The sun came in through the window as Isshin slowly woke up.
He sat up and rubbed his eyes, still feeling a bit tired from the entrance tests. Today was his first day at the Verdant Dragon Academy.
He stretched and took a deep breath.
Excitement and nervousness mixed together, but he didn't overthink it.
After eating something quickly, he made his way to the main building.
The academy was even more impressive up close. Large pillars, detailed carvings, and long corridors filled with students moving around. It all felt… different.
When he entered the classroom, he paused.
There were a lot more people than he expected.
At least three hundred.
Isshin frowned slightly. "Wasn't it supposed to be 250?" he thought.
Raijin spoke.
"It's understandable that this Academy would be taking bribes to take in more students, like nobles... it happens everywhere."
Isshin didn't argue. He just took a seat.
The lecture started soon after.
At first, it was basic.
Cultivation, qi control, balance between body and mind.
Isshin already knew most of it.
Then the topic changed.
"Immortality," the teacher said.
The room went quiet.
"It's not about living forever in a simple sense. It's about reaching a level where death can't touch you in a normal way. Across existence, there are only a limited number of immortals."
Isshin listened more carefully now.
"They can't be killed like others. But they can be sealed. Some rule planets. Some rule galaxies. Some even rule entire universes."
Isshin didn't say anything, but that stuck with him.
After a moment, he asked quietly.
"…Are you one of them?"
Raijin answered immediately.
"Yes."
Isshin blinked.
Raijin continued.
"But things are not the same as before, the Sage is now gone somewhere, hiding at the edge of all universes, It was pretty chaotic a couple million years ago."
Isshin frowned slightly.
"are you sure the ones who killed my parents were related to the Sage? why would he even do something like that if he is such a high being"
"That is the thing, i am assuming he targeted me, he knew i was going around universes messing around, he was able to take advantage of my location, and made such a plan that i couldn't predict, your parents were the sacrifice to my abduction.
Isshin wanted to ask more, but Raijin cut it off.
"but you cannot change the past, atleast not right now, you should focus on cultivating and becoming as strong as you can, and if revenge is what drives you, so be it."
Isshin nodded.
The teacher continued
The instructor stood at the front and looked over the students for a moment before speaking.
"There are twelve realms in total that mortals follow," he said. "Humans, beasts, it doesn't matter. Everyone starts the same way."
"Once you step into immortality, everything changes. Different system, different rules. So don't worry about that yet."
He paused briefly.
"For now, just understand the mortal path."
"The first realm is the Body Refinement Realm."
"This is where everyone begins. No exceptions."
"At this stage, your dantian is just starting to function properly. You learn how to gather qi, either from your surroundings or from within your own body."
"You're not strong yet. You're just learning how to use qi at the most basic level. Strengthening your body, reinforcing your attacks, maybe using a few simple techniques."
"This is your foundation. If this is weak, everything after it will be unstable."
"The second realm is the Golden Core Realm."
"This is where people start taking cultivation seriously."
"You're no longer just gathering qi. You're refining it, stabilizing it."
"Your control becomes cleaner. Your output becomes stronger. Techniques that were unstable before now become usable."
"If Body Refinement is learning how to walk, Golden Core is learning how to fight properly."
"The third realm is the Nascent Soul Realm."
"This is where things start getting interesting."
"You're no longer just using qi. You start understanding it."
"You can read movement through qi. You can tell what someone is about to do before they even move."
"Your instincts improve a lot here. Your dantian stores much more qi, and your output increases heavily."
"This is usually where people develop their own fighting style."
"The fourth realm is the True Soul Realm."
The instructor slowed down slightly here.
"At this level, you're not just fighting physically anymore."
"When two people at this level clash, their qi can collide to the point where it creates a separate space."
"A spirit realm."
"Your bodies are still here, but your consciousness fights somewhere else."
"If both sides have a developed spirit, the fight becomes something completely different."
"This is where battles stop being simple exchanges and start becoming battles of will, control, and spirit."
"The fifth realm is the Dao King Realm."
"This is where your understanding becomes… natural."
"You don't think as much when you fight. You just know what to do."
"You start grasping concepts behind techniques, not just the techniques themselves."
"This is also where things like alchemy become easier. Not because the process changes, but because your control over qi is far more precise."
"You stop forcing things. You start guiding them."
"The sixth realm is the Saint Realm."
"This is where you begin affecting the world around you."
"At this stage, formations become a major part of your strength."
"You can set traps, build formations, control areas."
"For example, you could set a formation in a forest that activates the moment someone enters."
"Or a temple that attacks anything it detects."
"You're no longer just fighting directly. You're controlling the battlefield before the fight even begins."
"The seventh realm is the Emperor Realm."
"Very few people reach this level."
"Across the entire planet, maybe around ten thousand."
"At this stage, you're no longer just strong. You have influence."
"Most people at this level are tied to large forces, kingdoms, or sects."
"But they're not the ones fully in control."
"They're powerful… but not at the top yet."
"The eighth realm is the Empreyean Realm."
"This is where you start seeing who actually holds power."
"An Empreyean doesn't follow others. Others follow them."
"If a force has multiple Emperors, the Empreyean is the one above them."
"You could think of it like this."
"Emperors are the pillars."
"The Empreyean is the one holding the entire structure together."
"The ninth realm is the Transcendent Realm."
The instructor's tone changed slightly here.
"This is still not immortality."
"But compared to everything before it… it's different."
"At this level, a single person can influence entire regions."
"Kingdoms can rise or fall depending on their actions."
"If they really wanted to, they could challenge entire nations alone."
"It wouldn't be easy… but it's possible."
"We will go over the rest of the realms in a different class"
After a moment, Raijin added, "You should talk to people here. socialize a bit."
Isshin glanced around the room.
Most people were already in groups.
Then he noticed someone sitting alone.
That person stood out immediately.
He had a paper bag over his head.
Isshin stared for a second.
"…What?"
The guy was also holding a toy gun.
Isshin walked over.
Before he could say anything, the guy pointed the toy gun straight at him and pulled the trigger.
A small rubber object shot out with a loud squeak.
Isshin stepped back instinctively.
The guy laughed quietly.
Isshin looked at him. "Why are you wearing that?"
The guy tilted his head. "Why are you wearing a mask?"
Isshin shrugged. "Security."
"Same," the guy said.
Isshin stared at him for a second, then nodded.
"…What kind of abilities do you have?"
The guy smiled under the bag. "You'll see."
Isshin didn't push further.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Rune," the guy said.
"Isshin."
They shook hands.
After a moment, Rune stood up. "So… what now?"
Isshin let out a small laugh. "No idea."
Rune shrugged. "Same."
They left the classroom together.
The two of them walked through the academy, not really following anything specific. Rune didn't seem to care much about structure or rules, and somehow that made things feel more relaxed.
They talked a bit, mostly random things, nothing too serious.
Eventually, they reached the dorms.
"Guess this is it," Rune said.
"Yeah," Isshin replied.
They split up and went to their own rooms.
Isshin sat down on his bed.
It had been a long day.
He lay back and stared at the ceiling.
There was still a lot he didn't understand.