In the vast tiered lecture hall, amidst the lively seminar atmosphere, Lan Qi’s question landed like a meteor crashing into a lake—sending ripples through everyone’s hearts.
In that instant, the classroom fell into silence. The air itself seemed to freeze, and all gazes were drawn toward the back row, locking onto Lan Qi.
When he raised that question, most people instantly understood what he meant—
He wanted to claim a stone tablet for himself in the future.
Such audacity carried an almost blatant declaration: “I will surely become one of the strongest in this era.”
Had any ordinary student said this, laughter would have been the only reply.
But Lan Qi was different—he had the credentials to back such arrogance.
To his peers at Ikerite Academy, he was already like a little demon king.
“……”
Even Teacher Teresa seemed slightly surprised by his question.Of the three types of stone tablets mentioned, these were indeed the most ideal choices for Lan Qi.
What shocked her wasn’t the choices of Spirit or Healing—those made sense—but the fact that this kid even knew Sealing magic??
It wasn’t just Teresa.
The students, who had never seen Lan Qi use sealing arts before, suddenly grew even more uneasy as they thought about it. The Lan Qi clan was becoming increasingly terrifying.
“The [Primeval Stone Tablet – Spirit] appeared on the Demon side decades ago during the Great Demon War, but hasn’t surfaced for many years since. It’s likely still in the hands of a reclusive high demon.”
Teresa quickly began answering Lan Qi’s question, her tone carrying a hint of regret.
If Lan Qi wished to specialize in Spirit magic, the chances of finding that tablet were slim.
After all, humans, no matter how strong, only lived decades—maybe a century. They could never outlast demons who could easily remain hidden for hundreds of years.
“As for the [Primeval Stone Tablet – Healing], it’s currently with the Saintess of the Church of the Goddess of Fate. If you wish to observe it, a letter of introduction from Dean Loren would make communication much easier.”
Her voice was calm and steady.
Though it was far too early for a mere third-tier student like Lan Qi to be considering Primeval Tablets, simply observing one was not out of the question. This tablet was suitable for him, and comparatively easier to seek out.
However—
After saying this, Teresa suddenly fell silent.
Many students in the room held their breath. Her shifting expression made the new students tense up, as though she were hesitating to speak some dreaded, taboo name.
At last, with a trace of fear and loathing in her eyes, she forced the words out:
“The last tablet… it lies in the hands of Askson, the Archbishop of Annihilation, in the Northern Continent.”
Askson, the Archbishop of Annihilation—embodiment of fear, despair, and torment. As one of the highest-ranking cardinals of the Resurrection Church, every sealing and curse spell he commanded had once sown death across the world.
His sealing magic was silent and unseen, yet more deadly than any destructive spell. Within mere hours, he could turn a once-prosperous metropolis into a hellish graveyard, silent and lifeless. No strong nor weak could escape his suffocating seals. In his eyes, there was no compassion, no humanity—only a sick obsession with death and annihilation.
It was largely because of Askson that sealing magic had gained such infamy in the world. To the beings of the Northern Continent, he was a figure of dread—his very name carried across the seas, whispered even in the distant South.
When Teresa’s solemn explanation ended, she fixed the class with a grave warning:
“The ten tablets in the hands of the Resurrection Church—you must act as though they do not exist. Never involve yourselves with them, not even in the slightest! Otherwise, it will spell doom for both you and your families.”
The atmosphere in the classroom turned heavy and suffocating. Standing at the lectern, Teresa’s voice was firm and unyielding, leaving no room for doubt.
Every cardinal of the Resurrection Church possessed the power to destroy nations. To provoke even one of them was to invite unimaginable catastrophe.
“I understand, Teacher Teresa. Thank you.”
Lan Qi bowed his head in gratitude.
The room remained silent for a beat, until the ice was broken by another raised hand.
“Teacher, since the cardinals of the Resurrection Church are all tablet holders, why doesn’t the Pope have one?”
Logically, the Pope, being the strongest ninth-tier of the Church, should not lack a tablet.
Teresa exhaled softly. Though the discussion had returned to the organization she least wanted to address, at least the exchange was proving educational, helping the students grasp the scale of the Church’s threat.
“The Pope of the Resurrection Church does exist, but remains shrouded in mystery. Even the Southern Kingdom Alliance and the Empire of Kreyth can barely gather intel. As for the Northern Continent… information is completely blocked.”
“As for whether the Pope holds a tablet—it’s possible he has one but never revealed it. It’s possible his magical system is so complete that he doesn’t need to sacrifice a precious fifth-tier slot for it. Or perhaps, he’s never obtained the tablet most suited to him.”
Her explanation was patient, her tone warm yet authoritative, occasionally peppered with subtle humor that drew quiet chuckles from the class.
Most students listened intently, fully immersed in the seminar that was nearing its end.
At Ikerite Academy, the sunlit forest path was peaceful and serene.
The alchemy institute’s botanical gardens bloomed with vibrant flowers along the path. Birds hopped from branch to branch, filling the air with cheerful song, soothing the students just freed from a two-hour lecture.
With no other compulsory classes that morning, and still over an hour before lunch, Lan Qi and Huperion strolled leisurely toward the student council office in the old Liberal Arts building.
Their steps were unhurried. Passing a lively juice shop, they stopped to buy three cups.
The shop was wildly popular among new students, known for its signature cold-pressed juices.
To their surprise, the menu listed over thirty varieties—pure fruit, mixed fruit, vegetable blends—even curated week-long health packs.
Such little discoveries brought unexpected joy, making them wonder how blissful life at Ikerite would be if they could live without worries and pressures, simply enjoying its slow rhythms.
The icy sweetness of the juice was like a summer breeze.
Huperion sipped quietly, but kept stealing glances at Lan Qi. Ever since the class ended, he had worn a heavy frown, clearly lost in thought.
He seemed to be contemplating something important.
“Lan Qi, do you already have another plan?”
Her curiosity finally got the better of her.
At her words, Lan Qi turned, face solemn, and nodded.
“Huperion, you know we’ll need to choose a graduation project, right?”
He spoke slowly.
At Ikerite, students usually picked their graduation topics around second year.
These projects could be solo or group efforts. Many students used vacations to complete them; depending on difficulty, the school sometimes even approved semester-long breaks.
“Mm. Do you already have one in mind?”
Huperion nodded again, intrigued.
Some ambitious students even decided on their projects as early as first year, finishing them during breaks. A high-quality project could not only free up coursework but also count toward additional credits.
If Lan Qi was already planning, and wanted to team up with her again, they might begin working as soon as the winter break after this term.
“Our Sage Department has the compulsory course ‘Introduction to Magical Lineages’, followed later by the elective ‘Foundations of Magical Lineages’. Building on those, there’s a graduation project option, same as the Tech Department’s: ‘Seek Out a Tablet Holder.’”
Lan Qi explained.
For the sake of his retirement dream, he was ready to work hard these next two years.
After the next Shadow World battle, there would likely be a long lull before the third challenge. He intended to make full use of that time.
“You want to seek out the Saintess of the Goddess of Fate? Or maybe some tablet holder outside the Allied Nations?”
Huperion was starting to understand.
He had mentioned dabbling in magical toolmaking before—no wonder he had been so attentive in today’s Tech Department class.
Seeking out the Saintess was considered a moderately difficult project.
But managing to reach some distant, nearly unapproachable foreign tablet holder would count as a top-tier project—earning not just extra credits, but potentially continental recognition, and glory for both Ikerite Academy and the Hedon Kingdom.
“No.”
Lan Qi smiled faintly and shook his head, showing no interest in the Saintess’s tablet.
“Then… who do you plan to seek out?”
Huperion asked in puzzlement.
Lan Qi: “The Archbishop of Annihilation, Askson.”
Huperion nearly spat out her drink.