Chapter 2: Heartless Expulsion

  Between heaven and earth, there are three thousand great worlds, one hundred thousand small spirit realms.

  The Xuan Huang world is just one of the three thousand great worlds. There are ninety-six domains in this world, and each domain has several cities.

  Three days later, Chen Luo was released from prison and returned to his hometown, Xiao Luotian Academy, a month later.

  The Xiao Luo Tian Institute is located in Changxin City and is one of the most famous academies in the Jinshui Domain. It has a strong reputation, ranking among the top three, and almost every year it cultivates many excellent students who successfully pass the entrance exams to universities around the world. In fact, four students from the institute have successfully passed the entrance exams to the Central Academy, which is known for gathering talented students and ranks first in the world. Although there are only four students, this number is already impressive. At least among the 28 academies in the Jinshui Domain, if we consider the number of students each academy has sent to the Central Academy over the years, Xiao Luo Tian Institute can be ranked among the top three. However, in the past twenty years or so, not a single student from the institute has been admitted to the Central Academy, and this is not just limited to Xiao Luo Tian Institute - other academies in the Jinshui Domain are also facing this situation. Therefore, all universities now urgently need a student to be admitted to the Central Academy to enhance their reputation and glory.

  On this day, the disciples of Xiaoluo Tianyuan should have been quietly meditating in the small forest filled with spiritual energy, practicing their daily compulsory course, "Resonance of Souls, Guiding Spirits into the Body". However, today not a single disciple was able to calm down and absorb the energy because Chen Luo, who had disappeared for nearly a year and a half, suddenly returned.

  Who is Chen Luo.

  It was over a year ago that many students would envy and say that Chen Luo was a senior student of the Xiao Luo Tian Yuan, a genius known to everyone in Changxin City, and was called the most promising person to take the entrance exam for the Central Academy.

  One year later, Chen Luo was a prisoner who had been captured and detained by the Golden Water Domain's Guardians of Light for his dark crimes.

  "What a pity, Chen Luo should have been admitted to the Central Academy by now with his abilities if he hadn't been caught by the Guardians of Light... What a waste..."

  "What a pity? What's there to pity him for? Who made him be tainted by darkness and get imprisoned by the Guardians of Light, serves him right."

  "Hey, Zhou Hao, don't talk nonsense if you have no evidence!"

  "Am I talking nonsense? The whole Chang'an City knows that more than a year ago, the Guangming Guardian Team came to our Xiaoluo Tianyuan and handed over Chen Luo's crimes to the dean."

  "Yes, I also saw it with my own eyes at that time, and I really didn't expect Chen Luo to be tainted by darkness."

  "Hmph! No wonder Chen Luo that guy has been going out frequently for several years, only to appear during assessments. Now I know, he was actually infiltrating the darkness. What a genius, it's all just an empty reputation. His cultivation progressed so quickly, he must have secretly infiltrated the darkness. How despicable!"

  Tainting darkness is a shortcut to cultivation, but the method is extremely evil, so it's prohibited by the laws of light. I heard that the apprentice named Zhou Hao inferred this, and other apprentices also nodded in agreement. In their opinion, Chen Luo's rapid progress in his cultivation wasn't because he was a genius, but rather because he secretly tainted darkness.

  "I heard that violating the Dark Crime is punishable by at least abolishing one's cultivation. I wonder how Chen Luo is doing now."

  That apprentice named Zhou Hao snorted coldly and sneered, "The Guardians of the Light only crippled his cultivation, not killing him is already being too kind. If you ask me, this kind of person should be killed directly, he shouldn't have been let go in the first place, to avoid him becoming a future calamity."

  "Chen Luo should be in the main hall now? Do you think the principal will forgive him? Will he give him another chance?"

  "Forgive him? What a ridiculous idea. He has committed the Dark Sin, and it's a shame to our little Luo Tian Temple."

  Among the many students, some still sympathize with Chen Luo and think he should be given a chance, while others believe that Chen Luo is a shame to Xiaoluo Tianyuan and should be expelled directly.

  At this moment, in the grand hall of Xiaoluo Tianyuan, Chen Luo was wearing a thin black robe with his head down, silently standing there. The elders, executives, law enforcement and all teachers of the college were seated on both sides, sitting on chairs, looking at the former genius, looking at Chen Luo, one by one, angry and accusatory.

  "You said you're a top student, the college has spent so many resources to cultivate you in recent years, and yet...you secretly indulge in darkness, it's simply shameful, a shame to our Xiaoluo Tian College. Can you justify the resources the college has spent on cultivating you? Can you justify the efforts of all your teachers?"

  Facing the accusations and anger of the crowd, Chen Luo chose silence. He could only be silent because he knew that any further explanation would be useless, even though he had never been tainted by darkness.

  Everyone scolded and taught for more than half an hour, as if they were all tired. They sat in their chairs, some shaking their heads in disappointment, others glaring with angry eyes, and a few simply closing their eyes, too lazy to look again.

  The principal sat upright in his chair, with a solemn expression, and asked: "As for how to deal with Chen Luo, I don't know what opinions everyone has?"

  The Dean of the Academy, Li, stood up and proposed: "Chen Luo has been tainted by darkness and violated the laws of light. Not only has he disappointed our expectations, but also tarnished the reputation of our small Luo Tianyuan Academy. He should be expelled from the academy to serve as a warning to others!" The other teachers all nodded in agreement, and as a well-known academy in the Golden Water Domain, they absolutely would not allow someone like Chen Luo, who had been tainted by darkness, to exist.

  At this time, an old man with gray and white long hair sitting on the right chair also stood up and said: "I believe Chen Luo has already known that he made a big mistake and paid a heavy price for it. Who is flawless? Knowing one's mistakes and being able to correct them is the greatest virtue. I hope the principal will take into account his youth and ignorance, give him another chance to reform himself, and let him continue to stay in the college to cultivate."

  His name is Wang Ke, a teacher with great prestige in Xiaoluo Tianyuan, who has always been fond of Chen Luo.

  As soon as his voice fell, Li Zhi Shi bluntly said: "Teacher Wang Ke, I know you have a soft spot for Chen Luo, but... if he had committed other mistakes, perhaps it could be forgiven. However, Chen Luo has committed the crime of darkness, and such an evil disciple staying in our Xiaoluo Tianyuan would indeed affect the reputation of our institution."

  "Chen Luo has been an orphan since childhood and the wandering monk who raised him passed away three years ago. If he is expelled from the academy, where can he go? I hope..."

  Wang Ke was cut off by Li before he could finish speaking.

  "This world has too many pitiful people, our Little Luo Tian Yuan is a place for cultivation, not a charity house. Moreover...” Li Zhi Shi directly stood up and said: “Moreover, Chen Luo's cultivation was abolished, and he is no different from a nine-year-old apprentice who just entered the door. The most important thing is that his age is already seventeen years old. Wang Ke teacher, you should be very clear about it. The two basic conditions for participating in the Central Academy assessment are: first, under the age of eighteen; second, cultivation reaches the second realm. With only one year left, what can he do?"

  The Central Academy, the place every apprentice yearns for. The world's many colleges take it as their greatest honor to have an apprentice admitted to the Central Academy. Chen Luo is now seventeen years old and has only one year left, what can he do? Even if a miracle really happens and he reaches the second realm, how will that help? To participate in the Central Examination, reaching the second realm is just the basic requirement, all participants are geniuses from around the world, with an elimination rate of 90%, only those exceptional genius apprentices can pass.

  "In the world, it's not just the Central Academy, there are other academies too. Li, how can you..."

  Wang Ke's words were still unfinished and were ruthlessly interrupted by Li Zhi again.

  "Chen Luo is already seventeen years old, and has missed the best time to lay a solid foundation for his cultivation. Even if we give him one year, or even three to five years, what difference would it make? Even if he were able to reach the second realm in three to five years, let's not mention the Central Academy, I'm afraid even the worst academy in this world wouldn't accept him. In that case, what use is he to us? It's simply a waste of our institute's resources. Rather than nurturing a useless person, it would be better to allocate those resources to more promising disciples."

  "Li, don't go too far!"

  Wang Ke wanted to plead on Chen Luo's behalf, but Li Zhi was not giving him a chance. He let out a cold snort and gazed at Wang Ke with disdain, saying sarcastically: "Am I being excessive? I'm just stating a fact. On the other hand, you, Teacher Wang Ke, want Chen Luo to idle away here, wasting our academy's resources. Don't you think that's unfair to those talented disciples?"

  "You!" Wang Ke was momentarily choked with anger, but also couldn't refute, and simply shook his head, let out a sigh, and sat back down in his seat.

  Chen Luo, who had been standing in the grand hall silently for a long time, finally lifted his head. His face showed no obvious emotional fluctuations, and even his tone was exceptionally calm as he said: "I know that my actions have seriously affected the reputation of the college, and I have let down all the teachers' cultivation and guidance. Today, I came not to ask for forgiveness, but only hope that you can give me a chance to make up for my mistakes."

  After being imprisoned in the Tower of Punishment for over a year, Chen's restless heart had long since dissipated. Although his current state of mind was not as calm as an old monk's, it could be said that he was as still as water and would not be affected by emotions. He stood upright with a plain expression, looking at the crowd, and slowly said: "At present, my cultivation has been abandoned, my spiritual sea has been destroyed, and everything has been set back to zero. If I were to say that within a year, I could cultivate to the second realm, pass the assessment, and enter the gates of the Central Academy, I wouldn't dare make such a promise. However, I will do my utmost to strive for it, hoping..."

  It seems that the Li executive next to him extremely likes to interrupt others, he sneered twice and ridiculed: "Chen Luo, don't say you're just a pseudo-genius who relies on invading darkness to improve your cultivation. Even if you are a real genius, it's absurd to think that you can reach the second realm within a year, let alone pass through layers of exams and get admitted to the Central Academy, it's simply a pipe dream."

  At this point, Chen Luo just stood there, his slender figure, handsome face, and expressionless eyes without a hint of anger, only calmness. His eyes were as quiet as a whisper. He didn't look at Li, but responded: "I'm not a genius, nor have I ever acknowledged myself as one. I only hope the academy can give me another chance to stay and continue my studies. I will do my best to make up for my mistakes."

  The Dean sat sternly in his chair, staring at him without saying a word. Li, the executive, also sat back in his seat, looking up with his eyes closed, and said in a superior tone: "Chen Luo, you've been in the Academy for several years, you should be very clear that the resources of the Academy are extremely precious, every bit of spiritual energy, every spiritual pill, every array is extremely valuable."

  Li's meaning was clear: let Chen Luo stay in the college, with his current state, it was simply a waste.

  Just as Li Zhi said, he was nine years old when he entered the school and understood the situation of the college more clearly than anyone else. He also knew what kind of person Li Zhi was, so he didn't get angry at all. There wasn't even a hint of anger in his expression, only a self-mocking smile on the corner of his mouth as he replied: "Li Zhi, you're right. If I stayed in college with my situation, it would indeed be a waste of resources. I understand and can also understand the difficulties of the college."

  "What else can you say?" Li Zhi still closed his eyes and hugged his arms.

  "For years, all of you teachers have cultivated me with care and placed high hopes on me, but I have instead been tainted by darkness and failed to live up to the expectations of my teachers. I do not ask for forgiveness, as long as the academy allows me to stay, I can give up using the academy's spiritual energy, not eat the academy's spiritual elixirs, not use the academy's arrays, and absolutely not waste a single resource from the academy."

  Chen Luo's words had already reached this point, and the other teachers were somewhat moved. Among them, several senior teachers had personally watched him grow up, they looked at each other and felt that Chen Luo should be given a chance, and they all turned to look at the principal.

  The principal sat upright, with a stern expression, shook his head emotionlessly and began to announce the results.

  "Chen Luo, you have tainted the darkness and violated the laws of light. Not only have you disappointed the college's years of cultivation, but also brought shame to our institution. Although these things are in the past, the college will not pursue your responsibility again. However, with your current situation, it is no longer suitable for you to continue practicing. Even if you stay in the college, it would be harmful and useless to you. Therefore, I have decided to expel you from the college today."

  After hearing the dean's announcement, Chen felt a sudden tremble in his heart, and a sense of loss appeared on his originally calm face. He opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated, unsure of what to say at that moment. Then, a complex smile emerged from the corner of his mouth, with self-mockery, loss, regret, and helplessness. Without making a big fuss or asking for reconsideration, he bowed continuously to the dean and every teacher present, thanking them for their care and cultivation over the years.

  A moment later, he turned around and left. When he reached the gate of the main hall, the principal's voice came over.

  "Chen Luo, expelling you from the academy is not because the academy is reluctant to waste resources, but because you are indeed no longer suitable for further cultivation. We also did this for your own good, hoping that you will reform and start anew in the future. Even if you cannot cultivate, I hope you will never repeat the same mistakes again."

  Chen Luo shook his head, said a word of thanks, and left without looking back.

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