Classes had returned to their usual routine after the expedition, and William was settling back into the grind of dawn combat training, lectures, and cultivation practice when Headmistress Nectaris made an announcement during the weekly assembly.
"In three weeks, Celestial Heights Academy will host the annual Inter-Academy Competition," she said while her voice carried across the packed auditorium. "Students from the four major academies will compete across multiple disciplines, and only the top performers from our institution will represent us."
The auditorium buzzed with excited whispers as students processed what this meant. William could hear various reactions around him—some students sounded eager and confident, while others seemed nervous about the prospect of facing competitors from other prestigious institutions.
