Chapter 32: Wow, black crystal, “lihuo…” the voice sounded again

Wow, Xuanjing Gui Stone

Spring Festival had passed, and winter break ended quickly.

The weather in Guangshi Shi remained cold, and people on the streets bustled by in thick down jackets. 

Bai Maomao, relying on his abundant fur, was naturally unafraid of the cold. 

On top, he wore a V-neck knitted sweater; below, slim-fit jeans; on his feet, a pair of British-style leather ankle boots; and over it all, a dark trench coat, with a gray scarf stylishly draped around his neck.

Bai Maomao looked at himself in the mirror with satisfaction, his upturned lips tightening, and with full confidence, he dragged his suitcase out the door.

Mo Qin, who wished he could wrap himself in a quilt: …………

He could hardly believe his eyes. 

Incredulously, he turned to ask Lang Junxian, “Is he always like this at home?”

“…………” 

Lang Junxian looked at him in silence.

“I get it.” 

Mo Qin’s eyes filled with sympathy, “Brother, you’ve had it tough.”

Lang Junxian twitched the corner of his mouth, too lazy to respond, and turned to leave.

“Acting cool will get you struck by lightning!” 

Mo Qin grumbled, then turned, moved, to Yan Miao, “Miao Miao, you’re still the best.”

Yan Miao lowered his head, face blushing as he looked away. 

Even though he knew Mo Qin was just putting on a show, he still couldn’t control his racing heartbeat.

After returning to Xuexiao, life became regular and dull once again.

Under Yan Miao’s intense tutoring, Bai Maomao finally managed to pass the makeup exam without a hitch. 

Seeing a row of Liu Fen in the System, Bai Maomao was so touched he could cry. 

He dragged Yan Miao to the cafeteria for a big meal in celebration.

The four of them returned to the dorm with their bellies round from eating, only to find the director standing at the dorm entrance.

The director was a big bald man, who, just from his appearance, looked more like a bandit leader than a teacher. 

Most students in Xuexiao didn’t dare act up in front of him.

Students coming and going at the dorm entrance always instinctively kept a two-meter distance from him.

Bai Maomao calmly brushed past him.

“Are you Bai Hongyuan?” the director’s uncertain voice sounded.

Bai Maomao paused, then turned to look at him, “That’s me.”

“Then you must be Lang Junxian?” 

The director turned to Lang Junxian—he’d heard these two were always together, so he couldn’t be wrong.

Lang Junxian nodded.

“You two, call Mo Qin and Yan Miao, and come to my office.” 

The director left this cold statement and turned to leave.

“?” 

Bai Maomao tilted his head and called out loudly, “Where’s your office?”

The director’s steps faltered, but he didn’t look back, “Comprehensive Building 803.”

“Tsk, so mysterious.” 

Bai Maomao followed him toward the Comprehensive Building, and whispered to Lang Junxian, “What do you think he wants us for?”

Lang Junxian smiled, “We’ll know when we get there.”

Comprehensive Building 803.

The director was already waiting for them, sitting imposingly behind his desk. 

Sunlight from the window shone in from behind him, casting a divine glow on his bald head, making it shine with a sacred radiance.

“Sit.”

The four of them sat on the sofa to the side.

“This time, calling you here is the result of a unanimous decision by the teachers at Xuexiao.” 

Director Guangtou’s gaze swept over them. 

“I was actually against it at first.”

“But since the other teachers agreed to let you go, you’ll have to go. Whether it’s a blessing or a curse depends on your own fortune.”

Bai Maomao listened for a long time, but still didn’t catch the point. 

“Where are we going?”

Director Guangtou was interrupted and glared at him unhappily, then continued, “There’s a Cave in the Back Mountain of the school. Inside the Cave is a Xuanjing Gui Stone, which can help people comprehend Tiandi Dadao. Those with good talent might even use it to break through.”

“This is an extra reward for getting first place in the Xiao Dongtian competition.”

“There were six people in our group at the time,” Lang Junxian frowned.

Director Guangtou fell silent for a moment. 

“The Xuanjing Gui Stone can only withstand four people at once. After careful consideration, the teachers decided to give the spots to you four. The other two will receive different rewards.”

“If there are no other questions, I’ll take you there now.”

Bai Maomao glanced at the others. Lang Junxian gave a subtle shake of his head, and Mo Qin remained silent. 

That was that.

The Cave in the Back Mountain was well hidden. 

Director Guangtou led them along several small paths until they reached the Cave entrance.

From time to time, a streak of light flashed across the entrance—it was clearly protected by a Jiejie.

“Step back,” Director Guangtou said seriously, his hands forming a series of gestures as he muttered incantations.

The four obediently retreated behind him.

The Jiejie at the Cave’s entrance rippled, a burst of radiance flashed, and then it quickly calmed. 

The faint membrane vanished.

Director Guangtou pointed at the entrance, “Go in.”

Bai Maomao gave him a look, then walked in calmly, with Lang Junxian naturally following at his side.

Yan Miao, lagging a step behind, glanced back nervously. 

He felt an eerie chill at his back, and instinctively moved closer to Mo Qin.

Mo Qin knew he was timid, so he grabbed Yan Miao’s wrist and carefully followed behind Lang Junxian.

Director Guangtou’s voice came from behind, “Remember to keep your mind clear and your will firm………………”

The opened Jiejie closed again, and the voice behind them became faint.

They hadn’t gone far before they saw a massive stone wall standing inside the Cave. 

The stone wall was amber in color, gleaming and translucent like glass, its surface etched with intertwining patterns. 

The longer you stared at it, the more you’d be drawn into an unfathomable feeling.

Mo Qin stared at it for a while, finding it incredibly mysterious. 

“Is there some kind of trap here?”

Lang Junxian also gazed at the stone wall for a moment and felt a slight loosening at his Dan Tian, a bit uncertain. 

“This stone really does have some effect.”

Bai Maomao nodded in agreement—the bald director hadn’t lied.

Mo Qin figured the school wouldn’t go to so much trouble just to harm the four of them, so he relaxed, sat cross-legged, and focused on the mystical sensation coming from the stone wall, entering meditation.

Only Yan Miao hesitated, feeling panicked inside. 

After sitting quietly for a while, he simply opened his eyes in secret. 

Since he wasn’t interested in martial arts anyway, he might as well stand guard for the other three.

Inside the Cave, time seemed to stand still.

Yan Miao squinted, carefully surveying his surroundings, but after a long look, he didn’t spot anything unusual, so he closed his eyes again.

He didn’t notice that behind the stone wall, a layer of thin, light mist was slowly creeping toward the four of them……………

Bai Maomao slipped into meditation smoothly. 

The Cave was filled with abundant spiritual energy, and the strange stone wall emitted a mysterious aura that quietly drew him in.

His consciousness sank into the stone wall, surrounded by bright, warm light. 

His Dan Tian felt comfortably warm, and even his recently broken-through realm felt like it was loosening again……………….

But this comfort didn’t last long before a chill crept over him.

Bai Maomao became alert. 

The bright light dimmed, and the warmth around him turned cold. Wisps of faint mist swirled around.

BAS……

This feeling………………so familiar.

Bai Maomao’s mind grew hazy.

“X……”

Someone seemed to be calling him.

Bai Maomao struggled to get up. 

When he finally managed, he realized his body felt light and floaty, and his clothes had changed—not the familiar sweater and jeans, but a gorgeous red robe.

He stared in confusion at the bold golden phoenix patterns on his sleeve, his mind growing even foggier.

“Li………………” 

That voice sounded again.

“Li…………………” 

A pair of hands gently circled him from behind, and a surge of joy suddenly flooded Bai Maomao’s heart.

“Xuan Yuan.” 

His body turned on its own, his clear voice full of delight.

Bai Maomao felt something was off—he shouldn’t be this happy, but why?

Xuan Yuan was here, so why wouldn’t he be happy?

Bai Maomao, dazed and muddled, followed Xuan Yuan to many places. 

They drank under trees, played chess in a bamboo house, even sat atop tall parasol trees singing ancient songs……………….

Xuan Yuan was always dressed in black lined with silver, while he wore a robe as red as blazing fire. ft……ftat?

Bai Maomao drifted, the man’s deep voice calling in his ears, again and again.

He called him Li…….

That’s right, he was called Li Huo.

A faint voice inside told him something was wrong, but what was it? 

He seemed………………to have forgotten someone.

Yan Miao waited patiently for a while, but couldn’t resist secretly opening his eyes again.

But now, the Cave was no longer bright. 

The entire Cave was filled with hazy white mist, blocking out the light. 

The stone wall’s once holy glow now flickered eerily in the mist.

Yan Miao felt a surge of fear. 

Thinking of his three companions, he wanted to get up and call out, but found he couldn’t move at all.

Mo Qin, Maomao…………

Yan Miao tried to shout, opening his mouth wide, but no sound came out.

The Cave was filled with a heart-stopping silence.