Anaxagoras

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

"I presume you must be the headmaster of Omphalos Academy? May I ask what brings you to this place?"

The way Keleradra looked at him from behind Ye Qiong had changed.

She studied the one-eyed youth with genuine focus.

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

Bai E was also taken aback.

He guessed it just like that?

Ye Qiong smiled faintly.

"Anaxagoras? Am I right?"

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

His name was Nakesha.

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.

He wanted more.

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

But he could not speak of it.

Simply 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 one in this world who knew that name.

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

"Who exactly are you?" Nakesha 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."

Nakesha paused, staring at Ye Qiong for several seconds, but the wariness 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 confined to the role of 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. Is that correct?"

Nakesha 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 view truth as your faith and are obsessed with it."

Nakesha 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 souls. Take a look."

Nakesha 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.

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

The corner of Bai E's mouth twitched.

This guy seemed 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, Bai E instinctively turned his head to look at Keleradra.

As a result, he discovered that the corners of Keleradra's mouth were actually curling upward as she watched Nakesha, and she whispered softly:

"Interesting, this person is indeed quite interesting."

Bai E's eyes widened instantly.

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

A moment later, Nakesha finally reined in his laughter, closed his book, and looked at Ye Qiong with burning eyes:

"You want me to join your Omphalos 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 past life, Ti Bao 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."

Nakesha 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 spirit arena tonight? Why not let me join your spirit fighting team as well?"

Ye Qiong nodded:

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

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

On the spirit fighting stage, the host raised the megaphone soul tool in his hand:

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

A smattering of applause broke out from the spectator stands.

"This match features the contestant codenamed Iron Wood, who holds a twenty-three-match winning streak, versus a mysterious newcomer from Omphalos Academy!"

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

Upon hearing this, the spectator stands erupted in an uproar.

"WTF, what? One-shot? Did I hear that right?"

"Yeah, Iron Wood is a level 38 assault-system battle spirit grandmaster. Where does this newcomer get the courage?"

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

"Even if they are popular, they shouldn't be this arrogant. How many people have had their legs go weak just seeing Iron Wood's Steel Bear spirit?"

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

"I, for one, want to see how he plans to one-shot him!"

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 spirit fighting stage.

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

"Iron Wood! Iron Wood!"

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

Steel Bear spirit possessed!

Two yellow and one purple spirit rings.

Level 38 assault-system spirit grandmaster!

The cheers in the stands grew even louder.

Someone shouted:

"Iron Wood! Slap that kid away with one paw!"

"Teach him the price of arrogance!"

Iron Wood grinned and waved his bear paw at the audience.

Afterward, he looked toward the passage on the other side of the spirit fighting stage.

Nakesha 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 could be surrounded and bullied on the way home from school.

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

Shortly after, many couldn't 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?"

"Omphalos Academy sent someone like this? I feel like Iron Wood could swat him away with a single slap!"

The waves of skepticism grew louder and louder.

Listening to these questioning voices, Nakesha simply walked onto the soul-fighting arena with a calm expression and came to a stop opposite Iron Wood.

Iron Wood looked down at him from his height, baring his teeth in a grin.

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

Nakesha raised his head, looking at him with his single eye, and then, unexpectedly, let out a mocking laugh.

"Ignorant."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word reached the ears of the audience with perfect clarity.

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

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

Hearing this, Iron Wood's smile stiffened.

"You arrogant brat!"

But Nakesha ignored him entirely, looking instead toward the referee standing at the edge of the stage.

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