Chapter 7: The Dream at the Top of the World

Just when everyone thought Hao Thien had reached his limit, the crimson crystal suddenly shot out from his chest, spiraling into a deep red vortex before embedding itself in the center of his forehead—transforming into a third eye streaked with blood-red veins.

A surge of black-and-red energy burst forth, sweeping across the stage like a storm of raw force. The pressure was so intense that the senior had to instinctively step back, his heels carving deep ruts into the obsidian stone floor.

Hao Thien slowly rose to his feet. His eyes—both his own and the newly opened third one—glowed red, hollow and empty, as if his soul had departed from his body.

In the senior's vision, Hao Thien's figure twisted and warped—morphing into a massive black wolf. Its fur shimmered like shadow, jaws lined with blade-like fangs, and blood-red pupils locked onto their prey.

That gaze—cold and fathomless like an abyss—pressed down with suffocating force. The senior's mind went blank; his knees gave out. He collapsed, unconscious, before he could even defend himself.

The arena fell into stunned silence.

No one could comprehend what had just happened—not even Hao Thien himself, now dazed as the third eye closed and the crystal fell softly into his palm, once more dormant.

The referee swallowed hard, steadying his voice before declaring:

"Result: Victor—Tran Hao Thien!"

A heartbeat of stillness.

Then the entire square erupted in a thunder of cheers, gasps, and awe-struck murmurs. All eyes—shocked, curious, and wary—locked onto Hao Thien.

The boy once thought to be "ordinary"…

Had just shaken the foundation of the extraordinary.

Ta Tham patted Hao Thien lightly on the shoulder, a smile full of praise on his face.

"Just now… what did you do? How did you even win that?"

Luc Duong stepped forward, eyes still wide with disbelief.

"I'm not really sure," Hao Thien exhaled, his voice hoarse with exhaustion. "Maybe… I just got lucky."

He handed the sword back to Luc Duong, his hand still slightly trembling.

Even so, Ta Tham just laughed, throwing an arm around his shoulder again.

"Luck or not, it doesn't matter. From this moment on, you're officially a member of Arkaion Academy."

"It's about time we head back to our dorm."

Ta Tham said, nodding slightly toward the east.

"The freshman dorms are over there. Once you get your student ID, you'll be able to enter."

He explained clearly, as if worried Hao Thien might feel lost in the new environment.

"Well then… see you around."

Hao Thien gave a small nod, saying goodbye to the two of them, then walked over to receive his student ID and academy uniform from the supervising instructors.

He turned and followed the direction Ta Tham had pointed out.

Ahead was a row of clean, well-kept rooms. The afternoon sun streamed softly through frosted glass windows, casting gentle patches of light across the floor.

"My room is… 002."

Hao Thien murmured to himself as he climbed the stairs, glancing around — the surroundings unfamiliar, yet a faint sense of excitement quietly stirred within him.

"Here it is… Room 002."

Hao Thien stopped in front of the door, just about to reach for the handle when he suddenly paused.

"Seems like… someone's already inside."

He glanced down at the faint footprints near the doorway and noticed the doorknob was still slightly warm — signs someone had arrived before him.

Carefully, Hao Thien pushed the door open, poked his head in, and looked around. The room wasn't large, but it was neat and filled with soft light. Not seeing anyone by the door, he stepped inside and gently closed it behind him.

"Hey there, roommate."

A voice called out from the corner of the room, making Hao Thien flinch slightly. A young man was sitting on the bed, setting down the book he had been reading, his eyes curious.

"What were you doing, sneaking in like a thief?"

The guy stood up with a friendly smile — tall, with a scholarly air about him.

"Oh… I remember now! You're Luc Diep, right? The one who fought in the first match this morning!"

Hao Thien brightened as he recognized the familiar face, clearly excited to meet someone he'd already seen in action.

"You weren't any less impressive than me. That match today… you were awesome."

Luc Diep smiled, not holding back his praise.

"It was probably just dumb luck."

Hao Thien shook his head, not sounding particularly confident.

"Well then…" — Luc Diep extended his hand, eyes sincere — "Let's look out for each other from now on, roommate."

Hao Thien smiled faintly and grasped his hand — a simple handshake, but one that marked the beginning of something new.

The next morning

"Luc Diep! Get up, we're gonna be late for class!"

Hao Thien gently shook his roommate, who was still curled up under the blanket.

"Ugh… I know, I know… thanks…"

Luc Diep mumbled sleepily, but finally cracked one eye open.

The two young men, scholarly in appearance, wore uniforms that, though not overly ornate, exuded a sense of formality and discipline.

They walked side by side along a neatly paved stone path. To their right stretched the vast, blue ocean, its waves gently lapping at the shore; to their left stood a line of tall trees, their golden leaves drifting softly in the morning breeze.

"It's really beautiful…"

Hao Thien murmured, his gaze quietly taking in the scenery.

"Very calming, isn't it?"

Luc Diep replied, his voice soft, as if he too was immersed in the peaceful atmosphere.

The classroom they entered was spacious, equipped with modern technology. From the main entrance, one could see the teacher's desk placed neatly at the front—simple in design, yet elegant in its craftsmanship.

Hao Thien and Luc Diep chose seats in the last row. As soon as they settled in, whispers began to ripple through the room, with curious glances thrown their way.

The classroom door slowly opened. A female instructor stepped inside—her posture straight and composed, every step she took carried a chilling aura that seemed to freeze the very air.

The entire class immediately stood up, bowing respectfully.

"Why does it have to be her…?"

A student sitting in front of Hao Thien muttered under his breath, his voice filled with dread.

"It's me. Do you have a problem with that?"

The instructor's voice rang out cold and authoritative, her gaze sweeping sharply across the room.

"N-no, ma'am… no problem at all…"

The student stiffened, quickly lowering his head, sweat beading on his forehead.

"I am Tu Huyen. Starting today, I will be the homeroom teacher for First-Year Class Three."

Master Huyen spoke, her voice calm yet sharp—there was no need to raise it, and still every word rang clear throughout the room.

She sat upright in the teacher's chair, her gaze sweeping across the students as if trying to peer into their very souls.

Immediately, the entire class fell into complete silence. No one dared to whisper or move too suddenly, as if even the slightest sound might freeze the already chilling air further.

At the front of the classroom, Tu Huyen sat upright at the teacher's desk, her hands resting lightly on the surface. No one dared to speak. The room was so quiet that the sound of wind slipping through the window cracks could be clearly heard.

"Before you learn how to fight…"

Her voice rang out—steady and cold, like a frozen lake under a winter night sky.

"…you must first learn how to think."

She rose from her seat and walked slowly toward the board. With a gentle motion of her hand, glowing words began to appear in the air:

Spiritual Root – Spiritual Energy – Self-Identity

"These three are the foundation of every cultivation path in this academy. But the unfortunate truth is… most of you don't truly understand what they mean."

A few students furrowed their brows. Sitting at the back, Hao Thien watched intently, his eyes narrowing slightly as he stared at the glowing words suspended in the air.

"Spiritual roots are innate—they're the soil where the seeds of spiritual energy begin to grow. Some are born strong, others are not. But…"

Tu Huyen paused for a moment.

"…there has never been anyone so weak that they couldn't rise above their own fate."

Her gaze swept across the class. A few students lowered their heads, as if her words had struck a hidden nerve.

"You can't choose the spiritual root you were born with—but you can choose how to live with it."

"Spiritual energy is what you'll learn to accumulate, harness, and control throughout your cultivation journey. But in the end, it's just a tool."

Tu Huyen raised her hand, summoning a slowly swirling orb of spiritual energy in her palm. It glowed faintly—then vanished.

"If all you do is hoard power without understanding why you need it… then you're no different from puppets, living by numbers alone."

"The self… is something almost no one teaches you about, yet it matters more than anything else."

Her voice lowered slightly, carrying a hint of emotion that was hard to define.

"On the path of cultivation, there will come a time when your spiritual root isn't enough, when your energy runs dry. But as long as your sense of self doesn't collapse… the road forward still exists."

Tu Huyen turned and wrote one final line in the air:

"If you don't know who you are, then no matter how powerful you become… you're still just an empty shell."

She turned back to face the class.

"That concludes today's lesson. But before you leave, each of you must answer one question."

She paused, her gaze lingering on Hao Thien for a moment.

"What kind of person do you want to become?"

Tu Huyen raised her hand and pointed directly at Hao Thien—the student sitting quietly at the back, still focused on every word she said.

"You."

A single, calm word—yet it was enough to draw every pair of eyes in the room to him.

"I… I…"

Hao Thien stammered, caught off guard by the sudden attention. But then he took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening with resolve.

"To become the one who stands above all."

His voice rang out clearly in the dead silence of the classroom.

A moment of stunned quiet followed. Students turned to stare, some wide-eyed in disbelief, others with skeptical glances—one or two even let out a quiet chuckle.

Tu Huyen raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly, as if amused. She crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.

"Then let's see… if you have what it takes to turn those words into reality."

After the first class, there wasn't much to take in—at least not for the first day. On the now-familiar stone path, with the fading afternoon light casting a golden hue over the distant sea, Hao Thien and Luc Diep walked side by side, heading back to the dorms.

"Why do you want to… stand above everyone else?"

Luc Diep asked suddenly, his tone free of judgment—just quiet curiosity.

"Because if I'm not strong enough to stand at the very top… then I'll never be able to protect the people I want to—completely."

Hao Thien replied, his gaze drifting toward the crimson sunset over the ocean.

"You're right. No matter how strong you are… there will always be someone stronger."

Luc Diep nodded, his voice uncharacteristically serious.

Just then, an arm suddenly slung over Hao Thien's shoulder from behind, startling both of them.

"Yo! Hao Thien! How was your first day of class?"

Ta Tham's voice rang out—full of energy, as usual. No one could tell when he'd even arrived.

Behind him, Luc Duong followed quietly, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever.

"And this new classmate of yours is…?"

Ta Tham tilted his head toward Luc Diep, his eyes curious.

"I'm Luc Diep. Nice to meet you."

Luc Diep smiled and extended a polite hand.

"Ta Tham. A pleasure to meet you."

Ta Tham grinned brightly as he shook Luc Diep's hand—still as open and friendly as ever.

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Really appreciate you reading this far. If you're enjoying the story, feel free to add it to your library — I'll try to update every day!