"Alright then, apologies for bothering you!"
Zhang Chen didn't press further, nodded in thanks, and then carried Keke towards the dormitory.
Watching Zhang Chen disappear into the night, Bella placed her sister in the cellar's shelter before quickly summoning a griffin and flying towards the academy's main tower.
Ten minutes later, in the main tower's conference room.
The senior professors of the Magic Academy were gathered.
"The apostles of the Ancient Gods have appeared, indicating that the Ancient Gods are about to revive!"
"Once the Ancient Gods return, the entire magic world will face annihilation."
Bella said with a grim expression.
"Why would the apostles of the Ancient Gods find you?"
"If they were to seek someone, it should have been the Dean. After all, he is the hero who participated in the holy war, and the Heart of the Ancient Gods is in his possession."
Xinjia De, the professor of Light Magic, said coldly.
"I handed the Heart of the Ancient Gods to Bella for research into its dark life magic."
Dean Karen stated.
"Researching the Heart of the Ancient Gods? The Ancient Gods are filled with evil dark magic. You're letting Bella study such a thing? Isn't that forbidden?"
"No wonder those apostles of the Ancient Gods found you. This is entirely your own fault!"
Xinjia De of Light Magic sneered.
"Actually... I had heard some rumors from the elves before, and I didn't really believe them."
"But judging from today's events, the news of the Ancient Gods' awakening is likely true!"
The professor of Wind Magic said with a frown.
"Rumors? What rumors?"
The others quickly asked.
"It is said that someone is collecting the remains of the Ancient Gods everywhere. Apparently, only the Heart of the Ancient Gods and the Soul of the Ancient Gods are still missing. Once these two are gathered, they may be able to resurrect the Ancient Gods."
The professor of Wind Magic explained.
"What? The apostles are moving so fast? How come I haven't heard any whispers?"
Xinjia De, the professor of Light Magic, looked extremely nervous.
Although Light Magic was the nemesis of Dark Magic, it was also the most hated by the apostles of Dark Magic.
If the Ancient Gods returned, the first targets would undoubtedly be all the Light Mages worldwide.
As the academy's Light Magic professor, he felt a chill run down his spine.
"For some reason, the apostles of the Ancient Gods have suddenly increased in number. Many cults in the world now are probably just fronts, actually disguised as apostles of the Ancient Gods."
"And ever since we severed ties with the other continent, it has become difficult for us to know what is happening on that land."
"Much of the wind element has been infected by dark magic. This is what a few wind elements I took in told me."
The professor of Wind Magic said.
"Since the apostles could find you, they must have come prepared. How did you repel them?"
"Was that explosion just now caused by you?"
The Academy Dean looked at Bella expectantly and asked eagerly.
He thought Bella had gained mysterious power from the Heart of the Ancient Gods. Such destructive power, even he, would need a long incantation to barely unleash it.
But Bella seemed to have achieved it instantly.
After all, the apostles of the Ancient Gods wouldn't just stand there and watch Bella chant.
"I was just about to say, the Holy Spring Goddess manifested!"
"She bestowed her power upon a first-year student, and this student used a Level One Fireball spell to cause such an effect..."
"And afterwards, she even reshaped my body!"
Bella said excitedly as she mentioned the Holy Spring Goddess.
"What? You're saying... that effect was caused by a Level One Fireball?"
All the professors present looked exceptionally grim.
Fireball spell?
This was a joke!
Even if they refined their skills for a few more centuries, they wouldn't be able to cast such a fireball.
This level of power could still be called a fireball? It was comparable to a miniature sun!
"That's right. If the Holy Spring Goddess hadn't appeared, what other reasonable explanation could there be?"
"As long as the Holy Spring Goddess is on our side, the Ancient Gods are nothing."
Bella said smugly.
"But... ever since the Ancient Gods were defeated, the Holy Spring Goddess has never shown a miracle again... Why did she suddenly appear today?"
The Academy Dean asked curiously.
"I don't know. Perhaps the Holy Spring Goddess has chosen Zhang Chen to be the savior!"
"Perhaps he can defeat the Ancient Gods, who knows!"
Bella continued excitedly.
"I agree. Everyone should share their spellbooks with Zhang Chen, so he can take the Heart of the Ancient Gods and go to the Endless Abyss to find the Soul of the Ancient Gods."
"If he can complete the task before the apostles of the Ancient Gods, then he can destroy both items on the spot in the Endless Abyss, preventing the Ancient Gods from ever awakening!"
"Of course, mortals cannot destroy the remains of the Ancient Gods, but he has the protection of the Holy Spring Goddess, so it should be fine."
The Dean pondered for a moment before speaking.
In his view, it would be best if the Ancient Gods could be destroyed. Even if they couldn't, letting Zhang Chen take away the Heart of the Ancient Gods would avoid a lot of trouble.
He had participated in the holy war and knew how brutal that battle was.
Out of thirty thousand top mages who participated, only 3 survived.
One went mad, one lost their magic, and only he became a hero and the Dean of the Magic Academy.
However, what others didn't know was that the Ancient Gods were not actually defeated in the end.
Instead, it chose to self-destruct, its body fragmenting and scattering across the world, leaving only the Heart of the Ancient Gods.
As for why the Ancient Gods did this, the Dean still couldn't figure it out to this day.
He couldn't kill the Ancient Gods back then, and now he had no ability to prevent their resurrection.
So, rather than being endlessly harassed by the apostles of the Ancient Gods, it was better to pass this bane onto Zhang Chen.
After all, if it succeeded, he would be credited for his leadership.
If it failed, it would be Zhang Chen's incompetence. In any case, he would be safe.
"Alright, then we will act according to the will of the Holy Spring Goddess!"
Bella was the first to agree.
The surrounding professors raised no objections.
The next day, as the awakened Zhang Chen pushed open his door, he saw all the teachers of the Magic Academy, led by the Dean, standing at the entrance with beaming smiles.
Some presented mounts, some presented magic tomes, some presented magic puppets, and others presented various magical artifacts.
In an instant, the gifts filled three to four small carts.
The Dean explained his intentions to Zhang Chen and handed him the magically sealed Heart of the Ancient Gods.
"Zhang Chen, you are the pride of our Magic Academy. The mission to save the world is entrusted to you!"
"There will surely be many hardships and dangers along the way, but you must believe that the Holy Spring Goddess is always by your side. Go for it!"
As soon as the Dean finished speaking, he waved his hand and cast a firework spell.
The horses responsible for carrying the gifts were startled and quickly galloped forward.
Thus, Zhang Chen, immediately after waking up, was sent away from the Magic Academy.