Chapter 100 – Chen Fugui: The Final Lesson—We Cultivators, What…

Luocheng High School.

“What’s happening? What’s with that blood cloud?”

“I don’t know! And why has the School Protection Array been activated? Have demonic heretics entered the city?”

The students from three schools, currently gathered at No. 1 High for the “College Entrance Exam Special Training,” were startled by the blood cloud in the distant sky and the sudden activation of the School Protection Array around them.

It was worth noting that many of these students had experienced the Black Lotus Rebellion ten years ago during their childhood.

They naturally remembered clearly the tragic events that had occurred in Luocheng that night.

The sudden situation now caused many to recall the fear from back then, their faces tense with anxiety.

Just as the students were filled with apprehension, a resounding voice echoed in their ears.

“Students, there’s no need to panic. Please proceed to the school building quickly, organized by class.”

“Students from Second High and Third High, please also head to our school building according to your original class assignments.”

“Repeating: All students must proceed to the school building. All students must proceed to the school building…”

Hearing the words of Meng Chuanping, Principal of Luocheng High School, the panicked students quickly regained their composure.

That’s right—Principal Meng Chuanping was a veteran Golden Core Stage cultivator.

If the sky falls, the tall will hold it up. What did they have to fear?

With this thought, everyone felt more at ease.

Subsequently, all students, whether from No. 1 High or the other schools, headed to the main building of Luocheng High School to await further instructions.

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of Luocheng High School’s main building.

Principal Meng Chuanping of Luocheng High School, along with more than ten teachers at the Foundation Establishment Stage, had gathered there.

They watched the massive blood cloud drifting closer in the distance, each face etched with gravity.

“Principal Meng, have we still not made contact with the outside world?”

Hearing Li Youquan’s question, Meng Chuanping, holding a compass in his right hand, shook his head helplessly.

“The heavenly secrets in this area have been obscured. The range is vast, covering a three-kilometer radius around our school.”

“A formation of this scale couldn’t have been completed overnight.”

“They must have been preparing for a long time and chose to strike today.”

“Do we know who’s behind it?”

Meng Chuanping looked at Li Youquan, pondered for a moment, and said, “If my estimation is correct, it must be the demonic heretics of the Black Lotus Sect causing trouble.”

“I had previously discussed countermeasures with your father. Little did I expect they would act so swiftly, launching their attack before we could fully prepare.”

Upon hearing that the Black Lotus Sect was involved, even the teachers couldn’t help but feel a wave of tension.

Although everyone present was a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, and Meng Chuanping had reached the Golden Core Stage,

the Black Lotus Rebellion ten years ago had claimed the lives of over twenty Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators alone.

Moreover, as many as three Golden Core Stage cultivators had fallen—

one from the Black Lotus Sect and two from Luocheng.

The ferocity of that night’s battle was evident.

The current situation inevitably reminded them of the events from a decade ago,

and they couldn’t help but worry about how things would unfold.It must be known that Luocheng High School is the finest institution of higher learning in Luocheng.

The children who study here are almost all the most talented youngsters in the city.

To say they represent the future of Luocheng is no exaggeration at all.

If they were to perish here, it would be an unbearable loss for Luocheng.

“Principal Meng, I’m not too worried about the school itself, but outside the campus…”

Chen Fugui gazed at the ordinary citizens outside the school grounds who had also been dragged into this conflict, speaking with deep concern.

Due to Luocheng High School’s presence, the surrounding area consisted mostly of residential buildings and small vendor shops.

Although it was currently noon with many people away at work or school,

Chen Fugui conservatively estimated that tens of thousands of non-school individuals had been caught in this special grand formation.

What was more concerning was that the vast majority of these people were ordinary mortals without any self-defense capabilities.

When facing such dangerous situations, their instinct would be to flee toward the high school,

as this was the only place that offered safety!

But this undoubtedly created numerous hidden dangers for the school.

There was no way to know whether Black Lotus Sect members might be hiding among these people.

On one side was the safety of all teachers and students, on the other was the safety of tens of thousands of innocent citizens.

After brief consideration, Meng Chuanping made his decision.

“The fundamental difference between us Cultivators and the Demonic Heresy is that we don’t consider ourselves superior to mortals.”

“If we turn those people away today, how are we any different from the inhuman Demonic Heresy?”

“Fellow Daoists, I will soon open passages in the four directions of the Five Directions Array. Whether to go out and rescue citizens is your own decision to make.”

“As for the students… whether they prioritize being students first or Cultivators first is up to them.”

After speaking, Meng Chuanping flew into the air and began fully controlling the Five Directions Grand Formation.

The next moment, five directional banners materialized and landed at the five positions of east, south, west, north, and center around the school campus.

The teachers present exchanged glances before taking deep breaths and heading toward the teaching building.

Regarding whether to choose to go out and rescue people or remain safely within the school awaiting external rescue,

Everyone was uncertain and needed careful consideration.

Luocheng High School, Senior Class 12, Humanity Class.

Lu Chen sat by the window in the back row of the classroom, watching with a grave expression the blood-colored clouds increasingly approaching the school, his mind occupied with unknown thoughts.

Most classmates had gathered by the windows, anxiously observing everything happening outside.

Although many of them had experienced simulated combat exams,

No simulation, no matter how realistic, could compare to the real thing.

After all, dying in a simulation exam had no consequences,

But dying in reality meant true death.

The difference in mindset between the two situations was incomparable.

“Teacher Chen!”

Just as the students were feeling leaderless, Chen Fugui suddenly entered the classroom.

Seeing the anxious looks in the students’ eyes, he took a deep breath, walked to the podium, and called out with full authority: “Classmates, class begins!”

Everyone was taken aback, exchanging puzzled glances with each other.But when they saw the extremely serious expression on Chen Fugui’s face, they ultimately obediently sat back in their original seats.

Since Lu Chen was in the Humanity Class, there were no other students from the other two Dao schools in his class.

After all, most students in the Humanity Class couldn’t meet the standards for the “college entrance exam special training.”

Therefore, most of those who came to No. 1 High this time were students from the Heaven’s Path Class and Earth Class.

Only a small number of Humanity Class students who had experienced the Black Lotus Rebellion ten years ago would “coincidentally” appear here as well.

Standing at the podium, Chen Fugui looked at his students’ anxious expressions and solemnly picked up a piece of chalk, writing two lines on the blackboard.

On one side was “Student first, Cultivator second.”

On the other was “Cultivator first, Student second.”

Chen Fugui put down the chalk and didn’t immediately explain these two lines.

Instead, he first talked about why he came to No. 1 High to be a teacher.

“Students, I know you all call me ‘Half-City Chen’ behind my back because my father Chen Duojin is the richest merchant in Luocheng.”

“As his only son, I can indeed be considered the second richest person in all of Luocheng. The name ‘Half-City’… is well deserved.”

“But do you know what? The identity I’m most proud of in my life isn’t this so-called ‘Half-City’ title, but my status as a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator in the Immortal Alliance, because I earned this through my own efforts.”

“I know you might say that if you were the children of the richest man, you could easily achieve what I’ve accomplished.”

“That in the end, I’m still standing on my father’s shoulders, with nothing to be proud of.”

“I won’t deny this, because without my father, I would at most be an ordinary Qi Condensation Stage Cultivator.”

“I would neither have reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, nor become a teacher at No. 1 High.”

“So for a while, I kept wondering whether my status as this watered-down Foundation Establishment Cultivator had any meaning, and what I could do in this life besides idling away my time.”

“And I found the answer to this question ten years ago…”

As he spoke, Chen Fugui straightened his plump body, stepped down from the podium, and came before the students, unhesitatingly lifting his shirt.

On his large belly, a scar resembling a centipede stretched from his abdomen all the way up to his chest.

Seeing such a scar, the students collectively gasped in shock, including the usually composed Lu Chen.

Because they simply couldn’t imagine how Chen Fugui had survived such an injury.

After displaying his wound, Chen Fugui put his clothes back on and shared the answer he had found.

“…Students, ten years ago, I had just returned from break at the Dao Academy when I encountered members of the Black Lotus Sect causing trouble in our Luocheng at night.”

“Although I was just a watered-down Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Foundation Establishment is still Foundation Establishment—far beyond what ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators can match.”

“So that night, I fought my way through the East District seven times, directly and indirectly saving many people. This injury was caused when I was ambushed by a Demonic Path Cultivator from the Black Lotus Sect.”

“Do you know what my father’s first words to me were when I woke up from the brink of death?”

The students looked at each other and shook their heads.

Seeing this, Chen Fugui said with great pride: “The first thing my father said to me was, ‘Son, you didn’t disgrace me.'””Then guess what his second sentence was?”

The students shook their heads again.

Chen Fugui grinned awkwardly, adjusting his glasses as he said, “His second sentence was: You idiot, why don’t you hire people to go with you! Can’t you see how much money our family has!”

Despite the dangerous situation of the Demonic Path’s large-scale invasion, the classmates couldn’t help but chuckle instinctively upon hearing this.

Because they could all imagine Chen Duojin’s frustrated expression at that time.

However, after the laughter subsided, they gradually grew quiet again as Chen Fugui returned to the podium.

“Though this might sound somewhat unfilial, after that incident, I truly understood one principle.”

“That is, since my old man is so wealthy, and his assets can only be inherited by me after his death, then roughly speaking, his money is essentially mine, right? What’s wrong with spending my own money!”

“So from then on, I never hesitated when spending money. Many of your seniors were able to eventually get into their desired Dao Academies through my personal funding.”

“Whenever I look back on what I’ve done over these years, I feel an indescribable sense of pride, because I believe I’ve been quite successful as a teacher.”

“Don’t worry about what methods I used—just tell me whether I changed those children’s lives or not.”

“Judge by actions, not intentions; if we judged by intentions, no one would be perfect. Results will always be more convincing than empty words.”

“The reason I’m telling you all this today isn’t to boast about how great I am, but to convey one thing to you…”

At this point, Chen Fugui took a deep breath and said with utmost seriousness, “…That is, I, Chen Fugui, consider myself first and foremost a Cultivator of the Immortal Alliance, then a teacher at No. 1 High, and only lastly the son of the richest man.”

“And as Cultivators of the Immortal Alliance, none of us would ever stand by and watch the Demonic Heresy harm our people.”

Chen Fugui turned around and forcefully slapped the blackboard.

“Whether you prioritize being a Cultivator or a student first is up to you to decide.”

“And this final lesson is… We Cultivators, why fear a deadly battle!”

“With the enemy right at our doorstep, how can we hide here and watch them slaughter our Immortal Alliance citizens!”

“If you consider yourself a Cultivator first, then come out with me later and save as many people as possible.”

“But if you see yourself as a student first, then stay here safely and trust that we’ll resolve this crisis perfectly.”

“However, there’s one thing I must make clear: this situation is unlike any previous mock exam, because this time… you could truly die if you go out.”

“So from a personal standpoint, I hope every one of you stays safe. After all, you’re still young—it would be a shame to die here.”

“But from a Cultivator’s perspective, hiding behind ordinary people is our disgrace, something I absolutely cannot allow.”

“Regardless of your choice, I will respect your decision, because this concerns your own lives.”

“The only promise I can give you is that if danger truly arises, I’ll be the first to die… After all, what kind of teacher would hide behind their students?””I’ll wait at the door for one minute. Those willing to come may step out. Those unwilling needn’t feel embarrassed – after all, everyone only has one life.”

“I hope each of you considers your parents and loved ones before making a decision. Think about what would happen to them if something happened to you.”

“And after you’ve carefully considered all this… then make your decision.”

With these words, Chen Fugui directly stood up and walked outside the classroom, waiting quietly.

The classmates immediately displayed various reactions.

Some frowned deeply, wanting to stand up but not daring to.

Some looked ashamed, directly lowering their heads and remaining seated as if nothing had happened.

And some… directly stood up and walked expressionlessly toward the classroom door.

“Little Lu, I didn’t think you would come out.”

Standing in the corridor, Lu Chen said calmly: “I didn’t come out for any other reason. I just want to collect a debt from them.”

Hearing this, Chen Fugui laughed heartily, then heavily patted his shoulder.

“Good! Then today… let’s make them bleed like rivers!”

Lu Chen didn’t respond, just expressionlessly wiped his Ink Dragon Sword.

His cold eyes were reflected in the black blade.

Although he had guessed that he was the Black Lotus Sect’s target this time, and knew that staying in school was undoubtedly a better choice for him than leaving…

He truly couldn’t bring himself to hide behind others and watch people die because of his affairs.

Especially when he possessed some capability.

If you fear death, why become a Cultivator!

Besides, who would die this time was still uncertain.

Looking at the Ink Dragon Sword in his hand, Lu Chen couldn’t help but recall the special item he obtained after completing the ‘Atlas Laborer Instance’:

[Shard of Heavenly Dao (???)]

[Effect: Can negate one death, reviving on the spot]

A resurrection token – this was Lu Chen’s confidence in directly confronting the Black Lotus Sect this time.

He really wanted to see if the Black Lotus Sect could take both of his lives.

After one minute of waiting, among the thirty students in the Humanity Class, only four including Lu Chen ultimately chose to go with Chen Fugui to rescue people.

Chen Fugui and Lu Chen understood this.

Because living isn’t shameful – what’s shameful is harming others to survive.

For those students who chose to remain in school, their primary identity was students.

But for those like Lu Chen who were willing to leave school, their primary identity was Immortal Alliance Cultivators.

As Cultivators, they could never hide behind ordinary people!

(End of Chapter)