Although no one wanted to admit it, Wind Walker Academy was truly walking on thin ice. Even with such a chaotic opening, they still couldn't afford to let their guard down. They had none of the confidence expected of a top-ten academy.
"Every academy contending for the top ten this year is sharpening its blade!" Miller said as he walked. "Nightshade Academy's withdrawal has given us an opportunity. Outland Elf Academy has the Crown Prince and is allied with Red Lotus Academy, so entering the top ten this year is practically guaranteed. But even if it squeezes in, there'll still be a place for us in the top ten."
Everyone around them nodded. Most of the team this time consisted of newcomers, and they still had to spend over a hundred years studying at the academy. If Wind Walker Academy fell out of the top ten, the academy would suffer enormous losses, and so would they. At the very least, they could forget about obtaining the better Ancient Lands afterward.
Of course, Wind Walker Academy had deep foundations. As one of the top academies for countless eras, it had won many Ancient Lands. It wouldn't completely collapse just because it fell out of the top ten for one term.
But everything had a breaking point. Since its founding, Wind Walker Academy had never fallen out of the top ten. It was a veteran powerhouse, and its worst result had only been scraping the bottom of the top ten. That line had never been crossed throughout countless eras, and no one wanted to be the first to bear the blame.
Miller drew a breath, easing the pressure in his heart before continuing. "Even so, the situation remains far from optimistic. Over the years, several veteran academies have advanced fiercely and built