Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1170 1170: The Warning

The serpent's adorable eyes shimmered with a keen intelligence. It didn't hiss or coil itself into a defensive posture; instead, it raised its head, looking up at her as if offering a silent greeting.

She realized the situation instantly. "A familiar… Hmm… Spirit Beast?" she murmured under her breath.

The snake's tongue flicked out to taste the air, and for a fleeting second, she felt its aura brush against her own. The sensation was faint, yet it was undeniably there…

It was the distinct resonance of a contracted beast, something far beyond what a typical student could possess.

Crouching slightly to observe it, she asked, "You aren't a wild creature… did you come here seeking something?"

The snake tilted its head as if nodding in confirmation. It then slithered forward, just crossing the threshold into her office with a calm and surprisingly dignified presence.

Anya narrowed her eyes in thought. "So… what is your business here?" she questioned, though she remained poised to escape if the situation turned sour.

She quietly shut the door behind her. Inside, the snake fixed its gaze upon her teaching materials for a moment before turning away and simply vanishing into thin air.

"What?"

No matter the reason for this Spirit Beast's appearance, she knew it was no mere accident.

'It must be a Spirit Guardian I haven't encountered yet...' Anya speculated, shaking her head before returning to her desk.

***

Moving like a silent shadow, the snake glided through the Academy's hallways, unnoticed by the masses, until it reached the inner sanctum of Vale's office.

Upon entering, its form shimmered with a faint light, and a cloak of shadow aura wrapped around its body.

Vale looked up from his pile of documents, his eyes landing on the snake that had clearly mastered the art of energy suppression.

"Seven. What is the report?"

The snake raised its head and let out a hiss…

"Vale… I am certain of it. I detected the aura of another Dark Path Immortal surrounding the professor. It was weak, almost at the point of fading, but it was present. It will likely vanish entirely soon."

Vale leaned back in his chair, setting his papers aside. "They aren't part of Kaela's group?"

Seven shook its head in denial.

"No… it definitely isn't them. There is a different Dark Path Immortal lurking in the shadows. Someone hidden and extremely cautious. Their intentions remain a mystery, but they made contact with Professor Anya Hao's aura."

Vale tapped his fingers rhythmically against the wood of his desk and nodded, taking Seven's report seriously.

Seven was a Shadow Immortal in his own right, and despite being trapped in a serpentine form due to a flawed transformation, his sensory abilities remained top-tier.

"Another Dark Path Immortal…" Vale whispered. "If they are here, they are likely observing and waiting. Do you suspect Anya is a spy?"

Seven coiled its body before responding. "Hard to say… but I have a bad feeling about it. Something feels… off. Whoever they are, their masking technique is excellent. Perhaps too excellent."

Vale finished organizing his documents into a neat stack. His preparations were finally complete; the city had recovered from its recent chaos, the Academy was set to resume classes, and the Arcane Towers were fully operational.

"I'll investigate that later, Seven. For now, continue to keep watch over the grounds."

Vale stood up, releasing a pulse of aura to loosen his muscles.

"You want me to keep playing lookout? Fine… but it will cost you one more." Seven bargained, causing Vale to chuckle as he tossed over another high-grade Divine Crystal.

"Excellent!" Seven hissed in delight.

"Good. We'll keep our eyes peeled. If there's another Dark Path Immortal here, they will show their hand eventually. Right now, I have another matter to handle."

Seven tilted its head curiously. "Where are you going?"

Vale's eyes drifted toward the horizon visible through his window.

"The territory of the Chaos Immortals. It’s time for a visit."

Seven's eyes glowed with a faint light. "The Chaos Immortals… do you really think they will play along?"

Vale laughed, seemingly unconcerned with their willingness.

"I don't expect cooperation. However, the balance of power requires a conversation. I want peace in this realm… and I need to make my position very clear to them."

The snake coiled tighter, feeling the weight of Vale's resolve.

***

Meanwhile, in Belial City—the western territory under the thumb of the Chaos Immortals—Rhaziel stood outside the former mayor's headquarters.

The building had been converted into his personal residence. Even though he had failed to secure Mennena's Red Crown because of Vale and the Golden Immortal's interference, he had been granted this small domain after seizing control of the western continent.

The city was bustling, with the sounds of commerce and labor echoing far beyond the main square under the watchful eyes of his overseers.

Rhaziel had no passion for ruling. He had delegated the tedious tasks of tax collection and law enforcement to subordinates.

His only focus was the acquisition of resources.

Ore, spirit stones, food, and rare arcane reagents flowed into his storehouses every day to fuel his growing needs.

He stretched his limbs lazily, attempting to enjoy the scenery of his garden.

"Another day, another round of tribute. As long as the supplies keep coming, this city is useful."

The western lands had become their stronghold after their failed attempt to invade Vale's Shadow Domain.

Since they couldn't crush him, the Chaos Immortals had opted to carve out their own piece of the world to exploit for resources.

He turned to head inside, expecting the standard reports. But as his hand reached for the door, the atmosphere shifted abruptly.

A sudden chill gripped the air as shadows stretched out unnaturally, consuming all the light in the vicinity!

Rhaziel’s brow furrowed as he realized he was caught in a spell.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Before he could move, the floor beneath him turned fluid like water. It was a tide of pure darkness that surged up, binding his body!

His Divinity flared instinctively to protect him, but these shadows were far from normal.

They were heavy, suffocating, and radiated the unmistakable power of a fellow Immortal.

"This can't be…" Rhaziel cried out, struggling against the void that was dragging him down. "Who dares—"

His voice was cut short as the blackness swallowed him whole.

The entire event occurred in a flash, contained within a formation art that kept the other Immortals completely oblivious.

"That’s one…"