Divine Path System

In the depths of the prime world was a subspace. If the whole of prime world could be thought of as a special building floating in space, then the subspace was a special room in it.

Like every other place in the prime world, this subspace was also much more resilient and majestic compared to the normal planetary environment. Unless a divine ranker came here in person, no one could destroy this subspace.

And that precious subspace now housed a simple but beautiful garden, an administrative building of the highest order and a few offices for select professors.

The aura here was so thick that it liquefied into glittering, transparent pools in a few places. And it condensed over the leaves and dripped down their tips.

The insects, small animals and birds that were born here would grow drinking these aura droplets. Even if they're just a normal species, they'd evolve due to the excellent conditions.

But the birds and pet creatures living, selected carefully by the academy were far from ordinary. These were creatures that even wealthy duchies would find expensive.

Now such creatures were grilled on a skewer and the fragrance of spices mixed with meat wafted across the subspace.

An old man with a childish face checked the condition of the meat and nodded to himself in satisfaction.

"You want one?" He offered to the people seated on the wooden logs around the special fire of life.

"No, thank you." An exceedingly beautiful woman in formal clothes crossed her arms and rejected.

"What's the meeting for, Dean?" An elegant voice came from another woman. She wore a ceremonial dress loved by noble ladies and looked out of place in an educational institution.

But she didn't seem to mind her dress. Perhaps it was more important than fitting in and following the etiquette.

"How about you?" The old man turned to the last woman in academy's professor uniform, black top and long formal skirt.

"D-Dean, why am I called to this meeting? I'm sure there's nothing I can contribute." A nervous chuckle escaped her lips and the female professor said with a stiff smile.

She glanced at the woman in the ceremonial dress for a moment, a mix of emotions in her eyes before her gaze shifted to the woman in formal dress.

Even though she remained still, the professor felt a heavy pressure on her shoulders, to the point she could barely breathe. It's like she ran without stop for hours and now there's no air left in her lungs.

"Professor Zara, your invitation to this meeting was abrupt. But so was the news. I don't like taking too many meetings. So, you're joining this one."

Dean Ankh said with a carefree smile.

"Ah, ahaha." Zara could only return with an awkward smile. "I'm sorry if there's any mistake from my side. What happened that it warranted for the dean himself to call me?"

"Didn't you hear? A boy in your grade awakened his natal treasure." The noble woman spoke in an elegant voice, but her tone was filled with hidden contempt, as if mocking her ignorance.

"Huh? That's incredible, but still—"

"It's Telor Xon Navak." The noble woman said.

"Oh? He's still alive?" Zara immediately regretted saying that.

A displeased expression filled Dean Ankh's childish face and a powerful aura pressed on Zara, freezing every inch of her being.

It didn't mater that she was a rank 8. The Dean could wipe her out with a snap.

"Are those words a professor should say? Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Professor Zara Woz?" Ankh's voice was cold.

"I-I apologize…" Zara lowered her head but caught the glimpse of a smirk on the noble woman's lips. Gritting her teeth, she muttered. "But that boy is useless! He's been here for so many decades and can't graduate! He's eating away academy's reso—"

"Enough!"

Zara's voice was cut off abruptly and she lost control of her body. Her consciousness still remained but a mysterious, irrestible power locked her out. She became a prisoner in her own body.

"I stand at the peak of the kingdom today. But I don't forget my beginnings."

His words attracted the attention of the noble woman as well as the woman in formal clothes.

Dean Ankh's cold eyes slowly showed nostalgia.

"I sold everything I had, took a bet and entered a crappy school. My talent was average. I made little progress after reaching rank 2. After trying for six full decades to break the rank, I was about to give up and go home.

A teacher asked me to keep trying. He saw in me something I didn't see myself. And months later, I awakened my natal treasure."

A glowing green 'Ankh' — a cross with a loop for top appeared above his head.

The vegetation and animal life in the entire subspace shook for a moment before they began to grow wildly.

"My life changed after this." The Dean closed his eyes. "I never looked back. In a few thousand years, here I am. One of the three pillars of the kingdom.

But if not for that teacher persuading me that fateful evening, I'd have never gotten this far. I'd have never foudned this academy."

A sigh of amazement left the lips of the two women.

Dean Ankh's life was a stuff of legends. Not because he was stronger than the other two pillars of the kingdom. No, he was definitely weaker compared to the king or the martial saint.

But unlike them who were born with everything, this man not only came up from nothing, he also built this academy and dedicated himself to nurture more talent.

"Five hundred years ago, after that woman went missing, you fell from the peak of rank 8. You're still trying to recover.

This academy has provided you with resources and tried to help you. If that boy who didn't give up for decades is wasting resources, so are you.

If he's useles in your opinion, you are useless in my opinion."