A loud buzzing echoed throughout the small apartment as the alarm clock beside Huang Ming’s bed vibrated violently against the wooden desk. In the dimly lit room, illuminated only by a flickering ceiling light and faint sunlight leaking through old curtains, a young man slowly opened his eyes. His black hair was messy from sleep while exhaustion remained visible across his face. For several seconds he stared blankly upward, clearly not ready to wake up, before lazily reaching toward the alarm clock.

The moment his eyes landed on the time displayed across the screen, his entire body froze.

“8:40?!”

Huang instantly sat upright in panic, nearly falling off the bed as the blanket wrapped around his legs. He stumbled forward awkwardly before crashing shoulder-first into the nearby wall.

“Ow—!”

Ignoring the pain completely, he rushed toward the chair beside his bed where his school uniform had been folded neatly the night before. The apartment itself was old and small, barely large enough for one person to live comfortably. Cracks stretched across portions of the walls while the wooden floor creaked beneath every hurried step. A stack of books and handwritten notes covered the desk near the window, evidence of countless nights spent studying beneath weak lights and exhaustion.

Everything inside the apartment looked worn down from years of use.

But despite that—

Everything was carefully maintained.

Huang quickly pulled on his white school shirt and grey uniform pants while trying to button his collar properly at the same time. As he hurriedly grabbed his jacket, something metallic slipped from his pocket before landing on the floor with a soft clink. Huang instinctively lowered his gaze toward it.

A silver-colored name tag rested against the wooden floor.

Huang Ming — First Year, Ling High School

Below his name, glowing faintly in blue letters, was his student classification.

Trainee Warrior

The lowest rank possible at Ling High School.

For a brief moment, Huang simply stared silently at those words.

At Ling High School, rankings determined almost everything. Talent, treatment, opportunities, cultivation resources—even a student’s future could change entirely depending on the title attached to their chest. Students ranked highly were treated like rising stars destined to protect humanity itself, while those ranked low were often ignored before they even had a chance to prove themselves.

Huang quietly sighed before clipping the tag back onto his uniform.

Then he grabbed his belongings and immediately rushed out the apartment door.

The cold morning breeze struck his face the moment he stepped outside into the streets of Meiying City. Despite the early hour, the city was already overflowing with life. Massive holographic advertisements illuminated nearby buildings while flying vehicles moved through aerial traffic lanes high above the streets. Spirit-powered transport systems drifted silently between enormous skyscrapers that stretched endlessly toward the sky.

Human civilization in the year 3751 was vastly different from the ancient world.

Technology and cultivation had developed together for centuries.

Powerful cultivators capable of manipulating spiritual energy existed alongside futuristic weapon systems and interstellar exploration technology. Humanity itself had already expanded far beyond Earth, yet cultivation remained the foundation of strength.

And schools like Ling High existed to create the next generation of powerful warriors.

Huang tightened his grip on his bag before beginning to run toward the academy visible in the distance. Compared to the wealthy students flying through the air on spirit boards or riding advanced transport vehicles, Huang could only travel on foot. His black leather shoes repeatedly slammed against the pavement while his breathing gradually became uneven.

Eventually, the massive structure of Ling High School finally appeared before him.

Even after seeing it countless times, the academy still looked overwhelming.

Towering metallic structures stretched high into the clouds while glowing blue spiritual barriers surrounded the enormous campus. Students continuously entered through the massive academy gates while automated systems scanned each student’s identification tag and cultivation rank.

This was one of humanity’s elite academies.

A place where future generals, planetary guardians, and powerful cultivators began their journeys.

And somehow—

Huang Ming had managed to enter it despite being ranked at the absolute bottom.

“Haa… haa…”

Huang slowed his pace slightly while trying to catch his breath near the academy entrance. However, the moment his eyes shifted forward, his footsteps abruptly stopped.

Standing near the gates was a young woman whose very presence naturally attracted attention from everyone nearby.

Her long black hair flowed softly behind her while morning sunlight reflected gently against her pale skin. She stood calmly among the surrounding students with an elegant posture that made her seem completely untouchable. Even the noisy atmosphere around the academy entrance felt quieter near her.

Huang stared blankly.

His eyes widened slightly while his mouth slowly opened in amazement.

Attached neatly to the girl’s uniform was a silver-white name tag.

Luna Ling

Below her name, engraved clearly in glowing letters, was a title recognized throughout the academy.

Warrior Saint Candidate

The highest possible rank for a high school student.

Huang instinctively lowered his gaze toward his own chest.

Trainee Warrior

The difference between them felt impossibly large.

One stood at the peak of Ling High School’s first years.

The other struggled simply to avoid falling behind.

“She’s beautiful…”

The words escaped Huang unconsciously as he continued staring at Luna Ling in complete amazement. He failed to notice that Luna herself had already shifted her gaze toward him. Her calm violet-colored eyes rested silently on him for several moments, quietly observing him without any visible emotion.

Before Huang could react further, a soft hand suddenly appeared beside his face.

Using a white handkerchief, someone gently wiped the corner of his mouth.

“Good morning, Huang,” a cheerful voice said warmly.

Huang blinked rapidly before turning toward the familiar girl standing beside him.

“…Xiu?”

Standing there with a bright smile was his childhood friend, Xiu Meiying. Unlike Luna Ling’s cold and distant beauty, Xiu gave off warmth and comfort. Her long dark-brown hair rested neatly behind her shoulders while her perfectly maintained uniform immediately revealed the difference between their lives.

“You were drooling again,” Xiu said teasingly while smiling playfully.

“I was not drooling.”

“You absolutely were.”

“I was appreciating beauty respectfully.”

Xiu narrowed her eyes suspiciously before laughing softly.

“That somehow sounds even worse.”

Huang awkwardly coughed before quickly looking away in embarrassment.

The two had known each other since childhood, long before cultivation rankings and academy status mattered. Back then they were simply children wandering the streets of Meiying City together. Despite how much their lives had changed over the years, Xiu had never stopped treating him normally.

Huang came from a poor family barely capable of affording even basic necessities. There were days when food needed to be carefully rationed and nights where electricity itself became uncertain. Meanwhile, Xiu Meiying was the heir to the Meiying Family—the wealthy and influential lineage responsible for building and controlling the city itself.

The difference between them was greater than heaven and earth.

Yet somehow—

She still stood beside him every morning with the same smile.

“You’re going to fail your evaluation if you keep staring at girls before class,” Xiu teased lightly.

Huang immediately sighed dramatically.

“My future was doomed the moment I entered Ling High School as a Trainee Warrior.”

“You exaggerate too much.”

“I’m serious! Everyone here is terrifying.”

As if proving his words correct, the atmosphere near the academy entrance suddenly shifted. Nearby students quickly moved aside as a tall young man calmly walked through the gates. His posture was perfect, his movements smooth and controlled, and every step carried overwhelming confidence.

Attached to his chest was a golden insignia.

Kael Riven — Elite Division

Whispers immediately spread throughout the surrounding students.

“That’s Kael…”

“The strongest first-year…”

“I heard even senior students avoid fighting him…”

Kael ignored everyone completely as he continued walking forward. Then, for only a brief moment, his sharp eyes shifted toward Huang.

The pressure was immediate.

Huang instinctively stiffened beneath the cold gaze.

It felt as though every weakness inside him had been seen instantly.

Then Kael simply looked away before continuing forward without another word.

Huang stared silently at his back.

“…Why did it feel like I almost died just now?”

Xiu quietly giggled beside him while Luna Ling continued observing the scene from nearby.

Her calm gaze lingered briefly on Huang Ming.

A Trainee Warrior.

A boy who appeared completely ordinary in every possible way.

Yet somehow—

Something about him felt strangely different.

After entering Ling High School, Huang Ming immediately felt the atmosphere around him become heavier. The academy grounds were enormous, far larger than anything outside the campus walls. Towering metallic structures stretched endlessly toward the sky while glowing streams of spiritual energy flowed across transparent barriers surrounding different sectors of the school. Thousands of students moved throughout the academy courtyard dressed in white and silver uniforms, many carrying weapons at their sides while others radiated spiritual pressure strong enough to make weaker students instinctively avoid eye contact.

Compared to everyone around him, Huang felt painfully ordinary.

No—

Worse than ordinary.

Attached to his chest was a silver-colored insignia displaying the words he hated seeing most.

Trainee Warrior

The lowest rank possible at Ling High School.

Students with higher rankings naturally received more respect, more cultivation resources, better instructors, and greater opportunities. Some students entered the academy already capable of controlling spiritual energy while others came from powerful cultivation families with access to techniques far beyond standard academy teachings.

Meanwhile Huang struggled simply trying to maintain basic cultivation progress.

“You’re nervous again,” Xiu Meiying said while walking beside him through the crowded courtyard.

“I’m always nervous here,” Huang answered honestly. “Everyone in this academy feels like they could kill me accidentally.”

“You exaggerate too much.”

“I’m serious. Look around. Half the students here look like final bosses.”

Xiu covered her mouth while laughing softly.

Floating holographic screens hovered high above the academy pathways displaying rankings, academy announcements, and combat records from previous evaluations. Nearby students gathered in groups discussing cultivation techniques, elemental compatibility, and ranking matches while instructors dressed in black combat uniforms silently observed everyone from elevated platforms overlooking the courtyard.

Huang quietly lowered his gaze.

At Ling High School, rankings determined almost everything.

Future opportunities.

Cultivation resources.

Division placement.

Even the way other students treated you changed depending on your rank.

Students like Luna Ling and Kael Riven stood at the very top.

Students like Huang barely remained visible.

As Huang remained lost in thought, a loud mechanical sound suddenly echoed throughout the academy grounds.

BZZZZT.

Every holographic screen shifted instantly before glowing blue text appeared across the displays.

FIRST-YEAR EVALUATION BEGINS IN 10 MINUTES

ALL FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS REPORT TO TRAINING SECTOR THREE

The atmosphere around the academy immediately became more active as students began moving toward the designated evaluation area.

Huang stared at the floating message before quietly sighing.

“…I suddenly feel sick.”

“You’ll survive,” Xiu replied casually.

“That confidence definitely isn’t directed at me.”

Before Xiu could continue teasing him, a calm voice suddenly spoke nearby.

“You lack confidence before the evaluation has even begun.”

Huang immediately stiffened before slowly turning toward the source of the voice.

Luna Ling stood only a short distance away.

The moment Huang saw her again, his brain nearly stopped functioning.

Her long black hair rested neatly behind her shoulders while the silver-white insignia attached to her uniform reflected softly beneath the academy lights.

Warrior Saint Candidate

The highest possible rank for a high school student.

Everything about her felt distant and untouchable.

Even the surrounding students unconsciously maintained space around her.

“O-Oh… good morning,” Huang said awkwardly.

Luna’s calm violet-colored eyes rested silently on him.

“You are Huang Ming.”

Huang nearly choked on air.

“She knows my name?!”

The thought exploded inside his head immediately.

“Y-Yeah…”

For several seconds, Luna quietly observed him.

“You seem weaker than your academy records suggest.”

Huang felt emotional damage strike directly into his soul.

Beside him, Xiu instantly turned away to hide her laughter.

“That somehow sounded way more insulting than I think you intended,” Huang muttered weakly.

“I was simply stating an observation,” Luna answered honestly.

Huang suddenly realized something terrifying.

She genuinely wasn’t trying to insult him.

That had simply been her honest conclusion.

Before the awkward atmosphere could continue any longer, another wave of pressure suddenly spread throughout the academy courtyard. Nearby students instinctively moved aside as a tall young man calmly walked through the crowd.

Kael Riven.

Unlike Luna’s quiet elegance, Kael radiated sharp intensity. His posture was flawless, his movements controlled, and every step naturally carried overwhelming confidence.

Attached to his chest was a golden insignia.

Elite Division

The highest-ranked first-year student.

Whispers immediately spread throughout the surrounding students.

“That’s Kael…”

“The strongest first-year…”

“I heard he already defeated upperclassmen…”

Kael ignored the surrounding attention completely while calmly walking forward. His sharp eyes briefly shifted toward Luna before eventually landing on Huang.

The pressure was immediate.

Huang instinctively stiffened beneath the cold analytical gaze.

It felt as though every weakness inside him had been exposed instantly.

“…Why does it feel like I’m about to be executed?” Huang whispered nervously.

Xiu nearly laughed beside him.

“Maybe because you look suspicious.”

“How do I look suspicious?!”

“You were drooling over Luna ten minutes ago.”

“That was unrelated!”

Kael continued staring at Huang silently for several moments before finally speaking calmly toward Luna.

“The instructors are waiting.”

Luna gave a small nod before following him toward the evaluation grounds. The moment both of them left, nearby students immediately erupted into discussion.

“Kael and Luna are participating in the same evaluation…”

“This year’s first-years are monsters…”

“I heard Luna already formed partial Qi circulation…”

“There’s no way…”

Huang quietly watched the two distant figures ahead of him.

One possessed overwhelming perfection.

The other possessed overwhelming strength.

And him?

He was barely managing to survive at the academy.

A strange frustration slowly settled inside his chest.

Not frustration toward them.

Frustration toward himself.

No matter how hard he trained, something always felt wrong with his cultivation. His body never adapted correctly to academy techniques, and every attempt at improvement ended in imbalance or failure.

Before his thoughts could sink any deeper, a familiar voice suddenly echoed calmly inside his mind.

“Your emotional state is unstable.”

Huang’s eyes widened slightly.

Lyra.

Ever since awakening inside the fractured inner dimension, her voice occasionally appeared during moments of stress.

“…You again.”

“Your breathing pattern has become uneven.”

“…I noticed.”

“Your body reacts abnormally when comparing yourself to stronger individuals.”

Huang quietly frowned.

“…You really know how to emotionally destroy someone.”

A brief silence followed before Lyra responded calmly.

“That was not my intention.”

Despite the situation, Huang almost laughed.

Even now, she still sounded more like an analyzing machine than an actual person.

Yet strangely—

Her presence felt calming.

“ALL FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO TRAINING SECTOR THREE!”

An instructor’s amplified voice suddenly echoed throughout the academy grounds.

The crowd of students quickly began moving toward the massive training sector ahead.

Huang quietly exhaled before tightening his grip around his academy bag.

Today’s evaluation would determine rankings, cultivation resources, future opportunities, and academy treatment.

And for students ranked at the bottom—

One mistake could destroy everything.

As Huang walked toward Training Sector Three alongside thousands of other students, he completely failed to notice several academy instructors silently observing him from one of the floating towers overlooking the campus.

More specifically—

They were watching the strange irregular fluctuations occasionally appearing around his body.

The moment Huang Ming entered Training Sector Three alongside the other first-year students, he immediately understood why Ling High School was considered one of the most elite cultivation academies in Meiying City. The training sector alone was massive, resembling a futuristic battle arena more than a school facility. Towering metallic walls stretched high into the air while glowing streams of spiritual energy flowed across transparent barriers surrounding dozens of combat platforms spread throughout the enormous arena. Floating holographic screens hovered above the sector displaying rankings, combat records, and student information while academy instructors silently observed everyone from elevated platforms overlooking the grounds.

Thousands of students filled the training sector. Some looked calm and confident while others visibly struggled beneath the pressure surrounding the arena. Several students radiated spiritual energy powerful enough to make nearby people instinctively keep their distance.

Huang quietly swallowed while walking beside Xiu Meiying through the crowded entrance.

“…Why does this place feel more like a military base than a school?”

“Because Ling High trains future warriors,” Xiu answered casually. “Most students here will eventually fight dimensional beasts, rogue cultivators, or battlefield threats.”

“That somehow makes me feel worse.”

Xiu giggled softly before continuing forward beside him. The two eventually reached the designated first-year section where students naturally grouped themselves according to division and rank. At the very front stood students from the Elite Division, including Kael Riven whose mere presence attracted nervous whispers from nearby students.

Not far away stood Luna Ling.

Her silver-white insignia reflected softly beneath the arena lights while her calm expression remained completely unchanged despite the overwhelming attention surrounding her. Even among talented students, Luna stood out naturally.

Huang instinctively lowered his gaze toward his own insignia.

Trainee Warrior

The lowest rank possible.

Compared to students like Luna and Kael, the difference between them felt painfully obvious.

“…I really don’t belong here,” Huang muttered quietly.

“You say that every day,” Xiu replied while crossing her arms.

“And every day I continue being correct.”

Before Xiu could continue teasing him, the lights throughout Training Sector Three suddenly dimmed slightly. Immediately, the noisy atmosphere inside the arena disappeared as heavy footsteps echoed across the central platform.

A tall man dressed in a black combat uniform slowly walked forward.

The pressure radiating from him alone caused countless students to tense instinctively. A scar stretched across the left side of his face while dense spiritual energy surrounded his body naturally. Unlike the students below, this was clearly someone who had experienced real combat.

Real death.

The holographic displays instantly revealed his identity.

Instructor Zhao Ren — Advanced Spirit Rank Cultivator

Whispers immediately spread throughout the arena.

“That’s Zhao Ren…”

“He fought during the dimensional breach incident…”

“I heard he killed spirit beasts personally…”

Huang quietly stiffened.

“…Why does every strong person in this school feel terrifying?”

“Because they are terrifying,” Xiu answered honestly.

Instructor Zhao Ren slowly scanned the crowd before finally speaking.

“Today’s evaluation will determine your future rankings, cultivation resources, division eligibility, and instructor recommendations.”

His voice echoed powerfully throughout the massive arena.

“At Ling High School, talent without results means nothing.”

The instructor’s sharp gaze swept across the students.

“If your performance is poor, your rank will fall.”

“If your performance is exceptional, your rank may rise.”

A brief silence followed before Zhao Ren continued.

“Combat evaluations will begin immediately.”

The holographic screens instantly shifted as student names rapidly appeared across the displays. The atmosphere throughout the training sector immediately became tense as students searched for their names.

Huang silently prayed his wouldn’t appear early.

Unfortunately—

The universe clearly hated him.

FIRST MATCH — PLATFORM SEVEN

Huang Ming

For several seconds, Huang stared blankly at the screen.

“…I’m going to die.”

Xiu immediately burst into laughter beside him.

“You’re overreacting.”

“No, I’m reacting appropriately!”

Nearby students quickly turned toward Huang after seeing his name appear.

“A Trainee Warrior got selected first?”

“That’s unlucky…”

“Who’s his opponent?”

The display shifted once more before another name appeared.

Rex Hao — Combat Division

A tall student standing several rows away immediately smirked confidently. Unlike Huang, Rex possessed a muscular build and visible confidence while faint spiritual energy naturally flowed around his body.

Several nearby students reacted instantly.

“Rex Hao?”

“That guy specializes in body strengthening…”

“This fight won’t last long…”

Huang felt his soul nearly leave his body.

“…Can I surrender before it starts?”

“No,” Xiu answered immediately.

Instructor Zhao Ren’s cold voice echoed across the arena once more.

“All selected students report immediately to your designated platforms.”

Huang stared silently toward Platform Seven in the distance.

It genuinely looked like an execution site.

As the surrounding students watched curiously, Huang slowly began walking toward the platform while mentally preparing for disaster. At the same time, far above the arena inside one of the floating observation rooms, several instructors quietly observed him through transparent screens.

More specifically—

They were watching the strange fluctuations occasionally appearing around Huang’s body.

One older instructor narrowed his eyes slightly.

“The irregular energy pattern appeared again.”

Another calmly crossed his arms.

“His academy records show unstable cultivation synchronization since enrollment.”

“Do you think it’s dangerous?”

A brief silence followed.

Then—

“No.”

The older instructor continued staring toward Huang below.

“…But it is abnormal.”

Meanwhile, Huang finally stepped onto Platform Seven while Rex Hao cracked his knuckles confidently across from him. The surrounding students watched with amusement. Most of them already expected the outcome.

A Trainee Warrior facing a Combat Division student.

The difference between them should have been overwhelming.

Rex smirked while looking toward Huang.

“You should surrender now before embarrassing yourself.”

Huang awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“…Honestly, I’m considering it.”

Laughter immediately spread among nearby students.

Even Instructor Zhao Ren seemed slightly unimpressed.

Only Luna Ling continued silently observing the platform from a distance.

And nearby—

Kael Riven narrowed his eyes slightly while watching Huang carefully.

Because unlike everyone else—

He noticed something strange.

The spiritual flow surrounding Huang Ming’s body wasn’t weak.

It was unstable.

As though multiple incompatible energies were trying to exist together simultaneously.