The three days of preparation passed with intensity that transformed the Academy atmosphere from a routine academic environment into focused military deployment.

Students consumed intelligence about Cultivation World mechanics with desperate urgency—studying Qi circulation patterns, memorizing sect hierarchy structures, analyzing combat techniques that operated according to principles fundamentally different from True Realm Arts.

Rey participated throughout the preparation period while internally his enhanced perception catalogued every detail about the transmigration process.

The briefing materials revealed sophisticated mystical framework the Church had developed for controlled dimensional transit. Unlike his random transmigrations from Earth to H’Trae and then to True Realm, this would be a precise insertion into a specific body within the target reality layer.

’They’ve been doing this for thousands of years,’ Rey calculated while reviewing technical documentation. ’Deploying Angels and Paladins to False Worlds for various strategic objectives. The assessment is just training application of established operational capability.’

Sephyr remained close throughout preparation, offering guidance that mixed genuine mentorship with obvious surveillance.

"The power suppression will feel disorienting initially," she explained while they studied together in the Academy library. "Your consciousness remains intact, but the body you inhabit will have no Ether reserves. You’ll need to rely more on tactical thinking than overwhelming force."

Rey nodded with appropriate attention while internally assessing how his concealed capabilities would interact with the suppression framework.

’The Emperor and Prince are hidden within my soul structure. If the suppression only affects physical Ether channels, they should remain accessible as emergency contingency. But I can’t really be sure of that....’

The evening before deployment, final briefings occurred in small groups organized by deployment region.

An Angel specializing in Cultivation World operations addressed Rey’s cohort with professional directness.

"Azure Heaven Realm operates under orthodox cultivation framework. Power progression follows the standard pathway—Qi Gathering, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and beyond. Your suppressed capabilities will manifest as the mid-Foundation Establishment stage—sufficient to handle most threats but not so overwhelming as to attract immediate attention from regional powers."

The Angel gestured, mystical display showing complex social dynamics.

"Sect politics dominate the region. Every significant power structure operates through hierarchical organizations competing for resources, territory, and prestige. Your cover identities have been prepared to facilitate mission objectives while avoiding immediate hostile scrutiny."

Rey’s assigned identity: itinerant cultivator from destroyed minor sect seeking refuge and opportunity to rebuild cultivation foundation. Background designed to explain his capabilities while justifying infiltration into Crimson Peak Monastery.

"Remember," the Angel emphasized, "you are being evaluated on adaptability and tactical effectiveness. Brute force solutions that trigger regional instability will result in assessment penalties. Elegant approaches that achieve objectives with minimal collateral disruption demonstrate superior capabilities."

The briefing concluded with a final equipment check—each student received a storage ring containing essential resources compatible with the Cultivation World framework. Spirit stones for currency, basic cultivation pills for emergency recovery, communication talisman for absolute emergency extraction.

"Use the extraction talisman only if death is imminent and unavoidable," the Angel warned. "Activation results in automatic assessment failure and one-year Academy enrollment extension. Reserve it for genuine life-threatening scenarios rather than mere difficulty."

Dawn arrived with oppressive weight suggesting the assembled divine authorities were focusing tremendous power on the coordinated transmigration.

Students gathered in a massive chamber where hundreds of individual isolation circles had been inscribed—each one glowing with mystical energy that would serve as a gateway to the Azure Heaven Realm.

Rey stood before his designated circle, gray eyes scanning the complex formations with enhanced perception that catalogued every mystical principle involved.

’Dimensional anchor to target reality layer. Consciousness extraction from the current body. Soul projection through layered existence barriers. Insertion into a prepared vessel within the destination framework.’

The technical sophistication was remarkable—Church authorities had refined this process to precision that eliminated most risks associated with random transmigration.

An Archangel materialized at the chamber’s center, his presence radiating power that made every student bow reflexively.

"Students of Holy Saint Academy," the Archangel’s voice carried harmonics that made reality itself resonate. "You stand before trial that will measure your worthiness to serve the Five Holy Ancients in their divine mission across all dimensional layers."

Divine light intensified throughout the chamber.

"Some of you will excel, demonstrating capabilities that justify rapid advancement through Church hierarchy. Others will struggle, revealing limitations that require additional training and refinement."

The Archangel’s gaze swept across assembled students with weight suggesting he perceived their souls directly.

"All of you will learn truths about yourselves that a comfortable Academy environment cannot reveal. Face those truths with courage and integrity worthy of entities aspiring to Angel status."

He raised both hands, mystical energy coalescing with force that made the air shimmer.

"Begin deployment sequence."

The isolation circles activated simultaneously, divine light erupting from hundreds of formations as the transmigration process initiated.

Rey felt mystical framework engage his consciousness with precision that exceeded anything he’d experienced during previous transmigrations.

A smooth extraction of awareness from physical form was followed by controlled projection through dimensional barriers.

His last conscious thought before transition completed: ’They’re watching everything. Every action will be evaluated.’

Then light consumed everything.

***

Consciousness returned gradually, filtering through sensory inputs that felt simultaneously foreign and familiar.

Cold.

The first sensation was bitter cold seeping through thin fabric that barely qualified as clothing.

Hunger. Gnawing emptiness in his stomach suggesting this body hadn’t eaten properly in days.

He also felt weak.

It was a physical frailty that contrasted sharply with the power Rey had grown accustomed to in his True Realm form.

He opened his eyes—different eyes, he noted immediately, as his enhanced perception confirmed the body he now inhabited possessed entirely different physical structure from his Eru identity.

The world resolved around him with clarity that suggested his consciousness had fully integrated with the new vessel.

He sat in a narrow alley between dilapidated buildings, surrounded by other young figures in similarly ragged condition. A dozen children and teenagers, most appearing somewhere between eight and fifteen years old by physical development.

Beggars.

The realization crystallized as Rey processed his starting position. Not an itinerant cultivator from the destroyed sect as briefing materials had suggested. Instead, the absolute bottom of cultivation world society—street urchin with no resources, no backing, no foundation for advancement.

’They changed my mission parameters,’ Rey calculated with cold precision. ’Testing whether I can achieve objectives starting from a maximally disadvantaged position.’

He examined his new body with a detached clinical assessment.

Male, approximately thirteen or fourteen years old, malnourished but possessing underlying bone structure suggesting decent potential if properly nourished. No cultivation foundation established—this body was pure mortal, completely untrained in Qi manipulation.

The other young beggars around him showed similar physical conditions—desperate street children surviving through whatever scraps they could scavenge from the prosperous city visible beyond their alley.

Memory fragments flooded his consciousness—not his own memories, but baseline knowledge the transmigration process had provided. This body’s name was Lin Feng. Orphaned at age seven when a demonic beast attack destroyed his village. Survived five years on streets through theft, begging, and careful avoidance of both sect recruiters and slave traders.

The mission parameters updated in his awareness, information provided through mystical framework Church authorities maintained:

Primary Objective: Escape beggar status and gain acceptance as Outer Disciple in Crimson Peak Monastery within one month.

Secondary Objective: Once established, identify and eliminate sources of corruption spreading through junior disciples.

Tertiary Objective: Reach Heaven’s Gate City within a three-month timeframe for extraction.

Rey’s lips—Lin Feng’s lips now—curled into a slight smile at the elegance of the test structure. Starting from absolute bottom meant every advancement required genuine capability rather than leveraging existing advantages.

’They want to see if my mysterious talents extend beyond combat prowess. Whether I can manipulate social systems, accumulate resources from nothing, and establish a power base in a completely unfamiliar framework.’

One of the other young beggars—a girl maybe eleven years old with sharp eyes that suggested intelligence beneath desperate circumstances—noticed Rey’s consciousness returning to full awareness.

"Lin Feng," she whispered urgently. "They’re coming. The older ones from the South District."

Rey’s enhanced perception, still functional despite the weak body, detected approaching presences before she finished speaking.

Five figures emerged from the alley’s far end: teenagers between sixteen and nineteen years old, their physical condition significantly better than the younger beggars.

Not well-fed by sect standards, but clearly dominating their own territory through strength and ruthless exploitation of weaker street children.

The young beggars around Rey tensed with fear that transcended mere apprehension.

These were predators, and the children recognized themselves as prey.

The lead teenager, a muscular young man with a scarred face that showed numerous street fights, surveyed the younger beggars with expression mixing contempt and calculation.

"Well, well," he stated with a voice carrying casual cruelty. "Looks like our little friends have been busy today. Time to share your earnings with those who protect this territory."

Protection was an obvious euphemism for extortion. The older beggars controlled multiple alleys, extracting tribute from younger children while offering nothing except not personally beating them.

Rey’s consciousness analyzed the situation with detached precision while maintaining the frightened exterior expected from street urchin.

’Social hierarchy based on physical dominance. Resources distributed through violence and intimidation. Standard oppression structure common to desperate populations lacking institutional protection.’

The older teenagers spread out, positioning themselves to prevent escape while their leader approached the huddled younger beggars.

"Come on, don’t be shy," the leader stated with false friendliness that made the threat more obvious. "Just help us out a little. Whatever food you scrounged today, any coins you begged, anything valuable you... found."

His emphasis on "found" made clear he was including stolen goods in the expected tribute.

Rey’s eyes—Lin Feng’s eyes, sharp and cold despite the body’s youth—tracked each older beggar’s position with precision that exceeded what street urchin should demonstrate.

The girl beside him trembled, one hand clutching a small cloth bundle that probably contained her day’s meager acquisitions.

Other young beggars showed similar fear mixed with resignation.

This was a familiar pattern for them—periodic exploitation by those strong enough to take what little they possessed.

The leader’s gaze settled on Rey with attention suggesting he’d noticed something different about this particular street child.

"You," the older teenager stated, pointing directly at Lin Feng. "You’re looking pretty calm for someone about to lose everything he owns. Either you’re stupid, or you’re hiding something valuable."

He stepped closer, intimidation radiating from his superior size and obvious combat experience.

"So which is it? Stupid, or holding out on us?"

Rey met his gaze with an expression that carefully balanced appropriate fear with underlying calculation the older teenager would interpret as defiance requiring suppression.

His mind worked through tactical options with speed his weak body couldn’t match.

He could fight.

His consciousness retained combat knowledge even if this body lacked training.

He could flee.

After all, his enhanced perception gave him an advantage in reading their movements.

He could also submit... preserve resources while accepting temporary exploitation.

’Or...’ A dangerous gleam flashed in his eyes at that moment.

He could demonstrate exactly why they’d made a mistake threatening him.

The leader reached toward Rey, hand extending with clear intention to search him forcibly.

"Let’s see what you’ve got, kid."