Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Shrinking Realm of Survival

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Delicate, pale, as if untouched by sunlight for years—an unhealthy whiteness. Clad in black with a white face, slender fingers. Such a person, before the Dark Era, would have undoubtedly been the favorite kept by wealthy women, possessing a pair of long, fair, and tender fingers envied by many girls. He appeared not as a young ruler or supreme king, but as if born to play the piano. Yet with these very hands, he had slain enough mutated beasts, humans, hybrids, and supernatural creatures to fill an entire auditorium.

Silent yet overt, bewildering everyone, he appeared before all. If the Azure Supreme brought a crushing pressure like being submerged in the vast ocean, and the Forest Fire Supreme exuded peace and ease like an ordinary person,

then the moment the black-clad man appeared, a bone-chilling cold swept over the crowd—an eerie sensation heralding imminent death. Everyone instantly felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, cold and unable to resist.

“Killing intent.”

Sleeping Cao Xiaoseng, unaware of when he opened his eyes, fixed his dark gaze tightly on the black-clad man on the stage.

In Cao Xiaoseng’s eyes, behind the man was not a black curtain but a river of red blood, with bones occasionally floating up and down. Sometimes, the reluctant roars of the dead seemed to echo faintly.

Ye Bai looked at Cao Xiaoseng before him and said, “How many must be killed for this?”

If it was about killing intent, Ye Bai’s first encounter with such overwhelming murderous aura was when he met the butcher during the struggle for the Wood Spirit Flower—a man whose entire body radiated killing intent, his blade shimmering with a red glow. The young supreme before them, however, did not emit a sharp, piercing killing aura like that butcher. Even from a dozen meters away, he exuded a chilling cold.

This young supreme simply stood quietly, yet everyone could feel the piercing cold. If he ever truly wanted to kill, what kind of killing intent would he display?

When the black-clad man appeared, nearly all the second-year students gasped sharply.

“What’s going on with him?”

“Wasn’t he already driven mad, lost his mind? How is he back again, and as a freshman counselor?”

Compared to the second-year students, the freshmen were even more wary of the black-clad man before them. A freshman who had lost an arm to this man on the very first day of class looked at the figure on the stage with resentment but dared not show it.

Everyone had thought the first class would be a simple self-introduction, a chance to get acquainted. Even if the counselor wasn’t a beauty or a handsome guy, they expected at least a kind and approachable person. Instead, at the very first meeting, this man gave everyone a brutal warning.

“Don’t interrupt me when I’m speaking. My time is precious.”

As he spoke, a flash of black light passed, and the freshman’s arm fell to the ground. The black-clad man continued, “Consider this a warning. There won’t be a next time.”

Each word came slowly and deliberately from his mouth, light and calm but filled with killing intent.

“Who is this guy?”

Although second-year students had been at Purple Star Academy for over a year, not everyone knew the academy’s secrets. This senior voiced what many freshmen were thinking.

“Mo.”

Someone among the second-year seniors spoke the name.

“He’s Mo. A killer without feelings. No one knows how he grew up. No one has ever seen his attribute power because those who have are already dead.”

“Mo was raised by the academy. The first time people discovered him, Purple Star Academy received a report of mutated beasts attacking a guard post. When the academy’s forces arrived, the ground was littered with corpses, both mutated beasts and humans. Amid the ruins, they found only Mo, no more than five years old, somehow alive. Since then, he has been like a hidden assassin in the dark. The number of lives taken by him is no less than those of the mutated beasts.”

A girl standing next to the second-year male student covered her mouth and whispered, “So terrifying!”

The young man, as if pleased with his effect, gently wrapped his arm around her and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

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Instantly, everyone began to look down on the young man—freshmen and sophomores alike—this display of affection left many choking on the sudden sweetness.

“Hehehe.”

Suddenly, laughter echoed through the hall, and the white glow of fireflies on the stage reignited, illuminating the platform and breaking the oppressive atmosphere cast by the three supreme kings over the crowd.

The mysteriously vanished and suddenly reappeared director of the Science Academy, Gu Zhi, once again appeared in everyone’s sight.

“You three kids, tone down your momentum. The old man’s body is weak; I can’t take this kind of ruckus.” After speaking, the director shivered symbolically.

Light laughter rose from the audience, and gradually, the opening ceremony lost some of its solemnity.

First, the black-robed man emerged from the shadows. Dressed in black, his expression cold and ruthless. If not for knowing that his kills rivaled those of mutated beasts, perhaps some infatuated girls would have already rushed forward to confess.

Then, the blue water attribute faded, revealing the fiery figure of the Azure Supreme hidden within the mist. With each step forward, the waves on his chest surged more violently than the ocean.

Zhang Jian, still single, shrugged his hands and stepped forward.

The three supreme kings faced each other, each advancing several steps. Mo and Zhang Jian stepped further than the Azure Supreme, intensifying the tension between them beyond what had been moments ago.

They all knew the trial ahead would not admit everyone.

“Hehehe.”

Gu Zhi laughed again, seemingly attempting to break the deadlock, yet to little effect.

“Mo, you introduce yourself first.”

Gu Zhi’s face showed no embarrassment, as if he had expected this outcome.

Mo scanned the crowd below. Everyone suddenly felt their scalp tingle, as if a knife was pressed against their neck.

“Mo.”

In contrast, Zhang Jian, whose presence felt less intense, appeared kinder and more approachable. He smiled and said, “Zhang Jian, current president of the Qingmu Society. I hope all freshmen will join our ranks.”

Like the gentle sea, yet harboring boundless power, the Azure Supreme finally introduced himself: “Zhang Yue, current president of the Flower Society. Welcome all freshmen girls to register.”

At last, Ye Bai learned the names of the three senior supreme kings: Mo, Zhang Jian, and Zhang Yue.

Ordinary names, yet each had written their own legend within Purple Star Academy.

At this moment, Gu Zhi stepped forward and added, “Mo is the leader of the Killing Division, under the academy’s organization. However, the selection is not something ordinary people can pass. Confident freshmen may come and try.”

“All right.” With a flourish, Gu Zhi gestured for the three young supreme kings to leave the stage, for their time was precious.

“This opening ceremony, besides welcoming you, is also a recruitment event disguised as the founding of the academy’s three major organizations. A friendly reminder: although these three are your counselors, they will not teach you much. Most of what you learn in your first three years will come from these three organizations.”

Gu Zhi took a breath, then behind him appeared a holographic projection as large as the stage.

“You must choose carefully among these three organizations, as it will affect your growth over the next three years. The Flower Society is composed of females. Also, upon entering the main city and Purple Star Academy, I’m sure you all wish to witness the unparalleled presence of the Wood King. You may wonder why the academy is missing so many people; you will find out shortly.”

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After speaking, Director Gu Zhi left the stage. As he exited, all the firefly lights in the auditorium went out, leaving only the area of the holographic projection illuminated. The image slowly emerged.

The view was from a person’s perspective, surrounded by towering ancient trees. From this viewpoint, a small squad could be seen moving through the Divine Wood Mountains—five people in total, with the Wood King Xiao Mu leading.

The Wood King wore green battle armor, while the other four donned bio-suits that seemed to adapt to the environment.

“King, we have reached the target location.”

Xiao Mu stopped and looked at the Divine Wood Mountains—trees and underbrush stretching endlessly. “What about the source of the disturbance? Confirmed?”

“Still under investigation.”

The soldiers behind the Wood King were sweating profusely. Every time their smart devices neared pinpointing the source, the location shifted.

Xiao Mu did not urge them but placed his hand gently on a nearby tree. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically.

“Get out of here quickly. This entire area has been completely corrupted.”

Before his words ended, the tree beside Xiao Mu uprooted and transformed into a towering tree-person dozens of meters tall.

Meanwhile, the ground beneath their feet began to collapse, and vines burst from the earth.

“Ah!”

One soldier reacted too slowly. Before he could cry for help, he was swallowed by the vines.

Xiao Mu swiftly soared into the air to confront the tree-person, while the three remaining soldiers activated their bio-suits and also took flight.

In the surrounding kilometers, the ground had sunken, and countless vines emerged, writhing like giant serpents, attempting to rise and engulf those flying above.

Suddenly, the entire projection exploded with green light. The towering tree-person shattered with several cracking sounds, crushed by the Wood King. Then his voice echoed.

“The source is no longer here. Move out.”

Xiao Mu’s voice reached everyone’s ears as the projection flickered and vanished. The stage lights came back on.

Gu Zhi reappeared on the platform, smiling faintly, though no warmth could be seen in his eyes.

“In recent years, incidents like this have become increasingly frequent within the boundaries of the Green Forest Main City. The source? No one knows what it truly is. After destroying one, another appears after some time. Our territory has shrunk significantly over these few years.”

Ye Bai, perhaps not alone in this, along with the already informed second-year seniors, wore expressions of shock.

Director Gu Zhi’s voice followed: “The Wood King handles such source-related incidents nearly every month. The coverage of Green Forest Main City is vast—I need not elaborate. Hence, almost all graduates accompany the Wood King on these missions.”

“You are the new generation. Showing you this is not to pressure you but to raise your awareness. Our kings tirelessly labor for the survival of our race and civilization. I believe it’s time for you to strive as well.”

Having said this, Director Gu Zhi vanished, leaving the first- and second-year students still reeling from the shock.