The Dean was just about to step onto the Demon Suppression scroll when the Great Sage beside him wrapped his arms around him.
"Dean, demons are wreaking havoc within, while the Demon Sect watches like a hungry tiger outside!
With troubles within and threats without, the Academy's very foundations might crumble without you overseeing things!
You must remain here and hold the fort. Let this old man go first!" the Great Sage pleaded.
Just then, a graceful, slender figure abruptly appeared above the scroll.
"Meng Yao, stop this nonsense! What are you doing up there? Come down at once!" the Dean barked.
"Little Junior Sister, come down at once!" everyone else hurriedly called out.
Meng Yao smiled radiantly and gave everyone a clasped-hands salute, saying in a clear voice, "Thirty years ago, I was ordered to go to the Northern Spirit Realm to gather the literary qi scattered throughout the world.
Over there, I enjoyed every luxury and privilege, yet never once took part in the Academy's dangerous missions.
Now that this calamity has befallen the Academy, I cannot shirk the duty of offering the first literary body in sacrifice!
The Great Sage is right.
Though the Human Clan enjoys peace, internal troubles remain.
The demonic forces cannot rival the combined strength of the Eight Sects, but taken individually, not one of the Eight Great Sects can defeat the Demon Sect alone.
Without the Dean here to hold the fort, the Academy may fall victim to the Demon Sect.
We already understand your resolve, Dean. You need not prove it in person!
On behalf of my senior brothers, I ask you to guard the Academy well.
Leave the burden of preserving lasting peace beneath heaven to us.
For this suppression of the Demon Race, let us begin with the lowest-ranked