The sky screen appeared

Timeline: becoming the library collections steward.

(Follows the manhua and anime. If that's not your thing, don't read.)

Inside the Holy Orchid Academy library in Glory City.

Nie Li, Du Ze, Lu Piao, Wei Nan, Zhang Ming, and Zhu Xiangjun sat in the library, thoroughly delighted.

The reason was simple. In their earlier class, Nie Li had single-handedly exposed the fact that the Sacred Family's Crimson Flame Explosion Inscription had been plagiarized from the Thunderfire Sacred Book. He had also infuriated their instructor, Shen Xiu, until she lost her composure on the spot.

If that old hag was unhappy, they were naturally happy.

The higher-ups had even appointed Nie Li as the library collections steward, giving him a perfectly legitimate excuse to skip Shen Xiu's classes. What could be better?

As the six excitedly discussed the matter, a sudden thunderclap rang out.

Boom!

Thunder cracked across the sky, loud enough for all of Glory City to hear.

The City Lord's Mansion.

Ye Zong hurriedly put aside the official business he was handling and went outside.

Ye Xiu flew over as well.

"What exactly is this?"

Ye Xiu asked.

"Whatever it is, go calm the residents first. If things look wrong, summon the families to discuss countermeasures."

Ye Zong could not make sense of it either, but he still sent his subordinates to carry out his orders.

Demon beasts already ran rampant outside the city. They could not afford unrest among the people within its walls.

The Sacred Family.

The family head, Shen Hong, remained in secluded cultivation. He knew about the disturbance outside, but he still intended to stay in seclusion, searching for an opportunity to break through to Legendary Demon Spirit Master.

Shen Ming, who was managing the family, looked at what was happening in the sky and sighed after learning that the family head would not emerge.

At the Holy Orchid Institute, students and teachers all ran out of the buildings to look at the golden light appearing in the sky.

Headmaster Ye Sheng also dispatched teachers to calm the students.

Nie Li looked at the golden light in the sky, his mind racing. With a spectacle this big, has the fucking Sacred Emperor come to attack?

The golden light stirred again. Then an image appeared.

A blue expanse of water amid pitch-black surroundings.

A drop fell into the water, sending ripples spreading across its surface.

Then someone's voice rang out.

"Where... is this?"

A book rose from the water.

The book opened, its pages filled with incomprehensible writing.

Nie Li's pupils contracted. The... Book of Time and Space Spirit?

Lu Piao and the others turned to Nie Li. "Huh? Nie Li, that voice sounds like yours."

Nie Li did not answer. His mind raced. What the hell is this thing?

An eagle passed through white mist and arrived before a great gate.

The gate opened, revealing emerald bamboo and pink flowers within. The entire setting looked peaceful and serene.

"Is this... the Holy Orchid Institute?"

Many people cried out at the familiar surroundings. Wasn't that the Holy Orchid Academy?

The beginner fighter class.

"Glory City endured the long Dark Age and survived only because the Demon Spirit Masters defended it to the death."

That voice, and the woman who appeared in the sky with her red hair and rather harsh features.

Shen Xiu of the Sacred Family.

"Instructor Shen Xiu? Why is she appearing up there?"

"Isn't this a class from a little while ago? Wasn't this the class where Nie Li of the Heavenly Marks Family made that bet with Instructor Shen Xiu?"

Many students in the beginner fighter class still remembered what had happened a week earlier.

Many other students had also heard of Nie Li's glorious exploits. The commoner students hoped he would win, since they disliked Shen Xiu, that cruel woman. The children of the great families, however, thought little of it.

After all, with a red Soul Sea and an initial soul force of only five, how could he possibly reach Bronze One-Star by the assessment?

Who did he think he was, Ye Mo?

Shen Xiu, who was also at the Holy Orchid Institute, grimaced. She remembered it too. Not only had Nie Li made that bet back then, but he had also disgraced and humiliated the Sacred Family in class a few days ago. Now she had to relive that earlier incident. Her mood could hardly have been worse.

"Legendary Demon Spirit Masters once emerged in great numbers, establishing vast empires across the continent..."

Shen Xiu continued her lecture, while Nie Li sat in the back row with his eyes tightly shut and a dazed expression.

Nie Ming and Xiao Yun, who were farming at the Heavenly Marks Family estate, could not help worrying. Was their son ill?

Xiao Ning'er, who was searching for Nie Li, was worried too and quickened her steps.

Ye Ziyun, who had been absorbed in studying the Thunderfire Sacred Book, also came outside. She looked at Nie Li nearby, then at the one in the sky, a flicker of curiosity rising in her eyes.

At the Holy Orchid Institute, Nie Li felt his scalp go numb as everyone's gaze converged on him.

Wh-what exactly is this thing?

If it keeps showing what happened next...

Holy shit!

Nie Li immediately realized he was in serious trouble.

And up in the sky, just as he had expected...

His eyes snapped open, and Nie Li looked around the classroom in a slight panic.

"Was it a dream?"

He looked at his hands, then at his surroundings. The setting felt so distant yet so familiar that he abruptly stood up.

"I'm at the Holy Orchid Institute?"

Nie Li recalled the events of his previous life.

"In my previous life, a beast tide attacked. Ye Mo, the city's only Legendary Demon Spirit Master, died in battle. My good brothers Du Ze and Lu Piao also sacrificed themselves to cover everyone's escape."

"Watch out!" It was a girl's voice. Then a demon beast impaled her.

"Even Zi Yun..."

Nie Li panted, sweat running down his cheeks. Even after sitting back down, he remained steeped in grief.

At that moment, Glory City erupted beneath the sky screen.

What? What was this?

A beast tide had come?

L-Lord Ye Mo had died in battle?

Glory City had been destroyed?

The people around Nie Li stared at him in disbelief, strange looks in all their eyes.

This boy, who was the same age as them, had actually already lived an entire lifetime!

Du Ze and Lu Piao clenched their fists as they heard how their older selves had fallen in battle, one after the other.

Ye Ziyun watched the image of herself being impaled, her delicate face turning slightly pale. No matter what, she was still a thirteen-year-old girl. She could not possibly remain unmoved by seeing herself die like that.

And Nie Li, beside her...

Would they be very close in the future?

The City Lord's Mansion.

Ye Zong watched the sky screen as a powerful aura surged outward from him. This boy had actually lived a second life? And Glory City really had fallen to a beast tide.

Even his own father, Ye Mo, had died in battle...

Handling official business had already left some wrinkles on his face. Now there were even more.

Ye Xiu was also aghast.

"H-how is this possible? That Nie Li has actually lived a second life? No wonder. No wonder."

Ye Xiu had once attended an open lecture. After Nie Li explained the Thunderfire Sacred Book on the spot, Ye Xiu knew the boy was exceptionally knowledgeable about ancient texts. That was why he had not only remembered him, but also appointed him as the library collections steward.

(It should originally have been Ye Shuo, but I still prefer using Ye Xiu.)

Thinking about it now, it was easy enough to understand.

He had lived a second life and still remembered his previous one. That was how he could decipher those incomprehensible ancient characters.

But wasn't his relationship with Zi Yun a little too close?

Ye Zong said, "For now, do everything you can to calm the residents. Find a way to bring my father back. Only his return can restore everyone's confidence. After that, summon all the major families."

"Yes."