Following Shen Xueyun all the way into the Potion lab, Lyn was surprised. They didn’t run into anyone this time.

He used to come here a lot. The halls were full of students delivering and storing materials, rushing back and forth.

Rooms on both sides were usually noisy. Arguments, project work, tasks left by mentors and instructors.

Students loved working in the potion wing. You picked up plenty beyond class, and you could earn easy extra credits. Those credits were a graduation requirement at Holy Eton Academy.

Only a few with top alchemy talent, like Shen Xueyun, got their own private test area. Most could only do assistant chores.

Back when Lyn earned credits here, he worked as Shen Xueyun’s assistant. In a way, she was basically keeping him.

Thanks to her help, he saved enough extra credits half a year ago. Since then, he could stroll outside every day, carefree.

After a while away, seeing the potion wing so empty made Lyn curious.

“Did something happen at the academy? Did the new students gather for a trial?”

Shen Xueyun’s body trembled slightly. She lowered her head and said softly, “Someone’s challenging the Divine Grace Tower. Most of the academy went to watch.”

Hearing that, Lyn remembered how few people he’d seen when he entered today. Now it made sense.

Challenging the Divine Grace Tower is one of every Holy Eton student’s goals.

“What tier is the challenger?”

Lyn asked.

Different tiers face different difficulty and wardens in that tower.

So the attention varies too.

If half the academy ran to watch, the challenger wasn’t simple.

“Holy Domain.”

Shen Xueyun glanced at Lyn carefully. She spoke softly, “From the Kongtong Family. The Church’s Saintess. Void Night.”

“Holy Domain… Void Night.”

Lyn froze for a moment.

He’d just heard about her from Divine Snow Sakura yesterday. He hadn’t expected more news today.

The Church of Truth’s Saintess of this generation.

The Church had been shaken yesterday. The Saintess inheritance rite seemed disrupted, but she still broke through to the Holy Domain.

Even more astounding…

“She’s not even fourteen?”

His gaze grew complicated.

He’d only just entered Fourth Rank. He was two full realms below Holy Domain.

“Is she coming for my sister?”

With that thought, Lyn guessed why the Saintess challenged the Divine Grace Tower right after breaking through.

Right now, the last Holy Domain floor of the Empire’s tower is held by his sister, Beryl Belmond.

That brat cleared the Fifth Tier at fourteen, broke into Holy Domain, and stayed in the tower to train.

She’s a monument to talent in the Divine Grace Empire. Many geniuses look up to her. Now the Church has an even younger Holy Domain. If she defeats Beryl, the Church’s momentum would explode.

Likewise.

The Kongtong Family would overshadow the Belmond Family again.

They’re both among the Empire’s seven ancient bloodline nobles. Those families aren’t friendly. They’ve fought openly and in secret for ages. Everyone wants to be the Empire’s one strongest house.

The Migal Family is currently the strongest of the seven.

Their younger generation includes the Holy Son of the Church this cycle.

He reached sainthood before Void Night. His fame among the young is nearly absolute. Many even call him a greater genius than Lyn’s sister. But he’s older. For that reason, he hasn’t challenged while Beryl sits the tower.

“Senior, are you worried?” Shen Xueyun looked at the dazed Lyn, uneasy.

She’d hesitated over whether to tell him. She didn’t want him to worry. But she knew she couldn’t hide it. He’d learn sooner or later.

“If worrying helped, maybe I would.”

Lyn spoke calmly.

“It’s not the first time someone challenged her. A kid who just hit Holy Domain can’t threaten much.”

His sister, Beryl, is proud, confident… and pretty much unstoppable.

In a sense, Lyn raised that cocky brat. He’s confident in her too.

Arrogance +1!

“If you can… Senior, please don’t let others hear that.”

Shen Xueyun spoke in a whisper.

She finished, checked both sides carefully, then looked at Lyn, worried.

She knew her senior’s style. He was the brazen type.

Lyn curled his lip.

He understood her worry.

Void Night’s popularity at the academy is unusual.

A bunch of looks-obsessed fans.

Years ago, when Void Night first became Saintess, many protested. They said an Eastern heritage bloodline wasn’t fit for such a role. Then the Church suppressed it. After people saw Void Night in person, public opinion flipped.

The girl was just too beautiful. Too adorable.

By contrast, though his sister’s looks match hers, she shocked the whole academy when she enrolled. But her reputation… was awful.

Beryl stayed at Holy Eton for only a year. She crushed every genius top to bottom. She earned a demon king kind of terrifying fame.

Seeing the Saintess go challenge Beryl in the Divine Grace Tower now… For those students, it’s like the honored Lord sent a mighty angel to deliver them.

The world has suffered under Beryl for too long.

“Let’s go.”

Lyn had satisfied his curiosity and didn’t dwell. Even knowing Void Night was challenging Beryl, all he could do was wait for the result.

Maybe the Saintess’s rite was damaged. Maybe she barely made Holy Domain. Maybe she won’t even reach the final floor, and never get a shot at Beryl.

They reached Shen Xueyun’s lab. The atmosphere felt a bit eerie. Beast specimens soaked in potions lined the walls. Some were odd organs. Bloody and gruesome. Shen Xueyun was used to it.

Lyn had worked here with her for a while. He didn’t mind it.

Xing Luo was here for the first time, but she adapted fast. She even studied those bloody organs with a judging look, as if asking if they were edible.

Lyn had told her he’d cook delicious monster offal for her when there’s a chance. With that in mind, Xing Luo turned and found Lyn’s gaze fixed on Shen Xueyun. The girl puffed her cheeks in silence.

Lyn didn’t notice Xing Luo’s little mood. He watched Shen Xueyun deftly sort the tools on the table, and sighed inwardly.

A girl this beautiful shouldn’t have to lock herself in a place like this all day.

Only…