In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the glass.
At Star Martial Academy, the ancient and solemn buildings were bathed in a faint golden glow by the sun.
A luxurious car was parked at the school gate.
Xuan Hao turned his head to look; students hurried by, and the air was filled with the scent of youth and sweat.
“A Martial Artist Academy, huh….”
Xuan Hao was lost in thought.
At the same time, in the crowd, a young man of ordinary build had his eyes narrow, and he slowly walked into the academy gate with the flow of people.
He twisted his neck, his movements stiff.
Xuan Hao completed the possession instantly.
His target was clear — the library.
The Star Martial Academy’s library, like a giant fortress of knowledge, cast a long shadow from its seven-story tower in the morning light.
The hall was spacious and bright, with lush green trees outside the windows.
Xuan Hao glanced around; bookshelves were neatly arranged, holding various classics:
“History of Human Martial Artist Development”
“Annals of Outer God Invasions”
“Introduction to Basic Energy Guidance”
“Compendium of Common Divine Abominations and Countermeasures”
“Indeed, I still need to possess a Martial Artist.”
Xuan Hao picked up “History of Martial Artist Development” and then looked at “Annals of Outer God Invasions.”
It was a pity, though; there wasn't much useful information.
He walked to the service desk, where an old man with white hair and thick glasses was organizing borrowing cards.
The library director, students all called him Old Wang.
“Old Wang.”
Xuan Hao imitated the tone a student should have, “Do you have any information from the old era? I mean, before the Outer Gods descended.”
Old Wang looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes:
“The old era? Why do you want to look at that?”
“Those things aren’t helpful for Cultivation; they’re all outdated history.”
“Just curious.”
Xuan Hao’s expression was calm.
Old Wang pushed up his glasses and pointed in a direction:
“Go to Area M, the innermost bookshelf. There should still be some old-era miscellany and almanacs that haven’t been cleared out in the corner, but they’re all fragmented things, nothing systematic.”
Xuan Hao nodded slightly and turned to walk towards Area M.
Area M was in the most secluded corner, with slightly dim lighting.
Xuan Hao’s fingers brushed over the spines of books, finally stopping on a pamphlet with yellowed pages and a simple binding: “Shadows of the Old Days.”
He found a seat by the window and sat down, his Divine Sense sweeping over the pages.
A few minutes later, Xuan Hao lost interest.
The records in the book were scattered and one-sided, mostly descriptions of social customs and lifestyles.
There was no mention of supernatural research.
For an existence like him, there were even fewer clues.
The transition between the old and new eras, the only and decisive sign, was the catastrophe known as the “Eclipse Disaster.”
That was the first Outer God to descend.
The old order instantly collapsed under an incomprehensible great power.
Survivors struggled to survive in the ruins until the path of evolution, “Martial Artist,” was discovered, and humanity once again gained a chance to breathe in the face of the Outer God’s great power.
“There’s still too little information.”
Xuan Hao closed the book and put it back in its place.
Just then, a clear voice rang out: “Old Wang, do you have any information on Outer Gods?”
Xuan Hao looked in the direction of the voice, his gaze slightly narrowing.
It was the girl from last night’s Mental Energy Domain, the one who imagined herself as a chivalrous heroine.
She was wearing the academy’s common training uniform, her hair tied in a neat ponytail, and her face still showed a hint of lingering shock and fatigue.
“You’re not a Martial Artist yet, are you?”
Old Wang’s voice carried a hint of helplessness, “Practice more now. Looking at those things easily causes harm to oneself.”
“I’m just curious.”
Qiao Ling’er tried to make her voice sound a bit more relaxed, “I just want to see, to understand a little.”
“There are some on the second floor.”
Old Wang pointed upstairs, “But your clearance isn’t enough; you can’t go up. Wait until you become a formal Martial Artist and pass the test.”
“Alright….”
Qiao Ling’er was a bit disappointed, pouting as she turned to leave.
Just then, the student Xuan Hao had possessed swayed, his eyes becoming blank.
“Why am I here?”
The young man scratched his head, looking confused.
“That’s strange.”
The young man stood up and left the library in a daze.
Xuan Hao’s consciousness had already withdrawn.
The library, second floor.
It was much quieter here than on the first floor, and the light was softer.
Xuan Hao, having possessed a burly man, stood before the bookshelves in the “Outer God Archives” section.
He pulled out a classic titled “Outer God Files (Partial).”
It recorded some terrifying existences with the power to destroy the world, documented by humanity.
Including their codenames, characteristics, active areas, known attack methods, and….
A brutal history of confrontation.
Illustrated with images, it was shocking.
There was “The Submerger,” lurking in the Pacific abyss, whose breath alone could trigger thousand-meter tsunamis.
There was “Odin,” wandering the Eurasian wasteland, leaving behind withered life wherever it passed.
There was “The Weaver,” lurking in the clouds, manipulating the weather….
Xuan Hao quickly scanned with his Divine Sense, searching for descriptions possibly related to “Corpse Disassembly Immortal” and “Yin God.”
Unfortunately, there wasn't much gain.
Records about “Immortal,” “memory inheritance,” and “Mental Energy Domain” were even scarcer.
Xuan Hao reluctantly put down the book.
His gaze swept across, and he saw a monograph on “Mental Pollution-Type Outer Gods.”
It described various mental attack patterns in detail.
Pollution symptoms, protective measures, and even mentioned several rare “mental parasites.”
But there were no records that matched him.
As Xuan Hao went to the stairs leading to the third floor, an invisible energy barrier lit up, blocking his way.
On the adjacent wall, an embedded screen displayed subtitles:
“Insufficient clearance; O Level Martial Artist clearance required.”
Xuan Hao performed Primordial Spirit Leaving the Body again, went to the fourth floor, and casually found a Martial Artist to possess.
….
Academy Medical Center, Advanced Examination Room.
Qiao Ling’er lay on the examination table, sensors covering her forehead and limbs, as a pale blue scanning beam moved back and forth across her body.
“Alright, Xiao Ling.”
The female doctor looked at the data on the screen, a gentle smile on her face.
“How are things?”
Qiao Ling’er was a bit nervous.
“Congratulations!”
The female doctor smiled: “All your physical indicators are excellent, especially your Mental Energy and energy affinity, which have far exceeded the standard line for U-grade Martial Artists.”
“As long as you follow the steps, you’ll soon become a U-grade Martial Artist.”
“What?!”
Qiao Ling’er sat up.
There was no joy on her face; instead, it instantly lost all color, and her back was immediately soaked with cold sweat!
“It’s true!”
Qiao Ling’er remembered what happened last night.
That vast and terrifying Outer God shadow, that casually spoken phrase about becoming a Martial Artist – it was all true!
A thorough chill surged into her body!
“What’s wrong?”
The female doctor was puzzled, “You’re about to become a Martial Artist, aren’t you happy? So many people dream of it!”
“Nothing, thank you, Doctor!”
Qiao Ling’er practically leaped off the examination table, haphazardly grabbing her coat, her voice trembling uncontrollably:
“I’m leaving now!”
She rushed out of the examination room like a startled rabbit.