2 Chapter 2 - Ignorant

Beside Ye Ziyun sat a tall, handsome boy who occasionally stole glances at her. When he saw Ye Ziyun looking at Nie Li, he quickly turned toward Nie Li and shot him a piercing glare. The boy was slightly taller than Nie Li and Ji Ren and emanated a subtle yin aura.

Nie Li immediately recognized the boy as Shen Yue. He belonged to the Sacred Family, one of the three major families, and possessed exceptional talent. Shen Xiu, the young woman currently lecturing on stage, was his aunt. Ji Ren raised an eyebrow at Shen Yue. He hadn't attended many classes in his previous life and hadn't bothered learning about his classmates. Still, he recognized the look of superiority and arrogance in Shen Yue's glare all too well.

In Nie Li's previous life, Shen Yue had persistently pursued Ye Ziyun. The two had nearly married before Glory City's destruction. Their families had always considered them an ideal match, and had Glory City not fallen, they would have undoubtedly wed. However, before the wedding ceremony took place, Glory City was besieged by Snow Wind beasts. The Sacred Family, betraying their duties, abandoned the city and fled. Perhaps fate played a role, but Ye Ziyun never became Shen Yue's wife in that life. Instead, she had grown to love Nie Li.

Seeing Ye Ziyun and Shen Yue exchange glares now, Nie Li felt a headache brewing. The current Ye Ziyun harbored some positive feelings toward Shen Yue, and her gaze toward Nie Li was filled with disdain, likely assuming him to be a lazy and frivolous individual.

As Ye Ziyun's eyes met his, Nie Li's breath caught for a moment. Seeing her familiar face, memories from his previous life flooded his mind. A bittersweet sensation welled up within him, and he offered her a warm, heartfelt smile. 'I'm grateful to the Temporal Spirit Book for allowing us to meet again,' he thought silently, filled with appreciation.

'Weirdo,' Ye Ziyun thought, finding Nie Li's gaze peculiar. His bright eyes sparkled like stars, tinged with a hint of sadness. Questions filled her mind: Did she know Nie Li? Why did he look at her that way? Ye Ziyun was a stunning beauty with pearly white teeth and vermilion lips. She resembled a lotus blooming in silence, possessing an indescribable, charming temperament that captivated many boys.

Ji Ren, observing Nie Li's warm smile, felt relieved to see his friend smiling again after suffering numerous losses in their previous life. He nudged Nie Li and inquired, "Who's that guy next to Ye Ziyun?" Nie Li's voice grew cold as he replied, "Shen Yue from the Sacred Family." Ji Ren nodded, having learned from Nie Li that the Sacred Family had betrayed Glory City, leading to the demise of its inhabitants.

Upon hearing Shen Yue's name from Nie Li's lips, Shen Xiu, still in her demon beast transformation, took notice. She could no longer ignore the boys in the back, and her gaze swept over Nie Li and Ji Ren. She wouldn't tolerate lower-status students disparaging her noble nephew.

"Ahh, yes. Enlighten us with what you have to say, Nie Li, of the Heavenly Marks Family. Do you have something to say to Shen Yue?" Shen Xiu called out. "Nothing much, I just noticed that Shen Yue was looking at me a lot. I'm not that pretty, am I?" Nie Li retorted. Everyone started giggling, and Shen Yue turned around, red-faced. Shen Xiu furrowed her eyebrows, observing her nephew and the girl beside him. Ye Ziyun looked at Nie Li with slight amusement; whether he was a weirdo or not, he was quite amusing.

Shen Xiu deduced that Nie Li's interest in Ye Ziyun had provoked Shen Yue's reaction. However, she doubted the boy knew she was the City Lord's daughter; he probably just thought she was an attractive girl. 'Typical commoners,' Shen Xiu thought. It was crucial for Shen Yue to win Ye Ziyun's favor and take her as his wife. As the City Lord's daughter and granddaughter of Ye Mo, one of the last Legend rank Demon Spiritualists, Ye Ziyun's alliance would solidify the Sacred Family's position at the pinnacle of Glory City. This was the sole reason Shen Xiu had even bothered teaching this class.

Shen Xiu narrowed her eyes at Nie Li and reverted to her normal appearance, folding her arms across her chest. "Make jokes as you want, but reality is not fair. For the next two years, you

are all my students. Though the principal has said that students at Holy Orchid Institute are equal, I must reveal the truth as your teacher: in this world, equality does not exist!" Her voice was slightly shrill, the words cutting into the hearts of the students like sharp daggers.

The room fell silent at her words. Nie Li stopped chuckling, and Ji Ren scowled deeply, knowing precisely what she was about to say next.

"When you graduate from this school, you will agree with my words. Equality is an illusion perpetuated by adults; you can't live in this fairytale forever," Shen Xiu continued. "Glory City is the last stronghold of humanity after the Age of Darkness. Within the city, there are two kinds of powerful existences: Fighters and Demon Spiritualists. Among tens of thousands of Fighters, only one might become a powerful Demon Spiritualist. To date, only a few thousand Demon Spiritualists have existed in Glory City! Your family's status depends on the Demon Spiritualists it can produce: a family with a Gold rank Demon Spiritualist can become an aristocratic family; a family with a Black Gold rank Demon Spiritualist can become a noble family; and a family with three Black Gold rank or Legend rank Demon Spiritualists can become a major family." Shen Xiu paused for a moment, allowing her explanation to sink in before continuing.

"In this class, there are forty students from both commoner and noble families. Although you all start in the same place, your backgrounds dictate otherwise. I hope everyone understands this and has the decency to recognize where your roles lie. Commoners will always remain commoners, and it is impossible for you to elevate your family to aristocratic status. So, I advise you to dream moderately and strive only for what you can achieve. Even among the nobility, there are strict differences in levels that cannot be crossed."

As Shen Xiu raised her chin and chest arrogantly, the commoner students showed discomfort on their faces, feeling embarrassed and lowering their heads in shame. Shen Yue and the other noble students puffed out their chests, displaying their haughty pride. Ye Ziyun and another brown-haired girl remained expressionless and calm. Lu Piao simply ignored Shen Xiu, resting his head on his arms and pretending to sleep again. Nie Li's smile had vanished completely, replaced by a cold gaze directed at Shen Xiu. Ji Ren averted his eyes, anger seething within him. He knew he might lash out if he didn't control himself.

Ji Ren's gaze fell upon Du Ze, who, also being a commoner, clenched his fists and bit his lips in response to their teacher's speech. He remembered Du Ze from his previous life, one of the few people who had treated him like a normal person and a friend. Even among the commoners in the class, Du Ze was one of the poorest, and it was up to him to help his family by becoming a Demon Spiritualist. Du Ze was incredibly persistent despite his challenging background, continuously training and growing stronger. Ji Ren had heard from Nie Li that, through sheer hard work, Du Ze had become a Gold rank Demon Spiritualist, all without resources and no exceptional talent—just consistent practice. Nie Li had mentioned that before Glory City was destroyed, many noble families had planned to escape, while the commoners fought for Glory City until their last breath, with Du Ze among them. "I won't give up on you this time," Ji Ren silently vowed.

Ji Ren whispered to Nie Li, "I know we shouldn't be suspicious, but we can't let her continue like this." "You're right, and I have just the argument to confront her," Nie Li said, suddenly jumping up. Ji Ren, startled, tried to caution him, "Nie Li, wai–" but before he could finish, Nie Li spoke loudly, "Teacher Shen Xiu, I have a question!" Ji Ren quietly groaned and put his hand on his forehead, thinking, 'This guy.' Nie Li was smart and knowledgeable; still, he never thought things through and often acted spontaneously, which had gotten them into trouble many times in their previous life.

Shen Xiu's gaze once again fell upon Nie Li, thinking, 'the same boy who had joked earlier. He was a much quieter student before these classes; why is he more vocal now?' The rest of the class looked at Nie Li in amazement as he dared to question Shen Xiu. Ye Ziyun, now completely curious, turned to look at him while Shen Yue, seated next to her, glared at him just as before. "What is it?" Shen Xiu coldly snorted, already convinced in her mind that he would just ask a trivial question.

"Teacher Shen Xiu, you've stated that Glory City stands as the sole bastion against the Age of Darkness, that we are the last of humanity," Nie Li began, his voice steady and measured. "However, I'm curious to know, what proof substantiates this claim? Permit me to ask you, have you personally journeyed beyond the St. Ancestral Mountains? Have you navigated the dunes of the Endless Desert, delved into the perils of the Toxic Forest, braved the eerie Blood Moon Marsh, dared the depths of the Spirit Gulf, scaled the heights of the Heavenly Luster Mountains, or endured the biting chill of the Northern Snow?" Nie Li's questions hung in the air, challenging the silence of the classroom. Bearing the wisdom of two lifetimes, Nie Li was equipped with knowledge and experiences far beyond Shen Xiu's understanding. Her limited viewpoint was almost pitiful in his eyes.

"Heavenly Luster Mountain? Northern Snow?" Shen Xiu's brow furrowed. The Endless Desert, Toxic Forest, and Blood Moon Marsh were names she had encountered in old tales and legends, places reputedly far beyond the St. Ancestral Mountains. The two other names, however, struck her as unfamiliar. With a dismissive snort, Shen Xiu retorted, "I was born and bred within Glory City's confines. I've never needed, nor desired, to venture into such remote territories."

After Shen Xiu's stunned silence, Ji Ren stood up, calmly meeting Shen Xiu's gaze. "Nie Li raises a valid point, teacher. None of us can claim to know the state of the entire world with certainty unless we've explored it all. Maybe Glory City isn't the last city; maybe other survivors are out there. Wouldn't it be a better lesson for us, as future defenders of humanity, to hold onto hope rather than resignation?" His words, although respectful, cast a subtle, implicit challenge to Shen Xiu's authority.

The classroom buzzed with whispers, students exchanging glances and newfound respect gleaming in some of their eyes. They had been so blindly accepting of what they had been told. Now, they were starting to question the world they had known. Nie Li's audacity and Ji Ren's reasoned words ignited a spark of curiosity.

Meanwhile, Ye Ziyun was quietly contemplating the spectacle unfolding before her. An intrigued look flickered in her eyes, the first time she had paid so much attention to Nie Li. What kind of person was he? How did he know of such places? Seated next to her, Shen Yue's frown deepened, his gaze reluctantly drifting to Nie Li. It was hard to ignore the fact that Nie Li's appearance wasn't inferior to his. An unexpected feeling of rivalry sprouted within his heart.

Seeing the room thrown into quiet chaos, Nie Li glanced at Ji Ren, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. They exchanged a knowing smile, a shared memory of their past life creating a silent understanding between them. Their challenge had just begun.

Shen Xiu's displeasure was clear as the chatter rose and fell in waves. She huffed, her eyes narrowing. "And how exactly will you prove that we are not the last remaining humans?"

Nie Li merely tilted his head, a small, knowing smile on his lips. His previous life bore testament to the resilience of humanity, to the sprawling cities they'd erected in the wake of the Age of Darkness. But voicing out these experiences was not an option. Instead, he chose a different route, letting a calmness seep into his words. "Allow me to share a parable with Teacher Shen Xiu. Imagine a frog born and raised in the depths of a well. For this frog, the sky is only as big as the mouth of the well because that is all it can see. But does that mean the sky is truly limited to that narrow circumference? Or is the frog simply unaware of the vastness beyond its view?"

A ripple of laughter washed over the classroom. The students found Nie Li's analogy reasonable and amusing. The phrase "a frog at the bottom of a well" was an implied jest at Shen Xiu's expense.

Just then, Ji Ren scoffed, unable to hold back his amusement. "Borrowing my words now, are we Nie Li? I recall spinning you that same tale ages ago." Nie Li shot him an impish smirk in return.

Seething with anger, Shen Xiu finally snapped, "You impudent child, how dare you challenge the knowledge passed down by our ancestors and insult me in such a manner! Are you suggesting that your knowledge is greater than all of Glory City?"

Stung by Shen Xiu's retort, Ji Ren coolly interjected before Nie Li could respond. "Teacher Shen Xiu," he began, his voice resolute, "Nie Li merely suggested a world beyond our current knowledge. Ignorance isn't a crime, but choosing to remain ignorant is."

His words landed in the room like a stone in still water, creating ripples of silent introspection among the students. Shen Xiu was stunned into silence by his succinct retort. The authority she once wielded seemed to have been stripped away at a moment's notice.

Ji Ren, still basking in the silence that followed his remark, was taken aback when Nie Li jumped into the fray again. 'He can't possibly be pushing it again,' he thought with a feeling of trepidation. Ignoring Ji Ren's unspoken caution, Nie Li went ahead, "Teacher Shen Xiu, I still have another question."

Incredulous, Shen Xiu tried to swallow her anger. Unable to let it erupt in the classroom, she gritted out through clenched teeth, "What question do you still have?!"

Ji Ren quietly groaned under his breath, 'This guy is always poking the hornet's nest.' Despite his exasperation, Ji Ren couldn't help but brace himself for the next round of Nie Li's audacious inquisition.

Nie Li, an impish twinkle in his eye, continued, "Teacher Shen Xiu, you earlier stated that 'a commoner will always remain a commoner, they can never ascend to nobility.' I have a bit of a quandary regarding that assertion. Wasn't Ye Mo, our esteemed Legend rank Demon Spiritualist, born a commoner himself?" He tilted his head slightly, his gaze unwavering as he scrutinized Shen Xiu, "Or is Teacher Shen Xiu perhaps unaware of this well-known piece of history?"

Ji Ren bit his lip, suppressing a sigh as he thought, 'Nie Li's relentless.'

The words of Nie Li sparked a newfound hope in the eyes of the commoner students. The tale of Lord Ye Mo was a tale they all held close, for it was a testament to the possibility of rising above their societal constraints. However, Shen Xiu's earlier comments had harshly pushed them back into their harsh reality, subduing their spirits.

Caught off guard, Shen Xiu was silent for several beats before she finally mustered a response. "Only...only Lord Ye Mo, in all the centuries of Glory City's existence, was able to reach such heights solely through his own merit," she stuttered, her counterpoint sounding feeble and tenuous.

Meanwhile, Ye Ziyun could not hold back her laughter. She found Nie Li fascinating and quite the eloquent speaker, for he had managed to leave Teacher Shen Xiu lost for words. As a natural beauty, her laughter was infectious and captivating. When Nie Li winked and flashed her a cheeky grin, she was taken aback and immediately looked away, thinking to herself, 'What audacity he has!'

Seeing all this unfold, Ji Ren couldn't help but shake his head in amusement, 'Nie Li is as shameless as ever.' Despite his past mischief and reputation as a poor student, Nie Li had managed to impress Ye Ziyun and Lu Piao, who gave him a thumbs-up, clearly impressed by his audacity and wit.