"One must never allow any entity that is known to threaten one's life to continue breathing! Strike! Strike first! Kill him! Annihilate him!"—The Warrior's Code

Every academy, every organization, inevitably possesses records of sorts: the most talented in history, the fastest progressing ever, the greatest in this or that...

The Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors was no exception to these annals of record.

In the battle that erupted during the morning run drills today, when Qian Jin single-handedly felled four challengers in an instant, revealing the might of a Level Six Warrior, his name was officially entered into the records of the Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors. His title: the strongest first-year warrior since the academy's founding!

Likewise, Biluo's name also carved a deep, indelible mark within the academy's historical ledgers.

Since its inception, the Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors recorded her as: the worst magic student! The least talented magic student! The most hopeless magic student!

Three consecutive accolades beginning with 'the most'—two more than Qian Jin’s solitary 'strongest.' The official assessment recorded for Biluo consisted of only two words: Abandon hope.

The Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors had always upheld a pedagogical philosophy of resolutely not abandoning any student; however, Biluo was simply too incompetent!

After collective discussion, the magic faculty agreed that allowing her to continue her studies at the academy was not helping her, but harming her prospects! The sooner she ceased this fruitless pursuit of arcane arts, the more time she would have to find a better path in life.

Yet, this very individual was now slated to form a two-person team with Qian Jin for an upcoming trial. Rodriguez could scarcely imagine a more malicious scheme devised by Dean of Academic Affairs Keller to prevent Qian Jin from completing his trials and accumulating credit.

He was even more astonished that Qian Jin had merely replied with a single, "Understood," and then happily made his way toward the dormitories, completely unconcerned that his trial partner was the worst magic student the Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors had ever seen.

"Damn Keller! Damn the Keller family!" Rodriguez viciously kicked a small stone on the ground and let out a long, frustrated breath toward the sky.

Ever since Keller became the Dean of Academic Affairs at the Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors, the already declining institution had only worsened under his regime, as he ceaselessly sought personal enrichment by surreptitiously accepting bribes from students' families.

Yet, despite Keller's corrupt actions, no one in the academy, not even the Headmaster, could discipline him. After all, upon the soil of the Eternal Flow Province, the Keller family’s influence was potent enough to make any power think twice before provoking them! Keller, merely a member of a lateral branch, was someone even the Lord of Auckland City, Sabonis, would avoid antagonizing unless absolutely necessary.

While no one could assert with certainty that the main Keller family of the Eternal Flow Province would rise to defend a member of a minor branch, no one dared guarantee they wouldn't intervene on Keller's behalf either.

A single Keller might hold little personal weight, but what about the resources of Auckland City? The Keller family might not value a man like Keller, but any conflict sparked by him could serve as a pretext for them to deepen their involvement in Auckland City affairs.

The Headmaster had stressed that the Keller family now held considerable sway within Auckland City. Lord Sabonis had issued orders: do not give the Kellers any excuse for further expansion.

Keller had become the direct beneficiary of this situation.

When Qian Jin returned to his dormitory, he found Luolin already fast asleep in bed, snoring softly. The entire afternoon had been dedicated to intensive Warrior combat training, a truly grueling experience for the portly Luolin.

Qian Jin returned to his own bed, sat cross-legged, and resumed the meditation he had never ceased performing daily. The Qian family bloodline held not only the warrior aspect but also the lineage of mages. Nearly every Qian descendant possessed some degree of magical talent; the only difference lay in the strength or weakness of that affinity. Individuals completely devoid of magical aptitude were practically non-existent.

An hour passed. Qian Jin opened his weary eyes. This meditation session, unlike any before it, yielded no perception of magical elements, let alone the faintest sign of magical elementals.

Not sensing any magical essence did not discourage him; he had persevered through years of this routine, and one more day made little difference. More pressing than sensing magic elements was his current focus: the Battle Weapons!

Reaching the rank of an Eighth-Tier Blacksmith was still a long road to becoming a true Forgemaster for many. Yet, Qian Jin knew he was already close to that threshold. Perhaps in this next journey into the Endless World, or perhaps the one after that—regardless, he had to strive!

To become a Forgemaster! While it might not compare to becoming the greatest Warrior, achieving the rank of Forgemaster was still an exhilarating prospect.

In almost every written record available, it could be found that nearly every great warrior had the backing of one or several Forgemasters, along with other critical support.

For a warrior whose family ties were nearly severed and who possessed no inherent influence, there was almost only one path to securing a support structure: joining the military!

He would have to fight continuously on the front lines against the Demon Race, inching up the military hierarchy by accumulating merit. Once he reached the rank of Centurion, commanding a hundred men, he would gain rudimentary qualifications to assemble his own support team.

To possess true standing and attract capable patrons, one needed to attain at least the rank of Tribune, commanding a thousand soldiers.

A Tribune was often referred to as a General within the army. Once one became a General, gathering powerful supporters became relatively easier.

Without military merit, without a general’s rank, and lacking any family background, the only way to gather a devoted following was to possess the innate Kingly Aura of Zhen Ce, the founding Emperor of the True Policy Empire. Even while still a commoner, he attracted various talents to his service. Shortly after meeting him, even the patriarchs of the three ultimate warrior families chose to pledge allegiance to Emperor Zhen Ce, the Crouching Dragon.

Nine Yang Lotus Bloom, the only member of the three great warrior bloodlines to achieve ultimate awakening—hailed as the human race’s foremost warrior and unrivaled powerhouse of that era—also chose to publicly declare fealty to the Crouching Dragon after their first meeting.

Qian Jin knew he did not possess the regal charm of the Zhen Ce royalty, let alone any semblance of a Kingly Aura. The path to finding his own team had seemed to lead only into the military. Now, however, having the opportunity to become a Forgemaster filled him with immense anticipation.

: La la la la, members, click for recommendation votes. F