In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally lead the Themis Academy delegation to cause trouble. For instance… had Themis Academy produced a prodigy in psychic arts, giving Karayan the confidence to overpower the Almisius Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If Themis Academy truly had such a prodigy, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during last year’s confrontation between Almisius Academy and Themis Academy, the psychic arts department of Almisius had completely overshadowed Themis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of Almisius Academy. As for Themis Academy’s psychic arts department, Governor Termiso couldn’t recall any individual with the potential to threaten Almisius Academy’s dominance.
Given Themis Academy’s stature, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If there were someone who, at the age of just entering the academy, possessed skills surpassing those of Almisius Academy’s psychic arts graduates, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already hailed as a once-in-thirty-years prodigy! How could there possibly be someone, just entering the academy, who could outshine him? Could it be that Karayan was relying on the pale-faced little girl behind him? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin, sneering inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to spur his subordinates into action. Turning deliberately to Sailin and the female teacher, he said, “Hey! See that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that Almisius Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, warmly approaching Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, the guests turned their attention to them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point in the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from Themis Academy than in Luther or Juliette.
This girl with eyes as sharp as knives had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic arts department of Almisius Academy might just mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Mr. Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Oh? You still have time to chat with me here? Aren’t you going back to join the fun?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition; we don’t need everyone on the field. Besides, I was saying that Mr. Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration. “Never mind. Themis Academy won’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Juliette’s adorable sigh made Zhang Wen laugh. He jokingly asked Juliette.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly, responding with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther gave them last year? Have they healed their wounds and forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, how about a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will be utterly defeated this time. Do you believe that?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Mr. Zhang!” Juliette called out heavily, her face flushing red. “No matter what issues you have with Mr. Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. After all, we’re all from the same school now. We’re comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Mr. Robert’s actions earlier?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was genuinely upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic arts department just to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation didn’t ease Juliette’s anger; instead, it made her even more furious. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely see Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” In her anger, Juliette accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The loser won’t be me, anyway. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If there’s even a one in a million—no, one in a billion—chance that I lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Satisfied?” Juliette said coldly, then walked away, focusing intently on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Mr. Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” When Juliette was a bit further away, Amelie couldn’t help but approach Zhang Wen, whispering in his ear.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also muttering to himself, “Heh! I hope the psychic arts department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of the evening—the delegations from the two academies.
“Haha, Ms. Lasti, I believe you’re familiar with our prodigy, Luther Reis, right?” As soon as the governors stepped back, Robert proudly introduced Almisius Academy’s “contestant.”
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fila Planet, you left quite an impression on me,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—ignored the sarcasm in Termiso’s words and turned to Luther.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all,” Luther said with a self-assured smile, slightly bowing.
“Haha, very good,” Lasti replied with an equally arrogant smile, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were all a given. Yet, when her words fell, the hall was once again struck dumb. Not only was Governor Termiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of astonishment.
Most of them hadn’t anticipated that this girl, who seemed barely old enough to enter the academy, would be the main contender for Themis Academy’s psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a future star being groomed by Themis Academy, brought along this time for experience.
Except for Zhang Wen, no one in the hall could have imagined that Themis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almisius Academy’s prodigy, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almisius Academy for three years, his skills nearly on par with the academy’s teachers! And most crucially, the female teacher Lasti spoke as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the crowd soon realized that even more shocking events were yet to come. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin also nodded naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almisius Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on him like this! Especially not a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable for the self-assured Luther. Amid the crowd’s astonishment, a flash of barely suppressed anger crossed Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almisius Academy couldn’t let the opponent gain the upper hand like this! If they lost this battle of momentum now, even if Almisius Academy won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed a skilled politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Haha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso broke the silence in the awkward atmosphere.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not pushing the crowd’s nerves further. For him, stopping at the right moment was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could maneuver freely, Governor Termiso didn’t have such liberty. For Almisius Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was a loss—Termiso knew this well. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso somewhat uneasy. Although he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb until the official competition began.
With this in mind, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As the planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to Almisius Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels. This alone was enough to show how much Governor Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Governor Termiso’s hint, Robert was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had the audacity to openly defy him and even humiliated him; then, Juliette, who should have been on their side in the psychic arts department, disobeyed his orders and went over to Zhang Wen’s side. Now, even the two women from Themis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample all over him!
Enough was enough!
Robert, nearly bursting with anger, felt more and more enraged. With a face flushed like a drunkard’s, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was equally furious.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almisius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face public questioning. But to have Luther, out of pride, challenge a new female student—wasn’t that even more inappropriate?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Although Luther was angry, his pride made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a newcomer who had just entered the academy.
But just as the Almisius Academy delegation hesitated, the female teacher Lasti from Themis Academy suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin stepped forward coldly and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked another wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy cultivated by physical arts students, the psychic energy cultivated by psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force directly used for confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often seen in its combination with science, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, the focus was generally on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psychic arts students engage in combat using small warships on simulators.
In fact, Governor Temiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally lead the Themis Academy delegation to cause trouble. For instance… had a prodigy in psychic arts emerged at Themis Academy, giving Karayan and his team the confidence to overpower the Almicius Academy?
However, Governor Temiso quickly dismissed this possibility upon further reflection. If Themis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the last encounter between Almicius Academy and Themis Academy, the psychic arts department of Almicius had completely overshadowed Themis.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was Luther, who is now the leading figure at Almicius Academy. Governor Temiso had not seen anyone in Themis Academy’s psychic arts department who could pose a threat to Almicius’s dominance.
Given Themis Academy’s reputation, they would never resort to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Temiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess skills surpassing Almicius Academy’s psychic arts graduates at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major institutions!
Furthermore, Luther himself is already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years prodigy! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looked pale with fear? Governor Temiso glanced at Sailin and sneered inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Temiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a great opportunity to motivate his subordinates, so he deliberately turned to Sailin and the female teacher, saying, “Hey! Did you see that? Temiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that Almicius Academy is just a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily and warmly approached Governor Temiso.
As the two governors met, the guests turned their attention to them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point in the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from Themis Academy than in Luther or Juliette.
This girl, with eyes as sharp as knives, had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic arts department of Almicius Academy might mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s absent-minded demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned and glared at Zhang Wen, asking, “Teacher Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Huh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Don’t you want to join the excitement?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. Luther is enough. This isn’t an official competition yet, so we don’t need a full team. Also, I was saying that Teacher Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke seriously but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. Anyway, Themis Academy won’t cause trouble for you again.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable expression when she sighed. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face in defiance, replying with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther gave them last year? Have they forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, how about a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will be utterly defeated this time. Do you believe that?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Teacher Zhang!” Juliette called out heavily, her face flushing with anger. “No matter what issues you have with Teacher Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. After all, we are all part of the same school now. We are comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Teacher Robert’s actions earlier?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with genuine anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic arts department just to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation didn’t ease Juliette’s anger; instead, it made her even more furious. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely see Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, aren’t you? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we will definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” Juliette, in her anger, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. After all, the one who loses won’t be me. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If, by some one in a million—no, one in a billion—chance, I do lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Would that satisfy you?” Juliette said coldly, then walked away to focus on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Teacher Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” After Juliette walked away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and whisper in Zhang Wen’s ear.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, but also as if murmuring to himself, “Heh! I actually hope the psychic arts department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally ended their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of tonight’s banquet—the delegations from the two academies.
“Haha, Teacher Lasti, I believe you must know our prodigious student, Luther Less,” Robert began, proudly introducing Almicius Academy’s “contestant.”
“Of course. Last year, when your school visited Fira Planet, you left quite an impression on me,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—completely ignored the sarcasm in Temiso’s words and instead addressed Luther directly.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all,” Luther said with a self-assured smile, slightly bowing.
“Haha, very good,” Lasti replied with an equally arrogant smile, then suddenly turned and asked, “Sailin, this Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Do you have the confidence to defeat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Yet, when her words fell, the entire hall was once again struck dumb with shock. Not only was Governor Temiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of astonishment.
Most of them had not anticipated that this girl, who appeared to be just of age to enter the academy, would be the main contender for Themis Academy’s psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a rising star being groomed for the future, brought along this time for experience.
Except for Zhang Wen, no one in the entire hall could have imagined that Themis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almicius Academy’s prodigy, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almicius Academy for three full years, and his skills were almost on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the way Lasti spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the guests soon discovered that there was more to be shocked about. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin also nodded naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almicius Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on Luther like this! Especially not a girl who appeared to be no more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable for the proud Luther. Amidst the guests’ astonishment, a trace of suppressed anger flashed across Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almicius Academy could not allow their opponents to gain the upper hand like this! If they lost this battle of morale now, even if they won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Temiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with such a challenge, his only option was to see it through to the end.
“Haha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Temiso broke the awkward silence, speaking first.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not continuing to provoke everyone. For him, stopping at this point was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could maneuver freely, Governor Temiso did not have such liberty. For Almicius Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was as good as a loss—Temiso knew this well. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Temiso somewhat uneasy. Although he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb to explode during the official competition.
With this in mind, Governor Temiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As a planetary governor of the empire, Temiso had lowered himself to directly command Almicius Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels. This alone was enough to show how much importance Temiso placed on Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Temiso’s hint, Robert was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had openly defied him and even humiliated him; then, Juliette, who should have been on their side, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen’s side. Now, even the two women from Themis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample over him!
Enough was enough!
Robert, who was so angry he felt his lungs might burst, grew more and more furious as he thought about it. With a face flushed like a drunkard, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was equally enraged.
Lenora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almicius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face public scrutiny. But for Luther to challenge a new female student over this—wouldn’t that be even more inappropriate?
In fact, Lenora wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Although Luther was angry, his pride made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a student who was clearly a newcomer.
But just as the Almicius Academy delegation was hesitating, Lasti from Themis Academy suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin stepped forward coldly and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked another round of whispered discussions among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy studied by physical arts students, the psychic energy studied by psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force used for direct confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often seen in its combination with science, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psychic arts students engage in battles using small warships on simulators.
In fact, Governor Temiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally lead the delegation from the Temis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… could it be that a genius in psychic arts had emerged at Temis Academy, giving Karayan and his team the confidence to overpower the Almicius Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Temiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If Temis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the previous encounter between Almicius Academy and Temis Academy, their psychic arts department had completely overshadowed Temis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was Luther, who is now the leading figure at Almicius Academy. As for the psychic arts department at Temis Academy, Governor Temiso hadn’t noticed anyone with the potential to threaten Almicius Academy’s dominance.
Given Temis Academy’s reputation, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Temiso was even less concerned! If someone at the age of just entering the academy could surpass the graduates of Almicius Academy’s psychic arts department, their name would have already spread like wildfire across the empire’s academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it really be that girl behind Karayan, who looked pale with fear? Governor Temiso glanced at Sailin and sneered inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Temiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to motivate his subordinates, so he deliberately turned to Sailin and the female teacher, saying, “Hey! See that? Temiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lips. “Sailin will soon show them that Almicius Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily and “enthusiastically” approached Governor Temiso.
As the two governors met, the guests’ attention shifted, and the once noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also landed on the focal point in the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, however, Zhang Wen was more focused on Sailin from Temis Academy rather than Luther or Juliette.
This girl, whose gaze was as sharp as a knife, had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic arts department of Almicius Academy might just mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned and glared at him, asking, “Teacher Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Huh? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Oh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Don’t you want to go back and join the excitement?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. Luther is enough. This isn’t an official competition yet, so we don’t need to field a full team. Also, I was saying that Teacher Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. It’s not worth discussing. Anyway, Temis Academy won’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Juliette’s adorable expression when she sighed made Zhang Wen laugh. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face in defiance, retorting with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. They’ve lost their minds, forgetting the pain once the wound has healed! Have they forgotten the lesson Luther gave them last year?”
“Ha! In that case, how about a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will suffer a crushing defeat this time. Do you believe me?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Teacher Zhang!” Juliette called out sternly, her face flushing with anger. “No matter what issues you have with Teacher Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. Regardless, we’re all part of the same school now. We’re comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Teacher Robert’s earlier actions?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with genuine anger, her words serious. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m deliberately belittling the psychic arts department to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do things that are meaningless.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation didn’t soothe Juliette’s anger; instead, it made her even more furious. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely interpret Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” Juliette, in the heat of the moment, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The one who loses won’t be me, anyway. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If, by some one-in-a-million—no, one-in-a-billion—chance, I do lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Satisfied?” Juliette said coldly, then walked away, focusing intently on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Teacher Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” Once Juliette was a bit further away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and whisper to Zhang Wen.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, but also as if muttering to himself, “Heh! I’m actually hoping the psychic arts department will give me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of tonight’s banquet—the representatives from both academies.
“Hehe, Teacher Lasti, I believe you’re familiar with our talented student, Luther Reis, right?” As soon as the governors stepped back, Robert proudly introduced Almicius Academy’s “contestant.”
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fira Planet, you left quite an impression on me,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—completely ignored the sarcasm in Temiso’s words and instead addressed Luther directly.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I’ll continue to give it my all,” Luther said with a confident smile, slightly bowing.
“Hehe, very good,” Lasti replied with equal arrogance, then suddenly turned and asked, “Sailin, this senior Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were a foregone conclusion. However, as soon as she finished speaking, the entire hall was once again struck dumb with shock. Not only was Governor Temiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen looked bewildered.
Most of them hadn’t anticipated that this girl, who seemed barely old enough to enter the academy, would be the main contender for Temis Academy’s psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a future star being groomed by Temis Academy, brought along this time for experience.
Except for Zhang Wen, no one in the hall could have imagined that Temis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almicius Academy’s genius, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almicius Academy for three years, and his strength was nearly on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the way Lasti spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the crowd soon realized that there was something even more shocking to come. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin nodded just as naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almicius Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on him like this! Especially not a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable for the proud Luther. Amidst the crowd’s astonishment, a flicker of suppressed anger flashed across Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almicius Academy couldn’t afford to let the opponent gain the upper hand like this. If they lost this battle of momentum now, even if they won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Temiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Hehe. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Temiso broke the awkward silence, speaking first.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not pushing the crowd’s nerves any further. For him, stopping at the right point was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could maneuver freely, Governor Temiso didn’t have such liberty. For Almicius Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was as good as a loss—Temiso knew this well. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Temiso somewhat uneasy. While he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb to explode during the official competition.
With this in mind, Governor Temiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As the planetary governor of the empire, Temiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to Almicius Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels of hierarchy. This alone was enough to show how much Temiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Temiso’s hint, Robert was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had openly defied him and even humiliated him. Then, Juliette, who should have been on their side in the psychic arts department, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen’s side. And now, to top it all off, even the two women from Temis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample all over him!
Enough was enough!
Robert, who was practically fuming with rage, grew angrier the more he thought about it. With a face flushed like a drunkard, he nodded emphatically to Luther, who was equally furious.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almicius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed their pride now, the academy’s delegation would surely face widespread skepticism. However, merely because of this, having Luther challenge a freshman girl would be even more inappropriate, wouldn’t it?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one who felt this way. Although Luther was angry, his pride made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a girl who was clearly a new student.
But just as the Almicius Academy delegation was hesitating, Lasti from Temis Academy suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“I’m Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked another wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy studied by physical arts students, the psychic energy cultivated by psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force used for direct confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often seen in its combination with science, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire involved psychic arts students piloting small warships in a virtual machine battle.
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there might be something unusual about Karayan daring to personally bring the delegation from the Temis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… had a prodigy in psychic arts emerged at the Temis Academy, giving Karayan and his team the confidence to overpower the Almicus Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If the Temis Academy truly had such a genius, signs of it would have surely surfaced last year. Yet, during the previous encounter between the Almicus Academy and the Temis Academy, the psychic arts department of Almicus had completely overshadowed the Temis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of the Almicus Academy. As for the psychic arts department of the Temis Academy, Governor Termiso had not noticed anyone with the potential to threaten Almicus’s dominance.
Given the Temis Academy’s reputation, they would never stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If someone at the age of just entering the academy could surpass the graduates of Almicus’s psychic arts department, their name would have already spread like wildfire across the empire’s academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it be that little girl behind Karayan, who looked pale with fear? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin, inwardly sneering with disdain.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to motivate his team, so he deliberately turned to Sailin and the female teacher, saying, “Hey! Did you see that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that the Almicus Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” stepping forward to meet Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, the guests turned their attention to them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point in the center of the hall. However, unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more focused on Sailin from the Temis Academy rather than Luther or Juliette.
This girl, whose gaze was as sharp as a knife, had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic arts department of the Almicus Academy might just mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned again, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Mr. Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Huh? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Oh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Don’t you want to go back and join the fun?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition yet, so we don’t need everyone on the field. Also, I was saying that Mr. Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke seriously but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. It’s not worth discussing. The Temis Academy won’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable expression when she sighed. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly, responding with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. They must have lost their minds, forgetting the pain after the wound healed! Have they forgotten the lesson Luther gave them last year?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, want to make a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will suffer a crushing defeat this time. Do you believe it?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Mr. Zhang!” Juliette called out heavily, her face flushing red. “No matter what issues you have with Mr. Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. After all, we’re all part of the same school now. We’re comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Mr. Robert’s actions earlier?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m deliberately belittling the psychic arts department to get back at Robert? Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things like that.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation not only failed to ease Juliette’s anger but made her even more furious. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely see Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will lock themselves in the academy’s detention room for the night after the banquet!” In her anger, Juliette accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The loser won’t be me, anyway. But spending the night in detention? That won’t be pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If, by some one-in-a-million—no, one-in-a-billion chance—I do lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Will that satisfy you?” Juliette said coldly, her face stern, then walked away to focus on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Mr. Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” After Juliette had walked a bit further, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and whisper to Zhang Wen.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also muttering to himself, “Heh! I’m hoping the psychic arts department will give me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. Then, they both stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of tonight’s banquet—the delegation members from the two academies.
“Ah, Ms. Lasti, I believe you must be familiar with our prodigious student, Luther Reis,” Robert began, proudly introducing the “contestant” from the Almicus Academy as soon as the governors stepped back.
“Of course. You left quite an impression on me last year when your academy visited Fila Planet,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—completely ignored the sarcasm in Termiso’s words and instead addressed Luther directly.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all,” Luther replied with a confident smile, giving a slight bow.
“Very well,” Lasti responded with an equally haughty smile, then suddenly turned and asked, “Sailin, this Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Yet, as her words fell, the hall was once again struck silent. Not only was Governor Termiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of astonishment.
Most of them had not anticipated that this girl, who appeared to be just of academy-entry age, would be the main contender for the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a future star being groomed by the Temis Academy, brought along this time for experience.
Apart from Zhang Wen, absolutely no one in the hall could have imagined that the Temis Academy would send a girl of such age to challenge Almicus Academy’s prodigy, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almicus for three years, and his strength was nearly on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the way Lasti spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the guests soon discovered that there was more to be shocked about. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin also nodded naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering the Almicus Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on him like this! Especially not a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable to Luther’s pride. Amid the guests’ astonishment, a flicker of suppressed anger flashed across Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, the Almicus Academy couldn’t let the opponent gain the upper hand like this! If they lost this battle of momentum now, even if they won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Ah, Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso broke the awkward silence, speaking first.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not continuing to provoke everyone’s nerves. For him, stopping at the right point was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could afford to be flexible, Governor Termiso had no such luxury. For the Almicus Academy’s psychic arts department, a tie was as good as a loss—Termiso knew this well. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso somewhat uneasy. While he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb to explode during the official competition.
With this in mind, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly shot a stern glance at Robert. As a planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to the Almicus Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels of hierarchy. This alone was enough to show just how much Governor Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Governor Termiso’s hint, Robert was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had dared to openly defy him and even humiliated him. Then, Juliette, who should have been on his side, had disobeyed his orders and run off to Zhang Wen’s side. And now, even the two women from the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample all over him!
Enough was enough!
Robert, who was practically fuming with rage, grew angrier the more he thought about it. With a face flushed like he was drunk, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was equally furious.
Lenora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed the Almicus Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face questioning from everyone. But simply because of this, having Luther challenge a freshman girl would be even more inappropriate, wouldn’t it?
In fact, Lenora wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Luther, though angry, was also unwilling to lower himself to challenge a girl who was clearly a new student.
But just as the Almicus Academy delegation was hesitating, the Temis Academy’s female teacher, Lasti, suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy studied by the physical arts students, the psychic energy studied by the psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force directly used for confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often seen in its combination with science, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psychic arts students engage in battles using small starships on simulators.
Besides, Luther himself had already been recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius. How could there possibly be someone who, upon just entering school, could outshine him? Could it really be that timid little girl standing behind the idiot Kalayan? Governor Temiso cast a glance at Sailing, his heart filled with disdainful laughter.
In fact, Governor Temiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally lead the Themis Academy delegation to cause trouble. For instance… had a prodigy in psionics emerged at Themis Academy, giving Karayan the confidence to overpower the Almisius Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Temiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If Themis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the previous encounter between Almisius Academy and Themis Academy, their psionics department had completely dominated Themis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of Almisius Academy. As for Themis Academy’s psionics department, Governor Temiso couldn’t discern anyone with the potential to threaten Almisius Academy’s dominance.
Given Themis Academy’s status, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Temiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess skills surpassing Almisius Academy’s psionics graduates at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it be that Karayan, this fool, was relying on the pale-faced girl behind him? Governor Temiso glanced at Sailin, inwardly sneering with disdain.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Temiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to motivate his subordinates. Turning deliberately to Sailin and the female teacher, he said, “Hey! Did you see that? Temiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that Almisius Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” approaching Governor Temiso.
As the two governors met, the guests’ attention shifted, and the once noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point at the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from Themis Academy than in Luther or Juliette.
This girl with a gaze as sharp as a knife had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that the psionics department of Almisius Academy was likely to mess things up this time.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Teacher Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Huh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Aren’t you going to join the excitement?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Senior Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition yet, so we don’t need a full team. Besides, I was saying that Teacher Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. Let’s not talk about it. Anyway, Themis Academy won’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable sighing expression. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face in defiance, retorting with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Senior Luther taught them last year? Have they healed their wounds and forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, how about a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he raised the corner of his mouth. “I say your psionics department will suffer a crushing defeat this time. Do you believe that?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Teacher Zhang!” Juliette called out heavily, a flush rising on her cheeks. “No matter what issues you have with Teacher Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psionics department. Regardless, we are all part of the same school now. We are comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from what Teacher Robert did earlier?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m deliberately belittling the psionics department to get back at Robert? Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation not only failed to soothe Juliette but made her even angrier. This was, of course, understandable. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely take Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psionics department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we will definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” Juliette, in her anger, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The one who loses won’t be me. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If, by some one in a million—no, one in a billion—chance, I do lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Would that satisfy you?” Juliette said coldly, then walked away, focusing intently on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Teacher Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psionics department will lose?” When Juliette was a bit further away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and ask Zhang Wen in a whisper.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also murmuring to himself, “Heh! I hope the psionics department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. Then, they both smiled and stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of tonight’s banquet—the delegation members from both academies.
“Ha, Teacher Lasti, I believe you must know our prodigious student, Luther Lace.” As soon as the two governors stepped back, Robert proudly introduced the “contestant” from Almisius Academy.
“Of course. Last year, when your school visited Fila Planet, you left quite an impression on me.” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—ignored the sarcasm in Temiso’s words and instead addressed Luther directly.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all.” Luther smiled arrogantly, giving a slight bow.
“Ha, very good.” Lasti smiled with equal arrogance, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this Senior Luther is your opponent in this competition. What do you think? Are you confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were a foregone conclusion. However, as her words fell, the hall was once again struck dumb with astonishment. Not only was Governor Temiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of surprise.
Most of them had not anticipated that this girl, who appeared to be just of age to enter the academy, would be the main contender for Themis Academy’s psionics department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a rising star being groomed for the future, brought along this time for experience.
Apart from Zhang Wen, no one in the hall could have imagined that Themis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almisius Academy’s prodigy, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almisius Academy for three years, and his skills were nearly on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the way the female teacher, Lasti, spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the crowd soon discovered that even more shocking events were yet to come. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin also nodded naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almisius Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on him like this! Especially when the one who disdained him was a girl of no more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable to the arrogant Luther. Amidst the crowd’s astonishment, a flash of suppressed anger crossed Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almisius Academy could not allow the opponent to dominate in this manner! If they lost this battle of wills now, even if they won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Temiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with provocation, his only choice was to fight back.
“Ha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words.” In the awkward atmosphere, Governor Temiso was the first to break the silence.
“Of course. Ha ha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not continuing to tease everyone’s nerves. For him, stopping at the right point was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could maneuver freely, Governor Temiso did not have such liberty. For Almisius Academy’s psionics department, a draw was equivalent to a loss—Temiso knew this well. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Temiso somewhat uneasy. Although he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb until the official competition began.
Thinking this, Governor Temiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As the planetary governor of the empire, Temiso had lowered himself to directly command the Almisius Academy delegation, bypassing several levels. This alone was enough to show how much Governor Temiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Temiso’s hint, Robert was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had openly defied him and even humiliated him. Then, Juliette, who should have been on their side in the psionics department, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen’s side. And now, even the two women from Themis Academy’s psionics department were trying to trample over him!
This was intolerable!
Robert, his lungs nearly bursting with anger, grew more and more furious as he thought about it. With a face flushed like a drunkard, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was equally angry.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almisius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face questioning from everyone. But to have Luther, in such an important banquet, challenge a new female student—wouldn’t that be even more inappropriate?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Although Luther was angry, his arrogance made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a newcomer who had just entered the academy.
But just as the Almisius Academy delegation was hesitating, the female teacher from Themis Academy, Lasti, suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy cultivated by physical arts students, the psionic energy cultivated by psionics students was, in most cases, not a force directly used for confrontation.
The role of psionic energy was more often seen in its combination with scientific disciplines, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psionics competitions, the focus was generally on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psionics students engage in combat with small warships on virtual machines.
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, “Sailing will soon show them that Almice Academy is nothing but a group of narrow-minded fools.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Kalayan laughed heartily and enthusiastically approached Governor Temiso.
As the two governors met, all the guests turned their attention toward them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At that moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also landed precisely on the focal point in the center of the hall. However, unlike most of the guests, Zhang Wen wasn’t particularly focused on Luther or Carite, but rather on Sailing from Themis Academy.
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally lead the Themis Academy delegation to cause trouble. For instance… had Themis Academy produced a psychic prodigy, giving Karayan the confidence to overpower the Almicus Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If Themis Academy truly had such a genius, it would have shown some signs last year. Yet, during the previous encounter between Almicus Academy and Themis Academy, their psychic department had completely overshadowed Themis Academy.
Moreover, the one who had stolen the spotlight during that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of Almicus Academy. As for Themis Academy’s psychic department, Governor Termiso couldn’t see anyone with the potential to threaten Almicus Academy’s dominance.
Given Themis Academy’s status, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess strength surpassing Almicus Academy’s psychic department graduates at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone possibly surpass him at the age of just entering the academy? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looked as pale as a ghost? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin, inwardly sneering with disdain.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to spur his subordinates into action. He deliberately turned to Sailin and the female teacher, saying, “Hey! Did you see that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that Almicus Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” approaching Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, all the guests turned their attention to them, and the once noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point at the center of the hall. However, unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more focused on Sailin from Themis Academy rather than Luther or Juliette.
This girl, whose gaze was as sharp as a knife, had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic department of Almicus Academy was likely to mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned again, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Mr. Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Huh? Why do you still have time to chat with me here? Aren’t you planning to join the excitement?”
“No need. With Senior Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition yet, so we don’t need a full team. Also, I was saying that Mr. Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke seriously but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Forget it, let’s not talk about this. Anyway, Themis Academy won’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable sigh. He teased her with a playful question.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face in defiance, retorting with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect that. Have they forgotten the lesson Senior Luther taught them last year? Have they forgotten the pain after the wound healed?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, do you want to make a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic department will suffer a crushing defeat this time. Do you believe that?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Mr. Zhang!” Juliette called out heavily, her face flushing red. “No matter what conflict you have with Mr. Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustration by belittling the psychic department. After all, we are all from the same school now. We are comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Mr. Robert’s earlier actions?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was genuinely upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic department just to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things like that.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation not only failed to calm Juliette but made her even angrier. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely see Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as nothing but unreasonable excuses.
“You’re betting that our psychic department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we will definitely win! Whoever is wrong will lock themselves in the academy’s detention room for the night after the banquet ends!” Juliette, in her anger, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The one who loses won’t be me, anyway. But spending the night in detention? That won’t be pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If there’s even a one in a million—no, a one in a billion—chance that I lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Will that satisfy you?” Juliette said coldly, her face stern, then walked away to focus on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Mr. Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic department will lose?” After Juliette walked away a bit, Amelie couldn’t help but approach Zhang Wen, whispering in his ear.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also muttering to himself, “Heh! I actually hope the psychic department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally ended their formal pleasantries. They then walked aside together, leaving the center of the hall to the true protagonists of today’s banquet—the delegation members from the two academies.
“Ha, Ms. Lasti, I believe you know our genius student, Luther Reis, right?” As soon as the two governors stepped aside, Robert proudly introduced Almicus Academy’s “contestant.”
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fila Planet, you left quite an impression on me,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—completely ignored the sarcasm in Termiso’s words and instead addressed Luther directly.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all,” Luther said with a self-assured smile, slightly bowing.
“Ha, very good,” Lasti replied with an equally arrogant smile, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this Senior Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Are you confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. However, as soon as her words fell, the entire hall was once again struck dumb. Not only was Governor Termiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed a hint of astonishment.
Most of them had not expected that this girl, who appeared to be just of the age to enter the academy, would be the main representative of Themis Academy’s psychic department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed that the girl was merely a future star being groomed by Themis Academy, brought along this time for experience.
Apart from Zhang Wen, absolutely no one in the hall could have imagined that Themis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almicus Academy’s genius, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almicus Academy for three full years, and his strength was almost comparable to that of the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the way the female teacher, Lasti, spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the crowd soon discovered that there was something even more shocking to come. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin nodded just as naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almicus Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on him like this! Especially when the one who disdained him was a girl who looked no older than fourteen or fifteen! This was even more intolerable for the self-assured Luther! Amid the crowd’s astonishment, a trace of barely suppressed anger flashed across Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almicus Academy couldn’t afford to let the opponent dominate like this! If they lost this battle of momentum now, even if Almicus Academy won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Ha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso broke the silence in the awkward atmosphere.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not continuing to tease everyone’s nerves. For him, stopping at the right point was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could advance or retreat at will, Governor Termiso didn’t have such freedom. For Almicus Academy’s psychic department, a draw was equivalent to a loss—Termiso was well aware of this. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso feel somewhat uneasy. Although he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb to explode when the official competition began.
Thinking this, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As the planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to Almicus Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels of hierarchy. This alone was enough to show how much Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Governor Termiso’s hint, Robert himself was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had dared to openly defy him and even humiliated him. Then, Juliette, who should have been on their side in the psychic department, had disobeyed his orders and run off to Zhang Wen’s side. Now, to top it all off, even the two women from Themis Academy’s psychic department were trying to step all over him!
Enough was enough!
Robert, who was so angry he felt his lungs might burst, became more and more furious the more he thought about it. With a face flushed red as if drunk, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was equally enraged.
Linoya frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almicus Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face questioning from everyone. But was it really appropriate to have Luther, a senior, challenge a freshman girl just because of this?
In fact, Linoya wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Although Luther was angry, his pride made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a girl who was clearly a new student.
But just as the Almicus Academy delegation was hesitating, the female teacher from Themis Academy, Lasti, suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy cultivated by physical arts students, the psychic energy cultivated by psychic department students was, in most cases, not a force used for direct confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often seen in its combination with science, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic department competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psychic department students engage in battles using small warships on simulators.
Zhang Wen’s absentmindedness greatly annoyed Carite. The student council president furrowed her brow again and glared at Zhang Wen in irritation, asking, “Mr. Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailing. “Oh? How come you still have time to chat with me here? Don’t you want to go back and join the excitement?”
“Not necessary. Luther senior is more than enough. After all, this isn’t an official match yet, so there’s no need to field the full team. Additionally, what I just said was that Mr. Robert was indeed in the wrong, but…” Carite earnestly began, but suddenly paused, then sighed dejectedly, “Forget it. No need to talk about it anymore. Anyway, Themis Academy won’t come looking for trouble with you again.”
“Exactly! They went looking for you instead. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but smile at Carite’s cute sighing expression. He teased her with a playful tone.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s voice, Carite couldn’t help but raise her pretty face indignantly and retort with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. They must have lost their minds, forgetting their past lessons. Have they already forgotten the lesson Luther senior gave them last year?”
In fact, Governor Temiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally bring the delegation from the Temis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… had a prodigy in psychic arts emerged at the Temis Academy, giving Karayan and his team the confidence to overpower the Almisius Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Temiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If there had been any such genius at the Temis Academy, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the last encounter between the Almisius Academy and the Temis Academy, the psychic arts department of the Temis Academy had been completely overshadowed by Almisius.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, who is now the leading figure at the Almisius Academy. As for the psychic arts department at the Temis Academy, Governor Temiso had not noticed anyone with the potential to threaten Almisius’s dominance.
Given the status of the Temis Academy, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Temiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess skills surpassing the graduates of Almisius’s psychic arts department at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself is already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, surpass him? Could it be that little girl behind Karayan, who looked so pale and frightened? Governor Temiso glanced at Sailin, sneering inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Temiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a great opportunity to spur his subordinates into action and deliberately turned to Sailin and the female teacher, saying, “Hey! See that? Temiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that the Almisius Academy is just a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” stepping forward to greet Governor Temiso.
As the two governors met, all the guests turned their attention to them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point at the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from the Temis Academy than in Luther or Juliette.
This girl with eyes as sharp as knives had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic arts department of the Almisius Academy was likely to mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned again, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Mr. Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Oh? You still have time to stay here and chat with me? Aren’t you going back to join the fun?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition yet, so we don’t need a full team. Besides, I was saying that Mr. Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Forget it. Anyway, the Temis Academy won’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable expression when she sighed. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face in defiance, retorting with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther gave them last year? Have they forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, how about a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will be utterly defeated this time. Do you believe that?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s mouth drop open and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Mr. Zhang!” Juliette called out heavily, a flush rising on her cheeks. “No matter what issues you have with Mr. Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. After all, we are all part of the same school now. We are comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Mr. Robert’s actions earlier?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic arts department just to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation not only failed to ease Juliette’s anger but made her even more furious. This was, of course, understandable. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely take Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, aren’t you? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” In her anger, Juliette accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The loser won’t be me, anyway. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If, by some one in a million—no, one in a billion—chance, I do lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Would that satisfy you?” Juliette said coldly with a stern face, then simply walked aside, intently watching the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Mr. Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” After Juliette had walked a bit away, Amelie couldn’t help but approach Zhang Wen and whisper in his ear.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also murmuring to himself, “Heh! I actually hope those guys in the psychic arts department give me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. Then, they both smiled and stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true protagonists of tonight’s banquet—the delegations from the two academies.
“Haha, Ms. Lasti, I believe you know our genius student, Luther Reis, right?” As soon as the two governors stepped back, Robert proudly introduced the “contestant” from the Almisius Academy.
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fira Planet, you left quite an impression on me,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—casually ignored the sarcasm in Temiso’s words and instead addressed Luther.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all,” Luther said with a self-assured smile, slightly bowing.
“Haha, very good,” Lasti replied with an equally haughty smile, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this senior Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were all a matter of course. However, as her words fell, the hall was once again struck dumb with astonishment. Not only was Governor Temiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of bewilderment.
Most of them had not anticipated beforehand that this girl, who seemed barely old enough to enter the academy, would be the main contender for the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had almost all assumed that this girl was merely a future star being groomed by the Temis Academy, brought out this time for some experience.
Apart from Zhang Wen, absolutely no one in the entire hall could have imagined that the Temis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almisius Academy’s genius, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almisius Academy for three full years, and his strength was almost comparable to that of the academy’s teachers! And most crucially, the way the female teacher named Lasti spoke made it seem as if this girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the crowd soon discovered that even more astonishing events were yet to come. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin also nodded naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almisius Academy, no one had ever dared to disregard him so blatantly! Especially when the one disregarding him was a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was even more intolerable for the self-assured Luther! Amidst the crowd’s astonishment, a trace of barely suppressed anger flashed across Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almisius Academy certainly couldn’t let the opponent gain the upper hand like this! If they lost this battle of momentum now, even if Almisius Academy could win the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Temiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with such provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Haha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Temiso broke the silence in the awkward atmosphere.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not continuing to provoke everyone’s nerves. For him, stopping at the right point was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could maneuver freely, Governor Temiso did not have such liberty. For the psychic arts department of Almisius Academy, a draw was equivalent to a loss—Temiso was well aware of this. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Temiso somewhat uneasy. Although he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb to explode at the start of the official competition.
Thinking this, Governor Temiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As the planetary governor of the empire, Temiso actually lowered himself to directly bypass several levels and issue orders to the Almisius Academy delegation. This alone was enough to show how much Governor Temiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Governor Temiso’s hint, Robert himself was about to explode. He felt that he had endured too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had the audacity to openly defy him and even humiliated him; then, Juliette, who should have been on their side in the psychic arts department, also disobeyed his orders and went over to Zhang Wen’s side. Now, even the two women from the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to step all over him!
This was intolerable!
The more Robert thought about it, the more furious he became. With a face flushed as if drunk, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was also seething with anger.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almisius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face public questioning. But merely because of this, should Luther actively challenge a new female student? Wouldn’t that be even more inappropriate?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Although Luther was angry, his self-assurance made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a newcomer who had just entered the academy.
But just as the Almisius Academy delegation was hesitating, the female teacher from the Temis Academy, Lasti, suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy studied by physical arts students, the psychic energy studied by psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force directly used for confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often reflected in its combination with the science department, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, what was generally compared was the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was to have psychic arts students engage in combat with small warships on simulators.
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelis gasp in shock and caused Carite to jump up as if pricked by a needle.
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there might be something unusual about Karayan daring to personally lead the delegation from the Temis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… could it be that a prodigy in psychic arts had emerged at Temis Academy, giving Karayan and his team the confidence to overpower the Almicus Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If Temis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the last encounter between Almicus Academy and Temis Academy, their psychic arts department had completely overshadowed Temis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of Almicus Academy. As for Temis Academy’s psychic arts department, Governor Termiso hadn’t noticed anyone with the potential to threaten Almicus Academy’s dominance.
Given Temis Academy’s reputation, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess skills surpassing even the graduates of Almicus Academy’s psychic arts department at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years prodigy! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looked as pale as a ghost? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin, inwardly sneering with disdain.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to spur his subordinates into action. Turning deliberately to Sailin and the female teacher, he said, “Hey! Did you see that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that Almicus Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” approaching Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, the guests’ attention shifted, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At that moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also landed on the focal point at the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, however, Zhang Wen was more focused on Sailin from Temis Academy rather than Luther or Juliette.
This girl, with eyes as sharp as knives, had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic arts department of Almicus Academy was likely to mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned and glared at Zhang Wen, asking irritably, “Teacher Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Huh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Don’t you want to go back and join the excitement?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition anyway; we don’t need a full team. Besides, I was saying that Teacher Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. Let’s not talk about it. Temis Academy won’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable expression when she sighed. He teased her with a playful question.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly, responding with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther taught them last year? Have they forgotten the pain once the wound healed?”
“Ha! In that case, would you like to make a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will suffer a crushing defeat this time. Do you believe me?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Teacher Zhang!” Juliette called out sternly, her face flushing with anger. “No matter what issues you have with Teacher Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. Regardless, we’re all part of the same school now. We’re comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Teacher Robert’s earlier actions?” Juliette glared at Zhang Wen, speaking with genuine anger. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m deliberately belittling the psychic arts department to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly wagging his finger. “You underestimate me. I never do things that are meaningless.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation didn’t soothe Juliette; instead, it made her even angrier. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely see Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as nothing but a baseless excuse.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” In her anger, Juliette didn’t hesitate to accept Zhang Wen’s wager.
“I don’t mind. The one who loses won’t be me. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If there’s even a one in a million—no, one in a billion—chance that I lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Satisfied?” Juliette said coldly, her face stern, before walking away to focus on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Teacher Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” Once Juliette was a bit further away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and whisper to Zhang Wen.
Zhang Wen smiled softly, as if answering Amelie’s question or murmuring to himself, “Heh! I’m actually hoping the psychic arts department will give me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of tonight’s banquet—the delegations from the two academies.
“Ah, Teacher Lasti, I believe you’re familiar with our prodigious student, Luther Less,” Robert said smugly, introducing Almicus Academy’s “contestant” as soon as the governors stepped aside.
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fira Planet, you left quite an impression,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—replied, completely ignoring the sarcasm in Termiso’s words, and turned to Luther.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all,” Luther said with a confident smile, giving a slight bow.
“Very well,” Lasti replied with an equally haughty smile, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this Senior Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Do you think you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were a foregone conclusion. However, as soon as her words fell, the entire hall was once again struck dumb. Not only was Governor Termiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen looked somewhat bewildered.
Most of them hadn’t anticipated that this girl, who appeared to be just of academy-entry age, would be the main contender for Temis Academy’s psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a future star being groomed by Temis Academy, brought along this time for experience.
Apart from Zhang Wen, absolutely no one in the hall could have imagined that Temis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almicus Academy’s prodigy, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almicus Academy for three years, and his skills were nearly on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the way Lasti spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the guests soon discovered that there was more to be shocked about. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin also nodded naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almicus Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on him like this! Especially when the one doing so was a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was simply intolerable for the proud Luther! Amidst the guests’ astonishment, a flash of barely suppressed anger crossed Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almicus Academy couldn’t afford to let the opponent gain the upper hand like this! If they lost this battle of momentum now, even if they managed to win the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with such provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Haha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso said, breaking the awkward silence.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not pushing the guests’ nerves any further. For him, a subtle hint was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could afford to be tactful, Governor Termiso didn’t have that luxury. For Almicus Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was as good as a loss—Termiso knew this well. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso somewhat uneasy. While he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb until the official competition began.
With this in mind, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he subtly but sternly signaled Robert with a glance. As the planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to Almicus Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels of hierarchy. This alone was enough to show just how much Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Termiso’s hint, Robert was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had openly defied him and even humiliated him. Then, Juliette, who should have been on his side, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen’s side. And now, even the two women from Temis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample all over him!
This was simply intolerable!
Fuming with rage, Robert grew angrier the more he thought about it. With a face flushed like a drunkard’s, he nodded firmly to Luther, who was equally furious.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almicus Academy to the brink. If they swallowed their pride now, the academy’s delegation would surely face widespread skepticism. But for Luther to challenge a new female student simply because of this—wouldn’t that be even more inappropriate?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Although Luther was angry, his pride also made him reluctant to lower himself to challenge a newcomer who had just entered the academy.
But just as the Almicus Academy delegation was hesitating, Temis Academy’s teacher Lasti suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin stepped forward coldly and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy cultivated by physical arts students, the psychic energy cultivated by psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force used for direct confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often seen in its combination with science, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire involved psychic arts students piloting small warships in virtual machines.
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there might be something unusual about Karayan daring to personally lead the delegation from the Temis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… had a prodigy in psychic arts emerged at the Temis Academy, giving Karayan the confidence to overpower the Almisius Academy?
However, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility upon further reflection. If the Temis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the last encounter between the Almisius Academy and the Temis Academy, their psychic arts department had completely overshadowed the Temis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of the Almisius Academy. As for the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department, Governor Termiso couldn’t identify anyone with the potential to threaten Almisius Academy’s dominance.
Given the Temis Academy’s status, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess skills surpassing those of Almisius Academy’s psychic arts graduates at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly outshine him? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looked as pale as a ghost? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin and sneered inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to spur his subordinates into action. Turning deliberately to Sailin and the female teacher, he said, “Hey! See that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that the Almisius Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily and “enthusiastically” approached Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, the guests turned their attention to them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point in the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, however, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from the Temis Academy than in Luther or Juliette.
This girl, with eyes as sharp as knives, had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that the psychic arts department of the Almisius Academy was likely to mess things up this time.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned and glared at him, asking, “Mr. Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Oh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Aren’t you going back to join the fun?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition; we don’t need a full team. Besides, I was saying that Mr. Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke earnestly but suddenly paused and sighed in frustration. “Never mind, let’s not talk about it. The Temis Academy won’t cause trouble for you anymore.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you instead. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable sigh. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly, replying in an equally sarcastic tone, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther taught them last year? Have they forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, how about a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will be utterly defeated this time. Do you believe me?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Mr. Zhang!” Juliette called out heavily, her face flushing with anger. “No matter what issues you have with Mr. Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. Regardless, we’re all part of the same school now. We’re comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Mr. Robert’s earlier actions?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with genuine anger, speaking solemnly. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic arts department just to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do anything so meaningless.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation only fueled Juliette’s anger further. This was, of course, understandable. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely interpret Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will lock themselves in the academy’s detention room for the night after tonight’s banquet!” In her anger, Juliette accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The one who loses won’t be me, anyway. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If, by some one-in-a-million—no, one-in-a-billion—chance, I do lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Would that satisfy you?” Juliette finished coldly, then walked away to focus on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Mr. Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” Once Juliette was a bit further away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and ask Zhang Wen in a whisper.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also muttering to himself, “Heh! I’m hoping the psychic arts department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of tonight’s banquet—the delegation members from both academies.
“Well, Ms. Lasti, I believe you’re familiar with our prodigious student, Luther Reis,” Robert began, proudly introducing Almisius Academy’s “contestant” as soon as the governors stepped back.
“Of course. You left quite an impression on me last year when your academy visited Fila Planet,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—responded, ignoring the sarcasm in Termiso’s tone and addressing Luther directly.
“Thank you for the compliment. I’ll continue to give my all in this year’s competition,” Luther replied with a confident smile, giving a slight bow.
“Good,” Lasti replied with an equally haughty smile, then suddenly turned and asked, “Sailin, this is Luther, your opponent in the upcoming match. How about it? Confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and demeanor were entirely natural, as if it were a foregone conclusion. Yet, as soon as she finished speaking, the hall fell into stunned silence once more. Not only was Governor Termiso completely taken aback, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen looked bewildered.
Most of the guests hadn’t anticipated that this girl, who appeared to be just of academy-entry age, would be the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department’s ace! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a future star being groomed by the Temis Academy, brought along this time for experience.
Except for Zhang Wen, no one in the hall could have imagined that the Temis Academy would pit a girl of such age against Almisius Academy’s prodigy, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almisius Academy for three years, and his skills were nearly on par with the academy’s instructors! Most importantly, the way Lasti spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the guests soon discovered that even more shocking developments were yet to come. For after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin nodded just as naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since joining Almisius Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on Luther like this! Especially not a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable for the proud Luther. Amid the guests’ astonishment, a flash of barely suppressed anger crossed Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almisius Academy couldn’t allow their opponents to gain the upper hand like this! If they lost this battle of wills now, even if they won the subsequent matches, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed a skilled politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with such provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Well, Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso broke the awkward silence, speaking first.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not pressing further. For him, a subtle hint was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could afford to be flexible, Governor Termiso had no such luxury. For Almisius Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was as good as a loss—Termiso knew this well. Moreover, Karayan’s attitude left Termiso with a sense of unease. While he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb to explode during the official competition.
With this in mind, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he subtly but sternly signaled Robert with a glance. As the planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to Almisius Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels of hierarchy. This alone was enough to show just how much Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In truth, Robert didn’t need Termiso’s hint; he was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a physical arts instructor, had openly defied him and humiliated him. Then, Juliette, who should have been on his side, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen. And now, even the two women from the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample all over him!
Enough was enough!
Robert, his lungs nearly bursting with anger, grew more and more furious as he thought about it. With a face flushed like a drunkard’s, he nodded emphatically to Luther, who was equally enraged.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almisius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed their pride now, the academy’s delegation would surely face widespread skepticism. But for Luther to challenge a novice girl at such an important event—wasn’t that even more inappropriate?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one who felt this way. Though Luther was angry, his pride made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a girl who was clearly a new student.
But just as the Almisius Academy delegation hesitated, Lasti from the Temis Academy suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin stepped forward coldly and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked another round of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy studied by physical arts students, the psychic energy cultivated by psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force used for direct confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often seen in its combination with scientific disciplines, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, the focus was generally on the ability to control machinery. For example, one of the empire’s most common and popular events involved psychic arts students piloting small warships in virtual simulations.
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation not only failed to ease Carite’s anger but instead made her even more furious. Actually, this was quite understandable. Anyone in Carite’s position would likely interpret Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as unreasonable justification.
In fact, Governor Temiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally bring the delegation from the Temis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… had a psychic prodigy emerged at Temis Academy, giving Karayan the confidence to overpower the Almisius Academy?
However, Governor Temiso quickly dismissed this possibility upon further reflection. If Temis Academy truly had such a genius, it would have shown some signs last year. Yet, during the last encounter between Almisius Academy and Temis Academy, their psychic department had completely overwhelmed Temis Academy.
Moreover, the standout during that competition was Luther, who is now the leading figure at Almisius Academy. Governor Temiso had not seen anyone in Temis Academy’s psychic department who could pose a threat to Almisius Academy’s dominance.
Given Temis Academy’s status, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Temiso was even less concerned! If someone could surpass the graduates of Almisius Academy’s psychic department at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself is already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, surpass him? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looked pale with fear? Governor Temiso glanced at Sailin and sneered inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Temiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a great opportunity to motivate his subordinates, so he deliberately turned to Sailin and the female teacher, saying, “Hey! See that? Temiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lips. “Sailin will soon show them that Almisius Academy is just a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily and “enthusiastically” approached Governor Temiso.
As the two governors met, the guests turned their attention to them, and the noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point in the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from Temis Academy than in Luther or Juliette.
This girl with a gaze as sharp as a knife left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic department of Almisius Academy might mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s absent-minded demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned and glared at Zhang Wen, asking, “Teacher Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Huh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Don’t you want to join the excitement?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. Luther is enough. This isn’t an official competition; we don’t need a full team. Also, I was saying that Teacher Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke seriously but suddenly paused and sighed in frustration, “Forget it. Temis Academy won’t bother you anymore.”
“Exactly! They’re bothering you instead. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable sigh. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly and retorted with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther gave them last year? Have they healed their wounds and forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, want to make a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic department will be utterly defeated this time. Do you believe that?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Teacher Zhang!” Juliette called out heavily, her face flushing with anger. “No matter what conflict you have with Teacher Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic department. After all, we’re all from the same school now. We’re comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from what Teacher Robert did earlier?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was genuinely upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic department just to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation didn’t soothe Juliette’s anger; instead, it made her even more furious. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely see Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” In her anger, Juliette accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. After all, I won’t be the one losing. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If there’s even a one in a million—no, one in a billion—chance that I lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Satisfied?” Juliette said coldly, then walked away to focus on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Teacher Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic department will lose?” After Juliette walked away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and whisper to Zhang Wen.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question or muttering to himself, “Heh! I hope the psychic department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally ended their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of tonight’s banquet—the delegations from the two academies.
“Haha, Teacher Lasti, I believe you know our genius student Luther Reis,” Robert said smugly, introducing Almisius Academy’s “contestant” as soon as the governors stepped aside.
“Of course. You left quite an impression last year when your school visited Fila Planet,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—ignored the sarcasm in Temiso’s words and turned to Luther.
“Thank you for the compliment. I will continue to give my all in this year’s competition,” Luther said with a self-assured smile, slightly bowing.
“Very well,” Lasti replied with an equally haughty smile, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this senior Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were a foregone conclusion. However, when her words fell, the hall was once again struck dumb with shock. Not only was Governor Temiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of astonishment.
Most of them had not expected that this girl, who seemed barely old enough to enter the academy, would be the main contender for Temis Academy’s psychic department! Even those who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a future star being groomed by Temis Academy, brought along this time for experience.
Except for Zhang Wen, no one in the hall could have imagined that Temis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almisius Academy’s genius Luther. After all, Luther had already studied at Almisius Academy for three years, and his strength was almost on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the female teacher Lasti spoke as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the crowd soon discovered that there was more to be shocked about. After hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin naturally nodded and replied, “Of course!”
Since entering Almisius Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on him like this! Especially when the one doing so was a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable for the proud Luther. Amidst the crowd’s astonishment, a trace of suppressed anger flashed across Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almisius Academy couldn’t let the opponent gain the upper hand like this! If they lost this battle of momentum now, even if they won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Temiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with provocation, his only choice was to fight back.
“Haha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Temiso broke the awkward silence, speaking first.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not pushing further. For him, a hint was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could afford to be flexible, Governor Temiso had no such luxury. For Almisius Academy’s psychic department, a draw was as good as a loss—Temiso knew this well. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Temiso somewhat uneasy. Although he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb until the official competition began.
With this in mind, Governor Temiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As the planetary governor of the empire, Temiso had lowered himself to directly command Almisius Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels. This alone was enough to show how much he valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Temiso’s hint, Robert was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had openly defied him and humiliated him. Then, Juliette, who should have been on their side, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen. Now, even the two women from Temis Academy’s psychic department were trying to trample over him!
Enough was enough!
Robert, whose lungs were nearly bursting with anger, grew more furious the more he thought about it. With a face flushed like a drunkard’s, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was equally enraged.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almisius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face questioning. But for Luther to challenge a new female student—wouldn’t that be even more inappropriate?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Although Luther was angry, his pride made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a girl who was clearly a new student.
But just as the Almisius Academy delegation hesitated, Temis Academy’s female teacher Lasti suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy cultivated by physical arts students, the psychic energy cultivated by psychic department students was, in most cases, not a force directly used for confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often seen in its combination with science, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic department competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psychic students engage in battles using small warships on simulators.
“I don’t mind. After all, the one who will lose won’t be me. However, spending the night in solitary confinement isn’t pleasant. Can you endure it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If, by some one-in-ten-thousand chance, I really lose, you can personally lock me in the solitary confinement. Is that satisfactory?” Carite said coldly with a serious expression, then decisively walked aside and focused intently on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally bring the delegation from Themis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… had a genius in psychic arts emerged at Themis Academy, giving Karayan and his team the confidence to overpower the Almisius Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If Themis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the previous encounter between Almisius Academy and Themis Academy, the psychic arts department of Almisius had completely overshadowed Themis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of Almisius Academy. As for the psychic arts department at Themis Academy, Governor Termiso had not noticed anyone with the potential to threaten Almisius Academy’s dominance.
Given Themis Academy’s reputation, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess skills surpassing even the graduates of Almisius Academy’s psychic arts department at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it really be the pale-faced little girl standing behind the fool Karayan? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin, sneering inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to spur his subordinates into action. Turning deliberately to Sailin and the female teacher, he said, “Hey! See that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that Almisius Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” approaching Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, all the guests turned their attention to them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At that moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point at the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, however, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from Themis Academy than in Luther or Juliette.
This girl, with eyes as sharp as knives, had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic arts department of Almisius Academy was likely to mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Teacher Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Oh? You still have time to stay here and nag me? Aren’t you going back to join the fun?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Senior Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t a formal competition yet, so we don’t need a full team. Besides, I was saying that Teacher Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. Let’s not talk about this. Anyway, Themis Academy won’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable expression when she sighed. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly, responding with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Senior Luther taught them last year? Have they healed their wounds and forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! In that case, would you like to make a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will suffer a crushing defeat this time. Do you believe me?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Teacher Zhang!” Juliette called out heavily, her face flushing red. “No matter what issues you have with Teacher Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. After all, we are all part of the same school now. We are comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Teacher Robert’s actions earlier?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m deliberately belittling the psychic arts department to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do such meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation not only failed to soothe Juliette but instead made her even angrier. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely take Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we will definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” Juliette, in the heat of the moment, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The loser won’t be me, anyway. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If there’s even a one in a million—no, a one in a billion—chance that I lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Would that satisfy you?” Juliette said coldly, her face stern, then walked away, focusing intently on the scene unfolding at the center of the hall.
“Teacher Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” After Juliette had walked a bit further away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and ask Zhang Wen in a whisper.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also murmuring to himself, “Heh! I actually hope the psychic arts department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. Then, both smiled and stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of tonight’s banquet—the delegation members from the two academies.
“Ha ha, Teacher Lasti, I believe you are acquainted with our genius student, Luther Less, aren’t you?” As soon as the two governors stepped back, Robert proudly introduced the “contestant” from Almisius Academy.
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fira Planet, you left quite an impression on me,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—ignored the sarcasm in Termiso’s words and instead addressed Luther directly.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all,” Luther replied with a self-assured smile, slightly bowing.
“Ha ha, very good,” Lasti responded with an equally haughty smile, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this Senior Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Do you have the confidence to defeat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were all a matter of course. However, as her words fell, the hall was once again struck dumb with astonishment. Not only was Governor Termiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of bewilderment.
The vast majority of them had not anticipated beforehand that this girl, who appeared to be just of school age, would be the main contender for Themis Academy’s psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had almost all assumed that this girl was merely a future star being groomed by Themis Academy, brought along this time for experience.
Apart from Zhang Wen, there was absolutely no one else in the entire hall who could have imagined that Themis Academy would field a girl of such a young age to challenge Almisius Academy’s genius, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almisius Academy for three full years, and his strength was almost on par with the academy’s teachers! Most crucially, the female teacher named Lasti spoke as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the crowd soon discovered that there was more to be astonished about. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin also nodded naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almisius Academy, no one had ever dared to disregard him so blatantly! Especially when the one disregarding him was a girl who looked to be no more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable to the self-assured Luther. Amidst the crowd’s astonishment, a trace of barely suppressed anger flashed across Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almisius Academy certainly couldn’t allow the opponent to dominate in this manner! If they lost this battle of wills now, even if Almisius Academy could win the subsequent competition, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Ha ha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso broke the silence first in the awkward atmosphere.
“Of course. Ha ha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not continuing to tease everyone’s nerves. For him, stopping at the right point was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could advance or retreat at will, Governor Termiso did not have such freedom. For Almisius Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was equivalent to a loss—Termiso was well aware of this. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso somewhat uneasy. Although he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb to explode only when the formal competition began.
Thinking this, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As a planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly bypass several levels to issue orders to Almisius Academy’s delegation. This alone was enough to show how much Governor Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, without Governor Termiso’s hint, Robert himself was already about to explode. He felt that he had endured too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had dared to openly defy him and even humiliated him; then, Juliette, who should have been on their side in the psychic arts department, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen’s side. Now, even the two women from Themis Academy’s psychic arts department wanted to trample over him!
This was intolerable!
The more Robert thought about it, the more furious he became. With a face flushed as if drunk, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was equally angry.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almisius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face questioning from everyone. But merely because of this, having Luther actively challenge a new female student would be even more inappropriate, wouldn’t it?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Although Luther was angry, his self-assurance made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a newcomer who was clearly just entering the academy.
But just as the members of Almisius Academy’s delegation were hesitating, the female teacher from Themis Academy, Lasti, suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy cultivated by physical arts students, the psychic energy cultivated by psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force directly used for confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often manifested in its combination with the science department, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, what was generally compared was the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psychic arts students engage in combat with small warships on simulators.
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally bring the delegation from Themis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… had Themis Academy produced a psychic genius, giving Karayan and his team the confidence to overpower the Almicus Academy?
However, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility upon further reflection. If Themis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the previous encounter between Almicus Academy and Themis Academy, the psychic department of Almicus had completely overshadowed Themis.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of Almicus Academy. As for Themis Academy’s psychic department, Governor Termiso couldn’t identify anyone with the potential to threaten Almicus’s dominance.
Given Themis Academy’s reputation, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess the strength to surpass Almicus Academy’s psychic graduates at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major institutions!
Besides, Luther himself was already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looked pale with fear? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailing, inwardly sneering with disdain.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to motivate his subordinates. Turning deliberately to Sailing and the female teacher, he said, “Hey! See that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailing will soon show them that Almicus Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, warmly approaching Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, the guests turned their attention to them, and the once noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point in the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailing from Themis Academy than in Luther or Carlet.
This girl with a gaze as sharp as a knife left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic department of Almicus Academy might be heading for disaster.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Carlet. The student council president frowned, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Mr. Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailing. “Huh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Don’t you want to join the excitement?” Seeing that it was Carlet speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition yet, so we don’t need a full team. Also, I was saying that Mr. Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Carlet spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. Let’s not talk about it. Anyway, Themis Academy won’t bother you again.”
“Exactly! They’re bothering you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Carlet’s adorable expression when she sighed made Zhang Wen laugh. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Carlet couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly, responding in an equally sarcastic tone, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther gave them last year? Have they healed their wounds and forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, how about a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic department will be utterly defeated this time. Do you believe me?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s mouth drop open and Carlet jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Mr. Zhang!” Carlet called out heavily, her face flushing with anger. “No matter what issues you have with Mr. Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic department. Regardless, we are all part of the same school now. We are comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Mr. Robert’s earlier actions?” Carlet stared at Zhang Wen with genuine anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic department just to get back at Robert? Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation didn’t soothe Carlet’s anger; instead, it made her even more furious. This was only natural. Anyone in Carlet’s position would likely see Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” Carlet, in her anger, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The one who loses won’t be me. But spending the night in detention? That won’t be pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If by some one-in-a-million—no, one-in-a-billion chance—I do lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Would that satisfy you?” Carlet said coldly, then walked away, focusing intently on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Mr. Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Carlet? Do you really think the psychic department will lose?” After Carlet had walked a bit away, Amelie couldn’t help but approach Zhang Wen and ask in his ear.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also muttering to himself, “Heh! I hope the psychic department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of the evening—the delegations from the two academies.
“Ha, Ms. Lasti, I believe you know our genius student, Luther Reis,” Robert said smugly, introducing Almicus Academy’s “contestant” as soon as the governors stepped aside.
“Of course. You left quite an impression when your academy visited Fila Planet last year,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailing—completely ignored the sarcasm in Termiso’s words and turned to Luther instead.
“Thank you for the compliment. I will continue to give my all in this year’s competition,” Luther said with a self-assured smile, slightly bowing.
“Ha, very good,” Lasti replied with an equally arrogant smile, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailing, this is Luther, your opponent in this competition. How about it? Confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailing were completely natural, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Yet, as soon as she finished speaking, the entire hall was once again struck dumb. Not only was Governor Termiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of shock.
Most of them had never expected that this girl, who appeared to be just of age to enter the academy, would be the main contender for Themis Academy’s psychic department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a rising star being groomed for the future, brought along this time for experience.
Except for Zhang Wen, no one in the entire hall could have imagined that Themis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almicus Academy’s genius, Luther. After all, Luther had already studied at Almicus Academy for three full years, and his strength was almost on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the way Lasti spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the guests soon discovered that there was even more to be shocked about. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailing nodded just as naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almicus Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on him like this! Especially when the one doing so was a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable for the proud Luther. Amidst the guests’ astonishment, a flash of barely suppressed anger crossed Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almicus Academy couldn’t allow their opponents to dominate like this! If they lost this battle of momentum now, even if they won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with such provocation, his only choice was to fight back.
“Ha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso broke the awkward silence, speaking first.
“Of course. Ha ha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not pushing the guests’ nerves further. For him, a hint was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could afford to be flexible, Governor Termiso had no such luxury. For Almicus Academy’s psychic department, a draw was as good as a loss—Termiso knew this well. Moreover, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso somewhat uneasy. Although he didn’t believe Sailing could surpass Luther, he didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb until the official competition began.
With this in mind, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As the planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to Almicus Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels. This alone was enough to show how much Governor Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, Robert didn’t need Termiso’s hint; he was already about to explode. He felt that he had endured too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a physical arts teacher, had the audacity to openly defy him and even humiliate him. Then, Carlet, who should have been on their side, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen. Now, to top it all off, even the two women from Themis Academy’s psychic department were trying to trample over him!
This was intolerable!
Robert, his lungs nearly bursting with anger, grew more and more furious. With a face flushed like a drunkard’s, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was equally enraged.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almicus Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face public scrutiny. But for Luther to challenge a novice girl simply because of this—wouldn’t that be even more inappropriate?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Although Luther was angry, his pride made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a girl who was clearly a new student.
But just as the Almicus Academy delegation was hesitating, Themis Academy’s female teacher, Lasti, suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailing coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailing. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailing’s action immediately sparked another round of whispers among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy studied by physical arts students, the psychic energy studied by psychic department students was, in most cases, not a force used for direct confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more about combining with scientific disciplines to operate and control various complex machinery. In psychic department competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psychic students engage in battles using small warships on simulators.
As Zhang Wen and Amelis spoke, the two governors finally concluded their polite small talk. Then both smiled and moved aside, handing over the central position in the hall to the true protagonists of tonight’s banquet—the representatives from the two academies.
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally bring the delegation from the Temis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… had a genius in mental arts emerged at the Temis Academy, giving Karayan and his team the confidence to overpower the Almisius Academy?
However, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility upon further reflection. If there had been any such genius at the Temis Academy, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the last encounter between the Almisius Academy and the Temis Academy, the mental arts department of the Temis Academy had been completely overshadowed.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of the Almisius Academy. As for the mental arts department of the Temis Academy, Governor Termiso had not seen anyone with the potential to threaten the status of the Almisius Academy.
Given the stature of the Temis Academy, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If there were someone who, at the age of just entering the academy, could surpass the graduates of the Almisius Academy’s mental arts department, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already widely recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looked so pale she seemed frightened? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin, sneering inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to spur his subordinates into action. Turning deliberately to Sailin and the female teacher, he said, “Hey! Did you see that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that the Almisius Academy is nothing more than a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” stepping forward to greet Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, the guests turned their attention to them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point in the center of the hall. However, unlike most of the guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from the Temis Academy than in Luther or Juliette.
This girl, whose gaze was as sharp as a knife, had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the mental arts department of the Almisius Academy might be in for a disaster.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Teacher Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Huh? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Oh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Aren’t you going to join the fun?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Senior Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition yet, so we don’t need a full team. Besides, I was saying that Teacher Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke earnestly but suddenly stopped, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. Let’s not talk about it. Anyway, the Temis Academy won’t cause any more trouble for you.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable expression when she sighed. He playfully asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly, responding with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Senior Luther taught them last year? Have they forgotten the pain already?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, do you want to make a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your mental arts department will be utterly defeated this time. Do you believe me?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Teacher Zhang!” Juliette called out sharply, her face flushing. “No matter what issues you have with Teacher Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the mental arts department. After all, we’re all part of the same school now. We’re comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from what Teacher Robert did earlier?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m deliberately belittling the mental arts department to get back at Robert? Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly wagging his finger. “You’re underestimating me. I never do things that are meaningless.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation didn’t calm Juliette; instead, it made her even angrier. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely take Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our mental arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after the banquet tonight!” Juliette, in her anger, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The one who loses won’t be me. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If, by some one-in-a-million—no, one-in-a-billion—chance, I do lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Would that satisfy you?” Juliette said coldly, her face stern, then walked away to focus on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Teacher Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the mental arts department will lose?” After Juliette had walked a bit away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and ask Zhang Wen in a whisper.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also muttering to himself, “Heh! I’m actually hoping the mental arts department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their polite greetings. Then, both smiled and stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of tonight’s banquet—the delegations from the two academies.
“Hehe, Teacher Lasti, I believe you’re familiar with our genius student, Luther Less, right?” As soon as the two governors stepped back, Robert proudly introduced the “contestant” from the Almisius Academy.
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fila Planet, you left quite an impression on me,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—completely ignored the sarcasm in Termiso’s words and instead addressed Luther directly.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all,” Luther replied with a confident smile, slightly bowing.
“Hehe, very good,” Lasti responded with an equally arrogant smile, then suddenly turned and asked, “Sailin, this Senior Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Do you think you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were all a matter of course. However, as soon as she finished speaking, the entire hall was once again struck dumb with astonishment. Not only was Governor Termiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of surprise.
Most of them had not expected that this girl, who appeared to be just of academy-entry age, would be the main contender for the Temis Academy’s mental arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a rising star being groomed for the future, brought along this time for experience.
Apart from Zhang Wen, absolutely no one in the hall could have imagined that the Temis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Luther, the genius of the Almisius Academy. After all, Luther had already been studying at the Almisius Academy for three years, and his strength was nearly on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the way Teacher Lasti spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the crowd soon realized that there was even more to be surprised about. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin nodded just as naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering the Almisius Academy, no one had ever dared to disregard him so blatantly! Especially when the one doing so was a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was simply intolerable for the proud Luther. Amidst the crowd’s astonishment, a flash of barely suppressed anger crossed Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, the Almisius Academy couldn’t afford to let the opponent dominate them like this! If they lost this battle of momentum now, even if they won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with such provocation, his only choice was to fight back.
“Hehe. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso broke the silence in the awkward atmosphere.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not pushing the crowd’s nerves any further. For him, a hint was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could afford to be flexible, Governor Termiso didn’t have that luxury. For the mental arts department of the Almisius Academy, a draw was as good as a loss—Termiso knew this well. Moreover, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso somewhat uneasy. While he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb to explode during the official competition.
With this in mind, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As the planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to the Almisius Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels of hierarchy. This alone was enough to show how much Governor Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Governor Termiso’s hint, Robert was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had openly defied him and even humiliated him; then, Juliette, who should have been on their side, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen’s side. Now, even the two women from the Temis Academy’s mental arts department were trying to trample over him!
Enough was enough!
Robert, who was so angry he felt his lungs might burst, grew more and more furious as he thought about it. With a face as red as if he were drunk, he nodded firmly to Luther, who was equally furious.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed the Almisius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed their pride now, the academy’s delegation would surely face public scrutiny. But was it really appropriate to have Luther, in such a situation, challenge a freshman girl?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Luther, though angry, was too proud to lower himself to challenge a girl who was clearly a new student.
But just as the Almisius Academy’s delegation was hesitating, Teacher Lasti from the Temis Academy suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin stepped forward coldly and extended her hand to Luther.
“I’m Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked another round of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy studied by the physical arts students, the mental energy studied by the mental arts students was, in most cases, not a force used for direct confrontation.
The role of mental energy was more often seen in its combination with the science department, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In mental arts competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having mental arts students engage in battles with small starships on simulators.
“Of course. I was indeed deeply impressed by you when your academy visited the planet Fira last year,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailing—casually ignored the sarcasm in Temiso’s words and turned to Luther instead.
“Thank you for the compliment. I will certainly give my all in this year’s competition,” Luther said with a confident smile, slightly bowing.
“Hehe, excellent,” Lasti smiled arrogantly and suddenly turned back, asking, “Sailing, this is Luther senior, your opponent in this competition. How do you feel? Do you think you can beat him?”
Lasti spoke to Sailing in a completely natural tone, as if everything were perfectly normal. However, as her words echoed through the hall, everyone was once again stunned into silence. Governor Temiso was completely taken aback, and even Amelis beside Zhang Wen showed a hint of astonishment.
In fact, Governor Temiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally lead the Themis Academy delegation to cause trouble. For instance… had a genius in psychic arts emerged at Themis Academy, giving Karayan and his team the confidence to overpower the Almythius Academy?
However, Governor Temiso quickly dismissed this possibility upon further reflection. If Themis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the previous encounter between Almythius Academy and Themis Academy, the psychic arts department of Almythius had completely overshadowed Themis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of Almythius Academy. As for Themis Academy’s psychic arts department, Governor Temiso couldn’t discern anyone with the potential to threaten Almythius Academy’s dominance.
Given Themis Academy’s stature, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Temiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess skills surpassing even the graduates of Almythius Academy’s psychic arts department at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already spread like wildfire across the empire’s academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it really be that girl behind Karayan, who looked so pale and frightened? Governor Temiso glanced at Sailin, inwardly sneering with disdain.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Temiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to motivate his subordinates, so he deliberately turned to Sailin and the female teacher, saying, “Hey! Did you see that? Temiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lips. “Sailin will soon show them that Almythius Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” stepping forward to greet Governor Temiso.
As the two governors met, all the guests turned their attention to them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At that moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point at the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, however, Zhang Wen was more focused on Sailin from Themis Academy rather than Luther or Juliette.
This girl, whose gaze was as sharp as a knife, had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic arts department of Almythius Academy might just mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned and glared at Zhang Wen, asking, “Mr. Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Huh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Aren’t you going to join the fun?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition yet, so we don’t need everyone on the field. Besides, I was saying that Mr. Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke seriously but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. Let’s not talk about it. Anyway, Themis Academy won’t cause any more trouble for you.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable expression when she sighed. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly, replying with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther gave them last year? Have they forgotten the pain once the wound healed?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, would you like to make a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will suffer a crushing defeat this time. Do you believe that?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Mr. Zhang!” Juliette called out sharply, her face flushing red. “No matter what issues you have with Mr. Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. Regardless, we are all part of the same school now. We are comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Mr. Robert’s earlier actions?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m deliberately belittling the psychic arts department to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation didn’t soothe Juliette’s anger; instead, it made her even more furious. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely see Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” Juliette, in the heat of the moment, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The one who loses won’t be me. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If there’s even a one in a million—no, one in a billion—chance that I lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Satisfied?” Juliette said coldly, then walked away, focusing intently on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Mr. Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” After Juliette had walked a bit further away, Amelie couldn’t help but approach Zhang Wen and ask in his ear.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also muttering to himself, “Heh! I actually hope the psychic arts department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true protagonists of tonight’s banquet—the representatives of the two academies.
“Ah, Ms. Lasti, I believe you must be acquainted with our genius student, Luther Reis,” Robert began, proudly introducing Almythius Academy’s “contestant” as soon as the governors stepped back.
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fila Planet, you left quite an impression on me,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—replied, ignoring the sarcasm in Temiso’s words and turning to Luther instead.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all,” Luther said with a confident smile, slightly bowing.
“Ah, very good,” Lasti replied with an equally haughty smile, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this senior Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Do you have the confidence to defeat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were completely natural, as if it were a foregone conclusion. However, as soon as her words fell, the entire hall was once again struck dumb with shock. Not only was Governor Temiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of astonishment.
Most of them had not anticipated beforehand that this girl, who appeared to be just of the age to enter the academy, would be the main contender for Themis Academy’s psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed that the girl was merely a future star being groomed by Themis Academy, brought out this time for experience.
Except for Zhang Wen, there was absolutely no one else in the hall who could have imagined that Themis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almythius Academy’s genius, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almythius Academy for three full years, and his strength was almost on par with the academy’s teachers! And most crucially, the female teacher named Lasti spoke as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the crowd soon discovered that there was even more to be shocked about. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin also nodded naturally and replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almythius Academy, no one had ever dared to disregard him so blatantly! Especially when the one disregarding him was a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was even more intolerable for the self-assured Luther! Amidst the crowd’s astonishment, a trace of barely suppressed anger flashed across Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almythius Academy couldn’t allow their opponents to dominate like this! If they lost this battle of momentum now, even if Almythius Academy won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Temiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Haha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Temiso broke the silence in the awkward atmosphere.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not continuing to provoke everyone’s nerves. For him, stopping at the right point was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could afford to be flexible, Governor Temiso had no such luxury. For Almythius Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was equivalent to a loss—Temiso was well aware of this. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Temiso somewhat uneasy. Although he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb until the official competition began.
With this in mind, Governor Temiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As the planetary governor of the empire, Temiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to Almythius Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels. This alone was enough to show how much Governor Temiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Governor Temiso’s hint, Robert was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had the audacity to openly defy him and even humiliate him. Then, Juliette, who should have been on their side in the psychic arts department, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen’s side. And now, to top it all off, even the two women from Themis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample all over him!
This was intolerable!
Robert, who was so angry he felt like his lungs were about to burst, grew more and more furious the more he thought about it. With a face flushed red as if drunk, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was also seething with anger.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almythius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face questioning from everyone. But for Luther to actively challenge a freshman girl over this—wouldn’t that be even more inappropriate?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Although Luther was angry, his pride made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a girl who was clearly a new student.
But just as the members of Almythius Academy’s delegation were hesitating, Lasti from Themis Academy suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked another wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy cultivated by physical arts students, the psychic energy cultivated by psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force directly used for confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often manifested in its combination with the sciences, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, what was generally compared was the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psychic arts students engage in battles using small warships on simulators.
Except for Zhang Wen, no one else in the entire hall could have imagined that Themis Academy would send a girl of such young age to challenge Almice Academy’s genius, Luther. After all, Luther had already studied at Almice for three full years, his strength nearly matching that of the academy’s instructors. Most crucially, the tone of the female teacher, Lasti, spoke as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
However, the crowd soon realized there was even more shocking news to come. Because after hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailing naturally nodded and simply replied with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almice Academy, no one had ever dared to disregard Luther so openly, especially not a girl no older than fourteen or fifteen! This blatant disrespect infuriated the proud Luther beyond tolerance. Amid the crowd’s astonishment, Luther’s face flickered with barely suppressed anger.
At such an important banquet, Almice Academy certainly couldn’t allow themselves to be humiliated like this! If they lost this battle of intimidation right now, even if Almice Academy managed to win the upcoming matches, they would lose face in demanding Princess Sophia’s admission into the academy!
Governor Temiso was indeed an outstanding politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. In the face of provocation, his only choice was to fight back.
“Hehe, Governor Kalayan, winning a victory isn’t something that can be achieved merely by talking,” Governor Temiso broke the awkward silence first.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Kalayan laughed heartily, not further provoking the crowd. For him, a subtle jab was sufficient.
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally lead the Themis Academy delegation to cause trouble. For instance… had Themis Academy produced a prodigy in psychic arts, giving Karayan the confidence to overpower the Almisius Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If Themis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the previous encounter between Almisius Academy and Themis Academy, the psychic arts department of Almisius had completely overshadowed Themis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was Luther, who is now the leading figure of Almisius Academy. As for the psychic arts department of Themis Academy, Governor Termiso couldn’t identify anyone with the potential to threaten Almisius Academy’s dominance.
Given Themis Academy’s status, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If there were someone who, at the age of just entering the academy, possessed skills surpassing even the graduates of Almisius Academy’s psychic arts department, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s academies!
Furthermore, Luther himself is already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looks as pale as a ghost? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin, sneering inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to spur his subordinates into action, so he deliberately turned to Sailin and the female teacher, saying, “Hey! Did you see that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lips. “Sailin will soon show them that Almisius Academy is just a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” approaching Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, all the guests turned their attention to them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point in the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from Themis Academy than in Luther or Juliette.
This girl, with eyes as sharp as knives, left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic arts department of Almisius Academy might just mess things up.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Teacher Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Oh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Aren’t you going back to join the fun?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. With Senior Luther here, it’s enough. This isn’t an official competition yet, so we don’t need everyone on the field. Also, I was saying that Teacher Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Forget it, let’s not talk about this. Anyway, Themis Academy won’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Juliette’s adorable sigh made Zhang Wen laugh. He jokingly asked Juliette.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face in defiance, responding with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Senior Luther taught them last year? Have they forgotten the pain after the wound healed?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, do you want to make a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will be utterly defeated this time. Do you believe that?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s mouth drop open and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Teacher Zhang!” Juliette called out heavily, her face flushing red. “No matter what conflict you have with Teacher Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. After all, we are all from the same school now. We are comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from what Teacher Robert did earlier?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking solemnly. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic arts department just to get back at Robert? Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation not only failed to ease Juliette’s anger but made her even more furious. This was, of course, understandable. Anyone in Juliette’s position would likely see Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we will definitely win! Whoever is wrong will lock themselves in the academy’s detention room for the night after the banquet!” Juliette, in her anger, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. After all, the one who loses won’t be me. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If there’s even a one in a million—no, one in a billion—chance that I lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Are you satisfied now?” Juliette said coldly, then walked away, focusing intently on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Teacher Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” After Juliette walked away a bit, Amelie couldn’t help but approach Zhang Wen, whispering in his ear.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also murmuring to himself, “Heh! I actually hope the psychic arts department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. Then, they both smiled and stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of today’s banquet—the delegations from the two academies.
“Ha ha, Teacher Lasti, I believe you must know our prodigious student, Luther Less.” As soon as the two governors stepped back, Robert proudly introduced the “contestant” from Almisius Academy.
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fila Planet, you left quite an impression on me.” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—nonchalantly ignored the sarcasm in Termiso’s words, turning instead to Luther.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all.” Luther smiled arrogantly, giving a slight bow.
“Ha ha, very good.” Lasti smiled with equal arrogance, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this Senior Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and attitude when speaking to Sailin were entirely natural, as if it were all a matter of course. However, once her words fell, the hall was once again struck dumb with astonishment. Not only was Governor Termiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of bewilderment.
The vast majority of them had not anticipated that this girl, who appeared to be just of academy-entry age, would be the main contender for Themis Academy’s psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had almost all assumed that the girl was merely a future star being groomed by Themis Academy, brought out this time for experience.
Apart from Zhang Wen, absolutely no one in the hall could have imagined that Themis Academy would send a girl of such an age to challenge Almisius Academy’s prodigy, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almisius Academy for three full years, his skills nearly comparable to the academy’s teachers! And most crucially, the female teacher named Lasti spoke as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the crowd soon discovered that even more astonishing events were yet to come. For upon hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin also nodded naturally, replying with two words: “Of course!”
Since entering Almisius Academy, no one had ever dared to disregard him so blatantly! Especially when the one disregarding him was a girl who appeared to be no more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable to the arrogant Luther! Amidst the crowd’s astonishment, a barely suppressed anger flashed across Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almisius Academy could not allow their opponents to dominate in this manner! If they lost this battle of wills now, even if Almisius Academy could win the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with such provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Ha ha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words.” In the awkward atmosphere, Governor Termiso was the first to break the silence.
“Of course. Ha ha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not continuing to tease everyone’s nerves. For him, stopping at the right point was sufficient.
However, while Governor Karayan could advance or retreat at will, Governor Termiso did not have such freedom. For Almisius Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was equivalent to a loss—Termiso was well aware of this. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso somewhat uneasy. Although he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb to explode at the start of the official competition.
Thinking this, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As the planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly bypass several levels and issue orders to Almisius Academy’s delegation. This alone was enough to show how much Governor Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Governor Termiso’s hint, Robert himself was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had dared to openly defy him and even humiliated him; then, Juliette, who should have been on their side in the psychic arts department, had disobeyed his orders and run off to Zhang Wen’s side. Now, to top it all off, even the two women from Themis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample all over him!
This was intolerable!
Robert, his lungs nearly bursting with rage, grew more and more furious the more he thought about it. With a face flushed as if drunk, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was equally enraged.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almisius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face public questioning. However, merely because of this, having Luther actively challenge a new female student would be even more inappropriate.
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Although Luther was angry, his arrogance made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a newcomer who had just entered the academy.
But just as the members of Almisius Academy’s delegation were hesitating, Lasti, the female teacher from Themis Academy, suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
As is well known, unlike the combat energy cultivated by physical arts students, the psychic energy cultivated by psychic arts students is, in most cases, not a force directly used for confrontation.
The role of psychic energy is more often manifested in its combination with scientific disciplines, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, what is generally compared is the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire is having psychic arts students engage in combat using small warships on simulators.
With this in mind, Governor Temiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Kalayan, he secretly gave Robert a stern look. As a planetary governor of the Empire, Temiso actually took the initiative to bypass several ranks and directly issue orders to Almice Academy’s delegation. This alone was sufficient proof of how highly Governor Temiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, Robert didn’t even need Temiso’s silent signal—he was already on the verge of exploding. He felt he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally bring the delegation from the Temis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… had a genius in psychic arts emerged from the Temis Academy, giving Karayan the confidence to overpower the Almicus Academy?
However, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility upon further reflection. If the Temis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the previous encounter between the Almicus Academy and the Temis Academy, the psychic arts department of the Almicus Academy had completely overshadowed the Temis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of the Almicus Academy. As for the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department, Governor Termiso had not seen anyone with the potential to threaten the Almicus Academy’s dominance.
Given the Temis Academy’s reputation, they would never stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess skills surpassing those of the Almicus Academy’s psychic arts graduates at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looked pale with fear? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin, sneering inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to spur his subordinates into action. He deliberately turned to Sailin and the female teacher, saying, “Hey! Did you see that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that the Almicus Academy is just a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” approaching Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, the guests’ attention shifted, and the once noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also landed on the focal point at the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from the Temis Academy than in Luther or Juliet.
This girl with eyes as sharp as knives had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that the psychic arts department of the Almicus Academy was likely to mess things up this time.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliet. The student council president frowned, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Mr. Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Oh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Don’t you want to join the excitement?” Seeing that it was Juliet speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. Luther is enough. This isn’t an official match yet; we don’t need a full team. Besides, I was saying that Mr. Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliet spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. The Temis Academy won’t cause us any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliet’s adorable sighing expression. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliet couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly, retorting with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther taught them last year? Have they forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, want to make a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he curled his lips. “I say your psychic arts department will be utterly defeated this time. Do you believe that?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliet jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Mr. Zhang!” Juliet called out sternly, her face flushing red. “No matter what issues you have with Mr. Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. After all, we’re all part of the same school now. We’re comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Mr. Robert’s actions earlier?” Juliet glared at Zhang Wen, speaking with genuine anger. It was clear that this angelic girl was truly upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic arts department just to get back at Robert? Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do things that are meaningless.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation not only failed to calm Juliet but instead made her even angrier. This was, of course, understandable. Anyone in Juliet’s position would likely take Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will lock themselves in the academy’s detention room for the night after tonight’s banquet!” Juliet, in her anger, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The loser won’t be me, anyway. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If, by some one in a million—no, one in a billion—chance, I do lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Satisfied?” Juliet said coldly, then walked away, focusing intently on the scene unfolding at the center of the hall.
“Mr. Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliet? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” After Juliet had walked a bit away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and whisper to Zhang Wen.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also murmuring to himself, “Heh! I hope the psychic arts department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of tonight’s banquet—the representatives of the two academies.
“Ms. Lasti, I believe you’re familiar with our genius student, Luther Reis,” Robert began, proudly introducing the Almicus Academy’s “contestant.”
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fila Planet, you left quite an impression,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—ignored the sarcasm in Termiso’s words and instead addressed Luther directly.
“Thank you for the compliment. I will continue to give my all in this year’s competition,” Luther said with a confident smile, slightly bowing.
“Very well,” Lasti replied with equal arrogance, then suddenly turned and asked, “Sailin, this Luther is your opponent in this competition. How do you feel? Confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and demeanor were entirely natural, as if this were a given. However, as her words fell, the hall once again fell into stunned silence. Not only was Governor Termiso completely taken aback, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen showed signs of surprise.
Most of them had not anticipated that this girl, who appeared to be just of academy age, would be the Temis Academy’s main contender in the psychic arts department! Even those who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a rising star being groomed for the future, brought along this time for experience.
Except for Zhang Wen, no one in the hall could have imagined that the Temis Academy would send a girl of this age to challenge the Almicus Academy’s genius, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at the Almicus Academy for three years, and his skills were nearly on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the way Lasti spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the guests soon realized that there was more to be surprised about. After hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin nodded just as naturally and replied, “Of course!”
Since entering the Almicus Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on Luther like this! Especially not a girl who appeared to be no more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable for the proud Luther. Amid the guests’ astonishment, a flicker of suppressed anger crossed Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, the Almicus Academy could not allow their opponents to dominate in this way. If they lost this battle of wills now, even if they won the subsequent competition, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed a skilled politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with such provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso broke the awkward silence with a smile.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not pressing further. For him, a subtle hint was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could afford to be flexible, Governor Termiso did not have that luxury. For the Almicus Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was as good as a loss—Termiso knew this well. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso somewhat uneasy. While he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb until the official competition began.
With this in mind, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he subtly but sternly signaled Robert. As the planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly command the Almicus Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels of hierarchy. This alone was enough to show how much Governor Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In truth, Robert didn’t need Termiso’s hint; he was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had openly defied him and even humiliated him. Then, Juliet, who should have been on his side in the psychic arts department, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen. And now, even the two women from the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample over him!
This was intolerable!
Robert, his lungs nearly bursting with anger, grew more furious the more he thought about it. With a face flushed like a drunkard’s, he nodded emphatically to Luther, who was equally enraged.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed the Almicus Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face public scrutiny. But for Luther to challenge a freshman girl—wouldn’t that be even more inappropriate?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Luther, though angry, was too proud to lower himself to challenge a girl who was clearly a new student.
But just as the Almicus Academy’s delegation hesitated, Lasti from the Temis Academy suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin stepped forward coldly and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy studied by the physical arts students, the psychic energy studied by the psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force used for direct confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more about combining with scientific disciplines to operate and control various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psychic arts students engage in battles using small warships on simulators.
This was absolutely unacceptable!
Robert grew increasingly furious as he thought about it. His face flushed red with rage, and without hesitation, he gave an emphatic nod to Luther, who was equally angry.
Lynoa frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almice Academy to the brink. If they swallowed their pride and backed down, the academy delegation would surely face public doubt. However, was it appropriate to have Luther challenge a new female student merely because of this?
In fact, Lynoa wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Although Luther was furious, his pride made him reluctant to stoop so low as to challenge a clearly inexperienced freshman.
Yet, as the Almice Academy delegation hesitated, Themis Academy’s female teacher, Lasti, suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then Sailing stepped forward calmly and extended her hand toward Luther.
“My name is Sailing. Please give me your guidance.”
Sailing’s bold move immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally bring the delegation from the Temis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… had a prodigy in psychic arts emerged from the Temis Academy, giving Karayan and his team the confidence to overpower the Almisius Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If the Temis Academy truly had such a genius, there would have been some signs of it last year. Yet, during the last encounter between the Almisius Academy and the Temis Academy, the psychic arts department of the Temis Academy was completely overshadowed by Almisius.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of the Almisius Academy. As for the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department, Governor Termiso couldn’t identify anyone with the potential to threaten Almisius’s dominance.
Given the Temis Academy’s stature, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess skills surpassing those of Almisius Academy’s psychic arts graduates at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looked as pale as a ghost? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin, inwardly sneering with disdain.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to spur his subordinates into action. Turning deliberately to Sailin and the female teacher, he said, “Hey! Did you see that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that the Almisius Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” stepping forward to greet Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, all the guests turned their attention to them, and the once noisy hall fell silent. At that moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point in the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from the Temis Academy than in Luther or Juliette.
This girl, with eyes as sharp as knives, had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that this time, the psychic arts department of the Almisius Academy might be heading for a disaster.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliette. The student council president frowned, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Teacher Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Huh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Don’t you want to join the excitement?” Seeing that it was Juliette speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. Luther is enough. This isn’t an official competition; we don’t need a full team. Besides, I was saying that Teacher Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliette spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. Anyway, the Temis Academy won’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you now. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliette’s adorable sighing expression. He jokingly asked her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliette couldn’t help but raise her pretty face defiantly, retorting with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther taught them last year? Have they healed their wounds and forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! In that case, how about a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he raised the corner of his mouth. “I say your psychic arts department will suffer a crushing defeat this time. Do you believe me?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliette jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Teacher Zhang!” Juliette called out sharply, her face flushing with anger. “No matter what issues you have with Teacher Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. Regardless, we’re all part of the same school now. We’re comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Teacher Robert’s actions earlier?” Juliette stared at Zhang Wen with genuine anger, her words heavy with reproach.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic arts department just to get back at Robert? Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly wagging his finger. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation only fueled Juliette’s anger further. Naturally, anyone in Juliette’s position would likely interpret Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” Juliette, in the heat of the moment, accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. After all, it won’t be me who loses. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If, by some one in a million—no, one in a billion—chance, I do lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Would that satisfy you?” Juliette said coldly, her face stern, before walking away to focus on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Teacher Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliette? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” Once Juliette was a bit further away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and whisper to Zhang Wen.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question, yet also muttering to himself, “Heh! I hope the psychic arts department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally concluded their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of the evening—the delegations from the two academies.
“Ah, Teacher Lasti, I believe you’re familiar with our prodigious student, Luther Reis,” Robert began, proudly introducing the Almisius Academy’s “contestant” as soon as the governors stepped back.
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fila Planet, you left quite an impression,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—replied, brushing off the subtle sarcasm in Termiso’s words and turning to Luther.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give it my all,” Luther said with a confident smile, giving a slight bow.
“Very well,” Lasti replied with equal arrogance, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this is Luther, your opponent in this competition. What do you think? Are you confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and demeanor were completely natural, as if it were a foregone conclusion. However, as her words settled, the hall once again fell into stunned silence. Not only was Governor Termiso completely taken aback, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen looked bewildered.
Most of the guests hadn’t anticipated that this girl, who appeared to be just of school age, would be the Temis Academy’s main contender in the psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a rising star being groomed for the future, brought along for experience.
Except for Zhang Wen, no one in the hall could have imagined that the Temis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almisius Academy’s prodigy, Luther. After all, Luther had already been studying at Almisius Academy for three years, his skills nearly on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the way Lasti spoke made it seem as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the guests soon discovered that there was more to be shocked about. After hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin nodded just as naturally and replied, “Of course!”
Since joining the Almisius Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on him like this! Especially not a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable for the proud Luther. Amid the guests’ astonishment, a flash of suppressed anger crossed Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, the Almisius Academy couldn’t let their opponents gain the upper hand like this! If they lost this battle of wills now, even if they won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed a skilled politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with such provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Haha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso said, breaking the awkward silence.
“Of course. Haha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not pressing further. For him, making his point was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could afford to be tactful, Governor Termiso had no such luxury. For the Almisius Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was as good as a loss—Termiso knew this well. Moreover, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso uneasy. While he didn’t believe Sailin could defeat Luther, he didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb until the official competition began.
With this in mind, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he subtly shot a stern glance at Robert. As the planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to the Almisius Academy delegation, bypassing several levels of hierarchy. This alone was enough to show how much Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, Robert didn’t need Termiso’s hint; he was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had openly defied him and even humiliated him. Then, Juliette, who should have been on their side in the psychic arts department, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen’s side. And now, even the two women from the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample all over him!
Enough was enough!
Robert, his lungs nearly bursting with rage, grew angrier the more he thought about it. With a face flushed like a drunkard’s, he nodded emphatically to Luther, who was equally furious.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed the Almisius Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face widespread skepticism. However, having Luther challenge a new female student over this would be even more inappropriate.
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Although Luther was angry, his pride made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a newcomer who had just entered the academy.
But just as the Almisius Academy delegation was hesitating, Lasti from the Temis Academy suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin stepped forward coldly and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
It was well known that, unlike the combat energy studied by physical arts students, the psychic energy cultivated by psychic arts students was rarely used directly in confrontations.
Psychic energy’s role was more often seen in its integration with scientific disciplines, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, one of the most common and popular events in the empire involved psychic arts students piloting small warships in virtual simulations.
In fact, Governor Termiso had indeed considered whether there was something unusual about Karayan daring to personally bring the delegation from the Temis Academy to cause trouble. For instance… had a prodigy in psychic arts emerged at the Temis Academy, giving Karayan the confidence to overpower the Almicus Academy?
However, upon further reflection, Governor Termiso quickly dismissed this possibility. If the Temis Academy truly had such a genius, it would have shown some signs last year. Yet, during the previous encounter between the Almicus Academy and the Temis Academy, their psychic arts department had completely overshadowed the Temis Academy.
Moreover, the standout performer in that competition was none other than Luther, the current leader of the Almicus Academy. As for the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department, Governor Termiso couldn’t identify anyone with the potential to threaten Almicus Academy’s dominance.
Given the Temis Academy’s status, they certainly wouldn’t stoop to the disgraceful act of poaching talent from elsewhere just to win a competition. As for first-year students, Governor Termiso was even less concerned! If someone could possess the strength to surpass the graduates of Almicus Academy’s psychic arts department at the age of just entering the academy, their name would have already been the talk of the empire’s major academies!
Besides, Luther himself was already recognized as a once-in-thirty-years genius! How could anyone, at the age of just entering the academy, possibly surpass him? Could it be that girl behind Karayan, who looked as pale as a ghost? Governor Termiso glanced at Sailin, sneering inwardly.
Karayan keenly caught the fleeting smile on Termiso’s lips. He wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity to motivate his subordinates. Turning deliberately to Sailin and the female teacher, he said, “Hey! See that? Termiso looks down on you!”
“Stupid male chauvinism,” the female teacher scoffed, curling her lip. “Sailin will soon show them that the Almicus Academy is nothing but a bunch of frogs in a well.”
“Haha, exactly! That’s the spirit!” Karayan laughed heartily, “enthusiastically” approaching Governor Termiso.
As the two governors met, the guests turned their attention to them, and the previously noisy hall fell silent. At this moment, Zhang Wen’s gaze also fell on the focal point in the center of the hall. Unlike most guests, Zhang Wen was more interested in Sailin from the Temis Academy than in Luther or Juliet.
This girl with eyes like knives had left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. His intuition told him that the psychic arts department of the Almicus Academy was likely to mess things up this time.
Zhang Wen’s distracted demeanor greatly displeased Juliet. The student council president frowned, glaring at Zhang Wen and asking, “Mr. Zhang, were you even listening to what I just said?”
“Ah? What did you say?” Zhang Wen finally shifted his gaze from Sailin. “Huh? Why are you still here chatting with me? Don’t you want to join the excitement?” Seeing that it was Juliet speaking to him, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but respond in a teasing tone.
“No need. Luther is enough. This isn’t an official competition; we don’t need a full team. Besides, I was saying that Mr. Robert was indeed wrong earlier, but…” Juliet spoke earnestly but suddenly paused, then sighed in frustration, “Never mind. It’s not worth discussing. The Temis Academy won’t cause trouble for you again.”
“Exactly! They’re causing trouble for you instead. Didn’t expect that, did you?” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh at Juliet’s adorable sigh. He joked with her.
Hearing the sarcasm in Zhang Wen’s words, Juliet couldn’t help but raise her pretty face in defiance, replying with equal sarcasm, “Indeed, I didn’t expect it. Have they forgotten the lesson Luther taught them last year? Have they healed their wounds and forgotten the pain?”
“Ha! If that’s the case, want to make a bet?” Zhang Wen slowly shook his head, smiling as he raised the corner of his mouth. “I say your psychic arts department will be utterly defeated this time. Do you believe me?”
“What?” Zhang Wen’s words made Amelie’s jaw drop and Juliet jump as if pricked by a needle.
“Mr. Zhang!” Juliet called out heavily, her face flushing. “No matter what issues you have with Mr. Robert, you shouldn’t vent your frustrations by belittling the psychic arts department. Regardless, we’re all part of the same school now. We’re comrades! How is what you’re doing any different from Mr. Robert’s earlier actions?” Juliet stared at Zhang Wen with anger, speaking earnestly. It was clear that this angelic girl was genuinely upset this time.
“Oh? You think I’m belittling the psychic arts department just to get back at Robert? Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Zhang Wen said, lightly waving his fingers. “You underestimate me. I never do meaningless things.”
“You…” Zhang Wen’s explanation didn’t ease Juliet’s anger; instead, it made her even more furious. This was only natural. Anyone in Juliet’s position would likely take Zhang Wen’s arrogant explanation as mere sophistry.
“You’re betting that our psychic arts department will lose, right? Fine, I’ll take that bet! I say we’ll definitely win! Whoever is wrong will spend the night in the academy’s detention room after tonight’s banquet!” In her anger, Juliet accepted Zhang Wen’s bet without hesitation.
“I don’t mind. The one who loses won’t be me. But spending the night in detention? That’s not pleasant. Can you handle it?”
“That’s none of your concern. If there’s even a one in a million—no, a one in a billion—chance that I lose, you can personally lock me in the detention room. Would that satisfy you?” Juliet said coldly, then walked away, focusing intently on the scene unfolding in the center of the hall.
“Mr. Zhang, why did you make such a bet with Juliet? Do you really think the psychic arts department will lose?” After Juliet walked away, Amelie couldn’t help but lean in and whisper to Zhang Wen.
Zhang Wen smiled slightly, as if answering Amelie’s question or muttering to himself, “Heh! I hope the psychic arts department gives me a chance to lock myself in detention. Otherwise…”
As Zhang Wen and Amelie spoke, the two governors finally ended their formal pleasantries. They then stepped aside, leaving the center of the hall to the true stars of the evening—the delegations from the two academies.
“Ha, Ms. Lasti, I believe you’re familiar with our prodigy student, Luther Lace,” Robert said smugly, introducing the “contestant” from the Almicus Academy.
“Of course. Last year, when your academy visited Fila Planet, you left quite an impression,” Lasti—the female teacher closely associated with Sailin—replied, ignoring the sarcasm in Termiso’s words and turning to Luther.
“Thank you for the compliment. This year’s competition, I will continue to give my all,” Luther said with a self-assured smile, slightly bowing.
“Ha, very good,” Lasti replied with equal arrogance, suddenly turning to ask, “Sailin, this Luther is your opponent in this competition. How about it? Confident you can beat him?”
Lasti’s tone and demeanor were entirely natural, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Yet, as her words fell, the hall was once again struck dumb. Not only was Governor Termiso completely stunned, but even Amelie beside Zhang Wen looked bewildered.
Most of them hadn’t anticipated that this girl, who seemed barely old enough to enter the academy, would be the Temis Academy’s main contender in the psychic arts department! Even the few who had guessed this beforehand had assumed she was merely a future star being groomed by the Temis Academy, brought along this time for experience.
Except for Zhang Wen, no one in the hall could have imagined that the Temis Academy would send a girl of such a young age to challenge Almicus Academy’s prodigy, Luther. After all, Luther had already studied at Almicus Academy for three years, his strength nearly on par with the academy’s teachers! Most importantly, the female teacher Lasti spoke as if the girl had already won, completely disregarding Luther!
But the guests soon discovered that there was more to be surprised about. After hearing Lasti’s question, the girl named Sailin nodded just as naturally and replied, “Of course!”
Since entering Almicus Academy, no one had ever dared to look down on him like this! Especially not a girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen years old! This was intolerable for the proud Luther. Amid the guests’ astonishment, a flash of suppressed anger crossed Luther’s face.
At such an important banquet, Almicus Academy couldn’t let the opponent gain the upper hand like this! If they lost this battle of wills now, even if they won the subsequent competitions, they would have no face to propose Princess Sophia’s enrollment in the academy!
Governor Termiso was indeed an excellent politician. In a very short time, he understood his predicament. Faced with such provocation, his only choice was to see it through to the end.
“Ha. Governor Karayan, victory isn’t achieved by mere words,” Governor Termiso broke the awkward silence.
“Of course. Ha ha!” Governor Karayan laughed heartily, not pushing the guests’ nerves further. For him, stopping at this point was enough.
However, while Governor Karayan could afford to be flexible, Governor Termiso had no such luxury. For Almicus Academy’s psychic arts department, a draw was as good as a loss—Termiso knew this well. Additionally, Karayan’s attitude made Termiso somewhat uneasy. While he didn’t believe Sailin could surpass Luther, he also didn’t want to leave a ticking time bomb until the official competition began.
With this in mind, Governor Termiso finally made up his mind. While continuing to exchange pleasantries with Governor Karayan, he secretly shot a stern glance at Robert. As the planetary governor of the empire, Termiso had lowered himself to directly issue orders to Almicus Academy’s delegation, bypassing several levels of hierarchy. This alone was enough to show how much Governor Termiso valued Princess Sophia!
In fact, even without Governor Termiso’s hint, Robert was already on the verge of exploding. He felt that he had endured far too much humiliation tonight!
First, Zhang Wen, a teacher from the physical arts department, had openly defied him and even humiliated him. Then, Juliet, who should have been on their side in the psychic arts department, had disobeyed his orders and gone over to Zhang Wen’s side. And now, even the two women from the Temis Academy’s psychic arts department were trying to trample all over him!
Enough was enough!
Robert, his lungs nearly bursting with anger, grew more and more furious. With a face flushed like a drunkard’s, he nodded heavily to Luther, who was equally enraged.
Lienora frowned. Indeed, the opponent’s provocation had pushed Almicus Academy to the brink. If they swallowed this insult, the academy’s delegation would surely face questions from everyone. But was it really appropriate to have Luther challenge a new female student just because of this?
In fact, Lienora wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Although Luther was angry, his pride made him equally unwilling to lower himself to challenge a girl who was clearly a new student.
But just as the Almicus Academy delegation was hesitating, the Temis Academy’s female teacher Lasti suddenly let out a mocking snort. Then, Sailin coldly stepped forward and extended her hand to Luther.
“My name is Sailin. Pleased to meet you.”
Sailin’s action immediately sparked a wave of murmurs among the guests.
As everyone knew, unlike the combat energy studied by the physical arts students, the psychic energy studied by the psychic arts students was, in most cases, not a force directly used for confrontation.
The role of psychic energy was more often seen in its combination with the sciences, operating and controlling various complex machinery. In psychic arts competitions, the focus was usually on the ability to control machinery. For example, the most common and popular event in the empire was having psychic arts students engage in battles using small warships on simulators.
However, although mental arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mental artist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental energy. The most skilled mental artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
So, has she already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a great opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Sailin to attack with mental energy. However, soon after Luther launched his own assault, he quickly realized that Sailin’s mental energy was almost as strong as his own, effectively blocking his attack.
The confrontation between two mental artists who had surpassed the seventh tier directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already surpassed the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to startle Sailin, her previously cold expression briefly showing surprise. But this surprise only flashed before everyone’s eyes before disappearing—not because Sailin hid her shock or was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that turned dark was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, who had initiated the assault. As for Luther, who had just launched the sneak attack, he now lay on the ground, pale-faced. Sailin, on the other hand, stood coldly in her original position, seemingly unharmed.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell silent once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” finally, Captain Remy of the Eagle Guard was the first to applaud with a smile. “I never expected the Thamis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remy, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Thamis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was almost as dark as storm clouds, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to chatter, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen retorted calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly much stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie also urgently voiced her confusion.
“Haha,” looking at the two girls’ eager expressions, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but smile and shake his head. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted even more defiantly. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using power simply means exerting all your strength. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlette change their expressions. Especially Carlette. Since meeting Zhang Wen, Carlette had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor at the fifth or sixth tier of physical arts. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in physical arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst of power was brief, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Releasing power like this is something anyone can do. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting this way might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand at the girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then forgive my impertinence, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual relationship with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual relationship? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remy couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mind artist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Seline, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this imply that she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Seline’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really surpass his by such a margin?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Seline. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Seline to attack with her mind energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his own attack, he quickly realized that Seline’s mind energy was almost as strong as his own, effectively blocking his assault.
The confrontation between two mind artists who had broken through the seventh tier directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mind energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has broken through the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already surpassed the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Seline almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Rasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Seline. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Rasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Seline.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to startle Seline, her previously cold expression briefly showing surprise. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Seline suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and dark halves.
However, the side that turned dark was not Seline, who was under attack, but Luther, who had initiated the assault. As for Luther, who had just launched the sneak attack, he now lay on the ground, pale-faced. Seline, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by the girl in a surprise attack?!
The hall fell into silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” finally, Captain Remy of the Eagle Guard was the first to applaud with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remy, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Themis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was almost as dark as storm clouds, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they quickly began to chatter, and the hall soon descended into unprecedented noise.
“How… how is this possible?” Carlet, recovering from her shock, couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly much stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but chuckle as he looked at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, growing more defiant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your strength at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed caused both Amelie and Carlet to pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most at the fifth or sixth tier of physical arts. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in physical arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it thoroughly shocked the two girls.
“…Releasing all your strength like this is something anyone can do. But in a fight, it’s just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their strength, they lose control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting this way might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remy couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mental artist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental energy. The most skilled mental artists can even control others’ thoughts with their mental arts. In other words, Selene, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Selene’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand to Selene. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Selene to attack with her mental energy. However, as soon as Luther launched his own attack, he quickly realized that Selene’s mental energy was almost as strong as his, effectively blocking his assault.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mental artists directly affected the mental-energy-powered devices in the hall. As their mental energy was released, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Selene almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Selene. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Selene.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Selene off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But the surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Selene had suppressed it or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that very moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Selene, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had launched the assault. Luther, who had just attacked Selene, now lay on the ground, his face pale. Selene, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, completely unfazed.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier, was instantly defeated by the girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once again, and even after the lights came back on, no one uttered a word.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy sent to evaluate the situation, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Temis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water out of, but he at least maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to murmur among themselves, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“How… how is this possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlet couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it hard to believe! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly much stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amilis asked anxiously, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head as he looked at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s strength was greater than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength at once makes you powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Strength that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your power in one go…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amilis and Carlet pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, Carlet had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst of power lasted only a moment, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Anyone can release their power like that. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they lose control over it. What good is uncontrolled power? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be the same as your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is quite surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile deepened.
“Oh? Then forgive my impertinence, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified officer’s flustered expression made Remiu burst into laughter.
However, although mental techniques are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mentalist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche with their mental powers. The most skilled mentalists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
So, has she already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a great opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Sailin to attack with her mental energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Sailin had blocked his attack with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two mentalists who had surpassed the seventh tier directly affected the mental-energy-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already surpassed the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast his face in a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to startle Sailin, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin had suppressed her shock or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that very moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Sailin, now lay on the ground, his face pale. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, seemingly unaffected.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell silent once again, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Thamis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remiu,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Thamis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was dark enough to wring water from, but he at least maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. The other guests, however, were already buzzing with conversation. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen calmly retorted.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength makes you powerful. If you think that, you’re completely wrong! Strength that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” Zhang Wen suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlette pale. Especially Carlette. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most at the fifth or sixth tier of physical techniques. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in physical training classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they lose control over it. What good is uncontrolled power? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the girls.
Zhang Wen’s authoritative statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is quite the surprise. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mind artist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche with their mind arts. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. In other words, Selene, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Though he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almysis Academy, at Selene’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much greater than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand to Selene. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Selene to attack with her mind energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his own assault, he quickly realized that Selene had blocked his attack with mind energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mind artists directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mind energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh in his heart. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almysis Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Selene almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Selene. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly, frantic like an ant on a hot stove, as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Selene.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Selene off guard, and a flicker of surprise appeared on her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Selene suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out in that moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that turned dark was not Selene, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Selene, now lay on the ground, his face pale. Selene, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once again, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Thamis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the special envoy sent by the emperor himself, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Thamis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water out, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to murmur among themselves, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“How… how is this possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlet couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager gazes. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your strength at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlet pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier combat artist. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in combat classes! Though Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just idiotic. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“It’s just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even more pronounced.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a conversation with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified officer’s flustered expression made Remiu burst into laughter.
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mind artist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche with their mind arts. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailing, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this imply that she has already surpassed the seventh tier of mind arts at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailing’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent truly be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailing. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Sailing to attack with her mind energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Sailing was blocking his attack with mind energy almost as powerful as his own.
The confrontation between two mind artists who had surpassed the seventh tier directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mind energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has surpassed the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailing almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Rasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailing. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Rasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Sailing.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailing off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailing had suppressed her shock or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that very moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that turned dark was not Sailing, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. As for Luther, who had just launched his sneak attack on Sailing, he now lay on the ground, his face pale. Sailing, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original spot, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl while launching a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once again, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remy was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remy, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy was the special envoy sent by the emperor himself to evaluate the academy. With his praise, it could be said that Princess Sophia was halfway into the Temis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water out of, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to murmur among themselves. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“This… how is this possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlet couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly much stronger than hers, but… how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager gazes. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using power means simply exerting all your strength. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed caused both Amelie and Carlet to pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, Carlet had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most at the fifth or sixth tier of physical arts. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in physical arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a brief moment, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they relinquish control over it. What use is power without control? Fighting this way might work against weaker opponents, but against someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the bustling crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, this isn’t nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile deepened.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard this from? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified officer’s flustered expression made Remy burst into laughter.
However, although psychic arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a psychic artist breaks through to the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their psychic abilities. The most skilled psychic artists can even control others’ thoughts with their powers. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, is likely choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this imply that she has already broken through to the seventh tier of psychic arts at her current age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this young girl’s talent really surpass his by such a margin?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with psychic energy. However, soon after, when Luther initiated his own assault, he quickly realized that Sailin was blocking his attack with psychic energy that was almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier psychic masters directly affected the psychic-powered devices in the hall. As they released their psychic energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through to the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s psychic energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailin off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But the surprise was fleeting—not because Sailin suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out in that instant! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Sailin, now lay on the ground, his face pale. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by the girl even when he launched a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remiu,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu was an envoy specially sent by the emperor to evaluate the situation, and with his praise, it could be said that Princess Sophia was halfway into the Themis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was dark enough to wring water from, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to chatter among themselves. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“How… how is this possible?” After recovering from her shock, Caliet still couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it hard to believe! Senior Luther’s psychic energy was clearly much stronger than hers, so… how could the result be like this?” Amilis asked urgently, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Caliet retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s psychic energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash psychic energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength when exerting power means you’re strong. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that can’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled both his combat energy and the Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amilis and Caliet pale. Especially Caliet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, Caliet had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor at the fifth or sixth tier of physical arts at most. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in physical arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst of power was brief, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be the same as your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s conclusive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful female officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even more pronounced.
“Oh? Then forgive my boldness, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified female officer’s flustered expression made Remiu burst into laughter.
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. After breaking through the seventh tier of mind arts, a practitioner can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this imply that she has already surpassed the seventh tier of mind arts at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy, so intense it almost suffocated him, surged within his heart.
Though he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent truly be so much greater than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with her mind energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Sailin’s mind energy was almost as strong as his own, effectively blocking his attack.
The confrontation between two mind artists who had surpassed the seventh tier directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As their energies were released, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has surpassed the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch in helpless frustration as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailin off guard, her usually cold expression flickering with surprise. But that surprise was fleeting—not because Sailin suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that plunged into darkness was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Sailin, now lay pale-faced on the ground. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” finally, Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to applaud with a smile. “I never expected the Thamis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Thamis Academy.
Though Governor Temiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water from, he at least maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. The other guests, however, were already buzzing with conversation. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette still couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen calmly countered.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly much stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amelie asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager gazes. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using power means simply exerting all your strength. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlette pale. Especially Carlette. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in martial arts classes! Though Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a brief moment, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Releasing energy like this is something anyone can do. But in a fight, it’s just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their energy, they relinquish control over it. What power can uncontrolled energy have? Fighting this way might work against weaker opponents, but against someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the bustling crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, this isn’t nonsense. In fact, it’s not the first time I’ve heard someone say this,” Remiu’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then forgive my impertinence, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Commander.”
“Ah! The Grand Commander?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although psychic techniques are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a psychic practitioner surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind using psychic energy. The most skilled psychics can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already surpassed the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with psychic energy. However, soon after Luther launched his own attack, he quickly realized that Sailin had blocked it with psychic energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier psychic masters directly affected the psychic-powered devices in the hall. As they released their psychic energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has surpassed the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full power. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s psychic energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailin off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But the surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin had suppressed it or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the aggressor. Luther, who had just launched the sneak attack, now lay on the ground, his face pale. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell silent once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remy of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remy,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy was a special envoy sent by the emperor himself, and with his praise, it could be said that Princess Sophia was halfway into the Themis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was as dark as storm clouds, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. The other guests, however, began to chatter among themselves, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlet couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it hard to believe! Luther’s psychic energy was clearly much stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amelie asked with equal urgency.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, even more defiant. “I could clearly feel that Luther’s psychic energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash psychic energy even more oppressive than your senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using power means just exerting all your strength. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlet pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most at the fifth or sixth tier of physical combat. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in combat classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they lose control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting this way might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the girls.
Zhang Wen’s conclusive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain?”
“Exactly,” Remy couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although psychic arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a psychic artist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their psychic abilities. The most skilled psychic artists can even control others’ thoughts with their powers. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this imply that she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Though he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really surpass his by such a margin?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Sailin to attack with her psychic energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Sailin was blocking his attack with psychic energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier psychic masters directly affected the psychic-powered devices in the hall. As they released their psychic energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full power. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s psychic energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to take Sailin by surprise, and a look of astonishment briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin suppressed her shock or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that turned dark was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. As for Luther, who had just launched his sneak attack on Sailin, he now lay on the ground, his face pale. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” finally, Captain Remy of the Eagle Guard was the first to applaud with a smile. “I never expected the Thamis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remy, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy was the special envoy sent by the Emperor himself to observe, and with his praise, it could be said that Princess Sophia was halfway into the Thamis Academy.
Though Governor Temiso’s face was almost as dark as storm clouds, he at least maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to murmur among themselves. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“How… how is this possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlet couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s psychic energy was clearly much stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie also urgently voiced her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but chuckle as he looked at the two girls’ anxious expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power is stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted even more defiantly. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s psychic energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could also unleash psychic energy more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using power means just exerting all your strength. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Exploding with power all at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlet change their expressions. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, Carlet had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor at the fifth tier of physical arts, at most the sixth tier. But the combat energy Zhang Wen unleashed in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in physical arts classes! Though Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a brief moment, it thoroughly shocked the two girls.
“…Exploding with power like this, anyone can do it. But in a fight, doing this is just idiotic. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone explodes with all their power, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief burst of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, this isn’t nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even more pronounced.
“Oh? Then forgive my impertinence, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remy couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mental artist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental powers. The most skilled mental artists can even control others’ thoughts. In other words, Selene, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Selene’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought rose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand as well. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Selene to attack with her mental energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Selene was blocking his attack with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mental artists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Selene almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Selene. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch in helpless frustration as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Selene.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Selene off guard, and a flicker of surprise appeared on her otherwise cold expression. But that surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Selene had suppressed it or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Selene, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Selene, now lay on the ground, his face pale. Selene, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier, was instantly defeated by the girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Ha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remy was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remy,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy was an envoy specially sent by the emperor, and with his praise, it could be said that Princess Sophia was halfway into the Themis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water from, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to murmur among themselves. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette still couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked with equal urgency.
“Ha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager gazes. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using power simply means exerting all your strength. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlette pale. Especially Carlette. Since meeting Zhang Wen, Carlette had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting this way might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Ha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then forgive my impertinence, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified officer’s flustered expression made Remy burst into laughter.
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mind artist breaks through to the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche with their mind arts. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. In other words, Seline, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through to the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the slender hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Though he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Seline’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Seline. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Seline to attack with her mind energy. However, soon after Luther launched his own offensive, he quickly realized that Seline’s mind energy was almost as strong as his own, effectively blocking his attack.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mind artists directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mind energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has broken through to the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full power. Even among the teachers at Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already surpassed the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Seline almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Rasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Seline. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Rasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Seline.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Seline off guard, her previously indifferent expression showing a flicker of surprise. But that surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Seline suppressed it or because Luther had defeated her, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out in that moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that turned dark was not the one under attack—Seline—but the one who had initiated the attack: Luther. As for Luther, who had just launched his sneak attack on Seline, he now lay on the ground, his face pale. Seline, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” finally, Captain Remy of the Eagle Guard was the first to applaud with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remy, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy, as the emperor’s specially appointed envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Themis Academy.
Though Governor Temiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water from, he at least maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to chatter, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlet still couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen calmly retorted.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly much stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie also anxiously voiced her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but chuckle at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted even more defiantly. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl had wanted to, she could have unleashed mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlet pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor at the fifth or maybe sixth tier of physical arts. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in physical arts classes! Though Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just plain foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even more pronounced.
“Oh? Then forgive my curiosity, but who was the first person you heard this from? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a conversation with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remy couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
The hall fell silent once again. Not a single person uttered a word, even after all the lights had returned.
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mind artist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche with their mind arts. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. In other words, Seline, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already surpassed the seventh tier of mind arts at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Seline’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent truly be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity! Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand to Seline. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Seline to attack with her mind energy. However, when Luther initiated his own assault, he quickly realized that Seline’s mind energy was almost as strong as his, effectively blocking his attack.
The confrontation between these two seventh-tier mind artists directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mind energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has surpassed the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Seline almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Seline. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Seline.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Seline off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But that surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Seline suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Seline, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Seline, now lay on the ground, his face pale. Seline, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, no one uttered a word.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remiu,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu was an envoy specially sent by the emperor to evaluate the academy, and with his praise, it was clear that Princess Sophia was halfway into Themis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was almost dark enough to squeeze out water, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they quickly began to chatter, and the hall soon descended into unprecedented noise.
“How… how is this possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly much stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked with equal urgency.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager gazes. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s strength was greater than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength in one go makes you powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your strength at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlette pale. Especially Carlette. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their strength like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their strength, they lose control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting this way might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified female officer’s flustered expression made Remiu burst into laughter.
However, although mental techniques are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mentalist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind. The most skilled mentalists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Is it possible that she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Though he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent truly surpass his by such a margin?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with mental energy. However, soon after Luther launched his own assault, he quickly realized that Sailin had blocked his attack with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mentalists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has broken through the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already surpassed the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Rasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Rasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailin off guard, and a flicker of surprise appeared on her otherwise cold expression. But that surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the aggressor. Luther, who had just launched the sneak attack, now lay on the ground, pale-faced. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, an eighth-tier mentalist… had been instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to Themis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was as dark as storm clouds, but he at least maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. The other guests, however, had already begun to murmur, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“This… this can’t be possible?” Carlet, still in shock, couldn’t help but mutter to herself in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t accept that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen calmly retorted.
“I also find it unbelievable! Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amelie asked with equal urgency.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength makes you powerful. If you believe that, you’re completely wrong! Strength that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” Zhang Wen suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlet pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in martial arts classes! Though Zhang Wen’s burst of power lasted only a moment, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their power like that. But in combat, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in battle, the strength we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they lose control over it. What good is strength without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but against someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s decisive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the bustling crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard this from? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a conversation with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mental artist breaks through to the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental power. The most skilled mental artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through to the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a great opportunity! Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with her mental energy. However, soon after, when Luther launched his own attack, he quickly realized that Sailin had blocked his assault with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mental artists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through to the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailin off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But the surprise was fleeting—not because Sailin suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out in that instant! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that turned dark was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had launched the assault. Luther, who had just attacked Sailin, now lay pale-faced on the ground. Sailin, on the other hand, stood coldly in her original spot, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell silent once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu was a special envoy sent by the Emperor himself, and with his praise, it could be said that Princess Sophia was halfway into the Temis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water out, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to murmur among themselves, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Caliet still couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen retorted calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly much stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amilis asked urgently, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager gazes. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Caliet retorted, even more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could also unleash mental energy more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amilis and Caliet pale. Especially Caliet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, Caliet had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst of power was brief, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s decisive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“It’s just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then forgive my impertinence, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although psychic arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a psychic artist breaks through to the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with psychic energy. The most skilled psychic artists can even control others’ thoughts. In other words, Selene, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through to the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almythius Academy, at Selene’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand to Selene. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Selene to attack with psychic energy. However, as soon as Luther launched his own assault, he quickly realized that Selene’s psychic energy was almost as strong as his own, effectively blocking his attack.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier psychic masters directly affected the psychic-powered devices in the hall. As their psychic energies were released, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through to the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh in his heart. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almythius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Selene almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Selene. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s psychic energy surged toward Selene.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Selene off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But that surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Selene suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that very moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Selene, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched his sneak attack on Selene, now lay on the ground, his face pale. Selene, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier, was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once again, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remy of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Thymis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly impressive.”
“Captain Remy, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy’s identity as the emperor’s special envoy made his praise particularly significant. With his words, Princess Sophia was halfway into the Thymis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was dark enough to wring water from, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. The other guests, however, were already buzzing with conversation, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlet couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s psychic energy was clearly much stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amelie asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, growing more defiant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s psychic energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash psychic energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using power means simply exerting all your strength. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled both his combat energy and the Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlet pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, Carlet had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Anyone can release their energy like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they give up control over it. What good is uncontrolled power? Fighting this way might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then forgive my boldness, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified female officer’s flustered expression made Remy burst into laughter.
However, although mental techniques are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mentalist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental powers. The most skilled mentalists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with her mental energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his own assault, he quickly realized that Sailin was blocking his attack with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mentalists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh in his heart. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full power. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch in helpless frustration as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailin off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But the surprise was fleeting—not because Sailin suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that very moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched his sneak attack on Sailin, now lay pale-faced on the ground. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier, was instantly defeated by the girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remiu,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Temis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was dark enough to wring water from, but he at least maintained his composure, not losing his temper on the spot. The other guests, however, were already buzzing with conversation, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette still couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amelie asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using power means simply exerting all your strength. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled both his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed caused both Amelie and Carlette to pale. Especially Carlette. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst of energy lasted only a moment, it left both girls thoroughly shaken.
“…Anyone can release their energy like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their energy, they give up control over it. What good is uncontrolled power? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving a hand at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is quite the surprise. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“It’s just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could they have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the comedian. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified officer’s flustered expression made Remiu burst into laughter.
However, although mental techniques are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mentalist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind using mental techniques. The most skilled mentalists can even control others’ thoughts. In other words, Selene, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the slender hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almythius Academy, at Selene’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Selene. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Selene to attack with mental energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Selene’s mental energy was almost as strong as his own, effectively blocking his attack.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mentalists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almythius Academy, few knew that Luther had already surpassed the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Selene almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Selene. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Selene.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Selene off guard, and a flicker of surprise appeared on her otherwise cold expression. However, this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Selene suppressed her shock or because Luther had defeated her, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out in that moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
Yet, the side that fell into darkness was not Selene, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched his sneak attack on Selene, now lay pale-faced on the ground. Selene, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Themis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was as dark as storm clouds, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they quickly began to chatter, and the hall soon descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t accept that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen calmly retorted.
“I also find it hard to believe! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amelie asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted, growing more defiant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Strength that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed caused both Amelie and Carlette to pale. Especially Carlette. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it left both girls thoroughly shaken.
“…Releasing all your energy like this is something anyone can do. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the strength we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their energy, they lose control over it. What power can uncontrolled energy have? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful female officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, this isn’t nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then forgive my curiosity, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Commander.”
“Ah! The Grand Commander?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified female officer’s flustered expression made Remiu burst into laughter.
However, although mental arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mental artist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental energy. The most skilled mental artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this imply that she has already surpassed the seventh tier of mental arts at her young age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Following this, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Though he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent truly be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first met, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with mental energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Sailin blocked his attack with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mental artists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has surpassed the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to startle Sailin, her previously cold expression briefly showing surprise. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and dark halves.
However, the side that turned dark was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the attacker. Luther, who had just launched the sneak attack, now lay pale-faced on the ground. Sailin, on the other hand, stood coldly in her original position, seemingly unaffected.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier, was instantly defeated by the girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell silent once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remy of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remy, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable. Remy, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to Themis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was dark enough to wring water from, but he maintained his composure, not losing his temper on the spot. The other guests quickly began to chatter, and the hall soon descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” Carlet, recovering from her shock, couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen calmly retorted.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked with equal urgency.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted even more defiantly. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlet pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst was brief, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Anyone can release their energy like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their energy, they lose control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but against someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming his brief burst of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand dismissively at the girls.
Zhang Wen’s conclusive statement left the two girls deep in thought. In a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could they have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the comedian. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Indeed,” Remy couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental techniques are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mentalist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche with their mental abilities. The most skilled mentalists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Is it possible that she has already surpassed the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating.
Though he is hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this young girl’s talent truly surpass his by such a margin?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Sailin to attack with her mental energy. However, as soon as Luther launched his own assault, he quickly realized that Sailin’s mental energy was almost as strong as his own, effectively blocking his attack.
The confrontation between these two seventh-tier mentalists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She has indeed surpassed the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full power. Even among the teachers at Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast his face in a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailin off guard, and a flicker of surprise appeared on her otherwise cold expression. But that surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Sailin, now lay on the ground, his face pale. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remiu,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the special envoy sent by the emperor himself, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Temis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was as dark as a storm cloud, but he maintained his composure, refraining from an outburst. The other guests, however, had already begun to murmur, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t accept that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I can’t believe it either! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amilis asked with equal urgency.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength makes you powerful. If you believe that, you’re gravely mistaken! Power that doesn’t hit its target is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” Zhang Wen suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the overwhelming pressure Zhang Wen emitted caused both Amilis and Carlette to pale. Especially Carlette. Until now, she had thought Zhang Wen was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he unleashed in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in martial arts classes! Though Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their energy like that. But in a fight, doing so is sheer idiocy. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their energy, they relinquish control over it. What good is uncontrolled power? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but against someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be the same as your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving a hand at the girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the bustling crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating discussion. The balance of power, indeed…”
“It’s just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a conversation with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified officer’s flustered expression made Remiu burst into laughter.
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mind artist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche with their mind arts. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at such a young age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Although he is hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a great opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Sailin to attack with her mind energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Sailin was blocking his attack with mind energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mind artists directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mind energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already surpassed the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailin off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin had suppressed her shock or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and dark halves.
However, the side that turned dark was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the aggressor. As for Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Sailin, he now lay on the ground, pale-faced. Sailin, on the other hand, stood coldly in her original position, seemingly unaffected.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by the girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell silent once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Thamis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remiu,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s specially appointed envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Thamis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water from, but he at least maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to chatter, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette still couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen retorted calmly.
“I also find it hard to believe! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly much stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s strength was greater than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Strength that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlette pale. Especially Carlette. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it thoroughly shocked the two girls.
“…Releasing power like this is something anyone can do. But in a fight, doing this is just idiotic. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t planted the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, this isn’t nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard this from? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
“The balance of power?”
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mind artist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche with their mind arts. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this imply that she has already surpassed the seventh tier of mind arts at her current age? Looking at the slender hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Though he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this young girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with her mind energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Sailin was blocking his attack with mind energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two mind artists who had surpassed the seventh tier directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mind energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has surpassed the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadow on his face, making it appear as a blurry, devilish silhouette.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to startle Sailin, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise was fleeting—not because Sailin hid her shock or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that very moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that turned dark was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. As for Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Sailin, he now lay on the ground, pale-faced. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” finally, Eagle Guard Captain Remiu was the first to applaud with a smile. “I never expected the Thamis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given his praise, which meant that Princess Sophia was halfway into the Thamis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was almost as dark as storm clouds, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to chatter. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“How… how is this possible?” After recovering from her shock, Calit couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen calmly retorted.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly much stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amilis asked anxiously, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh as he looked at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Calit retorted, increasingly indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength makes you powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amilis and Calit pale. Especially Calit. Since meeting Zhang Wen, Calit had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most at the fifth or sixth tier of physical arts. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in physical arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a brief moment, it thoroughly shocked the two girls.
“…Releasing all your energy like this is something anyone can do. But in a fight, doing so is just plain foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their energy, they lose control over it. What power can uncontrolled energy have? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, huh…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then forgive my impertinence, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental techniques are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mentalist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental powers. The most skilled mentalists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this imply that she has already surpassed the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Following that, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first met, he didn’t sense any intent from Sailin to attack with her mental energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Sailin was blocking his attack with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mentalists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She has indeed surpassed the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged towards Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to startle Sailin, her previously indifferent face showing a hint of surprise. But this surprise was fleeting—not because Sailin hid her shock or was knocked down by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and dark halves.
However, the side that turned dark was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the attacker. Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Sailin, now lay pale on the ground. Sailin, on the other hand, stood coldly in her original spot, seemingly unaffected.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier, was instantly defeated by the girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell silent once more, and even after the lights came back on, no one uttered a word.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence with applause. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remiu,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu was the emperor’s special envoy, and with his praise, it was as if Princess Sophia had one foot already in the Temis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was as dark as storm clouds, but he maintained his composure, not losing his temper on the spot. The other guests began to chatter, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“How… how is this possible?” Carlet, recovering from her shock, couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen retorted calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amilis asked urgently, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager gazes. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s strength was greater than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, increasingly indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wished, she could unleash mental energy more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do so. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength makes you powerful. If you think that, you’re gravely mistaken! Strength that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amilis and Carlet pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst was brief, it left both girls stunned.
“…Releasing energy like this is something anyone can do. But in a fight, it’s just foolish. Remember, in combat, the strength we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their energy, they relinquish control over it. What power does uncontrolled energy have? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but against someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand at the girls.
Zhang Wen’s declarative speech left the two girls deep in thought. In a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is quite surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this interesting conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard such words,” Remiu’s smile deepened.
“Oh? Then forgive my impertinence, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could they have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the comedian. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Chief Commander.”
“Ah! The Chief Commander?”
“Indeed,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mental artist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental energy. The most skilled mental artists can even control others’ thoughts. In other words, Selene, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Selene’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand to Selene. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Selene to attack with her mental energy. However, when Luther launched his own assault, he quickly realized that Selene was blocking his attack with mental energy that was almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mental artists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
So, she really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh. Without hesitation, he unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Selene almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Selene. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Selene.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Selene off guard, and a flicker of surprise appeared on her otherwise cold expression. But that surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Selene had suppressed it or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Selene, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had launched the assault. Luther, who had just attacked Selene, now lay pale-faced on the ground, while Selene stood coldly in her original spot, completely unharmed.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier, had been instantly defeated by the girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into silence once again, and even after the lights came back on, no one uttered a word.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Thamis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remiu,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically guaranteed Princess Sophia’s admission to the Thamis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was dark enough to wring water from, but he maintained his composure, not letting his anger show. The other guests, however, were already buzzing with conversation, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“How… how is this possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amelie asked with equal urgency.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlette pale. Especially Carlette, who had always thought Zhang Wen was just a mediocre instructor at the fifth or sixth tier of physical arts. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in physical arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their energy like that. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their energy, they lose control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but against someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is quite the surprise. If we hadn’t planted the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could they have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the comedian. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental techniques are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mentalist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental powers. The most skilled mentalists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Is it possible that she has already surpassed the seventh tier at such a young age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Soon after, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Although he is hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this young girl’s talent truly surpass his by such a margin?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Sailin to attack with her mental energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his own assault, he quickly realized that Sailin had blocked his attack with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between these two seventh-tier mentalists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has surpassed the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailin off guard, and a flicker of surprise appeared on her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched a sneak attack on Sailin, now lay pale-faced on the ground. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” finally, Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to applaud with a smile. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Temis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was as dark as storm clouds, but he maintained his composure, refraining from an outburst. The other guests, however, began to chatter excitedly, and the hall soon descended into unprecedented noise.
“How… how is this possible?” After recovering from her shock, Caliet couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen calmly retorted.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amilis asked with equal urgency.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Caliet retorted, growing more defiant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Unleashing all your strength at once…” Zhang Wen suddenly activated his combat energy and the Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed caused both Amilis and Caliet to pale. Especially Caliet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he unleashed in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst of power lasted only a moment, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can unleash their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to maximize our potential. Once someone unleashes all their power, they lose control over it. What good is uncontrolled power? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s decisive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“It’s just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard this from? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a conversation with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental techniques are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mentalist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental energy. The most skilled mentalists can even control others’ thoughts. In other words, Selene, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Soon after, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Selene’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent truly surpass his by such a margin?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Selene. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Selene to attack with mental energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Selene’s mental energy was almost as strong as his own, effectively blocking his attack.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mentalists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has broken through the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already surpassed the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Selene almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Rasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Selene. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Rasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Selene.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to startle Selene, her previously cold expression briefly showing surprise. But this expression of shock vanished almost instantly—not because Selene hid her surprise or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and dark halves.
However, the side that turned dark was not Selene, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who initiated the assault. As for Luther, who had just launched his sneak attack, he now lay on the ground, his face pale. Selene, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” finally, Captain Remy of the Eagle Guard was the first to applaud with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remy, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Themis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water out, but at least he maintained his composure, not losing his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to murmur among themselves. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette still couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen calmly retorted.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie also urgently voiced her confusion.
“Haha,” looking at the two girls’ eager expressions, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted even more defiantly. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could also unleash mental energy more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Exploding with all your strength like this…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlette change their expressions. Especially Carlette. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy Zhang Wen unleashed in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Anyone can explode with power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone explodes with all their power, they lose control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remy couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mental artist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental energy. The most skilled mental artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, also extending his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Sailin to attack with her mental energy. However, soon after Luther launched his own assault, he quickly realized that Sailin was blocking his attack with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mental artists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast his face in a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to take Sailin by surprise, her previously cold expression briefly showing a flicker of astonishment. But that look of surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin had suppressed her shock or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out in that very moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had launched the assault. As for Luther, who had just launched his sneak attack on Sailin, he now lay on the ground, his face pale. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl even when he initiated the sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to Themis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water out of, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to murmur among themselves, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“This… this can’t be possible?” Carlet, still recovering from the shock, couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength in one go makes you powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled both his combat energy and the Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed caused both Amelie and Carlet to pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in her martial arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst of energy lasted only a brief moment, it left both girls thoroughly shaken.
“…Releasing energy like this is something anyone can do. But in a fight, doing so is just plain foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. If someone releases all their energy at once, they’re essentially giving up control over it. What good is uncontrolled power? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t planted the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even more pronounced.
“Oh? Then forgive my impertinence, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mind artist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche with their mind arts. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
So, has she already broken through the seventh tier of mind arts at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a great opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with her mind energy. However, soon after Luther launched his own attack, he quickly realized that Sailin was blocking his assault with mind energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two mind artists who had surpassed the seventh tier directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mind energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already surpassed the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast his face in a shadow as indistinct as a devil’s.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to startle Sailin, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin suppressed it or because she was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that very moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and dark halves.
However, the side that turned dark was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the aggressor. As for Luther, who had just launched the sneak attack on Sailin, he now lay on the ground, pale-faced. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original spot, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” finally, Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Themis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Themis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water out, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to murmur among themselves. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… how is this possible?” After recovering from her shock, Calit still couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could the result be like this?” Amilis asked with equal urgency, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager gazes. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Calit retorted, growing more defiant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using power means just exerting all your strength. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the opponent is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amilis and Calit pale. Especially Calit. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most at the fifth or sixth tier of physical arts. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in physical arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting this way might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“It’s just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mental artist breaks through the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental powers. The most skilled mental artists can even control others’ thoughts. In other words, Seline, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Seline’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a great opportunity! Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Seline. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention of a mental attack from Seline. However, soon after Luther launched his own attack, he quickly realized that Seline was blocking his assault with mental power almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mental artists directly affected the mental-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Seline almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Rasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Seline. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Rasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Seline.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to startle Seline, her previously cold expression showing a hint of surprise. But this surprise only flashed before everyone’s eyes before disappearing—not because Seline had suppressed her shock or been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out at that moment! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that turned dark was not Seline, who was under attack, but Luther, the attacker. As for Luther, who had just launched the sneak attack, he now lay on the ground, his face pale. Seline, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… was instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell silent once again, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was now unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Temis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water out, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to murmur among themselves. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented chaos.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlette couldn’t help but whisper in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it hard to believe! Senior Luther’s mental power was clearly stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked urgently, voicing her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlette retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental power was more oppressive than hers!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental power even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed caused both Amelie and Carlette to pale. Especially Carlette. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor at the fifth or sixth tier of physical arts. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in her physical arts classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their power, they lose control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re truly a master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified female officer’s flustered expression made Remiu burst into laughter.
However, although mental arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mental artist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental powers. The most skilled mental artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Selene, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this imply that she has already surpassed the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy, so intense it nearly took his breath away, surged within him.
Though he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Selene’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent truly surpass his by such a margin?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther said with a smile, extending his hand to Selene. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intent from Selene to attack with her mental energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Selene was blocking his attack with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two mental artists who had surpassed the seventh tier directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has surpassed the seventh tier, Luther thought with a cold laugh. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Selene almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Selene. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch in anxious helplessness as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Selene.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Selene off guard, and a flicker of surprise appeared on her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Selene had suppressed her shock or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because the lights in half of the governor’s mansion suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that plunged into darkness was not Selene, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched his sneak attack on Selene, now lay pale-faced on the ground. Selene, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, completely unfazed.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier, was instantly defeated by the girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Ha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remy of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remy, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Temis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was as dark as storm clouds, but he maintained his composure, refraining from an outburst. The other guests, however, quickly began to chatter, and the hall soon descended into unprecedented noise.
“How… how is this possible?” Carlet, still in shock, couldn’t help but mutter to herself in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t accept that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen calmly retorted.
“I find it hard to believe too! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amelie also voiced her confusion.
“Ha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, growing more defiant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength makes you powerful. If you believe that, you’re sorely mistaken! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the overwhelming pressure Zhang Wen unleashed caused both Amelie and Carlet to pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in martial arts classes! Though Zhang Wen’s burst lasted only a moment, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their energy like that. But in a fight, that’s just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their energy, they lose control over it. What good is uncontrolled power? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but against someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Ha, this instructor Zhang Wen is quite the surprise. If we hadn’t planted the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then forgive my curiosity, who was the first person you heard say this? Could they have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the master of cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Indeed,” Remy couldn’t help but laugh at the usually composed officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mental techniques are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mentalist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind with their mental abilities. The most skilled mentalists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this mean she has already broken through the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a great opportunity! Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with her mental energy. However, soon after, when Luther launched his own attack, he quickly realized that Sailin had blocked his assault with mental energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mentalists directly affected the mental energy devices in the hall. As they released their mental energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already surpassed the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mental energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailin off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailin had suppressed it or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and darkness.
However, the side that fell into darkness was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the one who had initiated the assault. Luther, who had just launched his sneak attack on Sailin, now lay on the ground, his face pale. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… had been instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell into complete silence once more, and even after the lights came back on, no one uttered a word.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remy was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remy, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remy, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Temis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was as dark as storm clouds, but he at least maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. The other guests, however, were already buzzing with conversation. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” Carlet muttered to herself in disbelief, still unable to accept that Luther had lost.
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I can’t believe it either! Senior Luther’s mental energy was clearly stronger than hers, so… how could this be the result?” Amelie asked, equally perplexed.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mental energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mental energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength makes you powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your strength at once…” Zhang Wen suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the overwhelming pressure Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlet pale. Especially Carlet, who had always thought Zhang Wen was just a mediocre instructor at the fifth or sixth tier of physical combat. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in combat classes. Although Zhang Wen’s burst of power was brief, it left both girls stunned.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. If someone releases all their power at once, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but against someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of his Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand dismissively at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s definitive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remy, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is quite surprising. If we hadn’t planted the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remy maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remy’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection to Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the comedian. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remy couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely absent. Once a mind artist breaks through to the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s mind. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailing, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
So, has she already broken through to the seventh tier at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Immediately after, a wave of jealousy surged within him, almost suffocating him.
Although he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailing’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this little girl’s talent really be so much stronger than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity? Destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled and extended his hand to Sailing. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailing to attack with her mind energy. However, soon after, when Luther launched his own attack, he quickly realized that Sailing was blocking his assault with mind energy that was almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two seventh-tier mind artists directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mind energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She really has broken through to the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full power. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh-tier barrier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailing almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailing. Unaware that Luther had broken through to the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Sailing.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to catch Sailing off guard, and a look of surprise briefly flashed across her otherwise cold expression. But this surprise vanished almost instantly—not because Sailing had suppressed it or because she had been defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and dark halves.
However, the side that turned dark was not the one under attack—Sailing—but the one who had launched the attack: Luther. As for Luther, who had just launched the sneak attack, he now lay on the ground, his face pale. Sailing, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, as if nothing had happened.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier… had been instantly defeated by that girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell silent once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Haha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Temis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me, Captain Remiu,” Governor Karayan’s smile was unmistakable, even to a fool. Remiu was the special envoy sent by the Emperor himself to evaluate the situation. With his praise, it could be said that Princess Sophia was halfway into the Temis Academy.
Governor Temiso’s face was almost dark enough to wring water from, but at least he maintained his composure and didn’t lose his temper on the spot. As for the other guests, they had already begun to chatter among themselves. The hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“This… this can’t be possible?” After recovering from her shock, Carlet couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it hard to believe! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly much stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie also urgently voiced her confusion.
“Haha,” Zhang Wen couldn’t help but laugh as he looked at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, growing more indignant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was resolute. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength means you’re powerful. If you think that way, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your energy at once…” As Zhang Wen spoke, he suddenly pushed his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying oppressive force Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlet change their expressions. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, Carlet had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most a fifth or sixth-tier combat artist. But the combat energy Zhang Wen released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she had encountered in combat classes! Although Zhang Wen’s burst of energy was brief, it thoroughly shocked the two girls.
“…Releasing energy like this is something anyone can do. But in a fight, doing this is just plain stupid. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Once someone releases all their energy, they give up control over it. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but if you face someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” After calming the brief surge of Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor and waved his hand at the two girls.
Zhang Wen’s decisive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, once again wore an intrigued smile.
“Haha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, huh…”
“It’s just nonsense,” the beautiful female officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say something like this,” Remiu’s smile grew even wider.
“Oh? Then forgive my impertinence, but who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re really good at telling cold jokes. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly.” The usually dignified female officer’s flustered expression made Remiu burst into laughter.
However, although mind arts are rarely used for direct confrontation, such situations are not entirely impossible. Once a mind artist surpasses the seventh tier, they can attempt to directly attack the opponent’s psyche. The most skilled mind artists can even control others’ thoughts. This means that Sailin, who is now extending her hand to Luther, might very well be choosing to engage in a direct confrontation with him.
Does this imply that she has already surpassed the seventh tier of mind arts at her age? Looking at the delicate hand extended before him, Luther couldn’t help but feel a sense of incredulity. Following this, a wave of jealousy, almost suffocating, surged within him.
Though he was hailed as a once-in-thirty-years genius at the Almisius Academy, at Sailin’s age, he had only just entered the sixth tier! Could this young girl’s talent truly be so much greater than his?
After the intense jealousy, an uncontrollable thought arose in Luther’s mind: What a perfect opportunity—to destroy her!
“Hello, I’m Luther,” Luther smiled, extending his hand to Sailin. Their hands quickly clasped together.
To Luther’s slight surprise, when their hands first touched, he didn’t sense any intention from Sailin to attack with her mind energy. However, soon after Luther initiated his assault, he quickly realized that Sailin was blocking his attack with mind energy almost as strong as his own.
The confrontation between two mind artists who had surpassed the seventh tier directly affected the mind-powered devices in the hall. As they released their mind energy, the lights around them dimmed.
She truly has surpassed the seventh tier, Luther sneered inwardly. Without hesitation, Luther unleashed his full strength. Even among the teachers at the Almisius Academy, few knew that Luther had already broken through the seventh tier! In an instant, the lights behind Sailin almost completely dimmed. The remaining half of the hall’s lights illuminated Luther’s back, while the other half cast a shadowy, almost demonic silhouette of his face.
“Damn it!” Lasti suddenly understood Luther’s intentions, but by then, it was too late to help Sailin. Unaware that Luther had reached the eighth tier, Lasti could only watch helplessly as Luther’s mind energy surged toward Sailin.
Luther’s ruthless sneak attack seemed to startle Sailin, her previously indifferent expression briefly showing surprise. But this surprise was fleeting—not because Sailin hid her shock or was defeated by Luther, but because half of the governor’s mansion’s lights suddenly went out! The once brightly lit hall was abruptly divided into light and dark halves.
However, the side that turned dark was not Sailin, who was under attack, but Luther, the attacker. Luther, who had just launched the sneak attack, now lay pale-faced on the ground. Sailin, on the other hand, stood calmly in her original position, seemingly unaffected.
Luther, who had reached the eighth tier, was instantly defeated by the girl in a sneak attack?!
The hall fell silent once more, and even after the lights came back on, not a single word was spoken.
“Ha, brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard was the first to break the silence, clapping with a smile. “I never expected the Thamis Academy to have such an outstanding talent. Truly admirable.”
“Captain Remiu, you flatter me,” Governor Karayan’s delight was evident even to a fool. Remiu, as the emperor’s special envoy, had just given a compliment that practically ensured Princess Sophia’s admission to the Thamis Academy.
Governor Termiso’s face was as dark as storm clouds, but he maintained his composure, not losing his temper on the spot. The other guests, however, began to chatter, and the hall quickly descended into unprecedented noise.
“How… how is this possible?” Carlet, recovering from her shock, couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief. Even now, she couldn’t believe that Luther had lost!
“Why not?” Zhang Wen countered calmly.
“I also find it unbelievable! Senior Luther’s mind energy was clearly stronger than hers, but… but how could the result be like this?” Amelie asked anxiously, voicing her confusion.
“Ha,” Zhang Wen chuckled, shaking his head at the two girls’ eager expressions. “Do you really think your Senior Luther’s power was stronger than that girl’s?”
“Isn’t it?” Carlet retorted, increasingly defiant. “I could clearly feel that Senior Luther’s mind energy was more oppressive!”
“Of course not!” Zhang Wen’s tone was firm. “I can assure you, if that girl wanted to, she could unleash mind energy even more oppressive than your Senior Luther’s. But she definitely wouldn’t do that. Why? Because she understands the balance of power!”
“The balance of power?”
“Exactly! Don’t think that using all your strength makes you powerful. If you think that, you’re completely wrong! Power that doesn’t hit the target is wasted. Releasing all your power at once…” Zhang Wen suddenly channeled his combat energy and Spring Water Technique to their limits.
In that instant, the terrifying pressure Zhang Wen unleashed made both Amelie and Carlet pale. Especially Carlet. Since meeting Zhang Wen, she had always thought he was just a mediocre instructor, at most at the fifth or sixth tier of combat arts. But the combat energy he released in that moment felt even stronger than the eighth-tier instructors she encountered in combat classes! Though Zhang Wen’s burst was brief, it thoroughly shocked both girls.
“…Anyone can release their power like this. But in a fight, doing so is just foolish. Remember, in combat, the power we use and our control over it must be balanced to unleash our full potential. Releasing all your power at once means giving up control. What good is power without control? Fighting like this might work against weaker opponents, but against someone of equal or greater strength, the result will be just like your Senior Luther’s.” Calming the brief surge of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen resumed his lazy demeanor, waving his hand dismissively.
Zhang Wen’s decisive statement left the two girls deep in thought. Meanwhile, in a corner of the noisy crowd, Captain Remiu, who had stepped away from the two governors, wore an intrigued smile once more.
“Ha, this instructor Zhang Wen is truly surprising. If we hadn’t installed the ‘Eagle Eye’ on him, we might have missed this fascinating conversation. The balance of power, indeed…”
“Just nonsense,” the beautiful officer beside Remiu maintained her solemn expression.
“No, it’s not nonsense. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say this,” Remiu’s smile grew even broader.
“Oh? Then, if I may ask, who was the first person you heard say this? Could that person have some unusual connection with Zhang Wen?”
“Haha! An unusual connection? Isaya, you’re quite the comedian. The first time I heard this was two years ago, during a chat with the Grand Captain.”
“Ah! The Grand Captain himself?”
“Exactly,” Remiu couldn’t help but laugh at the usually dignified officer’s flustered expression.
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