“You have finally arrived at the Academy. Welcome. Please enter inside." Liuxian heard the seniors at the gate say after they had checked his bag.

Of course he had not carried any contrabands on this journey. His father would immediately have his head.

Entering inside, Liuxian looked around with enthusiasm to start classes. Enchanting Void was a school where many came each year to learn new things in the martial world. Over 30,000 people were admitted each year but only 7,000 graduated into the martial world as great martial artists at the end.

“Please gather here on the platform according to your skills.” Liuxian heard a voice say from nowhere.

Few seconds later, everyone gathered on top of the platform according to their skills. Suddenly, a force from the sky came down on all of them changing them into their uniforms.

“Wow." The other students said as they checked the color of the clothes they were wearing.

“Please look up here. My name is Duan Xinya. I am the principal of Enchanting Void. While you are here, you will learn many techniques that will boast your powers. But for now, please head to Shadowfall Forest to get your student badge. This badge will be useful to you during your stay here because that badge is the only way you will be able to leave the academy whenever you want. You can leave but you must come back before the 7th hour of the night. If you don't, you will be expelled the next morning because the gate won't be open until the 10th hour of the day when the roll call would have been done already. Do you understand?” Duan Xinya asked watching as the students immediately replied.

“ Then, head out immediately! Time isn't on your side. Remember, you have to be back before the 7th hour of the night.” Liuxian heard Duan Xinya say and turned running as thousands of students left heading for the Shadowcall forest.

“Look at them . Running out of ignorance.” Liuxian heard a couple of people at the back say making him halt in his steps.

He also had no idea. He had been one of the first batch that ran out through the gate.

“Is the Shadowfall that dangerous? Is it a place we should not go to?” Liuxian asked as he smiled walking along slowly.

“Of course Shadowfall isn't just any forest. Many magical treasures could be found there. Magical treasures and weapons that could elevate anyone's powers forever. The forest is often not easily opened for just anyone. I am suprised that the school is letting us enter.” Liuxian heard them say .

Few minutes later, many of the students gathered searching for their student's badges. Even if one was found, they would have to make sure that the badge they found would have to suit the clan they presented.

“Beware. There is so many of you. The school couldn't possibly afford to create 30,000 badges. There is only 20,000 badges in the forest so please pick yours quickly.”

Liuxian heard the announcement but yet he still worked deep looking for something else in the forest. Looking around, Liuxian brought out a map he had stolen from his father and continued to move according to the map. After finding the spot, Liuxian bent down digging something with his hands.

“It's really here." Liuxian said smiling as his eyes widened looking at the bottle of wine he had dug up.

It was obviously an aged wine that had been buried in the forest for a long time. Opening the bottle, Liuxian took a sip happily. Suddenly, Liuxian found himself in a strange place. He was standing on top of a platform and there was nothing else around him.

[Level 1 activated]

[Task: Collect 400 badges from each clan]

[Time limit: 4 hours]

[ Failure to accomplish the task will lead to your powers dropping to 0]

“What happens when my powers drops to 0? Will I die?” Liuxian asked speaking into the forest but there was no one at all anywhere.

Getting up, Liuxian took a step thinking he would be drunk. The wine had a strong scent but tasted sweet. To his suprise, he felt strong all of a sudden. Was it the effect of the wine? Facing the tree in front of him, Liuxian used all his powers hitting the tree in front of him. It collapsed falling down to the ground. Suprised at the amount of powers he suddenly had, Liuxian gazed at the shining transparent glass bottle the wine had been put inside, Liuxian suddenly remebered. Was this really what he thought it was?

“Liquor of Desire? It is the liquor of Desire. But I didn't see anything I desire." Liuxian said as he looked at the bottle.

Opening the bottle one more time, Liuxian drank more hoping to hear the voice he had heard earlier but nothing happened.

Sighing to himself, Liuxian drank more till the bottle was half but it was still the same. Just as he was about to drink more, someone came.

“Have you found anything yet?” Liuxian heard him ask knowing what he wanted.

He was obviously trying to rob him off his own badge. Was this the way all the students were going about this? He also had to find a badge for himself too.

Resting on the tree in the forest, Liuxian bidded his time waiting to fulfill his task. He also had to come up with an idea to trick everyone and collect their badges without fighting them since he wasn't as strong as them at all.

“ What should I do? What exactly should I do? Why does it have to be 400 badges? Even if I manage to steal from the Scholars and Mages, how am I supposed to deal with the Marksmen and the Protectors? How am I supposed to steal from people that can easily bend me into half?” Liuxian asked sighing as he looked into the road in front of him.

Suddenly, a huge crowd of Scholars were passing through the forest. Looking at them, Liuxian guessed they were at least fifty in number. The Scholars always liked to walk together and move as a group which made things easy for him. But things weren't as easy as it looked. Intellectually, it was almost impossible to decieve a Scholar.

“I see that you people have already gotten your student badges." Liuxian asked gaining their attention as they looked at him

“We are from different clans. You are a protector. You can't have our badges. It'll be useless to you anyway." One of the Scholars said .

" You are right. I don't have any need for them however, I heard others in the front planning to challenge some of you to chess in exchange for your student badges. I thought I should tell you now so that you would be prepared.” Liuxian said before walking away pretending to be nonchalant as he left.

“What do we do? Our powers aren't that high. If we go against others in an intellectual battle, we will lose for sure.” Liuxian heard one of them say making smile.

His guess had been right all along. From the looks of their aura, he knew they weren't powerful at all. However, no matter how weak they were, they were still more powerful than him who had no strength at all.

Hiding behind a tree, Liuxian counted from one to ten before looking at them again. They seemed to be planning something. If his guess was right, they would surely try to hide their student badges to protect it.

“Let's go." Liuxian heard them say and finally came out trying to check for their student badges.

Looking around, Liuxian searched and searched hoping to find their student badges but it wasn't there. Did they outsmart him? Sighing out loud, Liuxian looked at the sky thinking of you the time. He had not even gotten his own badge yet and time was already almost at the limit for him. Just then, loud screams from birds flying off caught his attention.

“The Unholy Bird. Why didn't I think of it before?” Liuxian asked smiling.

Just as there was a lot of magical treasures in the forest, there was also a lot of dark evil beasts just waiting to devour people. Picking up a long stick, Liuxian walked slowly to where he had heard the sound of the birds from. He didn't want to startle the Unholy Bird at all. Reaching into his pocket, Liuxian brought out his alarm clock and set it before placing it near the bird and leaving.

The forest was big but there was only one road leading them out of the forest. This bird was going to help him.

Few minutes later, Liuxian saw some mages approaching to leave the forest.

“Stop there. Give us your badges immediately." Liuxian heard some other students say as they stood to bully the others.

“Look at you. Your powers aren't high and you already trying to bully others? Fight us for it if you dare." Liuxian heard the others and knew that a fight was about to take place anytime soon.

[Ringing..]

Liuxian heard the sound of the magical box ring making him smile. The mages had already began their fight and they had no idea what was coming for them. Just then, a big angry bird flew to the sky with it's wings spread out. The bird was indeed so big that it could cover at least half of the sky.

“The Unholy Bi..rd. Run!!!!" Liuxian heard the mages say as they began to run with the bird chasing them.

“Why is it chasing us like this? What do we do?” Liuxian heard them ask as he followed them from a distance watching them.

Of course the Unholy Bird would continue to chase them. The color of uniforms the mages had been given was red. The Unholy Bird only things in a red light. Under red light, red color appears red and red was a color that the Unholy Bird hated.

“Maybe I can help you. I'm wearing green. The bird can't see me.” Liuxian said.

“How exactly can you help us?” Liuxian heard the mages ask and rolled his eyes.

“Are you mages that foolish? Give me your student badges. And change your clothes. Remove all the red you are wearing now. Come on, you can trust me. I have no need for your badges anyway. I am from the protector clan.” Liuxian said hoping to gain their trust.

With the badges on them, it would at least help remove half of the task he was given. Just as he wanted, the mages gave him all their badges and went to remove their uniforms. While they were changing, Liuxian saw his chance and ran.

Running as fast as he could, Liuxian didn't dare to stop until he was safe hiding behind a tree. The forest was now calm and the Unholy Bird was no where to be seen as the moment. Bringing out the Liquor of Desire, Liuxian took a sip.

“Look. I already have fifty badges. How much time do I have now?” Liuxian asked.

[Level 1 still in progress]

[Time left: 3 hours]

[ Do you want to go over the rules?]

“Are you kidding me right now? You want me to go over what rules? Right now?" Liuxian asked frustrated and got no response.

He had three hours remaining. Three hours to get a hundred and fifty badges. Looking around, Liuxian decided to be faster. Using one of the clothes he had gotten from the mages, Liuxian tied all the badges he had gotten around his body and wore his green uniform to cover it up. Heading back, Liuxian ran pretending to be chased.

“It's almost time. You must protect yourselves and make sure you don't lose your badges. Do you understand?” One of the students sitting by a fire said when suddenly, Liuxian ran over.

“The Unholy Bird. It's coming." Liuxian said pointing behind him.