novelraw Chapter 71 : A World in Crisis
Chapter 71 : A World in Crisis
71: A World in Crisis
The sun set in the west, casting a golden glow over Yuehu Lake. The sky was as if stained with blood.
"I imagine... many of you already know some of this world's secrets. The children of some ancient clans and sects may know even more."
Dean Tong surveyed his surroundings, his weathered gaze sweeping past, as if seeing something that made him uneasy. "Most of you should be able to see those things, right? The demon spirits that wander the world. But I fear few of you truly know what that means."
As soon as Dean Tong said this, Yuyin's gaze also sharpened. Since she first came to this world, the most different thing she saw from her old world was those hazy night-roaming demon spirits that clearly shouldn't exist in this modern metropolis... What exactly were these things? Where did they come from? And why was she carried here on a Sedan Chair by Fierce Ghosts? To this day, she knew none of the answers.
"Today you have entered the Lingdu Source Martial Academy. There are some things you can know, and should know. Those demon spirits that wander the world are real." Tong Zizhong said, word by word.
Real?
Perhaps many had such a suspicion, but hearing it from Dean Tong himself, everyone still gasped and looked at each other in astonishment.
"I don't know how to describe it... It's like a shadow, a shadow cast by things that truly exist in this world." A hint of helplessness flashed in Tong Zizhong's eyes. "And the reason their physical forms have not entered Lingdu, into the areas where most humans live, is because the power of this world is holding them back."
"This power mainly consists of two parts. One part is the armies of the world's nations. The other, and even more important, part..." Tong Zizhong looked at them and said gravely, "I believe you have all guessed it. It is the Source Martial Practitioners."
"In today's world, technology is highly advanced. But haven't you felt, especially in recent years, that technology is no longer making obvious progress? We have nuclear weapons, enough to form a strategic deterrent and balance among the world's major powers. So why would this world still cultivate Source Martial Practitioners at such a great cost?"
Tong Zizhong took a deep breath, his gaze profound. "A world war between the major powers is unlikely to break out. In its place, following the normal development of human civilization, shouldn't it be contests of economy, wars of currency, and a technological balance? Why does all of humanity recognize the authority of Source Martial Practitioners to arbitrate disputes through martial competition in the interest conflicts between nations and multinational corporations? Why does the whole world favor Source Martial Practitioners with all its resources, granting them so many privileges? Has anyone ever thought about the deep-seated reason for this?"
Dean Tong's questions were exactly what had puzzled Yuyin since she came to this world. In fact, many people spared no expense to cultivate their children for the Source Martial College Entrance Exam simply because society as a whole was like that. Everyone else was doing it. If you didn't, you would fall behind, you couldn't compare to the children of other families. But they had not necessarily thought through this question thoroughly.
A tall boy with glasses raised his hand and said, "Dean, is it because Source Martial Practitioners are the key to stopping the physical forms of the demon spirits from entering areas densely populated by humans, shouldering a heavy responsibility that the vast majority of people in this world cannot bear?"
Dean Tong nodded. "This classmate is correct. That is one of the key points."
"The development of our human civilization has been interrupted."
"It has been interrupted by a power that is difficult to explain."
"At least, judging from the current situation, advancing human technology is no longer the most important thing. I can't say it's meaningless, but in the face of this influence, technology cannot play a decisive role. If we were just stopping those things, with high-tech weapons and a small number of elite Source Martial Practitioners, we might be able to barely hold the line, for now, at least."
"But... we cannot just be on the defensive passively. Because in those areas that you don't know about, that ordinary people cannot enter, our armies and Source Martial Practitioners are fighting at all times. I have often been there and frequently assist in guarding certain defensive zones. I know the situation well... Our defense is getting harder year by year. The rate of deterioration is constantly exceeding our expectations... and even, these dangerous areas are continuing to increase."
"About those things, we know very little. We only know that they come from over there, in a steady stream, endlessly. We cannot just be on the defensive passively! Passive defense will eventually lead to a loophole appearing, and the consequences would be unimaginable!"
"And Source Martial Practitioners are the only human fighting force capable of moving the battlefield to the other side. We need to understand what the essence of those things truly is. We need to understand the root of the threat to human civilization's continued existence. Only then can we find the enemy's true weakness and truly let humanity survive this cataclysm."
"And all of this can only be done by Source Martial Practitioners. We need a large number of Source Martial Practitioners to take enormous risks and go deep over there to fight and investigate."
"Dean Tong, may I ask what exactly are you referring to when you say 'over there'?" An impatient male student couldn't help but raise his hand and shout.
Under the blood-red sunset, Tong Zizhong's gaze flickered as he looked at the students, revealing a sense of grief and indignation. He felt a deep sense of self-blame. "I'm sorry. I cannot explain that publicly here. That place... is a location whose name only Source Martial Practitioners are permitted to know, as decided by a Human Alliance. If I could, I would wish that you would never know of its existence! Let us old fellows shoulder all of this. What if my old bones were to be shattered? But... my abilities are not enough. Even adding myself and all the Grandmasters of our Huaxia nation, and even the entire globe, we are only barely maintaining the current balance."
"Sigh... To truly make a difference over there, relying on us alone is far from enough... I can tell you that I and three Grandmasters of Huaxia just returned from over there. I took the helicopter here without going home to see my family because I had to see you, no matter what. Every year, I have to see this year's new students. Of the ones who returned with me, only two Grandmasters are left, and one of them is severely injured. Tonight I have to rush to another place where the situation is critical. I don't even have time to teach you. I am not a worthy principal."
Tong Zizhong shook his head helplessly. "Perhaps I can say with a clear conscience that this old fellow has tried his best. But precisely because I have given my all, I feel my own inadequacy even more! I once fantasized that if I were a genius... a genius who could cover the sky with one hand and change the fate of humanity, that would be great. Unfortunately, I am just a mortal with a little talent."
"I have not created a peaceful, beautiful era for you. I am sorry to you all." On the stage, Tong Zizhong's upright, unyielding body bowed deeply to all the students.
"Dean Tong..." The powerful teachers below also had complex feelings.
"Dean Tong, we don't have much time." A young female teacher reminded him.
Tong Zizhong raised his head, his eyes filled with regret. He regretted that he could not fully realize his ambitions, regretted that he could not change anything, regretted that he had to send these young geniuses to the most dangerous place.
But if no one went, if the capable didn't step forward, then everyone could only sit and wait for their doom! Tong Zizhong was just a dean. He had no other choice.
"Classmates, I must leave now, at this very moment. Your senior students, the fourth-years, led by the former Student Council President, Lan Lianfeng, are currently carrying out a difficult and dangerous mission over there. The situation is not optimistic, and I must rush over there as well. Sigh..."
"But please, remember, the Lingdu Source Martial Academy will not force any student. We are not an army; we are a university. As long as you abide by the school rules, anyone can refuse a dispatch over there until graduation. With a diploma from the Lingdu Source Martial Academy, you can have a bright future in the peaceful society outside, enjoy the privileges of a Source Martial Practitioner, and a comfortable life that ordinary people cannot attain."
"But, to be frank, I don't know how much longer this superficial peace of the world can last... Our Lingdu Source Martial Academy has harsh school rules and a competition system where strength is supreme. You can use your strength and competitive advantages to exchange for resources from us, gain immense wealth and your own abilities, and go live the life you want. But personally, I sincerely hope that you will stay and fight with your senior brothers and sisters! Not for all of humanity. Saying such a thing would be too presumptuous of me. For the people you cherish, for the things you don't want to exist only in your memories, I hope you will make the decision you think is correct. Everything is up to your own choice!"
Tong Zizhong let out a long breath.
"Specific school rules and matters will be explained to you by Teacher Chen Qian'ning later. I must go. I wish I had more time to personally guide you. Goodbye."
The evening wind blew. The lake's surface glimmered. The old man gave everyone one last look and walked down from the high platform.
"You're Xia Yuyin, right?" Tong Zizhong stopped as he passed in front of Yuyin.
"Yes..." Facing such a powerful expert, especially having just heard those secrets from his mouth, Yuyin was also a little nervous. Her whole body felt hot, and it was difficult to calm her mind.
"Your performance just now, I heard about it on the helicopter. You did very well. When Lianfeng returns, I'll have you two meet. Perhaps you will have a common language."
Tong Zizhong looked directly at Yuyin, nodded, and turned to leave.
The helicopter slowly ascended...
The gazes of many, including Qin Feizhen, followed Yuyin from behind.
Before he left, Dean Tong had actually mentioned the name Lan Lianfeng in front of Yuyin, in front of all the new students. This truly shocked many.
"Lan Lianfeng, that's a super genius rarely seen in the history of the Lingdu Source Martial Academy, no, in the entire Huaxia nation! Dean Tong... he actually mentioned Xia Yuyin in the same breath as Lan Lianfeng? A common language? Hmph... that's going too far, isn't it?" Qin Feizhen thought to himself. As for the world's secrets, as a member of a prominent clan, while others might not know, he had heard of them long ago and was not as shocked or shaken as most of the other students. He had already made his own decision. He didn't care about the danger. He was more interested in his own potential. What Tong Zizhong couldn't do, he, Qin Feizhen, might be able to do in the future. He wanted to do things that the world could only look up to! What he was more concerned about was Dean Tong's words. Even if he admitted that he was temporarily behind Xia Yuyin, to mention her in the same breath as Lan Lianfeng was something he could never accept.
Under the guidance of senior students, the sixteen of them, including Yuyin, carried their luggage and walked on the road toward the lakeside villas.
"What Dean Tong said should be highly credible, and it confirms many of my suspicions. Although there are still many mysteries... at least it's certain that this world is truly facing a huge problem."
Yuyin gazed at the blood-red sky, the lakeside where the golden light was gradually fading, lost in thought... She, Xia Yuyin, a young man from a truly peaceful world, reborn as this world's beautiful campus belle. In these short months, to feel the world's major crisis as her own, to immediately be filled with a passion for justice and a common hatred for the enemy. That feeling was still a bit forced for her.
But, when the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact?
Yuyin understood this principle.
She might understand those demon spirits better than others. If the crisis truly swept into the areas where ordinary people live, what would she do to protect herself?
The friends she cherished in this world, Yingluo, Sister Dai, and the mother she had never met… would they also be in danger?
If that day truly came, Yuyin would of course do everything possible to protect herself. It would also be impossible for her to ignore her good friends and the people she cherished.