Translator: CinderTL
Four grayscale photos appeared on the obituary projection.
One of the photos showed a burly man with a full beard, smiling warmly.
It was Cao Feng, the martial arts teacher for the Third-Year High School Elite Class!
"Teacher Cao..." Jiang Ye murmured in disbelief. "He... sacrificed himself?"
His mind went blank.
Jiang Ye hadn't known Teacher Cao for long, only about half a year.
Cao Feng wasn't as partial to Jiang Ye as Chen Zilu had been. He rarely offered extra tutoring after class.
But this wasn't just for Jiang Ye; it was the same for all the students in Class 1. In that sense, Cao Feng treated everyone equally.
Though he didn't offer after-school help, he fulfilled his teaching duties during class, answering every question thoroughly.
To Jiang Ye, Cao Feng was a teacher worthy of respect.
And just recently, when Jiang Dahai faced danger, Cao Feng had been among the first to arrive, along with Zhang Jianwu.
That had been the last time Jiang Ye saw Cao Feng.
"Teacher Cao..." Jiang Ye stared at the grayscale photo, his heart heavy with grief.
Once, Jiang Ye had believed the Shadow Calamity was a distant threat.
Even if it erupted, he thought it would be contained swiftly, just like the previous incident in Qingyang City.
But the deaths of those around him this time shattered that illusion.
Jiang Ye realized the world had never been at peace.
Suddenly, something struck him. He frantically dialed Zhang Jianwu's number.
Ring...
After half a minute, the call finally connected.
"Director!" Jiang Ye exclaimed urgently. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," a weary voice answered from the other end.
Jiang Ye secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Director, the school just released a memorial notice," Jiang Ye continued. "Teacher Cao, he..."
"It's true," Zhang Jianwu replied heavily, offering no further explanation.
Jiang Ye paused, then shifted the topic. "What's the situation outside now?"
"It's mostly stabilized," Zhang Jianwu said grimly. "Most of the Cosmic Void Passages have been contained."
"However..."
"The bad news is that some of the hundred-plus Cosmic Void Passages that appeared this time are permanent," Zhang Jianwu said in a low voice.
"Permanent?" Jiang Ye asked, startled.
He had never heard that term before.
Zhang Jianwu replied gravely, "Normally, Cosmic Void Passages dissipate within two weeks of appearing."
"But a small fraction of these passages remain in our world."
"These long-lasting Cosmic Void Passages are what we call permanent Cosmic Void Passages."
Jiang Ye's heart shuddered.
"Does that mean Ancheng is at constant risk of a Shadow Calamity outbreak?" he blurted out.
"Yes," Zhang Jianwu nodded. "But don't worry too much."
"Permanent Cosmic Void Passages aren't rare. They exist all over Blue Star, and we have well-established countermeasures."
"Once this Shadow Calamity is contained, personnel will be stationed inside the Cosmic Void Passage to guard it," Zhang Jianwu said.
"Stationed inside the Cosmic Void Passage?" Jiang Ye's mind reeled.
The other side of the Cosmic Void Passage led to the Shadow Clan's world!
How could anyone dare enter that place, let alone maintain a permanent presence there?
What kind of courage would that require?
"Don't be surprised," Zhang Jianwu said calmly. "The Blue Star Federation has been fighting the Shadow Calamity for decades. Our survival isn't based solely on passive defense."
"Many cosmic martial artists also venture into the Shadow Clan's world, unleashing mass slaughter."
"Why has Ancheng remained peaceful for so many years?" Zhang Jianwu murmured. "Precisely because Qingyang City next door has a strong guardian stationed in the permanent Cosmic Void Passage, deterring the Shadow Clan."
Jiang Ye fell silent.
This was the first time he had heard of these matters.
No wonder Ancheng had enjoyed decades of tranquility; it turned out someone had been shouldering the burden all along.
Suddenly, Jiang Ye's heart lurched. "Then, could Ancheng's recent Shadow Calamity have been caused by something happening at Qingyang City's permanent Cosmic Void Passage?"
"Yes," Zhang Jianwu replied casually. "During Qingyang City's last Shadow Calamity, a strong guardian perished."
Though Zhang Jianwu spoke lightly, Jiang Ye understood the brutal truth behind those words.
The previous Shadow Calamity had been classified as Level 1.
But within the permanent Cosmic Void Passage, the situation must have been far more severe.
In other words, the Shadow Calamity had erupted precisely because the strong guardian stationed in the Cosmic Void Passage had met with disaster.
After a moment, Jiang Ye ended the call.
His mind grew heavy.
This conversation had made him realize that Ancheng's recent Shadow Calamity was no mere coincidence.
"Ancheng... is it no longer at peace?" Jiang Ye murmured, gazing out the window with a hint of worry in his eyes.
He was about to leave for university, but his parents and Jiang Ting would remain in Ancheng.
What if something happens while I'm gone?
Jiang Ye didn't dare to dwell on the thought.
Yet when he tried to shift his focus, he couldn't help but recall Cao Feng and the sword strike that had cleaved the night sky the previous night.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Ye returned to the center of his room and began circulating his cultivation technique.
"Become stronger."
Closing his eyes, he felt the qi flowing through his meridians like a surging tide. "Continuously break free from life's shackles, climb to the pinnacle of cosmic martial arts, until... the day I completely resolve the Shadow Calamity."
In that moment, he seemed to have found an unattainable goal.
Whoosh!
Whoosh! Thud!
The qi within Jiang Ye's body surged relentlessly, coursing through every part of him.
His body swayed as he fully unleashed the Nine Luminaries Star-Treading technique. Each step landed with the weight of a thousand pounds, yet remained as light as a feather.
Unbeknownst to him, this Cosmic Secret Art had already ascended to a new level.
The force behind each strike was now entirely controlled by his will.
He practiced for several hours without stopping.
Jiang Ye finally stopped his cultivation during lunchtime and emerged from his room.
The living room television was broadcasting the midday news.
On Ancheng Channel, the anchor, dressed in black, wore a solemn expression.
"A week ago, our city was struck by a Level 1.9 Shadow Calamity. As of today, over three thousand people have died, and more than one hundred thousand have been injured."
The Jiang family, seated at the dining table, froze in unison upon hearing the news.
The casualty figures far exceeded their expectations.
"Brother," Jiang Ting said, clinging to Jiang Ye's arm, her eyes red-rimmed.
Jiang Ye watched the news intently.
This Shadow Calamity hadn't reached the threshold for a Level 2 classification because no Shadow Clan youths had appeared.
However, the sheer number of Shadow Clan Juveniles—comparable in strength to peak second breakthrough cultivators—was overwhelming.
Coupled with Ancheng's inadequate preparedness, the devastation far surpassed that of a typical Level 1 Shadow Calamity, leading to its classification as Level 1.9.
"Over a hundred thousand suffering," Jiang Ye thought, his heart heavy.
How many ordinary people like Li Anping and Jiang Ting were among the victims?
A considerable number.
The Jiang family had been fortunate; no Cosmic Void Passage had erupted nearby.
But in other districts, the air was thick with wails of despair.
Buzz! Buzz!
Suddenly, Jiang Ye's wristband vibrated.
"A notification from the Unified Examination Bureau?" Jiang Ye murmured, startled.
This wristband wasn't issued by his school; it had been provided by the Unified Examination Bureau.
Beep! He activated the wristband's holographic projection.
The West Mountain Province Reserve Star Professional Cadre has released a new mission. Please check it immediately!
Reinforce Ancheng]
Mission Details: A Level 1.9 Shadow Calamity has erupted in Ancheng. The situation is largely under control, but numerous Shadow Clan members remain lurking in the city's corners. Assist the local Shadow Hunting Bureau in their eradication efforts.
Mission Rewards: 500-1000 federal currency per Shadow Clan Infant killed; 5000-10000 federal currency per Shadow Clan Juvenile killed.
Exceptional performance in this mission will grant Reserve Star Practitioner level experience.
All individuals who have achieved at least a first breakthrough are eligible to participate.
(End of the Chapter)
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