Teyvat Academy

On the plains at the edge of the Star Dou Forest, Douluo Continent.

A majestic city stood upon the plain.

No one knew when the city had appeared. Through its towering gates, they could make out several statues of gods standing within.

"Dormicara, columbula~"

A song rang through the stillness of the academy at the city's heart, nearly sending the sleeping Su Yun flying to the moon.

"Columbina... don't you sleep?"

Su Yun rubbed his eyes and asked the girl outside his window, looking as though life had lost all meaning.

Her long hair faded from black to purplish red. A thin white lattice blindfold covered her closed eyes, and three pairs of little wing-shaped ornaments adorned the back of her head.

She wore the coat of a Fatui Harbinger and stood quietly in the moonlit courtyard.

"No. I just wanted to sing for you. I'm so glad you were still awake."

The girl nodded lightly, looking rather pleased in the light of dawn.

Su Yun slapped his forehead. Still awake? Her singing had dragged me out of bed!

"Columbina, I don't think Sandrone's asleep yet. Why don't you sing outside her door? I'm sure she'd be delighted."

Helpless, Su Yun could only send the trouble someone else's way.

"Really? I went before, but she didn't seem to like it much."

"I'll go find Sandrone and try again now."

Columbina took Su Yun's suggestion seriously and nodded. Then she waved goodbye.

"Goodbye, Su Yun."

"Call me Headmaster!"

Su Yun's shout came out feeble. This was his last act of defiance!

Since Columbina had woken him, he might as well get up.

He stretched and looked out at the brightening sky.

Su Yun had transmigrated twice. On his first journey, he had gone to Teyvat, taken the Traveler's place as the Fourth Descender, and completed the journey.

He had arrived on Douluo Continent a week ago. The system had immediately granted him Divine Official-level Soul Power, and within the academy, he was invincible. Even if the Asura God appeared in person, Su Yun could send him flying with a slap.

He also possessed the Seven Divine Visions. Outside the academy, he could not lose unless a god crossed realms to confront him.

As for the girl and Sandrone, he had drawn them from cards.

They came from the ten pulls included in his beginner's gift pack.

He had drawn:

[Columbina, Sandrone, Noelle, Jean, Venti, Xiangling, Rosaria, Ningguang, Hu Tao, Diona~ and Zhongli.]

If anyone asked why ten pulls had produced eleven people, he had no idea how Zhongli had gotten in there either.

Even the system had no idea how Zhongli had gotten in there.

The more Su Yun thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed. He was starting to suspect the Amber Lord was Zhongli's mount.

Just as he was wondering where to find more students for Teyvat Academy, the sky changed abruptly.

Countless golden runes gathered overhead and gradually formed a golden scroll. It radiated such overwhelming heavenly might that many ordinary people dropped to their knees and pressed themselves to the ground.

Su Yun was watching intently when a breeze swept past. Venti had returned without him noticing.

"Weren't you traveling the continent? Why are you back?"

Venti grinned.

"Hehe, even the free wind has somewhere to return to."

Before Venti had finished speaking, Su Yun suddenly felt an extraordinary sense of reassurance at his back. The old man had appeared without him noticing.

Columbina followed, along with a grumbling Sandrone.

Jean was probably discussing how to promote Teyvat Academy and develop its merchants' guild with Ningguang. Neither would be there soon.

"This seems to be the power of a higher set of rules?"

Su Yun nodded gravely. He had visited the Tree of Life at the heart of the Star Dou Forest and had dealt with Gu Yuena.

This power surpassed even that of a God King.

He could sense it only because he was inside the academy.

Had he been outside, he might have had to rely on Zhongli to understand it.

Under the gaze of every living creature, the scroll finally unfurled. Endless golden runes flowed across it.

Divine script began to appear at the front of the scroll.

[The Douluo Rankings are now open. This display is formed from the divine power of a higher universe. Rankings are determined entirely by an automatic scan of divine power: absolute, fair, impartial, and transparent.]

[The first list: Faction Rankings.]

[Judging criteria: factions are ranked by strength.]

[Those on the list will receive rewards from the display. Whether anyone questions it is of no concern to the display.]

Spirit City, Papal Palace.

"A ranking formed from divine power? Can the Divine Realm interfere with the lower realm now?"

On the papal throne, Bibi Dong held her scepter, her face full of confusion.

But that did not matter. Hadn't this mysterious powerhouse promised fairness, impartiality, and transparency?

Everyone knew that Spirit Hall was the strongest faction on the continent.

As for the Two Great Empires? Even together, they had fewer Titled Douluo than Spirit Hall. They posed no threat at all.

"The only possible challenge to first place is Sea God Island."

Word was that even that old man had been defeated on Sea God Island. Though it had not been his home ground, that still meant the island had the strength to stand against Spirit Hall.

"I wonder what the rewards will be. Anything granted by a god like this surely won't be ordinary."

Remembering the rewards from the Divine Trial, Bibi Dong grew eager.

The Clear Sky Sect.

Sect Master Tang Xiao led several Elders out of the sect hall. They stared blankly at the golden rankings in the sky.

The Second Elder stepped forward and said with delight:

"Sect Master, this is good news! Our Clear Sky Sect is bound to have a place on that list."

Tang Xiao was silent for two seconds before he spoke.

"What about Spirit Hall?"

The group fell deathly silent. Of course—what about Spirit Hall? If they received rewards, Spirit Hall certainly would too.

And Spirit Hall would surely rank above them.

"Sect Master, what if our ancestor is still alive?"

One Elder spoke up timidly.

Ancestor Tang Chen might still be alive? Tang Xiao's eyes lit up.

That was right. No one could prove their ancestor was dead. What if he was among those being ranked?

Then why the hell should they fear Spirit Hall? The Clear Sky Sect's Martial Souls were all hammers, and Spirit Hall's had better all be angels!

"Let's wait. Once the golden rankings open, we'll know."

The Elders shared Tang Xiao's thoughts. If their ancestor was there, they would charge straight at Spirit Hall. If he was not, they would go back into hiding.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and Chen Xin stood atop a tower, gazing at the rankings high in the heavens.

"Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is certain to have a place on the Faction Rankings."

Ning Fengzhi cupped his hands toward the two men, smiling.

There were only a handful of Titled Douluo across all of Douluo Continent.

Most were in Spirit Hall. With Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect ahead of them, third place was surely the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's.

Once the rewards were handed out, the stronger those two became, the better it would be for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Yet beneath his smile, a trace of hidden worry flickered in Ning Fengzhi's eyes.

The rewards would be distributed according to rank.

The higher a faction ranked, the richer its reward.

After receiving those rewards, the gap between it and those behind it would only widen.

The strong would only grow stronger.

And Spirit Hall had always been the continent's strongest faction.

How could Ning Fengzhi not be deeply worried?