From Quinn’s words, Su Xing learned what had happened after she lost consciousness.
After Apollo said that sentence, he disappeared.
Not long after, due to Xisailu’s disappearance, the space within the Inspiration Source Pen gradually began to collapse.
Before the mayor lost consciousness, he called the Federal Arts Department.
Because he knew students from Lingyu Academy were involved, he also had the academy’s teachers called over.
What they currently knew was only this much.
As for how to handle those visitors who knew part of the truth, and the follow-up to this incident, it was said they still needed to discuss.
Su Xing’s gaze landed on Ivan Sel.
Though his face remained cold and indifferent, the concern hidden deep in his eyes was unmistakable.
After experiencing such an event, even the coldest and most callous person would find it hard to remain indifferent toward a companion they saved.
Besides, Ivan Sel wasn’t truly cold-hearted—he just appeared so on the surface.
Seeing that Ivan Sel’s expression was stable, Kaka and the others didn’t show any worry toward him either.
Su Xing immediately felt reassured that Ivan Sel should be fine.
She quickly gathered her thoughts, then asked, “That mayor… I remember he seemed to be possessed by Xisailu?”
At the time, Xisailu said he possessed the mayor before targeting Ivan Sel.
If that was the case, then the things the mayor said to them earlier were probably either deliberate or meant to lure them into this matter.
Quinn nodded.
“Yes, the mayor is still unconscious. According to our academy’s doctors, the mayor’s original soul was already completely eroded by Xisailu long ago. Even though Xisailu has now left, he can’t regain consciousness.”
Hearing this, Su Xing couldn’t help but feel a chill run down her spine.
If they hadn’t discovered and resolved things in time, Ivan Sel might have suffered the same fate as the mayor.
Even if they later found something wrong with Ivan Sel and had the teachers resolve it, the real Ivan Sel likely wouldn’t have returned.
“So how did Xisailu disappear?”
This was Su Xing’s biggest concern.
Originally, Xisailu should have been eliminated by Apollo, but somehow he vanished inexplicably, and even Apollo didn’t know what had happened.
As soon as she asked, Kaka and the others suddenly became uneasy.
Kaka whispered, “This question can’t be explained to you for now. We’ll talk about it once we get back.”
Quinn leaned in.
“Our official story outside is that Apollo killed Xisailu. Su Xing, you mustn’t let this slip.”
Standing in the back, Ivan Sel nodded seriously at Su Xing.
Su Xing looked suspiciously at the three of them but ultimately chose to compromise: “Alright, we’ll talk about it back at the academy.”
She smiled sweetly, emphasizing, “We’ll talk about it back at the academy.”
Kaka and the others shivered in unison.
Leaving that topic behind, Su Xing turned serious and looked at everyone.
Although it was basically confirmed, she still needed to verify: “Is everyone okay?”
At her words, Kaka immediately slapped his chest with exaggerated confidence: “We’re fine! None of us were seriously injured!”
Ivan Sel shook his head.
“It’s fine. Xisailu was destroyed in time and didn’t cause me any harm.”
Su Xing finally settled her mind and was about to say something when the infirmary door was pushed open.
“Teacher Norman?”
Su Xing exclaimed in surprise.
“And Teacher Meini.”
Another big, muscular man followed closely behind the short-haired muscular one.
Su Xing naturally recognized these two.
They were the teachers responsible for testing the students’ Illusory Spirit abilities when they enrolled.
Especially Teacher Norman, who later became the first-year physical training teacher.
Rumor had it that Teacher Norman and Teacher Meini were not only partners but also lovers.
They were often seen strolling together by Spirit Lake on campus.
Su Xing blinked.
“Teacher Meini, were you responsible for this incident?”
Meini nodded and walked over to rub Su Xing’s head.
“You little troublemakers sure know how to cause a ruckus. But congratulations on realizing your own skill ahead of time.”
Su Xing smiled, touching her head.
Her tornado ability was still uncontrollable, but at least now she had a means to attack at any time.
Though this risky venture was indeed dangerous, it was not in vain.
Suddenly remembering something, Su Xing quickly grabbed Meini’s sleeve, putting on a pitiful look.
“Teacher Meini, you won’t tell anyone about me gaining a new skill, right?”
Meini looked thoughtfully at the seemingly fragile black-haired girl before her.
Her usual high ponytail was let down, and with slightly pale lips, the bright and energetic Su Xing looked a little pitiable for once.
But Meini was not fooled by Su Xing’s feigned weakness.
She understood her intention clearly.
The midterms were coming, and naturally, the midterms at Lingyu Academy involved competitions between Illusory Spirits.
Of course, the fewer people who knew about her secret trump card, the better.
The news that Su Xing had realized a new skill would definitely shock everyone during the midterms.
After all, Meini was certain Su Xing was the first in the entire grade to realize a new skill.
Not only that, the earliest record of a Lingyu Academy student realizing a skill was during the first semester’s winter break.
In other words, Su Xing was over half a semester ahead.
Moreover…
Meini looked at the girl lying on the bed with a complicated expression.
She already knew the true innate ability of Su Xing’s Illusory Spirit: the Tornado.
Even without refinement, it was a catastrophic power.
If Su Xing could further comprehend it later, she would definitely stun everyone.
A genuine genius.
“If you want me to keep this a secret, what bribe do you plan to offer?”
Meini pointed at her chin, her eyebrows filled with playful charm.
Su Xing was momentarily stunned, then imitated the pose: “Maybe a secret date spot unknown to others?”
Meini’s eyes brightened. She and Norman were teachers, so it was better if the first-year students weren’t too familiar with their private hangouts, as the older students often barged in and disrupted their dates.
Having a secret date spot unknown to outsiders would be great news for them.
She hadn’t expected that simply teasing this little genius would unexpectedly bring such a pleasant surprise.
“Where is it?”
Meini asked eagerly.
Su Xing smiled slyly, “You know, our school is actually built symmetrically, but the garden doesn’t have a corresponding counterpart.”
Some things were best left unsaid.
Meini’s eyes lit up, instantly understanding Su Xing’s meaning.
Indeed, the rest of the school was symmetrical, so where had the counterpart to that little garden gone?
Having never explored the campus on her own, Meini almost couldn’t resist rushing to check it out—it was truly too interesting!
Su Xing cast a sharp glance to suppress the inquisitive looks from Kaka and the others, her face completely calm.
As she had guessed, the principal’s office was a hidden location in the school, unknown even to the teachers.
Otherwise, Principal Tang couldn’t have escaped the opening speech multiple times.
As for why Su Xing would recommend such a place, obviously occupied by the principal and others, to someone like Meini who was completely unaware…
One must always pay a price to threaten her, wasn’t that so?
“Ahem.”
Seeing Meini’s mind wandering, Norman cleared his throat to remind her to focus on the matter at hand.
Meini snapped back to attention and said seriously, “Right, the main reason we’re here is to tell you this incident is serious. Don’t spread it around for now.”
Su Xing nodded.
She had guessed as much.
After all, this incident exposed by the Federation was not in their favor.
If word got out, the public would tear them apart.
Kaka couldn’t help but ask, “What about those artists who lost their talents?”
Hearing this question, Meini’s expression turned grim.
“We’re discussing solutions. But this matter absolutely won’t be let slide by the Federation, rest assured.”
Lingyu Academy had a strong reputation, and since they were part of the academy themselves, Kaka relaxed.
“Teacher, since we resolved a major incident involving the artistic field on Mercury, is there any reward?”
Su Xing wasn’t about to miss any chance to gain benefits.
Although this matter couldn’t be disclosed for now, they shouldn’t be left empty-handed.
“You want a reward?”
As soon as the subject came up, Norman, who had planned to leave the matter entirely to Meini, immediately exploded, glaring fiercely and scolding them: “Don’t think we don’t know. You got involved because you caused a lot of trouble down there. Why didn’t you come to the teachers as soon as you discovered the problem?”
Su Xing immediately explained, “The signal in the City of Arts had been blocked. We couldn’t contact the school using the Big Ear Conch.”
Norman sneered, “The signal was blocked, but the City of Arts wasn’t locked down, right? Why did no one come back to the school to find you? Besides, you knew it was dangerous and still got involved. If anything happened, you’d only have yourselves to blame!”
“You!”
Ivan Sel was angry, but Quinn quickly stopped him, signaling with his eyes to not lose his temper.
Going against the teachers could cause big trouble, especially since Norman was known for his bad temper.
But while Quinn stopped one, he couldn’t stop the other.
Kaka asked confusedly, “If we didn’t go, no one would know about this! As Illusory Spirit Masters, isn’t it our duty to save Mercury from danger?”
“Saving Mercury’s safety is not something you first-years should do. If you died in there, no one would know about this incident, and four students would be wasted!”
Norman glared at them fiercely.
“Everyone writes a 30-character self-criticism and submits it to your homeroom teacher next week!”
Kaka’s mind went blank, wishing he could faint right then and there.
Thirty characters!
The longest he’d ever written was an 800-character essay—and that was a patchwork mess.
Leaning against the headboard, Su Xing massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
So this was the classic tactic: one plays the white-faced role, the other the red-faced one!
If she had known earlier, she would’ve kicked them out using the headache as an excuse—at least she wouldn’t have been dragged into it.
She sighed, watching Quinn firmly restrain Ivan Sel and Kaka’s utterly defeated expression, realizing she had to rely on herself.
So she took the initiative to change the subject: “By the way, who exactly is that Apollo? He said he was some kind of Judge. Teachers, have you heard of him?”
Mentioning this question finally diverted Norman’s attention.
A look of disgust appeared on his face: “They’re a group of self-righteous egoists who massacre innocents under the pretense of protecting order.”
Meini gave a more objective explanation: “Judge is a collective term for members of a certain organization, whose name is the ‘Hall of Gods.’”
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