The Meaning of Power

The current harmony was built more on their personal cultivation.

However, Chen Guan did not care.

His goal had never been to blend into any small clique, but to gain popularity points and improve his strength.

Maintaining appropriate, positive interactions with the protagonist was just treating him as a camera trigger.

After a simple meal in the cafeteria, the three parted ways.

An Changqing and Su Yuehe seemed to have other matters to attend to, while Chen Guan returned to the dorm alone.

Returning to Room 304, he routinely checked the state of his main body, fed it liquid food, and did some basic cleaning.

Only after finishing these tasks did he relax a bit and call up the system panel.

[Popularity Points: 1892]

During the period after the test ended, his popularity points were still growing steadily.

Chen Guan thought for a moment and continued to add 1.8 points to his stamina.

The stamina attribute slowly ticked up.

[Stamina: 3.2]

More abundant stamina meant his alt-identity could sustain high-intensity activities for longer. His coffin was both a sharp spear and an unyielding shield; in the short term, it was top-tier as both a weapon and armor.

It was just going to be a bit tough on Old Me.

He changed into a clean school uniform. Although it was an illusion, he had still sweated a bit, so he changed his clothes. Seeing that it was almost two o'clock, he hoisted the Black Iron Coffin onto his back again and headed to the Tianshu Building.

The Tianshu Building complex was magnificent, shrouded in a dense spiritual aura.

Following the terminal map's guidance, Chen Guan arrived at Room 101 on the first floor of the main building.

The classroom was spacious and bright, simply yet stylishly furnished, and nearly twenty people were already seated.

When he walked into the classroom carrying that iconic black coffin on his back, the room, which had some low whispers, instantly quieted down.

Gazes shot over like invisible searchlights.

Chen Guan's expression remained unchanged as his calm gaze swept across the room.

An Changqing sat in the front row by the window, giving him a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Long Ao was in a back corner, resting with his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings.

Su Yuehe sat diagonally behind An Changqing. Seeing Chen Guan enter, her eyes lit up, and she gave a small wave.

Besides them, there were a few unfamiliar faces, some handsome, some beautiful, with varying temperaments, mostly carrying the unique arrogance of prodigies.

He found a seat near the back by the window and carefully stood the Black Iron Coffin beside him.

This spot was inconspicuous and convenient for getting in and out.

Just as he settled in, a somewhat flippant voice came from the right side of the front row: Yo, our Tianshu Class really is full of talents. Even a coffin gets a seat? Is this black box meant to be a desk or a bed?

The owner of the voice was a flashy youth wearing a pink shirt, with a few streaks of blonde highlights in his hair. His eyes were frivolous, and he was looking at Chen Guan sideways with an undisguised sneer on his lips.

A few similarly flashy youths beside him followed with low, mocking laughter.

Liu Feiyu, say less.

An Changqing frowned slightly and spoke up to stop him. Although his tone was mild, he possessed a convincing air of authority.

The pink-shirted youth called Liu Feiyu curled his lips. He seemed somewhat wary of An Changqing and didn't mock loudly anymore, but still muttered, Special recruitment brought in this kind of thing? What is Dean Situ thinking...

Chen Guan didn't even bat an eyelid, completely ignoring the noise.

This level of provocation was not worth mentioning compared to the cold stares he had once endured. There was no need to bicker with such people, and he didn't yet have the strength to flip the table anyway.

Right now, he was more focused on the upcoming instructor and the environment of the Tianshu Class.

And... more importantly, popularity points.

[Who is this pink-shirt guy? What gives him the right to talk about our Coffin Bro like that.]

[Liu Feiyu. A forum guru compiled info on him. His dad seems to be the richest man?]

[Damn, so what if he's the richest man? Is he more badass than Little An's dad? Even Little An is being amiable.]

Along with the bullet comments, the classroom door was silently pushed open.

Situ Ming, dressed in a deep purple robe, walked in slowly.

In an instant, all background noise vanished. The air seemed to freeze, and an invisible pressure spread out, causing these arrogant prodigies to subconsciously straighten their backs and restrain their expressions.

Situ Ming stepped onto the podium. His gaze, like a calm, deep pool, slowly swept across every young face below.

His eyes lingered for a moment on Chen Guan and the coffin beside him, then moved away.

I am Situ Ming.

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly entered everyone's ears, carrying a strange power that made one's mind tranquil yet fearful of slacking: For the next year, I will be the instructor in charge of your Tianshu Class.

After a simple self-introduction, he skipped the pleasantries and cut straight to the point.

Tianshu Class, the apex of Huaqing. Those who enter these doors must possess top-tier talent, temperament, and potential. But sitting here today only represents the starting line.

Situ Ming's tone was flat, yet every word carried immense weight: Huaqing does not raise mediocrities, and Tianshu has even less tolerance for trash. There will be internal assessments every month. Those at the bottom in points will be demoted to Tianxuan, while the best of Tianxuan can be promoted to Tianshu. The survival of the fittest has remained unchanged since ancient times.

[What is this old man mumbling about? Is he suffering from some artistic pretension syndrome?]

Chen Guan nodded inwardly. This was the most accurate the bullet comments had ever been.

Many students' eyes sharpened, feeling a heavy pressure, especially a few who had gotten in through the back door relying on their family's influence; their expressions shifted slightly.

Previous cohorts didn't have this rule. Are they being targeted?

Aside from internal class competition, as members of the Tianshu Class, you automatically gain candidate qualifications for the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

Situ Ming continued, Having your name on the rankings is not only a matter of honor, but it also means tangible resource allocation. The rankings are updated quarterly, and all students in the academy can challenge them.

The Hidden Dragon Rankings! A fiery passion ignited in the eyes of many students.

That was a symbol of strength, a pass to the path of becoming stronger. The Hidden Dragon Rankings didn't care about family background or connections; strength was the only absolute rule!

It was a ranking unique to Huaqing that evaluated the students. The higher the rank, the greater the privileges. It could be said that it wasn't impossible for the top ranker to attend class riding on a teacher's back.

Long Ao finally opened his eyes, as if he could already envision himself at the top of the rankings.

For today's first lesson, we will not discuss theoretical cultivation.

Situ Ming changed the subject, his gaze becoming profound: I will only ask you one question.

He paused, as if to give everyone ample time to prepare: Why do you pursue power? For what reason do you want to become stronger?

This question was much grander than the one asked of Chen Guan in the illusion.

The classroom fell into a contemplative silence.

Some frowned in deep thought, some had flickering gazes, and some subconsciously looked at the people next to them.

Situ Ming did not rush them; he just waited quietly, as if observing the echoes deep within each person's soul.

Chen Guan also lowered his eyes.

Why? For popularity points? To awaken his main body? These were goals and driving forces, but they didn't seem to be the true meaning of power.

He recalled the exchange in that pure white space at the end of the illusion.

He thought of himself sleeping in the coffin, of the hardships he had endured walking this path across two lifetimes, and of the slim but unyielding hope he held for the future.

A moment later, a clear and firm voice broke the silence.

An Changqing rose to his feet, standing as tall and straight as a pine. With a crystal-clear gaze, he met Situ Ming's eyes and declared in a resounding voice, "I believe that the pursuit of power is meant to give us the strength to protect."