Chapter 18: The Legendary War God Academy, Part 1

Le Kai was momentarily stunned and thought to himself with self-mockery, “As expected, it’s about me!” Yet he had always been optimistic since childhood. Having survived countless brushes with death at such a young age, he possessed the wisdom of an old sage who had seen through the ways of the world.

“Since it’s already a predetermined fact, what difference does knowing make? Teacher, please just tell me. Even if I could only live one more day, I would be content.”

Seeing Le Kai’s calm demeanor, the professor suddenly erupted in rage. He slapped Le Kai’s head fiercely and spat out, “Don’t talk nonsense! That’s the most appalling thing I’ve ever heard. What do you mean, you’d be satisfied with just one more day? The meaning of life lies in struggle, in creating miracles. Are you content to stay where you are? Only the weak and insignificant creatures have such cowardly and shameful thoughts! How can you think this way?”

Le Kai smiled awkwardly and asked, “Then what should I think?”

“You need to take action, fight for your own life, do everything you can to survive, and believe that you can create miracles.”

Le Kai stood up and shouted loudly, “I want to live! I want to outlive the mutated leopard! I want to create miracles!” After shouting, he looked at the professor in astonishment and revealed a pure smile. “Teacher, your method really works. After yelling, I feel much lighter. I think I can go hunt mutated beasts this afternoon.”

The professor slumped down, gazing at Le Kai helplessly, comforting himself inwardly: He’s still just a child, an innocent child who understands nothing.

“By the way, teacher, you still haven’t told me what’s wrong with me. Please tell me!” Le Kai leaned in, shaking the professor’s shoulder like a child begging for a treat.

At his age, such behavior was perfectly normal. But in the professor’s eyes, he had long ceased to see Le Kai as a child. Now, being jostled by him felt strange indeed, and the professor wondered if perhaps he expected too much of Le Kai. After all, he was still a child.

“Stop shaking me, or my head will spin. Listen, kid, your situation is dire. You only know that the Berserk Technique consumes a person’s potential, but actually, before adulthood, it also devours your life force! This life force is extremely important to the human body. As the saying goes, a thread of vitality is the foundation of survival. No matter how strong your body or inner strength, if this vitality is severed, you die!” The professor thought for a moment and finally decided to explain to Le Kai.

Le Kai asked in confusion, “What is this vitality? Can you see it?”

“Vitality, simply put, is your lifespan! You can’t see or touch it, but some extraordinary people can sense it. For example, you can immediately tell the weakness of a sick person compared to a healthy one, right? Vitality is similar—mysterious, yet still perceptible. Some great masters can employ various methods to extend someone’s life. Those are too profound for you right now, so don’t ask. Besides, there are treasures born from the will of heaven and earth, miraculous items that defy nature. If you can obtain and consume such treasures, they can restore your life force.”

Le Kai was undeniably curious—he never let go of anything until he had learned about it for at least half a day. It was clear the professor was imparting knowledge he had never shared before, sparking Le Kai’s interest. But the professor seemed to anticipate this and immediately sealed his lips.

“Those life-extending masters are rare and legendary, so don’t count on them. You’re left with one last option: to seek out heavenly treasures and consume them.” The professor’s expression was grave, clearly having made some inner resolution. He continued, “But unfortunately, this planet is heavily irradiated and lacks any such miraculous treasures. In fact, these treasures only exist in a handful of the most dangerous places in the universe, which ordinary people can never reach. For you to enter and obtain them... Hard! Harder than scaling the heavens!”

Le Kai grew anxious. “Teacher, didn’t you say that if there’s a one-in-ten-thousand chance, you shouldn’t give up? If there’s a one-percent chance, you should fight for it? If there’s a thirty-percent chance, you should go all out? Since there’s a chance, how can I give up? No matter how hard it is, I have to try!”

The professor gave a bitter smile and said, “But... a one-in-ten-thousand chance? The place I’m talking about—your odds of reaching it alive are less than one in a billion! If you wish to enter ‘Martial God Star’ to seek treasures and adventure, there’s only one path: to enroll in ‘Battle God Academy.’”

“Battle God Academy? Damn!” Le Kai couldn’t help but curse. He had heard the professor speak of it before—it was the greatest and most sacred academy in the entire Wolf Star System, unrivaled, the holy land for virtually all martial artists.

Excluding colonized planets like Azure Star, there were ten thousand inhabited worlds with registered populations, and at least twenty trillion official citizens. The total population was unfathomable. Battle God Academy, as the royal academy of the star system, was infamous for its insane admission standards—not even the most gifted geniuses were guaranteed a chance to take the entrance exam.

Martial God Star, the most mysterious and important planet in the Wolf Empire, had always been regarded as a national treasure, tightly guarded by the empire. Each year, only the academy’s outstanding students were granted entry for treasure hunting and trials. Out of tens of thousands of students, only ten were chosen—an almost impossible feat.

Previously, Le Kai had always treated Battle God Academy as a legend or a story. Now, hearing that his only path was to secure one of those few spots, even with his mind stronger than most adults, he was utterly shocked and jumped to his feet.

“What’s wrong? Afraid? Didn’t you say that as long as there’s a chance, a miracle can be made? Those geniuses are human; aren’t you as well? Same nose, same eyes. To falter before the challenge isn’t like you!”

Faced with the professor’s mockery, Le Kai shouted excitedly, “Battle God Academy! That’s Battle God Academy! Old man, it’s easy for you to say, but... but I, though an extraordinary genius myself, those people are monsters! The top ten out of twenty trillion people? That’s madness, absolute madness!”

However arrogant Le Kai was, he didn’t dare believe his talent could place him in the top ten out of twenty trillion. He also overlooked the fact that the universe consisted of more than one star system—even among the top ten, earning a spot might not even be possible.

The professor sneered, “So what if it’s Battle God Academy? They’re just a bunch of stubborn, rule-bound old fossils. Technology advances day by day, but martial arts remain unchanged for millennia, without innovation, even regressing. What’s there to be proud of? If you follow what I teach and work hard, crushing those so-called geniuses will be as easy as waving your hand. I never imagined my student would be so spineless, lacking even the courage to fight. I am truly disappointed.”

Le Kai stared at the professor in shock, as if trying to confirm whether the man was insane. To trample billions of geniuses with such confidence—if he wasn’t the greatest genius, then he was the maddest of madmen.