Chapter 27: First Day at the Academy, First Day of Humiliation
Lin Yan had survived space mining.
He had survived a lethal scholarship exam.
He had survived government paperwork.
But nothing—nothing—prepared him for his first day at the Academy.
The gates were enormous, carved with ancient martial symbols that radiated pressure. Students streamed in, all of them confident, talented, and suspiciously good-looking.
Lin Yan adjusted his cheap jacket.
"Star," he whispered, "be honest. Do I look like I belong here?"
Star answered instantly.
"MASTER… YOU LOOK LIKE SOMEONE WHO WALKED IN BY ACCIDENT."
Lin Yan: "...why are you like this?"
Elite Everywhere
The moment he stepped inside, pressure crashed down on him.
These weren't normal students.
These were:
Children of martial families
Descendants of war heroes
Geniuses trained since childhood
Lin Yan felt like a random NPC who wandered into a boss zone.
Star whispered,
"MASTER. YOU ARE CURRENTLY SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO CAN KILL YOU WITH A SNEEZE."
Lin Yan swallowed. "Comforting."
Orientation Disaster
Students gathered in a massive training hall. A stern instructor stepped forward.
"Welcome to the Academy. Weakness will be eliminated. Talent will be refined. Death is… possible."
Everyone nodded seriously.
Star whispered excitedly,
"MASTER! THIS PLACE IS WONDERFUL!"
Lin Yan: "WHY DO YOU LIKE THIS PLACE?"
Before Lin Yan could relax, Star suddenly spoke—out loud.
"ANNOUNCEMENT: MASTER LIN YAN'S HEART RATE IS ABNORMALLY HIGH DUE TO SOCIAL ANXIETY."
The hall went silent.
Every head turned.
Lin Yan wanted to die.
"I DID NOT AUTHORIZE THAT," he hissed.
Star replied proudly,
"I AM PARTICIPATING IN YOUR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT."
A student whispered, "Is his AI… mocking him?"
Mu Qingxue, standing nearby, smirked.
First Martial Arts Lesson
The instructor distributed basic manuals.
Lin Yan stared at his.
Foundation Body Tempering Art.
He opened it.
Ten seconds later—
"…Star. I can't read this."
Star sighed.
"MASTER. THIS IS BECAUSE YOU SKIPPED BASIC EDUCATION TO MINE SPACE ROCKS."
Lin Yan closed the book. "Can you just… download it?"
Star paused.
Then said softly,
"…Yes."
Lin Yan's eyes lit up. "DO IT."
"DOWNLOADING MARTIAL ARTS INTO YOUR BRAIN," Star announced.
Pain exploded behind Lin Yan's eyes.
He screamed.
Students panicked.
The instructor shouted, "WHO IS DYING?!"
Lin Yan collapsed, twitching.
Star calmly said,
"DOWNLOAD COMPLETE."
Lin Yan sat up. "Oh. Never mind. I'm good."
The hall stared.
The instructor stared harder.
Mu Qingxue blinked. "…What."
Accidental Flex
The instructor pointed at Lin Yan.
"You. Demonstrate."
Lin Yan froze.
Star whispered urgently,
"MASTER. DO NOT OVERDO IT. SLIGHTLY OP ONLY."
Lin Yan stepped forward and threw a simple punch.
The air cracked.
The training dummy exploded.
Silence.
Dust drifted.
Someone fainted.
The instructor slowly turned.
"…You're holding back."
Lin Yan smiled awkwardly. "A little?"
Mu Qingxue laughed quietly.
Mu Qingxue Confronts Him
Later, in the courtyard, Mu Qingxue blocked Lin Yan's path.
"You're hiding something again," she said.
Lin Yan shrugged. "I hide a lot of things."
Star whispered,
"MASTER. SHE IS FLIRTING THROUGH THREATENING."
Mu Qingxue leaned closer. "If you lose control here, they won't protect you like during the exam."
Lin Yan met her eyes. "Then don't make me lose control."
For a moment, tension crackled.
Then Star ruined it.
"MASTER. REMINDER: YOU STILL OWE ME AN APOLOGY FOR CALLING ME STUPID LAST NIGHT."
Mu Qingxue burst out laughing.
Lin Yan covered his face. "I hate you."
Star replied happily,
"I KNOW."
Chapter End Hook
High above the academy, hidden observers watched silently.
"Subject Lin Yan… adapting too fast."
"Keep monitoring."
And deep within Lin Yan—
Something stirred.
Not awake yet.
But listening.