“Adventure groups?” You’er’s long eyelashes fluttered at the mention of the term. “Aren’t those organizations from the Adventurers’ Guild? How did the academy get involved?”
“It appears you’re still unfamiliar with it, junior. Understandable, given you’ve just enrolled. Allow me to elaborate.”
Just as Kairi was about to begin, You’er raised a hand to stop him. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke, “Senior, I’m very sorry, but could we discuss those matters another time?”
“Oh, my apologies. I was too presumptuous. Please, junior, finish what you’re currently busy with first.” Kairi’s momentary confusion quickly gave way to understanding, and he nodded with a slight hint of apology.
“Junior You’er, those twenty thousand exchange points, I’ll transfer them to you once you’ve processed your identity card.”
You’er bowed politely, her arms crossed, just as she was about to leave. Hansen spoke, looking somewhat pained by the suggestion.
“Ah, well, ultimately, this whole mess was my doing. Those twenty thousand, I’ll take half.” Kairi gave a wry smile. Upon hearing his words, Hansen, standing nearby, immediately overflowed with gratitude.
“Thank you both. Please forgive You’er for any previous impoliteness.” Kairi and Hansen were both decent individuals, the kind of friends worth making, and You’er saw no reason to remain cold towards them now.
“Haha, no worries at all. Besides, I wasn’t without my gains today. At the very least, I witnessed a peer comprehending Sword Intent, which was quite profound. I’m sure this junior next to me feels the same way.”
Kairi shrugged indifferently, exhibiting a carefree attitude. Hansen, on the other hand, rubbed the back of his head and let out a dry chuckle; having directly endured a Sword Draw Slash enhanced by Sword Intent, he certainly had much to reflect on.
Instructor Chilong had departed at some unknown point, and You’er internally lamented the missed opportunity. She had intended to thank him in person, especially since he had rendered her such a great service. To leave without even a word of thanks felt truly impolite.
Dannich and Sifney remained within the training grounds, maintaining order.
Next, there was Timobi. You’er had searched for him for a long time without success. He was barely ten years old, not tall, and could easily get lost in such a chaotic environment.
“You’er, You’er! Your little brother, he’s right here!”
Having searched numerous places without finding Timobi, You’er was beginning to grow anxious when a remarkably clear voice reached her ears. You’er looked in the direction of the sound, spotting the girl who had been the first to pass the assessment, walking towards her while holding Timobi’s hand and waving her own small hand.
“Thank you…” You’er had barely finished thanking the girl when Timobi suddenly lunged forward.
“Sister You’er! This is wonderful! Little Ti thought he’d never see you again… boo-hoo!” Timobi was overjoyed upon seeing You’er. He buried himself in her embrace, reluctant to emerge for a long time.
“Alright, alright, so many people are watching. Haven’t you grown up yet?” In such a public place, neither hiding nor not hiding felt right, leaving You’er with a wry, helpless smile.
“Little Ti, your sister has some good news for you.” Stroking Timobi’s hair, You’er revealed a mysterious smile.
“Sister, you won, didn’t you?” Timobi asked, lifting his head.
“Eh, how did you know?”
“Hehe! Sister You’er was definitely going to win, right?!”
Gazing at Timobi’s pure, innocent smile, You’er offered a helpless yet doting chuckle. While the little one’s trust in her was somewhat blind, she found no resistance within herself to it.
In the past, Lilinai had been just the same, always smiling at him with innocent cheerfulness, fond of saying things like ‘Big Brother is amazing!’ ‘Big Brother is the best!’ and ‘Lilinai loves Big Brother so much!’ That scene, even to this day, felt as though it were branded upon her heart.
Now, she had finally followed the guidance and arrived at Gatarnia Academy. Lilinai, she must be somewhere within this academy, she must…
“Cough, cough…”
This deliberately feigned cough dragged You’er from her reverie back to reality. Looking up, she saw Dannich, pretending to admire the scenery, with Sifney trailing behind him, smiling at her.
“Instructor Sifney, at this moment, you’re rather damaging your image as an ice beauty, you know.” You’er felt a shiver run down her spine from the unconcealed gaze. After composing her thoughts, she spoke with a hint of teasing.
“Eh… really? Do I usually appear as an ice beauty?” Sifney blinked in surprise, cupping her face with her hands, looking rather excited.
You’er was speechless. ‘Alright, esteemed Instructor Sifney, your image has completely shattered.’
“Cough, cough…!”
Another dry cough, this one from the esteemed Chief Instructor who You’er had so magnificently ignored, sounded with a little more emphasis this time.
“Esteemed Grand Mage Dannich Tobirius, Royal Guest Minister to the Eastern Emperor, and Chief Instructor of Gatarnia Academy, may I inquire if you are unwell? Should you be ill, I urge you to seek medical attention promptly, for this student could not bear the responsibility of causing harm to your noble health.”
You’er crossed her arms and bowed slightly, rattling off the long string of honorifics in a single breath. Though her tone sounded exceedingly respectful, it nearly made Dannich lose his footing. As a venerable Grand Mage, every junior he encountered was unfailingly deferential, yet this particular young girl had repeatedly exasperated him today.
You’er kept her head down, her bicolored eyes, hidden by the mask, glinting with a coldness. Dannich’s declaration that Timobi would “always be a good-for-nothing” had landed him squarely on You’er’s blacklist. She cared not for the old man’s status; courtesy or respect? Unthinkable!
“Gugu You’er Guinevere, my teacher merely possesses a somewhat eccentric temperament, straightforward to a fault and lacking adaptability. I hope you can forgive him this once.” Observing the exchange, Sifney stepped forward, offering You’er a word of comfort.
“Instructor Sifney, may I ask why you sought me out?” You’er responded noncommittally, patting Timobi’s shoulder beside her, her gaze questioning Sifney.
“We hope you will participate in the academy’s Heavenly Ladder Rankings and climb into the top ten within a year.” Sifney spoke. Her words left You’er somewhat perplexed, primarily because she didn’t even know what the Heavenly Ladder Rankings entailed.
“The Heavenly Ladder Rankings are a comprehensive ranking battle for the entire Advanced Academy, involving approximately twenty-five thousand students. Only those within the top thousand can earn a place on the ranking board…” Sifney explained to You’er with great detail.
“I understand the gist of it.” Meeting Sifney’s hopeful gaze, You’er’s expression remained calm as she spoke softly, “However, both instructors certainly hold me in high regard. How can I, a mere newly enrolled Novice Swordsman, compete against twenty-five thousand students from the entire academy? Let alone break into the top ten of the Heavenly Ladder!”
“You have already comprehended Sword Intent. At this moment, you are virtually unrivaled among your peers. Provided you can advance to Great Swordsman within the next year, it’s certainly worth a try!”
Sifney spoke with earnestness. Looking back, there had been more than one instance of peak Great Swordsmen, who had not comprehended Sword Intent, making it into the top ten of the Heavenly Ladder Rankings. She had a premonition that once You’er advanced to Great Swordsman, she would likely be able to contend with peak Great Swordsmen—specifically, those who had not comprehended Sword Intent.
Although this was a highly risky gamble, given her teacher Dannich’s current predicament, they had no choice but to take it.
“Perhaps, but why should I participate in these Heavenly Ladder Rankings?” You’er asked, shrugging her shoulders.
“You will go, and you absolutely must!” Sifney had anticipated You’er’s reaction. She began to explain, “Within Dragon City stands the Soaring Dragon Pagoda, a hundred-story tower. Legend has it that only by reaching its apex can one achieve godhood—becoming a Sword God or a Magic God!”
“What is the connection between the Heavenly Ladder Rankings and that Soaring Dragon Pagoda?” You’er’s pupils constricted. She was indeed captivated by Sifney’s words. Sword Gods and Magic Gods, the pinnacle of humanity on the Arnorra Continent, formidable beings capable of challenging deities—they were directly linked to the Soaring Dragon Pagoda? What’s more, this very pagoda was located within the Eastern Emperor’s capital, Dragon City?!
“The Soaring Dragon Pagoda opens once every five years. Each opening grants one hundred fixed slots for ascending the tower: ten slots for the academy, ten for the guild, ten for the royal court, and the remaining seventy are distributed across the world.”
“So, the Soaring Dragon Pagoda will open next year, and the academy’s ten slots will be allocated to the top ten of the Heavenly Ladder Rankings?” By the time Sifney reached this point, the connection between the two was clear. You’er had already guessed as much; as Sifney implied, she absolutely had to strive for a spot in the top ten of next year’s Heavenly Ladder Rankings. Yet, a question still lingered in her mind.
“So, Instructor, what exactly is your specific reason for wanting me to participate in the Heavenly Ladder Rankings?”