The restaurant fell silent after Alex’s simple answer.

The server blinked nervously before hurrying away to prepare something, anything, for the strange young man who had somehow silenced an entire room full of mercenaries and merchants without even trying.

Alex ignored the stares.

Instead, he gazed out the window at the darkening sky while quietly enjoying the atmosphere of this unfamiliar world. The food arrived eventually, simple but warm dishes that reminded him of the small restaurants scattered across countless towns in his own universe.

He ate slowly, not because he needed sustenance, but because the act itself felt grounding.

Ten million year soul beasts.

The thought lingered in his mind like a distant melody he couldn’t forget.

Each bite brought him closer to understanding his next move. Heavenly Origin Academy would provide information, connections, and legitimacy. Once inside, he could search for clues about ancient soul beasts without attracting unnecessary attention.

The meal ended quietly.

Alex placed several gold coins on the table, more than enough to cover the cost, before standing and walking toward the door. The mercenaries parted silently as he passed, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

No one followed him outside.

---

Night had fully claimed the continent by the time Alex resumed his journey.

Above him, an unfamiliar constellation stretched across the sky like scattered diamonds on black velvet. Three moons hung at different heights, each casting its own unique shade of silver light across the landscape.

The stone road continued endlessly toward the horizon.

Travelers had mostly disappeared now, seeking shelter in inns or campsites for the night. Only a few stubborn merchants continued moving, their wagons illuminated by glowing spirit lamps that cast long shadows across the ground.

Alex walked at a relaxed pace.

With each step, the distance between him and the capital city diminished rapidly. Not through rushing or desperation, but through the natural efficiency of someone who had long since transcended ordinary limitations.

Forests passed.

Rivers crossed.

Villages faded behind him like forgotten dreams.

By the time the first hint of dawn painted the eastern sky in shades of rose and gold, Alex had already arrived at the outskirts of the continent’s most legendary institution.

---

He stopped on a small hill overlooking the academy city.

The sight before him was breathtaking.

A massive wall of white stone encircled an area that could comfortably house a million people. Beyond the wall, towers of crystal and marble pierced the clouds while floating platforms drifted lazily between them. Waterfalls cascaded down artificial cliffs, their mist catching the morning light and creating permanent rainbows. Ancient trees with silver leaves lined every boulevard, their roots glowing faintly with spiritual energy.

In the center of it all, a colossal spire rose toward the heavens. Its surface was covered in glowing runes that pulsed like a heartbeat, as if the building itself was alive.

The Heavenly Origin Academy.

It was not merely a school. It was a city, a fortress, and a holy land all merged into one.

Alex smiled slightly.

"Impressive," he murmured.

Then he descended the hill and walked toward the main gate.

---

The gate itself was a work of art.

Two enormous statues stood on either side, each depicting a legendary spirit master from ancient times. Their stone eyes seemed to follow everyone who passed beneath the archway between them. The gate was wide enough for twenty carriages to enter side by side, yet it felt intimate rather than overwhelming.

Several guards stood at attention near the entrance.

They wore silver armor engraved with the academy’s emblem, a golden tree with stars for leaves. Each guard held a spirit spear that hummed with contained power. Their postures were relaxed but alert, the kind of alertness that came from genuine training rather than performative discipline.

Alex approached calmly.

The nearest guard, a man with sharp eyes and a scar across his left cheek, raised his hand.

"Halt. State your business."

Alex stopped and offered a friendly smile.

"I wish to join the academy."

The guard studied him for a moment. "Identification card."

"I don’t have one."

"Then you cannot enter."

Alex’s smile did not waver. "I understand the rules. But I believe an exception can be made."

The guard’s expression hardened. "No exceptions. Move along."

Alex tilted his head slightly. "Perhaps I should demonstrate why an exception might be worth considering."

Before the guard could respond, Alex released a fraction of his suppressed aura.

It was not much. Barely a whisper of his true power.

But to the guards, it felt like the sky itself was collapsing.

---

The pressure descended without warning.

It was not violent. It was not cruel. It simply was, like gravity or time, an absolute force that could not be denied.

The guards’ faces went pale.

Their knees buckled.

One by one, they fell to the ground, their spirit spears clattering against the stone beneath them. Their hands trembled uncontrollably. Their breathing became shallow and ragged. Even the scarred guard, clearly the most experienced among them, could do nothing but kneel with his head bowed.

These were level 60 experts. Men and women capable of destroying small towns with their full power.

And they could not even lift their eyes to look at Alex.

The pressure lasted only three seconds.

Then Alex withdrew it completely, as if nothing had happened.

He looked at the kneeling guards with a gentle smile.

"I am not here to cause any trouble. I just want to join the academy. I have heard so much about it. Let me enter."

The scarred guard swallowed hard. His voice came out hoarse but respectful.

"Sir, please wait if you do not want to cause trouble. I will contact a teacher."

Alex nodded. "Very well."

Then he waved his hand.

A throne appeared from nowhere.

It was not flashy or decorated with jewels. It was simply a throne, elegant and commanding, made of dark wood and black metal. Its presence alone suggested authority.

Alex sat down on the throne and closed his eyes, as if everything was under his control.

The guards exchanged terrified glances.

The scarred guard pulled out a crystal and began speaking rapidly into it.

---

Three minutes passed in silence.

Then Alex felt them.

Five enormous auras moving toward him from deep within the academy city. They were fast, far faster than ordinary flight. Within moments, they would arrive.

Alex did not open his eyes.

He assessed them calmly through his perception.

Judging by their auras, they were around the peak planetary realm to early star level realm. In the terminology of this world, that meant level 85 to level 90.

Powerful by local standards.

Insignificant compared to him.

Boom. Boom.

Five figures landed on the ground in front of the gate. Dust scattered briefly before settling. The guards immediately bowed their heads lower.

Alex opened his eyes and stood up.

His throne vanished as silently as it had appeared. He did not want to disrespect them. He would need their cooperation in the future.

The five teachers looked at him with varying expressions.

One of them, a man with silver hair and calm blue eyes, turned to the guards. "Is this the person you mentioned?"

The scarred guard nodded quickly. "Yes, Professor Albert. He said he wanted to join the academy."

Albert studied Alex carefully for a long moment without speaking. His aged eyes remained calm, yet there was unmistakable caution hidden beneath them. Over the decades, he had encountered countless geniuses, arrogant nobles, and dangerous soul masters. However, the young man standing before him gave him a strange feeling that he could not properly explain.

Alex stood completely relaxed in front of the academy gate despite being surrounded by guards and teachers. There was no tension in his expression, nor any attempt to flatter the academy authorities. His calmness felt natural, as though none of this situation deserved his concern.

Before Albert could continue questioning him, another teacher stepped forward impatiently. The man appeared much younger than Albert and possessed crimson red hair that matched his explosive temperament. Spiritual power fluctuated faintly around his body like restless flames, and his sharp eyes carried unconcealed hostility.

"Are you the one causing trouble here?" the teacher asked coldly.

Alex looked toward him and smiled faintly. "I only wished to join the academy. Since I currently lack an identity card for certain reasons, the guards refused to allow me entry. Therefore, I demonstrated enough strength to prove I was not someone insignificant. That is all."

The red haired teacher scoffed loudly after hearing the explanation. "Demonstrating your strength at the academy gate by suppressing guards is certainly impressive behavior."

The sarcasm in his voice was obvious. However, Alex ignored it completely and remained standing calmly as though the mockery had not even reached his ears.

At that moment, the five teachers standing nearby began observing him more seriously. Invisible spiritual senses spread outward from their bodies as they attempted to examine Alex’s cultivation level and spiritual fluctuations. Yet the moment their senses touched him, all of them felt something deeply unsettling.

They found absolutely nothing.