A loud buzzing echoed throughout the small apartment as the alarm clock beside Huang Ming's bed vibrated violently against the wooden desk. In the dimly lit room, illuminated only by a flickering ceiling light and faint sunlight leaking through old curtains, a young man slowly opened his eyes. His black hair was messy from sleep while exhaustion remained visible across his face. For several seconds he stared blankly upward, clearly not ready to wake up, before lazily reaching toward the alarm clock.
The moment his eyes landed on the time displayed across the screen, his entire body froze.
"8:40?!"
Huang instantly sat upright in panic, nearly falling off the bed as the blanket wrapped around his legs. He stumbled forward awkwardly before crashing shoulder-first into the nearby wall.
"Ow—!"
Ignoring the pain completely, he rushed toward the chair beside his bed where his school uniform had been folded neatly the night before. The apartment itself was old and small, barely large enough for one person to live comfortably. Cracks stretched across portions of the walls while the wooden floor creaked beneath every hurried step. A stack of books and handwritten notes covered the desk near the window, evidence of countless nights spent studying beneath weak lights and exhaustion.
Everything inside the apartment looked worn down from years of use.
But despite that—
Everything was carefully maintained.
Huang quickly pulled on his white school shirt and grey uniform pants while trying to button his collar properly at the same time. As he hurriedly grabbed his jacket, something metallic slipped from his pocket before landing on the floor with a soft clink. Huang instinctively lowered his gaze toward it.
A silver-colored name tag rested against the wooden floor.
Huang Ming—First Year, Ling High School
Below his name, glowing faintly in blue letters, was his student classification.
Trainee Warrior
The lowest rank possible at Ling High School.
For a brief moment, Huang simply stared silently at those words.
At Ling High School, rankings determined almost everything. Talent, treatment, opportunities, cultivation resources—even a student's future could change entirely depending on the title attached to their chest. Students ranked highly were treated like rising stars destined to protect humanity itself, while those ranked low were often ignored before they even had a chance to prove themselves.
Huang quietly sighed before clipping the tag back onto his uniform.
Then he grabbed his belongings and immediately rushed out the apartment door.
The cold morning breeze struck his face the moment he stepped outside into the streets of Meiying City. Despite the early hour, the city was already overflowing with life. Massive holographic advertisements illuminated nearby buildings while flying vehicles moved through aerial traffic lanes high above the streets. Spirit-powered transport systems drifted silently between enormous skyscrapers that stretched endlessly toward the sky.
Human civilization in the year 3751 was vastly different from the ancient world.
Technology and cultivation had developed together for centuries.
Powerful cultivators capable of manipulating spiritual energy existed alongside futuristic weapon systems and interstellar exploration technology. Humanity itself had already expanded far beyond Earth, yet cultivation remained the foundation of strength.
And schools like Ling High existed to create the next generation of powerful warriors.
Huang tightened his grip on his bag before beginning to run toward the academy visible in the distance. Compared to the wealthy students flying through the air on spirit boards or riding advanced transport vehicles, Huang could only travel on foot. His black leather shoes repeatedly slammed against the pavement while his breathing gradually became uneven.
Eventually, the massive structure of Ling High School finally appeared before him.
Even after seeing it countless times, the academy still looked overwhelming.
Towering metallic structures stretched high into the clouds while glowing blue spiritual barriers surrounded the enormous campus. Students continuously entered through the massive academy gates while automated systems scanned each student's identification tag and cultivation rank.
This was one of humanity's elite academies.
A place where future generals, planetary guardians, and powerful cultivators began their journeys.
And somehow—
Huang Ming had managed to enter it despite being ranked at the absolute bottom.
"Haa… haa…"
Huang slowed his pace slightly while trying to catch his breath near the academy entrance. However, the moment his eyes shifted forward, his footsteps abruptly stopped.
Standing near the gates was a young woman whose very presence naturally attracted attention from everyone nearby.
Her long black hair flowed softly behind her while morning sunlight reflected gently against her pale skin. She stood calmly among the surrounding students with an elegant posture that made her seem completely untouchable. Even the noisy atmosphere around the academy entrance felt quieter near her.
Huang stared blankly.
His eyes widened slightly while his mouth slowly opened in amazement.
Attached neatly to the girl's uniform was a silver-white name tag.
Luna Ling
Below her name, engraved clearly in glowing letters, was a title recognized throughout the academy.
Warrior Saint Candidate
The highest possible rank for a high school student.
Huang instinctively lowered his gaze toward his chest.
Trainee Warrior
The difference between them felt impossibly large.
One stood at the peak of Ling High School's first years.
The other struggled simply to avoid falling behind.
"She's beautiful…"
The words escaped Huang unconsciously as he continued staring at Luna Ling in complete amazement. He failed to notice that Luna herself had already shifted her gaze toward him. Her calm violet-colored eyes rested silently on him for several moments, quietly observing him without any visible emotion.
Before Huang could react further, a soft hand suddenly appeared beside his face.
Using a white handkerchief, someone gently wiped the corner of his mouth.
"Good morning, Huang," a cheerful voice said warmly.
Huang blinked rapidly before turning toward the familiar girl standing beside him.
"… Xiu?"
Standing there with a bright smile was his childhood friend, Xiu Meiying. Unlike Luna Ling's cold and distant beauty, Xiu gave off warmth and comfort. Her long, dark-brown hair rested neatly behind her shoulders, while her perfectly maintained uniform immediately revealed the difference between their lives.
"You were drooling again," Xiu said teasingly while smiling playfully.
"I was not drooling."
"You absolutely were."
"I was appreciating beauty respectfully."
Xiu narrowed her eyes suspiciously before laughing softly.
"That somehow sounds even worse."
Huang awkwardly coughed before quickly looking away in embarrassment.
The two had known each other since childhood, long before cultivation rankings and academy status mattered. Back then they were simply children wandering the streets of Meiying City together. Despite how much their lives had changed over the years, Xiu had never stopped treating him normally.
Huang came from a poor family barely capable of affording even necessities. There were days when food needed to be carefully rationed and nights when electricity itself became uncertain. Meanwhile, Xiu Meiying was the heir to the Meiying family—the wealthy and influential lineage responsible for building and controlling the city itself.
The difference between them was greater than heaven and earth.
Yet somehow—
She still stood beside him every morning with the same smile.
"You're going to fail your evaluation if you keep staring at girls before class," Xiu teased lightly.
Huang immediately sighed dramatically.
"My future was doomed the moment I entered Ling High School as a trainee warrior."
"You exaggerate too much."
"I'm serious! Everyone here is terrifying."
As if proving his words correct, the atmosphere near the academy entrance suddenly shifted. Nearby students quickly moved aside as a tall young man calmly walked through the gates. His posture was perfect, his movements smooth and controlled, and every step carried overwhelming confidence.
Attached to his chest was a golden insignia.
Kael Riven—Elite Division
Whispers immediately spread throughout the surrounding students.
"That's Kael…"
"The strongest first-year…"
"I heard even senior students avoid fighting him…"
Kael ignored everyone completely as he continued walking forward. Then, for only a brief moment, his sharp eyes shifted toward Huang.
The pressure was immediate.
Huang instinctively stiffened beneath the cold gaze.
It felt as though every weakness inside him had been seen instantly.
Then Kael simply looked away before continuing forward without another word.
Huang stared silently at his back.
"… Why did it feel like I almost died just now?"
Xiu quietly giggled beside him while Luna Ling continued observing the scene from nearby.
Her calm gaze lingered briefly on Huang Ming.
A Trainee Warrior.
A boy who appeared completely ordinary in every possible way.
Yet somehow—
Something about him felt strangely different.