111: Their own troubles

Li Qingyuan's plea for help stood out in the lively freshman group.

The group instantly fell silent for a moment.

A few seconds later, a message popped up.

【Liu Lian】: Sever ties? Is there such a good thing?

【Liu Lian】: That's perfect! No one to supervise, I can Cultivate however I want! I wish my parents would do that to me, it would save me from having to explain "Dao Heart Clarity" to them every day!

【Han Li】: @Liu Lian Is that what you call Dao Heart Clarity? You're just a pervert! Don't corrupt the group's atmosphere!

【Han Li】: @Li Qingyuan I understand you, I completely understand! My mom still thinks I've been brainwashed, turning from an anti-fraud Streamer into the biggest charlatan, burning incense and worshipping Buddha at home every day, praying to all the Immortals to drain the water from my brain.

【Fang Yuan】: ...My Family is alright, it's just that my dad insists on dragging me along, making me perform a bare-handed Qi ball Rolling meatballs, saying he wants to film it and post it in the Family group to show off.

【Lu Miaomiao】: My mom asks me every day if Body Refining is especially tough, and she even sent me a box of protein powder...

【Gao Ningning】: You all have it good. My parents are chasing me every day, asking when they can meet the "Divine Doctor," saying they want to kowtow three times and bow nine times to become his disciple. No matter how I explain, they won't listen, they're convinced the Dean is a reclusive Master.

【Li Ziyuan】: @Li Qingyuan *Hugs*. My dad is a scientist, he almost found out our Academy's address a few days ago, luckily there was an official confidentiality agreement blocking him. Otherwise, he might really have brought an reinforced company of guards to "rescue" me.

Li Qingyuan's message was like flipping a switch; the group chat, which was originally full of Cultivation insights and daily banter, suddenly shifted its tone, becoming a fierce "misery-comparing convention."

Students one by one emerged, frantically complaining about their tearful struggles communicating with their families after the holiday.

Being treated as scammers, being suspected of pyramid schemes, being thought to be mentally unstable—all sorts of bizarre situations, everything imaginable.

Only then did everyone realize that they weren't the only ones facing this kind of exasperating "Family crisis."

Cultivating Immortality, for their families in the mortal world, was simply too impactful.

For a time, the group was filled with a happy yet troubled atmosphere... Inside the Dean's office.

Li Heng rested his chin on one hand, watching the constantly refreshing chat records on his phone screen, his face expressionless.

He saw all the troubles these young people had.

He could have stepped forward and, with some Divine Ability or through official channels, easily resolved all the students' Family problems.

Making their parents believe, and even worship.

But he didn't do so.

These so-called "troubles," in his opinion, were the students' last and most important emotional connection to the mortal world.

They were "mortal attachments."

Cultivating Immortality did not mean severing all emotions and desires, turning into an unfeeling stone.

On the contrary, if there were no such emotional ties, no people or things they wanted to protect, then the Immortal they Cultivated would be nothing more than a monster with empty power.

Family was the most stable anchor for their Dao Heart.

They had to overcome this hurdle themselves.

This was their own unique "Dao Heart Tribulation."

Of course, as the Dean, he couldn't let this "depressed" atmosphere continue to spread.

The best way was to give them something more important and urgent to do.

Li Heng gently tapped his finger on the screen, bringing up the group announcement editing interface.

He slowly typed out lines of text, then clicked send.

【Kunlun Cultivation Academy Academic Affairs Office Announcement】:

All freshmen of the 2023 cohort, please note.

In two weeks, the Academy will hold the mid-term assessment for this semester.

The results of this assessment will be the sole standard for the allocation of Cultivation resources in the second half of the semester.

The top ten in the assessment ranking will receive the highest authority Cultivation qualification in the core area of the top floor of the demon suppressing pagoda.

Those ranked eleventh to fiftieth can enter the middle area of the demon suppressing pagoda to Cultivate.

All others will be assigned to the bottom area of the demon suppressing pagoda.

This is hereby announced.

After sending it, Li Heng added another sentence.

【Dean - Li Heng】: Your hearts have been disturbed by mortal attachments. This is a tribulation, and also a tempering of the Dao Heart. If you cannot even calm yourselves over such small matters, how can you speak of slaying demons and devils, and protecting all living beings? Calm your minds, and prepare for the assessment.

This announcement, with the Dean's exclusive golden special effect, appeared directly at the top of everyone's chat interface.

The freshman group, which had just been bustling with complaints, instantly froze.

Three seconds of silence.

Then, the group exploded.

【Liu Lian】: Holy crap!!!!!

【Han Li】: Mid-term assessment?! So sudden?!

【Fang Yuan】: The Cultivation time in the demon suppressing pagoda! It's actually allocated by ranking!

【Zhang Qiqi】: The top-floor core area... Isn't that where the Ancient Great Demon Avatar is suppressed? How terrifying would the Cultivation effect be there?

【Tang Ruoling】: Oh no, oh no, my Talismans aren't proficient yet!

【Li Qingyuan】: ...Li Qingyuan, who was previously troubled by Family relationships, couldn't even bother to argue with her dad at this moment.

What severing ties, what running away from home—in front of the "demon suppressing pagoda Cultivation qualification," none of it was worth mentioning!

That was a place where one could practice combat with an Ancient Great Demon Avatar!

If she went late, she wouldn't even get a sip of the hot soup!

【Li Qingyuan】: No more chatting! I'm going to Cultivate! My dad can wait until I get into the top ten!

【Liu Lian】: Let's compete! Brothers, I'm out of here! No one is going to stop me from getting into the top ten! For a brighter "Dao Heart"!

【Han Li】: @All members, stop chatting! You might as well draw two more Talismans with this time! I'm logging off first!

The atmosphere in the group, in just one minute, seamlessly switched from "Family Ethics Drama" to "Gaokao 100-Day Oath-Taking Rally."

The "misery-comparing convention" instantly turned into a "Cultivation mobilization meeting."

The students who were previously complaining about their families were now all pumped up, exchanging fierce words, then logging off one after another and rushing to their respective Cultivation grounds.

The entire group once again returned to silence.

Li Heng put down his phone with satisfaction.

The energy of young people should be used for Cultivation and competition.

As for those trivial mortal attachments, once they become strong enough, they will naturally have ways to resolve them.

He stood up from his chair and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window of the office.

As his will commanded, a huge, faintly glowing holographic three-dimensional map slowly unfolded before him.

It was a precise model of the entire Earth.

His fingertip traced across the map, gliding over the magnificent mountains and rivers of the Dragon Country, and finally, it stopped on the long, narrow island to the east.

Japan.

"That fly last time flew over from here."

Li Heng's fingertip gently tapped on the map, and a place name appeared there—Izumo.

"Tian Yu Zhong Main God..."

He softly recited the name obtained from that Clone's Divine Thought.

"Since you are so enthusiastic and sent a Clone to be the chief sparring partner."

"Then the first stage examination venue for this mid-term assessment will be set in your old home."

"I hope your inventory can provide me with a few more qualified sparring partners, and by the way, let me see what you Ancient Great Demons are planning."