Layla looked over the star map Ning Rongrong had drawn. Ning Rongrong nervously rubbed her hands together as she waited for the final verdict.
"Although there are quite a few mistakes, you still managed to draw the general shape of the star map. That's already very good for someone who's encountering one for the first time."
"So, Teacher Layla, did I pass?"
"Yes, you passed. Welcome to Rtawahist. Together, we'll explore the starry sky and seek the paths of fate."
"Mm-hmm! Thank you, Teacher Layla. I'll definitely study hard."
Layla took out an Akademiya Student Handbook and handed it to Ning Rongrong.
"You have to memorize this. Don't break any of the school rules in it, or you'll be in trouble if a Discipline Officer sets their sights on you."
Looking at the thick Akademiya Student Handbook, Ning Rongrong's face fell too.
"Teacher Layla, do I really have to memorize the whole thing?"
"Of course. Memorizing books is a basic skill. You should know that Senior Faruzan had to learn twenty languages to graduate from School of Lore. It's terrifying."
There was no getting out of memorizing books, so Ning Rongrong could only grit her teeth and get started.
Xiao Wu and Tang San had also received Akademiya Student Handbooks, and they looked just as miserable.
Although they had spent six years at Notting Academy, you could also say they had wasted those six years.
Because of Yu Xiaogang, they had never received a proper education. They didn't even know how to be good students.
Now that they had entered the Akademiya, they had to rein in their tempers and learn how to be good students.
Ouyang Kong was quite satisfied with how things were going. The Akademiya valued quality over quantity for now. Once an academic fervor swept across the Douluo Continent, the Akademiya would naturally have more students.
Now that the Akademiya Branch had officially opened and begun accepting disciples, Ouyang Kong had gained four more summoning opportunities.
He went to the branch's Surasthana and drew cards with Nahida.
"I wonder who these four summons will bring. I think all the playable characters from Sumeru are already here. Forget it, no point guessing. I'll leave it to luck!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Four golden pillars of light appeared, and three figures walked out of them.
Ouyang Kong recognized Jahoda and Little Durin at a glance, but he couldn't immediately place the other girl, who was dressed like a Forest Ranger.
Then he noticed the Dendro Vision at her waist and the axe in her hand, and finally remembered. The moment he did, he felt a pang of liver pain.
"Lana!"
"Mm, greetings, Grand Sage and Lesser Lord Kusanali."
Nahida smiled and nodded to Lana as well.
"Thank you for taking care of the children and for your contributions to clearing the Withering Zones."
Lana looked overwhelmed with honor.
"It's my honor to receive the Lesser Lord Kusanali's recognition."
Nahida then smiled and greeted Jahoda and Little Durin.
"Hello, you two."
"Hello, Lesser Lord Kusanali. I've heard Scaramouche talk about you. Is he here too?"
"Yes, but he went to another city. Do you want to find him?"
"May I?"
"Of course. Aether, do you have a map?"
"Mm. Little Durin, here's the map. Scaramouche is in Spirit City. He'll be very happy to see you too."
"Thank you, Grand Sage. I'll be off, then."
After getting the map, Little Durin left Surasthana, spread her wings, and flew away. At her speed, it shouldn't take long for her to reach Spirit City.
Ouyang Kong turned his attention to Jahoda. She smiled too, but the nervousness on her face was obvious.
"Hey there!"
"Don't be nervous. Your boss is here too."
"Ah! My boss is here too? Phew, that's a relief."
"Lana, you know Tighnari, right?"
"Forest Ranger Tighnari? Mm, we know each other. He's helped me a lot and taught me plenty of things."
"Good. Take her to Tighnari. They're recruiting students down below, and Nefer is there too."
"Understood, Grand Sage."
"Yay! I get to see my boss again!"
After Lana led Jahoda away, Ouyang Kong finally realized something was off.
"Wait, I summoned four people. Why did only three show up? Where's the last one?"
Just then, a voice rang out across Heaven Dou City. At the same time, the people of the city saw an enormous green figure—so huge that it seemed to coil around the entire city.
"Tiny god. Tiny humans. You've disturbed my slumber again. Wait! This is no longer Teyvat. Tiny god, what have you done?"
Ouyang Kong and Nahida exchanged a glance. They knew that voice well too. It belonged to the Grass Dragon King Apep.
When they left Surasthana, they indeed saw Apep's enormous body.
"How did she get summoned here? This could be a bit of a problem."
"Aether, don't worry. Apep isn't someone who can't be reasoned with."
They went to stand before Apep. When she saw Nahida, Apep demanded again, "Tiny god, what exactly have you done?"
"Apep, don't get worked up. This is no longer Teyvat, and we've all escaped the shackles of Teyvat's fate.
"Although we summoned you here, we have no intention of doing anything to you. You can take a look around this world and experience its unique sights."
"Tiny god, do you think that will sway me? Hmph!"
Ouyang Kong grumbled inwardly, Why is the Grass Dragon King Apep acting a little tsundere? Did I not pay enough attention when I was doing her quest?
"I believe you. The gods love all living beings, and so do you."
"What a ridiculous notion. Humans are no more than ants to me. Why would I love a nest of ants?"
"I wonder, are you interested in the Dragon Sovereigns of this world? There are two at the Akademiya's main campus right now—no, three. If you're interested, you can go see them. Just don't destroy the Akademiya."
"Dragon Sovereigns from another world? I could go and see them. The Dragon Sovereigns are the people of my kind."
With that, Apep's enormous body rose into the air and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Where she had just been lying, green vines and branches quickly spread, infused with Dendro energy.
The walls of Heaven Dou City looked as though they had gained a layer of green armor.
Apep's departure let the people of Heaven Dou City breathe a sigh of relief. The pressure she had brought with her had been immense.
Jahoda was so frightened that she clung tightly to Lana and wouldn't let go. Even though she had once traded blows with the Moon Hunter, she wasn't brave at all.
Nefer stroked Asheru and asked, "Thoth, you're there, right? Could that be..."
"That's right. That's the Grass Dragon King Apep, whom the Scarlet King had taken it upon himself to include among the Seven Pillars. I never thought she'd be brought to this other world too.
"If only my true body could be brought here someday."
Before you continue