"Ah..."
The flying boat shook violently, and the disciples inside cried out in alarm. Long Chen glanced at everyone. Although the elite squad disciples were also panicked, they already had weapons in hand and were ready to fight at any moment.
The other disciples, panicked, only knew to shout; the rest seemed to be just waiting for death to come.
"Buzz!"
Suddenly, the flying vessel began to glow. Mu Qingyun activated its defensive skill, lightning runes appearing on it. The giant toad trembled, and blue smoke billowed from its tongue.
The tongue could no longer hold the flying boat; the flying boat broke free from its restraint and sped away.
"Oh my god, that scared me to death...."
"I thought I was doomed... After
escaping danger, the disciples clutched their chests, still shaken.
But as they were talking, they saw Long Chen staring coldly at them, and quickly shut his mouth.
The flying boat slowly flew forward, but inside it was deathly silent, the atmosphere extremely awkward.
"Third Brother, we were wrong."
Zhong Ling lowered her head and forced herself to say.
Just before setting out, the elite squad's disciples were still trying hard to teach them how to stay calm when facing formidable enemies, not to let fear arise, to keep an eye on their opponents, and to seize every opportunity to counterattack.
They had learned decent before, but when the giant toad appeared, they forgot everything they had learned. Faced with danger, they felt fear and despair, even giving up fighting back, quietly waiting for death.
So facing Long Chen's eyes, they felt incredibly ashamed. They had previously swore they had overcome their fears and felt completely transformed, but now they were slapped in the face with a loud slap.
"Third Brother, can you scold us a bit? Don't look at us like that, okay?" After a full incense stick's time, Zhong Ling and the others felt their scalps tingle. She felt like her spirit was about to collapse and pleaded.
Long Chen shook his head without saying a word. When the flying boat entered a mountain hollow, Long Chen told Mu Qingyun to stop.
Mu Qingyun stopped the flying boat and let out a long sigh of relief. She had just been scared out of her wits, but wasn't much better than others.
After Feizhou stopped, Long Chen finally spoke: "I admit I was a bit angry about your previous behavior.
But if you think about it, it's because my expectations for you are too high. You live in peaceful times, which is different from my background when you couldn't survive without fighting your life.
Many of your cultivation goals are to stand out, bring honor to your ancestors, or simply to show off and be superior.
But there is one thing I want to tell you today: people must learn to remain vigilant in times of peace.
The life you have today is all thanks to your family background, but do you realize that your current background was won by so many people who once gave their lives and blood?
The rise of a power inevitably brings bloodshed and turmoil, and the rise of a power is bound to attract countless greedy eyes.
Don't you have any hostile forces? Don't you have enemies? If one day the pillar of your family falls, what will you do? Like just now, crying and screaming, then blindly waiting for death to come?
The reason you can grow up worry-free is because within your family, someone shelters you from the wind and rain. I don't know how many have sacrificed their lives to bring you the peace you have today.
As fellow generations, haven't you ever thought about becoming the ones who shield your family from the storms? For
a moment, everyone fell silent. Indeed, anyone who can enter Lingxiao Academy usually has a good background, especially these elite-level disciples, who have all been built up from family resources.
You have to know, the academy's fees aren't low. Relying solely on those benefits isn't enough to cover their cultivation expenses. Every year, they have to demand a large sum from the family.
Long Chen was right. All of them wanted to excel academically, bring honor to their families, and make those who once looked down on them in the clan look at them with new respect.
Long Chen's words struck their hearts like a sledgehammer, striking a nerve deep within them.
As fellow mortals, is it really necessary for me to be protected by my family for life? So what's the difference from a useless person?
"There are no shortcuts to becoming stronger, so to become stronger, you must face death.
Today I bring you here. If you don't have the determination to become stronger, maybe half, or even more, will stay here forever.
So you've made up your mind: you must constantly face the trials of death and become a true strongman.
Or just be an ordinary disciple, live a comfortable life, and live peacefully. You've all thought it through.
It's not too late to regret now, but when the hatch of the flying boat opens, if you change your mind again, I will kill you with my own hands. Long Chen said solemnly.
For a moment, everyone looked at each other. Long Chen's words made their scalps tingle. Half or more of them would die here—it was terrifying.
"I want to get stronger, or else I'll be bullied every day. There's no point in living. I choose to stay."
"I'll stay too. After all, my father has more than a dozen sons, so I don't need one of them."
"I'm afraid of dying, but I'm even more afraid of dying in a pitiful state. Damn it, I'm going all out—I'll take a gamble. I bet if I don't die, Third Master can turn me into a warrior as strong as the elite squad leaders."
Men all have courage. The path of cultivation is never smooth; everyone has endured humiliation and humiliation. Now, facing a renowned master like Long Chen, if they backed down, they would regret it for a lifetime.
For a moment, these disciples all voiced their opinions. When someone spoke, the courage and passion in their hearts were slowly ignited, their fear gradually fading, and not a single person backed down.
Long Chen nodded. After all, they were all young people, all young and proud. If they didn't even have the courage to be reckless in their youth, they really were born useless.
"Very good. Since everyone agreed to stay, let me tell you why I came here.
A few days ago, I read a book that recorded this place, called Crescent Valley.
Eighteen thousand years ago, a great battle broke out here, alarming the academy's elites. However, by the time they arrived, the battle had already ended.
Based on traces from the experts at the time, it was estimated that a seed of heavenly fire once gained consciousness, and a ferocious beast sought to devour it, leading to a fierce battle.
But in that battle, no one saw it; the outcome was unknown, leaving behind a devastated crescent-shaped battlefield, hence the name Crescent Valley.
The reason I brought you here is because within Crescent Valley, the will of heavenly fire remains. Although ten thousand years have passed, the lingering aura remains strong.
For you, it's just right to temper your willpower, and it's the best way to quickly acquire the will of a strong person.
And..." As Long Chen spoke, a flicker
of heat gradually appeared in his eyes "If my guess is correct, the new seed of heavenly fire has very likely already been born. That is my—ultimate goal."
Long Chen urgently needed to enhance the power of the Fire Dragon so that he could truly rise.