisdom appears!
As Jiang Hong's vision returned, he saw the sky filled with golden light!
This light was different from the Heart Lamp; the Heart Lamp was like a warm ocean, but the Sword of Wisdom was like thunder from the heavens! In the presence of this ultimate divine weapon, dominating and destroying all demonic energy, all darkness would be shattered, and all grievances dispelled!
The golden light converged in an instant, revealing the immovable Vajra behind Cao Bin, majestic and awe-inspiring, intimidating everything in heaven and earth!
"Exorcise!" Cao Bin roared.
Cao Bin drew his sword!
The sword light tore through the night in an instant, as if splitting space, leaving traces of a torn curtain. As the Sword of Wisdom streaked across the night sky, it resounded like a deep bell, trailing a sonorous sound of gold and iron clashing.
Zhu Rong, in the final moment of conjuring his attack, was pierced through. Under the power of the Sword of Wisdom, it could not withstand a single strike and exploded in mid-air! Black flames screamed out, utterly incinerated!
The Vajra manifestation appeared for only three seconds before vanishing.
One man, one sword, standing in the center of the stage.
"No matter how many times you come," Cao Bin said in a deep voice, "the outcome will be the same."
At this moment, all the students started shouting wildly, with Jiang Hong also yelling along.
"Ah, I am forever Principal Cao's die-hard fan!" Jiang Hong was almost in tears.
The night quieted down again, as if nothing had happened, leaving only the disheveled trees and the glass and bricks shattered by the explosion.
"Now, we hand over the stage to the next teacher," Cao Bin said coolly, flicking his wrist, and the Sword of Wisdom disappeared.
The lights came on again, flickering. The stage, scarred by the Sword of Wisdom, lay in ruins.
"You have to admit," An Jie said in the group chat, "the combat power of Cangqiong University has surpassed the Exorcist Committee."
Chen Zhen said: "Yeah, especially since Fenghuang hasn't made a move yet. Maybe even Xiang Cheng didn't expect that their strength would be so formidable now, and now they have Lu Xiu too."
Cao Bin: "When you discuss such topics, you should first close the group chat."
Chen Zhen: "Maybe An Jie said it just for you to hear. I guess he wants to take back one or two top-class exorcists..."
Music started playing, but Jiang Hong, as if telepathically aware, stood at the bar, looking towards the stage in the distance. In the darkness, the lights began to turn on one by one, revealing a figure!
It was Lu Xiu! Indeed, it was Lu Xiu! It was time!
Lu Xiu, holding a guitar, sat on a bar stool, and after several rounds of flowing introductory music, he began to sing.
“My tea's gone cold,I'm wondering why,I got out of bed at all…”
“The morning rain clouds up my window,And I can't see at all.”
His voice was clear. As he began, he looked towards where Jiang Hong was. Jiang Hong immediately smiled, recognizing the song he liked very much— "Thank you."
Throughout the campus, as Lu Xiu sang, the debris from the damaged buildings rose and began to revert to their original state, with the melody's reverse entropy taking effect.
“And then you call me and it's not so bad,It's not so bad.”
“And I want to thank you,For giving me the best day of my life…”
The song was like a gentle version of "Stan." After the cheering, the students quieted down, started recording, and listened attentively to Lu Xiu's singing.
It sounded so beautiful! Jiang Hong sat at the bar, Lu Xiu's voice bright like the light gradually piercing through the darkness.
“And I want to thank you,For giving me the best day of my life…”
At this point in the song, Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong locked eyes. At that moment, Lu Xiu seemed a bit shy, lowering his head to glance at the guitar strings.
"He sings so well!" Xiao Pi also ran up, found the best spot, and started filming Lu Xiu, telling Jiang Hong, "It's so good, it's almost like lip-syncing!"
Jiang Hong: "Hahaha!"
Tsangqiu University gradually returned to normal. As Lu Xiu finished the last line, he murmured something. The students below were still shouting, and his words were drowned out by the cheers.
"What?!" someone exclaimed. "What did Teacher Lu say?"
"He said it's time for you all to go to sleep!" Lu Xiu exited the stage, shouting loudly.
This comment drew laughter, and as all the lights went out, everyone thought the event had ended, but Lu Xiu reappeared in the activity room.
"You sang so well!" Jiang Hong exclaimed, about to jump up and grab Lu Xiu, but Lu Xiu said, "Sit down properly."
Lu Xiu, uncharacteristically blushing, was briefly in the spotlight before the lights came back on, and the students started cheering loudly again.
The next performer was Si Gui! Xiang Si Gui!
He was still dressed in red, holding a golden flute, sitting on the high stool where Lu Xiu had played the guitar. He began the final act, his flute playing as melodious as starlight falling, while Jiang Hong leaned against Lu Xiu, both quietly listening to Si Gui's music.
"Such a beautiful night," Jiang Hong thought, feeling that being here right now was one of the best moments of his life.
—— End of Volume Two: Like Dreams and Bubbles ——
Chapter 74: Galaxy
In the darkness, the clouds dispersed, and the moon rose, leaving everyone in a sorry state.
Trees lay scattered haphazardly in front of the building, like the aftermath of a tsunami, with the Exorcism Committee headquarters' outer walls cracked, exposing gnarled rebar barely holding up the thirty-three-story building, on the verge of imminent collapse.
Everyone gathered at the entrance, utterly exhausted. Jiang Hong, taking off his pot, sat blankly on the stairs, the scene reminiscent of a post-earthquake disaster.
Chen Zhen still stood on the balcony, seemingly in a daze.
"Chen Zhen!" Qi Wei, descending on his dragon, which then disappeared into the air, called out. Everyone looked up towards the balcony.
Cao Bin called out again, prompting Chen Zhen to withdraw his divine light and come down.
All the lights in the square in front of the Exorcism Committee were out, making the moonlight unexpectedly bright that night. A dragon's cry echoed in the distant sky, and a black dragon soared away under the moonlight.
"Lu Xiu still hasn't given up?" Ke Da stood up, looking towards the distance.
The dark Lu Xiu had fled, but Lu Xiu was surely still in pursuit. Cao Bin said to Jiang Hong, "Lu Xiu! Stick to the plan! Conserve your strength! Jiang Hong, call him back."
Jiang Hong looked into the distance, hesitating, when An Jie also arrived, saying, "Let him come back. Don't chase any further; it's dangerous."
Jiang Hong asked, "What if he can catch up to that guy?"
Cao Bin replied, "Even if he can, he shouldn't chase. Revenge is a dish best served cold, even if it takes ten years."
Jiang Hong said, "He's going to be angry."
Ke Da teased, "Are you afraid of his anger? Come on, kid, can't you handle him? Don’t tell me Lu Xiu has you completely wrapped around his finger."
Cao Bin advised, "Summon him, he'll listen to you."
With all six top exorcists gathered, Jiang Hong, with some reluctance, took out the dragon scale he wore on his chest and, after a moment's contemplation, called out, "Lu Xiu—!"
Almost instantly, a mist formed in front of him, and Lu Xiu appeared abruptly. Realizing Jiang Hong was safe, he quickly understood what had happened.
"Stop chasing, it's too dangerous," Jiang Hong said, bracing himself for Lu Xiu's anger.
Surprisingly, Lu Xiu didn’t get angry but simply acknowledged with a grunt.
"Everyone's here," said Cao Bin. "Let's start the second phase."
Qi Wei, looking at the shattered Exorcism Committee building, exclaimed in shock, "What are we going to do about this?"
Ke Da, relishing the chaos, said, "That's not my problem anymore. You guys deal with it, I’m with Qingqiu University now!"
Chen Zhen, with a serious expression, interjected, "Stop joking around. An Jie, get ready to start."
Everyone sighed in relief. Jiang Hong quietly asked Lu Xiu, "What are we going to do now?"
"Are you hurt?" Lu Xiu responded, concerned about Jiang Hong instead of answering the question. He took Jiang Hong’s hand, their fingers intertwining naturally. Reflecting on the brief yet intense past half-hour, Jiang Hong felt as if he had survived a great ordeal.
During that half-hour, everyone seemed calm and composed, but looking back, the situation was incredibly perilous.
"I’m fine," Jiang Hong said, unconcerned about himself and focusing only on Lu Xiu. "What about you?"
Lu Xiu signaled that he was unharmed and added, "Fortunately, you spotted him. I was able to handle him this time..."
Jiang Hong knew exactly who Lu Xiu was referring to as "him." During their conversation, he noticed Chen Zhen watching him intently, his gaze seeming to hold a deeper meaning.
"What about Fang Yifeng?" Cao Bin suddenly asked.
Chen Zhen subtly gestured for silence with a 'shush,' indicating that even among allies, it was better to keep critical information under wraps.
Ke Da expressed confusion: "?"
Chen Zhen felt compelled to explain to everyone: "I've sent someone on a separate mission to gather intelligence on the enemy's headquarters during this chaos."
Understanding the sensitivity, everyone tacitly agreed not to probe further.
An Jie calmly announced, "I'm beginning the spell now."
All eyes turned to An Jie. As he raised his hand, Jiang Hong felt an incredibly strange sensation; it was as if his body had dissolved, yet his consciousness remained. He felt like a gust of wind, or as if he had merged into a river, struggling against its rapid current.
He tried to reach for Lu Xiu but realized that in this vast river, he couldn't touch anything. Everything just passed by him, leaving him alone.
"Jiang Hong!"
Countless voices called out around him, some unfamiliar, some familiar... Familiar? Who was that?
"Jiang Hong! Wake up! It's not over yet—!"
"Jiang Hong!"
"Jiang Hong!!"
"His name is Jiang Hong? I'll join in too, Jiang Hong! Jiang Hong!"
"Bring him back... he's still alive..."
"Jiang Hong! Time to wake up! Get up and save the world!"
Suddenly, the room brightened, lights blazing, followed by the distant sound of cheering from outside.
"Huh?" Jiang Hong was shocked to find themselves in the S-Class activity room at Cangqiong University!
An Jie glanced at the wall clock and said, "Precise landing, spellcasting complete."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Ke Da was the first to head for the door, declaring, "I'm off to take a shower."
"Has the celebration not ended yet?"
"To be precise, it hasn't even officially started yet." Cao Bin's shirt was half torn, revealing his wheat-colored, muscular torso and an attractively slim waistline, looking like they had just brawled in a bar.
Cao Bin added, "I'll change my clothes too. Everyone, please proceed to the audience area later."
Xuan Hezhi said, "I'll coordinate the external defenses."
An Jie cautioned, "Remember, absolutely do not encounter your own selves from this time period."
Lu Xiu commented, "We'll wait a bit longer."
Jiang Hong rushed to the window and peered out. The other side of the administrative building was the stage. He and Lu Xiu were currently watching fireworks on the campus road, soon to fly across the campus towards the secret portal.
"Oh my god!" Jiang Hong exclaimed loudly, "This is... time travel? We've returned to the past!"
An Jie moved to sit aside and answered, "Yes."
Fireworks began outside, very close to their location. The elite S-Class exorcists started leaving, while Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong remained in the activity room, waiting.
"We went to the administrative building after watching the fireworks," Lu Xiu explained to Jiang Hong, "so we need to wait until the fireworks are over to avoid encountering ourselves from this time."
Jiang Hong marveled, "So that means there are two of me in this timeline! Amazing!"
Lu Xiu observed Jiang Hong, the bright light bulbs in the room adding a warm glow. Outside, the fireworks seemed to burst right at the window, illuminating their faces with its light.
"Yeah," Lu Xiu pondered and replied, "It is quite incredible."
"But what would happen if I met myself?" Jiang Hong asked, curious yet slightly frightened by the prospect.
Lu Xiu: "Do you remember? At this point in time, we never encountered ourselves who traveled back from the future."
Jiang Hong nodded in agreement – indeed, they hadn't, as he hadn't even known where he was going then.
"So, you can't greet your past self right now," Lu Xiu said, joining Jiang Hong by the window to watch the fireworks. It was Jiang Hong's second time seeing them, but this close proximity made it even more magical.
"What are we going to do later?" Jiang Hong asked. "Will there be more enemies?"
After pondering for a moment, Lu Xiu replied, "Not necessarily, but we'll be safe once we're back at the school. I have a performance at 9:45. Will you come watch?"
Excitedly, Jiang Hong responded, "Of course! I even prepared the pot earlier!"
Lu Xiu laughed and said, "I need to get ready first, but we need to find a place for you."
"Should I go find our class?" suggested Jiang Hong.
As the fireworks ended, the stage rose, and the administrative building slowly deconstructed. The walls of the S-Class classroom vanished, transforming into a floating platform that gently rotated in the air. The bar faced the center stage, becoming the perfect viewing area for the audience!
Lu Xiu suggested, "You can stay here too, but I need to go prepare now."
"Go ahead!" Jiang Hong smiled. "Perform well later!"
Lu Xiu appeared to have more to say, hesitating for a moment, then finally patted Jiang Hong's head with a slight smile on his lips.
"I'm off," Lu Xiu said. "See you later."
Jiang Hong thought for a moment and decided to retrieve his speaker from the dormitory to bring out Old Sun. The exterior of the activity room was now crisscrossed with staircases, which emerged as the building deconstructed, resembling bridges connecting the dormitories and academic buildings. Everywhere, from rooftops to the cafeteria’s terrace, students gathered to view the school’s anniversary celebration.
Jiang Hong, discerning his direction, headed back via the staircases, but soon spotted Anjie not far off.
Clearly, Anjie was puzzled, as he had never been to Cangqiong University before.
“Could you show me around your school?” Anjie asked.
“Of course,” Jiang Hong replied with a smile. “I was just heading back to my dormitory.”
The night at Cangqiong University felt like a dream. As Jiang Hong guided Anjie, passing the cafeteria, he casually introduced the school. It was Anjie's first visit, and he listened intently.
“Boss, have you never been here before?” Jiang Hong inquired.
Anjie responded, “No, I wasn’t really interested before. I wouldn’t have come today if not for Chen Zhen’s request.”
Jiang Hong’s initial impression of Anjie was of him standing in the Exorcism Commission’s hall, holding an umbrella, surrounded by black-clad attendants, angrily telling Lu Xiu, “You are forbidden from entering the Commission,” much like a gang leader or a pampered heir.
Then, during a mission in Guangzhou, he inadvertently noticed that Anjie’s health bar was only a few thousand and his mana was pitifully low, making the Commission’s second-in-command seem shockingly weak.
But after tonight, Jiang Hong instantly recognized Anjie’s formidable power – the ability to traverse time! With such power, one could virtually rule the world!
Hence, Anjie's image suddenly grew much larger in Jiang Hong's eyes.
“Boss,” Jiang Hong couldn’t help but flatter, saying, “You can travel through time! That’s incredible!”
“I can’t teach you,” Anjie replied. “Don’t get any wild ideas.”
"Oh, no, no," Jiang Hong quickly demurred, "My magical powers are too weak, I couldn't possibly learn that. My dormitory is just ahead."
Anjie, fiddling with his headset, quipped, "Cao Bin, your direct disciple is about to become my fanboy."
Jiang Hong hurriedly interjected, "Ah! No! Second Boss, don't say things like that!"
Anjie teased, "He’s even taking me to his dormitory."
Jiang Hong: “……”
Anjie surveyed the surroundings and remarked, "Your living conditions here are quite good."
Jiang Hong wasn’t really listening; his mind was full of thoughts about time travel and grandfather paradoxes. He couldn’t help but ask again, “Why couldn’t I see myself just now?”
Anjie explained, "Because before you came here, you hadn't encountered your future self."
Jiang Hong asked, "Ah? How did you know that?"
Anjie elaborated, "If you had seen yourself, wouldn’t you have made a fuss about it? So, once your past self sees you, it creates a causal paradox on the timeline. Because your past self did not see your future self returning through time, but you just now caused that paradox."
Jiang Hong nodded and replied, "Right."
Anjie continued, "This could create contradictory facts in this universe, leading to chaos in the fundamental laws of cause and effect, with the most likely consequence being – annihilation."
Startled, Jiang Hong said, "Annihilate the whole world?"
Anjie clarified, "Not necessarily. It hasn't happened yet, but it might result in the annihilation of both versions of you in the different timelines, causing a collapse of all the events you've influenced. In any case, the consequences are severe."
Jiang Hong comprehended, "Oh, I see. So, this ability... shouldn't be used carelessly."
Anjie: "Yes."
Jiang Hong: "But if you sent Dark Chen Zhen back in time to meet his past self, wouldn't that annihilate him? Couldn't this skill be used to defeat bosses?"
Anjie: "It's possible, and I've considered it. But Huanying's involvement is too extensive. Triggering an annihilation chain could be disastrous. You don't know how far their influence reaches. We might eliminate the boss, but it could end the world."
Jiang Hong, always curious, would ask questions with a wild imagination, sometimes not even understanding his own queries. However, only four people would seriously answer him—Lu Xiu, Cao Bin, Anjie, and Chen Zhen—without joking around. Anjie taking his question so seriously made him feel a bit embarrassed.
Anjie: “？？？”
Anjie saw Jiang Hong fetch a Tmall Genie and walk back.
The host's voice announced: “Today is the 10th anniversary of Cangqiong University. Although our principal is still absent, let's ask everyone, whose performance are you most looking forward to?”
Shouts were everywhere, some distant, some close, but all discernibly chanting “Principal Cao.”
Back in the activity room, Jiang Hong and Anjie sat at the bar, as the host continued: “I hear your voices, it’s Director Xuan Hezhi, right!”
This was met with a chorus of boos.
While preparing drinks for Anjie, Jiang Hong laughed heartily, wondering where Lu Xiu was and if he was ready for his performance.
Anjie glanced at the clock and grumbled: “How long will this noisy event last?”
Jiang Hong: “Until ten, huh?”
Anjie: “?”
Jiang Hong: “Nothing.” He thought to himself that Lu Xiu was scheduled to perform at 9:45, close to the final act. He must be incredibly popular! Could the final performance be Cao Bin?
Xuan Hezhi took the stage, first summoning a bunch of plants, then putting a traffic cone on his head as a hat, and starting a real-life version of Plants vs. Zombies. Anjie, not interested in watching, stood up to play pool.
Jiang Hong laughed heartily at the bar, clutching his stomach in amusement. The performances today were indeed splendid!
Host: "Thank you, Director Xuan, for the wonderful performance. As the evening progresses, let's now welcome Teacher Keda from F4, shall we?"
Chen Zhen's voice came from the WeChat group: "Anjie, won't you come down to watch?"
Anjie: "No, thanks. It's unbearable. Cao Bin, how about letting your disciple learn from me?"
Jiang Hong immediately protested: "No, no! Boss, please stop joking around!"
Then, Ge Gen Tuolu Keda took the stage. Dressed in a huge mascot outfit, he impersonated Psyduck, waving his arms and hopping around in a lively dance.
"Oh my goodness!" Jiang Hong laughed so hard he nearly cried, watching the literal “Character Breakdown Party”. He watched as Keda, dressed as Psyduck, suddenly froze mid-dance. Then Xiao Pi ran up and wound him up, causing the huge Psyduck to wiggle its bottom energetically on stage.
Keda, as Psyduck, started throwing snacks into the audience. Under the influence of magic, the snacks spiraled around, even flying up to the bar in the activity room.
Jiang Hong thought he would never be able to look at Keda the same way again after tonight.
Chen Zhen in the WeChat group: "They shouldn't be coming back."
Anjie, wearing headphones, countered: "No, they will come. I saw it in the surveillance while you were busy fighting Gonggong."
As Keda’s performance ended, suddenly, the lights in the entire venue dimmed.
Surprised exclamations arose from various corners of the campus, with many students thinking it was part of the show, clapping in anticipation.
Anjie remarked: “This time, they’re coming from the sky.”
Jiang Hong quickly looked up, spotting a dark red fireball slowly approaching in the sky. His phone beeped with a message from the WeChat group voice chat.
Jiang Hong opened it and put on his headphones.
Host: “Alright, up next…”
But his voice halted. Everyone gradually began to sense something. At that moment, Cao Bin, now changed into a new outfit, walked onto the stage. He casually switched off the host's microphone, put on a single-ear headset on his left ear, and adjusted it slightly.
"Please allow me to take over for the next part." Cao Bin's voice was magnetic and seductive. His white shirt and waistcoat made his slender waist stand out, his tall figure complemented by straight black trousers and shiny leather shoes, standing confidently on the stage.
The audience erupted into applause again, but gradually, some students started noticing the fireball in the sky—getting closer and bursting with sun-like flares. Jiang Hong, observing with the naked eye, noticed the flames were surrounded by darkness!
Many students initially thought it was part of Cao Bin's prepared stage effect, but others had already stood up, gazing into the sky, realizing the danger.
Chen Zhen: "They only sent one opponent, they're underestimating us."
An Jie: "Their initial target was the school committee. The school's offensive strategy clearly aimed to hold us back."
"What you see now is our enemy," said Cao Bin calmly. "This isn't part of the show, but there's no need to panic. Everyone, look up. Do you see it? Right above your heads, yes, that red fireball..."
In the group chat, Chen Zhen said, "Jiang Hong, can you identify it?"
Jiang Hong took out the Omnibook, pointing towards the sky, revealing the creature's health bar.
"Zhu... Zhu Rong," Jiang Hong said. "It's chanting, preparing to use magic. Be careful."
Cao Bin, somehow receiving Jiang Hong's message—perhaps someone was relaying it to him—added, "This is Zhu Rong, one of the five ancient gods, but not the deity itself. Rather, it’s a being resurrected by an organization called 'Yinghuo,' using a unique method to revive one of the ancient gods..."
The students finally began to stir, no one specifically maintaining order, but the unrest lasted only a few seconds as everyone adhered to the venue's protocol.
Cao Bin, keeping his eyes on the fireball in the sky, said, "I suspect its main attack method is a meteor of fire. But when facing such a formidable enemy, try not to attack it before it makes its move."
An Jie: "Enough already, teaching students at a time like this..."
The fireball hovered mid-air. The entire campus fell silent, everyone holding their breath, their breathing seemingly synchronized in a certain rhythm, three, two, one...
The fireball suddenly erupted, like a bright sun appearing in the night sky, followed by a downpour of meteoric fire raining down on the school!
Everyone, including Jiang Hong, instinctively raised their hands to protect their heads, but in the next second, a flood surged up, followed by a dragon's roar!
"Lu Xiu!" someone began shouting.
The dragon's true form appeared, carrying a towering tidal wave, rising up under the gaze of the entire campus. Jiang Hong yelled out but dared not call out Lu Xiu's name, fearing he might inadvertently summon him.
Its black body radiated golden light, covered in sealing runes, soaring into the sky, surrounded by rolling steam and a vast ocean-like tornado. Then, it suddenly turned in the air, roaring fiercely!
A mountainous tidal wave materialized from nowhere, a furious sea crashing over the black dragon's body, rolling towards Zhu Rong, extinguishing the sky-full of fireballs. Everywhere was engulfed in smoke, revealing the glowing figure of a giant, Zhu Rong appearing—like Gonggong.
Following that, the black dragon soared again, bringing up a sky-full of mist, which condensed into rolling clouds. It was the first time Jiang Hong had seen Lu Xiu using his dragon's natural abilities in battle, like the ancient records of "clouds following the dragon," truly possessing the tremendous power to turn the clouds and rain!
All the students were screaming wildly. Cao Bin slowly placed his right hand on his left waist, intently watching the battle.
Keda had taken off the duck costume, arriving at the base of the battlefield. With a few leaps, he reached the level of the activity room. In his right hand, he held a small dagger, shimmering coldly.
Jiang Hong immediately recognized the dagger.
"Is that the Soul Piercer?" Jiang Hong asked. "Is it called the Soul Piercer?"
He remembered Lu Xiu once drawing golden-red blood with the Soul Piercer, a dagger capable of breaking through appearances and directly harming the essence.
"Yes," Keda answered. "Step back, protect your eyes. If you have sunglasses, put them on."
"Come over here," An Jie calmly said, directing Jiang Hong to take cover behind the pool table.
Zhu Rong roared furiously in the air, unleashing another wave of meteoric fire upon the earth, while the black dragon rolled within the clouds, thunder and lightning forming, gathering around the golden sealing runes on its body, creating an oddly powerful and beautiful sight.
In the next moment, Cao Bin's body began to emit bursts of thunder, slightly levitating off the ground!
Jiang Hong was shocked, whispering, "Principal Cao can actually use thunder magic?!"
"Yes," An Jie said calmly. "It's normal for you not to know. It's not his family's secret technique, and he rarely uses it, even in the Demon Hunting Committee."
Jiang Hong suddenly remembered the first time he saw Cao Bin take action—over the Jialing River in Chongqing, breaking through the Wuzhiqi defense line, Cao Bin descended from the sky, bringing down a torrent of thunder.
Darkness enveloped the world, lit only by constant flashes of lightning and the glow of the fiery meteors, resembling an apocalyptic scene. Lightning passed between the black dragon and Cao Bin, as if they were the positive and negative poles of the world's electricity!
The second wave of fiery meteors approached, and suddenly, millions of giant green leaves appeared in the air, floating gently as if using softness to overcome strength, resisting the meteor bombardment.
As the third wave of fiery meteors was about to be released, the lightning gathered by the dragon concentrated and, with the dragon's long chant, millions of thunderbolts cascaded down like a waterfall, not aimed at Zhu Rong, but converging in mid-air like a river turning sharply, aiming upwards at Keda!
In that instant, Jiang Hong understood what Keda meant by "watch your eyes," as he felt his vision nearly blinded! All the lightning was drawn towards Keda, focusing on the Soul Piercer dagger, and Keda shouted, "Go!"
The intense thunderstorm was suddenly retracted, and the world fell silent. Cao Bin drew the thunder to himself and released it again, and within half a second, Keda raised his hand, sending out a starburst that instantly attached to Zhu Rong's body.
Keda: "Dodge the explosion!"
With a thunderous explosion, a hurricane-like shockwave spread. Jiang Hong immediately grabbed onto the pool table, surrounded by flying glass shards. At the last moment, Lu Xiu appeared in front of Jiang Hong, holding him and turning to shield him with his back. An Jie slid under the bar, and Keda ducked down.
The explosion burst sideways, ten meters up in the air, leaving the ground unaffected. Zhu Rong was severely damaged, and after a moment of silence, the screams of thousands ensued.
Lu Xiu steadied Jiang Hong and then disappeared again with a water escape technique.
But Zhu Rong was not annihilated, instead gathering a huge fireball, as if preparing a final move. The dark fire slowly condensed in the air, forming a massive, terrifying face, swallowing all light in the night, hissing, "One day, you too will face this ultimate..."
What had happened earlier was merely a warm-up, and Cao Bin had been waiting for this moment. He leaned forward slightly, right hand pressing his left waist, ready to draw his "Instant Light Blade."
Then, he pulled a streak of golden light from the void.
"Here comes what you fear most, excited?" Cao Bin bellowed.
The Sword of Wisdom appears!
As Jiang Hong's vision returned, he saw the sky filled with golden light!
This light was different from the Heart Lamp; the Heart Lamp was like a warm ocean, but the Sword of Wisdom was like thunder from the heavens! In the presence of this ultimate divine weapon, dominating and destroying all demonic energy, all darkness would be shattered, and all grievances dispelled!
The golden light converged in an instant, revealing the immovable Vajra behind Cao Bin, majestic and awe-inspiring, intimidating everything in heaven and earth!
"Exorcise!" Cao Bin roared.
Cao Bin drew his sword!
The sword light tore through the night in an instant, as if splitting space, leaving traces of a torn curtain. As the Sword of Wisdom streaked across the night sky, it resounded like a deep bell, trailing a sonorous sound of gold and iron clashing.
Zhu Rong, in the final moment of conjuring his attack, was pierced through. Under the power of the Sword of Wisdom, it could not withstand a single strike and exploded in mid-air! Black flames screamed out, utterly incinerated!
The Vajra manifestation appeared for only three seconds before vanishing.
One man, one sword, standing in the center of the stage.
"No matter how many times you come," Cao Bin said in a deep voice, "the outcome will be the same."
At this moment, all the students started shouting wildly, with Jiang Hong also yelling along.
"Ah, I am forever Principal Cao's die-hard fan!" Jiang Hong was almost in tears.
The night quieted down again, as if nothing had happened, leaving only the disheveled trees and the glass and bricks shattered by the explosion.
"Now, we hand over the stage to the next teacher," Cao Bin said coolly, flicking his wrist, and the Sword of Wisdom disappeared.
The lights came on again, flickering. The stage, scarred by the Sword of Wisdom, lay in ruins.
"You have to admit," An Jie said in the group chat, "the combat power of Cangqiong University has surpassed the Exorcist Committee."
Chen Zhen said: "Yeah, especially since Fenghuang hasn't made a move yet. Maybe even Xiang Cheng didn't expect that their strength would be so formidable now, and now they have Lu Xiu too."
Cao Bin: "When you discuss such topics, you should first close the group chat."
Chen Zhen: "Maybe An Jie said it just for you to hear. I guess he wants to take back one or two top-class exorcists..."
Music started playing, but Jiang Hong, as if telepathically aware, stood at the bar, looking towards the stage in the distance. In the darkness, the lights began to turn on one by one, revealing a figure!
It was Lu Xiu! Indeed, it was Lu Xiu! It was time!
Lu Xiu, holding a guitar, sat on a bar stool, and after several rounds of flowing introductory music, he began to sing.
“My tea's gone cold,I'm wondering why,I got out of bed at all…”
“The morning rain clouds up my window,And I can't see at all.”
His voice was clear. As he began, he looked towards where Jiang Hong was. Jiang Hong immediately smiled, recognizing the song he liked very much— "Thank you."
Throughout the campus, as Lu Xiu sang, the debris from the damaged buildings rose and began to revert to their original state, with the melody's reverse entropy taking effect.
“And then you call me and it's not so bad,It's not so bad.”
“And I want to thank you,For giving me the best day of my life…”
The song was like a gentle version of "Stan." After the cheering, the students quieted down, started recording, and listened attentively to Lu Xiu's singing.
It sounded so beautiful! Jiang Hong sat at the bar, Lu Xiu's voice bright like the light gradually piercing through the darkness.
“And I want to thank you,For giving me the best day of my life…”
At this point in the song, Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong locked eyes. At that moment, Lu Xiu seemed a bit shy, lowering his head to glance at the guitar strings.
"He sings so well!" Xiao Pi also ran up, found the best spot, and started filming Lu Xiu, telling Jiang Hong, "It's so good, it's almost like lip-syncing!"
Jiang Hong: "Hahaha!"
Tsangqiu University gradually returned to normal. As Lu Xiu finished the last line, he murmured something. The students below were still shouting, and his words were drowned out by the cheers.
"What?!" someone exclaimed. "What did Teacher Lu say?"
"He said it's time for you all to go to sleep!" Lu Xiu exited the stage, shouting loudly.
This comment drew laughter, and as all the lights went out, everyone thought the event had ended, but Lu Xiu reappeared in the activity room.
"You sang so well!" Jiang Hong exclaimed, about to jump up and grab Lu Xiu, but Lu Xiu said, "Sit down properly."
Lu Xiu, uncharacteristically blushing, was briefly in the spotlight before the lights came back on, and the students started cheering loudly again.
The next performer was Si Gui! Xiang Si Gui!
He was still dressed in red, holding a golden flute, sitting on the high stool where Lu Xiu had played the guitar. He began the final act, his flute playing as melodious as starlight falling, while Jiang Hong leaned against Lu Xiu, both quietly listening to Si Gui's music.
"Such a beautiful night," Jiang Hong thought, feeling that being here right now was one of the best moments of his life.
—— End of Volume Two: Like Dreams and Bubbles ——
