49 Apocalypse Rules

Chapter 305: Chapter 284: A Consideration for Channeling

In the academy’s conference room, a faculty meeting was underway.

"Regarding the students’ situation over the past week since the new rule was announced, I feel it’s necessary to provide an update."

Dean Zhou Qinfeng wore a grim expression. Seeing this, the faculty knew it couldn’t be good news.

"According to the reports from you teachers, as well as feedback from some students, it has come to my attention that there are students within our academy practicing that so-called ’Cosmic Divine Spore Technique.’ This is something I simply cannot tolerate!"

"This academy was founded to cultivate the pillars of society, with the hope that these outstanding students would one day lead our entire nation out of the shadow of the Apocalypse Rules. This means our students should possess sound values and a healthy worldview. But now, it seems a major problem has emerged."

Zhou Qinfeng scanned the room and asked, "Can anyone explain to me what exactly has gone wrong?"

Mrs. Chen, the psychology teacher, spoke up. "According to the information disclosed by the authorities, these Alien Spores invade through an individual’s emotional vulnerabilities. Right now, a primary emotional vulnerability for the students is performance anxiety."

"Performance anxiety? But the ones who get into this academy are the best of the best. They feel it too?"

"Of course. In fact, their performance anxiety might be even more severe than that of ordinary people. It’s common among high achievers. Or rather, the reason many people excel is precisely because they hold themselves to such strict standards."

"Mrs. Chen is right," added Ouyang Shanyue, who taught ’Philosophical Contemplations of Psychic Power.’ "Many students have also reported to me that the spores have enhanced their abilities and even accelerated the growth of their Psychic Power. These tangible improvements are making them waver."

"I told them to remain calm. These benefits right in front of them are like bait. A truly wise person knows to look at the long term. In the long run, they can attain these benefits anyway. There’s no need to take such a huge, unknown risk just to get them sooner."

"We all understand the principle, of course. The problem is that some students are young and find it hard to resist temptation. That’s the crux of the issue."

The teachers looked at one another, all at a loss.

Even the authorities, with their think tanks, couldn’t control the emergence of countless fanatical practitioners. What hope did they, a group of teachers, have?

"Lecturer Jingyi, what are your thoughts?"

Zhou Qinfeng looked toward Shi Jingyi, who was seated at the end of the table, her gaze serene.

"You’ve only been back at the academy for a little over a month, but the students all like you and are willing to listen. Perhaps you could be the one to say something to them?"

Hearing this, the other teachers nodded in agreement.

Shi Jingyi was the most popular among the student body, and no one ever caused trouble in her classes. Zhou Qinfeng thought she might have a solution to this problem.

Facing everyone’s gazes, Shi Jingyi spoke slowly. "If my experience in martial arts has taught me anything, it’s that there are no shortcuts to self-improvement. You can only move forward one steady step at a time. If the students understood this principle, they wouldn’t be tempted by the spores’ effects."

One teacher said, "That’s true in theory... but during this Rule Stage, how can they tell if their progress is from their own efforts or thanks to the spores?"

"Exactly. Are we supposed to tell everyone to do nothing for the next month? Just eat and sleep all day?"

At that moment, someone remembered something. "Lecturer Jingyi, I recall you’ve been training constantly these past few days, haven’t you? Aren’t you worried you might..."

"I have indeed been training every day," Shi Jingyi admitted. "And I have also felt the enhancement the spores bring to my training."

The room immediately erupted in an uproar. Dean Zhou’s expression changed as well. "Lecturer Jingyi, your actions are far too dangerous! If a teacher at our academy becomes addicted to the spores, the consequences would be disastrous!"

"Everyone, I have only felt the spores’ effects, nothing more," Shi Jingyi said. "Feeling them doesn’t mean I will become reliant on them. I stop as soon as I’ve completed my planned training regimen for the day. I don’t do extra just because there’s an additional effect."

"That... must require an incredible amount of self-control."

"I think so too. I wouldn’t dare try it myself. I haven’t dared to use my abilities even once during this Rule Stage, for fear that if I discover they’ve been enhanced, I’ll just crave more."

"Lecturer Jingyi, your courage is admirable, but it would be better to be more cautious."

Although the teachers admired Shi Jingyi, they also felt she was "playing with fire" and that it could easily lead to disaster.

"So, Lecturer Jingyi, what is your specific recommendation?" Zhou Qinfeng asked.

"It’s better to guide than to block," Shi Jingyi said bluntly. "That’s my opinion."

"Absolutely not!" Zhou Qinfeng immediately objected. "Lecturer Jingyi, you’ve practiced martial arts since you were a child and have strong self-control. Just because you can handle it doesn’t mean others can. Even the official recommendation is to minimize the use of abilities and items during the Rule Stage. How can we go directly against official guidance?"

"The Dean is right."

"’Guide rather than block’... Does that mean letting students experiment with the spores’ effects as they please? That’s just too dangerous..."

After Zhou Qinfeng was the first to object, the other teachers voiced their opposition one after another.

Shi Jingyi said nothing, nor did she show any sign of displeasure.

She had always been one to speak her mind. Dean Zhou had asked for her opinion, and she had given it. Whether others objected or not was of no concern to her.

Toward the end of the meeting, Zhou Qinfeng made the final decision. "For now, the academy can only tighten its supervision. We will emphasize the dangers of the spores to the students every single day and strictly prohibit any discussion of ’cultivation’ among them."

After the meeting was dismissed, Shi Jingyi had just left the conference room and was not yet out of the hallway when Mrs. Chen came jogging up to stop her.

"Actually, I think there’s some sense to your ’guide rather than block’ proposal, Lecturer Jingyi," Mrs. Chen said sincerely.

"When I used to work as a counselor at a hospital, many parents brought in children with severe video game addictions. After asking about their situations, I found that most of these families were extremely strict with their children, never letting them touch games at all... As a result, many of the kids secretly went to internet cafes to play and quickly became addicted. I think if the parents had allowed their children to play in moderation at home, things might not have turned out that way."

"These Alien Spores are certainly far more dangerous than video games. While it may not be a perfect analogy, with everyone from the authorities to the academy issuing strict prohibitions, I worry it might lead to a similar situation as the game addiction. It’s truly concerning, isn’t it?"

"I don’t know. But as Dean Zhou said, my opinion isn’t applicable to everyone."

Shi Jingyi wasn’t sure either. She looked out the window, a thought having long since taken root in her mind.

"Mrs. Chen, have you ever had a feeling... that ever since the very first rule was announced, the Fire Thief has wanted every person to fend for themselves? Every one of its rules seems to show a hatred for groups that protect one another."

Mrs. Chen was slightly taken aback. "You’re right. There was a lot of heated discussion about that online before. People speculated that the reason the Fire Thief issued that terrifying earthquake rule might be directly related to the formation of the Human Federation... Many of the other rules also discourage humans from banding together to survive, but..."

"But humans are social creatures, after all. It’s an instinct etched into our genes. And since the Fire Thief is our enemy, shouldn’t we do the exact opposite of what it wants?"

"Perhaps."

As Shi Jingyi spoke, Guan Tong’s face surfaced in her mind. ’I wonder what he, a perpetual loner, would think about this issue,’ she thought.

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