Chapter 11697 — Xiao Xiao Is One of the Core Supervisors of This Major Research Project
The scene erupted into an uproar.
They were of course aware that such cases existed—individuals who bore a demonic visage yet had not lost control. Lord Song was the most obvious example.
But in their understanding, even if such cases existed, they were one in ten thousand, the rarest of exceptions.
From the implication in the words of Elder Chu Yunfan, could it be that the academy had already developed the capacity in this regard—able to restore demonic-visaged deviants en masse?
If so, it would have an extremely profound impact upon the entire Heavenly Dao Academy.
Chu Yunfan looked toward Xiao Tiao. "Xiao Xiao is one of the core supervisors of this major research project. On this matter, he has the most authority to speak."
Everyone turned to look at Xiao Tiao.
Xiao Tiao rose and said, "What Director Chu says is all true. Our current research findings can already prove that a demonic visage is not the fundamental characteristic of demonic deviation—only that when a demonic visage appears, restoration is possible."
A vice director and the youngest instructor with boundless prospects—two heavyweights speaking at once—and at last the crowd ceased to doubt.
As a result, the security squad already prepared to enter and swap out could only choose to hold their position.
Within the arena.
The security squad's game of cat and mouse with Wei Zhao continued.
Seeing Wei Zhao's speed grow ever faster and the signs of berserk rampage grow ever more evident, even the onlookers in the Academic Affairs Headquarters building could not help but feel their hearts leap into their throats.
Ordinarily, however strong a candidate rookie might be, a rookie was still a rookie—mere fry in a fishpond. Before undergoing the Heavenly Dao Academy's systematic cultivation, there was absolutely no possibility of their threatening people like them.
But with the posture Wei Zhao displayed at present, if they truly were thrown into the Black Prison, few indeed would dare claim ten-to-one certainty.
The ones truly suffering were still the security squad in the arena.
For so long, they had not even touched the hem of Wei Zhao's garment—and especially before so many academy higher-ups. Anyone would be embarrassed beyond the power to show their face.
If one cared to observe, six more three-bedroom-one-living-room suites had already appeared within the Black Prison.
Imperceptibly, this had evolved into a torment for these people.
The crux was: when would it ever end?
The Academic Affairs Headquarters building.
Without prior arrangement, everyone looked toward Chu Yunfan.
Even if that research finding was indeed true, dragging things on like this was hardly a solution, was it?
But with Chu Yunfan sitting there saying nothing, they dared not speak either, much less act on their own.
Chu Yunfan, meanwhile, was observing Wei Zhao's state with keen interest.
As the leader in charge of the research project, though he had not directly participated in the research and did not know the specific details, the general outline was still quite clear to him.
Wei Zhao's current state was defined as pseudo-demonic deviation.
Under pseudo-demonic deviation, strength would increase dramatically; the longer it was maintained, the greater the increase.
But at the same time, the risk of losing control and falling into true demonic deviation would rise accordingly.
How exactly to gauge the proper measure therein was the key challenge the project team was tackling at this stage.
Still, on the other hand, for others to enter a pseudo-demonic deviation state required all manner of harsh conditions; for an ordinary cultivator, once a demonic visage appeared, they would basically fall straight into demonic deviation.
Someone like Wei Zhao, who spontaneously entered pseudo-demonic deviation, was truly rare.
He wanted to see Wei Zhao's limit.
Shi Wushuang secretly broke out in a cold sweat for Wei Zhao.
Now that her own mentor, the vice director, was personally present to hold the line, Wei Zhao's life was guaranteed at the bottom—but whether what came next would be good or bad for Wei Zhao himself, no one could guarantee.
She knew her vice director mentor's character well: protective of his own, yes, but extremely principled.
If something truly went wrong, he would not blindly defend without reason.
What was more, the current Wei Zhao had only just entered his field of vision—far from the point of being counted as one of his own.
Just as the standoff dragged on, another voice, full of oppressive majesty, suddenly rang out.
"Vice Director Chu, what a formidable official air you wear! The trial selection has its established rules and procedures—you, a vice director, such a great leader, what is the meaning of suddenly thrusting in a hand?"
Hearing the voice, the crowd hurriedly rose to their feet as one.
Di Xuanwang was overjoyed, and rushed to greet the newcomer.
The newcomer was none other than his own third uncle, the incumbent vice director Di Feihong.
Di Feihong took a seat before Chu Yunfan, crossed his legs, and the atmosphere on the spot turned instantly tense as drawn swords and bent bows.
No one dared breathe too loudly.
Both vice directors were lofty powerhouses of real authority; no one could afford to offend either.
More importantly, there had always been conflict between these two—and of the entirely undisguised kind.
The previous turmoil at the Heavenly Dao Academy had, to some extent, been triggered by the conflict between these two.
Now, clashing here face to face, it was plainly another gathering storm.
The crowd exchanged glances.
Had they known it would come to this, many among them would not have come to join the excitement.
When immortals fight, mortals suffer.
If the two vice director bigwigs truly could not hold back their tempers, the ones who ended up unlucky might well be people like them.
Chu Yunfan glanced at the other. "Does Vice Director Di mean that this trial selection is forbidden ground, and I must not touch it?"
Di Feihong laughed and waved his hand. "I meant no such thing. Vice Director Chu, please do not go pinning hats on me at random."
After a pause, Di Feihong's gaze fell upon Wei Zhao in the holographic projection—or more precisely, upon Wei Zhao's rapidly flickering afterimages.
"A thing that has already revealed a demonic visage, and you just let him run wild like this?"
"Whatever his own situation may be, do the safety of the other candidates not need to be considered?"
"Where is your sense of responsibility?"
A string of questions left everyone present speechless, and they could not help but look toward Chu Yunfan.
Both were vice directors; they could afford to offend neither.
Whom were they supposed to listen to, and whom not?
No one dared speak, and no one dared step forward to shoulder the blame—the crowd could only play deaf.
Di Feihong gave a cold snort and began calling names directly. "Yu Kuai, go in and help them. Take this Wei Zhao down first."
The one named Yu Kuai was precisely a swift-attack expert from another security squad.
As his name suggested, his speed was truly fast—enough to contend with Thunder Flash.
He had already been itching to try a moment ago, but now that Di Feihong had named him publicly, he found himself riding a tiger and unable to dismount.
If he accepted, would that not be applying eye medicine to Chu Yunfan—deliberately provoking him?
At this moment the great Elder Chu said nothing, merely watching him quietly, and the pressure of that deathly gaze instantly left him drenched in cold sweat.
But if he refused, that would be publicly offending Di Feihong—an even bigger problem.
After all, Elder Chu had not spoken, whereas this Elder Di had named him directly before everyone; to deny him face would no longer be a matter of applying eye medicine, but of slapping him across the face in public!
The consequences were easy to imagine.