Fantasy, starting with a treasure bowl

"Lu Feng, do you know why Falling Star Academy has been targeted by the Lifeless Sect?"

Faced with Lu Feng's question, Chu Tianhong did not answer directly, but instead changed the subject.

"Because of that Earth Tiger Star?"

Lu Feng answered subconsciously.

After all, Earth Tiger Star is not only one of the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends, but also ranks 104th on the Heaven and Earth Star Ranking, making it the treasure of Falling Star Academy!

Once this secret is leaked out, not only will the Wusheng Sect covet it, but other forces on the continent will also be eager to get a share!

"good."

Nodding slightly, Chu Tianhong's tone was somewhat meaningful, "But Lu Feng, do you know where this Earth Tiger Star came from, and why it was sealed in Falling Star Valley by our ancestor for so long?"

"Uh, well...!"

Faced with Chu Tianhong's series of cryptic questions, Lu Feng was also taken aback for a moment, then cupped his hands in a fist salute, "This disciple truly does not know, please ask Dean Chu for clarification!"

"Hehe, actually, this matter isn't that complicated..."

With another grin, Chu Tianhong explained unhurriedly, "Because in the beginning, when our ancestor risked his life to seal the Earth Tiger Star, it wasn't for the long-term future of Falling Star Academy. As for whether Falling Star Academy would continue to exist, that wasn't actually within our ancestor's consideration. You could even say that the entire Falling Star Academy was just a tool..."

"Is Falling Star Academy merely a tool?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng frowned slightly, feeling even more confused. "Dean Chu, why am I understanding less and less what you're saying..."

Although he was naturally intelligent, Lu Feng was still completely baffled by Chu Tianhong's "riddler" tactics!

"This story begins when our founder established Falling Star Academy..."

"Our ancestor's surname was Jin, and his given name was Tuo. He was a disciple of Penglai Pavilion, one of the three famous pavilions in the Eastern Xuan Region in the past."

"About a thousand years ago, Grandmaster Jin Tuo personally founded Falling Star Academy, leaving behind his mantle and ancestral teachings, which eventually fell into the hands of the previous dean, who is also my master, Xuan Mingzi..."

Chu Tianhong stood with his hands behind his back, his tone gradually becoming solemn, "Before the passing of our ancestor Jin Tuo, he made an ancestral instruction to each successor of the academy: under no circumstances should the secrets of Earth Tiger Star be exposed, even if it means sacrificing the entire Falling Star Academy..."

"Besides that, the purpose of Falling Star Academy is merely to deceive others and wait for a prodigy capable of subduing Earth Tiger Star to emerge, so that the remains of Ancestor Jin Tuo can be rightfully brought back to Penglai Pavilion in the Eastern Xuan Region for burial..."

"And this was also the dying wish of Grandmaster Jintuo..."

"Hey! Although the past deans of Falling Star Academy and Master Xuanmingzi have always regarded the ancestral teachings and wishes of Ancestor Jintuo as divine deities, obeyed them without question, and never had any thoughts of disobeying them, I, Chu, do not think so..."

"The existence of Falling Star Academy should absolutely not be merely as a tool...!"

At this point, Chu Tianhong also sighed heavily, his expression somewhat complicated, as if he had some reservations about Jin Tuo, who founded the Falling Star Academy, and did not quite agree with his ideas.

"It turns out that the founder of Falling Star Academy was once a disciple of Penglai Pavilion, one of the three famous pavilions in the Eastern Xuan Region..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng also looked surprised and thoughtful.

At that moment, he finally understood.

Why is it that Luoxing Academy, which is just a small academy in the Yuanfeng Realm, possesses the "Penglai Sealing Star Array," a top-grade Xuan-level magic array, and that it originated from Penglai Pavilion, one of the three famous pavilions in the Eastern Xuan Region? Is there some subtle connection between the two parties?

However, what puzzled Lu Feng was why Jin Tuo, who was once a disciple of Penglai Pavilion, chose to leave Penglai Pavilion and travel thousands of miles to Yuanfeng Realm to establish Luoxing Academy. This was undoubtedly a case of picking up a sesame seed while losing a watermelon, and there was no benefit at all!

"The patriarch Jin Tuo did not leave Penglai Pavilion voluntarily, but was framed..."

Seemingly sensing Lu Feng's doubts, Chu Tianhong continued, "Although I don't know who framed Grandmaster Jin Tuo, we can see from the ancestral precepts and wishes he left behind that he must have been quite resentful, and even on his deathbed, he kept thinking about returning to Penglai Pavilion..."

"Dean Chu, judging from your words, could it be that Senior Jin Tuo's sealing of Earth Tiger Star wasn't for the future development of Falling Star Academy, but merely for...?"

"That's right...!"

Chu Tianhong slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, speaking slowly and deliberately, "All of this is merely one part of the Grandmaster's plan to return to Penglai Pavilion...!"

"The former patriarch was expelled from Penglai Pavilion, and his desire to return was almost impossible to achieve through ordinary means. In the end, he could only offer up the Earth Tiger Star as a 'pledge of allegiance' in order to gain a sliver of hope to return to the pavilion..."

"As for the entire Falling Star Academy, it's nothing more than a tool, a tool to cover up the secrets of Earth Tiger Star...!"

"Unfortunately, although our ancestor had a meticulous plan, he still underestimated the power of Earth Tiger Star. Even in the end, he couldn't subdue Earth Tiger Star, only temporarily sealing it in Falling Star Valley, until a thousand years later when Earth Tiger Star broke free from the formation again..."

At this point, Chu Tianhong shifted his gaze and looked at Lu Feng beside him again, seemingly with a hidden meaning.

"Dean Chu, I am but a mortal with no lofty ambitions, and I have no interest in joining the Penglai Pavilion. I hope you will understand..."

Facing Chu Tianhong's gaze, Lu Feng merely cupped his hands in greeting, then slowly said, "However, Falling Star Academy has ultimately treated me well. If Falling Star Academy faces any difficulties in the future, this disciple will absolutely not stand idly by..."

Although he wanted to be polite and steer the conversation away, Chu Tianhong was a smart man and the current dean of Falling Star Academy, so Lu Feng had no choice but to get straight to the point to avoid causing any more trouble.

"Lu Feng, you don't need to make any promises to me. Earth Tiger Star is now in your hands, which means it was ordained by Heaven and no one can change it. As for your own thoughts and future plans, I will not interfere in the slightest..."

Seemingly anticipating Lu Feng's concerns, Chu Tianhong merely shook his head slightly, then a smile appeared on his lips, "Besides, I myself don't entirely agree with the ancestral precepts and wishes left by Grandmaster Jin Tuo..."

"No matter how powerful or alluring Penglai Pavilion may be, Falling Star Academy is Falling Star Academy. Its existence is far more than just a tool. Even if this idea contradicts the last wish of Ancestor Jin Tuo, I, Chu, will not change my mind in the slightest..."

Chu Tianhong's eyes were bright and his face was resolute. It was clear that he had devoted a lot of effort to Luoxing Academy over the years. At the same time, his views on the significance of Luoxing Academy's existence were different from those of Jin Tuo, the founding master of the academy, and the deans of previous generations.

"Dean Chu is indeed a man of great principle; I admire him greatly!"

Upon seeing this, Lu Feng was also moved and immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute once more.

At first, he thought that Chu Tianhong was going to use the dean's name to coerce him and make him offer up the Earth Tiger Star as a "pledge of allegiance" in order to fulfill the last wish of Jin Tuo, the founder of the Sunset Star Academy.

In retrospect, it seems that Lu Feng was judging others by his own petty standards.

Because Chu Tianhong never considered returning to Penglai Pavilion as his top priority, and he also did not agree with the ideas of Jin Tuo, the founder of the former Sunset Academy.