The pitch-black night offered only the glow of magic lanterns bought from town. Even in this world, oil lamps had grown rare—after all, everyone knew at least one or two spells.
The most basic Light spell required no affinity for light elements. It was a trivial trick everyone mastered.
But these two hadn’t. They barely knew how to draw magic from their own bodies. Yet it didn’t matter. Both saw things clearly.
Especially Wang Qi. Physical Enhancement didn’t just boost strength and speed—it amplified hearing, vision, every physical metric.
Zhang Yemiao slowly peeled off her clothes. Her tender skin gleamed like flawless white jade, soft and luminous, begging to be touched.
Her face flushed pink. She bit her lip and continued.
Wang Qi’s head spun, blood rushing hot. Zhang Yemiao had agreed to help him—but skin contact still made her uneasy.
Still, this new body was beautiful. If she was just "food" for Wang Qi? She could accept that.
So she undressed right before his eyes.
The dim light couldn’t quench their burning hearts. A single spark might ignite them—but the flames never consumed everything.
…
"*Ahem*. Sleep now."
After dressing, Zhang Yemiao collapsed onto the bed. Exhaustion weighed her down. Stripping for another girl—and letting him do *that*—drained her spirit.
Wang Qi couldn’t sleep.
Outwardly, his physical needs were satisfied. But for a body honed by Physical Enhancement? This was nothing. The power upgraded *everything*.
Including his stamina. Far beyond his expectations.
He watched Zhang Yemiao sleep deeply.
Honestly, she was adorable. Before their Dorm Leader became a girl, Wang Qi never thought this way. Back then, Zhang Yemiao felt steady, reliable.
Dorm Leaders were chosen by roommates—not an official post, just the most responsible or easygoing person.
Zhang Yemiao fit perfectly. Fetching breakfast for late risers. Completing most group assignments.
Simply put: a genuinely *good* person.
But as a lovely girl? Everything changed.
She remained kind—yet softer. A little clingy. A little fragile.
It only made her more endearing.
Watching her sleep, her slightly parted lips glistened pink like fruit jelly. Wang Qi wondered what they’d taste like.
He slapped his own cheek, banishing the thought.
*What am I even thinking…*
He slipped outside. This world’s night sky differed from Earth’s. On the grasslands, Wang Qi studied it nightly. Beyond one moon-like orb, he recognized nothing.
A few brilliantly lit objects drifted high above—supposedly sky-cities. Flying war fortresses.
Wang Qi sighed.
In a flash, he lunged and pinned a rabbit-like creature. Ignoring the fur, he tore into it raw like a savage.
His stomach churned. Muscles tensed.
"Raw meat really does hold the most life energy," he muttered, shaking his head. "They’d be disgusted if they knew."
Physical Enhancement demanded harsh conditions.
Beyond intense training, Wang Qi needed massive energy for his body’s evolution. Cooked food forced him to eat constantly. But raw meat—especially blood—teemed with power.
To grow stronger, he *had* to eat it raw.
It felt monstrous. Wang Qi struggled to accept it. The other three—now girls—would never tolerate it. That’s why he always volunteered for night watch. If Zhang Yemiao hadn’t insisted on joining him… he’d likely be stronger by now.
He didn’t blame her. He was grateful. Her kindness kept him from becoming a true freak.
*Just… don’t tell her about this yet.*
Gazing at the stars, Wang Qi pondered the future.
—
"‘The Deity teaches humanity to transform all things through love and mercy,’" Li Pingtian recited flatly from her scripture, "‘To believe in the Deity is to believe in love.’"
This doctrine was idiotic. Pure fluff. It ignored the world’s contradictions—defying historical progress and materialist dialectics…
Calm outside. Turbulent within.
Li Pingtian finished her devotions. Only after locking her door did she collapse onto her bed.
*What are the other three doing?*
Pure white light glowed in her palms. Divine Art drew power from faith.
When followers believed in her church’s Deity, their faith flowed like a river. As a cleric, she skimmed a fraction of that current.
Basically—a commission.
The stronger the faith she channeled upward, the stronger she became.
But here was the flaw: even the mightiest cleric was a mere fingertip to the Deity. If you only kept 1-2% of the faith… how powerful could you truly be?
Alternative logic: to grow fastest, *consume all the faith yourself*. You’d advance fifty times quicker than other clerics.
The church claimed deeper devotion accelerated training. Probably because the devout could siphon more faith en route to the Deity…
Musing on faith’s nature, Li Pingtian suppressed her urge to *replace* the church’s Deity. She was still too weak. She must wait. Until the moment was ripe… What was that Earth saying again?
*Seize opportunity when it comes. If none exists—create it.*
Become a god. Or forge a godhood if needed.
This utterly heretical thought brewed in Li Pingtian’s mind. Just as they’d discussed: she *had* to return home.
If their arrival here was orchestrated by some god… then she *would* become one.
—
Unlike Li Pingtian, Zou Moan prowled the vast magic academy. Though Yinai City was merely mid-sized, its archives held everything.
This world had a Magicians’ Association. Within it lay a top-tier spell: "Arcane Web."
Essentially an internet. Magicians logged in via Association tokens to access papers and research.
But Zou Moan cared little. With Magic Proficiency, she could cast any spell once her level rose. Academic texts meant nothing to her.
She needed one thing: experience points to level up.
How? Through combat.
Killing wasn’t necessary. Mere fighting sufficed.
As a Level 1 mage, Zou Moan was placed in the lowest year group—and became a battle junkie. She bullied eleven-year-olds, challenging Level 1 kids half her apparent age. (Though she looked barely older.) She even lost a few times.
It didn’t matter.
More fights meant higher spell proficiency. Faster leveling. Greater power.
*I wonder how those three are doing…* A pang of loneliness struck her. *Li Pingtian at least sent a letter. No clue where the Dorm Leader or Wang Qi went…*
Her classmates were literal children. She’d need several level-ups before meeting peers with mature minds.
Even then—no common ground. Nothing to discuss.
*When should I search for them?* Arcane Magic had a Locate Person spell. Usable at Level 3. She guessed the Dorm Leader would stick with Wang Qi.
*…Has Wang Qi already pushed the Dorm Leader down by now?*
Zou Moan stroked her chin, flashing a sly, lewd grin. "Dry wood, raging fire. The Dorm Leader’s so cute now. Wang Qi’s a total pervert—I gave him those websites myself… And the Dorm Leader never refuses anyone. Tsk tsk tsk~"
"Eeek! Miss Mo An’s smile is so weird!" classmates whispered politely—well-bred kids, all.
"Hmph! You little ones wouldn’t understand!" Zou Moan declared, already challenging them again. "Come! Duel me!"
