Hate is a better teacher. Many might argue differently, but in this context, hate has proven advantageous.
In the Eastern region, 90% of the awakened taking the Academy trial hated Klaus—and they still do. Some were angry because of the humiliation he had put them through. This was especially true for people like Omari, Miguel, and Lawrence.
Some, however, hated him because of the possibility their girlfriends might leave them for him. Although the women around Klaus were considered some of the best in the region, they were still wary.
Just an image of Klaus was enough to win the heart of Lucy, a top beauty, so their worries were justified. They indeed had reason to be concerned.
However, this concern turned into hate, and many thrived on it. They all wanted to bridge the gap between them and Klaus somehow. So they began training like animals.
The men hated Klaus because of his charm, and the women hated his companions for having him all to themselves.
And it paid off. Now, looking at the rankings, the Easterners couldn’t believe their eyes. However, no matter how one looks at it, the Eastern region has indeed come out on top this time—and the trend won’t stop there. It’s bound to continue.
Klaus woke up from the game chair, and with the next few steps, he was back inside the large hall, joining the 1,999 others already present.
The moment he appeared, everyone noticed him. They all turned to look at him with varying expressions—some conveyed hate, anger, and even a desire to kill.
However, many showed awe. But Klaus wasn’t paying attention to them; his focus was on the rankings. When he saw his friends’ names in the top 20, he smiled and began moving toward them. Nobody dared to stand in his way.
The guy had just killed a Tier 8 creature they’d never seen before, so it would be foolish to block his path.
“Congratulations, guys,” Klaus said as he approached his friends.
They all smiled, knowing that although some of them hadn’t made it into the top ten as they’d planned, their rankings were still impressive.
Yes, his friends had met to strategize about breaking into the top ranks. However, they could only do much considering they are not monsters like Klaus. Still, they hadn’t fallen far behind.
“Big sister, looks like you wanted my spot,” Klaus said to Hanna, who smiled slightly. Truth be told, she was very shocked by the result herself.
Of course, she had also aimed for a high ranking, maybe within the top ten, but never expected to land in the top two. That was beyond her expectations.
“Nobody can take your place, brother; you are undisputed,” Hanna replied with a small smile.
“Ladies,” Klaus said, reaching for the waists of Anna and Lily, whose faces began turning pink. Even Klaus wasn’t holding back his affection in such a crowded place.
Well, he was Klaus; when had he ever bothered with that? He pulled them closer, resting their heads on his shoulders.
“Looks like I’ve got myself a pair of prodigies,” he added, making their blush deepen.
All around, both boys and girls were gritting their teeth in annoyance as they watched Klaus’s actions. Everyone wanted to be in his place. The boys wanted Klaus’s spot—some of the ladies, too. Without a doubt, Anna and Lily were heavenly beauties.
They could charm both guys and girls without much effort. So, with Klaus’s arm around their waists, it was as if he was daring others to take action. Some were very close to that point. Fortunately, before anyone could act on their feelings, a door opened, and seven people walked in.
The one leading them was a mature woman, someone in her late thirties. She had short blue hair and blue eyes. Although she wasn’t the most beautiful, she could hold her own in a ballroom full of ladies.
“Congratulations, everyone. You have finally made it to the Academy.” The moment she said that everyone went wild. They had all been training diligently for this moment, so they were thrilled to have finally achieved something significant.
“Now, before I continue, let me introduce myself. You can call me Instructor Constance. I will be your go-to instructor for the next three months before you finally head to the Academy. As your instructor, I’ll tell you a few things you should do and know before these three months are up.
“First, all of you are required to break through to the Grandmaster stage within these three months. The reason is that, before leaving here today, the sect will give you a valuable elixir to help expand your qi sea after the breakthrough.
“Let me explain. When you break through, your soul sea will expand, just as it did during your previous breakthroughs. However, this expansion will be different. This time, you will have the chance to determine how large it expands.
“This, of course, means that as you absorb Exp Points, cores, and other treasures, your qi sea will continue to expand. The reason we aim for a larger soul sea is that it allows you to use more qi during combat without worry.
“However, this expansion ends 72 hours after your breakthrough, so it would be in your best interest to work quickly. As temporary disciples of the Academy, you will be given a treasure that extends this time by an additional 42 hours.
“This is, of course, an advantage many would kill for, so be grateful. Use the time wisely, and right after expanding your soul sea, consume the Mountain Dew you won from the trial to stabilize and strengthen your foundations.”
Everyone nodded, even Klaus, who already had a rather large soul sea. He couldn’t wait to watch it expand even more. The moment he broke through, he would also start cultivating the second paragon star diagram.
“Before I continue, allow me to share a little something. Consider it my first official advice as your instructor.
“I know most of you are pretty impressive. You’re strong—very strong, in fact—so you might think that because of this, you can afford to be arrogant and avoid pushing yourselves harder. Well, I’m here to burst that bubble, children.
“None of you here has what it takes to take on any disciple currently in the Academy,” Instructor Constance said.
Everyone exchanged glances, some even looking toward Klaus. The announcer lady glanced at Klaus with a pondering expression, but Instructor Constance’s expression remained firm. She meant every word.
‘How exciting.’ While everyone seemed skeptical about what she said, Klaus stood there with a neutral expression, but inwardly, he was laughing.
If only they knew he hadn’t truly shown his true power. Perhaps he should invite them to his next tribulation, where he would be going toe to toe with the heavens. Maybe then, they would have a different opinion.
“And I’m not saying this to break your spirit; I just want you all to be prepared. When you arrive at the Academy, those there will try to oppress you. While I’d love to tell you to fight back, it would be in your best interest to lie low for a while and build your strength.
“The Academy will help with that since within these three months, you’ll start to sense your spiritual qi more closely. When this happens, it means you can begin forming your star core. However, it would be wise to hold off until you reach the Academy, so you can begin properly.
“Once your star core starts forming, you will gain the strength to fight back.” She didn’t waste much time. She immediately continued.
“Now, let’s discuss what you need to know before coming to the Academy.”