Chapter 58: The Calamity Cult
A Mysterious Black Flame
Seeing the black flames, a glint of excitement flashed in the old man’s eyes. He swiftly pulled out a container, as if prepared, intending to collect the flames.
But before he could, the black flames slowly flickered out, vanishing without a trace. As they disappeared, the student from whom the flames were extracted grew unsteady, brows furrowed as if dizzy.
The old man, setting aside his disappointment, quickly placed his hand on the student’s shoulder again. In an instant, the student’s breathing steadied.
The principal, watching everything, asked with confusion, “What was that?”
The old man shook his head. “I don’t know, but this confirms these students were influenced by an external force.”
“Sir, can you confirm if it’s related to disaster beasts?”
The old man frowned, silent for a moment, then approached the principal and handed him a document. “This is what I found before coming here.”
Disturbing Revelations
The principal took the document, his expression growing graver as he read.
Seeing the principal’s focus, the old man spoke slowly. “If the investigation is accurate, some students in our school may have been manipulated by certain forces.”
The principal, still silent, studied the document. It detailed a drug circulating among non-elite students, one that supposedly enhanced ability precision.
He didn’t know if the document was genuine or where it came from, only that something might be harming his students under his nose.
“Sir, where did you get this information?”
The old man’s gaze grew complex as he looked at the awake student.
“From them,” he said, glancing at the students lying in the infirmary.
“Huh? Me?” The awake student pointed at himself, visibly shocked.
A Puzzling Lack of Memory
The principal frowned. The student clearly didn’t know anything, or he wouldn’t have been so clueless earlier. “Sir, are you sure?”
“Would I speak nonsense? It was this student, along with the one from Class B, who told me.”
“But he has no memory of it. Is he still hiding something?”
The principal’s skeptical gaze made the student shake his head frantically.
“No, I don’t think he’s hiding anything,” the old man said firmly.
The principal grew more confused. “Then what do you mean?”
“If I’m not mistaken, when the other students wake up, they won’t have any related memories either. The drug likely has that effect.”
“You’re saying they’re not hiding it—they just don’t remember?”
“Exactly.”
A Grim Realization
The principal felt no relief from this truth; his expression grew even heavier.
“You’ve realized it too,” the old man continued. “If the students have no memory of the drug, we can’t know how many have taken it, when, or who might suddenly attack whom.”
“Even the students who first came into contact with the drug’s distributor may have lost those memories, making it nearly impossible to find the mastermind.”
The principal had clearly thought of this, letting out a helpless sigh. He glanced irritably at the unconscious students. Even for their sake, he couldn’t let this go, but reality left him with no options.
“Sir, if it were you, who do you think would do this?”
The old man fell silent, hesitating before reluctantly giving an answer he dreaded. “The Calamity Cult.”
The Calamity Cult
The principal’s worst fear was confirmed. The Calamity Cult, a recently emerged group, worshipped disaster beasts and preached that all should return to their embrace—a bunch of lunatics. It wouldn’t be surprising if they were behind this.
Turning people into mindless killers fit their deranged methods perfectly.
“And for students to trust and accept the drug, it could only come from someone they trust,” the old man added slowly.
The principal understood. If true, this likely meant a member of the Calamity Cult had infiltrated the school’s staff.
Whether it was true or not, as the principal of the advanced department, he had to act.
Taking Action
Shedding his earlier frustration, he approached the young school doctor and spoke softly. “Starting tomorrow, the advanced department will conduct a three-day school-wide health check, beginning with the first-years. Prepare accordingly, Long Yan.”
The school doctor, Long Yan, said nothing, only nodding calmly in response.
Seeing this, the principal exhaled in relief, then pulled out his phone to make a call. “It’s me. From today, the school is on lockdown. Report any suspicious behavior immediately.”
After hanging up, he turned to the old man. “Thank you for the information, sir.”
The old man shook his head calmly. “No need for thanks. I only did what I should. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
“I’ll see you out,” the principal said, nodding and preparing to leave with him.
Before stepping out, the old man glanced back at the awake student, a fleeting look of pity in his eyes, quickly hidden as he turned and left with the principal.
A Suspicious Glance
As they left, Long Yan paused his work. His cold eyes gleamed, shifting into beast-like vertical pupils, staring indifferently at the Disaster Beast Studies teacher’s retreating figure.
Training at Ai Xinglan’s House
Meanwhile, at Ai Xinglan’s house, Feng was training with Yu Li in the practice room.
Yu Li wielded a short blade formed of flames, swiftly and lightly approaching Feng’s side, slashing several times so fast that afterimages appeared.
Feng, however, merely sidestepped, dodging Yu Li’s attacks effortlessly without raising a hand to block.
Though her attacks were easily evaded, Yu Li showed no surprise. Instead, she leaped back, mid-air, and hurled her short blade with force.
A Fiery Trap
Facing the speeding blade, Feng still didn’t move, as if deeming the attack no threat.
Seeing Feng’s inaction, Yu Li’s lips curved slightly—she had planned for this.
“Liuli!” Yu Li called out.
In an instant, countless tongues of flame condensed into fiery threads, rapidly tightening around Feng, seemingly trapping her.
A thrown blade from the front, countless flame threads surrounding her—yet, facing this predicament, Feng only gave a faint smile, tinged with a hint of satisfaction.
A Swift Counter
Her hand reached under her maid skirt, pulling out a dagger in the next moment.
With swift strikes, she swung the dagger. The first strike dispersed the flames; the second knocked away Yu Li’s full-force thrown blade.
Seeing her attack effortlessly neutralized, Yu Li sighed helplessly. “Ugh, I’m done, no more playing! Training’s over!”