Filial Piety Comes First

Inside his manor in the Primal Region of the Virtual Universe, Luo Feng sat at his desk, flipped open his laptop screen, and with a gentle click, opened his email. “You have completed the fourth stage of the Ultimate Point Mission. After evaluation by numerous members, your completion rate for the fourth stage is 70%, earning you 280,000 points. With this, the entire Ultimate Point Mission concludes.” Luo Feng's brow furrowed slightly. Only 70% completion? When he undertook this fourth stage, especially concerning the 'judgment of his father,' he had indeed been somewhat overbearing, directly declaring him innocent. However, Luo Feng believed his judgments for the other family members were relatively fair. “Let's see what the commentary says.” Luo Feng continued reading the email. “Commentary: This final stage of the mission required you, Luo Feng, to judge 21 members of your clan. However, regarding your father, you neither apprehended nor judged him, failing to complete the fourth stage entirely. It's clear that, at your core, you hold your father in extremely high regard, to the point where you didn't even wish to judge him. Although your father was somewhat innocent, he was not entirely blameless. A century in prison would have been the lightest sentence, yet you directly declared him innocent. Between public duty and private sentiment, you showed favoritism. Therefore, your mission completion rate can only be assessed at 70%. We hope you will gain a clearer understanding of the distinction between public and private matters.” ... After reading this commentary, Luo Feng's state of mind remained entirely unchanged. For Luo Feng, who had reached the first stage of Heart Cultivation and pursued an extreme path, even the persuasions of Hong and Lei Shen would struggle to sway him. This illustrates the depth of his stubbornness, or rather, the unwavering strength of his convictions. He coldly closed that email and opened another new one. “Ultimate Point Mission Additional Reward?” Luo Feng smiled as he read. Even if all four previous stages were completed at 100%, they would only total 1,000,000 points. The maximum additional points were also 1,000,000. “Based on your performance across all four stages of the mission, you are awarded 600,000 additional points. We hope you will reflect on yourself.” Luo Feng's heart stirred as he read. 600,000 additional points? So, his total points this time were 82,000 (first stage) plus 180,000 (second stage) plus 300,000 (third stage) plus 280,000 (fourth stage) plus 600,000 (additional points), totaling 1,442,000 points. This was 72.1% of the mission's maximum 2,000,000 points, not even reaching the so-called threshold of 80%. Clearly, this result could only be described as average. “Overall Commentary: In the first stage, you slaughtered millions yet were able to consciously spare those who didn't deserve death. This proves that... while inherently bloodthirsty, you remain remarkably calm. Despite your bloodthirsty nature, in the second stage, you chose to protect 10 billion weak individuals, demonstrating your underlying sympathy for the vulnerable. The third stage proved your fearlessness in the face of power, your unyielding spirit, and your unwavering resolve in executing the mission and upholding your beliefs. Bloodthirsty yet calm, compassionate towards the weak, and unafraid of the powerful. You performed exceptionally well in the first three stages. Had you handled the fourth stage better, you could have received an additional reward of 900,000 points. However, when the same task of judging 21 individuals had its targets changed to your family members, your transformation astonished us... Especially concerning your father, you not only refused to judge him but even disdained the pretense of apprehending him. It's clear that your family has a profound influence on you, to the extent that you disregard the distinction between public and private matters, and even the law. Humans are inherently social beings, and it is indeed right to value family. However, everything has an appropriate measure, and you have clearly 'overdone' it in this regard. Please recognize this clearly.” ... The Ultimate Mission officially concluded. As for how the Virtual Universe Company viewed him because of this mission, Luo Feng was equally disdainful. “Overdone?” “They say I value my father too much?” Luo Feng sneered. What a joke, a bunch of arrogant idiots! Under the guidance of his elder brothers, Luo Feng had immersed himself in reading ancient texts from the Huaxia Nation. As he read, his entire being underwent a spiritual cleansing, and many of the philosophies resonated deeply with him. From ancient times, Huaxia culture has held the saying, 'Filial piety comes first among all virtues!' Filial piety had been elevated to the highest position. Indeed, throughout the history of the Huaxia Nation, despite numerous dynastic changes, many dynasties consistently decreed that disrespecting or disobeying one's parents was a capital offense! Some dynastic laws even prescribed extreme punishments such as 'death by a thousand cuts,' 'flaying,' or 'grinding bones to dust.' Clearly, 'filial piety' had been pushed to its utmost peak. In contrast, in modern society, even during the Base City era, cases of neglecting or assaulting parents were common. However, without the profound cultural heritage of Huaxia, people no longer considered these acts to be grave sins. But for Luo Feng, who cultivated his heart... He had been filial to his parents since childhood. After achieving 'enlightenment and directly perceiving his true nature,' and having read numerous ancient historical texts, he gained even deeper insights. For instance, during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there was a case where a son reported his father for stealing a sheep, yet the son's action was deemed unfilial and severely punished! Similarly, in the history of the Huaxia Nation, the Qin Dynasty, with its extremely strict laws that prioritized regulations above all else, ironically downplayed 'filial piety.' The entire nation lacked even the most basic warmth of familial affection. How could its citizens be truly loyal? How could the nation remain stable? It perished after only two generations! ... There are many stories about filial piety throughout history, but they all illustrate one point. Filial piety! It is the most fundamental 'factor' for the human race. If a person cannot even manage basic filial piety, if they treat their own parents poorly, how can they be loyal to their superiors? Or loyal to their nation? Such individuals are either brainwashed to the point of losing their sense of self, or they are extremely selfish! If they are not filial to their parents, then in their hearts... they will not truly value anyone else; they will only value themselves! Extremely selfish! “Filial piety comes first among all virtues!” “Even if a father errs, a son would rather take his place! He would also persuade his father to correct his mistakes... As for punishment... a son would absolutely never inflict it.” Luo Feng murmured, “Public duty and private sentiment? Is there a limit to public and private?” “Perhaps what the Virtual Universe Company truly desires... are subordinates who execute company orders flawlessly, never going against them! Even if family members are involved, they must at least place company orders on par with, or even above, the importance of their relatives. This is likely what the Virtual Universe Company seeks.” “What a pity!” “The orders of the Virtual Universe Company are not even one-tenth as important as my father.” “Overdone?” “I believe it's not overdone in the slightest.” Luo Feng said silently. ... The next day. At Nine Star Bay on Black Dragon Mountain Island in the Virtual Universe, Luo Feng was with his father Luo Hongguo and mother Gong Xinlan. “Dad, Mom.” Luo Feng poured tea for his parents. “What made you think of visiting us today?” Gong Xinlan looked at her son, her eyes crinkling with a smile. Luo Feng smiled, changing the subject. “Dad, Mom, did you create a Nirvana Guild in that virtual game?” “How did you know?” Luo Hongguo's eyes lit up as he spoke rapidly. “That 'Azure Snow World' is truly vast and stunning, absolutely dazzling! Riding those flying demonic beasts through endless icy landscapes, tsk tsk... The clashes of millions of soldiers, the duels between generals on the battlefield, it's all so cool.” The word 'cool' was one commonly used by his father's generation. “Heh heh.” Luo Feng couldn't help but smile, watching his father's excited expression. He was content that his father could live out his dreams. “Dad, Mom, I have something to show you.” Luo Feng said. With a flip of his hand, he produced a document: some information regarding the killings committed by the Nirvana Guild. After applying to the intelligence department... and Luo Feng's inquiry, the intelligence department confirmed that such information was considered basic and ordinary, and given Luo Feng's status, he could show it to his parents. “What is it?” Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan asked, puzzled. They then took the document and both lowered their heads to read. Silence fell for a moment. Luo Feng sat there, waiting silently. His parents continued to stare at the document, their expressions growing increasingly grim with each line. Finally, Luo Hongguo slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, roaring, “Bastards! A bunch of ungrateful wretches! I treated them like brothers, yet they used me like this. Xinlan, you warned me not to trust people so easily back then, and I thought... why overthink things in a virtual game? Drinking big bowls of wine, eating large chunks of meat, cutting down enemies with a great saber—how exhilarating and straightforward! I never imagined them, never imagined...” “Dad.” Luo Feng saw his father's expression and knew he had taken a significant blow. Luo Hongguo sat back down, a trace of pain in his eyes. Gong Xinlan comforted him from beside him. “So many people died...” Luo Hongguo's voice trembled slightly. “Dad, you can only blame yourself for misjudging people, but the real culprits are those bastards.” Luo Feng quickly said. “But they used my influence.” Luo Hongguo shook his head. “Wrong, to be precise, they used *my* influence.” Luo Feng corrected. “If it weren't for me, how could certain departments of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire and the Ganwu Universe Nation have been so hesitant?” Luo Hongguo felt deeply distressed. Luo Feng also understood that showing this information to his parents would certainly cause them great sadness. But sadness aside, he still had to show them. If parents erred... a son should naturally offer counsel. “Dad, Mom.” Luo Feng changed the subject to distract his parents. “I have to leave soon.” “Leave?” Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan asked, puzzled. Didn't their son often leave home? “This time it will be for a very long time, at least a thousand years.” Luo Feng said solemnly. “So, in the days to come, I won't be able to return to Earth, and even in the Virtual Universe... I'll likely only visit once in a very long while.” “Where are you going?” Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan asked in unison. “Chaos City.” Luo Feng replied. He had gone to Chaos City last time, so his parents knew some basic information about it. ... After completing the Ultimate Point Mission, Luo Feng immediately applied to the Virtual Universe Company to go to Chaos City. As a core disciple, Universe-level, Domain Lord-level, and Sector Lord-level cultivators all had opportunities to train in Chaos City... Luo Feng's application was, naturally, quickly approved. Immediately after— Through God Kingdom teleportation, Dilun directly sent Luo Feng to the Virtual Universe Company's universal headquarters. Afterward, Luo Feng boarded the Virtual Universe Company's own spaceship, entering the 'Primal Universe' alongside other Undying Beings. As for Dilun and the guard squad, they were unable to enter with him. According to Luo Feng's plan— By the time he left Chaos City, he would be at the peak of the Sector Lord level, and at that point, he would no longer be able to keep his guard squad. In other words, from this moment on, the guard squad had been disbanded from his service.