Chapter 302: Tripod! (Fourth Update)

The Empress hurriedly supported Emperor Jiawen, her face filled with worry as she said

"Your Majesty, you must take care of your health!"

Emperor Jiawen gripped the Empress's wrist tightly, finally stabilizing his stance. He looked toward the Nine Nether Tower with urgency, his heart filled with both anxiety and rage.

"How can this be!? Were the other students not all here? Why is he specifically inside that Nine Nether Tower!?"

Zuo Rong and the others exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.

Boom!

At that moment, the flames atop the Nine Nether Tower erupted again, continuing to spread upward!

Emperor Jiawen felt a pang in his heart. Finally unable to suppress his fury, he shouted sternly

"His health was already poor, and you actually let him enter the Nine Nether Tower?! What exactly were you thinking!? If anything happens to him, I will never show you any leniency!"

Emperor Jiawen had always respected the elders and teachers of Tianlu Academy; he had never spoken to them in such a tone.

Thus, when this sharp shout rang out, everyone was startled, realizing then that His Majesty's worry for Prince Li was no ordinary concern.

Zuo Rong explained helplessly

"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. This matter... this matter was actually Prince Li's own decision to enter."

Emperor Jiawen froze, his face full of suspicion

"How is that possible!?"

Rong Xiu knew well that he was ill; how could he be so reckless as to want to enter the Nine Nether Tower!?

"We dare not deceive Your Majesty and must tell the truth. In fact, before the mutation in the Nine Nether Tower, all the students had been driven out. Subsequently, the black karmic fire within the tower began to burn, but it was precisely at that moment that Prince Li entered the tower."

He swallowed hard.

"Elder Wei Yun and the others tried to stop him, but... they failed to hold him back."

These two extremely simple sentences contained a massive amount of information.

It took a long while for Emperor Jiawen to react. He asked in disbelief

"Are you saying he walked through those flames to get inside!?"

His voice trembled slightly from the shock.

Zuo Rong and the others could only nod.

"Yes."

In truth, were they not also filled with horror?

Rong Xiu's actions were no different from seeking death!

"We also attempted to go in later, but the fire was too intense; it was simply impossible."

As Zuo Rong spoke, he lowered his head.

He knew himself that this explanation sounded incredibly weak.

Even though it was the truth.

They had indeed failed to protect Rong Xiu.

If something truly happened to Rong Xiu...

Emperor Jiawen looked up, staring blankly at the Nine Nether Tower surrounded by black karmic fire. His face was pale, and he remained silent for a long time.

The Empress stood beside him. Her wrist was being squeezed so hard by him that it hurt; even without looking, she knew it would surely be covered in bruises.

But she endured it silently.

What was this little bit of pain compared to this?

Hearing the news that Rong Xiu was trapped in the Nine Nether Tower was enough to offset this pain!

In such a dangerous place, could Rong Xiu survive after going there?

She had been worrying about how to deal with this thorn in her side, but she never expected him to go and seek death on his own!

Zuo Rong had made it very clear: it was Rong Xiu who insisted on going in. Therefore, if he died, no one could be blamed!

At the very least, it would have absolutely nothing to do with her and her son!

Seeing that her secret joy was suppressed, the Empress knit her willow-like brows and said soothingly

"Your Majesty, please do not be anxious. Prince Li has always acted with discretion; he must have a reason for doing this. Now that Elder Ye is here, I am sure Prince Li will be safe and sound."

At this moment, Emperor Jiawen could not hear a single word she said.

Elder Ye was indeed here, but who couldn't see that the Heaven Sealing Array could not hold for much longer!

Moreover—even the Nine Nether Tower had begun to collapse!

"Quick, find a way... find a way to rescue Rong Xiu!"

Emperor Jiawen murmured, when his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of Mu Qinghe.

His eyes lit up, as if he had seen a final straw.

"Vice General Mu! Vice General Mu!"

Hearing his voice, Mu Qinghe looked toward Emperor Jiawen.

He naturally knew the commotion on Emperor Jiawen's side and knew that the Emperor was seeking his help.

However, he had no intention of stepping in.

Looking at Mu Qinghe's habitually cold and indifferent expression, Emperor Jiawen felt very uneasy.

But at this critical juncture, he could think of no other way, so he could only plead

"Vice General Mu, your strength is peerless, you must be able to—"

"I will not save him."

Mu Qinghe interrupted Emperor Jiawen bluntly, leaving no room for negotiation.

Emperor Jiawen's face turned even paler.

Just as he was about to try and argue further, Mu Qinghe spoke again

"He is in no danger right now. Why should I save him?"

***

Inside the Nine Nether Tower.

Bang!

Red Demon took a hit, its body flying backward and crashing heavily onto the ground!

The cyan flames on its body also became much weaker.

"Red Demon!"

Chu Liuyue immediately stepped forward.

Red Demon struggled to get up, but in the end, it collapsed dejectedly.

Upon its wing, there was a gaping, bloody wound!

Chu Liuyue carefully picked it up and looked back.

Inside that transparent medicinal tripod, the phantom aura formed by the black karmic fire had also diminished significantly.

After a fierce battle, the two had actually fought to a draw!

Chu Liuyue knew that Red Demon had already fought the opponent once before and had been injured.

Therefore, she did not dare to show the slightest contempt in her heart.

But she hadn't expected that even with Red Demon attacking at full strength, it was still on equal footing with the opponent!

If this thing truly managed to escape, there was no telling how much trouble it would cause...

Just then, Chu Liuyue saw another flash of light streak across the transparent medicinal tripod!

This time it was much clearer than before. Chu Liuyue could even discern that the light seemed to be tracing along the strange patterns on the tripod.

She wasn't sure if it was her illusion.

She felt that after that flash of light, the patterns on the tripod seemed a bit clearer than before.

Lying in Chu Liuyue's arms, Red Demon continued to stare at the tripod, its eyes full of resentment.

Losing once before was embarrassing enough, but it hadn't expected to fail a second time!

If word of this got out, what would happen to its reputation!?

It moved, wanting to fight again, but it only managed a weak flutter of its wings.

Chu Liuyue said

"You're injured right now. Just behave for a bit."

Red Demon immediately tucked its wings away obediently.

But thinking about how it had looked so useless during this fight, it couldn't help but bury its head in a huff.

Chu Liuyue understood

"You want me to help you get revenge?"

Only then did Red Demon poke its head out and give a pitifully aggrieved response.

The little dumpling gave it a contemptuous look and let out a sneer.

Useless!

Red Demon immediately glared fiercely at it.

Chu Liuyue patted its head and smiled somewhat helplessly

"Alright. Just wait on the side."

Only then did Red Demon leave reluctantly, flying to the side.

Before leaving, it didn't forget to toss its head toward the black karmic fire, looking arrogant as if it had found a powerful backer.

Chu Liuyue pressed a hand to her forehead.

It seemed Red Demon hadn't realized that she was no longer the person she used to be.

Whether she could win the fight, she truly wasn't very confident.

Thinking of this, she flipped her palm.

With a thought, a cluster of crimson flames suddenly rose!

Almost at the same time!

An endless stream of light suddenly surged from the transparent medicinal tripod!

The patterns upon it rapidly became clear!