Chapter 272: Rescue

A previously reactivated level two purification tower was now corrupted again.

Li Luo knew what that meant.

Clearly no ordinary Other could have done it. Perhaps not even an Earthly Disaster Class Other could do it.

It had to be the grinning son of a—what was it a son of, exactly?

In any case, it was clearly on the move, and by the looks of it, it was heading towards the purified zone...

Not good.

It was moving faster than they expected.

"I think it was Duze Honglian's group that reactivated it," Li Luo said.

Jiang Qing'e nodded.

"That's not good. They're not back yet, right?"

He wasn't too fond of the Duze siblings, but they would be a strong addition to the team.

Duze Honglian was very strong, even within the Three Star Hall.

Jiang Qing'e shook her head. "I've been keeping an eye out. No word of them. But if they're smart enough, they should almost be back."

"Hopefully." Li Luo sighed, rubbing his brow worriedly. Why couldn't the Umbra Cave just be a simple point-gathering mission?

One worry after another.

Hopefully, the school would respond soon.

...

Astral Sage College, in a large, underground basement with an unusual layout. 

The ground and walls were covered in roots.

People walked back and forth, carrying supplies and other things.

On a few raised platforms of stone, some people were sitting in the lotus position, each one holding a thick root. Light was constantly being sent out through these roots.

One of them opened their eyes suddenly, a bright, green leaf in his hand.

"Emergency!" he called in a hoarse tone.

Everyone turned, and a Violet Vibrance mentor hurried over. He took the leaf and examined the message.

He paled. "Heavenly Disaster Class at purified spot 13?"

"How much longer before the next transport?" he demanded of those beside him.

"Seven days... we just used it today."

He frowned. That was too long. If there was truly a Heavenly Disaster Class, it would swallow all the students in a flash.

The defenses of the purified spot would probably not last.

Once it fell, all of the students there would fall alongside it.

That would be a catastrophe for the school, and it would affect its reputation all over the Xia Kingdom.

Not good at all.

"Damn! How did a Heavenly Disaster Class Other make it into the outer zone? Who's at purified spot 13?"

Someone quickly handed him a name list, which he scanned.

"Jiang Qing'e? Duze Honglian? That's the cream of the third year crop for sure... but not even they would be able to take on a Heavenly Disaster Class..." Jiang Qing'e, Duze Honglian, and Li Luo were all elite students in school, and they were closely watched by the higher-ups. If anything happened to them, there would be trouble.

He made a quick decision.

"Send word to the Four Star Hall students closest to purified spot 13. Get them to support the purified spot with haste."

"Yes, Sir!"

He let out a long, frustrated sigh.

"I hope they make it in time."

...

Deeper in the Umbra Cave, the sweeping zone was where Four Star Hall students and some Gold Gleam mentors usually worked.

There were virtually no white eroders here. The weakest were red eroders, and Disaster Class Others were rather common, although not yet rampant.

They would occasionally find Heavenly Disaster Class Others here, and the battles with those were always perilously close.

All the Four Star Hall students in a certain area suddenly received a message on their greenwood comforters.

An SOS signal, urgent, sent from the school.

Save purified spot 13.

The sudden request left them fumbling, unprepared for the likes of such a big threat appearing in the back line.

But the Umbra Cave was vast beyond belief, and they were the closest. However, it would take ages for them to arrive on the scene.

They might not make it!

At a gathering point in the zone.

The squad here had received the same signal, and they were currently debating it. Were they going to make it in time? If they couldn't, wouldn't it be a wasted journey?

The most striking figure in their midst was the First Princess.

She was clad in a shift of light lavender. Despite its practical and modest cutting, the rich material belied the true worth of its wearer. "Purified spot 13? Where Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e are? That's unlucky..."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully, conflicted.

The other Four Star Hall squads were still arguing around her when she stood up and tapped her staff of white jade against the ground with a low thunk.

The group quietened.

Her usually-smiling face was uncharacteristically stern and stiff.

"Enough," said her icy voice of steel. "Our fellow students are in mortal danger. If we do not go, all of them will die in this barren land.

"If you are no longer students of the Astral Sage College, I can ask nothing of you. But if you are... we have a duty to save them.

"Whether we make it in time or not is a question for later. We will not give up on them."

She turned and headed out of the purified spot.

Immediately, a group of Four Star Hall students followed her.

The others shared resigned looks before finally slouching their way after her. Soon enough, the spot was empty.

The First Princess' commanding presence in the Four Star Hall was undisputed.

She was not surprised to hear their footsteps hurrying after her, but her eyes were staring far away in the direction of purified spot 13.

Mainly because of Li Luo.

The key to her little brother's treatment.

"Li Luo... hold on."