Eternal Tower: Atreia Era

The admission process for the Guardians Academy is not complicated.

Cecil clearly held a high position within the academy, and his passage was unimpeded. In just a quarter of an hour, he had completed all the registration for Lynn.

A white token engraved with light patterns was handed to Lynn.

"This is your student token, containing your identity information. It allows you to enter most public areas of the academy. You'll need the token to open the training rooms, the library, and the trial grounds," Cecil instructed. "The academy is divided into three departments: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Since you've just awakened your bloodline, you'll begin your training in the beginner department."

Lynn gripped the token tightly, feeling its weight.

This is not just a token, but the starting point of his path as a guardian.

Led by Cecil, the two arrived at the residential area of ​​the junior academy.

Rows of neat white houses are arranged in a staggered manner, each equipped with a basic etheric array, suitable for freshmen to meditate and cultivate.

"You will stay here for now. Tomorrow morning, head to the central training ground to assemble. All new students in the junior department will participate in the entrance trial," Cecil said.

"Entrance exam?" Lynn was slightly taken aback.

"That's right." Cecil nodded, his expression becoming more serious. "The path of the guardian is never an easy one. Every step you take in the academy is accompanied by trials. The entrance trial is to test your talent, character, and combat awareness. Only by passing the trial can you officially become academy students; otherwise, you will be eliminated."

What happens after you're eliminated?

"You will lose your qualification for cultivation, be expelled from the academy, and become an ordinary citizen of the Celestial Realm." Cecil's voice was completely calm. "The Celestial Realm does not support the weak, and the Guardians will not tolerate the incompetent. You must remember that from the moment you embarked on this path, giving up is tantamount to turning your back on the Dragon Clan."

Lynn felt a chill run down her spine.

He had no way out.

The deep-seated hatred of Luofeng Village and the ghosts of his deceased family members are all watching him.

He absolutely cannot be eliminated, he absolutely cannot fail.

"I understand," Lynn replied in a deep voice.

Cecil looked at the determination in his eyes and nodded with satisfaction: "You have mastered the basics of ether manipulation. In the coming days, familiarize yourself with the ether environment of Elysium and consolidate your power. The trial will not be too difficult, but it will be enough to select those who are truly suitable to become guardians."

He paused, then continued, "I still have legion affairs to attend to and cannot stay by your side all the time. If you have any questions within the academy, you can use my token to find the instructors in the Elementary Department, and they will answer them for you."

After saying that, Cecil handed Lynn a small gold token and then patted him on the shoulder.

"I look forward to the day you pass the trial."

With a flash of white light, Cecil unfurled his wings of light, took to the air, and quickly disappeared into the horizon.

Lynn was the only one left in the residential area.

He pushed open the door to his own little house.

The room was simply furnished with a stone bed, a stone table, a windowsill, and a pale gold ether-gathering array carved in the corner of the wall, with ether particles in the air constantly converging into the room.

Lynn closed the door, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began to calm his mind and regulate his breathing.

The rich luminous ether from the outside world flowed into his body like a stream, circulating along his meridians and continuously nourishing his newly awakened bloodline.

He could clearly feel his strength steadily increasing little by little.

The sixteen years of mortal life in my previous life felt like a thing of the past.

He is now Lynn, a prospective guardian of the Celestials, and an avenger burdened with a blood feud.

After an unknown period of cultivation, a sudden burst of noisy footsteps and conversations came from outside the door.

Lynn opened her eyes, got up, and pushed open the door.

In the open space of the residential area, a dozen or so boys and girls of similar age to him had gathered. Most of them were new students born in the Celestial Realm, and their etheric aura was more stable than Lynn's. They chatted in twos and threes, their expressions filled with curiosity and excitement about the academy.

As Lynn walked out of the room, many people turned their attention to her.

Among them, a tall, blond-haired boy with a somewhat arrogant expression looked Lynn up and down, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Where are you from? I've never seen you before," the boy asked, his tone slightly condescending.

Lynn calmly replied, "I came from the border and just started school yesterday."

"border?"

A murmur of discussion immediately arose from the surrounding area.

"They came from the border? I heard that dragons often attack from there, it's very dangerous."

"Mortals on the border awakening the bloodline of guardians? That's rare."

"Judging from his aura, it seems he has only recently awakened; he hasn't even formed wings yet."

Amid the discussions, there was curiosity, surprise, and a hint of barely perceptible disdain.

The blond youth curled his lips in disdain: "No wonder your aura is so weak, you're just a nobody from the border. I advise you to be careful in tomorrow's entrance exam, lest you be eliminated in the first round and disgrace our Celestial Clan."

After saying that, he turned and left with the few people around him, without looking at Lynn again.

Lynn remained unmoved, ignoring the other party's taunts.

Strength and weakness are not determined by words, but by the strength in one's hands and by the battles fought.

He will use his strength to shut everyone up during tomorrow's entrance exam.

He withdrew his gaze, preparing to close the door and cultivate again, but noticed that not far away, a petite girl with light golden hair was quietly watching him.

When Lynn looked over, the girl was slightly taken aback, then lowered her head somewhat shyly, but still mustered her courage and said softly, "You...you shouldn't take Karen's words to heart. That's just how he is. He always thinks he's of noble birth and looks down on others."

Lynn paused for a moment, then nodded: "I'm fine."

"My name is Lina, and I'm also a beginner." The girl gave a gentle smile. "I've heard that the border is very dangerous. You must be very impressive to have come all the way to the Celestial Realm alive."

"My name is Lynn."

A brief conversation helped to dispel much of the awkwardness between the two.

Lina is gentle and kind-hearted, unlike others who are prejudiced. She tells Lynn that she is the daughter of an ordinary guardian of the heavens and has longed to become a guardian since she was a child. Now her wish has finally come true.

"I heard that tomorrow's entrance exam will take place in an illusion, testing our ability to manipulate and adapt to the ether," Lina said with some worry. "I'm a little nervous, afraid I won't be able to pass it."

Lynn comforted him, "Just do your best. As long as you don't give up, you'll definitely pass."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a reassuring power.

Looking into Lynn's clear and determined eyes, Lina's unease gradually dissipated, and she nodded: "Yes! Let's do our best together!"

As the sun gradually sets, it paints the sky of paradise in a warm orange-red hue.

The new student residential area gradually quieted down as everyone prepared for tomorrow's entrance exam.

Lynn returned to the cabin and sat cross-legged again.

He closed his eyes and devoted himself entirely to the practice of etheric meditation.

The light and fire within his body burned fiercely, and the power of ether flowed ceaselessly through his meridians, becoming increasingly condensed and powerful.

Silent all night.

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight fell upon the Guardian Academy.

On the central training ground, hundreds of beginner students stood in neat rows, each with a look of tension and anticipation on their faces.

At the front of the training ground, several powerful members of the Celestial Clan, dressed in mentor robes, stood quietly. Their auras were calm and heavy, making it difficult for anyone to look directly at them.

Lynn and Lina stood in the crowd, quietly waiting for the trial to begin.

Ahead, a middle-aged man with a serious face, wearing a golden mentor's robe, took a step forward.

His gaze swept over all the new students, and his voice resounded throughout the training ground like a booming bell.

"I am Gavin, the head tutor of the introductory program."

"Today is your entrance test."

"Those who pass will officially become students of the Guardian Academy and embark on the path of the Guardians."

"Losers are eliminated."

"Now, I declare—"

"Guardians Academy, Entrance Trials, officially begin!"

The moment the words fell.

In the center of the training ground, a burst of light erupted, and a massive illusionary magic array slowly rose into the air.