One week later, the National Awakener Academy delegation gathered before dawn at the academy's central plaza.
A sleek silver transport aircraft waited on the runway beyond the gates.
Its surface was engraved with defensive runes, and the emblem of the National Awakener Association gleamed on the tail.
For many first-year students, this was their first trip beyond their home region.
Excitement and nervous anticipation filled the air.
Krishak stood calmly beside his small travel bag.
To him, the journey was simply another step.
Principal Rao addressed the delegation.
"You are not only representing yourselves."
"You are representing this academy."
He looked across the assembled students.
"Compete with honor. Win with humility. Lose with dignity."
The students bowed.
Krishak, Vikram, Aisha, and the other representatives boarded the aircraft under the guidance of several instructors, including Rajan and Dev.
During the flight, Krishak sat by the window and observed the landscape below.
Cities, forests, rivers, and mountain ranges passed beneath the clouds.
He silently extended his spiritual perception.
Even from high above, he sensed pockets of dense spiritual energy scattered across the land.
Several were likely hidden ruins or dangerous beast territories.
Earth contained far more mysteries than most people realized.
Aisha took the seat across from him.
"You seem very calm."
Krishak closed the book he was reading.
"I'm looking forward to learning."
She smiled.
" "Most people are focused on winning.
"Winning is useful," Krishak replied. "But understanding is more valuable."
Aisha nodded thoughtfully.
She had long suspected that Krishak viewed the world differently from everyone else.
After several hours, the aircraft descended toward the capital.
The city stretched across the horizon like a sea of steel and glass.
Massive walls surrounded key districts.
Energy barriers shimmered above important buildings.
Countless Awakeners moved through the streets.
For the first time, Krishak saw Earth's largest concentration of cultivators.
Even so, the strongest auras he sensed were only at the King Realm.
This confirmed what he already knew.
Earth remained at a very early stage of development.
The delegation was transported to the National Junior Tournament Complex.
The facility included:
Multiple combat arenas.
Cultivation chambers.
Medical centers.
Accommodation towers.
Observation halls.
Teams from academies across the country were already arriving.
Students in different uniforms gathered in groups, many openly evaluating their future opponents.
As Krishak walked through the complex, he sensed several unusually talented individuals.
One young swordsman carried a sharp, disciplined aura.
A silver-haired girl radiated dense spiritual energy.
A quiet boy accompanied by a small fox spirit clearly belonged to the Summoner path.
Earth's s young generation was stronger than he had initially expected.
That was encouraging.
The representatives completed their registration and received schedules.
Preliminary rounds would begin the next morning.
Krishak was assigned to the Hunter Division for the under-ten age bracket.
Rohan would have loved to witness this event firsthand, Krishak thought with a faint smile.
Fortunately, through Master Kiran, his hidden disciples would eventually hear every detail.
In his room, Krishak cultivated briefly and then reviewed his condition.
Age
6 years old
Cultivation Realm
Early Grandmaster
Actual Combat Power
Peak Grandmaster to Early King Realm
Earth Equivalent
Peak A-Rank to Early S-Rank
He remained stronger than any first-year student he had encountered.
Still, he would not underestimate unfamiliar opponents.
Standing by the window, Krishak looked out over the illuminated city.
The capital represented the peak of Earth's current civilization.
Yet from his perspective, humanity was only taking its first steps on the path of cultivation.
That was not a criticism.
It was an opportunity.
One day, he intended to help this world rise far beyond its present limits.
But tomorrow, his task was simpler.
Step into the arena.
Observe.
Compete.
And continue moving forward.