Chapter 332 – First the Immortal Alliance, Then the Outsider Races

“What should we do? Even Xing Jiu is no match for that Phoenix Calamity Cultivator, let alone the rest of us.”

“And most crucially, the legendary Luocheng Sword Cultivator Lu Chen has been sitting outside the arena all along.”

“As far as I know, Lu Chen reached the Harmony Realm early in his cultivation journey. After his cultivation attained the Golden Core Stage, anyone claiming he hasn’t made breakthroughs in the Sword Path would be spouting nonsense.”

“Even Xing Jiu at her peak might not be Lu Chen’s match, not to mention now when she’s injured.”

“Teacher Gao, do you think we… should concede defeat?”

Several students from Tianjiu Academy sat dejectedly in the rest area, looking despairingly at their team leader teacher not far away.

Similarly, Teacher Gao was also frowning deeply.

What the students knew, how could he, as their teacher, not be aware?

In truth, from the moment Xing Jiu lost to Mu Xiaoye, this competition had completely lost its meaning.

Because even if Lu Chen didn’t participate, Mu Xiaoye alone could easily defeat any candidate they sent.

After all, they had no other options.

Xing Jiu, their strongest cultivator, was not only their trump card but also their final defense.

Even injured, Xing Jiu’s strength far surpassed that of the other students.

If not her, who else could they send?

Thinking this, Teacher Gao decided to leave the final decision to Xing Jiu.

Let her decide whether to participate in this seemingly doomed match.

“Xiao Jiu, what do you think?”

“Don’t be nervous. Whatever decision you make, your teacher and classmates will fully support you.”

“Besides, making it this far is already a great victory for us.”

“Before today, how many people actually favored our Tianjiu Academy?”

“How many believed we could push the powerful Lihuo Dao Academy into such a desperate situation?”

“Now, whether to withdraw from this competition or continue in this nearly certain defeat—it’s entirely up to you.”

Hearing this, everyone in the rest area turned their attention to Xing Jiu.

Although Xing Jiu was born blind, after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, what her spiritual sense perceived far exceeded what ordinary eyes could see.

Seeing the anxious expressions of her teacher and classmates, and recalling all the efforts they had made to reach this day, Xing Jiu endured the splitting headache and nodded directly: “Let’s give it a try. What if… we win?”

Looking at Xing Jiu’s pale face, the students exchanged glances.

Suddenly, they all felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.

While they appeared to be giving Xing Jiu a choice, weren’t they essentially morally pressuring her?

Yet giving up completely made them somewhat unwilling.

After all, as Xing Jiu said—what if they won?

If they won, Tianjiu Academy would basically secure the Southern Division Seed Team position.

Indirectly becoming one of the top twenty Dao Academies in the entire Immortal Alliance.

Faced with such a tremendous temptation, how many would be willing to give up? How many could actually give up?

But at that moment, Teacher Gao suddenly stood up.

Shedding his previous indecisiveness, he said resolutely: “Forget it. For this match… we concede.”

“Ah?!”The students gasped in surprise, unable to understand why Teacher Gao had suddenly decided to take matters into his own hands.

Moreover, it was such a highly risky decision.

After all, if Xing Jiu were to step up and even lose, Teacher Gao would suffer no losses.

In fact, because he had led the team this far, he would become the second most meritorious figure in Tianjiu Academy after Xing Jiu.

But once he chose to concede defeat, those with ulterior motives wouldn’t care whether they were bound to lose anyway.

They would only think that Teacher Gao lacked ambition and retreated at the critical moment.

As a result, the blame for losing to Lihuo Dao Academy might be entirely pinned on him.

It was truly a case of one thought leading to heaven, another to hell.

Although the students present were all from other races, that didn’t mean they understood nothing.

With just a little thought, they realized the pressure Teacher Gao would face after conceding defeat.

Xing Jiu, shedding her previous timidity, took the initiative to speak up: “Teacher Gao, I’m fine. Everyone has put in so much effort. If…”

“Alright, Xiao Jiu, don’t push yourself.”

Teacher Gao interrupted her with a smile and patted her head.

He signaled that she had already tried her best.

Under Teacher Gao’s reassurance, the originally tense atmosphere in the rest room gradually softened.

Teacher Gao looked at the students sitting beside him, took a deep breath, and said, “Classmates, do you remember what I said when I recruited you for the Dao Academy competition team?”

A young student from another race nodded and replied, “I remember. You said you wanted to show everyone in the Immortal Alliance that even if we are from other races, we don’t necessarily stand against the Immortal Alliance.”

“Moreover, we other races also possess remarkable cultivation Aptitude and are truly part of the Immortal Alliance.”

“That’s right.”

Teacher Gao looked at everyone and said, “Classmates, although the Immortal Alliance’s perception of other races has changed a lot over the years, most people still hold prejudices against you.”

“I must admit that for a long time, I was one of those people too.”

“But it wasn’t until a member of another race risked his life to save me on the battlefield that I completely changed my perspective.”

“Do you know what he said when I asked him why he did it?”

The students exchanged glances, clearly unable to guess what the otherworldly being had said.

Teacher Gao didn’t keep them in suspense. He pulled over a small stool, sat down, and said, “He said, ‘What does it matter if we’re from different races? All I know is that both of us are part of the Immortal Alliance. What we’re doing now is protecting our home.’”

“Even though we look different, in his eyes, whether Human Race or other races, as long as we live in this place called the Immortal Alliance, we are family.”

“You might find these words empty, but I must admit, they had a profound impact on me at the time.”

“It was from that moment on that I gradually understood why the higher-ups of the Immortal Alliance took in other races and why they worked step by step to help them learn the customs and culture of the Immortal Alliance…”

“What defines a person is never their appearance, but their heart.”

“If a member of the Human Race has no loyalty to the Immortal Alliance in their heart, can they truly be called human?”

“If a member of another races is devoted to the Immortal Alliance, even if they are not of the Human Race, does that mean they are not human?””The reason I insisted on recruiting you into the school team despite the objections from the Dao Academy teachers is not only because you truly possess remarkable strength, but also because I want to use this opportunity to show Nanli City, and even the entire Immortal Alliance.”

“You are no longer the foreign tribes who once lived in the Forbidden Zones, subsisting on raw flesh and blood, untouched by civilization.”

“You are now people of the Immortal Alliance, just like me, and like millions of others.”

“That, in itself, is enough.”

“As for whether we can become a seeded team in the Southern Division, or whether we can break into the top twenty in this Dao Academy competition—to be honest, none of that matters.”

“And if achieving this were to come at the cost of harming you, then it would be even more unnecessary.”

“Are the people of the Immortal Alliance human, while you are not? Or are you not part of the Immortal Alliance?”

“Remember, you are first and foremost people of the Immortal Alliance, and only after that are you considered foreign tribes.”

As these words fell, the entire lounge instantly fell silent.

Though no one spoke, the redness in their eyes was enough to reveal the impact Teacher Gao’s words had on them.

“Well said, Old Gao!”

Just as everyone was moved by Teacher Gao’s impassioned speech, an unfamiliar voice came from the lounge entrance.

Everyone looked up to see Fang Heng, the lead teacher of Lihuo Dao Academy, along with several other teachers and the Dean, standing at the doorway.

Judging by their demeanor, they had clearly been there for a while.

They might have even heard every word of his earlier speech.

At this thought, Gao Han felt somewhat embarrassed.

Mainly because he had… gotten a bit carried away just now.

But after the awkwardness passed, Gao Han asked, “What is it, Old Heng? Shouldn’t you be with your own students? What brings you here?”

“And what about the other teachers?”

Fang Heng smiled and said, “Our sudden visit is because we have some matters we’d like to discuss with you.”

“Of course, as for someone’s heartfelt outburst just now—we merely happened to overhear it. Coincidence, pure coincidence.”

Seeing Fang Heng’s teasing expression, Gao Han’s face stiffened.

Seriously? You really heard all of it?

Fortunately, Fang Heng didn’t dwell on the topic.

Instead, he got straight to the point.

“Alright, Old Gao, let’s not beat around the bush. The main reason we came is to discuss student exchanges with your Dao Academy.”

“To be honest, you’ve truly shocked us, as well as a few old-timers in the academy.”

“You’ve made them start paying attention to the Immortal Alliance’s policies.”

“A foreign tribe girl, able to master the Incense Path that was once exclusive to Human Race Cultivators.”

“This truly exceeded all our expectations.”

“And it also made me realize something: Could other Dao Legacies on the verge of being lost in the Immortal Alliance also be preserved through such methods?”

“After all, what Human Race Cultivators cannot accomplish does not mean foreign tribe Cultivators cannot.”

“And upon reflection, blindly excluding foreign tribes is indeed rather narrow-minded.”

“In ancient times, the Immortals preached three thousand paths, teaching without discrimination.”

“Not to mention foreign tribe Cultivators—even foreign tribe Immortals were not uncommon.””If even the Immortals can tolerate other races, how could we who aren’t even Immortals possess greater capability and vision than them?”

“That’s why we wish to deepen communication with your Tianjiu Academy by sending some teachers and students to study at your Dao Academy.”

“In return, you could also send some students, particularly those from other races, to study at our academy.”

“After all, our academy already has some non-human students, though most of them resemble the Human Race in appearance, unlike your foreign classmates.”

“Through such exchanges, we hope to accelerate our regular students’ acceptance of them. What do you think?”

After brief consideration, Gao Han realized this would bring countless benefits to him, Tianjiu Academy, and all foreign students.

Some matters are better handled by top institutions like Lihuo Dao Academy among the Four Great Academies.

Not only would their influence be greater, but they’d also face less resistance.

Though he’d reached a conclusion, Gao Han didn’t immediately agree.

He was merely a teacher at Tianjiu Academy, not its Dean.

Certain decisions weren’t his alone to make.

“I need to discuss this with the Principal and other teachers. I hope you understand.”

Fang Heng waved dismissively. “No problem, we never expected to settle this today.”

“Don’t worry, several of our teachers will accompany you when the time comes – we’re fully sincere.”

Hearing this, Gao Han was practically certain the matter was settled.

Moreover, establishing connections with a prestigious institution like Lihuo Dao Academy…

Even if Tianjiu Academy were eliminated in the current academy tournament, this would make their participation worthwhile.

Suddenly smiling as if remembering something, Fang Heng added: “But your decision to concede earlier to protect your student was truly wise.”

“You should know I never repeat the same mistake twice.”

“So for this final match, I’ll definitely have Student Lu Chen participate.”

“Though Student Xing Jiu is quite capable, she doesn’t stand even a one-in-ten-thousand chance against Student Lu.”

“Not even one-in-ten-thousand?”

A Tianjiu Academy student stared at Fang Heng incredulously, as if he were joking.

After all, Xing Jiu, who had achieved Gathering Divine Focus, was comparable to a Golden Core Stage cultivator.

Lu Chen was Golden Core, Xing Jiu was also Golden Core.

While her chances were slim, couldn’t they at least be minimal?

Facing this skepticism, Fang Heng smiled. “What do you think of Student Mu’s abilities?”

The Tianjiu Academy crowd recalled Mu Xiaoye’s earlier performance and admitted respectfully: “Extremely strong – unnaturally so for a student.”

Fang Heng nodded. “Indeed, as a Phoenix Calamity Cultivator, Student Mu is remarkably powerful for a student.”

“But did you know? Student Mu has never once defeated Student Lu, under any circumstances.”

“What?!”

The Tianjiu Academy group gasped in astonishment.

They never imagined the formidable Mu Xiaoye had never beaten Lu Chen even once.

By comparison, Lu Chen’s stature in their minds grew immeasurably.

Perhaps to make his description more concrete…Fang Heng directly used Xing Jiu as an example: “If Xing Jiu’s opponent in the previous match had been Lu Chen, even though Xing Jiu’s cultivation in the Incense Path is quite good…”

“Lu Chen would have found victory effortless with just a bit of seriousness.”

“After all, he is the most talented Sword Cultivator in the history of the Immortal Alliance, personally acknowledged by our Principal.”

“His mastery of the Sword Path is beyond your imagination.”

Upon hearing this, the lounge fell completely silent.

They didn’t think Fang Heng was joking.

Nor was there any need for him to joke.

After all, even if they didn’t send Lu Chen, sending Mu Xiaoye would guarantee a win.

Was there any need for jokes?

At this thought, their mood suddenly lifted.

Since the outcome was already predetermined, what was there to regret, right?

(End of Chapter)