In the blazing heat of midsummer, the Chi-Yun Rainforest in the eastern Federation lay shrouded in drifting mist, a thin veil winding through towering ancient trees. Birds occasionally burst up through the thick canopy, screeching as they soared into the sky.
But high above, the sun was no longer the sun people remembered. Years ago, a colossal bronze sword—so gigantic that words failed to capture its scale—fell from the heavens and pierced straight through it, leaving half a broken tip jutting out like a wound in the sky.
The ancient sword looked as if it had endured eons. Weathered, solemn, emanating a pressure so intense that its glow wrapped the entire firmament—its very presence felt like it could suppress the land itself.
From a distance, the "Sword-Sun over the Rainforest" looked almost like a painting—until a deep humming broke the illusion. A massive red hot-air streamer glided slowly above the jungle.
The airship's gondola was large enough to hold hundreds. Boys and girls clustered on the deck in cheerful groups, their laughter drifting through the air. They were new students from Phoenix City, on their way to one of the Federation's Four Great Dao Academies—the Ethereal Dao Academy.
Maybe it was excitement for the future, maybe it was youthful curiosity, but the long journey didn't feel long at all. A few shy glances exchanged between boys and girls only made the days more entertaining.
The airship was equipped with a cafeteria, cultivation chambers, even a medical bay—necessary accommodations for a voyage of thousands of miles.
At this moment, the cafeteria was lively as ever. At one table sat a chubby teenager, stuffing his mouth while clutching his round belly.
He looked seventeen or eighteen, wearing an oversized blue robe. Despite the baby-fat on his round face, he could still be considered somewhat handsome. He stared in despair at the seven or eight empty plates before him, patting his stomach with loud slaps.
"Great… I've probably gained another three pounds. Why can't I stop eating? How am I supposed to become the President of the Federation if I die young?" the boy muttered miserably, ending with a heavy burp.
His name was Wang Baole, one of the new students admitted into the Ethereal Dao Academy. His life goal was simple—become an official. Preferably the highest official. The President, to be exact.
His ambition could be traced back to childhood. He still remembered his father's bony fingers patting his head with a long sigh.
"Baole, being in power is the way to go. Money solves problems, sure… but it won't stop people from pushing you around. If you don't want to be bullied, become someone no one dares to bully."
Young Baole didn't get it—until elementary school, when his class monitor publicly scolded him for not turning in homework. He bribed her with two candies, only for her to report him to the teacher anyway. The betrayal scarred him deeply.
From that day on, he vowed to become a class monitor—not to bully others, but so he wouldn't be bullied.
Then he grew older… and realized even class monitors had people above them. So he set his sights on the very top—the President of the Federation. That way, no one could boss him around ever again.
And since all high-ranking officials were graduates of the Four Dao Academies, he studied desperately to get in.
But fate played a joke on him. His family bloodline carried a "curse": any direct male who exceeded two hundred pounds died young—before thirty-five. He had seen his family genealogy himself, and every chubby ancestor died early without exception.
That night, he'd dreamt of joining the ranks of his fat ancestors before even becoming President. It terrified him so much that "losing weight" became a matter of life and death.
He tried every weight-loss method the new Spirit-Energy Era produced—pills, martial training, spiritual diets. Nothing worked. His number on the scale only climbed higher.
Thinking of this, Wang Baole gritted his teeth.Fine—tomorrow I start dieting for real.
The moment he made this decision, the pressure in his heart lifted. Humming a tune, toothpick in hand, he looked out the window at the endless blue sky, feeling carefree again.
"I wonder if Physician Lu liked my gift… That antique I stole from home should please an old man like him."If he could win over this ship's physician, he figured he'd have a solid backer once he arrived at the academy.
Just thinking about that made him grin. To him, every small step was another step toward the President's office.
He was very confident in his path to power—mostly because he had read every autobiography written by high officials and summarized several "Killer Moves of Climbing Bureaucracy."
Life felt beautiful… until he noticed something outside.
His eyes widened.
A stormcloud was forming in the distance—not ordinary clouds, but a churning mass of black mist streaked with lightning, spreading like a monstrous net across the sky.
"Magnetic Thunderstorm!"
Students panicked. Since the awakening of spiritual energy, extreme weather events had become commonplace. Ordinary aircraft couldn't survive them, which was why spirit-powered hot-air ships were invented.
Thunder rumbled like the sky was tearing open. The black storm expanded rapidly, lightning flickering like a writhing electric web.
The airship slowed down.
Nervous murmurs filled the cafeteria—until the doors swung open with a burst of wind. An elderly man in a white Daoist robe strode inside, dignified and sharp-eyed, every step echoing authority.
Even before he spoke, everyone instinctively straightened.
"Everyone, report to the Spirit-Chambers immediately. Put on your magneto-spirit suits. We will enter the Magnetic Thunder Zone in half a stick of incense!"
The old man's voice cracked like thunder itself.
Wang Baole's eyes lit up—he recognized him at once.
Physician Lu, the very man he'd bribed earlier.
Seeing how authoritative the old man looked now, Wang Baole felt even more certain he had "invested" correctly.
But before he could celebrate too long, Physician Lu's stern gaze snapped toward him. The old man gave a cold snort, walked over, and tossed a half-mask at him.
"Young man, don't waste your mind on nonsense. You haven't even entered the academy and you're already trying to bribe me? I've seen plenty like you. Keep your mask to yourself."
His face was righteous, upright, severe—the very image of moral integrity.
Wang Baole's heart dropped. The old man was clearly displeased. He opened his mouth to explain—but then remembered a rule from the official autobiographies:
When scolded by a superior, admit fault immediately. The quicker the better.
So he bowed his head deeply.
"You're right, Teacher. I was wrong!"
Physician Lu blinked, momentarily thrown off. The lecture he'd prepared suddenly felt unnecessary.
Seeing the hesitation, Wang Baole smirked inwardly.Ha! The books were right again.
Physician Lu recovered his stern expression and turned to the entire room.
"And the rest of you! You are future students of the Ethereal Dao Academy. Look at yourselves! Warriors must first cultivate character, then words, then actions!"
His righteous reprimand rolled through the cafeteria. Students lowered their heads in shame.
Wang Baole's eyes gleamed—another opportunity!He whipped out a tiny notebook, scribbling rapidly, nodding solemnly at every sentence like a devoted disciple.
The other students stared at him as if he were possessed.
Physician Lu froze mid-sentence.He had guided many batches of students, but never encountered someone this… unusual.
Then his lips curled."So, little one, trying to flatter me? If not for this storm, I could lecture for three days and three nights. Let's see if you can fit all of that into your little book!"
His aura surged, intimidating the room.
Wang Baole patted the recorder talisman hidden in his pocket… then looked at the incoming storm and decided it wasn't worth dying over.
Sometimes backing down in front of a superior… wasn't shameful.
Physician Lu, satisfied, stood tall again."Remember—focus on cultivation. Don't be greedy, don't be faithless, and stop obsessing over love affairs! The way you've been flirting and giggling lately is disgraceful—"
Before he finished, a soft syrupy voice drifted from his communication bracelet.
"Physician Lu, Grandpa~ where are you? I can't fasten my magneto-spirit suit. Can you come help me?"
The old man shuddered.
Students stared.
Physician Lu coughed stiffly, glared at everyone… then practically sprinted out the door.
"Coming, sweetheart! Don't worry, I'm on my way!"
Silence.
Then—
Outrage broke across the room.
Even Wang Baole was stunned before gritting his teeth.
"Shameless old pervert! All that talk was crap! There are only so many female students—why's he stealing from us?! Just because he's a teacher?!"
His resolve to become President hardened further.
Soon, the alarm sounded. Everyone headed to the Spirit-Chamber, muttering angrily.
The chamber was the most secure part of the airship, heavily reinforced for traveling through dangerous zones. Students put on their magneto-spirit suits and took their designated seats.
Wang Baole was still fuming when his eyes met someone across the room.
Both froze.Both frowned.Both looked disgusted.
The girl had long legs, a beautiful face—and an expression that said she'd stepped in something foul.
Wang Baole muttered bitterly:"Great. Even here I can't escape Flat-Board Du Min."
They had been classmates since childhood, and she'd bullied him often using her class monitor status. Those two candies he lost? He still remembered.
"Hmph. Just a class monitor. Once I enter the academy and climb the ranks, I'll show her."
Soon, the teachers checked everyone's suits and warned of the dangers—there was a very real possibility of life-threatening accidents.
The doors sealed.
The room darkened.
Tension thickened until no one spoke.
Half a stick of incense later, the airship shook violently as it entered the Magnetic Thunder Zone.
Outside, lightning clawed at the protective barrier relentlessly. Only the soft spiritual shield kept the ship from being torn apart.
Inside, every student slowly fell unconscious, guided into dreams by an unseen force.
Only in the main cabin at the ship's front did several teachers sit awake—sipping tea, laughing, chatting—completely unlike their earlier stern facade.
At the head of the table sat Physician Lu, puffing calmly on a pipe.
"Dean," a middle-aged teacher said, "everything is ready. Shall we begin this year's Trial Segmentation for the Ethereal Dao Academy?"
Physician Lu smiled.
"Begin."