Translator: CinderTL
Staring at the yellowed book in his hand, Feng Qi was speechless.
He realized he had completely misunderstood the monk. The monk was merely reading Buddhist scriptures; his own thoughts had been impure.
He had prematurely assumed that "Uniform Fetish" referred to the allure of uniforms.
In reality, the book's true subject was: conquering the fetishes within one's heart.
As he marveled at this revelation, he flipped through a few more pages, his expression freezing once again.
Gazing at the illustrations of female police officers, nurses, teachers, and other women in various professions, he felt his intelligence had been insulted.
His emotions surged in a rollercoaster of ups and downs, and his positive impression of the monk shattered once more.
He's actually reading this trash in the sacred Academy Library?
Noticing Feng Qi standing motionless, Lin Ran approached him.
When he saw the book's provocative illustrations, he burst into laughter. Realizing there were other students studying in the reading room, he quickly muffled his laughter, but the grin on his face remained uncontrollable.
"Brother Qi, I really like this monk's personality. Having him in our class will definitely make things interesting."
A vein throbbed on Feng Qi's forehead as he wore a look of utter helplessness.
Feng Qi had noticed it from their first meeting: the monk, having been restrained for so long, had become like a wild horse unleashed upon arriving at Star City Academy, his spirit now untamable.
Such a temperament made proper study impossible; he would likely end up at the bottom of the class.
Old Wang had always said, "Never give up on any student, regardless of their talent."
But Feng Qi never imagined he'd encounter such a problem student so early in his teaching career.
Just then, the monk's figure approached from a distance.
Seeing Feng Qi holding his copy of Uniform Fetish, the monk's expression froze for a moment before he realized he'd been discovered.
Feng Qi had been frequenting the Intensive Training grounds lately, so the monk already knew he was the new teacher for Combat Class Three.
Being caught in this situation by his teacher was undeniably awkward.
Still, he forced himself to walk up to Feng Qi, feigning composure as he said, "Teacher Feng, Lin Ran, what a coincidence."
"Monk, care to explain what this is?" Lin Ran asked with a playful grin, pointing at the yellowed book.
Hearing this, the monk's expression remained calm.
"Oh, these are Buddhist scriptures, used to sharpen the mind," the monk explained.
"And what about these illustrations?" Feng Qi asked, pointing to the pictures in the book.
"My master said the way to overcome fear is to face it directly, and the way to overcome temptation is to confront it head-on. So I'm looking at these illustrations to conquer temptation," the monk replied.
"Hahaha, you're something else, Monk!" Lin Ran chuckled, giving him a thumbs-up.
Feng Qi couldn't help but feel slightly exasperated by the monk's twisted logic.
But this was the monk's private life, and he didn't want to pry. He understood the fiery passions of youth. What puzzled him was why the monk had to read this in the library.
With that thought, he immediately said, "Monk, next time, don't read this kind of stuff in the library. It's not appropriate for others to see."
He handed Uniform Fetish back to the monk.
"Embarrassing yourself is one thing, but embarrassing Combat Class Three is a serious matter," Lin Ran added with a grin.
The monk scratched his head as he took the book. "It's Intensive Training now. Freshmen aren't allowed to stay in their dorms—the instructors conduct random inspections. So I have no choice but to read here."
"Alright, keep up with the uniform fetish, but tone it down once classes officially start."
"No problem, Teacher Feng," the monk agreed, scratching his head.
Returning to their seats, Feng Qi and Lin Ran exchanged amused glances at the monk, who maintained his serious expression while still indulging in his uniform fetish.
"Brother Qi, this monk's just been pent up for too long. Now he's completely let loose. If he really can't control himself, you might have to use your teacher's ultimate move."
"What ultimate move?"
"Call his parents—or in this case, his master."
"Invite his master to join him in his uniform fetish?" Feng Qi grinned mischievously.
"Hahaha, you're too wicked!"
After the brief interruption, Feng Qi and Lin Ran opened their books and resumed studying.
As night gradually enveloped the world outside the window, the streetlights within the academy flickered to life.
Though the world outside the library buzzed with activity, the silent reading room, bathed in soft light, was filled only with the rustle of turning pages and the scratch of pens taking notes, creating an intense atmosphere of scholarly focus.
"Studying for the rise of humankind" was no mere slogan.
Someone had once proposed that humanity should aggressively develop space technology, arguing that their salvation lay in the cosmos. Only there could they find a glimmer of hope for the survival of Human Civilization.
The person who proposed this idea believed that humanity should flee the increasingly Domain Field-covered new world and seek a new habitat.
This idea garnered support from some, even though they knew only a fraction of humanity could escape. They believed it might be the only way to preserve the spark of humankind.
As members of the elite class, they were the prime candidates for evacuation.
However, at the time, more people opposed the plan. During the debate, someone declared:
"You think Human Civilization is too weak to face the Domain Invasion, but you can strengthen it through learning. We have an old saying in Huaxia: 'Study for the rise of Huaxia.' From now on, let's change it to 'Study for the rise of humanity.'"
Thereafter, "Study for the rise of humanity" became the unwavering goal of generations.
The darkness of human nature could never overshadow its brilliance.
Those pioneering ancestors who stood up were like beacons of light in the darkness, illuminating humanity's path forward.
They believed that while this shattered world had countless flaws, it was still their home, their homeland.
Therefore, facing challenges required not escape but self-strengthening—the best response.
Lost in their studies, Feng Qi and Lin Ran forgot about time.
Throughout the session, people occasionally left the reading room, while others arrived.
After finishing Fundamentals of Cultivation Technique Research 6, Feng Qi glanced at the clock on the north wall of the reading room and realized it was nearly midnight.
He turned to look around. The monk had long since vanished, but nearly half the seats in the reading room were still occupied by students diligently studying.
"Brother Qi, heading back?" Lin Ran asked, setting down his book.
"Yeah, I'm going to head back now. What about you?"
"I'll come with you. I've read enough for tonight."
After returning their borrowed books to the shelves, the two walked out of the Academy Library.
The night wind howled, sweeping away the stifling heat and leaving behind a comfortable coolness.
As they climbed the stairs to their dormitory, Lin Ran suddenly spoke up:
"Brother Qi, I heard the academies are holding a Freshman Combat Class Team Competition soon. Are you interested in participating?"
"Combat Class Team Competition?"
"Yeah, lots of freshman combat classes from different academies will be competing. It's mainly about teamwork and coordination. After all, combat class students will mostly end up in domain combat teams, so teamwork is crucial. This competition is to make freshmen realize the importance of teamwork and foster a sense of collective consciousness."
"Our class has thirteen people, including me and Senior Sister Mu Qing. It's a bit small, but with me, Liu Yue, and the Xia Family Brothers, we should do pretty well if we enter."
Feng Qi's interest was piqued by Lin Ran's explanation.
But when he heard Lin Ran's next remark, he was left speechless.
"Do you think you're the strongest in our class?"
"Not necessarily. I think Liu Yue might be just as strong as me, maybe even stronger. As for the others... no offense, but they wouldn't last a single round against me."
"What do you think of Senior Sister Mu Qing's strength?" Feng Qi asked with a strange expression.
"I don't know much about her, but I've studied rune augments. I doubt Senior Sister Mu Qing could last three rounds against me, though I hate to say it."
"Remember those words. The reality check might sting later."
Feng Qi couldn't help but chuckle at Lin Ran's overconfidence.
Mu Qing, whom the Future People had dubbed the "Great Demon King," was undoubtedly one of the absolute apex combatants in human history.
While Lin Ran possessed remarkable talent, it was primarily in art magic research. His practical combat skills were nowhere near Mu Qing's level, separated by an insurmountable chasm.
"Brother Qi, what do you mean by that?" Lin Ran asked, his curiosity piqued.
"You'll understand eventually. Young people always overestimate themselves."
"I hate people who speak in riddles."
As they chatted, they arrived at the dormitory building.
After saying their goodbyes, they entered their respective dormitories.
Before Feng Qi even stepped inside, he noticed a package sitting in front of his door.
This surprised him. He couldn't recall ordering anything online recently.
If it were a gift from his classmates, they would have notified him beforehand. The package's sudden appearance seemed rather odd.
Picking it up, he glanced at the recipient's name and confirmed it was indeed addressed to him.
The sender's label read: United Research Institute.
He immediately understood what the package contained and carried it inside.
The United Research Institute held a position among the various research institutes similar to that of the early United Nations. It lacked the authority to directly manage the institutes, especially the Special Research Institutes.
Its primary purpose was to provide a platform for collaboration and exchange between the institutes, as well as to manage the Cultivation Technique Database and award commendations.
Therefore, this package from the United Research Institute was clearly a reward for his development of a cultivation technique.
At his desk, Feng Qi tore open the package.
Inside lay a deep blue metallic box.
The box's surface was engraved with the United Research Institute's silver, symmetrical wheat ear emblem, which gleamed under the light, exuding a sense of technological sophistication.
Opening the box, he found a silver medal standing upright in the center.
The medal, roughly the size of a child's palm, felt heavy and metallic in his hand. A sharp sword was engraved on its surface, surrounded by blooming flowers.
On the back of the medal, a line of text read:
In honor of you, who blazed trails and forged paths forward for Human Civilization—Outstanding Contribution Silver Medal.
Clutching the medal, Feng Qi's face broke into a smile.
He often claimed to disdain worldly honors, yet the moment he received it, a surge of pride welled up in his heart.
Some things hold far greater value in their symbolic meaning than in their physical form.
Over the past five centuries, countless heroes had held this same weighty honor, yearning for a brighter tomorrow and dedicating their lives to its pursuit.
The Star City beneath his feet had been forged from the blood, flesh, and bones of those pioneers, allowing humanity to enjoy stability and prosperity after the cataclysm.
This Medal of Honor carried two profound meanings: history and spirit.
The former served as a mirror to the world, while the latter nourished the soul.
As his fingers traced the sword and flowers on the medal, images of the legendary figures Old Wang had described in history class flashed through his mind.
In that moment, time seemed to blur.
He felt the weight of history and the indomitable spirit behind this honor.
(End of the Chapter)