Chapter 55 Lecture

The youth slowly ascended the steps leading to the podium. As he reached it, a cold aura swept over the whole theater causing the people within it to shudder. In seconds the chatter stopped and all the attention was focused on the youth standing on the podium. He had dark brown hair that was falling down in chaotic strands and framing a handsome face with deep brown eyes. The youths face was handsome enough to be called a man worthy of a harem of beauties. This was if there wouldn't be the complete lack of an expression on the young man’s face. There was no emotion whatever on his face, only a cold feeling that was floating in the air. In fact there was one part of his body showing a bit of emotions. These were his eyes, they were the only thing on Zes that still had anything betraying Zes limited emotions.

But even his eyes had only an expression of disdain. Or rather than calling it disdain, it was a complete lack of interest into the whole matter. It was as if everything that was happening around him was unable to affect him at all. His being was completely unrestrained by earthly matters and nothing that would happen in this world could have any influence on him.

Hundreds of gazes were focused at the desolate youth’s figure standing alone in middle of a sea of bodies. The youth coughed a few time, resulting in even the last conversations to stop.

"Hrghm. As most of you know I'm Zes Bloed. Today I will be in charge of your lecture and readily answer all questions you have regarding the cultivation of the Soul. So if you have questions don't hesitate to ask them."

An emotionless and monotonous voice swept through the theater. If it was a normal person speaking with such indifference and obvious disinterest it would be normal for the present disciples to fell offended. After all, even though they were outer disciples, they were still proper members of the sect and even core disciples that would often be arrogant wouldn't speak like this when speaking to them. But this was Zes they were speaking about. It was common knowledge in the sect that Zes was unable to show any feelings other than the indifference and disinterest he was displaying right know. In fact, in the years that he had been in the sect there has been no one to ever see another expression on his face other than this emotionless face that seemed to tell others. I don't give a fuck so just go away.

Even when faced with the patriarch, there would be no difference in his face. So why would they feel offended? After all, if even the patriarch got the same treatment, how could they expect anything else? In the first place, since they all chose to come to the lecture while knowing this, could they really have any complains to anyone?

Soon questions came from all sides and all of them were quickly and skillfully resolved. There were questions about cultivation techniques and more efficient ways to use them, different soul skills used for everyday life and even questions regarding lifestyle. The answer to the question how to behave when killing, was the following.

"When killing you always have to understand that every person you kill has his or her own life. A life that interacts with many others and that everything he had ever done, everything he had ever worked for will start to disappear after he dies. It may take years or decades, maybe even centuries. But in the end there will be nothing left from him in this world.

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You have to understand that every life you take has an impact onto yourself and all the people the one you killed had ever been in contact with or would have gotten into contact. You change not only your own life but also the lives of other people, resulting in changing the history itself. Often it may only be minor changes but if added together they will become major and eventually impact the future of your family, your clan or even your whole race.

As long as you understand this, you can always decide to kill or not to kill. The way of the sword or the way of virtue. It's always your own way you are forging while making any action. I for my part have once tried to avoid blood and slaughter as much as I could. I went to the point that I even ignored my bottom line and often left the ones I should have killed alone. It was only after I got into the state I'm in right now that I have changed this habit of mine.

My way now is the way of the sword. The way of slaughter, a slaughter that forces itself through life and history. It doesn't matter who it is or why it is that he is in my way. I will always follow my resolution and force my way using my sword to chop down whoever tries to suppress me. As long as I do not die, I will always take the direct way, never waver my heart nor my resolution to achieve my goal.

This is my way. As for your way, there is no way but to find it yourself."

The countless students were a bit confused. After all, how could Zes have so much experience in slaughter and fighting? He had only been at the sect for a few years and never exited it once he entered it. When had he experienced all these fights that had changed him so much and with what strength had he survived them? Even though they were unable to understand this point, most of them understood the meaning behind Zes’s words. One had to know that with every man they killed they would take responsibility. Responsibility for themselves, the people around them and everything that would happen in the future. Using this, everyone had to find their own way. To live a life of fighting and death, and somehow affect the people living in this world and the history that is going to be written by them or to live a life of peace, avoid fighting and death and live without having any possible regrets.

Both where right ways to go but everyone had to decide for themselves what they would do.

One again, the outer disciples were awed by Zes. He may seem cold and unconcerned. But when asked a question, he would always politely help and give them an exact answer. Furthermore all the answers he gave were deep and always would help them to comprehend the meaning themselves. After all, it was much better to gain enlightenment on your own than to rely on others to plainly explain it to them.

Like this all the questions, how difficult or abstruse they could be, were answered cleanly and neatly. At one point, there was a question about cultivation stages. A new female disciple asked what cultivation stages there where. The other students immediately tried to silence her since this was general knowledge anyone could explain her. But Zes silenced them and slowly answered.