Silvermoon High School!
In the lecture hall for Class 20, Lucian walked in and found only a few dozen people present.
"Am I too early?"
He found it odd but casually chose an empty seat in a quiet corner.
Looking around, small groups of students were chatting in hushed voices.
"Why are there so few people here today?"
"Most of the stronger ones are staying home to prepare their Universal Forums."
"Ugh, white feather roast isn't as good as our local delicacies!"
"You can have both! But speaking of the forum, it's not cheap. For us ordinary lords, it's better to save the expense!"
Hearing the conversation, Lucian's eyes gleamed with understanding.
The Universal Forum!
This was a territorial building, a creation of ancient divine communicators who had harnessed supreme power to establish the Universal Network. It allowed lords to communicate with one another.
Unlike traditional means such as messaging spells or enchanted phones, the Universal Network centered around the Universal Forum as a hub. It facilitated communication, interaction, and even trade between lords.
Of course, it wasn't yet capable of truly covering every corner of the infinite worlds.
In ancient times, lords had explored the unknown and left their traces across countless realms. As more lords established Universal Forums, the network expanded, gradually becoming an immensely powerful system.
It was a monumental structure that grew stronger alongside the human race.
For new lords, the Universal Forum would be issued by their respective nations. However, families with capable elders often chose not to rely on this.
First, it was a matter of pride—wealthy families didn't want to be seen as relying on government handouts.
Second, stronger families could build their own customized Universal Forums with special attributes, offering unique advantages.
"Ugh, vanity feels so good!"
Lucian leaned back in his chair, nodding to himself.
Still, his face looked slightly pale.
While Keqing was gentle and accommodating, Daiyu was anything but.
Her appearance might be soft and demure, but her fiery energy during their encounters had left Lucian utterly drained.
On paper, Lucian's stats with Heroic Power surpassed Daiyu's. But when it came down to it, the strain of constant endurance took its toll.
"I need to figure out a way to resolve this...!"
Lucian muttered to himself before perking up, his sharp hearing picking up approaching footsteps.
A boy and a girl soon sat near him, looking like siblings.
"Hello!"
"I'm Andrew, and this is my sister, Alice!"
The two greeted him warmly.
Lucian smiled faintly and nodded. "Lucian. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Lucian!"
Andrew seemed very outgoing, his demeanor friendly. "Will you be participating in next month's simulated battles?"
"I'm not interested in that," Lucian said with a shrug, his tone making his disinterest clear.
The siblings looked surprised.
For most ordinary lords, simulated battles were an invaluable opportunity to test themselves and earn rewards. Even children from small, wealthy families eagerly participated.
Lucian's nonchalance made them think he lacked confidence rather than disdain for the event.
After exchanging a glance, the siblings decided not to press the matter.
"Once the Universal Forum is activated today, let's exchange contact info!" Andrew suggested. "You can visit our territory anytime. We're focused on being farming lords and have already planted plenty of Elven Breadfruit Trees!"
"Sounds good," Lucian said with a polite nod.
Andrew's curiosity piqued. "What about you?"
"Me?" Lucian paused briefly. "I'm aiming for Warlord."
"Combat-oriented?"
The siblings were both surprised and puzzled. If he was aiming for combat, why avoid simulated battles? Imperial High School's simulated battles were a significant perk, especially for warlords.
"Haha, that's an ambitious goal!"
Andrew didn't dwell on it and began chatting about various school topics. He shared stories about his family, revealing an ordinary background.
Their father had been a warring lord in his youth but was forced to abandon that path after his territory was destroyed in the void. He had since turned to farming. Their mother was a simple farmer.
This upbringing made the siblings naturally inclined toward farming lords, valuing stability and peace.
Lucian listened quietly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
For them, this era was one of peace and contentment, where a steady life was most desirable.
For Lucian, however, this was an era of grandeur—a time of inter-world conflict and boundless ambition.
If you couldn't become a wave in this stormy sea, what was the point of living?
As time passed, about eighty people eventually filled the lecture hall.
At 2:30 PM, a cloud of mist gathered and transformed into a door.
The red-robed woman stepped through, her bare feet as elegant as ever. Her cold, flawless face radiated authority and beauty.
The moment she appeared, the room fell silent.
"Eighty-one present," she said flatly. "Today, we'll focus on two things: distributing your Universal Forums and guiding your River Visualization practice."
She stretched out her hand, and glowing ribbons flew through the air, delivering a model to each student.
Lucian caught his, storing the ancient altar-shaped model in his inventory.
"Alright," the red-robed woman said coolly. "I'll project the River Phantom. Take your time to absorb it!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The students replied in unison.
The River Phantom manifested again. Everyone closed their eyes, immersing themselves in the visualization.
Lucian also shut his eyes, focusing on his favorite mental image—the ethereal goddess walking barefoot atop the divine river.
Before long, his River Visualization reached its limit. His progress stalled due to his current skill cap.
"What a waste," Lucian thought as he opened his eyes, glancing around.
Most students were still deeply focused on their practice.
The red-robed woman stood silently at the front of the room, her expression calm but her gaze sparkling with intrigue.
Unnoticed by the others, her eyes lingered briefly on Lucian, as if silently evaluating him.