On the ninth floor of the lecture building lay the offices of the eight Undying God instructors. Students were forbidden from entering the ninth floor at will.
Entering a spacious yet simply furnished room, Shen Mu saw a towering figure shrouded in a layer of watery-blue divine radiance. Faint ripples seemed to flow across the icy scale armor covering his body.
"Greetings, Teacher Han Tian." Shen Mu bowed respectfully to the Undying God who lectured on the Water Source Law.
Han Tian nodded slightly. His third eye, usually kept closed, opened a fraction as well, and satisfaction surfaced in his gaze as he looked at Shen Mu.
"Your Law Attainment is no weaker than that of some Cosmic-Level students. From now on, attend classes with the Cosmic-Level students."
"Thank you, Teacher."
Shen Mu had originally intended to find the time to visit this teacher and apply to attend classes alongside the Cosmic-Level students. He had simply not expected Teacher Han Tian to bring it up first.
"Go. Cultivate diligently, and do not slack off."
"Yes."
Shen Mu bowed once more, then respectfully took his leave and departed from the ninth floor.
After Shen Mu had left, another figure in white suddenly appeared beside Han Tian—an elderly man in white robes.
"This year's Star-Level Genius Battle is about to begin. I wonder how far that little fellow will make it," the white-robed elder said meaningfully.
Han Tian pondered briefly before saying with certainty, "With his current attainment in the Water Law, he has a good chance of reaching the top fifty. But there are still five years until the Genius Battle."
In every Genius Battle, the standards for the top thousand and the top hundred were generally not all that far apart.
Even if a particular edition produced several heaven-defying freaks,