Beyond the massive continents, endless oceans surrounded the entire world like ancient barriers separating civilizations from one another. Countless storms, unknown creatures, and unexplored territories existed beneath those waters. Even after reading dozens of geographical records, Alex still felt that the world remained largely hidden beneath layers of mystery.

The true scale of the planet far exceeded his earlier estimations.

According to ancient measurements recorded by scholars and explorers, the world was at least one thousand times larger than the universe he originated from. That realization alone was enough to make even Alex momentarily silent. Such an enormous world meant that a single continent could potentially surpass multiple universes in size.

It also meant something far more important.

If the world was truly that vast, then the number of hidden beings, ancient bloodlines, forgotten civilizations, and terrifying monsters hidden across the continents and oceans would be unimaginable.

Alex slowly closed the final book resting in his hands.

The quiet sound echoed softly through the ancient library hall.

He leaned slightly against the chair and exhaled slowly while staring toward the distant windows.

"Where are you all hiding?" he muttered under his breath.

His voice carried neither frustration nor impatience. It sounded calm, almost thoughtful, as though he were searching for old shadows lost across endless time.

After remaining seated for several more moments, Alex finally rose from his chair and left the library. The academy grounds outside remained lively as students moved between training areas, lecture halls, and cultivation zones.

His attention naturally returned toward the young man he had noticed earlier.

The boy was cultivating beneath a large ancient tree located far from the crowded regions of the academy. Unlike the others who preferred attention and competition, he deliberately isolated himself in a quiet area where almost nobody passed by.

Alex stopped at a distance and silently observed him.

The young man’s posture remained stable and disciplined. The circulation of soul power around his body appeared smooth and unusually refined for someone possessing such a weak martial soul. Every breath he took was controlled with precision beyond his current age.

Most people would overlook such details.

Alex did not.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"He possesses a second soul," Alex thought calmly. "And it is a sword."

The energy hidden inside the boy’s body carried an extremely sharp aura. Although it remained deeply concealed, Alex could still sense traces of ancient sword intent sleeping beneath the surface.

A possibility quietly surfaced in his mind.

"Could he be connected to the Heavenly Sword lineage?"

However, Alex made no attempt to approach him immediately.

Talent alone never impressed him.

Raw power could be cultivated, inherited, stolen, or artificially enhanced. Character, however, revealed far more important truths. A person incapable of controlling greed, fear, lust, or ambition would eventually become useless regardless of their potential.

Especially for someone Alex intended to place within his future plans.

With a subtle movement of his fingers, a strand of pure energy condensed beside him.

The energy rapidly transformed into the figure of a breathtakingly beautiful young woman. Her appearance possessed almost supernatural charm capable of disturbing the emotions of ordinary men instantly. Every movement she made seemed elegant and hypnotic.

Yet her purpose had nothing to do with battle.

Nor was she created for assistance.

She existed solely to test the boy.

Alex wanted to observe how the young man reacted toward temptation, attraction, and emotional weakness while cultivating alone. Such reactions often exposed hidden flaws far more effectively than direct examinations.

After creating the construct, Alex simply turned away and continued walking without another glance.

If the boy failed the test, Alex would lose nothing.

His thoughts soon shifted toward a much larger objective.

The academy itself was merely a temporary foundation. What Alex truly required was a specialized group under his direct control. Such a force would eventually travel across continents, investigate ancient regions, gather information, and assist him in locating traces connected to the mysteries of this world.

No single individual, regardless of strength, could search an entire world of this scale alone.

Especially not one hiding creatures capable of threatening even gods.

To create such a force, however, he would require support from the academy administration.

Alex soon arrived at the headmaster’s office once again.

Lucien immediately stood up after seeing him enter. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Headmaster," Alex said calmly, "I wish to establish a special class under my direct instruction. The students within this class will receive guidance exclusively from me, and they may also assist in certain future objectives outside the academy. Will you permit this arrangement?"

For a brief moment, Lucien nearly suspected he had misheard those words.

Then overwhelming excitement exploded inside his heart.

To him, this was no different from heaven suddenly descending upon the academy itself. Alex’s abilities had already surpassed every expectation. Even the clan ancestors treated him with extraordinary respect and caution.

Now he wanted to personally teach students.

Lucien himself almost wanted to join the class.

Suppressing his emotions with difficulty, he quickly asked, "How many students do you require?"

"Fifty," Alex replied calmly.

Lucien immediately nodded.

"Would you allow me two days to arrange the candidates? Also, do you possess any specific level requirements?"

Alex considered briefly before answering.

"They should generally remain between level ten and level thirty. Those above that range are unnecessary. However, if there exists someone truly extraordinary, then even level fifty may be accepted."

"I understand," Lucien said while nodding seriously.

Alex left afterward and returned once more toward the library.

Meanwhile, Lucien wasted no time.

The moment Alex disappeared, he immediately activated his communicator and contacted the various clan ancestors once again. Until now, many of them remained disappointed that none of their descendants had attracted Alex’s personal interest.

Lucien smiled faintly afterward.

"Old fools," he muttered quietly before informing them about Alex’s request.

The reaction was immediate chaos.

"Lucien, our friendship ends today if you refuse to place at least three members of my Thunder Beast Clan inside that class," one ancestor roared through the communicator.

Another immediately shouted afterward.

"My clan possesses several outstanding geniuses. If you ignore them, I will personally visit the academy myself."

The same situation repeated with nearly every major clan.

Some attempted persuasion.

Others openly threatened him.

Several even began arguing with one another through the communication channels.

The reason was extremely simple.

Every one of them understood that entering Alex’s class would likely become the greatest opportunity their descendants would ever encounter in their entire lives.

Back within the library, Alex continued reading ancient historical records while searching for unusual anomalies connected to the continent.

Those million years old soul beasts within this world already possessed terrifying strength.

Although their direct combat power roughly corresponded to star level entities from other universes, the laws governing this world granted them abilities far beyond ordinary star realm beings. Many could manipulate elemental laws, spatial distortions, spiritual domains, and strange abilities unique to this world.

If creatures surpassing ordinary soul beasts truly existed, then traces of their existence should remain somewhere in recorded history.

Miracles.

Disasters.

Legends.

Ancient eyewitness accounts.

Eventually, Alex discovered something interesting.

Far within the northern regions of the continent existed an empire known as Rumania. According to one ancient record, a fisherman once witnessed a gigantic behemoth emerge from the ocean depths.

The creature reportedly attacked a colossal octopus large enough to resemble a moving island.

The battle itself ended almost instantly.

According to the fisherman, a massive red soul ring emerged from the octopus after its death. Yet the unidentified behemoth devoured the creature effortlessly, like a human casually crushing an ant beneath their foot.

Afterward, numerous Title Douluo experts investigated the northern seas searching for traces of the monster.

They found nothing.

As a result, most historians eventually dismissed the story as an exaggerated myth invented by terrified sailors.

Alex, however, did not dismiss it so easily.

His eyes remained fixed upon the ancient text.

"A million year soul beast..." he thought silently. "Or perhaps one of the ten million year monsters."

If such creatures truly existed, then they might possess information connected to the hidden powers of this world.

Eventually, he closed the book.

He would personally investigate the northern ocean in the future.

But before doing so, he needed his own force established first. Even level one hundred beings would become insignificant before monsters of that scale. The students he selected would not fight such creatures directly.

They only needed to gather information for him.

Two days passed quietly afterward.

Lucien finally entered the library once more.

Alex calmly placed his book aside and looked toward him.

"Are the students prepared?" he asked.

"Yes," Lucien replied respectfully. "They are all waiting outside for you to personally choose the fifty candidates yourself."