Just as heart clone appeared, Sanya said, "Brother, will you please join my sect that I am going to build?"
Heart Clone didn't need even a millisecond to think. As soon as Sanya finished her sentence, he replied, "Okay, I will join."
Even though he was in a match, he had always been listening to the conversation in Sanya's lobby.
So he already knew what she was going to ask.
He then spoke in Sanya's mind, "I have given you a special AI—even more powerful than the ones in the Concords. Check it out later. For now, let's play."
He had been getting bored playing alone all the time. Now that he saw them ready, he wanted to start immediately. He didn't want to waste another second.
Sanya wanted to ask about the academy and how Ruyi and Jina knew about it. But when she heard her brother telling her to start the match, she chose to do that.
She would ask later. For now, she had the special AI. She would use it after playing some matches with her brother.
And when Galaxy and Rudra heard that Heart Clone was joining them, they got excited.
Rudra was excited because his brother would join them—there would be more fun.
Galaxy was excited because she knew Sanya's brother was likely a cultivator like Sanya—and even more powerful. If he joined the sect, she could ask for his guidance later. She also wanted to become stronger and live longer.
She thought in her mind, "After becoming strong, I will hel—"
Just as she was thinking, the match started. The surroundings changed.
She was now in the lobby where only clouds and players existed.
She turned her attention to the game.
***
Meanwhile, in the real world. On the island where Eternal Ascendancy headquarters stands.
There stood a vast academy. Currently, all the students weren't in their classes. They were instead gathered in the academy's grand hall for an urgent announcement.
The hall was massive, easily seating thousands of students.
Jina and Ruyi sat together on the wooden benches. They had exited the game because the academy had sent an urgent notification: all students must be present immediately. A vehicle had been waiting outside their homes, giving them only five minutes to board.
After arriving, they were now here.
A few minutes passed until every student had finally settled in. The head of the academy, Gino, stepped onto the stage and spoke warmly.
"Good afternoon, students."
The students greeted him in unison.
Gino continued, "Students, as you have likely heard from your teachers, our academy is also going to become part of Eternal Ascendancy."
The students nodded. Their teachers had "accidentally" mentioned this during classes, so they already knew the basic news—but nothing more.
Ruyi and Jina nodded too. They had told Roxa and the others the same thing earlier.
What they didn't know was that these "accidental" slips by teachers were planned by Gino himself. He didn't want to shock the students with a sudden announcement—he had dropped hints so they could mentally prepare.
Then Gino said, "You already know that we will be the first academy on the same level as the Concords in Eternal Ascendancy. But we will still only match them in status. We are far behind them in every other way.
Our greatest strength is knowledge, but the Concords have that too—just a little less than us.
So if we want to succeed in Eternal Ascendancy, become equal to them, or even surpass them… how can we do it?
How can we recruit more students and make them choose us over the Concords? How can we ensure we rise to their level?
You should know that we are lacking in almost everything else. We don't have numbers on our side, we don't have weapons on our side, we don't have stable income offers, we don't have real-world backing from governments, we don't have military training programs and most importantly—we don't have anything truly unique to attract them.
So how can we become successful?"
Hearing his words, the students were deeply moved by Head Gino's ambition.
They had never truly considered competing with the Concords. Those were backed by entire nations—vast resources, military power, endless funds. How could an academy, filled only with scholars and students, ever stand against them?
But seeing Gino speak with such fire and determination, their own ambition began to awaken.
A student stood up and said, "Head Gino, we should aggressively recruit on a large scale. Offer fundings, free entry, and special benefits. Students will agree because we are the first academy in the game—and we have the same status as the Concords. We can surely bring in many."
Another added, "Head Gino, we can recruit players who are struggling in real life to continue their higher studies. Many can't afford university or have dropped out. We can give them a second chance."
A third student said, "Head Gino, let's develop our own weapons. We have some plans ready—we can start researching inside the game right away."
Someone else shouted, "Head Gino, let's try creating our own breathing technique. It will take time, but we will surely succeed. Knowledge is our strength!"
"Head Gino, let's create new technology or inventions… so we can sell them to nations and big organisations later and earn our own income. With that money, we can fund scholarships and recruit students on a large scale."
"Head Gino, let's....."
One suggestion after another poured out.
The hall filled with eager voices—ideas, plans, dreams.