"Morning class."
Lin Fang stepped into Lecture Hall 9A wearing a black instructor robe with crimson trim. His eyes swept over the rows of students—all dressed in red, white, and blue cultivation uniforms, some with glowing weapons, others with aura-powered laptops.
The murmurs began instantly.
"Is that the guy who crushed Blake?"
"I heard he vaporized his spiritual core with a touch."
"No way. That's illegal in like, twelve spirit states."
Lin Fang smiled faintly. He liked rumors—they worked better than threats.
He walked slowly to the blackboard, raised a hand, and with a flick of his finger, slashed the air open, carving three glowing characters in golden qi.
KILL. TO. GROW.
Gasps echoed through the room.
"Today's lesson," Lin Fang said, "is about survival."
[Villain System Notification]
+25 Villain Points – You intimidated 37 students.
New Passive Unlocked: "Voice of Authority (Lv.1)"
He turned to face them.
"In this world, the strong rise. The weak rot. No one cares how good your intentions are if your head's already rolling on the floor."
A blonde girl in the front row raised her hand hesitantly. "But… Headmaster Lincoln says our school cultivates peaceful strength."
Lin Fang arched a brow. "And Headmaster Lincoln also cultivates a beer belly and a fear of confrontation."
The class went dead silent.
[Villain Points +10 – You disrespected a symbolic authority.]
"Let me rephrase." Lin Fang snapped his fingers. A holographic projection of Blake Smith's bruised face appeared midair.
"This is what happens when you believe in slogans."
More whispers. Some horrified. A few impressed.
At the back, a boy with green hair and spirit tattoos leaned over to a classmate. "Dude, he's insane. This is better than Spiritflix."
Another student—sharply dressed, gold-rimmed glasses, and a smug aura—stood up.
"Professor," he said loudly. "I think your... teaching methods are outdated. We don't need violence to become strong."
Name: Ronald Kray
Rank: Class Monitor
Spirit Root: Wind-Lightning Dual Affinity
Destiny Marker: Potential Rival Turned Antagonist
Lin Fang narrowed his eyes. The system buzzed.
[Villain Task: Humiliate the Class Monitor in public. Reward: Shadow Cultivation Technique – "Laughing Blade Steps"]
"Ronald, is it?"
"Yes."
"Good. Come down here."
The class stirred. Someone whispered, "Round two?"
Ronald strutted down the steps, adjusting his sleeves like he was prepping for a TED Talk.
"I believe in progress through collaboration," he declared. "We don't need to oppress to succeed."
Lin Fang tilted his head. "You're right. So here's a collaborative exercise."
He snapped his fingers. The floor under Ronald lit up with glowing runes—an impromptu training array.
"Dodge everything for the next ten seconds."
"…What?"
Boom.
A barrage of spirit arrows, fireballs, wind blades, and water spears erupted from all angles. Ronald shrieked.
He leapt. Rolled. Blocked. Screamed again.
When the spellstorm stopped, Ronald stood swaying, clothes half-burned, hair smoking.
Lin Fang raised a single finger.
Poke.
Ronald dropped like a sack of spiritual potatoes.
[Villain Points +50 – Public Humiliation: Flawless Execution]
[You have gained: Laughing Blade Steps Lv.1]
[Student Respect: 12%, Student Fear: 71%]
Lin Fang looked at the class again.
"I hope that clears up the discussion about non-violence in combat cultivation."
After class, a few students stayed behind. One of them approached cautiously—it was Aria Chase, the silver-haired assistant instructor from yesterday.
"You're reckless," she said coldly. "That stunt with Ronald could've gotten you suspended."
"But it didn't," Lin Fang replied, sipping tea.
She narrowed her eyes. "The headmaster's watching you."
"I'd be disappointed if he wasn't."
Aria paused. "Still… that footwork you used—'Laughing Blade Steps'—that's not on the academy's curriculum. Where did you learn it?"
"Villain's privilege."
He walked past her.
The system chimed again.
[New Side Quest: Tempt Aria Chase to train with forbidden techniques.]
[Optional Outcome: Bond / Betrayal / Obsession]
That evening, Lin Fang sat on the academy rooftop, watching the stars swirl above the dome-shaped spirit barrier that protected the campus.
A notification blinked in his vision.
Weekly Ranking: Combat Instructors (Popularity/Fear Index)
#1 – Lin Fang
#2 – Coach Barry (Spirit Wrestling)
#3 – Master Chen (Qi Meditation)
He smirked.
So this is how power works in this world… systems, schools, and fear.
Good. I've always been good at playing the villain.
The moon turned blood-red above the academy as a shadow moved in the clouds.
The system flickered.
[Warning: An external variable has entered the school boundaries.]
[New arc unlocked: Arrival of the Hero Transfer Student]
Lin Fang stood up slowly.
"Looks like the plot's catching up."
Just as Lin Fang was about to descend from the rooftop, a voice echoed behind him.
"You're not like the others."
He turned to find a boy sitting cross-legged on the air—literally hovering midair—with a gentle golden glow around him. His robe bore no academy crest, only a small badge shaped like a dragon swallowing a star.
> Interesting... that's not an academy emblem. That's a destiny sigil.
The system buzzed urgently.
[New Variable Identified: Hero Transfer Student – Kai Anderson]
[Threat Level: High]
[Alignment: Protagonist / Chosen One]
Kai smiled softly. "I've heard about you, Professor Lin. I came here to learn how to be strong… but not your kind of strong."
Lin Fang narrowed his gaze.
"Then you came to the wrong class."
Kai tilted his head. "Or maybe… I came to challenge it."
With that, he vanished into a streak of light, leaving only a whisper of divine aura behind.
[Villain Quest Chain Updated!]
Act 1: Establish dominance in the academy – 50% complete
Act 2: Crush the Hero's Spirit before Midterm Rankings
Bonus Condition: Corrupt his allies first
Lin Fang stood still, watching the spirit barrier above tremble slightly. The wind carried the scent of fire and storm.
So the game begins.
He turned back toward his office, footsteps silent.
Tomorrow, he'd teach them all another lesson.