In the autumn of Year 9999 of the Divine Calendar, over on the East Sea in Qingzhou City—

Qingzhou Academy stood tall, a holy site of cultivation. Half the elites from noble clans and sect families in Qingzhou had once studied within these walls. Getting into the academy was a badge of honor. Anyone who set foot here usually gave it their all.

But not everyone shared that mindset.

In one of the lecture halls, a teenage boy lay sprawled across his desk, fast asleep.

On the platform, a young woman in a flowing green robe frowned and stepped down, her gaze locked onto the slumbering figure.

Her name was Isabella Quinn, seventeen, a formal disciple of Qingzhou Academy, and instructor to the outer disciples. Stunning face. Killer figure. The most popular teacher in the academy.

All heads in the hall followed her as she walked. Even angry, Isabella’s steps were graceful, her presence captivating.

“That guy’s asleep again… in Miss Quinn's class, no less,” someone muttered. Around the hall, many students shared puzzled looks. This clearly wasn’t the first time.

“With her looks and curves, just watching her should be enough to keep you awake... What's in that guy's head?”Among all the instructors, Isabella Quinn was hands-down the most popular—no debate there. The reason? One look and you'd get it. Countless students saw her as a goddess. Her lecture hall was always packed to the brim.

Sleeping in Isabella Quinn's class? That was blasphemy in their eyes.

She walked light as a cat. When she reached the boy's side, there wasn’t even a whisper of sound. Standing quietly by the desk, she stared down at the slumbering face before her. That stunning beauty of hers now wore a layer of frost.

"Ethan Green."

The voice that called wasn’t from Isabella Quinn—it came from behind Ethan.

Still caught in his nap, Ethan stirred, propping his head lazily in his hands. As his eyelids fluttered open, the first thing he saw was that graceful figure before him.

"Wife..." he mumbled under his breath. His voice was barely a whisper, like sleep-talking.

But in the silence of that moment, the words hit like a slap. Time froze. Then came the outrage.

"He just... flirted with Instructor Quinn? Out loud?"

"What a shameless bastard," someone muttered, eyes flaring.

Angry gazes shot toward Ethan like daggers. He shivered. Something felt off. As he looked up, what he saw was a flawless face—now filled with fire.“Ugh…” Ethan Green’s face twitched. Why her? Wasn't it Chloe Breeze calling him?

He turned around and saw a fresh-faced girl about fifteen, glaring straight at him with fury on her face.

One glance told Ethan he was screwed.

“Miss Quinn, I…” he started to explain.

“Ethan Green.” Isabella Quinn cut him off coldly. “Under what circumstances was the Qingzhou Academy founded?”

Clearly, she was trying to steer away from the awkward moment just now. Still, the simmering anger in her voice was impossible to miss. Ethan could almost feel sharp strands of sword intent seeping off her, slicing into his skin like invisible blades.

“Three hundred years ago, Ealdgyth Phoenix united East Divine State and ordered the lords to establish martial academies to spread the martial way. Qingzhou Academy was born in that era,” Ethan answered flatly. What he said followed the official records. His clan, though, told of something else—stories that were never meant to be spoken aloud.

“What professions exist in cultivation?” Isabella asked again.“Cultivation splits into martial and spell paths. Martial cultivators can be warriors, knights, swordsmen, and so on. Spell cultivators include mages, alchemists, artifact forgers, etc. Mages also branch into different types. Some gifted ones even do both martial and spell,” Ethan Green replied.

“You missed one class, didn’t you?” Isabella Quinn asked with a serious look, her tone low.

“Missed it? No way.” Ethan's face lit up with a faint smile like he was touched by something divine. “The strongest class in all of Shenzhou, chosen by the heavens themselves—Celestial Mage. They’re born with gifts from above. Rare talents like summoners, beast tamers, star-seers—most of them come from Celestial Mages. And even when they practice martial arts, they’ve got better aptitude than others.”

The students around him all looked amazed. Celestial Mage—what a legendary path, blessed by the heavens.

“Even beginner Celestial Mages are naturally suited to both martial and spell arts,” Isabella said softly, her eyes flickering with longing. Then she turned to Ethan, her tone sharpening again. “Didn’t expect you to know so much about it.”

“Of course.” Ethan stared at her, tone serious. “I am a Celestial Mage.”

“Pfft—” In the back, a student choked on his water and burst into coughing fits.

Everyone turned toward Ethan like they were looking at a fool.

This guy really had guts—daring to flirt with Lecturer Quinn and now even pretending to be a Celestial Mage? Just how thick-skinned could he get? No wonder he’s the infamous troublemaker of Qingzhou Academy.But who did he think he was? Three years into Xiuxing at the academy, and he was still stuck at the first phase of Qi Gathering. Body weak, clearly hadn’t even completed basic body training. Someone like that dared to claim he was a Fate Mage?

Shameless.

Isabella Quinn’s chest rose and fell with rage. She stared at Ethan Green, voice cold. “Since you claim to be a Fate Mage, your Life Palace must hold a soul. Show me your Life Soul.”

“My Life Soul is still asleep and can’t be summoned yet. I fell asleep in class because of it,” Ethan replied calmly.

“Ethan Green—” Isabella suddenly raised her voice, her eyes locking onto the boy in front of her. “Three years ago, you entered the academy at twelve. I was just an outer disciple then, watching your talent test. You had Heaven-grade affinity for spiritual Qi, shocked the whole school. Many elders paid attention to you. But in these years, not a single step forward. Still at Qi Gathering, wasting time every day, lazy and unfocused in class. Have you cultivated at all? Now you're even lying, calling yourself a Fate Mage, blaming your classroom naps on that.”

“Every year’s Spring and Autumn trials, you’ve skipped them all. You’re always dead last in the rankings. Ethan Green, do you not have an ounce of shame?”

Her furious shout made the whole classroom go silent. You could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared at Isabella Quinn’s shaken face—this was the first time they’d ever seen her lose composure like this.Ethan Green was stunned too, staring into Isabella Quinn’s furious, flushed face with his deep, pitch-black eyes.

"Three years, huh?" he muttered to himself. Time had crept by without him even noticing. That thing in his Fate Palace was still the same as ever. But what really surprised him was that this usually cold and distant ice beauty—Senior Sister Quinn—had apparently been watching him all along. From the moment he stepped into the academy and revealed his top-tier Perception talent, she’d been keeping an eye on him.

Silence hung heavy in the room. Isabella studied the young man before her. Sharp features, clear-cut lines, dark eyes bright like stars—despite being a bit on the lean side, the fifteen-year-old had little else to criticize. In a few more years, he’d no doubt grow into a strikingly handsome man.

“Did I go too far?” she wondered inwardly, catching a flicker of loneliness in Ethan’s eyes. Her anger dulled slightly.

"One month. That’s all you've got until the autumn exam," she said, her tone calming but firm. "If you give up again or fail, even Gabriel Forest won’t be able to help you. The academy won’t let you stay this time. Do you get that?"

The other students’ eyes narrowed—looks of mixed disdain and curiosity in their gaze. It seemed the academy’s patience with Ethan had finally run dry.

Was he really about to be expelled from Qingzhou Academy? If so, he’d go down in the school’s history. After all, getting kicked out of Qingzhou was no small feat.“If he leaves, I leave.”

A calm voice came from the back. Everyone turned to look at the boy sitting in the corner, expressions mixed—some admired him, some envied him, others simply feared him.

“The academy’s decision is clear. Gabriel Forest doesn’t need to take next spring’s exam. He can choose any hall—Warrior, Knight, or Spell—to continue his cultivation. His future shouldn’t be dragged down by you.” Isabella Quinn gazed at Ethan Green, a hint of regret in her eyes. These two, once on the same path, were now heading in entirely different directions.

“Dragged down?” Ethan smirked, a trace of defiance in his tone.

“Shut up…”

Gabriel suddenly stood up, sharp light flashing in his eyes as he stared straight at Isabella.

“Sit down,” Ethan said without turning his head.

Gabriel froze, then quietly lowered himself back into his seat. To him, Ethan’s words were law.

“I’ve decided…” Ethan looked straight at Isabella, the corner of his lips lifting with a cocky grin. “I’ll be joining the autumn exam this year. For real.”

Behind him, Gabriel’s eyes lit up.

Three years… Was he finally getting serious?

For three years in Qingzhou Academy, everyone only talked about Gabriel—his top-tier metal affinity, unmatched martial talent, skilled in both magic and might. Though just an outer disciple, his level surpassed many instructors.But who really knew that boy who always slept with his head down?

“You're still stuck at the first stage of Qi Gathering, weak as ever. Even if you show up for the Autumn Trials, how do you plan to pass?” Isabella Quinn stared at Ethan Green, a quiet sigh in her heart. Even if he started trying now, it might already be too late.

“What if I do pass?” Ethan replied, not a trace of doubt in his voice—his confidence borderline arrogant.

“If you really pass, then from now on, do whatever you want during lectures,” she said flatly.