Chapter 374: The Spark Project, A Glimmer of Hope

"You… why have you defected to the enemy?"

Immortal Master Taixu let out a sigh.

"Old friend Qingxu, it's not that we wanted to defect."

He said, "It's just that the conditions offered by the Demon Lord were simply too tempting."

"Do you know what this is?"

He took out a crystal-clear gemstone that emitted an eerie light.

"This is an Evil Spirit Crystal."

Immortal Master Taixu said, "The Demon Lord refined it using the flesh and blood of Mortals, combined with Spirit Stones."

"Consuming an Evil Spirit Crystal can loosen the cultivation of those of us stuck at the Quasi-Immortal Realm Bottleneck."

"Even…"

A hint of fanaticism flashed in his eyes: "…there is a chance to break through to a higher Realm!"

Old Jìjiǔ's eyes widened.

"What did you say?!"

"Refined using the flesh and blood of Mortals?!"

He roared, "Have you all gone mad?!"

"Mortals may be weak, but they are still lives!"

"To advance your own cultivation, you would actually slaughter Mortals?! How are you any different from evil demons?!"

Old Ancestor Huntian sneered.

"Qingxu, you are too naive."

He said, "Mortals are nothing more than livestock we keep, no different from pigs or dogs."

"What is wrong with killing a few Mortals in exchange for a Breakthrough in cultivation?"

"Why are you so angry?"

Old Jìjiǔ observed the four of them closely and suddenly noticed something abnormal.

There was a hint of madness in all of their eyes.

Furthermore, their auras were extremely unstable, fluctuating between strong and weak.

"You…"

Old Jìjiǔ's expression shifted: "You have already developed a dependence on those Evil Spirit Crystals!"

"This thing is addictive!"

"You have become slaves to the Evil Spirit Crystals!"

"No different from venomous insects!"

The expressions of Immortal Master Taixu and the others changed.

They had indeed discovered that they had developed an extremely strong dependence on the Evil Spirit Crystals.

If they didn't consume one for a period of time, their entire bodies would feel miserable, and they might even stop recognizing their own kin.

But they could no longer stop.

The pleasure and the boost in strength the Evil Spirit Crystals brought them were things they could not resist.

To this end, they had even issued announcements praising the evil demons for coming to help the Tianxuan Continent.

"So what?"

Old Ancestor Huntian sneered, "As long as one can break through their Realm, any price is worth paying!"

"Qingxu, if you know what's good for you, you will lead Jixia Academy to surrender."

"The Demon Lord will reward you with Evil Spirit Crystals, letting you also taste the flavor of a Breakthrough."

Old Jìjiǔ shook his head.

"Our paths are different; we cannot work together."

He sighed, "Heavenly retribution awaits you all."

"In today's battle, this old man will die with no regrets."

"But the spark of Jixia Academy must never be extinguished!"

He turned and flew back toward Jixia Academy.

Inside the main hall.

Old Jìjiǔ gathered all the Elite Disciples and Elders of the academy.

There were a total of three thousand people.

This included several hundred Core Disciples, including Zhou Chen, as well as dozens of Elders in the Venerable Realm.

"Everyone."

Old Jìjiǔ said in a heavy voice, "The academy is in imminent danger. I have gathered you all here to initiate the Spark Project."

"The Spark Project?"

Everyone was taken aback.

Old Jìjiǔ nodded.

"Jixia Academy has passed down its Legacy for hundreds of thousands of years since its founding."

"Countless predecessors have given everything for the academy."

"Today, although the academy is about to be destroyed, the spark cannot be extinguished."

"Therefore…"

He paused: "I have decided to send you all to the Spirit Realm."

"The Spirit Realm?!"

Everyone was shocked.

The Spirit Realm was a world rumored to be accessible only by those who had achieved Immortal Ascension as True Immortals.

How could they, Cultivators whose highest cultivation was only the Venerable Realm, go to the Spirit Realm?

"The academy possesses a Flying Immortal Command."

Old Jìjiǔ took out an ancient-looking token: "This was left behind by the first generation Jìjiǔ."

"The Flying Immortal Command can open a teleportation array leading to the Spirit Realm, sending you there collectively."

"Once you reach the Spirit Realm, you will be the academy's sparks."

"Within ten thousand years, if someone can become an Immortal, then come back to save us."

Everyone fell silent.

Ten thousand years…

That was too far away.

And, becoming an Immortal?

That was almost an impossibility.

"Old Jìjiǔ…"

Zhou Chen stepped forward, "What about you?"

"And the others in the academy?"

Old Jìjiǔ shook his head.

"I must stay behind to activate the Heaven-Earth Severing Formation."

"To completely strip Jixia Academy's Small World away from the Tianxuan Continent."

"That way, even those in the Quasi-Immortal Realm will be unable to break through."

"As for the price…"

He sighed, "The Spiritual Qi of this Small World will gradually dissipate, and it will be impossible to receive any replenishment."

"In ten thousand years, it will be completely annihilated."

"Therefore, you must leave."

"Go to the Spirit Realm and preserve the academy's spark."

Everyone's eyes grew moist.

Old Jìjiǔ was using himself and the entire academy to fight for a chance of survival for them.

Zhou Chen's heart stirred.

He thought of the people from the Taichu Holy Land and the Zhou Family.

Fortunately, Elder Xuan had moved them all to Jixia Academy in advance.

Miao Dandan, Bei Nianyu, Lin Xueer, Xi Linger…

Although they were not among the three thousand, they were at least safe for the time being.

"Elder Xuan is truly reliable in his work."

Zhou Chen praised inwardly.

Otherwise, if they had stayed in the Tianxuan Continent, who knows what chaos they would have faced.

"Alright, follow me."

Old Jìjiǔ led the three thousand people to the depths of the academy.

There was an ancient teleportation array here, emitting a faint aura of Immortal Qi.

"This is the teleportation array leading to the Spirit Realm."

Old Jìjiǔ said, "The Flying Immortal Command can activate it once."

"Are you all ready?"

Everyone nodded.

"Wait."

Zhou Chen suddenly spoke up, "Old Jìjiǔ, I have a close friend who also wishes to go to the Spirit Realm."

"Is that possible?"

Old Jìjiǔ glanced at Zhou Chen. Perceiving Zhou Chen's First Layer of the Venerable Realm cultivation, he nodded with great satisfaction.

"It is possible, but only for one person."

"Thank you, Old Jìjiǔ!"

Zhou Chen took out a transmission talisman and contacted Han Li.

Very soon, Han Li arrived.

"Brother Zhou, were you looking for me?"

"Brother Li, come with me to the Spirit Realm."

"The Spirit Realm?!"

Han Li was shocked.

Zhou Chen briefly explained the situation.

Han Li remained silent for a moment, then solemnly bowed to Zhou Chen.

"Big Brother Zhou, I, Han, will keep this kindness engraved in my heart."

"If there is an Opportunity in the future, I will surely repay you manifold!"

Zhou Chen waved his hand.

"We are brothers, there's no need for this."

The reason Zhou Chen brought Han Li along was mainly considering Han Li's high growth potential.

Perhaps he could trigger some decent Opportunities; at the very least, it was a safety net.

Old Jìjiǔ placed the Flying Immortal Command into the center of the teleportation array.

Buzz—

The teleportation array erupted with a dazzling light.

"Go."

Old Jìjiǔ said, "Remember, you are the academy's sparks."

"No matter what difficulties you encounter, do not give up."

The three thousand and one people stepped into the teleportation array one by one.

The light grew brighter and brighter, finally enveloping everyone.

In the next second, everyone vanished completely.

Old Jìjiǔ looked at the empty teleportation array and sighed.

"I hope… you can all survive well."

Old Jìjiǔ also knew that asking them to become Immortals within ten thousand years was far too difficult.