Chapter 20: Senior Brothers and Sisters?!
Under Rachel’s urging, hundreds of people boarded the flying train at a leisurely pace, while the slower group behind could only wait for the next one.
The flying train slowly started, only to suddenly accelerate as it soared into the sky, its speed more terrifying than that of a flying airship, streaking through the sky like a bolt of lightning towards the distant tall tower.
Yuehai gazed at the blurry buildings outside the window, unable to help but marvel at the terrifying speed. Naturally, the others who had never seen such advanced technology began chatting, and the once unfamiliar geniuses quickly became acquainted.
“Alright, everyone quiet down,” Rachel once again issued a hushing command, and gradually everyone fell silent, turning their attention to the golden-haired beauty of a mentor to hear her insights.
“Weren’t you curious about how the train flies earlier? The principle is quite simple, actually. It’s just a matter of setting up a floating barrier beneath the entire Avalon. The flying train acts as a floating point, and by manipulating magic stones, we can freely control the train’s floating height. Coupled with power crystals, it can effortlessly navigate throughout the academy.”
“This technology is not disseminated outside, and even if someone were to learn about it, they couldn’t replicate it. That’s why flying trains exist only in Avalon throughout the world.”
Everyone let out a sudden realization, realizing the significance of this train. Watching the flying trains shuttle back and forth outside the windows, everyone became even more hopeful about the future of this academy.
“Yuehai, look at this road stretching all the way from the edge of the academy to the center of the White Tower. It feels incredibly wide even from this height. I estimate it to be about a hundred meters wide if we were to touch it!” Neruko’s voice made Yuehai instinctively look down. Indeed, the white road traversed half of the Avalon Academy, and it was immensely vast. Students coming and going on it looked like ants from up above. Yuehai couldn’t help but marvel at how vast everything was in the academy.
The others also noticed the massive road below, each expressing their awe. Rachel, at this moment, patiently explained.
“This road is called the Heavenly Path. It was built by the Vermilion Phoenix Empire to commemorate the students who were killed by the Beast Tide in the Sang Zang Great Forest years ago. That incident caused quite a stir nationwide at the time, but nowadays, I’m afraid not many people remember it.”
Naturally, Yuehai didn’t know about this. She casually glanced around and, judging by the expressions of the others, she agreed with Rachel’s speculation.
“Damiyala, who appeared knowledgeable, whispered gently to Yuehai, Neruko, and the others.
“The Heavenly Path in the Vermilion Phoenix Empire symbolizes the supreme and intangible existence, perhaps even higher than the concept of the Supreme God. The incident back then occurred because a deity’s corpse fell, dyeing all the flowers and plants in the Sang Zang Great Forest region into precious treasures. Upon hearing this, many students immediately formed exploration teams with the ambition to reach the sky and entered the forest to investigate. However, out of thousands of students and geniuses who went, only a few returned. This event enraged the upper echelons of Avalon, who then spent three days clearing the entire vicinity of the Sang Zang Great Forest. Eighty percent of the students involved were from the Vermilion Phoenix Empire, prompting influential figures there to demand the construction of a road directly to the ‘Heavenly Wheel,’ ironically named the Heavenly Path. This was a warning to future students: challenge the Heavenly Path at your own peril, as it will not grant you luck if you venture into the Sang Zang Great Forest unaware of the dangers.”
Damiyala finished speaking in one breath, eliciting nods of agreement from Neruko beside her. Even the usually quiet Angel felt that Damiyala’s words were spot on. The Heavenly Path was indeed not just a simple memorial to the deceased students from years ago but more of a warning to those who dared to rely solely on luck to soar to great heights.
“What is the academy? It’s a place where you grow step by step until you become a sanctuary of your own. If you try to soar to great heights relying solely on luck, then you will pay the corresponding price.”
As the group conversed, the flying train had already arrived at the eleventh district. The once towering White Tower now seemed even more immense, making people feel tiny in its presence, like specks of dust. It was hard to imagine how such a structure came to be. However, as they stepped off the train and onto the ground, they were greeted by thousands of students holding various signs, looking at them eagerly. Yuehai found herself surrounded by the crowd, feeling bewildered. What was happening?
“I’m your senior from the Swordsmanship Department. If you’re interested in swordsmanship, please be sure to join our department!”
“The Fire Magic Society welcomes you! As long as you have an affinity for fire elements, regardless of your strength, we warmly welcome you!”
“The Strength Department favors strong and robust individuals. Once you join our department, all obstacles will be crushed before your fists!”
“The Magecraft Department welcomes your joining. Students interested in inventions such as railcars, magic sound stones, and airships are encouraged to join our department. Here, there’s nothing you can’t imagine, and nothing we can’t achieve!”
“Students interested in enjoying tea in tranquility, please join our Tea Ceremony Department.”
“The Magic Ball Club is all about the ball! Come join us! Our goal is to be the best in the world!”
Various voices echoed one after another, and the newly arrived geniuses were immediately overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of these senior students. They stood there dumbfounded, watching as they introduced various obscure ‘clubs’. In the end, these newcomers to Avalon could only look to Rachel, who stood by observing with amusement, with pleading eyes.
“Cough cough, alright, calm down everyone. Even with such enthusiastic introductions, it’s useless if these youngsters don’t understand. Let me do the introductions first. After they report to the main hall, then you can have the rest of the time to recruit fresh blood.”
“Enlightened mentors always earn the respect of their students. Though Rachel may appear very young and beautiful, her invisible authority still makes everyone quiet down and obediently listen to her.”
“Well, where should I start? Let’s talk about clubs first. Clubs are places where people with the same interests gather to study and improve together. ‘Interests’ might be too broad of a term, but let’s take this student for example.” Rachel pointed to Yuehai, smiling.
“What club do you think she would be most suitable for?”
“Beauty Club!” Almost all the men said in unison, while those who noticed Yuehai hiding in the crowd all exclaimed, each thinking they had seen an angel!
Rachel chuckled sardonically.
“There’s no such thing as a Beauty Club. You youngsters only focus on appearances. Be careful, you might have trouble finding a partner in the future.”
“Teacher~ Is it true that you’re this old and still don’t have a boyfriend?” Someone from the crowd piped up with this question, directing everyone’s attention to Rachel, but the blonde beauty acted as if she hadn’t heard, and then continued to talk confidently, “I mean, this student clearly has a strong affinity for the Thunder element, so she should be very suitable for joining clubs related to the Thunder element, and the like.”
“Teacher~ Is it true that after a student confessed to you last time, you blushed and ran away?”
Rachel’s expression stiffened, then she quickly continued.
“Like I mentioned earlier, the Swordsmanship Club, the Fire Magic Club, these are all extremely large clubs at Avalon Academy. The energy they possess might even surpass that of a small country.”
“Teacher~ Are you a virgin?”
“Alright, how about we have the freshmen watch the performance of the senior students next?”
Rachel didn’t care whether the students on Yuehai’s side wanted to watch or not. She turned to the group of students who were snickering and said calmly.
“So, how about you students run three laps around the Eleventh District? If you don’t finish by tonight, you’ll have to double it.”
“Sigh!” The students were immediately dumbfounded.
“Did you hear that?” Although Rachel was smiling, the terrifying tone made the senior students shiver.
“Yes!” The simultaneous response made it sound like a military order, and as soon as the words were spoken, they all immediately started running around the Eleventh District. As the senior students, resembling a typhoon, departed in a grand manner, the geniuses left behind were left speechless in the chaotic wind.
The sudden change of events left their heads spinning, making it difficult for them to process.
Rachel shook her hand dismissively and snapped her fingers at the somewhat dazed geniuses, saying.
“You’ll understand all of this sooner or later. First, come with me to the Celestial Hall for registration. Only the freshmen who register there can truly begin their life at Avalon Academy.”
Without a word, everyone followed the blonde beauty as they wound their way through the Eleventh District. Eventually, they arrived at a tremendously large golden hall. Although the hall stood hundreds of meters tall from the outside, upon entering, they discovered it only had one floor. However, this single floor was taller than the thirty-story buildings around it. In an instant, the group felt like dwarfs in a giant’s realm. The immense contrast left everyone in awe, deepening their reverence for Avalon.
