Brilliant sword light shot into the sky, stretching for dozens of meters. Even from the pit hundreds of meters below, it could still be seen clearly.
"Senior Pingjing's sword aura?"
Second Xiao Wu seemed unable to sit still. He stared blankly as the dazzling sword light vanished—and afterward, something seemed to be falling rapidly from above.
Yue Huaixian from the Apricot Altar was still saying something to Liu Bai, but his expression shifted slightly. "Brother Liu Bai, we'll discuss the details after entering the relic."
With that, Yue Huaixian quietly returned to the others from the Apricot Altar.
Just then, a tremendous boom rang out. A sandstorm several meters high erupted from the ground, and a figure emerged from within it.
The thin man patted the mud and dust from his body while holding a piece of Cifan with several bites taken out of it. He swallowed the rest in one bite, then glanced around. "Yo, quite a gathering... The last time this many people were together was probably when the various academies competed for the Purple Heaven Cup. Brings back memories."
"Ji Fa..."
At the Apricot Altar, the white-robed scholar raised his head slightly, but soon returned his attention to the ancient book in his hands, looking completely at ease.
Everyone's eyes converged on the lean and rugged young man, almost unable to look away... Their memories seemed to be pulled back in an instant to the Purple Firmament Cup competition Ji Fa had mentioned.
That battle had taken place three years ago. It had been a grand event jointly held by all the advanced academies in the Grand Alliance, and its excitement had been rivaled only by the finals of the All-Star Competition for teams from the Outer Realm Battlefield, held once every several years.
The Academy Purple