Chapter 104 Teaching a Man to Fish, Climbing the Ladder Again

[Under the light of dawn, the "morning lesson" on the plaza continues.]

["Chen Liang, have you learned nothing these past few years? How did you manage to confuse yourself while teaching?"]

[You watch as he stands before the group of Martial Artists who had newly obtained the 'Water-Repelling Spell Seal.']

[Watching Chen Liang, who is sweating profusely and gesturing wildly in his anxiety, you can't help but laugh and scold him.]

[At this time, although Chen Liang is already in his early twenties, he still appears somewhat awkward in such public teaching situations.]

[As your teaching assistant, he was originally responsible for helping these Martial Artists who just received the 'Water-Repelling Spell Seal' get familiar with this new thing.]

[However, he has also only recently come into contact with this seal. Although he can instinctively use it with ease thanks to the high affinity granted by the dimensional secret treasure...]

[Trying to describe that profound and mysterious feeling in words was practically the death of him.]

["That... everyone, first do this... just sink your consciousness in..."]

[Chen Liang's face flushed red as he pointed at the blue seal on the back of his hand, gesturing stutteringly.]

["Then do that... it's that kind of 'buzz' feeling..."]

["Finally, guide it like this, and the water flow will become obedient, and that's it!"]

["Do you understand?"]

[The ten Martial Artists below looked at each other, eyes wide, faces full of confusion and speechlessness.]

[Some even couldn't help but complain wildly in their hearts.]

["Is this kid doing this on purpose? Can't he speak like a human?"]

["Alright, step down."]

[You couldn't watch any longer and shook your head with a smile.]

[You stepped forward and patted Chen Liang on the shoulder, signaling him to step aside.]

["Big Brother Xu, I..."]

[Chen Liang looked ashamed, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.]

["It's fine. Doing and teaching are two different things; you're still green."]

[You didn't blame him, but instead turned around.]

[Facing those pairs of eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge.]

[Your expression became serious and earnest.]

[The reason you were teaching them so painstakingly, even going so far as to consume Origin Spiritual Charm to plant the seals for them...]

[...was due to deep considerations.]

[You were soon preparing to step onto the 'Heavenly Ladder' once again.]

[You knew very well how much panic the experience of the fifth stage had brought to the camp.]

[Although you were trapped for a full two months in the Secret Realm to clear it, only three or four days had actually passed in the Grotto-Heaven.]

[But those short three or four days, for the people who were long accustomed to you standing before them to shield them from wind and rain...]

[...felt like the sky was falling, enough to cause massive panic and anxiety.]

[You couldn't protect them forever.]

[This time, you intended to strengthen their own abilities so that even if you were temporarily absent...]

[...they would have enough confidence to minimize the impact on the camp's stability.]

[After all, it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.]

["Watch closely, I will only demonstrate once."]

[You reached out your hand, not rushing to have them activate the seals.]

[Instead, you patiently began explaining from the most basic 'mental guidance.']

[Your voice was steady and powerful, each step broken down clearly.]

["The core of the Water-Repelling Spell Seal lies in 'resonance'."]

["Don't try to use your blood Qi to strike it brutally; that will only result in a backlash."]

[You walked up to a burly middle-aged Martial Artist.]

[He was staring intently at the seal on the back of his hand, his face flushed red and veins popping on his forehead.]

["Old Zhang, relax. Are you trying to pick a fight with the seal?"]

[You reached out and pressed on the back of his hand, using your Divine Thought to guide his consciousness to touch the blue seal.]

["Imagine that this seal is a new organ extending from your body, just like your fingers."]

["When you breathe, it breathes too..."]

[Under your guidance, Old Zhang's originally tense muscles slowly relaxed.]

[Suddenly, the seal on the back of his hand glowed slightly.]

["Buzz—"]

[The water in the bucket in front of him actually rippled in circles following the rhythm of his breathing.]

["It moved! President Xu! It moved!" Old Zhang was as excited as a two-hundred-pound child.]

["Very good, maintain that feeling."]

[You nodded and turned to another young female Martial Artist who was trying to condense a water ball.]

["Little Liu, your mental focus is too scattered; you need to concentrate."]

["Imagine you want to turn this mass of water into a blade, or a shield..."]

[For the next week, this teaching continued.]

[You invested almost all of your time into this teaching session.]

[You personally corrected everyone's movements and patiently answered every naive question.]

[From basic underwater breathing to how to use water currents for fishing, and then how to use the seal to burst out a water shield for protection when encountering danger...]

[You covered everything in detail, holding nothing back.]

[Until seven days later.]

[When you saw those ten Martial Artists could proficiently control water currents and even cooperate tacitly to trap a small mutated beast in a simulated battle...]

[...even Old Zhang could perform tricks with the seal.]

[You knew the time was ripe.]

[...]

[The next morning, on the plaza in the center of the camp.]

[All members of the Mutual Aid Society, regardless of age or gender, gathered together spontaneously.]

[Because today, you were going to announce a major event.]

[When you stood on the rostrum built of stones and calmly spoke your decision to "prepare to climb the Heavenly Ladder again"...]

[The originally quiet crowd instantly broke into a commotion.]

[For this gathering, voices of opposition appeared for the first time.]

["Can you... not go? President Xu."]

[A timid voice broke the silence.]

[The speaker was Liu Churan; she was in charge of the camp's logistics and usually had a very gentle personality.]

[At this moment, her eyes were red, and her voice was trembling.]

["I don't know if you can really finish those ladders, but... you are too important to us."]

["If anything were to happen to you, what... what would happen to our Mutual Aid Society?"]

[Liu Churan's words seemed to speak for many people.]

[She looked at you, her eyes full of pleading.]

["We can't do without you... especially last time, you stayed in that ladder for so long, it scared everyone to death."]

["The trials ahead will surely be harder and more dangerous."]

["Actually... over these five years, we've all long since lost the desire to go home."]

["Although this Grotto-Heaven isn't as prosperous or convenient as our original Federation, we've gotten used to it."]

["Living in brick houses, having fish to eat, no threat from mutated beasts, everyone being safe together... this is enough."]

["President Xu, you don't have to take such risks..."]

[Though these words were somewhat discouraging, they were extremely sincere.]

[It was the most instinctive human desire to seek benefits and avoid harm, as well as an extreme attachment to their current stable life.]

[However, not everyone thought this way.]

[Many people were very angry upon hearing these words, considering them a belittlement of you; in their eyes, you were omnipotent.]

["Liu Churan! What kind of nonsense are you spouting!"]

[A hot-tempered burly man suddenly stepped out, eyes wide with anger.]

["When has a powerhouse like President Xu not cleared a stage successfully? If you keep talking nonsense, watch out or I'll beat you!"]

[But this time, many people chose silence.]

[Because in their hearts, they actually shared the same concerns as Liu Churan.]

[The scale of the Mutual Aid Society was now even larger than before, with all the Martial Artists in the Grotto-Heaven having joined.]

[Furthermore, the two previous camps had merged three years ago, and Chen Chen had completely handed over the responsibilities of the President to you.]

[Now, he went to the nearest lake every day to fish, becoming a kind-looking old fisherman.]

[Where was there any trace of the shrewd, greedy hunter leader he once was?]

[These five years had changed too much.]

[Seeing that everyone had developed differing opinions, the scene became somewhat chaotic for a moment.]

["Cough—"]

[An aged but vigorous cough sounded from behind the rostrum.]

[Chen Chen slowly stood up from his chair.]

[This single cough seemed to have a certain magic, causing the noisy plaza to instantly fall silent.]

[A glint flashed in Chen Chen's cloudy old eyes as his gaze swept gently across the field.]

["Everyone's concern for President Xu is understood by both him and me."]

[His voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it carried a power that set people at ease.]

["However, we have no right to influence his thoughts."]

["Everything will be based on President Xu's own decision."]

[After speaking, he turned around and smiled gently at you, who were sitting beside him.]

[He made a "please" gesture.]

[You nodded and stood up from your chair.]

[Looking at those pairs of complex, worried, and expectant eyes below the stage, a warm current flowed through your heart.]

[You smiled, a confident and calm smile that smoothed over the unease in everyone's hearts like a spring breeze.]

["Thank you all for your concern."]

["You don't need to worry about me, nor do you need to worry about going home."]

[You paused, your tone becoming incredibly firm.]

["I will definitely reach the top."]

[In truth, you were also unsure in your heart.]

[After all, just the trial of the fifth stage had made you break out in a cold sweat, and there were still dozens of stages to go.]

[But you didn't reveal any of this to anyone.]

[You had to leave them some hope.]

[After all, for you, this was just a simulation; if you failed, you could just start over.]

[But for them, the hope of going home was very important; it was the hope that sustained their survival.]

["Alright, let's not be so sentimental."]

[You waved your hand and said with feigned ease.]

["It's not my first time going; when have I ever failed? I will definitely succeed."]

[Your confident expression made those who were worried breathe a sigh of relief.]

[That's right, that's President Xu.]

[If he says it will work, then it will definitely work!]

[There were no more wasted words, nor any sorrowful farewells.]

[Surrounded by the hundreds of people from the entire camp...]

[...you went straight to the entrance of the Heavenly Ladder and launched your charge once again!]