The young man thought for only a few seconds before setting down his carving knife and standing up.
"I presume you're the headmaster of Amphoreus Academy? May I ask what brings you here?"
Cerydra, standing behind Ye Qiong, looked at him differently.
She studied the one-eyed boy closely.
He spoke with neither deference nor defiance, and had guessed their identities at a glance. He was truly no ordinary person.
Phainon was taken aback, too.
He'd guessed that easily?
Ye Qiong smiled faintly.
"Anaxagoras, right?"
The green-haired boy's expression stiffened for a moment. His fingers tightened 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 to forge iron and mend plows, content with three meals a day and a bed to lie in.
But he wasn't content.
He wanted more.
He wanted to know the nature of Martial Souls, the source of Soul Power, and every truth in this world.
But he couldn't say so.
Because these people had never sought the truth.
So he had given himself a name, one known only to him.
Anaxagoras.
A seeker of truth.
He had thought that perhaps he was the only one in the world who knew that name.
But now, a gray-haired man he had never met had spoken it aloud.
"Who are you, exactly?" Anaxa asked, eyeing Ye Qiong warily.
Ye Qiong waved a hand.
"Don't be nervous. I came to invite you to join our academy."
Anaxa paused. He stared at Ye Qiong for several seconds, but the wariness in his eyes didn't fade.
"I'm just an ordinary craftsman no one's ever heard of. Why would you take an interest in me?"
Ye Qiong glanced at the carving knife in his hand.
"Anaxagoras, I know how you yearn to pursue the truth and how unwilling you are to be confined to the life of a craftsman."
"Let me guess. You're already level thirty-three, but you've never set foot in any academy because you haven't found one to your liking. Am I right?"
Anaxa fell silent for a while before slowly loosening his grip on the knife.
"Yes."
Ye Qiong continued.
"Most of those academies are vulgar and base. They care only for fame and profit, and have never shown the slightest reverence for the truth. But you regard the truth as your faith, and pursue it with unwavering devotion."
Anaxa didn't reply.
He watched Ye Qiong in silence, as if judging whether the man before him was worthy of his trust.
Ye Qiong casually pulled out a book and tossed it to him.
"I wrote this in my spare time. It contains my research and understanding of various things in this world, such as Martial Souls. Take a look."
Anaxa caught the book and flipped through a few pages. His pupils jolted.
"This is..."
He quickly leafed through a few more pages.
A moment later, he suddenly burst into wild laughter.
"Hahahahahaha! So that's it! So that's how it is!"
Phainon's mouth twitched.
The guy had seemed perfectly normal just a moment ago. How had reading a book turned him into this?
The teacher had said this man was brilliant, but now that Phainon saw him, he couldn't help wondering if the guy was a lunatic.
Thinking this, Phainon instinctively turned to glance at Cerydra.
And then he saw that the corners of her mouth had lifted slightly as she watched Anaxa. She murmured under her breath,
"Interesting. This man really is rather interesting."
Phainon's eyes went wide.
He was sure of it now. She didn't seem entirely normal either.
Only after a moment did Anaxa stop laughing. He closed the book and fixed Ye Qiong with a burning gaze.
"You want me to join Amphoreus Academy, right? I accept. But you must give me the freedom to pursue the truth."
A smile appeared on Ye Qiong's face.
"That shouldn't be difficult. There's another teacher at our academy whose knowledge is incredibly broad. She may be able to help you."
Ye Qiong wasn't wrong.
In her previous life, Tribbie had also been an outstanding inventor.
Otherwise, why do you think she used the "West Wind" to spread warmth?
"However, she isn't at the academy right now. If you want to meet her, you'll have to wait at least a week."
Anaxa waved a hand.
"That's fine. I have the patience. I'll follow you, Headmaster, for now. From the looks of you, you're planning to go Soul Fighting tonight, right? Why not let me join your Soul Fighting team?"
Ye Qiong nodded.
"Sure. I'm curious about your strength, too."
That night, the Soto Soul Arena was packed with people, its lights blazing.
At the Soul Fighting Arena,
the host raised the Amplifying Soul Tool in his hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The next match is about to begin!"
Scattered applause broke out in the stands.
"This match pits the contestant known as Ironwood, who's won twenty-three matches in a row, against the mysterious newcomer from Amphoreus Academy!"
"According to the information released before the match, this newcomer made a bold claim: he can defeat his opponent in an instant and end his winning streak!"
At those words, the stands erupted.
"Holy crap, what? One-shot? Did I hear that right?"
"Yeah, Ironwood's a level thirty-eight Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder. Where does this newcomer get the nerve?"
"Amphoreus Academy? Is that the place everyone's been talking about these past couple of days?"
"Even if it's famous, that doesn't mean they can act this cocky. Plenty of people go weak at the knees when they see Ironwood's Steel Bear Martial Soul."
"Newcomers don't know the limits of the sky or the depths of the earth."
"I can't wait to see how he pulls off that one-shot!"
The chatter rose from every direction like a surging tide.
"Welcome, both contestants! Take the stage!"
Dum! Dum! Dum!
Three drumbeats rang out.
A burly man strode out through the passage on the left side of the Soul Fighting Arena.
The stands erupted in cheers as soon as they saw him.
"Ironwood! Ironwood!"
The man walked to the center of the stage and gave his arms a violent shake.
Steel Bear Martial Soul Possession!
Two yellow rings and one purple ring.
A level thirty-eight Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder!
The cheers from the stands grew even louder.
Someone shouted,
"Ironwood! Knock that kid flying with one slap!"
"Teach him what it costs to run his mouth!"
Ironwood grinned and waved a bear paw at the audience.
Then he turned to look at the passage on the other side of the Soul Fighting Arena.
Anaxa came out of it.
He was slender, and the green of his hair shimmered softly under the lights.
He looked like a frail student who might get cornered and bullied on his way home from school.
The audience stared at him blankly for a moment.
Then many of them couldn't help laughing.
"I thought he'd be someone important. This is it?"
"He's so skinny. Is he sure he didn't come here to get beaten?"
"Amphoreus Academy sent someone like him? I bet Ironwood could slap him flying!"
The doubts rang out louder and louder.
Hearing them, Anaxa simply walked onto the stage with a calm expression and took his place opposite Ironwood.
Ironwood looked down at him from above, grinning.
"Kid, I heard your big talk. But are you sure you've got what it takes to beat me?"
Anaxa looked up at him with his one eye, then let out a mocking laugh.
"Ignorance."
His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried clearly to the audience.
At once, curses broke out in the stands.
"Holy crap, this kid's asking for it! I feel like he's insulting all of us. Ironwood, beat him up!"
At that, Ironwood's grin froze.
"You insolent brat!"
But Anaxa ignored him and looked at the referee standing at the edge of the stage.
"Just announce the start. I'm in a hurry."