The War Emperor's Academy, known as one of the most powerful institutions on the Spirit Continent, is holding its grand disciple selection today.
In a forest near the War Emperor's Academy, one could spot a simple house, built from wood and leaves.
After some time, a small figure appeared from the house. It was a boy with long black hair, appearing to be around twelve or thirteen years old, dressed in simple white clothes.
As he stepped outside, the boy looked up at the rising sun in the east.
"Finally, the test for the academy is about to begin," he murmured with a smile. He briefly returned to the house, grabbed his backpack, and set off, walking toward the academy without hesitation.
This boy's name is Rylan, a young resident of the Stone Village, located in the Western Mountain Range.
The forest where Rylan finds himself is known as the Battlefield Forest, named for the numerous battles once fought between the War Emperor's Academy and the monsters of the region.
The Battlefield Forest is divided into several areas: to the north, the monsters dwell; to the south, lies the City of War; to the east, stands the Sword Cliff; to the west, are the Mountain Ranges; and at the center is the grand War Emperor's Academy.
After walking for about half an hour, Rylan stopped, surprised. Above him in the sky, several flying creatures were carrying people on their backs.
"Incredible! Grandpa was right... there are so many wonderful things outside the village!" he said, amazed.
As he gazed at the animals, a figure flew across the sky.
"The legendary Cultivator!" Seeing the figure in the sky, Rylan's eyes widened, as if he were about to leap at any moment.
"Move out of the way!" As he was lost in thought, a voice behind him brought him back to reality.
Startled, he immediately turned his head and saw a young man, appearing to be around eighteen years old, dressed in a red robe, riding a black horse with a red mane. His expression was one of panic—he had lost control of the animal.
Realizing this, Rylan quickly jumped to the side. Almost immediately after he moved, the horse dashed forward at high speed, its hooves pounding the ground, creating a deep, drum-like thud. The strong wind cut across Rylan's face as the animal sped past him in a burst of movement.
The young man riding the horse was thrown high into the air like a leaf caught in the wind, spinning uncontrollably before crashing down with a loud thud that echoed through the forest.
"Aiii!"
After the impact, the young man let out a loud cry.
"Are you okay?" Seeing the young man lying on the ground, Rylan rushed to him and shouted.
"I'm fine." The young man responded breathlessly, but upon seeing a child, he became embarrassed. "Damn horse, I'm going to make soup out of you," he thought.
"What's your name?" Rylan extended a hand to the young man, who was still on the ground.
"Lucy." The young man said his name and grabbed Rylan's hand. As he was about to stand up, he felt a sharp pain. "Aiii!"
"You said you were fine, Lucy?" Rylan asked, raising an eyebrow as he watched the young man writhe in pain. He couldn't hide his mischievous smile but approached cautiously, trying not to laugh at Lucy's expression.
"But I am!" Lucy responded quickly. Seeing the little boy teasing him, he felt like crawling under the bed.
Seeing Lucy's expression, much older than him, Rylan found it amusing but didn't laugh. "Grandpa said we shouldn't mock others."
"What are you doing here in the forest by yourself, kid? Where are your parents?" Lucy, struggling to get up, asked the question, partly to avoid his own embarrassment, and partly out of curiosity.
"I'm here for the selection to enter the War Emperor's Academy," Rylan replied with a smile.
"Oh." Lucy was surprised but said, "That test... well... it's no joke, kid." There was a hint of frustration hidden in his voice.
Rylan was surprised, but his eyes shone with excitement. "And you, Lucy? Have you tried to get in? How was it?"
"Eh?" Seeing Rylan's sparkling eyes, Lucy was taken aback but also embarrassed. He had tried the test but had failed.
Cough cough.
Lucy coughed, placed his hand on his back, and said in a more serious tone: "Yeah, I took the test... and failed. Believe me, it's not a joke, kid. That's why I'm warning you how tough it is." After finishing his sentence, a sharp pain in his back made him wince. "Damn, I still haven't recovered," he thought.
Hearing what Lucy said, Rylan didn't feel discouraged. On the contrary, he grew even more excited. "As expected from an academy for cultivators, getting in isn't easy... But, as Grandpa said, the harder the task, the greater the reward." After saying these motivating words, he laughed.
"Hahahahaha."
Lucy, still holding his back in pain, was stunned. He started to wonder: Is this kid crazy?
Rylan, noticing Lucy's look, stopped laughing, blushing slightly, and awkwardly asked:
"And you, Lucy? What are you doing here?"
Lucy, still clutching his back with a pained expression, stared at Rylan for a few seconds before looking away. Without saying a word, his thoughts were clear: This kid is anything but normal.
After a moment of silence, he finally responded:
"I'm here for the test too, just like you, kid."
Upon hearing this, it was Rylan's turn to be surprised.
"Sorry for being ignorant, but... aren't you too old for this?"
"Ah?" Lucy froze for a moment, Rylan's words cutting through his focus and even making the back pain disappear. For a few seconds, he was dazed, before finally responding angrily:
"What the hell are you talking about, brat?! The academy allows tests up to the age of eighteen! I'm only sixteen!"
Rylan remained silent, studying Lucy from all angles.
"Your parents didn't lie to you, no?" Rylan still couldn't believe this guy was only sixteen.