At daybreak.

With a long bell ringing out, all the scholars of Cold Mountain Academy woke from their respective courtyards one after another.

Today was the day the scholars of Cold Mountain Academy would travel far for their studies.

Although they did not know where they were going, under the Headmaster’s instructions, they still rose early, packed their luggage, and went to Orchid Peak.

Before the hour of morning had even arrived, all the scholars who remained at Cold Mountain Academy had already stood neatly on Orchid Peak.

Each of them wore a blue-green long robe and carried a book chest on his back.

In groups of two and three, they whispered with their friends, secretly guessing where such a grand formation was going to take them.

And among them, some scholars who vaguely knew a little of the inside story had somewhat heavy expressions.

The moment the hour of morning arrived, Cold Mountain Academy’s headmaster, Cun Caiguang, along with several elders and stewards of the academy, landed punctually before the crowd.

“Greetings, Headmaster.”

Seeing the Headmaster arrive, everyone stopped whispering one after another and bowed respectfully to Cun Caiguang.

Cun Caiguang returned the bow to them as well, then said, “Today is the day my Cold Mountain Academy travels far to seek learning. However, this time, this old man will not accompany you all on the journey.”

“But Master Chao will travel with everyone. In the future, if anything happens, you may speak freely with Master Chao.”

“In addition, throughout the journey, you must obey all of Senior Bai’s arrangements. You may not raise any objections.”

Cun Caiguang had only just finished speaking when, above the firmament, a woman dressed in white drifted down.

The moment they saw that woman, everyone marveled at her peerless beauty, yet also faintly feared the aura emanating from her.

Indeed.

The moment that woman in white stepped onto the summit of Orchid Peak, everyone present unexpectedly felt the same thought rise in his heart—to kneel and submit.

“From this day on, all of your travel arrangements will be handled by my sister. Before leaving the demon-race world, no one is permitted to ask too many questions, and no one is permitted to speak too much!” Xiaoqing stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over everyone present, her tone crisp and decisive. “Do you all understand?”

“This...” The scholars of Cold Mountain Academy looked at one another, all feeling that this woman’s words carried a somewhat unquestionable force.

“Do not forget what this old man just said.” Cun Caiguang’s voice rang out at just the right moment, steady and powerful, spreading across all of Orchid Peak.

“Yes! We understand.” Since everyone heard that even the Headmaster had spoken so, they naturally did not dare raise any further objections and answered in unison.

“In that case, everyone, come up.” Xiaoqing waved her hand, and a small fish flew out from her sleeve.

That little fish grew against the wind, rapidly expanding. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a giant whale as enormous as a mountain, quietly suspended above everyone’s heads.

...

“All right. I will see you off only this far.”

At the foot of Elementary Learning Peak, Xian Xichun looked at the young pair before him and spoke with a smile.

“Your people from Tushan are waiting outside the academy gates. You will see them once you go out.”

“I imagine someone has already told you as well. The future state of the demon-race world will not be peaceful. No matter what, preserving your lives must be your first priority. You must remember not to compete out of pride.”

“As long as a person lives, anything can be started again.”

“But if a person dies, then there is nothing left.”

“Do you understand?”

“We understand, Teacher,” Xiao Mo and Tushan Jingci answered in unison.

“Go on, go on.” Xian Xichun looked at the two young people he admired most, his eyes full of expectation. “I believe that in the near future, there will surely come a day when I see both of your names shake the world.”

“Teacher, take care.” Tushan Jingci and Xiao Mo took a step back and bowed solemnly to Xian Xichun.

“The road is long. We shall meet again if fate allows.”

Xian Xichun bent and returned the bow, watching the two young backs gradually recede until they disappeared at the end of the mountain path.

And just as Xiao Mo and Tushan Jingci vanished from Xian Xichun’s sight, an elderly man appeared beside him.

“Those two little ones have left?” Cun Caiguang gathered his sleeves and looked in the direction Xiao Mo and Jingci had gone.

“Not a single person will remain at Cold Mountain Academy. What use would there be in them staying here?” Xian Xichun turned his head and looked at the Headmaster. “How did matters go on your side, Headmaster?”

“Everything has been handled properly. The scholars of our academy are registering the roster and will soon set off. There is nothing for this old man to do, so I simply came to look at you. It counts as seeing you off as well.” Cun Caiguang turned his head, looked at Xian Xichun, and sighed. “Are you truly going?”

“Heh.” Xian Xichun shook his head. “In the end, I must give her an accounting.”

“She is already dead. If she knew beneath the springs, she would not wish for you to go throw your life away,” Cun Caiguang advised.

“That is true enough. But when she was alive, I never listened to her. Now that she has already gone, why must I listen?”

When his words fell, Xian Xichun turned and walked in another direction.

“I am leaving, old man. You had best not die too quickly either. Otherwise, when the time comes, who will collect my corpse?”

“Xian Xi!” Cun Caiguang shouted toward the scholar’s back.

The scholar’s steps paused slightly. Then, with his back to the old man, he waved his hand. His figure gradually disappeared from the old man’s sight.

At the same time, a great wind suddenly rose from Cold Mountain Academy.

“MMMM—!”

Immediately after, an earth-shaking whale cry resounded through the firmament.

The shadow cast by that giant whale blotted out the sky and sun, covering the land, as though the entire sky had been borne upon its back.

Cun Caiguang, Xian Xichun, and the common people of Cold Mountain City all raised their heads, looking at that enormous creature flying higher and higher.

“Xiao Mo! Look!”

Tushan Jingci, who was walking toward the outside of Cold Mountain Academy, suddenly lifted her hand and pointed toward the distant sky.

“What a huge whale!”

“It really is huge.”

Xiao Mo raised his head and looked over, his gaze slowly following the direction in which the giant whale flew away.

...

On the great whale’s back, Cold Mountain Academy’s one thousand two hundred twenty-five scholars all looked around, their hearts filled with shock.

And at the foremost point of the whale’s head, that woman in white stood quietly with her hands folded before her, gazing into the distance.

High winds blew past in gust after gust. Her long skirt was pressed close to her graceful figure, its hem continuously streaming backward.

Suddenly, the woman turned her head slightly and looked in the direction of Cold Mountain Academy.

“Sister, what is it?” Xiaoqing stepped forward and asked softly.

“Nothing.”

Bai Ruxue shook her head lightly, withdrew her gaze, and looked forward once more.

“Let us go.”

Her voice was calm and cool.

“From this day onward, the demon-race world has entered an age of chaos.”