In Order to Stand

His voice was steady and powerful, carrying an innate sense of righteousness.

A faint glimmer of approval flashed in Situ Ming's eyes. Without making a comment, he motioned for An Changqing to sit down.

He recalled how, many years ago, someone who looked much like An Changqing today had stood in this very spot, speaking with the same impassioned fervor.

Time had passed, and now, even his son was standing here.

Afterward, students stood up one after another to express their thoughts, giving all sorts of reasons for everything.

When it was Long Ao's turn, he remained concise: "To get stronger, and then defeat anyone who stands in my way."

The words were filled with a pure, unadulterated desire to conquer. Situ Ming nodded and told him to sit. The Long family seemed to share a single brain; Long Ao's answer didn't surprise him at all.

Soon, Situ Ming's gaze fell upon the boy in the back row who had remained silent all along, leaning against a massive black coffin.

"Chen Guan," he called out directly, his voice flat and calm. "What about you?"

The eyes of the entire classroom swiveled over, focusing on him like a spotlight.

Various emotions mingled in their gazes, though disdain was the most prevalent.

Those present were mostly young masters and misses from privileged backgrounds, boasting about their chairman fathers, speaker mothers, or general grandfathers...

It was only natural for them to look down on a freak like Chen Guan, who was admitted through special recruitment.

Chen Guan slowly stood up.

He could feel the weight of their stares, as well as the icy touch of the coffin beside him.

He met Situ Ming's gaze, but it was as if he was looking right through him, gazing at the coffin and the other slumbering self inside it.

After a few moments of silence, he spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear, echoing in the quiet classroom.

"So that... I can keep standing, and carry him."

"So that no matter how high I climb or how hard I fall, I will always have the strength to hoist him up again."

"And so that... perhaps one day, I can hear what he wants to say."

It wasn't even for a clear objective.

It was just to stay standing.

For Chen Guan, the meaning of this alt-account's existence was simply to support the Old Me inside the coffin.

This answer once again exceeded everyone's expectations.

It was bizarre, obscure, and even somewhat incomprehensible.

Situ Ming's eyes, however, flickered slightly.

He stared deeply at Chen Guan, as if trying to pierce through his calm exterior to glimpse the undercurrents hidden beneath.

The classroom was dead silent. Some frowned in confusion, some looked thoughtful, and others found it utterly ridiculous.

Liu Feiyu scoffed openly, muttering, "Just acting mysterious."

An Changqing looked at Chen Guan, a complex ripple flashing in his eyes, while Su Yuehe blinked her large eyes, seemingly touched by the sheer persistence in that answer.

Long Ao cast his gaze upon him, lingering a bit longer this time. He could sense the willpower contained within Chen Guan's simple words.

Firm and stubborn.

He closed his eyes again. Although there was no spiritual energy fluctuation, well... he wasn't exactly trash either.

Situ Ming still offered no evaluation, merely nodding. "Sit down."

He dropped the subject and moved on to explain in detail the specific rules, curriculum, resource allocation, and mission system of the Tianshu Class, along with other practical matters.

Chen Guan sat down, his expression remaining placid.

He knew his answer probably didn't sound very ambitious, but it was indeed his truest thought at this moment.

He didn't need everyone to understand him.

He just needed to grip the carrying straps on his shoulders tightly and keep moving forward.

[Who exactly is the person in the coffin? Did they save Chen Guan's life?]

[More than just his life, probably saved his whole family.]

[Who else gets that line, "So that I can keep standing, and carry him." Best friend or wife, I'll judge for myself!]

[And "So that no matter how high I climb or how hard I fall, I will always have the strength to hoist him up again." That line is absolute perfection. It feels like Chen Guan's entire motivation for living is the person in the coffin...]

[Agreed with the above. I'm getting more and more curious about their past now.]

On the background panel, watching his rising popularity points, a hint of a smile crossed Chen Guan's lips.

The afternoon classes concluded with Situ Ming's lecture.

After announcing the dismissal, Situ Ming left behind one sentence: "Chen Guan, stay behind for a moment."

The other students stood up to leave, though they all cast a glance at Chen Guan on their way out.

Being asked to stay behind alone naturally sparked people's imaginations.

As An Changqing walked by, he nodded at him and made a gesture of encouragement.

Long Ao cast an expressionless glance but didn't linger, walking straight out behind An Changqing.

Liu Feiyu, however, deliberately walked past him and said to his companion in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, "Special recruitment? Looks more like nepotism to me, playing these mystifying tricks."

His companion echoed with a laugh.

Su Yuehe wanted to come over and say something to Chen Guan, but An Changqing gently pulled her away.

Soon, only Chen Guan and Situ Ming on the podium remained in the classroom.

Situ Ming stepped down from the podium and approached Chen Guan. He did not look at the coffin; his gaze fell directly on Chen Guan's face, those deep eyes seemingly capable of piercing through a person's heart.

"I've seen your test records," Situ Ming got straight to the point, his tone flat yet carrying an invisible pressure. "Facing the beast tide head-on, using the coffin as a shield—commendable willpower. Navigating the underwater maze calmly—decent temperament. Before the ancient stele..."

He paused. "The coffin showed strange activity, resonating with lingering spirits. I shouldn't pry, but... my apologies, I must overstep. What exactly is this coffin? And what is its connection to you?"

What had to come, would always come.

And it was even more direct than expected.

Chen Guan felt a slight tightness in his chest, but he maintained a calm facade. He raised his head and met Situ Ming's gaze without flinching.

"I do not know, sir. I only know that this coffin is made of ten-thousand-year profound iron." Chen Guan frankly stated what he knew. "As for the person in the coffin... that is my comatose best friend. I couldn't bear the thought of him being alone in boundless darkness, sleeping in the cold, so I keep him close to care for him."

Situ Ming looked at him quietly for several breaths, his gaze seemingly able to pierce through flesh and reach the depths of the soul.

The aura of authority from being in a high position for so long, coupled with his unfathomable strength, made this silent stare feel exceptionally long.

After a long while, Situ Ming finally spoke slowly. His voice was still flat, but it seemed to lack some of its previous scrutiny, replaced by an indescribable undertone.

"Deep affection and heavy loyalty, with a will like iron. Though you have no manifest abilities to rely on, you can forge a new path—carrying the Dao through an artifact, controlling objects with your heart, and carving out a path to survival in desperate situations. Specially recruiting you into the Tianshu Class is not bending the rules; rather, you truly have the qualifications to deserve this spot."

"However." He changed the subject, his tone hardening slightly. "Huaqing is ultimately an academy for superpowered individuals. You can be special, and you can take an unconventional path, but your foundation absolutely must not be neglected. Otherwise, your path forward will be clouded by obstacles, making it impossible to take a single step."

"I understand," Chen Guan replied respectfully.

He really did need to systematically study the knowledge systems of this world, even if his alt-account couldn't cultivate and could only become stronger by adding stat points.

"Furthermore." Situ Ming's gaze finally settled on the silent black iron coffin, though he offered it only a fleeting glance. "This item is extraordinary. It will easily attract covetous eyes and bring about unnecessary trouble. Within the academy, I can guarantee your safety. But the outside world is vast, and human hearts are treacherous. Ultimately, you must rely on your own strength to cope. Elevating your power as quickly as possible is the only true solution."