Volume One: The Budding Edge

Prologue

In the era of interstellar great navigation, the rapid development of technology has long ushered humanity into the stage of cosmic colonization. At the same time, to adapt to the perilous environment of interstellar exploration and pioneering, martial civilization has flourished.

As a result, the prosperity of technology and martial civilization has brought earth-shaking changes to human life. Traveling between stars aboard spaceships has become commonplace, and the average human lifespan has multiplied, with the long-lived even approaching a thousand years...

Chapter 001: The Student Nicknamed "Mud"

Earth Year 4327, June. Dormir Star welcomes yet another summer.

Southern Dormir Star, Luoshan City, Nanying Academy.

Afternoon. The sun blazes like fire. Grade 3, Class C-69 of Nanying Academy...

"Life's crossroads—that's what this is. There are many turning points in a person's life, and the graduation exam in half a month is your very first turning point."

"You all—must feel a sense of urgency."

On the podium, the homeroom teacher John Thompson spoke passionately. Heaven knows how many times he has repeated these words in his 100-year teaching career.

The 120 students of Grade 3, Class C-69 sat upright, listening to their homeroom teacher's final address. Just as John Thompson said, this was a turning point in their lives. The graduation exam in half a month would determine their future fate.

Like the other students, William Clark sat in the last row, eyes wide open, a smile stretched across his face, putting on an attentive look.

"Some of you have already condensed your inner core and become basic martial artists. Here, I congratulate you in advance—the doors of higher academies are already open to you."

As homeroom teacher John Thompson spoke, twelve students in the class straightened their backs and held their heads high with pride. Their energy and spirit drew envious glances from those around them. Sixteen-year-old first-level martial artists are directly recruited by higher academies; they are the future elite of upper society.

"Of course, you must not slack off. The martial arts assessment in half a month will also determine which higher academy you can enter. I hope all twelve of you will make it into Difeng Higher Academy." Homeroom teacher John Thompson encouraged them, then shifted his tone, "As for the rest, you must not be negligent either. Your academic scores will decide your future. Unlike martial cultivation, academic performance can still improve greatly in half a month."

A feeble response rose among the students. These days, advanced martial artists are the pillars of upper society, followed by those with special talents. The rest can at best become the middle class. In today's society, as long as you complete twelve years of compulsory education, you can at least find a job and not starve.

However, if you want a promising career—working on interstellar flights, becoming a star mercenary, or even joining the military—only martial artists are qualified.

"Twelve years of compulsory education is about to end. I hope you will encourage each other, learn from one another, and make progress together. Of course, don't learn from a certain someone..." Homeroom teacher John Thompson suddenly raised his voice, glaring fiercely at one person.

Swish!

All 119 pairs of eyes in the class focused on one person, followed by a round of mocking laughter. This scene played out almost every day.

William Clark still stared wide-eyed, his smile natural, completely unaware that he had once again become the center of attention. A person who is asleep doesn't know what's happening around them. Not only was William Clark sound asleep, he was even dreaming. In his dream, he was piloting his own spaceship, flying to the edge of the Odin Star Domain. Aside from him, the ship was filled with all kinds of beautiful women, circling around him, spinning and spinning... tsk tsk...

John Thompson's hands suddenly clenched, veins bulging. This useless student was sleeping in his class again—sleeping with his eyes open, no less.

Sleeping with eyes open, watching adult films during martial arts class, failing every exam, peeking at girls' underwear—except for fighting, which he had no record of, every bad record belonged to this pig.

Oh, no, no—this pile of mud hadn't even reached the "body forging" stage in martial arts, so of course he didn't dare fight or provoke anyone.

Homeroom teacher John Thompson looked coldly at William Clark. This pig was the biggest stain in his 100 years of teaching.

Taking a deep breath, John Thompson forced a smile. Soon, just half a month more, and this trash would disappear from Nanying Academy. He had waited three years—what was another half month?

In the classroom, homeroom teacher John Thompson's rousing graduation speech rang out once more.

The bell rang for the end of class, and the students poured out.

William Clark yawned as he walked out. Today was truly lucky—black-faced John Thompson hadn't noticed him sleeping. Although his skill of sleeping with eyes open was unmatched through the ages, once such a trick was discovered, he would become a prime target for teachers' "special attention."