The room remained silent for several seconds after Krishak's final words.
"It will be an academy created to produce civilization builders."
Nobody spoke immediately.
Not because they disagreed.
But because they were trying to understand exactly what that meant.
After all, every academy in the world claimed to be helping humanity. Every organization claimed to be serving civilization. Yet the results varied greatly.
Finally, Principal Rudra broke the silence.
"You need to explain that."
Krishak nodded.
He expected the question.
The holographic map continued floating above the table. Spiritual veins glowed softly beneath the mountain ranges. Ancient forests occupied large portions of the region. Several rivers crossed the land naturally.
The future academy site looked more like a small nation than an educational institution.
Yet nobody's attention remained on the map now.
All eyes were on Krishak.
"What is the purpose of a cultivation academy?" Krishak asked. The question seemed simple.
Rohon answered first.
"To train cultivators."
Several people nodded.
A reasonable answer.
Meera added,
"To pass down knowledge."
Tara spoke next.
"To prepare future generations."
Arun folded his arms.
"To create talented individuals capable of contributing to society."
Krishak listened quietly.
Then shook his head.
Not because their answers were wrong.
But because they were incomplete.
"Those are functions."
He walked slowly toward the large window overlooking Eastern Horizon.
Students could still be seen training in the distance.
"Functions are what an institution does."
He turned back toward them.
"Purpose is why it exists."
The room grew thoughtful.
Krishak continued.
"Imagine humanity loses every King and Saint tomorrow."
The atmosphere immediately became serious.
No one liked imagining such a scenario.
Yet everyone listened.
"What happens?"
Rudra answered.
"There would be chaos."
"Yes."
Krishak nodded.
"But humanity would survive."
Several eyebrows rose.
Krishak's gaze moved toward Arun.
"If farmers continue producing food."
Toward Meera.
"If healers continue saving lives."
Toward Tara.
"If cities remain protected."
Toward Rohon.
"If equipment continues being produced."
Toward Karan.
"If spirit beasts remain under control."
Then he looked around the room.
"Humanity survives."
Silence followed.
Because everyone understood his point.
A civilization could survive losing powerful individuals.
But it could not survive losing its foundations.
Krishak's voice remained calm.
"Yet for thousands of years, cultivation organizations focused almost exclusively on producing fighters."
No one could deny it.
Even today, rankings largely revolved around combat.
Prestige largely revolved around combat.
Resources largely flowed toward combat.
Meanwhile, many equally important paths remained undervalued.
Krishak looked toward the map again.
"This academy will correct that imbalance."
Arun leaned forward slightly.
"How?"
A simple question.
A difficult answer.
Krishak pointed toward the academy projection.
"Let's start with admissions."
Immediately, everyone became interested.
Because admissions determined everything.
The people accepted today would become the leaders of tomorrow.
Rohon spoke first.
"Talent must matter."
Meera immediately disagreed.
"Not too much."
Rohon frowned.
"If talent doesn't matter, standards fall."
"And if talent becomes everything, arrogance follows."
Meera replied instantly.
The discussion began.
Tara joined next.
"We also need mental evaluations."
Several people looked surprised.
Tara rarely interrupted conversations.
She remained calm.
"Formation masters can cause enormous damage through negligence."
Her expression became serious.
"Some people should not be given access to certain knowledge until they're mature enough to use it responsibly."
The room became thoughtful.
Even Krishak nodded slightly.
In his previous life, entire worlds had suffered because powerful techniques reached irresponsible hands.
Knowledge was important.
But wisdom mattered too.
Arun spoke next.
"We should also consider contribution potential."
Rudra raised an eyebrow.
"Explain."
Arun nodded.
"If two students have identical talent..."
He paused briefly.
"One wants personal fame."
"The other wants to solve problems."
His gaze moved around the room.
"Which one creates more value for civilization?"
Several people exchanged glances.
The answer felt obvious.
"Usually the second."
Meera answered.
"Exactly."
Arun said.
"So admissions shouldn't only measure potential power."
"Then what should they measure?"
One elder asked.
Arun smiled slightly.
"The ability to create value."
The phrase lingered in the room.
Because it sounded less like a cultivation principle and more like a civilization principle.
Which was exactly the point.
Krishak finally spoke again.
"Talent."
"Character."
"Discipline."
"Contribution mindset."
"Foundation quality."
Each word appeared as glowing text above the table.
"The academy will evaluate all five."
Several elders immediately began taking notes.
But Rudra noticed something.
"You didn't mention family background."
The room became quiet.
Because nearly every major institution on Earth still considered family influence to some degree.
Krishak's answer came without hesitation.
"It will not matter."
A few elders looked uncomfortable.
One finally spoke.
"Realistically speaking..."
He hesitated.
"Influential families provide resources."
A reasonable argument.
Krishak nodded.
"True."
Then his gaze sharpened slightly.
"But civilization collapses when opportunity becomes inherited instead of earned."
Silence.
Nobody immediately argued.
Because history provided countless examples.
Talented people excluded.
Positions reserved for the privileged.
Innovation slowing.
Institutions weakening.
Eventually Rudra laughed softly.
"You're planning to make enemies."
Krishak's expression remained calm.
"I already have enough."
For the first time that evening, laughter spread around the room.
Even Tara smiled slightly.
Yet beneath the humor, everyone understood something.
This academy would challenge existing systems.
Not through violence.
Not through power.
But through ideas.
And ideas often proved far more dangerous.
Outside, night settled over the mountains.
The lights of Eastern Horizon Academy illuminated the darkness.
Students continued training
Researchers continued working.
Humanity continued advancing.
And inside the meeting room-
The foundation of an institution that might shape Earth's future for centuries was slowly beginning to take form.