Most people realized something and began to silently retreat, while a few became more excited, wanting to see what would happen next.
In everyone's gaze.
Lin Guang's black hair moved on its own without wind, and he said softly, "Just breaking the defense, right?"
Vishdair showed a menacing smile, "Am I being underestimated?"
The two of them both looked at Yu Haidong, Lin Guang spoke, "So, teacher, you won't dodge, right."
Yu Haidong looked at the increasingly bright gun muzzle, and Ether Perception clearly told him the explosive power of that skill, his smile started to freeze.
At the next moment.
Boom!!!!!
After charging up, a ping-pong-sized light bullet cut through the air in a bright red thin line and hit Yu Haidong.
Flame light shone, explosion roared, sparks, smoke, and impact spread, engulfing him.
Exclamations began to rise and fall—
"Damn, it's too fierce! What's happening!"
"Oh no, the teacher won't be killed, will he!"
"It can't be... he's a Three-Star Spirit Master."
"Damn, Lin Guang didn't even go all out when he fought He Shenghuang at noon."
"If this move hit Thunderous Little Bull at noon, would the school cafeteria have had to serve grilled beef at night."
Amidst the students' commotion, the smoke soon dissipated.
Yu Haidong was still standing intact in the original place, only before him was a shimmering translucent semicircle Light Shield.
"Two-Star Spirit Rune Secret Technique, Barrier."
His tone relaxed, naturally looking at the classmates, discreetly retrieving the somewhat weary Earth Guardian Baby at his feet, forcing his racing heartbeat to settle down, looking at Lin Guang confidently, "Really a very powerful hit, I guess it's a Green Grade skill."
"Back to the point, this is the first lesson I want to teach you."
He suddenly said seriously, "For you, no, for all rookie Spirit Masters, survival ability is above all else."
"Living is the future, dying means nothing left."
"I know you are all elites and geniuses, feeling somewhat superior to someone like me, a soldier whose contracted spirit beast type is dictated by higher-ups, let alone talent and even main spirit beast being White Grade."
"But I have a statistic from the Spirit Master Association."
"Every year nationwide, an average of 2.5 million high school students join the Battle Class. According to official statistics, from freshman to junior year, about 2%, nearly five thousand students, die in the wilderness and Secret Realm. College students have a higher rate, reaching 5%."
Faced with the merciless mortality statistics, no matter serious or not usually, no matter how impressive the earlier battle was, everyone's eyes became serious.
And at this time, Yu Haidong's tone had also cooled down, "In other words, if from high school to college graduation you participate as much as possible in wilderness exploration every year, according to the data, the survival rate is only around 76%, or even lower."
"And at this time, you're even just graduating, as long as you wish to continue, the future dangers will only be greater compared to school times."
"I'm 39 this year, barring any accidents, reaching the peak of Three-Star this lifetime is a problem, let alone advancing to Four-Star, spirit beast potential and personal talent indeed can't compare to you, but at least I was active on the front line for over twelve years as a military Spirit Master, many geniuses I knew fell before me."
"Many were stronger than me, but they still died—because they thought they were strong and didn't need to revere anything."
"So, the first lesson I give you is reverence for danger, in the Secret Realm and the perilous wilderness, those colossal creatures like natural disasters, those lurking threats, even malicious peers won't spare you because you're young and students."
"You all have good partners, immense potential, and are the future of Great Xia, I don't want you to perish halfway."
The genuine emotions in the words, anyone could hear them, students couldn't help but put away their disdain, starting to acknowledge Yu Haidong's position as an instructor.
Seeing this, Yu Haidong also released a breath, turning his gaze back to Lin Guang and Vishdair, the latter exhausted from expending all his Ether was weakly leaning against Lin Guang, yet he wore a satisfied smile, using his last bit of strength to give him an international friendly gesture.
It's been only three days of contract, yet such unreserved trust?
Just how did he achieve it?
"I lost," Yu Haidong honestly admitted, "That hit just now, solely relying on Earth Guardian Baby wouldn't have withstood it."
As he spoke, Yu Haidong took out a colorless transparent crystal from his pocket, about palm-sized, engraved with mysterious Spirit Pattern inside.
"This is the Visualization Crystal imprinted with the Two-Star non-attribute Spirit Pattern 'Barrier'."
Listening to Yu Haidong, envy flashed in the eyes of the onlooking students.
The non-attribute Spirit Pattern is inherently more valuable due to its versatility compared to attribute Spirit Patterns, and this Spirit Pattern Crystal has inscribed the extremely important 'Barrier' Spirit Pattern.
Barrier series Spirit Patterns are considered the most important of all Spirit Patterns, and also the most demanded Spirit Patterns, because they can be used on both oneself and spirit beasts, granting Spirit Masters without much self-defense capability significant tactical options.
A Two-Star Spirit Master without a Barrier Spirit Pattern could lose their life from a sweep of several submachine guns, but with a Barrier, even rockets and grenades can be easily resisted, officially creating a gap between Spirit Masters and ordinary people.
The learning of Spirit Pattern Crystals is one-on-one, more efficient than school teachings and external Spirit Rune Meditation Halls.
Lin Guang still remembered seeing a Spirit Pattern Crystal with 'Barrier' in the black market before, thinking he was short on money and couldn't judge the authenticity of the goods in the black market, he gave up on the purchase, never expected to receive one at school now.
Taking the crystal from Yu Haidong, before examining it, he heard Yu Haidong say, "Technically, you should only receive this after becoming a One-Star Spirit Master and owning a Tier One spirit beast. Understanding Spirit Patterns is related to the total amount of soul and remaining soul capacity, you haven't become a One-Star Spirit Master yet, and this Visualization Crystal is Two-Star. Even for a One-Star Spirit Master, comprehending the Spirit Pattern within two weeks is nearly impossible, so my advice is not to unseal and use it yet, after the initial use, even if you don't use comprehension, the Spirit Pattern imprint will gradually blur and fade after being left for a long time, it's best to use it when you reach Two-Star, as even if comprehension fails, the gap won't be too large."
Speaking, Yu Haidong turned his gaze to the nearby Class One students, loudly said, "Class One has a quota of 3 Barrier Visualization Crystals every semester, these are resources distributed by the school, awarded by me to students with excellent performance in the duel class. Of course, the assessment criteria aren't necessarily in terms of offense, speed, endurance, control power, etc., also count. Hopefully, you are well-prepared to win these Spirit Pattern Crystals from me."
These words made the students who already had overflowing envy clench their fists, a burning determination flashing in their eyes.
Even Lin Guang, surely he can't cover all areas and obtain all the crystals from the teacher.
"..."
"Hmm, what's wrong?"
Vishdair finally regained some strength, straightened his body alone, but saw Lin Guang with a thoughtful expression.
"Nothing." He shook his head, putting the crystal in his pocket.
If Lin Guang remembered correctly, after unlocking the "Warrior" talent tree, he could gain a talent called "Power of Whole Heart and Soul."
One of its effects is accelerating comprehension of Spirit Patterns.