The backlash finally arrived.
For months, governments and awakened authorities across the world had struggled to contain the spread of cultivation knowledge. Restrictions failed repeatedly. Public demand continued increasing. Every attempt to suppress the teachings only caused more people to seek them out.
And now-
Someone had finally traced the source.
Inside the Global Awakened Regulatory Council headquarters, tension filled the massive conference chamber.
Dozens of holographic projections floated across the room displaying reports from different nations.
Civilian cultivation growth statistics.
Public support movements.
Unauthorized archive technique distributions.
And at the center of it all-
One name appeared repeatedly.
Eastern Horizon Academy.
An older council member slammed his hand against the table angrily.
"They released ancient cultivation methods to the entire planet without authorization!"
Another projection appeared immediately afterward.
This time displaying sections from Krishak's handwritten manuscripts.
"Foundations Before Power."
"Balanced Path Cultivation."
"Universal Spiritual Synchronization."
The council member's expression darkened further.
"These teachings alone have already destabilized established cultivation systems globally."
One woman seated near the center spoke coldly.
"Not destabilized."
Her eyes narrowed toward the reports.
"Democratized."
Silence spread briefly.
Because everyone knew it was true.
For centuries-even before the Great Awakening fully began-cultivation resources had remained concentrated among powerful groups.
Governments.
Ancient families.
Private awakened organizations.
Knowledge itself had become power.
And now someone had broken that structure apart publicly.
Another council member activated a new report.
"Independent civilian awakenings increased by thirty-seven percent in the last six months."
"Spiritual instability cases decreased significantly in regions using the distributed foundation methods."
"Several low-income regions previously lacking awakened support now possess functioning cultivation communities."
The room became quiet again.
Not because the news was bad.
But because it was terrifying.
One executive finally said what everyone else was thinking.
"If ordinary civilians no longer depend on us for cultivation."
He did not finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
The authority of old powers was weakening.
Far away, inside Eastern Horizon Academy-
The atmosphere remained calm on the surface.
Students still trained normally.
Formation halls remained active.
Research divisions continued expanding.
But internally—
The pressure had begun building heavily.
The principal stood silently inside the conference room while multiple official notices floated across the table before him.
Government warnings.
International investigation requests.
Accusations regarding unauthorized archive distribution.
Several even demanded immediate surrender of all remaining ancient records recovered from the Tibetan ruins.
Professor Devika folded her arms tightly.
"They moved faster than expected."
Director Rao remained calm.
"They were always going to react eventually."
Dev sat nearby while staring at one of the notices.
"They make it sound like we committed some global crime."
Raghav snorted quietly.
"We did."
Everyone looked toward him.
Raghav shrugged.
"From their perspective."
And honestly—
He wasn't wrong.
The academy had bypassed governmental approval entirely.
Released restricted cultivation knowledge publicly.
And weakened centuries of controlled awakened authority within less than a year.
Of course powerful groups were furious.
Suddenly, another notification activated across the conference table.
A formal summons.
Eastern Horizon Academy is hereby ordered to cease all public cultivation distributions pending international review.
Failure to comply will result in direct governmental intervention.
Silence filled the room afterward.
Then slowly—
The principal leaned back in his chair.
His expression remained calm.
But colder than usual.
"They're afraid."
Professor Devika nodded once.
"Yes."
"Good."
That single word stunned several people slightly.
The principal looked toward the academy outside the conference hall windows.
Students from different cultivation paths trained together naturally below.
Support healers worked beside combat cultivators.
Formation students assisted ordinary civilians learning beginner spiritual stabilization.
The academy itself had changed.
And so had the world beyond it.
"They spent too long treating cultivation like private property," the principal said quietly.
His gaze hardened slightly.
"But humanity's future cannot survive behind locked doors."
Director Rao crossed his arms.
"The problem is that some governments won't stop at warnings."
Everyone understood what he meant.
If pressure continued increasing
Force might follow eventually.
Meanwhile, the public response unfolded very differently.
The moment news spread that governments blamed the academy for releasing cultivation methods—
Massive public debates erupted globally.
Some supported regulation.
Others fiercely opposed it.
But one fact became increasingly obvious:
Ordinary people overwhelmingly supported the teachings.
Countless civilians publicly shared how the techniques improved their lives.
Awakened instability reduced.
Health improved.
Families finally gained access to cultivation without wealth or status.
For many people-
These teachings represented hope.
One viral public statement spread rapidly across global networks:
You called cultivation dangerous when ordinary people learned it.
But where were those concerns when only the rich had access to it?
The statement reached millions within hours.
And the pressure on governments increased further.
Meanwhile, Krishak's disciples watched the situation unfold with mixed emotions.
Arun studied economic reports late into the night.
The market shifts caused by public cultivation access had already begun restructuring entire industries.
Traditional awakened monopolies weakened daily.
And while many organizations resisted-
Others quietly adapted instead.
"They can't stop this anymore," Arun finally said quietly during one meeting with the others.
Meera looked worried.
"But they can still target the academy."
Silence followed immediately.
Because everyone knew that was true.
Karan frowned while resting beside several spirit beasts within the sanctuary grounds.
"Then we get stronger faster."
Tara nodded once without looking up from her formation diagrams.
"We protect it."
Simple words.
Absolute determination.
Far beneath the Tibetan mountains-
Krishak remained completely unaware of the political storm unfolding aboveground.
Inside the Worldheart Chamber, silver and black energy rotated endlessly around him while the Primordial Origin Arts continued refining corruption without pause.
Pain still burned through every meridian.
The Universe Origin Body Arts continued tempering his body constantly.
And deep within his spiritual core-
The refined fragments of Origin essence slowly continued growing stronger.
Outside the formation, the old man suddenly looked upward slightly.
As though sensing distant changes beyond the mountains.
Then quietly murmured:
"Humanity truly has begun waking up."