Growing Is Hoping, In A Way

The next day, Heian Ciemnosc had already done some writing on his new notebooks. They were rather large, almost as long as his torso but with an ordinary width. When he brought them back, already at night, his fellow Sub Students were writing on them and revising what they wrote, seemingly going through their experiences learned today. Their faces were slightly serious and dedicated. And when Heian Ciemnosc joined, he was just another dude in the individual dormitory studying.

Waking up in a more relaxed state, with no one rushing out or making noise, and even being careful not to disturb him, the boss. Heian Ciemnosc was amazed at the prospect of falling asleep for the second time consecutively, not on Alyona’s bosom or Hong Mei’s soft and supple body. After waking up, he leisurely went through his notebooks again. He separated each with different information and observations.

Several of Heian Ciemnosc’s notebooks had his thoughts and ideas resolved and left to be resolved. Others had the things he knew were true and just couldn’t be wrong, simple things that he himself had seen and experienced. Once Heian Ciemnosc was done, he exited the western dormitory section before taking portals to arrive at the Management and Exterior Affairs building, the huge-ass tall blue building to the east of the Academy’s territory.

However, just as he was a few streets away from the Management and Exterior Affairs building, a wild Elena showed up accompanied by 3 other people. Now, she and those 3 were wearing the same kind of unique jacket and thin shoulder pads over their shoulders. The emblems consisted of a dog with 2 lower protruding fangs upwardly like a pair of tusks with a fire cape behind it as background.

The jacket Elena wore had those emblems on top of her shoulders of a dog with its mouth wide open, slobbering. At first look, it seemed inoffensive as it rested and cooled its body off like so. But 2 of the other 3 accompanying her had different emblems. Their dogs were biting ferociously. Meanwhile, the other person with a unique emblem had his dogs calm and collected, almost like a leader.

“Heian Ciemnosc! This is one of my club’s leaders, Frank!” Elena shouted to Heian Ciemnosc, raised her arm, and waved it at him. The person whose name she yelled was a black haired dude with a handsome, gentle appearance but thick sword eyebrows and intense black eyes. He had creamy white skin and wasn’t that tall, yet his cultivation base was well above what Heian Ciemnosc could read through. That was even now that he could read up to the peak of the Mortal Step.

The other 2 behind Frank didn’t move or say anything, simply keeping their austere faces and arms crossed. Meanwhile, Frank walked forth and before Elena to stand before Heian Ciemnosc. He stopped just half a meter away from the pale teenager. Heian Ciemnosc looked at the young man before him noncommittally.

“Frank, as she said. I’m one of the Saberbone Diabolic Club’s leaders. Nice to meet you, a surprising and powerful star. Heian Ciemnosc, I know you’re on your way to doing your job right now, so when at night, if you still want to join the club. Let Elena guide you. Our headquarters are no secret, but you are not one of us… yet. Skip the bed. You can study there if you really join us, and… there will be a bed for you there as well, for whenever you need it. We can talk of other things in there.”

“... Sure, I do am interested. And if Elena can vouch for me, I’ll go there tonight.” Heian Ciemnosc nodded, his eyelids flashing down and up before giving Frank his hand, which the latter had already raised amidst his words. Frank grinned with the left corners of his lips, his eyes squinting slightly in relief before energetically encouraging Heian Ciemnosc. “Good! Many would like to see you there. Once one of us, you’ll be let know more.”

With that, Frank stepped back a few times before turning around and rejoining the other 2 behind Elena. Elena stepped forward and patted his arm in an elderly demeanor. “You’ve not disappointed me, Heian Ciemnosc. You’re such a good seed, hm hm. See you after class. I’m busy with a real class today. Bye~.”

After being told he wasn’t as important as knowledge, Elena walked away with the other 3 following behind. Frank and the other 2 nodded at Heian Ciemnosc as he walked into the Management and Exterior Affairs building. Once there, a female clerk brought him towards and into Teacher Puru’s bedroom. After the clerk left Heian Ciemnosc in the room, the pale teenager saw Teacher Puru in his meditation room, where he was calmly reading a book while meditating.

Waiting for a bit, Teacher Puru stood up and nodded at Heian Ciemnosc. Somehow, Heian Ciemnosc felt like the Teacher had become stronger but still couldn’t tell shit about it, so he kept quiet and followed the Teacher around as he had a busy day today.

Throughout the day, Heian Ciemnosc followed the Teacher even into the meetings. And while those meetings were ongoing, Teacher Puru read the contents of his to-do list and documents to take care of in Heian Ciemnosc’s hands. Meanwhile, though the notorious ‘first on the list’ attracted attention at the start of every meeting, Teacher Puru’s nonchalance made things easier for Heian Ciemnosc.

When it was noon, Heian Ciemnosc was on the floors where Teacher Puru worked, rumors and talk of the day. Or the whole week, since Heian Ciemnosc would be working here for half a day for the rest of the week.

Heian Ciemnosc was thankful to be able to see and hear these meetings. Though they spoke of coins this and coins that, with different colors and with their own conversion rate, and Heian Ciemnosc could tell some conversion from their exchanges. He also got to know, more or less, the vast influx and efflux of materials passing through the Academy.

Naturally, the Wrath Nihility Academy wasn’t a trading organization, and they already made enough money for their pockets to feed their land, pay their constables, and of its students’ livelihood. Their raw income came from their students’ doings in other Kingdoms and other Regions of the Blackotia Kingdom. A Middle Kingdom was enough to keep the Wrath Nihility Academy rich in resources and flowing with prestige, but being conformed was the same as declining.

Their staff members were also making good money all around the world. Within this Sixth Step, organizational territory, of course. When all’s said and done, the Academy wasn’t a trader but still bartered some stuff for other goods. Among them, the bartering of Fauna and flora happened a lot, and Heian Ciemnosc heard matters about them within those meetings 67% of the time. The rest were just coin talks.

… After his 2 hours of leisure, once all meetings and help were done, and Heian Ciemnosc was promised for real this time that he’d be reading Teacher Puru’s notebooks the next day. And after Teacher Puru’s girlfriend came while Heian Ciemnosc cultivated in the meditation room. Heian Ciemnosc went out of the blue building and left for class, hurrying over just like before and arriving just a few minutes before Assistant Teacher Zi arrived again, just like before.

It was strange this time, however. Looking at the time, Heian Ciemnosc saw it was already time for the teacher to have arrived. But he only did so after Heian Ciemnosc did. The day before, Assistant Teacher Zi didn’t even look in Heian Ciemnosc’s direction. Although the latter most likely could not have sensed the former’s Spirit Sense if.

The class went on as expected. The Assistant Teacher questioned the students a few times and then handed them paper sheets in the same way as he distributed notebooks to all 12,000 students. Mini tests seemed to be the norm, as not a single ‘aww’ could be heard as Heian Ciemnosc tilted his head to the right. Only when he read the questions to answer did Heian Ciemnosc become interested and intrigued by the nature of these mini tests.

After the time to finish the tests was over, the Assistant Teacher began to lecture them about the first 3 steps. It wasn’t a lecture just for the non-cultivators, nor was it boring. Assistant Teacher Zi’s words and cultivation insights were even above Heian Ciemnosc regarding garnered experience and records. His wisdom was like the cherry on the top. It all gave Heian Ciemnosc some inspiration.

Before coming here, he had already broken through the 8th stage of the Obsidiafying realm, quickly catching up to the peak of the Obsidiafying realm and specifically close to the 9th stage. But after listening to the Assistant Teacher’s words, Heian Ciemnosc almost felt himself about to breakthrough into the 9th stage.

Naturally, he did not breakthrough right then and there. It didn’t seem proper. And if he were to do it in public, it should be in a fight at the very least, or it would be awkward. It was just like farting. Suddenly, letting a big and smelly one out in the middle of breakfast or dinner, where everyone just looked down and kept… eating…

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

After the afternoon was gone, Assistant Teacher Zi elaborated on a little thing that was already known by almost every Sub Student and definitely known by all Students. To take a break, the Assistant Teacher spoke and elaborated on the yearly ‘examination’ the Wrath Nihility Academy gives their Mortal Step’s peak realm students to prove themselves. It was nothing to joke about, though. It could be deadly, and that ‘could’ was in terms of probability and not a ‘maybe not after all’ situation.

In any case, it was only for those in the early, middle, and late stages of the Spirit Rebirth realm. They were told by the Assistant Teacher that this year they might not get to it, but the next, or several after, they will!

Naturally, Heian Ciemnosc wouldn’t be there. As the 13th realm, he was almost halfway there before achieving it. Of course, he had prowess that jumped over realms. But, seriously, who could ever manage to fight a Spirit Rebirth realm cultivator as a non-Spirit Rebirth realm cultivator? Even if Heian Ciemnosc could right now and fight to a draw those in the Spirit Birth realm, he might finally find a wall to slam his face against in the Spirit Formation realm. So did everyone think.

As for the Crabstynian realm? Everyone would get their physical deficiency boosted up by then. Thus, Heian Ciemnosc’s current advantage would practically be worthless. Or, at the very least, decreased by a lot. So they thought.

After the little break talking about this strange, unknown place to Heian Ciemnosc’s mind and knowledge that the Assistant Teacher didn’t elaborate further on, the Assistant Teacher continued to lecture about the subsequent 3 realms from the 4th to the 6th.

So it was lecturing about the Spiritual Ligament realm, then the Spirit Condensation realm, and the Link Consolidation realm. Then, the talk of the yearly examination for First Step peak realm cultivators. Followed by the lecture about the Phrenic Realm, Spirit Gathering realm, and then the Conflagrate realm.

Heian Ciemnosc felt strange, but only a bit now, hearing the Conflagrate realm spoken so lightly as if it was just turning 8 and learning to punch and insult other kids. Assistant Teacher Zi had a well-planned schedule to represent each realm to the utmost detail and engaging points. Before trying to breakthrough into the 10th stage, Heian Ciemnosc wanted to wait and hear Assistant Teacher Zi’s words and see what he had to say.

Heian Ciemnosc had every piece of knowledge he needed to continue cultivating and breakthrough to the subsequent realms since yesterday… but knowledge was… just… so much more!

… Step step step step…

… After class was over. Heian Ciemnosc could only reminisce about the new and intriguing feeling of writing down notes with what one heard and saw on a hologram instead of reading from a page or digital page. Elena was there, waiting for Heian Ciemnosc with an eased expression. Seeing this, the few Sub Students within Heian Ciemnosc’s 3 dormitories left his side and winked at his back so that he could feel open to go out with his girlfriends.

Nobody dared to say a word. Not only was Heian Ciemnosc capable, and he had shown such twice. He was brutal and had a strong body. Nobody wanted to feel inferior even if they were to be told he shared girls. A thing they would lose their heads for if they spoke about to Heian Ciemnosc… pure bliss is ignorance, and ignorance can be pure bliss.

“Hey-yo,” Elena greeted her big bro, boyishly as always, and exposed the nook of her left arm. Heian Ciemnosc nodded and exclaimed with an ‘oh’ before locking his right arm with hers. Elena then placed a pair of sunglasses with style on her tiny nose before speaking in a light tone, “I’ll bring you to my club’s headquarters. Remember to be polite, and if you see a white-skinned beauty with long dark hair and big, almond eyes… if you want to keep your purity, don’t agree to anything she says. Nothing.”

“Is she-” Heian Ciemnosc was terrified. His throat shook his words out as he asked in a low volume. But Elena cut him off, her right hand shoved before his face as she spoke tragically, “She has no limits. Only her family is safe because she grew up in a warm, large family. It’s rare, actually. Not even her cousins bang her, even though she’s just that easy to bend over her waist and get to plowing, you know? You’ll see soon. You joining our Saberbone Diabolic Club is worthy of celebration. Some lame ass thin teenager can just put their hand on her back and lightly push their fingers down, and she would smoothly bend. I think that’s some art, I tell you…”

Once more, Heian Ciemnosc got to experience Elena’s little sister's demeanor. As soon as they started chatting, she began telling Heian Ciemnosc all of her ‘secrets’ one after the other. Her mind was cleared and out of any possibly existent word in the world by the time she brought him close to the obscure green and tall building to the south of the Academy’s territory. From that one free use skank to the matter of Heian Ciemnosc promising her the desired Mortal halberd, normal-sized, in a few months.

He was too busy. After all, it was virtually impossible finding the time to do anything he wanted. He had to focus on taking some jobs, protecting Alyona’s locked virginity of his, and continue growing stronger and ampler from his upper head.

The place where they arrived was a zone in which only one precinct could be seen in the surrounding 300 meters outer perimeter. It was about 1.5 km long and 2 km wide. But within that precinct, it was one sole building with several long and short corridors that could be seen from the outside, with some having open structures and lots of windows, half-walls, or not even walls, for that matter.

The tiles at the top of the entire building and wherever it reached were chromatic black-green, and the walls were a mixture between carmine and chestnut red colors. In one way or another, it looked slightly diabolic and lacked light. Only a few lamps consisting of some fabric that looked inflammable encapsulating an orange flame with dark orange borders, and a bottom 5 inches thick could be seen illuminating the place. Heian Ciemnosc really liked that. It was so dark.

“!” Just when Heian Ciemnosc tried sensing underground, as there were notoriously tall few sections of buildings within the precinct here and there, he was blocked and even felt like something was out to attack his soul! But that thing ended up lost somewhere and didn’t even come close to his Spirit Sense, let alone Soul. Elena’s voice rang out soon after as she clearly noticed things and was probably alerted.

“You silly~! Don’t try to peer into the underground. There aren’t stairs leading underneath for a reason, you know?”

After being teased by a teenager, though he himself was one, Heian Ciemnosc nodded at her innocently as if what he did wasn’t something offensive for anyone’s turf. He grabbed Elena’s left hand with his right, which made her hide her upper lip into her teeth before struggling out of his grasp and away.

Shing, creeee. Meanwhile, her right hand took her medallion out and, with her Saberbone Diabolic Club jacket on, she flashed it to the iron gates before them as they opened. Making a creaking noise worthy of rusty iron, Elena brought Heian Ciemnosc. Still their arms locked and into the Saberbone Diabolical Club’s headquarters. The beginning point of a brutal, savage, and epic voyage through the Wrath Nihility Academy’s history.

Step step, step step, step step, step step. After stepping into the club’s headquarters, there was only a distance of 30 meters before they went from the gate to the entrance to the building. Or the main entrance, more specifically.

Just as Heian Ciemnosc stepped into the entrance, the orange-ish, fiery wooden floor with narrow planks seemed to force him to slow down. Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t sure which array formation was working here. But he felt hella suppressed, and his body’s movements slowed by half… If he didn’t employ his body’s natural effects, that is.

For now, Heian Ciemnosc let it be as he wanted to explore everything he could venture into, anything that could be explored except non-heterosexual adventures. Elena supported him this time, no longer just holding his arm but letting him know he could use her body to lean over so that he could walk with ease.

Heian Ciemnosc took advantage and felt the slender, table-like teenage body as they walked for minutes through the long entrance corridor. A few tens of meters more was a door, which was a double-lid gate as thin as one’s clothes fabric. When they were just 3 metes before it, a pair of tall and flexible-looking beauties with brown kimonos that had a rather unique bright rose and white design at its lowest sections for them.

Heian Ciemnosc looked at the beauties in the study. Their cleavage was shown proudly yet subtly at the same time. It somehow didn’t raise any lewd within him or anyone who was to see them. But it was sexy and attractive still. Their faces didn’t show confidence, but they didn’t need to. Heian Ciemnosc could feel their auras and see the ashy glow surrounding them inside out. Yet, they were shockingly at the middle stages of the Spirit Rebirth realm!

Their brown skin was perfectly in synchrony with the lamps’ obscure lighting. Beautiful, immensely great attitudes and stronk. They could swat Heian Ciemnosc away with just their thoughts. Their Spirit Image could just jump out and they would lazily, slowly and delicately slap the air. And Heian Ciemnosc could feel himself lucky his body was so resistant it wouldn’t be fully torn to shreds before even going halfway through the blast of being sent flying far away.

“Big Sisters, this one’s Heian Ciemnosc. Memorize his face so you know who to save in case Arla tries to bed him, okay?” Elena said while passing by, slightly hopping through the doors’ step. The young women nodded and looked at Heian Ciemnosc, leaving him to feel the attention as his back was prickled with curiosity.

“Arla’s her name?” Heian Ciemnosc asked Elena while looking to the front, where a living room or some sort of lounge could be somewhat seen. It seemed rather large. Elena nodded, “Remember, don’t accept anything she offers, only if she offers. Giving you drinks and sitting on your lap should be fine. Just keep your virginity intact in correlation to not accepting anything.”

“Oh, got it.” Heian Ciemnosc nodded. He wasn’t a dumb kid. But he appreciated her efforts to help him. As for how she came to know he wanted to keep his purity intact, he never kept his engagement secret, only who he was engaged with. Though her master might be in the known, he seems to be, from her words, someone really influential within the Wrath Nihility Academy.

…