Lian Qiguang had completely become famous in the academy this time.
Before, it was because he was known as a waste. Now, it was because he was a genius.
Empty Stage!
What kind of height was that? It was a realm countless people spent their entire lives unable to reach, only able to dream of.
And Lian Qiguang—how old was he? Sixteen!
That level of defiance of heaven was comparable to the youngest genius today, Xiahou Shaoxuan.
Could it be that Lian Qiguang, this “waste” they once looked down upon, would become the second Xiahou Shaoxuan?
Of course, some people doubted it, but soon another rumor began spreading throughout the academy.
Lian Qiguang had pretended to be a waste to survive, enduring humiliation and living cautiously.
And so, Lian Qiguang became popular—truly, completely popular.
From a despised waste to someone everyone wanted to curry favor with.
As for Qi Ying, no one paid attention to her anymore. After all, compared to someone completely ruined, and someone worth fawning over, people would naturally choose the latter.
At the same time, wood-type ability users finally gained a foothold in the academy and secured their status.
Although not high, it was no longer the label of “waste” and they no longer suffered contempt.
Of course, some were happy while others were troubled—such as Ji Renlin.
“How could this be!!”
Ji Renlin violently swept everything off the table. Broken test tubes and nutritional fluid spilled everywhere, turning the room into utter chaos—there was hardly a clean spot left.
Zhang Qi stood nearby, trembling, not daring to speak.
“That waste… that waste actually—”
Ji Renlin slammed both hands onto the table, his clenched fists turning a frightening grayish-blue at the knuckles. His nails dug into his palms, drawing warm blood.
“You!” Ji Renlin turned around, his expression twisted as he stared at Zhang Qi. “Didn’t you trick him into Zone Five? Didn’t you say he was already dead? Why is he still alive?!”
“Y-Young Master Ji…” Zhang Qi shrank back, trembling violently. “If… if he really is an Empty Stage ability user, then let alone Zone Five—even Zone Six wouldn’t be able to kill him!”
“You—”
“Young Master Ji!” Seeing Ji Renlin’s expression grow more and more terrifying, Zhang Qi hurriedly stepped back, his voice shaking. “Even if he’s Empty Stage, so what? He still wouldn’t dare touch you. After all… he likes you so much.”
“Hm?” Ji Renlin narrowed his eyes. The coldness on his face eased slightly.
Seeing this, Zhang Qi swallowed and continued.
“Young Master Ji, back then Lian Qiguang loved you so much he had no dignity at all. No matter how you treated him, he still clung to you. Even when you nearly killed him, now that he’s back, hasn’t he still done nothing to you?”
“……”
Ji Renlin’s expression gradually relaxed as he considered this.
“Young Master Ji, Lian Qiguang is an Empty Stage expert. If he wanted to kill you…”
Before Zhang Qi could finish, Ji Renlin’s expression darkened again. Zhang Qi immediately froze, then quickly forced a smile.
“I mean… Young Master Ji, he still loves you. Otherwise why would he return here? With his ability, going to Area One would’ve been effortless.”
“That does make sense.” Ji Renlin nodded, a clear hint of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.
“Even if Lian Qiguang is powerful, he’s still just a commoner. You are a noble. As long as you coax him a bit, he’ll come back to you. After all… he loves you so much.”
“Yes.” Ji Renlin smiled faintly, returning to his usual gentle appearance. “Lian Qiguang being a genius means nothing. In the end, he’s just a commoner. I, on the other hand, am a noble. For me to take an interest in him is already his honor.”
“Yes! Young Master Ji is right. For Lian Qiguang to cling to you is his blessing.”
“You said he lost his memory—is that true?”
“I used all my connections. It is absolutely true.”
“Good.” Ji Renlin patted Zhang Qi’s shoulder. “Zhang Qi, you really are my good brother. Don’t worry. Once I’m together with Xiao Guang, I won’t forget you.”
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. Being able to serve Young Master Ji is my honor.” Zhang Qi lowered his head, forcing a strained smile.
In Class One, Lian Qiguang sat in the corner of the classroom, expressionless, idly scrolling through his smart terminal.
He completely ignored the various overt and covert gazes around him.
On the virtual screen was the recorded history of the three thousand years since the end of the apocalypse.
His dark eyes flickered slightly.
The Little Crown Prince was dead.
Less than twenty years after his own death, he had died.
Cause of death: unknown.
According to historical records, the Little Crown Prince seemed to have foreseen his death.
Within twenty years after the apocalypse ended, he massively expanded the Wolong Base, gathered surviving humans, and spent nearly ten years planting crops, expanding the base, rebuilding civilization—leading the survivors through the hardest decade after the apocalypse.
If “Dark Light” ended the apocalypse and gave humanity rebirth, then the Little Crown Prince extended humanity’s survival and led them into a new beginning.
He was the first leader of the New Era Year 1.
Historical records stated his cause of death was unknown, and even his body was never found.
Rather than death, it would be more accurate to say he simply disappeared.
It seemed he had foreseen his own end in advance. Before disappearing, he handed all responsibilities over to trusted subordinates, then vanished completely. Many search efforts followed—but none succeeded.
“Little Crown Prince…”
Lian Qiguang frowned slightly.
And then—
His gaze suddenly sharpened.
His fingers froze mid-scroll.
The screen stopped on a magnified image.
A man with a clean, refined face stood in a black coat, hands behind his back, atop a city wall. His calm eyes looked into the distance, expressionless as he faced an endless tide of zombies stretching across the horizon.
The wind lifted his coat hem and tousled his hair, revealing a faint blood mark at his temple.
That calm, dead-serious gaze and expression carried an overwhelming sense of authority and reassurance.
As if—as long as this man was there, even facing tens of thousands of zombies, there was nothing to fear.
Because he would protect them.
This person… looked familiar.
As if he had seen him somewhere before.
Lian Qiguang tilted his head slightly, staring at the man on the screen, confusion flashing in his eyes.
“Eh? Brother Ku Mu.”
Mi Xiaobao somehow leaned over and looked at the image. “So you also admire Lord Dark Light!”
Dark Light?!
Lian Qiguang’s eyes darkened.
He looked straight at the figure on the screen, fists slowly tightening.
So that’s why it felt familiar.
This person… was him.
Back then.
His past self.
His—Dark Light.
…Ku Mu.