"Rody, look this way," Dean Buck, who appeared out of nowhere, waved at Rody from a distance, signaling him to come over for a chat. Rody comforted Alice, promising to make her a big windmill next time. After repeatedly assuring her, Alice's tearful eyes finally brightened, and she happily walked away holding Jill's hand.

"Dean, I'm fine with dining together, but forget about borrowing money," Rody was the only one who dared to speak like this to Dean Buck.

"Who said anything about borrowing money?" Dean Buck laughed heartily. "I just saw you looking down and wanted to offer some great teacherly love and care. Where did your mind wander? I know a new tavern where drinks are at a discount and there are beauties dancing in lion cages. How about we check it out?"

"You should invite Tommy," Rody shook his head. "I'm not even eighteen yet, I can't drink."

Dean Buck was flabbergasted, looking as surprised as if he'd heard that a fish drowned in water. After a while, he asked, "Rody, don't you think being a good kid has no future? Have you considered that?"

"Alright, when I've thought it over, I'll let you know," Rody replied, turning to leave. Dean Buck quickly stopped him.

"Let's talk seriously," Dean Buck said with a grin. "You seemed to disapprove of my suggestion for a hiking and barbecue trip, didn't you, Rody?"

"I think it's not a picnic, it's a death trip!" Rody replied calmly.

"Don't you think that in a stifling predicament, a student's abilities can be greatly enhanced?" Dean Buck said with a weird smile. "Nothing in this world is impossible, it's just about giving it your all. If you decide it's impossible from the start, then you'll never succeed in anything. No matter how powerful the level six Ashabaruk is, it's still just a beast! Do you know the biggest difference between humans and beasts? Intelligence! Humans have intelligence that surpasses everything, while beasts, no matter how smart, are still just instinct-driven."

"Nice speech. Should I applaud?" Rody asked indifferently.

Dean Buck was momentarily speechless but quickly recovered, laughing and clapping. "Alright, let's switch to a lighter topic, something you might be interested in. Rody, do you know the difference between humans and gods?"

"I don't know," Rody shook his head, then asked, "What's the difference?"

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"The biggest difference between humans and gods is that gods possess far greater powers than humans," Dean Buck affirmed earnestly.

"Nonsense," Rody turned and walked away without looking back at Dean Buck.

"Wait, you didn't understand what I meant," Dean Buck appeared in front of Rody, smiling. "Sometimes it pays to listen intently, young man. I didn't come up with that saying. An old man once told me that. At first, I didn't understand either, but after many experiences, I looked back and realized how true it was."

"I'm listening, please continue," Rody said, slightly moved and finally ready to hear what Dean Buck had to say.

"This is an ancient secret, I don't tell just anyone," Dean Buck boasted. "Humans and gods are very similar; even humans can break through and ascend to godhood. But why can't everyone do it? What's the difference between humans and gods? The mystery has been explored for ages."

"Are you saying those who explore or understand this mystery have become gods?" Rody asked.

"No, those who explore and understand this mystery have only found the ladder to heaven, but there's still a long way to become a true god," Dean Buck said with a smile. "It's like we can all look at the stars and the moon in the sky, but reaching out to touch them is impossible. But knowing this secret is better than being blind to everything!"

Rody nodded silently, pondering for a long time before asking, "What is this mystery?"

"The biggest difference between humans and gods is in their abilities," Dean Buck said solemnly. "Humans are weak, while gods possess immense power. On the surface, it seems so, but digging deeper, we find that humans are weak because their power is suppressed. Or, to put it another way, human bodies are bound by a law that even gods can't easily unlock. Most humans live their lives as ordinary people. Those affected less by this law become mages or swordsmen. Those who break this binding can transcend limits and enter godhood."

"Who placed this binding law on humans? The God of Light?" Rody asked in surprise.

"I don't know, maybe the ancient original gods from the primordial or ancient times," Dean Buck said. "This binding has its downsides and upsides. The downside, as mentioned, condemns humans to a lifetime of mediocrity and weakness."

"The upside?" Rody asked curiously. "There's a benefit to being bound?"

"Yes," Dean Buck affirmed. "Because of their weakness, humans grow faster than any other species. An elf might need three hundred years or more to become a Mage King, and that's the best among them. But a human, given the right conditions, might need only thirty years or even less. Some exceptional talents might reach Mage King in just ten years, unimaginable for any other species, including heavenly gods and hellish demons. Once the binding is broken, a human could ascend to godhood or even become a chief god in just a hundred years or so, a feat that would take other races thousands or tens of thousands of years."

"Do all humans have different binding strengths?" Rody asked.

"Of course, but nearly all humans are bound to below thirty percent of their potential," Dean Buck smiled. "Even a Law Saint is just using thirty percent of his power, yet he is already an invincible Law Saint."

Rody was amazed. If a Law Saint only used thirty percent of their power, what would it be like at one hundred percent? And what about ordinary people? One percent? One-thousandth or one ten-thousandth?

"Every person is different," Dean Buck chuckled. "Some are suppressed below five percent, which includes most ordinary people. Some have ten percent, which are common swordsmen and mages. Some are at twenty percent, who, if fully developed, would be Sword Emperors and Mage Kings. Some are at thirty percent, who could become Sword Saints and Law Saints with luck and effort. And those who break this binding could become gods. The difference between heavenly gods and humans is that gods are born with higher potential, mostly above thirty percent, regardless of whether they reach Sword Saint or Mage King. That's why gods grow higher than humans with ease."

"I understand," Rody nodded and asked, "Why are you suddenly telling me all this?"

"I say this to every student with astonishing potential. You're not an exception," Dean Buck laughed heartily and walked away.