Chapter 273

Chapter 273: The Purpose of the Ancient Weapon Academy

Strangely enough, that wisp of black aura seemed to have consciousness. Sensing the Fusang Fire flying towards it, it immediately sped up its swirling and dancing, running along Xia Guanqiu’s magical weapon.

Lou Yun and Xia Guanqiu both froze slightly upon seeing this. How could the evil aura be so intelligent, knowing that the Fusang Fire was coming to deal with it and even trying to escape!

Naturally, Lou Yun couldn’t let it get away. So he urgently used his own spiritual awareness to urge the Fusang Fire to chase after the evil aura.

Thus, one fled, and one pursued—one was flame, the other black aura. The two unexpectedly began a life-and-death battle of pursuit on Xia Guanqiu’s magical weapon!

However, the evil aura ultimately couldn’t escape Lou Yun’s conscious urging. In a short while, it was caught by the Fusang Fire.

The Fusang Fire set the end of the evil aura ablaze. At the same time, Xia Guanqiu let out a low grunt. Apparently, the evil aura had infiltrated the interior of his magical weapon, so this burning by the Fusang Fire felt just like repairing a damaged magical weapon. For him, it was an intensely painful ordeal.

While gradually raising the Fusang Fire’s temperature to shorten Xia Guanqiu’s suffering time, Lou Yun asked casually, "Dean Xia, earlier you said that evil weapons master came here for past revenge. Now that he’s injured you, his revenge should be settled, and this should be over. But why did I hear from A Jiu that he might be coming again?"

Xia Guanqiu had been fully resisting the agony from his magical weapon. Hearing this question, he stiffened momentarily. As a clever person, he instantly grasped the implication in Lou Yun’s words.

After taking a sharp breath, Xia Guanqiu shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "I knew I couldn’t keep it from you. That’s true—Tang Qianqiu’s real goal wasn’t revenge; it was for one thing!"

Lou Yun didn’t press for more. He kept his eyes fixed intently on the burning Fusang Fire, as if deaf to Xia Guanqiu’s words.

Xia Guanqiu sighed and went on, "Truthfully, the existence of the Ancient Weapon Academy isn’t solely about training qualified magical weapons masters!"

Lou Yun’s heart stirred. He realized that Xia Guanqiu was about to disclose a huge secret unknown to outsiders.

"Beneath the Ancient Weapon Academy, we suppress a demon beast. I believe you’ve heard its name—it’s called the Disaster Dou Beast!"

Lou Yun, who had been pretending not to hear anything, made his Fusang Fire tremble faintly upon hearing "Disaster Dou Beast," clearly revealing his inner shock.

Lou Yun lifted his head and repeated the name, "The Disaster Dou Beast?"

"Yes, the Disaster Dou Beast!" Xia Guanqiu nodded forcefully, affirming it once more.

Lou Yun couldn’t contain himself. He took a deep breath and said, "Is it that legendary beast that spews strange fire, whose droppings even ignite while falling, and which brings widespread fires wherever it goes—always viewed as a fire omen and profoundly unlucky?"

"Exactly, that’s it!"

If not for his prior experience encountering the legendary six-tailed giant snake in the ocean, Lou Yun might not have stayed so composed at this moment.

Lou Yun nodded and said, "It seems that things we regard as legends truly exist. They’ve just gone unseen for so long that people gradually forgot about them!"

"Yes, before becoming dean, I too thought the Disaster Dou Beast was purely a fabrication to scare children. But later, I learned it’s real and lies less than a hundred meters from us now!"

"But why was the Ancient Weapon Academy created to suppress this Disaster Dou Beast in the first place? If someone could subdue it then, why not kill it outright? That would have been clean and final, erasing any future threat!"

Xia Guanqiu shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "Lou Yun, you’re not very informed about demon beasts. Although they cultivate and have ranks, one like the Disaster Dou Beast is an ancient entity far beyond ordinary levels. From birth, it likely possessed immense power, and legend says as long as the fire inside it burns, it cannot die."

Lou Yun could accept this explanation, since he figured the six-tailed giant snake also fell into the ancient demon beast category. Under typical circumstances, killing it was probably impossible!

Xia Guanqiu continued, "Back then, this Disaster Dou Beast had gained sentience. It rampaged here, sparking endless fires that led to severe drought and widespread hardship across the land. Numerous masters gathered to annihilate it, but they couldn’t kill it completely. Then a powerful figure devised a method to seal it away, plunging it into a deep slumber. To stop it from reawakening and wreaking havoc again, that sage built the Ancient Weapon Academy here!"

"Building the Ancient Weapon Academy alone can suppress it and prevent its awakening? How does that work?"

"Haha!" Xia Guanqiu, perhaps overly engrossed in talking, temporarily forgot the pain from his magical weapon. He added, "This is something you’re unaware of. How much do you know about arrays?"

"Arrays! I know nothing about them!" Lou Yun couldn’t help but feel another ripple of surprise, thinking how coincidental it was that he’d just befriended the Three Brothers of the Lu Family, skilled in arrays, and now heard about arrays once more.

"Haha, I don’t understand them either! But the whole Ancient Weapon Academy is an array itself, and everyone within—students, teachers, even myself—is part of it. As long as people are in the academy, this array remains active, so the Disaster Dou Beast stays sealed and suppressed indefinitely!"

"Ah!" Lou Yun was astonished, never imagining the entire Ancient Weapon Academy was an array. This was truly shocking news. It meant that if an opportunity arose later, he might bring the Three Brothers of the Lu Family here to observe. They might learn from the layout and break through their own obstacles!

At this thought, Lou Yun felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had always carried a burden of guilt for deceiving the naive Three Brothers of the Lu Family. Now, it seemed he might accidentally discover a way to help them, finally resolving this weight on his conscience.

Dean Xia Guanqiu, of course, had no clue what Lou Yun was pondering. He simply continued speaking: "That Tang Qianqiu somehow learned about the Disaster Dou Beast suppressed beneath the Ancient Weapon Academy. He came here intending to take the beast away. As for its purpose, I believe the Disaster Dou Beast could aid him in cultivating his evil weapon. If he truly manages to advance his evil weapon to a higher realm, the devastation he could unleash would undoubtedly surpass that caused by the Disaster Dou Beast!"

Now Lou Yun finally understood the truth behind Tang Qianqiu’s attack on the Ancient Weapon Academy. He gave a slight smile and said, "Done!"

Dean Xia, who was still engrossed in his narration, was taken aback. "Done? What’s done?"

"Dean Xia, the malevolent energy on your magical weapon is completely gone."

Only now did Dean Xia comprehend. He hastily looked at his magical weapon and, sure enough, it was clean—that wisp of evil energy had truly vanished!

"Dean Xia, retract your magical weapon now for focused meditation. Your injuries will be almost fully healed." Dean Xia raised his thumb approvingly. "Lou Yun, I truly have to reassess my view of you!"

"Haha, you flatter me! Please focus on your meditation. I’ll stand guard outside." Having said that, Lou Yun turned to leave but suddenly paused and looked back. "By the way, when will Tang Qianqiu and his men return?"

"In three days."

"Got it."

After replying, Lou Yun stepped outside. As the door opened, Xia Zhilan rushed forward immediately, her voice filled with concern. "Brother Lou, is my grandfather healed?"

"Yes, rest easy. He just needs that final meditation. He will fully recover then."

Xia Zhilan exhaled a long sigh of relief. "Thank you, Brother Lou."

"Haha, no need for such formality between us! You can enter shortly."

Lou Yun walked over to a large rock, sat down alone, and began considering how to confront Tang Qianqiu and his fellow evil weapon warriors in three days.

He knew Dean Xia Guanqiu’s magical weapon realm was Earth level, yet Tang Qianqiu had still managed to injure him. That suggested Tang Qianqiu’s true strength likely reached Heavenly level or was approaching it.

If Tang Qianqiu’s strength was merely Heavenly level, then after his previous battle with Mo Linsheng, Lou Yun had gained a deeper understanding of his own true power. While in the Spirit Transformation state, augmented by the Fusang Fire and Thunderstorm Fire, he possessed the capability to contend with a Heaven-level magical weapons master. However, the crucial problem was that Tang Qianqiu’s evil weapon was unlike anything Lou Yun had encountered. He didn’t know if it harbored other special abilities.

Moreover, Tang Qianqiu wasn’t alone. The strength of his followers remained unknown. If they were weaker than him, it might be manageable. But if any were his equal or stronger, then even with Lou Yun’s aid, the Ancient Weapon Academy would still face grave danger.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the chamber door opened. Xia Guanqiu walked out, beaming with joy, his face radiating a healthy glow—clearly his injuries were completely mended.

"Grandfather, are you alright?" Xia Zhilan hurried over, supporting his arm, her voice laced with anxiety.

"Hahaha, perfectly fine, perfectly fine! My future grandson-in-law’s skills are certainly not an exaggeration!"

These words instantly flushed Xia Zhilan’s face scarlet with embarrassment. She hurriedly covered her cheeks with her hands and stomped her foot forcefully. "Grandfather! You’re teasing me too! I’m ignoring you!" With that, she rushed back into the room.

Seeing his granddaughter’s reaction, Xia Guanqiu burst into another hearty laugh.

Though Lou Yun also felt somewhat awkward, he had serious matters to discuss. He approached Xia Guanqiu directly, lowering his voice. "Dean, I believe we should send Little Lan and A Jiu away first—far from the Ancient Weapon Academy. If we don’t, they might be in danger in three days!"