Seeing Fang Yuan's utterly hopeless, pale, and broken state, Fang Zheng's lips curl into a cruel, satisfied grin. His thoughts drip with venomous delight as he revels in the sight of Fang Yuan's suffering. "Just looking at his shattered face fills me with a satisfaction I've never known in my entire life!" he muses, his mind ablaze with sadistic glee. "But this isn't enough—not by a long shot. This is only the beginning. I'll make sure you suffer ten times worse before it's over. I'll break you so completely that you'll wish you were never born."
His devilish smile widens as an idea takes shape in his twisted mind. "How about I twist the knife even deeper? Ha ha ha. Let's see how much more despair you can endure before you finally snap." With a calculated shift in his expression, Fang Zheng raises his voice, feigning concern. "Elder, what if a rank 1 Gu Master trains exceptionally hard? Couldn't they defeat a rank 5 Gu Master? Even if my brother can't advance his cultivation, I'm sure his strength and determination would allow him to overcome higher-ranked opponents!"
Gu Xianer, ever the innocent soul eager to defend her beloved brother, leaps to her feet without hesitation. Her voice rings out with unwavering determination, cutting through the room like a defiant battle cry. "Yes! Fang Zheng is absolutely right! My brother may not be able to advance, but he's extraordinary! He'll defeat higher-ranked opponents easily, and one day, even immortals! You'll all see!"
Once again, Fang Yuan gently silences her, his trembling hand firm yet tender as it presses against hers. The room falls silent for a moment, stunned disbelief hanging heavy in the air. And then, like a dam breaking, insults and mockery erupt from every corner, their cruel words echoing through the chamber like knives slicing into Fang Yuan's already fragile spirit.
"Defeat a rank 5 Gu Master? What a joke!" one student sneers, his voice dripping with contempt.
"Even immortals? Ha! Does she think her brother is some kind of god?" another jeers, his laughter sharp and cutting.
The insults cut deep, each one a dagger twisting in Fang Yuan's already shattered spirit. His tears flow freely, his vision blurring as the weight of their words crushes him further. The room feels like it's closing in, the air thick with disdain and ridicule, suffocating him under the weight of their collective scorn.
The academy elder, now both stupefied and enraged, slams his hand on the desk with a thunderous crack. "Silence!" he roars, his voice shaking the walls. "Let me make this crystal clear so none of you harbor any delusions. The strength difference between each rank isn't a mere step—it's an exponential leap. On average, the gap between ranks is tenfold. A peak rank 2 Gu Master is ten times stronger than a peak rank 1. A peak rank 3 is ten times stronger than a peak rank 2, and so on. This progression continues all the way to rank 5."
He pauses, letting the weight of his words sink in like a leaden weight. "Now, let me drive this point home: a peak rank 5 Gu Master is ten thousand times (10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 10,000) stronger than a peak rank 1 Gu Master. As for mortals? They aren't even ants before a peak rank 5 Gu Master, who stands at a staggering one hundred thousand times (10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 100,000) stronger than a mere mortal. Do you understand now? This is the harsh reality of our world. Stop deluding yourselves and start accepting it!"
The elder's words hang in the air like storm clouds, suffocating the spirits of the lower-ranked students. For Fang Yuan, it feels like being struck by lightning—a devastating blow that leaves him reeling. He had once believed himself destined for greatness, convinced that his second chance at life would grant him unparalleled strength. Now, he feels utterly insignificant—as if comparing himself to an ant would be an insult to the ant. Tears stream down his cheeks unchecked, blurring his vision until the world dissolves into a haze of anguish. The darkness closes in around him, dragging him deeper into an endless void of despair.
Watching Fang Yuan crumble, Fang Zheng suppresses a triumphant laugh, savoring every second of his torment. "As I've analyzed, Gu Xianer is nothing more than an innocent, naive child," he thinks, his grin widening with malicious satisfaction. "She believes she's defending her brother, but in reality, she's pushing him further into the abyss of despair. Without realizing it, she's dancing to my tune. Ha ha ha. My manipulation is working perfectly."
After a brief pause, his thoughts grow darker, more calculating. "This is just the first step in driving a wedge between Fang Yuan and her. Soon, her blind faith in his abilities will become unbearable to him. Day by day, resentment will fester within him, gnawing at his soul until he starts blaming her for stealing the talent that should have been his. Ha ha ha. My tactics are flawless—I'm killing multiple birds with one stone. Without her knowing, she's subconsciously starting to see me as someone close. In time, when the cracks between Fang Yuan and Gu Xianer widen beyond repair, I'll ensure she falls completely for me. Ha ha ha. After all, you're far too valuable to lose—you're my factory for producing unlimited pure blood. Ha ha ha."
Fang Zheng's gaze shifts to the academy elder, whose frustration and anger are palpable. "Manipulating this old fool wasn't easy," he muses, his thoughts laced with smug superiority. "But with Gu Xianer's help, it was almost effortless. Ha ha ha. And the results are beyond satisfying. This is just the beginning of my game. From now on, every single day will bring new opportunities for satisfaction. Ha ha ha."
"Revenge isn't about calming your anger or hatred; it's a calculated art of inflicting maximum pain. The more unexpected and ruthless it is, the greater the satisfaction it brings."
Gu Xianer tries desperately to comfort Fang Yuan, but no words come to her lips. Tears well up in her eyes as she watches her brother retreat further into himself, consumed by despair. Around them, the other students sit in silence, their faces etched with hopelessness and fear. The atmosphere is suffocating, thick with the collective weight of shattered dreams.
The academy elder, noticing the growing despair in the students' eyes, feels panic clawing at his chest. His heart races as he observes the aftermath of his own harsh words. Clenching his fists, he berates himself internally. "What is wrong with me today? I've always been the one to encourage even the most untalented students, to lift them up when they feel they can't go on. But now… I've crushed their spirits. I've let my frustration cloud my judgment. This isn't right—I need to fix this before it's too late."
With urgency burning in his veins, the elder raises his voice, shouting to capture the attention of the despondent students. "Don't be discouraged! I haven't told you the most important truth—the factor that can change your fate!"
He takes a deep breath, steadying himself as he prepares to deliver his message with conviction. "Heaven is not blind! If you continue to work hard without stopping, if you pour every ounce of effort and resolve into your journey, heaven will grant you the opportunities to change your fate! Remember, the harder you work, the bigger the opportunities that will come your way!"
The elder's voice reverberates through the room, filled with desperate hope, as if trying to undo the damage he's caused. Some students look up, their eyes flickering with the faintest spark of hope. Others remain weighed down by doubt, their spirits still buried under the rubble of despair. Fang Yuan, however, remains silent, his tears flowing freely, his mind trapped in the suffocating abyss of his anguish.
Gu Xianer reaches out, her small hand gripping his tightly, her own tears falling as she whispers, her voice trembling but resolute. "Brother, don't give up. I believe in you. No matter what happens, I am always with you."
But Fang Yuan doesn't respond. The elder's words, though meant to inspire, feel hollow to him. The darkness within him is too deep, the weight of his failures too heavy. Everything seems to be going wrong, and it's all too much. Yet, somewhere deep inside, a tiny spark of determination flickers—a faint ember glowing amidst the ashes. It's fueled by the love and hope that still bind him to Gu Xianer. For her sake alone, he resolves to keep fighting, even if the world feels like it's crumbling around him.