"You'll... help me?"
Yun Xi looked up, studying the girl who should've been his adversary.
"Yes."
Dongfang Xiaoxue nodded, then added coldly, "Only to prep you for next month's exams. If you slack off even once, I'm done. No second chances."
"Mm."
He returned to his book, dismissing her.
Xiaoxue's patience snapped. "Hey! Are you even—"
"It says here that in 2018 AD—New Era 1—the Moonfall Realm's energy breached dimensional barriers, flooding Earth with monsters. Why?"
"You—!"
His genuine curiosity disarmed her. Snatching the book, she lectured, "Because a Demon Emperor from the Moonfall Realm used a cursed sword to pierce the veils between three worlds: Moonfall, Tianhuang, and Earth. After overrunning Tianhuang, the monsters invaded Earth through the rift."
"A single sword... tore through three worlds?"
For the first time, shock flickered in Yun Xi's eyes.
*What kind of power is that?*
"How do you *not* know this?" Xiaoxue huffed. "What *were* you doing in class?"
Yet despite her frustration, she softened. He was her only family now. If she gave up on him...
Sighing, she circled key passages. "The Demon Emperor supposedly surpassed the Mythic Realm, wielding the Blade of Annihilation—top of the Nine Divine Artifacts. But focus on the Sky Accord and Cold Feng's Moon God Realm for the exam. Memorize these."
Yun Xi absorbed every word, reconstructing four centuries of history.
---
Five days later, his injuries had healed.
Though the original Dongfang had been lazy, his father—a ninth-tier warrior—had drilled fundamentals into him. Otherwise, he'd never have reached third-tier by eighteen.
Now, Yun Xi honed that foundation.
*Whoosh!*
A finger thrust pierced the wall, qi sharp as a blade.
"Body as Sword. Qi as Sword. Will as Sword. Threefold unity forges the path."
Currently, his qi was too weak for *Qi Sword* techniques. Only *Body Sword* remained—the Flesh Armament Style.
Fingers became daggers. Palms turned into cleavers. Every motion carried the weight of a master's strike, air splitting around him.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
With each movement, his *Eye Sword*—a piercing glare honed from will alone—grew sharper.
Then—knocking.
"Dongfang! Breakfast! Then we leave for the academy!"
The spell broke. In seconds, the lethal swordsman vanished, replaced by an unassuming youth.
---
At the table, Xiaoxue nagged between bites.
"Starcrest Academy's the only nationally certified school in the city. Millions would kill for your spot. Don't waste it."
"But—"
"No excuses!" Her scowl was oddly endearing on her youthful face.
Yun Xi hesitated. Attending meant exposure—but also insight into this world's martial hierarchy. He nodded.
"Good. And *stay away* from Lu Xiaohan. She's fourth-tier, on the verge of clearing the Moon God Realm's First Layer. Unless you want humiliation, don't approach her until you've done the same."
He ate in silence, enduring her daily lectures.
Soon, they set off—Xiaoxue marching ahead like an exasperated nanny, Yun Xi trailing behind.
An odd pair: the sixteen-year-old disciplinarian and her "older" brother.
Starcrest Academy—the city's sole public institution.
Located in the northern suburbs, its six skyscrapers loomed over forty stories tall. Two served as dormitories for students from outlying towns; three housed classrooms for second-to fourth-tier warriors; the last accommodated faculty and their families.
By the time Dongfang Xiaoxue and Yun Xi arrived, the academy buzzed with activity. Thousands of students streamed into the towers like disciplined ants—a sight unimaginable in the Common Era's schools. Despite the crowds, order prevailed. No shoving, no shouting—just hushed conversations and purposeful strides.
"You're third-tier. Different building." Xiaoxue jerked her chin toward a tower. "Go on alone."
"Understood. Thank you."
"Thank you again..."
Muttering, she headed for the fourth-tier building—but paused on the first floor, watching until Yun Xi entered his classroom. Only then did she relax.
Yun Xi, unaware of her surveillance, followed his student ID to the 22nd floor—Class 3-22B.
The moment he entered, whistles erupted.
"Look who's back! Our hero—braving the Nightblood Forest at third-tier! What guts!"
"Shocking he survived! Why bother coming back? Die there, and maybe Lu Xiaohan would've mourned you!"
From conversations with Xiaoxue and Wanjun, Yun Xi knew the original Dongfang had been universally disliked—arrogant yet incompetent.
Ignoring the jeers, he took his seat.
His silence stunned the class.
"No tantrum today? Did the forest scare him straight?"
"Near-death changes people. Pity—we'll miss the entertainment."
"Enough." A calmer voice cut in—likely the vice monitor. "His family earned a Three-Star Glory Badge. Show respect. Focus on your studies—every second here counts."
The teens, still unhardened by life, soon shifted topics to the Moon God Realm—the key to their futures.
The instructor arrived shortly.
Unlike Common Era classrooms, this one centered on a padded platform where the teacher demonstrated combat forms, occasionally calling students to spar—more dojo than lecture hall.
Yun Xi observed silently, cross-referencing the textbook, gradually mapping this world's martial system against his own knowledge.
At noon, he found Xiaoxue waiting outside.
"No fights?" she demanded.
"None."
"Really?"
"Really."
She scrutinized him—no torn clothes, no agitation—then nodded. "Lunch, then."
The cafeteria food paled next to Xiaoxue's cooking, but Yun Xi ate without complaint.
"Something wrong?" she asked, noting his pause.
"Just appreciating your cooking."
She rolled her eyes.
Then—a shout from across the hall:
"Breaking news! Pang Fei—seventh on the academy's Elite Ten—is attempting the Moon God Realm's First Layer! And it's a public broadcast!"
"Pang Fei attempting the First Layer? Already? He only reached fourth-tier a year ago!"
"Public broadcast? He must be confident!"
"Can't miss this!"
Dongfang Xiaoxue's eyes lit up. She shoved her tray aside. "Quick! Log in! Watching his attempt could teach us everything!" Before Yun Xi could respond, she'd already slapped her neural link onto her temples and vanished into the Moon God Realm.
The cafeteria erupted into chaos.
Ninety percent of students produced receivers—jade bands, silver circlets, obsidian diadems—slapping them onto their heads. Within sixty seconds, the hall fell silent as bodies slumped over half-eaten meals, minds elsewhere.
The remaining ten percent wailed:
"Sh*t! Left mine in the dorm!"
"Mine's in class! A public attempt by an upperclassman? This is roadmap material!"
"At least yours are nearby! Mine's at home—three hours round trip!"
A nearby student snorted. "Pray for a Transcendent breakthrough then, Li Wang. Only they can sense the Realm unaided."
"Transcendent? B*llsh*t! Hey—Zhang! Record this for me!"
But "Zhang" had already logged off.
Li Wang clutched his head dramatically. "Why today? Of all days! Heaven envies my talent!"
Had anyone been listening, they'd have gagged. But all attention belonged to Pang Fei's broadcast.
Almost all.
A calm voice cut through Li Wang's theatrics: "May I ask a question?"
Li Wang blinked at the speaker—Yun Xi. Recognition dawned. "Ha! You forgot your link too? Brothers in misery! Ask away!"
"How does breaking through to Transcendent relate to entering the Moon God Realm without a receiver?"
Li Wang frowned. "You don't know? It's second-year stuff. Transcendents get their minds tempered by heaven's energy. Lets them split focus—sense the Realm naturally."
"Split focus..." The words ignited something in Yun Xi.
"Yeah. Check the textbooks if—wait!" Li Wang snapped his fingers. "The academy might stream it in the projection hall! Coming?"
Yun Xi shook his head absently. Li Wang shrugged. "Suit yourself. I'm Li Wang from 4-12A. Look me up if you want pointers!" He bolted.
But Yun Xi barely heard him.
Split focus. Sense the Realm.
He'd never broken through to Transcendent. But focus-splitting? That he'd mastered decades ago.
Closing his eyes, he reconstructed the neural pathway from his failed receiver attempt. The world sharpened—wind in his hair, fabric whispering against skin, and beneath it all...
A presence.
Corrosive. Alien.
Moonfall energy.
And through it—
A glimmer.
Then—
Light.
The Moon God Realm didn't just appear. It welcomed him, its call resonating through his consciousness like a lighthouse beam piercing fog.
For the first time in four centuries, Yun Xi stepped into the new world's heart—unaided. Unbound.
Like piercing clouds or parting mist, Yun Xi's consciousness tore through space and time, emerging into a world woven from thought itself.
Beep! Physical scan complete. Tier-3 warrior confirmed.
Beep! Mental frequency synchronized. Projection stabilized.
Beep! Assign designation for Moon God Realm access.
The announcements echoed—neither external nor internal, but omnipresent.
Beep! Input method: voice or script?
Text swarmed before him—Chinese, English, numerals, alphabets—blurring into illegibility. Reacting instinctively, Yun Xi tapped three digits.
"123" confirmed. Proceed to destination selection.
A thousand cities materialized. His gaze locked onto Starcrest.
Destination confirmed. Commencing transfer.
White mist dissolved. Within ten breaths, a sprawling square took shape—one kilometer across, thrumming with phantom life.
Welcome to the Outer Moon God Realm. Clear the First Layer to unlock Tier-1 privileges and spiritual energy conversion. Good luck.
The voice vanished, leaving Yun Xi stunned.
Real.
Every sensation—wind on skin, pavement underfoot—mirrored reality. Only his dual awareness of the cafeteria body confirmed this was illusion.
Pain came when he clenched his fist. A mental trick, yet indistinguishable from truth. Kill someone here, and their mind might believe death real.
What power created this?
For a fleeting moment, he longed to meet Cold Feng—the architect of this marvel. But two centuries stood between them.
"Dongfang!" Xiaoxue's voice snapped him back. She'd removed her neural link, frantic. "Get in! Go to Moonlight Spire, then Zhan Tian Tower, Room 4151! Passphrase: 'Tier-1 access'!"
At the square's center, a sapphire beam pierced the heavens—the Spire.
"Hurry! Zuo Zhenzhen's with us—she's cleared the First Layer! Her commentary's priceless!"
Before Yun Xi could respond, Xiaoxue reconnected.
Stepping into the light, the omnipresent voice returned:
Destination? Current points: 3. Local transfers only.
"Zhan Tian Tower, 4151."
Room locked. Insufficient clearance. Passphrase?
"Tier-1 access."
Granted.
Three seconds later, he stood in a compact training chamber. A holographic screen dominated the center, displaying a youth battling monsters. Three women faced it—Xiaoxue, Wanjun, and a frosty-eyed stranger.
Xiaoxue rose hastily. "Senior Zuo, this is my brother. Since public viewing slots are full..."
Zuo Zhenzhen's glance lasted precisely long enough to dismiss a third-tier nobody before refocusing on the screen. No greeting. No acknowledgment.
Xiaoxue pulled Yun Xi down, whispering, "Watch. Learn. Don't speak."
He obeyed, joining their vigil over Pang Fei's historic attempt.