Lucian sat quietly in a corner, observing the students around him. A faint thought stirred in his mind.
Silvermoon High School—renowned as the top school in Silvermoon City—was second to none in terms of faculty and student quality.
This year, more than 3,000 students had become new lords.
Out of those, only about 200 had passed the Rookie Trial.
Many of these successful students came from extraordinary family backgrounds. They didn't rely on the standard rewards provided by the state; their families had prepared superior resources for them.
For such individuals, the Rookie Trial was naturally far easier than for ordinary lords.
Among the crowd, some wore expressions of pride, others looked frustrated, and a few were visibly excited yet kept silent.
Soon, a sudden gust of wind blew through the room.
Everyone raised their heads to see clouds gathering on the platform, forming into a door.
Seeing this characteristic display of power, everyone immediately recognized who was arriving.
As expected, a moment later, a woman in a crimson dress stepped barefoot from the swirling clouds. Her cool, stunning face carried an air of authority.
It was her—the current principal of Silvermoon High School!
The students were shocked. None of them had expected the principal herself to come and teach them.
The woman hovered in midair, her crimson dress fluttering in the breeze, her long hair cascading down like a flowing waterfall.
"From today onward, I will personally teach the lessons for Class 20 of Year 3," she declared in an icy voice.
"You may call me Teacher," she added coldly.
"Yes, Teacher!" the students replied in unison.
The woman continued, "You've just completed the Rookie Trial. I'm sure many of you are still feeling exhilarated."
"Anyone who passed, even by sheer luck, will have gained significant benefits," she remarked.
The students nodded one after another.
The trial was different for everyone. The stronger the participant, the stronger the monsters they faced.
Thus, everyone's experiences and rewards varied greatly.
Those who relied on luck couldn't compare to those who fought tooth and nail through war and strategy.
"First of all, congratulations on stepping through the first door of your journey!"
"Starting next month, you will be free to explore the Endless Void," she said, nodding slightly.
"And now, we begin the first lesson," she announced.
"As your teacher, today I will impart your first piece of knowledge!"
"As lords, knowledge is paramount!"
Hearing this, everyone straightened up, their eyes fixed on her attentively.
Lucian narrowed his eyes as well, intrigued.
The woman paused briefly before asking, "What do you think is the most important skill for a lord to possess?"
In the front row, a confident student stood and replied earnestly, "Teacher, it must be strength! Only with overwhelming strength can one dominate everything!"
Others quickly echoed this sentiment.
"Yes, whether it's heroes, troops, or buildings, they're all manifestations of a lord's strength! Even luck can be considered a form of strength!"
Many nodded in agreement at these words.
However, some shook their heads, finding this view overly simplistic.
"Strength is indeed important, but wisdom is equally indispensable. A lord is the heart and soul of their domain. Only with sufficient wisdom can they develop their territory and elevate their power!"
"Exactly! Only the wise can go the distance!"
The lecture hall buzzed with activity as more and more students joined the discussion, voicing their opinions.
Listening to their heated debate, Lucian couldn't help but chuckle softly.
He didn't feel the need to interject—people were entitled to their own views, and he wasn't one to argue unnecessarily.
Instead, he found himself admiring the woman, known as the "Fairy of Cloud Dreams."
Her crimson dress, her ethereal beauty, and her unparalleled grace made her a striking figure.
Her aura was as misty and intangible as the clouds she commanded.
But what caught Lucian's attention the most was her perfect, unblemished feet.
Not too large, not too small, devoid of the unnatural daintiness of bound feet, they seemed divinely crafted—flawless and mesmerizing.
Lucian wasn't overtaken by inappropriate thoughts; he simply appreciated beauty in all its forms.
"No wonder she's called the number one fairy of Silvermoon City," he murmured, a faint smile playing on his lips.
At that moment, the woman turned her head to look directly at him.
Lucian froze.
"You there," she said calmly, her cool gaze fixed on him.
"Why don't you share your thoughts?"
The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Lucian.
He stood up without hesitation, considered her question for a moment, and then replied, "I believe the most important skill for a lord is ensuring their own safety."
The room erupted in chatter.
Some dismissed Lucian's answer as overly cautious, others found it surprisingly reasonable, and still, others simply disagreed.
Lucian remained composed, unfazed by their reactions.
The woman looked at him with a hint of surprise but quickly nodded, signaling for him to sit down.
Then she spoke, her voice resonating throughout the room.
"He's correct."
"Today, I'll teach you one thing: Run for your life!"
The room fell dead silent.
Some students were stunned, others confused, and a few cast strange glances at Lucian.
The woman continued, her tone icy, "Are you puzzled?"
No one dared to speak.
She didn't wait for a response. Instead, she went on, "Good. You should be puzzled."
"Do you understand what the Endless Void truly is?" she asked, her tone grave, her expression enigmatic.
The Endless Void—the domain where lords ventured, the nexus of existence and nonexistence, the ultimate destination of all things.
"Do you think it's a playground?"
"Do you imagine it as a treasure trove of gold and silver, brimming with riches?"
"Do you believe the Endless Void is safe?"
Her cold laugh sent shivers down their spines.
"Every four years, 80% of lords perish due to carelessness."
"Do you think you're special? A genius? The reincarnation of a deity? Or perhaps a returning king?"
"The Endless Void doesn't care who you are. It will grant you no special privileges!"
"At this time next year, out of the 200 of you here, only a handful will remain."
Her icy gaze swept across the room, her words cutting deep.
"Your lives will depend on your ability to retreat and survive."
Lucian felt a subtle pressure emanating from her—a deliberate use of power to drive her point home.
The lecture hall grew quiet as students absorbed her words.
Even those who disagreed dared not voice their dissent.
Satisfied with their reaction, the woman's tone softened slightly.
"Now," she announced, "I will teach you the Divine River Visualization Technique."