Hu Gan had been pondering deeply, his ancient eyes completely closed, running Ruo Lin's testimony through his vast, century-spanning reservoir of martial knowledge. Finally, he opened his eyes, a profound, enlightened clarity shining within them.
"The Alchemy Head is partially correct," Hu Gan began, his raspy voice cutting through the heavy air. "For a Dou Zhe to project his intent so flawlessly into the physical world, his Soul Strength must be extraordinary. I estimate his soul is currently at the Mid Mortal State—a terrifyingly robust foundation for a youth of his stage and age."
The Deputy Headmaster paused, his gaze sweeping over the silent council.
"But raw soul strength alone cannot tame a beast without a branding technique," Hu Gan continued, his voice taking on the cadence of a grandmaster delivering a sermon. "The scholar was also partially correct. I do not believe it is strict non-violence, but rather... absolute mercy. Mercy towards life."
Hu Gan leaned forward, his aura expanding slightly, carrying the gentle, profound weight of nature itself.
"Life, in all its forms, is the ultimate product of nature. Nature is the mother of all things. When a cultivator achieves a true, uncorrupted Dao with nature, the world recognizes them not as an invader, but as a favored child. And what is the most primal expression of nature?"
Hu Gan looked down at the table, his eyes reflecting a deep wisdom.
"It is music. The wind whistling through the canyons, the rhythmic crashing of the waves, the chirping of the birds... melody is always found in nature first. It is the purest vessel for expressing emotion. That boy, Xiao Ning... he used that bamboo flute as a vessel to pour his absolute mercy, his profound tranquility, and his lack of killing intent directly into the ambient worldly energy. The beasts did not bow to his strength. They bowed to his soul."
As the Deputy Headmaster's words settled over the room, the Core Elders widened their eyes.
A collective wave of sudden, profound enlightenment washed over the obsidian table. The chaotic theories and arguments evaporated, replaced by a crystalline clarity. The elders, monsters who had spent their lives pursuing raw, destructive power, felt a strange, humbling awe at the concept of a youth achieving supreme dominance through absolute peace.
"It... it makes perfect sense," the Head of the Combat Department whispered, her sharp eyes softening slightly. "A Dao of Compassion. To reach such a profound level of comprehension at sixteen... it is terrifying."
"Very possible, Deputy Headmaster," the Alchemy Head nodded slowly, stroking his beard in deep thought. "It is the only logical conclusion that accounts for all the variables."
One by one, the Core Elders voiced their agreement. They had found their answer, even if the sheer impossibility of the youth's nature still left them completely amazed. They shook their heads collectively, finding it the most mysterious, awe-inspiring thing they had encountered in decades. They had sought a true, concrete answer, but when dealing with a true anomaly, they could only ever find profound possibilities.
"Then, Deputy Headmaster," Elder Shu spoke up from his position by the wall, breaking the reverent silence. "What should we do with him? He is currently assigned a 'C' rank and placed in a Courtyard to avoid public scrutiny. How do we proceed with his cultivation?"
Hu Qian hummed softly, tapping his finger against his chin in deep thought.
"Let us simply stay the current course," Hu Gan decided, his voice returning to its authoritative, commanding tone. "We know his Dao is terrifying, but we know absolutely nothing about his combat capability. We do not know his fighting style, his level of practical combat experience, or how many ranks higher he can fight. If we coddle him, we might shatter his unique foundation."
He looked around the table, ensuring every elder understood his next words.
"We will watch his growth normally, exactly as we do for the other students. We will not interfere with his life, his daily routines, or attempt to pry into his secrets. However," Hu Gan added, a cunning glint returning to his eyes, "we will secretly supply him with 'S' rank resources. Send the extra Qi-gathering pills and high-tier medicinal baths directly to his courtyard under the guise of 'standard C-rank provisions'. He is, after all, a student of our academy. If he eventually becomes a prominent, world-shaking figure, it will only benefit the Jia Nan Academy."
The Core Elders all nodded in firm agreement. It was a flawless strategy: nurture the monster without caging it.
With the matter officially decided, Hu Gan turned his piercing gaze directly onto Teacher Ruo Lin and Elder Shu.
The ambient pressure in the room suddenly spiked, becoming sharp and incredibly lethal.
"Ruo Lin. Shu," the Vice Principal said, his voice dropping to a terrifying, absolute zero. "Everything that was discussed in this hall today regarding Xiao Ning is classified at the highest level of academy secrecy. If a single word of this boy's true nature or the hot springs incident spills outside these walls to the students or the Black-Corner Region... you both know the punishment."
Ruo Lin and Elder Su violently trembled. They immediately dropped to one knee, bowing their heads so low they nearly touched the floor.
"Yes, Deputy Headmaster!" they chorused, their voices laced with genuine, absolute terror. The punishment for treason in the Jia Nan Academy was a fate far worse than simple death.
The suffocating pressure instantly vanished, replaced once more by the calm, gentle aura of the white-haired elder.
"Good," Hu Gan smiled warmly. "One final instruction, Ruo Lin. Do not attempt to force Xiao Ning into standard cultivation routines. Geniuses of his caliber have their own unique, often incomprehensible paths for training. If he asks for a leave of absence to travel or train independently... grant him as much leave as he desires without question."
Ruo Lin's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she immediately compiled the command in her mind. To be granted unlimited leave as a freshman was unheard of, but for a monster of the Dao, it made perfect sense.
"I understand and obey, Vice Principal," Ruo Lin said respectfully.
"You are dismissed," Hu Qian waved his hand lazily.
Ruo Lin and Elder Shu stood up, bowed deeply one final time to the assembly of titans, and swiftly exited the Grand Meeting Hall.
The moment the heavy oak doors clicked shut behind them, both the Da Dou Shi and the Dou Wang let out massive, shuddering breaths, leaning heavily against the cool stone walls of the corridor.
The sheer, terrifying stress of the interrogation began to bleed away, rapidly replaced by a surging, exhilarating wave of excitement.
"A guaranteed path to Dou Ling..." Ruo Lin whispered, her hands trembling with sheer joy. Her future was suddenly brighter than she could have ever dreamed.
Elder Su chuckled, patting his long grey beard. He had also been promised a significant sum of high Contribution Points for his silent discretion and accurate reporting.
Both of them were incredibly happy, their careers forever elevated simply because they had been lucky enough to cross paths with a youth from a dusty border town. They exchanged a knowing, respectful glance, offered a polite farewell, and went their separate ways into the sprawling depths of the academy, leaving the titans to their quiet contemplation.