Chapter 32 – Appeal to Emotion, Enlighten with Reason

“Although I aim to become an Alchemy Genius, even geniuses must follow some basic principles.”

“My previous fifty failed attempts at Alchemy were clearly witnessed by others at Danyang Peak.”

“If my Alchemy skills were to advance by leaps and bounds within just a few days, it would appear too abrupt, lacking a gradual progression.”

“Moreover, merely progressing from novice to proficient in Basic Alchemy requires a full one thousand experience points.”

“This sufficiently demonstrates that the Alchemy skill not only demands extensive time to hone but also consumes considerable resources during the process, hence the high resource requirements.”

“Furthermore, if I were to raise my Alchemy skill to proficiency within just a few days, while it could be explained away as an Epiphany, what about the future?”

“As the saying goes, the greater the expectations, the harder the fall. I aim to be an Alchemy Genius, not an Alchemy monster.”

“Therefore, what I should do now is not immediately raise my Alchemy skill level, but rather accumulate as much experience as possible, then choose a suitable time to upgrade the skill level.”

“This timing… let’s set it for one month later in the game.”

“This way, it won’t appear too abrupt and will fully demonstrate my inherent Alchemy potential.”

“And one month in the game translates to… merely three days in reality.”

“I can certainly wait three days.”

Thus, Lu Chen’s short-term objectives became very clear.

First, focus on cultivation to gain daily experience points.

Then, after one month in the game, instantly raise Alchemy to proficiency.

Finally, after demonstrating his Alchemy potential, request a Millennial Spirit Lotus from the Elder of Danyang Peak to cultivate the Azure Lotus Eye.

From any perspective, this plan possessed high feasibility and safety.

It wouldn’t significantly impact his life within the Azure Cloud Sect.

After all, the vast Azure Cloud Sect lacked many things, but it never lacked Geniuses.

As long as he didn’t draw too much attention, when the Azure Cloud Sect faced great changes in the future, he likely wouldn’t be pushed to the forefront.

Stability above all – this was a principle Lu Chen consistently adhered to, both in-game and in reality.

After all, a dead genius is no genius at all. Only by staying alive… can one have a future!

“There’s no point staying in the Scripture Pavilion any longer. It’s time to return to my Cave Residence and focus on cultivation…”

Having clarified his future direction, Lu Chen immediately controlled his game character to return to his new Cave Residence.

It must be said, this new Cave Residence was significantly better than the previous one.

It even increased his daily cultivation experience gain from 50 points to 70 points – quite a substantial improvement!

Simulation Exam Second Stage, Day Two, outside the Five Springs Mountain Realm.

“Really, what exactly is Student Lu doing? What does he actually want to accomplish!”

“I tolerated him not taking the Simulation Exam’s first stage seriously, constantly playing games, since no one forbids using phones during exams to relax.”

“I even tolerated him not taking the second stage seriously, constantly chopping trees, since no one prohibits students from gathering resources during exams.””But I really can’t stand his behavior of playing games himself while forcing other students to chop trees!”

“Utterly lawless, absolutely lawless!”

“If you want to wallow in degeneracy and squander your talent yourself, that’s one thing, but how could you drag other students down with you!”

“Deduct points, we must deduct points! If the school doesn’t severely punish this behavior, wouldn’t the studious atmosphere that No. 1 High has spent a century building be destroyed overnight!”

“What do you think of what I said, Teacher Chen?”

Chen Fugui looked at the square-faced teacher radiating anger, his own plump, amiable round face covered in cold sweat.

Wiping the sweat dripping from his forehead, he awkwardly replied: “T-Teacher Luo is right, I also think Lu Chen has gone a bit too far this time. Forcing classmates to chop trees for him while he sits aside playing games… that’s just unreasonable.”

“Teacher Luo, just wait until this exam ends – I’ll definitely confiscate that kid’s phone and lock him in the School Training Room for a month of intensive cultivation to fix his frivolous attitude.”

Chen Fugui had thought his words would earn Teacher Luo Yang’s strong approval and help calm his anger.

Unexpectedly, after hearing Chen Fugui’s proposed punishment for Lu Chen, the previously furious Luo Yang completely changed his earlier disgust toward Lu Chen and began defending him instead.

“Teacher Chen, that would be going from one extreme to another. Although Lu Chen is a bit too fond of playing, his nature isn’t bad at heart.”We’ve both been through this age – you should understand that guidance is better than blocking.”

“If you force Lu Chen to change his gaming habits with such a harsh approach, not only might it make him resent you and the school,”

“It could also deepen his obsession, potentially even giving birth to a Heart Demon, which would harm his future cultivation.”

“In my opinion, just give him some light punishment after the exam ends. As for the gaming aspect, gentle guidance would be better – we mustn’t rush this.”

Hiss, I never noticed before that you’re actually tough on the outside but soft inside, Old Luo.

So all that earlier was just angry words – deep down you really care about the students.

Not that I actually planned to do anything harsh to Lu Chen anyway… after all, no matter what, he… really made me look good in this mock exam!

Though he thought this, the tactful Chen Fugui still followed Teacher Luo Yang’s lead.

He said: “Teacher Luo is right. I’ll properly educate Lu Chen later and try to get him to focus his mind and direct his energy toward cultivation.”

Luo Yang nodded: “Good, that’s better. After all… no matter what… that kid really is quite talented. We underestimated him before.”

To be fair, it wasn’t without reason that Teacher Luo Yang held such strong opinions about Lu Chen – what Lu Chen was doing right now was truly inhuman!

In the Profound Sky Mirror, Lu Chen sat alone on a tree stump, looking down playing with his phone.

Not far from him, five classmates including Bian Shouyi had been ‘persuaded’ through his appeals to emotion and explanations of reason.

‘Convinced’ to join the vigorous lumberjack enterprise, working with such fervent enthusiasm.

If you asked what ‘reason’ Lu Chen used…

He could only say… physical reason!

Either get eliminated immediately, or help me work first before getting eliminated.Faced with Lu Chen’s physical persuasion—a long sword held against their necks—most students gave their answers.

As for the few who were unwilling to listen to Lu Chen’s reasoning?

Welcome to the elimination zone party!

Convincing through reason, enforcing with the sword—this was the ‘Dao’ Lu Chen had comprehended.

You help me chop trees, I help you delay your elimination.

Perfectly reasonable, isn’t it?

After successively persuading several classmates, Lu Chen delegated the task of convincing others to Bian Shouyi.

His promise to Bian Shouyi was: if he could bring five more people to help chop trees,

then after the mock exam, Lu Chen would spar with him again.

Such terms were undeniably tempting for Bian Shouyi.

So much so that eventually Lu Chen didn’t need to lift a finger—Bian Shouyi would proactively deal with incoming students.

Embracing the hands-off approach, waiting for lumberjacks to deliver themselves.

See? Another enthusiastic lumberjack has arrived.

“What… what happened to you all?”

A startled Earth Class student who had stumbled upon the scene stared blankly at Bian Shouyi and the others diligently chopping trees in the distance, his face full of confusion.

Noticing the new arrival, Bian Shouyi quietly stopped working and slowly approached him.

The other four students all watched the unlucky newcomer with pitying eyes.

Their lumberjack team was about to gain another member.

Bian Shouyi gazed expressionlessly at the new student and said calmly, “Chop trees or get eliminated. Choose one.”

“Huh?!”

(End of Chapter)