The final exams concluded, marking the end of the semester and the beginning of a relatively long summer break for the students.
Mithra, who had been in a state of seemingly imminent demise, had completed her exams, and subsequently, Hammer-bro's enhancement was finished.
The enhanced, fragmented hammer didn't undergo drastic changes like the first enhancement, only feeling slightly heavier. The shattered edges remained, but from the crevices, White Star clusters began to emerge.
Depending on the different Miracles imbued onto the hammer, these White Star clusters shifted to different colors—a rather interesting effect.
She carefully caressed her upgraded Hammer-bro, reluctant to let go.
Then, she received the priest's robe from Matsuri, adorned with the designs she requested.
Black and white intertwined; wild beasts chased a giant eye, its pupil a deep green Cross Star. Similar to a cross, an upside-down distorted corpse hung above it, arms crossed over its chest, eyes vacant, engulfed in flames.
Fanged tentacles seemed to writhe at the garment's edges, with crawling reptiles clinging to them.
"Impressive," Mithra complimented.
"I'm exhausted. Wear it; you're not allowed to change for the next month," Matsuri stated.
Mithra complied and changed clothes in Matsuri's restroom.
The outfit retained its regenerative properties, with additional unexpected effects.
[While wearing this outfit, your demeanor and words will be more persuasive; you can even absorb power from others' thoughts. However, as you absorb more power, the outfit will become heavier.]
The side effects were straightforward, but she didn't know what state it would reach.
"Wow, it looks like the attire of a serious, villainous priest."
"I'm quite righteous."
"You're not disputing the 'villain priest' part?"
"It does seem fitting."
"Ahahaha!" Matsuri laughed.
"Speaking of which, doesn't this outfit feel a little heavy?" Mithra commented after moving around.
"Heavy?" Matsuri was startled, her expression turning strange. "Although the amount of material is more than the previous two outfits, it shouldn't be that heavy."
Mithra also paused, then immediately recalled the outfit's description.
Was the effect already taking hold?
But she hadn't even tried using the outfit to deceive anyone yet.
Matsuri described the outfit's effect, then curiously looked at Mithra. "It seems your recent actions have gained considerable favor; the effect triggered immediately, indicating that people's thoughts of you are extremely strong. Do you have any clues?"
Mithra briefly spaced out.
Then replied, "I don't know."
Matsuri and Mithra stared at each other for a moment.
She sensed a significant amount of accumulated thoughts, but Mithra might have overlooked them or dismissed them.
As the creator, she had a certain expectation of the garment's enchantment.
Although it would increase with accumulated thoughts, based on the standard of ordinary people's thoughts, it would take several hundred people to cause a noticeable increase in weight, and the enchantment would still be limited.
Of course, thoughts from believers would be more potent, but still limited.
For Mithra's physique to feel significant weight, the source of these thoughts must be exceptionally large in number or intensely fervent.
What was previously considered a negligible side effect for Mithra now seemed to exceed expectations.
Unfortunately, she couldn't control the side effects; they naturally arose after the enchantment.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have added extra side effects just to tease Mithra.
…Although teasing the stoic beauty was amusing, Matsuri wouldn't be that cruel.
"Thank you anyway," Mithra said, not dwelling on it. While the added weight was noticeable, the effect wasn't severe; she could adapt.
"If it becomes too uncomfortable, don't force it; I can try to modify it," Matsuri offered responsibly.
"No need; I like it," Mithra replied.
"Then I'm happy," Matsuri displayed her usual polite, refined smile.
After saying goodbye, Mithra booked her flight for the afternoon; she needed to leave quickly.
Although summer break was approaching, Mithra and the "Monkey and Crab" had planned a trip, but not immediately.
Summer break was long; they all had other things to do.
Nie Hong wanted to spend time with his grandmother.
Liyu, having resolved her inner conflicts, planned to visit her parents. She hadn't returned home for the winter or holidays due to previous burdens and had limited contact with her family, causing her parents considerable worry.
Leo Duncan had a family gathering planned after the semester, followed by a session of being tormented by his older sister—a busy man. Whether they could get together remained uncertain; it was quite possible their plans wouldn't materialize.
Therefore, Mithra set off alone.
She had initially considered a quiet, secluded vacation spot, but the matter of ice Miracles piqued her interest, so she sought official guidance.
She conveniently made inquiries after receiving her rewards and accolades.
The authorities quickly provided Mithra with relevant information.
Mithra didn't want to travel too far, opting for a location within the Hong Ya region.
Hope City, a large city situated on a high plateau near a perpetually snow-capped mountain range, was considered an ideal place to experience ice Miracles.
The type of Miracle sense was strongly correlated with one's environment. This environment clearly had a higher concentration of people with ice senses.
Therefore, Hope University offered a renowned ice Miracle program within the Hong Ya region, with a significant proportion of local students, but also many believers with ice senses gathered there.
Mithra decided to stay there for a while.
By the time her plane arrived, it was dusk.
Although it was summer, the plateau wasn't particularly hot.
This was good news for Mithra; her current priest's robe was anything but thin; it was quite thick.
In Ember City, wearing the thick suit had been uncomfortable, though Mithra hadn't shown it. This was a small act of self-preservation.
Upon arrival, Mithra presented her letter of recommendation and went to the university office.
Along the way, her wildly patterned religious attire attracted considerable attention.
She was even questioned by the gatekeeper, but after presenting her letter and making a few calls, she was quickly admitted.
Hope University didn't appear to be on its scheduled break. Built on a mountain, the campus was some distance from the city, and the atmosphere was lively.
The person assigned to receive Mithra was a seemingly young professor with sharp features and a stern expression.
"Ms. Mithra, welcome. I'm Zheng Zhan, your liaison at Hope University. We're aware of your intentions. While your timing is somewhat unusual, given that it's just before the holidays, I won't be leaving campus, so I'll act as your instructor for ice Miracles." Zheng Zhan spoke rapidly, but his clear enunciation ensured easy understanding.
"Good, thank you."
"You're welcome. It's convenient for me; I need to tutor some students about to graduate." he added casually.
...
"Today, we'll review some foundational knowledge. First, let me state that your classmates have essentially completed their graduation requirements, but you're still here to make up for some fundamental knowledge gaps. If it weren't to ensure a high graduation rate and that I happened to have the time, you wouldn't have this opportunity."
In a large lecture hall, several students sat in the front rows, respectfully observing the instructor.
Mithra sat in a high-backed seat in the last row and corner.
Zheng Zhan had suggested she not sit so far back, but Mithra preferred to maintain some distance; sitting too close to the students felt unnatural.
Mithra had initially thought that tutoring graduating students would be a relatively simple task.
However, she hadn't expected the focus to be on foundational knowledge. Even for graduating students, the foundational curriculum seemed excessively demanding.
Zheng Zhan, however, explained that this was quite common.
Foundational Miracle studies were easily neglected. Students, immersed in Unified Sense training, seldom encountered truly perilous situations, leading to a lack of proper fear and unrealistic illusions.
Ignoring aspects Mithra didn't find particularly interesting, she decided to make the most of this convenient opportunity.
"…Ice senses are relatively rare, and their symbols are far less numerous than those of mainstream Miracles. Our program only requires you to master the most basic freezing and shaping symbols. I know some of you possess exceptional talents, but you're aiming too high. Let me reiterate: learning Miracles isn't about looking cool; they are your passport to Dreamland and the means to acquire everything you desire there. But this weapon can also injure you."
At one point during the lecture, Zheng Zhan addressed the students earnestly.
The lesson was largely a monologue, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere. The few students in the classroom, primarily those in the front row, seemed tense.
Mithra glanced at the notes she'd taken during the afternoon session.
Ice Miracles were far more profound than she'd imagined.
Miracles possessed a certain elusive quality; the ability to disseminate symbolic power was crucial.
Exploring different Miracle symbols was a major focus of Miracle research.
Stone, for example, possessed the broadest range of symbols, followed by fire.
Ice, however, had far fewer.
The main focus of the curriculum covered only freezing and shaping.
Shaping, as a symbol, also existed in stone, albeit with subtle differences, which Mithra could somewhat infer.
Freezing was a fundamental symbol, the root of many derived symbols.
Zheng Zhan's teaching materials also briefly mentioned a few advanced symbols:
Stillness and Death.
Two incredibly powerful symbols. This explained Zheng Zhan's earlier comment about some students not lacking in ability but in ambition. These two symbols were beyond the grasp of novice students; they couldn't properly comprehend them.
However, they could certainly appeal to some young minds.
But Miracles came with a price.
Miraculous effects were often bidirectional; however, ordinary Miracles rarely immediately demanded repayment, otherwise, their power wouldn't have spread so widely.
The more powerful the symbol, the more terrifying the consequences.
For example, those who stubbornly pursued Stillness and Death and failed to master them would consider themselves fortunate. The real fear was that gifted individuals would master them without controlling the effects, then either become perpetually still or die.
Mithra avoided those two symbols; she was a novice, after all.
While she had already encountered many dangerous situations, she needed to be clear about her objectives.
She only wanted to understand the fundamentals; the rest could be left to "Frozen Distortion."
She had already tested this gift.
It was incredibly refreshing.
She'd experienced firsthand turning into an ice rod.
Most notably, during the running process, the low temperature caused her body to stiffen; the zombie-like, brain-dead gait was far from impressive.
However, the enchantment was incredibly powerful. She couldn't quite grasp the miraculous aspects yet; at least, while running, prolonged enhancement to a certain degree might even allow her to clash with The Stranger.
Furthermore, Frozen Distortion activated during running, not a specific Miracle, meaning theoretically, The Stranger could use it too.
Excellent; the boss in her head was growing stronger.
Zheng Zhan taught swiftly. He scheduled time for students to use Stabilize and Focus to ensure efficient learning, a method Mithra found effective.
The afternoon session proved highly fruitful for Mithra.
The class ended at dusk.
Zheng Zhan gathered his belongings and dismissed the class, then approached Mithra in the back row. "Do you have any questions that require further explanation?"
Mithra pondered and asked several questions on the spot.
Zheng Zhan nodded and explained them meticulously.
Finally, as it was dinner time, Mithra didn't detain him further. They had exchanged contact information earlier for easy communication; she could ask questions directly later.
After Zheng Zhan left, Mithra had planned to depart as well, but noticed several students hadn't left; they were quietly observing her.
Mithra gathered her belongings, preparing to leave, but was stopped by them as she passed the front row.
"You're Mithra, right?!" one student called out.
Mithra paused and glanced at them. "What is it?"
Although Mithra wore the "persuasive" outfit approved by Anderet, perhaps the amulet and eclectic designs, combined with Mithra's inherent aura, created a more intimidating presence.
The students were visibly startled.
"No, no, it's just…you're famous online. They say you're a violent thug," the student who had stopped her explained.
Mithra looked at her outfit.
"Persuasive," indeed?
Wasn't she supposed to be a persuasive priest now?
After a brief moment, unwilling to waste time, Mithra turned to leave.
"Wait, you've killed many people, right? I want to learn the Death Ice Miracle! But I can't grasp it!"
"Go to Dreamland and kill yourself."
Mithra didn't turn around, but her words, delivered calmly, left the student speechless.
A moment later, laughter erupted in the classroom.
"Ha ha ha, Yang, you're still clinging to hope. You won't graduate at this rate," a classmate chuckled.
Yang frowned. "You guys worry about yourselves. If I fail, will I still be sitting here with you?"
"At least we still have a chance, but if you continue like this, you might really fail. The professor hinted at that; don't aim too high."
Yang didn't respond, silently gathered his belongings, and quickly left.
…
Mithra received several ice Miracle study videos from Zheng Zhan via message; she could use these to prepare for the upcoming Miracle proficiency portion of their make-up classes.
He also reminded Mithra to collect some ice sense mediation materials from the university office.
He seemed cold and had a sharp tongue with students, but he was actually quite thoughtful.
...
The make-up classes lasted a week. Some students completed their previous coursework and took their final exams, while others joined to catch up on specific lessons.
The learning process was straightforward.
The Miracle proficiency portion of the curriculum finally arrived.
Mithra ended up in the smallest class for the practical application section, a surprisingly small number—less than ten students, including Mithra.
Waiting in a dedicated practical training room, Mithra checked her phone for updates from the Monkey and Crab group chat.
Nie Hong: [I can't eat anymore! Grandma's cooking is still amazing, but terrifying! I'm gaining weight!]
Leo Duncan: [Don't worry; professional Ki practitioners can use Ki Combustion to precisely burn fat for weight loss.]
Nie Hong: [Really?]
Leo Duncan: [Fake news, you stupid monkey. More exercise, climb trees, eat fewer bananas. It'll be good for you.]
Nie Hong: [??? That crab hasn't been caught by your sister yet? Is something wrong with your brain? Did you get a parasite?]
These two were constantly bickering in the group chat.
Nie Hong had plenty of free time; Leo Duncan was undoubtedly busy, but he always replied quickly, especially when he had a chance to scold Nie Hong. He was frighteningly efficient.
Liyu: [Fire Miracles can actually burn you…]
Girl, don't force yourself to fit into the humor of these two.
Nie Hong: […Uh, how's home, senior? I saw your family reunion photos on your feed.]
Nie Hong's online EQ seemed higher than his offline EQ.
Liyu: [It's great, but I seem to be gaining weight too.] accompanied by a cute little Fire Spirit emoticon.
Leo Duncan: [Maintain your current state. Significant physical changes can sometimes disrupt Unified Sense.]
Nie Hong: [Wow! Really?]
Mithra was also surprised.
Liyu: [It's true. I'll pay attention. Oh, and I've imprinted the first Clarity mark on my left hand.]
Nie Hong: [Amazing, senior! You're progressing rapidly! I'm about to complete full-body Unified Sense unification; I want Clarity too!]
Leo Duncan immediately fell silent.
His progress had fallen behind. His self-esteem took a blow; he was missing only one final area, while Nie Hong had completed full-body Unified Sense, leaving only unification. This last step was usually automatic upon completing the final area.
Leo Duncan didn't think he could catch up with Nie Hong.
Meanwhile, Mithra also wanted to progress with her Unified Sense.
Lately, she'd been working on her Unified Sense intermittently; her head was complete, as were her eyes, nose…
Oh, she was actually the slowest.
She had been preoccupied with weapons and transformations, delaying her Unified Sense progress.
She needed to catch up quickly.
This was separate from her "level" of strength, but this "level" could still boost her strength further.
"Hey, where are you guys going after graduation?"
"Shouldn't we be looking for jobs first?"
The instructor hadn't arrived yet; the students started chatting.
"If we're not going far, how about mountain climbing?"
"That's ridiculous. Cursed entities are especially prevalent in the mountains during summer. You'll get sick."
"But there are many cleansing teams; it'll be lively. Many people go to Qī Xī mountain during summer, right? There are live streams; maybe we'll find some pretty female streamers."
"I'm not going. I went with a cleansing team a few years ago; it was awful."
Mithra's attention was piqued by their conversation.
Cursed entities?
In the narrow sense, these were byproducts of Wandering God compounds; in the broader sense, they were uncontrolled products of accumulated Miracles and other elements. Planet Blue wasn't entirely pure.
She had previously heard that Miracles were widely suppressed and sealed off here; she had thought such entities were nearly impossible to form, or at least exceedingly rare.
Upon hearing this news, she immediately searched online.
Hope City, Hope Mountain cursed entities.
Numerous results appeared.
Due to an accident over 20 years ago, manipulated by a criminal organization, Wandering God power entered Planet Blue and developed to a considerable extent in the Hope Mountain range.
Once the incident was exposed, the authorities launched a cleanup operation, eliminating the Wandering God. While there might be lingering effects in Dreamland, even with focused cultivation, it would take decades, even centuries, for Planet Blue to be threatened again.
However, the Wandering God's influence still permeated the snow-capped mountains, causing unusual changes in the ice and snow, and the occasional generation of cursed entities.
Particularly during warmer weather, these cursed entities didn't decrease; instead, their numbers significantly increased.
Although the overall number remained manageable, after several years of monitoring by the Planet Blue military and federal forces, it became clear that these cursed entities, even at their peak numbers in summer, posed no significant threat. Responsibility was then transferred to local authorities.
To this day, summer cleansing operations have become somewhat routine.
Many outsiders even specifically visit during summer, as opportunities to see cursed entities in Planet Blue are rare.
After reading this, Mithra could only marvel at Planet Blue.
While the Wandering God's omnipresence still allowed it to bypass teleportation and infiltrate Planet Blue, the changes it left behind were merely marked as sightseeing spots.
In Dreamland, Hope Mountain and even the surrounding Hope City would have long since become a ravaged wasteland of cursed entities.
These cursed entities were mainly monstrous creatures formed from ice and snow; common ones resembled four-legged beasts, while occasionally, more monstrous forms would appear.
This was information readily available in official documents; however, online forums contained numerous urban legends.
Some claimed to have witnessed humanoid figures formed from ice and snow, possessing an alluring quality from a distance, but drawing victims closer upon approach.
Such claims were numerous but largely dismissed online, as cursed entities in Planet Blue lacked the intelligence for such behavior, and the Planet Blue authorities had never confirmed such accounts.
After reviewing the relevant materials, Mithra fell into thought.
Wandering God…
A keyword triggered her memory.
Even in Planet Blue, where hope was scarce, she still felt compelled to investigate.
While online resources stated that the Wandering God was destroyed, making resurrection in Planet Blue impossible, the continuous emergence of cursed entities indicated that its power persisted, deeply ingrained in the mountains and snow, eluding Planet Blue's suppression and sealing techniques.
This was Planet Blue's paradoxical fate.
Would there be any gains?
Capturing a weakened, fragmented Wandering God and further refining it would be an excellent opportunity.
After witnessing the Xyrin Wandering God, Mithra knew she would inevitably encounter more powerful remnants, perhaps even a fully potent Wandering God.
She didn't feel particularly pressured, but caution was still necessary. Her employers were watching, and it was best not to act recklessly.
She needed to be prepared.
As she pondered, Zheng Zhan arrived.
The students immediately quieted down.
"The ice Miracle proficiency test only assesses two Miracles. While there are minor variations in the application, they are fundamental. Honestly, seeing you all in this make-up class makes me want to call you 'useless'." Zheng Zhan's tone was calm.
But the students wanted to point out that he already had.
"I could even infer that you mostly slacked off during your Dreamland internship, but I won't dwell on that. Let's get to the point. I'll teach you as if you were first-year university students."
With that, Zheng Zhan demonstrated the two fundamental ice Miracles.
["Low Temperature": A basic ice Miracle. A Miracle that lowers temperature; focused use can create icy fog and blizzards, the foundational prototype and core of all ice Miracles.]
[——"He is low temperature; I am icy cold."]
["Ice Creation": A basic ice Miracle. After rapidly lowering the temperature in a small area, creates ice crystals. Through adjustments, you can control the shape, structure, and hardness of the ice crystals to a certain extent.]
Most students could perform the basic application relatively quickly, but the quality of the minor variations was inconsistent.
"Low Temperature" required continuous adjustments to temperature and coverage area.
"Ice Creation" involved the number, shape, and even manipulation of ice crystals.
Ice manipulation, in particular, required students to hold and manipulate ice crystals within a single movement, varying their size from long to short and vice versa.
Errors in this process could injure the hands.
At least one student injured their hand from the cold while manipulating the ice crystals—truly moving.
Mithra finally understood why Zheng Zhan wanted to scold them.
No, wait, Zheng Zhan didn't actually scold them; he just wanted to.
...
All the students completed the exercises.
Zheng Zhan, seemingly unsurprised by the results, remained composed.
"Everyone passed the initial attempt. I won't assess this round. Treat any hand injuries with the first-aid kit; then continue. Yang, avoid using ice Miracles for now." He glanced at the students, then specifically addressed the student who had spoken to Mithra earlier.
Yang opened his mouth to say something, but Zheng Zhan had already approached Mithra.
He was the student who had suffered frostbite.
Zheng Zhan stood before Mithra. "While we have some time, Ms. Mithra, why don't you try using an ice Miracle; I'll provide guidance."
Intrigued, the resting students cast their gazes upon them.
Mithra touched the amulet around her neck; it contained a clear white ice crystal set in a silver small cross.
This was an ice sense mediator from Hope University. Since there was a simple mediator workshop on campus, she'd had the mediator crafted into this amulet.
It complemented her outfit well.
Gently touching the crystal, Mithra quickly sensed the ice power, then channeled it into her hands, using different symbols and forms.
Icy mist appeared on one hand, and ice crystals formed on the other.
She had effortlessly performed Low Temperature and Ice Creation simultaneously.
Zheng Zhan looked slightly surprised. "Did you learn this directly from the materials I provided?"
"More or less," Mithra replied.
Indeed, she had learned from Zheng Zhan's instructional videos. While the basics weren't difficult, simultaneously unleashing different Miracles with both hands at her level of proficiency, as a novice of less than a week, was quite impressive.
In reality, Mithra had several questions, so she went for a run.
She attempted it under the effect of Frozen Distortion; she succeeded on the first try. After several more runs, despite nearly freezing herself to pieces in the summer heat, her progress surged.
"Impressive. Your Miracle proficiency has surpassed the introductory level. Yesterday's theoretical exam results were also outstanding. It's hard to believe you're an outsider with no prior experience in foundational ice Miracles." Zheng Zhan said, his brow furrowed.
Despite his words of praise, Mithra didn't detect much emotional fluctuation on his face.
"Thank you for your guidance, Professor." Mithra replied.
"It was merely providing basic resources; the university and higher authorities handled the rest. So, Ms. Mithra, have you essentially achieved your goal for this trip?" Zheng Zhan inquired.
"More or less. But I plan to delve deeper, so I'll be bothering you for a short while longer."
Zheng Zhan nodded. "No problem. You have the right to stay at our university for an extended period. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Oh, and if you're interested in Hope City, feel free to explore it as a vacation."
"I intend to."
The stoic conversation between the two seemed bizarre to the students, who began to whisper.
However, they immediately fell silent after Zheng Zhan turned his attention back to them. His subsequent instructions were uncompromising.
Zheng Zhan effortlessly knocked all the students to the ground in a simulated sparring session, neither party using Reinforce Body; only Ice Creation was permitted.
The students might not have been able to stop themselves, but Zheng Zhan could stop them while simultaneously controlling his own movements.
Zheng Zhan was completely unfazed, not even breaking a sweat.
Only after knocking down the last student and providing detailed instruction did he finally rest.
At this point, Yang, who had been observing, stepped forward. "Professor, I think I can do it. Let me participate in the training."
Zheng Zhan picked up his water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip. "No."
"Professor, I really can! You said my ice Miracle application was excellent!"
"Your application was excellent; your control was poor. These graduating students couldn't even hold the most basic ice crystals of Ice Creation. I told you to stabilize your mind during the morning session, but you ignored me."
"I can win using Low Temperature and more powerful ice Miracles, without Ice Creation. My internship report is accurate," Yang argued.
"Your shaping ability isn't limited to ice." Zheng Zhan said offhandedly.
Yang froze.
"I'll spar with you." Mithra approached from the side.
Yang looked at Mithra in surprise. Zheng Zhan glanced at Mithra, said nothing, and simply nodded in greeting.
Mithra and Yang silently faced each other in the courtyard. The other students, despite their injuries, eagerly gathered to watch.
"Don't restrict yourself to Ice Creation; use your preferred fighting style," Mithra said.
Yang looked at Zheng Zhan for permission.
Zheng Zhan remained silent, seemingly giving his consent.
"Be careful," Yang said seriously.
Mithra didn't respond. Yang raised his hand, simultaneously outlining the symbol of "Whirling Snow and Ice" on his palm and in front of his mouth—the ice Miracle Faith Totem.
Then, Yang extended his hand in front of his mouth and blew towards it.
WHOOSH—
["Freezing Mist": An ice Miracle. An extension of Low Temperature, diffusing extremely cold ice crystals to freeze anything within its range.]
The seemingly simple action unleashed a wave of frost towards Mithra.
Suddenly, a cold ray pierced through the mist, narrowly missing Yang's face, slicing his cheek.
His eyes widened; he couldn't react in time, only managing to grasp a sharp ice crystal, likely a product of Ice Creation.
Then, a figure burst through the icy mist and stood before him.
Yang instinctively reached out, only to have his hand seized by the other party.
The moment Yang was grabbed, an icy chill shot through his wrist—a coldness more intense than the frostbite he'd experienced from his own ice Miracles.
In a flash, he was thrown over the professor's shoulder and slammed to the ground, a short sword of ice lightly grazing his throat.
The mist dissipated, and Mithra stood there, one hand resting on the amulet, seemingly having done nothing.
Yet, Yang sat defeated on the ground.
Most students had been impressed by Yang's "Freezing Mist" technique; he'd skillfully used both his hand and mouth to unleash the Miracle, achieving a powerful effect.
This Freezing Mist would undoubtedly stand out among graduates; none of them knew how to counter it at their current skill level; they could only be quickly enveloped and frozen.
Yet, the overconfident Yang was easily thrown to the ground, utterly bewildered.
He had used the Miracle effectively, hadn't he?
Why did it feel like he had merely created an icy fog?
Mithra brushed the frost from her robe, ignoring Yang, and approached Zheng Zhan. "Regarding the continuous use of Ice Creation…"
She immediately sought further instruction.
Zheng Zhan nodded and began guiding Mithra.
Yang sat there, stunned, only belatedly realizing that his primary emotion wasn't shame; he wasn't afraid of losing face. Otherwise, he wouldn't have persisted in sparring with Professor Zheng Zhan and expressed his desire for guidance.
His primary emotion was shock.
This was the Hou City murderer?
He couldn't help but recall the chilling coldness—far exceeding that of a frozen corpse—he felt when Mithra had seized him.
This Mithra must have a profound understanding of "Death"!
...
The class ended like that.
Many students felt unsatisfied; they hadn't seen Mithra's full fighting style, obscured by Yang's Freezing Mist.
Some had secretly filmed, but nothing significant was captured.
This was the "Murderer of the Lost Ship"!
A strange moniker, but even after the truth about Hou City was revealed, some knowledgeable individuals still used it for Mithra.
It was both amusing and typical of Planet Blue citizens.
Regarding Mithra's assault and her fight through the Hou City Chrysalis religious organization, though the matter was settled, bored netizens still occasionally discussed it.
For instance, what was Mithra's actual strength?
Some argued it was entirely due to special weapons.
Others claimed that careful observation of videos revealed extraordinary physical prowess, indicating immeasurable strength.
The debates raged on, unbeknownst to Mithra, who had become a focus of the online "Power Level Party."
Planet Blue's online "Power Level Party" didn't discuss fictional characters; they focused on real people in Planet Blue and Dreamland.
Because they were real people, some even claimed that if they had complete information about Mithra, the conflict could have ended peacefully, avoiding such a huge uproar.
These matters aside, many were deeply curious about Mithra's abilities.
These Hope University students had hoped for a chance to witness more, but they only saw a glimpse of the iceberg.
While the swift defeat was impactful, their opponent was merely a graduating student; it didn't seem like much to boast about.
The student who had filmed quickly uploaded the video to the Dreamland student forum.
Initially, it only gained attention within the Hope University section, but it quickly spread.
Mithra and Zheng Zhan left the classroom together, walking side-by-side.
"Thank you for stepping in. Yang was a bit overzealous. I'm not good at handling well-intentioned but misguided students. I can't punish him, nor can I simply advise him." Zheng Zhan rarely showed such weariness in front of Mithra.
Over the past week, they had frequently discussed Miracle studies after class, developing a close relationship.
Zheng Zhan was older than he looked; while appearing to be under thirty, he was actually nearing forty.
This didn't diminish his achievements in education and ice Miracle research; he'd published numerous papers on ice Miracles in the Miracle journal.
He was, in fact, a professor.
However, compared to his research, he focused more on teaching, actively interacting with students. Although he was cold and strict, his students held him in high regard.
Yang, however, was a particularly troublesome student.
"Did you fight before?" Mithra's attention was often drawn to unusual aspects.
"I've fought him, many times. Initially, he often sought my guidance, and I readily obliged. But later, I discovered his ambitions and tried to dissuade him. The rebellious child wouldn't listen, so when he became troublesome, I'd discipline him by sparring. He probably senses this, yet he persists," Zheng Zhan said flatly, staring ahead.
The image of such a serious man casually beating disobedient students was rather peculiar.
Mithra fell into thought.
"He's obsessed with death ice Miracles; it's beyond typical teenage rebellion; it's a deeper obsession," she quickly recovered.
"He's a mountain child; his heart is simple. His village was wiped out by an avalanche when he was young; few survived. That avalanche might have been caused by cursed entities in the mountains, hence his resentment."
Pausing, Zheng Zhan continued, "Although they've become less frequent in recent years, such incidents used to occur on the snowy mountains. The victims didn't die, but their bodies froze completely, resembling cryosleep technology described in pre-Miracle era science fiction. They're called 'Frozen Syndrome'."
Mithra understood. "His villagers?"
Zheng Zhan nodded. "Many of them were. These individuals have been unofficially admitted to various hospitals in Hope City. The reason is currently unknown; research is ongoing…It's likely related to the 'Snow Flower Demon'; ironically, perhaps it's revenge."
The Snow Flower Demon was the name given to the Wandering God that invaded the Hope Mountain range twenty years ago. Its exact origin was unknown; Planet Blue citizens rarely had the opportunity to name a Wandering God themselves.
And even if they did, they wouldn't want to.
Hence, this more locally flavored name for the Hong Ya region remained.
"Learning the death ice Miracle could save his villagers?"
"There are people in Planet Blue who die from ice Miracles, even many in Hope City; it's not that simple," Zheng Zhan shook his head.
He continued, "That boy is clinging to hope. I participated in the 'Frozen Syndrome' research; it seems related to death, but it's more closely linked to the symbol of stillness."
"Yang is obsessed with death, particularly driven by a desire to avenge his village by truly killing the cursed entities. He participates in the cursed entity cleanup every summer; the authorities have a good impression of him. He'd have easily secured a good job after graduation, but now…I fear he'll disappear in Dreamland right after graduation."
Dreamland had numerous locations where the symbol of death resided, but it wasn't a peaceful place for learning.
"He probably doesn't want to die," Mithra added.
Zheng Zhan rubbed his temples. "Sorry for venting to you. Let me treat you to dinner."
"I brought it up first, but I appreciate the offer."
Although accustomed to the food at Shuǐxiù University, the food at Hope University was somewhat different.
However, Shuǐxiú University's cafeteria was just average; Leo Duncan often treated them to better food.
After dinner, they parted ways.
Mithra was temporarily assigned an empty professor's dormitory; Zheng Zhan also stayed on campus, but their dormitories were quite far apart.
…
The next day.
Mithra had completed her primary objective in Hope City; she didn't need to attend any further classes.
She could freely schedule her time.
Instead of sightseeing, she prepared to head towards Hope Mountain.
However, as she left her dormitory, she encountered Yang, who seemed to be watching her.
In a brief moment, Mithra averted her gaze and continued walking.
"Don't ignore me!" Yang hastily followed.
He had expected Mithra to be curious and ask him, "What are you doing?", but she completely ignored him.
"Sorry, I didn't see you."
"You were clearly facing me! You can't possibly not have seen me in that strange outfit!" Yang retorted angrily.
This kid was as foul-mouthed as Nie Hong.
"I'm busy," Mithra said, not slowing down.
"I can wait for you!"
"Don't wait. Go back to class."
"I don't need to make up for today's classes; I'm waiting for the exam in two days," Yang said.
"I don't use death Miracles," Mithra glanced at him, responding directly.
"How do you know…Nevermind. Even if you don't know, I want to ask what you did during yesterday's sparring? How did you do that?"
"A type of ice Miracle application."
"…Too vague."
"Believe it or not, don't bother me. If you continue, I'll throw you again," Mithra said coldly.
Yang said, "I can guide you. Are you going to Hope Mountain? My grandfather lives on the mountain; I know the area well and can tell you many secrets!"
Mithra looked at him. "How do you know?"
"You showed no interest in anything during class, except when others talked about the mountain yesterday; you looked away," Yang said. "Uh, I'm not a pervert."
"You didn't need to add that last part," Mithra narrowed her eyes.
Yang sneered, but the moment his smile faded, he was abruptly seized and thrown to the ground.
"Ouch…" This time, the fall on the concrete was more painful, and Mithra clearly used more force than yesterday.
"I told you I'd throw you if you continued to bother me. I can consider guiding you, but let me reiterate: I won't teach you death-related Miracles. I still believe the best way for you to understand it is to commit suicide in Dreamland while your life lock is abundant."
[Event— "Witnessing Death"]
[Gift from "Tomi": You will fully comprehend the symbol and power of death. Price: one death. Your life form will change upon resurrection.]
[Accept or Decline?]
Why are you, random boss, watching? I was just thinking about it casually.
Decline.
Mithra had no interest in the power of death, although she was curious about the specific life form changes—would she become a zombie, a spirit, or some other undead creature?
"Anyway…I'm not interested in chatting. The summer cleanup is starting; I was going to the mountain today. If you want to go too, let's go together. Consider it repayment for yesterday's sparring," Yang said, dropping the argument; he seemed to realize that further pestering Mithra was unwise.
However…
This kid was going to the mountain today and then conveniently searching for Mithra, hoping to get something for nothing?
Mithra chuckled at Yang's misguided attempt.
THUMP—
"Ah!"
He was grabbed from the ground and thrown down again.
This kid wasn't purely driven by revenge; he was quite sly.