Unlike the others who reacted with excitement – some cheering, others whispering in awe – Bai Hao remained remarkably calm, his posture relaxed as he leaned back in his chair. While Emperor-rank talent was undeniably powerful – representing unrivaled potential, supreme status, and unimaginable glory and resources for ordinary people – when compared to his own abilities, the gap seemed substantial. After all, he could already acquire Saint-rank talents from his contract partner Yun Meng with ease. If he ever had the chance to form a contract with an Emperor-rank Spirit Master, there was no doubt he could gain their abilities as well, perhaps even enhance them beyond their original limits. No matter how formidable an Emperor-rank talent might be, it was ultimately just their own power – fixed, bounded by the natural limits of their gift. Whereas he himself possessed limitless potential, capable of growing stronger with every new contract he formed!
"Holy crap! A top-tier prodigy?! Someone even more amazing than us? How could Suzhou-Hangzhou let someone this strong appear out of nowhere!"
Li Yao let out a strange, high-pitched shout from behind Bai Hao, suddenly leaning forward so far his elbow nearly knocked over the ceramic pencil holder on Bai Hao's desk – sending a few wooden pencils rolling across the polished surface. His usually carefree face, which was always split into a lazy grin, was now a mixture of shock, envy, and blazing excitement. His eyes were wide open, reflecting the light from the classroom's overhead lamps like two burning coals.
"Hey! Bai Hao! Are you even listening to me? Emperor-rank! Genuine Emperor-rank quality!"
His voice trembled slightly as he tried to keep it down, pressing one hand against his chest as if to contain the surge of emotion within him, unable to hide his excitement. "Just think about it! Who was the last Emperor-rank we had? Xiao Mo! The guy from Suzhou-Hangzhou No. 3 High School five years ago! He became a Great Spiritual Wizard before even graduating with his master's degree – and was directly recruited by the military as a Major General! Can you believe that? Straight from high school to general! I heard his spirit sword 'Starfall' is a top-tier spiritual weapon specially gifted to him by the military's Armament Department – forged from meteorite iron and infused with the essence of a Star Spirit! With one swing, it can split a hill in two and leave a crater that glows blue for three days straight! That's what Emperor-rank means! Their ancestors' graves aren't just smoking green – they're spewing volcanic lava and shooting fireworks into the sky!"
"Oh."
In stark contrast to Li Yao's explosive excitement, Bai Hao only responded with a quiet murmur, his gaze never leaving the open textbook in front of him. The book lay flat on the desk, its pages filled with dense text about the fundamentals of spiritual energy circulation. His fingertips tapped lightly against the paper – a steady, rhythmic pattern that seemed to match the flow of his own thoughts – and his eyes were as calm as a deep mountain pond, reflecting nothing but quiet focus.
Emperor-rank? It was indeed powerful enough to command respect from ordinary people, capable of opening doors that would remain closed to others for their entire lives. But… Bai Hao's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, the faintest hint of a smile touching the corners of his mouth before vanishing just as quickly. With a talent that could grow almost without bounds, why would he envy others for their temporary advantages or disadvantages? Why waste time admiring someone else's fixed ceiling when his own path stretched upward endlessly? His path forward was a true staircase leading to the heavens, each step revealing new heights beyond imagination.
However, this calm and composed demeanor was completely misinterpreted by Li Yao, whose mind was already reeling from the extraordinary aura of the Emperor-rank talent. Li Yao let out a long, dramatic sigh, slumping forward until his forehead nearly touched the desk, his expression a bizarre mix of over-the-top sympathy and self-satisfied pride.
"Hhh… Bro, looks like your awakening really hit you hard – even snuffed out your fighting spirit? How could this happen to someone as cool as you?" He straightened up and patted Bai Hao's shoulder hard enough to make his whole body jolt slightly, as if trying to transfer his own boundless energy through physical contact. "Don't worry! I'll protect you from now on! I just awakened as a Profound-rank Spirit Envoy last week – my talent's not bad at all! My future's bright as hell, shining like the sun at noon, but brotherhood means more than anything to me! We'll face the exams together!"
Bai Hao ignored Li Yao's vivid "imagination" – he knew his friend meant well, even if he had no idea what he was talking about – and quietly slipped his palm into his desk drawer. His fingers wrapped around the cold glass surface of the potion bottle he'd hidden there earlier, the familiar cool touch bringing a faint sense of comfort and purpose. Other people's glory meant nothing to him – not even Emperor-rank beings, let alone legendary god-tier or immortal creatures that existed only in ancient texts. Rather than wasting energy on meaningless comparisons and daydreams, he'd rather use every single minute to improve his own skills, to strengthen his control over spiritual energy, and to prepare for the challenges ahead.
The crowd chattered and buzzed like a nest of excited bees until the classroom door swung open with a loud creak, finally bringing order to the chaos. On the podium, Teacher Chen – a stern-faced woman in her forties who was known for her strictness and deep knowledge of psychic history – entered with a grim face, her dark eyes sweeping across the room like a searchlight. She slammed her heavy stack of textbooks and lesson plans onto the wooden desk with a dull thud that echoed through the silent classroom.
"Silence!"
The angry reprimand was like a bucket of ice-cold water poured over everyone's heads, instantly quieting even the most talkative students. "The college entrance exams are right around the corner – less than three weeks away! How can you hope to reach the heights of psychic power if you're so easily distracted by every piece of gossip that comes your way? Take out your textbooks to page 147 – we're reviewing the history of modern psychic power development, specifically the Great Awakening Period of 2087. This material will be on your final exam, and it's essential for understanding how spiritual contracts work!"
The day passed quickly, though for Bai Hao it felt like only half a day had gone by. With the exams approaching, Suzhou-Hangzhou No. 1 High School had gradually relaxed its management of students, no longer requiring mandatory evening study sessions in the school library and instead adopting a fully autonomous self-study model. This allowed students to arrange their own schedules according to their needs – a boon for those like Bai Hao who needed quiet time to practice and experiment with their abilities without being watched.
As the afternoon sun began to set, its golden rays streamed through the classroom windows, painting the wooden frames red and casting warm, long shadows across the floor. The light gave everything a soft, almost nostalgic glow – books, desks, and even the dust motes dancing in the air seemed to shine with their own gentle light. When the final bell rang at four thirty, its clear, melodic tone echoed through the hallways, and the noisy chatter of students packing their bags faded away like receding tide. Bai Hao declined Li Yao's enthusiastic invitation to dinner at their favorite hotpot restaurant together, saying he needed to rest and review his notes. In truth, he stayed behind in the empty classroom to rest alone – his real goal was to take advantage of the quiet to start using the psionic potion he'd bought that afternoon, away from prying eyes.
After almost everyone had left – only a few students remained in the distance, packing slowly or talking in low voices – Bai Hao frowned slightly when he noticed a slender figure in his peripheral vision remained motionless. Mu Wanqiu sat in the front row as she had been all along, her back perfectly straight, her head bowed as she stared intently at the thick book in front of her. Her slender, white fingers – which looked as if they'd been carved from jade – turned the pages gently, one by one, her movements so graceful and deliberate it was as if time itself had slowed down around her. Even the way the light fell on her long black hair, which was tied back in a neat ponytail, seemed carefully arranged by some invisible artist.
"Aren't you leaving yet? Are you on a diet or something?! Li Yao was talking about hotpot all day – even I'm starting to feel hungry," Bai Hao thought to himself, his gaze sweeping over her elegant, slender back before dismissing the ridiculous idea with a mental shake of his head. Mu Wanqiu was known for her self-discipline, but she'd never struck him as someone who denied herself basic pleasures like food. "Forget it – I can't wait any longer. The potion will work best if I take it now, when my spiritual energy is at its most stable."
He made his decision firmly, no longer hesitating. His hand moved quickly and quietly down to his side, slipping into the side pocket of his worn canvas backpack. His fingers searched discreetly through the familiar contents – notebooks, pens, a small bottle of water – before closing around the smooth glass surface of the potion bottle. He pulled it out carefully, holding it beneath the desk where it was hidden from view, ready to twist off the cap and drink it while Mu Wanqiu wasn't looking – when suddenly her clear voice cut through the silence.
"Bai Hao."
To his complete surprise, Mu Wanqiu – who had been facing away from him as if completely engrossed in her book – suddenly lifted her head and turned around without warning, her dark eyes meeting his directly. Bai Hao jumped in shock, his heart skipping a beat as he quickly lowered his head, shoving the potion bottle back into his backpack and pretending to close his eyes and rest his forehead on his desk. He could feel his ears growing warm – not from embarrassment, but from the sudden surge of spiritual energy that always accompanied moments of surprise.
Mu Wanqiu looked at him, her soft red lips pursed slightly as she hesitated for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully before speaking gently. Her voice was quiet but clear, carrying across the empty classroom without effort. "Bai Hao… which psionic university are you planning to apply to? The application forms are due next week."
Bai Hao had been sitting with his eyes closed, thinking about how best to take the potion without attracting attention, and was caught completely off guard by the question. I rarely interact with Mu Wanqiu at all – we've exchanged maybe a dozen words in total over the past three years. Why is she suddenly talking to me? he wondered, keeping his eyes closed for a moment longer to compose himself. Is she really asking me? Or did she mistake me for someone else?
Feeling it would be more awkward to keep pretending, he sat up straight and looked up at her, his expression one of genuine confusion. "Me? You're asking me?"
A faint smile appeared on Mu Wanqiu's stunning face – a soft, warm expression that seemed to outshine the sunset itself, so bright and genuine it was almost hard to look at directly. The usual distance that surrounded her like an invisible barrier seemed to melt away, leaving only kindness in her dark eyes.
"If there's no third person left in this classroom," her voice was soft, with a hint of questioning that was barely audible, like wind rustling through leaves, "then of course I'm asking you. Who else would it be?"
"Hehe…"
Though Bai Hao had no idea what the girl was planning – why she would suddenly take an interest in his future plans – he saw no need to hide anything and spoke casually, leaning back in his chair and stretching his arms above his head. "Who knows? With my talent level – just a regular Profound-rank – I can only take things one step at a time. I'll probably apply to some of the mid-tier universities, maybe Suzhou-Hangzhou Psionic Institute or Jiangnan Technical College. Whatever I can get into with my scores."
While his growth potential was excellent, he knew it would still require considerable time to develop – without that time and proper training, he was no different from any other Profound-rank talent in the eyes of university admissions officers. After all, he couldn't possibly open up to her and reveal his secrets – not when even Yun Meng didn't know the full extent of his abilities.
"Oh..."
Mu Wanqiu nodded slightly, a touch of disappointment flickering across her face before she could hide it, and fell silent for a moment. The setting sun cast a hazy golden halo around her, making her white school uniform glow like light itself, and the atmosphere suddenly felt somewhat stagnant, as if the air had grown heavy between them. She stood up slowly, pushing her chair back with a soft scrape against the floor, and walked lightly over to Bai Hao's desk – her movements so quiet she barely made a sound.
"Do you still remember the little girl you saved near West Lake three years ago? It was during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday – the lake was crowded with people watching the dragon boat races."
Bai Hao looked up abruptly, shock clear on his face as his eyes widened in recognition. Long-buried memories suddenly flooded back, so vivid it was as if they had happened yesterday: the chaotic scene at West Lake three years ago, the sound of people shouting and splashing in the water, the suffocating feeling of being choked by murky lake water as he dove beneath the surface, and finally, the sight of a little girl's tear-filled eyes full of fear, her small hands reaching up toward him desperately… He vaguely recalled a slightly older girl nearby who had anxiously called for help, her voice cracking with panic as she ran along the shore, searching for someone strong enough to dive in. But that was from three years ago, in what should have been a completely different world – before his awakening, before he'd discovered the truth about his abilities. Could it be…?
He hesitated for a moment, his gaze moving from her face down to her hands, which were folded neatly in front of her, before looking back up at her with faint disbelief. "Could the little girl I saved three years ago be related to you? It doesn't seem possible – she looked only seven or eight years old at the time, with round cheeks and braided hair. Nothing like you."
"Finally, you remember."
Mu Wanqiu let out a soft sigh, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, then bowed deeply with genuine sincerity – so low her forehead nearly touched the edge of his desk. Her voice was filled with emotion as she spoke, her usual composure giving way to raw gratitude. "Even though it's late – three years is a long time – I have to say this properly. Thank you for saving my younger sister Mu Xiaowan at West Lake three years ago. She'd wandered away from our family during the festival, slipped on the wet rocks by the shore, and fell into the water. If you hadn't dived in after her… I don't know what would have happened to her. To us."
"Your sister?"
Bai Hao furrowed his brow, studying Mu Wanqiu's beautiful face closely – looking for any hint of resemblance to the little girl he'd saved. Now that he thought about it, there had been a girl who'd helped him that day at West Lake – she'd wrapped a towel around the little girl, called for an ambulance, and stayed with him until help arrived. He'd been so focused on saving the child that he'd swallowed too much water and felt dizzy afterward, his vision blurring as he tried to keep the little girl's head above water. Before he'd fully recovered, kind passersby had taken him to the hospital, where he'd spent a few hours being checked over for water in his lungs. Later, when he'd asked the nurses about the girl he'd saved, he'd been told she'd already left the hospital with her sister and was safe – so he'd stopped thinking about it, assuming he'd never see them again.
"Hehe, it was nothing."
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart – the shock of realizing he'd saved the sister of one of the most famous students in school – and his tone returned to calm, though an uncontrollable flicker of pride rose within him. As expected of me – no matter which timeline I'm in, no matter what world I find myself in, I've always been happy to help others when they're in need. That part of me will never change. He waved his hand dismissively, trying to downplay his actions. "Anyone would have done the same thing. The lake was crowded – I just happened to be close enough to dive in before anyone else could."
Mu Wanqiu slowly straightened up, the sunset reflecting light off her jade-white face, adding an almost divine, ethereal quality to her appearance. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears, but her expression was steady and determined. She hesitated for a moment, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as if weighing her options carefully, her fingers playing with the hem of her uniform sleeve. Finally, she took a deep breath, as if gathering all her courage, and her gaze settled back on Bai Hao – no longer hesitant or uncertain, but filled with firm resolve.
"As repayment for what you did for my sister – for my family – I want to offer you something meaningful. If you haven't chosen a psionic university yet, or if you're worried about getting into a good one with your current talent level… I can sign a spiritual contract with you. As my Spirit Envoy, with my qualifications as a Saint-rank Spirit Master, I can take you to Qingbei University – one of the top three psionic academies in the country."
When it came to the relationship between Spirit Envoys and Spirit Masters, people often considered them inseparable partners, combining offense and defense as one cohesive unit. Their spiritual energies were linked through the contract, allowing them to share strength and support each other in battle. Because of this deep connection, there was an unwritten rule in the Xia Kingdom's psionic universities that had been recognized for over a century: if one party in a contract met the admission standards for a particular psionic university, the other could enter directly as an attendant without taking the competitive entrance exams. While the attendant status was relatively low compared to full students who earned their place through exams, it still granted access to the same resources, teachers, and training facilities – a priceless opportunity for anyone looking to advance their cultivation.
With Mu Wanqiu's extraordinary talent as a Saint-rank Spirit Master, admission to the prestigious Qingbei Holy Academy was already guaranteed – she'd received a letter of acceptance two months ago, along with an offer of a full scholarship and a private training suite. To repay Bai Hao's kindness, she was even willing to sacrifice her precious first contract – a decision that would shock anyone who knew how valuable a Saint-rank's first contract was in the world of psionics, often attracting offers from powerful families, corporations, and even the military itself.