The Return of an Ancient Dean

Far beyond the Nine Heavens, deep inside the Celestial Graveyard, a desolate realm forgotten by time, a robed figure moved through a forest of floating tombstones. His every step caused ancient spirits to weep and vanish. His presence distorted the surrounding Dao.

This being had once stood beside Dev Yadav himself during the founding of the first Heaven Defying Academy—ten thousand years ago.

"So… the Mark has been awakened by a disciple," the ancient being whispered. "And Dev has finally acted."

He looked at his skeletal hand and clenched it.

"It's time for the old generation to rise again."

Back at the Academy

The aftermath of Lin Feng's battle with the Forbidden Seed had caused massive spiritual distortions throughout the inner zones of the Academy. Elders gathered, surprised at the scale of the explosion and how it was contained in a precise boundary.

Dean Yue Wushen—one of the few mortals who had met Dev—spoke calmly, "Prepare the Hall of Legacy. We may receive a visitor."

"Visitor, Dean?" asked Elder Mo.

"An old friend of the Ancestor."

Just as the words left her mouth, a rift tore open in the middle of the sky.

A throne of black jade descended from the heavens, carried by nine chained void beasts. On it sat the old man from the Celestial Graveyard.

"Long time, Yue."

"Dean Xuan…"

Every elder froze.

Even the battle-hardened instructors bent their knees. This wasn't just any cultivator.

This was Dean Xuan Lie, the First Dean of the Original Academy and Dev Yadav's closest comrade.

Lin Feng Awakens

Inside the infirmary dome, Lin Feng stirred from unconsciousness. His entire body ached, but a warm energy flowed through him.

Ye Qingxue was asleep, her head resting on the edge of his bed. He looked at her and smiled faintly.

"You stayed?"

"Always," she replied softly, already awake.

Suddenly, the doors burst open.

A voice ancient and thunderous rang out.

"You are the boy who inherited the Mark?"

Lin Feng looked up. His breath caught.

Dean Xuan stood before him.

"You… Who are you?"

"A ghost of the past. One who once stood with the Dao Ancestor… and now returns to prepare the next generation."

He stepped forward, laying a hand on Lin Feng's forehead.

In that moment, memories that were not his flashed before Lin Feng's eyes—wars across galaxies, the founding of the first Academy, Dev standing against a thousand gods, and Xuan Lie holding off a star's destruction with one palm.

When the visions ended, Lin Feng's cultivation jumped from Foundation Realm - Mid Stage to Core Formation - Early Stage.

His eyes glowed with gold.

"You… You gave me your legacy?"

"No," Dean Xuan replied. "You earned it."

Dev's Smile

From his lonely temple between realities, Dev opened his eyes and chuckled.

"He came back on his own… Good."

"Soon," he whispered, "they'll all return."

And the real war will begin.