System's Super Sect-Chapter 489 - 486. I Choose Death (4)

Purification Pool.

After Shi Hua entered the forest within this secret realm, she found a secluded hillside and began using her Cultivation Technique to absorb the Qi from the world for Body Refinement. At this moment, her body was like a ravenous mouth, constantly gulping down the energy. Though the Qi in the secret realm caused a tingling sensation as it entered her body and circulated through her meridians, the stronger she absorbed, the more intense the pain became, but she was not afraid.

At the same time, she took ten White Crystals from her Storage Ring, clutching them tightly with her slender hands, while simultaneously absorbing the Heaven and Earth Qi and extracting energy from the White Crystals to enhance her Realm Cultivation.

Because she was cultivating the Profound Mystery Technique that others could only dream of, the absorption speed was rapid. Within just a few hours, ten White Crystals had already turned into a pair of translucent fragments, lacking the milky white appearance they initially had.

At this moment, as she sensed her whole body, although the improvement was not tremendous, it was equivalent to cultivating for one or two months outside—here, the combination of Heaven and Earth Qi and supplementary White Crystals was extremely effective.

"There’s one year, but I don’t have many White Crystals, only 50 pieces, yet if I use 10 White Crystals every two months for supplementary cultivation, perhaps I’ll progress further than I anticipated within a year."

Shi Hua murmured with joy.

Maybe reaching the Body Refining Thirteenth Layer is not out of the question!

Thinking of this, the smile on Shi Hua’s lips turned to satisfaction, and her thoughts drifted away but were quickly reined back in.

At that moment, Shi Hua looked up at the sky. Having cultivated for several hours, the sky was already bright. She understood that there was likely no distinction between day and night in this secret realm.

As she withdrew her gaze and was about to continue absorbing Heaven and Earth Qi for cultivation, a voice came through.

"Shi Hua!"

At the foot of the small hill, there was the sound of rustling branches.

As she focused her mind to take a look, the old woman who rowed the boat suddenly emerged from the forest, pointing her finger at Shi Hua with hands like dry twigs.

Shi Hua immediately stood up and replied, "Senior, is there something?"

"Vice President Hua wishes to see you." As she spoke, the old woman turned expressionlessly but did not immediately walk away, seemingly waiting for Shi Hua to move.

Shi Hua was stunned for a moment, not understanding why President Hua wanted to see her at this time?

After entering the Purification Pool, regardless of the matter, it should have been discussed a year later.

"Understood."

However, Shi Hua still dispersed her technique and followed after her.

She boarded the boat and returned to the secret realm’s entrance, yet as the boat flipped, Shi Hua saw the people on the shore.

A dense crowd, all high-level members of Celestial Academy.

Elders, Stewards, many people she’d met only during the apprenticeship ceremony were standing on the shore. Of course, if they were just standing, she wouldn’t find it strange, but some of their gazes were hostile, not as blatant as those of Inner Sect Disciples, yet essentially the same as the way Inner Courtyard Disciples looked at her.

Equally repulsive.

Equally bewildering.

What had she done wrong again?

"Take her away!" Hua Zeyu coldly remarked just as the boat was about to reach shore, "Shi Hua, handing you over to the Dragon God Sect is everyone’s idea. Even though our relationship with you is notable, we cannot continue shielding you against the will of a thousand."

With that, a Steward in the Upper Profound Realm came to the forefront, ready to take on the task of escorting her.

"Sheltering?" Shi Hua murmured.

What had she done wrong?

Why use the word ’sheltering’?

Although she was confused, she knew something significant must have happened, otherwise, why would it mobilize so many elders?

She immediately asked, "President Hua, where’s my master?"

"President Ji is busy and cannot see you. Handing you over to the Dragon God Sect is the decision of Celestial Academy, even if your master came, he couldn’t interfere." After Hua Zeyu finished speaking, the Steward stretched out his hand to grab her, still on the boat, prompting Shi Hua to step back.

"What Dragon God Sect?" Shi Hua countered.

Hua Zeyu said, "That you’ll have to ask yourself, as to when you provoked people from the Dragon God Sect."

"I haven’t done anything?"

Shi Hua was perplexed.

What Dragon God Sect?

She had never heard of it, let alone provoked it.

At that moment, an elder suddenly stepped forward and berated her, "Could a Giant Level Four-star Influence make trouble for you unreasonably?"

"Listen carefully!"

With those words, the elder stepped back more than a dozen steps.

As he did, retreating to a mountain pass, voices began to sound one after another.

Echoing loudly in the mountains, continuously.

"Shi Hua, get out!"

"Get out!"

"How dare you enter the Purification Pool?"

...

Shi Hua’s expression slightly changed, but she knew now wasn’t the time to care about those voices. She had to convince the elders, for they were the decision-makers in all this, she hurriedly said, "Respected elders, you know I am only at the Body Refining Realm, the farthest I’ve been is Cloud Sea City, how could I provoke a Four-star Influence?"

"But they want you!" Hua Zeyu responded indifferently, "You’ve heard it too. This is the voice of the entire Inner Courtyard. Even as your elders, we cannot go against the will of a thousand."

"But I am part of Celestial Academy..."

Shi Hua realized that no matter why the Dragon God Sect wanted her, or if she was a scapegoat, as soon as she was handed over, the outcome would be disastrous.

She had to hold onto Celestial Academy.

Celestial Academy was a Three-star Giant Level Influence, holding a significant position within the Hundred Sects Alliance. Though the Dragon God Sect was powerful, it couldn’t go against the Alliance’s rules—certainly, the Hundred Sects Alliance was the strongest force of Heaven and Earth Lake.

However, she was interrupted by Hua Zeyu.

Hua Zeyu said, "The will of a thousand is inviolable."

Shi Hua replied, "But the academy’s principle is ’united front’, isn’t it?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Zeyu’s expression clearly changed, not to shame but to anger.

"Take her away, hand her over to the Dragon God Sect!"

This time when Shi Hua wanted to retreat, there was nowhere to retreat.

With one hand, the old woman pushed her toward the Steward who directly seized her.

Shi Hua didn’t struggle, only stared coldly at Hua Zeyu’s back and said, "Celestial Academy always said, once you join, you belong to Celestial, and Celestial is your home. I am merely at the Body Refining Realm, incapable of touching even a corner of a Four-star Influence, let alone offending them. Anyone with common sense would know surely I am unjustly treated, even a fool should understand. If you hand me over today, I wonder who else would dare join Celestial Academy in the future."

Four-star Influence arrived at Bright Mirror Lake.

Under public scrutiny.

Celestial Academy’s every move watched by Bright Mirror Lake.

Shi Hua was gambling, otherwise, she’d be doomed forever.

After speaking, Hua Zeyu, who had initially started walking away, abruptly halted, not turning around, but casually said, "Blame your fortune, Celestial Academy can’t contain you, Celestial Academy’s future isn’t for you to worry about. Instead, you should consider the person who saved you from the clutches in Cloud Sea City, he rescued you but also harmed you. Because of him, you stepped from one Deep Pool into another bigger Deep Pool."