C115 Second Disciple's Tomb(2)

“What’s going on here? What on earth happened?” Wang Haiyue's eyes were wide with fury as he strode toward Woo Zhengyang, ignoring the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Though Zhou Changtai was equally shocked, he knew better than to escalate the situation. Standing protectively in front of Woo Zhengyang, he said, “Wang Haiyue, life and death in the Mystic Trace Realm are a matter of fate. If your Heavenly Martial Academy students weren’t strong enough, you can’t blame our Profound Heaven Sect.”

Wang Haiyue let out a bitter laugh, retorting, “Not strong enough, huh? Your Profound Heaven Sect sure seems powerful!”

While speaking to Zhou Changtai, Wang Haiyue's gaze was fixed on Woo Zhengyang, as if he wanted to devour him.

Woo Zhengyang remained unfazed, meeting Wang Haiyue's glare with calm indifference, as though nothing had happened.

“Our Profound Heaven Sect’s strength is plain to see. We’ve suffered heavy losses too, just like every year,” Zhou Changtai stated truthfully. In his mind, the outcome had exceeded expectations, as at least two people had made it out.

“Fine... fine...” Wang Haiyue sneered, glaring at Woo Zhengyang as he demanded, “You arrogant brat, tell me what happened in there!”

“The Mystic Trace Realm is, of course, a trial—a test of strength, of character, and of opportunity,” Woo Zhengyang replied with a slight smile.

Upon hearing Woo Zhengyang's indifferent tone, Wang Haiyue was filled with anger, but now wasn't the time to act on it. Suppressing his fury, he demanded, "Stop beating around the bush. Tell me, what happened to the students from Heavenly Martial Academy?"

Woo Zhengyang knew exactly what he was doing and was well aware of the consequences. He anticipated the rage from the elder leading the Heavenly Martial Academy team. His manner of speaking was deliberate. Even if the Profound Heaven Sect was struggling, it was still a significant institution. The fact that Bu Qianshan and others from the Heavenly Martial Academy pursued Woo Zhengyang so relentlessly in the Mystic Trace Realm was undoubtedly due to this elder's covert instructions. Otherwise, they would have acted more discreetly, not so brazenly.

Given this, Woo Zhengyang had no reason to be polite. "If you want to know what's going on with your academy's students, ask them yourself. Even if I had something to say, it would be to the elders of the Profound Heaven Sect, not you," Woo Zhengyang replied calmly.

"You..." Wang Haiyue, overwhelmed with anger, spat out a mouthful of blood, narrowly missing Zhou Changtai, who deflected it with a wave of his hand. It was evident to anyone watching that none of the students from the Heavenly Martial Academy had returned from the trial, leaving Wang Haiyue with no one to question unless he planned on visiting the afterlife.

Woo Zhengyang's words felt like another stab to Wang Haiyue's heart.

"Very well... Do you think Zhou Changtai can protect you? Let me tell you, if you don't give me an explanation today, I guarantee you won't leave this mountain!" Wang Haiyue declared, drawing a heavy blade, his intent clear.

"Wang Haiyue, what do you mean by this? Are you really going to attack a mere disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect?" Zhou Changtai shouted. He wasn't afraid of Wang Haiyue, but if they fought, he wasn't confident he could keep Woo Zhengyang safe. The Mystic Trace Realm had already suffered heavy losses, and if Woo Zhengyang died, he wouldn't be able to explain it.

"So what if I am? I just want to understand what happened in the Mystic Trace Realm!" Wang Haiyue retorted coldly, unwilling to admit anything directly.

"Life and death in the Mystic Trace Realm are left to fate. If your people from the Heavenly Martial Academy died, then they died. What's there to ask?" Zhou Changtai, though skeptical, couldn't risk letting Woo Zhengyang speak out. If it really was related to him, Woo's straightforward nature would make things even more complicated.

"You say it so easily. Of the thirty people from the Heavenly Martial Academy who participated in the trial, not a single one returned, including the academy's fifth-ranked disciple, Zhou Muyuan, and the second-ranked, Bu Qianshan!"

Mentioning Bu Qianshan made Wang Haiyue's heart ache. Bu was a prodigy carefully nurtured by the Heavenly Martial Academy, and now he had died under Wang's watch. Returning to the academy, Wang knew he wouldn't be able to keep his position as an elder, and the punishment he'd face was another matter entirely.

"Participating in the trials always carries the risk of life and death. Our second-ranked disciple from the Profound Heaven Sect, Lyi Huamei, didn't make it out either," Zhou Changtai lamented, feeling a deep sense of regret and curiosity about what had happened. However, he knew that the priority was figuring out how to ensure Woo Zhengyang's safety.

"Lyi Huamei? Our second-ranked disciple from the Wind Howl Sect, Gongyang Qiusheng, hasn't come out yet either!"

As Wang Haiyue and Zhou Changtai faced off, an unexpected voice joined the conversation—it was the elder leading the Wind Howl Sect's team. Only then did everyone realize that the second-ranked disciple from the Wind Howl Sect hadn't emerged either.

The Mystic Trace Realm, though perilous, always provided a way out for those undergoing the trials. Historically, the top ten disciples from each sect would generally make it through, often with significant gains.

This time, however, the second-ranked disciples from the three major sects—each a prominent figure within their respective sects—were all lost in the Mystic Trace Realm, leaving everyone astonished.

Could it be that this year's Mystic Trace Realm is destined to be the graveyard for second-ranked disciples?