Chapter 65: Star Tree and Star Lion

Alice stood quietly behind a thick cluster of blue-tinged bushes, her eyes fixed on the suspicious group of students gathered in front of the majestic Star Tree.

The tree itself was a sight to behold, its enormous trunk glowing with a soft, ethereal light, and its branches stretching out like the arms of an ancient guardian, each leaf twinkling like a star in the night sky.

The ground beneath the tree shimmered with a faint blue hue, and the air was filled with a serene, otherworldly beauty.

As she observed the students, she noticed their anxious expressions and nervous glances. They were clearly unsettled, their fear palpable in the stillness of the night.

The group suddenly froze, their eyes widening as a magnificent beast stepped into the clearing.

The creature was awe-inspiring, with lustrous blue fur that seemed to sparkle with stardust, a star-shaped mustache that added an air of ancient wisdom, and red linings that traced intricate patterns across its lion-like body. Its presence was both regal and terrifying, its golden eyes gleaming with intelligence and power.

"Is that... the Star Lion?" one of the students whispered, his voice trembling.

"It must be. We need to be careful," another replied, his eyes darting nervously around the clearing.

The students, determined to complete their mission, began to circle the Star Tree, pulling out various tools from their bags.

They worked in silence, their movements careful and deliberate, as they started to construct intricate designs on the ground around the tree.

The tension in the air was thick, every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig making them jump.

Alice watched intently, her mind racing. What could they be planning? Whatever it was, it didn't look good.

She knew she had to act, but she needed to do so without revealing herself.

Summoning her wind technique, she focused her energy and carefully directed a small stone to the ground near the sleeping beast.

The stone hit the ground with a soft thud, just enough to startle the Star Lion. The beast's eyes snapped open, and it rose to its feet with a low growl, its gaze scanning the clearing.

The students froze, their faces draining of color as they found themselves face to face with the awakened creature.

"Who dares to disturb my slumber?" the Star Lion roared, its voice echoing through the clearing. "What is your purpose here, intruders?"

The students were paralyzed with fear, their eyes wide and their breaths shallow. One of them, shaking uncontrollably, managed to stammer, "W-we mean no harm, great beast. We are merely..."

"Silence!" the Star Lion interrupted, its eyes narrowing. "You are trespassers in my domain. State your purpose or face my wrath."

Desperate and terrified, one of the students reached into his pocket and pulled out a small totem. It was a demonic ox statue, red in color, with dark energy swirling around it.

The totem was intricately carved, with malevolent eyes and sharp, menacing horns.

As soon as the student held it up, the dark energy intensified, casting an ominous glow over the clearing.

The Star Lion's eyes widened in recognition and anger. "A demonic totem! You dare use such foul magic in my presence?"

But before the beast could react, the totem's power surged, and the Star Lion was forced to the ground, suppressed by the dark energy.

The students let out collective sighs of relief, their bodies sagging with exhaustion and fear.

"We did it," one of them whispered, his voice barely audible. "We've subdued it."

"Not for long," another said, pointing at the totem, which was already showing signs of disruption. Cracks began to appear on its surface, and the dark energy fluctuated wildly.

"We need to finish our work quickly," the leader of the group ordered, his voice urgent. "Strengthen the designs around the tree. Now!"

The students scrambled to reinforce the patterns they had started, their hands moving frantically as they tried to complete their task before the totem lost its hold on the beast.

Sweat poured down their faces, their expressions a mix of fear and determination.

Alice watched the scene unfold, her heart pounding in her chest.

Whatever these students were planning, it involved the Star Tree and the Star Lion, and it was clearly something sinister.

She knew she had to find a way to stop them, but she needed more information.

For now, she remained hidden, observing and waiting for the right moment to intervene.

As the students worked, they whispered nervously to each other.

"Do you think this will hold?"

"It has to. We don't have another choice."

"What if the beast breaks free?"

"Then we're all dead."

The tension in the air was almost unbearable, every second feeling like an eternity.

The Star Lion struggled against the totem's power, its eyes filled with rage and defiance.

The students' fear was palpable, their hands trembling as they etched the final lines of the design.

"We're almost there," the leader said, his voice tight with strain. "Just a few more..."

But before he could finish, the totem gave a violent shudder, and a fissure ran down its center.

The dark energy wavered, and the Star Lion let out a roar of fury, its power surging against the weakening restraints.

"Hurry!" the leader shouted, his voice cracking with panic. "Finish it now!"

Alice tensed, ready to intervene if necessary.

The students were on the brink of completing their designs, but the Star Lion's resistance was growing stronger by the second.

She knew that whatever happened next could change everything.

As the students desperately worked to reinforce their designs, the outcome hung in the balance, the air thick with anticipation and fear.

Alice's eyes darted between the students and the struggling beast, every muscle in her body ready to spring into action.

High atop a snow-capped mountain peak, an ethereal white cage of holy energy shimmered in the harsh sunlight. Inside the cage stood the four principals of the Four Great Academies.

They displayed a range of emotions: calm, frustration, anger, and anxiousness.

Outside the cage, a stout, muscle-filled figure of an ox stood on two legs. This imposing creature, red in color with bull-like features, radiated an aura of strength and menace.

The ox figure, known as the Demonic Sovereign Red Ox, was a sight to behold. His skin was a deep, blood-red, glistening with a sheen that suggested an unyielding toughness. His muscular arms and legs bulged with power, and his torso was broad and solid.

His head was a blend of human and bull, with a broad, flat nose, flaring nostrils, and massive, curved horns that jutted out from his temples. His eyes were a fiery orange, burning with a mocking intelligence, and his mouth curled into a sneering grin, revealing sharp, menacing teeth.

Principal Liang of the Rainbow Academy stood with a calm expression, his eyes analyzing their surroundings.

Principal Yuan of the Thousand Leaves Academy paced back and forth, frustration etched on his face.

Principal Mei of the Destiny Academy worked intently, her focus on the ancient symbols floating in front of her.

Principal Zhang of the Pure Heart Academy stood stoically, his face a mask of controlled anger.

Red Ox stood outside the cage, giving the four a look of mockery. His deep, gravelly voice rumbled as he taunted them. "Well, well, well, look at the mighty principals, trapped like birds in a cage."

Principal Yuan stopped his pacing and glared at Red Ox. "You cowardly beast! Only someone as low as you would resort to such underhanded means."

Red Ox's sneer widened. "Oh, is that frustration I hear? Did I touch a nerve?"

"You didn't touch anything but your own ego, you oversized bovine!" Principal Yuan shot back. "It takes a real coward to hide behind artifacts and tricks."

Red Ox's eyes flashed with anger, and his grin faded. "Watch your mouth, mortal. I could crush you with a flick of my wrist."

Principal Yuan stepped closer to the edge of the cage, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, I'm so scared! The big bad ox is going to crush me. Why don't you come in here and show us just how tough you really are?"

Red Ox snorted, steam puffing from his nostrils. "Your taunts won't work on me. I'm here to keep you busy, nothing more."

Principal Liang and Principal Zhang exchanged weary glances. Principal Liang sighed, then turned to Principal Mei. "How much longer, Mei? We can't afford to stay here much longer."

Principal Mei, a calm-minded woman with an air of serene determination, continued to work on the ancient symbols with a pen that glowed with mystical energy.

She glanced up briefly, her eyes reflecting the gravity of their situation.

"It will still take some time, Liang. This is an artifact of the White Feather Ancestor. Undoing its magic is no small feat, especially with the Demonic Sovereign Red Ox here."

Principal Zhang, worry creasing his forehead, nodded. "We must be cautious. If they have such artifacts, who knows what else they might possess?"

Principal Mei nodded, her pen moving swiftly as she decoded the symbols. "Indeed. This artifact is formidable. It's designed to keep us trapped. And to make matters worse, they sent Red Ox to ensure we remain occupied."

Red Ox, overhearing their conversation, regained his composure and sneered. "You can talk all you want. It won't change a thing. My job is to keep you here, and I'm doing it well."

Principal Yuan couldn't help but throw one last barb. "Well, you're certainly good at standing around and doing nothing. Must be tough work for someone of your... intellectual caliber."

Red Ox's nostrils flared, but he held his ground. "Mock me all you want. It won't change your fate. You're stuck here until my masters decide otherwise."

Principal Yuan laughed. "Oh, we'll see about that. We've faced worse than you, Red Ox."

Principal Liang sighed again, shaking his head at the exchange. "Yuan, must you always provoke our captors?"

Principal Yuan shrugged, a sly grin on his face. "If it keeps him distracted and buys us more time, why not?"

Principal Mei's focus never wavered as she continued to crack the cage's code. "Keep him talking, Yuan. The more distracted he is, the better."

Red Ox growled but didn't rise to the bait this time. "You're running out of time, principals. The longer you stay here, the more your academies suffer."

Principal Zhang's eyes flashed with determination. "We'll get out of here, Red Ox. And when we do, you and your masters will pay for this."

Red Ox's mocking grin returned. "Big words for someone in a cage. Let's see if you can back them up when you're free—if you ever get free."

Principal Yuan stepped back, turning his attention to Principal Mei's progress. "Keep at it, Mei. We're counting on you."

Principal Mei nodded, her pen dancing across the symbols with practiced ease. "I'll get us out. Just keep him talking and distracted."

Red Ox, sensing their determination, tried to interrupt. "You're wasting your time. This cage is unbreakable."

Principal Yuan chuckled. "We've heard that before. Yet here we are, still fighting. Your arrogance will be your downfall, Red Ox."