Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique

Her words finally struck a chord with the students. They had chosen the path of a Martial Artist, so they all had some fight in them. And with that fight, who would be willing to let others mock them? Who would stand for being trampled on and insulted?

"So, do you admit you’re trash? Have you accepted it? Are you resigned to it? Don’t think getting into the Special Class is the ultimate goal of your life. For people like that, I have two words for you: useless trash! The Special Class is just the beginning for you. Here, you can seek ways to constantly improve your strength, surpass yourselves, and set new goals. I don’t expect you to set your sights too high at the start, like claiming you’ll defeat the Holy Hall Students. That’s not realistic. A goal that lofty serves no purpose. It will only crush your confidence time and time again."

Lingyun finished and held up a single finger. "One month. In one month, each of you will raise your Martial Artist Realm by at least one tier. You’re forbidden from using pills for an empty boost; you must rely on constant, life-or-death training. In this respect, we have a definitive advantage over the Holy Hall Students, because our training ground is ten thousand times more dangerous than their Tower of Calamity."

Lingyun let out a wry laugh and continued, "I, your instructor, once came from the Holy Hall. I know far more about the Tower of Calamity than you do. It’s not the paradise you imagine. A Holy Land for increasing your power and finding treasures? Bullshit! Is the Imperial Academy short on Yellow Tier pills and Cultivation Techniques? Forget Yellow Tier; we have Profound Tier Cultivation Techniques, Combat Skills, and pills in abundance. The Tower of Calamity is only truly useful for one kind of person: someone who can fight above their station. But across the entire Extreme Martial Continent, how many people like that are there? Since the founding of the Xuanling Empire, only two have ever appeared."

"The first was our academy’s strongest dean, Shen Jianxin. The second is Mu Chen, from your own group. As far as the Tower of Calamity is concerned, only those two are truly suited for it. The Holy Hall? Heh. From what I know, the Holy Hall Students are strong only because they’re propped up by innate talent and a mountain of pills. When it comes to actual combat, they’re pathetically weak."

Hearing this, the students all turned to look at Mu Chen. He met their gazes with an expressionless face, though it was just an act. Inwardly, he felt a sense of resignation, but he knew Lingyun was just trying to rile everyone up and ignite their competitive spirit.

"Instructor, so where are we going to train?" one student, finally fired up, asked impatiently.

A grin spread across Lingyun’s face as she chuckled. "You should all be very familiar with this place. Only there can you truly experience a life-or-death trial. That place is... the Demon Beast Prison!"

"The Demon Beast Prison?!" the students exclaimed in unison.

"That’s right, the Demon Beast Prison," Lingyun said. "A life-or-death trial is the most effective way to break through the Martial Artist Realm. Every moment you face death is the perfect time for your body’s potential to explode forth. And that’s not some temporary boost. Once you shatter your limits, your Martial Artist Realm is guaranteed to take a huge leap forward."

"But let me be clear: this time, while training in the Demon Beast Prison, no one is coming to save you. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a life-or-death trial. So, don’t harbor any delusions of getting lucky. If you fail, what you lose might be your life. But as I said, the choice is in your hands. Anyone who’s afraid can turn around and leave right now. You can join any ordinary class in the outer ring, where life is comfortable and much, much safer than in the Special Class. But once you choose to join the Special Class, you must sign this Life and Death Contract. Your death will have nothing to do with the Imperial Academy."

As she spoke, Lingyun produced thirty-five sheets of white paper. A line of text was inscribed on them with Primordial Power—what must have been the so-called Life and Death Contract. "Ten seconds. Make your choice."

"We’ll stay! We’ll stay! We’ll stay!"

Without hesitation, without a single pause, all the students declared their choice in unison. The decisive answer even startled Lingyun for a moment. Clearly, she hadn’t anticipated this outcome. But she quickly recovered, gazing at the thirty-five students with satisfaction. "You will be proud of this choice," she said with a smile.

"The Demon Beast Prison is incredibly dangerous, and it’s true that one slip-up could cost you your life. But as your instructor, how could I just watch my students go to their deaths? So, before each training session, I will determine the most suitable Magical Beast for you to challenge based on your individual strength, combat prowess, and current realm. They might only be a fraction stronger than you, but that’s more than enough to take your life. A Magical Beast won’t show you any mercy. The only thing you can do is kill them first."

"So, to ensure you all survive, the plan I’ve designed is this: besides your regular Cultivation, you will spend all your free time in the Library Pavilion. Read everything you can that will help you kill Magical Beasts. As for me, your instructor, other than teaching you Combat Techniques, I will simply be giving you missions. Your job is to improve yourselves—as fast as you possibly can! One year from now, we will challenge the Holy Hall. Whether you’re the ones getting your asses kicked or you’re the ones doing the kicking will depend entirely on the effort you put in this year. Understood?!"

At that moment, Lingyun seemed to have reverted to her formidable persona. But no one was paying attention to her. A raging battle-fire and a stubborn will had been ignited in their hearts.

"Understood!"

A unified shout made their determination clear to all. Lingyun snorted. "I hope this isn’t just a flash in the pan. Otherwise, the Demon Beast Prison will be your final destination!"

With that, Lingyun handed out the Life and Death Contracts, and everyone signed their names...

The sky gradually darkened. Once all the contracts were signed, Lingyun stepped aside, clearing the path behind her. "Students of the Special Class, this will be your classroom from now on. Go on, take a look."

Saying this, Lingyun shoved open the heavy, dark iron door behind her. On the pitch-black path ahead, two streetlamps suddenly flared to life. Their light source, of course, was Elemental Power Crystal Stones. Not only that, as if in a chain reaction, lamps lit up one after another until the entire black fortress was bathed in a gentle glow. The soft light enveloped the dark walls, creating a hazy, mysterious atmosphere.

Mu Chen couldn’t help but smile. "The academy’s designs are certainly unique."

"Yes. The academy’s buildings were all conceived by the Empire’s finest designers. Each one has a specific meaning."

Hearing the voice, Mu Chen turned his head. He saw Mo Qing looking at him, her face impassive, but a clear smile played on her lips. Mu Chen nodded. "Let’s go take a look inside."

"Mm..."

Following the students ahead, Mu Chen and the others soon entered the building. The space inside was immense and not nearly as dim as it had appeared from the outside. The entire first floor was a single, vast, empty hall. Lingyun naturally led them straight to the second floor, where they found three rooms that resembled classrooms. Each room was enormous, but the desks and chairs within were scattered far apart.

"This is where you’ll have your classes. There are three classrooms in total, each with a capacity of thirty-three. Once all three classrooms are full, the Special Class will stop recruiting. Instead, we’ll switch to a competitive model where outsiders can challenge for a spot based on their strength ranking. In short, being in the Special Class means living in a state of constant competition. Since you are the very first class, you probably won’t have to worry about being eliminated this year. But next year, once the Special Class reaches full capacity, whether you stay or go will depend entirely on your own strength." Lingyun’s words were blunt. Of the thirty-five students, all but Mu Chen and his few companions felt an inexplicable pressure, wishing they could run back and start cultivating immediately.

To be honest, the Special Class’s instructional building was far from grand or luxurious; it was simple and spacious. But what did that matter to them? ’The chance to grow stronger is the only thing that’s important.’

Lingyun noticed their eagerness, and a playful glint flashed in her eyes. "Looks like everyone is already getting into the right mindset. That’s a good start. You’ve seen the classrooms. In reality, for a Special Class student, the only thing you need to know about this building is where to find your class. The rest of your time will be spent in the Library Pavilion and the Demon Beast Prison, so that’s all for today. Make sure you get a good night’s rest tonight. This is your last chance for one. From now on, you’ll be experiencing a truly demonic training regimen. Dismissed!"

At Lingyun’s sharp command, all the students swiftly left the building, running toward their dormitories. They weren’t rushing back to rest as she had suggested; they wanted to seize every second to cultivate and advance their realms.

As Mu Chen watched their determined faces, for some reason, an image of his former self flickered in his mind. ’That’s right... it’s been a long time since I’ve pushed myself this hard in Cultivation. The Special Class... this might be a good place after all.’ With that thought, his feet carried him quickly out with the others.

Lingyun stood by the second-floor window, arms crossed, and watched the students below. A look of deep gratification filled her face as she saw their hurrying figures.

SWOOSH.

Suddenly, a gap more than three meters long materialized out of thin air. With a sound like tearing fabric, Di Cang’s figure stepped out. Lingyun turned her head and smiled. "Teacher, you’re here."

Di Cang nodded. "It seems this first crop of seedlings is quite promising."

Lingyun turned her head, her gaze following the last student’s back until it vanished from sight. She spoke softly, "Yes, they’re all good kids. Teacher, do you think our teaching methods might be too harsh for them?"

Di Cang sighed. "I know. But we have no other choice. Our methods may be harsh, but the benefits for them will be immeasurable. This is all for the Imperial Academy, all for the future of these children. If we lose the upcoming imperial tournament, the children of the Xuanling Empire will no longer have a future."

A sad look suddenly clouded Lingyun’s face. Of course she knew the Xuanling Empire’s current predicament. The pressure on Di Cang was immense... until Mu Chen appeared.

’Mu Chen... are you the hope of the Xuanling Empire?’

She looked up gently. The vast expanse of stars was as brilliant as ever, as if they would continue to shine even if the entire world beneath them vanished...