While scanning the classroom for familiar faces, Nie Li's gaze suddenly landed on Shen Yue.
His expression instantly twisted into disgust.
Shen Yue noticed it at once, a visible vein twitching on his forehead.
'Shen Yue… Nie Li sneered. A member of the Sacred Family—one of Glory City's four major families. He could be considered a genius. Shen Xiu is his aunt.'
His attention soon shifted to a red-haired boy seated nearby.
'Karma Uzumaki…'
Nie Li's eyes softened.
'My best friend. My brother from my past life.'
'Karma comes from the Uzumaki Family—one of the four major families, and the strongest among them. The wealthiest. The most influential. Thousands of demon spiritists, under their banner, they have unmatched resources, and political power that even other 3 major families hesitate to challenge.
He is the heir of the Uzumaki Family.
In Glory City, people call him the "Prince of Glory City."
Not because of any official title—but because no one dares deny it.'
Suddenly, Ye Ziyun leaned closer and whispered something into Karma's ear. Karma burst out laughing, carefree and loud.
'That's right… ' Nie Li thought. 'Ialmost forgot. The Uzumaki Family and the Ye Family were extremely close. There were even discussions about engaging the two of them.'
'They were already engaged in my past life… though Karma never felt anything romantic toward her. And it looks like nothing has changed.'
Nie Li's expression darkened slightly.
'Seeing Karma uninterested, that bastard Shen Yue is trying to make a move on Ziyun. I'll deal with that in time. But for now, she clearly has a better impression of Shen Yue… and as for me, she probably thinks of me as nothing more than a low-born noble.
I'll make it right this time.'
A faint smile appeared on Nie Li's face as his resolve solidified. Ye Ziyun noticed it and frowned slightly.
"What a weirdo," she muttered.
At the podium, Shen Xiu—still merged with her demon spirit—briefly glanced toward Ye Ziyun.
'Ye Ziyun is the City Lord's daughter and the granddaughter of the Legend Rank Demon Spiritist Ye Mo, Shen Xiu thought coldly.
She possesses a Cyan Soul Realm—an extremely rare genius.
If Shen Yue manages to marry her, it would be immensely beneficial for our clan… unless the Uzumaki heir stands in the way.'
Her gaze shifted sharply to the red-haired boy laughing casually while flirting with a random girl nearby.
'Karma Uzumaki…
The heir of the Uzumaki Family. The so called Prince of Glory City.
And they say his talent defies logic. An anomaly.
He must be removed.'
Shen Xiu deactivated her demon spirit and addressed the class.
"For the next two years, you will be my student's," she said coldly. "Although the academy claims that all students are equal, let me tell you the harsh truth—equality does not exist."
Her sharp eyes swept across the room.
"You will understand this in the future. Glory City is the only city to survive the Age of Darkness. Therefore, we are the hope of humanity."
She raised two fingers.
"In Glory City, there are two powerful existences: fighters and demon spiritists. Among one thousand fighters, only one becomes a demon spiritist. That is why there are only a few thousand demon spiritists in the entire city."
"We are the hope of Glory City."
"Both fighters and demon spiritists are divided into five ranks: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Black Gold, and Legend Rank."
"If a family produces a Gold Rank Demon Spiritist, it can become an aristocratic family. A Black Gold Rank makes it a noble family. And to become one of the Four Major Families, a clan must possess at least three Black Gold Rank Demon Spiritists—or a single Legend Rank."
Several students grew visibly excited as her words sank in.
"Among the thirty-seven of you here," Shen Xiu continued, "some are commoners, and some come from noble families. Though your starting point may appear the same, your status is not."
"I hope everyone here has self-awareness."
Her gaze hardened.
"A commoner will always be a commoner. Wanting to become nobility is impossible."
Shen Yue smirked openly.
Several students who had been excited moments earlier lowered their heads in silence.
Karma noticed the crestfallen expression of the girl beside him. His eyes narrowed slightly as he finally gave his full attention to the teacher—clearly displeased.
Nie Li glanced at Du Zhe and saw the sadness on his face.
'When Glory City fell, it was commoners like him who fought to the death to defend it, Nie Li thought coldly.
And the first to flee were you the Sacred Family.'
Nie Li stood up.
"Teacher Shen Xiu," he said calmly, "I have a question."
'Hmph,' Shen Xiu sneered inwardly. 'This brat has been staring at Ye Ziyun.'
"What is your question?" she asked.
"You said Glory City is the only city to survive the Age of Darkness," Nie Li replied evenly. "What evidence supports this claim?"
The entire class turned toward him.
"Have you ever left the Saint Ancestral Mountains?" Nie Li continued.
"Have you visited the Endless Desert, the Toxic Forest, the Blood Moon Marsh, the Spirit Gulf, Heavenly Luster Mountain, or the Northern Snow Plains?"
Shen Xiu frowned. "I have lived here since birth. I have never been to those places."
Nie Li smirked. "Then how can teacher be certain that we are the only surviving humans?"
The classroom erupted into murmurs.
Karma, Ye Ziyun, and even Shen Yue stared at Nie Li.
'What is with this guy?' Karma wondered.
Shen Xiu's face darkened. "Then what evidence do you have?"
"Let me tell you a story," Nie Li said calmly.
"There was once a frog that lived at the bottom of a well. From the day it was born, it never left that place. Every time it looked up, all it could see was a small patch of sky framed by the mouth of the well."
"So the frog believed that the sky was only that big."
Nie Li paused slightly before asking, "Tell me—was the sky truly that small?"
For a brief moment, silence filled the classroom.
Then laughter erupted.
"A frog viewing the sky from the bottom of a well!" one student laughed.
"That description fits perfectly!"
Karma burst out laughing the loudest, slamming his desk.
"Hahaha! That was good! Really good!"
Nie Li smiled warmly at him, then turned and winked at Ye Ziyun, who was quietly laughing while covering her mouth.
Karma slowly stopped laughing, his gaze shifting between Nie Li and Ye Ziyun.
"Well," he smirked, "this just got interesting."
Beside him, Lu Piao gave Nie Li a thumbs-up.
'Publicly contradicting the teacher, catching the attention of the Prince, and teasing Ye Ziyun? Brother Nie Li, you've got guts.'
Nie Li turned back toward the podium.
"Teacher Shen Xiu," he said calmly, "I have another question."
Shen Xiu's patience was clearly gone. "What now?"
"You said a commoner will always be a commoner," Nie Li said.
"But wasn't Lord Ye Mo once a commoner himself when he was young?"
"Is Teacher unaware of this?"