Chapter 540: Claw-Stretching Sword Saint

At Sword and Roses University's Flower Hall.

Like Forest Hall, Flower Hall was built to satisfy students desiring to read among blooming petals. The five-story building featured exterior walls made of refractive prisms, allowing light from both the daytime and nighttime luminaries to filter in from all directions. Mornings brought the rising sun, noons brought the brilliant sun, afternoons brought warm sunlight, and nights offered moonlight.

No bookshelves were in sight anywhere in Flower Hall. Wherever someone looked, flowers predominated. Books remained buried beneath flower beds, requiring students to locate assigned blossoms by number. Pulling out a book caused the flower to transform into a protective cover. Returning the volume turned it back into a plant. Consequently, Flower Hall required no additional Miracles to protect its literary collection.

Unlike students lounging beneath trees to enjoy a leisurely and idyllic reading experience, Sonya sat upright at a long desk. More than a dozen books lay before her, among which were Star Wanderer, Unscientific Spirits, This Dream Is Way Too Real, and Sorcerer Strange.

Books abounded, yet none qualified as actual reference material. Nearly all consisted of travelogues and personal accounts authored by sorcerers.

The Starry Kingdom never blocked information concerning the Sacred Realm and beyond, but ordinary sorcerers still struggled to obtain relevant details because Sacred Realm sorcerers never bothered to organize them.

For one thing, Sacred Realm sorcerers perceived nothing worth explaining. Multiple times, Sonya encountered statements like "You will understand what the Distant Sky Domain is once you get there" within their travelogues. When Professor Trosan discussed the three layers of the Virtual World with her, the professor, too, acted as if the topic required no discussion, behaving as though charging straight through remained the only logical course.

Even the most mediocre Sacred Realm sorcerer was a genius in the eyes of ordinary people. To them, the basic mechanics of the Distant Sky Domain were so simple that explaining them felt entirely pointless. Of course, they still suffered through the process. But being a sorcerer meant embracing hardship. Nobody signed up to wield sorcery thinking it was going to be a walk in the park.

If the Distant Sky Domain was a test, the sorcerers didn't fail because they misunderstood the questions. Everyone could see what the problems were.

That being said, simple mechanics didn't mean a practical solution guide was possible. Sacred Realm sorcerers could never compile a walkthrough, because nobody could study for a test when the questions in the Distant Sky Domain were constantly changing.

For several days, Sonya studied travelogues written by Sacred Realm sorcerers, extracting every piece of useful information she could find. She prepared for her upcoming exploration of the Virtual World while deliberately keeping a low profile to avoid public attention.

Over the past few days, countless individuals had attempted to contact her both online and in person. Offers from the Thousand Stars Merchant Association, partnership proposals from various merchant groups, and invitations from the university came flooding in.

Their interest stemmed from more than just her status as a Sacred Realm sorcerer. Her dazzling performance on the national stage during the intercollegiate league, combined with her stunning physical appearance, pushed her commercial value far beyond that of a typical Sacred Realm sorcerer.

When it came to commercial appeal, only Damian could rival her. But as the heir of Vlozrada, how could he possibly be short on money?

Besides, Sonya knew that many of these offers carried hidden motives, serving as subtle probes into how she had managed to reach the Sacred Realm in such a short time.

Had it been in the past, the country girl would have found a way to exploit those resources without risking a single hair on her head. After all, lacking the rumored exploration Miracle everyone suspected her of having, she actually had nothing to lose.

Yet now, faced with opportunities practically spoon-fed to her, things she wouldn't have dared dream of before, Sonya rejected every single one of them. Instead, she locked herself in the library, dedicating herself entirely to reading.

It wasn't that she felt intimidated or unworthy of her new standing; in fact, she was entirely confident in her ability to seize those opportunities.

The morning after the Meteor Calamity, a bottle of Advanced Career Potion had materialized on her desk. According to the Watcher's note, this potion would guarantee her peak professional performance indefinitely, subtly secure the favor of fate, avert disaster, and turn good fortune into greatness. With it, a singer's albums would instantly top the charts, and any film or drama she starred in would become a massive hit.

Precisely because that potion had appeared, Sonya resolutely turned down every invitation and proposal that came her way. She went right back to her routine of training, reading, hungrily absorbing knowledge, and honing her craft.

Whether it was because studying genuinely counted as part of her "career" or just a trick of her imagination, Sonya felt her learning capacity improve yet again. She could even discern faint traces of a Secret Poison hidden within the sorcerer's travelogues.

Just then, a voice came from nearby. "I used to think strength was everything."

Sonya lifted her head. The handsome, effeminate second son of the Vlozrada family pulled out a chair and sat down in front of her.

Felix smiled. "Now that I'm older, I realize... it really is. Congratulations, Miss Selby. Have you decided on your title yet?"

"You used to just call me Sonya," she replied with an amused shake of her head. "And as for the Kingdom's title of Saint, it's just a political label. Don't pay attention to those forum trolls; right now, I'm at best a Two-Winged Sorcerer who merely caught a brief glimpse of the Sacred Realm."

In the Starry Kingdom, receiving the Saint title meant far more than just breaking through to the Sacred Realm. It represented a royal bestowal. The imperial family commanded a prestigious Miracle that granted unique blessings tied to these titles. For instance, Professor Trosan's title, Hidden Hand Sword Saint, granted her the ability to unleash her Hidden Hand Secret Blades with virtually zero traces.

In the wake of the Meteor Calamity, the hottest threads on the Sword and Roses University forums were all about Sonya's potential Saint title. Since she was a sword master, her title's suffix was guaranteed to be Sword Saint, but the leading prefixes currently battling for top votes were Blood Maniac, Blood Moon, Red Comet, and Claw-Stretching, making the country girl sound like she was about to march straight into the palace for coronation.

"Based on what I knew of you before, I would have assumed that was false modesty hiding a boast. But your expression suggests otherwise," Felix said. "Have you changed, or has your newfound power merely changed my perception of you?

"Isn't it interesting? A mere few days can make such a difference. Classmates who once stood beside you now look at you with awe. Outsiders try to curry favor with you. Hostility disappears completely, and everyone becomes increasingly eager to please you. It feels as though the entire world has suddenly become gentle toward you."

"To be honest, I am quite surprised. I thought you would become intoxicated by the allure of power, enjoying the rewards of your hard work and reclaiming every bit of kindness the world denied you in the past. I never expected you to possess the restraint to return to ordinary life. Compared to your performance during the Meteor Calamity, I admire your composure now even more."

Felix's words reminded Sonya of what happened in the dormitory. She replied irritably, "Get to the point. You waited five days to congratulate me. Surely you did not come here just to discuss interpersonal relationships."

Felix smiled. Gazing at the flowers beside them, he suddenly asked, "Did you think I was stupid and ridiculous that day?"

"Hm?"

"You were already a Sacred Realm sorcerer back then, yet I actually tried to lure you with a shortcut to becoming one," the corners of Felix's lips lifted into a bitter smile. "I wanted to seek you out for a long time, but every time I remember that scene, I feel embarrassed."

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh," the Claw-Stretching Club President smiled. "It wasn't actually that funny. But... alright, it was quite memorable. After all, you are the noble young master of Vlozrada. That might have been my only chance to see you completely at a loss for words."

"Dumbfounded is an understatement. What I felt even more was admiration and awe," Felix said. "Sonya, you succeeded. No noble has the right to look down on you anymore. Your background is no longer a blemish. Instead, it has become an embellishment that makes you shine even brighter."

"Thank you," Sonya said. "Though... I doubt you came here just to praise me."

"That was not the only reason I came, but I have kept those words inside for a long time, and I finally found the opportunity to say them. I never expected someone my own age to become so extraordinary that I could not help but praise her. Anyway, back to the main point. While you likely will not receive a Saint title anytime soon, becoming a noble is practically guaranteed. So... do you want to become a Palace Noble or a Guard Noble?"