Bowing towards the Eternium Knight, the first-term class shivered in fright.

Most of the first term students were noble scions or valued disciples of an Ancient Sect, an identity which should have confered them amazing rights and power in the outer world. But here in the Celestial Academy they were seen as useless children, or even as lowest scum by a certain teacher, wearing a full plate suit of Eternium armor.

"Scum, all of you! You can't be bothered to learn, can't be bothered to respect the Academy rules, can't be bothered to be afraid of your own teachers? It seems I have been too lax, with your discipline!" the teacher spoke in hard words, tingles of anger seeping through and almost flaying their weaker minds.

Pef smiled inward at the outrage of his dear orange glove. As if this whole scenario wasn't predicted and included in her plans.

"Look at the new student! Barely here for a single day, and can already solve a test without a single flaw. Divine Cook, you are worthy to become the new class representative for the first term. However, this is predicated on continuous perfect grades, understood?" the teacher demanded from her raised podium.

"Perfectly, teacher. Will we have a field test today?" Pef asked in a low but inquisitive tone.

"Mhm. I suppose there is even worse scum in the Celestial City undergound. Your task today is to investigate the undergound, make personal connections and bring me evidence of any crimes you can find. Those of you that have outside connections with Houses or Sects are free to make use of them, for gathering more intelligence. See you tommorow!" the Eternium Knight proclaimed in a glorious voice, then vanished.

The students looked at each other in mild confusion, as their minds began to prepare plans on how to achieve a good grade on this test. Sure, it wasn't a combat test like hunting a dangerous beast or exploring some ruins, but the underground did have plenty of dangers of other kinds.

One by one, students began to fly away, with requests for aid already being prepared for their sponsors.

Pef tapped his student tablet with a frown, checking his test once again. Was it really worth a perfect grade?

"Divine Cook, would you be willing to form a study group with me?" a certain girl asked in a soft tone, while eying Pef with interest.

He turned around, finding one of the wild card students, those without a sponsor. She had long white hair, which stood out among the regular types Pef had seen around. "And you are?"

"I am Gia Long, Golden Realm. My forte is mind reading." the girl muttered in a shy voice.

Pef hummed softly, as he considered her offer. A mind reader would be helpful, for certain things. Plus, he had his Eternium necklace to block unwanted intrusions into his own mind.

Another girl stepped forward, this time one wearing a tree sign on her robe. "I am also interested, Divine Cook. I can also provide access to the Yin Wood Sect's information network." the newcomer said in a confident tone.

Pef raised an eyebrow at the new girl. "Sure. Just be warned that should we encounter surprises from your side, just three months of detention might seem a fun vacation." he decided with a sly smile, that made both girls shiver.

Before they could protest or claim innocence, he wrapped them both in a Transport Formation and vanished, to re-appear on top of a certain spire tower deep in the Celestial City. "Lady Gia, find us an underground contact in the building." Pef asked while measuring the Yin Wood Sect disciple, finding a few secrets she thought hidden.

"Proper introduction, then? I am core disciple Meili Feng, Yin Wood's War Branch. My best abilities are body reinforcement, healing and Plant Dao." the other girl spoke in a level tone, while bowing for a second.

"And a Silver Realm cultivator, I think." Pef completed her description.

The girl maintained a blank face, despite being surprised by his discovery, and declined to comment.

"What? Silver..." the first team member exclaimed in surprise, before catching herself.

Pef sighed and tapped his foot, raising a protective formation just before an attack spike burst from the last floor, and caved the roof. Several men dressed in black jumped out, weapons in hand. "What gang are you kids from?" their leader shouted as a challenge, before they all collapsed unconscious. The response team was barely in the second Tier, so they weren't an actual danger to anyone.

Then he leaned down and poked a random guy's forehead, then found out that reading an encrypted mind was far more difficult without the glove's aid.

Mental warfare was a very specialized discipline for normal cultivators, and Pef was no expert. Luckily, he now had the artifact necklace to deal with the defense part.

With a guilty look in her eye, Lady Gia began grabbing a ganger then another, and started reading their minds. "Someone has built them external protections, there will be substantial damage after I'm done." she said in a reluctant voice.

"That's fine. They will die anyway." Lady Meili answered in a careless tone.

Pef just nodded and collected the gangers' belongings, as to obtain physical evidence from their storage rings or their weapons. While the rings didn't contain much wealth, they did have lots of various items stolen from various victims, including a body strengthening technique comparable with the first level of Royal Honey cultivation.

After making a copy and sending a few inner Avatars to practice it, Pef took out the book and offered it to lady Meili. "How does it compare with your ability?" he asked curious.

The girl read the book rapidly with absorbed focus, then shook her head. "Not even a quarter strength from the Yin Tree Bark technique we practice in my sect. The good side is that it only requires some beast blood to practice, unlike the rare herbs we need for mine."

Pef nodded calmly and gave the technique book to the third group member. "A stronger body will be useful, Lady Gia"

Standing up, the white-haired girl received the book with both hands like it was a highly valuable gift. "Many thanks, Divine Cook. I have found a person to begin the underground investigation. But their minds..." she muttered in a soft voice, just as the gangers burst into cold blue flames and vanished, leaving behind only their undamaged and now clean black robes. Icefire had excellent control over its flames.

"It's fine, Lady Gia. We will find many more like them." Pef answered with a shrug. A lot more people will die today.

Soon enough, the party arrived at an underground market dealer, but this time disguised in black robes like proper criminals.