Myriad Heavens: Rise of the Rune God

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Earth-Prime 2

The candidates stood up and started moving toward the exits. The clone and Celestia waited for the crowd to thin out before joining the flow.

They walked down a long corridor that connected the ship to the academy platform. The corridor was transparent, showing the view on all sides. Below them was Earth-Prime, massive and glowing with city lights. Above was open space and distant stars. To the sides, the academy island stretched in all directions.

The clone noticed something as they walked. The qi density was increasing with every step. Started at normal ship levels, then doubled, then tripled. By the time they reached the end of the corridor, it was ten times denser than atmospheric qi on Earth-Prime.

”The whole academy exists in a high-density qi environment,” Celestia observed. ”Just breathing here would strengthen a chicken body to planetary levels.”

They stepped off the corridor onto the arrival platform proper.

The platform was huge—several kilometers across, made of white stone that had formation arrays carved into every surface. The arrays glowed faintly, pulsing with power. Dozens of ships were docked at various points around the platform’s edge, though the Absolute Infinity was by far the largest.

Academy staff in silver robes stood at regular intervals, directing the flow of candidates toward a wide road that led deeper into the island.

”This way,” one of them called out. ”Follow the path to the Grand Amphitheater. Don’t stray from the marked route.”

The candidates walked in a loose group along the road. The clone took in the surroundings as they went.

Trees lined both sides of the road—not normal trees, but cultivation spirit trees that radiated gentle energy. Their leaves glowed faintly in colors ranging from green to gold to blue. Between the trees, he could see buildings in the distance. Huge structures that looked like they could house thousands of people each.

Students were visible everywhere. Walking between buildings, flying through the air, sitting in meditation under the spirit trees. All of them were at least Planetary Core realm. The clone spotted several Star Fusion realm cultivators just wandering around casually like it was normal.

Because here, it was normal.

The road opened up into a massive plaza. At the center of the plaza stood the Grand Amphitheater.

It was built into a natural hill, the seating carved directly from stone in circular tiers that descended toward a central stage. The amphitheater could probably hold ten thousand people. Right now, it was maybe a quarter full—academy staff, instructors, and what looked like senior students who’d come to watch the new arrivals.

The three hundred candidates filed down the stairs and took seats in the lower sections. The clone and Celestia sat near the middle, not too close to the stage but not in the back either.

More candidates were arriving from other ships. Runar realized the Absolute Infinity wasn’t the only transport bringing new students. There were probably dozens of ships delivering candidates from different galaxy regions of the Federation.

The amphitheater filled up over the next twenty minutes. When the last group arrived, there were about two thousand new candidates total seated in the lower sections.

Then the Headmaster appeared.

He didn’t walk onto the stage. He simply materialized there, standing at the center as if he’d always been present and everyone had just failed to notice until now.

The pressure hit immediately.

Quasar realm. This was what Quasar realm felt like from the outside—a presence so heavy it made the air feel solid, spiritual pressure that pressed down on everyone in the amphitheater regardless of their cultivation level.

The Headmaster looked young, but in cultivation age was very deceiving. White hair, deeply lined face, eyes that seemed to look through people rather than at them. He wore simple robes without decoration or rank insignia. Didn’t need them. His cultivation said everything.

”Welcome to Prime Origin Academy,” the Headmaster said.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried to every corner of the amphitheater with perfect clarity. Spatial manipulation making sure everyone heard.

”You are here because you represent the future of humanity. The Federation selected you from the hundreds of trillions of citizens as having the greatest potential for advancement. Do not waste that potential.”

He paused, letting that sink in.

”This academy has existed for ten thousand years. In that time, we have produced eight Supremes, countless Star System Lords, and more Cosmic Realm cultivators than I care to count. Our purpose is simple: transform talented children into cultivators capable of defending humanity against threats that span galaxies.”

The Headmaster’s gaze swept across the assembled candidates.

”You will be sorted into classes based on your performance during the journey here. Your class determines your resources, your opportunities, and your future prospects. Work hard, advance quickly, prove your worth.”

He gestured, and a massive holographic display appeared in the air above the stage.

”Class assignments are now displayed. Find your name, note your class, and proceed to your assigned dormitory section. Your class instructor will meet you there.”

The display showed thousands of names organized by class level. The clone scanned it quickly.

APEX CLASS FIRST YEAR (15 students):

Runar Cross - 10,000,000 points

Celestia Stormwind - 10,000,000 points

Lyra Moon - 720,000 points

Marcus Sunfire - 680,000 points

Yuki Frostwhisper - 620,000 points

Khan Storm - 590,000 points

Thane Ironfist - 570,000 points

Zara Voidwalker - 540,000 points

[Seven more names he didn’t recognize]

Elite Class had about sixty students. Advanced Class had two hundred. Foundation Class had the rest.

”Dismissed,” the Headmaster said, and vanished.

Just disappeared. No spatial distortion, no technique activation. One moment present, next moment gone.

The candidates started moving immediately, clustering by class groups, heading toward their assigned dormitory sections according to the map that had appeared on everyone’s communication devices.

”Apex Class dormitory is on the east side of the island,” Celestia said, checking her device. ”Building Seventeen.”

They stood up and joined the flow of students leaving the amphitheater.

Marcus caught up with them as they walked. ”We’re in the same class. This is going to be interesting.”

”Fifteen people total,” Runar said. ”Small class.”

”Elite treatment. Best instructors, best facilities, best everything.” Marcus grinned. ”Though I’m guessing you two would’ve gotten special treatment anyway after that assessment performance.”

They walked across the academy grounds toward the east side. The clone noticed the other Apex Class students were walking in the same direction, forming a loose group.

Building Seventeen appeared ahead. It was smaller than the other dormitories they’d passed, but clearly higher quality. Better materials, more intricate formation work, positioned on a hill that overlooked the rest of the academy.

A woman was waiting at the entrance. Neutron Star realm, middle-aged appearance, wearing instructor robes with silver trim.

”Apex Class students,” she said as they approached. ”I’m Instructor Verra. I’ll be your primary combat instructor this year.”

She waited for all fifteen students to gather before continuing.

”Apex Class operates differently from other classes. You have private quarters instead of shared rooms. You have unrestricted access to advanced training facilities. You receive personal instruction rather than group lectures. In exchange, we expect superior performance.”

Instructor Verra pulled up a holographic display showing the building’s layout.

”Each of you has been assigned a suite on the upper floors. The suites are ranked by assessment performance. Top performers get the best quarters with enhanced cultivation formations.”

She gestured toward the building entrance.

”Runar Cross and Celestia Stormwind, you’re in suites one and two on the tenth floor. Adjacent to each other with connecting door. The rest of you are on floors eight and nine.”

That made sense. Top two performers got top-floor suites.

”Your communication devices have been updated with your suite assignments and building access codes. Settle in today. Classes begin tomorrow at 0800. Don’t be late.”

Instructor Verra turned and walked into the building. The fifteen Apex Class students followed.

The interior was nice. Clean hallways, high ceilings, formation arrays built into the walls that maintained perfect temperature and air quality. Everything felt expensive and well-maintained.

The clone and Celestia took the lift to the tenth floor. Only two suites up here—Suite One and Suite Two, facing each other across a wide hallway.

”You take One, I’ll take Two,” Celestia said.

The clone nodded and walked to his door. It opened automatically when he approached, recognizing his spiritual signature.

The suite was bigger than Suite 4701 on the Absolute Infinity. Entrance hall leading to a main living area, separate bedroom, bathroom, and a dedicated cultivation chamber that took up a full quarter of the total space. The cultivation chamber had formation arrays carved into every surface—qi gathering, qi purification, time dilation, spiritual pressure resistance, elemental affinity enhancement.

He checked the time dilation settings. Maximum ratio was 1:100. Hundred hours inside for every hour outside.

Not as good as the Infinite Qi Realm’s 1:10,000 or the Comprehension Space’s 1:1,000, but still useful for normal students.

The clone walked to the window. It showed a view overlooking the academy grounds. From up here, he could see most of the island. Training grounds in the distance where students were practicing techniques. The library visible as a massive tower near the island’s center. Other dormitory buildings scattered around the landscape.

And far to the south, almost at the island’s edge, he could see a building larger than all the others. No students near it. Heavy formations surrounding it.

That had to be the treasure vault.

The clone smiled.

Tomorrow, classes would start. Missions would become available. Contribution Points could be earned and spent.

And he could finally get access to the resources his original body needed.

Ten thousand years of accumulated treasures. Somewhere in that vault was what he needed.

He just had to find it.