Imperial Onmyo Academy, Strengthening Division training ground.
There was a chilling atmosphere in the air.
On the podium, a man as tall as a bear was pressing the hilt of a knife, his eyes scanning every student in the audience like lightning. There was an unsheathed knife hanging on his waist, but the murderous aura that overflowed was enough to make the noble students in the front row feel their skin tingle.
Zure.
Although this guy pretended to be the new instructor of the academy and even changed his appearance, the disgusting smell of blood on his body and the feedback of Bloodline Tracking magic left on Asta by Ian all pointed to this man.
"It's true that there are enemies on the same road."
Ian mingled among the crowd, pretending to be trembling like other students on the surface, but inside he was calmly analyzing the situation.
"Even without in-depth investigation, I can be sure that it is him. It seems that he has also discovered the secrets of this world, and his target is the same as me, the Origin Grimoire."
Ian's eyes drooped slightly, covering the cold light under his eyes.
Now is not the time to take action. This is the academy, and the weird "Heavenly Dao Will" surveillance agents are everywhere. Once he uses Western magic or exposes the power beyond this dimension, not only will Yamato Dynasty be encircled and suppressed, but Zure will be alert to escape.
"Be patient. Before I thoroughly analyzed the Onmyodo system and obtained Origin Grimoire, I was Kozuki Akimitsu, an ordinary civilian genius."
On the podium, Zure began his lecture.
"Onmyoji shouldn't just be a soft-footed shrimp hiding behind Shikigami!"
Zure's voice was like Hong Zhongda Lu, shaking people's eardrums, "Today we are learning [Magic Skin]. This is a technique that covers the surface of the skin with spiritual power to form a high-density defense layer. Without a strong body and high mobility, you will not survive more than three seconds on a real battlefield!"
The next course was a boring and painful combination of physical and spiritual training. Ian mechanically coordinated the movements, but his thoughts had already drifted to the sky, imagining how to capture this dangerous enemy in a closed academy without anyone noticing.
When the bell rang, Zure glanced meaningfully in the direction of Ian, then turned and left.
Before Ian could breathe a sigh of relief, a Shikigami messenger from the Academic Affairs Office blocked his way.
"Guangyue classmate, Hirano principal invites you."
Headmaster's Office.
This is an elegantly decorated Japanese-style room, with a faint scent of tea floating in the air.
Principal Hirano, the old woman who had met once when they were enrolled in school, was sitting behind the desk. She motioned Ian to sit on the chair opposite and poured him a cup of hot tea herself.
"I won't beat around the bush."
Principal Hirano took a sip of tea and stared at Ian with his shrewd eyes, "Guangyue, or... this unknown genius. What do you want?"
Ian took the tea cup and did not drink it. He just looked at her calmly. "Principal, I don't understand what you mean."
"Don't play dumb, kid."
Hirano Principal put down the tea cup, and his tone became sharp, "I have lived a long time, and I still have a good eye for people. Your behavior these days - whether it is the 'Void drawing symbol' in class, or taming Divine Grade Shikigami - is too deliberate. That kind of high-profile is like shouting to the whole world, 'come and see me'."
"Would a civilian who really wanted to hide himself do this? So, tell me, what is the purpose of all your efforts to show off your talent?"
Ian was silent for two seconds, and then a calm smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"You are indeed a person who can firmly hold the position of principal with a civilian background. Your insight is admirable."
Ian put aside his pretense of respect and looked directly into the old man's eyes, "My request is very simple - I want the Library's highest reading authority. All books, including Restricted Section."
Hirano The principal was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't expect the other party's appetite to be so "small".
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"I thought you would ask for more resources, or letters of recommendation from nobles." Principal Hirano was a little surprised, "Why do you want a book?"
Ian turned his head, looked out the window at the campus scenery, and began the "story" he had already compiled.
"Principal, do you know? I have known that I am different from others since I was a child."
Ian's voice became deep and contagious, "In our small and remote village, there is only one crappy barefoot doctor. The villagers cannot afford expensive healing talismans, so they can only carry it when they get sick."
"When I was seven years old, I sneaked into the doctor's study. In just two days, I read all his books. At that moment, I realized that I already knew more about medicine than he did. What I lacked was just experience."
"So, I used my awakened spiritual talent to hypnotize the doctor, and spent two days and two nights to 'copy' all the medical experience he had accumulated over decades into my mind."
Ian turned his head and looked at Principal Hirano with burning eyes, "From that day on, I have been the best doctor in the village. I have not only learned to treat diseases, but also learned to farm, forge, and build through the same method... As long as you give me books and knowledge, I can master everything."
These words were half true and half false, and Principal Hirano was stunned for a moment.
She tapped her fingers lightly on the table and pondered for a moment, "So, do you think you can replicate this miracle on Onmyodo?"
"It's not that I think." Ian smiled confidently, "It's that I know that I can."
"Arrogant."
Hirano principal commented, but there was a hint of appreciation in his eyes, "Okay, let me see if you are really capable, or if you are just bragging."
She opened the drawer, took out a black gold token engraved with complex patterns, and threw it on the table.
"This is the highest authority reading order. With it, in addition to the Imperial Family secret file, you can read the books in the Library at your own discretion."
Ian took the token with both hands and bowed solemnly. "Thank you, principal. I promise that this investment will make you feel it is worth it."
Looking at Ian's leaving figure, principal Hirano fell into deep thought.
She knew that there must be secrets about this young man, and even the story just now might be just the tip of the iceberg. But she didn't care. Her lifelong dream was to break the aristocracy's monopoly on knowledge, so that civilian children could also succeed.
"The current college is just a playground for nobles and a slaughterhouse for common people." Principal Hirano sighed, "I hope this 'catfish' can completely muddy this stagnant water."
After class, civilian dormitory area.
Ian was not in a hurry to go to the Library, because he still had a promise to fulfill - to provide supplementary classes for civilian students.
In the open space at this moment, dozens of civilian freshmen have gathered eagerly waiting for him. They looked at Ian as if they were looking at a the Chosen One.
"Okay, everyone, don't be nervous."
Ian clapped his hands and motioned for everyone to sit around, "I know what everyone is worried about. The 'qi' and 'flow' the teacher talked about are too abstract, right?"
Everyone nodded one after another, like pounding garlic.
"It's actually very simple."
Ian walked up to a dark-skinned boy and said, "I remember your family is farming?"
"Yes... yes, senior." The boy replied nervously.
"Then you must have carried water and watered the ground, right?" Ian guided, "Imagine that your Dantian is a huge reservoir, and your meridians are the ditches in the field. What you have to do is not to 'control' the water, but to 'channel' it. Use your consciousness as a shovel, dig the ditch, and let the water flow naturally into the 'field' in your hand."
The boy closed his eyes and tried to imagine according to Ian.
A few seconds later.
"Buzz!"
A stable ball of blue spiritual power emerged in his palm.
"Oh my god! I succeeded! I can also gather spirits!" The boy almost jumped with excitement, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Very good."
Ian turned to another girl, "Your family runs a bakery? Then imagine your spiritual power as dough! It is very soft and sticky. You have to knead it, pinch it, round it and flatten it!"
"Are you the son of a blacksmith? Recall your father's temperature control during quenching!"
"Are you a merchant's daughter? Think of the spiritual power in your body as piles of gold coins! You have to count them one by one and stack them neatly!"
Ian's teaching seems to have a kind of magic. He abandons those obscure professional terms and uses the most down-to-earth and life-like metaphors to instantly open up the world of these civilian students.
In just one hour, all the poor students who could not even figure out Mars actually mastered the basics of spiritual power Transfiguration!
"It's amazing! It's amazing!"
"Thank you, Senior Guangyue! You are simply sent by the gods to save us!"
Looking at these excited peers, Ian waved his hand. "We are all from common people, so we should help each other. Since the nobles look down on us, then we will use our strength to slap them in the face."
This sentence instantly ignited everyone's blood.
"Guangyue Senior!" A bold girl suddenly asked, "If we practice hard, can we be as good as you in the future?"
The whole place fell silent instantly, everyone looked at Ian expectantly.
Ian was stunned for a moment, and then showed an expression that was extremely unbeatable but also fascinatingly confident.
"Well... although I really want to encourage you."
He shook his head seriously, "But to be honest - it's absolutely impossible."
"Huh?!" Everyone was shocked.
"Why?"
"Because..." Ian pointed at his handsome face and said confidently, "I am one of a million unique geniuses. If all of you were like me, wouldn't that genius be too worthless?"
"Hahahahaha!"
A burst of good-natured laughter broke out in the crowd. Everyone thought the senior would preach, but they didn't expect him to be so humorous. This "Versailles"-style speech actually brought them closer together, making his image in everyone's hearts more vivid and friendly.
After the crowd dispersed.
Ian stopped a girl who was about to leave.
"Mido, classmate, please stay."
The girl with Prophecy talent stopped, a little flattered, with two blushes on her face. "Senior... senior, you can call me Mido."
"Mido, classmate, I have two things to tell you."
Ian put away his joking expression and became extremely serious.
"First, don't fall in love with me. I know I'm very charming, but I'm destined to be a prodigal. It's impossible for us to be together."
Mido's face instantly turned red like a ripe tomato, and he opened his mouth at a loss. This opening remark was too...
"The second and most important point is."
Ian's voice lowered a bit, "Be careful of those nobles and Imperial Family people. Your talent is 'Prophecy', which is a strategic resource that all forces dream of. Next, countless people will use money, status, and even marriage to seduce you and win you over."
"If you find that someone is suddenly overly enthusiastic about you, you must stay vigilant. If you encounter trouble that cannot be solved..." Ian paused, "Come to me."
Mido finally recovered from her shyness and realized that her senior was sincerely protecting her.
She bowed deeply. "Thank you, senior, for reminding me. I will remember it."
Watching the girl leave, a glimmer of light flashed in Ian's eyes.
The Prophecy division is a strategic-level chess piece. If he wants to launch a coup in this country, or take over Yamato Dynasty without bloodshed, Mido's power is indispensable.
"The seeds have been planted, now it's time to harvest the knowledge."
Ian turned around and strode towards the direction of the Library.
There, the truth of this world is hidden, as well as the clues leading to Origin Grimoire.