Outside the Trial grounds, every gaze was fixed on the giant ranking board and the ticking time. The countdown hit zero just as five pillars of light appeared in front of the Trial Gate, depositing the final participants onto the stone plaza.

  For a moment, no one spoke.

  Students stared at the updated final rankings, still struggling to accept what they were seeing.

  Student 23 whispered, “Is that the guy who got first rank? What is going on… he looks so normal. Nothing special about him.”

  Laxsi hurried over to Aarna. “Did he really fight that well?”

  Aarna rubbed her forehead. “Don’t ask me. I’m still in disbelief because of that final attack on the boss. He basically one?shot it.”

  “What??” Laxsi’s eyes widened. “He even killed the boss beast? Doesn’t that mean he’s only the third person ever to kill a boss beast in the beginner Trial Grounds, and that too right after the Trial rules changed?”

  Student 34 muttered, “He definitely just got lucky. To think someone I’ve barely even seen around the school got first rank…”

  The board glowed with the final numbers:

  1st: Winay Hecksopian — 1120

  (100?point bonus for killing the boss within five minutes)

  2nd: Aashna Icenfield — 997

  3rd: Aarna Asval — 997

  4th: Oscherin Terrion — 977

  5th: Gonad Valtoris — 840

  6th: Grandellion Cellewars — 750

  7th: Carg Capster — 710

  8th: Laxsi Stalwart — 650

  A teacher stepped forward and released a light pressure over the crowd.

  “Everyone, silence,” she called. “We have guests who have come from far places. Let us welcome the four instructors from the four prestigious academies.”

  The murmurs died down.

  From the far side of the plaza, figures approached.

  The teacher briefly introduced them one by one: Robert of Frontwall Martial Academy, Ramyas of Four Elements Academy, Kaigal of Wildheart Academy, Evan of Twilight Greenland Academy—along with the head of the School of Infinite, Rainor Nightsky.

  Rainor landed with a soft touch on the ground, his robe barely stirring.

  “Hello everyone,” Rainor said, voice calm but carrying clearly. “For many of you, this is the first time seeing me in person. I am your school’s head.”

  He gave them a small nod.

  “Now, let’s announce the results.”

  “As you can see,” Rainor continued, “first rank goes to Winay Hecksopian.”

  He raised his hand. A small token, wrapped in gentle spirit energy, drifted toward WINI.

  “This token will grant you permission to access the first?grade open locker,” Rainor said. “You can receive your prize from the Southern Radiant Archive. There, you can also register as a beginner awakened cultivator. Some basic perks will be available to you along with the artifact.”

  He then took out a small pouch and passed it across with the token.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “And this is your first prize from the school—two mid?grade spirit stones and one thousand low?grade spirit stones. Congratulations, Winay.”

  WINI accepted the pouch and token with both hands. “Thank you. I’ll do that,” he said simply.

  Rainor nodded, then turned toward the board again.

  “Next, Aarna Asval and Aashna Icenfield ended with the same score,” he said. “Both will receive the same second prize.”

  He handed each of them a pouch.

  “Second place: one mid?grade spirit stone and five hundred low?grade spirit stones.”

  Then he called Oscherin forward and passed her another pouch. “And third prize for Oscherin Terrion,” he said.

  Oscherin took the pouch quietly, eyes still sharp.

  Rainor looked over the gathered students. “As always, the top fifty students receive the chance to attend one of the prestigious academies. So, everyone in the top fifty, think carefully and decide which academy you wish to attend.”

  The top fifty began murmuring among themselves, weighing choices. After around five minutes, Rainor raised his hand again.

  “All who choose to go to Four Elements Academy, raise your hands.”

  Around twenty hands went up.

  Ramyas smiled faintly. “Oh? Not bad,” she commented.

  “Next, Wildheart Academy,” Rainor said.

  Only nine hands lifted.

  Kaigal laughed. “Haha, this is better than expected. It’s hard to survive in our academy, you know. We train students to form contracts with spiritually conscious beasts and fight alongside them. Most people are scared of that path.”

  “Next, Twilight Academy?” Rainor asked.

  Around fifteen students raised their hands, including Carg and Miron.

  “That’s great,” Evan said. “I was thinking of inviting those two in particular. We have specialists in our academy who are very good with their types of soul energy.”

  Rainor looked around. “Frontwall Martial Academy?”

  All remaining top?fifty students raised their hands—except one.

  WINI.

  Rainor focused on him. “Student Winay, are you not going to choose any academy?”

  WINI shook his head slightly. “No, sir. I will choose one—but not as a primary student. As a secondary student. So I choose Frontwall Martial Academy only as secondary.”

  Rainor’s eyes narrowed minutely. “By secondary student… you mean you intend to join Infinite Academy, the top prestigious academy, as your main school?”

  A few nearby students drew sharp breaths.

  Note: Of the five prestigious colleges on the Indus continent, the first?ranked academy, Infinite Academy, is considered the strongest. Students there may also register in one of the four other prestigious academies as secondary students.

  Aarna’s eyes widened. “What? That academy is known for giving insane trials and tasks,” she said. “Sometimes they even assign unexplored areas as missions. And you’re saying you’ll join there?”

  WINI answered calmly, “It’s fine. I have my reasons. I’m going there as planned.”

  Gonad sighed. “I thought we’d attend the same academy.”

  WINI smiled. “I still have to come to Frontwall Martial Academy for half of the tasks, right? We’ll meet then.”

  Note: Most people don’t even think about joining Infinite Academy. But every year, from all over the continent—and even other continents—students apply. Almost all have at least a medium?grade awakened soul, and some even have unique souls.

  Robert crossed his arms. “Well, at least it’s better than nothing,” he muttered, but there was a hint of satisfaction in his tone.

  The other instructors quietly accepted the situation. Whatever benefits they could offer… Infinite Academy naturally offered on a much higher level. All they could do now was try to secure other top students. But even that had limits—three of the four top?ranked students besides WINI came from powerful households, where the rule was to taste real wilderness harshness at least once. That need was easily satisfied in Frontwall Martial Academy.

  Rainor clapped his hands lightly, drawing everyone’s attention once more.

  “Since many of you are tired or injured,” he said, “you may rest today. Tomorrow, the instructors from each academy will take you for registration.”

  He looked over the crowd one last time.

  “All right, everyone. Disperse for the day.”

  Students began to break apart, some excited, some thoughtful, some still glancing at WINI as they walked away—already talking about Infinite Academy, the Council artifact, and the boy who took first place with a soul everyone had called trash only a few days ago.

  Most students are now turning their focus toward breaking through to the second realm, the Communication Realm. For almost everyone, reaching the peak of the Awakener Realm was the easy part.?

  From here, the real cultivation and struggle begins—this is the true first stage of their path, where progress will no longer come just from talent, but from will, understanding, and the risks they dare to take

  With the Trial complete, the story now begins to expand into deeper cultivation, larger stakes, and the wider world ahead.

  See you in the next chapter!