Red-level Sea of Consciousness—after three years of cultivation, still only a one-star apprentice. Grace Hamilton could imagine just how much ridicule and scorn Henry Carter had endured. Even though the young man now possessed astonishing soul power talent, he still looked at the world with cold indifference.

Like a hedgehog, he faced the world with icy spikes and silence.

Watching Henry Carter's departing figure, Grace Hamilton suddenly felt a pang of sadness. Henry Carter's heart must be very lonely, right? It was hard to imagine how Henry Carter had made it through these past years.

"Henry Carter, where are you going? Why aren't you waiting for me? Let's go together!" A radiant smile blossomed on Grace Hamilton's face as she quickened her pace, walking toward Henry Carter, her long dress fluttering, like a fairy.

The thing people fear most is comparison. Whether it was Emily Johnson or the other girls around, they were all outstanding and quite good-looking, but compared to Grace Hamilton, they instantly became a group of ugly ducklings.

Every time Emily Johnson saw Grace Hamilton, she couldn't help but feel deeply inferior. Whether it was family background, looks, or talent, they were all far, far behind Grace Hamilton. They didn't even have the courage to be friends with Grace Hamilton. In Qingluan Academy, Emily Johnson and the others could only live in the communal dormitory, while Grace Hamilton had her own private courtyard!

Grace Hamilton actually called out to Henry Carter? Was I hearing things? Emily Johnson stared in disbelief, only to see that Grace Hamilton really was walking toward Henry Carter.

So Henry Carter came to Qingluan Academy to find Grace Hamilton!

But how did Henry Carter know Grace Hamilton? They were people from completely different worlds!

Hearing Grace Hamilton's call, Henry Carter turned his head. When he saw Grace Hamilton, he was slightly stunned and murmured, "Sister Ziyan..." The third "sister" was spoken especially softly.

"I'm going to the Divine Inscriptionist Alliance. We're headed the same way, let's go together!" Grace Hamilton said with a casual smile. She glanced at Emily Johnson and the other girls nearby, her elegant brows slightly furrowed, and said in a somewhat cold tone, "Who are these people? Henry Carter, don't bother with these irrelevant people in the future! There are plenty of pointless people at Nanxing Academy—you don't need to pay them any mind."

Upon hearing Grace Hamilton's words, Emily Johnson and the others immediately turned a little pale. In Grace Hamilton's eyes, were they really just a bunch of nobodies?!

The pride and arrogance in Emily Johnson's heart were instantly shattered. Indeed, Grace Hamilton had every reason to completely disregard them! Even if she became a martial artist, she still wasn't on the same level as Grace Hamilton!

Even though she was already a six-star martial artist, Emily Johnson didn't even have the right to speak to Grace Hamilton!

How could Grace Hamilton be with Henry Carter? Emily Johnson just couldn't figure it out. She bit her lip hard. Even though she had been mocked by Grace Hamilton, she didn't even have the courage to talk back. If Grace Hamilton was displeased, a single word from her could wipe out the entire Qiao family!

Seeing the expressions on Emily Johnson and the others, Henry Carter knew that Grace Hamilton was standing up for him, and couldn't help but give her a grateful look.

"Let's go!" Grace Hamilton smiled sweetly and naturally took Henry Carter's arm.

Feeling Grace Hamilton's soft chest against his arm, Henry Carter felt a little awkward. He straightened his back, didn't spare Emily Johnson another glance, and walked away with Grace Hamilton.

"How does Miss Ziyan know Henry Carter?" A tall girl nearby watched as Henry Carter and Grace Hamilton slowly walked away, asking in confusion, "They're so close—their relationship must be unusual!"

"I just heard Henry Carter call Miss Ziyan by her name!" another round-faced girl said in surprise.

"If it's really that Henry Carter with only a red-level Sea of Consciousness, how could he possibly be favored by Miss Ziyan?" the tall girl mused. Grace Hamilton had never been so close to a boy before—could it be that the two of them were lovers?

Watching Henry Carter and Grace Hamilton gradually walk away, Emily Johnson bit her lip until it bled. Thinking of what Grace Hamilton had just said—"dragons do not dwell with snakes"—those five words were like a sharp knife stabbing into her heart. It was the greatest insult to her!

Only now did Emily Johnson realize that she didn't seem to understand Henry Carter at all. Recalling Henry Carter's cold and disdainful expression just now, Emily Johnson had thought it was self-protection when he was powerless to fight back, but now she realized that Henry Carter simply disdained arguing with her!

Grace Hamilton glanced at the Emily Johnson behind her and snorted softly. Henry Carter possessed incredibly sharp soul perception and was almost certain to become a Divine Inscription Master. She had no idea where Emily Johnson's arrogance came from!

Miss Ziyan just like that took Henry Carter's arm and walked along the gravel path in front of Qingluan Academy, heading into the distance, leaving behind the dumbfounded Emily Johnson and the others.

As the sun set behind the western hills, all the classes at the academy had already ended for the day. There were many people on the road. Once she was sure Emily Johnson and the others couldn't see them, Miss Ziyan let go of Henry Carter's arm, a blush rising on her pretty face, making her look even more alluring.

"Sister Ziyan, thank you!" Henry Carter looked at the beautiful and charming Grace Hamilton in front of him and said earnestly.

Of course, Henry Carter didn't narcissistically think that Miss Ziyan had fallen for him. He knew very well that when Grace Hamilton affectionately took his arm in front of Emily Johnson and the others, she was helping him!