Library of Heaven's Path

by Little Merger

Traversing into another world, Zhang Xuan finds himself becoming an honorable teacher. Along with his transcension, a mysterious library appears in his mind. As long as it is something he has seen, regardless of whether it is a human or an object, a book on its weaknesses will be automatically compiled in the library. Thus, he becomes formidable. “Emperor Zhuoyang, why do you detes

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Library of Heaven's Path #Chapter 609: Hong shis Conditions - Read Library of Heaven's Path Chapter 609: Hong shis Conditions Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

Chapter 609: Hong shi's Conditions

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Severely injured...

Severely your head!

Could that battle between you and Feng shi even be called a battle?

More like a one-sided pummeling! Not a single droplet of sweat was produced in that fight, and yet you said that you were severely injured and can't fight for the next ten years?

The one who is severely injured is Feng shi, alright?

Look at him... His eyes are even rolling up now...

On the other hand, you look perfectly energized after the duel, and the bright smile on your face is about to extend to your ears...

The more he thought about it, the angrier he felt. Master Teacher Luo Zhao bellowed furiously, "The both of us know very well whether you are injured or not. Why don't you just say that you dare not accept my duel?"

"If you can really forsake your morals and dignity as a master teacher and take advantage of my weakness, then yes, I can accept your duel. But if that's the case, I'll decide the rules of the duel!"

Hong shi glanced at the other party calmly and continued, "We'll both ride on an aerial spirit beast each and fight a thousand meters high in the air. Do you... dare accept my proposal?"

"You..."

Luo Zhao felt his head spin.

An aerial battle?

The sight that he had seen from the Record Crystal a moment ago was still engraved into his eyes. If he were to really fight with that fellow in midair, he would probably fall out of the sky just like Feng shi... and perhaps even suffer yet another round of beating afterward...

Putting aside teaching the other party a lesson, he might not even be able to survive the ordeal.

"You don't dare?" Hong shi glanced at the other party with clear contempt in his eyes. "If you are that cowardly, don't waste my time. You challenged an injured person, and yet, you dare not accept my proposal. How embarrassing!"

"..."

Luo Zhao's face immediately turned crimson, and he nearly spurted a mouthful of blood.

The Hong shi he remembered should have been an honest and upright person, when did he become so shameless?

Harrumphing coldly, Hong shi continued, "Alright. Since you dare not challenge me, let's get to the main topic at hand. You obstructed my passage in midair, foiling the fairness of our competition. I demand an explanation for this matter!"

The purpose of his visit was to demand an explanation. Now that he was done beating up Feng Yu, his anger had already subsided mostly... But he was still reluctant to let things end here.

Initially, he was going to stomp here right after settling everyone in, but Zhang shi stopped him and offered him some advice.

And it seemed like the advice did work out as well.

Otherwise, if Hong shi had acted as he originally planned to-barging in here and criticizing the group-not only would the other party simply forget it after a night's rest, his own anger wouldn't be quenched either.

In fact, if the three of them were to gang up on him, he might even be put in a disadvantageous position.

But now, having gotten back at Feng shi through the Master Teacher Confrontation and silencing the others by proposing an aerial duel, the momentum was with him.

"Explanation? You still want an explanation?"

Luo Zhao and the other master teacher stared at one another, and they nearly exploded from anger.

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You came here and pummeled Feng shi to the point that he is teetering on the brink of death already, and yet you still demand an explanation?

"Simple. Since you used an underhanded method to stop us, I want a compensation! How about this, I won't go too far-500 middle-tier spirit stones and we'll call it quits. I won't report this matter to teacher or His Majesty. Otherwise, I'll cause a huge fuss and see who's at fault here!"

Hong shi waved his hands.

In truth, he had little fear even when facing another three master teachers of equivalent standing as him. No matter what, Zhang shi was a person whom even Pavilion Master Mo of Hongyuan Master Teacher Pavilion was willing to offer a high-tier spirit stone to get acquainted with. If this matter were to blow up, these three fellows would surely be the ones suffering in the end.

"500... middle-tier spirit stones?"

The bodies of the duo shuddered.

They might be 5-star master teachers, but they didn't have too many middle-tier spirit stones in their hands either. One to two hundred middle-tier spirit stones were already a huge amount of wealth to them. To demand 500 in a single breath... this was no different from daylight robbery!

But it was true that they were at fault in this matter.

Going by their original plan, after this fellow lost his three slots, he would surely be too ashamed to face anyone, and thus, he would leave silently. On top of that, even if he were to protest, it would only reflect his own weakness...

Yet, not only did this fellow end up fine, he even came here, and standing on the moral high ground, they couldn't even rebut at all.

The stifled feeling squeezing them made them feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I admit that we did act inappropriately in this incident, but Hong Qian, I advise you not to go too far. In any case, aren't you perfectly fine in the end? There's no need for you to go so far and create an irreconcilable grudge among us!"

Luo Zhao flung his sleeves.

"We're all proud 5-star master teachers here. You've already got your revenge, what else do you want? Do you really want to make an enemy out of all of us?" the second old man replied with a flushed face.

"Why? Are you unwilling to pay? Or do you not have the money to do so?" Hong shi said with his hands behind his back.

"Humph, middle-tier spirit stones are precious even to 5-star master teachers like us. Can you even take five hundred middle-tier spirit stones out at once?"

Luo Zhao harrumphed.

"Fine. I heard that the crown prince is going to hold a banquet tonight to discuss the matter regarding the three slots. Since you all arrived early, surely you must have heard something! As long as you tell me how this matter is going to be resolved, I can drop this!" Hong shi replied.

Even a 5-star master teacher would find it hard to fork out 500 middle-tier spirit stones!

The urgent matter at hand was actually to figure out how the matter regarding the three slots was going to be resolved so that he could make some preparations beforehand.

"This..."

Luo Zhao and the other old man stared at one another for a moment before eventually shaking their heads.

"The crown prince didn't reveal how he intends to resolve this matter, so we have no idea as well..."

"If we knew how it was going to be resolved beforehand, we wouldn't have to resort to such a risky plan."

While the crown prince was their junior, he was also a talented student of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy. They didn't dare to pull their weight before him.

"You don't know?" Hong shi frowned.

"That's right!" Luo Zhao answered

Hearing their answer, Hong shi could only shake his head helplessly.

The other party's words sounded logical. If they had known what was going to happen, they would have simply prepared beforehand instead of risking themselves and going to such lengths to stop him.

Luo Zhao hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"How about this? Even though we don't know what the crown prince is going to do later on, I can tell you about the matter regarding Princess Fei-er and the other three slots. This is a matter that took us a lot of investigation before successfully uncovering."

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"Alright then. As long as you tell me all that you know, we'll strike off everything that has happened!" Hong shi nodded in agreement.

It was just a matter of time before Zhang shi and the others would head to Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy. Since Princess Fei-er was a student of the academy as well, knowing her background could potentially help them in the future.

"Un. Princess Fei-er is the sixth princess of Hongyuan Empire. Even though she's still young, she has shown outstanding talent as a master teacher. Despite being only twenty-four this year, she has already received her 5-star master teacher emblem!" Luo Zhao revealed.

"A twenty-four-year-old... 5-star master teacher?"

Hong shi narrowed his eyes.

As a 5-star master teacher himself, he knew how hard it was to reach this rank. On top of outstanding talent, one had to reach astounding proficiency in five different supporting occupations as well, reaching the rank of 5-star in each of them.

He had spent a hundred and sixty years before succeeding, and yet, the other party actually accomplished it by twenty-four...

It was hard for him to believe it.

"Even Zhang shi would find it hard to rival such genius!" Hong shi smiled bitterly.

True geniuses are indeed fearsome.

"Yes. It's precisely due to this that Crown Prince Ye Qian wishes to get on good terms with her and asked His Majesty for four slots!" Luo Zhao nodded.

When he learnt of this news, he was also astounded. If not for his strong mental fortitude, he might have collapsed from shock then.

A twenty-four-year-old 5-star master teacher... He would have never been able to imagine this to be true in the past.

"But why would Princess Fei-er require four slots?" Hong shi asked in bewilderment.

He had posed this question to Zhuang Qin as well, but perhaps due to his lower standing, he was unable to obtain certain classified information. Since Luo Zhao knew what was going on, it would be best to clarify the situation with him.

"Tagging along with the princess are her friend and two other fellow peers of the academy. It seems like they are carrying out some kind of mission at Verdant Mountain, so the crown prince invited them over here as well. Otherwise, there's no reason for the princess of Hongyuan Empire to make her way here just for the Cleansing Lake," Luo Zhao replied.

Hong shi nodded in realization.

Hongyuan Tier-1 Empire could be considered as a sizeable power even throughout the Master Teacher Continent. There were at least hundreds of Tier-2 Empires like Huanyu under its command, and if not for some compelling situation, there was no reason for her to specially make the trip here.

While the Cleansing Lake had mystical effects, this was mainly limited to only Consonant Spirit and Cosmos Bridge realm experts. On top of that, even though it was considered as a treasure in Huanyu Empire, there were many artifacts in a Tier-1 Empire that could easily replace it. There was no need for them to make such a long journey here just for this purpose.

"Do you know the identity and names of the others?" Hong shi asked.

"Princess Fei-er's friend is known as Luo Qiqi. According to what I heard, it seems like she's a princess of a certain Tier-1 Empire as well. As for the details, given how the royal family seems to be keeping it confidential, we also dare not look into it. However, it seems like her ranking as a master teacher doesn't pale to Princess Fei-er at all, and her cultivation even surpasses the latter. Based on my estimates, even the four of us combined might not even be a match for her!" Luo Zhao said grimly.

He had only met Luo Qiqi once, but he could tell that the latter's cultivation had reached an astounding level.

At the very least, he knew that he wouldn't stand a chance against her.

"As for the remaining two, they are both fellow classmates of the princess. They're both males, and their cultivation realm is comparable to the princess as well. More importantly, they carry a noble disposition, so I guess that they have a powerful background as well. As for their names..."

Luo Zhao pondered for a moment before continuing, "One seems to be called Xing Yuan while the other one is called Wu Zhen... Just as with Luo Qiqi, the specific details on them elude me as well!"

"Luo Qiqi, Xing Yuan, and Wu Zhen?"

Hong shi nodded.

Since all of them came from the Master Teacher Academy, they had to be master teachers. Also, considering they were classmates of Princess Fei-er, they must be 5-star master teachers as well.

Considering their capability despite their young age, they would surely achieve great things in the future.

Naturally, Huanyu Empire wouldn't miss out on an opportunity to get acquainted with them.

It was no wonder why Crown Prince Ye Qian went to the extent of offering the slots for the Cleansing Lake.

Recalling another matter, Luo Zhao anxiously informed him, "Right, I also heard that Princess Fei-er has a bad temper, and Luo Qiqi has an extremely cold disposition. If you meet them, it would be advisable for you to not to offend them. Otherwise, Huanyu Empire wouldn't survive their wrath!"

"Offend them? Don't worry, even if we were to meet, it's impossible for us to offend them!"

Hong shi chuckled earnestly, "After all, we're all honest men!"

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Chapter 610: Mystical Treasure Hall

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Stretching his back, Zhang Xuan walked out of his room.

Cultivating an entire month on the journey here had left him rather exhausted.

"Teacher!"

Upon walking out of his room, Yuan Tao immediately rushed forward with a bitter face.

"Teacher, somehow, I feel that... my cultivation seems to have slowed. For some reason, I find myself unable to concentrate..."

Zhao Ya and Lu Chong's departure had left an immense pressure of the four remaining students. For fear of lagging behind, Yuan Tao had been working extra hard, but for the past half a month, it was as if he had been shackled, preventing him from advancing no matter how hard he pushed.

Afraid that his teacher might reprimand him, he also dared not ask Zhang Xuan about it.

But eventually, he came to the limit of his tolerance.

The final trigger was Wang Ying's recent breakthrough. If he didn't solve his issue soon, the gap between him and the others would widen significantly.

"There's no need to worry. I know of your condition, and it's not due to your lack of concentration or talent. Rather... your cultivation has reached a point where if you don't further awaken your Emperor's Bloodline, it will hinder your future progress!" Zhang Xuan replied.

He had noticed Yuan Tao's condition a few days ago on the back of the spirit beast.

It wasn't that he wasn't working hard enough, but that the bloodline running through his body was shackling him.

If one possessing a unique constitution were to fully awaken their potential, they would be able to achieve breakthroughs as easily as eating and drinking. But if they were to be unable to do so, it would bind them instead, rendering their cultivation useless.

Due to the very low number of people possessing unique constitutions, it was extremely difficult to find a clear heritage to awakening them. As such, many talented individuals had found their hopes being snapped due to being unable to find a way to awaken their unique constitution further or lacking the required resource for it.

This was precisely the reason why Zhang Xuan eventually agreed to allow Zhao Ya to go to the Glacier Plain Court.

The Glacier Plain Court had a complete heritage for the Pure Yin Body and plentiful resources to groom her. This was much better than Zhang Xuan fumbling around for a solution.

The current Yuan Tao was also facing such a problem. He had awakened his physical constitution by twenty percent and reaching Transcendent Mortal 2-dan primary stage was already his limit. If he wanted to grow any further, he would have continue awakening his unique constitution. Otherwise, his Emperor's Bloodline would shackle his acupoints and meridians, preventing him from making any progress.

If he could cultivate the complete version of Heaven's Path Divine Art, he wouldn't face such problems at all. It was a pity that he could only learn the simplified version.

Zhang Xuan had been thinking over the matter for the past few days, and he found a few viable solutions.

"Alright. Relay my instructions to Sun Qiang, tell him to find out if there's any place that sells artifacts around here. I'll look for some artifacts that can resolve your problem!" Zhang Xuan replied.

"Yes!"

Seeing that his teacher already knew about the matter, Yuan Tao felt a little embarrassed. He quickly left, and a while later, he returned with Sun Qiang beside him.

"Young Master, I've had someone look into the surroundings, and there's a 'Mystical Treasure Hall' in the vicinity, and you might find what you want there!" Sun Qiang replied.

Knowing his job as a butler, he had been gathering information ever since the group arrived here, and he learned quite a few things as well.

"Mystical Treasure Hall?" Zhang Xuan asked doubtfully.

"That's right. The Mystical Treasure Hall sells all kinds of unique and valuable artifacts. There are even a few whose worth is comparable to a Spirit high-tier artifact. However, what is bizarre is that... the owner never sells the goods. Rather, he gives it to those 'fated' with him!" replied Sun Qiang.

"Gives away?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

No matter how many valuable, unique collectibles, artifacts, and wealth one had, wouldn't one go bankrupt if one were to give away everything?

"That's right. But while I use the word 'gives', there's actually a price to pay."

Seeing the look of disbelief on the young master's face, Sun Qiang chuckled. "It's said that there are two rows of stone pillars within the Mystical Treasure Hall. Through some unknown technology, there is an artifact hidden within each stone pillar, and those who intend to obtain any goods from the store would have to identify the artifacts inside the stone pillar. The store works by a progressive point system. The first artifact identified from the stone pillar will award one point, the second artifact identified will award two points, the third artifact identified will award three points, so on and so forth. In other words, once one identifies one's fiftieth stone pillar, one will be awarded fifty points straight!

"One can trade the points obtained from the identification of the artifacts for any treasure placed on the shelves of the Mystical Treasure Hall. With sufficient points, one can obtain anything one wants! However... one has to pay ten middle-tier spirit stones before attempting the identification, and if one is able to identify even one of the artifacts hidden in the stone pillars, the spirit stones will be refunded. On the other hand, failure to do so means that the spirit stones go to the shop!"

"Oh!"

Zhang Xuan came to a realization.

In other words, the shop was leveraging on the curiosity of others to create something similar to a gambling den.

The artifacts were hidden in the stone pillars, making it nearly impossible to identify them through guesswork. Earning points would surely be difficult. Even though ten middle-tier spirit stones weren't much, the shop should be rather profitable if it could attract a crowd.

In a sense, it was somewhat similar to the Harmonious Stream of Flowing Goblet in Honghai City Appraiser Hall.

It hinged mainly on one's eye of discernment.

It might be difficult for anyone else to identify those artifacts, but to Zhang Xuan... those were as good as giveaways!

With a touch, a book would be formed in the Library of Heaven's Path, and he would be able to identify even the eighteen generations of one's ancestors. To him, identifying an artifact in a stone pillar was a walk in the park.

"Let's go and take a look. If there's anything useful to Yuan Tao, we can try to obtain it! If not, we'll just continue looking around." Zhang Xuan showed a slight smile.

To awaken Yuan Tao's physical constitution, certain unique items were required. If the Mystical Treasure Hall possessed these items, Zhang Xuan would identify the artifacts in some stone pillars to obtain them.

While it was likely that Zhang Xuan would be able to easily identify everything in the shop, he didn't think that it was appropriate for him to do so. After all, a master teacher should behave in a way befitting of one. It would be inappropriate for him to grab all of the treasures of another when the other party was simply conducting his business.

Besides, in a foreign place such as Huanyu Empire, it was best for him to maintain a low profile.

"Yes!"

Nodding his head, Sun Qiang walked forward and led the way.

Since they were looking for a treasure relating to Yuan Tao's constitution, naturally, he tagged along as well.

The Mystical Treasure Hall wasn't too far away from the royal palace. After a short twenty-minute walk, they found themselves standing before a majestic, towering building.

Three grandly written words, 'Mystical Treasure Hall', were written on a board hung above the entrance. These words absorbed spiritual energy from the surroundings, and it felt as though they would leap out from the surface at any moment.

"A sixth level calligraphy?"

Upon seeing it, Zhang Xuan was stunned.

A sixth level calligraphy has already reached the level of Spiritual Wisdom. Even a 5-star painter would find it hard to produce a work of this tier.

Seeing such a work before entering the Mystical Treasure Hall, Zhang Xuan's interest in it intensified.

Walking through the door, they arrived at an exceptionally vast main hall. There were shelves placed by the walls, and all kinds of artifacts filled its surface.

The three men walked over to take a closer look.

Sword, painting, chess, ore, spirit beast fur...

There were indeed all kinds of treasures here.

"The golden talon of a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan Foxeagle Beast?"

Walking along the shelf, Zhang Xuan suddenly came to a stop.

Placed on the shelf before him was a meter-long, giant, golden talon, and it felt both cold and sharp.

The Foxeagle Beast was a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan spirit beast. Not only were there very few of them, they were also extremely cunning. Even the Beast Hall would be troubled to find one of them, needless to say, capture or kill one.

And the talons of this rare beast were exceptionally valuable treasures. This was especially so for those that were golden in color-it was the ideal material to forging a Spirit intermediate-tier pinnacle weapon.

Many people would die to obtain even just a small piece of its talons, and yet, there was a complete one here. Its price was inestimable.

Lowering his head to take a closer look, he saw a goatskin label placed beneath the claw, and written on it was, 'Golden Talon of the Foxeagle Beast, 1!'

Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask Sun Qiang, "What does this '1' mean?"

Sun Qiang pondered for a moment quickly before replying.

"The one refers to the number of points required to trade for it!"

"One can trade for this with just a single point?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

The Golden Talon of a Foxeagle Beast was incomparably rare and valuable. If one were to put it in an auction, it would be worth dozens of spirit stones. And yet, one could trade for it with just a single point. Wasn't the worth of the points here a little... way too high?

"The items on the first floor can be traded with just one point. The higher one ascends, the more valuable the items become."

Sun Qiang smiled.

"I can trade for any one of these items with just one point?"

Shocked, Zhang Xuan breathed in a large mouthful of cold air.

He suddenly could see why anyone would come and try their luck despite the seeming impossibility of the task. The items on display were simply too valuable!

Moving along, Zhang Xuan saw a few more valuable items whose worth weren't beneath that of the Foxeagle Beast's talon and labeled on the goatskins beneath them were '1' as well.

Impressed, Zhang Xuan exclaimed, "Impressive. This place indeed lives up to the words 'Mystical Treasure'!"

Soon, he finished looking around the first floor.

Even though the items on the first floor were indeed valuable, none of them were truly effective in awakening Yuan Tao's unique constitution.

The Emperor's Bloodline was special even among unique constitutions. While Zhang Xuan wasn't too sure what items would work, he had a rough idea in mind.

"Let's move on to the second floor!"

Knowing that there was nothing he needed on the first floor, Zhang Xuan lost his interest.

To Zhang Xuan, no matter how good an artifact or item was, its worth couldn't possibly exceed that of spirit stones or cultivation technique manuals.

As such, he didn't bear much interest in such stuff.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have returned the artifacts he claimed from the Harmonious Streaming of Flowing Goblets back to the Appraiser Hall back then.

The three men moved on to the second floor.

There were significantly fewer people on the second floor, and the number and variety of items were also more limited as well. But with just a glance, it was clear that the items here were much more valuable.

There were many one-of-a-kind artifacts and items that, despite Zhang Xuan's extensive knowledge, he couldn't name.

"This is... a painting of the seventh level?"

Soon, Zhang Xuan saw a painting of the seventh level. Judging from its quality, the painter who created it must be at least 6-star in rank. The animals and plants inside were so lifelike that it felt as though they were truly living beings that would leap out of the painting at any moment.

A painting at the level of Enlightened Spirit already possessed spirit and sentience, and the creatures within were capable of leaving the painting on their own accord.

Taking a closer look, he saw a line of words written on the goatskin below, "Proud Conception of Spring and Autumn, 2!"

"It's worth only two points?"

Zhang Xuan was astonished.

This painting was much better than 'Rousing From the Drunken Dreams' that was auctioned in Honghai City back then.

After all, the creation of that painting was a mistake in itself. Even though it barely managed to reach the seventh level under Zhang Xuan's hands, it was ranked amidst the lowest within that tier, and it was eventually sold for only twenty thousand low-tier spirit stones, which was equivalent to two middle-tier spirit stones.

On the other hand, this was a masterpiece left behind by a 6-star painter. If placed in an auction, its price would surely soar above fifty middle-tier spirit stones. To think that its value would only be '2' here...

This Mystical Treasure Hall was indeed fearsome. The range and value of the treasures displayed here had far exceeded his expectations.

Just as Zhang Xuan was about to continue browsing around, a faint voice echoed from the stairway, and soon, two figures could be seen walking over.

"How can one find anything good in this remote place? If there's anything you want, I can get it for you after we return!"

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Chapter 611: Inner Core of Great River Snake

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

It was man and a lady. The both of them carried a dignified air around them.

The lady walking in front was dressed in light-yellow, tight-fitting clothes that outlined her beautiful figure. Her long, black hair that fell on her shoulder contrasted with her fair skin, and she had a slender waist where one could easily hold. Her outer appearance was in no way beneath that of Mo Yu or Zhao Feiwu.

The man beside her seemed to be in his thirties. He had a broad figure with a well-defined face. There was a hint of authoritativeness etched between his brows, indicating that he was likely to be a person of high standing.

Nevertheless, Zhang Xuan wasn't interested in the other party's appearance. In terms of beauty, there was no one who could compare up to Zhao Ya, and Mo Yu and Zhao Feiwu were top-notch beauties as well. Yet, he didn't pay much heed to the three of them, so of course he wouldn't gawk at a lady whom he didn't recognize.

But taking a look at the other party's cultivation, he was shocked.

Even though the two of them were young, their cultivation was exceptional. They gave a feeling reminiscent of the deep ocean or endless abyss; they were definitely stronger than Hong shi.

"Transcendent Mortal 6-dan?"

Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up.

Of the twenty-eight regional powers, even the strongest expert hadn't reached Transcendent Mortal 6-dan. Yet, just by walking around town, he had already met with two of them. Not to mention, the both of them were extremely young as well. As expected of Huanyu Capital, it was indeed filled with experts.

As expected, the might of the capital far exceeded that of the Vassal States.

"There's no need for it. If you're bored, you can return first!" the beautiful lady replied impassively, snubbing the other party's goodwill. From the look of it, the duo didn't seem to be close.

"Hehe, how could I possibly be bored? If you wish to look around, I'll accompany you!" The man laughed awkwardly.

The duo continued walking around the shelves to take a look. Zhang Xuan couldn't be bothered with the duo anymore, and he continued browsing through the items.

To awaken the Emperor's Bloodline, he would require the blood essence or inner core of spirit beasts with similar attributes, or some unique medicinal herb, ore, and such. But these items were extremely rare and finding them was no easy task.

"Purpledawn Pearl? This artifact can cleanse the dirt from the person carrying it, thus making them immaculate!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes fell on a round pearl.

He had read a record of it before. It was a peculiar artifact that specialized neither in offense nor defense, but even so, it was an accessory that cultivators liked to carry around.

After all, the one wearing it could keep their clothes in pristine condition, thus maintaining a glowing appearance even without bathing.

"To think that this item would actually be a '2' as well..." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

To think that a seventh level painting would be of the same price at this item.

It seemed like the Mystical Treasure Hall didn't arrange artifacts by value but by rarity.

While a Purpledawn Pearl couldn't be said to be a necessity for cultivators, it was an extremely rare artifact, and it was deeply fancied by most ladies.

After all, given the broad continent, a single flight could easily take days, and during which, one would be unable to bathe. The feeling of being dirty would feel incredibly uncomfortable to some. However, with this artifact, one could remain clean at all moments; needless to say a month or two, even if one were to walk around in the same clothes for an entire year, one's appearance would still be immaculate.

It was highly-valued precisely because of its rarity.

Even so, part of the reason why it was priced equally with the painting was also because paintings were impractical in battle. As such, its value was beneath that of weapons and other practical mystical artifacts.

However, this restriction was only limited for paintings up to the seventh level. Once a painting reached the eighth level or even higher, it would gain the ability to realize illusions. For example, some of the more formidable paintings could even form a massive city that could trap a cultivator within it for an eternity to come. As such, the value of eighth level paintings was immeasurable.

Every single occupation that had been officially recognized by the Master Teacher Pavilion wields immense might upon reaching its pinnacle. Ordinary men can't hope to stand against such mystical abilities.

Taking the Celestial Chess for example, it was said that those who had reached the highest level in it would be able to manipulate the world as though it were their chessboard. Taking the stars as the stones, they could maneuver the essence of the world and reverse yin and yang.

However... it was a pity that what Hong shi received was an incomplete manual. Even the inheritance from the puppet was incomplete, thus making it impossible to unleash such might.

Looking on, Zhang Xuan soon browsed through all artifacts in the second floor, but he was still unable to find anything suitable. Thus, along with the other two, they proceeded up to the third floor.

The artifacts on the third floor were much more valuable. The labeling of each artifact was no longer uniform; some were labeled with a '3', some a '4', and some a '5'.

Walking along the shelves, Zhang Xuan saw a sixth level painting labeled '4'. It was even more expensive than the seventh level painting from before!

Perplexed, Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment before coming to a realization.

Even though this painting might be a tier lower than the previous one seen, it was a masterpiece left behind by a very famous painter in Huanyu Empire. This piece was said to be a magnum opus that he put his final breath into drawing after suffering fatal injuries in a duel. Contained within it was the lingering will and resentment of a 5-star painter, thus making it exceptionally valuable. Naturally, its price would also be marked up to reflect that.

"Hmm? This is a Spirit intermediate-tier pinnacle sword?"

Soon, Zhang Xuan saw a weapon on the shelf.

His swordsmanship was impressive, but he had never been able to find a suitable weapon. If he could wield one fitting of his current cultivation, his fighting prowess would surely soar significantly.

This sword was even higher ranked than the ones he had seen at Honghai City. Its sharp, cold gleam could induce a freezing sensation in those that set its eyes upon it.

"Glacier Rain Sword, 6!"

Such was written on the goatskin label beneath it.

"It is actually worth six points?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

He had seen many Spirit intermediate-tier weapons in the shop, but those were only labeled '1'. Yet, this sword was actually priced at '6', wasn't this a little way too exaggerated?

Sensing Zhang Xuan's doubt, an attendant walked over to him and explained, "Gongzi, this sword was personally forged by Master Blacksmith Hu Qingzi, and it is an 'Upgradable Artifact'. It can undergo another round of tempering, thus making it incomparably valuable. It is nothing like those ordinary weapons displayed below!"

"Upgradable Artifact?" Zhang Xuan froze for a moment before nodding his head.

While he had never officially learned smithing before, he had collected quite a few books on the topic, and he knew of the various jargons in it.

Typically, a weapon was considered to be complete once its form became fixed. If one were to put it through another round of tempering, there was a good chance it might lose its sharpness and be rendered useless.

But Upgradable Artifacts were different. If one were to find better ores in the future, one could meld it into the artifact during the tempering process, thus raising the weapon's quality and possibly its tier.

In other words, while this artifact might be a Spirit intermediate-tier weapon at the moment, it was impossible to predict how strong it could become in the future. In that sense, it was indeed worthy of its pricing of '6'.

"Hmm? The inner core of a Great River Snake?"

While Zhang Xuan was interested in the sword, he wasn't in a rush to obtain it. Instead, he continued looking on, but right after he barely took two steps, his eyes suddenly lit up.

Placed on a shelf not too far away was a round inner core of a spirit beast. It was crimson in color, and it exuded a searing aura.

The inner core of a Transcendent Mortal 7-dan spirit beast, Great River Snake.

The Great River Snake was a spirit beast that lives in marshlands in mountain valleys. It had thick scales that granted it incredible defensive capability. But while its body was cold as though metal, its inner core was fiery like coal, leaving one with a sensation as though one would be incinerated.

"The Great River Snake possesses the Dragon Bloodline, so it should be able to awaken Yuan Tao's Emperor's Bloodline!"

Zhang Xuan smiled.

While the Great River Snake was considered to be a type of snake, it possessed the bloodline of a flood dragon. On top of that, it was also a spirit beast possessing superior defensive ability, which was aligned with the Emperor's Bloodline.

Lowering his glance to take a look, he saw the label on the goatskin: 'Inner Core of a Great River Snake, 10!'

"Ten points... But it's indeed worth this much!"

Only a Transcendent Mortal 8-dan expert could hunt and procure the inner core of a Transcendent Mortal 7-dan spirit beast. As such, it was no surprise that it would be labeled ten.

'I'll be taking this!' Zhang Xuan made an internal decision. 'However, the searing aura of the inner core is too strong, and I'll need some medicinal herbs to mediate its properties. I wonder if I can find anything suitable here!'

Having found something suitable for Yuan Tao, Zhang Xuan nodded his head in satisfaction. He continued to browse through the shop in hopes of finding a medicinal herb with mediating properties when a faint voice suddenly sounded.

"I want this Sorrow Severing Grass. How much is it?"

It was the voice of a female. Glancing over, it was the dashing man and beautiful lady he had met back on the second floor. Unbeknownst to Zhang Xuan, the both of them had come up to the third floor as well.

"Sorrow Severing Grass?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Sorrow Severing Grass was a medicinal herb possessing cold attribute. It had a gentle nature, and it was exceptionally potent in neutralizing fiery properties. On top of that, it nourished and formed a layer of protection around one's inner organs and meridians, thus making it the best possible medicinal herb to go along with the inner core of Great River Snake.

"Replying this lady over here, our Mystical Treasure Hall doesn't sell our treasure through normal means. If you wish to purchase anything, you will have to earn points and trade for it."

The attendant managing the third floor quickly hurried over and explained.

"Points? What do you mean by points?" The young man beside her frowned.

"Our Mystical Treasure Hall has two rows of stone pillars on the fourth floor, and sealed within them are artifacts of all kinds. If one successfully identifies them within the time limit, one will be given points. The more artifacts one recognizes, the more points one earns..." The attendant quickly went through the rules.

It was exactly the same as how Sun Qiang described it, but it was even more detailed.

"How troublesome! But since it's just identifying artifacts, there should be no problem at all!"

Hearing that there's such a complex procedure in work here, the young man frowned. But following which, his face beamed with confidence, and he turned to the lady before him and said, "Sixth... Young Mistress, wait here for a moment. I'll bring some points to you right now!"

A look of displeasure flashed across the face of the lady known as the Sixth Young Mistress upon hearing her companion's words.

"I don't need your help. I'll earn the points myself!"

Waving her hands, she turned to the attendant and said, "Lead the way. I wish to take a look!"

"Yes!"

Seeing that someone was interested in challenging the stone pillars, the attendant quickly led the duo up to the next floor.

"Let's follow them!"

Zhang Xuan beckoned for the other two.

The aim of his visit here was to find something to awaken Yuan Tao's unique constitution, and to procure those items, he would need to earn points as well.

Following behind the attendant's group on to the fourth floor, a vast room appeared before him. Dozens of stone pillars were placed neatly in two rows in the middle. They had a smooth exterior, and it was impossible to tell how it was carved. There were a few people shaking their heads before the stone pillars, depressed.

"There's no need to be depressed, it's fine to not identify anything!"

The chuckle of an old man sounded in front.

It seemed like these fellows who were shaking their heads had challenged the stone pillars only to end in failure.

Zhang Xuan glanced over and realized that they were wearing the robe of their occupation-appraiser. In fact, two of them were even 4-star appraisers!

Considering how even a 4-star appraiser failed in this challenge, it seemed like this test wasn't as easy as it looked.

"Hall Master, these two wish to challenge the stone pillars as well!"

The attendant walked over to the old man and gestured to the young man and young lady.

This old man was the hall master of the Mystical Treasure Hall, Gan Yiping.

"Alright..." Gan Yiping nodded. Turning his head over, he smiled. "I'll have to trouble you to pay the deposit first!"

Zhang Xuan froze for a moment before a sheepish expression covered his face.

'Deposit? Right, I forgot that I don't have any money to pay the deposit...'

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Chapter 612: Challenging the Stone Pillars

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Too intent on winning some points, Zhang Xuan forgot that he only had a high-tier spirit stone on him.

Even though he had procured 600 middle-tier spirit stones from Fleeting Cloud Sect and the other powers previously, he had already used up all of them before reaching Huanyu Empire. The current him was as good as bankrupt.

The young man, unaware of the rules, asked, "How much is the deposit?"

"Ten middle-tier spirit stones!" Gan Yiping replied.

"Here you are! The both of us want to give it a try!" Without asking any questions, the young man flicked his wrist and passed twenty middle-tier spirit stones over.

Others would have to sell all of their property just to gather twenty middle-tier spirit stones, and yet, it seemed to be nothing to this young man at all.

Grabbing the spirit stones, Gan Yiping chuckled. Gesturing to the stone pillars, he went through the rules. "Contained within these stone pillars is an artifact each. There's a hint inscribed on each of the stone pillars, and based on that, one has to deduce what kind of artifact is hidden in it."

"Every challenger is only given an incense's time, and as long as one successfully names the artifact, the stone pillar will break apart. The more stone pillars that break apart, the more points one will earn!"

"Alright!"

Nodding his head, the young man turned to the young lady beside him and said, "Sixth Young Mistress, wait here for me. I'll return quickly!"

After which, he walked over to the stone pillar.

Zhang Xuan and group also looked at him curiously.

They knew of the rules, but it might still prove to be useful to see how the challenge would go and how difficult it would be.

Standing before the first stone pillar, the young man read the hint inscribed on it before circling around the pillar. Slowly, a crack appeared on his confident face, and confusion started to seep through.

There wasn't any unique mark on the smooth stone pillar, making it impossible to see, feel, or even determine the shape of the artifact at all. To guess the identity of an artifact through a layer of stone was more difficult than he had expected.

Walking another two rounds around the stone pillars, his face turned livid.

He had just boasted in front of the sixth young mistress that he would be back soon. He thought that he could return with some points to win the favor of the beauty, and yet, he ended up being unable to recognize anything at all. He would be extremely embarrassed if he were to return like that!

Scratching his head, the young man began to panic. He placed his palm on the stone pillar and tried to infuse his zhenqi in. However, the stone pillar seemed to possess the ability to ward off zhenqi, rendering his actions futile.

"This..."

Soon, he tried everything he could think of and he indignantly turned to look at Gan Yiping.

"Hall Master, there's nothing distinctive about your stone pillars at all. How are we supposed to guess?"

Isn't this a scam?

How in the world do you expect me to guess what is within the stone pillar without any conclusive clue?

Even a 6-star appraiser would be helpless before these stone pillars!

"Gongzi, you need not panic. There's a clue on the stone pillars, you can make a deduction based on it!"

As though having guessed that the other party would say these words, Gan Yiping smiled faintly.

"Make a deduction?"

Turning to look at the words on the stone pillars, the young man's confusion only seemed to deepen. Seeing that an incense's time was about to pass, he could only grit his teeth and make some guesses. "Sword... saber, medicinal herb, wooden bat..."

He listed several things at the top of his mind consecutively, but there was no response at all.

"Time's up!" Gan Yiping shook his head with a bitter smile.

He could tell that this young man was extraordinary, and he thought that the other party's presence could finally bring some progress to the uncovering of the stone pillar. But from the looks of it now, he was thinking too much into it.

"Alright..."

With a scarlet, stifled face, the young man walked back with an awkward expression.

What was this? He thought that it would just be like normal treasure speculation, and with his capability, he would surely be able to easily determine the type and name of the artifact. After winning some points, he would be able to buy whatever the sixth young mistress wanted and win her heart. Who knew that his attempt would end in such tragic failure?

His attempt to show off only ended in humiliation.

Sensing the other party's poor mood, Gan Yiping consoled him.

"Gongzi, you need not be disheartened. I found these stone pillars in some ruins a long time ago. I don't know who left them behind, but they seem to possess some mysterious ability. Despite observing them daily over the course of fifty years, I was only able to decipher three of them!"

"Fifty years? Three?" The young man was taken aback.

"Indeed. Only after knowing what the artifact inside is, along with its precise effects, can one open the stone pillars. I've tried all kinds of ways to open them throughout the years but to no avail. That is the reason why I opened this Mystical Treasure Hall to borrow the wisdom of others."

Gan Yiping shook his head. "Actually, there's no need for you to worry. The rule of an incense's time is only to allow the others behind to take a look as well. Since you've already paid the deposit of ten middle-tier spirit stones, you can copy the text imprinted on the stone pillar to take back with you. If you were to decipher it, you can return anytime, and I won't charge you the deposit again."

"Return anytime?" The young man shook his head. "We're only passing by Huanyu Empire, and we won't be staying for too long. Besides, I'm only interested in that single medicinal herb!"

If not for the sixth young mistress insisting on coming here, given his identity and pride, he would have never come to such a remote location.

While this Mystical Treasure Hall possessed plentiful of valuable items, given his family background, it wouldn't be too difficult for him to find and obtain something similar to them as well.

"Alright!"

Seeing the lack of interest in the latter, a hint of disappointment flashed across Gan Yiping's eyes. Shaking his head, he said with a slightly downcast voice, "I've devoted half of my life to these stone pillars... it seems like I'll have to carry my regrets with me to my coffin!"

"His lifespan..."

Hearing the other party's lamentation, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but shake his head.

While this old man possessed extraordinary strength, there was a declining air shrouding his body. Clearly, his lifespan was reaching its limit.

Upon stepping into Transcendent Mortal 1-dan, one's level of existence would undergo a qualitative breakthrough, thus increasing one's lifespan significantly. Living to two hundred wouldn't be a problem at all.

After which, with a rise in cultivation, one's lifespan would also increase correspondingly, but the increase would be minimal. As such, unless one advanced to Saint realm, one would only be able to live to two hundred or so, three hundred if one maintained one's physical condition well.

This old man's lifespan was beyond two hundred and fifty, and it was clear he was nearing his end already.

Having dug out so many mysterious stone pillars, he was determined to uncover the secrets behind them. Yet, his own capability proved to be limited, so he could only establish with Mystical Treasure Hall and put out all of the treasures he had collected throughout his lifetime to attract others.

As for the deposit of ten middle-tier spirit stones, it was actually just a benchmark. Otherwise, if everyone were to come and try their luck every day, the truly capable appraisers might find themselves being squeezed out.

Unable to obtain even a single point, the young man glanced at the young lady apologetically.

"Sixth Young Mistress, I'm truly sorry..."

"I'll take a look!"

The difficulty of the challenge had piqued the competitive spirit of the sixth young mistress. She immediately proceeded over to the first stone pillar, and upon seeing the words, a deep frown appeared on her forehead as well.

It didn't take long for an incense's time to pass, and she couldn't help but shake her head in disappointment.

Clearly, she was helpless before the stone pillars as well.

"A pity it is!"

Seeing how the both of them failed to decipher the stone pillar, Gan Yiping sighed.

The duo's cultivation and disposition were extraordinary, and without a doubt, they were clearly rare geniuses. He thought that they would be able to bring some kind of breakthrough to this research, but who knew that they wouldn't be able to solve even a single one of these pillars.

"Hall Master, pleased to meet you. I'm a master teacher!"

Seeing that the sixth young mistress failed as well, the young man stepped forward, flicked his wrist, and an emblem appeared in his hands.

"5 stars..."

Gan Yiping's eyes narrowed.

He was able to tell that there was something extraordinary about the duo with a single glance, but he thought that they were just esteemed nobles from a prestigious clan. Never in his dreams did he expect that they would be 5-star master teachers!

If a master teacher of this caliber were to enter the capital, even His Majesty would have to welcome them with the most elaborate of ceremonies.

"That's right. We've came to Huanyu Empire to deal with some matters. Your Sorrow Severing Grass is of utmost importance to me, so may I humbly request you to sell it to me. I'm willing to offer double, triple, or even quintuple the price!"

Seeing that the other party seemed to be stunned by his identity, the young man nodded his head in satisfaction.

No matter where a 5-star master teacher went, he would be well-respected.

"You wish to buy my Sorrow Severing Grass?" Gan Yiping asked.

"That's right!" The young man nodded. "I truly have an important need for that herb, so I hope that you can grant my request!"

A moment later, Gan Yiping said, "How about this? I won't accept your money, but as long as you conduct a lesson for me, I don't mind giving the Sorrow Severing Grass to you!"

His lifespan was already nearing its limits, and if he could achieve a breakthrough, he might still be able to live for a couple more years. Since the person before him was a 5-star master teacher, there was a chance that the other party might be able to help him.

Besides, it had been twenty years since the Mystical Treasure Hall opened, but no one had yet to decipher the stone pillars. Waiting on like that might be futile. Instead of obstinately sticking to his rules, he might as well give it away generously in exchange for getting acquainted with a 5-star master teacher.

"Alright!"

Initially, the young man didn't bear much hope. Thus, upon hearing those words, his face flushed with delight, and he hurriedly nodded his head.

A lesson didn't mean anything much to him.

"There's no need to stand on ceremony!" Gan Yiping waved his hands casually. Turning to the attendant, he instructed, "Go down to the third floor, wrap up the Sorrow Severing Grass carefully, and pass it to this gongzi..."

"Yes..."

Nodding his head, the attendant was just about to leave when a voice sounded.

"Wait a moment!"

Following which, a fatty stepped forward.

Sun Qiang!

The young master was here to look for certain items to help Young Master Yuan Tao awaken his unique constitution. While the young master didn't say anything, he noticed that the latter's eyes had stopped at the Sorrow Severing Grass for a slightly longer period of time. Clearly, it had caught his interest.

If the other party were to take this one away, it would be difficult to procure another one. Naturally, Sun Qiang had to stop him.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing a fatty step forward to interfere in his business, the young man frowned.

"Nothing much, I just think that this is a little unfair!"

Sun Qiang turned to the elder and said, "As the owner of the Mystical Treasure Hall, since you established the rule that one can only trade for artifacts with points, you shouldn't make an exception for someone. Otherwise, that would compromise the integrity of your business!"

Since he had established rules, naturally he had to follow them. If he were to change his rules every now and then, how could he possibly expect others to follow them?

"Rules do need to be followed, but my lifespan is already coming to an end. Since there's little hope of deciphering the stone pillars... so I'll give up then. From today onward, the Mystical Treasure Hall will be closed. Since I'm shutting down my business, the rules shouldn't matter anymore, right?"

Sighing, Gan Yiping shook his head.

His lifespan was reaching its end, and nowadays, he felt his spirit drained. After decades of effort ending in futility, he knew that his chances were slim. Reluctant as he may be, he knew that it would be wiser for him to give up now.

"Little hope of deciphering the stone pillars? That's because our young master hasn't made a move yet! As long as he steps forth, everything you have here will be deciphered!"

Sun Qiang harrumphed.

The sixth young mistress's face darkened upon hearing those words, and she harrumphed coldly.

"Everything deciphered? You sure speak arrogantly!"

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Chapter 613: A Bet With Sixth Young Mistress

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

This Sixth Young Mistress had just returned from the stone pillars, so she was unaware of the discussion the young man had with Gan Yiping.

Having taken a look, she realized that she was helpless before these stone pillars as well.

Even a knowledgeable genius like her was helpless before these stone pillars, and yet, this fellow actually bragged that he would be able to easily decipher everything... Intense displeasure immediately struck her, and she retorted angrily.

"Who do you think you are? Am I talking to you?"

Sun Qiang glanced at the Sixth Young Mistress with a proud stature.

"You..."

The sixth mistress was taken aback.

"What you?"

Sun Qiang flung his sleeves and tilted his head upward proudly. "Can't you see I'm in the midst of talking to the hall master? This is no place for a fellow like you who couldn't even decipher a single stone pillar to interrupt!"

"What did you say?"

The Sixth Young Mistress nearly fainted from anger. To think that a 5-star master teacher, a Transcendent Mortal 6-dan expert, would actually be looked down on by a Transcendent Mortal 2-dan butler. Her chest puffed up in anger, and she nearly exploded on the spot.

"Audacious!" Hearing the lady he was courting being insulted, the young man exclaimed in anger.

"Audacious? You still dare to speak? Just because I didn't talk about you, you think that you're any better than her? You also failed to solve any stone pillars and earn any points, and on top of that, you even tried to bend the rules after your failure... Do you think you are impressive just because you have that bit of money?"

Sun Qiang harrumphed in disdain.

What the heck do they think they are? Despite looking so decent, they actually tried to bribe the owner after their failure, even using their position to threaten him... How embarrassing!

You are just a 5-star master teacher. Before our old master, even Hongyuan Empire's Pavilion Master Mo Gaoyuan, a 6-star pinnacle master teacher, dare not utter anything!

"You..."

Seeing the other party's contemptuous glance, both the young man and the Sixth Young Mistress were about to go insane.

They were both incredible geniuses, people who would be respected no matter where they went. And yet, at this very moment, they were actually looked down by a mere butler. If not for their etiquette as a master teacher and nobles holding them back, they would have surely flown into a temper.

"Since you said that your young master is able to decipher the stone pillars, where is he? Why don't you invite him over to give it a try?"

Flinging his sleeves, the young man harrumphed. "I sure would like to see whether he's as incredible as you make him out to be!"

Even he himself couldn't decipher a single stone pillar, and yet this fellow dared to boast that his young master could solve everything cleanly. Are you jesting?

"This..."

At this moment, a helpless voice sounded by the side.

"The young master he's speaking of... seems to be referring to me!"

Following which, a young man with an awkward expression stepped forward.

After hearing the hall master promising to sell the item, Zhang Xuan wanted to step forward to say a thing or two. However, Sun Qiang managed to beat him to it, thus resulting in such a situation.

This fellow had been rather reliable recently, so Zhang Xuan thought it should be fine for him to do the talking. Who knew that the other party would actually have him pinned on a stake with just a few words...

What the heck was this?

If you speak like that, how am I going to keep a low profile?

"So, you are the one... who can decipher all of the stone pillars?"

The Sixth Young Mistress harrumphed coldly. "Arrogant!"

She thought that the young master the other party talked about was some incredible figure, but it turned out to be a young man who wasn't even twenty yet. She couldn't help but feel repulsed by the other party.

As a princess, not to mention one blessed with good looks, she had faced pursuers of all kinds. The most common type was those who thought that they were superior to others, such as this young man standing right before her at this moment! They liked to pretend they were something beyond their ability despite their ignorance. In her view, such actions were nothing more than foolishness!

"This... it's just words of flattery from my subordinate, please don't take it seriously!"

Seeing how he was detested before he could even say anything, Zhang Xuan waved his hands sheepishly.

Upon having his words refuted by his young master, Sun Qiang panicked, "What words of flattery? Young master, those are just mere stone pillars, you should be able to decipher them easily! You should show these greenhorns what true capability is!"

"Alright, stop spouting nonsense!"

Zhang Xuan's face darkened. "Didn't you hear that? The hall master has said that these stone pillars are hard to decipher. Despite fifty years of effort, only three of them have been solved to date. How could I possibly solve them easily?"

"Young Master..."

"Enough!" Interrupting the other party's words, Zhang Xuan turned to the trio and apologized, "Pardon me, it's due to my negligence that my butler got ahead of himself!"

"Humph!"

Seeing the other party admit his mistake, the young man and the Sixth Young Mistress's complexion improved slightly, and they tilted their heads up proudly.

"It's normal for a subordinate to speak up for his master, you don't have to worry about it!" Gan Yiping replied.

It was normal for a subordinate to be in awe of their master and believe that their master was capable of anything.

"Thank you, Hall Master, for your understanding!"

Seeing that the awkward situation had been resolved, Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief. Then, facing Gan Yiping, he asked, "So, Hall Master... I would like the Great River Snake's inner core, Sorrow Severing Grass, and Frost Rain Sword. How many stone pillars will I need to decipher?"

"..." The young man and the Sixth Young Mistress staggered.

Right after reprimanding his subordinate for spouting nonsense, he actually went ahead and asked which stone pillars he had to decipher... as though he could decipher as many stone pillars as he wanted...

Do you have some compulsive disorder for boasting?

Do you really think that you can decipher as many stone pillars as you want?

"How many stone pillars... do you need to decipher?"

Gan Yiping's eyebrows twitched. While he was displeased by the other party's arrogant words, he replied to the query, "The Great River Snake's inner core is worth ten points, Sorrow Severing Grass seven points, and Frost Rain Sword six points. All in all, you would need 23 points. The point awarding system is such that the first artifact identified grants you one point, the second artifact two points, the third artifact three points... so on and so forth. You'll have to decipher at least seven stone pillars before you'll have enough points!"

"Seven stone pillars?"

Hearing that it was exactly as Sun Qiang said, Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief. Scratching his head, he asked, "So... Can I give it a try?"

"Sure!"

Gan Yiping nodded.

"Also, there's another matter which I hope you can excuse me for..."

Seeing the other party answering his question so candidly, Zhang Xuan felt even more embarrassed. "I heard that as long as I decipher a single stone pillar, the deposit of ten middle-tier spirit stones will be returned. In other words, the challenge will be free as long as I can decipher a single pillar... Would it be fine if I go ahead without paying the deposit? At the very most, I'll decipher more so as to make it up to you..."

"..."

Gan Yiping, the Sixth Young Mistress, and the young man stared at one another and nearly spurted blood.

When they heard this fellow reprimand his fat subordinate, they thought that this young fellow was at least rather humble and polite. Who knew that he would spout such arrogant words in the very next moment...

Decipher more so as to make it up to him...

Your head! Do you think that deciphering these stone pillars is a child's play?

They thought that the fatty from a moment ago was arrogant, but his young master topped that...

"How conceited!"

A hint of wrath appeared on the Sixth Young Mistress's face. "It sounds like you're saying that you can decipher as many stone pillars as you want?"

"I'll just try my best..." Not expecting a request on his part would make the other party so angry, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"Fine. Since you're so confident, why don't we have a bet?"

Seeing how the other party still refused to take back his word despite having it so clearly pointed out to him, the Sixth Young Mistress clenched her jaws in anger.

"A bet?"

Zhang Xuan blinked his eyes in surprise.

What does he challenging the stone pillars have to do with her? Why is she proposing a bet?

"That's right. I'll pay the ten middle-tier spirit stone for you, and for every stone pillar you decipher, I'll pay you a hundred middle-tier spirit stones... On the other hand, if you fail, I'll still be magnanimous and bear the cost for you. However, you'll have to kneel down and reflect on your arrogance! How is it, do you dare take on the bet?"

The Sixth Young Mistress harrumphed.

Despite knowing nothing at all, how dare he speak of the challenge so lightly? Aren't you being too arrogant!

If I don't teach you a lesson now, your head might become so big that you won't even remember yourself!

"You'll pay me hundred middle-tier spirit stones for every stone pillar I decipher?"

Turning around, Zhang Xuan saw two rows consisting of a total of nearly a hundred stone pillars, and his breathing hastened. "Are you certain?"

If every single pillar was worth a hundred middle-tier spirit stone and he deciphered all hundred pillars, wouldn't that add up to ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones?

If he could earn that many spirit stones, he would have no worries for his future cultivation...

"Of course! Why? Are you intending to chicken out? If you dare not accept my bet, I advise you to act humble the next time around!"

The Sixth Young Mistress waved her hands.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xuan replied, "It's not that, I just fear that you might default on your debt..."

That was ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones! Zhang Xuan found it hard to believe that the other party would be able to produce so many spirit stones.

"You..."

The Sixth Young Mistress's eyes reddened in anger.

She was a proud 5-star master teacher, not to mention, she had an incomparably noble identity as well. How could she possibly default on her debt?

Gritting her teeth, she replied, "You need not worry. I, Yu Fei-er, never go back on my words! Since I dared to propose this bet, naturally, I won't default on my payments. Rather, I hope that you will hold on to the end of your promise and kneel down later on!"

"It's good that you won't default..."

Heaving a sigh of relief, Zhang Xuan glanced at the stone pillar with shining eyes before turning to Gan Yiping and clasping his fist. "As long as I identify the artifact inside the stone pillar, it'll automatically burst apart, am I right?"

"That's right!"

Gan Yiping nodded.

"That's good!"

Nodding his head, Zhang Xuan walked over to the first pillar.

The moment he approached the pillar, he immediately understood why the young man and the Sixth Young Mistress's faces would turn awry here.

The words inscribed on the stone pillar were, by no means, a hint. Rather, it was written in an unknown language that simply baffled those looking at it.

If one couldn't even understand the words inscribed, naturally, it would be impossible for one to guess the meaning behind them... Under such circumstances, it would be a wonder if one could still identify what was within the stone pillar.

Seeing how that fellow dared to accept the Sixth Young Mistress's bet, the young man sneered coldly.

"He sure is an arrogant fellow!"

He had undergone the challenge personally, and he knew how difficult it was to identify the stone pillar. He believed that even if a 6-star appraiser were to come here, he would only end up staring blankly at the stone pillars, confused. How could a lad who wasn't even twenty yet possibly decipher them?

Without a doubt, that lad would surely end up kneeling before the sixth young mistress!

"Just because he managed to achieve something minor at his young age, he became complacent and began boasting around. This will teach him that there's always a mountain higher than the other!"

The Sixth Young Mistress also harrumphed coldly. She stared at the young man intently with her eyes, and just as she was about to say something, the latter turned around with a smile.

"Can I start now?"

"Feel free!"

Lighting an incense, Gan Yiping nodded his head.

"Alright then..."

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan tapped the first stone pillar with his finger and said, "This is the Golden Heptahearts Shuttle!"

Kacha!

In an instant, the stone pillar before him was reduced into dust. Following which, a golden-colored shuttle-shaped weapon appeared before everyone's eyes.

"This is the Purple Sunset Meteor Hammer..."

"This is the Steel Bone Fist Imprint..."

"This is the Connected Hearts Bowl..."

Proceeding forward, Zhang Xuan would tap on each stone pillar, and those that came into contact with him shattered immediately. Rock fragments flew as if a grand parade welcoming him.

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Chapter 614: Taking You In As My Maid

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"H-how is this possible?"

The Sixth Young Mistress and the young man stared at one another as their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

They had just checked the stone pillars themselves and tried all kinds of appraising methods, but to no avail. Eventually, they even resorted to random guessing, not not even that worked. They assumed that this fellow would be the same as well, but who could have thought that... without even examining the stone pillars, just by tapping on them and calling out names...

... the stone pillars would explode!

Are you serious?

Are you sure you aren't hacking?

"Th-this..."

Gan Yiping's eyes nearly popped out from his sockets.

While he didn't say anything previously, the truth was that he shared the same thoughts as the Sixth Young Mistress and the young man. Who knew that this fellow... would actually be so formidable!

With just a tap, he could identify whatever that was within the stone pillars. His speed was so fast that it was astounding. How in the world... did he manage to do it?

Fifty years of effort, and he only had three pillars deciphered...

And yet, just within twenty breaths, the other party had already deciphered thirty... no, forty, fifty pillars!

He was doing it even faster than they could see the artifacts!

When the butler said that his young master would be able to decipher everything, he thought that the latter was just boasting. Only at this moment did he realize that not only was the butler not boasting, he could even be said to be humble...

This isn't deciphering anymore, he is sweeping through everything here!

Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Gan Yiping said, "This... Young lady, it seems like you have lost the bet..."

"..."

It was only with Gan Yiping's reminder did the Sixth Young Mistress recall the bet she had made just a moment ago. Realizing the implications, her body swayed, and her vision went dark.

Considering her standing, she did possess a sizeable wealth. However, she only had a few hundred of them on hand. As such, anything above a thousand would already be beyond her at the moment. Given a single stone pillar was worth a hundred middle-tier spirit stones, fifty of them would spell a debt of five thousand...

If she knew that he was that formidable, she would have never made the bet!

Wasn't she just finding trouble for herself?

With a face as bitter as a bitter gourd, the Sixth Young Mistress was on the verge of tears. Clenching her teeth, she spoke up. "Pause for a moment, I've something to tell you..."

"Something to tell me?"

Zhang Xuan came to a stop.

With a scarlet face, the Sixth Young Mistress said, "Yes. You've already made your point, and I understand that you're a capable person. There's no need for you to continue on!"

It was a moment ago that she was gleefully making this bet with the other party. To renege on her promise now made her so embarrassed that she would dive deep into the ground in this very instant if she could.

"You understand that I'm a capable person? I doubt that. Don't worry, I'll be done soon!"

With a bright smile, Zhang Xuan lifted up both of his hands and touched the stone pillars on both ends simultaneously and started running.

"Rain Assembling Thorn, Knocking Wood, Hundred Stem Scarlet, Three-leafed Golden Thorn Immortal..."

Peng peng peng peng!

The stone pillars on both ends exploded relentlessly, revealing an artifact one after another.

Five breaths later, Zhang Xuan finally came to a stop.

Clapping his hands, Zhang Xuan smiled.

"Alright, I'm done..."

Hualala!

Before him stood a hundred or so collapsed stone pillars, and the artifacts hidden within them were shining with a brilliant glow.

While these artifacts were not exceptionally powerful, they were still at a decent level. They could fetch a sizeable sum when sold.

"It has only been... less than a minute!"

Looking at the incense not too far away, only a small portion on top was burnt. Yet, within this short period of time, that fellow actually managed to decipher every last one of the stone pillars. The surroundings turned completely silent with the exception of the clattering of teeth.

They had seen plenty of formidable people throughout their life, but this...

"That... Hall master, after deciphering so many stone pillars, I should be able to take those three items, right?"

Zhang Xuan walked up to the old man and asked.

"Er..."

With a twitching mouth, Gan Yiping quickly turned to look at the attendant beside him and clenched his jaws. "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and wrap everything in the shop up for this young master over here! From today onward, he is the new owner of the Mystical Treasure Hall..."

"Yes!"

The attendant quickly rushed down the stairs.

"Hall Master?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

"Yes. Going by the cumulative score system, the points you've accrued through breaking all 110 stone pillars adds up to more than six thousand..."

Gan Yiping nodded.

Honestly, with six thousand points, even if he were to put all of the treasures in his Mystical Treasure Hall together, it wouldn't be sufficient to compensate the other party...

It would be a huge stroke of fortune if someone could decipher even one of these pillars, and this fellow actually managed to decipher 110 of them in a single breath. He felt as though everything he had known was being flipped upside down, and this left him terribly frenzied.

But after his frenzy came excitement.

While he did lose his entire wealth in a breath, the doubt that had been lingering in his heart for several decades had finally been resolved. He felt as though he would be content even if he were to die at this very instant.

"Thank you..."

Clasping his fist, he bowed deeply.

Fifty years! It had been an entire fifty years!

Ever since he obtained these stone pillars, he had been devoting his entire life to breaking them. He thought that he would end up carrying these doubts and regrets into his grave, but who knew that... this young man would actually resolve what would have been his greatest regret in less than a minute.

With the secrets of these stone pillars unraveled, he would have no regret even if he were to die at this very instant.

"Young Master... is the new owner of the Mystical Treasure Hall?"

"Despite having all of his wealth taken away, the hall master still thanked teacher?"

The dumbfounded Sun Qiang and Yuan Tao stared at one another blankly.

They came here to buy a couple of items, and yet, they ended up swiping everything within the Mystical Treasure Hall clean... Not only so, the hall master even thanks them for that. As expected of their young master and teacher, he truly couldn't be comprehended through common logic.

"Didn't you say that you would pay me a hundred middle-tier spirit stones for each stone pillar I decipher? I've deciphered more than a hundred of them, but I'll give you a discount... ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones!"

After trading some pleasantries with Hall Master Gan, Zhang Xuan turned to look at the Sixth Young Mistress.

Rather than the artifacts in the Mystical Treasure Hall, he was more interested in the spirit stones.

"I..."

With a face flushed red, the Sixth Young Mistress's body trembled.

She had thought that the other party would have been unable to even resolve a single one of the pillars, and she could have the other party kneeling before her to teach him a lesson. How could she have ever known that...

Not only did the other party decipher every last one of the stone pillars in the store, he even became the new owner of the Mystical Treasure Hall...

What in the world was this?

If only she'd known the other party was so formidable, she would have never gotten ahead of herself!

Ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones... Even if she were to take out everything in her possession, she still wouldn't have that much!

"Why? Do you intend to go back on your words?"

Noticing the other party's silence and pale face, Zhang Xuan frowned.

If not for the other party insistently interfering in his affairs, going to the extent of even making this bet, he wouldn't have bothered with her. Since she had tried to make him kneel through the bet, she should suffer the consequences of her own actions as well.

"I'll help the Sixth Young Mistress pay for her debt..." Seeing that the woman he was courting being forced to a corner, the young man stepped forward with gritted teeth.

Honestly speaking, he couldn't afford ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones either.

But at this point, it mattered not anymore. If he could win the other party's heart by standing up during her times of crisis, it would be worth it no matter how heavy a price he had to pay.

Of course, he had thought of refuting the bet. But the conditions were stated clearly, and if it was known that respected 5-star master teachers like them actually went back on their words, how could they face others in the future?

If the headquarters were to learn of this matter, they might even face punishment.

Only one who holds oneself with dignity would be qualified to teach others. If one couldn't even uphold the end of one's promise, who would dare to allow one to be a teacher?

"I don't need your help!"

Before the young man could finish his words, the Sixth Young Mistress gritted her teeth and said, "I'll repay it myself!"

After which, she lifted her gaze and looked at Zhang Xuan. "I'll repay all ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones to you. However... I don't have that much money on me at the moment, so you'll have to give me a few months' time!"

She couldn't even take out a thousand spirit stones at the moment, needless to say ten thousand. However, while ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones was a huge sum, her family was more than capable of repaying it.

"A few months?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head. "If it's in a few months' time, I'd surely be able to take out ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones easily. By then, your debt would mean nothing to me!"

Huanyu Empire was just a small stop for him before heading to Hongyuan Empire. He wouldn't even remain here for half a month, let alone a few months.

Besides, it had only been half a year since he started cultivating, and who knows how far he would reach in a few months' time. By then, chances were that he wouldn't even need middle-tier spirit stones anymore.

Along with the raise of his cultivation, his Heaven's Path zhenqi was becoming purer and purer, the requirement demanded of the spiritual energy he absorbed was increasing swiftly as well. Even though he was only at Transcendent Mortal 4-dan pinnacle at the moment, he had already realized that the middle-tier spirit stones were gradually losing their effectiveness.

It wouldn't be long before it would become completely ineffective, just like how low-tier spirit stones were to him.

If it's going to be useless to me in a few months' time, what is the point of you returning me the debt then?

"You... Then how do you intend to resolve this matter?"

The Sixth Young Mistress gritted her teeth.

"This..."

Zhang Xuan frowned.

The other party had made this bet confidently a moment ago, saying that she would definitely be able to repay the debt. Who could have known she would be so poor?

If he had known beforehand, he would have never made this bet with her and bring himself so much trouble.

"Didn't you say that you would make me kneel if I lost just now?"

After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Xuan replied, "Alright, I won't make you kneel but I'm lacking a maid to serve me tea at the moment. I'll put you under Sun Qiang's command, and as long as you do well, we can forget about the ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones!"

Even if the other party couldn't fork out the money, he couldn't let this matter go just like that!

The other party had spoken so arrogantly a moment ago, trying to teach him a lesson. Since that was the case, he would return it to her.

Besides, considering how the other party had achieved a cultivation of Transcendent Mortal 6-dan despite her young age, she must be of considerable standing. With such a subordinate, he would be able to solve many of his problems.

Before the young lady could speak, the young man beside her leaped in shock and exclaimed, "Maid? You want to take Sixth Young Mistress in as your servant? Do you know who she is..."

Sun Qiang interrupted the other party's word.

"Who she is? No matter how incredible she is, can she be more incredible than our young master? It's your fortune that our young master is accepting you in as his maid. If you are unwilling to accept, why don't you try repaying your debt first?"

Young Master is Old Master's direct disciple, and his standing could be said to be even above Pavilion Master Mo. You should feel honored that he's accepting you as his maid, to think that you still dare to talk about identity...

Know your place!

"I shall have you know that the Sixth Young Mistress is the pri..."

Hearing the fatty's words, the young man harrumphed, but before he could finish his words, the Sixth Young Mistress interrupted him.

"Enough!"

Gritting her teeth, the Sixth Young Mistress turned to look at Zhang Xuan proudly and said, "It's impossible for me to become your maid, and ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones aren't enough for that either. Change your terms!"

"You aren't willing? Kowtow then!" Zhang Xuan replied impassively.

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Chapter 615: Princess Fei-er

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"You..."

The Sixth Young Mistress clenched her fists so tightly that her nails sunk deep into her flesh. Her face was dark, and her eyes were clouded with intense resentment. If she could, she would have dashed forward to slice this man into countless pieces.

She would never accept being a maid, and kneeling was a humiliation so great that she would rather die.

Clenching her jaws so tightly that her teeth might chip from the sheer force, the Sixth Young Mistress held back her wrath and spoke once more.

"Choose something else..."

Hearing the other party's complaints, Sun Qiang interjected with a look of displeasure.

"Our young master has given you a lot of options already. To turn down everything, are you trying to be difficult? Since you refuse to kneel and won't become a maid, our young master still needs someone to warm his bed for him. Do you want to take on that job? As long as you please our young master, ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones are nothing!"

What the heck is this? You should be thankful that Young Master's temper is good! If it were me, I would have never given you any other alternative!

"What did you say?"

The Sixth Young Mistress's eyes immediately turned red, and her hands trembled in rage.

"Which part of what I said do you not understand?" Sun Qiang shook his head. Turning to Zhang Xuan, he said, "Young Master, since this fellow is being difficult, can you allow me to deal with her?"

"She's your underling, feel free!" Zhang Xuan shrugged nonchalantly.

Even though Sun Qiang might get reckless at times, he did possess wits when it came to dealing with others. He must have an idea in mind.

"His... underling?"

Hearing those words, the Sixth Young Mistress nearly puked blood.

She thought that the reason why this young man wanted to accept her as his maid was because he felt lust for her, considering her beautiful appearance. Who could have thought that she couldn't be any more wrong? He actually wanted her to come under this shady-looking person of a butler...

Besides, what is with your nonchalance?

Do you know who I am... Even the emperor of Huanyu Empire would have to welcome me with the grandest of ceremonies! If I were to tell you, you would surely faint from shock!

To actually be subjected to such conditions... What a tremendous humiliation!

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Turning to the Sixth Young Mistress, Sun Qiang measured her from head to toe and frowned. "Your appearance is sub-par, so I doubt our young master would want you to warm his bed. You should just serve him as an ordinary maid!"

"Sub-par? Would not want me?"

Blood gushed into the head of the Sixth Young Mistress, and she nearly exploded.

You actually dare to evaluate an appearance such as mine 'sub-par'? Are you saying that intentionally to anger me?

Little did she know that Sun Qiang actually meant what he said.

The young master's students, Zhao Ya and Wang Ying, had appearances that didn't pale to her at all. Even Mo Yu and Zhao Feiwu possessed superior grace as well. But even so, Young Master still remained unmoved.

Considering that, how could he possibly be interested in such an obstinate and domineering lass?

"Considering that you're doing this to repay your loan, we should talk about the duration too... Let's make it five months! Since you owe Young Master ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones, over a course of five months, that would be equivalent to a wage of around sixty-six middle-tier spirit stones each day. I'll round that up to a seventy!"

Counting with his fingers, Sun Qiang said, "But of course, if you feel indignant having to serve as a maid, you can purchase 'days off' by repaying your debt. On those days, you'll be able to do whatever you want to do."

"Seventy middle-tier spirit stones a day? Purchase 'days off'?"

The Sixth Young Mistress was taken aback.

"That's right. On the days that you're off, you won't be considered a maid. In other words, you are paying the ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones over a course of five months. Anytime within the five months, if you find sufficient money to repay your debt, you can back out of your responsibilities. As for why it's seventy spirit stones a day instead of sixty-six, considering that we're going by a daily basis, naturally, it should be more expensive. If you wish to go by month, I could lower the charge!" Sun Qiang replied.

"Daily basis, pu..."

Initially, the Sixth Young Mistress still found the idea acceptable, but upon hearing this part, she nearly fainted.

What does it sound as though she's some kind of commercial good for sales?

Paying by daily and monthly basis...

The more she thought about it, the more frenzied she felt. She was on the verge of explosion.

However, after her anger subsided, she gave it some thought, and honestly speaking, she did find this solution acceptable to her.

She would never be willing to lower herself to serving as a maid for five months, but if they were going by a daily basis, as long as she could get past the first few days, her family should be able to send some spirit stones over to free her from her suffering!

"Alright, I'll agree to it!" Having thought things through, the Sixth Young Mistress nodded her head, giving her consent.

"Good!" Zhang Xuan's eyes couldn't help but light up upon hearing Sun Qiang's arrangements.

As expected of a merchant, his means were indeed extraordinary.

It would be difficult for anyone to take out ten thousand spirit stones in a breath, but if they were to split it over a longer duration, the repayment would seem much more reasonable.

The concept of interest payment wasn't widely used in this world, but as an astute businessman, he knew how to use his words to shape the conditions into something the other party could accept. Not to mention, he even managed to hike up the price at that.

"Sixth Young Mistress!"

Not expecting that she would agree to such terms, the young man accompanying her panicked.

Others might be unaware of the Sixth Young Mistress's identity, but he knew it very well. For a person of her standing to serve as a maid... You must be jesting!

If news were to spread, the royalty of Huanyu Empire would probably go insane.

The Sixth Young Mistress harrumphed.

"I'll deal with my own affairs!"

"But..."

Veins were popping from the young man's temples.

Interrupting the conversation between the duo, Sun Qiang said, "Enough. If the both of you have anything to say, put it off for now. From this moment onward, you're our young master's maid. If you don't have money to repay your loan, prepare whatever you need and follow us back to the residence!"

"There's no need for that. I'll pay for ten days first!"

Harrumphing coldly, the Sixth Young Mistress flicked her hands, and a pile of middle-tier spirit stones appeared before the eyes of the crowd. Counting it quickly, there were exactly seven hundred of them there.

"Un!"

Sun Qiang's eyes lit up. He turned to look at Zhang Xuan, and the latter said, "You should take them for now!"

"Yes!"

Sun Qiang quickly put the spirit stones into his storage ring before turning to look at the young lady once more. "You seem to be from a prestigious family, so I doubt that you will do anything as foolish as running away. But even so, we still need a guarantee. Thus, you'll need to leave something valuable with us, and after the five months are up or when you've repaid your entire debt, we'll return the item to you!"

"You..."

The Sixth Young Mistress's eyebrows twitched violently.

It was already sufficiently humiliating for her to have to agree to serve as a maid, and yet, the other party was even worried that she would escape... How infuriating!

But she knew that these two were fearless thugs, and arguing with them would only shorten her own lifespan. Thus, she flicked her wrist and took out an emblem.

Five bright stars shone brightly on them.

Her 5-star master teacher emblem!

"This emblem represents my identity. Surely it should suffice as a pawn for my debt!"

"It will do!"

Sun Qiang took it and placed it in his storage ring.

He was surprised to learn that this young lady was a 5-star master teacher as well, just like the young man.

But in his view, 5-star master teachers were nothing to fear as well. As the butler of an 8-star master teacher, if he couldn't even face a 5-star master teacher with nonchalance, he should have quit his job ages ago.

"Humph!"

Seeing how that fellow took her emblem without the slightest fear or astonishment, the Sixth Young Mistress froze for a moment. An awful complexion slowly spread across her face before she turned around and stomped out of the store.

She couldn't stay here even a moment longer. It was no longer about her loss in the bet but that... she couldn't stand facing these two anymore!

What the heck was with them?

She thought that a young 5-star master teacher like her would be respected and feared no matter where she went, but... the other party looked as though they didn't even give a damn. It was as if her identity was nothing more than a wisp of wind to them.

An intense feeling of indignation left her so frustrated that she could spew a bucket of blood.

"Sixth Young Mistress..."

Seeing his companion leave, the young man froze for a moment. Then, turning to Zhang Xuan and Sun Qiang, he threatened menacingly, "The both of you... just you wait!"

Leaving behind those words, he hurried down to catch up with Sixth Young Mistress.

"Sixth Princess, those two fellows sure don' know their place. Why don't I get Ye Qian to have them beheaded?"

A glint flashed across the young man's eyes as he harrumphed.

This time, he addressed the young lady before him not as Sixth Young Mistress but as Sixth Princess.

If Crown Prince Ye Qian of Huanyu Empire was here, he would have surely recognized the 'Sixth Young Mistress' as Hongyuan Empire's Princess Fei-er! And the young man beside her would be her fellow classmate, 5-star Master Teacher Xing Yuan!

The both of them were strolling around when they caught sight of Mystical Treasure Hall. Curious, the both of them walked in. Little did they know that they were just moments away from suffering both financially and mentally!

Noble from birth, she was a great princess whom even the emperor of Huanyu Empire would have to regard with utmost respect. To think that she would actually end up as a maid. This was a huge humiliation!

"As an esteemed princess, a 5-star master teacher, should I kill someone just because I lost a bet?"

Princess Fei-er abruptly came to a halt, and her eyebrows shot up.

"This..."

Xing Yuan's face reddened.

Losing was embarrassing in itself. If she were to kill someone due to that, even if no one would ever learn of it, she would never be able to come to terms with it.

"But even so... we can't let this thing go. That person is simply too arrogant and infuriating!"

Xing Yuan gritted his teeth.

"He's indeed infuriating, but admittedly, he does possess incredible capability. Against the stone pillars which even you and I are unable to decipher, he actually deciphered 110 of them in less than a minute... Furthermore, did you see the nonchalance on his butler's face when he saw my 5-star master teacher emblem? The both of them are unlikely to be ordinary. Tell Ye Qian to look into their identity!"

Princess Fei-er gestured.

She didn't agree to the arrangement out of recklessness.

Having reached 5-star, her Soul Depth had already exceeded 15.0, allowing her to separate her emotions from rational thinking. The master-and-butler pair might not anything special in terms of their cultivation, but their calm disposition that couldn't be fazed by anything wasn't normal.

Most likely, there was something deeper to them.

Besides, she was also curious to know how the other party deciphered those stone pillars so easily.

"Alright!" Xing Yuan nodded.

...

"Gongzi, may I know how to address you?"

After watching the Sixth Princess and Xing Yuan leave, Gan Yiping swiftly regained his composure, and walking up to Zhang Xuan, he clasped his fist and bowed.

"You can call me Zhang Xuan!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"So, it's Zhang gongzi. Here are all of the artifacts our Mystical Treasure Hall possesses. You've accrued more than sufficient points from deciphering the stone pillars, so these are all yours..."

The attendant had already packed everything neatly into a storage ring and passed it over.

"Un!"

Grabbing the storage ring, Zhang Xuan took a look into it and saw several shelves of precious artifacts inside.

"But if you were to give all of these to me, what will happen to your Mystical Treasure Hall?" Zhang Xuan asked with a slightly embarrassed look.

To tell the truth, he had little interest in these artifacts. However, rules were rules, and it would be impolite for him to refuse it. Thus, he was put in a difficult position.

If he were to accept it all, wouldn't the business of the Mystical Treasure Hall collapse instantly?

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Chapter 616: Can This Even Be Called Pill Forging? [2in1]

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"The reason why I built the Mystical Treasure Hall was to have these stone pillars deciphered. Since I've received the answers I sought, I can die without any regrets now. It's time for me to return to my hometown and live my final years in peace."

Gan Yiping chuckled. His face had a serenity like never before.

Attracted to the mystery of the unknown, he had spent fifty years on these stone pillar, attempting to decipher them. When everything was done, he felt as though a burden weighing heavily on his shoulders had disappeared, and he suddenly felt much lighter.

"This..."

A look of admiration reflected in Zhang Xuan's eyes as he nodded.

It seemed like this person had thought everything through now that his limit was approaching.

Indeed. Since his greatest wish had been fulfilled, there was indeed nothing left for him to regret.

These artifacts might be valuable, but none of them could be taken to the afterlife.

Just as empty-handed as one came, empty-handed will be how one departs!

Knowing that the other party sincerely wished to give these artifacts to him, Zhang Xuan accepted them politely. In exchange, he offered the other party several pointers on his cultivation.

After hearing Zhang Xuan's pointers, Gan Yiping thanked him profusely in excitement.

After chatting for a moment longer, Zhang Xuan left with Yuan Tao and Sun Qiang.

After leaving the Mystical Treasure Hall, Sun Qiang asked, "Young Master, where are we going now?"

"On top of the inner core of a Great River Snake and the Sorrow Severing Grass, we still need more medicinal herbs to mediate the properties before brewing a medicinal solution..."

Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment before adding, "We'll head to the Apothecary Guild. Over there, we'll be able to engage the help of an apothecary too!"

Even though he was an official 3-star apothecary, he only received his rank through the means of Pill Debate. It would be best for him to do leave the job of pill forging to another.

"Yes!" The duo nodded.

The Apothecary Guild was quite a far distance away. The trio searched for a carriage, and after around an hour-long journey, they finally arrived at their destination.

The building of the Huanyu Empire Apothecary Guild was tall and vast. In front of the main entrance was a stone sculpture of a cauldron a dozen meters tall, granting a solemn and grand atmosphere to the Apothecary Guild.

Stepping in, a whiff of fragrant medicinal herbs and spiritual energy gushing through the pores of their bodies left them revitalized.

Taking a slight sniff, Zhang Xuan remarked with a smile, "This is Pill Fragrance. It seems like someone has forged grade-5 pills here, and on a frequent basis at that!"

Upon the successful forging of a grade-5 pill, a deep Pill Fragrance could be produced by chance. Those who smelled it would immediately find themselves re-energized.

Only a place where pills of such grade had been frequently successfully forged could such a deep scent be produced.

"Since there are 5-star apothecaries here, it isn't too surprising for there to be grade-5 pills as well!" Sun Qiang nodded.

The most capable apothecary of Huanyu Empire had reached the level of 5-star pinnacle.

"Un. Let's enquire at the front reception to see if we can get a 5-star apothecary!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

The inner core of a Great River Snake and Sorrow Severing Grass were extremely valuable, and he only had a set of them. No mistakes could be tolerated. Also, even though it was just a medicinal fluid, its concoction consisted of complex processes that demanded the hands of a 5-star apothecary. Otherwise, there was a high chance it would end in failure.

"Gongzi, may I know what you need?"

At the front reception desk stood an eighteen or nineteen-year-old lady. She greeted Zhang Xuan with a bright smile.

"I need to concoct a unique medicinal solution. May I ask if there's any 5-star apothecaries here that I can engage the help of and what price it would be?" Zhang Xuan asked.

Since one could buy Tutelage Jade Tokens at the Master Teacher Pavilion, naturally, one could also engage the services of an apothecary at an Apothecary Guild too.

The price of engaging the service of an apothecary tended to be much lower than purchasing the completed product, but one would have to gather the ingredients himself.

"The services of a 5-star apothecary?" The lady receptionist was taken aback.

"Why? It can't be done?" Seeing the other party's reaction, Zhang Xuan frowned.

It would be troublesome if he couldn't do so. Given that the Great River Snake had reached a cultivation realm of Transcendent Mortal 7-dan before its death, its inner core was likely to possess immense power, and a 4-star apothecary couldn't hope to suppress is rampaging energies during the concoction.

On the other hand, the minimum requirement to becoming a 5-star apothecary was to achieve a cultivation of Transcendent Mortal 6-dan Cosmos Bridge realm, so it shouldn't pose much of a problem.

After a moment of hesitation, the receptionist replied, "We do provide such services, just that... a formidable 5-star apothecary from the headquarters has come by today to conduct a lecture, and all of the 5-star apothecaries in the guild have gone over to listen to it... In fact, even 4-star and 3-star apothecaries are all there as well. So, for the time being, we don't have anyone available. If it's possible, may I ask you to return tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

They would be deciding on the final distribution of slots for the Cleansing Lake tonight, and it shouldn't be long before they go in. It was unlikely that Zhang Xuan would have much time left.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xuan said, "I can't wait that long. When does the lecture end? Can you help me ask around to see if any 5-star apothecary is willing to take on my job?"

"Ask around?" The receptionist's face darkened. "I am just a receptionist. 5-star apothecaries are too noble for me to approach."

As a receptionist in charge of the front desk, she was only an apprentice. Putting aside 5-star apothecaries, it would be difficult for her to even come into contact with 3-star apothecaries. There was simply too huge a disparity in their ranks.

"Besides, there will surely be a bout of discussion after the lecture to exchange experiences and learn from one another. Everyone will likely be busy for the entire day, so I doubt that you'll be able to engage their service no matter how much you pay!"

This was a precious opportunity to learn. They would never miss this chance just for a small sum of money.

While the apothecary from the headquarters was of equivalent rank to them, he was likely to possess more advanced techniques to pill forging and controlling the cauldron. This, in itself, was more than worthy of their attention and research.

"This..."

Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up.

This was indeed a good learning opportunity for the apothecaries, so it was unlikely that anyone would pass on it for his job. But on the other hand, it was impossible for Zhang Xuan to do it himself.

Putting aside whether it was too late for him to learn pill forging now, even if he could master it swiftly, his cultivation was only at Clarifying Turbidity realm pinnacle, so it would be impossible for him to suppress a rebound from the Great River Snake's inner core.

So... what should he do now?

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Xuan asked, "Since that's the case, can you bring me over to where the lecture is held?"

It would be impossible to get the concoction of the medicinal solution done if he were to wait for the entire session to end. Since that was the case, he decided to enter the lecture hall and ask them personally. After all, as fellow apothecaries, it should be easier for him to ask for their favor.

"Bring you over?" The lady frowned. "That's a place where only apothecaries can enter..."

"Oh, I'm an apothecary too. It's just that I haven't taken a promotion exam in recent time!"

Flicking his wrist, Zhang Xuan took out his apothecary emblem.

His current rank was still 3-star, obtained back when he was in Tianwu Kingdom. But even so, it was sufficient for him to attend the lecture as well.

Upon seeing the emblem, the receptionist immediately bowed deeply and said, "Master apothecary, this way please!"

While a 3-star apothecary might not rank at the top of the pyramid in Huanyu Empire, he was still not a person that a little receptionist like her could offend.

"Un!"

Nodding his head, Zhang Xuan proceeded along with Sun Qiang and Yuan Tao.

The Apothecary Guild was rather large. They had to walk a long distance before arriving at a huge hall.

Coming to a stop before the door, the lady apologized.

"I apologize but only official apothecaries can enter, so I can only bring you this far..."

"It's fine!" Zhang Xuan smiled. Pinning his emblem on his chest, Zhang Xuan turned to Sun Qiang and Yuan Tao, and instructed, "The both of you should wait here. I'll go in and take a look!"

After which, he pushed open the door and walked in.

As the both of them weren't apothecaries either, they couldn't enter too.

There was a guard standing on the other side, but seeing Zhang Xuan's emblem, they didn't stop him.

This hall was several hundred square meters huge, and a huge crowd was seated in here. Every single one of them was dressed in an apothecary's robe. In a sense, it was similar to the selection round with Ruohuan gongzi and the others back at the Myriad Kingdom City.

Lifting his gaze to the stage, he saw a person standing before a cauldron, forging a pill while deciphering the process step-by-step.

Flames blazed as a pair of fair hands steadily added herb after herb into the cauldron.

'It's a young lady?'

Zhang Xuan was astonished.

He thought that a lecturer from the headquarters would be an elder in his seventies or eighties. To think that it would be a young lady in her twenties instead.

Female apothecaries were rare, and considering how she was qualified to conduct a lesson to even 5-star apothecaries, she was likely to a rather capable one at that. Thus, his interest was piqued.

The other party was dressed in a loose purple robe, and her long, black hair was coiled on top of her head. Her eyes sparkled like the stars, reflecting wisdom. However, her face was as cold as the middle of winter, and not the slightest emotion could be seen on it.

Surprisingly, her appearance was on par with the Sixth Young Mistress from before. In fact, the slight curvature that could be seen under her loose robe accentuated to her beauty.

An emblem with 5 stars was pinned on her chest, indicating her identity as a 5-star apothecary!

'Pill forging requires one to be accompanied with flames for a long period of time, and it can be considered to be one of the tougher occupations. To think that she would actually reach 5-star at such a young age, incredible!'

Zhang Xuan was impressed.

Most of the high ranked apothecaries were all males. It wasn't that females couldn't make it, but the intense heat from the cauldron was usually a huge deterrent factor. On top of that, there were plenty of rare medicinal herbs required for pill forging that grew on top of treacherous terrains, making the occupation a dangerous one as well.

As such, most ladies choose not to take on this occupation.

On the other hand, the lady before him actually reached a rank of 5-star at such a young age. Her forging technique was profound, and her movements were fluid... It showed that she had devoted a lot of effort into her pill forging usually.

Otherwise, regardless of her talent, she couldn't possibly possess such level of skill!

Regardless of what occupation one was in, talent was only one of the many factors to one's success. In comparison, hard work played a much greater role.

Standing not too far away from the young lady was an elder, who was stroking his long, white beard in commendation.

'He must be the guild leader here!' Zhang Xuan deduced.

This elder carried an authoritative demeanor, and his cultivation felt deep like an abyss, revealing that he was likely in a position of power. On top of that, he seemed to be standing behind the young lady to take care of her, interjecting now and then to add on to the young lady's points. Even if he wasn't the guild leader, he was probably an influential figure here.

After looking around, Zhang Xuan found an empty seat and sat down.

At that moment, the young lady's voice sounded.

Her voice was crisp-similar to a jade and a stone knocking on one another-and listening to it, in itself, was a pleasure. However, her tone carried a cold edge that distanced her from others.

"Emerald Jade Grass has a cold attribute, and if you were to put it into the cauldron directly, it might cause a conflict with the Wooden Cypress Flower placed in previously. Thus, it has to be soaked in Hamachi Extract for two hours before it can be used. This can accentuate its medicinal properties while lowering the temperature in the cauldron, thus enhancing the quality of the pills forged!

"As for the Wood Incense Flower, it has to be soaked in Violet Flora Water and basked under the hot sun for five days to maximize its medicinal properties. Otherwise, considering how it is added at the very middle of the forging process when the cauldron is at its warmest, it is highly likely that it would be burned to crisp..."

...

The lady explained the forging process and the preparation of the ingredients one-by-one. Her words were backed by logical explanations, leaving the listening crowd nodding their heads ceaselessly as though drunk.

"Impartation of Heaven's Will? Could she be... a master teacher as well?"

Seeing the expressions on everyone's face, and noting the unique intonation to the voice, Zhang Xuan shook his head with a slight smile.

Even though the young lady on the stage was lecturing on the Art of Pill Forging, she had infused Impartation of Heaven's Will into her lecture to facilitate the learning process.

Only master teachers were capable of doing so.

From the looks of it, on top of being an apothecary, the young lady before him was also a master teacher.

It was just moments ago that he met two 5-star master teacher in his twenties, and right now, he was meeting yet another one. As expected of Huanyu Empire, it was indeed overflowing with talents.

If they had been within the twenty-eight regional powers as well, Zhang Xuan would surely have been in fourth place in the Master Teacher Tournament.

It was not that he was less knowledgeable than a 5-star master teacher, but his cultivation was simply too lacking. He stood no chance against them in a direct battle.

"Since she's a master teacher, it should be easier for me to communicate with her. I should try to engage her help later on..."

Since the other party was a master teacher on top of being a 5-star apothecary, it should be easier for Zhang Xuan to engage her help.

The core ingredient of the medicinal solution was the inner core of a Transcendent Mortal 7-dan Great River Snake. To maximize its effectiveness, Zhang Xuan's guidance would play a crucial part. However, an ordinary 5-star apothecary wouldn't possibly listen to the words of a 3-star apothecary.

On the other hand, since the young lady was a master teacher as well, it should be easier to Zhang Xuan to win her trust.

"I thank everyone here for your cooperation. This is my comprehension of the grade-5 Spirit Revitalization Pill!"

Just as Zhang Xuan was pondering over how he should negotiate with the other party to have her concoct the medicinal solution for him, 'jiya', the cauldron on the stage was opened, and a dense aroma immediately gushed into the room.

Raising his gaze, he saw round, smooth pills emerging from the cauldron.

"A grade-5 pill at Perfection?"

"As a grade-5 pinnacle pill, the Spirit Revitalization Pill has always been one of the hardest pills to forge for a 5-star apothecary. Even if the guild leader were to forge it personally, probably only two in ten cauldrons of pills would reach the level of Perfection. Yet, she actually managed to achieve such a rank on her first try. Incredible, as expected of an apothecary from the headquarters!"

"On top of that, you might be unaware, but on top of being an apothecary, she's also a master teacher! This is the reason why her explanations are so clear. If I were to study based on the content of this lecture, I would surely make huge progress in my research!"

"Indeed. I've also benefited greatly from this lecture. As expected of an apothecary from Hongyuan Empire. Regardless of whether it's the pill forging or the preparation of ingredients, her understanding of those is far deeper and more accurate than ours!"

"Of course. The Apothecary School of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy has a much more complete heritage of pill forging than our branch."

...

Upon seeing the pill emerging from the cauldron, a huge commotion broke out amongst the crowd.

The skill of an apothecary is determined by the quality of the pill he could forge. Even a pill forged through the same pill formula can have differing quality, ranked by: Formation, Satiation, Perfection, and Inscribed Pill.

Reaching Formation in a higher grade would qualify one for a promotion. On the other hand, if one could reach Satiation in the forging of a pill with a grade corresponding to one's current rank, one could be considered to be above most of one's peers already.

Achieving Perfection wasn't easy at all. Even a skilled apothecary might not produce a single cauldron of Perfection pills amidst ten. And yet, this young lady in her twenties, despite explaining the process to everyone while forging the pills, was actually still able to reach this tier. Her mastery in pill forging had reached an astounding level.

"Let's begin the discussion now. If you've any suggestions, feel free to raise them so that I can learn from it too!"

Putting the pill down, the lady on the stage glanced at the crowd.

"Apothecary Luo, I have a question. The Spirit Revitalization Pill has the effect of nourishing one's soul as well, but to achieve this end, one has to fuse a part of his soul energy into the pill in the midst of the forging process. I've tried to do so, but I always end up being burnt by the flames. May I know if there's any solution to that problem?" asked a 5-star apothecary on the front row.

Since it was a discussion, naturally, they could raise any questions they had.

"Considering the searing heat in the cauldron and the cold nature of one's soul, it's natural that one's soul would be burned if one carelessly attempts to infuse one's soul into the pill in the midst of the forging process. But in the first place, there's no need for us to do so. Amidst the ingredients for the Spirit Revitalization Pill, there's a Glacé Heart Grass which, being a spirit herb, possesses spirit."

The young lady on the stage, Apothecary Luo, explained, "As long as one harnesses the spirit contained within the medicinal herb properly before the forging process, it can grant the equivalent effect as well!"

"I see!"

The 5-star apothecary came to a realization and nodded his head in gratitude.

"I have a problem too..."

Following which, another 5-star apothecary stood up.

Before long, seven 5-star apothecaries had already posed their question, but the young Apothecary Luo didn't show the slightest hint of panic at all. She answered their questions calmly with rational arguments backed by logic, impressing the entire crowd.

"Does anyone have any other questions? The reason why I came here was to trade some feedback with everyone. If you've any opinions or advice, feel free to raise them!"

After answering several questions, Apothecary Luo glanced at the crowd.

Her study of pill forging had met a wall recently, and her apothecary teacher had told her that she had to interact more with other apothecaries to share ideas to further her own path.

That was the main reason why she came to the Apothecary Guild.

And honestly speaking, this was working out well as well. Before she started forging the Spirit Revitalization Pill, some of her concepts were still not clearly fleshed out, and there were some parts she was unsure of. However, as she explained it, she found her own understanding of pill forging deepening as well.

However, this wasn't sufficient.

She wanted to hear an alternative opinion to her own to improve.

"Apothecary Luo must be jesting. Your understanding of the subject is deep, and your skills are exquisite. There's no advice we can possibly offer you!"

"Indeed! Your movements are perfect, and not to mention, you even achieved Perfection in your forging of the Spirit Revitalization Pill. Even if we wanted to criticize your work, there's nothing we can raise!"

"Your understanding of pill forging is far deeper than ours. If not for your lacking cultivation, you could have been promoted to a 6-star apothecary by now. We really dare not offer any advice to you..."

...

Everyone shook their heads.

The person before them had come from Hongyuan Empire, and on top of being a 5-star apothecary, she was a master teacher as well. She was even qualified to be their teacher, so how could they possibly raise any objections against her? Even if they had any, they wouldn't dare to speak up!

"Sigh!"

Seeing everyone shake their heads, Apothecary Luo sighed deeply.

In Hongyuan Empire, no one dared to criticize her in fear of her identity. She thought that since no one knew of her here, she would be able to garner some feedback. Yet, her hopes fell flat in the end.

"Do you really wish to hear my opinion?"

Just as she was feeling disappointed within, an indifferent voice sounded from the crowd.

"Yes!" Apothecary Luo quickly nodded her head.

"Alright then... Here is my opinion... After wasting so much time and effort, can this even be called pill forging?"

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Chapter 617: First Flaw

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"What?"

"He said that Apothecary Luo's actions cannot be considered pill forging?"

"This is way too much! Apothecary Luo is a 5-star apothecary from the headquarters. Everyone here can see that her forging technique and movements were flawless, and yet, someone actually dares to insult her pill forging? Who is that insolent fellow?"

"Audacious!"

It was as if someone had set gasoline on fire. Wrathful eyes immediately turned in the direction from where the voice came from.

And following which, they saw a young man in his twenties wearing a 3-star apothecary emblem on his chest.

"A mere 3-star apothecary actually dares to utter such nonsense?"

"Ignorant brat!"

Upon seeing the other party's appearance, many among the crowd sneered, and some even bellowed angrily.

Apothecary Luo might be young, but her understanding of pills and pill forging technique were above most of them here.

Her succinct and precise movements in her pill forging were a pleasure to the eyes. If a pill forging of such level couldn't even be considered as pill forging, what else could?

Besides, even if someone wanted to criticize her, one should at least be a 5-star apothecary. Can a 3-star apothecary like you even understand what has just happened? How dare you speak such arrogant words?

Apothecary Luo also frowned.

What she wanted to hear was a feedback, not an insult.

"The apothecary over there, may I know what mistakes there are in my pill forging for you to utter such words?"

"You want to know?" The young man raised his eyelids.

"Of course!" Apothecary Luo replied.

"There were a total of 127 mistakes in your pill forging just now. I fear that if I were to say them all... your confidence might be shattered, and you would find yourself unable to forge any pill from now on!" the young man said impassively.

"127 mistakes?"

Harrumphing coldly, Apothecary Luo flung her sleeves and said, "If you can really list out that many, even if I were to have my confidence shattered, it will be only due to my lack of expertise!"

Initially, she thought that the other party might have noticed some major flaws in her pill forging. But upon hearing such words, she immediately denied that possibility.

Her pill forging technique had been refined by the countless predecessors of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, forming a nearly perfect art. If there was a mistake or two, she would still be able to acknowledge it. But more than a hundred...

You must be pulling my leg!

With so many mistakes, putting aside whether it is possible to form a pill, it is more likely that the cauldron would explode even before the fire is lit!

Even if one wanted to boast, there should be a limit! Beyond that, one would just be a shameless fool!

"Are you certain that you want to listen to them?"

A slight smile crept onto the young man's face.

"That's right!" Apothecary Luo replied.

"Sigh! Since you wish to know, if I were to continue remaining silent, you all would only think that I'm doing this intentionally to cause trouble!"

Shaking his head, the young man stood up and walked onto the stage. He first placed his hand on the cauldron beside the young lady before walking around it. After which, he turned to her and said, "Before that, I would like to ask you if you know of the background of this cauldron."

"Knowing the background of one's cauldron is the very basics of an apothecary. Of course, I at least know of the background of my own cauldron!"

Apothecary Luo knitted her eyebrows slightly in displeasure. "This cauldron was crafted by 5-star Blacksmith Wu Feng, and it took him a total of twelve years to finish its crafting. It's made by an alloy of the Frigid Metal found at the bottom of an ocean and Blue Coppersilver, thus making it resistant to high heat and extreme cold. It is a Spirit intermediate-tier pinnacle artifact..."

Hearing the young lady's flawless explanation, the young man continued, "Correct! But do you know that this cauldron has once suffered an explosion?"

Naturally, that young man was Zhang Xuan.

To convince the other party to willingly obey his instructions in the forging of the medicinal solution, he would have to impress her first to establish his credibility.

He was contemplating how he could do so when the other party expressed that she was seeking the opinions or advice of others. Since that was the case, there was no reason for him not to grasp this opportunity.

While Zhang Xuan's understanding of pill forging hadn't reached 5-star yet, he was still able to see through the other party's flaws through the Library of Heaven's Path.

Apothecary Luo froze for a moment before replying.

"I do. It has suffered an explosion before, but the ingredients only ended up being charred black. The cauldron suffered no damage from the incident, and there are no cracks either. As such, it shouldn't affect any subsequent pill forging!"

This cauldron was given to her by an elder of her family, and she had used it for three whole years. It did suffer from an explosion once, but... she should be the only one aware of it. How did the other party learn of it?

"You're right that the cauldron didn't suffer any damage!" Zhang Xuan touched the surface of the cauldron with his finger. "There are indeed no cracks. But based on the slightly gray tint on the opening of the cauldron and the slight scent of metallic rust, if I'm not mistaken, you were forging [Searing Flame Pill, a grade-5 pill!"

"Indeed!" Apothecary Luo's frown deepened as she nodded her head.

The previous explosion indeed happened in the midst of the forging of a Searing Flame Pill. Even though she wasn't the one forging it, she was present then and knew of the condition.

But to be able to know what was being forged during the explosion just by looking at the color of the cauldron and the scent of it, this young man's eye of discernment was way too formidable!

If she had thought that this fellow was making up lies to attract the attention of others a moment ago, at this moment, she was already thinking that he might possess true capability.

"An explosion really occurred before?"

"To be able to tell this much just by taking a look, even 6-star apothecaries aren't capable of such!"

"Indeed. This fellow might actually not be lying..."

The crowd below was astounded to hear Apothecary Luo acknowledge the young man's words.

Checking a cauldron's background and condition was something all apothecaries had to do... But still, to be able to infer so much just by taking a brief look, wasn't this young man's eye of discernment a little, no, way too incredible?

Even a typical 6-star apothecary would find it hard to deduce this much.

Previously, everyone, just like Apothecary Luo, thought that this fellow was just trying to stir some trouble. But after hearing his analysis, they realized that they might be sorely mistaken.

"But so what if the Searing Flame Pill was being forged during the explosion? Does that make any difference?" Apothecary Luo asked.

As a pill rich in yang energy, it was normal for an explosion to occur. There shouldn't be any problem with it.

"Of course, there is a difference!"

Zhang Xuan shook his head. "If you were to continue forging Searing Flame Pill with this cauldron, then yes, it wouldn't have made a difference. However, you chose to forge the Spirit Revitalization Pill instead! The Spirit Revitalization Pill can calm one's nerves and nourish one's soul energy, thus making it a particularly valuable pill. The greatest taboo of this pill is to introduce any possible 'violent attributes' into it. And yet, you used a cauldron that a Searing Flame Pill once exploded in to forge it. Did you think that it wouldn't have any influence on the Spirit Revitalization Pill?"

"This..." Apothecary Luo fell silent.

Pills forged for the soul required the forging to be done under more stringent conditions, just that... even if a past explosion could have any influence on a pill, it should be minimal.

"Are you thinking that the effects it would have on the Spirit Revitalization Pill, if any in the first place, would be minimal?"

Seemingly having seen through the other party's thoughts, Zhang Xuan's lips curled up. "You would be right if it was an ordinary forging process. However, there's a mistake in your forging process that exacerbates this effect. I remember hearing you say that if the Emerald Jade Grass is placed directly in the cauldron, it would cause a conflict with the Wooden Cypress Flower. As such, it has to be soaked in Hamachi Extract beforehand. Am I right?"

"Yes!" Apothecary Luo nodded her head.

She had indeed said such words, and this was part of her forging process as well.

"The Emerald Jade Grass has a violent nature whereas the Wooden Cypress Flower has a gentle nature. Indeed, there would be a collision between the both of them, and using Hamachi Extract is a viable way to mediate between the both of the medicinal herbs. However... have you thought about what would happen if Hamachi Extract comes into contact with the main ingredient of the Searing Flame Pill, Blue-stemmed Wood?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"It would cause a violent reaction. However, it has been years since the Searing Flame Pill was forged, and in the interval since then, the cauldron has been used to forge many different pills as well. Even if remnants of the Searing Flame Pill still remain, it should be minimal, right?" Apothecary Luo replied.

Blue-stemmed Wood would indeed react violently with Hamachi Extract; they are just like fire and water, incapable of coexisting simultaneously in the same location. However... it had been years since the explosion, so even if a reaction occurred, it shouldn't amount to much.

"Minimal?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. He turned to the old man on the stage whom he suspected before to be the guild leader and asked, "This apothecary over here, may I trouble you with something?"

"Feel free to speak!" the elder replied.

"May I trouble you to scrape a layer of this gray tint on the cover of the cauldron?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Alright!" Even though the old man had no idea what he was up to, he still took out a dagger, scraped off a layer of the gray tint, and placed it in a jade bowl.

"Do you have any Hamachi Extract with you? May I ask of you to pour some onto the gray scrapings?" Without touching the jade bowl, Zhang Xuan asked.

"Un!"

Nodding his head, the old man issued some instructions to an apothecary beside him, and the latter immediately rushed out. Soon, he returned with a calabash and poured a light-blue solution into the jade bowl.

Tzzzzzzzz!

As the solution came into contact with the gray scrapings, intense effervescence reminiscent to that of boiling water immediately occurred.

"This..."

Everyone was astonished.

No matter how dull-witted one could be, it was clear that this was a violent reaction.

Should this be subjected under the intense conditions within the cauldron, there was a high chance that an explosion would occur, thus reducing the medicinal herbs inside into mere dredges.

"How could this be?"

Shocked, Apothecary Luo's face paled.

Clearly, she couldn't believe what she was seeing to be true.

"An explosion in the midst of the forging of a Searing Flame Pill is indeed nothing, but you forgot about the strong adhesive property of its main ingredient, Blue-stemmed Wood. After the explosion, the Blue-stemmed Wood stuck onto the walls of the cauldron, and it is difficult to cleanse it using ordinary methods. While it wouldn't pose any problem in the forging of other pills, it might result in serious problems when Hamachi Extract is involved in the forging process," Zhang Xuan said.

"Is there any way to solve this issue?" Apothecary Luo asked.

"Of course, there is! Corrosive Lotus is capable of neutralizing Blue-stemmed Wood. If you add two liang of Corrosive Lotus before the forging of the Spirit Revitalization Pill, you will be able to clear away the remaining Blue-stemmed Wood easily. At the same time, it will also lower the temperature of the cauldron...

(1 liang is about ~37.8g)

"As such, you won't have to soak the Wood Incense Flower with Violet Flora Water and bask it under the sun for five days, thus sparing you of this troublesome preparation process," Zhang Xuan said.

"This..."

Apothecary Luo was rendered speechless.

As a 5-star apothecary, she was familiar with medicinal properties and could easily deduce the authenticity of the other party's words. After careful analysis, she realized that the suggestions the other party offered were feasible and flawless, and it even boosted the efficiency of the forging process.

"While there are standard steps in pill forging, one mustn't follow them blindly. It's similar to driving a carriage; while there are rules and a standard set of skills involved, one's driving method must still alter according to the condition of the road!

"On top of noting the steps, one must also assess the condition of one's own cauldron and environment and make suitable changes. Otherwise, even if one were to follow the pill formula perfectly down to the minute details, one might still find oneself stuck in a deadlock!"

With his hands behind his back, Zhang Xuan turned to look at Apothecary Luo with an aloof expression. At this moment, he seemed as though a highly-esteemed, high-rank apothecary.

"This is... the first flaw I am pointing out to you!"

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Chapter 618: I Wish to Acknowledge You as My Teacher!

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"This..."

Apothecary Luo was rendered speechless. She had no idea how she should respond to that.

The other party's words were backed by concrete evidence, and this left her no grounds for rebuttal.

And she wasn't the only with such an expression on her face. At this instant, the entire hall was silent.

This... Is this even possible?

How deep of an understanding must one have of the pill formula and cauldron to deduce this?

Everyone turned to look at the young man once more, but this time, their gazes seemed to suggest that they were looking at a monster instead.

"In the discussion phase, you said that instead of infusing one's soul energy into the cauldron—which would cause one to be seared by the heat—one could harness the spirit of a Glacé Heart Grass instead... But have you considered the fact that the spirit infused into the Glacé Heart Grass could react with the Jeqi Wood added in previously, thus reducing its effectiveness?"

"This..."

Apothecary Luo was stumped once again.

Jeqi Wood possessed the effect of absorbing spirit; there was a high chance that the spirit infused into the Glacé Heart Grass could be devoured by it, thus reducing the effectiveness of the pill.

"This is the second flaw."

Zhang Xuan continued, "If I'm not mistaken, you used 'Hands of the Twilight Drizzle' to forge the pill. While this forging technique does help to protect the spirit contained in the medicinal herb, it increases the number of steps required for the forging process of the Spirit Revitalization Pill. There are seven medicinal herbs that should have been added in simultaneously, but this technique forcefully added an interval of thirty-two breaths between the first herb and the last herb. This results in significant loss in their medicinal properties... The incompatibility between your forging technique and the pill, this is the third flaw!

"In the forging process, you used Lucid Frost Art to ward off the blaze from the cauldron to protect yourself. However, in the midst of doing so, you inadvertently sapped heat away from the cauldron, resulting in an incomplete fusion of the spirit beast blood essence and the pill... This is the fourth flaw!"

"... This is the fifth flaw!"

"... This is the sixth flaw!"

...

"... And this is the twenty-seventh flaw!

"A mere grade-5 pill, but you displayed a lack understanding of your cauldron, lack of knowledge of medicinal herbs, lack of expertise in your forging technique, lack of control in your movements, lack of clarity in your explanation, lack of depth in your analysis, and a lack of concentration in your actions, resulting in a disappointing performance..."

A sharp gleam flashed across Zhang Xuan's eyes. "Do you think something riddled with so many mistakes is worthy of being called pill forging?"

"I..."

Apothecary Luo staggered feebly backward. Paleness swept across her face, and her slim body trembled uncontrollably.

The other party's words were like a machine gun, each shot striking her in her vitals, rendering her incapable of catching her breath.

She thought that she possessed skill above most 5-star apothecaries, and never in her dreams could she imagine that what she had taken so much pride in would be nothing more than a joke in the eyes of a true expert!

"Do you need me to continue on with the remaining hundred flaws?" Zhang Xuan continued.

Apothecary Luo's body jolted in shock, and she lowered her head fearfully.

The twenty-seven flaws the other party brought up were all true and existent, she had no way of denying them.

Just this much was more than sufficient to plant a seed of doubt that would make her question herself whenever she forged a pill. She feared that if the other party continued on, her confidence would be completely shattered.

"N-no, there's no need..."

Clasping her fist and bowing deeply, she looked at the young man before her once more, this time in admiration and awe.

To be capable of seeing through so many flaws in her pill forging, how deep must his understanding of pills be?

Even her teacher wouldn't be a match for him!

"Alright, there's no need for you to feel disheartened. Unlike painting, where one can create a Reality Depiction work just by strictly following rules, pill forging requires hard work over a long period of time to build a deep understanding of the properties of medicinal herbs before one can achieve mastery."

Seeing the pale face and trembling body of the young lady before him, Zhang Xuan realized that he might have gone a little too far. Thus, he quickly consoled her. "It's an incredible feat for one of your age to forge a pill of such quality, so you should take pride in your skills... Alright, why don't you alter your pill forging method based on what I've just said and try forging the Spirit Revitalization Pill once more. I promise you the results will be different this time!"

His words were infused with Impartation of Heaven's Will, thus allowing him to win the trust of the young lady easily.

As a 5-star primary master teacher, the young lady's Soul Depth had barely reached 15.0. On the other hand, Zhang Xuan's Soul Depth was currently at 16.1, allowing him to win the other party's trust via Impartation of Heaven's Will easily.

As expected, upon hearing those words, Apothecary Luo's fragile confidence began to heal. Closing her eyes, she went through the words the young man had just spoken, and gritting her teeth, she replied, "Alright!"

She stepped up to the cauldron.

Typically speaking, apothecaries would prepare three sets of medicinal herbs in case of failure. She had only used one set in her previous forging, so there were still another two sets left on the table.

Driving her zhenqi, she lit the flames to heat up the cauldron. After which, she extracted the medicinal essence from the herbs swiftly, and one after another, medicinal herbs were thrown into the cauldron. Spiritual energy rippled in the air, and a slight fragrance permeated the hall.

Twenty minutes later, with a deep exhalation, Apothecary Luo's movements finally came to a halt.

The Spirit Revitalization Pill that should have taken her an hour to forge had taken less than half of her previous timing this time!

She stretched out her hands and pushed open the cauldron lid.

Jiya!

A dense and refreshing aroma gushed out from within, forming a beautiful white cloud.

Above the cloud was a smooth, round pill, and what could be clearly seen on the pill was a spectacular, golden stripe.

"This is... an Inscribed Pill?"

"How can this be?"

"Even though there's only a level of difference between Perfection and Inscribed Pill, a nigh unbreachable gap lay between the two tiers. Even 6-star apothecaries would be incapable of forging a Spirit Revitalization Pill at the tier of an Inscribed Pill!"

"Indeed! An Inscribed Pill surpasses the notion of an ordinary pill. It possesses spirit, which makes it an existence worthy of being considered as a lifeform!"

"With a short lecture, this young apothecary allowed Apothecary Luo, who was still forging Perfection tier pills a moment ago, to successfully forge an Inscribed Pill... This is inconceivable!"

...

Upon seeing the pill rising from the cauldron, innumerable faces paled in shock.

Formation, Satiation, Perfection, and Inscribed Pill. While four tiers were established to grade the tier of a pill, Perfection was commonly known to be the limit. Only those who had managed to comprehend the Art of Pill Forging to an unthinkable level would be able to forge an Inscribed Pill.

Putting everything aside, despite the long history behind the Huanyu Empire Apothecary Guild and the many talented apothecaries who rose from this ground, there had never had been an Inscribed Pill emerging from here before.

It was said that only in Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy did a handful of pills of such superior quality appeared before. Every single one of such pills had caused a huge uproar, and the apothecaries who forged them became respected figures in their circles.

As such, the apothecaries of Huanyu Empire had always viewed this tier to be one that only existed in the legends, something far away from them. Never could they have imagined that... Apothecary Luo would actually succeed in forging one!

Fearsome!

Apothecary Luo was formidable to have forged the pill... but wouldn't the young man who guided her be even more so?

In an instant, everyone's eyes fell on the young man once more with deep admiration reflecting in their gazes.

This was the admiration one would only display to true experts.

The young man's cultivation might be lacking, but in terms of comprehension of pill forging, not even their guild leader would be able to rival him!

While everyone was still immersed in shock, Apothecary Luo finally recovered from the unique state she had been in. Staring at the golden stripe on the pill in her hands, her body trembled in agitation, and she abruptly kneeled down. "I'd like to acknowledge you as my teacher. I beseech you to accept me and enlighten me in the Way of Pill Forging!"

She could clearly feel the bottleneck which had limited her progress before shattering entirely. In this short period of time, she had gained a lot of insights into pill forging. As long as her cultivation reached the required level, there was a good chance she could clear the 6-star apothecary examination.

And this all... was thanks to the young apothecary standing before her.

It was only due to the other party's guidance that she was able to surpass her limits. In a way, the other party could already be considered as half a teacher to her. If she could become the other party's student and listen to his teachings constantly, her skills as an apothecary would surely improve by leaps and bounds!

"You wish for me to be your teacher?"

Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

His purpose behind this act was to win the other party's trust so that he could have the other party concoct the medicinal solution for him. Who could have thought that the young lady would end up askinh him to be her teacher? This made him feel slightly embarrassed.

"I beseech you to accept me!" Apothecary Luo pleaded earnestly.

"Alright. I'll be your apothecary teacher, but I'll have to tell you beforehand that I won't have much time to teach you..."

At which, Zhang Xuan hesitated for a moment before adding, "How about this? I have a unique forging method for concocting a medicinal solution which could test your fundamentals, mental fortitude, and sincerity. Just a heads up, you'll have to follow my instructions strictly for the concoction of this medicinal solution to succeed... If you succeed, I'll take you in as my student. Otherwise, I can only say that we aren't fated to be!"

"I won't let you down!"

Apothecary Luo's face flushed in agitation, and she anxiously nodded, seemingly fearful that the young man before her would change his mind.

"Un!" Seeing that he had succeeded in hoodwinking the other party, Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief. Flicking his wrist, he took out the Great River Snake's inner core and Sorrow Severing Grass.

"These are the main ingredients. On top of that, I'll need one liang of Dragon Beard Flower, one liang of Stardust, three qian of Woodyer Skin..."

(One qian = ~ 3.75g. One liang = 37.5g)

Zhang Xuan quickly listed a dozen of medicinal herbs; these were the core ingredients required to forge the medicinal solution.

Noting down the medicinal herbs and the quantity required, Apothecary Luo turned to the elder beside her and asked, "Guild Leader, may I trouble you to bring a set of these herbs over?"

"No problem, I'll have someone prepare it now!" the old man chuckled.

These medicinal herbs weren't exceptionally valuable, and they could all be found in the guild. In just a few moments later, an apothecary returned with the listed herbs in hand.

Zhang Xuan swiftly looked through the medicinal herbs to check if everything required was present. While doing so, he noted that the prepared herbs were of the highest maturity, and he nodded in satisfaction.

Indeed, he had made the right choice coming over here to hoodwink a 5-star apothecary. Otherwise, he would surely be unable to gather so many high maturity medicinal herbs. After all, these medicinal herbs were useful to the apothecaries as well, so it would have been difficult to buy these herbs from them with money.

Apothecary Luo swiftly looked through the herbs as well before turning to the young man before her.

"Teacher, I am ready."

"Follow my instructions strictly, there mustn't be the slightest deviation!" Zhang Xuan reminded gravely once more. "Warm the cauldron for forty-five breaths before adding in one Stardust. Seven breaths later, add in Dragon Dawn Flower and raise the flames for three breaths..."

The forging process for the medicinal solution required to awaken Yuan Tao's unique constitution had undergone many refinements in Zhang Xuan's hands, and the Library of Heaven's Path had verified it as well.

Zhang Xuan's instructions were extremely detailed, allowing Apothecary Luo to focus her attention on the forging.

The cauldron flames blazed intensely, and heatwaves rippled in the room.

As more medicinal herbs were thrown in the cauldron, the spiritual energy in the air gradually grew more and more concentrated, and the energy contained within the cauldron became more and more violent. It seemed as though it would reach a breaking point any moment soon and trigger a massive explosion.

"That is a Great River Snake's inner core..."

"This object contains the essence of a Transcendent Mortal 7-dan spirit beast, and the energy contained within it is extremely violent. Even Transcendent Mortal 8-dan experts would find it difficult to suppress the inner core's energy if it were to be placed under extreme conditions within the cauldron. To have Apothecary Luo deal with it... isn't that going beyond her limits?"

The 5-star apothecaries and the guild leader frowned upon seeing this scene.

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Chapter 619: Limit Revolving Pill Forging Technique

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

The inner core of a Great River Snake was the most energy-concentrated part of the Transcendent Mortal 7-dan spirit beast, and it could be said to carry almost the full cultivation of a Perfect Harmonization realm expert. Even the guild leader would find it difficult to suppress the violent energy contained within this thing, and yet the young man actually wanted the Transcendent Mortal 6-dan Apothecary Luo to deal with it? Was success really possible?

Dong dong dong!

Amidst everyone's doubtful gazes, a sound reminiscent of the rumbling of lightning and the knocking of a drum sounded from the interiors of the cauldron. The cauldron's lid danced about its opening, and it seemed as though the violent energy would burst out at any moment. From the looks of it, if the energy wasn't suppressed soon, an explosion would be inevitable.

"Shit, looks like an explosion is going to occur..."

Everyone clenched their fists tightly in trepidation.

As apothecaries, it wasn't too hard for them to deduce the current situation of the forging. Under normal circumstances, in order to prevent an explosion, one would use one's zhenqi to suppress the rampaging energy contained within the cauldron. But... Apothecary Luo clearly didn't possess sufficient strength to deal with such powerful energy!

"Guild Leader..."

A 5-star apothecary couldn't help but turn to look at the guild leader anxiously.

"Since the apothecary up there didn't ask for our help, it's best that we don't interfere..."

Knowing that this was a test for Apothecary Luo, the guild leader waved his hands.

While he did possess sufficient strength to suppress the explosion, it would be highly disrespectful for him to dash in and interfere with the forging process.

'Don't worry. While the situation may seem dangerous, an explosion could be easily stopped by removing the flames...' the guild leader thought, consoling himself.

The situation before him might look dangerous, but as long as the intensity of the flames was lowered instantly, it shouldn't pose any threat.

Controlling flames was one of the basic lessons an apothecary had to undergo. It shouldn't be a problem for Apothecary Luo to do so.

Just as he was thinking so, the young man before him said, "Pump in more zhenqi, intensify the flames!"

"Intensify the flames?"

The guild leader was taken aback. His face paled, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "But an explosion would occur..."

Hong long long!

Before he could finish his words, the cauldron suddenly shook violently, and a destructive aura gushed into the surroundings. Cracks appeared on the shaking ground, and heat waves came crashing down like waves. Under the powerful heat gale, Apothecary Luo's hair danced in the air, and her robe fluttered.

"Run, it's about to explode!"

"That's a Transcendent Mortal 7-dan Great River Snake inner core! If it explodes, the whole hall will be utterly destroyed!"

"Lunatic, he really is a lunatic! How can one forge a pill like that..."

...

The legs of all apothecaries in the room trembled in fright, and there were even a few who immediately turned around to escape.

The might of the explosion of a Transcendent Mortal 7-dan pinnacle inner core was equivalent to an attack of full might from a Transcendent Mortal 7-dan pinnacle expert. While the hall might be sturdily built, it couldn't possibly survive such immense might. It would be reduced to dust in an instant.

The powerful 5-star apothecaries might still be able to stand their ground before such destructive force, but the 1-star to 4-star apothecaries would surely be crushed. They would have to be mad to not escape now.

Geji! Geji!

Amidst pandemonium, the cauldron reached its limit and would explode at any moment now.

Cold sweat also dripped down Apothecary Luo's forehead.

While she knew that the young man possessed incredible mastery of pill forging and he was likely to be in control of the situation, she still couldn't help but feel a shiver going down her spine.

"Don't panic!"

Just as anxiety was tackling her mind, a calm voice behind her brought her back.

Turning around, she saw a young man looking at her with a completely composed face, as though he cared not if the cauldron would explode or not.

The other party's calm demeanor and soothing voice washed away her worries, and her trembling body found its stability.

"Use the Descending Flower Technique to put the Harmony Grass in!"

Apothecary Luo heard the other party say so.

Without any hesitation, she immediately added the Harmony Grass into the cauldron.

Hong long long!

It was as if fuel had been added to the fire, and the shaking of the cauldron further intensified.

"Add in the Cottoneye Flower and Greenthorn Leaf..."

The voice continued instructing he calmly.

Knowing that there was no backing out now, Apothecary Luo continued throwing in medicinal herb after medicinal herb.

As more medicinal herbs were thrown in, the cauldron shook even more intensely. But what left her perplexed was that, no matter how violent the shakings became, an explosion didn't happen.

Even though the cauldron was clearly at the limits of its durability, it seemed to be treading along the lines of the breaking point, refusing to surpass that boundary.

Noticing the bizarreness of the situation, everyone stared at one another in confusion.

At this moment, a thought flashed across the mind of the guild leader. His face flushed red, and his body trembled in agitation.

"Could this be... B-but how can that be possible?"

"What is it, Guild Leader? Have you thought of something?" a 5-star apothecary asked, and many other apothecaries turned their gazes over as well, curious to hear his view on the matter.

"If my eyes are not playing tricks on me... this is the long-lost... Limit Revolving Pill Forging Technique!"

Perhaps due to his agitation, the guild leader's voice sounded slightly hoarse.

"Limit Revolving Pill Forging Technique?"

Everyone was perplexed by those words.

They had never heard of this name before, needless to say, they knew nothing about it.

"It was said that this pill forging technique was created by a fanatic apothecary. However, due to the excessive danger one would be exposed to when utilizing this technique and the long list of death toll in its history, no one dared to try it anymore, and thus, it eventually disappeared in the annals of history... I only happened to chance upon it while reading through ancient texts. I thought that it was just a legend, yet... to think that it is actually real!"

The guild leader's teeth were clattering with excitement.

"This..."

Noticing the excitement in the guild leader's tone, the crowd felt even more curious about this legendary technique.

The guild leader also didn't beat around the bush. "You all should have seen it for yourself. The cauldron has been on the verge of explosion for a while now, but yet... it hasn't exploded yet!"

"Un!" Everyone nodded.

If it were them up there, the cauldron would have exploded long ago. But for some reason, despite the cauldron continuing to leap around furiously, it simply refused to explode.

This was something inexplicable to them.

"All things, including cauldrons, have a breaking point. I believe everyone should be aware of this," the guild leader said.

The crowd replied, "Indeed!"

A cauldron would only explode if the stress it was put under exceeded its limits.

Taking water as an analogy, only below zero degrees Celsius will it turn into ice, and similarly, only at a hundred degrees Celsius will it turn into steam. Anything within the limits, not even one degrees Celsius nor ninety-nine degrees Celsius, could induce such change to water.

The same went for cauldrons as well. Anything within its limit would not cause an explosion.

An apothecary suddenly thought of something, and his eyes narrowed in disbelief.

"What you mean is that... that young apothecary knows what the breaking point of the cauldron is, and he's intentionally controlling it at this point such that it is impossible for an explosion to occur?"

The others also found their jaws falling to the ground.

"The limit of every cauldron is different, and it can vary from situation to situation based on the medicinal herbs one is dealing with. How can he be so sure what the breaking point is?"

Sure, it did work theoretically... but the problem lay in whether one could accurately determine the breaking point or not.

The cauldron, the environment, the flames, the purity of the apothecary's zhenqi, and his forging technique... A difference in any of these would spell a difference in the cauldron's breaking point. How could this fellow be so sure that his perception of the breaking point was accurate?

It was similar to walking along a cliff blindfolded. The slightest mistake in one's perception could potentially lead to a disastrous outcome... But based on the other party's speech and demeanor, it seemed like he was extremely confident. Where in the world did his confidence come from?

"I've no idea how he can accurately determine the breaking point either, but in any case, it's clear that he has succeeded. Whenever the cauldron is about to exceed the breaking point, he adds a medicinal herb containing spiritual energy to dampen the rampaging violent energy within... In other words, he's continuously delaying the explosion by using the ingredients of the pill to dampen the energy level... the push and pull in this scenario is similar to revolving in a circle, thus the name of the forging technique!" the guild leader said slowly.

"Limit Revolving Pill Forging Technique... I see. But what is the advantage of this forging technique?" An apothecary asked.

Since such a technique was invented, surely it should have some kind of overwhelming advantage to it. Otherwise, who would risk their lives for it?

"Advantage? Its advantage is immense!"

The guild leader swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said, "Everyone should know that the most difficult part regarding processing the inner pill is to melt it. Without several hours of intense flame, it's impossible to achieve. What makes it worse is that one must keep watch over it during this period of time or else there is a high chance an explosion may occur!"

"Un!" Everyone nodded in agreement.

The inner core was one of the most valuable parts of a spirit beast, as well as the most dangerous and destructive part of it.

It is just like steel, and melting it was no easy task. As such, most apothecaries were unwilling to process it.

"On the other hand, if one were to subject the cauldron to extreme conditions reminiscent of those prior to an explosion, it means that the inner core is also on the verge of explosion, and its emission of energy is also at the maximum tolerable limit!" the guild leader continued.

This wasn't too difficult to understand. If not for the immense energy leaking from the inner core, it would be impossible to push this incredibly large and sturdy cauldron to its breaking point.

The guild leader said, "With a maximum emission of energy from the inner core, it would mean that the fusing process would be significantly faster, thus reducing the required several hours of effort into just ten minutes!"

"This..."

Everyone was stunned.

Using such a dangerous pill forging technique just to minimize the time required to fuse the inner core?

Wasn't he treating his life a little too casually?

Cultivators had long lives, and often, they would spend a month or two at a time in seclusion. To them, time wasn't of much worry. To use such a dangerous pill forging technique just for the sake of saving several hours... What in the world was he thinking?

"That's not the only advantage!"

Seeing everyone's expression, the guild leader shook his head. "Under such intense conditions, the inner core can fuse better with other medicinal herbs, and the medicinal properties after the fusing would be maximized as well... As such, the quality of the pill would be brought up a notch as well!"

Only then did everyone come to a realization.

"Look, the medicinal herbs are all in! The forging is about to be complete..."

Amidst discussions, the guild leader's face turned grim, and everyone quickly turned their gazes over.

Apothecary Luo flicked her wrist, and the final medicinal herb was thrown into the cauldron. The cauldron shook violently for a moment before the lid burst open. Following which, a light golden medicinal solution shot out as though a fountain.

In an instant, a deep aroma wafted in the air, and spiritual energy gushed in from the heavens.

"Deep Aroma Drawing Spiritual Energy... This is... a grade-6 medicine?"

The guild leader narrowed his eyes.

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Chapter 620: Your Teacher, Zhang Xuan!

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Legend had it that a grade-6 pill's aroma, similar to a master teacher's Impartation of Heaven's Will, could draw in spiritual energy that would further raise the quality of the pill.

The guild leader was already a 5-star pinnacle apothecary, and all along, he had been trying to forge higher grade medicine. But due to his lack of cultivation and the guidance of a formidable teacher, he had never succeeded.

He thought that the ultimate limiting factor was his cultivation, but upon seeing this sight, he realized that he was mistaken.

Even though Apothecary Luo came from Hongyuan Empire and was probably more knowledgeable than him, her cultivation was still two whole realms lower than his. After all, she was still much too young.

Thus, in terms of who would be able to forge a grade-6 pill first, he thought that he was in the lead...

But reality clubbed him in his face!

Considering how the other party's medicinal solution had drawn in spiritual energy with its deep aroma, it had clearly reached grade-6.

"It's him..."

The guild leader narrowed his eyes, and his body trembled in agitation.

He had been paying close attention throughout the forging process, and Apothecary Luo followed the other party's instructions strictly. The reason why this forging of a grade-6 medicine succeeded was clearly the credit of this young man.

To be able to allow a Transcendent Mortal 6-dan 5-star apothecary forge a grade-6 pill with his guidance... Wasn't this just too formidable?

How did he do it?

"Grade-6?"

Hearing the guild leader's exclamations, everyone's lips trembled in shock.

The higher grade a pill was, the harder it was to forge it. It wasn't unheard of for a talented 1-star apothecary to forge a grade-2 pill... but a 5-star apothecary forge a grade-6 pill, never before!

"Having forged a grade-6 pill once before, both Apothecary Luo's confidence and grasp over the medicinal herbs would surely achieve a great advancement. No doubt about it... she will surely become an incredible apothecary in the future!"

"Indeed. How could I have been so foolish? If I had rushed up to acknowledge him as my teacher, the chance would have been mine!"

"Such a pity! Say, do you think that it's too late to acknowledge him as my teacher now?"

"I doubt that he would be willing to accept any more students..."

...

Many of the onlookers expressed their regret toward this matter.

As a 5-star apothecary, successfully forging a grade-6 pill was an exceptionally precious experience. Just this in itself would induce a huge improvement in one's understanding and eye of discernment, thus making it highly likely that one would advance to become a 6-star apothecary in the future.

If they had rushed forward to acknowledge that young man as their teacher before Apothecary Luo, the chance would surely have been theirs... and they wouldn't be sighing helplessly in regret now.

Hu!

While some of the crowd were wallowing in their disappointment and others were still stunned with shock, the person in question, Apothecary Luo, heaved a huge sigh of relief. She stared quietly at the medicinal solution floating silently before her, and her face slowly flushed in excitement as her body began trembling intensely.

Just as others had guessed, her grasp of pill forging had been brought up a notch, and in the foreseeable future, pill forging would become her greatest expertise among all of her supporting occupations.

She would surely leave many sighing in awe when she returned to Hongyuan Empire.

"Impressive!"

She glanced at the young man before her once more, her eyes gleaming in admiration.

Through just the other party's guidance, she was actually able to forge such a high-grade medicine. Even the number one apothecary of Hongyuan Empire, the head of the Apothecary School, would find it hard to match up to his eye of discernment and extensive knowledge.

"Teacher!"

Filling the medicinal solution in a jade bottle, she passed the bottle respectfully over to the young man.

"Un!" Grabbing hold of the jade bottle, a hint of agitation appeared in Zhang Xuan's eyes as well.

He thought that a grade-5 medicinal solution would be a great outcome already, but due to the unexpectedly high maturity of the mediating medicinal herbs and the lack of errors in the forging process, it actually managed to hit grade-6.

If Yuan Tao were to consume it, his Emperor's Bloodline would surely be awakened by a huge portion, and his cultivation would rise by leaps and bounds.

"The fact that you were able to forge the medicinal solution successfully shows that you possess incredible talent, and I can also see the sincerity behind your acknowledgement. Alright. From today onward, you shall be my apothecary student!"

Suppressing his excitement, Zhang Xuan assumed an indifferent front, as though forging a grade-6 pill was no different from eating or drinking to him.

Despite the threat of an imminent explosion from the cauldron, the other party was actually able to put her trust in him and followed his instructions precisely with composure. Just this in itself reflected the sincerity of her intention to acknowledge Zhang Xuan as her teacher.

"Teacher, thank you for accepting me!"

Upon hearing that she had been accepted by the 'expert' before her, Apothecary Luo clasped her fists in excitement and hurriedly kowtowed to complete the acknowledge ceremony.

Knowing the other party's sincere intentions, Zhang Xuan was satisfied as well. He turned to look at the other party and asked, "Un. What's your name?"

"I am Luo Qiqi, teacher can call me Qiqi!" Apothecary Luo said.

"Qiqi? Un. Then from today onward, I shall call you Little Qi..." Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Yes!" Luo Qiqi replied in delight.

"Alright, I still have things to attend to, so I'll be leaving for now!"

The stone pillar challenge at the Mystical Treasure Hall and concocting the medicinal solution in the Apothecary Guild-all in all, around ten hours had passed. It was about time for the crown prince's banquet to begin, and given that the slots for the Cleansing Lake were at stake, he had to be present.

"Yes..."

Seeing that the other party was going to leave, Luo Qiqi felt a little disappointed.

"Pill forging is an accumulation of experience, not something one can achieve mastery in all of a sudden. Try to comprehend what I taught you today, and you will surely improve greatly!" Having seen through Luo Qiqi's thoughts, Zhang Xuan said.

Luo Qiqi nodded her head. Following which, Zhang Xuan took out ten middle-tier spirit stones and passed it over to the guild leader, "Here is the money for the medicinal herbs!"

If not for the guild leader bringing out so many valuable medicinal herbs, it would be impossible for the medicinal solution to have reached grade-6. Unwilling to take advantage of the other party, Zhang Xuan decided to pay a reasonable sum to the other party.

On the way here, Sun Qiang had passed the 700 middle-tier spirit stones which he took from the Sixth Young Mistress to him.

"This... It's my honor to be able to see a medicine of such quality to be forged within my lifetime, how can I accept your money..." The guild leader hurriedly turned down Zhang Xuan's gesture.

"Take it!" Zhang Xuan threw the spirit stones over.

If the other party didn't accept it, it could be seen as that he owed the other party a favor, and Zhang Xuan detested incurring such a relationship. Instead of causing possible problems in the future, he would rather repay his debts on the spot.

"Alright!"

The guild leader also could tell Zhang Xuan's intentions from his insistence. He shook his head in disappointment, knowing that he had lost a chance to get acquainted with a talented apothecary.

"Farewell!"

After throwing the spirit stones over, Zhang Xuan walked out of the hall.

Watching as he slowly disappeared into the distance, Luo Qiqi hurriedly shouted, "Teacher... Where can I find you?"

With his hands behind his back, Zhang Xuan stopped, and an impassive voice sounded. "Remember this, my name is Zhang Xuan!"

...

"It has been some time already, why isn't Young Master out yet? The crown prince's banquet is about to start already!"

Outside the hall, Sun Qiang was pacing around the corridor anxiously.

"Indeed!" Yuan Tao tried to peek into the hall, but the doors were tightly shut, preventing him from seeing anything at all.

Before entering, Zhang Xuan had told them to wait outside. However, four hours had already passed, and there was no sign of him. It was inevitable that they would be worried.

Besides, the crown prince's banquet was about to start. The motive of the banquet was to vie for the slots of the Cleansing Lake. If the champion of Hongfeng Empire were to not appear in such an important banquet, wouldn't Hong shi be in tears?

Just the Master Teacher Tournament back then was enough to reduce that 5-star master teacher to tears. If Zhang Xuan were to miss out on this banquet as well, who knew if that old man would be able to take the blow?

"Young lady, may I trouble you to enter and call our young master out?"

After waiting another moment longer in futility, Sun Qiang turned to the young lady beside him.

It was the front receptionist who had brought them over.

"This... I'm sorry, but I can't. Only official apothecaries can enter, and if I were to enter without permission, I would surely be punished. In the worst-case scenario, I might even face expulsion..."

The young lady quickly shook her head.

How could a mere receptionist like her be qualified to attend such a grand apothecary conference?

"This... but you're all members of the Apothecary Guild, not to mention, you are only entering to find someone. Surely they won't go that far?"

Sun Qiang frowned.

"They will!"

Deference surfaced on the eyes of the young lady. "Apothecary, as an Upper Nine Paths occupation, possesses exceptional standing in society. Due to that, it also has strict rules governing its members, especially when it comes to etiquette. It's not like you've never seen how official apothecaries, dressed in their occupation robes, hold themselves with grace and majesty..."

Just as she was in the midst of explaining the rules governing apothecaries, 'jiya!', the gate was suddenly knocked open.

Following which, a large group of 3-star and 4-star apothecaries dashed out of the room fearfully. Some of them dropped their hats while others had their robes torn. In fact, there was even one who, due to sheer panic, bumped into the pillar, and at this moment, was lying on the ground as though a dead pig...

At this moment, instead of proud apothecaries, they looked like a group of refugees instead.

"This... is the grace and majesty you were talking about?"

Yuan Tao and Sun Qiang widened their eyes in shock.

"..." The young lady found her vision darkening at the sight as well.

As the front receptionist, she often came into contact with these apothecaries. Usually, all of them would hold themselves proudly, exuding an air that distanced others from them. But now... they resembled defeated mercenaries, stripping of their armor and tossing apart their weapons to flee as fast as they could. Their appearances couldn't possibly look any worse than this.

Weren't they listening to a lecture inside?

Why were they fleeing like frightened lambs then?

Just what in the world was being lectured inside?

Apothecaries streamed out of the hall ceaselessly, and every single one of them had a panicked look on their faces. At the moment, Yuan Tao thought of something and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"It can't be that teacher... has done something inside again?"

"This..."

Sun Qiang stroked his lower jaws and nodded his head. "Now that you say it, there does seem to be such a possibility!"

The young master was the type of person who had to cause a pandemonium no matter where he went. Just in the Master Teacher Tournament itself, he left all of the competitors on the verge of insanity. While he only said that he was going to find a 5-star apothecary to forge the medicinal solution for him, could he have caused some kind of trouble?

The possibility would be so low that they wouldn't entertain such thoughts if it was someone else, but their young master... The more they thought about it, the more likely it seemed to be true!

"Your young master? How is that possible? Don't worry, given that he's only a 3-star apothecary, it's impossible for him to stir something of such scale!"

Recovering from her shock, the young lady shook her head upon hearing the duo's conversation.

She had met the person in question, and she knew that the other party was only a 3-star apothecary.

There was a huge bunch of apothecaries of such rank in the guild. Even if the other party did try to start something, how big of a mess could he cause?

"That's hard to say..." Sun Qiang shook his head.

"You're thinking too much. Our guild has a lot of 5-star apothecaries. While a 3-star apothecary might be a formidable existence in other branches, before them, he doesn't mean much at all..." replied the young lady.

She was just about to continue speaking when, 'jiya', the entrance opened once more and the 'young master' from before walked out casually.

"Farewell, Apothecary Zhang!"

"Apothecary Zhang, if you find yourself with some spare time, our guild would be honored to have you here! If you could conduct a lecture, we'd be most grateful!"

Following which, the guild leader and the numerous elders of the guild walked out and bowed humbly as they saw him off. Within their eyes, one could see respect and admiration.

"..." The young lady burst into tears.

Shouldn't that guy be unable to stir anything of sizeable scale? Shouldn't that guy mean nothing to you?

What in the world is going on?

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Chapter 621: Crown Prince's Residence

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"Let's go!"

Ignoring the guild leader and the elders who were respectfully seeing him off, as well as the young lady who was crying pitifully by the corner, Zhang Xuan gestured to Yuan Tao and Sun Qiang before walking out with wide strides.

If he had more time, he would surely return here to clear all of the books in the guild. Otherwise, he could only drop the matter.

Walking out of the Apothecary Guild and getting into a carriage, Zhang Xuan passed the jade bottle over to Yuan Tao.

"Apply a portion to your skin each time, and only after you've fully absorbed everything can you apply it once more... Train properly, and your cultivation will surely soar swiftly!"

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Yuan Tao took the jade bottle from Zhang Xuan's hands in agitation.

Having followed his teacher for the entire day, he knew how valuable the medicinal solution was, and how much effort his teacher put into preparing it for him. The favor his teacher had shown him was so great that he didn't think he could ever repay it.

"Take these spirit stones. You'll need them when you cultivate!"

After which, he passed a few dozen middle-tier spirit stones over.

The medicinal solution could only awaken Yuan Tao's unique constitution. He would still require a huge amount of spiritual energy to fuel his cultivation. In any case, after the incident with the Sixth Young Mistress, he didn't lack spirit stones at the moment.

Understanding his teacher's intentions, Yuan Tao took the stones.

"Sun Qiang, take these spirit stones with you. I might be gone for a few days when the Cleansing Lake opens, so I'll be counting on you to distribute them to Zheng Yang, Wang Ying, and Liu Yang when they require any. Make sure that everyone, including you, has sufficient spirit stones so as to not delay your cultivation!"

Saying so, Zhang Xuan passed around two hundred spirit stones over to Sun Qiang.

Once the Cleansing Lake opened, he would have to spend several days inside to cultivate. Thus, it was best for him to make preparations in advance so as to not delay his students' and butler's training.

"Don't worry, Young Master. We'll surely train hard!" Sun Qiang hurriedly nodded his head.

Hearing Sun Qiang's confident declaration, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"I'm not worried about others, you are the one whom I'm the most worried about..."

Zheng Yang and the others, perhaps spurred by Zhao Ya and Lu Chong, were extremely motivated, and he need not worry about them.

The main problem was Sun Qiang. He simply slacked off way too much, and the moment no one's eyes were not on him, he would immediately trail off. He was indeed a huge headache to deal with.

"Ah..."

Understanding the young master's intentions, Sun Qiang scratched his head awkwardly.

"Alright, these are the items obtained from the Mystical Treasure Hall. Split them among the others, and sell everything else that you don't need for spirit stones!"

Zhang Xuan took out the storage ring Gan Yiping gave him and passed it over.

Of everything in the Mystical Treasure Hall, Zhang Xuan only kept the 'Glacier Rain Sword', the Upgradable Artifact. Everything else was useless to him, so it would be best to trade them for spirit stones instead.

"Yes!" Grabbing the storage ring, Sun Qiang acknowledged Zhang Xuan's instructions.

Knowing that there was nothing for him to worry about leaving everything to Sun Qiang, Zhang Xuan said no more.

In a rush for time, Zhang Xuan had the carriage travel at its full speed, and around an hour later, they finally returned to their living quarters.

As soon as he arrived, he saw Hong shi waiting at the entrance anxiously. Bi Jianghai and Luo Xuan were standing behind him.

There was a total of three Cleansing Lake slots for each Vassal State. For Hongfeng Empire, these slots were given to the top three rankers in the Master Teacher Tournament.

Since the banquet tonight was to determine the distribution of slots, naturally, the both of them were qualified to attend the banquet as well to witness how their fates would be decided.

"Zhang shi, you're finally here! Did anything bad happen? If something really happened... you must tell me in advance so that I can have my teacher resolve it for you..."

Upon seeing Zhang Xuan's return, Hong shi became so agitated that he nearly burst into tears.

Ever since returning from the confrontation with Luo Zhao and the others, he immediately returned to look for Zhang shi, but... despite waiting for eight whole hours, the other party still remained out of sight.

The fear that the other party might have caused some kind of trouble started to overwhelm him.

After all, this wasn't the twenty-eight regional powers nor the Myriad Kingdom Alliance, where Hong shi could easily resolve any problem with his influence... It would be best for them to maintain a low profile over here, at Huanyu Empire's capital. Otherwise, if something were to happen, they would have to ask his teacher, Pavilion Master Jiang Wei, for help.

"Don't worry, I only went to the Apothecary Guild to have a medicinal solution concocted!"

Seeing how Hong shi was fearing that he had caused some kind of trouble, Zhang Xuan was rendered speechless.

What the heck was this... What kind of person do you take me for?

Am I someone who causes trouble wherever he goes?

No matter what, I'm still a master teacher, and I have a reputation to uphold. Under the situation that no one steps on my toes, why would I go around causing trouble? Why are you speaking as though I'm the God of Destruction, as if I cause a pandemonium no matter where I go...

If Hong shi knew of Zhang shi's thoughts, he might have rushed forward to strangle the other party.

You said you aren't the God of Destruction? Then what about my Ghost Domain Illusory City? What about my Celestial Chess? What about my Book of Emptied River? What about my Otherworldly Demon...

Forget it, I should stop thinking about it. Otherwise, even my heart would become a goner...

"It's good that nothing happened. Alright, the banquet is about to start, so let's hurry there!"

Knowing that this wasn't the time to speak, Hong shi gestured to the others, and the four of them started walking to the Crown Prince's residence.

Crown Prince Ye Qian's Eastern Palace was only several hundred meters away from the living quarters. Before long, they were already at the entrance, and they passed their invitation letter to the guards.

"This way please!"

Upon seeing the invitation letter, a guard on duty stepped forward and led the way.

Following behind the guard, Hong shi asked, "This brother here, I would like to ask if Feng shi from Fengyuan Empire, Luo shi from Qianfeng Empire, and Chen shi from Zhuyue Empire are here yet?"

Naturally, Luo shi from Qianfeng Empire referred to Luo Zhao, whom he just extorted a moment ago, whereas Chen shi from Zhuyue Empire referred to the old man who was with Luo Zhao back then.

The both of them, along with Feng Yu and Hong shi, were the people in charge of the Master Teacher Pavilions of the Four Great Vassal States, as well as the hosts of the Master Teacher Tournament in their own regions.

"They already arrived an hour ago..." the guard replied.

"An hour ago?"

Hong shi's mouth twitched.

He thought that he could take advantage of the fact that he had arrived early, but contrary to his expectations, the others had arrived an hour earlier than him.

An hour... It can't be that the distribution of the slots had already been decided in that time!

After a moment of hesitation, Hong shi asked, slightly embarrassed, "Has the banquet... started yet? Am I late? If I'm late, it would be bad to bother the crown prince..."

"The banquet hasn't started yet. The crown prince has gone off to invite the Sixth Princess and the others and hasn't returned yet!"

The guard shook his head.

"The banquet hasn't started yet? That's a relief!"

Heaving a sigh of relief, Hong shi flicked his wrist and passed a spirit stone over. "Little brother, thank you for bringing us over!"

"You're welcome!"

Seeing the other party giving him a generous tip of a middle-tier spirit stone, the guard's eyes lit up. His attitude immediately became much better, and he leaned over and began speaking in a hushed voice.

"I heard that the banquet is to confirm the distribution of slots for the Cleansing Lake..."

"We don't even know how the crown prince is going to determine the distribution the slots, needless to say, prepare ourselves for it..." Hong shi smiled bitterly as he shook his head.

"I'm not too sure about the rules as well, but... I heard that the primary aim of this banquet is to welcome the geniuses from Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, as well as to allow the talented master teacher from the various Vassal States to meet their seniors."

"Welcome? You mean... all four guests from Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy will be present for the banquet?"

Hong shi was taken aback.

He had heard from Luo Zhao previously that the crown prince was going to take away four slots for these geniuses from Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy.

He thought that this banquet was hosted only to solve the issue regarding the distribution of slots, he didn't think that the four guests would be invited over as well.

A thought suddenly surfaced in Hong shi's mind.

"Could it be that... they are related to the distribution of slots as well?"

The soldier scanned his surroundings before telling Hong shi what he knew in a lowered voice.

"I'm not too sure either. But in any case, if they were to speak up, it's unlikely that the crown prince would refute their words... As such, Luo shi and the others prepared many gifts to get on their good side. I think that you should also prepare some gifts. Anyway, there's no harm going the extra mile..."

"Gifts?" Hong shi's face paled.

His entire wealth had been destroyed by that fellow behind him in the Master Teacher Tournament! Even if he had wanted to present any gifts, there was nothing of value that he could offer!

After all, considering that the four of them had come from Hongyuan Empire, it was unlikely that one could win their goodwill with an ordinary present.

Oblivious to Hong shi's expression, the guard nodded his head and continued, "Indeed. After all, there's no one who would turn down a present. As long as one can get on good terms with them, it shouldn't be a problem to obtain a slot at all... Alright, the banquet hall is just ahead. I'll see you off here!"

"Thank you!"

Having been told so much information after the 'gift', Hong shi clasped his fist and thanked the guard.

Regardless of the time and place, money always works wonders.

At the very least, with this information, they would be prepared for what that was about to come.

Just that... with this new information came a new headache.

"A gift? What kind of gift should I prepare to win their favor? If only I still had the Book of Emptied River with me... or the Otherworldly Demon could work too..."

Rubbing his glabella, Hong shi's face turned bitter.

If those artifacts of his hadn't been destroyed, he was certain he could have surely made the eyes of the guests from Hongyuan Empire lit up with those. But now...

Noticing the other party's awful complexion, Zhang Xuan walked over and asked, "Hong shi, what's wrong?"

"I-it's nothing!" Hong shi quickly shook his head.

Since what was done was done, it was futile for him to blame Zhang shi for it. The important thing at hand was to find a way to get on good terms with those four guests.

"Are you worried over the present?" Luo Xuan asked.

"That's right!" Hong shi nodded.

"Present? If only I knew, I wouldn't have passed the storage ring to Sun Qiang..."

Seeing that Hong shi was worried about this problem, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had just swept away everything in the Mystical Treasure Hall, and valuable artifacts worthy as a gift was truly one thing he didn't lack right now. Just that... he had given everything to Sun Qiang already, and who knew if he could make it in time if he were to fetch the stuff now.

"Actually, there's no need for us to worry about it now. There is an extremely high chance that the slots will be distributed based on our capability as master teachers. If gifts really work, what will become of the occupation?"

All those who were going into the Cleansing Lake were headed for the Master Teacher Academy, so the distribution of slots were likely to involve tests on one's capability as a master teacher. In truth, the gifts could be considered as nothing more than an additional topping, so it shouldn't be of much concern.

"I hope so!" Hong shi understood this fact as well, but lagging behind at the starting line still left him worried.

Zhang Xuan suddenly recalled the discussions they had and asked, "Right, Hong shi. When you went over to wreak havoc, did you receive any news from them?"

"Oh, I did receive some news regarding the four geniuses from the Master Teacher Academy..."

Nodding his head, Hong shi was just about to inform Zhang Xuan about the matter concerning the Sixth Princess and her companions when a pair of footsteps approached, and a voice sounded.

"Hong Qian, are these the talents you've chosen? They don't look impressive at all!"

Following which, a figure walked over from the hall ahead of them. It was Master Teacher Luo Zhao from Qianfeng Empire.

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Chapter 622: Late

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

At this moment, Luo Zhao was dressed in a large crimson master teacher robe which looked magnificently beneath the lighting. He held a glass of fine wine in his hands as he glanced at the approaching group with a smile.

From his appearance, it seemed as though he wasn't in the least bothered by Hong shi's actions earlier in the afternoon.

"Luo Zhao, what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing much, I just feel that Hongfeng Empire has regressed too much. To think that even Transcendent Mortal 4-dan pinnacle cultivators could make it into the top three... Tsk tsk, you're truly getting worse with each passing generation!"

Luo Zhao shook his head as he spoke.

Both Bi Jianghai and Luo Xuan had already reached Consonant Spirit realm; only Zhang Xuan was still stuck in Transcendent Mortal 4-dan pinnacle.

Zhang Xuan also didn't intentionally hide his cultivation either, so Luo Zhao was able to notice it with a glance.

While the Four Great Vassal States might not be as powerful as Huanyu Empire, they had vast territories beneath it and countless geniuses. Often, those who managed to get into the top three would have already reached Consonant Spirit realm. Only a monster like Zhang Xuan would be able to leave the competitors on the verge of breakdown despite possessing a lower cultivation.

Seeing how the fellow was mocking Zhang Xuan's low cultivation, Hong shi retorted, "What's wrong with Transcendent Mortal 4-dan? It's not like the Master Teacher Tournament revolves around strength!"

You're only saying this because you don't know how fearsome he is...

Looks like Feng shi didn't tell you who the cause of his fall was. If you knew, you wouldn't have uttered so much nonsense.

As old acquaintances, Hong shi had a clear gauge of Luo Zhao's fighting prowess. But even so, he had a hunch that if the other party and Zhang shi were to be locked in the cage, Zhang shi would surely be the one walking out alive!

"Oh? You look very confident." Luo Zhao's lips curled up. "Just that, I wonder if you can maintain the same confidence you have after seeing my top three rankers!"

After which, he turned around and three young men came walking over. The aura of the trio was intensified and dampened as though a flickering light, but if one thing was for sure, none of them were weak.

"Consonant Spirit realm intermediate stage?" Hong shi frowned. "You gave them... Consonant Spirit Pills?"

Consonant Spirit Pill was a grade-5 pill that allowed any Consonant Spirit realm cultivator to increase their cultivation by one small realm without any conditions or side effects!

Only 5-star apothecaries are capable of forging this pill, and the quantity available was extremely limited. Of the entire region, only Huanyu Empire sold it.

The bodies of the trio harnessed the violent energy reminiscent of a medicine-clearly, they had achieved a breakthrough via consuming medicine. Furthermore, considering how they didn't possess full grasp of their strength, it shouldn't have been long since they made the breakthrough.

"Indeed. The Cleansing Lake nourishes one's soul, and as such, Consonant Spirit realm cultivators benefit the most from it... To think that there would be a person who hasn't even reached Consonant Spirit realm within you group... Given such, do you think that the crown prince would still give the slot to you?"

Luo Zhao chuckled lightly.

The other three Vassal States had come to the empire early and spent an exorbitant price to purchase Consonant Spirit Pills. It was fortunate that they managed to obtain the pills before today, thus allowing their top three rankers to achieve a breakthrough.

Even though there was only a step of difference between Consonant Spirit realm and Clarifying Turbidity realm pinnacle, there was a qualitative difference in the physical body and soul of both realms.

As long as one hadn't reached Consonant Spirit realm yet, one would be unable to cultivate one's soul separately. Even if one were to enter the Cleansing Lake, the effects one could derive from it would be severely limited.

"This..." Hong shi frowned.

He had held the Master Teacher Tournament at the same time as the other three Vassal States, but unfortunately, the tournament was held in the Myriad Kingdom Alliance this year, and the Myriad Kingdom Alliance was simply too far away from Huanyu Capital.

The others had already arrived in Huanyu Capital earlier and made preparations in advance. In comparison, his group looked unready.

"The crown prince hasn't announced the rules for determining the distribution of the slots yet. Besides, so what if your men have reached Consonant Spirit realm intermediate stage? It's still too early to see who will have the last laugh!"

Even though Hong shi was worried, he couldn't possibly lose out in a fight of guts.

"Seeing how you're so confident, I'll look forward to your performance later!"

Luo Zhao chuckled before bringing the three men of his group back to the hall with a wine glass in hand.

"Humph!"

Hong shi flung his sleeves angrily.

He knew the other party was intentionally coming over to show off, but he still couldn't hold back his anger.

Taking a deep breath, Hong shi turned to the young man beside him and said, "Zhang shi, don't think too much into it..."

"Me? I'm fine!"

Not expecting to be looked down upon and consoled due to his low cultivation realm, Zhang Xuan chuckled. "Right, did you fight him in a Master Teacher Confrontation earlier this afternoon?"

"He did challenge me... but didn't you tell me not to accept it?"

Hong shi looked at Zhang Xuan in confusion.

Zhang shi had analyzed the situation he would encounter if he were to confront the trio. The 'suffered grievous injuries, won't be able to fight for the next ten years' was actually a work of the young man before him.

Otherwise, how could an upright person like him possibly think of such downright shameless words?

"Both he and you are Transcendent Mortal 6-dan primary stage cultivators, so there isn't a huge gap between your strength. It's hard to tell who would win, so it was indeed unwise for you to accept his challenge back then. But now... the situation is different!"

Zhang Xuan chuckled.

"Different?" Hong shi was taken aback.

What was different about the situation?

It had only been a few hours since then; his cultivation hadn't advanced, and Luo Zhao didn't grow weak either...

"I'm here, so you don't have to worry about facing him. I can guarantee your win!" Zhang Xuan said calmly with pride and confidence.

"What you mean is that... you'll guide me in my battle against him?"

Hong shi was taken aback for a moment before his eyes lit up.

"Un!" Zhang Xuan's lips crept up.

You actually dare to mock my cultivation?

Fine, let's have Hong shi beat you to the point that even your own father won't recognize you.

Consonant Spirit realm intermediate stage huh?

When your teacher is reduced to a pig head, let's see whether you can get gleeful!

"Alright!" Hong shi nodded his head.

While this young man's master teacher rank was lower than his, the other party had an 8-star master teacher as his teacher. Not to mention, he had witnessed the other party's capability in giving pointers, and he could tell that he wasn't a match for the other party.

With the other party's help, his chances at defeating Luo Zhao would be increased by exponentially.

"Let's go in!"

After a moment of discussion, the group of four entered the banquet hall.

As expected of the crown prince's palace. The decorations were elaborate, and countless Night Illumination Pearls lit up the room as though it was day.

Resplendent carpets were laid on the floor, beautiful wallpapers brought elegance to the room, and many lush potted plants breathed life into the area... On the whole, the entire hall was extravagant and majestic, and its unique aesthetics were pleasant to the eyes.

"The crown prince possesses incredible talent. He managed to become a 4-star master teacher in his twenties, thus becoming the number one genius of the younger generation of Huanyu Empire. Thus, my teacher took him in as his student and sent him to the Master Teacher Academy!"

Hong shi sent a message over telepathically. "As such, he's highly favored by the emperor. As if to reflect that, the scale of the Eastern Palace is on par with the royal palace, and its design is even more elaborate than the latter..."

"Un!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Of all of the palaces he had been to, there was none that could compare to this Eastern Palace.

On top of murals, there were also many works from famous painters hung on the wall, causing spiritual energy to linger in the air. Not only so, upon entering the hall, they immediately felt the temperature change to a soothing level. There should be a temperature-regulating formation set up here.

It seemed like the talented master teacher of a crown prince was highly favored by the emperor.

Walking along the soft carpet, they saw two sets of table and chairs were placed at the two sides of the vast hall, probably reserved for the members of the Four Great Vassal States. Luo Zhao and his group were seated on one of them.

Feng shi, who was nearly shattered to smithereens from falling from a high altitude, was present too. However, his injuries seemed to be much more severe than before. His cheeks were swollen red, and he looks extremely fragile at the moment. This was probably Hong shi's work.

The only reason why he could continue remain seated without any problems was probably due to the consumption of some kind of incredible recovery pill. But even so, he looked drained, a complete contrast from his gleeful self earlier this morning.

"This is... Feng shi?"

Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai stared at one another in astonishment.

Just earlier this morning, this man was stood majestically on the back of a spirit beast as he blocked Hong shi's passageway. While he was an enemy, they had to admit that there was an air of grandness around him. However, with a word from Zhang shi, he plummeted from the skies, reduced to... such a state.

Recalling what had been said just earlier on, they solemnly swore that even if they had to offend everyone in the world, they would never offend Zhang shi...

Ignoring Feng shi, Zhang Xuan turned his sight toward the other master teachers in the room.

Just as Luo Zhao said, the top three rankers from Fengyuan Empire, Qianfeng Empire, and Zhuyue Empire had all reached Consonant Spirit realm. In fact, there was even one who had reached Consonant Spirit realm advanced stage.

In terms of cultivation, Zhang Xuan indeed ranked at the bare bottom.

Other than the members from the Four Great Vassal States, there was a young man seated at the main table placed in the center. He was drinking alone, forming a stark contrast to the others in the room.

That man was wearing a robe, and five bright stars shone from the master teacher emblem pinned on his chest.

"5-star master teacher?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned. Turning to Hong shi, he asked, "Is this the crown prince?"

"He's not the crown prince. The crown prince is only a half 5-star master teacher. That person is probably his senior from the Master Teacher Academy... Based on what I know, he must either be Xing Yuan or Wu Zhen!" Hong shi replied.

He had learned the names of the four guests from the Master Teacher Academy. Given that the person seated there was a man, it was impossible for him to be the Sixth Princess or Luo Qiqi. Thus, he had to be either Xing Yuan or Wu Zhen.

Otherwise, it was impossible for him to be seated so casually on the same table as the crown prince.

"Xing Yuan or Wu Zhen?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Un, there are a total of four guests from the Master Teacher Academy, and two of the 5-star master teachers go by those names!" Hong shi explained. After which, he gestured the group to a table and said, "Since the crown prince isn't here yet, let's take a seat!"

From the information they received from the guard, they learned that the crown prince had gone over to invite the Sixth Princess and the rest of the group.

"Hong shi, considering the distance between Huanyu Empire and Myriad Kingdom Alliance, we won't say anything about your prior tardiness. However, you should have arrived in the capital this morning already! To keep Wu shi waiting and only arrive at this late hour... don't you think you're being a little too disrespectful?"

Right after the group got seated, an impassive voice suddenly sounded in the air.

It was an elder seated opposite to them.

The 5-star master teacher leading Zhuyue Empire's group, Chen Yue!

Hearing his words, Hong shi frowned in displeasure.

His voice wasn't exceptionally loud, but it was sufficient so for everyone in the room to hear. This, of course, included Wu shi, who was drinking at the main table.

If he were to admit his tardiness, considering how he arrived later than the esteemed guest from the Master Teacher Academy, that would be no different from admitting to a breach of etiquette. Given so, he would surely leave a bad impression with the other party.

On the other hand, given that he had indeed arrived later than Wu shi, if he were to attempt to dispute the fact, the results wouldn't be any better either.

It could be said that those words had put Hong shi into a deadlock.

What should he do?

Hong shi's face darkened as he struggled to search for a reply. However, at that moment, he suddenly heard something, and his body stiffened.

Following which, his eyes lit up, and he turned to look Chen Yue in the eye.

"Chen Yue, please mind your words. This is just a banquet, a place that fosters camaraderie and harmony. To be talking about tardiness here... Are you going to blame the crown prince for arriving late later on as well?"

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Chapter 623: Two Different Evaluations

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"Hmm?"

Hearing those words, everyone was awed.

Master Teacher Chen Yue's question was clearly an attempt at soiling Hong shi's reputation. And yet, Hong shi actually managed to counterattack against such a difficult question.

You said that I was late? Fine! But even the crown prince isn't here yet, are you going to blame him for the same as well?

This is just a casual banquet, and yet here you are pointing fingers around. Let me ask you, what are you trying to do?

Not only did those words seamlessly respond to Chen Yue's accusation, it even left the him in a difficult position. He could neither agree nor disagree with Hong shi's words, and his face gradually reddened in frustration. He felt so stifled that he could spew blood at any moment.

"Oh? It has only been awhile since we last met, and Hong shi has become much more eloquent than before!"

Seeing his alliance mate Chen Yue being placed in a difficult position, Luo Zhao stepped forward and intervened.

"Not just so, my cultivation also advanced significantly in the past few days. Luo shi, would you like to give it a try?" Hong shi filled his cup with fine wine as he glanced to the side. "Don't you agree, Feng shi?"

"You... Pu!"

Feng Yu's body staggered. In an instant, his injuries were triggered, and a mouthful of fresh blood spewed from his mouth.

Didn't we agree not to talk about this matter? Why are you bringing it up now? Besides, they are the ones who are causing you trouble, not me! To think that I would still be shot despite sitting quietly in my corner over here...

"Feng shi was wounded by spirit beasts when he was out hunting a few days ago... he had been spending his time recuperating at his residence, so how could he possibly know how strong you are?" Luo Zhao harrumphed.

Luo Zhao's words were indeed quite scathing. By saying that Feng shi was hurt by a spirit beast, he was hinting that Hong shi was no different from a vicious beast.

"So, he was hurt by a spirit beast? My condolences!"

Naturally, Hong shi could tell the insult hidden within the other party's words, but he paid it no heed. He glanced at Luo Zhao calmly and said, "There are no clear cuts on his face, mostly swellings from region to region. The swellings on his face carry a tinge of redness amidst gray-this is a sign that zhenqi was harnessed behind the attack. The bridge of his nose is slightly caved in, forming a straight line with his forehead-this is clearly the result of a kick. The slightly redder print that stretched from his ears down to his lips-that is obviously caused by a slap...

"These wounds are obviously caused by a human, and yet you claim that he was done in by a spirit beast..."

At this moment, a glint flashed across Hong shi's eyes as he continued, "Luo shi, may I ask if you're blind? Or have you learnt how to spout barefaced lies?"

"You..." Luo Zhao's face reddened, and he nearly fainted then and there.

Master teachers possessed exceptional eyesight. There were distinctive differences between the wounds caused by a spirit beast and those caused by a human. The only reason why he said the words that he did was to change the subject and alleviate the awkwardness in the air... Who knew that Hong shi would point them out explicitly and claim that he was lying through his teeth...

Luo Zhao's entire body trembled in rage, but he couldn't find a single word to say.

If he were to claim that it was Hong shi who beat him up, the matter regarding them blocking the other party's passageway would be revealed as well...

Damn it, hadn't words always been his weakness? When did he become so sharp-tongued?

Everyone stared at one another in shock.

Hong shi was way too formidable!

Chen shi and Luo shi had worked together to corner Hong shi with their words, but they ended up being rendered speechless instead!

"What about me? Is there anything wrong with my words? Or could it be that... the 'spirit beast' that caused Feng shi's injuries refers to you, and you're feeling angry at having that pointed out by me?" Hong shi replied impassively.

"Humph!" Luo Zhao clenched his fists tightly. He was bubbling with rage, but he simply couldn't find the words to refute the other party's accusation.

"Alright, enough. This is just a casual banquet, there's no need to make things so tense here!" Seeing that Luo Zhao was about to explode from frustration, Chen Yue could only step in to mediate.

"Indeed, this is just a banquet. There's no need to go so far!"

Hong shi sipped on his wine.

"Damn it..."

Seeing Hong shi's attitude, Luo shi and Chen shi's face darkened.

They intended to get back at Hong shi for wreaking havoc at their place so as to vent their frustrations before the start of the banquet. Who knew that before they could even lift up their legs, they were already kicked in the face?

Furthermore, it was the type where their faces were stomped on viciously.

The more they thought about it, the more frustrated they became.

They quickly turned to the main table to check if they had inadvertently left a bad impression with that genius, but the latter simply continued drinking his wine nonchalantly, as though he hadn't heard the quarrel just a moment ago.

"That's good..."

Seeing that Wu shi was no paying no heed to their affairs, they heaved a sigh of relief.

"For some reason, this fellow's tongue is much sharper than before. There's no benefits to arguing with him. We should wait for the crown prince to arrive first!"

Knowing that they would only get more frustrated the more they argued with Hong shi, Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and Feng Yu came to an agreement.

And thus, the hall fell silent once more.

...

While the group over here were harboring their own thoughts, in one of the courtyards within the Eastern Palace, a well-dressed young man stood patiently as he waited for someone.

He seemed to have been standing there for quite some time now, but there wasn't the slightest impatience in his expression. On the contrary, he was smiling instead.

If Hong shi were here, he would surely recognize the young man to be the crown prince of Huanyu Empire, Ye Qian!

"Damn it, it's all that fellow's fault! If not for him taking away my Sorrow Severing Grass, I wouldn't be in such a dilemma now... Xing Yuan, have you found out who that guy is?"

A furious complaint sounded. Following which, a beautiful figure walked into the courtyard.

A slightly apologetic voice the sounded.

It came from the young man following behind the beautiful figure.

It was the Sixth Princess and Xing Yuan whom Zhang Xuan met at the Mystical Treasure Hall earlier.

After leaving the Mystical Treasure Hall, the Sixth Princess continued looking around to search for a Sorrow Severing Grass, but despite searching until now, her efforts were in vain.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she felt.

"Six Princess and Senior Xing Yuan!"

The crown prince walked forward and bowed.

"Oh? It's great that you're here. I have something I need your help on!" Xing Yuan said.

"Senior, feel free to instruct me!" Ye Qian hurriedly said.

"In the day, Sixth Princess and I met a young man in Mystical Treasure Hall. That young man is in his twenties, and he was walking around with a plump butler. Help me look into his identity and report back to me as soon as there's any result," Xing Yuan instructed.

"Yes!" Ye Qian nodded.

Even though the other party's description was very vague, considering that they were within Huanyu Capital, it wasn't too difficult for Ye Qian, with his influence as the crown prince, to search for a single person.

"Sixth Princess and Senior Xing Yuan, I'll have this done immediately. Also, I've prepared a banquet for you tonight, and I would like to invite you over. At the same time, you can also meet the freshmen Huanyu Empire will be sending over to the Master Teacher Academy this year..."

"I'm not interested!"

The Sixth Princess waved her hands in annoyance.

She was still a proud princess when she left the residence earlier this morning, but by the time she returned, she had become the maid of another man instead. Angry and humiliated, how could she possibly be in the mood to attend a banquet?

"This..." Not expecting the Sixth Princess to reject his offer so directly, Ye Qian turned to look at Xing Yuan awkward. "Senior, you..."

"Oh, I'll return to my residence first. I'll be there in a moment!"

Xing Yuan waved his hands.

"Alright!"

Seeing that the Sixth Princess was at the peak of her anger, Ye Qian bowed and left the courtyard.

He might be the crown prince of Huanyu Empire, but his standing still paled far too much in comparison to the princess of Hongyuan Empire. The both of them weren't of the same standing at all.

It would be a delight if the other party accepted his invitation, but even if that wasn't the case, he dared not push his case.

Right before he was about to walk out of the courtyard, he heard Xing Yuan's voice echoing by his ear, "Sixth Princess is currently at the peak of her rage. I'll talk to her for a bit and come over with her later on!"

"Thank you, Senior!"

Hearing the other party's promise, Ye Qian's eyes lit up.

The purpose of this banquet was to welcome the Sixth Princess and the others. If they were to skip out on this banquet, it would indeed be embarrassing on his part.

"Sixth Princess, calm down. If we still aren't able to find a Sorrow Severing Grass, we can always purchase it from the young man back then after Ye Qian uncovers his identity..."

After Ye Qian left, Xing Yuan immediately hurried forward to console the Sixth Princess.

"This is none of your business!" The Sixth Princess sat down angrily.

Standing at the spot, Xing Yuan was at a loss. It didn't feel right for him to stay there, but leaving also felt wrong either.

The Sixth Princess had an extremely eccentric temper that made it difficult for him to court her.

She would be fine one moment and throwing a tantrum the next. As fickle as the weather, she often left him feeling puzzled.

Honestly speaking, you were the one who agreed to become that lad's maid. I tried to persuade you against it, but you simply didn't listen... I even proposed to have him killed, but you turned that down too...

And yet, here you are, throwing a tantrum before me and Ye Qian over that matter. What the heck is this?

The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he felt.

"Yu Fei-er, what's wrong?"

Just as Xing Yuan was at a complete loss, footsteps sounded from the outside, and a lady excitedly entered the room. There was a bright smile on her face, and she looked as though she was about to skip in joy.

"Lady Qiqi, you..."

Looking at the other party's expression, Xing Yuan was dumbstruck.

The lady before him, Luo Qiqi, was known for her coldness. She would always keep a distant aura no matter whom she was speaking to. Why would there be such a bright smile on her face today?

If those from the academy were to learn that this ice beauty was capable of smiling, would they go insane?

"It's nothing!"

Only upon hearing Xing Yuan's words did Luo Qiqi notice the smile on her face. She swiftly reverted back to her usual cold expression before walking up to the Sixth Princess and asked, "What's wrong? Who made you so angry?"

"I..."

Princess Fei-er was just about to speak but she suddenly lifted her gaze to look at Luo Qiqi with a frown. "Actually, I'm more interested in what happened to you for you to be so happy."

She shared the same thoughts as Xing Yuan. Luo Qiqi had always maintained a nonchalant expression in public. If she recalled correctly, the latter said that she was going to the Apothecary Hall to conduct a lecture. But if that was the case, there should be no reason for her to be so happy.

This was contrary to her personality!

"What happened to me? It's nothing much..."

Recalling Zhang shi's dashing figure, a hint of respect gleamed in Luo Qiqi's eyes, and her lips subconsciously crept up once more. "It's fine, you should speak first. I'm curious to see who can send our Sixth Princess to such a huge rage!"

"It's all because of that shameless..."

But halfway through her words, Princess Fei-er shook her head and smiled. "Wait, why should I speak first? You should tell me who made our ice beauty Lady Qiqi so happy first!"

"I..." Luo Qiqi hesitated for a moment. "Alright, why don't we speak together then!"

"Fine!" Princess Fei-er nodded. "Now!"

"It's a despicable, shameless, ignorant, and infuriating young rascal!" Princess Fei-er gritted her teeth in resentment.

"It's a refined, magnanimous, intelligent, and awe-inspiring young talent!" Luo Qiqi spoke in admiration.

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Chapter 624: Greeting Gift

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Hearing the words of the duo, Xing Yuan felt a little light-headed.

The person whom Princess Fei-er met was indeed despicable and shameless, so there was nothing to comment about that. However, who in the world did Luo Qiqi met for her to admire the other party so much?

In fact... this didn't seem like plain admiration but adoration already!

"Despicable and shameless? What did he do to make you so angry?" Luo Qiqi asked.

"He... He's completely shameless..."

The more Princess Fei-er thought about it, the angrier she became. She quickly recounted the entire matter.

"He actually made you his maid?"

Hearing Princess Fei-er words, Luo Qiqi's mouth widened in disbelief.

Who was the lady before her?

Hongyuan Empire's Sixth Princess, the dear daughter that the emperor doted a lot on. Even Xing Yuan dared not overstep his boundaries before her... and yet someone actually tried to make her his maid...

Wasn't that person a little bit too daring?

Even if she became your maid, would you dare command her around?

Smiling lightly, Luo Qiqi shook her head and said, "Actually, I think that that person is rather formidable. To be able to make our obstinate Princess Fei-er so angry without you retaliating, he must be a person of great capability.

"You..." Princess Fei-er pouted. "Fine, continue gloating at my plight. Right, what about that person you spoke of?"

"Ah. Today, I went to the Apothecary Hall..."

Luo Qiqi came out clean with everything that happened today without any reservations.

"Just by looking at your pill forging, he was able to point out more than a hundred flaws? Furthermore, he even instructed you to successfully forge a grade-6 medicine... Th-this... More importantly, he's only in his early twenties? Isn't that way too dashing!"

Hearing her bosom friend's words, Princess Fei-er widened her eyes in shock.

Luo Qiqi was a famous master apothecary across the entire Master Teacher Academy. She would get into the top few placings in every tournament conducted by the Apothecary School. And yet, such a genius had actually pointed out more than a hundred flaws in her pill forging?

How formidable must that young man be?

Putting aside Luo Qiqi, if Princess Fei-er could, she would definitely take the other party to be her teacher as well.

"Indeed. I, Luo Qiqi, have never admired anyone ever since I started cultivating. Zhang laoshi is the only exception!"

Recalling the confident and suave demeanor of that young man, Luo Qiqi's lips began creeping up uncontrollably once more.

"Hmm, I'm also starting to feel a little bit of admiration for the Zhang laoshi you spoke of. When can you bring me to meet him? I also want to learn pill forging from him as well!" Princess Fei-er said.

"Sure! You should also bring me to meet that fellow you spoke of. I'm really interested to see the face of the man who dares have our Princess Fei-er serve as his maid. If he proves to be a mere weakling, I'll help you pummel him until he forgets his own name!"

"Un!"

The duo chuckled intimately.

Seeing that the two ladies were chatting happily on and on, Xing Yuan suddenly interjected. "Cough cough. Ladies, Crown Prince Ye Qian has prepared a banquet to welcome us, and he's invited some of the geniuses from Huanyu Empire over who will become our juniors very soon. Shall we go over to take a look now?"

"Right, there's still the banquet!"

Only then did Luo Qiqi recall the matter. "Of course, we should go! However, we'll need to prepare ourselves first!"

"Alright. Since you're going, I'll go as well!" Seeing that her best friend was going, Princess Fei-er also nodded in agreement.

After chatting with Luo Qiqi, the anger from before had mostly dissipated.

"..."

Hearing that the ladies needed to prepare themselves, Xing Yuan slapped his forehead speechlessly.

Without a doubt, the ladies' 'preparation' would surely be lengthy. It would be hard to tell whether they would be able to make it for the banquet in time now...

...

"The crown prince arrives!"

While Xing Yuan was staring speechlessly into the sky, Crown Prince Ye Qian arrived at the banquet hall.

"Your Highness!"

Hong shi and the others immediately stood up and clasped their fists.

"There's no need to stand on ceremony!"

Ye Qian waved his hands casually as he walked up to the main table. Looking at the young man seated on the table, he greeted with a smile, "Senior Wu Zhen!"

"Un!"

Wu Zhen nodded. "Where are Xing Yuan and the others?"

"The other seniors will be here very soon!" Ye Qian replied.

"Alright!"

Wu Zhen noted before turning his gaze back to the wine on the table.

Thus, Ye Qian turned around to look at the crowd and said, "I believe everyone here should know the purpose why I invited you here!"

"Yes!"

"We understand!"

Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and the others nodded.

"Good. First, allow me to introduce Senior Wu Zhen from Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy to everyone here. He's a Grade 2 student, a 5-star low-tier master teacher!" Ye Qian introduced.

Wu Zhen nodded as a gesture to everyone from his seat.

As one of the top geniuses of the Master Teacher Academy, it was normal for him to have such pride.

"5-star low-tier?"

Hearing the other party's introduction, Zhang Xuan turned to look at Hong shi in bewilderment.

Shouldn't master teacher rankings be divided into primary, intermediate, advanced, and pinnacle? What does low-tier mean?

"Upon reaching 5-star as a master teacher, progressing through the ranks starts to become extremely difficult!" Hong shi replied telepathically.

"Un!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Upon becoming a 5-star master teacher, one could be considered to have taken the first step to the upper society of the continent. However, at this point, not only would it be difficult for one's cultivation to progress by even a small realm, it would also be difficult to raise one's occupation rank as well.

"As such, in order to better divide the ranks, from 5-star onward, the sub-ranks of a master teacher are divided into low-tier, middle-tier, and high-tier instead!"

Hong shi continued, "This way, the sub-ranks can be corresponded to the cultivation of a master teacher. At Transcendent Mortal 6-dan, I'm a 5-star low-tier master teacher. At 7-dan, I'll become a high-tier, and at 8-dan, pinnacle! But of course, the rise in one's cultivation must be accompanied with an enhancement in one's eye of discernment or else one wouldn't be qualified for the next tier!"

Zhang Xuan came to a realization.

From 3-star master teacher onward, the cultivation of a master teacher in a certain rank could range over three different cultivation realms.

For example, the minimum requirement to becoming a 4-star master teacher was that one had to possess the cultivation of Transcendent Mortal 2-dan. However, one would have to reach Transcendent Mortal 5-dan to become a half 5-star master teacher.

In other words, at 2-dan, 3-dan, and 4-dan, one would be considered as a 4-star master teacher.

On the other hand, only upon reaching 6-dan would one be considered a full-fledged 5-star master teacher.

But of course, cultivation was only one of the criteria. There were a lot of other requirements in play as well.

"The grades of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy are divided based on one's master teacher ranking. 4-star pinnacle and half 5-star master teacher freshman will be placed in Grade 1. If they advance to become a full-fledged 5-star master teacher, they will be promoted to Grade 2, and if they become a 5-star middle-tier master teacher, they will become a Grade 3 student... so on and so forth!

"There a total of 6 grades in Hongyuan Academy. In other words, even 6-star master teachers could be considered as students!"

"6-star master teachers are still students?"

Zhang Xuan widened his eyes in shock.

As expected of the Master Teacher Academy, it was indeed formidable.

He could already foresee the countless number of geniuses that would be in the academy.

He wasn't too interested in the academy at the start, but after hearing this introduction, he started to bear some expectations toward it.

Given that it was a place where so many master teachers were gathered... perhaps, he might just find a solution to the Innate Fetal Poison there! Even if he failed, studying among so many master teachers should also allow his master teacher rank to soar quickly.

At the very least, this was much better than him fumbling along alone.

"We've long heard of Wu shi's name. A Grade 2 student, you are one of the top geniuses in the academy. It's a privilege for me, Luo Zhao from Qianfeng Empire, to meet you!"

Hearing the crown prince's introduction, Luo Zhao stood up and greeted with a bright smile. "As the locals here, surely we can't welcome you empty-handed... A while ago, when I was out training in the Western Mulberry Fields, I happened to find a few 'Mulberry Sparrow Seeds'. Thus, I thought that I should give them to Wu shi and the other esteemed guests from Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy to express our goodwill!"

Saying so, Luo Zhao flicked his wrist, and a few crimson lotus seed-like objects slowly flew toward Wu Zhen via his zhenqi.

"Mulberry Sparrow Seeds? Is this the legendary medicinal herb that only grows by the nest of the Transcendent Mortal 8-dan spirit beast Heaven Sparrow? It's said that this item can revitalize one upon consumption, and it could augment one's Soul Depth... To give out so many of them at once, what a valuable gift!"

"Incredible, these are truly good stuff..."

"As expected of the pavilion master of the Qianfeng Empire Master Teacher Pavilion, his generosity is indeed exceptional..."

...

Seeing the gift that Luo Zhao gave, everyone was awed.

Even Hong shi and Zhang Xuan stared at one another with a deep frown on their foreheads.

Mulberry Sparrow Seed was an invaluable treasure. Its worth wasn't beneath that of the Great River Snake's inner core. It seemed like Luo Zhao had come prepared this time around.

"That fellow wasn't completely honest..."

Hong shi's face darkened as he clenched his fists tightly in rage.

Earlier today, when he went to wreak havoc at the other party's place, while the other party did tell him whom the four guests were, they didn't reveal any other details. Thus, he thought that they really didn't know anything. Who could have known that... they would have actually prepared presents beforehand!"

Lag a step behind, and one will lag every step behind. It was already too late for them to find a gift anymore.

"Mulberry Sparrow Seeds? These are indeed valuable. I'll accept it in the stead of the Sixth Princess and the others then!"

Being offered such a valuable gift, Wu Zhen's eyes lit up. He walked forward and took the seeds.

His eyes lit in satisfaction.

These Mulberry Sparrow Seeds were extremely rare, and it was troublesome to procure them even in the wealthier Hongyuan Empire.

"Since Luo shi has prepared gifts, how could our Zhuyue Empire possibly come empty-handed? Here is the 'Moonstar Bodhi' that I spent ten days in Moundless River to find! I hope that Wu shi can accept this!"

With a flick of Chen Yue's fingers, four pearl-like objects carrying a warm glow flew toward Wu Zhen.

"Moonstar Bodhi? The Moonstar Tree only gathers sufficient essence of the stars and moon to produce one of these seeds once a millennium! The energy it harnessed is comparable to the inner core of a Transcendent Mortal 7-dan pinnacle spirit beast. If one were to hold in while cultivating constantly, it could allow one to feel the stars, thus expanding the horizons one's mind!"

"The value of this object can be said to be equivalent to the Mulberry Sparrow Seeds!"

"What do you mean by equivalent? I'd say that it exceeds it! Seems like Chen shi came prepared!"

"Given how they gave out so many valuable gifts, what about Hong shi?"

Seeing how even Chen shi had offered such a valuable gift, Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai stared at one another with a deep frown.

It seemed like the previous provocation was nothing more than an appetizer, this was the main course. Given that the other party had taken out such valuable gifts, what should Hong shi do?

Just as the duo was in the midst of worrying, the swollen-faced Feng Yu also took out a treasure, the value of which wasn't beneath that of the previous two gifts.

"Hong shi, this is our first meeting with Wu shi. We have all shown a token of our appreciation, where is yours?"

Luo Zhao turned to Hong shi and smiled.

Huala!

Everyone's gaze immediately fell on Hong shi.

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Chapter 625: Zhang Xuan's Indignation

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"I..."

Hong shi's face darkened.

He didn't expect that the other party would be so vicious, intentionally bringing out all their treasures first before cornering him.

The other three had taken out gifts of extremely high quality, yet he hadn't prepared anything at all. He couldn't take out anything even if he wanted to!

While not giving a gift might not have a decisive impact on the slot allocation, granted that everyone had given a gift and he didn't, this might incur Wu shi's displeasure and thus the crown prince's in turn!

Besides, the other party was already clearly mocking him. He couldn't possibly just sit still and allow the other party to ridicule him, right?

"What's wrong? It can't be that you didn't prepare anything at all?"

"Are you serious? I told you this afternoon that Wu shi and the others would be attending the banquet, and I thought the reason why you arrived late was so you could prepare something. Was I mistaken?"

"You knew that we're meeting esteemed guests and yet you came empty-handed, where are your manners?"

Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and Feng Yu gloated upon seeing Hong shi's face slowly darkening.

They had indeed told Hong shi about the four esteemed guests, but of course, they left out the part regarding the gifts.

"Hmm?"

As expected, upon hearing the words of the trio, Crown Prince Ye Qian frowned in displeasure.

While he didn't think too much of the gifts, he did feel that it was improper for Hongfeng Empire to come empty-handed when the others had brought such valuable gifts.

"I've just arrived today, so the item is still..."

Feeling the gazes on him growing more and more intense, and the questioning tone becoming sharper and sharper, Hong shi's face flushed, stifled. He was just about to say that the gift wasn't ready yet when a nonchalant voice sounded beside him.

"Of course, our Hongfeng Empire has prepared our own gift as well..."

Hearing those words, Hong shi panicked and hurriedly turned to look at the origin of the voice. It came from the young man sitting beside him, Zhang Xuan.

"Zhang shi, I didn't prepare anything at all..."

Hong shi's face immediately twitched, and he hurriedly sent a telepathic message to stop Zhang Xuan.

It was one thing to be mocked for not having prepared anything, but to claim that they had prepared something and yet be unable to produce it, that would only be even more embarrassing!

One must know that the gifts of the previous three had already set the stage. If they were to take out something that paled in value right now, they would still only be embarrassing themselves.

"Oh? Since you've prepared something, why don't you take it out so that we can take a look?"

Hearing the one with the lowest cultivation interjecting in their conversation, Luo Zhao harrumphed coldly.

"Take it out?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "I'm afraid that it'll be a little difficult now."

Hearing that Hongfeng Empire couldn't take out their gift at the moment, Luo Zhao sneered coldly, "Difficult? What do you mean by that? Are you trying to make a fool of His Highness and Wu shi?"

Hong shi's body also swayed weakly, and he suddenly felt his head spinning.

To claim that they had prepared a gift and yet be unable to take it out. Big Brother, how do you intend to wrap this up?

If they were really unable to produce anything at this point, not only would Wu shi be offended, the crown prince would surely be displeased with them as well. With this, even a fool could tell how the slots for the Cleansing Lake would be distributed later on.

The crown prince and Wu shi glanced at one another with a deep frown etched on their foreheads.

Just the fact that a fellow in his early twenties could get into the top three placing had already left them slightly bewildered. Yet, at this very moment, the very same fellow claimed that they had something prepared but couldn't take it out at the moment. This had left them dumbfounded. They had no idea what the other party was up to.

The same went for Bi Jianghai and Luo Xuan as well.

They had been with Hong shi the entire afternoon, and they knew better than anyone whether there was a gift prepared or not. If they couldn't take anything out at this moment, wouldn't that put them in a difficult position?

"I'm just a humble 4-star master teacher from Myriad Kingdom Alliance. Even if someone were to inflate my guts, I would dare not to make a fool of Your Highness and Wu shi!"

Ignoring the puzzled gazes from the crowd, Zhang Xuan chuckled lightly and turned to Luo Zhao. "Luo shi, you've already taken a good look at the gift which Hong shi prepared with great difficulty. Isn't it about time for you to return it?"

"Ah?"

Stunned, Luo Zhao's complexion immediately darkened. "What did you say? What do you mean by taken a good look? When did I take Hong shi's gift?"

"I knew that you wouldn't admit to it..."

Sighing deeply, Zhang Xuan shook his head. He stood up and clasped his fist toward the crown prince and Wu shi. "I hope that Your Highness and Wu shi can redress Hong shi's grievance!"

"Redress Hong shi's grievance? As long as you can prove your case, we'll be more than willing to bring justice to Hong shi!"

Instead of the crown prince, Wu shi was the one who chuckled and replied to Zhang Xuan's words.

"You have my deepest gratitude..."

Nodding his head, Zhang Xuan turned his attention back to Luo Zhao once more. "Since Wu shi has already agreed to redress our grievance... Luo shi, do you dare to match statements with me?"

"Match statements? Why would I dare not to?"

Seeing how confident the young man before him was, Luo Zhao was stupefied.

While he was acquainted with Hong shi, the both of them governed different territories and rarely came into contact. So, how could he have taken the other party's item?

Yet, this fellow confidently ran up to the crown prince and Wu shi for them to judge this case. What was he up to?

Honestly speaking, even Hong shi himself was feeling a little frenzied at the moment.

When did Luo Zhao take my stuff? Why am I not aware of it?

"Good!"

Lifting his gaze, Zhang Xuan smiled. "May I confirm if Hong shi went over to your living quarters to look for you earlier today?"

"That's right!"

Luo Zhao nodded.

Hong shi had walked into his living quarters openly, so it wouldn't be too hard to check on this matter. He wouldn't be able to hide it even if he wanted to. Besides, the other party had only come to look for him. This couldn't serve as any conclusive evidence that he had taken the other party's gift!

"Did you challenge Hong shi to a Master Teacher Confrontation?"

Just as Luo Zhao was perplexed as to where this was going, the other party's voice sounded once more.

"This... That's right!"

After a moment of hesitation, Luo Zhao nodded.

After seeing Hong shi pummeling Feng shi, he felt angry and indignant for Feng shi, so he challenged Hong shi to a Master Teacher Confrontation.

Given that a Master Teacher Confrontation required one to activate their emblem through their blood and send a request to the headquarters beforehand, it wouldn't be too difficult to look into the matter. Thus, there was no need to hide it.

"It's good that you've admitted to it. I don't have to elaborate any further then!"

Nodding his head, Zhang Xuan turned to the crown prince and Wu Zhen, and clasped his fist. "Luo shi has already admitted to the matter, so I believe I need not continue on!"

"What are you talking about? You'd better clarify things right now..."

Luo Zhao clutched his hair in frenzy.

What the heck is this fellow up to? Halfway through the questioning, he simply stops and says that I've already admitted to the crime, so he needs not speak any further?

What in the world have I admitted to...

Hong shi was even more lost. Zhang shi's jump in logic was simply too big that even he couldn't comprehend what was going on.

"I think it'll be best that you clarify your words!"

Ye Qian and Wu Zhen glanced at one another and coughed.

"Alright. Since I've been asked to clarify my words, I hope that I won't be punished on the accounts of from insubordination for speaking up against a higher rank master teacher!"

At this point, Zhang Xuan's eyes suddenly brimmed with indignation and wrath, as though he had suffered an indescribable grievance. "Actually, Hong shi told me not to speak of it, but I simply can't watch quietly as he is getting wronged..."

"Ah?" Hong shi widened his eyes in shock.

I told you not to speak of it?

Speak of what?

"Hong shi is a kind and honest person who is weak with words. For the sake of Huanyu Empire's reputation, he intended to keep the matter a secret. However, as his junior, I can't watch quietly as he gets wronged like this..." Zhang Xuan continued.

Hearing those words, Wu Zhen's face twitched.

Kind and honest, I can't really say anything about that... but weak with words? You are clearly lying through your teeth! It's not like I didn't see how Luo Zhao and the others nearly fainted from anger just now.

On the other hand, Luo Zhao was trembling in fury. The more he listened the young man's words, the more furious he became. Eventually, his rage hit the point of eruption.

"Stop pulling out all of this nonsense and get straight to the point!"

"Fine, if you say so..."

As if mustering his determination and courage, Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth in indignation and said, "Earlier this afternoon, Hong shi went over to discuss some things with the other three pavilion masters. However, not only did the three of them collaborate with one another to beat Hong shi up... they even stole the gift he prepared beforehand!"

"Th-the heck! What did you say? We beat Hong shi up?"

Luo Zhao staggered and nearly spewed blood.

Beat your head! Hong shi rejected my Master Teacher Confrontation, remember? Besides, when did we collaborate to beat him up? Not to mention, steal his gift? Steal your head!

Even if you want to lie, at least choose something more believable than this!

Three master teachers beating up another in the courtyard... Do you think that we are some kind of ruffians?

Not giving Luo Zhao a chance to explain himself, Zhang Xuan pushed on.

"Since you won't admit to it, let me ask you. Earlier this afternoon, not only did you challenge Hong shi to a Master Teacher Confrontation, Feng shi also did the same as well, am I right?"

"This..." Luo Zhao was taken aback. "The both of them did fight one another in a Master Teacher Confrontation, but..."

Feng shi did fight one another in a Master Teacher Confrontation... but it was a one-sided pummeling from Hong shi's side, alright?

"But what? Just the fact that the battle happened proves everything!"

Zhang Xuan uttered furiously, "Hong shi and Feng shi are both 5-star low-tier master teachers, Transcendent Mortal 6-dan primary stage cultivators... I believe no one here has any qualms in agreeing that they're equally matched, right?"

The crowd nodded.

As fellow master teachers of the same cultivation realm, there was indeed not much of a disparity in their fighting prowess.

"Given that they are of equal cultivation and had undergone a Master Teacher Confrontation, and looking at how badly Feng shi was beaten up, how well do you think Hong shi would fare?"

Zhang Xuan questioned on.

The crown prince and Wu Zhen suddenly froze.

"Luo shi, let me ask you again. After Hong shi and Feng shi fought with one another, did you immediately apply for a Master Teacher Confrontation? And did Hong shi say that he had suffered grievous wounds, and he won't be capable of fighting for the next ten years or words similar to that?"

Zhang Xuan pressured on.

"He did say such words but..."

Luo Zhao froze once more. He tried to explain himself, but he found himself interrupted by the young man once again. "How gravely injured must a 5-star master teacher, a Transcendent Mortal 6-dan cultivator, be to be unable to fight with anyone for the next ten years?"

The more Zhang Xuan spoke, the more agitated he became. "But even so, Luo shi still insisted on challenging Hong shi to a Master Teacher Confrontation... How could Hong shi possibly be a match for him under such a state? Naturally, the gift that he prepared in his storage ring ended up being taken away as well..."

At this point, Zhang Xuan looked so angry that if he were to continue speaking, indignant tears might just start flowing from his eyes.

"Screw you... When did I beat him up and take his gift? You better stop lying..."

Luo Zhao's body swayed weakly, and he nearly burst into tears.

It was obvious that Hong shi was the one who went over to beat Feng shi up! How did it suddenly turn into Feng shi and Hong shi being equally injured in a duel, and I became a despicable person who struck in his time of weakness?

Not to mention, I even took his stuff on top of that...

Is your mouth capable of uttering even the slightest truth?

To be lying blatantly like that, are you certain you are a master teacher?

Where's your pride?

R

Chapter 626: Luo Zhao on the Verge of Insanity

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Chen Yue and Feng Yu's lips were also twitching uncontrollably.

Only the four of them were present and knew what had happened. Even before the duel between Feng shi and Hong shi, Feng shi was already incapacitated to the point that he was on the verge of death. How could he possibly be capable of fighting?

How in the world did it turn into a match between equals?

As for Luo shi beating Hong shi up, after Hong shi said that he was grievously injured, Luo shi didn't make a move at all...

On the other hand, seeing how indignant Zhang Xuan was as he depicted the situation back then, he suddenly fell into a daze... Was I really beaten up by Luo shi? Could I have suffered a concussion and forgotten about it?

"Stop spouting nonsense! The rest of us can testify that was not what happened then. Feng shi was already injured then..."

Unable hold himself back any longer, Chen Yue intervened.

As though knowing that the other party would retaliate through such words, Zhang Xuan flung his sleeves and refuted, "Feng shi was already injured then? Since you claim that to be the case, I would like to ask about how Feng shi was injured, who was the one who beat him up? After all, it's a major affair for a 5-star master teacher to be so severely injured. Surely there must be a report on the matter?"

"This..." Cold sweat began dripping down Chen Yue's head. "Perhaps I might have remembered wrongly..."

Feng shi's action in stopping Hong shi's passageway was contrary to the master teacher moral code in the first place, not to mention, he failed shamefully and crashed to the ground, nearly dying in the process... No matter what, this matter mustn't be made known.

Otherwise, Feng shi would be a goner.

But if they didn't reveal this matter, what else could they say?

After all, earlier this morning, when they met with the crown prince, Feng shi was still perfectly fine. Yet, a few hours later, he was turned into a mummy... There was no other explanation they could offer that would be more logical than Zhang Xuan's!

"Are you trying to back on your words now that you can't find any other excuse?"

Zhang Xuan ranted furiously, as though he would only be content if he burned the surroundings down. "Nevertheless, Wu shi can testify that the three of you banded together to work against Hong shi. As such, surely it won't be too shocking for you to be speaking up for your ally now? This really brings the authenticity of your words into question!"

"This..."

Chen Yue's cheeks trembled in anger.

Even though Wu shi was drinking then, there was no doubt that he had seen how the three of them banded against Hong shi earlier. It was too late for them to refute it now...

"Since that's the case, I'll have to ask Feng shi and Chen shi to remain silent on this matter!" Zhang Xuan waved his hands.

Furious, Chen Yue was just about to speak up to refute Zhang Xuan's words when the crown prince suddenly interjected, "Enough, the two of you should back down for now. Allow this young man to finish his piece first!"

Even from the gift presentation just a moment ago, the trio was clearly working together to corner Hong shi. A person of the crown prince's caliber couldn't possibly have neglected this.

Since it was established that the three of them were working together, their words had lost credibility.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Zhang Xuan nodded. "Hong shi arrived in the banquet hall slightly later because he was in the midst of recuperating from his injuries from the previous fight. Yet, the other three pavilion masters ganged up against him and accused him for a breach of etiquette. Wu shi can testify to my words!"

"He isn't lying!" Wu shi nodded.

"Wu shi, I thank you for speaking up for us."

After which, Zhang Xuan turned his gaze back to the crown prince and clasped his fist. "After beating Hong shi up and stealing his gift, they intentionally caused a scene here so as to make Hongfeng Empire lose their slots. Now that the facts are in place, I ask of Your Highness to bring justice to the matter!"

The crown prince looked at Zhang Xuan and said, "Your argument is rational, and I am more than willing to redress your grievances... However, I'll need to verify the matter first. For this, I would like to confirm what kind of gift you have brought."

As the crown prince of an empire and a half 5-star master teacher, he was no fool. While there was no logical flaw in the argument of the young man before him, and Luo Zhao had admitted to many of the affairs personally, he still found it hard to believe that three 5-star master teachers would actually resort to stealing the gift of a peer of theirs.

"Indeed! You said that I took Hong Qian's gift, but what exactly did I take? If you can't say it, that would be equivalent to falsely accusing a higher ranked master teacher. If proven guilty, you would be stripped of your master teacher license or even sentenced to death..."

Hearing those words, Luo Zhao's eyes immediately lit up.

As the saying goes, 'catch an adultery in a pair, catch a thief by his loot'. Since you claimed that I took Hong shi's item, why don't you tell me what I took? Once your words are proven false... let's see how you'll deal with that!

Just the sentence of a 4-star master teacher slandering a 5-star master teacher is sufficient to seal your doom!

"I've seen plenty of shameless people before, but I've never seen one as shameless as you! It's one thing for you to not admit to taking the item of another, but to spout such righteous words on top of that... Since that's the case, I'll make sure you concede willingly!"

Harrumphing coldly, Zhang Xuan turned to Hong shi and said, "Hong shi, I'll have to trouble you on this matter!"

"Trouble me?"

Hong shi suddenly jolted upon hearing Zhang Xuan calling him. "Zhang shi, feel free to speak..."

At this moment, he was completely awed by the fellow before him.

The mouth of this fellow could probably turn even a corpse into a living being, a living being into a deity... They came late due to waiting for this fellow, but through the other party's words, it somehow turned into him recuperating from his injuries...

The fellow even managed to incorporate it into the nonsense he rambled earlier on. What was even more amazing was that he even managed to form a complete story without the slightest disharmony!

Even he, the person in question, couldn't help but admit that there were no flaws to the story.

To be able to craft such a thorough story, could this fellow have already thought so far when he advised him on the matter regarding how he should deal with Luo shi and the others?

If that was really the case... then the other party would be an extremely fearsome figure!

"What you have to do is simple, you just have to..."

This time, Zhang Xuan was speaking to Hong shi telepathically.

"You want me to..."

Hearing the other party's words, Hong shi widened his eyes in shock.

"Un, go on. Whether we'll be able to tear off their masks or not will depend on Hong shi!"

Zhang Xuan clenched his fists tightly.

"Go? Go your head..."

Recalling the words, the other party sent to him telepathically, Hong shi's body staggered, and he nearly burst into tears.

Are you sure you aren't trying to have me killed instead...

Seeing the dilemma on the other party's face, Zhang Xuan consoled him.

"Don't worry. Try recalling the duel between Ruohuan gongzi and Qin Lei, and you'll understand what I'm up to!"

"Ruohuan gongzi and Qin Lei?"

Hong shi suddenly froze.

Under normal circumstances, it was impossible for Ruohuan gongzi to advance to the top eight. Given that his opponent was Qin Lei, even Hong shi thought that he had no chance at victory.

Yet... After Ruohuan gongzi threw a bowl of meat soup on Qin Lei, he suddenly made a complete turnaround...

He couldn't help but be mystified whenever he recalled the matter. But from the looks of it, there was no doubt that this fellow was involved in it.

But nevertheless, what he was going to do now was indeed similar to what Ruohuan gongzi did back then.

"Alright!"

Knowing that this was for their group, after a moment of hesitation, Hong shi gritted his teeth, stood up, and started walking over to Luo shi.

"What are you up to now?"

Luo Zhao was perplexed. Instead of revealing what he took from Hong shi, why was he sending Hong shi up to him instead?

"There is something I need to trouble Luo shi on, so I seek for your cooperation!"

Hong shi clasped his fist earnestly and replied. On the other hand, Zhang Xuan lifted up a wine glass and sipped on it nonchalantly, paying no heed to the happenings around him.

"Cooperate? Why should I cooperate with you?" Luo Zhao gritted his teeth.

You accused me of doing something I haven't done, and now you want me to cooperate with you? Why should I? Should I just allow you to hurl more mud at me?

"If you don't cooperate, it can only mean that you have a guilty conscience. Rest assured, if you're truly innocent, we can't possibly frame you for something you haven't done!" Hong shi replied.

Hearing the other party's words, Luo shi knew that he would only look even more doubtful if he refused to cooperate. Thus, gritting his teeth, he conceded.

"Fine, I'll cooperate then. What do you want me to do?"

You want me to cooperate? Fine! Let's see what you can do then.

In any case, as long as you can't reveal what item I've taken from you, you're doomed. My victory is already assured.

"Stand up and place your hands behind your back!" Hong shi said.

"Humph!" Even though Luo Zhao was on the verge of exploding with anger, he still stood up and placed his hands behind his back.

"Right, this is the correct position. Maintain it and don't move..."

Hong shi adjusted the other party's position for a little bit before walking up to the other party's face. Then, he suddenly raised his palm and slapped the other party.

Pah!

A crisp sound echoed loudly in across the banquet hall.

"What?"

The crown prince was stunned.

Wu shi was stupefied.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

This... is the cooperation you spoke of?

Maintaining his position just so you can slap his face?

"Screw you! Hong Qian, I'll kill you..." Luo Zhao was stunned momentarily before immense rage gushed through his entire body.

This slap had left him light-headed and knocked out three of his teeth. He would really be a pushover if he didn't retaliate now.

I was thinking why you wanted me to stand in position, but in the end, it turned out that it was just so that you could better slap me...

Hong Qian, I, Luo Zhao, swear that I'll kill you...

Luo Zhao was completely clouded with rage. Ignoring the crown prince and Wu shi, he immediately raised his palm and struck it down toward Hong Qian.

Hu la!

Furious wind gushed into the surroundings, and the sheer force of the palm distorted even space itself.

As a Transcendent Mortal 6-dan master teacher, his eye of discernment and fighting prowess had already reached an astounding level. If he were to move with his full might, even a mountain could be crushed to smithereens easily, needless to say, a man.

Hu!

However, his attack landed on thin air. Looking around, he realized that unknowingly, Hong shi, who had just slapped him, had already returned to his seat and was currently holding onto a glass of wine with a leisurely expression, as if nothing had happened at all.

"You're dead..." Luo Zhao bellowed with crimson eyes.

When had he suffered such immense humiliation ever since he became a master teacher? To actually be positioned well before being slapped...

Could there be anything more darned than this?

He was about to charge forward to destroy the man who had just insulted him when the young man from before suddenly roared righteously, "Enough, Luo shi! This is the palace of the crown prince, not your own home. What do you mean by displaying your aggression here?"

Luo Zhao nearly burst into tears.

You are only recalling that this is the crown prince's palace now?

And yet you still allowed Hong Qian that rascal to knock out my teeth?

The one who had suffered injustice was me, what rights do you have to be uttering such self-righteous words... you aren't the one who got hit...

In the midst of exploding with anger, Luo Zhao turned to Wu shi and the crown prince and bowed. "I cannot tolerate the insult from Hong Qian any longer. I beseech you to allow me to challenge him to a Life-and-Death Duel..."

But once again, before he could finish his words, he was interrupted.

"Your Highness and Wu shi, didn't you ask me what item he had stolen from Hong shi? I'll write it down now so that no one can accuse me of lying!"

Following which, Zhang Xuan immediately took out a brush, ink slab, and paper, and began writing on it.

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Chapter 627: What Else Do You Have to Say?

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"Write it down now?"

The crown prince nodded.

It was indeed best for it to be written on paper. This way, there would be concrete evidence regardless of the outcome.

Through this, he would be able to confirm whether the three 5-star master teachers really did steal Hong shi's item or not.

"Alright, I'd like to see what you'll write. Once it's proven that you're nothing more than a liar, not only will I have a Life-and-Death Duel with Hong Qian, I'll also kill you afterward..." Luo Zhao bellowed furiously.

At this point, there was no longer any aspect of him that resembled a master teacher.

Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai glanced at one another with twitching lips.

Honestly speaking, if they were in Luo Zhao's shoes, their string of rationality would have long snapped. To be toyed by another like this, they would already be impressed with themselves if they could curb their urge to murder the other party.

"Kill me?"

Ignoring the other party's bellows, Zhang Xuan continued writing on the paper. A moment later, he kept his writing tools and passed the paper over to the crown prince and Wu shi.

The duo took a look at it and froze for a moment. After which, the crown prince put away the paper before turning to Luo Zhao. "Luo shi, can we take a look at your storage ring?"

"Of course, I've nothing to hide!"

Luo Zhao had no idea what was written on the paper, but since he didn't take anything, he had absolute confidence in this matter. Thus, he didn't fear others checking his storage ring.

He took off his storage ring, dispelled the ownership status on the ring, and passed it over.

Grabbing the ring, the crown prince scanned the contents, and not too long later, he flicked his wrist and took out a gourd.

"Luo shi, what is this?"

Looking at the item the other party took out, Luo Zhao clasped his fist and said, "Your Highness, I'm very fond of wine, and this is a bottle of top-notch wine that I've collected!"

"Wine?"

The crown prince looked at him questioningly. "Are you certain?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, it's indeed wine! I'm certain." Luo Zhao nodded.

"Alright!" The crown prince pried open the lid, and a dense aroma of wine immediately wafted in the room.

"What a strong wine aroma!"

"It's indeed wine... Could it be that Luo shi took a bottle of wine?"

"But is there any point to it? Even if the wine possesses exceptional taste, it's still just a mere beverage. How much could it possibly cost?"

"You're right. Let's just watch on for now!"

...

Smelling the deep wine aroma in the air, everyone was perplexed.

It couldn't be that they had gone through so much trouble tonight just because Luo shi took a bottle of wine from Hong shi?

What a cultivator valued primarily were naturally their cultivation, and to that end, pills, mystical artifacts, spirit stones, and the sort... On the contrary, their appetite for fine food gradually dampened over time. A refined wine it may be, but it wouldn't be worthy of a 5-star master teacher going so far for it.

"Is this it?"

The crown prince turned to the young man standing not too far away.

"Yes!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Hearing the latter confirm the matter, both the crown prince and Wu shi glanced at one another in confusion.

"But this is merely wine, right?"

When they opened the bottle, they took a look and confirmed that it was wine. This was something very much different from what the young man wrote.

"There's no need to panic. It'll be easy to confirm whether it's what I've written or not!"

Standing up, Zhang Xuan scanned the surroundings and eventually, his gaze fell on Feng Yu. "Feng shi, may I trouble you for something?"

"No..."

Alarmed, Feng Yu quickly shook his head and cowered backward.

Trouble me? You must be kidding!

You still aren't content with causing me such grievous injury?

The first time I met you, I fell from the skies. Afterward, I was beaten up by Hong shi...

Even if I were to put all that aside, just a moment ago Hong shi approached Luo shi for help and slapped him...

If I were to fall for your ploy after all of these, I must really be dumb!

"Don't worry, this will be something beneficial to you..."

Seeing how Feng shi was on the verge of fainting after hearing that he needed his help, Zhang Xuan was speechless.

I am really doing this out of goodwill, is there a need for you to be so scared...

I'm a master teacher, not a demon!

Why do you make my request seem as though making a contract with the devil?

"It matters not whether it is beneficial or not!" Feng shi shook his head profusely.

"Alright, fine then..." Seeing how the other party refused to accept his goodwill out of suspicion, Zhang Xuan scanned the surroundings once more and eventually, his gaze fell on Bi Jianghai. "Bi shi, come over..."

"I..." Bi Jianghai's mouth twitched, and he nearly burst into tears.

How in the world have I offended you?

All I did was boast a little before you during the finals, right? Surely you need not hold a grudge for so long!

Seeing the other party's expression, Zhang Xuan shook his head and sighed.

"Don't worry, I just want you to prove that this isn't just wine!"

"Fine!" Clenching his jaws, Bi Jianghai stepped forward.

Seeing that the other party was in position, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction. Following which, he flicked his wrist and whipped out a dagger. "Come, stretch out your arm!"

Bi Jianghai swallowed a mouthful of saliva before slowly raising his arm up.

"Good!"

With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist, and the dagger stabbed right into Bi Jianghai's arm.

"AHHH!"

A scream of agony echoed through the hall, and Bi Jianghai's body began to tremble. He nearly went insane on the spot.

He knew that it couldn't be anything good, but he never expected to have a dagger stabbed into him...

Watching as crimson blood flowed freely out of his arm, tears streamed down his face. He was already regretting dearly for listening to the words of the God of Destruction.

If he had known earlier, he would have surely played dead.

"I knew that it would be something bad..."

Seeing this sight, Feng Yu heaved a sigh of relief.

His history with this young man had deeply ingrained in him the idea that nothing good would come out from the association with the latter. Watching as blood flowed profusely out of the stabbed arm, he suddenly felt this was the wisest decision he had made in his life.

"Don't panic!"

Seeing Bi Jianghai twitching uncontrollably due to anxiety, Zhang Xuan quickly calmed him down before turning to the crown prince. "I'll be troubling Your Highness and Wu shi!"

"Un!"

The crown prince nodded his head and passed the wine gourd over.

Grabbing the gourd, Zhang Xuan swirled it slightly as he turned to Luo Zhao and asked, "Luo shi, I'll ask you one last time. Are you certain that what is inside here is wine?"

"Yes, it's definitely wine!" Luo Zhao nodded confidently.

"Alright then!"

Not bothering to explain, with his left hand holding the wine gourd and right hand on the dagger stabbed into Bi Jianghai's arm, Zhang Xuan slowly pulled the dagger out.

Tzzzzzz!

As the dagger was drawn out, blood immediately spurted wildly from the wound, reminiscent of a fountain.

Bi Jianghai's face immediately paled, and he could feel the sight before him blurring.

Even though he was only stabbed in the arm, the intense pain was still difficult for him to bear.

"Hold on!"

Seeing the other party's pained expression, Zhang Xuan quickly poured the content of the gourd onto the wound.

Tzzzzzzz!

As soon as the wine came into contact with the wound, an intense reaction immediately occurred. The muscle that was torn by the dagger healed at a pace visible to the eye, and in just a short moment, the wound had disappeared altogether, as though the injury had never happened.

"This..."

"Could this not be wine but a Saint recovery medicine?"

"Indeed! Only a Saint medicine could possibly heal a wound so quickly..."

Everyone widened their eyes in astonishment, but soon, it was replaced with envy.

There was no cultivator who would never be injured, and thus, recovery medicine was an essential that everyone had to carry along with them.

However, despite how expensive the typical recovery medicine was, it would still require days for a wound to heal back to its original condition. Otherwise, Feng shi wouldn't have come to the banquet with a swollen face.

On the other hand, this recovery medicine actually immediately healed such a glaring wound upon contact. Furthermore, not even the slightest scar was left behind... This was way too fearsome!

Probably only the legendary 'Saint medicine' could harness such effectiveness!

"My wound..."

Bi Jianghai thought that the gaping injury would take at least half a month of recuperation to recover from. He had never thought that just a few drops of the wine would bring his arm back to its original condition. Thus, the scene before him had left his eyes widened in disbelief.

Wasn't this a little bit too formidable?

While Bi Jianghai was stunned in shock, the previously gleeful Feng shi clutched his chest as he found himself unable to catch his breath. He felt so regretful that even his intestines were turning green.

It turned out that the fellow was inviting him up to test this Saint medicine. If only he had known, he would have surely rushed up in an instant, and the injuries he had sustained would have disappeared in an instant...

"Alright, I'm done proving my point. I'll leave it to Your Highness and Wu shi to judge the matter!"

Ignoring everyone's shock, Zhang Xuan placed the gourd back on the table and clasped his fists toward the crown prince and Wu shi before walking back to the Hongfeng Empire party.

"Luo shi, the wine that you spoke of turned out to be a Saint recovery medicine instead... Why don't you explain yourself?"

The crown prince turned to look at Luo Zhao impassively.

"I..."

Luo Zhao staggered, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably. "If I say that... that gourd is really filled with wine, will you believe me?"

He was really on the verge of going insane already.

He loved wine nearly as much as his own life, many people knew of this. As such, he filled this wine gourd with the wine he loved the most and carried it around with him... When in the world did it become a Saint recovery medicine?

"You still want to deny it at this point?"

The crown prince smacked the table in rage.

Everyone had seen the effects of the wine for themselves, and you still wish to deny the matter?

Do you take me for a fool?

"Chen shi, I'll trouble you to read what is on this paper!"

Turning his gaze away from Luo shi, he threw the paper that Zhang Xuan had just written on to Chen Yue.

"Yes!"

Taking the paper, Chen Yue unfolded it and began reading aloud. "Luo shi took the recovery medicinal wine that Hong shi went to great lengths to obtain. This medicinal wine is particularly effective on physical wounds. With just a few drops, ordinary wounds are healed instantly..."

The further Chen Yue read, the paler his face became.

The crown prince turned his gaze back to Luo Zhao and questioned, "What words do you have to say?"

"I..."

Luo Zhao vision turned dark.

It was already a checkmate, what else could he say?

"If you didn't steal it, how could Zhang shi know that it's a medicinal wine and even know of its properties?" The crown prince pushed on.

Luo Zhao felt frenzied.

He had no idea what was going on anymore.

A thought suddenly flashed across Luo Zhao's mind, and he glared at Zhang Xuan in savagery.

"It's all your doing!"

It must be this fellow's doing that his wine turned into a Saint recovery medicine... There was no one else but him!

Toward the other party's furious howl, Zhang Xuan replied with composure, "This gourd of medicinal wine is the gift that Hong shi prepared for Wu shi and the others, but you ended up stealing it instead... It's fortunate that Hong shi left a portion of it with me in case of emergency. That was why he was able to recover so quickly and arrive at the banquet hall unscathed..."

"I see!"

Only then did everyone come to a realization.

They had been wondering how Hong shi could be completely fine after the Master Teacher Confrontation when Feng shi was so heavily injured.

It turned out that the other party had prepared a spare portion in case of emergency.

With this, all of the puzzle's pieces fitted snugly together.

"Luo Zhao, what else do you have to say?"

The crown prince looked at Luo Zhao with deep disappointment reflected in his eyes.

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Chapter 628: Rules for the Distribution of Slots

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"I... have nothing to say about this matter!"

After a long moment of thought, all of Luo Zhao's words were eventually reduced to a long sigh.

He really couldn't make sense of what had happened.

Stored within the gourd was the 'Thousand Cups Drunk' he had his apprentice buy from the Fragrant Sedge Brewery. Who could have known that it would suddenly turn into a Saint recovery medicine!

There was nothing he could say that could salvage the situation anymore.

If he were to claim that he didn't take the other party's item, he couldn't explain how the other party's medicinal wine was in his storage ring.

But if he were to admit to it... the deep indignation he felt simply wouldn't allow it.

One must know that master teachers do care about their reputation. While he did attempt to corner Hong shi verbally, he had never gotten physical with the latter... so how could he have ever taken the latter's item?

Not to mention, such a valuable medicinal wine!

Knowing what the other party was thinking about, Zhang Xuan spoke casually.

"You need not feel wronged. If you think that we're framing you, we still have a spare cup of medicinal wine left after treating Hong shi's wounds. I can show it to you once more!"

With a flick of his wrist, he took out a wine cup. The deep aroma of the wine cup gradually wafted across the banquet hall.

"Is there anyone who is willing to try the effects of this cup of wine?"

Zhang Xuan scanned the surroundings.

"Allow me..." Feng Yu stood up excitedly.

Zhang Xuan turned to the young man beside him and said, "Ah, Bi shi, I think it'll be best for you to go again!"

"..." Feng Yu.

"Cough cough!"

Bi Jianghai, who was in the midst of drinking his wine, nearly choked to death. With a helpless expression, he stood up and said, "I'll do it myself!"

After which, using his finger as a sword, he hurled a surge of zhenqi at his arm, producing a deep cut. Blood immediately started flowing down the wound.

With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan poured the wine in the cup onto the wound.

Tzzzzz!

A few breaths later, the wound healed, leaving no scars behind. The effects were exactly the same as before.

"Your Highness and Wu shi, this can prove our case, right?" After all was done, Zhang Xuan turned to the duo and clasped his fist.

"Of course!"

Ye Qian nodded.

Considering how the young man was able to identify the item within the other party's storage ring and take out another with the exact same effects, the evidence was conclusive.

"Despite being a 5-star master teacher, you actually snatched the possession of another. This is unpardonable!"

Ye Qian flung his sleeves and stared at Luo Zhao in anger and disgust.

He had always felt deep respect for the pavilion masters from the Vassal States, but who could have known that they would actually do this kind of underhanded stuff? He felt repulsed.

"Hong shi and Zhang shi, I apologize for the behavior of a master teacher under us. May I know... how do you intend to deal with this?"

He had heard Hong shi addressing the young man earlier as Zhang shi.

Hong shi clasped his fist and said, "Today is a joyous occasion, and I don't wish to cause any trouble or disharmony. As long as he hands over the gourd of medicinal wine, I hope to let the matter rest just like that!"

"I share the same thoughts as Hong shi!" Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement.

"Let the matter rest?"

Everyone was stunned.

Given how Luo Zhao tried to corner them verbally earlier, they thought that the Hongfeng party would surely make things difficult for him through the hands of the crown prince. If this case were to be reported to the Master Teacher Pavilion, there was a good chance that Luo Zhao could even lose his master teacher license. Who knew that they would actually be willing to let the matter rest with just Luo Zhao handing over the medicinal wine...

What kind of magnanimity was this?

You're both 5-star master teachers, and yet you keep trying to put down the other party at every opportunity. On the other hand, the other party is on the moral high ground and yet he remains humble and magnanimous!

Even the crown prince and Wu shi couldn't help but be impressed by Hong shi and Zhang Xuan's attitude.

"Luo shi, did you hear that? Are you going to return the medicinal wine, or are you going to continue keeping it for yourself?"

The crown prince glanced at Luo Zhao.

"I-I'll return it!" Luo Zhao was slightly stunned.

He thought that given how the other party successfully framed him, they would make use of this opportunity to corner him and have him fall from grace. Who could have known that he would suddenly be let off the hook?

"Alright. Wu shi, this will be Hongfeng Empire's gift to you!"

Hong shi clasped his fist and presented the medicinal wine to Wu Zhen.

"This..."

Agitation rippled within Wu Zhen's eyes as he nodded his head. "I'll thank Hong shi in Sixth Princess's stead!"

This was a Saint recovery medicine! Regardless of the size of the wound, with just a few drops, one would be as good as new. This could potentially save their lives one day!

"It's just a humble gesture on our part!"

Hong Qian clasped his fist and returned to his seat. He turned his gaze to the young man beside him, and the intrigue in his eyes deepened.

Under Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and Feng Yu's cornering, he was already prepared to make a fool out of himself. Who could have known that Zhang shi would suddenly appear and turn the tables around?

Not only so, Luo Zhao even nearly broke down in the process.

He knew better than anyone whether Luo Zhao had taken his item or not... but somehow, everything just somehow fell into place, and Luo Zhao ended up being deemed guilty.

"Zhang shi, the matter just now..."

Unable to hold back his curiosity any longer, he sent a telepathic message to the latter.

"Oh, it's just a little trick. Teacher taught me, it's nothing much!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

The previous matter was clearly a ploy that Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and Feng Yu prepared to trap and embarrass Hong shi. If they were to succeed, the chances were that they would have lost the slots for the Cleansing Lake.

Thus, Zhang Xuan had no choice but to step forward.

As for the medicinal wine, he had Hong shi provoke Luo Zhao into making a move, and the Library of Heaven's Path reflected that the latter was a habitual drinker. Through this, it wasn't too hard to deduce that the latter had wine in his storage ring.

Actually, what was in the gourd was indeed ordinary wine. The only reason why it could heal wounds was due to him infusing a few surges of zhenqi into the wine while swirling it.

The Heaven's Path zhenqi had no color or odor. Even a 6-star master teacher would hardly notice it amidst the overpowering alcoholic aroma, needless to say, the crowd here.

Naturally, Hong shi sparing the other party was also his intention as well.

Expelling a 5-star master teacher was a major affair. The headquarters would surely send someone down to look into the matter. Zhang Xuan might be able to fool the crowd here, but if a thorough investigation was conducted, there was a good chance that something might go awry.

This was especially so if the origin of the medicinal wine were to be questioned. He couldn't possibly make 'Yang shi' appear for every single matter, right?

Besides, Luo Zhao's actions didn't warrant for such extreme punishment as well. Since that was the case, he might as well drop the matter and win a good impression from the crown prince and the others instead.

Since he had already achieved his goal, there was no need to drive a cornered man up the wall.

Knowing that Yang shi was behind the matter, Hong shi scratched his head and dropped the matter.

Given that an advanced master teacher like Yang shi was involved in the matter, it was unadvisable for him to pry any deeper. Since that was the case, he might as well drop the matter.

...

"I thank everyone for their gifts. Other than to welcome Wu shi and the others to Huanyu Empire, there's also another matter we need to settle at the banquet tonight. I believe I need not point out what it is."

Knowing that he would only sully the name of Huanyu Empire if he were to continue pursuing this matter, Crown Prince Ye Qian decided to change the topic.

"Yes!"

Hearing that the main show was coming up next, everyone straightened their figure, and a graveness surfaced on their face.

There were two purposes to the banquet tonight. One was to allow the freshmen of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy to become acquainted with their seniors while the second was to determine the distribution of slots.

For the welcoming... in the end, only Wu shi was present, and after such a matter had happened, it would be awkward to have them interact now. Since that was the case, the crown prince decided to move on the matter regarding the distribution of slots. Perhaps, he could reverse the negative image that Wu shi had of Huanyu Empire through this.

"The Cleansing Lake is the foundation of our Huanyu Empire, and it possesses exceptional effects on Consonant Spirit realm experts. The reason why everyone here went through so many tests and traveled all the way here is naturally to enter the Cleansing Lake to cultivate!"

Ye Qian smiled. "However, due to some compelling circumstances, Huanyu Empire will have to take three slots from the rest of you!"

"I know that these slots are extremely important, so I invited you over to discuss this matter. I hope that you can come to an agreement on a feasible method to distribute the slots without sullying the harmony among us before the Cleansing Lake opens."

"We'll follow Your Highness's judgment!" The crowd clasped their fists.

"Since this matter concerns the slots for the Cleansing Lake, I dare not make a decision for you all on my own. Thus, I suggest we discuss this matter together!" Ye Qian said.

After a moment of silence, Chen Yue stood up and spoke.

"Your Highness, if the contribution of three slots were to be divided among the four Vassal States, three of the Vassal States would have to lose a slot. I fear that this might lead to discontent and disagreement amongst us. Thus, I have a suggestion to propose, but I'm not too sure whether it'll be appropriate!"

"Feel free to speak!" Ye Qian gestured.

"Since each Vassal State happens to have three slots as well, why don't we arrange it such that the representatives of each empire form a team each, and the team in the last place for the competition we'll be having... will lose all of its slots!"

Chen Yue spoke his thoughts. "As for the format of the competition, I propose that since the top three rankers of the respective Master Teacher Tournaments held in each of the Vassal States are here, why don't we have them fight against one another? Naturally, the victor will be determined by two out of three wins! In other words, each Vassal State will send out one representative to fight at a time, and the side to win two matches will be the victor... whereas the losing side will be eliminated!"

"I agree with Chen shi's proposal! Since the slots are closely linked to their own benefits, they would have to do their best in the duels. If they were to lose, they only have themselves to blame for their lack of proficiency."

Feng Yu spoke up.

"I agree with it as well!"

Luo Zhao nodded in agreement.

"To fight for one's own rights, this is aligned with the master teacher's value of tenacity!" Wu Zhen nodded.

After a moment of thought, Ye Qian also nodded in approval.

"Good!"

Honestly speaking, Chen Yue's suggestion was not bad.

With each empire forming a team together, they could spark the camaraderie among fellow cultivators and forge the spirit of working alongside one another against enemies.

"But if a competition is to be held, what will be the content?" Ye Qian asked.

"I have also given this matter some thought as well!"

Chen Yue smiled as he continued. "Since it'll be a battle among master teachers, taking on a format similar to that of the Master Teacher Tournament would be appropriate. However, that would be too complex and troublesome to arrange. Since that's the case, why don't we limit it to just cultivation duels? Since the Cleansing Lake is beneficial to one's cultivation, one should prove that one is worthy of it through one's own strength. I believe that this is the most efficient and direct way to determine the distribution of the slots!"

"Indeed, a duel would be the best!"

"This saves a lot of trouble as well."

Feng Yu and Luo Zhao chirped in agreement.

"Humph!"

Hearing those words, Hong shi and Zhang Xuan glanced at one another. They would be a fool if they still couldn't understand the intentions of the trio at this point.

The top three rankers of the other three Vassal States had already consumed a Consonant Spirit Pill each, inducing a huge rise in their cultivation. Even the weakest of them was a small cultivation realm stronger than Luo Xuan. How could their team possibly be a match for them in a cultivation duel?

Even if the monster, Zhang Xuan, could face them, everyone could only fight in a match each. Considering how the victor was determined by the best out of three duels... if Bi Jianghai and Luo Xuan lost, they would still lose their slots.

It seemed like the other party had a backup plan in case their interception failed.

Shameless!

Chapter 629: One-Sided Pummeling

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"The Cleansing Lake nourishes one's soul, thus making it highly beneficial toward one's cultivation. It's indeed apt to determine the slots based on a cultivation duel!"

After a moment of contemplation, Ye Qian nodded and said, "Alright, cultivation duel it'll be then. Each Vassal State will form a team each, and the victor will be decided based on the best out of three! However, this will be a friendly duel, so show some restraint. If one side admits defeat, the fight is to be stopped immediately. There's no need to go so far for a simple duel..."

"Your Highness, I disagree with this proposal!"

Hong shi stood up.

The other three were clearly trying to take advantage of Hongfeng Empire. If they were to accept to those terms, wouldn't their loss be certain?

Despite all that had happened, in the face of significant material benefits, the trio still continued to maintain their alliance. After all, if they were to lose the slots, they would have to bear the blame from their own countrymen.

Besides, Luo Zhao was no fool. He knew he was framed, and even though Hong shi and Zhang Xuan had spared him, he would surely try to find ways to get even... and this was clearly a good opportunity to do so.

As for Feng Yu... To be pummeled to the point that he couldn't even recognize himself when looking into the mirror, how could he possibly be content without exacting vengeance on Hong shi?

Chen Yue also had his own benefits at stake in the matter. As the only one who was still fine from the previous confrontations, he became the spokesperson of their alliance.

"Hmm?" Ye Qian turned to look at Hong shi.

"As Your Highness can see, the members of the other teams have already consumed a Consonant Spirit Pill each and enjoyed a significant rise in their cultivation. On the other hand, we have only just arrived at the capital and haven't gotten a chance to purchase it yet. Naturally, our cultivation is far lower than theirs, and we stand little chance at victory!"

Hong shi spoke directly.

There was nothing embarrassing about his team being weaker. After all, they were indeed at a disadvantageous position given that they hadn't consumed Consonant Spirit Pills yet.

Chen Yue harrumphed.

"While cultivation might not be everything to a master teacher, it is still an important aspect. Without sufficient strength, everything else is just illusory. You can't possibly blame us just because you arrived late and couldn't find any Consonant Spirit Pill!"

"Possessing lower cultivation isn't an excuse!" Feng Yu interjected.

Luo Zhao glared at Hong shi coldly.

"Hong shi, the both of us know what happened this afternoon. I won't talk about it now, but I'll surely get even with you in the future. However... a cultivation duel is clearly the fairest and most apt way to determine the distribution of the slots. If you aren't confident of winning, why don't you just admit defeat now?"

The three of them banded together, forcing Hong shi into a corner instantly.

"Admit defeat?"

Just as Hong shi was stumped, Zhang Xuan suddenly spoke up once more. "Impossible. Even if one of us were to admit defeat, it should be you!"

"Indeed!"

Knowing that this young man possessed superior wits and was skilled at dealing with such situation, Hong shi gave him his backing.

"We admit defeat? Why should we? We have already stated the rules, and you're the only one backing away from the challenge. What else do you want?" Chen Yue sneered coldly.

"What rights do you have to dictate the rules?" Zhang Xuan refuted calmly.

"Indeed! Why should you be the one to decide the rules?" Only then did Hong shi come to a realization, and he quickly chirped in as well.

"Indeed, we can't dictate the rules. If you find it unsuitable, you can propose an alternative... but naturally, you have to win the majority vote first!"

Chen Yue's lips crept up.

His intentions were clear. The three of us are an alliance, and no matter how fair your rules may be, as long as we aren't agreeable to it, what can you do?

Frowning, Hong shi turned to the young man beside him to see how he would reply to this.

"Oh? I'm glad to hear that this matter is open to discussion. I happen to have an alternative proposal in mind which I would like to raise!" Zhang Xuan chuckled.

"Feel free to speak!" Chen Yue said. "However, do note that your proposal will have to undergo our approval first..."

"I believe that you'll approve of it!"

At which, Zhang Xuan turned to look at the crowd and said, "Since it's a team fight between the various Vassal States, why must the ones involved in the fighting be the top three rankers? If they were to be wounded in their duel, how would they enter the Cleansing Lake tomorrow?"

"You're right!" Hong shi eyes lit up.

"Then what do you propose then?" Chen Yue frowned.

"Hehe!" Zhang Xuan chuckled. "My proposal is simple... I think that the 5-star master teachers leading the teams should fight instead!"

"That's right, the 5-star master teachers... huh?"

Halfway through Hong shi's words, he suddenly realized what was being said and his remaining words jammed in his mouth. He turned to look at Zhang Xuan with widened eyes and asked, "We... will fight?"

"Indeed. Not only so, Hong shi will be facing the three of you at once!" Zhang Xuan added.

"I'll face the three of them..."

Hong shi staggered, and he nearly fainted on the spot.

Big Brother, I thought that you had a good idea in mind? After so much trouble, this is all that you have?

Are you so intent on sending me on my way?

Putting everything aside, just Luo Zhao himself is a difficult enemy for me already. To fight the three of them at once...

"You want him to face the three of us?"

Not only was Hong shi light-headed, Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and Feng Yu were stunned as well. They turned to look at Zhang Xuan as though he was a fool.

Are you serious?

That is the fellow that we have been dying to pummel, and you just had to send him to us... Can such a good deal really exist in the world?

"Why? You dare not accept my deal?" Zhang Xuan taunted with a smirk.

"You are asking us if we dare to accept your challenge or not?" Luo Zhao turned to Hong shi and asked, "Are you certain about this?"

With a constipated expression on his face, Hong shi nodded with tears streaming from his eyes.

He didn't know what Zhang shi was up to, but given his previous experience, he knew that the latter wouldn't do anything he was uncertain of. Since he said such words, he must have an idea in mind.

"If you are scared, just say so. Let's not waste our time on useless chatter."

Zhang Xuan waved his hands in disdain.

"Scared? I only fear that he will end up kneeling, begging for his life in a moment!"

Confirming that the other party was serious on this matter, Chen Yue, Luo Zhao, and Feng Yu burst into laughter.

Fearing that Hong shi might take back his words, Chen Yue quickly turned to the crown prince and said, "Your Highness, you've seen what happened. It's not that we want to take advantage of Hong shi, he's is the one who challenged the three of us voluntarily to determine the distribution of the slots. Since Hongfeng Empire insists on the matter, I hope that Your Highness can approve of this matter!"

"This..."

Not expecting the situation to turn into this, Ye Qian turned to look at Hong shi with a frown and asked, "You are all 5-star low-tier master teachers, Transcendent 6-dan primary stage cultivators. Your fighting prowess is approximately equal to one another, are you certain you want to face the three of them at once?"

Given that their fighting prowess were approximate to one another, Hong shi facing the three of them simultaneously was as good as an act of suicide. Of this, the crown prince had no doubt.

"I'm certain!"

Before Hong shi could respond, Zhang Xuan had already replied in his stead.

"Alright then..."

Since the parties involved had come to an agreement, Ye Qian decided not to say anything about it. "Alright then, I'll be announcing the rules of the duel now. Hong shi will be facing Feng shi, Luo shi, and Chen shi, and the distribution of the slots will be decided through the battle."

After which, he waved his hands. A group of guards outside the door immediately came in to clear up the hall to create sufficient space for a duel.

"Make sure to not to go too far so not harm the camaraderie among fellow states!" Ye Qian instructed as the four stepped onto the dueling ring.

"Don't worry, we'll make sure to 'hold ourselves back'..." Feng shi sneered coldly. He especially emphasized on the words 'hold ourselves back'.

"Indeed, we've been buddies for many years, so how could we possibly do anything overboard?" Luo Zhao smiled.

The both of them had suffered greatly under Hong shi's hands. Given that the other party was seeking death, they found no reason to let him off.

"Zhang shi, is there even a possibility that Hong shi can defeat the three of them..."

Seeing that the fight was about to start, Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai wiped the sweat off their foreheads nervously.

Zhang shi usually looked rather smart, so why would he suddenly make such a foolish decision?

One against three...

Wasn't this courting death?

"If Hong shi doesn't go up, do you think that you can win against them?" Zhang Xuan gestured to their counterparts from the other Vassal States.

"This..."

The duo's mouths twitched, and they hurriedly shook their heads.

While they might have emerged victorious among the other talented master teachers in Hongfeng Empire, the same could be said about the rest of them as well. If they were to face them in a duel, given that the other party's cultivation was higher than theirs, their chances at victory was nearly null!

In other words, had they proceeded on with the original duel proposal, their defeat would have been certain.

"But Hong shi..."

While they knew that they were unable to win, the same went go Hong shi as well.

"Just watch on!" Instead of answering the other party's query, Zhang Xuan simply smiled.

"Alright then..."

The duo had no idea where Zhang Xuan's confidence came from, but it was already too late for them to do anything as well. Thus, they could only turn their worried gazes onto the dueling ring.

Standing at the very end of the hall, the crown prince watched the dueling ring with a deep frown on his forehead. He had no idea why Hong shi would propose such a 'suicidal' duel.

Unable to hold back his intrigue, he turned to Wu Zhen beside him and asked, "Senior, who do you think will win?"

Wu Zhen was a 5-star master teacher, and his eye of discernment and experience in such matters were far above his. Perhaps, he might have noticed something that he didn't.

"Under normal circumstances, it should be impossible for Hong shi to win. However, the very fact that he proposed such a duel means that he must have some kind of trump card..."

But the truth was that even Wu Zhen couldn't make sense of this matter.

With his eye of discernment, he could accurately gauge the respective strength of the four.

Hong shi couldn't be considered to be exceptional among the four, even facing one of them would be difficult for him. Yet, to face three of them singlehandedly, that was a recipe for disaster... To insist on fighting such a duel, just what could be going through his head?

"Let's just watch on. Perhaps... there might be a turnaround!"

Wu Zhen racked his brain but couldn't find an answer. Shaking his head, he decided to simply watch on with an open mind.

"Un!"

The crown prince nodded. Turning his gaze to the dueling ring, he said, "Hong shi has always been a dependable person. Perhaps he might really have a good idea in mind... Look, it's starting!"

While the duo was speaking, the duel started.

Hu hu hu!

The three Transcendent Mortal 6-dan experts, Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and Feng Yu, moved simultaneously and sealed space with the overwhelming pressure from their cultivation.

Fearing that Hong shi might have a trump card up his sleeves, the trio didn't use their full might instantly. Instead, they surrounded him and traded some blows with him to test him out first.

But after trading a few blows, a bizarre expression slowly crept onto their faces. At this moment, Feng Yu suddenly launched a fist.

Peng!

It struck Hong shi's face squarely, and blood immediately flowed out from his nose.

"Ah?"

Not expecting his sneak attack to succeed, Feng Yu's eyes widened, and his body trembled in agitation.

Due to his overexcitement, he accidentally tore open one of his wound, and a wave of intense pain immediately struck him.

"Dependable? Must have some kind of trump card?"

Seeing that even Feng Yu, a fellow so severely injured that it looked like he might just fall dead at any moment, actually managed to strike Hong shi's face so easily, Wu shi was dumbfounded.

"Why... does it seem like a one-sided pummeling instead?"

Translator's Thoughts

StarveCleric StarveCleric

Just to re-emphasize since most people have been asking me recently, Library of Heaven's Path has always been going by a release rate of 11 chapters a week (2 on Monday to Thursday and 1 on Friday to Sunday). The recent more frequent updates are bonus chapters rather than official ones.

Also, please don't refer to the update rate outside. That's by no means official and it only reflects the average update rate I have been at in recent times.

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Chapter 630: Guiding Hong shi

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"Indeed!" Crown Prince Ye Qian also widened his eyes in astonishment.

Given how you arrogantly declared that you were going to challenge the three of them at once, I thought that you must have some kind of trump card that would allow you to defeat them. Or at the very least, you should have been able to fight on par with them. And yet... in just a moment, you were already bleeding from your nose. What are you up to?

How was this a duel? This was clearly a one-sided pummeling!

"Perhaps he hasn't caught the flow of the battle yet and accidentally got careless..."

Ye Qian tried to rationalize the situation before him, but before he could finish his words, Luo Zhao's fist struck Hong shi's nose as well. Blood immediately spurted out from the latter's nose.

"Cough cough... Fine, I was mistaken. He isn't a match for the three of them at all..."

Ye Qian nearly choked on his saliva, and eventually, he shook his head in disappointment.

Hong shi wasn't weak at all, but fighting against three people with similar fighting prowess simultaneously was no easy feat. As the saying goes, 'hardly can two fists rival four hands'. But at this moment, Hong shi was facing six!

In the blink of an eye, he was already struck several times, and his face started swelling up.

Watching the sight from the banquet table, Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai were on the verge of going insane.

They thought that, given how confident Zhang Xuan was, Hong shi would wipe the floor with the three of them and successfully win the slots for them. Who knew that he would be beaten up right from the start...

"Zhang shi, what's going on..."

They quickly turned their sights to Zhang Xuan, only to see the fellow with his eyes closed as if dozing off...

The duo immediately staggered on the spot.

It was just a moment that you convinced Hong shi to go up confidently, but now that the battle had begun, you actually started sleeping... What are you up to?

Even if you want to play a prank, you do know that now isn't the time, right?

If not for the fact that they had come together from Myriad Kingdom Alliance, they would have really thought that the other party was a spy...

"Zhang shi, what do I do?"

Under the furious assault of the three 5-star master teachers, Hong shi was about to come to the limit of his endurance. He quickly sent a telepathic message to Zhang shi.

Before the battle, Zhang shi told him that he would offer him some pointers to win after analyzing the movements of the other three. At this moment, his face had already swell to the size of a pig's head already, but the other party hadn't said a word at all. Panicking, he quickly turned his gaze over, but with a single look, tears immediately flowed down his eyes.

Aren't you going to look at their movements and analyze their flaws so as to offer me pointers?

Can you even see their movements with your eyes closed?

"I'm done for..."

In an instant, desolation struck Hong shi.

If he had known earlier, he would have never believed the nonsense of this fellow. Not only were they going to lose the three slots, he was even going to get beaten up badly at that... What the heck was this...

Just as Hong shi was giving all hope, he suddenly heard a faint voice by his ear.

"Advance half a chi forward and inch slightly to the left. Use the Seventh Form of Origin Palm. Afterward, bend forward and use the Third Stroke of Dragon Capturing Palm..."

"Zhang shi..."

Hearing the voice, Hong shi suddenly jolted. He glanced to the side and saw that, at some point, the young man had already opened his eyes, and a bright gleam glowed in them.

"Alright!"

Seeing the composed and confident posture of the other party, Hong shi couldn't help but feel inclined to trust him. Gritting his teeth, he immediately moved as the other party said.

...

"I thought that you might have grown formidable given how you dared to challenge the three of us at once. To think that you would be such a disappointment..."

After striking Hong shi's face squarely twice, confidence glowed brightly from Feng shi's face. At this moment, his wounds didn't seem to hurt as much anymore.

"Stop spouting nonsense. Beat him into surrendering first!"

Luo Zhao was also equally excited.

He was still burning with rage from being slapped in public. With such an ideal opportunity for vengeance lying right before him, how could he possibly allow it to slip by? Roaring furiously, his hands thrusted forward so quickly that it looked as though he had eight hands.

Spirit intermediate-tier battle technique, Hexad Arm Divine Fist!

"Indeed. Since he's courting death, let's grant his wish!"

Bellowing loudly, Chen Yue sent a kick over.

Even though his kick wasn't a battle technique, it was well-positioned to strike at Hong shi's blind spot.

Feng shi assaulting from behind, Luo Zhao from above, and Chen Yue from below. In an instant, the trio had sealed all routes of escape, putting Hong shi in a desperate position.

Just when it was almost certain that Hong shi would surely be severely wounded in this encounter, as though having predicted his opponents' attacks, he suddenly moved forward and stepped into a spot out of range for all three attacks.

While he had already stepped out of range, the attacks from the trio didn't stop—or rather, they couldn't stop.

Feng Yu was punched in the head by Luo Zhao, Luo Zhao was kicked in the crotch by Chen Yue, and Chen Yue was struck in the chest by Feng Yu.

Peng! Crack! Huala!

Three loud sounds echoed simultaneously in the air. The trio found their vision darkening, and they nearly fainted on the spot.

In order to teach Hong shi a lesson he would never forget, they had harnessed their full strength behind the previous attack. How could they have known that they would hurt their own teammate instead?

"Damn it..."

With a roar, Feng Yu got back up and thrusted his fist at Hong shi furiously. But before his palm could reach, he saw a leg enlarging swiftly in his sight.

Peng!

His vision momentarily turned dark, and in the next instant, he was already flying in the air. His head crashed through one of the table of the banquet hall, leaving the lower half of his body twitching violently.

"You're seeking death..."

The overwhelming embarrassment that Luo Zhao felt from having struck one another earlier on sent blood gushing to his head. Furious, he charged forward and sent a fist straight toward Luo Zhao.

But Hong shi seemed to have predicted his move as well. The other party adeptly positioned himself at the blind spot of the fist and sent a kick over.

Peng!

He was struck in the crotch yet again.

"Wuuuuuuu..."

A cry of agony, reminiscent of a rooster's call, reverberated loudly in the hall. Luo Zhao immediately fell to the ground, curled up in a fashion similar to a prawn.

Even a Transcendent Mortal 6-dan expert like him couldn't possibly tolerate being struck twice consecutively in his weakest region. His heart jolted wildly as he suddenly realized that... he couldn't feel anything below...

"It's your turn!"

Seeing that he had successfully sent two experts of the same tier flying, Hong shi's confidence burst through the roof. He took two steps forward before suddenly turning around swiftly with an outstretched palm.

Pah!

The sound of a palm striking a cheek echoed. Chen Yue staggered backward weakly, and a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth. If one were to take a closer look, one could see three to four teeth amidst the bloodied mess.

Previously, when he struck Luo Zhao, he had held back. But now that they were in a battle, there was no longer any reason to do so. If not for the other party's enhanced physical resilience, the full might slap of a Transcendent Mortal 6-dan might very well have knocked his head off his neck.

Seeing this sight, the entire hall fell silent. Everyone's eyes were popping from their sockets, and they found themselves pushed to the brink of insanity.

Wasn't Hong shi still getting beaten up just a moment ago?

Everyone thought that he was moments away from an utter defeat, and yet... in the blink of an eye, he actually made such an astounding comeback!

To think that even the combined might of three Transcendent Mortal 6-dan experts couldn't even stop him. But if he was this formidable... how did he get beaten up in the first place?

"He saw through the enemy's movements and took countermeasures in advance. That is why Feng shi and the others are completely helpless before him!"

The hand that Wu Zhen was using to hold the wine glass turned visibly paler, and a grim expression appeared on his face.

Honestly, he didn't have much interest in the duels in such a remote place. Who could have thought that Hong shi would be such a fearsome person?

In just a few moments, he had already finished analyzing the other party's movements and made countermeasures for it.

This was no longer about cultivation but eye of discernment!

But how formidable must one's eye of discernment and deduction ability be to make these kind of judgements ten breaths into a battle?

Even Wu Zhen knew that he was incapable of such a feat!

"Probably only those monsters in the academy can achieve such a feat..."

A few figures surfaced in Wu Zhen's mind.

He was a formidable genius as well, and in a remote place like Huanyu Empire, his talent and cultivation were indeed envied by many. However, in Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, where all of the talented master teachers gathered, his skills could only be said to be average.

In fact, one of his companions in this trip, Luo Qiqi, possessed such astounding talent in fighting that he couldn't even start to compare with her.

Considering how Hong shi only managed to reach 5-star at such an advanced age, he honestly didn't think too highly of the other party. Thus, he never expected to see a battle adaptability that was on par with Luo Qiqi and the other monsters of the academy in him!

Are you for real?

"No, something is wrong. If Hong shi really possesses such capability, his name would surely be known throughout the entire Huanyu Empire. It also doesn't make sense how Luo Zhao and the others managed to strike him earlier on either if that was the case."

Wu Zhen frowned.

Earlier, when Hong shi was attacked by the three simultaneously, he panicked, causing his movements to be riddled with flaws and poor judgement. If he had such talent in battle, he should have shown it right from the start. It didn't make sense for him to suddenly be 'boosted' in the midst of the battle.

"Could it be..."

A slight frown appeared on Wu Zhen's forehead, and he quickly turned his gaze over to the young man who took the initiative to volunteer Hong shi for the battle.

The young man's lips were quivering slightly. Clearly, he was sending instructions telepathically to Hong shi.

"Telepathic communication? As I expected!"

It was obvious that Hong shi was reluctant to face the three in battle, and he had only agreed to it under the insistence of this fellow. Since this fellow had put Hong shi up to it, he must be confident of victory. Thus, Wu Zhen turned his suspicions to this person, and it seemed like his doubts were proven right.

"But still, a 4-star master teacher actually managed to influence the outcome of a battle among 5-star master teachers through his pointers? How can that be?"

The more Wu Zhen thought about it, the more shocked he felt.

There were two realms between Transcendent Mortal 4-dan and Transcendent Mortal 6-dan, but more importantly, there was a fundamental difference in their fighting style as well due to the utilization of soul.

Rationally speaking, it should have been impossible for the other party to understand the fighting patterns of Feng shi and others given his current cultivation realm... But reality had proved that not only did he understand their fighting patterns, he was even able to decipher them, granting Hong shi an opportunity to make a complete comeback. This eye of discernment... was so impressive that it was fearsome.

"I can verify my hypothesis just by trying it out!"

After a moment of shock, Wu Zhen suddenly thought of something and his lips crept up.

"Zhang shi!"

With a loud shout, Wu Zhen's voice reverberated throughout the entire hall.

"Hmm?"

Stunned, Zhang Xuan turned his head over.

He didn't expect Senior Wu, whom even the crown prince had to treat with utmost respect, would suddenly call for him.

Peng peng!

"AHH!"

In Zhang Xuan's momentary lapse of concentration, the sound of fists and legs sinking into flesh sounded, and a cry of agony accompanied it.

With the abrupt termination of Zhang Xuan's guidance, Hong shi fell into a disadvantageous position and was currently in the midst of being lynched once again.

"An inch diagonally to your forward right. Then, turn around and execute the Eighth Stroke of Dragon Capturing Palm..."

Zhang Xuan began sending instructions telepathically once more.

Hu hu hu!

Under his instructions, Hong shi regained the upper hand once more, suppressing the trio to the point that they could hardly catch their breath.

"Zhang shi!"

But at that moment, Wu shi's shout boomed across the room once more.

"Yes?"

Zhang Xuan turned around.

Peng peng!

"AHH!"

Hong shi screamed in agony once more.

"The hell!"

Seeing how Hong shi was struck the instant his instructions stopped, Zhang Xuan hurriedly turned his attention back and instructed, "Leap up slightly and once you land on the ground, retreat seven steps immediately..."

"Zhang shi!"

But before Zhang Xuan could finish his words, Wu Zhen's voice boomed across the room once more.

"What do you want?"

Zhang Xuan was on the verge of breakdown.

"I... am just shouting casually, you don't need to bother about me!"

Wu Zhen waved his hands casually.

"..." Zhang Xuan.

The hell, was this fellow really a talented student from Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy?

Why was he so childish?

While Zhang Xuan was sighing helplessly, in the dueling ring, Hong shi was crying. "Zhang shi, can you keep your attention here... You can't toy with me like that. If this goes on, I really might just die..."

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Chapter 631: Lake Eye

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Seeing that Hong shi was on the verge of a breakdown, Zhang Xuan couldn't be bothered with Wu Zhen anymore. He focused all of his attention into instructing Hong shi to victory.

On the other hand, Wu Zhen, having affirmed his hypothesis, no longer called Zhang Xuan anymore as well.

A few minutes later, Feng Yu, Luo Zhao, and Chen Yue were lying on the floor, their bodies filled with wounds. They had surrendered.

They had no choice but to do so. No matter what they did, Hong shi seemed to always be a step ahead of them, leaving them completely helpless. If it had gone on like that, they might even have died. Since that was the case, they admitted defeat.

The trio suffered such grievous injuries that even their own parents would probably find it hard to recognize them. If there was any consolation to them, it was that Hong shi wasn't in a good shape either. His cheeks and eyes were swollen red; his entire body was shaking unsteadily; there was blood all over him... If not for some kind of tenacity driving him, he would have also collapsed to the ground as well.

"Alright. Since Feng shi, Luo shi, and Chen shi have admitted defeat, the three slots shall be contributed by their teams!"

Ye Qian was also surprised to see Hong shi emerge victorious in the battle.

He didn't possess Wu Zhen's sharp intuition, so he failed to see through the little trick involved here. As such, he thought that Hong shi had defeated the trio with his own strength, and this had left him impressed.

Seeing the severe injuries Hong shi had sustained, Zhang Xuan felt a little guilt-ridden. Thus, he stood up and walked over to Wu shi.

"Wu shi, may I request for a cup of medicinal wine for Hong shi's injuries?"

If not for this damned fellow calling him time and time again, even though Hong shi would still have suffered injuries, they wouldn't be as severe as they were now.

"Un!"

Wu shi did also feel a little embarrassed by his previous actions, so he took out the medicinal wine and poured out a cup.

Zhang Xuan infused a surge of zhenqi into the medicinal wine before passing it over to Hong shi for him to drink it.

It was only in the body that zhenqi could be stored for extended periods of time. In other words, while the gourd of medicinal wine in Wu shi's possession might still be effective now, it would slowly turn back into ordinary wine.

As the Heaven's Path zhenqi contained in the wine flowed through Hong shi's bloodstream, his injuries began to heal.

"Thank you, Wu shi and Zhang shi!"

With his injuries recovered, Hong shi felt refreshed. He quickly clasped his fist in gratitude.

He really thought that he would die just now. Honestly speaking, he didn't expect Zhang shi to be so formidable as to be able to issue instructions that would lead him to an easy victory.

After all, those were master teachers of the same rank as him... Even in a one-to-one, he dared not say he would win. While he had suffered grievous injuries in this battle, he felt that it was worth it given that he was able to defeat the three of them.

With this, he had brought glory to Hongfeng Empire!

"There's no need to stand on ceremony..."

Wu shi waved his hands. After which, he turned his gaze to Zhang Xuan in interest.

However, knowing that this wasn't the occasion to be asking anything, he eventually turned away without asking anything.

As soon as Zhang Xuan and Hong shi returned to their seats, Feng shi, Luo shi, and Chen shi walked up to Wu shi and asked, "Wu shi, can we get a cup of medicinal wine as well?"

They had seen Hong shi making a complete recovery after drinking the medicinal wine, and this had left them green in envy. Feeling the aches throughout their bodies, they toughened up their courage and walked over to ask.

"Fine!"

Wu shi eyelids twitched. He was unwilling to offer the medicinal wine to them, but eventually, he still took it out and poured a cup for each of them.

"Our gratitude to Wu shi!"

They quickly drank it down, and a spicy taste rushed up their throat.

After waiting for a moment, they realized that their injuries were still as severe as before. Perplexed, they asked, "Wu shi, could you have taken the wrong gourd..."

"Impossible, this is surely the one that I received earlier..."

Wu shi frowned. "It might not be working as well due to your severe injuries. Why don't you try applying it externally?"

Saying so, he poured another cup for them.

"You're right!"

Previously, Zhang Xuan also poured the wine on Bi shi's arm to heal it. Perhaps due to their injuries being much more severe, its effectiveness might be limited through consumption.

With such thoughts in mind, they poured the wine carefully on their injuries.

Tzzzzz!

The burning sensation of the alcohol left them gritting their teeth in pain. They waited for a long moment, but there was no sign of their injuries recovering. On the contrary, there were signs that pus was forming instead. Feng Yu, Luo Zhao, and Chen Yue were stumped.

Isn't this a Saint recovery medicine that will fully heal our injuries just by applying it?

Then why are our wounds not healing that? On top of that, what is with that sharp pain accompanied with a slight itch on them?

Hong shi obviously recovered after drinking the wine given though! Could Wu shi have offered them a smaller portion out of his bias?

"Wu shi, I think we might need more medicine. Can you give us a few more cups?" Luo Zhao asked timidly.

"Scram!" Wu shi howled.

You must be joking! There is only a gourd of the recovery wine Hong shi gave, and yet you ask for a cup after another. That's enough of you!

But still, he did feel a little perplexed over the matter. Was the effectiveness weakened due to their serious injuries?

That must be the case!

After all, the few of them did look slightly better than they did before.

In truth, while most of the zhenqi that Zhang Xuan had infused into the wine had dissipated, some of it still lingered.

Thus, even though Luo Zhao and the others didn't make a full recovery like Hong shi, they still recovered significantly. Their wounds had stopped bleeding, and walking wasn't a problem for them anymore.

"..." Seeing Wu shi flying into a rage, Luo Zhao and the others didn't dare to push their case any further. Thus, they hurriedly returned.

...

"Since the slots have been decided, let's allocate the zones now!"

Since the distribution of the slots had been confirmed, Ye Qian turned to look at the crowd and said, "The Cleansing Lake is infused with the spiritual energy from the Verdant Mountain and Dragon-scaled River, granting it the ability to nourish one's soul. As such, this spirit lake is known as the divine land of Huanyu Empire. Even members of the royal family are not allowed to enter the premises as they please—they have to obey the rules of entering only every decade, at the time of the opening of the Cleansing Lake.

"Since you all should know this, I won't elaborate on it!"

Hong shi and the others nodded.

This was common knowledge for them.

"As a blessed land for cultivators, the Cleansing Lake possesses mystical effects to the soul. However, one thing you might be unaware of is that it's also an extremely dangerous place. The slightest carelessness could possibly result in death!"

Ye Qian spoke grimly.

"An extremely dangerous place? Death?"

"Isn't it a spirit lake rich in spiritual energy?"

"Indeed, why would it be dangerous?"

...

Everyone was taken aback.

Even Luo Zhao, Feng Yu, and the others also frowned questioningly.

They had heard of the Cleansing Lake's unique property in nourishing one's soul and advancing one's cultivation, but they had never known it to be fraught with danger.

What kind of danger could a lake rich in spiritual energy possibly have?

"It's no lie that the Cleansing Lake is a spirit lake. However, the current flowing within the lake is extremely violent, and even a Transcendent Mortal 9-dan cultivator could be killed easily in it! Back then, when our founding ancestor found this blessed land, he sent in his men to investigate the region, only to have none of them return," Ye Qian explained gravely.

"Even Transcendent Mortal 9-dan cultivators could be killed easily?"

Everyone was stunned. "Then..."

If even a Transcendent Mortal 9-dan cultivator couldn't survive the currents of the lake, weren't they seeking death by entering it?

What kind of blessed land for cultivation was this?

"There's no need to panic, allow me to finish my words first!"

Seeing the shocked expression on everyone's faces, Ye Qian chuckled. "The dangers regarding the Cleansing Lake are very real; I'm not exaggerating them in any way. However, there's a solution to the matter. After many years of scouting and innumerable lives paving the way forward, we finally uncovered some of the secrets of the lake. There's a safe zone in the Cleansing Lake where cultivators can enjoy the benefits of the lake without being crushed to a pulp!

"We call this location the 'Lake Eye'. The Lake Eye is where the spiritual energy from the various sources intersect and form a fragile balance, thus creating a safe zone. However, the Lake Eye only appear once every ten years."

"Lake Eye?"

"Once every ten years? Is this the reason why the Cleansing Lake only opens once every ten years?"

"That must be the case..."

Upon hearing the explanation, everyone suddenly came to a realization.

They had always been puzzled as to why the Cleansing Lake only opened once every ten years. Initially, they thought that the royal family was just maintaining a monopoly over the lake, but from the looks of it now, they were sorely mistaken. The true reason was to protect them from danger.

"Lake Eyes aren't too big—each of them only has a radius of around two meters. Furthermore, the amount of spiritual energy harnessed in each of them is limited as well. Once all of the energy inside is fully absorbed, the Lake Eye will collapse inward! In other words, the person cultivating inside a Lake Eye must escape immediately upon realizing the spiritual energy inside is dying out. Otherwise, one might just lose his life in the lake," said Ye Qian.

"Radius of two meters? The amount of spiritual energy harnessed is limited? Then..."

Everyone was perplexed.

Considering that fifteen people were entering the Cleansing Lake, how could a Lake Eye with a radius of two meters possibly be enough?

If they were to take turns, considering how the spiritual energy in the Lake Eye was limited, they would have to decide on the order of entry as well!

"As everyone should know, when a soul is trapped within a body, it is equivalent to having a cage around it. Under such circumstances, its growth will be severely limited!"

Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement.

The body of an ordinary cultivator was no different from a shackle to a soul, locking it tightly in place.

Even if one were to obtain manuals to cultivate one's soul, one's soul would still be limited to the boundaries of one's body.

To make an analogy, it was just like a potted plant. No matter how far the roots of a plant could reach, it would be confined to the limits of the pot.

"After making many calculations, we have found that the time limit for both Consonant Spirit realm and Cosmos Bridge realm cultivators is three days. Any longer than that and the Cleansing Lake will be rendered ineffective. Besides, three days is also the duration that a Lake Eye can maintain itself for. As such, the empire has determined a time limit of three days for this."

Continuing, Ye Qian said, "The champions for the Master Teacher Tournament will be given three days, first runner-up two days, and second runner-up one day!"

The crowd nodded.

This was also the prize promised in the Master Teacher Tournament.

The first place will be given three days to cultivate at Cleansing Lake, the second place two days, and the third place one day.

"Everyone must be perplexed as to how a Lake Eye with a radius of two meters can have fifteen people cultivating in it at the same time... In truth, ten Lake Eyes will appear each time the Cleansing Lake opens!"

"Ten?"

"That's right, ten! Based on previous rules, the five champions of the Master Teacher Tournament will be granted a Lake Eye of their own to cultivate for three days whereas the second and third place will share a Lake Eye, and they will cultivate for two days and one day respectively."

The five champions would take up five Lake Eyes on their own, whereas the ten second places and third places, due to their differing cultivation duration as per their prize, would share the other five. In this way, the ten Lake Eyes were fairly distributed.

"However... this year is an exception!"

At which, Ye Qian paused for a moment before continuing. "Sixth Princess, Senior Wu, and the others would require a Lake Eye each, and I also need an individual one as well. Thus... you will have to share the remaining five amongst yourselves!"

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Chapter 632: I'll Challenge All of You

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"We have to share the remaining five?"

Everyone frowned.

This was especially so for the champions in Feng shi, Luo shi, and Chen shi's groups.

Under normal circumstances, they would be entitled to an entire Lake Eye themselves. However, now that they had to share their resources, there would surely be insufficient spiritual energy in the lake for them to cultivate for three days.

But while they felt indignant, there was nothing they could do. The Sixth Princess, Wu Zhen, and the others were Grade 2 students from the Master Teacher Academy, as well as their future seniors. It would be improper to have them share the Lake Eye while they each took one up for themselves.

Putting everything aside, even if the Sixth Princess volunteered to share her Lake Eye... who would dare to take up the offer?

To dishonor the princess of Hongyuan Empire, a 5-star master teacher... only if one was tired of living.

"Un. I feel apologetic toward you regarding this matter as well. I'll leave the distribution of the Lake Eyes to you all!"

Ye Qian said apologetically. "I'm fine with any allocation you all decide upon!"

"We get to choose? Alright then!" Luo Zhao hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I have a proposal. Other than the crown prince, there's still another master teacher from Huanyu Empire. He, along with Hongfeng Empire, will share two Lake Eye, whereas Hongfeng, Qianfeng, and Zhuyue will take the remaining three!"

"Indeed, we'll concede since Hongfeng Empire won the duel. I'm willing to give them the two Lake Eyes!" Chen Yue and Feng Yu's eyes lit up.

If they could take down one Lake Eye each, they could have their top three cultivate a day each in the Lake Eye. This would be the best deal they could take.

"No way!"

Hong shi frowned.

In the previous duel, the other party had already lost three slots, and they only had six people who could enter the Cleansing Lake. Six people sharing three Lake Eye against four people sharing two Lake Eye, wouldn't their position be equal then?

What would be the point of the previous duel then?

You must be joking!

"Then what do you want?"

Luo Zhao frowned.

"We want the two Lake Eyes independently! The remaining three shall be shared among you and the master teacher from Huanyu Empire!" Hong shi said.

"You want to take two Lake Eyes independently? You're dreaming!" Feng Yu and Chen Yue harrumphed.

Even taking into account the three slots they had just lost, if they were to allow Hongfeng Empire to take two Lake Eyes independently, that would be equivalent to seven people sharing three Lake Eyes. That would be a huge disadvantage to them, how could they agree to it?

"I disagree to it as well!" Luo Zhao shook his head.

"You disagree to the matter? Then why don't we fight once more to decide this? Since we have all taken the medicinal wine and our injuries are mostly healed!"

Hong shi flung his sleeves and stood up.

After winning a match against the three of them, he was overflowing with confidence.

"Fight?"

The mouths of Luo Zhao and the others twitched.

Fight your head! Besides, which of your eyes saw that our injuries are mostly recovered?

You're able to walk perfectly fine, but everyone can clearly see that we're limping around. We weren't able to defeat you earlier on when we were in a better condition, how could we possibly defeat you now?

"Why? You dare not accept my challenge? Stop finding excuses! Each of you had two cups of medicinal wine earlier whereas I only took one. Even though I look fine on the surface, my injuries are as severe as yours!"

Hong shi raised his eyebrows.

"The heck with your 'as severe as yours'!"

Luo Zhao and the others were rendered speechless.

You are able to walk around perfectly normally whereas we can't even sit steadily, and you say that your injuries are as severe as ours? You sure are thick-skinned, you know...

"Fine, let's fight then. However, it won't be us since we just had a match, and there would be little point in repeating the same thing. Why don't we have the other members of our group clash it out!"

Gritting his teeth, Chen Yue gestured to the members of his group behind him.

"Indeed, instead of fighting once more, why don't we leave it to them to determine the distribution of the Lake Eye? In any case, they are the ones who will be impacted by the ultimate outcome!"

Luo Zhao's eyes shone with excitement as he quickly nodded in agreement. "The winning team will get to choose which of the two proposals we'll go by!"

"No! Like I said just now, the members of your teams have consumed Consonant Spirit Pills, and this is unfair to my team!"

Seeing the other party insist on dueling with Zhang shi and the others, Hong shi hurriedly rejected the idea.

Even the member with the weakest cultivation amongst them was a small realm higher than the member with the highest cultivation in his group. How could his group possibly win the duel?

If he were to agree to the duel, there would be no doubt that they would lose.

"The Consonant Spirit Pill can only be found in the capital, and in this sense, we're all on equal standing. You only have yourself to blame for a lack of preparation for the matter!"

Feng Yu harrumphed. "So, do you dare or not? Let me just remind you that we have the majority here. If you insist on having it your way, we can just bypass your objection when it comes down to it!"

"Indeed. We need not waste our time arguing with you. If you refuse to agree to the duel, I suggest you just admit defeat!" Luo Zhao added.

The three of them had already made up their minds to never fight with Hong shi ever again, so it was impossible for them to accept the latter's challenge.

On the other hand, the men that they brought here had already consumed a Consonant Spirit Pill each. With their superior cultivation, wouldn't it be a walk in the park for them to suppress those from Hongfeng Empire?

"You..."

Seeing the three of them gang up against him, Hong shi's breathing hastened in anger. He was just about to say something when Zhang Xuan suddenly interjected.

"Alright then, we can accept your challenge... however, don't you think a three versus three is a too troublesome?"

"Troublesome?"

Seeing the same fellow from before speaking up again, Feng Yu and Luo Zhao narrowed their eyes. "Then what do you suggest?"

"Simple, I'll face all nine of your men alone. I don't mind whether you come one by one or all at the same time. As long as you defeat me, our Hongfeng Empire will give all of our Lake Eyes to you... but if you lose, you will give all of your Lake Eyes to us. What do you think of it?"

Zhang Xuan glanced at them with a faint smile.

"You want to fight nine people singlehandedly?"

"This fellow must be joking!"

"Indeed! A mere Transcendent Mortal 4-dan cultivator actually thinks he can defeat nine Consonant Spirit realm cultivators in a duel? He must be dreaming!"

...

In an instant, an uproar broke out in the room.

Having emerged triumphant from the Master Teacher Tournaments in their respective regions, they were all proud geniuses. How could they possibly allow a fellow who was far weaker than them to mock them? This was intolerable!

"Luo shi, allow us to teach that arrogant brat a lesson! He has been grating on my nerves right from the start!"

A young man standing behind Luo Zhao stood up, and his aura suddenly burst forth—Consonant Spirit realm advanced stage!

He possessed the strongest fighting prowess even among the other eight who had consumed Consonant Spirit Pills as well.

"Feng shi, I'll go. That fellow caused you so much pain. If I don't get him apologizing on his knees, I will be unworthy to be called a master teacher of Fengyuan Empire!"

A young man behind Feng shi also stood up.

Following the duo, the other seven people behind Feng shi, Luo shi, and Chen shi also couldn't remain seated any longer, and they glared at Zhang Xuan furiously. If looks could kill, he would have been torn to shreds then.

Seeing the agitation and anger in everyone's eyes, Luo shi asked once more, "Are you certain you want to duel with him?"

"That's right!"

"That fellow has no respect for his elders at all; he deserves to be taught a lesson!"

The group of nine hollered angrily.

Very few people knew that Feng shi had plummeted from the sky due to this fellow, but they had seen how he made things difficult for Luo shi earlier.

In fact, the duel between Hong shi and the three pavilion masters was his idea as well. Not to mention, he was uttering such arrogant words at the moment. Unforgivable!

"This..."

Luo shi turned to Feng shi and Chen shi.

This matter was important; he dared not represent the entire group.

After all, no one thought that Hong shi would be able to defeat the three of them earlier as well... but reality shoved the contrary to their faces.

This fellow may seem to be the weakest of the group, but what if he had some trump cards up his sleeves?

"To think that you would hesitate so long at my challenge! If you dare not accept it, we can drop the idea... I knew that you were all spineless cowards! Master teachers? Geniuses? Pui!"

Before Feng shi and Chen shi could make their stand, the young man before them shook his head in disappointment.

"You..."

Luo shi and the others exploded into rage.

This fellow was really too much!

This was especially with the expression on his face at this moment, he was clearly making a mockery out of them!

Gritting his teeth savagely, Luo Zhao said, "Fine, we'll accept the challenge! However, I want to confirm if you can represent your entire team."

"If I lose, all of Hongfeng's Lake Eyes will be given to you. If you lose, all of your Lake Eyes will be given to us. Rest assured, my words can represent my team!" Zhang Xuan said nonchalantly.

"Alright then!"

Luo Zhao gestured to the person behind him. "Li Xiulian!"

"Luo shi!"

The Consonant Spirit realm advanced stage expert who was the first to confront Zhang Xuan earlier stepped forward.

He was the champion of Qianfeng Empire's Master Teacher Tournament, Xiulian gongzi.

Clenching his fists tightly, Luo Zhao angrily instructed, "Go up and teach him a lesson. Make him know that there's always a higher mountain!"

In a normal duel between master teachers, no matter how angry either side was at the other, they would be instructed to stop once the victor was clear. Yet, Luo shi was now telling Xiulian gongzi to beat Zhang Xuan up thoroughly. This reflected how angry he was at this moment.

"Don't worry, Luo shi! I'll have him know the difference between Clarifying Turbidity realm and Consonant Spirit realm!"

Harrumphing coldly, Xiulian gongzi stepped forward and gestured to Zhang Xuan. "Aren't you arrogant? Come, let me see if your skills are as formidable as your mouth!"

"Zhang shi... be careful!" Hong shi said worriedly.

He had great confidence in Zhang shi's skill... but the opponent he was facing was a Consonant Spirit realm advanced stage cultivator. There was simply too huge a gap between the both of them!

If he were to lose, Hongfeng Empire would lose all of their Lake Eyes, and everything they had done before would be in vain.

Behind him, Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai were frowning deeply.

Zhang shi had indeed performed spectacularly back in Myriad Kingdom Alliance, but still, they found it hard to believe that he could match a Consonant Spirit realm advanced stage cultivator.

"Don't worry!"

Noticing the worry in everyone's eyes, Zhang Xuan chuckled lightly. He walked to the center of the room and glanced at the young man before saying, "I don't think you'll suffice. You should have the eight of them come up as well. Otherwise, I would feel like I'm bullying you all!"

"You..."

Seeing how the other party was still spouting such arrogant words now, Xiulian gongzi clenched his fists tightly. "There's no need for it! I'm more than enough to handle you!"

Hu!

Roaring angrily, he charged forward and smashed a fist at Zhang Xuan's face.

At Consonant Spirit realm advanced stage, one's soul was one with one's body. Amidst the furious gust of wind, there was a soul pressure that rendered one incapable of sprouting any thoughts of retaliation.

If it was any other Clarifying Turbidity realm pinnacle cultivator, he would have lost instantly to this blow without making a single move at all.

But Zhang Xuan was no ordinary Clarifying Turbidity realm pinnacle cultivator. Upon seeing the fist, he simply chuckled lightly. Bending his middle finger and thumb together... he flicked lightly.

Peng!

The tip of Zhang Xuan's finger collided with Xiulian gongzi's fist. Before the latter could even process what was going on, he was flying in the air. After a flight of roughly a dozen meters, he crashed into one of the vats of wine placed in the distance, soaking his entire body in wine.

Placing his hands behind his back, Zhang Xuan stared down on Xiulian gongzi, who was lying weakly on the floor, and chuckled "It seems like...

"... you aren't enough at all!"

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Chapter 633: Fighting with His Eyes Closed

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Silence.

Everyone rubbed their eyes forcefully, thinking that their eyes might be playing tricks on them.

That was a Transcendent Mortal 5-dan Consonant Spirit realm advanced stage expert! Despite executing an attack utilizing his full might, he was actually sent flying back with a light flick of the other party's finger...

How much strength did that flick harness?

"How could a Consonant Spirit realm expert be sent flying with a single flick..."

Hong shi widened his eyes, and he subconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

To achieve that feat with a flick, one must have perfect understanding of the force and trajectory of the attack. Even Hong shi himself would find it hard to accomplish such a feat in a real battle!

Yet, the other party managed to do it so easily... Could the other party's Clarifying Turbidity realm be feigned? Could the other party actually be at the Cosmos Bridge realm just like him?

But that couldn't be! He was around when the other party achieved a breakthrough to Clarifying Turbidity realm pinnacle. To reach Cosmos Bridge realm within a short month? Impossible!

Bi Jianghai widened his eyes in shock at the scene as tears threatened to flow down his eyes.

"It seems like... he didn't use his full strength when he fought with me back then. To think that I thought that I would be able to surpass him as long as I put in some hard work..."

He had thought that luck had played a huge factor in the other party's victory over him, and as long as he cultivated diligently, he would be able to catch up very quickly. But at this moment, he realized that... he couldn't be any more mistaken than that.

The other party probably didn't even use a tenth of his true strength when fighting with him!

Putting everything aside, even ten of him wouldn't survive that flick!

Luo Xuan also felt his throat turning dry.

He had bragged before his teacher, Luo Huang, that Zhang shi was nothing when the other party induced Ten Li of Vacuum with his Spirit Gathering Dictum at the next moment. Now, the other party even defeated a Transcendent Mortal 5-dan Consonant Spirit realm advanced stage expert with a single flick of his finger...

How could he ever match up to him?

It felt like they existed in completely different dimensions!

"How in the world did that fellow do it?" Crown Prince Ye Qian uttered in disbelief.

Narrowing his eyes, Wu Zhen analyzed the move.

"That single flick from Zhang shi... probably harnesses a might of at least 5,000,000 ding!"

"5,000,000 ding? This... Isn't he just a Clarifying Turbidity realm cultivator?"

Ye Qian swayed feebly from astonishment.

A typical Clarifying Turbidity realm pinnacle cultivator should only possess 1,600,000 ding of strength. In fact, even a Consonant Spirit realm pinnacle cultivator would only possess 3,200,000 ding of strength. 5,000,000 ding, that was a might comparable to a Cosmos Bridge realm intermediate stage cultivator! How could a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan harness such force?

"I've no idea either. However, the Master Teacher Continent is extremely big, and there are many unique constitutions out there. Based on what I know, there are indeed some people who possess the talent of Herculean strength. While their cultivation may not be particularly high, they are able to exert strength far beyond their cultivation realm!" Wu Zhen said.

Ye Qian suddenly recalled something and asked, "Senior is saying that he might have a unique constitution that augments his strength? Then... could he be just like that person?"

"Indeed, he's probably just like that senior!"

Wu Zhen nodded. Turning back to look at Zhang Xuan, he said, "Seems like a formidable figure is about to rise from your Huanyu Empire!"

"If he really does possess that kind of talent, then indeed!" Recalling 'that person's' extraordinary and fearsome abilities, Ye Qian couldn't conceal his agitation.

Given that Zhang shi originated from Huanyu Empire, if he were to make it big, the standing of the empire would also rise proportionately.

Ignoring the other party's agitation, Wu Zhen said, "It's still a little too early to come to a conclusion now. Let's watch on first!"

"Un!" Ye Qian replied as he turned his sight back to the dueling ring anxiously.

...

Zhang Xuan's feat of defeating Xiulian gongzi in a single blow had left everyone flabbergasted. Luo shi and the others had their mouths widened, unable to utter a single word.

It took a while before Luo shi recovered, and he immediately instructed anxiously, "There is something unusual about this fellow. The rest of you should attack together!"

All of their slots for the Cleansing Lake, which came only once every decade, were at stake here. It might seem a little underhanded, but there was no other choice now!

Hu!

Hearing those words, the remaining eight members immediately stepped forth and surrounded Zhang Xuan.

"You're all coming at me together? Good!"

Zhang Xuan stretched his back lazily.

Previously, when he offered instructions to Hong shi in his battle, he suddenly thought of something. This group of people came at a perfect moment; he could use them to verify his doubts.

Hu!

With a quick dash, Zhang Xuan immediately appeared before one of the eight. Without any intricate movements, he raised his palm and thrust it toward the man.

"Damn it!"

Seeing that he was the first one to be attacked, the young man's face darkened. Howling furiously, he gathered his strength from every muscle in his body and struck back.

Just as the fist and palm were about to collide with one another, Zhang shi's figure suddenly swayed before him. Before he knew it, a leg suddenly flew toward his abdomen.

"The heck!"

The young man's eyes nearly popped out from his sockets upon seeing the leg. Before he could even exclaim in shock, he was sent flying. Huge mouthfuls of blood spewed from his mouth.

He was on the verge of tears. Wasn't this way too underhanded! Given how the other party looked as though he had put all of his strength into that palm, he could have never guessed that it was only a feint, and that the real threat was lying beneath!

After sending one flying, Zhang Xuan immediately stepped backward. His movement had allowed him to dodge the fist of another master teacher who was attempting to backstab him while his attention was preoccupied. Following which, he jerked his arm and struck the other party's lower jaw.

Hu!

That master teacher immediately saw his vision darken before he flew into the air.

Peng peng peng peng!

After dealing with the two, Zhang Xuan treaded around the remaining six as though a phantom. It was as if he could foresee how his opponents would collaborate with one another and how they would attack. Every single time he launched an attack, someone would surely be sent flying.

"As I expected!"

As the group was being cleared one by one, the gleam in Zhang Xuan's eyes gradually brightened.

When he instructed Hong shi on how he should deal with Luo shi and the others, he attempted to use the Library of Heaven's Path to see their flaws. He thought there would be a total of three books compiled on Luo Zhao, Feng Yu, and Chen Yue respectively, but to his surprise, only one was formed.

Written in it was the flaws of the collaboration among the trio.

In other words, the Library of Heaven's Path had viewed their collaboration as an entirety and evaluated the three of them as a whole.

Through exploiting the flaws written on the book, not only would one be able to interrupt one's opponents' momentum, one would also be able to predict one's opponents' movements and defeat them easily.

In other words, with this ability, it mattered not to Zhang Xuan how many opponents he had to face.

This was precisely the reason why he wanted to challenge all nine of them at once to test it out.

And the effects really didn't let him down. Despite fighting eight opponents whose cultivation bases were significantly higher than his, he didn't feel the slightest pressure at all.

"Un. I'll exploit this flaw this time. Move left by three chi and launch a back kick..."

While Zhang Xuan's consciousness was immersed in the Library of Heaven's Path, his body was moving accordingly to exploit the flaws written on the books, thus dodging every single attack of his opponents and counterattacking at every possible opportunity.

After kicking another one flying, Zhang Xuan rubbed his glabella stressfully.

"These fellows' collaboration is really poor. There are flaws here and there. Sigh, I'm finding hard to decide which flaw I should exploit from this huge list... How frustrating!"

The other party had only formed a team on the spot, so there were a lot of flaws in their collaboration. There were several hundred listed throughout the entire book. It was fortunate that Zhang Xuan didn't suffer from decidophobia or else he would surely faint from stress!

But even so, the huge range of possible flaws to exploit and counterattacks he could make still made him feel a little troubled.

Instead of getting tired from fighting, he was suffering due to the astounding number of ways to defeat his opponents. If his opponents were to learn of this, they would surely cry themselves to death.

"Forget it, I'll just point randomly at the flaws. Whichever I point on would be the one I'll exploit!"

Closing his eyes, Zhang Xuan randomly pointed at a part of the book, and the flaw he was pointing at immediately surfaced in his mind.

"Alright, this will be it!"

Having decided on the flaw to exploit, Zhang Xuan swiftly analyzed the way to best exploit it before diving into the crowd once more.

Peng peng peng peng!

Yet another scream of agony echoed in the hall.

...

In the royal palace located not too far away from the crown prince's Eastern Palace.

Emperor Ye Wentian was seated on his high throne.

Standing before him was a green-robed elder with snowy-white beard. He carried an exceptional aura that reflected both erudition and composure.

If Hong shi were here, he would surely be able to recognize the other party as his teacher, the pavilion master of the Huanyu Empire Master Teacher Pavilion, 5-star high-tier Master Teacher Wei Jiang!

"The Cleansing Lake will be opening tomorrow, I wonder how the matter regarding the distribution of the slots is going on!" Ye Wentian muttered with a frown.

It was Ye Qian's initiative to befriend the Sixth Princess and the others. As such, he decided to leave this entire matter for Ye Qian to handle. It had been awhile since the banquet had begun, so he began to wonder if the matter had been decided already or not.

"Your Majesty, there's no need to worry. His Highness has always been a composed and reliable person, not to mention, he's also a genius master teacher as well. A matter as small as this can't possibly trip him up!"

Wei Jiang smiled. "Besides, didn't you send someone to look into that matter? He should be coming back to report on the matter very soon."

"You're right!" Ye Wentian smiled. "It might be my age catching up with me, I'm finding myself worrying over the smallest matters nowadays..."

Ye Wentian sighed deeply. At that moment, a guard suddenly walked into the room with a dumbstruck face.

"How is it? Is the matter regarding the distribution of slots confirmed yet?" Ye Wentian asked with a frown.

The guard hurriedly clasped his fist. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the matter has been settled..."

"Oh? How was it settled? Tell me about it!" Ye Wentian asked in curiosity.

"The matter regarding the slots to enter the Cleansing Lake was decided by a duel among the Four Great Vassal States," the guard said.

"A duel? That is a wise decision. It would indeed be good to have the young geniuses from each Vassal State interact with one another..." Ye Wentian chuckled.

"That's not it... it was not the young geniuses from the Vassal States who fought with one another but... Hong shi from Hongfeng Empire singlehandedly facing Luo shi, Feng shi, and Chen shi! Furthermore..."

At which, the guard suddenly paused for a short moment. It seemed as though he was still trying to convince himself that he wasn't dreaming. "Hong shi managed to defeat all three of the pavilion masters... And thus, the three slots are to be contributed by Hongfeng, Qianfeng, and Zhuyue Empire!"

"You mean that... Hong Qian singlehandedly defeated Luo Zhao, Feng Yu, and Chen Yue?" Jiang Wei widened his eyes in disbelief. "Describe the duel to me in detail!"

"Yes!" The guard hurriedly recounted what he had seen previously.

"H-how can this be?" Hearing the other party's recount of the story, Jiang Wei and Ye Wentian trembled in shock.

They were well aware of how strong Hong Qian was. To singlehandedly defeat three opponents of the same fighting prowess... How could that be possible?

After a moment of shock, Ye Wentian suddenly thought of something and asked, "Putting that aside, so the matter regarding the slots have been decided... Then what about the five Lake Eyes?"

As the emperor, he also knew that the allocation of the Lake Eyes was the crux of this matter.

"The young master teacher from Hongfeng Empire that I just spoke of, Zhang shi, fought against all nine young master teachers from Fengyuan, Qianfeng, and Zhuyue simultaneously... and he emerged victorious. As such, Hongfeng Empire is now in possession of all of the Lake Eyes..." the guard said.

"He fought against nine master teachers simultaneously? Didn't you just say that this Zhang shi only possesses a cultivation of Clarifying Turbidity realm pinnacle, and is the weakest among all of the master teachers there?"

Ye Wentian couldn't help but exclaim. "Given that all nine opponents are stronger than him, how in the world did he fight? Did he use some kind of special means?"

A Clarifying Turbidity realm pinnacle fighting against nine Consonant Spirit realm experts? How could he possibly have won? How in the world did he fight against them? Did he use some kind of special trick?

"He... he..."

The guard swallowed his saliva, and a bizarre expression appeared on his face. "He fought with his eyes closed..."

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Chapter 634: Combat Master

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Fought with his eyes closed?

Ye Wentian and Wei Jiang were stunned.

What kind of trickery was this? Could this be... some kind of secret art?

"That's right! His eyes were closed, and he had a difficult expression on his face. It was as if his opponents were too weak, to such an extent that he was reluctant to lay his hands on them... and in a moment, all nine of his opponents were already lying on the floor..."

The guard recounted the sight that he had just seen a moment ago.

Ye Wentian and Wei Jiang stared at one another...

This was possible as well?

A Clarifying Turbidity realm fellow actually defeated nine Consonant Spirit realm with his eyes closed, and even felt troubled at his opponents being too weak for him...

The heck, are you sure you aren't telling us a joke?

"It's true..." The guard's face flushed in agitation. He knew that no one would believe his story, but it was the absolute truth.

"To fight against a stronger opponent without any difficulty, could it be..." Jiang Wei narrowed his eyes.

"Has Wei shi thought of something?" Ye Wentian asked.

After a moment of hesitation, Wei Jiang slowly said, "Has Your Majesty ever heard of 'Combat Master'?"

"Do you mean the sub-occupation of master teachers which specializes in fighting, combat master?" Ye Wentian asked.

"That's right!"

Wei Jiang nodded his head. "While master teachers are known to be unrivaled among those of the same cultivation realm, their primary purpose is still to educate and nurture experts, thus strengthening the might of the human race. However... to fight against Otherworldly Demons and other forces that threaten the human race, we need a fighting force of the highest tier. As such, the sub-occupation combat master was born!

"Combat master is a branch of master teachers that specializes in combat. While they could be considered as master teachers as well, there's a huge difference between them and a typical master teacher. For example, master teachers would require a fixed number of supporting occupations to be promoted to the next rank while combat masters have no such requirement—as long as they can pass a combat examination, they will be promoted to the next rank... Of course, the difficulty of the combat examination is staggering as well! Among ten thousand master teachers, it would be hard to tell if even a single one could pass such an examination. As such, most combat masters possess a unique constitution or special bloodlines that grant them innately superior fighting prowess...

"And given how this Zhang shi was able to fight nine Consonant Spirit realm experts despite being at Clarifying Turbidity realm, could it be possible that... he possesses the talent to become a combat master?"

Wei Jiang's eyes gleamed in excitement.

If the statistics of becoming a master teacher were one in ten thousand, the statistics of becoming a combat master would be one in ten thousand master teachers. Every single one of them could be said to be truly invincible in their tier, and they possessed the strength to challenge even those stronger than them.

Despite the millenniums of history behind Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, the number of master teachers who had been promoted to combat masters could be counted with one's fingers.

If... a combat master could emerge from Huanyu Empire, the entire empire would prosper because of the individual.

"Now that you speak of it... it might really be possible!" Ye Wentian froze for a moment before his eyes slowly widened.

"Let's hurry over to take a look. If it's true, this is great news for our Huanyu Empire!"

Wei Jiang stood up and hurriedly walked over to the crown prince's Eastern Palace.

Ye Wentian also quickly got up and hurried over.

...

Exhaling a deep breath, Zhang Xuan clapped his hands and shook his head.

At this moment, the nine master teachers from Fengyuan, Qianfeng, and Zhuyue were lying on the floor, moaning in pain.

Actually, without the Library of Heaven's Path, given Zhang Xuan's superior soul cultivation, the nine of them still wouldn't be a match for him nevertheless. However, since the other party had flaws he could exploit, there was no reason for him not to do so.

"You all lost..."

Ignoring the injured group, Zhang Xuan turned his sights to Luo Zhao and the other pavilion masters and said, "Now, all five of the Lake Eyes belong to our Hongfeng Empire!"

"..." Luo Zhao, Feng Yu, and Chen Yue staggered. At this moment, they felt as though they were going mad.

Those were the top three in their respective Master Teacher Tournaments!

In order to raise their strength, they even bought a Consonant Spirit Pill for each of them... And yet, the nine of them couldn't even rival a Clarifying Turbidity realm cultivator?

This should have been an easy win for them, and yet, they didn't even manage to nick the other party's clothes...

They thought that their alliance could allow them to push all of the bad things to Hongfeng Empire, but in the end, it simply left them without any Lake Eyes at all...

What the hell was this?

The more they thought about it, the more stifled they felt.

If only they had known earlier, they would have never created such a farce. If they had just gone down the conventional route, they would have at least gotten a Lake Eye!

Putting aside how their plan had failed utterly, every member of their team, be it the elderly or the young, were also thoroughly wounded on top of that. Their faces had swollen to almost double the size. How were they supposed to face the others like that?

After a long moment of silence, Ye Qian coughed and spoke up.

"Cough cough. Zhang shi, Luo shi and the others meant no harm. They only did these in hopes of obtaining the best for their juniors. No matter what, Hongfeng Empire is an ally of Huanyu Empire and the other Vassal States. Since there are five Lake Eyes and only three people in your group, why don't you give the remaining two to them? This way, they can at least be accountable to their countrymen when they return."

If three Vassal States that traveled all the way here were to return empty-handed without getting any of the slots, it would surely cause great discontent.

He wouldn't be able to explain this farce to his father and Pavilion Master Wei either.

But... Hongfeng Empire did win all of the slots through fair means. All parties had agreed to it, so it was inappropriate for him for advise Zhang shi otherwise. As such, he felt extremely embarrassed.

"Give two Lake Eyes to them? That's fine by us. However, the master teachers from the other empires are to share the Lake Eyes with each other as well so that our members can enjoy a Lake Eye each!" Knowing that he would be putting the crown prince in a spot if he were to claim all of the Lake Eyes, Zhang Xuan nodded his head in agreement.

Since there were only three of them, three Lake Eyes were sufficient. Rather than letting the other two go to waste and potentially incurring the hostility of everyone else here, he might as well generously give them away.

"Thank you!" Not expecting the other party to be so agreeable to the matter, Ye Qian nodded his head in approval. He gestured for a guard to come over and instructed, "Bring me that Gold-scaled Armor!"

"Yes!"

The guard turned around and left, and not too long later, he brought a resplendent armor back.

"This is a Spirit intermediate-tier pinnacle armor crafted by the skin of a Transcendent Mortal 6-dan Avalanche Gold-scaled Beast. In awe of Zhang shi's magnanimity, I would like to give this to you!"

Ye Qian waved his hand, and the guard immediately passed the armor over.

"This... How can I accept this?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

"There's no need to stand on ceremony!"

Ye Qian waved his hands. "I will be embarrassed if you do not accept it!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Knowing that this was the compensation the other party was giving him for the two Lake Eyes, Zhang Xuan knew it would be inappropriate for him to turn it down. Thus, he nodded and placed the armor in his storage ring.

"Zhang shi, you have my gratitude for giving the two Lake Eyes to us. Here are two Consonant Spirit Pills. I hope you can accept them as a token of goodwill!"

Luo Zhao also stepped forward and passed a jade bottle over.

Since even the crown prince had offered a gift as compensation, they couldn't possibly just sit still and accept the two Lake Eyes without any reciprocation.

The three Vassal States had bought a total of eleven Consonant Spirit Pills. After giving one each to their men, there were two remaining.

"Un!"

Grabbing the pills, Zhang Xuan casually put them in his storage ring.

Luo Zhao, Feng Yu, and Chen Yue had accepted the bet and lost fair and square. If the other party were to refuse to give them the Lake Eyes, there was nothing they could do.

Under such circumstances, it was indeed a great favor for them to be given two Lake Eyes. Taking two Consonant Spirit Pills from them in return was nothing much in comparison.

Besides, accepting the Consonant Spirit Pills also meant that the other party had already repaid their debt, so it was beneficial from the other three's point of view as well. As for Zhang Xuan, he had no interest in having them indebted to him either.

"Since the distribution of the slots and Lake Eyes have been determined, I hereby declare the start of the banquet. I hope that everyone can enjoy themselves tonight!"

Ye Qian gestured grandly, and beautiful court ladies immediately came in with many delicacies in hand.

This crown prince was indeed a man who knew how to enjoy himself. Every single dish in the banquet was worth a huge sum, and this entire feast could probably leave even the wealthy bankrupt.

"Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai, you should take these Consonant Spirit Pills. Consume them after we return from the banquet!"

Flicking his wrist, Zhang Xuan passed the two Consonant Spirit Pills that he had just received from Luo shi and the others to them.

While this pill could raise a Consonant Spirit realm expert's cultivation by a small realm unconditionally, this effect could be said to be negligible to him

As long as he could gather sufficient Consonant Spirit realm cultivation technique, achieving a breakthrough was not much different from eating and drinking to him. It would be a waste for him to consume it, so he might as well put it to better use.

"You're giving them to us?"

Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai were taken aback.

It was not like they didn't know how valuable the pill was. To think that the other party would be giving the two pills received to them, this...

"Un. Quickly raise your cultivation before entering the Cleansing Lake. Don't waste the slot that I've obtained for you all with great difficulty!" Zhang Xuan said calmly.

"Thank you, Zhang shi!"

The duo's eyes turned red, and they quickly bowed in gratitude.

While the others were scheming against one another to obtain the best resources for their cultivation, Zhang shi was generously offering such a valuable gift to them... and this gesture left them touched from the bottom of their hearts.

Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai was still thinking of pitting it out with the other party to see who was better in the Master Teacher Academy. Only now did they realize that they didn't just lose out to the other party in terms of cultivation, even their magnanimity was paling far in comparison to the other party.

If the thoughts of the duo were to be known by Luo shi and the others, they would surely burst into tears.

This fellow—magnanimous?

Magnanimous your head! Can't you see how badly we were done in?

Those slots and Lake Eyes should have been ours, and yet we still had to thank the other party humbly for them... You actually call such a despicable and shameless man magnanimous?

...

Outside the crown prince's Eastern Palace...

"Your Majesty, Wei shi!"

The two figures who walked over from the distance left the guards on duty leaping in shock.

"I'll inform His Highness right now to have him welcome Your Majesty and Wei shi..."

The two most authoritative men in Huanyu Empire had come to visit late at night abruptly, there was no one who wouldn't be scared out of their wits.

"There's no need for that, you should just continue remaining on duty. Wei shi and I are just going in to take a casual look!"

Ye Wentian waved his hands casually before walking in with Wei Jiang.

As the duo navigated through the Eastern Palace, Ye Wentian asked, "If... Zhang shi really possesses the talent to become a combat master, what should we do?"

"What else can we do? Of course, we should immediately report it to the Master Teacher Academy and have them groom him specially! This kind of talent is extremely important to the Master Teacher Pavilion. You should be aware of it as well!" Wei Jiang said with a grim expression.

"Un!" Ye Wentian nodded.

While he wasn't a master teacher, he did know a thing or two about combat masters.

Dubbed as the Emperors of Combat among the master teachers, if Zhang shi were to become an official combat master, his standing might immediately soar above that of the principal of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy!

"Just that... the conditions to becoming a combat master are extremely stringent, one has to go through many difficult tests to be qualified as one. How can we ensure that he's really capable of becoming a combat master?"

Ye Wentian frowned.

There were many specific tests that a master teacher had to undergo before he could be officially accepted as a combat master. It was an extremely troublesome process.

"This... Let's take a look first before deciding on anything..." Wei Jiang hesitated for a moment before speaking. Halfway through his words, he suddenly heard footsteps ahead of him. Taking a closer look, he saw three figures just ahead of him.

Getting a clear glimpse at their appearance, Ye Wentian quickly rushed forward. "Ye Wentian pays respect to Sixth Princess! I see that Luo shi and Xing shi are here as well!"

They were no other than Sixth Princess Yu Fei-er, Luo Qiqi, and Xing Yuan, who were here for the banquet.

"So, it's Emperor Wentian. I just happen to have something I need to talk to you about."

Upon seeing that it was Ye Wentian, Princess Fei-er's eyebrows shot up. "How in the world do you govern your Huanyu Empire? If you're sick of your job, just give the word..."

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Chapter 635: Paying Respect to Zhang laoshi

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"I..."

Ye Wentian leaped in shock at those words, and cold sweat immediately started trickling down his back.

He might be the emperor of Huanyu Empire, but before the other party, he dared not pull his weight.

Huanyu Empire was only one of the many Tier 2 Empires beneath Hongyuan Tier 1 Empire. If the other party really wanted to replace him with someone else, not even Wei Jiang would be able to help him.

"Pardon me, but may I know the reason behind Your Highness's anger? I might not be talented, but I have worked hard in governing this country... If Your Highness thinks that I might have failed in certain aspects, I'll definitely do my best to correct my flaws so as to not let down Hongyuan Empire's trust in me..." Ye Wentian quickly said.

This Sixth Princess was still fine earlier this morning, why would she be chastising him all of the sudden?

"Humph, to think that there would be hooligans even within the capital..."

Recalling that shameless young man, Princess Fei-er gritted her teeth in anger.

To think that a princess like her would actually lose a bet and become the maid of another, this was truly the greatest humiliation she had ever suffered!

"Hooligan?" Ye Wentian was taken aback.

He thought that the other party was dissatisfied with his governance, but hooligan... what was with that?

What kind of hooligan could possibly provoke this princess like that?

"Indeed. It's a young man in his twenties. Just from that shameless look on his face, one can tell that he's no good person. I met him in the Mystical Treasure Hall!" Princess Fei-er said.

"Mystical Treasure Hall? Alright, I'll send my men to look into the matter right now..."

Knowing that the other party's dissatisfaction didn't originate from a problem in his governance, Ye Wentian heaved a sigh of relief. He hurriedly clasped his fist and bowed. "When I find him, I'll capture him and send him over to Sixth Princess so that you can deal with him as you deem fit!"

"Who wants to deal with him?"

Princess Fei-er stomped her feet in frustration. "Did I tell you to capture him?"

"I..."

Ye Wentian suddenly felt his head blowing up. He had no idea how to respond to the other party's words.

He had long heard that Princess Fei-er had an eccentric personality, but to think that there would come a day that he would be subjected to it!

He was the emperor of Huanyu Empire, a Transcendent Mortal 8-dan pinnacle expert! To be chastised to his face as though a child, just the thought of him left him light-headed.

But even if someone were to inflate his guts, he would never dare to talk back to the other party.

Putting aside the other party's identity as the Sixth Princess of Hongyuan Empire, just the fact that she was accepted as the direct disciple by the principal already made her a figure that few would dare to offend.

"What I? How can an emperor like you not know his own men?" Flinging her hands, Princess Fei-er harrumphed coldly.

"..." Ye Wentian looked as though he had eaten a bitter gourd.

Huanyu Capital extends for several hundred kilometers, and the population exceeds a hundred million... No matter how formidable I am, I can't possibly know every last one of my citizens!

"Alright!" Seeing the situation turn awkward, Luo Qiqi stepped forward and smiled. "Emperor Wentian, Fei-er just has an eccentric personality, so you need not take this to heart! It's truly nothing much, so you need to worry about it!"

After which, she turned to the lady beside her and sent a telepathic message over. "Didn't you get Ye Qian to look into the matter already? When he finally uncovers that fellow, I'll help you get back at him for you and win you back..."

Princess Fei-er was already an adult, but she still retained some of her childishness. Sometimes, her behavior could really leave one at a loss as to cry or to be mad.

Losing a bet and becoming another's maid wasn't an honorable affair, so you shouldn't be going around telling others about it. Besides, it's your own personal matter, why are you venting your anger on Emperor Wentian instead?

"Alright!"

Hearing the promise from her best friend, Princess Fei-er felt her rage subsiding a little. Ignoring the emperor, she puffed up her chest and said, "Let's go to the banquet!"

"Un!"

Luo Qiqi and Xing Yuan hurried forward. Ye Wentian and Wei Jiang glanced at one another and shook their heads together. Afterward, they followed behind the trio to the banquet hall as well.

The Sixth Princess was famous for her eccentric personality. It was fortunate that his son, Ye Qian, didn't have any intention of courting her. Otherwise, he would probably suffer a great deal. Putting everything aside, Xing Yuan had pursued her for many years already, but he was still subjected to the rapid emotional changes of the latter.

...

As the group over here headed for the banquet hall, the guard at the entrance took a detour, rushed to the banquet hall, and informed Ye Qian of this matter privately.

"Father and Wei shi are here? Sixth Princess, too? Why are they together?"

Taken aback, Ye Qian quickly stood up and announced, "Everyone, Sixth Princess, my father, and Wei shi will be arriving very soon, so let's stand up to welcome them!"

"Sixth Princess is coming?

"I didn't expect Wei shi and His Majesty to be coming here too!"

Upon hearing that the Sixth Princess of Hongyuan Empire and the others were coming, everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and stood up.

Just like the others, Zhang Xuan also got to his feet and turned his gaze to the doors. At that moment, a few figures walked into the hall.

The one leading the way was a lady dressed in a purple dress which accentuated her beautiful figure. Paired with pale, smooth skin, her beauty was indescribable.

"She is the Sixth Princess?"

"How beautiful!"

"I think I'm falling in love with her, what should I do..."

"Falling in love with her? Why don't you take a good look at yourself? With a face swollen like a pig's head, I think you should pray that your appearance won't disgust her instead!"

"Talk about yourself! Your nose is entirely crooked, you aren't anywhere better than me..."

Upon seeing the beautiful lady, the eyes of the master teachers in the room suddenly glowed in excitement.

The Sixth Princess resembled a goddess who had stepped out of a painting, and her presence sent the blood of young men running.

Just that, with the exception of the crown prince and a few others, all of the young men in the banquet hall had been beaten up badly by Zhang Xuan, and the sight of a group of disfigured men staring at one in agitation seemed more like a scene of horror instead.

"Sixth Young Mistress? Sixth Princess?"

Zhang Xuan was also taken aback.

He never thought that the Sixth Princess would actually be the Sixth Young Mistress whom he met at Mystical Treasure Hall.

It was no wonder why she could afford to take out several hundred middle-tier spirit stones in a single go...

On the other hand, as soon as the Sixth Princess and the others entered the banquet hall, they were immediately met with bruised and swollen faces, and this left them confounded.

Shouldn't a banquet involving master teachers be refined and dignified?

Why did all of them look as though they had come from a butchery instead then?

The swelling on their faces were so severe that their eyes could hardly open, and some of them even had an arm sling hanging before their chest... What was going on?

In fact, why were the 5-star master teachers in the room severely wounded as well?

"Sixth Princess, it's him..."

Just as Princess Fei-er was completely baffled by the scene before her, a voice suddenly sounded by her ear. Frowning, she traced the other party's finger, and the sight she saw immediately caused her to stagger.

It was the fellow who nearly angered her to death back at the Mystical Treasure Hall! He was actually here!

The other party was holding a wine glass in his hand casually, creating a leisurely atmosphere around him.

"Qiqi, it's that fellow..."

Gritting her teeth tightly, Princess Fei-er turned to point out her mortal enemy to her close friend, only to be stunned by the sight before her once more.

The eyes of her cold and composed close friend were actually shining in agitation, as though they had caught sight of a treasure chest.

Princess Fei-er was stunned.

Could her close friend be fond of men who were beaten up?

"It's him..."

Amidst her confusion, Luo Qiqi suddenly pointed her finger toward a young man.

"That... Qiqi, I know that he's my enemy, but surely you need not... get so agitated!"

Upon realizing that it wasn't due to some bizarre taste in men, Princess Fei-er became even more speechless.

I was the one who was forced to become the other party's maid. The one who should be getting angry and agitated should be me, right? Then why are you getting so excited all of the sudden?

Perplexed, Princess Fei-er was just about to ask about the matter when her close friend suddenly started charging up to that hateful fellow.

"Qiqi, even if you want to teach him a lesson for my stead, you need to take note of the occasion..."

Princess Fei-er nearly fainted on the spot.

Qiqi has always been a reliable and dependable figure, why would she suddenly get agitated and act so recklessly?

There are so many master teachers in the room. If she were to teach the other party a lesson here, won't the matter of me being the maid of the other party be exposed as well?

Just as Princess Fei-er was about to rush up to stop her, her close friend was already standing right before the hateful fellow. Following which, her close friend clasped her fist and bowed respectfully. "Student Qiqi pays respect to Zhang laoshi!"

"What?"

All of the words Princess Fei-er wanted to say suddenly jammed in her mouth, and her eyes widened in shock.

What is this situation?

Aren't you going to teach him a lesson in my stead?

Student... Zhang laoshi?

Could it be that... this hateful fellow is that... refined, magnanimous, intelligent, and awe-inspiring young talent you spoke of?

But he is a shameless hooligan, right? Why would he suddenly turn into such an impressive figure in your mouth?

What is with this situation?

Princess Fei-er's face twitched intensely, and she nearly burst into tears.

She was still thinking of having her close friend teach that fellow a lesson, but who knew that the latter would betray her as soon as the both of them met...

Where's your loyalty to your friend? Shouldn't you at least show some hesitation in your betrayal?

On the other hand, the others in the hall petrified instantly.

"The lady who's with Sixth Princess... should be Luo Qiqi Luo shi!"

"The famed ice beauty of the Master Teacher Academy is actually... Zhang shi's student?"

"What's going on?"

...

Luo Zhao and the others were aware of Luo Qiqi's nickname.

While the latter might be beautiful, she was known for being cold and distant... And yet, she was currently bowing excitedly before a person who was even younger than her, addressing him as teacher...

Did reality really need to be so exaggerated?

"..."

Wu Zhen and Xing Yuan's mouths twitched at that sight.

In terms of familiarity, they were relatively closer to Luo Qiqi than the others in the room, and they knew much more than about her as well.

Hongyuan Academy Apothecary School's most talented genius, as well as a cultivator possessing a fighting prowess far above them, she was ranked in the top few amongst Grade 2 students, and her fame far exceeded the Sixth Princess in the academy.

For a proud phoenix like her to actually acknowledge Zhang shi as her teacher...

Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or are the both of them pulling our legs?

"Oh, Little Qi, it's you! Why are you here?"

Zhang Xuan was taken aback to see Little Qi here.

Wasn't this lass at the Apothecary Guild earlier?

But after giving it some thought, he suddenly came to a realization.

The fact she came from the headquarters of the local Apothecary Guild meant that she came from Hongyuan Tier 1 Empire... On top of that, given that she was a master teacher as well, it was highly likely that she was a group with the Sixth Princess and Wu Zhen. It was precisely due to these people that he had to fight over the Cleansing Lake slots that should have belonged to him in the first place.

"Little Qi?"

Dang lang!

The wine glass in Wu Zhen's hand fell to the ground.

The Sixth Princess and Xing Yuan suddenly felt their legs turn weak, and they nearly fell to the ground.

Luo Qiqi nodded before hurriedly introducing her close friend to her teacher.

"I came here with my friends. Teacher, this is Hongyuan Empire's Sixth Princess, Yu Fei-er!"

"Un, I've met her before!"

Zhang Xuan nodded. "I see, so your name is Yu Fei-er... What are you waiting for? Hurry up and pour me a cup of wine!"

"Zhang shi, you do know that she's the Sixth Princess of Hongyuan Empire..." Hearing Zhang shi's words, Ye Qian nearly fainted on the spot.

Ye Wentian also found his vision turning dark.

Even he dared not breathe loudly before the Sixth Princess. What is a 4-star master teacher like you acting so arrogantly for...

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Chapter 636: Silence Restraint

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"You..."

Princess Fei-er nearly spurted a mouthful of fresh blood.

Pour you a cup of wine? Pour your head!

Didn't I redeem myself for ten days already?

I'm not your maid now, alright?

"I know!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "We've met previously, and we can be considered friends, right, Sixth princess?"

Glaring at Zhang Xuan with a look that exclaimed that she would strangle the other party if she could, Yu Fei-er clenched her teeth tightly and replied, "Of course!"

She had no other choice. By saying that she was his friend, the other party was already sparing her dignity. If the other party were to say that she was his maid, she would really die of shame.

"I'll pour it for you!"

Yu Fei-er stomped her way to the closest bottle and poured Zhang Xuan a bottle of wine while insulting the latter in her mind. If she could, she would really want to skin this hateful man alive.

But of course, she would never do that. She did lose the bet fair and square, and her master teacher emblem was the other party's hostage as well. She couldn't do anything even if she wanted to!

"Alright!"

Seeing the reluctance on the other party's face, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Back then, when we were having the bet, you tried to make me kneel before you! So what if you're a princess? This is just returning a little bit of the favor to you.

"Teacher... Fei-er is my good friend, so is it possible..."

Seeing that her good friend had turned so red that she might explode at any moment, Luo Qiqi didn't know whether she should laugh or cry at this situation.

She could never have expected that the rotten fellow her close friend wanted to strangle so badly would actually be her apothecary teacher.

She regarded the both of them highly, so she wished to resolve the conflict between them.

"She's your friend? Alright then, I'll give her ten days off..."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

On the other hand, Princess Fei-er thought that with her good friend intervening in her stead, the other party would drop the matter entirely. Who knew that it would only be ten days? Her face immediately flushed in anger, and she raged, "Qiqi, there's no need no need to plead with him. Isn't it just spirit stones? It's not like I don't have any..."

Zhang Xuan's eyes gleamed as he said, "It's good that you have spirit stones to repay me. Since that's the case, I believe there's no need for me to offer you any discount. The ten days off shall be voided!"

Ten days was equivalent to around 700 middle-tier spirit stones! If he could save it, he should definitely do it.

"You..."

Princess Fei-er nearly spurted blood on the spot.

"Teacher is just jesting with you, calm down..."

Seeing that her good friend was on the verge of collapsing from anger, Luo Qiqi shook her head and said, "Right, didn't you say that you want to learn pill forging from Zhang laoshi? He's right here..."

"Humph! I'd rather learn from a pig than from him!"

Princess Fei-er gritted her teeth.

"Alright then!"

Knowing that it was impossible to resolve the conflict between her good friend and Zhang laoshi at the moment, she could only try to pacify both of them in the future.

With the arrival of the guests, the banquet resumed.

However, with Emperor Ye Wentian and Wei shi in the room, as well as the Sixth Princess who could just erupt at any moment, the atmosphere grew visibly tenser, and the merry atmosphere from before dampened.

A while later, Luo Zhao and the others couldn't stand it any longer and bade their farewell.

Considering how their entire group was beaten up so badly, they had to return quickly and recuperate. Otherwise, considering how the Cleansing Lake was opening tomorrow, the two slots that they had might just go to waste!

"Your Highness, we'll be taking our leave as well!"

Seeing the others leave, Hong shi also stood up and clasped his fist.

"Wait a moment!"

Just as the group was about to leave, Wei Jiang stepped forward and approached them.

"Wei shi!"

When the group entered, Crown Prince Ye Qian had introduced the other party to be the pavilion master of the Huanyu Empire Master Teacher Pavilion, a 5-star high-tier master teacher. Not daring to pull his weight before such a figure, Zhang Xuan clasped his fist and greeted him.

"Zhang shi, may I speak to you for a moment?"

Wei Jiang smiled.

"It's my pleasure to do so!"

Seeing that the other party wanted to talk to him privately, Zhang Xuan smiled in response.

Gesturing for Hong shi and the others to return to their living quarters first, Zhang Xuan followed behind Wei shi, and the pair walked into a room.

"May I ask if... Zhang shi is a combat master?"

There was a formation set up in the room that prevented anyone from eavesdropping on the conversation inside.

"Combat master? What is that?"

Zhang Xuan was perplexed.

Combat master was a higher order secret of the Master Teacher Pavilion. As such, the books that Zhang Xuan had access to didn't have any details on them, so he wasn't too clear on what it was.

"Err... it's a sub-occupation of master teacher that specializes in combat..."

While explaining the matter regarding combat masters to the other party, Wei Jiang carefully examined the other party's expression.

Noting that the other party didn't seem to be putting on a front, he felt a little perplexed.

He did harbor some doubts that the other party was a combat master before—after all, how else could he possibly defeat nine cultivators with a cultivation higher than his?

He had seen the pitiful state of the master teachers the other party had beaten up. But while their faces were swollen, and it looked rather appalling on the surface, he could tell that the person who pummeled them went easy on them.

As long as they were to apply some medicine to their wounds, they would be as good as new in a day or two.

To be able to go easy while fighting nine master teachers with higher cultivation levels than him... how powerful must he be?

"There's such a branch of master teacher?"

Hearing that there was actually a sub-occupation known as combat master, Zhang Xuan was astonished.

He thought that all master teachers were responsible for imparting knowledge to the masses. To think that there would actually be a branch specializing in combat as well!

It did intrigue him how master teachers could drive away Otherworldly Demons when most of them were immobilized just by the killing intent of the latter.

What Wei shi said had addressed his doubts... the ones in charge of defending mankind weren't the average master teachers but a specialized group that possessed superior fighting prowess!

"Why would Pavilion Master Wei think that I'm a combat master?" Zhang Xuan asked curiously.

"I heard that you were able to easily defeat nine other people who possess higher cultivation than you..." Wei Jiang replied.

"I see!" Coming to a realization, Zhang Xuan shook his head. "I've only heard of this sub-occupation, so I can't possibly be one of their members!"

"Then... do you have a unique constitution?" Wei Jiang asked.

"The reason why I am able to defeat the nine of them is because I was able to see through the flaws in their battle techniques and exploit it against them," Zhang Xuan replied. "It wasn't because of a unique constitution!"

Speaking of unique constitutions, he had three students who possessed them. Honestly speaking, he was a little envious of them.

"Alright then!"

Seeing the other party admitting that he wasn't a combat master and didn't possess a unique constitution, Wei Jiang was slightly disappointed.

If a combat master were to come from Huanyu Empire, it would surely strike its name across the entire world.

Unless awakened, a unique constitution was nearly undetectable. Not even a 5-star high-tier master teacher like him would be able to detect it.

The duo chatted a little longer, but the questions that Wei Jiang had were all adeptly sidestepped by Zhang Xuan.

The reason why Zhang Xuan was able to defeat multiple opponents far above his current cultivation was due to two reasons, the Library of Heaven's Path and Heaven's Path Divine Art, and his ability as a soul oracle.

But these two were secrets that mustn't be made known.

As such, despite Wei Jiang's questions, Zhang Xuan admitted to nothing at all.

A moment later, after realizing that it was impossible for him to gather any useful clues from Zhang Xuan, Wei Jiang could only clasp his fist and bid farewell.

"I've bothered Zhang shi!"

"Don't worry about it!"

Zhang Xuan chuckled lightly in response before walking away.

Not too long after Zhang Xuan left, the door to the room was opened, and Emperor Ye Wentian rushed in with an anxious look.

"How is it?"

"It's unlikely that he has a unique constitution, but... I'm not sure whether he's a combat master or not!" Wei Jiang shook his head.

"Not sure?" Ye Wentian was perplexed.

After a moment of contemplation, Wei Jiang said, "Un. To qualify as a combat master, one has to pass through multiple exams. Zhang shi might be able to defeat those with cultivations above him, but I feel that he's still rather lacking in comparison to a real combat master... Forget it, let's not think about it. I'll report this matter to Hongyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion and leave it to Pavilion Master Mo to make a judgement on this matter!"

With his current standing, he was indeed unqualified to make such judgement.

As such, he decided to simply report this matter and allow the headquarters to make a decision on it.

Ye Wentian pondered for a moment before nodding his head.

"Indeed, it would be best for this matter to be reported to the headquarters!"

Wei Jiang flicked his wrist, and an object that covered his entire palm appeared on his hand. He wrote his report on the object. Then, with a flash of light, the words written disappeared.

The effects of a Communication Token were similar to a Communication Wall, just smaller in scale, thus allowing one to carry it around easily.

Back then, Hong shi also made use of this object to send a message to Mo Gaoyuan.

Weng!

A few moments after the information was sent over to the other side, the Communication Token glowed once more.

"This..."

Seeing the words on the token, Wei Jiang's eyes narrowed in disbelief.

"What did Pavilion Master Mo say?"

Seeing the bewildered expression of his old friend, Ye Wentian frowned.

"Look..."

Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Wei Jiang passed the Communication Token over.

Ye Wentian lowered his head to look at the message written on the Communication Token, and he immediately froze in place as well.

There was only a single line of words written on the Communication Token.

'For the matter regarding Zhang Xuan, do not discuss, ask, or speak of it!'

Hu!

Right after he looked at the words, the words on the Communication Token faded.

"A silence restraint... Could it be that Pavilion Master Mo is acquainted with Zhang shi?"

Ye Wentian narrowed his eyes in shock.

A silence restraint was usually a form of respect a lower ranked master teacher would show to a higher ranked master teacher. Given that Zhang shi was only at 4-star, why would Pavilion Master Mo issue such an order?

Could it be that... Pavilion Master Mo knew Zhang shi beforehand?

Otherwise, why would such a situation occur?

"He must have known the other party in advance. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to give such a response so quickly..."

Wei Jiang nodded in agreement.

While Mo Gaoyuan did pay Myriad Kingdom Alliance a visit, he left right after paying Yang shi a visit. Other than Zhang Xuan, Hong shi, and a few other people, no one was aware of the matter.

Wei Jiang might be Hong shi's teacher, but he wasn't informed of this matter either.

"Then... What should we do?" Ye Wentian asked.

"Since Pavilion Master Mo has made such a decision, let's not speak about it. In any case, Zhang shi is going to enter Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy. If my memory serves me well, the academy has a Combat Master Selection once every five years. It should be starting very soon... If he does possess potential in that aspect, he will surely do well then!" Wei Jiang said.

Ye Wentian nodded his head and sighed.

"Combat Master Selection? Now that you speak of it, there is indeed such a matter... However, for an outsider to join the ranks of the combat masters, he must be a half 5-star master teacher at minimum. Considering how Zhang Xuan is only at Clarifying Turbidity realm pinnacle currently, who knows how long it would take for him to reach Consonant Spirit realm pinnacle!"

Wei Jiang nodded. "Regardless of when he can qualify as a combat master, since Pavilion Master Mo has already sent a silence restraint, let's just remain silent and watch on!"

"You're right!" Ye Wentian replied.

...

While the duo was having their discussion behind closed doors, Zhang Xuan found himself intercepted as soon as he left the crown prince's Eastern Palace.

"Zhang shi, I would like to talk to you privately!"

A slender figure blocked his path.

"Sixth Princess?"

Upon realizing the other party's identity, Zhang Xuan frowned.

It was the Sixth Princess whom he had taken as his maid. Why was she looking for him at such an ungodly hour?

"Un! This isn't a convenient place, follow me!"

Princess Fei-er harrumphed before dashing off in one direction.

But a moment later, she realized that there was no movement behind her. Perplexed, she turned her head around and her body immediately shook in rage.

The young man didn't follow behind her at all! The other party simply placed his hands into the pockets before walking in a completely different direction.

"You... Why didn't you follow me?!" She hurriedly turned around and harrumphed angrily.

"I'm not interested in whatever you have to say!"

Zhang Xuan shrugged.

"You..."

Princess Fei-er's breathing grew agitated, and yet again, she found herself on the verge of erupting.

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Chapter 637: Library of Yellow's Path

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

To think that despite her standing as a princess and her beautiful appearance, the other party would actually ignore her entirely and walk away. Could a person like him even be called a man?

"Fine, we'll talk here then!"

Fearing that the other party would walk away once more, Princess Fei-er gritted her teeth and began talking telepathically. "I didn't know of your aptitude in deciphering stone pillars and lost to you. On that, I've nothing much to say. I did lose the bet fair and square, and I'm willing to acknowledge them... However, I wish to propose another wager. Do you dare accept it?"

Given this fellow's shameless face, how could she have ever expected for him to be a master teacher of such astounding capability?

She was willing to acknowledge her loss in the bet, but what angered her was the other party's demand afterward.

If she didn't rid herself of this 'master-servant' relationship soon, who knew when would this fellow suddenly go insane and command her to serve him wine or massage his legs?

Her pride as her princess would never allow her to do such things. If that was going to be the case, she might as well commit suicide this very instant.

"You still want to wager with me?"

Seeing how this lady refused to give up, even going to the extent of proposing another bet, Zhang Xuan stopped and turned to look at her with a peculiar expression. "As a maid, what rights do you have to propose a wager against me? Also, are you sure you have the capital to do so?"

"You..." Princess Fei-er glared at Zhang Xuan with eyes burning with rage.

If not for this fellow being a master teacher and winning a wager against her, she would have just smacked him to death.

"Alright, if you don't have anything else, I'll be taking my leave. It's already late at night, and I'm exhausted. I don't have the strength to be playing with you!"

Waving his hands casually, Zhang Xuan continued walking toward the living quarters of Hongfeng Empire. However, barely after taking two steps, a gust of air carrying a slight aroma suddenly blew behind him. The Sixth Princess had rushed forward and blocked his path yet again.

Due to her rage, her chest was expanding and contracting rapidly, seemingly intent on squeezing their way through her dress.

"Stop it right there!"

She waved her hands and zhenqi immediately gushed into the air, forming a wall.

"Just because I refused your bet, you decide to force me into it? Despite being a maid, you tried to lay your hands on your master. Don't you have any basic etiquette?" Seeing the lass getting anxious, Zhang Xuan chuckled lightly.

"I've paid you 700 spirit stones to redeem myself for ten days. At the moment, I'm not considered as your... maid!"

Harrumphing coldly, Princess Fei-er waved her hands. "If you provoke me any further, as your senior, surely it is within my rights to teach a junior a lesson!"

The top ten of the respective Master Teacher Tournaments were all given the opportunity to study at Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy. As a Grade 2 student, Princess Fei-er could be considered as Zhang Xuan's senior.

Going by this logic, it was indeed acceptable for her to teach Zhang Xuan a lesson.

After which, Princess Fei-er closed her hands, grabbing at the surrounding air.

She was simply too enraged at the fellow before her.

No matter what, she was determined to teach this fellow a lesson today so that he would know some manners!

Huala!

Through the might of a Transcendent Mortal 6-dan Cosmos Bridge realm cultivator, the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to be drawn in by a bridge, forming a tight barrier that isolated the duo from the world.

She was clearly embarrassed at laying her hands on the other party after losing a bet. Thus, she sealed the space so that no one saw it.

"It's indeed nothing much to teach one's junior a lesson, but... are you sure you want to do this?"

Seeing the other party seal the space, Zhang Xuan glanced at her with a bizarre gaze.

It was just a moment ago that he pummeled a bunch of Consonant Spirit realm cultivators into shouting for their parents. This lady should be well aware that his true fighting prowess was far beyond Clarifying Turbidity realm. To intend to lay her hands on him before such uncertainty, she must be very confident in her strength!

"Stop spouting useless stuff! I'll make sure you obediently have this bet with me!"

Harrumphing coldly, Princess Fei-er rushed up to Zhang Xuan and thrust a palm at him.

Huala!

Zhenqi gushed forth furiously from her palm and formed an intangible horizontal umbrella-like barrier, sealing all possible path of escape for Zhang Xuan. No matter where he tried to escape to, he would only crash into a wall of zhenqi.

Spirit high-tier battle technique, Seal of the Golden Umbrella!

Not only did this technique seal space, it also sealed a person's zhenqi as well, thus limiting one's mobility. On top of that, it was also tinged with the might of one's soul, causing one's opponent to feel immense lethargy.

It seemed she knew that even though her 'junior' may seem weak on the surface, his fighting prowess was astonishing. As such, she immediately executed her strongest attack at the very start of the battle.

"Hehe!"

Zhang Xuan's soul had been tempered by his cultivation of the Heaven's Path Soul Art. Even a Transcendent Mortal 8-dan expert couldn't faze his soul, so how could he possibly be afraid of the other party's attack?

Swiftly flipping through the book compiled on the other party's flaw in the Library of Heaven's Path, Zhang Xuan shook his head and stomped his feet on the ground.

Huala!

Under the might of the stomp, a crack swiftly crept across the ground, causing Princess Fei-er's to lose her balance. This caused the trajectory of her palm to shift slightly, thus creating an opening for Zhang Xuan to avoid her attack.

With a slight tilt of his body, Zhang Xuan dodged the other party's palm. Following which, he clenched his fist tightly and immediately counterattacked with a punch.

While the other party was a Cosmos Bridge realm cultivator, she was still at primary stage. Given that the combined might of Zhang Xuan's soul cultivation and zhenqi cultivation far surpassed the other party's strength, it was hard to tell who would win at this point.

Not expecting the other party to deal with her Seal of the Golden Umbrella with just a simple stomp, Princess Fei-er was taken aback. But even so, she recovered quickly and swiftly returned the other party's fist with another palm strike.

A head-to-head collision!

In her view, no matter how powerful the fellow before her was, he was only a Clarifying Turbidity realm pinnacle cultivator. As a Cosmos Bridge realm cultivator, she couldn't possibly lose to the other party.

Peng!

The collision of the two fists jolted Zhang Xuan's body, and he was forced to retreat several steps to nullify the force. On the other hand, while Princess Fei-er managed to stand her ground, her face was filled with horror as though she had seen a ghost.

She had put her full might behind her battle technique, and she thought that the sheer force would inflict grievous injuries and send the other party flying several dozen meters. Who knew that he would be completely unscathed after taking several steps back...

Was he really at Clarifying Turbidity realm? Why did he seem no weaker than her, a Cosmos Bridge realm primary stage cultivator?

While she was overwhelmed with shock, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"Seems like it's time to upgrade my Heaven's Path Fist Art..."

His Heaven's Path Fist Art was flawless and invincible among those of the same tier... but its might was severely limited by the tier of fist art manuals that he collected.

While he could easily destroy a Spirit low-tier battle technique with his current tier of Heaven's Path First Art, it was hard for him to match up to a Spirit high-tier battle technique.

It was just like how even though a genius in a first grade could achieve full marks even in the hardest exams each time, he might not even pass an average seventh grade exam.

Heaven's Path battle techniques were indeed formidable, but they still had its limitations, especially against battle techniques of a far higher tier than it.

As such, despite his strength being superior to the other party, he was still forced back.

But even so, with this collision, he also got a good grasp on the other party's strength... and he could confidently say that it would be extremely difficult for the other party to defeat him as well.

"Humph!"

Seeing how her younger 'junior' was actually able to stand on equal grounds as her, Princess Fei-er harrumphed coldly and charged forward once more.

"This lass..."

The other party's attacks gradually became faster and more forceful, but at the same time, more reckless as well, as though she had become desperate. Zhang Xuan shook his head. Aiming right at a flaw, Zhang Xuan raised his foot and kicked straight at the other party's chest.

"You... Shameless!"

Seeing that the other party was going to attack her chest, Princess Fei-er cried in anger. She subconsciously cowered backward, causing the divergence in the attack she had just launched. Naturally, yet another flaw appeared with this mistake.

Hu!

Her palm which should have struck Zhang Xuan ended up striking thin air. Panicked, she quickly looked around, but the young man had already vanished from her sight.

"What? Where did he go?

In the blink of an eye, the other party simply vanished from her sight. Taken aback, she quickly tried to look around when her eyes suddenly narrowed. She hurriedly turned around.

However, it was already too late. As the other party's feet connected with her bottom, she felt a dull ache there.

Hu!

With a cry of pain, she flew twenty meters into the air before falling back to the ground. The impact from the fall had created some tears in her elegant clothes, and her face was covered in mud.

At this moment, rather than a princess, she seemed more like a beggar instead.

"You hooligan..." Princess Fei-er cried.

Carrying the royal bloodline, the others wouldn't even dare to defy her words, needless to say, disrespect her.

And yet, this fellow kicked her chest to push her away, and making use of the chance in the opening of her zhenqi barrier, he maneuvered to her back and kicked her bottom...

The heck!

Don't you know that a lady's chest and bottom are not to be hit?

And yet, you actually struck the both of them consecutively... How much more shameless can you get?

The stinging pain on her bottom left her both embarrassed and enraged. Pressing against the ground, she immediately got to her feet and charged forward in a rampage.

At this moment, her anger had already turned into frenzy.

But before she could reach the other party, the other party had sent yet another kick toward her.

Upon seeing where the kick was headed for, Princess Fei-er's lips twitched violently.

The trajectory and timing of the kick were precisely timed to seal off her attack. If she were to continue charging on, she would definitely crash into the other party's kick.

Furthermore... as well as most importantly of all, the region where the kick was headed for was once again... her chest!

"You thug!"

Gritting her teeth tightly, Princess Fei-er thrust her palm against the ground instead, and making use of the momentum, she leaped into the air. Just as she was considering how she should launch her next attack, she felt yet another stinging pain on her bottom.

"You..."

Hu!

Once again, she was sent flying and fed another mouthful of soil.

This time, she crashed much more heavily, and her clothes were torn even more badly. Her face and hair were completely covered with mud.

"Can't you... fight fairly?"

Princess Fei-er was on the verge of tears.

As a man, you shouldn't bully a lady like that! To kick two times consecutively on the bottom, how am I supposed to face others in the future?

Don't you have the slightest morals or etiquette as a master teacher?

"If I were to say that I didn't do it intentionally... would you believe me?"

While she was on the verge of tears, cold sweat was also flowing down Zhang Xuan's back.

While he did possess strength superior to the other party, he was still at a significantly disadvantageous position due to his lower cultivation. Both his speed and reflexes were far beneath those of the other party. Thus, he had no choice but to move according to the flaws listed on the Library of Heaven's Path...

But the attacking regions that the Library of Heaven's Path reflected just had to be the other party's chest and bottom...

Zhang Xuan scratched his head awkwardly... Did he use the wrong library this time around? Could he have accidentally accessed the Library of Yellow's Path instead?

"Fine... I'll have a wager with you, alright?"

Frustrated, Zhang Xuan could only resign himself.

He was better off accepting the wager than continuing with the fight. Otherwise, it wouldn't be long before the other party's clothes were completely ripped and the stinging pain on her bottom prevented her from walking.

And if this were to be made known to others, he would die of embarrassment.

"Wager..."

Princess Fei-er's lips twitched as tears flowed down her cheek.

This is no longer a matter about having a wager or not, alright...

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Chapter 638: Unlucky Wu Zhen (1)

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Seeing the two clear footprints on the lady's bottom, Zhang Xuan said awkwardly, "If we were to continue fighting, I fear that... you might sustain more severe injuries. Let's just forget about it! I'll wager with you whatever you have in your mind..."

He wouldn't be a match for the other party in a normal battle, but if he were to continue resorting to the Library of Heaven's Path, who knew what kind of awkwardness would evolve from it?

He already felt embarrassed kicking the other party twice on the bottom. Even if his skin was thick, he couldn't bring himself to do it anymore.

"Alright!"

While Princess Fei-er was so angry that she could tear out her hair at this very instant, she knew that she would be the one in a disadvantageous position should the fight continue. Thus, she took a deep breath and nodded.

But even so, the flames in her pitch-black eyes continued to blaze, seemingly searing the hateful man with her gaze.

"Since we're both heading to the Cleansing Lake tomorrow, let's have a wager on it!" Princess Fei-er said.

"That's fine by me. How do you want to do it?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"You should be aware that the Lake Eyes of the Cleansing Lake have a limited pool of spiritual energy. In truth, the three days limit given is only a rough estimation. Due to the differing cultivation speed of different cultivators, those entering the Cleansing Lake will be given a 'Spirit Cleansing Incense'!"

Princess Fei-er continued, saying, "The Spirit Cleansing Incense can detect the concentration of the spiritual energy in the Lake Eye, and it will burn down at differing rates depending on the rate of depletion of spiritual energy. An average rate is one incense a day, so the three days estimate approximates to three incense sticks. Regardless of which Lake Eye one was in, once the three incense sticks burn out, one must leave its premises immediately."

Given that there's a fixed amount of spiritual energy in each Lake Eye and that every cultivator had a different rate of cultivation, the approximation of three days wouldn't hold for everyone. As such, a more accurate way of detecting the depletion of spiritual energy in the Lake Eye was required so that the cultivators inside wouldn't be exposed to danger—the Spirit Cleansing Incense.

These incenses would start burning immediately once they are put inside the Cleansing Lake, and based on the rate of depletion of spiritual energy in the Lake Eye, they could burn down at differing paces. Once three incense sticks had burned out, one had to leave immediately. This was a rule that had been set long ago, and no one was allowed to break it.

This had been explained back at the banquet, so Zhang Xuan knew about it too.

"So... our wager is very simple. Tomorrow afternoon, we'll enter the Cleansing Lake at the same time, and whoever's Spirit Cleansing Incense burns out first will be the winner!" Princess Fei-er said.

"Whoever's Spirit Cleansing Incense burns out first will be the winner?" Not expecting this to be the wager, Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

The rate at which the Spirit Cleansing Incense burned down was proportionate to the rate of one's absorption of the spiritual energy the Lake Eye. And to absorb the spiritual energy from the Lake Eye swiftly, a strong soul was required.

To put it simply... the stronger one's soul was, the faster one's Spirit Cleansing Incense would burn.

As a Cosmos Bridge realm expert, the other party's soul had undergone the nourishment in the Consonant Spirit realm. Clearly, the other party was taking advantage of Zhang Xuan for possessing a cultivation of only Clarifying Turbidity realm and thus having a weaker soul than her...

Just that... She would have never imagined that she was gravely mistaken. Not only was his soul not weak, it was far stronger than hers!

Having cultivated the Heaven's Path Soul Art, his soul could already operate independently from his body. In a battle of absorption of spiritual energy from the Cleansing Lake, not even a Transcendent Mortal 8-dan expert would be a match for him.

"Are you certain you want to wager on this?"

Zhang Xuan looked at her with pity.

With such a wager, she was destined to lose.

"Indeed! Why? You were still so gleeful a moment ago, are you chickening out now?" Princess Fei-er spoke confidently.

"This..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head. "Fine, let's talk about the bets then!"

"Simple. If I win, I'll no longer be your maid anymore, and I won't owe you any spirit stones either! On the other hand, if you win... I'll pay you another ten thousand spirit stones... or remain your maid for another five months. How about it?" Princess Fei-er said.

"Remain my maid for another five months? There's no need for that..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head without any hesitation.

Honestly, he didn't need a maid at all, needless to say, he definitely didn't need a proud princess like the other party. Back then, he had only raised the matter to get even with the other party. In terms of practicality, spirit stones were definitely far superior.

Hearing the other party shooting down her offer, Princess Fei-er gritted her teeth in anger.

"What else do you want? Do you expect me to marry you?"

"Marry me?" Zhang Xuan was stunned. "You wish!"

"You..."

Princess Fei-er grabbed her hair in a frenzy.

There were countless master teachers in the Master Teacher Academy who were dying to win her fancy, and yet this fellow actually scorned at the thought of being married to her... Who do you think you are?

"I don't need you to become my maid for another five months, just give me ten thousand spirit stones if you lose!" Zhang Xuan waved his hands.

"Fine, that's a deal..."

With clenched jaws, Princess Fei-er stomped away.

She really couldn't stand talking to this fellow for a second longer. She feared that she might just suffer a heart attack on the spot and die.

Sneaking through the premises, she managed to reach her living quarters without being seen when Luo Qiqi suddenly walked up to her. Upon seeing her unkempt state, the other party was dumbfounded. "What happened?"

At the current moment, Princess Fei-er's clothes were ripped at several parts, revealing her snowy skin. Her hair and face had clumps of mud sticking onto it, as though she had been rolling on the ground. She looked extremely scruffy at this current moment.

"It's nothing much... I suffered some injuries, so I might need you to apply some recovery medicine to me later on!" Princess Fei-er said.

She lost a bet fair and square, and yet she went to confront the other party and even attacked him... It would still be fine if she succeeded, but she ended up being beaten up instead. Even her bottom had swollen up due to being kicked...

She would rather die than tell anyone of this shameful affair!

"You're injured?" Luo Qiqi frowned. "Who did it?"

"I said that I'm fine! Just apply the medicine for me..." Princess Fei-er's face flushed.

"Alright."

Seeing that the other party was unwilling to talk about it, Luo Qiqi didn't push on either. "If it's superficial wounds, I happen to have a bottle of 'Bloodwillow Balm' forged by Dean Lu of the Apothecary School. It is exceptionally effective on external wounds, so it should get you healed up for tomorrow's Cleansing Lake!"

"There's no need for that, Wu Zhen just gave up a bottle of Saint recovery medicine. He said that it can heal any external wound, no matter how severe, within moments... Help me apply some!"

Princess Fei-er flicked her wrist and took out a wine gourd.

While she was a little embarrassed to have the other party apply the medicinal wine on her, especially on her bottom, it was much better than suffering and limping around.

"Saint recovery medicine?"

Luo Qiqi was taken aback.

"Un. It's said to be a gift from one of the Vassal States. They tested it out on the spot and it was shown to be extremely effective. Even a bleeding wound can be healed instantly with it!" Princess Fei-er said. "He insisted that I should accept it. Let's see whether it lives up to the rumors then!"

"There's actually such a formidable medicine?" Luo Qiqi commented in awe as she entered the room with Princess Fei-er.

But not too longer later, a shout of agony reminiscent of a pig being butchered echoed out of their room. Following which, Princess Fei-er's furious howl echoed across the entire mansion.

"AHHH... WU ZHEN, TO HELL WITH YOU!"

With a doubtful expression, Wu Zhen looked out from his door.

"Who called for me?"

...

After parting with Princess Fei-er, Zhang Xuan returned to his own room.

He took out the Glacier Rain Sword and had it acknowledge him as its master. Giving the sword a try, he found it to be very handy.

After which, he put the sword away, sat down, and began conditioning his body to recuperate from the immense exertion from the previous two battles a moment ago. But soon, perhaps it was the exhaustion from flying for more than a month catching up with him, he soon fell into a deep sleep.

When he finally opened his eyes once more, it was already daylight. As soon as he walked out from his room, Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai immediately walked up to him with an agitated expression which reflected both excitement and gratitude.

After returning back to their rooms last night, they immediately consumed the Consonant Spirit Pill given to them and successfully achieved a breakthrough to Consonant Spirit realm intermediate stage.

While it was only one small cultivation realm, their souls had become much stronger, and their zhenqi had grown denser as well.

And all of this was thanks to the young man before them.

After eating breakfast, Hong shi walked over and said, "Let's go to the royal palace. The Cleansing Lake is opening today, so we'll have to hurry!"

Hongfeng Empire had performed exceptionally in deciding the distribution of slots this time around, crushing the other three Vassal States. This had left him excited and motivated.

The royal palace was much grander and larger than the crown prince's Eastern Palace. Its resplendent design carried a strong hint of authority which brought out a solemn atmosphere in the area. Those who entered would find a pressure pressing down against them, inducing deference in them.

Under the lead of two eunuchs, they walked into the main hall of the royal palace. Luo Zhao, Feng Yu, and the others had already arrived at this point.

After a night of recuperation, everyone seemed to look much better. However, if one were to take a closer look, the swelling and wounds were still visible.

While one's physical body would grow stronger along with the rise in one's cultivation, one's recovery ability would slow in contrast.

While they did possess precious recovery medicine, its effectiveness pale far in comparison to Zhang Xuan's zhenqi, which could heal any wounds instantaneously.

"Hmm? What's with that fellow?"

It wasn't surprising to see injuries on them, but there was one who did leave Zhang Xuan a little taken aback.

For some reason, Wu Zhen, who had sat beside the crown prince last night and accepted everyone's gifts, had a black eye on his face. There were distinct hints of swelling which indicated that he had suffered a vicious beating by someone last night.

Given that he was a talented student of the Master Teacher Academy, a figure whom even Emperor Ye Wentian and Crown Prince Ye Qian had to regard with the utmost respect, who would dare to lay their hands on him, not to mention, reduce him to such a tragic state?

Zhang Xuan wasn't the only one who was surprised by the turn of events. Perplexed gazes from the others in the main hall would fall on him from time to time as well.

At that moment, Wu Zhen noticed Zhang Xuan and stomped over angrily.

"Zhang shi... I have something I would like to ask you!"

"Paying respect to Wu shi!"

Zhang Xuan clasped his fist.

"Don't give me this nonsense. Tell me, what's wrong with this medicinal wine?" Flicking his wrist, Wu shi took out the wine gourd angrily.

While this fellow claimed that this was a gift from Hong shi, he could tell that Zhang shi was surely involved in this matter.

"This medicinal wine?"

Zhang Xuan froze for a moment before coming to a realization. "You used it?"

This 'medicinal wine' was in fact just plain white wine. The only reason why it could heal injuries previously was due to him infusing his zhenqi in. But as time passed, the zhenqi would slowly dissipate, and thus, the healing property would gradually fade.

It seemed like this fellow had used it and it was ineffective.

"I wasn't the one who used it... but it's completely ineffective!"

The more Wu Zhen thought about it, the angrier he felt.

When he heard the Sixth Princess calling for him yesterday, he excitedly ran over, thinking that the other party wanted to reward him for giving her the medicinal wine. Who knew that he would only be viciously beaten up instead? Only then did he realize that the medicinal wine was completely ineffective.

The more he thought about this matter, the more furious he felt. Thus, he stomped straight up to Zhang Xuan as soon as he saw him.

"How could it be ineffective? Let me take a look. Alright, since your face is injured, why don't you give it a try?"

How could Zhang Xuan possibly admit to it, especially given how angry the other party was? Thus, grabbing hold of the medicinal wine, he shook it and infused a surge of zhenqi into it.

"Give it a try?" Wu Zhen thought that the other party would surely tremble in fear upon being confronted, but seeing the calmness on the other party's face, he frowned.

"Un, here..."

Passing the medicinal gourd over, Zhang Xuan said. "Since you doubt its effectiveness, you should try drinking it!"

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Chapter 639: Unlucky Wu Zhen (2)

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"Drink it?" Wu Zhen was taken aback. "Shouldn't this medicinal wine of yours be applied externally?"

Last night, when Bi shi's arm was stabbed by a dagger, his injuries healed just by applying the medicinal wine externally. Since that was the case, why was he so special that he needed to consume the medicinal wine then?

"Depending on the type of injury, one needs to either apply it externally or consume it. If one chooses the wrong method, not only will it be ineffective, it might even worsen the injury!" Zhang Xuan casually explained.

Since there wasn't much 'medicinal wine' left in the gourd, Zhang Xuan decided to push on with the story. In any case, by the time the other party realized that something was wrong, the medicinal wine would have already finished, so any investigation done was bound to end inconclusive.

"There's such a matter?" Wu Zhen was in disbelief.

"You did see me use the medicinal wine last night, and it was extremely effective... The only plausible explanation to its ineffectiveness is that you must have used it wrongly!" Zhang Xuan said without the slightest hint of embarrassment on his face. "Like you said, you weren't the one using it. Most probably, the person who used the medicinal wine must have been confused between the two, resulting in the ineffectiveness of the medicinal wine!"

"Is that the case?" Wu Zhen was still slightly doubtful.

"Please, take a sip!" Zhang Xuan smiled.

"Alright then. If it proves to be ineffective, just wait and see how I take care of you!"

Harrumphing coldly, Wu Zhen picked up the wine gourd and took a sip.

As soon as the wine flowed down his throat, he immediately felt a warm surge of energy flowing through his bloodstream across his entire body. A moment later, the aching and swelling disappeared without a trace.

"This..."

Wu Zhen's eyes widened in disbelief.

Only upon trying it personally did he realize how incredible this Saint recovery medicine was.

He was beaten up to a pathetic state last night, and he had tried applying the medicinal wine to his injuries, but it was completely ineffective. In the end, he had to use his own recovery medicine, but due to its limited effectiveness, he wasn't able to make a full recovery. As such, here he was in the royal palace with a swollen eye.

Thus, he thought that Zhang shi's Saint recovery medicine was a fake, but who knew that it would possess such astounding healing ability?

Within moments of consuming the Saint recovery medicine, his injuries disappeared instantly... This was too incredible!

"I wasn't lying, see?"

Seeing that the other party's injuries had healed, Zhang Xuan nodded his head. "Without a doubt, the other party must have used the medicinal wine incorrectly. Why don't you ask them where they are injured, I'll help you analyze whether they should apply the medicinal wine externally or consume it."

"Alright!" After a moment of hesitation, Wu Zhen nodded.

His credibility was at stake here. No matter what, he had to clarify the matter, or else he might just end up being labeled as a 'fraudster' for his entire life.

With the medicinal wine in hand, Wu Zhen immediately walked over to the Sixth Princess and clasped his fist.

"Sixth Princess, you've blamed me wrongly. It's not that this medicinal wine was ineffective but that you've used it in the wrong manner!"

After receiving Zhang shi's reassurance, Wu Zhen was filled with confidence.

"Used it wrong?" The Sixth Princess had seen this fellow talking with Zhang shi privately, and she frowned upon hearing those words.

"Indeed. You just have to show me where you're injured, and I'll immediately tell you whether you should apply it externally or consume it. I guarantee that you'll heal in an instant!"

Wu Zhen tilted his head up proudly, glad that he would be winning back his credibility.

"Where I am injured? And I have to show you at that?"

The Sixth Princess's face immediately turned scarlet in embarrassment.

The heck, are you doing it on purpose?

My injuries were caused by Zhang shi, and after chatting with him, you came over here and asked me to give you a look at my injuries...

In other words, you're saying that you want to look at my... bottom?

"That's right. As long as I know the region and severity of your injury, I'll be able to confirm for you whether you should apply the medicinal wine externally or consume it. You must have used it the wrong way yesterday for it to be ineffective..."

Wu Zhen chuckled as he explained the matter to let the other party know that she had blamed him wrongly for the matter yesterday. However, halfway through his words, his sight suddenly turned dark. A slap was flying straight toward him.

Pah!

The slap caused a crisp echo in the main hall. Wu Zhen spun twice on the spot before regaining his balance. He was completely dumbfounded by the situation before him.

"You want to take a look? Why don't I send you to meet your maker..."

With a livid face, Sixth Princess sent a kick straight toward the fellow before her.

Peng!

Before Wu Zhen could process what was going on, he was already struck in the abdomen and was sent crashing onto the ground.

"Sixth Princess, why did you hit me? What did I do..." Wu Zhen cried.

He had given the valuable medicinal wine, which he couldn't even bear to use, to the other party out of goodwill, thinking that he could win the other party's fancy with this. In the end, he only ended up being beaten up. After clarifying the reason and testing it out himself, he came over to redeem himself, only to be pummeled once more...

Can anyone tell me what is going on?

How in the world did my kind gesture end up like that?

Wu Zhen crawled up to his feet, only to see the Sixth Princess rushing forward angrily to continue beating him up. Frightened, Wu Zhen hurriedly plead for help.

"Qiqi, please help me talk to Sixth Princess..."

"To dare to tease even Sixth Princess, you deserve it!" Luo Qiqi harrumphed.

She had heard the previous conversation as well. The fellow before her actually asked to look at the Sixth Princess's bottom! Even if he were to be executed on the spot, he would still be getting off lightly.

"Wu Zhen, how dare you tease Sixth Princess! You're courting death!"

At this moment, Xing Yuan also finally realized what Wu Zhen was up to, and he immediately rubbed his palms, preparing to give the latter the beating of his life.

He was the most loyal fan of the Sixth Princess, and he had followed her everywhere... To dare to tease the Sixth Princess before my eyes, you must be thinking that I'm invisible!

"..." Wu Zhen burst into tears.

I... really intended nothing more than goodwill...

"This..."

Seeing that Wu Zhen was pummeled viciously, Zhang Xuan scratched his head in bewilderment.

As expected of the geniuses of the Master Teacher Academy, their thoughts truly couldn't be interpreted using common sense.

...

"Cough cough! Since everyone is here, let's head to the Cleansing Lake!"

Eventually, Emperor Ye Wentian couldn't watch on any longer so he interjected in the fight among the few geniuses.

"Let's go!"

Knowing that it was no longer early, everyone hurriedly followed him to the Cleansing Lake.

The Cleansing Lake wasn't in the royal palace nor within the boundaries of Huanyu Capital. Instead, it was located in the intersection between Verdant Mountain and Dragon-scaled River a distance away from the capital. The location was heavily guarded by the personal guards of the royal family.

The group rode on the aerial beasts prepared for them, and after half an hour of flight, a land filled with spiritual energy appeared before their sight.

The Verdant Mountain resembled an immense dragon lying on the ground whereas the Dragon-scaled River was reminiscent of a river of stars embedded on the ground.

Poets had once described this scenery as 'a dragon sipping from the winding river of stars'.

It was apparent that this land was a natural Spirit Gathering Formation with just a single look. Furthermore, under the suppression of the majestic aura of a dragon, the spiritual energy in the surroundings was gentle and nourishing to the soul.

"Incredible!"

With just a glance, Zhang Xuan's eyes immediately lit up.

It was no wonder why this could become the foundation of a Tier 2 Empire. The Cleansing Lake was indeed formidable.

It was far superior to the Spirit Gather Formation that he made.

The spirit beast gradually descended to the ground.

"The Cleansing Lake is up ahead. Before entering, I'll give everyone a Spirit Cleansing Incense as per the slots and duration agreed on previously!" Ye Wentian instructed.

As he said so, a guard walked over with thirty Spirit Cleansing Incense in hand.

The Spirit Cleansing Incense was made of a material very different from ordinary incense. From afar, it looked like it was made of some kind of metal. It could float on water, and it would begin burning upon coming into contact with the Cleansing Lake.

As the Hongfeng Empire had three Lake Eyes to themselves, they were given nine Spirit Cleansing Incense, and of which, Zhang Xuan took three.

Since one could only remain in a Lake Eye for three days, three incense sticks were sufficient for him.

By the time the Spirit Cleansing Incense was distributed, it was almost afternoon.

Seeing that the Cleansing Lake was just about to be opened, Zhang Xuan followed behind Ye Qian to the Lake Eyes when someone suddenly called out to him from behind.

"Zhang shi, I need to talk to you!"

Turning around, he saw Xing Yuan right behind him.

It was Wu Zhen a moment ago, and now it was this fellow. What were they up to?

But even so, seeing the anxious look on the other party's face, Zhang Xuan decided to listen to what he had to say.

Thus, the duo moved to a corner beyond the sight of the others.

After which, Xing Yuan jumped straight to the point. "I know that you've made a wager with Sixth Princess!"

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan didn't deny the matter.

The first time they made a bet at the Mystical Treasure Hall, this fellow was right there, and the other party personally saw his beloved Sixth Princess turning into his maid.

"I want you to lose, and make sure that Sixth Princess doesn't notice it!" Xing Yuan said.

"Admit defeat?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

He was wondering what favor the other party was going to ask of him, but to think that it would be for him to admit defeat.

"Indeed. As long as you admit defeat, I'll accede to any request you have!"

Xing Yuan harrumphed.

"Any request I have?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Xing Yuan nodded.

"That's right!"

"Alright. I'm sure you know that ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones are at stake in my wager with Sixth Princess. Since that's the wager... if you can give me two high-tier spirit stones to compensate my loss, I don't mind admitting my defeat!" Zhang Xuan said calmly.

The Sixth Princess owed him ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones from the very start, and the bet at stake also involved another ten thousand. As such, that added up to twenty thousand, which was equivalent to two high-tier spirit stones.

He could easily control the speed at which he could absorb the spiritual energy in the Cleansing Lake. If he could earn two high-tier spirit stones from this matter, it would be a huge profit.

While a high-tier spirit stone was theoretically worth ten thousand middle-tier spirit stones, there were very few who would be willing to trade a high-tier spirit stone. As such, even if Zhang Xuan were to obtain twenty thousand middle-tier spirit stones, chances were that he wouldn't be able to get two high-tier spirit stones in exchange for it.

"Two high-tier spirit stone?"

Xing Yuan's lips twitched.

Even with his background, it wouldn't be easy for him to produce two high-tier spirit stones for a bet.

"Since you're unwilling to accept my offer, forget it then... In any case, if Sixth Princess loses, she will have to compensate me a total of twenty thousand middle-tier spirit stones anyway..." Zhang Xuan said.

Even though twenty thousand middle-tier spirit stones couldn't compare to two high-tier spirit stone, at the very least, he wouldn't be making a loss.

"Fine, I'll agree to your request!"

Xing Yuan gritted his teeth. "As long as you do you've as promised, I'll give you two high-tier spirit stones when we return to the academy. However... as promised, you mustn't reveal this matter to anyone!"

"Deal!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

To earn two high-tier spirit stones with less than three days of effort, this deal was highly beneficial to Zhang Xuan.

On top of that, he could also avoid offending Xing Yuan while placating the Sixth Princess.

Just as the duo was done negotiating, a violent rumbling sounded, and dense spiritual energy suddenly gushed into the surroundings. It was as if a massive Spirit Gathering Formation had just come to life.

"Look!" someone amidst the crowd suddenly exclaimed.

Everyone turned their gazes over and saw a pillar of concentrated spiritual energy bursting into the heavens. A refreshing gust of wind infused densely with spiritual energy blew at the crowd. With just a slight inhalation, one could feel one's soul trembling with excitement, as though the road to achieving a breakthrough was within their reach.

At the empty grounds in the distance, a massive lake slowly surfaced. Spiritual energy currents reminiscent of massive dragons roared furiously in it, as though they were going to soar into the heavens at any moment.

Ten depressions of similar sizes could be seen around the lake. They were all of a radius of two meters, and they sat silently as though massive gemstones embedded on top of a tiara.

"The Cleansing Lake... is open!"

Upon seeing this sight, everyone clenched their fists tightly.

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Chapter 640: Cheating?

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

The main purpose of visiting Huanyu Empire was for the Cleansing Lake. After such a long wait, under everyone's expectant gazes, the Cleansing Lake finally opened.

"Let's go over!"

Without wasting any time, Zhang Xuan and Xing Yuan hurried over to the crowd.

Seeing the raging currents within the Cleansing Lake, everyone immediately realized that Ye Qian wasn't over-exaggerating at all.

The massive waves within the lake did emanate concentrated spiritual energy, but the energy flowing within it was also frightening in itself. Anyone who dares to enter it recklessly would surely be crushed into bits.

"Look!"

Amidst everyone's astonished gaze, Ye Wentian flicked his wrist, took out a Spirit intermediate-tier weapon, and threw it into the lake.

Kacha!

In the blink of an eye, the weapon which even a Transcendent Mortal 8-dan expert would find difficult to destroy melted into a mass of liquid, which then sank to the bottom of the lake.

"This..."

Everyone's faces twitched in fear.

Even though their physical resilience was far above ordinary humans, how could they possibly compare to a Spirit intermediate-tier weapon? If even such a tough weapon was reduced to a puddle in the lake instantaneously, they could already see themselves turning to dust should they enter it.

It was no wonder Crown Prince Ye Qian said that even a Transcendent Mortal 8-dan expert wouldn't survive in the Cleansing Lake. Those words indeed rang true.

Ye Wentian wrapped it up with a warning.

"Given how violent the lake water is, I suggest everyone to cultivate calmly within the Lake Eye and not to venture beyond it. Otherwise, even a deity wouldn't be able to save you!"

"Don't worry, we won't get reckless!"

"We cultivate to grow stronger, not to die. Your Majesty need not worry about this matter!"

"That's too scary! There's no way we'll take such a risk..."

...

Everyone hurriedly shook their heads.

Given even a Spirit intermediate-tier weapon was reduced into a puddle in an instant, who would possibly dare to venture into that fearsome lake?

"Alright. Everyone, pick a Lake Eye. The ten Lake Eyes possess equivalent effectiveness, so there's no need to worry. If it's preferable, those from the same Vassal State can choose to remain together in order to look after one another..."

Ye Wentian waved his hands and said no more.

Since the ten Lake Eyes had the same effectiveness, there was no difference between picking one over the other.

Zhang Xuan scanned the Lake Eyes for a moment before walking over to a cluster of Lake Eyes closest to the lake with Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai.

The furthest Lake Eyes in the Cleansing Lake were shrouded with thick mist produced by the concentrated spiritual energy in the region. Even a Transcendent Mortal 8-dan expert would find it hard to see through the mist. Zhang Xuan had specifically picked this region so that no one would be able to see him as he cultivated, especially since he intended to keep the Heaven's Path cultivation techniques a secret.

"Let's cultivate here!"

After finding the region where the spiritual energy and mist were the thickest, Zhang Xuan stopped and turned around to instruct Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai. "You two should cultivate at these two Lake Eyes. This way, if anything happens, we can help one another!"

"Alright!"

The duo nodded, and just as they were about to enter with the Spirit Cleansing Incense in their hands, they heard a shout.

"The two of you, pick another Lake Eye!"

Turning around, Zhang Xuan saw Princess Fei-er and Luo Qiqi walking over.

"We..."

Seeing that a princess was actually vying for their spot, Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai were stumped.

"The two of you should take the Lake Eyes over there. We hope to get a position closer to teacher!" Luo Qiqi said.

"That... Yes!"

Given that this was an order from Princess Fei-er and Luo Qiqi, they dared not talk back. Thus, they quickly rushed over to the other Lake Eyes.

In any case, since the Lake Eyes were all equal, it didn't matter where they were cultivating.

Noticing Zhang Xuan's gaze on her, Princess Fei-er harrumphed.

"Humph, you need not think too highly of yourself. Since we have a wager on, I want to check if you are cheating!"

"Think too highly of myself? I say you're thinking too much."

Zhang Xuan shook his head. "I'm just trying to see which nerves of yours have turned psychotic..."

"You..."

Princess Fei-er clenched her jaws angrily. "You won't stay gleeful for long. Your sharp words won't help you in the Cleansing Lake!"

Flinging her sleeves, Princess Fei-er leaped into the Lake Eye without any hesitation.

The Spirit Cleansing Incense that she was holding immediately floated to the water surface and lit up. A wisp of smoke began drifting into the air.

Hu hu hu!

Closing her eyes, Princess Fei-er began to cultivate. The spiritual energy in the Lake Eye seemed to flow faster and faster into her with each breath. At the same time, the smoke drifting from the Spirit Cleansing Incense thickened as it started to burn down even more swiftly.

Seeing how this lass dived straight into cultivating just to defeat him, Zhang Xuan shook his head and jumped into a Lake Eye himself.

Luo Qiqi also jumped into a Lake Eye, picking one that would flank Zhang Xuan between her and Princess Fei-er.

While Zhang laoshi was her apothecary teacher, it hadn't been long since the both of them met, so they were naturally not close enough for her to be coming over to cultivate with him. The only reason why she came here was to prevent a fight between her good friend and her teacher.

Princess Fei-er was obstinate, proud, and hated losing. If the two of them were to be left alone, who knew what would happen? As such, Luo Qiqi decided to tag along so that she could intervene if a fight were to occur.

Otherwise, the situation yesterday might just happen once more.

While the Sixth Princess didn't reveal the culprit behind the two footprints on her bottom, it wasn't too difficult to deduce from her words that it had something to do with this apothecary teacher of hers.

Usually, one would first strip their clothes before entering the Cleaning Lake. However, due to being in a public location, the two ladies decided against it. Even so, their drenched clothes that stuck to their skin still shaped out the beautiful curvature of their bodies.

Zhang Xuan glanced around for a moment before calming his mind. After which, he placed a Spirit Cleansing Incense into the lake and began to cultivate.

Closing his eyes, he immediately felt a surge of concentrated spiritual energy flowing through his entire body via his meridians and eventually nourishing his soul. A feeling of relaxation slowly spread across his entire body.

"This rate of absorption is too slow..."

After a moment later, Zhang Xuan realized that even though the spiritual energy in the Lake Eye was highly beneficial to his soul, it had to go through his body first, and this significantly weakened the effectiveness of the spiritual energy, as well as lowering the rate of absorption.

Furthermore, the body acted like a shackle whereas the soul was like a cotton inside the steel cage. Even the slightest growth had to take a painful amount of time.

A thought surfaced in Zhang Xuan's mind.

"Can't I just draw my soul out and absorb the spiritual energy directly?"

With his soul in his body, the body would become a natural barrier limiting the absorption of spiritual energy by it. However... what if he could draw his soul out and absorb the spiritual energy directly?

Would his rate of cultivation improve?

"I should give it a try."

With this in mind, he took a look around and confirmed that the two ladies around him were currently deep in their cultivation and that there was no one who could see what he was doing. After which, he activated the Soul Guiding Method and drew a soul that was perfectly identical to him in appearance from his glabella.

As soon as his soul entered the Lake Eye, dense spiritual energy immediately gushed into his soul, leaving him revitalized.

"Indeed, this is much more efficient!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

He hadn't even started cultivating yet and the rate at which the spiritual energy was nourishing his soul was already faster than before. Closing his eyes, Zhang Xuan immediately drove the Heaven's Path Soul Art and began pulling in the spiritual energy from the air frenziedly.

Hong long long!

The entire Lake Eye began to shake. Concentrated spiritual energy rushed toward his soul, causing the size of his soul to grow gradually.

As his Heaven's Path Soul Art was only up to Transcendent Mortal 5-dan, he was unable to advance on to 6-dan. As such, the spiritual energy began to build on his soul instead, causing the size of his soul to grow bigger and bigger.

To make an analogy, it was just like water and mercury.

A difference in cultivation realm was qualitative, such as the difference between the two liquids.

However, even among fellow 'water', a tub of water and a lake of water were different—a difference in quantity.

While Zhang Xuan wasn't able to advance his soul cultivation to Transcendent Mortal 6-dan yet, he could make his Transcendent Mortal 5-dan soul grow stronger by piling up more soul energy.

"Hmm?"

As Zhang Xuan started to absorb spiritual energy frenziedly, Princess Fei-er suddenly felt an irregularity in the surrounding spiritual energy. She immediately turned her gaze to the side, and the scene she saw left her on the verge of fainting.

Two of the Spirit Cleansing Incense by Zhang Xuan's side had already burned out, and the third one seemed to be on the verge of burning out as well.

Are you for real?

How long... has it been?

Five minutes? Or was it ten minutes?

The Spirit Cleansing Incense was meant to be depleted within three days, and yet you are going to finish in within five minutes?

Is there a black hole within you?

Princess Fei-er's body trembled, and the urge to spew blood welled up in her.

She thought that as a Transcendent Mortal 6-dan expert with a far stronger soul than the other party, the other party stood no chance at all... Who could have known that right after she started, when she had yet to burn off the tip of the first Spirit Cleansing Incense, the other party was already about to finish all three incenses...

Did you need to be so exaggerated?

How am I supposed to compete with that? Am I going to lose?

"What's going on?"

Luo Qiqi was also alarmed by the agitation in the spiritual energy in the air. Upon seeing Zhang Xuan's Spirit Cleansing Incense, she nearly died from shock. "His incense..."

"He's already about to finish absorbing all of the spiritual energy in the Lake Eye. How am I supposed to compete against that?"

Princess Fei-er was on the verge of tears.

"This..."

Luo Qiqi scratched her head.

Neither of them was a soul oracle, and they did not possess the Eye of Insight either. With his soul hidden beneath the water and shrouded by the spiritual energy in the surroundings, it was impossible for them to notice it. From afar, it looked as though he was cultivating normally.

"Hmm?"

Hearing the discussion between the duo, Zhang Xuan stopped his cultivation, and his soul returned back to his physical body. Lifting his gaze to look at his Spirit Cleansing Incense, he nearly leaped in shock.

Frowning, Zhang Xuan bellowed, "Who stole my Spirit Cleansing Incense?"

He was certain he had three incense a moment ago, how could there only be one left in the blink of an eye? Someone must have stolen his incense!

"Stole?"

The two ladies were rendered speechless.

"You were the one who burned them out..."

"Me?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback. "That can't be. If there is so little spiritual energy in here, how could it possibly be sufficient for three days?"

Zhang Xuan had barely started absorbing when the spiritual energy was already about to run out. Was this for real?

He was still intending to make use of this Cleansing Lake to boost his cultivation significantly. Yet, his training session was already nearing its end, almost before he'd even started... Must the situation be so damned?

"So little?"

Hearing the other party's words, both Princess Fei-er and Luo Qiqi's eyebrows twitched violently.

They had also tried cultivating as well, and while the Lake Eye might be small, it was extremely rich in spiritual energy. It felt as though no matter how hard they cultivated, it would never run out. Only a monster like you would think that it was lacking in spiritual energy!

"Teacher, it is probably due to you absorbing the spiritual energy a little too fast... How did you do it?" Luo Qiqi couldn't help but question him.

When Zhang laoshi began to cultivate previously, the Lake Eye began bubbling and the spiritual energy in the surroundings grew agitated—these were signs of spiritual energy being rapidly absorbed. To think that not only would a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan pinnacle cultivator be capable of absorbing spiritual energy to nourish his soul, he would also be able to cultivate so swiftly...

How did he do it?

"Indeed. Are you cheating?"

Princess Fei-er's eyebrows shot up.

Even a Grade 2 top student like Luo Qiqi couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Could this fellow be cheating?

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