The pressure against Eastern Horizon
Academy escalated rapidly after the government notices became public.
Within days, news channels across multiple countries began discussing the academy constantly.
Some praised it as the birthplace of humanity's new cultivation era.
Others condemned it as reckless and dangerous.
Debates flooded every network.
"Should cultivation knowledge remain controlled?"
"Did Eastern Horizon violate global awakened regulations?"
"Are unrestricted techniques a threat to social stability?"
But despite the arguments—
Public support continued growing.
Because ordinary people had already experienced the results themselves.
A factory worker demonstrated stable spiritual circulation after only months of practice.
A recovering awakened patient shared how publicly released healing methods saved his life after official treatments failed.
Entire low-income cultivation communities openly defended the academy online.
The world was changing too visibly now.
Suppressing it completely had become impossible.
Which only made the old powers more aggressive.
Inside a heavily secured government facility, several officials sat around a circular table reviewing reports from intelligence divisions.
One man spoke coldly.
"The academy ignored direct international warnings."
Another adjusted the holographic display.
"More concerning is public sentiment."
Statistics appeared immediately afterward.
Support for unrestricted cultivation access continued increasing globally.
Especially among younger awakeners.
A woman seated near the end of the table frowned slightly.
"If this continues, government-controlled awakened institutions will gradually lose authority."
Silence followed.
Because everyone understood the real issue now.
This was no longer about safety.
It was about control.
One official finally asked quietly:
"What about the boy responsible?"
Several reports immediately appeared.
Krishak.
Academy student.
Awakening records incomplete.
Multiple unexplained achievements.
Connection to the Tibetan ruins suspected.
Current location unknown.
The room remained silent while reviewing the file.
Then one official narrowed his eyes.
"He disappeared immediately after the archive release began."
Another answered calmly.
"The academy claims he entered isolated cultivation."
"No evidence?"
"None."
That answer clearly displeased several people.
Meanwhile-
Inside Eastern Horizon Academy
The atmosphere had become increasingly tense.
Security formations now covered most major academy sectors.
Additional awakened instructors patrolled constantly.
Even students could sense the growing pressure surrounding the institution.
Yet strangely-
Fear was not the dominant emotion.
Determination was.
In one public training courtyard, hundreds of students practiced foundational breathing methods together beneath glowing formation lights.
Combat cultivators trained beside support healers naturally.
Formation students instructed ordinary civilians voluntarily.
Spirit beast handlers worked openly with uncontracted beasts.
The academy no longer resembled a traditional awakened institution.
It felt like the beginning of something new.
The principal observed the scene quietly from above.
Then Professor Devika stepped beside him.
"Three more governments requested direct inspection access today."
The principal remained calm.
"And your answer?"
"No."
A faint smile appeared briefly on his face.
"Good."
Professor Devika folded her arms.
"They're becoming impatient."
"Yes."
His gaze remained fixed on the students below.
"Because they can feel the old structure weakening."
Inside the academy conference hall later that evening, discussions continued regarding their next move.
Director Rao activated several global projections.
"Independent cultivation communities are beginning to organize themselves now.
Different regions illuminated across the map.
Small public cultivation groups.
Community healing centers.
Civilian training networks.
Even resource-sharing systems inspired by Arun's management teachings.
Dev stared blankly.
"..This escalated fast."
Raghav crossed his arms.
"It was always going to..."
Ananya looked toward the reports quietly.
"People finally gained access to something that was always kept away from them."
Silence followed.
Because deep down-
They all understood why humanity responded so strongly.
For generations, strength belonged mostly to those born into power.
Now ordinary people could finally begin walking the path themselves.
Of course they wouldn't give that up willingly.
Meanwhile, Krishak's disciples continued growing rapidly.
Rohon's forge had expanded significantly.
Several academy departments now used weapons and spiritual tools refined personally by him.
Though still young, his forging style already carried a distinct identity.
Balanced.
Efficient.
Reliable.
Exactly as Krishak taught.
Meera's medicinal greenhouse evolved into one of the academy's most important support facilities.
Her healing pills and plant synchronization methods helped stabilize countless beginner cultivators struggling with spiritual imbalance.
Many instructors now openly acknowledged her talent.
Though Meera herself still felt it wasn't enough.
Arun's business network grew even larger.
What started as small cultivation supply exchanges had slowly evolved into a developing economic organization supporting independent cultivators across multiple cities.
Most importantly—
He quietly redirected a large portion of profits into hidden reserve funds.
Academy construction funds.
Exactly as promised.
Karan's reputation among spirit beast communities spread rapidly as well.
More beasts voluntarily approached him now without forced contracts.
Some even defended nearby human settlements instinctively after forming trust-based bonds.
The old beast taming factions hated it.
But ordinary people admired it.
Tara continued studying formations obsessively.
Entire defensive sectors inside the academy now operated partially through arrays she designed personally.
Even senior formation masters occasionally struggled understanding the complexity of her synchronization structures.
Yet Tara still practiced endlessly.
Because protecting the future academy remained her goal.
And far beneath the Tibetan mountains—
Krishak cultivated in complete isolation.
The corruption surrounding the Worldheart had decreased substantially now.
For the first time in centuries, portions of the underground chamber no longer radiated overwhelming decay.
Ancient runes across the walls glowed more steadily.
Even the dimensional breach below appeared slightly smaller.
But the burden on Krishak had only grown heavier.
Because the deeper corruption remaining near the source was far more dangerous than before.
Black crystalline fragments floated slowly around him while silver-gray Origin essence circulated through his body continuously.
The Primordial Origin Arts refined endlessly.
The Universe Origin Body Arts tempered every bone, muscle, and spiritual pathway repeatedly.
Pain no longer arrived in waves.
It had become part of his existence itself.
Yet his aura had transformed completely.
Calmer.
Heavier.
More ancient.
The old man observed silently for a long time before finally speaking.
"You've nearly completed the second stage."
Krishak slowly opened his eyes.
Silver-gray light flickered faintly within them now.
"Star Forged Body," he said quietly.
The old man nodded once.
"And after that?"
Silence lingered briefly.
Then Krishak looked toward the dimensional breach below.
"..Void Tempered Body."
For the first time--
The old man's expression changed noticeably.
Because that realm required something terrifying.
Direct contact with dimensional forces themselves.