After exiting the station,
Carrie hesitated for a moment before glancing shyly at Link and asking,
"Link, my cousin will be picking me up soon. Would you like us to give you a ride?"
Link paused slightly, then shook his head with a smile.
"Thanks, but there's no need. Someone from the Eagle Hatchling Camp will be coming to pick me up."
Carrie nodded in understanding and playfully shook her fair-skinned arm.
"Alright then, Link, see you later~"
"See you!" Link waved goodbye.
—
Soon, Link boarded a black business car, following a figure clad in combat uniform.
Carrie stood there, watching the vehicle drive away, whispering under her breath,
"Link, please come back safely!"
As someone about to take the national spiritual powers exam herself, Carrie knew all too well what the Eagle Hatchling Camp represented.
Still, her heart sank a little.
After all, she had always been regarded as a little prodigy within her family.
Yet here, on a random train ride, she had casually met someone whose talent far surpassed hers —
and who was, to make matters worse, absurdly good-looking!
Thinking about it, Carrie couldn't help but clench her little fists tightly.
"It's just one of the Four Great Capital Universities... I can do it too!"
Just then, a striking and stylish figure appeared behind her.
"Carrie, there you are," a mature voice called out.
Carrie turned around to see her cousin Corinne —
cool, composed, and wearing oversized sunglasses that added a fierce edge to her appearance.
"Cousin!" Carrie called out, her face lighting up.
"Sorry for being late," Corinne said, giving her a quick hug.
"There was some business at the university that held me up."
Carrie obediently nodded and hugged her back tightly.
"Alright, let's get going," Corinne said, tapping Carrie lightly on her smooth forehead.
"Second Uncle was very clear — you need to focus and study hard while you're in Sanctilum. No slacking off!"
Carrie pouted from the forehead tap, rubbing her forehead dramatically, but the two girls quickly dissolved into laughter.
After a bit of playful bickering, they got into a dedicated car headed toward Astral Nexus University.
Inside the car, after chatting for a while, Carrie suddenly asked,
"Corinne, do you think everyone at Eagle Hatchling Camp is a genius?"
Corinne paused, then answered in an extremely serious tone,
"Without a doubt.
Anyone who gets into Eagle Hatchling Camp is a genius among geniuses."
She hesitated slightly, then added,
"Actually, with your talent, you might have had a chance to attend — but your second uncle would never allow it."
Carrie nodded thoughtfully, then explained,
"I met a new friend on the train earlier.
He said he's attending Eagle Hatchling Camp.
Right after we got off, someone in a uniform came to pick him up."
Corinne simply nodded, clearly unsurprised.
"Carrie," she said gently, "I know you might not like hearing this, but you have to understand —
there are people out there whose talents are beyond anything you can imagine."
"According to the information I have,
there are already students your age who have reached Level 1 Esper."
"Level 1 Esper!?"
Carrie's eyes widened in shock, momentarily rendered speechless.
She then lowered her head, visibly dejected, and said in a small voice,
"Corinne, do you think I'm useless?"
"The gap between me and those geniuses feels so huge...
Do you think I still have a chance to get into Astral Nexus University?"
Corinne couldn't help but laugh.
She reached over, ruffling Carrie's hair affectionately.
"Silly girl, getting discouraged already?"
"Relax," she said warmly.
"Those monstrous geniuses are the rare exceptions.
Honestly, your talent is already excellent — you just need to work harder."
"If you give it your all these next few months,
getting into Astral Nexus University won't be a problem."
Carrie nodded determinedly, pumping her little fists.
"Don't worry, Corinne! I'll work hard!"
—
Meanwhile, Link had already arrived outside the Eagle Hatchling Camp.
After getting off the business car, he entered a massive enclosed facility.
The building was enormous, its entrance flanked by gigantic statues of the Seven Saints.
The statues seemed deliberately positioned to gaze down at everyone who walked through the doors — Link included.
"Mr. Link, please proceed forward," a staff member in combat uniform instructed.
Link nodded politely and thanked him before picking up his backpack and heading deeper into the building.
Inside, security was visibly tight.
Link could sense that the guards posted here were no ordinary personnel —
their strength was far superior to someone like Melina from his earlier days.
After a series of complex security screenings —
metal detectors, spiritual energy scans, even DNA testing —
Link was finally cleared for entry.
The security was stringent for a good reason.
Years ago, the Eagle Hatchling Camp had suffered severe sabotage.
Because the camp gathered the brightest talents — humanity's future hope —
it had become a prime target for the Moon Worship Sect and the Demonworship Sect.
Some enemies had used talents like Veil of the Impostor to infiltrate, causing tremendous losses.
Since then, the camp had beefed up its security protocols to near perfection.
DNA verification had become mandatory —
after all, no matter how powerful Veil of the Impostor was, it couldn't alter a person's genetic makeup.
Under the staff's guidance, Link entered another massive hall.
Inside, numerous students had already gathered.
They stood in small groups, seemingly having already formed teams.
As Link walked in, a short-haired boy approached him with a friendly smile.
"Hey, classmate!
Which middle school are you from?" he asked.
"Would you like to join our group?
There's usually a preliminary trial before the camp officially starts.
If you fail, you'll be kicked out immediately."
"Teaming up would greatly increase your chances of passing."
Link nodded politely and introduced himself,
"I'm Link, from Yilan Middle School."
At the mention of "Yilan Middle School," the short-haired boy and several others nearby exchanged strange looks.
Someone nearby, a boy with a lazy, mocking air, immediately burst out laughing.
"Yilan Middle School?
Never heard of it!" he sneered loudly.
"What, are they letting anyone in these days?"
"If this place is supposed to be the Eagle Hatchling Camp, a high-class elite gathering,
then only students from elite middle schools should be allowed!"
"Those nobodies from unknown schools — they should just obediently stick to taking the spiritual powers national exam.
Why come here just to embarrass themselves?"