What this means is self-evident.
Gu Yuan was the last survivor, along with Shang Gong Changqing and the student who was unconscious.
There were no other survivors...
No one, whether from the academy or the four great families, could accept this outcome.
Moreover, this incident is no small matter.
If a satisfactory explanation cannot be given, then this matter may not end well.
Seeing that Gu Yuan didn't speak for a moment, Shanggong Changqing quickly said, "If it's too difficult, rest for a few days first..."
"No need."
Gu Yuan shook his head slightly, and then told Shang Gong Changqing about what had happened in the death row.
According to Gu Yuan, after Lin Ao was killed by the rotten wolves and Shanggong Changqing withdrew from Jinmen, Gu Yuan first painstakingly found some cultivation materials at the bottom of the cliff.
Then they joined the main force, and everyone advanced together, with Lin Tian and Shang Gongji at the core, making progress and improving together.
But halfway through, the group encountered a great disaster: the ground cracked and shook constantly, and evil energy surged from the earth's veins.
Many students fell off the cliff, while Gu Yuan was with Shang Gongji and others at the time.
The group supported each other, but in the end, many students perished, and even Lin Tian died in the chaos.
In order to survive, the group chose to divide up the belongings of the victims, obtaining a lot of useful materials, as well as the "pseudo-thunder blade" that Lin Tian had created with his life's work.
After regrouping, Shang Gongji took care of everyone like an elder brother along the way, not only guiding students who had difficulties in their cultivation.
They also generously provided cultivation techniques and materials, enabling several students to break through to the first-level cultivator.
Having said this, Shanggong Changqing's expression turned solemn.
"If that's the case, then why...?"
"We encountered three Tier 2 evil creatures."
Then came a moment of silence.
Neither of them spoke again.
The phrase "three second-tier evil creatures" carried immense weight, leaving Shanggong Changqing momentarily speechless.
Gu Yuan didn't care. This conversation, ostensibly addressed to Shanggong Changqing, was actually...
Although Gu Yuan couldn't sense them, there should be quite a few cultivators hiding outside.
The news of his awakening should have been known to cultivators from various forces immediately, and they all concealed their auras and came to the outside of this thatched hut.
They all want an answer, and if this is the final result, then obviously no one will be satisfied.
So Gu Yuan continued.
"It was this thing... that saved the desperate situation."
As he spoke, Gu Yuan took out the Spirit-Slaying Pestle from his storage ring. The strange light that had previously shone on the Pestle had now dissipated due to the exhaustion of its spiritual power.
Judging from its appearance alone, it is almost indistinguishable from any other ordinary object.
Whether it was the cultivators outside or Shang Gong Changqing, they could all sense the surging spiritual energy fluctuations within!
This item is undoubtedly a magic weapon of at least the first tier!
"This is... a fortuitous encounter?"
Shanggong Changqing asked in confusion, but Gu Yuan did not answer. Instead, he continued, "The formula was provided by Li Shubo, and the students provided the materials. It was then handed over to Shanggong Ji to complete the magical artifact!"
"this...."
Upon hearing this, not only outsiders but even Shanggong Changqing found it quite unbelievable.
Gu Yuan simply handed the Spirit-Subduing Pestle to Shanggong Changqing.
"Throughout the process, I only provided spiritual energy and watched from the sidelines. After that, we took turns using it."
"This magical artifact is incredibly powerful, but it has a fatal flaw: each time it is used, it consumes a small amount of spiritual energy!"
"Spiritual root?"
When Gu Yuan told Shang Gong Changqing with certainty that it was a permanent depletion that could never be recovered, everyone was no longer able to remain calm.
Gu Yuan's spiritual root was destroyed and his dantian was damaged because he used the Spirit-Subduing Pestle multiple times. He had the physical body of a Qi Refiner, but could no longer cultivate.
Seeing Gu Yuan's miserable state, everyone could roughly guess that those who used the Spirit-Subduing Pestle were mostly unremarkable cultivators without any background...
Their spirits were weak, and they had no physical bodies to temper. After wielding the spirit-summoning pestle, they were completely drained.
Then Shanggong Ji and others can take the opportunity to kill the evil creature.
Can....
"Then why was you the only one who survived in the end, Gu Yuan?"
Shanggong Changqing asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
This question is quite impolite, and Shanggong Changqing is well aware of it, but there is nothing he can do about it.
If the questions are not clarified, then after I leave, Gu Yuan will be subjected to interrogation by other powerful families!
This was a situation that Shanggong Changqing did not want to see. In order to avoid such a thing from happening, Shanggong Changqing naturally had to ask everything he could.
After that, even if it was about protecting Gu Yuan, there would be more justification...
"Because of some unexpected events, it was the Black Earth Statue, on its body—no, inside its body, I don't know...—suddenly a monster rushed out and killed everyone!"
"At that time, the spirit-summoning staff was in my hand, but I had no strength left, and then..."
"I... I hid inside the Iron Man's body, and then I don't remember anything."
At this point, Gu Yuan's tone became somewhat weak, as if he were recalling something painful.
When Gu Yuan was released from the death row, he was surrounded by evil energy. If he had lingered any longer, he might have lost his life.
"Feel sorry."
"It's alright, I'll be here every few days. If you feel unwell, just let me know."
"How can I do this? I've already received so much help from you, senior. I..."
"Don't say that. If you hadn't given me that golden door, I might not have survived."
Shanggong Changqing said with a serious expression, "If you may, you can call me Changqing."
"Then... Senior Changqing?"
"No, just call me by my full name. I can hardly repay your life-saving grace. The evil spirit on you has not been completely removed. I will come to visit again tomorrow."
"Thank you..."
At this point, the medicinal soup in the earthenware pot was ready. Shanggong Changqing summoned the Crimson Heart Fire to cleanse Gu Yuan of the remaining evil energy in his body before leaving.
Although Gu Yuan wore a smile, he never let his guard down.
Those guys are all waiting. When Shang Gong Changqing was still around, they wouldn't make any rash moves, but now that Shang Gong Changqing is gone, it's hard for some of them not to have some ulterior motives.
Just as Gu Yuan had guessed, there were indeed several cultivators outside gathering information.
However, they were not tasked with capturing Gu Yuan; their role was merely to monitor him and relay intelligence.
At this point, Gu Yuan's situation could be considered safe, and the other student who was unconscious received the same treatment.
At this very moment, all the administrators of Wuxin City are in the top-floor conference building of the academy...