Anaxagoras

The youth pondered for only a few seconds before setting down his carving knife and standing up.

"I presume you are the headmaster of Amphoreus Academy? May I ask what brings you to this place?"

Cerydra, standing behind Ye Qiong, changed the way she looked at him.

She scrutinized the one-eyed youth with genuine focus.

His tone was neither servile nor overbearing, and he had guessed their identities at a single glance; he was truly no simple person.

Phainon was also taken aback.

He guessed it just like that?

Ye Qiong smiled slightly.

"Anaxagoras? Am I right?"

The green-haired youth's expression stiffened for a moment, his fingers tightening around the carving knife.

His name was Anaxa.

Ever since he could remember, he had known he was different from the people around him.

They were content with forging iron and repairing plows, satisfied with three meals a day and a bed to sleep in.

But he was not satisfied.

He wanted more.

He wanted to know the essence of martial spirits, the source of spirit power, and all the truths of this world.

But he could not speak of it.

Because these people had never pursued the truth.

So, he had given himself a name—a name only he knew.

Anaxagoras.

The one who pursues truth.

He had assumed that perhaps he was the only person in the world who knew this name.

Yet now, this name had been spoken by a gray-haired man he had never met before.

"Who exactly are you?" Anaxa looked at Ye Qiong with vigilance.

Ye Qiong waved a hand.

"No need to be nervous. I have come here to invite you to join our academy."

Anaxa was stunned. He stared at Ye Qiong for several seconds, but the vigilance in his eyes did not dissipate.

"I am nothing but an obscure, ordinary craftsman. Why would you take an interest in me?"

Ye Qiong glanced at the carving knife in his hand.

"Anaxagoras, I know of your desire to pursue the truth and your refusal to remain a mere craftsman."

"Let me guess: you are currently at level thirty-three, but because you have never encountered an academy that satisfies you, you have never stepped foot into any campus. Yes or no?"

Anaxa remained silent for a while before slowly loosening his grip on the carving knife.

"Yes."

Ye Qiong continued.

"Most of those academies are vulgar and unbearable, valuing only fame and fortune while lacking even a shred of reverence for the truth. But you—you treat truth as your faith and are obsessed with it."

Anaxa did not answer.

He watched Ye Qiong quietly, as if judging whether this person before him was worth trusting.

Seeing this, Ye Qiong took out a book and tossed it to him.

"This is something I wrote in my spare time. It contains my research and understanding of certain things in this world, such as martial spirits. Take a look."

Anaxa caught the book and flipped through a few pages, his pupils suddenly dilating.

"This is..."

He flipped through a few more pages rapidly.

A moment later, he suddenly began to laugh maniacally.

"Hahahaha! So that's it! So that's how it is!"

The corner of Phainon's mouth twitched.

This guy was perfectly normal just a moment ago; how did he end up like this after reading a book?

The teacher had said this guy had a brilliant mind, but looking at him now, he was afraid the man might be a lunatic.

Thinking this, Phainon subconsciously turned his head to look at Cerydra.

As a result, he discovered that Cerydra was looking at Anaxa, the corners of her mouth actually curling upward slightly as she whispered:

"Interesting, this person is indeed a bit interesting."

Phainon widened his eyes instantly.

He was certain now; this guy didn't seem quite right in the head either.

A moment later, Anaxa finally stifled his laughter, closed his book, and looked at Ye Qiong with burning eyes:

"You want me to join your Amphoreus Academy, is that it? I grant you permission. However, you must grant me the freedom to pursue the truth."

A smile immediately appeared on Ye Qiong's face:

"That is not difficult. Our academy has another teacher whose knowledge is extremely vast; perhaps she can be of help to you."

Ye Qiong was not lying when he said this.

In his previous life, Tribios was also an incredibly powerful inventor.

Otherwise, why do you think she used "West Wind" to deliver warmth?

"However, she is not at the academy right now. If you wish to see her, you will have to wait at least a week."

Anaxa waved his hand.

"No matter, I have the patience. I shall follow you, Dean, for the time being. Looking at you all, I assume you intend to go to the Soul Fighting Arena tonight? Why not let me join your soul fighting team as well?"

Ye Qiong nodded:

"Very well, I am quite curious about your strength myself."

At night, the Soto Soul Arena was bustling with noise and brightly lit.

On the Soul Fighting Arena, the host raised the soul-guiding megaphone in his hand:

"Ladies and gentlemen! The next match is about to begin!"

A smattering of applause erupted from the audience stands.

"This match features the contestant codenamed Ironwood, who holds a twenty-three-match winning streak, against a mysterious newcomer from Amphoreus Academy!"

"According to pre-match information, this newcomer has made a bold claim, saying that he can instantly defeat his opponent and end their winning streak!"

Upon hearing this, the audience stands immediately erupted into chaos.

"WTF, what? Instant defeat! Did I hear that right?"

"Yeah, this Ironwood is a level 38 Power Attack System Soul Grandmaster. Where does this newcomer get the courage?"

"Amphoreus Academy? Is that the one that's been trending these past two days?"

"Even if they're popular, they can't be this arrogant. How many people have gone weak in the knees just seeing Ironwood's Steel Bear martial soul?"

"He's just a newcomer, doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth."

"I want to see how he plans to get that instant kill!"

The discussions surged from all directions like a tide.

"Welcome both sides to the stage!"

Boom, boom, boom.

Three drumbeats sounded.

A burly man strode out from the passage on the left side of the Soul Fighting Arena.

Seeing him, a wave of cheers erupted from the audience:

"Ironwood! Ironwood!"

The big man walked to the center of the stage and violently shook his arms.

Steel Bear martial soul possessed!

Two yellow and one purple soul rings.

Level 38 Power Attack System Soul Grandmaster!

The cheers from the audience grew even louder.

Someone shouted:

"Ironwood! Slap that kid away with one paw!"

"Let him know the price of arrogance!"

Ironwood grinned and waved his bear paw at the audience.

Afterward, he looked toward the passage on the other side of the Soul Fighting Arena.

Anaxa walked out from the passage at that moment.

His figure was lean, and his green hair shimmered with a soft glow under the lights.

He looked just like a frail student who might get cornered and bullied on the way home from school.

The moment they saw him, the audience in the stands froze.

Shortly after, many could not help but burst into laughter.

"I thought he was someone special, but this is it?"

"So skinny? Are you sure he isn't just here to hand over a free win?"

"Amphoreus Academy sent someone like this? I feel like Ironwood could swat him away with a single slap!"

Waves of skepticism rose higher and higher.

Listening to these questioning voices, Anaxa simply walked onto the Soul Fighting Arena with a calm expression and stood still opposite Ironwood.

Ironwood looked down at him from his height and grinned.

"Kid, I heard your tough talk, but are you sure you have the ability to defeat me?"

Anaxa raised his head, looked at him with his single eye, and then let out a mocking laugh.

"Ignorant."

His voice was not loud, but every word reached the ears of the audience clearly.

In an instant, a chorus of jeers erupted from the stands.

"WTF, this kid is too arrogant. I feel like he's insulting us. Ironwood, beat him up!"

Hearing this, Ironwood's smile stiffened.

"You arrogant brat!"

But Anaxa ignored him entirely and looked at the referee standing at the edge of the stage.

"Just announce the start. I'm in a hurry."