Chapter 227: The Arts

"This is your class?"

"Yes, brother. Our new teacher wants us to destroy our cultivation!"

"Tch. That could only be the work of evil. For all we know, he might be a spy sent by the Demon God!"

"R… really!? T… that's what I thought too!"

Edward, the haughty student from Viel's class was currently in front of the door of their classroom. He was one of the first ones to go home the other day as soon as Viel told them to destroy their cultivation base.

He was 12 years old now, and it took him almost 4 years just to enter the world of cultivation. For him to just destroy all of it just because their new teacher says so would be ridiculous. Does he even know how to cultivate in the first place? His brother seemed to be even older than him.

And so, without even thinking about it, he blurted it to his older brother, who was also a teacher in the school responsible for teaching combat arts. His brother too was a cultivator, and he was proficient in all the arts.

Cultivation was different in each continent. The most powerful ones are from the Eastern Continent, where it supposedly originated. They, however, lack the foundation on their body, not to mention they have zero knowledge of the magic arts. It is heavily reliant on external help such as 1000-year old ginsengs, pills, and not to mention talent.

While in the Western Continent, they rely more on their body, experts or so they call them. Capable of pulling out trees with only their bare fists and are able to take extensive damage without feeling a thing. The previous Hero, the Hero Of Freiden, was purely an expert and could stand toe to toe with even the strongest of cultivators.

Lately, however, these two continents have been in works together, exchanging their techniques to further strengthen themselves.

Not much is known from the South as it was a barren region, extremely hot weather that none wanted to visit them. Even in the war with the previous Demon God, not even once did the Southern Continent seek for help, or give it otherwise. There are rumors, however, that they specialize in hunting and taming spirits and monsters.

As for the North, it was the Magic Arts. Using the elements to your will. It was similar to cultivation, except entirely different at the same time. Cultivation is to master oneself, while Magic Arts are to master the world itself. But sadly, it's a dying practice. Ever since the spirits of the world have become dormant, it would seem that the world no longer heeded their call.

And so, like the other continents, they had learned to adapt the other arts for themselves. Edward's brother, Arphonse, was one of those people who have successfully done so, and he was so valuable to the town as a teacher that they chose not to send him to the border.

And as one would expect, this fame and sense of importance got into his head.

"Are you the one teaching our students some barbaric methods!?"

A thunderous noise echoed throughout the hall as Arphonse kicked the door of Viel's class. He was about to rush towards Viel when he felt the weird atmosphere in the classroom. Even with the noise of the door being slammed, no one seemed to have noticed him entering.

The students had their eyes closed, the sound of their breathing seemingly the same, in rhythm. And their teacher, Viel, also had his eyes closed.

"This… why didn't you tell him he was a cripple?" Arphonse lightly hit his brother's head, "You wanted me to beat up a cripple? What do you think I am?"

"But brother, he wants us to destroy our cultivation! Someone like that shouldn't be teaching, no?"

Arphonse does not really socialize that much with the other teachers, so he doesn't really know what was going on around the faculty. What he did know was that someone bought the school and that there was a new teacher that didn't have to take the test immediately after the change of ownership.

And seeing the unnaturally handsome crippled in front of him, he was most likely the one in the rumors. As soon as he thought of that, his blood started to boil. For some rich asshole to just barge in here and think they can teach the children some nonsense and destroy their future, even if he is a cripple, he needed to be taught a lesson.

And so, once again, Arphonse put on a frown as he stomped his way towards Viel.

"Oi, you!"

With his yell, the 4 students that were peacefully sitting at their desks finally opened their eyes, only to see a familiar man reprimanding their new teacher.

"Isn't that… Edward's brother?"

"Is he here to make trouble?"

"With teacher Viel? But why?"

"You can thank me later, guys! This new teacher is definitely a quack, it's a good thing my brother is also a teacher at this school."

Edward lightly chuckled as he sat on his desk, the tone of his voice smug as his head was held high.

"Edward… you did this?"

"Yes, yes. You don't need to thank me all at once."

"What are you doing!? Teacher Viel was supposed to teach us new techniques!"

"Eh? What are you guys saying, don't you know that guy is a fraud-- Wait, why do I feel like there's something different with you guys… Wait… Why are all of you in the Initial Stage of the Earthen Core realm!?" Edward could not help but widen his eyes as he detected the change in his friends' cultivation levels.

"Tina!? Why did you become weaker!?"

"I destroyed my cultivation earlier."

"What!? Why would you do that!?"

"Because the teacher said our foundation is weak." Tina let out a sorrowful sigh.

"...And you're already back at the Initial Stage!?"

Edward gulped nervously as he looked at his brother. Was… their new teacher actually a hidden cultivator? If so… wasn't his brother in trouble?

No. Impossible. No cultivator at that level would even spend a single glance in their town. Just watch as this fraud of a teacher becomes even more crippled! He bellowed in his mind as he placed his attention on his brother.

"Oi! Aren't you listening to me, you crippled numbsack!?"

Arphonse had been shouting at Viel for quite some time now, but still, Viel did not lift even a single finger. His eyes remained closed, and his breathing was awfully calm and peaceful.

"Oi, answer me when I am talking to you! I have seniority here!"

Arphonse could no longer take this kind of disrespect as he slapped Viel straight on the cheek.

"!!!"

Viel's 4 students could not help but stand up from their desks as soon as the piercing snap reached their ears.

"H… hm?"

Arphonse's slap, however, seemed to be effective as he finally got his first response from the new teacher. Arphonse waited for his response, only for a sweet and resounding yawn to reach his ears.

Was… was he asleep all this time!?

"Oh, what time is it? Have all of you managed to reach Earthen Core Realm again?" Viel said, all but confirming that he really was asleep the whole time.

Arphonse's eyes could not help but twitch a couple of times as Viel seemed to ignore him entirely.

"Oi, you ignoring me!?"

"Oh? It seems that we have a visitor?" Viel slightly tilted his head as he heard an unfamiliar voice speak directly in front of him, "...Is there something you need that's so important that you are disrupting my class?"

"What do you mean disrupting your class!? I heard you were telling these kids to destroy their cultivation! You should be grateful for the fact that I am not reporting you to the authorities right now!"

"..."

"What's with that attitude!? Why aren't you answering!? Come on, let's bring this outside and I will wipe that smug expression off from your face!"

The students could not help but look at each other as soon as they heard that. In what way did their new teacher have a smug expression? He just looked… relax.

"...Fine," Viel said as he let out a long and deep sigh, "Let's bring this outside."

"Y… you… Alright." Arphonse could not help but stutter as he did not really expect the new teacher to actually accept his challenge. He was still a bit hesitant in beating up a cripple, but since he was asking for it… then all he had to blame was himself!

"Follow me! No one is using the training arena at this time!" Arphonse let out a scoff as he once again stomped his way outside the classroom.

"You guys continue your cultivation, this will only take a single second," Viel said as he followed Arphonse. Once again, Viel's students looked at each other. Continue their cultivation? Did their new teacher really think that they would pass up the chance to see him in action?

And so, quietly, they got up slowly, trying their best not to be heard by their new teacher's abnormally good hearing. However, before Viel could fully exit the classroom…

...He shut the door and locked it.

"..."

The sound of his chair squeaking echoed through the room as he pushed his way back to the front of the class.

"Now that the distraction is gone, shall we continue our cultivation?" Viel said as he lightly clapped his hand. There was no shift in his expression whatsoever, still smiling with his eyes closed as he beckoned for them to continue meditating.

"..."