The Silent War Begins

The sky over the Heaven Defying Academy was calm again, but every elder and core disciple knew—it was the calm before a storm.

Dean Xuan Lie's return was not just a symbol. It was a summoning. A quiet signal across realms, realms where old monsters slept and ancient deans hid in exile.

"They're waking up," Yue Wushen muttered as she looked toward the South Star Sea.

"The enemies… or the allies?" Elder Mo asked.

"Both."

In the Shadows of the Academy

Unknown to many, deep below the Academy's central mountain, lay the Chamber of Secrets—a place sealed since Dev Yadav's retreat.

The seals cracked open.

A girl with blindfolded eyes stood before the gate.

"Master said the next key would awaken soon," she whispered, a smile playing on her lips. "Let's see how fun this era will be."

With a flick of her wrist, black petals flew out of her sleeve and floated into the sealed room.

Inside, an ancient object pulsed.

A Book.

Bound in dragon skin, sealed with ten immortal chains, and burning with paradoxical light—The Heaven Record.

Lin Feng's Transformation

Lin Feng sat cross-legged in the Temple of Legacy. Dean Xuan stood watch silently, arms crossed, while Ye Qingxue and three other core disciples sat nearby in meditation.

But Lin Feng's body radiated an unnatural force.

His veins glowed with faint celestial light. His spiritual sea expanded, taking on the shape of a blooming lotus.

Suddenly, a message appeared in his mind.

[You have comprehended the First Layer of the Dao Ancestor's Will: "Existence Bends"]

[Passive: Your attacks ignore all physical defense below your spiritual level]

[You have been acknowledged by the Primordial Academy Core]

[You may now communicate with the Dao Ancestor's Echo once per day]

Lin Feng's breath hitched.

He had barely survived the Forbidden Seed… and now he stood closer to the true Dao path than anyone else in the generation.

"What am I becoming?" he whispered.

"Not what," Dean Xuan said. "Who."

Meanwhile: In the Ten Thousand Demon Abyss

Across the Realms, in a prison of eternal night, the Void Monarch walked among sleeping beasts.

He stopped before a chained monstrosity with nine eyes and twenty-four wings.

"They've begun to gather again. The Ancestor's Academy is rebuilding."

The beast stirred, its voice more thought than sound.

"Should we strike?"

"Not yet," the Monarch said. "Let them grow. Let them hope. Then we extinguish everything again—just like before."

He grinned.

"Only this time, even Dev Yadav won't be able to protect them."

Final Scene: Dev's Quiet Laugh

Dev sat on a lone mountain surrounded by flowing galaxies. He sipped spirit tea made from Cosmic Dew and closed his eyes.

"So… the Monarch plans to wait."

He chuckled.

"Then I shall give him a story to wait for."

Behind him, twelve portals flickered—each leading to a different universe.

"Academies, awaken. Deans, return. Students, rise."

"The Silent War begins."