News of Krishak's return spread across Earth within a single day.
By the second day—
Eastern Horizon Academy became the center of global attention. Government representatives arrived constantly. Awakened organizations requested meetings without pause.
Even independent Saints from different regions appeared near academy territory quietly, observing from afar.
But inside Eastern Horizon itself—
The atmosphere felt strangely normal.
Students still attended cultivation classes.
Formation researchers argued over array structures in public halls.
Blacksmith departments continued forging spiritual equipment late into the night.
Life continued moving.
And somehow—
That normalcy mattered.
Krishak stood silently atop one of the academy's highest terraces while overlooking the enormous campus below.
Thousands of students trained across different regions beneath the morning sun.
Some practiced body tempering.
Others studied formation diagrams.
Support cultivators guided beginner civilians through meditation techniques near the public cultivation district.
Three years ago—
This future barely existed.
Now—
It had become real.
"You're thinking too much again."
Meera's voice came from behind him quietly.
Krishak glanced sideways slightly as she approached carrying two cups of spiritual tea.
He accepted one calmly.
"…Maybe."
Meera leaned against the terrace railing beside him.
For a while—
Neither spoke.
Then she quietly asked:
"Was it really that painful?"
Krishak paused slightly.
He understood immediately what she meant.
The mountains.
The corruption.
The three years alone.
For a moment—
He considered giving the usual answer.
That he was fine.
That it was manageable.
But instead—
He answered honestly.
"Yes."
Meera remained silent.
Krishak's gaze drifted toward the distant horizon quietly.
"There were days my body felt like it was tearing apart constantly."
"The corruption never stopped fighting back."
"Sometimes even thinking became difficult."
His voice remained calm throughout all of it.
Which somehow made it heavier.
Meera slowly tightened her grip around the tea cup.
"…Then why keep going?"
Krishak looked toward the academy below again.
"At first?"
He thought briefly.
"Because someone had to."
Then his expression softened faintly.
"But later…"
His eyes reflected countless students training below.
"…Because I wanted to see this future exist."
Silence followed afterward.
Not uncomfortable silence.
Quiet understanding.
Eventually, academy communication formations activated across the sky suddenly.
A public announcement echoed throughout the entire campus.
"All students gather at the Foundation Plaza immediately."
"Founder Krishak will address the academy."
The entire academy instantly exploded into movement.
Rohon nearly crashed through a nearby hallway moments later.
"…Did you seriously agree to give a public speech?"
Krishak blinked once.
"…Apparently."
Arun sighed from behind him.
"The students would riot if you disappeared again without saying anything."
"That seems unreasonable."
"No," Tara replied calmly while approaching nearby.
"It's extremely reasonable."
Within half an hour—
Foundation Plaza became completely packed.
Thousands of students filled the enormous open grounds while floating formation platforms carried even more spectators overhead. Public broadcasts spread the scene globally through awakened communication networks.
Humanity watched silently.
At the center platform—
Krishak stood quietly beneath the academy sky.
The moment he appeared—
The entire plaza erupted.
Cheers.
Excitement.
Spiritual lights flashing throughout the air.
Even nearby instructors looked openly emotional.
Because regardless of politics—
This young man had changed humanity itself.
Eventually, the noise slowly calmed.
Krishak looked across the massive crowd silently.
Then spoke.
"When I first released cultivation teachings publicly…"
His calm voice spread naturally throughout the entire academy.
"…many people asked the same question."
His gaze moved slowly across the students.
"Why?"
The plaza became completely silent.
"Why give techniques freely?"
"Why help strangers grow stronger?"
"Why risk destabilizing the world?"
Krishak remained quiet briefly afterward.
Then answered softly.
"Because cultivation was never meant to belong only to the powerful."
Countless students stared upward silently.
"In ancient times…"
Krishak continued,
"cultivation became corrupted by greed repeatedly."
"Strength turned into authority."
"Knowledge became currency."
"And eventually…"
His eyes sharpened faintly.
"…civilizations weakened themselves."
The atmosphere across the plaza slowly changed.
Less excitement now.
More focus.
Krishak looked toward the students calmly.
"Power alone does not build a civilization."
"Foundations do."
"Trust does."
"Knowledge does."
"People do."
Far across the academy—
Even instructors listened silently now.
"I do not expect humanity to become perfect."
Krishak continued honestly.
"There will still be conflict."
"Greed."
"Fear."
"War."
His voice remained steady.
"But if cultivation only creates stronger selfish people…"
"…then humanity will eventually destroy itself long before outside enemies ever arrive."
Several Saints watching remotely narrowed their eyes slightly hearing that line.
Because they understood what he truly implied.
Krishak slowly lifted one hand toward the enormous academy around them.
"This academy exists for one reason."
The spiritual energy across Foundation Plaza stabilized faintly around him naturally.
"To prove cultivation and civilization can grow together."
Silence filled the entire campus.
Complete silence.
Then suddenly—
One student near the front shouted loudly:
"We'll prove it!"
Others immediately joined afterward.
Then more.
And more.
Until the entire plaza erupted once again.
Krishak watched the students quietly while countless voices echoed through the academy grounds.
For the first time in a very long while—
He felt something unfamiliar.
Hope.
Not blind optimism.
Not certainty.
Just the possibility—
That maybe humanity truly could become something better this time.