Chapter 176: Origins of Otherworld
Chapter 176: Origins of Otherworld (Requesting Monthly Votes)
"Our Azure Firmament Martial Academy recruited twelve students who’ve awakened Special Abilities this year", Jiang Tao said.
"They must be those kids from Ten Institute – tightly guarded, kept in their own separate group", Guo Heng nodded.
"Their innate talents are incredible. If ordinary students graduate at the Fourth Realm, these guys are aiming for the Sixth!"
The crowd inhaled sharply. Graduating at the Sixth Realm? That was absurd.
Lin Qi felt like he’d been thrown back to last year. Back then, there were already people stronger than him – Duan Chuchu, Ao Feng, Huo Wanyang… Now twelve more special-ability prodigies had emerged.
He studied their silhouettes. Their auras were unmistakable – all had already broken through to the Third Realm. Their innate talents were ridiculous.
---
Half an hour later, the Azure Firmament Six Colleges building – nicknamed Azure Whale Mansion – stood before them. Its streamlined body resembled a giant blue whale, slightly smaller than the Crimson Vault Building.
Inside the oval-shaped auditorium, rows of smart seats lined the chamber. Data holograms displayed the Six Colleges’ history on glowing panels.
Lin Qi sat center-front with Jiang Tao and Guo Heng. Dean Liu and several instructors occupied the raised platform.
The auditorium buzzed with students until Dean Liu cleared their throat.
"You’re all martial artists – let’s skip the fluff", Liu began. "Welcome to Azure Firmament Six Colleges. Whether you chose us for real or not, you’re ours now."
"You’ve experienced the primordial energy concentration in your dorms. But remember – this is only the ninth-ranked level."
"After the Freshman Competition next month, rankings decide new dormitory distributions. Higher rankings mean stronger primordial energy."
"As for cultivation resources? Let’s just say once you taste more, you’ll crave even more."
A ripple of hunger spread through the crowd.
Lin Qi clenched his fist. Stronger primordial energy meant faster growth for his Vital Energy Stat.
"Next, let’s welcome our student head, Lin Qi!"
Claps erupted as Liu stepped back.
Lin Qi blinked, surprised. Xiaochan fluttered to his mouth like a microphone.
He stood, releasing his aura. Gold flickered in his eyes, silencing the crowd.
"Enrolling here means joining Sixth Institute’s family", he declared. "Face other institutes with unity – don’t provoke, but don’t fear. If anyone offends you, bring it to me. I’ll settle it."
"And I promise – you won’t regret choosing Sixth Institute. We’ll rise to the top among the nine colleges!"
"Yeah!" Jiang Tao’s roar triggered thunderous applause. Dean Liu and the instructors smirked.
---
After the meeting, only Lu Wei, Dean Liu, and Lin Qi remained.
"You handled that well", Liu said, robes rustling. "Just speak from the heart."
"One month to the Freshman Competition. Aim for top three – don’t stress about Huo Wanyang and Ao Feng. Duan Chuchu and Li Lei are close to breaking through too."
Lin Qi nodded. His mind, however, burned with other thoughts.
---
Ten minutes later, Lin Qi rode a sleek black electric car, Xiaochan navigating autonomously.
He mentally reviewed the morning’s news – the Freshman Competition in two days.
"Prizes mean money – and I need every coin for the Elixir of Regeneration", he thought.
To win, he’d have to face Duan Chuchu, Ao Feng, and Huo Wanyang. Their Vital Energy Stats had all surpassed 35.
Martial Spirit Techniques? Definitely formidable. He needed to grow stronger.
"Buzz!" Xiaochan chimed. "Message received."
Lin Qi checked his phone – Lu Wei had added him to a new group.
[Group: Azure Firmament Six Colleges Class 1]
Lu Wei’s message appeared: "Ten classes, one hundred students each. Here’s your class list and schedule."
Lin Qi spotted familiar faces from Tianhai City. All in Class 1. The timetable had only two classes daily – mostly Martial Arts General Education.
---
At 2:30 PM, the sweltering heat pressed down as 200 students filled a lecture hall in Azure Whale Mansion.
Lin Qi, Jiang Tao, and Guo Heng sat mid-row.
A bespectacled man in his fifties adjusted his projector. "Welcome to Martial Arts General Education. Call me Teacher Tong."
His presence seemed ordinary, yet oddly sharp.
"Today’s topic – Otherworld."
The screen lit up with "Otherworld" in bold green letters.
"Otherworld is the birthplace of primordial energy – and Disaster Beasts", Tong explained.
"Twenty years of human exploration only scratched its surface – ten times Earth’s size, and still expanding."
"Ten Earths? That’s endless Disaster Beasts!" Jiang Tao gasped.
"Conservative estimates say a hundredfold more beasts than humans", Tong added.
Panic rippled. "How can we fight that? Earth would fall!"
"Silence!" Lin Qi’s thunderous voice froze the room.
Tong resumed, "Humans survived despair for 47 years. Now we grow stronger. You – the geniuses of today – will turn Disaster Beasts into endangered species!"
Cheers erupted. Tong smirked. First-day hype? Mission accomplished.
"Now – let’s begin!"
The screen shifted to "Spiritual Power."
Lin Qi leaned forward. Now this interested him.
"Human cultivation divides into Vital Energy, Vital Force, and Spiritual Power", Tong continued. "Your physical body, energy flow, and consciousness. Balance them all."
He focused, releasing a pulse.
A ghostly wave swept the room. Students stiffened.
"A basic Spiritual Power technique", Tong said.
Lin Qi recorded every word. Xiaochan noted diligently.
(End of Chapter)
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