Chapter 109: The Lecture That Accidentally Saved Everyone
The disciples looked at each other with wide eyes, panicking after hearing they could die after reaching the second realm.
"Wait, wait... so we could die if we continue this path?"
"Master, how can you make us do this? You’re trying to kill us!"
Garion raised an eyrbow, crossing his arms. "If I wanted to kill you, you’d be fertiliser by now."
A few disciples gulped, becoming silent instantly.
Garion sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You all panic too easily."
He turned toward Arden. "Mind finishing your explanation? You haven’t told them the important part yet, right?"
Arden flinched, laughing awkwardly and rubbing the back of his neck.
"Ah... yeah, my bad. I’m sorry, Master. I... might’ve scared them a bit."
Garion narrowed his eyes. "A bit?"
Arden laughed again, forcing a smile. "Okay, maybe a bit too much. But still! It’s not as bad as it sounds.
Garion gestured lazily with his hand. "Then explain. They’re your students now. Don’t scare them again!"
Arden only chuckled nervously as he cleared his throat quickly and faced the group.
"Alright, everyone, calm down. Look, you saw it yourselves, right? Master hasn’t died yet, so it’s obviously possible."
Rynor frowned, still suspicious. "Yeah, but Master’s not normal. What if he’s just built differently?"
Rynar nodded beside him. "Yeah, maybe others already tried and died before finishing it."
Arden sighed, muttering under his breath. "Why do I even bother talking to people with no patience..."
Rynar frowned. "What was that?"
"Nothing!" Arden said quickly, standing straighter.
"Anyway, listen up, everyone. That’s not the case. Just... let me explain properly before you all faint from overthinking."
The room quieted as he straightened his posture, trying to look like he knew what he was doing.
"You all remember the part where it says we won’t awaken mana traits, right?"
The group nodded hesitantly.
"Good. That’s the safety net of this path. See, our bodies aren’t stupid. They know what would kill them."
"So instead of awakening traits too early, the cells hold back until all of them are transformed into Mana Core Cells."
He walked a little, gesturing with his hands as he spoke about the process.
"It’s basically the body’s instinct protecting itself. So unless you skip stages or mess with the process, there’s no danger."
Some disciples began relaxing, nodding slightly, and Arden continued.
"So, for the case I said before... the people who could die are those who don’t cultivate our path."
Arden demonstrated it by clapping his hands together and then quickly spreading them apart, like an explosion.
"If they suddenly develop too many traits without proper control, their mana link collapses. Boom. Body gone."
Rynor blinked. "So we’re safe?"
Arden nodded. "Yes! Relatively. As long as you don’t try to be an idiot and force yourself to awaken a trait early."
The room went quiet again.
Then Rynor muttered. "So, you’re talking like someone here will be an idiot?"
Arden looked straight at him. "Because I know someone who will."
A few disciples chuckled, breaking the tension.
Arden took another deep breath, then continued to explain it more.
"Anyway, once all your cells harmonise, that’s when the real transformation happens. The traits fuse and evolve into a special physique or body, to be exact."
One of the outer disciples raised his hand, wanting to confirm.
"A special body means like... we can have thunder bodies or flame bodies?"
Arden pointed at him, nodding. "Exactly. Not just thunder mana, but a Thunder Body."
He then flexed his body, making movements to convey his words.
"If you managed to awaken it, your body itself becomes attuned to thunder. Your thunder attack and resistance will be on a whole other level than the others."
The disciples blinked, staring at him like he’d just told them they could become gods.
Rynor’s eyes widened. "So instead of throwing lightning like normal cultivators, we’d become lightning itself?"
Arden smiled faintly. "Pretty much. It should be something like that... I think?"
The shock in the hall was turning into amazement, hearing what Arden said."
Clara leaned forward, curiosity in her eyes. "Then will everyone’s physique be different?"
Arden nodded, rubbing the back of his neck again, suddenly shy under everyone’s gaze.
"Most likely, yeah. Each of us has a different style and habits. Our cells grow in unique ways so that every physique will be unique and different."
Dahlia smirked. "So basically, our bodies are gonna evolve based on how we live?"
Arden nodded again, trying to sound steady. "That’s one way to say it."
He clenched his fist. "The stronger your foundation, the more refined your physique becomes. But if you slack off..."
He looked directly at Rynor, who froze. "You probably end up with something like Sleepy Pig Physique."
The room burst into laughter.
Rynor groaned, burying his face in his hands. "You just had to pick me, huh..."
Arden grinned awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "Sorry, bad example."
Garion chuckled from behind, clearly enjoying Arden’s clear explanation.
"Not bad, Arden. You’ve got a knack for explaining complicated things in simple words... even if your delivery’s a little shaky."
Arden blushed slightly, waving his hands and turning his face around.
"Ah... I just wanted them to understand it better, Master. I didn’t mean to... uh, lecture everyone."
Garion smirked. "You did fine. Keep that balance. Half confident and half panicked. It quite suits you."
Arden smiled awkwardly. "Uh... thanks, I think."
Garion turned to the disciples. "You all got that, right? This is your path."
"Not everyone will survive cultivation, but you are following a system designed to evolve you safely, so train properly."
The disciples nodded in unison, their fear replaced by excitement.
Dahlia grinned. "Alright then. Guess we just have to keep training until our bodies turn into monsters."
Garion laughed softly. "That’s the spirit."
He looked at Arden. "You too, teacher Arden. Keep studying. You’ll need to help me guide the next batch."
Arden blinked. "Next batch? Wait, you mean..."
Garion grinned. "Of course. Once word spreads about us, people will come running. We’ll need more instructors."
Arden’s face went pale. "I’m not ready to teach people! I barely keep myself alive!"
Garion clapped him on the shoulder. "Perfect. You’ll fit right in."
The disciples laughed as Arden stood there, half proud and half terrified.
He sighed deeply, muttering to himself. "Why do I feel like I just got promoted into more suffering..."