Forty-Nine Doomsday Chapter 284: Considerations for Guiding Rather Than Blocking

At the academy conference room, a faculty meeting was in progress.

"Regarding the situation of the students over the past week since the new rule was announced, I believe it's necessary to provide an explanation."

Dean Zhou Qinfeng's expression was grave. Seeing this, the faculty members knew it certainly wasn't good news.

"Based on reports from various teachers and feedback from some students, it appears that even within our academy, there are students practicing that so-called 'Cosmic Divine Spore Art'. This is utterly intolerable to me!"

"The original purpose of establishing this academy was to cultivate pillars of society for the future, hoping these outstanding students could lead the entire nation out of the shadow of the Doomsday Rules. This means our students should possess healthy values and cognition. But now, it seems there's a significant problem."

Zhou Qinfeng looked around the room and asked, "Who can explain to me what exactly has gone wrong?"

Teacher Chen, who taught psychology, said, "According to officially disclosed information, these alien spores invade through each person's emotional vulnerabilities. Currently, a major emotional vulnerability among students lies in strength anxiety."

"Strength anxiety? The students who can enter this academy are all elites among the populace. Could they really have strength anxiety?"

"Absolutely. Their strength anxiety might even be more severe than that of ordinary people. Many outstanding individuals are like this. In fact, one reason many people become excellent is precisely because of their strict demands on themselves."

"Teacher Chen is correct," Ouyang Shanyue, who taught 'Philosophical Reflections on Mind Power', added. "Many students have also reported to me that the spores have enhanced their abilities and even accelerated their Mind Power growth rate. These tangible improvements have caused them to waver."

"I told them to remain calm. These obvious benefits are like bait. True wisdom lies in considering the long term. In the long run, these benefits will be obtained eventually. There's no need to take unknown, massive risks just to get them a little earlier."

"The principle is clear to all of us. The key issue is that some students, due to their young age, find it difficult to resist temptation."

The teachers looked at each other, all feeling helpless.

Even the authorities with their think tanks couldn't control the emergence of a large number of fanatical practitioners, let alone them, the teachers.

"Lecturer Shi Jingyi, what do you think?"

Zhou Qinfeng looked at Shi Jingyi, who was sitting upright at the end of the table, her gaze calm and steady.

"Although you've only been back at the academy for just over a month, the students really like you and are willing to listen to you. Do you think you could say something to the students?"

Upon hearing this, the teachers nodded in agreement.

Shi Jingyi had the highest popularity among the student body, and no one ever caused trouble in her classes. Zhou Qinfeng perhaps thought she might have a way to solve this problem.

Facing everyone's gaze, Shi Jingyi spoke slowly, "If there's one thing I've learned from my martial arts training, it's that self-improvement has no shortcuts. One can only advance step by step, keeping their feet firmly on the ground. If the students understood this principle, they wouldn't be tempted by the spore's effects."

One teacher said, "That's easy to say... But during this rule period, how can one tell whether progress is due to their own efforts or the merit of the spores?"

"Exactly. Are we supposed to have everyone do nothing for this entire month, just eat until they're full and sleep until they've had enough?"

At that moment, someone remembered something, "Lecturer Shi Jingyi, I recall you've been training continuously these past few days, haven't you? Aren't you worried you might..."

"I have indeed been training every day," Shi Jingyi admitted. "And I have also felt the enhanced training effects brought by the spores."

The room immediately erupted in murmurs. Zhou Qinfeng's expression also changed, "Lecturer Shi Jingyi, your behavior is too dangerous! If a teacher from our academy were to become addicted to the spores, the resulting impact would be disastrous!"

"Everyone, I merely felt the effects of the spores, that's all," Shi Jingyi stated. "Feeling them does not mean I will become dependent on them. After completing my daily training plan, I stop. I don't do extra training just because there are additional effects."

"This... requires extremely strict self-control to achieve."

"I think so too. I certainly wouldn't dare to try it. During this rule period, I haven't dared to use my abilities even once, afraid that discovering an enhancement would make me crave even more."

"Lecturer Shi Jingyi's courage is admirable, but it's still better to be cautious."

Although the teachers admired Shi Jingyi, they also felt she was playing with fire, which could easily lead to trouble.

"So, Lecturer Shi Jingyi, what is your specific suggestion?" Zhou Qinfeng asked.

"Blocking is not as good as guidance," Shi Jingyi stated bluntly. "That is my thought."

"Absolutely not!" Zhou Qinfeng immediately objected. "Lecturer Shi Jingyi, you've practiced martial arts since childhood and have strong self-control. Just because you can control yourself doesn't mean others can. Even the official recommendation is to minimize the use of abilities and items during the rule period. How can we go against the official guidance?"

"The Dean is right."

"Blocking is not as good as guidance... Does that mean letting students try the spore effects according to their own whims? That's really too dangerous..."

After Zhou Qinfeng led the opposition, the other teachers all expressed their disagreement one after another.

Shi Jingyi didn't say anything, nor did she show any displeasure.

She always spoke her mind. Zhou Qinfeng asked for her opinion, so she gave it. As for whether others opposed it or not, she didn't care.

By the end of the meeting, Zhou Qinfeng made the final decision, "For now, the academy can only further strengthen management. We must emphasize the dangers of the spores to the students daily and strictly prohibit discussions among students regarding 'practicing the art'."

After the meeting adjourned, before Shi Jingyi could even leave the corridor outside the conference room, Teacher Chen jogged over to catch up with her.

"Actually, I think your suggestion of 'blocking is not as good as guidance' has some merit, Lecturer Shi Jingyi," Teacher Chen said sincerely.

"When I worked as a psychological counselor at a hospital before, many parents brought children severely addicted to online games. After inquiring about the situations, I found that most of these families were extremely strict with their children, never letting them touch games... As a result, many children sneaked off to inter cafes to play and quickly became addicted. I thought if the parents had allowed their children to play in moderation at home, perhaps it wouldn't have come to this."

"These alien spores are certainly far more dangerous than online games. Although it's not a perfect analogy, from the authorities to the academy, everyone is strongly prohibiting it. Could this cause students to develop a situation similar to online game addiction? That's really worrying, isn't it?"

"I don't know. But as Dean Zhou said, my opinion isn't applicable to everyone."

Shi Jingyi wasn't sure either. She looked out the window, a thought having long existed in her mind.

"Teacher Chen, do you have this feeling: from the very beginning when the first rule was announced, the Fire Thief hoped everyone would take care of themselves? Each of its rules seems to exhibit a kind of aversion to groups sheltering each other."

Teacher Chen was slightly taken aback, "That is indeed the case. Previously, many people online fervently discussed that the Fire Thief's reason for releasing that terrifying earthquake rule might be directly related to human nations establishing the 'Human Consortium' organization... Including many other rules, they also don't encourage humans to band together for survival. But..."

"But humans are, after all, social animals. It's an instinct etched into human genes. And since the Fire Thief is humanity's enemy, shouldn't we do the opposite of what the enemy doesn't want us to do?"

"Perhaps."

As she spoke, an image of Guan Tong's face surfaced in Shi Jingyi's mind. She wondered what this person, who always kept to himself, would consider regarding this issue.