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 833: Ancient Secret - Read Library of Heaven's Path Chapter 833: Ancient Secret Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

Chapter 833: Ancient Secret

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Amid chatter, the Great Violetwing Beast eventually arrived at the foot of a mountain and landed. Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxin stepped off its back and watched it leave into the distance before following the crowd on the path up the mountain.

With the master teacher emblem pinned on their chests, there wasn't anyone who hindered their path.

After taking a few steps, Luo Ruoxin gestured to her surroundings. "Recorded along this path are the insights and comprehension of cultivation that countless predecessors have left behind after paying the Saint Ascension Platform a visit."

Taking a closer look at the cliff face by the side, there were indeed all kinds of inscriptions on it.

There were two main reasons master teachers would make a pilgrimage there. One was to pay respects to the honorable Kong shi, and the second was to utilize the lingering aura around the Saint Ascension Platform to achieve a breakthrough to Sainthood. Just as there were those who failed, there were also those who succeeded.

Out of sheer delight, those who had succeeded would usually record the insights they had upon breaking through so that future generations could refer to them, and perhaps, take the final step across the threshold as well.

Of course, each insight was only based on the individual's comprehension, so they might not be applicable to everyone. Nevertheless, over the course of many years, countless insights had accumulated on the cliff faces, making them a valuable source of inspiration.

Most of these detailed the methods and the sensations experienced upon achieving breakthroughs to Half-Saint, Nascent Saint, and even Saint realm. Quite a few pilgrims had stopped in their footsteps to study them carefully, mesmerized by the content.

"There are too many insights here. It will take me at least a month to read finish all of them..."

In the several dozen millennia since Kong shi's ascension to Sainthood, countless experts had visited the Saint Ascension Platform, and the writing extended all the way to the various mountains in the vicinity. Even with Zhang Xuan's photographic memory, it would still take at least a month for him to see all of the insights.

Glancing at the cultivators who were studying the writing intently, Luo Ruoxin shook her head. "Each cultivator has their own unique constitution, cultivation technique, and personality. Due to these differences, what they require to achieve a breakthrough also differed from one another. These insights may seem like a valuable source of inspiration, but if one were to read too many of them, one might lose sight of what is important and descend into confusion instead!"

As useful as the writing might be, it had its flaws as well.

Most of the insights contained the crystallization of the wisdom of the writer, making them a valuable source of knowledge. However, what worked for one might not necessarily work for another.

The more knowledge one accumulated, the more paths would be opened up before one. But at the same time, it also made it more difficult to sieve out the feasible path from all of the options.

Besides, even though there were countless roads a cultivator could take, all of these roads eventually converged into the same peak.

The Master Teacher Pavilion encouraged cultivators to be innovative and take risks. It was through such a culture that innumerable cultivation techniques, battle techniques, and secret arts had been created over the years. There were even more formidable cultivators who had successfully forged their own unique paths based on their own interpretation of the world, some conflicting with the accepted conventions of cultivation even, but they still managed to create their own feasible system.

Given the astounding complexity and vast number of possibilities within cultivation, there was no cultivator who could possibly make sense of everything. As such, there were many cultivators whose cultivation had gone berserk due to taking in too much miscellaneous information and losing their way.

This was also the reason the Master Teacher Pavilion maintained a tight control over the impartation of cultivation techniques. Only with the permission of a master teacher would a cultivator be allowed to copy the content of a cultivation technique manual. Otherwise, if one were to study indiscriminately, they could very well end up dulling their judgement instead, resulting in confusion.

It was also for the same reason most master teachers were encouraged not to study the writings unless they had been stuck in a bottleneck for too long and couldn't find the impetus to make a breakthrough.

While others might not be able to fully make sense of the writings inscribed into the cliff face, I am different... Zhang Xuan thought.

There were insights from at least several million cultivators inscribed in the area, and perhaps even Kong shi might have fallen into a state of confusion from this bombardment of information. However, Zhang Xuan was different.

With the Library of Heaven's Path, he could easily discern truth from falsehood and rationalize everything easily. Such a problem wouldn't affect him.

But... these writings aren't in the form of books but engravings on the wall. I wonder if I can take them in...

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So far, the Library of Heaven's Path had only taken in written information in the form of books. Considering that the writings were inscribed on the cliff instead, it was hard to tell whether the Library of Heaven's Path could copy them in or not.

"I should give it a try. Flaws!" Zhang Xuan muttered softly with his eyes fixated on the wall.

Hualalala!

The next moment, the Library of Heaven's Path jolted intensely, and countless books fell from the heavens and onto the shelves.

Zhang Xuan took one of the books out and flipped it open. It contained the words which his gaze had been fixated on previously.

It works! Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up in excitement.

It seemed that, with the upgrade of the Library of Heaven's Path, his ability to store information in the Library of Heaven's Path by his gaze wasn't limited to only books but possibly written information of any sort too!

I don't have any use for these at the moment, but once my cultivation reaches the required level, I won't have to go through the trouble of searching for cultivation technique manuals anymore... Zhang Xuan thought in delight as he followed Luo Ruoxin up the mountain.

Along the way, his gaze would sweep across the cliff face to take in the insights on it.

If he had read them normally, it would have taken him a month's time at the very least. However, being able to take in the writings with his gaze, his speed was only limited by how fast he could walk. On top of that, the content would be filtered through the Library of Heaven's Path too, so he need not worry about falling into confusion either.

As the duo advanced, the number of cultivators who lingered by the cliff faces to study the writings reduced, and the number of experts increased.

The bottom of the mountain was mainly filled with Chrysalis realm cultivators, but at their current location, the crowd was predominantly Nascent Saint experts. Because of that, he became the odd one out instead, being the only Perfect Harmonization realm cultivator there.

As the Saint Ascension Platform was considered a sacred ground for master teachers, there were none who dared cause trouble here. Advancing ahead, it took Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxin an entire night before they arrived at the peak. There, they saw something resembling an altar.

On the flat peak towered a massive cliff face, and there were countless cultivators densely packed before it.

Some were master teachers, and some were ordinary cultivators, but one thing common among them was that they were gazing deeply into the words on the cliff face, some pondering, some analyzing, some experimenting, and some cultivating.

The surroundings were extremely quiet, as if no one was willing to disturb the tranquility that lingered in these sacred grounds.

"These are the insights that Kong shi had when he ascended to Sainthood," Luo Ruoxin informed Zhang Xuan telepathically.

"This was left behind by Kong shi?" Zhang Xuan turned his gaze to the cliff face.

Majestic words describing a person's insight in his breakthrough from Nascent Saint to Saint realm were inscribed on the cliff face.

With Zhang Xuan's deep comprehension of painting, he could tell that the words had achieved a profound level. If not for some kind of power suppressing them, they might have gained sentience and escaped from the cliff face, becoming a lifeform themselves.

Upon reaching the peak of painting, one could create a palpable world with one's brush, leaving others unable to discern it from the real world.

Legend had it that a 9-star painter once drew out a prison that incarcerated an army of millions to their deaths. The army had no lack of Saint realm experts as well, but not a single person had been able to escape from the world he created.

While the painting on the cliff face had yet to reach such a level, it gave the distinct feeling of a lifeform, as if the words would leap out from their positions and slip away any moment.

After looking for a moment, Zhang Xuan replied with a frown, "Wait a moment... these words don't seem like Kong shi's!"

While these words carried an imposing disposition to them, they lacked the magnanimity to harness the world within them.

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Since it was something left behind by Kong shi, it should carry altruism for the world in it. But the act of these words attempting to escape by themselves was conflicting with that.

"You have seen Kong shi's words before?" Luo Ruoxin asked.

"Un. A student of mine has Kong shi's personal letter which contains his handwritten words. The form might be similar, but there's something quite different about the words on this cliff face and that..." Zhang Xuan replied.

There weren't too many words on Kong shi's personal letter, but they carried an inexplicable force that jolted one's soul. Even Zhang Xuan had gone through Soul Tempering of a Mentor's Calligraphy due to that, enjoying a significant rise in his Soul Depth.

But the words before him didn't carry such a quality.

"You're right. These aren't the words left behind by Kong shi..."

Luo Ruoxin shook her head. "Even though this is sacred ground for master teachers and has been guarded carefully by the Master Teacher Pavilion, it has still been attacked by the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe multiple times, and in one of those attacks, Kong shi's heritage was wiped off as well. What you see now is an imitation made by one of the masters of the Painter Guild!"

"Kong shi's words were wiped off by the Otherworldly Demons? But... didn't the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe disappear from the world?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

So far, he had only met one living Otherworldly Demon so far, but not only was it a hybrid, it was even talked into committing suicide by him.

Vicious and the Otherworldly Demon puppets were remnants left behind by the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, but by no means could they could be considered truly alive.

Since the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe had already disappeared from the Master Teacher Continent, how could they possess the force to destroy such a well-guarded sacred ground?

They had at least met several dozen thousand Half-Saint and Nascent Saint experts on the journey to the peak. The difficulty in scaling the mountain to destroy Kong shi's heritage was not any different from barging into the Master Teacher Academy to kill Lu Feng.

In a sense, it could be said to be a nearly impossible feat.

"Disappear? If the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe has disappeared from the world, why would the Master Teacher Pavilion still be spread across the world? Why would the Master Teacher Pavilion even go through the trouble of establishing Master Teacher Academies here and there? Why would they hold such strict examinations?" Luo Ruoxin said with complex emotions rippling in her eyes as she shook her head.

"Hongyuan Empire may seem calm, but that's far from the case!"

"Are you saying that... there are Otherworldly Demons in Hongyuan Empire?" Zhang Xuan's face warped in shock.

"Indeed. You must have heard of the disappearance of the Master Teacher Academy's old principal as well. If my conjecture is right, that's probably the doing of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe as well," Luo Ruoxin said with melancholy.

"The doing of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe?" Zhang Xuan expression turned grim.

If the old principal's death was truly the doing to the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, that would explain why the Byzantium Helios Beast carried such hatred for him back then.

Hu Yaoyao also said something similar to that... Zhang Xuan tightened his fists.

With the presence of the Master Teacher Academy in the city, he had always thought that Hongyuan City was as secure as it could get. However, it seemed like his thoughts were too naive.

"The Otherworldly Demonic Tribe originated from another world. Back then, in order to invade the Master Teacher Continent, they built many passageways linking their world to here, and Hongyuan City happens to be one of the places where a passageway is located... Otherwise, considering how Hongyuan Empire's national power is only average among the various Tier-1 Empires, how could the Master Teacher Academy be built here?" Luo Ruoxin explained.

"This..." Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

He had never really thought about this matter before, but Luo Ruoxin's words were logical and persuasive.

There were indeed many doubtful aspects regarding the choice of location to establish the Master Teacher Academy. However, if the true aim of the Master Teacher Academy was to maintain the seal on the passageway between the Master Teacher Continent and the other world, everything would make perfect sense.

"The reason I brought you here is not to study the words on this cliff face. While the cliff face once contained Kong shi's handwritten words, what remains is just an imitation. It might be possible to imitate the form, but it is impossible to imitate the intent as well... What I hope for you to do is to use your Eye of Insight to trace Kong shi's aura and find the real location where Kong shi ascended to Sainthood!" Luo Ruoxin said.

"The real location where Kong shi ascended to Sainthood? You are saying that... he didn't ascend to Sainthood on this peak?"

Since this place was known as the Saint Ascension Platform, it was naturally the place where others thought Kong shi had ascended to Sainthood...

Could it be that this Saint Ascension Platform is a fake?

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Chapter 834: Saint Ascension Circle

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Knowing what Zhang Xuan was thinking about, Luo Ruoxin replied with a smile, "Of course not. It's true that Kong shi ascended to Sainthood here, but it's not certain exactly where in this huge area he did so."

"This..." Zhang Xuan blinked his eyes blankly.

The flat peak of the mountain in itself extended for several ten thousand mu. On the other hand, Kong shi would only take up, at most, a square meter by himself during his cultivation. To find a single square meter from an area of several ten thousand mu... That was indeed difficult.

"But is there a purpose to finding the exact location where Kong shi ascended to Sainthood?" Zhang Xuan asked doubtfully.

The entire mountain was permeated with the grand aura that Kong shi had left behind from his ascension to Sainthood. Since that was the case, it shouldn't matter whether they found the precise location where Kong shi had made his breakthrough at.

Besides, even if they were to find it, considering that several dozen millennia had passed, and the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe had wreaked havoc here multiple times, what could possibly remain there?

"I just wish to verify a deduction I have... Furthermore, Kong shi's will still remains here. It will be beneficial to you too if you can find it!" Luo Ruoxin said.

"I will give it a try then..." Hearing the other party's words, Zhang Xuan eventually nodded.

Activating his Eye of Insight, he began observing the cliff face intently, analyzing every single inch of it.

As expected, those words were just an imitation of Kong shi's original words. Through the Eye of Insight, he could see a clear difference in the disposition of the words as compared to those written by Kong shi.

A moment later, he shook his head.

"None of Kong shi's original words remain... I can't find anything at all."

"You can't find anything?" Luo Ruoxin frowned before sighing deeply.

She had already expected such an outcome. After the many assaults on the Saint Ascension Platform by the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, all traces of Kong shi had been pretty much wiped clean. Even the possessor of the Eye of Insight would be unable to trace Kong shi's trail anymore.

The Eye of Insight might be formidable, but tracking down the remains from several dozen millenniums ago was clearly still beyond it.

"What about the surroundings?"

"It's the same too... Furthermore, there are too many people here, so I can't clearly discern anything," Zhang Xuan replied.

There were countless people who scaled the Saint Ascension Platform each day to cultivate, and there were all kinds of formations and tools activated in the area to facilitate their cultivation. To search for Kong shi's trail—which would be incredibly faint, if it had not completely dissipated, after such a long period of time—amid this chaos was nigh impossible.

After a moment of contemplation, Luo Ruoxin said, "I see... Since that's the case, try looking at the content of the words inscribed on the cliff face. Perhaps, you might be able to find a clue in it."

Since it was impossible to find Kong shi's trail, they could only work from the inscribed words then.

Even though the current words inscribed on the cliff face had not been inscribed by Kong shi personally, the words did come from Kong shi. Perhaps, there might be some clue contained within them.

"Alright." Zhang Xuan nodded before turning his gaze over to the cliff face.

Flaws!

Zhang Xuan willed, and in the next instant, a book appeared in the Library of Heaven's Path.

He picked up the book, and a moment later, a bizarre expression surfaced on his face.

Noticing the anomaly in Zhang Xuan, Luo Ruoxin asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's not much, but... it seems like the insight which Kong shi left behind... isn't that accurate..." Zhang Xuan replied with a frown.

Through the analysis of the Library of Heaven's Path, it was revealed that there were nine flaws contained regarding the insight Kong shi had left behind.

If it had been anyone else, even if the other party was a 9-star master teacher, Zhang Xuan wouldn't have been so surprised. But Kong shi... this was a little hard to believe.

Even though these flaws were very minor and inconspicuous ones, making it hard for anyone to notice them, they were still mistakes; this was an undeniable fact.

To think that even the World's Teacher would make such errors... Was this for real?

Taken aback, Luo Ruoxin asked, "Isn't that accurate? Do you mean to say that... there are problems with the insights Kong shi left behind?"

"That's right. There is a total of 3,324 words contained within Kong shi's insight, and there is a total of nine mistakes in it. Even though these were extremely minor mistakes that wouldn't affect the overall picture, still..." Zhang Xuan said hesitantly.

On his journey up the Saint Ascension Platform, he had taken in the insights of the predecessors and successfully compiled the Heaven's Path Divine Art regarding the breakthrough to Half-Saint, Nascent Saint, and Saint realm. Comparing the compiled Heaven's Path Divine Art with the insight Kong shi had left behind, the errors in the latter were apparent.

Even though what Kong shi had left behind was only an insight and not a cultivation technique, most of the cultivators used it for reference for their cultivation. If it wasn't altered, even if one could successfully achieve a breakthrough by referencing the insight, the effects wouldn't be ideal.

"You are able to see the mistakes Kong shi left behind?" Luo Ruoxin exclaimed softly in astonishment as she gazed at him intently.

Who was Kong shi?

The World's Teacher, the founder of the Master Teacher Pavilion, as well as the man who brought about the eviction of the Otherworldly Demons from the Master Teacher Continent, ushering an era of prosperity for humanity... His contribution to the world was truly immeasurable!

Part of the reason Kong shi had been able to achieve all of those feats was due to his unparalleled talent and unimaginable capabilities. Countless master teachers viewed him as their goal and aspired to be like him, and yet, this fellow had actually said that there were nine flaws in the insight Kong shi had left behind!

If the master teachers in the surroundings were to hear his words, they would surely fly into a frenzy and pummel him into the ground!

Luo Ruoxin's exclamation abruptly brought Zhang Xuan back to reality. He suddenly realized that he might have revealed far too much, so he hurriedly patched things up with an awkward smile. "Ahhh... Actually, I am not too sure either. There might be a mistake in my comprehension too..."

Zhang Xuan harbored no doubt regarding the Library of Heaven's Path's capability. However, he was currently only a Perfect Harmonization realm cultivator, so it was inevitable that others might doubt his credibility when he mentioned that there was a mistake in Empyrean Kong shi's words.

"There is no mistake in your comprehension. There are indeed nine flaws in the insight Kong shi left behind!" Paying no heed to Zhang Xuan's response, Luo Ruoxin nodded affirmatively.

The next moment, however, a deep frown surfaced on her forehead as she continued, "There are only two possibilities to such a happening. First, this insight was left behind by Kong shi right after he achieved a breakthrough to Saint realm, long before he became the World's Teacher whom everyone respects. If that's the case, it wouldn't be too surprising that he made mistakes."

Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing that Luo Ruoxin didn't pursue the matter, and after hearing the words of the latter, he couldn't help but nod in agreement.

It would be unfair to judge Kong shi based on the Library of Heaven's Path. Even with Kong shi's unparalleled talent, it wasn't too surprising that he might have a few minor mistakes in his comprehension of Saint realm, especially since he had barely reached Saint realm himself.

On the contrary, it was an extremely impressive feat for a person to have nine flaws in his comprehension despite only just having reached Saint realm.

"What about the second possibility?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"The second possibility is that Kong shi left those flaws within the insight deliberately. After all, there was no guarantee that there wouldn't be men with malicious intent or even those of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe would attempt to study his insight as well. If so, they would benefit from his teachings as well, and that is no different from delivering a weapon into the hands of the enemies. On top of that, this might be his way of teaching the later generations of master teachers that it is foolish to blindly trust the teachings of others. Even he, the World's Teacher, could make mistakes, so they must have a mind of their own and discern what is right and wrong for themselves!" Luo Ruoxin said.

"This..." Zhang Xuan was stunned.

Truthfully, he hadn't thought deeply into Kong shi's intentions at all.

However, what Luo Ruoxin had said was logical and could very possibly be true.

It was out of a trust in a teacher's capability that a student would acknowledge the other party as their teacher, but this shouldn't form the basis of blind trust. Only through doubting and questioning established teachings could one surpass one's predecessors and reach greater heights!

Could Kong shi have really intentionally left these nine minor mistakes in order to challenge the mindset of master teachers?

If one could doubt even Kong shi himself, one might just be able to achieve what no one else ever had.

On the other hand, if one were to blindly trust Kong shi's teachings, even if one were to achieve a breakthrough to Saint realm, one would soon find one's own accomplishments swiftly being capped by a bottleneck.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Xuan said, "If it is the first possibility, Kong shi should have returned to alter the flaws he left after he established the Master Teacher Pavilion... The fact that he didn't do so means that it is highly likely that it was the second possibility!"

"Indeed." Luo Ruoxin nodded in approval.

If it was a mistake out of ignorance, as the World's Teacher, Kong shi would have surely been ashamed of his failure, thus compelling him to return and correct it. But since he hadn't done so, the odds seemed to lean more toward the second possibility then.

But whether there were flaws in the insight or not had little to do with the exact location of where Kong shi had ascended to Sainthood, so there wasn't much point in analyzing the matter any further.

I should first study the content of the insight first. If this fails, I will just have to look around slowly...

With such thoughts in mind, Zhang Xuan immersed his consciousness into comprehending the writing Kong shi had left behind.

The insight described the process of how Kong shi achieved his breakthrough to Saint realm. Even though it wasn't explicitly written as a cultivation technique, it was so comprehensive that if one were to jot down the details, it could form a complete cultivation technique.

But of course, this cultivation technique was specific only to Kong shi's constitution. If others were to attempt a breakthrough via that cultivation technique, what would await them was only their own cultivation going berserk.

This was somewhat similar to what the Heaven's Path Divine Art was to Zhang Xuan. If others attempted to cultivate the Heaven's Path Divine Art, they would first find themselves bleeding profusely from their seven apertures 1 before they could accomplish anything.

After studying for some time, Zhang Xuan was unable to find anything reminiscent of a hint from the writing, so he could only give up on it. Standing up, he activated his Eye of Insight and began combing the area.

The peak was extremely spacious. Other than the area before the cliff face, which was completely packed with cultivators, there was still plenty of room to move about.

It didn't take too long for Zhang Xuan to circle around the area, but he was still unable to find anything. Disappointed, he shook his head helplessly.

He hadn't expected it to be so difficult.

But thinking about it, if it was that easy, the Otherworldly Demons would have long found the location and obtained the will that Kong shi had left behind.

With his efforts futile, Zhang Xuan was just about to regroup with Luo Ruoxin when a commotion suddenly broke out in front of the cliff face, breaking the tranquility at the peak. There was a large group of people discussing with one another, seemingly sharing their own insights and comprehensions.

Zhang Xuan couldn't help but grab a middle-aged man not too far away and ask, "Excuse me, may I ask what is going on?"

The middle-aged man glanced at Zhang Xuan and replied, "You must be new here! Every day, the Saint Ascension Circle conducts lectures to decipher the essence of Kong shi's teachings. This is an opportunity for everyone to learn and have their doubts answered."

"Saint Ascension Circle?" Zhang Xuan had never heard of such an organization before.

Noticing Zhang Xuan's surprise, the middle-aged man shook his head and said, "The Saint Ascension Circle is a group that specializes in studying and deciphering the writing Kong shi left behind here. It consists of thirteen 7-star master teachers and several hundred 6-star master teachers. They aim to uncover the underlying intentions that Kong shi had when he inscribed his insight onto this cliff face through their research.

"Over the years, they have already gained a deep understanding of the subject. Outsiders like us might find it hard to comprehend the thoughts of Kong shi even if we were to stare at the cliff face for an entire month straight, but through their lectures, we can understand the thoughts that the latter had in mind when he was making his breakthrough to Saint realm."

"To think that there would be such an organization here..." Zhang Xuan was speechless.

As complicated as it may sound, the circle was actually rather similar to those organizations involved in the study of Redology 2 , Goldenology 3 , and the other classics in his previous life—a bunch of fellows who had nothing better to do with their lives!

If it wasn't out of boredom, why would they bother scrutinizing every single word written, losing themselves in needless profundities?

Similarly, Kong shi had just left his insight on the cliff face in his moment of delight after successfully reaching Saint realm. What more was there to uncover from that?

To think that so many master teachers would devote so many years of their lives to researching something as insignificant as this...

Just the thought of it rendered him speechless.

The next moment, the middle-aged man exclaimed, "Look, they are here..."

Following which, three elders could be seen walking to the front of the crowd.

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Chapter 835: Cornering

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Dressed in master teacher robes, the three elders had snowy hair and beards, and they emanated powerful auras.

"7-star master teachers..."

Glancing at the brilliant emblems pinned at their chests, Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up.

These elders were actually 7-star master teachers! This meant that their strength had already surpassed even the strongest expert in Hongyuan Empire.

"I have kept all of you waiting..." one of the elders said with a smile upon reaching the front.

His voice wasn't loud, but it resounded clearly within the ears of the listeners. In an instant, the commotion died down.

"It's only right for us to wait for elders!"

"It's my honor to listen to elders' lecture!"

The crowd below clasped their fists in response.

Most of those who stood before the cliff face were Half-Saint and Nascent Saint experts, which translated to 6-star low-tier and 6-star high-tier master teachers. This meant in terms of standing, they paled far in comparison to three elders in front. Under such circumstances where they didn't know the names of those before them, it was only right for them to address the other party as elders.

"We are all fellow cultivators, so there is no need to stand on ceremony. Allow me to introduce myself first. I am Wu Ran, and I have been managing most of the affairs of the Saint Ascension Circle in recent years. I am a master teacher from Qingzhu Empire, and you can call me Wu shi!" the elder said as he stroked his beard.

"Wu Ran? Could you be the incumbent leader of the Saint Ascension Circle?"

"You've heard of him?"

"Of course! Wu shi not only possesses a deep comprehension of Kong shi's Insight to Saint Ascension, he is also the principal of Qingzhu Academy?"

"Qingzhu Academy? You mean... the Master Teacher Academy located at Qingzhu Tier-1 Empire?"

"That's right! Qingzhu is one of the four empires out of the 46 Tier-1 Empires under Qingyuan Conferred Empire to have a Master Teacher Academy... While Qingzhu Master Teacher Academy is only ranked third of the four, above only Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, nevertheless, the fact that he could become its principal reflects the immense capability and profound knowledge that he possesses!"

"Seriously? It's truly a huge honor to listen to the lecture of such an incredible person!"

...

Shock rippled through the crowd when they heard Wu Ran's name.

While the Saint Ascension Circle would conduct lectures there on a daily basis, most of the time, it was conducted by ordinary members. Thus, many of the cultivators of the peak were surprised to see the leader of the circle, a 7-star master teacher and the principal of a Master Teacher Academy, conducting the lecture himself.

It was truly a huge honor to have the other party decipher Kong shi's teachings for them personally.

"To my left is Wang Liao, Wang shi, and Sun Jing, Sun shi. If you have any doubts, feel free to direct them to us. We will try to answer them to the best of our ability!" Wu shi said with a smile.

"Wang Liao? I've heard of that name before! He once wrote a paper, Kong shi's Path to Enlightenment, which made a huge uproar in the neighboring Tier-1 Empires. It's said that the paper brought enlightenment to over three hundred cultivators, thus allowing them to overcome their bottlenecks. He is one of the Ten Great Master Teachers of Qingzhu Empire!"

"I have heard of Sun Jing as well. He is one of the Ten Great Master Teachers to Qingzhu Empire, too. The book that he wrote, Nascent Saint Breakthrough Formula, is one of the most sought-after manuals in the region. I had to pay a huge number of high-tier spirit stones to purchase it... To think that I would meet the author in person here!"

Hearing the names Wu shi introduced, a huge wave of commotion broke out once again.

The two elders behind him weren't nameless figures either; on the contrary, they enjoyed widespread fame.

Just that... considering that Qingzhu Empire was extremely far from there, such that it would half a month's journey even on a saint beast, why would those esteemed men suddenly go there?

"Since it seems like everyone knows of us, I will just get straight down to business. I will start from lecturing everyone about the origin of Kong shi's insight!"

After introducing himself, Wu shi surveyed the surroundings with a meaningful gaze before beginning his lecture.

"As everyone knows, the era which Kong shi lived in was the period of time when the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe held the dominant position in the continent. Back then, mankind lived every single day in fear, not knowing when they might be killed. Living in such tumultuous times, even though Kong shi became a Celestial Saint, an existence recognized by the heavens, he still worried for mankind and contributed to its welfare... As such, if you were to ruminate over the insight closely, even though it carries a tinge of joy from his advancement to Saint realm, at the same time, complex emotions coming from his worry for mankind and the world can be felt from it as well!"

Worry for mankind and the world? Zhang Xuan widened his eyes, unable to believe what he had just heard.

Kong shi had left behind this insight just to remind the later generations to always rely on their own judgement, and to never fully trust the wisdom of their predecessors. How in the world did the other party sense such deep emotions from it?

Your imagination sure is vivid!

But giving the matter some thoughts, that was indeed the job of academics such as them. They strove to uncover the deeper intentions behind the words of the predecessors so that others could better appreciate them. However, they had a tendency to go too far and overthink even the most minor of details so as to flaunt their knowledge, such that if the author were to come alive once more and see their evaluation of his work, he would also be completely flabbergasted!

And from the looks of it, it seemed Wu shi was such an academic as well!

"... Try reading this writing once more with such emotions, and you will be able to comprehend Kong shi's state of mind then!" Wu shi continued.

"Just like this sentence, 'Stale rice and cold water, a bent arm as a pillow, but joy lies not in those but in itself.' This is a reflection of the agony mankind suffered under the oppression of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe. It can be interpreted that despite the suffering Kong shi endured, he felt utmost joy from working for the welfare of mankind..."

After listening for a while longer, Zhang Xuan's eyelids began twitching uncontrollably.

It was not that the other party was exactly wrong, but they had elevated Kong shi to a height beyond reach in their hearts, to the point where they view him with rose-colored goggles, failing to see the man himself. This would only lead their interpretation further and further away from the truth.

However, the other party couldn't be entirely blamed for this either. Kong shi was simply far too much of a venerated figure among the master teachers, and his infallibility had become a deeply-ingrained notion in the minds of many. As such, there was a tendency to evaluate everything that he had left behind in a higher and nobler perspective, and anything other than that would be viewed as challenging Kong shi's authority and disrespecting one's teacher.

However, Zhang Xuan was different. As the saying goes, 'the onlooker gets the clearest glimpse of the situation'. Having come from a different world, he didn't possess as deep of an impression of Kong shi as most in this world, who had been taught to admire and respect Kong shi from a young age.

On top of that, as one who possessed the Library of Heaven's Path, he had learned never to place blind faith in the words of others too.

Hong long!

But in that moment, a Nascent Saint cultivator standing just slightly in front of him seemed to have a sudden surge of inspiration, and with a jolt through his body, he abruptly achieved a breakthrough.

That sight left Zhang Xuan completely stunned.

He had just been thinking that the lecture was completely nonsense and would surely be ineffective a moment ago when someone really achieved a breakthrough.

A thought suddenly emerged in Zhang Xuan's mind.

Could this be... faith?

Perhaps, even Wu shi himself might have been aware that his interpretation had deviated from Kong shi's original intention, but he still chose to shape his lecture in such a manner in order to play on the deep respect that master teachers had for Kong shi. Through empowering this faith, it could strengthen one's resolution, turning it into a driving force for one to achieve a breakthrough.

The difference between a Saint and a Nascent Saint lay not only in their cultivation but their state of mind as well!

This explained why despite the far-fetched theories that the Saint Ascension Circle proposed, it still enjoyed widespread popularity among the populace.

Stroking his beard in satisfaction, Wu shi continued, "Not bad, someone has already achieved a breakthrough... Moving on, I believe one of the lines that might have many of you stumped is this, 'Composure frees worries, and agitation induces disturbance. If one can devote oneself to the calm, a breakthrough is possible even in the state of stagnancy...' Its meaning is simple. As long as one maintains a composed state of mind, even without sufficient zhenqi, one can still achieve a breakthrough."

"This..." Zhang Xuan couldn't help but burst into a soft chuckle.

This happened to be one of the nine flaws reflected in the Library of Heaven's Path.

Maintaining a composed state of mind was indeed important, but one still had to possess sufficient zhenqi to achieve a breakthrough. There was a limit to what sheer willpower could do.

Nevertheless, it was indeed true that a calm mind could give rise to a state of accomplishment through inaction, inducing the growth of one's zhenqi and ultimately allowing for a breakthrough.

While there was a flaw in the sentence, it was probably Kong shi's way of telling the later generations that they shouldn't be overly obsessed with their zhenqi cultivation. Tempering the mind was also of utmost importance. Yet, the other party managed to shape it into a secret art to achieving a breakthrough somehow...

It was no wonder no one had noticed the nine flaws and corrected them over all these years.

It wasn't that the master teachers were too foolish, but they had placed Kong shi on far too high a pedestal, and this had led to the twisting of the intentions behind his words.

"The friend over there, may I ask if there is anything wrong with my explanation for you to have burst into a chuckle?"

Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan was about to walk away when he suddenly heard those words.

Raising his gaze, he saw Wu shi staring at him with a deep frown.

While everyone else was listening to the interpretation of Kong shi's insight intently, that fellow was chuckling silently in the corner. This was extremely disrespectful to both him and Kong shi.

As a 7-star master teacher, he could overlook the insult that the young man was showing to him, but he couldn't sit idly when someone was clearly scorning Kong shi's teachings, especially in sacred grounds like this.

On the other hand, Zhang Xuan also didn't expect his gesture to be noticed by the other party. Embarrassed, he clasped his fist and bowed. "Hearing your lecture, I suddenly had an epiphany which resulted in my light chuckle. I ask for your understanding if I have been disrespectful!"

Even if the other party was wrong, it had nothing much to do with him. Knowing that it would only cause a huge uproar if he were to stand up at this moment, he decided to apologize and end the matter there.

"Epiphany? Hahaha, can a Perfect Harmonization realm lad like you understand the content of Wu shi's lecture?"

"Kong shi's insight is directed toward Nascent Saint realm experts. Epiphany my head, do you even understand a single word of it?"

"Since you had an epiphany, why don't you achieve a breakthrough for us all to see?"

...

Hearing Zhang Xuan's words, the crowd in the area burst into laughter.

As Nascent Saint realm experts, they didn't dare claim that they understood Kong shi's wisdom. Yet, a Perfect Harmonization realm expert like him had claimed that he'd had an epiphany... How conceited!

How could a person have such thick skin?

Wu shi also frowned upon hearing those words. "Oh? If you've had an epiphany, may I invite you to share it with us? This is a good opportunity for us to learn from one another!"

"This... I shall not embarrass myself up there..." Zhang Xuan hurriedly waved his hands to turn down the offer humbly.

"Are you trying to say that I am embarrassing myself here?" Wu shi's face darkened.

"That's not what I meant though..."

Not expecting the other party to misinterpret his words, Zhang Xuan was stunned. He hurriedly explained, "What I am saying is that with my shallow level of comprehension, my epiphany will only be laughed at, so it isn't worth a mention..."

"If you are saying that the epiphany you had after listening to my lecture will only be laughed at, does that mean that my lecture is hilarious and not worth a mention too?" Wu shi harrumphed.

"You are misunderstanding my words. I am saying that my comprehension of the subject is still shallow, so..." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"If you can have an epiphany despite your shallow comprehension of the subject and chuckle at it, does that mean that the content of my lecture is shallow as well?" Wu shi snapped.

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Chapter 836: Collapse of the Saint Ascension Platform

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"If you really wish to understand that in such a manner, there is nothing that I can do..."

Seeing that the other party was picking flaws with everything that he said, Zhang Xuan frowned. "We are all master teachers, and you have made your point. Since I have already admitted my mistake, surely you don't have to corner me like that!"

"Audacious!"

"How dare you speak to Wu shi like that?"

"Where did this arrogant brat come from?"

Hearing Zhang Xuan's words, a huge disturbance broke out amid the crowd.

Having listened to Wu shi's lecture, the group gathered in the area could be considered to be half-students of his. It was one thing that a Perfect Harmonization realm brat was refusing to listen to the preaching of their half-teacher humbly, but to utter such disrespectful words on top of that... Was he tired of living?

"I am only asking you to share your epiphany here, how am I cornering you here? Humph! To feign knowledge in the face of ignorance, is this the attitude befitting of a master teacher?" With a steely glint in his eyes, Wu shi took a step toward Zhang Xuan.

Hong long!

The immense pressure from the overwhelming might of a Saint 2-dan abruptly fell upon the surroundings as if a tsunami had crashed down upon the area, rendering those caught within it unable to breathe properly.

As one who had dedicated a significant portion of his life to studying the quintessence of Kong shi's insights, Wu shi carried special feelings for the Saint Ascension Platform. As such, he couldn't bear to see another disrespecting it.

But from the moment he began his lecture, that fellow had been putting on all kinds of peculiar expressions, even sneering at one point. It was then that his tolerance snapped.

To act so frivolously in the grounds where Kong shi ascended to Sainthood... If the other party was his student, he would have surely expelled him from his academy that very instant!

That was also why he had lowered himself to bickering with a 4-star master teacher despite being a 7-star master teacher himself. It wasn't out of pettiness but to send out a clear message that any form of disrespect toward Kong shi was intolerable!

Otherwise, if everyone started to act in such a manner, what would become of the Master Teacher Pavilion's dignity?

Feign knowledge in the face of ignorance? Driving his Heaven's Path zhenqi, the pressure weighing down on Zhang Xuan dissipated. Lifting his gaze, Zhang Xuan stared at Wu shi directly in the latter's eye and shook his head.

I only couldn't be bothered to point out your errors, but you managed to pin so many sins on me.

But as stifled as Zhang Xuan was within, he didn't feel like starting anything at this very moment, especially since he was here with Luo Ruoxin. Thus, he clasped his fist and said, "Yes, I apologize for my ignorance and breach of etiquette, and I hope to seek your understanding!"

In any case, he knew better than anyone whether he was ignorant or not. It was pointless to argue with another over this; it was not like he could help what the other party thought of him anyway.

However, if the other party wished to make an example out of him, he should know better than to push his luck further than this.

"To be spouting such arrogant words despite your ignorance, you sure are an embarrassment to master teachers!"

Harrumphing coldly, Wu shi placed his hands behind his back, and with the majestic disposition of a 7-star master teacher, he declared, "I do not wish for someone as presumptuous as you to remain on this Saint Ascension Platform. Take off your master teacher robe and leave the premises!"

"Take off my master teacher robe and leave the premises?" Zhang Xuan's face immediately darkened.

To be asked to strip one's master teacher robe and scram from the mountain was a huge humiliation.

If word of this matter were to spread, his path as a master teacher could very well come to an end at this point.

He had already given so many concessions, but the other party simply continued to try to corner him. Did the other party think that he was an easy target to bully just because he was young?

Even if you wish to send out a stern warning to others, you have already made your point. This is going beyond the limits!

Could it be that I have an extremely loathsome face and anyone who meets me just has to provoke me and teach me a lesson?

"That's right!" Wu shi glanced at Zhang Xuan coldly. "Reluctant? Don't make me do it personally; it won't end as simply as that if I have to get involved..."

Noticing the hostility in Wu shi eyes, Zhang Xuan turned his gaze to Wu shi, revealing his narrowed eyes. "I have already given you so many concessions, but you just want to stick your face in here, don't you? Your lecture is utter nonsense, filled with flaws everywhere, and it is only out of respect for you as a fellow master teacher that I chose not to expose you publicly. Yet, you started going after me instead!"

He had already gone as far as to apologize, but the other party still refused to step down.

Why? Will you only be contented after you slap my face?

Fine, here is my face... Slap it if you can!

"What did you say?" Not expecting a Perfect Harmonization realm cultivator to speak to him so insolently, Wu shi's expression turned livid.

Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up as he uttered coldly, "Don't you have ears to hear what I am saying? Kong shi left his insight as both a warning and advice to the later generations; it is one thing to distort the meaning of Kong shi's words, but to even go around spreading false teachings and beguiling others, you should be thankful that I didn't rip apart your lies. To be putting on an act before me here, are you trying to act as if you are formidable?"

He had been intending to keep a low profile and say nothing much, but the other party simply refused to stop.

Just because I am sparing your face, do you think that I am some kind of idiot?

Not expecting the other party to speak so rudely to him, Wu shi nearly burst into rage. "Audacious!"

"Audacious? Who is the one being audacious here? Kong shi left his insight here in order to test the later generations. There is a total of nine flaws here, but despite the many years your Saint Ascension Circle has dedicated to uncovering its secrets, you have never noticed them. What have you been doing all these years? As the incumbent leader of the circle, don't you feel the slightest guilt or embarrassment?" Zhang Xuan spoke sharply without any reservations.

Since the other party had decided to corner him like that, it would be impolite of him not to return the favor.

"Nine flaws?"

"How could Kong shi make any mistakes? This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!"

"Stop talking nonsense over there!"

...

Those words had left not only Wu shi stunned, but it had sparked a huge wave of criticism from the surrounding cultivators as well.

To them, the infallible Kong shi making a mistake was no different from the sky falling on them. How could they possibly believe it?

"You don't believe my words? Fine, I will point out the nine flaws right here and now for everyone to hear!"

Since he couldn't be bothered to waste any more time bickering over this matter, Zhang Xuan stepped forward to the cliff face and pointed with his finger. A surge of zhenqi gushed out from his fingertip as if a ray of light, highlighting the area where the first flaw was located. "The first flaw lies in this line, 'Composure frees worries, and agitation induces disturbance. If one can devote himself to the calm, a breakthrough is possible even in the state of stagnancy...' What this line is truly saying is that one's strength and spirit must be in harmony in order to attain true power. Strength without spirit makes one no different from a beast, a being with nothing but brute strength. Without a unique encounter, it would be impossible for one to achieve a breakthrough. On the other hand, spirit without strength is nothing more than a pipe dream...

"Kong shi only left behind a portion of the full quote in order to provoke deeper thoughts in the later generation and comprehend that just having spirit alone or strength alone is futile... Yet, Wu shi claimed that as long as one can achieve a composed state of mind, one can achieve a breakthrough even without strength... Impressive, why don't you achieve a breakthrough to show all of us? What are you waiting for? Go on!"

"You..." Wu shi's face flushed scarlet in embarrassment.

"The second flaw lies in the phrase, 'Fear the world, peer into the unknown horizon, embrace worries and fear, and only then will you advance...' What this means is that it is imperative to feel fear because that will become the drive for strength. If one remains complacent or escapes from one's fears, one will only stagnate.

"There is no problem with this line for those who have just started treading on the path of cultivation. But upon reaching Saint realm, one will be wrestling with the heavens for power. If one were to allow fear to remain in one's heart, how could one possibly win against the heavens?

"A true expert must be capable of overcoming anything in their path. Fear should only be the basis to building up fearlessness, and only with a fearless mindset can one charge bravely ahead and overcome all odds in one's path!

"The third flaw...

"The fourth flaw..."

...

Zhang Xuan's words were sharp like knives, cutting straight into the flaws of the insights. They might be minor flaws, but it left the listeners in a daze, and they couldn't help but tremble in astonishment.

It was not that they had never had their doubts regarding certain aspects of the writing, but as this was the insight left behind by the venerated Kong shi, they disregarded such thoughts and blamed it on their ignorance instead.

But in this instant, for everything to be laid bare so clearly before them, their faces couldn't help but pale, and a tempest raged within their hearts... Could Kong shi really have been mistaken?

But... that's Kong shi! How could he be wrong?

He was the World's Teacher...

At that instant, Wu shi was completely dumbstruck as well.

As a 7-star master teacher, he had the judgement to tell that there were no mistakes in what the other party had said. However, as one who had immersed himself in the study of the insight for many years, those words were a huge blow to him, collapsing the faith which he had held firmly all those years.

"... and this is the ninth flaw!"

In a single breath, Zhang Xuan revealed all nine flaws.

Even though the entire area was ghastly silent, not a single person dared to utter a word or breathe loudly; nearly everyone had already been convinced by his words.

Weng!

As soon as Zhang Xuan's words came to a halt, a blinding light suddenly burst into the surroundings. The next moment, nine words from the nine flaws abruptly tore out from the cliff face and morphed into nine massive words.

"My commendations. Blindly trusting another, why not trust yourself!"

At the same time, the words in the nine flaws began rearranging themselves, and in just a short moment, they were corrected, and the writing became perfected.

"This is... Kong shi's acknowledgement?"

"He received Kong shi's acknowledgement?"

"It's not that Kong shi was mistaken, but that... this is a test he left behind for the later generations!"

"It's a pity that we never saw through it. Even the Saint Ascension Circle was unable to do so over all of those years..."

...

How could the crowd still not comprehend what was going on after all that had happened? Their bodies stiffened, and they couldn't help but kneel to the ground.

Since even Kong shi had given his acknowledgement, it could only mean that the words of the young man were correct!

Wu shi's ridicule and their mockery had instantly become nothing more than a joke.

"Th-this... Has all the time I spent studying Kong shi's writing been futile?" In this moment, Wu shi's face paled, and he couldn't help but stagger backward weakly.

The complexion of the two elders beside him, Wang shi and Sun shi, also paled, and they could hardly accept what was happening before them.

It couldn't be more apparent to them that it was a test Kong shi had set for them, but they had gone centuries without noticing it, and they had even taken pride in their analysis...

With many years of debates among many master teachers, the members of the Saint Ascension Circle had thought that they were only a step away from fully comprehending Kong shi's intent. But in this instant, it suddenly dawned on them that...

All of those profound theories they had come up with were nothing more than utter gibberish!

Kacha!

With the appearance of those nine words, an incomparably powerful aura suddenly spread over the crowd, jolting their souls. In an instant, they lost control of themselves and entered a unique state of mind.

Following which, the cliff face behind began shaking violently. As if it had finally fulfilled its raison d'être, cracks began appearing on it.

The cracks swiftly crept across the entire cliff face, shrouding its entirety before everything abruptly collapsed with a deafening 'boom!'. Smithereens flew all over the place, and a huge cloud of dust rose in the air.

In just a few short moments, the 3,324 words Kong shi had left behind had disappeared from existence.

The heck...

Watching as all of that unfolded before him, Zhang Xuan felt as if he was going to burst into tears.

He'd known that there were mistakes with the insight, but he hadn't thought that the cliff face would be so fragile as to collapse just by having them pointed out...

You fell valiantly and magnificently with a bang... but what about me?

With all of the master teachers gathered here to witness how I 'murdered' you, they will definitely have me pay with my life...

Must you really do me in like that?

"Hmm?"

On the other hand, Luo Ruoxin was busy searching around for the exact location where Kong shi ascended to Sainthood when she abruptly heard the deafening rumble. Astonished, her body trembled in astonishment as she hurriedly turned her gaze to the cliff face.

There, she saw the dazed Zhang Xuan, whose mouth was twitching non-stop before the cliff face.

Both her eyes and mouth slowly widened in shock.

I was only gone for a moment!

Y-y-you... What did you do this time?

This is the Saint Ascension Platform, you know! How can you destroy this as well?

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Chapter 837: Folded Space

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

The very heart of the Saint Ascension Platform lay in the insight inscribed into the cliff face at the very top.

As this was something that Kong shi had left behind, there was no master teacher who didn't view it as a sacred relic. None dared to speak loudly before it for fear of desecrating it.

Yet, you actually reduced it to smithereens shortly after your arrival. In its current state, even restoration is no longer a feasible option...

It is one thing for you to mess around in the academy. After all, in consideration of its own reputation, the academy will try to suppress the matters that happen within its grounds.

But this...

Do you have a deep-seated grudge against all infrastructures, or were you simply born with the innate potential to become the God of Destruction?

Does the word 'careful' not exist in your dictionary?

To dare destroy even the sacred lands where Kong shi ascended to Sainthood... Can't you at least pick a less prominent target than that? You are slapping the entire Master Teacher Pavilion in its face!

Without a doubt, you can't even need to dream of leaving the mountain anymore. Any moment now, countless master teachers will be pouncing on you, grinding you into meat paste.

Speechless, Luo Ruoxin hurriedly rushed up to Zhang Xuan, grabbed his sleeve, and hurriedly pulled him away to flee.

She was the one who had taken Zhang Xuan there, so she felt that she had to take responsibility for him.

No matter what, it couldn't be wrong for them to flee at that very instant. Otherwise, once everyone came to, they would be goners!

"Hmm?"

Luo Ruoxin had thought that Zhang Xuan, knowing that he was in deep trouble, would flee with the lightest tug, but to her surprise, the latter was completely motionless. It was as if he was rooted to the spot.

"Hurry up and leave!" Luo Ruoxin exclaimed anxiously.

"Just wait a moment!" Zhang Xuan grabbed Luo Ruoxin's sleeve and halted her instead. With his other hand, he pointed to the rubble and said, "Take a look at this."

"Take a look at what?" Hearing that Zhang Xuan was still in the mood to look at the rubble, Luo Ruoxin frowned.

However, what she saw next left her eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

What was within the rubble wasn't just dust or debris but a meter square stone platform with a peculiar light halo circling above it as well. A holy and majestic aura flowed from it, reminiscent of an object from the heavens.

"Could this be... the place where Kong shi ascended to Sainthood?" Luo Ruoxin's body trembled in agitation.

That was the main reason she was there. After going around the peak and finding nothing at all, she had thought that perhaps it had already disappeared along with the ages, never to be found again. Who could have known that it would be hidden in the cliff face instead!

That explained why the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe had been unable to find anything despite ransacking the place.

Back then, what they had destroyed was only the words on the wall, but the cliff face had survived their rampage.

In the midst of her shock, Luo Ruoxin felt someone tugging at her sleeves.

"Let's head over there to take a look!" Zhang Xuan said as he pulled her to the stone platform.

Without any hesitation, Luo Ruoxin swiftly followed behind him.

The light halo was barely visible amid the cloak of dust drifting in the area. Walking up to it, Zhang Xuan's hand stretched for it and touched it lightly.

Hu!

The light halo immediately expanded, enveloping their bodies. The next instant, Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxin suddenly felt an intense falling sensation as the world flew past them, disappearing in a flash.

When the brilliant flash of light finally dissipated, Zhang Xuan, Luo Ruoxin, and the stone platform disappeared from sight, as if they had never been there in the first place.

...

"So that is indeed the truth behind the insight! I never would have thought that my years of research were actually in vain..."

It was only after the disappearance of the duo that Wu shi and the others finally began to move once more, as if having just recovered from their shock.

After the appearance of the nine words from Kong shi's acknowledgement, they had been sent into a momentary trance. It was only a short while after that they finally returned to reality.

Recalling the mystical sight they had just seen, their faces flushed scarlet in agitation.

Wasn't the goal of the Saint Ascension Circle to uncover the real meaning behind Kong shi's words?

Even though the one who had done it was just a Perfect Harmonization realm lad, it was a fact that they had finally uncovered what they had sought for innumerable years!

"Where is the esteemed elder who deciphered Kong shi's insight?"

The crowd hurriedly turned to the location where Zhang Xuan had been standing a moment ago, but the ground was completely empty. There was not a person to be seen.

At the same time, their address had also turned from 'brat' to 'elder' as a form of respect.

"He isn't here anymore. He was standing right there just a moment ago..." Wang shi muttered in astonishment.

In their perception, barely a second had passed since the appearance of the nine words from Kong shi, but that was only a false impression they had due to the momentary trance. They bore no recollection of Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxin stepping into the cloud of dust and disappearing in a flash of light, as though everything that had just occurred was a dream.

"To be able to decipher Kong shi's intentions and earn his acknowledgement, that young man is anything but simple... It's a pity that we know nothing about him!" Wu shi shook his head in embarrassment.

Just a moment ago, he had been accusing the other party of feigning knowledge in the face of ignorance. However, it couldn't be clearer to him at this moment that the other party was far more knowledgeable than him.

He felt like a clown prancing around a true expert to flaunt his half-baked knowledge. His actions were truly embarrassing.

Nevertheless, a 7-star master teacher should have the magnanimity worthy of one. He had indeed wronged the other party, and if given a chance to meet that elder once more, he would surely apologize to the other party sincerely.

"Wu shi, the cliff face has collapsed..." Sun shi remarked in worry.

Each year, countless cultivators would visit the Saint Ascension Platform in hopes of achieving a breakthrough. For such a thing to happen, how were they supposed to explain this to the Master Teacher Pavilion?

"The Saint Ascension Platform is a valuable asset, but the writing on the wall was not Kong shi's personal writing but an imitation. Besides, even though it has collapsed, we have perfected the insight instead. Thus, not only is there no loss to the Master Teacher Pavilion, it's also a huge merit! I will contact the Painter Guild right now and have them send someone to conduct restoration works. This time, we shall inscribe the correct version onto it!" Wu shi said with glowing eyes.

Kong shi's words had already reflected his acknowledgement and acceptance of this matter. Since even Kong shi wasn't angry, who were they to be furious in his stead?

Not to mention, with the perfected insight, they would surely be able to attract more people to the Saint Ascension Platform, thus furthering Kong shi's teachings!

"Wang shi, help me calm everyone down here. Sun shi, follow me to comb the surroundings to see if we can find the young man. If we could have him lecture here on Kong shi's writing, we will surely benefit greatly from his teachings!" Wu shi said.

"Alright!" Sun shi and Wang shi nodded.

After making arrangements, Wu shi and Sun shi hurriedly headed down the mountain to pursue the young man. With their nimble footsteps, it didn't take long for them to reach the bottom of the mountain. Yet, it was as if the young man had just vanished from the face of the world.

That young man might have caused the collapse of the cliff face, but he had correctly interpreted Kong shi's intentions and won his acknowledgement. Despite being 7-star master teachers, they were only glad that they could see such a grand sight with their own eyes.

"It's such a pity..."

Unable to find the young man, the duo sighed deeply in lamentation.

...

After disappearing from the spot, Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxin suddenly found themselves standing in a completely different place from where they had been previously.

Before them was a lush field of grass and flowers. Not too far away, there was a simple straw cottage.

"Where... is this?" Zhang Xuan was dazed by this abrupt change in surroundings.

It was just a moment ago that he had been standing at the peak of a mountain, but in the blink of an eye, he had suddenly appeared in a field.

Recalling that he was still grabbing the other party's sleeves, he quickly turned around, only to see Luo Ruoxin's reddened face as she hurriedly tugged her sleeves out of his grip.

A moment later, after she had recovered from the embarrassment, Luo Ruoxin took a look at the surroundings and said, "If I am not mistaken, this should be... a folded space!"

"Folded space?" Zhang Xuan asked doubtfully.

"Un. A folded space refers to a region where space is pressed together to create vast lands in a very small area. Storage rings are a use of folded space, too. However, the conditions in storage rings are too extreme to contain humans whereas folded space such as this can," Luo Ruoxin replied.

Zhang Xuan nodded. "Sounds like the Myriad Anthive Nest..."

"That's right, it is fundamentally similar to the Myriad Anthive Nest, but folded spaces are typically much larger."

Luo Ruoxin nodded. "It isn't too difficult to determine whether the place you are in is a folded space or not. As folded spaces are usually artificial and less stable, the space within it shakes easily with sufficient force."

Hearing those words, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and abruptly punched forward.

Hong long long!

An immense shock wave burst into the surroundings, and the surrounding space seemed to shake slightly.

"It does seem to be rather unstable," Zhang Xuan remarked.

This verified that the area they were in was indeed a folded space.

However, to be able to compress such a huge space into just a small area, this capability was far more powerful than that possessed by the Anthive Myriad Queen. Just how fearsome must the one who constructed it be?

Having guessed Zhang Xuan's thoughts, Luo Ruoxin said, "Unless one possesses some kind of exceptional means, only 9-star master teachers are capable of utilizing this ability!"

"9-star master teachers?" Zhang Xuan was astonished.

That was an existence that stood at the very top of the continent. Even with the Library of Heaven's Path, Zhang Xuan wouldn't dare to speak loudly before such an existence.

There was simply too huge a disparity between their standing and strength that not even his disguise could make up for.

"Could this have been left behind by Kong shi?" Zhang Xuan asked.

Just by touching a light halo hidden within the cliff face on the Saint Ascension Platform, he had been transported here. As such, it was likely that this was Kong shi's design.

By exposing the flaws publicly, Zhang Xuan might have triggered some kind of mechanism that Kong shi had left behind on the cliff face.

"That's very possible, but... it's still too early to say for sure. Let's head to the straw cottage to take a look first. Perhaps, we might find something conclusive there!" Luo Ruoxin said.

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan replied.

The straw cottage looked rather shabby, similar to that which he had seen on Leiyuan Peak. The door was unlocked, and pushing on it lightly, 'jiya!', the duo entered the cottage.

The room was around twenty to thirty square meters large. There was a square table at the center of the room, and an ancient scroll was placed on it.

Zhang Xuan exchanged glances with Luo Ruoxin before reaching for the scroll and opening it gently.

Words were written on the scroll, and the content was identical with what was inscribed on the cliff face outside.

These words weren't as fanciful as those outside, but as simple and inelegant as they were, they seemed to strike a chord deep within one's heart.

"This is... Kong shi's handwriting!" Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed.

The next instant, his blood flow hastened as if triggered by something, and he subconsciously began releasing the authoritative aura of a Celestial Master Teacher.

Soon, he fell into a trance.

"Soul Tempering of a Mentor's Calligraphy?" Luo Ruoxin frowned.

Without a doubt, what was left on the scroll was definitely Kong shi's personal writing.

Only the World's Teacher had the capability to draw one into a unique state of mind just by his words alone.

Once triggered, the Soul Tempering of a Mentor's Calligraphy tempered one's state of mind, raising one's Soul Depth. It was an encounter that happened only by chance and was desired by all master teachers.

Knowing that she mustn't interrupt Zhang Xuan at this crucial moment, Luo Ruoxin left him to be. She took a swift look around the cottage, but other than the scroll, there was nothing else to be found. Shaking her head slowly, she left the cottage.

She took a walk around the fields surrounding the cottage, and the frown on her face slowly deepened. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking, but the slightly expectant gleam in her eyes seemed to have dimmed in disappointment.

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Chapter 838: Meeting Kong shi Once More

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Hu!

After the passing of an unknown amount of time, Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief, and a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

My Soul Depth has grown by 2.0!

With the Soul Tempering of a Mentor's Calligraphy that he had just undergone, his Soul Depth had increased from 19.1 to 21.1.

One of the prerequisites to taking the 7-star master teacher examination was to possess a Soul Depth of 21. In other words, in terms of Soul Depth, Zhang Xuan was currently on par with a 7-star master teacher!

For a 4-star master teacher to possess the Soul Depth comparable to a 7-star master teacher, this revelation could surely leave many shocked to death!

The hardest aspect that had many master teachers stuck was not their cultivation or their supporting occupations but their Soul Depth.

For it to have grown by 2.0 with just a single trip, he had not spent the previous few days in vain.

All of a sudden, just as Zhang Xuan was about to put away the scroll, a bright light suddenly flashed from it, and a scholarly young man dressed in a white robe suddenly appeared in the room.

It was only an illusory figure formed of light, but the features of the young man were extremely distinct, just like a real person.

"To be able to avoid the pitfall of respect and find the flaws in my insight, you did well!"

The young man seemed to be in his early twenties. With a slight smile, he gazed at Zhang Xuan in commendation.

Taken aback, Zhang Xuan widened his eyes. "You are... Kong shi?"

The figure before him might be young, but he did bear a striking resemblance to the old man he had seen during his first acknowledgement of Celestial Master Teacher in Tianwu Kingdom.

Most likely, the other party was Kong shi in his youth!

It was recorded in the books that Kong shi had managed to become a 9-star master teacher before reaching his thirties. They were at the Saint Ascension Platform, which was where Kong shi had made a breakthrough to Sainthood. The corresponding master teacher rank to his cultivation realm then would be 6-star, so making a rough estimation, the other party's age should indeed be around his early twenties too...

"My surname is indeed Kong..."

The young Kong shi chuckled. "I am nothing more than a sliver of will now, so I won't be able to maintain my state for too long. Since you were able to find the flaws in my insight and interpret my true intentions, it can only mean that our fate has intersected. The scroll in your hand contains the cultivation technique I used when achieving a breakthrough to Sainthood. Study it well, perhaps it might be useful for your future cultivation."

"It contains your cultivation technique?" Zhang Xuan took a glance at the scroll.

The content of the scroll was identical to what was inscribed on the cliff face, the only difference being that the scroll contained the personal handwriting of Kong shi and harnessed his grand aura.

Back outside, when Zhang Xuan had taken in the words on the cliff face via the Library of Heaven's Path, he hadn't seen a cultivation technique in it...

Had he not been sufficiently thorough in his study of it?

It seemed he would have to look through it carefully when he had time.

"Also, these words harness my essence, breath, and spirit after I ascended to Sainthood. Use it well, it will benefit you greatly."

The young Kong shi said with a smile, "I will just end it here. After all, cultivation is an individual journey. Work hard, perhaps fate might bring us together once more in the future!"

After saying his piece, the illusory figure began to waver, seemingly ready to dissipate at any moment.

Seeing that Kong shi was about to disappear, how could Zhang Xuan possibly waste any time? Pushing the matter regarding the book to the back of his mind, he quickly asked anxiously, "Wait a moment! I still have a question to ask. From an ancient record, I learned that you were plagued with the Innate Fetal Poison in your earlier years. May I know how you cured it?"

He knew that Kong shi had also suffered from the Innate Fetal Poison from the ancient records, and this was a rare chance to ask the other party about the matter. He wasn't going to let this opportunity go so easily.

"You are also afflicted with the Innate Fetal Poison?" Hearing those words, the young Kong shi was taken aback.

"That's right!" Zhang Xuan quickly replied. "How can I solve the issue?"

"Hahaha, I am not alone in my path!"

But instead of answering, the young Kong shi's eyes gleamed in excitement as he laughed heartily. "Finally, another person just like me. Good..."

Hu!

In the midst of his words, the young Kong shi vanished, and his voice gradually faded in the room.

A sliver of will left several dozen millenniums ago couldn't possibly maintain its existence for too long. It was already a blessing that it had lasted as long as it did.

You... Zhang Xuan was overwhelmed with frenzy.

You haven't answered my question yet...

Is that fellow really Kong shi?

Don't they say that Kong shi had a heart that embraced the world, shouldering the responsibility for the welfare of the world on his shoulders, a good man through and through?

But why was he so creepy instead?

Hearing that I am afflicted with the Innate Fetal Poison, it is one thing for him to not tell me the cure, but to get excited at that as well... What you are not alone in your path, and that I am like you... Are you that glad to see another person as unfortunate as you?

More importantly, good? Good your head!

Zhang Xuan's face was streaked with black lines.

He had been thinking that it was a good opportunity to uncover the cure for the Innate Fetal Poison through the sliver of will Kong shi had left behind. But who knew that... not only did he not receive anything substantial, he ended up being laughed at instead.

Forget it. The Kong shi at this age probably hadn't found a solution yet either... Feeling extremely stifled inside, Zhang Xuan consoled himself.

Considering that the sliver of will had been left behind right after Kong shi ascended to Sainthood, he could only be a 6-star master teacher at best. Since he hadn't even cured his own Innate Fetal Poison then, it wasn't surprising that he didn't have a solution to it yet.

To find the cure, Zhang Xuan would have to find a 9-star master teacher Kong shi.

Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan tossed aside those frustrating thoughts and studied the scroll in his hand instead.

The scroll was made of bamboo pieces weaved together. Despite being several dozen millenniums old, there wasn't the slightest wear and tear to it.

Studying the words written on it closely, Zhang Xuan realized that it wasn't written using ink but inscribed using a unique method, which made the words look more wholesome and dignified.

If I study this calligraphy carefully and master it, I will be able to further my accomplishments in painting! Zhang Xuan thought excitedly as he felt the pulsating power infused within the words.

As the first master teacher, Kong shi had been skilled in many occupations, and painting was one of them. Even though he was only a 6-star master teacher when he left those words, his comprehension of painting was already on par with 7-star or perhaps even 8-star painters.

If Zhang Xuan could examine and learn his calligraphy, it shouldn't be too difficult for him to advance his painting skills to 6-star or 7-star.

As for the cultivation technique that Kong shi had spoken of earlier, Zhang Xuan was still unable to find anything about it at the moment. It seemed like he could only decipher it bit by bit to uncover the secret hidden within.

Knowing that Luo Ruoxin was waiting for him, Zhang Xuan was just about to place the scroll in his storage ring when he suddenly felt something. Looking around him and verifying that Luo Ruoxin was nowhere near, he took out a book from his robes.

It was the Book of Heaven's Path that had Vicious sealed within.

Previously, out of fear that he would be lynched for destroying the cliff face on the Saint Ascension Platform, Zhang Xuan had taken the book out from his storage ring in preparation for whatever would come at him.

Zhang Xuan flipped open the book and asked the heart, "What's wrong?"

This fellow had been beating wildly, seemingly intent on saying something.

"That is Kong shi's personal handwriting, his will is harnessed within it... Why don't you allow me to devour it? With it, I should be able to recover a fair bit of my strength and be of more help to you!" Vicious said greedily.

"Don't even think about it!"

Without any hesitation, Zhang Xuan flicked his finger at the heart in the book.

That was Kong shi's handwriting, an invaluable treasure! How could he possibly give it to Vicious to devour?

"You have already memorized his writing, so the scroll shouldn't mean anything... If I devour it, I will be able to convert my killing intent into a purer and more orthodox form... In fact, I should be able to imitate Kong shi's aura as well and teach others a lesson in your stead!"

Under Zhang Xuan's flick, Vicious spun around several times before eventually crashing to a stop. Unwilling to give up on such a precious opportunity to regain his strength, he hurriedly continued as soon as he recovered. "In any case, I am suppressed by this book of yours, so you don't have to worry about me escaping your control. So, the more strength I recover, the safer you will be..."

"Don't even dream about devouring this book! I will try to think of another way for you to recover your strength!" Zhang Xuan waved his hands before putting away both the scroll and the book decisively.

It wasn't easy for him to receive Kong shi's personal handwriting, so he couldn't allow that fellow to consume it. Besides, he had only obtained this due to Luo Ruoxin's help, so this artifact belonged not just to him but her as well.

He would have to discuss with her to decide on how they would deal with the scroll.

However, there was one thing that Vicious was right about. The stronger Vicious became, the safer he would be.

Zhang Xuan had faith in the prowess of the Book of Heaven's Path, so he didn't need to worry about Vicious revolting against him. After all, no matter how powerful an existence was, could he possibly rise above the heavens? No matter what happened, Vicious would just have to listen to his words obediently.

Forget it, I will think of a plan later on... Knowing that it was futile to think about all of that now, Zhang Xuan shook his head and walked out of the straw cottage.

The next moment, he saw the silhouette of a young lady standing in the field not too far away. For some reason, her figure looked forlorn.

Noticing Zhang Xuan's presence, the young lady turned around and asked with a smile, "How was it?"

"I benefitted greatly from it... What about you? Did you get what you came here for?" Zhang Xuan asked in return.

The other party had said that she had gone there to confirm her deductions. They had managed to find the exact location where Kong shi ascended to Sainthood, but as for whether she did succeed or not...

"I did find some stuff, but... Forget it, let's not talk about it!"

Reluctant to speak any further, Luo Ruoxin shook her head and said, "It's good that you managed to undergo a Soul Tempering of a Mentor's Calligraphy. This trip hasn't been a waste for you. Alright, I think we should get going now!"

"Yes, we should..." Zhang Xuan nodded slightly before he suddenly recalled the scroll and took it out from his storage ring. "Since we found this together, you are also a partial owner of it. How do you intend to deal with this?"

Luo Ruoxin smiled. "You were the one who found this folded space, so naturally, it should go to you."

Having thought over the matter after entering the folded space, she had realized that it probably hadn't been Zhang Xuan's intention to destroy the cliff face. Instead, it was more likely that he had solved some kind of test that Kong shi had left behind which resulted in the triggering of some kind of mechanism.

Zhang Xuan shook his head. "This won't do. We found this together, so how can I take it for myself..."

If it wasn't for Luo Ruoxin bringing him here, he wouldn't have even known that the Saint Ascension Platform existed, let alone come here.

At the very least, he had managed to undergo a Soul Tempering of a Mentor's Calligraphy from this trip, but the other party hadn't gained anything. This left him feeling too guilty to take the scroll for himself.

Seeing Zhang Xuan's response, Luo Ruoxin chuckled softly. "There is no one in this world who doesn't desire to obtain Kong shi's personal handwriting, but here you are, trying to give it away to me..."

This wasn't some grass by the street but Kong shi's personal handwriting!

Even the Sage Clans would fight one another just to obtain it, and yet, that fellow seemed to think nothing of it at all... It was hard to tell whether he was truly a fool or not.

"Alright, the scroll is of no use to me. If I really want it, I have the means to find more of those. Rest assured and keep it," Luo Ruoxin said.

"No use to you?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Even though he had no idea why such an invaluable artifact would be useless to Luo Ruoxin, her earnest attitude didn't seem like she was simply reassuring him for the sake of it.

I am not too sure about the details regarding Sage Clans, but perhaps... they have no lack of Kong shi's handwriting! Zhang Xuan came to a realization.

Considering that the other party was likely from a Sage Clan, the Luo Clan, and that such clans had millenniums of history, it wouldn't be too surprising if they had Kong shi's personal handwriting in their treasure vaults.

Besides, this writing had been left behind when Kong shi had just ascended to Sainthood, long before he had reached his peak. Perhaps it didn't hold that much allure to offspring of large clans like that.

"I won't stand on ceremony then..."

Seeing that Luo Ruoxin truly didn't want it, Zhang Xuan returned the scroll to his storage ring. Following which, he assessed the surroundings, and with a perplexed look, he asked, "How do we get out of a folded space?"

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Chapter 839: Return to Hongyuan City

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"Folded spaces are similar to formations. As long as one finds the door, one will be able to leave it easily," Luo Ruoxin said.

"Door?" Zhang Xuan looked around his surroundings.

The area he was in wasn't too big, spanning only around several hundred meters. Anything beyond that seemed to be blocked off by some spatial barrier; no matter how he tried to pass it, he simply couldn't step past the boundary.

"It seems the exit should be somewhere in here then..."

Since it was impossible for him to pass the spatial barrier, the exit had to be somewhere within the area he could move in.

Activating his Eye of Insight, he began observing his surroundings intently. Initially, he couldn't find anything, but a thought suddenly came to mind and he turned to the area where he had arrived, and after a moment of keen observation, he finally found a clue.

He walked over to the area, and with a light step, a stone platform identical to the one he'd seen when entering this folded space gradually surfaced.

"That must be the exit. We should be able to leave by stepping on it." Luo Ruoxin smiled as she took the lead and stepped on the stone platform. With a slight flash, her figure disappeared from the spot.

"Wait a moment..."

Not expecting the other party to leave without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Xuan's heart skipped a beat.

Given that the Saint Ascension Platform had just been destroyed, the master teachers outside would surely be armed with their pitchforks, hunting down the culprit behind the mess. If he were to leave, wouldn't he be pummeled to death?

But since Luo Ruoxin had already left, he couldn't possibly leave her in the lurch. Deciding to just face whatever came his way, Zhang Xuan stepped on the stone platform as well.

Hu!

With a brilliant flash of light, the scenery changed. Blue sky and white clouds, accompanied with a light breeze, appeared before him, and a young lady stood not too far away from him.

"Hmm?" Zhang Xuan took a look at his foreign surroundings and was taken aback. "Where are we?"

From where he stood, he couldn't see the Saint Ascension Platform anywhere. It didn't seem like they were in the area anymore.

"I am not too sure either. My guess is that Kong shi knew that the destruction of the Saint Ascension Platform would cause a great deal of trouble to the one who solved his test, so he set the exit somewhere else," Luo Ruoxin said contemplatively.

"I see, that's a relief..." Seeing that he was spared from the miserable fate of being lynched, Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief.

At this point, he had already realized that as one who had received Kong shi's acknowledgement, the other master teachers wouldn't do anything to him even if he was the culprit behind the destruction of the Saint Ascension Platform. The true problem lay in the existence of the folded space hidden in the cliff face and Kong shi's personal handwriting. If others were to learn that he carried such a treasure in his possession, others could potentially come after him out of greed.

Master teachers were respected for their righteousness and morals, but it was nigh impossible for an organization as big as the Master Teacher Pavilion to accurately assess the character of each of its members. Without a doubt, there would be a few who would succumb to their greed and go after him.

He didn't want to be assaulted day after day over a darned scroll.

After checking the surroundings once more and confirming that he was a safe distance away from the Saint Ascension Platform, Zhang Xuan's tense heart finally calmed down. He called for the Great Violetwing Beast to return to Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, and while waiting, a thought suddenly popped into his mind.

Flicking his wrist, a nest around the size of a football appeared in his palm.

The Myriad Anthive Queen emerged from the nest. "Master!"

"There is a folded space here. Are you able to put it into your nest?" Zhang Xuan asked.

The Myriad Anthive Nest's interior was only around three meters from one end to the other, and it had been completely packed with just a single Byzantium Helios Beast inside. For a very long time, Zhang Xuan had been looking for some way to expand the space inside the hive.

What was before him at this very moment was a folded space of several ten thousand square meters. If there was some way to assimilate both of the spatial artifacts together, he would really be able to call forth an army of spirit beasts at a whim to decimate anyone who irked him.

The Myriad Anthive Queen took a look at the stone platform and climbed on it for a moment before returning to Zhang Xuan with an excited gleam in its eyes. "Master, I think I will be able to assimilate the folded space into the nest. However... the process will take some time!"

"How long?" Zhang Xuan asked.

Anything concerning space was filled with intricacies, and the Myriad Anthive Queen was only a Perfect Harmonization realm spirit beast. Despite possessing an inborn talent for spatial manipulation, it still wasn't an easy feat for it to conduct an assimilation.

"I will require a minimum of three days to devour it completely, and several months to assimilate it into the nest," replied the Myriad Anthive Queen.

"Alright, I will give you three days then," Zhang Xuan said.

He could still afford to spare three days.

"Yes!" Having earned its master's permission, the Myriad Anthive Queen hurriedly stepped onto the stone platform and disappeared.

On the other hand, seeing that he wouldn't even let the folded space Kong shi had left behind go, Luo Ruoxin shook her head.

Other master teachers would be worshipping anything that Kong shi had left behind as sacred relics, not daring to desecrate it in the least. But this fellow... he actually intended on having his own tamed beast devour the folded space where Kong shi had ascended to Sainthood in... Really, just what was in his mind?

...

After waiting patiently for three days, the duo finally saw the Myriad Anthive Queen climb out of the folded space with a pale face. Its head had doubled in size, and there was an uncomfortable bulge in its stomach.

After having it return into its nest to expand the space in it, Zhang Xuan, along with Luo Ruoxin, leaped onto the back of the Great Violetwing Beast before returning to the Master Teacher Academy.

This trip to the Saint Ascension Platform had been worthwhile.

Through the Soul Tempering of a Mentor's Calligraphy, his Soul Depth had reached 21.1, comparable to a 7-star master teacher. He had also obtained Kong shi's personal handwriting, and even though he had no idea what use it served, it must have some invaluable use to it considering how countless master teachers would fight over it. Last but not least, he had also found a way to expand the Myriad Anthive Nest.

Having devoured such a large folded space, the Myriad Anthive Nest would surely expand to many times its original size once the Myriad Anthive Queen successfully assimilated the folded space in it. By then, he would be able to house the Byzantium Helios Beast, Great Violetwing Beast, his clone, and even his students in it. He wouldn't have to worry about bringing them around into inconvenient places anymore.

Days flew by like the passing wind for a cultivator. Before long, three days had passed, and Hongyuan City came into sight.

In this time, the Myriad Anthive Nest had grown to be around a dozen meters wide, allowing even the massive Great Violetwing Beast to enter without a problem.

Zhang Xuan hadn't been slacking off either. With the rise in his Soul Depth, his analytical capability had been enhanced, granting him a deeper insight to his cultivation technique, thus allowing him to cultivate faster than before.

He had been intending to suppress his cultivation until he found the corresponding Heaven's Path Divine Art before making the breakthrough, but who could have known that in his sleep on the first day, he would subconsciously make the breakthrough to Ethereal Treading realm primary stage. That had left him feeling incredibly stifled within for the entire day.

He had already resolved to refine his zhenqi well and build up a truly solid foundation for the further advancement of his cultivation, but... it seemed like fate simply wouldn't allow it.

Sigh! It sure is a huge problem when one achieves breakthroughs too easily!

In any case, the breakthrough to Ethereal Treading realm had raised Zhang Xuan's fighting prowess a significant amount. The strength he could tap into from his zhenqi cultivation increased from 14,000,000 ding to 17,000,000 ding!

That was might on par with Ethereal Treading realm intermediate stage experts!

Factoring in the 11,000,000 ding from his soul cultivation and 8,000,000 ding from his physical body, he harnessed a combined strength of 36,000,000 ding, which was more than sufficient for him to destroy even a Chrysalis realm pinnacle expert in a single punch!

(Chrysalis realm pinnacle experts wield a strength of 34,000,000 ding)

Not too long after entering Hongyuan City, the Master Teacher Academy came into view. After arriving at the destination, Luo Ruoxin bade farewell and left, stepping on thin air.

On the other hand, Zhang Xuan had the Great Violetwing Beast fly back to his manor.

...

As soon as the Great Violetwing Beast entered Hongyuan City, one of the elders of the Apothecary School hurriedly rushed to Lu Feng's residence and reported to him.

"School head, Zhang Xuan and Luo shi are back!"

Slapping the table, Lu Feng stood up abruptly with a sharp glint in his eyes.

"He has returned? Good!"

He had thought that the fellow would return in a day or two, but who could have known that he would end up waiting for nearly ten days? Unforgivable!

"Continue keeping tabs on him. Remember, don't let him get away by hook or by crook!" Lu Feng instructed the elder before turning to the side. "School Head Chen and Dong Xin, let's head to the Elder Hall."

"Alright!" Chen Chengxun and Dong Xin heaved a sigh of relief as they stood up.

In order to ensure that the news didn't leak, they had been asked to remain there for the past ten days as well. Since Zhang Xuan had returned, their 'isolation' was finally over.

Not too long later, they arrived at a tightly sealed room located at the highest point of the Master Teacher Academy.

The Elder Hall!

This was where the Ten Great Master Teachers, principal, and vice principals discussed important matters concerning the academy.

Rarely were there any matters requiring all of the top brass of the Master Teacher Academy to gather together, so the doors of the Elder Hall were rarely opened. However, in just than half a month since the start of the semester that year, it had already opened twice.

The first was regarding the disappearance of Senior Byzantium Helios and the second was on a motion to expel Zhang Xuan.

Entering the room, they activated the formation inscribed in the room to ensure confidentiality before taking a seat and waiting. One by one, the remaining eight school heads stepped into the room as well.

"School Head Lu, what have you assembled all of us so anxiously for this time?" School Head Mo asked as soon as he stepped into the room.

"Indeed. If you are still hung up on the matter regarding Zhang Xuan, I will have to ask you not to waste our time. Even though most of the students of the Apothecary School have withdrawn from their lessons, I have personally made a trip to take a look at the situation after the previous conference, and over half of them have achieved a breakthrough in their pill forging proficiency... In other words, not only should Zhang shi not be punished, our academy should even reward him for his contribution!" Zhao Bingxu said.

After that day, most of the school heads had conducted a private investigation of the matter concerning the Apothecary School out of worry. Just as Lu Feng had said, most of the students of the Apothecary School had withdrawn from their lessons... But despite that, it seemed like they had found a better teacher to further their studies. There was a significant rise in the overall pill forging proficiency of those ex-students.

The vision of the academy was to groom generations of talents for mankind. Anyone, be it teacher or student, who could achieve this would be a meritorious member of the academy. Even if Zhang Xuan's matter was reported to the headquarters, there was no one who would fault him for his deeds.

Lu Feng waved his hands and spoke leisurely. "Don't be hasty, I will start once Mu shi and Pavilion Master Mo arrive!"

He might have suffered a checkmate at their hands the previous time, but he had come with concrete evidence in his hands this time around.

Let us see how you can help Zhang Xuan this time!

"Pavilion Master Mo? Why did you call him here?" Wei Ranxue questioned.

The other elders also frowned in displeasure.

While the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy and Hongyuan Master Teacher Pavilion were associated with one another, they were considered two different entities, and they rarely interfered in the matters of the other. The Elder Conference should have been something private to the academy, but Lu Feng, of his own accord, had decided to invite Pavilion Master Mo over.

Don't you find it embarrassing to involve outsiders in our affairs?

Are you inviting the Master Teacher Pavilion to have a good laugh at our own internal problems?

"You will know soon enough!" Lu Feng spoke confidently with his head tilted upward.

All of you who protected Zhang Xuan the previous time around will learn what is truly embarrassing when you learn that he is an Otherworldly Demon!

Seeing that Lu Feng was unwilling to reveal anything further, Zhao Bingxu, Mo Zhu, and the others traded doubtful glances.

Jiya! Jiya!

Not too long later, Mu shi and Pavilion Master Mo Gaoyuan arrived as well.

"Mu shi, Pavilion Master Mo!" The school heads stood up and clasped their fists.

After everyone settled down, Mu shi asked with a wave of his hand, "What is it this time?"

"Mu shi, this matter concerns both Senior Byzantium Helios and the safety of mankind, so we have to take all possible precautions to ensure that nothing we speak of here leaks out. Thus, before I begin, I beseech you to place an additional layer of protection around this room to prevent anyone from sending news out!" Lu Feng stood up and bowed.

"You want me to place an additional layer of protection?" Mu shi frowned deeply.

Zhao Bingxu's face darkened, and he bellowed furiously, "Lu Feng, what do you mean by that? Are you suggesting that we will leak the news?"

The other school heads also narrowed their eyes in displeasure.

They were the only ones in the room; Lu Feng was clearly guarding against them.

On top of that, he even clearly said that he wanted to 'prevent anyone from sending news out'. They were the Ten Great Master Teachers, the school heads of the Master Teacher Academy! Did Lu Feng think that they would leak news regarding something as important as the safety of Senior Byzantium Helios and mankind to others?

That was a clear attack on their integrity and honor!

Lu Feng's gaze swept across the room as he spoke sharply.

"Well, I do know that I won't leak any news to outsiders, but I can't say the same for the others. This matter has huge implications, and there are a few among us who have been beguiled by that scoundrel. I am only doing this as a precaution!"

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Chapter 840: Zhang Xuan Is My Teacher!

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

The hot-tempered Wei Ranxue's face darkened, and she bellowed furiously, "Beguiled? Who are you talking about? I will have to ask you to stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point!"

School Head Mo harrumphed coldly. "She's right! We, the Ten Great Master Teachers, have known each other for at least several centuries now, but for you to say such words... Are you suggesting that I will reveal important secrets to outsiders? Or are you accusing School Head Zhao or School Head Wei? Or perhaps, you think that you are the only trustworthy one here?"

It was clear that the other party was pointing fingers at them, so how could they possibly not fly into a rage?

"Calm down, you are acting as if I am talking about you. I don't think you should have anything to worry about unless... you have intimate relations with the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe!" Lu Feng sneered coldly.

"What did you say?" Unable to hold back her rage any longer, Wei Ranxue slammed her palm on the table forcefully and stood up. Her powerful aura as a Saint realm expert gushed out as she roared, "I dare you to say that again!"

"Lu Feng, watch your mouth. We are all school heads of the Master Teacher Academy, members of the esteemed Ten Great Master Teachers of Hongyuan Empire. Who are you saying has intimate relations with the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe?" Zhao Bingxu uttered menacingly with narrowed eyes.

"You will know who I am talking about very soon. Just that, I hope that you won't be too ashamed to raise your faces later on!" Lu Feng harrumphed in response.

"There's no need to wait, I have been wanting to try your 'Great Inarticulate Palm' for some time now. Make your move!"

With a roar, Wei Ranxue raised her hands and released her full might as a Saint realm 1-dan pinnacle cultivator unreservedly.

Even though she specialized in terpsichorean arts, her fighting prowess still wasn't something that one could underestimate. Before her blow even reached him, the sheer force of her offense already had the surrounding air compressed so tightly that it seemed it could burst at any moment.

"School Head Wei's fighting prowess is far stronger than before!"

Feeling the incredible aura Wei Ranxue exuded, everyone was astonished.

Having been together for the past several centuries, they had a clear understanding of how powerful each of the others were. Who would have thought that in just a few days of absence, Wei Ranxue would make a breakthrough in both her cultivation and her terpsichorean arts?

Each movement and gesture of hers seemed to draw one deeper into a trance.

"Since School Head Wei wishes to try my Great Inarticulate Palm, it would be impolite for me to reject your request!" Harrumphing coldly, Lu Feng raised his palm, and a massive palm print appeared in the air.

The Great Inarticulate Palm, a Spirit pinnacle battle technique, Lu Feng's strongest technique!

"Come!" Wei Ranxue raised her palm, and a surge of pure zhenqi shot forth from her hands.

The room wasn't large, but having reached Saint realm, they had already gained an astounding level of control over their strength, minimizing the power loss in their techniques to the surroundings. As such, they need not worry about harming others in the area or destroying the room.

"Humph!" Facing Wei Ranxue's attack, Lu Feng sneered coldly.

Not even bothering to stand up, he thrust his right hand forward, and the palm print floating in front of him flew forth to face Wei Ranxue's attack.

Boom!

As the palm print and the surge of zhenqi collided, Wei Ranxue's face paled, and she was forced to retreat several steps. At this turn of events, she couldn't help but widen her eyes in shock.

"Half... Spiritual Perceptual realm?"

At Saint 2-dan Spiritual Perception realm, a cultivator would be able to open their Incipient Eye and awaken their spiritual perception. Through the spiritual perception, one would be granted a further and clearer view of one's surroundings, allowing one to notice the crucial minor details that could determine the flow of a battle, thus enhancing one's fighting prowess by leaps and bounds.

While Lu Feng hadn't exactly reached this realm, he wasn't too far from it anymore.

"No wonder..." Zhao Bingxu and the others narrowed their eyes in astonishment.

That explained why Lu Feng dared to utter those arrogant words, not fearing that he would offend them. It turned out that he had achieved a breakthrough in his cultivation!

"Looks like you aren't that blind yet!" Lu Feng harrumphed coldly as an indomitable aura emanated from him. "Who else wants to try my Great Inarticulate Palm?"

"..." The crowd fell silent.

After all the years they had been together, they were well aware of the means that each of them possessed, so even in a duel, they would usually end in a draw. However, now that Lu Feng had reached Half-Spiritual Perception realm, he was already a step ahead of them all, becoming the number one expert of the Master Teacher Academy!

"Enough! You are all master teachers of the academy; this is no reason for you to fight with one another!" Mu shi bellowed furiously.

With a wave of his hands, his zhenqi shrouded the room. Using his unique technique, all forms of communication that could deliver information beyond the confines of the room, be it verbally or via Communication Jade Tokens, were terminated.

"Alright, I have already set up a barrier. Say whatever you need to!" Mu shi said impassively.

"Reporting to Mu shi, there is still another matter which I need your permission for..."

Looking at the shocked faces in the room, Mu shi stood up and said authoritatively, "For further precaution, I wish to invite the Guardian Saint Artifact of our academy over... the Golden Origin Cauldron!"

"Golden Origin Cauldron?"

"The Guardian Saint Artifact that the Master Teacher Pavilion bestowed to our academy?"

"That is a real Saint-tier artifact! It might only be a cauldron, but it possesses its own sentience and spirit. With the strength it wields, it could slay Saint 2-dan or even 3-dan experts easily! Why would Lu Feng invite it to our Elder Conference?"

"Back when the headquarters bestowed the Golden Origin Cauldron to us, it said that other than in times of emergency, we are not to use it... Could he have really found something crucial?"

...

The Golden Origin Cauldron was the final trump card of the Master Teacher Academy. Unless they were faced with an invasion by the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, they were not to use it. To invite it to their Elder Conference at this very moment... What was it for?

The expressions of the elders turned grim.

"Do you know what the inviting the Golden Origin Cauldron means?" Mu shi asked with narrowed eyes.

"I do, but the matter which I am going to speak of has significant implications, and that man possesses unbelievable means. In order to prevent any mishap from occurring, it is imperative that we make sufficient preparations beforehand. Otherwise... I fear that even with all of us here, we still might not be a match for him!" Lu Feng replied confidently.

Based on what Dong Xin said, Zhang Xuan had subordinated twenty Saint 1-dan Otherworldly Demons, and he could emanate a powerful killing intent which could render even Senior Byzantium Helios powerless. If they were to expose his identity, and the other party, cornered, were to retaliate, it wasn't certain whether they would be a match for him or not!

If they couldn't subdue his rampage as soon as possible, the Master Teacher Academy would suffer heavy losses.

"This..." The crowd glanced at one another, perplexed.

Just what could it be that would require even their greatest trump card to be taken out?

"As long as you understand. Since you believe that the Master Teacher Academy is in such deep peril, let us invite the Golden Origin Cauldron over!" Mu shi nodded.

Even though he had been sent to the academy by the headquarters to elect the next principal, he was ultimately still an outsider. He didn't wish to get too involved in the affairs of the academy. It was best for their internal matters to be resolved internally as well.

"Thank you, Mu shi!"

Receiving Mu shi's approval, Lu Feng clasped his fist before walking to the side of the room. He pressed his palm against the wall before saying, "I am Lu Feng, the stand-in principal of the Master Teacher Academy. I would like to invite Senior Golden Origin Cauldron to our conference!"

Hong long!

Following which, the room began to shake, and 'jiya!', the wall suddenly parted, and a massive cauldron flew out.

Peng!

It landed at the very center of the room with a resounding reverberation. With a deep voice, it said, "Don't you know that I am resting? What is the matter?"

Artifacts that had reached Saint-tier had already gained sentience and were capable of thinking just like humans.

Lu Feng clasped his fist politely as he said, "An Otherworldly Demonic Tribe royalty has appeared in the academy. I beseech senior to help us suppress him once he appears!"

"Otherworldly Demonic Tribe royalty?"

"Who?"

Hearing those words, all of those gathered in the room widened their eyes in astonishment.

An Otherworldly Demonic Tribe royalty... had appeared in the academy?

Mu shi's face darkened as well.

If there was truly such a fearsome existence around him, it was gross negligence on his part to not have noticed it.

Taking a step back, even if he didn't notice it, surely she would have been able to?

"Otherworldly Demonic Tribe royalty? Are you certain?" The Golden Origin Cauldron was taken aback by Lu Feng's revelation as well.

"I am absolutely certain!" Lu Feng nodded confidently.

"Alright. If an Otherworldly Demonic Tribe really appears in the Master Teacher Academy just as you have said, I will make a move and subdue him. However, if I don't see him by the end of the day... for interrupting my sleep, don't blame me if I reduce you to ashes!" The Golden Origin Cauldron harrumphed.

"Senior, rest assured. I will surely bring him before you..." Lu Feng smiled.

"Alright. Since you have already brought even Senior Golden Origin Cauldron here, hurry up and tell us what is going on!" Zhao Bingxu urged impatiently.

Lu Feng glanced at Zhao Bingxu and smirked before turning his attention back to the crowd. "Seems like someone is getting angsty. Don't you worry, I will begin right now!

"Allow me to introduce all of you, this is Dong Xin, a Grade 5 student of our academy, the leader of Dong Xin Faction, as well as a direct disciple who I have recently accepted... Alright, Dong Xin. Tell everyone the sight you saw ten days ago. There is no need to worry; I am here."

"Yes!" Dong Xin nodded grimly. Taking a deep breath, she took a step forward.

She knew that this was as much a risk as an opportunity. Putting everything aside, her contribution in having uncovered a disguised Otherworldly Demonic Tribe royalty would solidify her reputation as a master teacher, and many opportunities would come her way, allowing her to rise through the ranks.

"I am Dong Xin, a Grade 5 student of the Master Teacher Academy and a 6-star low-tier master teacher. In my name as a master teacher, I vow that everything that I am about to say is accurate and true, devoid of the slightest falsehood..."

Stepping to the very center of the room, Dong Xin raised her palm and swore on her name as a master teacher.

Seeing her action, the crowd nodded their heads grimly.

If a master teacher were to act against their vow, their faith would collapse, resulting in the instability and perhaps even a complete ruination of their state of mind, not to mention the severe punishments the Master Teacher Pavilion would impose on them. As such, there were very few master teachers who would dare to lie in a vow.

"Ten days ago, I visited a manor outside the academy and saw an Aura Sealing Formation. Out of curiosity, I remained in the area to observe it when I saw Senior Byzantium Helios breaking out of the formation and escaping from it..." With a crisp voice, Dong Xin recounted what she had witnessed that day.

The entire room was silent, and everyone's complexion was awful.

This was especially so for School Head Mo and the others. They were shaking their heads, unwilling to believe what they were hearing.

Eventually, School Head Jiang Qingqin couldn't take it any longer and stood up. "You are saying that... Zhang laoshi ordered twenty subordinate Otherworldly Demons to pummel Senior Byzantium Helios?"

As the saying goes, the music at one's fingertips reflects one's inner self. He was privileged enough to have listened to Zhang laoshi's playing, and from it, he could feel a pure and dignified vibe. How could a man who could evoke such a vibe from his music possibly be an Otherworldly Demon?

Even if an Otherworldly Demonic Tribe royalty could conceal their aura, they couldn't possibly disguise their state of mind as well!

"That's right!" Dong Xin was slightly fearful at School Head Jiang Qingqin's outburst, but she nodded affirmatively.

"Impossible! Zhang laoshi is a noble and straightforward man, how could he possibly be an Otherworldly Demon? Utter nonsense! In any case, I don't believe your words!"

Jiang Qingqin flung his sleeves furiously as he turned his sharp gaze to Lu Feng. "Lu Feng, are you making this up to exact vengeance on the humiliation Zhang laoshi brought upon you?"

"What did you call him? Zhang laoshi?" Lu Feng asked with a deep frown.

It was already bizarre to see the usually impassive and composed School Head Jiang flying into such an abrupt rage, but the term he used to address the other party...

Zhang shi and Zhang laoshi, there was just a syllable of difference, but the meaning changed completely.

The former was just a respectful manner to address a fellow master teacher whereas the latter was how a student addressed their teacher.

"Indeed, I am Zhang laoshi's student. You dare insult my teacher by accusing him of being an Otherworldly Demon, do you think that I will just stand idly and allow you to fling mud on him like that?" Jiang Qingqin bellowed furiously.

"Teacher? You are an esteemed school head, and yet you acknowledged a student as your teacher?" Lu Feng nearly went mad.

Is there something wrong with that fellow's head?

I thought that you possess a transcendental view of the world?

I even respected you for that!

How in the world did you end up acknowledging Zhang Xuan as your teacher in the blink of an eye?

Are you out of your mind?

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Chapter 841: Byzantium Helios Beast's Breakthrough

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

This feeling resonated not only within Lu Feng but with the others in the room as well.

Sure enough, there were several school heads among the group who were impressed by Zhang Xuan's capability, but in view of their own standing, they had still held themselves back.

School Head Mo had tried to take him in as his direct disciple, Zhao Bingxu had offered to take him in as his teacher's student, and even Wei Ranxue had only viewed him as a fellow peer that she could consult with... Yet, this fellow had actually gone beyond that and acknowledged him as his teacher!

The standing of a teacher was inherently higher than a student's.

Considering that we are all peers, if you have acknowledged him as your teacher, doesn't that mean that we are all his juniors?

"That's right!" School Head Jiang harrumphed coldly. "If this is the matter you wish to confer on today, I don't think there is any need for me to listen any further!"

After saying those words, he turned to the door to leave.

That Lu Feng had painted such a grim picture, but in the end, he was just making use of this opportunity to insult his teacher and exact vengeance for the previous humiliation he had suffered. Since that was the case, there was no point in him remaining in this conference!

Lu Feng's face darkened, and he bellowed furiously, "You can't leave!"

After all the measures he had taken to ensure absolute secrecy, if Jiang Qingqin were to leave to reveal the news to Zhang Xuan, the latter could very well make preparations in advance and flee!

"Oh? Are you going to attack me if I insist on leaving?" Jiang Qingqin's eyebrows shot up as he turned around to assess Lu Feng with a frosty gaze.

"That's right! No one shall leave until this matter is resolved! I won't go easy on anyone who attempts to do so..." Lu Feng uttered coldly with eyes narrowed menacingly.

Without any hesitation, he raised his palm and executed the Great Inarticulate Palm once more. A massive palm print flew toward School Head Jiang with astounding momentum.

The strength of a Half-Spiritual Perception realm expert complemented with a Spirit pinnacle battle technique was nothing to scoff at. Under the immense force of the palm technique, the air was compressed to such a degree that a deafening sonic boom erupted, threatening to rupture one's ears.

"Others might fear you, but not me!"

Seeing that Lu Feng had truly launched an attack against him, Jiang Qingqin swiftly flicked his wrist, and a massive zither appeared before him, floating in the air quietly. With light and agile movements from his ten fingers, a sharp melody pervaded the room.

Tingg tanggg! Tinggg tangggg!

A torrent of sound waves gushed forward.

Boom!

As soon as the sound wave came into contact with the palm print, Lu Feng abruptly exerted more force to overcome the other party's sound wave in a single push. However, to his horror, even when he had exerted his full strength, he couldn't withstand the might of the sound wave at all.

Under the onslaught of the music wave, his face reddened instantaneously as he was pushed back several steps, and blood spewed from his mouth!

"7-star demonic tunist?" Lu Feng widened his eyes in shock.

The other party's cultivation might not be on par with his, but his comprehension of demonic tunes had reached 7-star. With his current fighting prowess, not even a Saint 2-dan cultivator would necessarily be a match for him!

In just a momentary clash, his soul had been already severely wounded.

"Indeed. Under teacher's guidance, I managed to achieve a breakthrough!" Jiang Qingqin said proudly.

If not for Zhang laoshi, he might very well have been stuck at 6-star for his entire life... As such, how could he allow anyone to insult his teacher like that?

"Mu shi..."

Lu Feng had thought that with his recent breakthrough, he would have been the number one expert of the Ten Great Master Teachers. He had never thought that he would be defeated by Jiang Qingqin in a single blow. Indignant, he could only turn to Mu shi for help.

"Alright, let's end this here. School Head Jiang, you calm down as well. Since Dong Xin has vowed on this matter in her name as a master teacher, this matter is indeed worth looking into!"

Mu shi waved his hand and said, "Since things have already gotten to this point, why don't we invite Zhang shi over to explain himself? If this truly is a misunderstanding, he will surely be able to come up with a logical explanation to convince us. Otherwise, if he truly is an Otherworldly Demon... we mustn't allow him to get away!"

"This..." Seeing that even Mu shi had spoken up, Jiang Qingqin hesitated for a moment before returning to his seat. "Alright, I will listen to Mu shi's arrangements. However, I hope for Zhang laoshi to be invited over in his capacity as a master teacher and not as a suspect. I don't want to see anyone doing anything disrespectful to my teacher!"

"Fair enough!" Mu shi nodded.

Even though Dong Xin had vowed on the matter using her name as a master teacher, it would be unfair to treat Zhang Xuan as a criminal just based on her story alone. On top of that, Zhang Xuan was an incredibly talented master teacher possessing the Eye of Insight as well. If they were to capture him and eventually find out that everything was just a misunderstanding, this could create a rift between him and the Master Teacher Academy.

Besides, if the other party really was an Otherworldly Demon, if they were to send their forces out to apprehend him, he might notice that something was wrong and escape. That could potentially lead to a disaster.

"Alright then. I have no more objections!" Jiang Qingqin relented.

"Lu Feng, you heard it. Dispatch someone to invite Zhang Xuan over to have his testimony cross-examined with Dong Xin's. Let's hope that he can explain himself well, or else... I will have him eliminated personally!" Mu shi said.

"Yes!"

Nodding, Lu Feng walked out of the Elder Hall to send his men to invite Zhang Xuan over before returning back to his seat and waiting patiently.

...

While a huge commotion was going on there, Zhang Xuan had ridden the Great Violetwing Beast all the way to his manor and landed.

As soon as he walked into the main hall, he was welcomed by the Byzantium Helios Beast and Sun Qiang.

"Master!"

At that very moment, the Byzantium Helios Beast commanded an aura overflowing with vitality and power, reminiscent of a dragon. Over the past few days, it had grown many times stronger than before, and its eyes reflected a wise and composed gleam.

"You have achieved a breakthrough?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Saint 2-dan Spiritual Perception realm. While the strength growth one would experience from a breakthrough to this realm wasn't as exaggerated that when advancing from Nascent Saint to Saint realm, it did induce an immense growth in one's fighting prowess.

This was due to the awakening of one's spiritual perception. Through the spiritual perception, one could view one's surroundings with greater clarity than before. Even the slightest movement wouldn't escape one's notice. This wasn't something that one's physical eye could possibly compare to.

There were even many that said that Saint 2-dan was the first step to comprehending the many secrets arts that Saints wielded, and it was only after awakening one's Incipient Eye could one be considered a true Saint.

The Byzantium Helios Beast nodded. "That's right!"

From the beginning, it hadn't been far from making a breakthrough. Through assimilating the Ancient Ape's inner core, which shared many common properties with it, it had managed to find the impetus to overcome its bottleneck and reach Saint 2-dan.

"Good!" Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist and passed a huge gourd over. "This is Earth Vein Spirit Essence; you will find it useful in helping to reinforce your cultivation!"

It was not without reason that so many saint beasts in the Cloudmist Ridge had guarded the Earth Vein Spirit Essence so tightly. It had exceptional effects on saint beasts.

"Thank you, master!"

Uncorking the cap, the Byzantium Helios Beast immediately felt the condensed spiritual energy harnessed within the gourd, and it shuddered in agitation.

With his instincts, it could instantaneously tell that the spirit essence contained within the gourd was worth more than dozens of high-tier spirit stones.

To hand something as valuable as that to it so easily, this reflected the deep trust that Zhang Xuan had in it.

Zhang Xuan turned to Sun Qiang and asked, "Un. Did anything happen while I was gone?"

"Nothing much, just that..." At which, Sun Qiang frowned. "Hu Yaoyao sent a message several days ago saying that our manor seems to be under surveillance..."

"Under surveillance?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

Hu Yaoyao was the leader of the Bewitching Devil Faction, controlling a huge pack of experts. Since she had sent word of it, the news was likely to be authentic.

"Have you found out who those people are?"

"I tried looking into the matter several times, but the other party was too strong. They managed to escape my detection each time..." Sun Qiang's face reddened in embarrassment.

His current cultivation realm hadn't even reached Consonant Spirit realm yet. While his strength could be considered fairly powerful in a Tier-2 Empire, it was still lacking in the capital of a Tier-1 Empire like Hongyuan City.

"Master, I know of this matter. Those men keeping watch on the manor are the elders from the Master Teacher Academy!" the Byzantium Helios Beast said.

Having achieved a breakthrough to Spiritual Perception realm, he could easily perceive the happenings in his surroundings.

Sun Qiang might not have been able to find those creeping around the manor, but there was no way they could have escaped the Byzantium Helios Beast's notice.

"Elders of the Master Teacher Academy? Why are they keeping watch on me?" Zhang Xuan was bewildered.

Even though he did cripple a couple of schools, wasn't sending the esteemed elders on the academy to keep tabs on him a little, no, way too excessive?

"When I achieved the breakthrough to Saint 2-dan and awakened by spiritual perception, I happened to overhear their conversation, and it seems like... that lad, Lu Feng, intends to call for an Elder Conference to have you judged. I am not too sure about the details as well as they didn't say too much, but I think you should remain on your guard for the next few days," the Byzantium Helios Beast said.

"Lu Feng wants to have me judged?" Zhang Xuan was astonished.

After he had made his round in the Apothecary School, Lu Feng had once assembled the Ten Great Master Teachers to push forward a motion to have his master teacher license revoked, but his plan had fallen through eventually.

School Head Jiang had already told him of this matter when he was at the Demonic Tunist School. Could that fellow be up to something again?

But if he didn't succeed the first time, surely the second time would be nothing to worry about too...

"From the looks of it, I think they might have found some important evidence to use against you," the Byzantium Helios Beast said.

"Based on what I heard, not only did they invite Pavilion Master Mo Gaoyuan over, they even called forth the Saint-tier artifact, 'Golden Origin Cauldron'!"

The surveilling elders didn't seem to know too much of the matter either. Thus, even though the Byzantium Helios Beast had been eavesdropping on their conversation, he only knew fragments of the story.

"Golden Origin Cauldron?"

"That is the Guardian Saint Artifact of the Master Teacher Academy. It is usually under the control of the principal, and it wields the power to destroy even Saint realm 3-dan experts!"

The Byzantium Helios Beast frowned. "However, after my master died, the Golden Origin Cauldron fell into a deep sleep, and no one has been able to command it since then. This would likely remain the case unless... an invasion of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe occurs!"

Hearing those words, Zhang Xuan's eyebrows knitted together.

If what the Byzantium Helios Beast said was true, this was indeed a huge matter!

But... what did sending elders to surveil him have to do with an invasion of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe? Could it be that... news regarding his Otherworldly Demon puppets and Vicious had leaked?

If that was the case, he was indeed in deep trouble.

Putting aside how it would be ludicrous to most for a master teacher to have successfully taken in one of the top brass of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe as his subordinate, just the fact that he had so many Otherworldly Demon puppets in his possession was already something he couldn't possibly hope to explain well.

Just as Zhang Xuan was deep in thought, attempting to figure out what Lu Feng was up to, Zheng Yang suddenly rushed into the room.

"Teacher..."

Zhang Xuan turned to him and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Teacher, Vice School Head Zhou and Vice School Head Wei from the Apothecary School are here. They said that they are here to invite you to the academy to discuss an important matter," Zheng Yang said.

"Invite?" Zhang Xuan's frown deepened. "How are their attitudes?"

"Their attitudes? Amicable and polite, I guess... They are currently waiting in the guest lounge!" Zheng Yang replied.

In truth, he had also felt that something was off about this matter. After the mess that his teacher had caused at the Apothecary School, the relationship between the two had been like fire and water, incapable of coexisting simultaneously. For the latter to suddenly pay their manor a visit and extend an invitation to the Master Teacher Academy... there was truly something bizarre about the situation.

Their attitudes are amicable and polite? And yet, they still sent men to surveil me? Looks like they did manage to grasp hold of some kind of handle over me, and they are afraid that I might flee after learning of it...

A sharp glint flashed through Zhang Xuan's eyes.

After sending elders to surveil him and calling forth the trump card of the Master Teacher Academy, they abruptly sent vice school heads to invite him over to the academy politely... Their incongruous actions hinted at treacherous currents hidden beneath the calm exterior.

On top of that, he had come into contact with Lu Feng before. He was certain that the latter wasn't one who could let go of his grudges easily.

Something was definitely amiss!

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Xuan said, "Byzantium Helios, for the time being, I need you to get into the Myriad Anthive Nest. I might require your presence later on!"

"Yes!" the Byzantium Helios Beast nodded before entering the Myriad Anthive Nest.

At this moment, the Anthive Nest was already more than a dozen meters wide, so while there wasn't sufficient space for him to move about, it was, at the very least, not cramped.

After this was done, Zhang Xuan was just about to head out to meet the vice school heads when he abruptly halted. He gestured for Sun Qiang and Zheng Yang to head to the guest lounge, and after confirming that there was no one around, he brought his clone out and passed his storage ring to him.

Vicious and the newly-acquired scroll containing Kong shi's personal handwriting were in the storage ring.

Wherever the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe was concerned, master teachers would tend to act by the adage, 'better safe than sorry'. On the off chance that he found himself cornered... it would be better to leave a hand.

His clone and he shared the same soul, so as long as his clone wasn't kept in the storage ring, they could communicate remotely with one another.

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Chapter 842: Byzantium Lad, Explain It to Them!

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

In the guest lounge, Vice School Head Zhou and Vice School Head Wei were conversing with one another via zhenqi telepathy.

"Do you think that he will try to escape?"

While the duo wasn't too sure what was going on either, the fact that the school head had had Zhang Xuan's manor surveilled for the past few days meant that he was going to make his move on Zhang Xuan.

"If he refuses to come with us or attempts to escape, we will just have to act as the school head commands and eliminate him!" Vice School Head Wei replied grimly.

"But if we really do so, there is no way School Head Mo, School Head Zhao, and the others will let this matter rest easily..." Vice School Head Zhou said worriedly.

When they first heard the order, they were nearly scared out of their wits.

Considering the prestige that Zhang Xuan wielded among the student populace, as well as his relationship with the various school heads, if he were to be killed... the Apothecary School would fall into deep trouble!

"I am also worried, but there is no way around it. This is a direct command from the school head; we can't disobey it. Don't worry, he must have his own reasons for giving such a command," Vice School Head Wei replied.

Lu Feng wasn't a reckless person, so he must have understood the implications of the order, too. There had to be a good reason for him to make such a command despite that. As subordinates, they would just have to do as they were told.

"You are right; there is no point thinking about it too much. We should just do as we were told..." Vice School Head Zhou nodded.

At that moment, a young man suddenly appeared by the doorway.

Stepping into the room, Zhang Xuan clasped his fist and greeted them. "Vice School Head Zhou, Vice School Head Wei!"

He had met Zhou Qing during the academy's student recruitment period; he was the elder who had helped Luo Ruoxin tidy up the podium for her public lecture.

Vice School Head Zhou stood up and said, "Zhang shi! We are here to invite you to the academy so as to discuss a matter..."

Seeing that Zhang Xuan had not opted to flee, the duo subconsciously heaved a sigh of relief.

"Can you tell me what the matter is regarding?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"I am not too sure about the details either. However, this matter seems to be of grave importance, so I will have to ask Zhang shi to not turn us down," Vice School Head Zhou said with a bitter smile.

Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment before nodding. "I see. Alright then, lead the way!"

With all the preparations Lu Feng had made, surveilling his manor and calling forth the Golden Origin Cauldron, there was no way he was going to let Zhang Xuan escape easily. Since it was impossible to avoid it, there was no point in delaying the inevitable.

"Yes, this way please!" Seeing how Zhang Xuan agreed to it readily, Vice School Head Zhou hurriedly gestured forward, as if fearing that the other party would change his mind.

Zhang Xuan's manor wasn't too far away from the Master Teacher Academy.

Under the lead of the two vice school heads, it didn't take too long before they arrived at the Elder Hall.

Pushing the door open, Zhang Xuan walked in.

The first thing he noticed upon stepping into the Elder Hall was the ancient aura that permeated the room.

The Elder Hall had been around ever since the establishment of the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, and it had been several millenniums since then. The design and the architecture of the room formed a stark contrast with the rest of the Master Teacher Academy, leaving one feeling as if one had stepped into the past.

Gazing around the room, Zhang Xuan saw the Ten Great Master Teachers and Pavilion Master Mo seated around, and a massive cauldron stood at the center of the room.

Hmm? Mu shi?

Suddenly, Zhang Xuan caught sight of a familiar figure. It was the man who had acknowledged him as his grandteacher, Mu Yuan!

Why would that fellow be in the academy as well?

But despite Zhang Xuan's surprise, he didn't allow his etiquette to fall short. He clasped his fist and greeted School Head Mo and the others, but upon reaching Lu Feng, he placed his hands behind his back and said, "Junior, what are you waiting for? Aren't you going to pay your respects to me?"

Since Lu Feng was trying to do him in, there was no need to show any courtesy to him.

"You..." Hearing those words, Lu Feng nearly choked on his anger.

Was that fellow really that brave, or was it plain naivety?

It was such a solemn setting; did he really not feel the slightest bit of fear?

Lu Feng narrowed his eyes and flicked his wrist. 'Jiya!', the door closed, and a formation seemed to have started operating within the room, leaving the air slightly heavy.

With the doors closed, Lu Feng glared at Zhang Xuan with killing intent reflected in his eyes. "Zhang Xuan, your identity has already been exposed. If you plead guilty, we might still consider sparing you. Otherwise... not only will you be killed, those who are related to you will be implicated as well!"

Zhang Xuan frowned, seemingly confused by what Lu Feng had said. "My identity has been exposed?"

"Still feigning ignorance? Dong Xin, tell him!" Lu Feng sneered coldly as he gestured Dong Xin forward.

"Yes!" Dong Xin nodded. "Zhang Xuan, I saw with my own eyes how you used a formation to confine Senior Byzantium Helios, and after the latter broke out, you had twenty of your Otherworldly Demon subordinates pummel him..."

"You saw with your own eyes?" Zhang Xuan was momentarily stunned.

Ten days ago, when he was teaching the Byzantium Helios Beast a lesson, the latter managed to escape due to the formation being too weak... Could that lady have been hiding in his manor at that time?

It seemed the formations that King Huai had prepared for the manor weren't reliable after all. He would have to work on them when he returned later on. Otherwise, if others could enter and leave his manor as they pleased, it could pose as a potential source of trouble.

"That's right. I swear on my name as a master teacher that I saw you command your subordinates to assault Senior Byzantium Helios. From start to end, you said a total of three sentences, the first one being, 'Trying to escape? Vicious, take it down!', followed by 'The rest of you, get him! Pummel him to death!', and finally, when Senior Byzantium Helios passed out, you said, 'It fainted again...'. Is there any mistake with what I said?" Dong Xin asked.

She would never forget what she had seen that day. The viciousness that the young man before her had shown had been imprinted deep in her mind.

"You do have a good memory..." Seeing how the other party was able to recount what happened that day perfectly, Zhang Xuan scratched his head awkwardly.

Unaware of the Byzantium Helios Beast's true identity then, he had thought that it was a crony of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe. Naturally, he wouldn't show any mercy to it.

"He is admitting to it?"

Realizing that Zhang Xuan wasn't denying the matter, everyone was flabbergasted. If he had truly commanded Otherworldly Demons to pummel Senior Byzantium Helios...

Was he really from the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe then?

Unable to believe what he had just heard, School Head Mo stood up and asked in agitation, "Zhang shi, did you really assault Senior Byzantium Helios?"

He was the first one to notice that Senior Byzantium Helios had gone missing, kidnapped by more than a dozen Otherworldly Demons as deduced from the traces left behind. The Master Teacher Academy had devoted its manpower to searching for it for half a month now, but there were no signs of him anywhere.

He had contemplated many possibilities, but never could he have imagined that Zhang Xuan would be the culprit!

"I... did order my men to pummel it before," Zhang Xuan confessed.

"It's good that you have admitted to it!"

Seeing that Zhang Xuan had confessed to the matter, Lu Feng was taken aback for a moment, not expecting everything to go so smoothly, before a sharp glint flashed across his eyes. He hurriedly turned around and said righteously, "Mu shi and Senior Golden Origin Cauldron, Zhang Xuan has already admitted to his identity as an Otherworldly Demon. I ask of you to have him killed so that no other human will be harmed by him!"

With a deep frown, Mu shi turned to Zhang Xuan and questioned authoritatively, "Zhang Xuan, what else do you have to say for yourself?"

If Zhang Xuan truly turned out to be an Otherworldly Demon, then regardless of the other party's close ties with Luo shi, he would have to fulfill his responsibilities as a master teacher and eliminate the other party.

Seeing Lu Feng eagerly pinning such a huge crime on him, Zhang Xuan rolled his eyes. "Wait a moment. When did I admit to being an Otherworldly Demon?"

"Why? Are you going to start denying the matter now? Justice will eventually fall on all evildoers; you won't be getting out of this no matter how well you argue your case. Since you have already admitted to assaulting Senior Byzantium Helios, what else can you be if not an Otherworldly Demon?" Lu Feng sneered.

"I did order my men to pummel the Byzantium Helios Beast before, but how does that prove that I am an Otherworldly Demon?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"There is no one in this academy who doesn't know that Senior Byzantium Helios is the tamed beast of the old principal. Assaulting him is equivalent to insulting our entire Master Teacher Academy, insulting us master teachers..." Lu Feng bellowed authoritatively.

"Insulting the Master Teacher Academy and master teachers? Your imagination sure is wild..." Zhang Xuan shrugged helplessly. "If that is really what you think, there is nothing that I can say... I can only have the Byzantium Helios Beast explain the matter to you then!"

Saying those words, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist, and the football-like Myriad Anthive Nest appeared in the room. The nest jolted for an instant, and the massive figure of the Byzantium Helios Beast abruptly emerged from it.

"It is Senior Byzantium Helios!"

"Senior Byzantium Helios isn't injured at all?"

Upon seeing the Byzantium Helios Beast appearing before their eyes, everyone was stunned for an instant before doubts began filling their minds.

Not only was Senior Byzantium Helios not weakened from his 'injuries' as they had thought he would be, he was even overflowing with vitality and power. In fact... it seemed like he was even stronger than before!

Wasn't he pummeled to the state of near death?

What was going on?

Gazes swiftly turned to Dong Xin, waiting for her to explain the matter.

Feeling the intent gazes on her, Dong Xin's face paled. She could hardly believe what she was seeing as well.

She had personally witnessed the saint beast writhing on the floor in pain and passing out... But not only was Senior Byzantium Helios completely fine, he had even grown stronger!

More importantly... when she first met the latter, he had been trying to escape from Zhang Xuan! Yet, at this very moment, he was standing motionlessly, seemingly devoid of any hostility for Zhang Xuan!

She wasn't the only one who went pale at this situation. Lu Feng also felt an ominous premonition when he saw Senior Byzantium Helios appearing before him, and his entire body stiffened. Just as he was about to speak, the young man before him beat him to it.

"Byzantium Lad, Junior Lu Feng over here claims that I am an Otherworldly Demon because I had my men pummel you. Explain this matter to everyone for me!"

"Byzantium Lad?"

Hearing how Zhang Xuan addressed Senior Byzantium Helios, the crowd nearly spurted a mouthful of blood.

School Head Mo's eyes swam around the place in frenzy.

Everyone in the room respectfully addresses him as 'senior', but you actually cut all formalities and even called him a 'lad'... Aren't you afraid of him killing you with a slap?

He was a beast tamer, so he understood just how proud Senior Byzantium Helios was.

Even he had to treat the other party with the utmost respect, not daring to even speak loudly.

To address Senior Byzantium Helios in such a disrespectful manner... Aren't you pushing it too far?

But before they could recover from their shock, the esteemed Senior Byzantium Helios clasped his fist and bowed right before their eyes. "Yes, master!"

"Master?"

"Senior Byzantium Helios... is addressing Zhang shi as his master?"

Lu Feng felt the world before him turning dark, and the other nine master teachers also swayed weakly, feeling as if their perception of the world had been completely shattered.

Who was Byzantium Helios Beast?

The tamed beast of the old principal, possessing a standing even higher than the Ten Great Master Teachers of the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, second to only the Golden Origin Cauldron. With such standing, it was inevitable that his pride would be so large that it could reach the clouds.

"Master is a Cele... a master teacher recognized by the Master Teacher Pavilion, so how could he be an Otherworldly Demon? That is utter nonsense! The reason he had someone beat me up was to help me achieve a breakthrough in my cultivation!"

Paying no heed to everyone's shock, the Byzantium Helios Beast drove its cultivation, and an overwhelmingly powerful aura gushed out from its body.

Hong long!

Under that immense pressure, everyone's souls jolted in astonishment.

The Byzantium Helios Beast had been thinking about how it should address this matter for a while now.

If he were to say that it was pummeled due to a misunderstanding, he could very well shatter his image as an esteemed elder of the Master Teacher Academy. If that was going to be the case, he might as well claim that the other party was helping him achieve a breakthrough.

In any case, he did manage to achieve a breakthrough to Saint 2-dan.

"Saint 2-dan... Spiritual Perception realm!"

"Senior Byzantium Helios managed to achieve a breakthrough..."

Everyone was stunned once more.

It was extremely hard for natural-born saint beasts like the Byzantium Helios Beast to achieve a breakthrough in their cultivation. This was the reason why, despite the years it had spent with the old principal, it had remained trapped at Saint 1-dan pinnacle, unable to overcome its bottleneck.

Yet, in just half a month of absence, it had managed to take the final step forward and reached Saint 2-dan...

It was just a moment ago that they had thought that Zhang Xuan was an Otherworldly Demon because he had assaulted Senior Byzantium Helios. But just shortly after that, Senior Byzantium Helios had personally stepped forward and revealed that Zhang Xuan was his master and even displayed his newfound strength.

This turnaround was so swift that they could hardly keep up.

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Chapter 843: Who Is Your Teacher?

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"Indeed! The reason I didn't contact you all is because I was at a crucial moment in my breakthrough, so I was unable to divert my attention," the Byzantium Helios Beast said.

"If not for my master, I could have been trapped at Saint 1-dan pinnacle for my entire life!"

What it was saying was the truth.

For nearly twenty days, when it wasn't being pummeled, it would be tightly squashed within the narrow space of the Myriad Anthive Nest, where it couldn't even stretch its limbs. This had led to an immense frustration and rage bubbling within it, but coincidentally, that had formed the foundation of its breakthrough as well.

Spiritual Perception realm was closely tied to one's soul and state of mind. As indignant as it was at the suffering it had been put through, it had to admit that the experience had tempered its mental resilience.

If not for this experience, even with the inner core of the Ancient Ape, it was questionable whether the Byzantium Helios Beast would have been able to achieve a breakthrough or not.

Hearing those words, the crowd fell silent.

It wasn't uncommon for cultivators to go into seclusion for several months or even years at once. Going into seclusion for half a month was indeed not much.

Realizing that the tables had turned, Zhao Bingxu was the first to counterattack. "As the tamed beast of our old principal, Senior Byzantium Helios has contributed greatly to our academy. I believe I don't have to say this, but Zhang shi has really done our academy a great favor this time around... Yet, despite all he has done, you accused him of being an Otherworldly Demon! Lu Feng, if you don't explain yourself well today, I will make sure you are charged for aspersion even if I have to bring this matter all the way up to Qingyuan Empire!"

You said that Zhang shi had pummeled Senior Byzantium Helios and thus was an Otherworldly Demon, but now, even the 'victim' has stepped forward to clarify the matter... What else do you have to say?

Hearing those words, Lu Feng's face warped in savagery, and veins began popping up at his temple. He felt so stifled within that he could puke blood.

He had thought that with this intelligence, he would be able to have Zhang Xuan begging him for mercy. Who could have known that the situation would end up turning on him instead?

Standing by the side, Dong Xin, who had been watching the entire scene throughout, trembled uncontrollably as well. If she could, she would have loved to disappear that very moment.

She had seen with her own eyes how Zhang Xuan had viciously ordered his subordinates to pummel Senior Byzantium Helios, how did it turn into helping the other party achieve a breakthrough in the blink of an eye?

Where in the world could one find a person pummeling another to the point of near death to help him achieve a breakthrough?

In that instant, a thought suddenly emerged in Dong Xin's mind. "Wait a moment! Could it be..."

She immediately clasped her fist and said, "Mu shi, Senior Golden Origin Cauldron, and school heads, I have a hypothesis in mind, but I am not sure if it will be appropriate for me to speak of it!"

"Feel free to speak!" Mu shi nodded.

"I am certain that I saw Zhang Xuan ordering his subordinates to pummel Senior Byzantium Helios, but at this moment, Senior Byzantium Helios is speaking in his stead... I find that there is something really unnatural about this situation. Thus, I am thinking, could it be possible that Senior Byzantium Helios is being threatened? Maybe there is something he is unable to tell us about, or perhaps, the very reason for the pummeling might have been to make Senior Byzantium Helios submit!" Dong Xin said.

She knew what she had seen, and she was certain that there had been tension and hostility between Zhang Xuan and Senior Byzantium Helios back then. Yet, all of this had disappeared all of a sudden, and the latter had even acknowledged Zhang Xuan as its master. Had it been anyone else, they wouldn't have been able to believe it either.

For one's attitude to change that quickly, there could only be one possibility—he was being blackmailed!

"You mean that he is being coerced into saying those words?" Mu shi frowned.

The other school heads fell into deep contemplation upon hearing those words, too.

Such a situation had indeed happened before.

Even if Zhang Xuan was a disguised Otherworldly Demon, he had spent some time as a master teacher, so it wouldn't be too surprising for him to be capable of spinning lies that could convince even them.

"Indeed. Everyone knows that Senior Byzantium Helios is deeply loyal to the old principal. So far, we don't even know whether the old principal is alive or dead, and for Senior Byzantium Helios to acknowledge another man as his master under such uncertain circumstances... I find that hard to believe!" Lu Feng's eyes lit up upon hearing Dong Xin's words, and he immediately leaped at the opportunity to build on it.

It was true that the old principal had gone missing on an expedition in an ancient domain, but until his corpse was found, it was impossible to conclusively tell whether he was alive or dead.

Considering the loyalty Byzantium Helios Beast had for the old principal, to acknowledge another man as its master while its old master could still be alive, there was indeed something really suspicious about the situation.

Chen Chengxun stood up and said, "Could it be that Zhang Xuan possesses some news regarding the old principal, and he is using it to threaten Senior Byzantium Helios into acknowledging him as his master and speak on his behalf? Or perhaps... if he is truly an Otherworldly Demonic Tribe royal, he could very well be using some kind of special means unknown to us!"

He was on the same boat as Lu Feng. Sink or swim, their fates were already closely tied together.

Hearing those words, Mu shi had no choice but to rethink the matter.

If his old friend was truly alive, and Zhang Xuan was using this piece of news to coerce the Byzantium Helios Beast into doing his bidding, given the loyalty of the latter, it was indeed highly likely that the latter would speak on Zhang Xuan's behalf.

"Until we can confirm whether Senior Byzantium Helios has been coerced or not, I think we should invalidate his testimony on the grounds of reliability!" Lu Feng said.

"You... Audacious!"

Not expecting that someone would use this kind of ridiculous theory to cast suspicion on his words, the Byzantium Helios Beast's face turned scarlet, and he bellowed furiously, "Every single word of mine comes straight from my heart, how is it unreliable?"

"Senior Byzantium Helios, please calm down! The Otherworldly Demons specialize in beguiling the heart, so until we can ascertain that you were not subjected to such means, it is difficult for us to determine the authenticity of your words. We have to ask for your understanding on this matter!" Lu Feng said.

Before they had been eradicated, the soul oracles had once sided with the Otherworldly Demons. From them, the Otherworldly Demons had learned some techniques relating to the manipulation of the soul as well.

Even if Dong Xin's testimony was unreliable and Zhang Xuan had truly helped the Byzantium Helios Beast achieved a breakthrough, it was still hard to believe that someone as loyal as the Byzantium Helios Beast would abandon its possibly still living master and acknowledge a man whom it had barely known for half a month as its master.

At this point, Pavilion Master Mo, who had been watching the scene silently all this while, suddenly spoke up. "School Head Lu, if we start delving into such conspiracy theories, can I also claim that you have been beguiled by the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe into plotting against a talented master teacher who possesses the Eye of Insight?"

School Head Mo harrumphed in agreement as he stroked his beard.

"Indeed! All of us are more than aware of the significance of a master teacher possessing the Eye of Insight to mankind, and yet, School Head Lu has intentionally acted against Zhang Xuan time and time again. Could it be possible that you are an Otherworldly Demon in disguise?"

Sure, you might have cast suspicion on Senior Byzantium Helios's words... But how credible are your words compared to his?

"You..."

Not expecting that the duo to counterattack from such an angle, even pinning such a huge crime on him, Lu Feng nearly spurted blood. Left with no choice, he could only wave his hands and relent.

"Fine! We will get nowhere with that, so let us put that aside for the moment... Even if Senior Byzantium Helios's testimony holds, surely the matter of Zhang Xuan having Otherworldly Demons subordinated to him is a fact that cannot disputed? We visited Leiyuan Peak, the place where Senior Byzantium Helios was last seen before his disappearance, and I believe we can all agree that the lingering aura and remaining traces there belonged to Otherworldly Demons!"

According to Dong Xin's description, not only did Zhang Xuan assault Senior Byzantium Helios, he had an army of Otherworldly Demon subordinates as well.

That was also the most crucial point to proving that Zhang Xuan was an Otherworldly Demon.

Furthermore, since all of the school heads had visited Leiyuan Peak to investigate the Senior Byzantium Helios's 'kidnapping', they wouldn't be able to refute this point.

And as expected, School Head Mo, School Head Zhao, and the others all fell silent.

Given Zhang Xuan's current cultivation realm, there was no way he could be Senior Byzantium Helios's match without any external help. Furthermore, Zhang Xuan had also acknowledged that he had ordered his 'men' to pummel Senior Byzantium Helios.

Could he really have Otherworldly Demons as his subordinates?

If that was really the case, that would complicate matters.

Master teachers were banned from coming into close contact with Otherworldly Demons, and most would often refrain from doing so as well in order to avoid suspicion.

"Otherworldly Demon subordinates... Do you mean this?" Knowing that this matter would become a permanent stain on his record if he failed to explain himself well today, he flicked his wrist, and an Otherworldly Demon puppet appeared before him.

"I believe that with everyone's eye of discernment, you should be able to tell that this is a puppet forged out of the body of an Otherworldly Demon!" Zhang Xuan said.

"Indeed!"

"This is a puppet forged out of an Otherworldly Demon!"

The crowd examined the puppet before them for a moment before nodding in agreement.

All of those gathered there were 6-star pinnacle master teachers, and unlike Dong Xin, who had only seen the puppets from afar, they were examining it in close proximity as well. Whether it was a puppet or a real Otherworldly Demon, they were more than capable of differentiating.

"As School Head Zhao will know, before enrolling at the academy, I once accompanied Luo Qiqi, Princess Yu Fei-er, and a few others into an underground chamber, and in there, we managed to stumble upon Elder Wu Yangzi's heritage," Zhang Xuan said.

"Un!" Zhao Bingxu nodded, confirming his words.

He had compiled a report on it and sent it to the other school heads as well, so they should be aware of the matter, too.

"The 'Otherworldly Demons' mentioned earlier are actually puppets forged by Elder Wu Yangzi back when he was still alive, and I only managed to obtain them out of a stroke of luck!" Zhang Xuan explained.

"Master teachers are indeed forbidden from coming into contact with Otherworldly Demons, but Elder Wu Yangzi had already forged them into puppets to serve mankind. Even if I haven't contributed to mankind through them, at the very least, my possession of them can't be considered a sin, right?"

Everyone was stunned.

They had thought that Zhang Xuan's subordinates were Otherworldly Demons, but to think that they were only puppets... Puppets were mindless and possessed no sentience of their own. Unless they were commanded to do so, they wouldn't be able to hurt anyone.

Thus, there was no harm in Zhang Xuan possessing them.

After studying the puppet carefully, Mu shi remarked, "This is indeed a mindless puppet, and the manner in which it was forged does bear a striking resemblance with Wu Yangzi's smithing technique..."

The puppets had personally been forged by Wu Yangzi during his captivity in the underground chamber. Precious materials had been devoted to the forging process, so each of the puppets was invaluable treasures.

"However... this puppet still harnesses killing intent within its body, and it retains its innate instincts as Otherworldly Demons. Even Wu Yangzi might not have been able to tame it, so how did you make it follow your orders obediently?"

Realizing the crux of the matter, Mu shi frowned.

Just as the Otherworldly Demons were mankind's nemeses, the opposite was true as well. The hatred for mankind flowed in the very bloodline of the Otherworldly Demons, making it nigh impossible for a human to command them.

Even an expert like Wu Yangzi would not necessarily be able to tame them, so how did a Perfect Harmonization realm cultivator like Zhang Xuan succeed?

Hearing Mu shi's words, Zhang Xuan frowned.

The reason he had been able to make the Otherworldly Demon puppets obey his commands was due to Vicious, and exposing Vicious' existence meant exposing the existence of the Book of Heaven's Path and possibly his greatest secret, the Library of Heaven's Path, as well.

Those were his greatest trump cards, so by no means should he ever reveal them!

"On top of that, this puppet was forged by having body parts forcefully switched while it was still alive. Judging by the marks, it seems like the Otherworldly Demons didn't reject the swapping of the parts... or to be more exact, they were willing to have it done! Back then, the disappearance of Wu Yangzi caused a huge uproar, and there is even a report documenting it in the Qingyuan Conferred Empire Master Teacher Pavilion.

"If Wu Yangzi possessed the ability to have the Otherworldly Demons obediently undergo his forging and listen to his commands at the end of it, he should have been more than capable of escaping from his captivity. If that was the case, he wouldn't have been trapped in an underground chamber until his death," Mu shi analyzed.

As a 7-star master teacher, as well as a 7-star blacksmith, Mu shi was able to easily deduce the forging process of the Otherworldly Demon puppet. Even with Wu Yangzi's outstanding smithing capability, it would have been hard for him to successfully forge it had the Otherworldly Demon resisted.

Hearing Mu shi's words, Lu Feng's eyes lit up. "Mu shi is right. These might just be puppets, but their origin is dubious. On top of that, you clearly don't possess the strength to tame them!

"Unless... you are royalty of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, allowing you to command the Otherworldly Demons just by your bloodline itself. That would explain why the Otherworldly Demons would willingly allow themselves to be torn apart to be made into puppets, and why they would obey your commands even after death!"

Zhang Xuan's face darkened upon hearing those words.

Naturally, he wasn't royalty of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, but Vicious was, and he could very well be an emperor among them.

It was due to him exerting pressure on those Otherworldly Demons that Wu Yangzi had been able to forge them into puppets successfully.

But if he had to reveal the existence of Vicious, he would risk having to reveal the existence of the Library of Heaven's Path too.

"I have no idea how the Otherworldly Demons were forged into puppets either; that was Elder Wu Yangzi's doing. But as for the matter of taming them..."

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xuan said, "My teacher, fearing for my safety, tamed them and gave them to me."

"Your teacher?"

Lu Feng harrumphed coldly. "Which master teacher is that? I would like to know which formidable master teacher possesses the capability to make so many mindless Otherworldly Demon puppets obey the orders of a 4-star master teacher!"

"My teacher..." Zhang Xuan began to speak, but before he could finish his words, an impassive voice suddenly sounded from beyond the door.

"His teacher is me!"

The room was abruptly engulfed by a devastating aura.

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Chapter 844: I Am Yang Xuan!

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

That aura was reminiscent of a tsunami, leaving one feeling insignificant and helpless before it.

Everyone's hearts turned cold, and goosebumps rose from their arms. Even Mu shi's body had tensed in apprehension.

Before this aura, there was no one, not even a person as strong Mu shi, who dared to show the slightest bit of retaliation. Otherwise, they could very well be crushed by that overwhelming power in an instant.

Jiya! Jiya!

Under the crushing pressure of that devastating aura, the ancient Elder Hall came to the limits of its durability, and countless cracks began to surface throughout the room. Following which, with a long rumble, the room collapsed entirely.

To be able to dissipate the formations here and collapse the room just with the aura he exudes...

The school heads in the room exchanged fearful glances.

Not only was the Elder Hall made of incredibly resilient material, it was even reinforced with several extremely powerful formations. Even if a Saint 3-dan expert were to launch an attack with their full might against the room, they might not necessarily be able to destroy the formations.

Yet, a person actually managed to dissipate the formations and collapse the room with just his aura.

Just how powerful was Zhang Xuan's teacher to be able to do that?

With this thought in mind, they hurriedly raised their gazes and saw a blurred silhouette standing in the air above them. Amid the cloud of dust, they couldn't make out the other party's appearance clearly. Nevertheless, judging from his physique, the other party didn't seem too old, possibly only in his early thirties, but he carried an authority that none dared to defy.

"Are you the ones who suspect my student of being an Otherworldly Demon?"

The figure harrumphed coldly. "Then... Do I look like an Otherworldly Demon to you?"

Boom!

His voice wasn't loud, but it created a sensation that felt as if the sky was crumbling down on them. Under that immense pressure, Lu Feng and the others felt their bodies stiffening, and even breathing became a difficulty.

Hong long long!

With the intensity of the pressure, the building beneath them also reached its limit and crumbled as well.

But that wasn't the end yet. The pressure that man exuded seemed to ripple outward like waves, and any building that came into the slightest contact with it would have the formations protecting it shattered immediately, and the majestic structure would come collapsing down as if nothing more than a fragile piece of paper.

"That is... the Teacher Acknowledgement Hall!"

Everyone hurriedly turned to look at the building that had just collapsed, and their eyelids began twitching uncontrollably.

That was the Teacher Acknowledgement Hall, where the tablets of the predecessors and Kong shi's statue were housed!

That place was protected by the will of their predecessors, and even if all of them were to strike it with all their might simultaneously, it wouldn't suffer the slightest damage. Yet... with just mere words from the other party, it had collapsed!

"The fact that the Teacher Acknowledgement Hall has collapsed means that the wills of the predecessors dared not stand against this elder, and even... even Kong shi has fled!" an elder muttered in a daze.

Hearing those words, cold sweat began trickling down everyone's backs.

That elder was right.

The Teacher Acknowledgement Hall was protected by the will of Kong shi and many predecessors. Even the Otherworldly Demons would be doomed for failure if they were to attempt to breach those grounds. For it to collapse that easily with mere words, there was only one possibility... that elder's strength was so great that not even the will Kong shi had left behind dared to stand against him.

And for this to occur, it could only mean that either Kong shi himself had arrived at the scene or that the other party possessed strength worthy of Kong shi's respect.

But... how could that be possible?

Kong shi was no longer around, and considering the overwhelming strength Kong shi wielded, a person who possessed strength worthy of his respect would be...

Another elder's eyes narrowed as he muttered in a quivering voice, "Could he be an expert on par with the 72 Sages?"

The predecessors in the Teacher Acknowledgement Hall were all Saint realm experts at the very least, and not to mention, a sliver of Kong shi's will was infused within his statue as well. In terms of pure disposition, it was impossible for even a Saint realm 7-dan expert, 8-star master teacher, to send all of them fleeing with just mere words.

Only one who had achieved strength equivalent to the legendary direct disciples of Empyrean Kong shi, the 72 Sages, could possibly have the ability to do so.

Could the elder before them be an expert of such a caliber as well?

Was this for real?

In the time after Kong shi's disappearance, the strongest existences in the world had been the 72 Sages. However, the era of the 72 Sages hadn't lasted for long, so there were very few records of them in the world. After the 72 Sages departed, there were quite a number of Saint realm pinnacle experts who rose to fill the power vacuum left in their absence, and those men founded the existing Sage Clans in the world.

Those old ancestors of the Sage Clans possessed power surpassing any mortal's imagination. Even a place like the Master Teacher Academy could be wiped off the map with a wave of their hand.

But nevertheless, those old ancestors were still a far way off from matching up to the strength of their predecessor, the 72 Sages!

Even if the other party isn't an expert of the same caliber as the 72 Sages, he is probably, at the very least, on par with the old ancestors of those Sage Clans...

With such a thought in mind, everyone subconsciously gulped.

A person who could make the Teacher Acknowledgement Hall collapse with just his disposition, there was only a single word that could be used to describe his strength: terrifying.

If an expert of that level truly intended to kill them, he need not even move his hands. Just a single thought, and they would be reduced to lifeless corpses in an instant. Furthermore, it would be difficult for even the Master Teacher Pavilion to trace such sudden and obscure deaths to him, which meant that there was nothing they could do to stop or deter him from doing what he liked.

"H-h-he is... so strong?" Mo Gaoyuan could feel his blood running cold.

He had met Zhang Xuan's teacher a while back, and they had even chatted with one another. However, as the other party had hidden his strength completely back then, he had thought that the other party was, at the very most, an 8-star master teacher.

But it turned out that... even that was an underestimation!

With mere words, the other party had turned all of the buildings within several hundred meters of the Elder Hall and Teacher Acknowledgement Hall into rubble. This was a feat beyond the capability of an 8-star master teacher!

With a pale face, Pavilion Master Mo furiously whispered to Elder Mo, "I already told you about how powerful Zhang shi's teacher is. Didn't you tell the other elders?"

It was due to his knowledge of how powerful Yang shi was that he had gone to such lengths to get along with Zhang Xuan, and he had discreetly informed Mo Zhu of the news back on Leiyuan Peak so that he could keep a lookout as well.

I gave you fair warning, but why are there still fools in your academy going on to judge the other party's student on their own accord? Look, you have ended up incurring the wrath of a power far beyond you! Are you happy now?

For an expert of such caliber, even if he chose not to make a move personally out of sheer disdain, he could easily damn one to the bottom of hell with just a single word!

"I-I did tell them, but they refused to believe me!" Elder Mo replied tearfully.

He had never met Yang shi before, only hearing several rumors from Pavilion Master Mo, so his impression and fear of the man didn't run as deep before. Thus, he had only brought it up casually before the others. Who in the world could have known that... the man would be a monster?

His strength was way off the charts!

"You all..."

Fearing that the man above might just destroy the entire Master Teacher Academy in a moment of anger, Mo Gaoyuan hurriedly raised his pale face and said, "Yang shi, I am Mo Gaoyuan; you offered me a pointer once before... It's not our intention to make things difficult for Zhang shi. We only invited Zhang shi over to ask him a few questions..."

At this point, he had no choice but to speak up personally.

Otherwise, if he were to give that fool Lu Feng an opportunity to speak, they might really just end up breathing their last here.

The figure in the sky glanced downward and uttered coldly, "Oh? You only invited my student here to ask him a few questions? But why does it seem to me that you are judging my student instead? Is it because you think that he is an Otherworldly Demon, or do you think that I am an Otherworldly Demon?"

An immense pressure that left one feeling as if the world before one was crumbling apart fell from the heavens, leaving the crowd below suffocated.

This is... a Celestial Master Teacher?

In an instant, the faces of everyone in the room paled even further, and the sheer fright they were experiencing rendered them incapable of words.

For as long as the world remembered, the only one known to be a Celestial Master Teacher had been Kong shi. But the inviolable authority reminiscent of a deity from the heavens that the figure above commanded... he was a Celestial Master Teacher as well. They had actually accused the student of a Celestial Master Teacher of being an Otherworldly Demon!

This was the most ludicrous thing anyone could do in the world!

Even the heavens had acknowledged him as a master teacher, so how could he possibly accept an Otherworldly Demon as his student?

Wasn't this a joke?

Gr-grandteacher?

Seeing the other party's face and feeling the familiar pressure crushing him, Mu shi finally recognized the man standing above him.

Zhang Xuan's teacher was no other than his grandteacher, whom he had met several days ago... Yang Xuan!

If he had known that Zhang Xuan was the other party's student, he would never have allowed this hearing to happen!

"W-we wouldn't dare..." Mo Gaoyuan's lips twitched uncontrollably as he hurriedly bowed deeply in deference.

"What about you?" Yang Xuan turned his cold gaze to Lu Feng.

"N-no, I dare not to!" Under that frosty gaze, Lu Feng couldn't stop his body from trembling.

Had he known earlier that Zhang Xuan had such powerful backing, he would never have dared to initiate this mess... He had truly dug his own grave this time around!

It was all over. Having offended such a powerful master teacher, even if he were to survive this ordeal, his future was already over. There would be no one and nowhere that would dare accept him.

Beside him, Chen Chengxun and Dong Xin nearly keeled over.

They had thought that they would enjoy a life of glory once Lu Feng took over as the principal. They had never imagined such a situation would occur instead. It was as if the path to paradise had suddenly collapsed beneath their feet, damning them to the depths of hell.

"That had better be the case!" Yang Xuan harrumphed coldly as he raised his gaze, seemingly peering into the depths of the heavens.

"My name is Yang Xuan. If any of you feel that I have abused my power, feel free to report me to the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters!"

"We wouldn't dare do such a thing..." Mo Gaoyuan's face immediately paled in fright.

Like hell they would report the other party!

On the contrary, if the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters were to learn that they had offended a master teacher of Yang shi's stature, not only would they not redress their grievances, they might even get rid of them to appease Yang shi's rage.

Master teachers of Yang shi's caliber could be considered as the wealth of mankind. Putting aside a Master Teacher Academy of a Tier-1 Empire, not even an entire Conferred Empire could match up to them in value.

They would be counting their blessings if the happenings today never reached the ears of the headquarters; to report this matter the headquarters on their own accord... they would have to be tired of living to do so!

It was true that the Master Teacher Pavilion worked to uphold justice in the world, but it had to be practical as well, especially considering the existing threats it faced.

As such, the higher ranked a master teacher was, the more privileges they were granted. This served as motivation for master teachers to work harder, as well as a measure to preserve the forces of the Master Teacher Pavilion as far as possible.

Even the life of ten thousand 6-star master teacher couldn't match up to the value of an expert like the other party.

Which side the Master Teacher Pavilion would choose to take, it didn't take a genius to figure it out.

"That will be for the best," Yang Xuan uttered impassively.

With a final glance at the crowd beneath, he flung his sleeve and turned around, preparing to leave.

At that moment, Mu shi suddenly rushed forward. "Grandteacher!"

He had been practicing the cultivation method that his grandteacher had imparted to him over the past few days, and the affliction he had been suffering from had alleviated. For the first time in a very long time, he had experienced a growth in his cultivation. Thinking of the changes he had experienced over the past few days, he was filled with deep gratitude for the man before him.

Seeing that his benefactor was about to leave, Mu shi couldn't help but rush forward in agitation.

Yang Xuan took a glance at Mu shi and nodded slightly. "Un. Cultivate well, and perhaps, a day might come when you are able to return to the Mu Clan."

After which, with a slight step, 'hu!', he abruptly disappeared from the spot, as if having teleported away.

"This is... Spatial Manipulation! He is... a 9-star master teacher?!"

After witnessing that scene, the crowd was completely dumbstruck.

Having grasped the laws of space, the most distinctive trait of 9-star master teachers was their ability to manipulate space, which allowed them to accomplish the unthinkable, such as constructing inner worlds through folding space... Given how Yang shi had disappeared before their eyes in an instant, it could only mean that he had comprehended such laws as well!

A living 9-star master teacher...

There was barely a handful of them still in this world, and they had actually met one and even attempted to judge his student...

A shiver ran down everyone's spines as fear gripped their hearts.

It was fortunate that the other party, perhaps in view of his identity as a master teacher, had no intentions of getting even with them. Otherwise, they, along with the entire Master Teacher Academy, would have become a thing of the past.

Nevertheless, even though they were spared from this calamity, they would still do well not to push the other party's buttons anymore, which, in this case, was his student.

As such a thought came to their minds, they subconsciously turned their gazes to Zhang Xuan, only to see the latter with a deep frown on his forehead, seemingly displeased.

And the truth was that at this very instant, Zhang Xuan was indeed displeased.

While he knew that his clone wasn't a reliable person, he hadn't thought that the other party would be so unreliable.

This... Isn't this overdoing it?

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Chapter 845: I Nominate Zhang Xuan to Be the Principal

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

As he would have to expose the existence of the Library of Heaven's Path in order to explain how he managed to tame those Otherworldly Demonic puppets, Zhang Xuan had planned to have 'Yang Xuan' make an appearance to save the day.

Thus, through his mental connection with his clone, he had the latter appear in Yang Xuan's form.

Zhang Xuan had initially only intended to have Yang Xuan scare the others just a little, but who could have known that he would blow the entire matter way out of proportion?

Looking at the wreckage around him, Zhang Xuan slapped his forehead in frustration.

All his clone had needed to do was prove that he wasn't an Otherworldly Demon, but that fellow actually turned the Elder Hall, along with many other crucial buildings, into rubble...

As for how everything had happened...

The powerful aura, which his clone seemed to emanate, was from Vicious, naturally.

That fellow had once said that as long as he devoured Kong shi's personal handwriting, he would be able to turn his aura that was drenched with killing intent like all other Otherworldly Demons into a purer and more orthodox form, similar to that of a master teacher.

The collapse of the Teacher Acknowledgement Hall was probably a result of the aura coming from Kong shi's personal handwriting. While Kong shi had yet to reach his peak when he left behind those words, there was no way that the will of any master teacher would dare to stand against him.

As for the aura of a Celestial Master Teacher, as his clone's soul had come from his, he had also been recognized by the heavens. On top of that, Vicious was around to assist, so they managed to pull it off easily.

And the final disappearance was naturally not teleportation either. While the crowd had been being distracted by their own fear, Zhang Xuan had managed to slip them into the Myriad Anthive Nest discreetly.

Entering a folded space was similar to entering another world. Even with the spiritual perception of a Saint 2-dan expert, it was impossible to find any traces of them anywhere, thus creating the illusion of teleportation.

It was fortunate that they had managed to pull it off perfectly, but considering the destruction left in their wake... wasn't this going too far?

Since this was only a small conflict, Zhang Xuan had intended to just erase all doubts of him being an Otherworldly Demon from the minds of the others, but this... He could see deep fear in the eyes on him!

Just as he was conflicted as to what he should do under such circumstances, Mu shi suddenly stepped forward, clasped his fist, and bowed.

"Senior Uncle!"

Zhang Xuan was slightly stunned for a moment before he responded with a slight nod. "There is no need to stand on ceremony!"

Since 'Yang Xuan' was his grandteacher, as the direct disciple of Yang Xuan, there was no mistake with Mu shi addressing him as such.

Senior Uncle? Lu Feng's lips twitched, and he nearly fainted on the spot.

Mu shi was a 7-star master teacher, so in terms of seniority, Lu Feng could be considered to be a generation younger than the other party. If the other party was calling Zhang Xuan 'Senior Uncle'... Didn't that mean that his seniority before Zhang Xuan had dropped yet another generation, putting him on equal standing as the latter's grandstudent?

It was just a moment ago that he had still been a junior...

Would the other party be calling him a child next?

What the heck was going on!

Not only did Lu Feng suffer a heavy blow from this, Dong Xin's vision had also darkened upon hearing those words.

Previously, Long Cangyue had said that going by the current trend, the next one of them to provoke Zhang Xuan could just end up as his great grandstudent...

Back then, she hadn't thought much of it, thinking that it was impossible. But this...

As a direct disciple of Lu Feng, if her teacher's seniority was that of Zhang Xuan's grandstudent, wouldn't that make her his great grandstudent?

Of the Great Four Student Factions in the Master Teacher Academy, Hu Yaoyao was the first to challenge Zhang Xuan, and she ended up becoming his apprentice.

Xue Zhenyang was the second, and he became his grandstudent.

And she, being the third... became his great grandstudent!

Tears wouldn't stop flowing down Dong Xin's cheeks. If she had known that this would happen, she would never have gotten involved in this trouble... Now, she would have to call even Hu Yaoyao her grandteacher...

"This..." Pavilion Master Mo and the others were also at a loss after hearing Mu shi calling Zhang Xuan 'Senior Uncle'.

Paying no heed to the bizarre expressions of the crowd, Zhang Xuan asked Mu shi, "With this, there shouldn't be anyone who still suspects me of being an Otherworldly Demon, right?"

Mu shi hurriedly shook his head. "Of course not!"

You are Yang shi's student, and Yang shi is a Celestial Master Teacher. There is no way a student of a Celestial Master Teacher could be an Otherworldly Demon.

The other master teachers in the area also hastily agreed.

"Since this matter is cleared, this hearing should be over. I can take my leave now, right?" Zhang Xuan continued.

"Of course!" Mu shi nodded hurriedly.

"Alright, I will bid you all farewell now," Zhang Xuan said.

Given the current state of affairs, even if he didn't say a word, the Master Teacher Academy would still certainly make sure that Lu Feng was punished severely for his actions. As the most senior figure in the room, there was no need for him to lower his standing to deal with a mere grandstudent.

If he really insisted on dealing with Lu Feng, the prestige that he had just built up using his clone's disguise would be diminished.

Furthermore, the reputation of the Master Teacher Academy was at stake here, so it wouldn't be good for a student like him to get involved in the matter. It would be best to leave it to the school heads to deal with the matter as they deemed fit.

But just as Zhang Xuan was just about to leave, School Head Mo stepped forward and said, "Zhang shi, please wait a moment!"

"Is there still a problem?" Zhang Xuan asked politely.

School Head Mo had granted him plenty of help ever since his enrollment, so he had a high opinion of the latter.

Even in the hearing just a moment ago, before Yang shi made an appearance, he had been active in speaking up for him.

"It is like this... Mu shi once said that anyone who finds Senior Byzantium Helios will be made the next principal. Since you were the one who found Senior Byzantium Helios, and you have even become his master... I feel that it will only be right for you to take on the responsibility as the next principal of our academy!"

After saying those words, School Head Mo turned to look at the others and asked, "What do the rest of you think of this matter?"

Ever since the old principal disappeared, the academy had slowly become divided, and troubles had emerged one after another. It was imperative that someone in the academy had to step up to take hold of the situation, and Zhang Xuan seemed to be the ideal candidate for that.

While he might be lacking in his cultivation, he made up for that through his deep comprehension in the other supporting occupations.

Besides, he had Senior Byzantium Helios as his tamed beast. With such powerful backing, who would dare question his authority?

"I was thinking of making the same suggestion!" Zhao Bingxu nodded in agreement.

"I have no qualms with Zhang shi becoming our next principal!" Wei Ranxue replied.

"I think that Zhang laoshi is the most suitable candidate to become the principal as well!" Jiang Qingqin nodded.

"I agree!" School Head Xu Changqing of the Martial Arts School hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Wang Ying and the others were guest elders of their school. If their teacher were to become the principal, they would surely be willing to devote more time to imparting knowledge to the student.

In just a few moments, half of the Ten Great Master Teachers had already expressed their support for the motion.

Senior Uncle is a student of the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy himself, and he also fulfills most of the conditions required to become the principal. If he is willing to take on this responsibility, that will truly be a blessing for the academy!

Mu shi's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "I agree to this motion as well!"

His main mission for coming to the Master Teacher Academy was to nominate and confirm the next principal.

While Senior Uncle might still be young, and his cultivation is still weak, he has a strong backer who is more than sufficient to make up for his deficiencies.

Besides, Senior Uncle is also an exceptional genius. Most likely, he will be able to rise up to the role in just a few years' time, and under his leadership, the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy could be brought to unprecedented greatness!

Mu shi turned his sights to the remaining five school heads. "What about the rest of you?"

"This..." Lu Feng and Chen Chengxun glanced at one another with extreme reluctance. They would have vetoed the motion immediately under normal circumstances, but considering their current plight and Zhang Xuan's newfound status...

"Since even Mu shi is in support of this matter, I have no objections either," the head of the Painter School said.

"I have no objections, too!" the head of the Celestial Designer School said.

"I am of the same opinion as the others!" Zhong Dingchun, the head of the Physician School, nodded.

Eventually, Lu Feng and Chen Chengxun had no choice but to relent as well. "Alright, we agree to the motion!"

They had no choice in this matter. With eight of the Ten Great Master Teachers in support of this motion, even if they were to voice their disagreements, nothing would change.

With all of the school heads in support of this motion, School Head Mo was just about to make the official declaration of the results when a deep, resounding voice suddenly sounded.

"One of the requirements to become the principal of the Master Teacher Academy is to be a 6-star master teacher. Zhang shi hasn't met this requirement yet. I disagree with this matter..." the Golden Origin Cauldron objected.

As the Guardian Saint Artifact of the Master Teacher Academy, its position was higher than even that of the school heads. Naturally, it had a say in the matter as well.

"Senior Golden Origin Cauldron, even though Zhang shi isn't a 6-star master teacher yet, given his astounding talent, it won't be long before he successfully clears the examination," School Head Mo said.

The others nodded in agreement at School Head Mo's words.

They had witnessed the heaven-defying talent of that young man personally, and the copious destruction all over the Master Teacher Academy served as testimony to that. If even a genius like him couldn't pass the 6-star master teacher examination, who else could?

"You may be right, but have you all forgotten about the selection three months' time?" the Golden Origin Cauldron asked.

"Three months' time?" The crowd frowned, unsure of what the Golden Origin Cauldron was referring to.

"It seems like all of you have really forgotten about it... Three months from now will be the centennial 'Combat Master Selection'!" the Golden Origin Cauldron exclaimed.

"Combat Master Selection? Now that you mention it... it has indeed been a hundred years since the previous selection!"

"The Qingyuan Conferred Empire's Combat Master Hall only conducts a selection exercise once every hundred years. I wasn't a school head yet during the previous selection, so I don't really recall it..."

"The four great academies under Qingyuan Conferred Academy will be gathering together for the selection. It will be a huge event!"

"I had forgotten about that as well... If Zhang shi fails to become a 6-star master teacher within the next three months, we won't stand a chance against the other three academies!"

...

Everyone fell silent.

"Combat Master Selection?" Zhang Xuan asked doubtfully.

He didn't think that he would remain in Hongyuan Empire for too long, so it didn't matter to him whether he became the principal of the Master Teacher Academy or not. However, judging from everyone's tone, it seemed like they had some apprehensions regarding the Combat Master Selection.

"I believe Zhang shi should have heard of combat masters before?" School Head Mo asked.

Zhang Xuan nodded in response.

The Combat Master Hall could be considered an offshoot of the Master Teacher Pavilion, serving primarily as its offensive wing.

Combat masters were considered master teachers as well, but they need not be skilled in teaching nor did they have to take on supporting occupations. All that was required of them was to be sufficiently strong to clear the respective examinations to obtain their master teacher rank.

Each combat master was known to possess the capability of fighting with opponents with higher cultivation levels than them. Even among the powerful master teachers, they could be considered experts.

Back then, when he was in Huanyu Empire, he had once been suspected of being a combat master on one occasion.

"The master teachers of the Combat Master Hall are famed for their overwhelming strength, and most regard it as an honor to join their ranks," School Head Mo explained.

"Once every century, the Combat Master Hall will select fresh blood from the various academies to fill their ranks, and the next selection happens to be in three months' time!"

"Three months..."

"That's right. In three months' time, the four academies will gather together for the selection. However, due to the limited slots... the principals of the four academies will be first competing in a duel to decide on the allocation of slots to each academy first!"

School Head Mo said awkwardly, "If Zhang shi becomes the principal, you will have to participate in the principals' duel. Given your current strength... I fear that you might not be able to hold your ground against the others!"

As principals of Master Teacher Academies, the opponents Zhang Xuan might face would be 6-star pinnacle or even 7-star master teachers.

Given Zhang shi's talent, there was no doubt that he could surpass the other principals if given sufficient time... but the duel was in three months' time!

"I see!" Zhang Xuan nodded in realization.

It was no wonder everyone was worried. He was currently only at Ethereal Treading realm primary stage, which would put him at a fatal disadvantage against the other principals.

"Actually, there is no need to worry. If I am not mistaken, Zhang laoshi already has five supporting occupations at 6-star rank. As long as he earns one more, he will have cleared the supporting occupation prerequisite for the 6-star master teacher examination. I think it is possible to make it within three months!" Jiang Qingqin interjected.

Currently, the 6-star supporting occupations that Zhang shi had were blacksmith, physician, apothecary, terpsichore, and demonic tunist.

He was still lacking another one to clear the supporting occupation prerequisite for the 6-star master teacher examination. Given the ridiculous rate which he learned at... getting another supporting occupation up to 6-star within three months shouldn't be a problem!

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Chapter 846: Principal Zhang

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

After all, Jiang Qingqin had personally witnessed the rate at which Zhang Xuan learned.

He had still been completely ignorant the first day, but the following day, his capability as a demonic tunist abruptly soared to 7-star. Considering that, it shouldn't take him too long to master another supporting occupation.

"I am not worried about his supporting occupations but his cultivation. Zhang shi is currently only at Perfect Harmonization realm, but the minimum requirement to take the 6-star examination is to reach Chrysalis realm pinnacle," Zhao Bingxu said.

5-star low-tier, high-tier, and pinnacle corresponded to Cosmos Bridge realm, Perfect Harmonization realm, and Ethereal Treading realm.

In order to take the 6-star master teacher examination, one's cultivation had to be Chrysalis realm pinnacle at the minimum.

Back then, when Zhang shi clashed with You Xu, he had exposed his strength—Perfect Harmonization realm pinnacle. It was impressive for a freshman, but he was still two realms away from becoming a 6-star master teacher. To progress through two realms within three months... One could say that it was nearly impossible.

"Ah... Actually, when I went out a few days ago, I accidentally made a breakthrough, so my cultivation is currently at Ethereal Treading realm..." Zhang Xuan said.

"Accidentally?" Everyone widened their eyes in shock.

Others had to put in a huge amount of effort while expending many valuable treasures in order to reach Ethereal Treading realm, and yet, you claim that you reached it accidentally? On top of that, you still dare to say it as if you have been wronged...

Can you be more serious? This is an important matter we are speaking of!

In truth, they had wronged Zhang Xuan. It was indeed true that he had made the breakthrough unintentionally, and he was frustrated by the matter.

"You made the breakthrough to Ethereal Treading realm?"

But different from the frustrated and stifled expressions of the others, School Head Mo froze, and his mouth suddenly began twitching. "When Zhang shi first participated in the entrance examination, I remember that his cultivation was only at Consonant Spirit realm pinnacle. It was to save a group of students that he made the breakthrough to Cosmos Bridge realm in the midst of the examination..."

As the invigilator, he had kept tabs on the happenings of the examination so as to source out talented students which the academy could devote resources to grooming. According to what he'd heard, Zhang Xuan had forcefully raised his cultivation by an entire realm just so to save his fellow peers from the encirclement they were in.

He had lamented after hearing the news as such forceful and abrupt breakthroughs tended to leave hidden traumas within one's body, limiting one's future progress. This was also why he had advised Zhang Xuan to take note of this matter and make sure to stabilize his cultivation well... But before he knew it, the other party was suddenly at Ethereal Treading realm...

"It has been less than twenty days since the entrance examination, right?" someone amid the crowd muttered.

Everyone hurriedly turned their gazes to the young man in horror, as if they were staring at a monster.

To advance from Transcendent Mortal 5-dan Consonant Spirit realm to 8-dan Ethereal Treading realm in slightly more than half a month...

That was nearly three whole realms!

Are you sure you aren't some renowned expert concealing your cultivation to toy with us?

Even Cultivation Impartation couldn't possibly be as fast as that, right?

Don't you need to reinforce your cultivation?

Don't you need to spend some time digesting and musing over the intricacies of each cultivation realm?

Just as they were feeling frenzied over the matter, they suddenly heard Zhang Xuan sighing deeply, and with an embarrassed look, he said, "Indeed. I have been spending too much time on advancing my supporting occupations that I wasn't able to find much time to cultivate, so my progress has been slow..."

In truth, he had been intending to sweep through the ten schools within ten days and spend an additional six more striving for Saint realm 1-dan, thus graduating within half a month.

But more than half a month had passed, and he was only at Ethereal Treading realm primary stage. Additionally, he had only mastered five supporting occupations as well... He was embarrassed by his incapability.

Hearing those words, the crowd nearly spurted blood.

The heck!

You call this slow?

If your pace is considered slow, then what do you call spending several decades just to raise our cultivation by one stage?

Also, wipe that embarrassment off your face!

The ones who should be embarrassed are us!

What made things worse was that despite the ridiculousness of Zhang Xuan's words, they could tell that he wasn't lying, deepening the trauma they had just suffered.

Ever since the other party enrolled in the academy, he had spent seven days to master five supporting occupations, achieving proficiency levels surpassing even those of the heads of the respective schools, causing pandemonium in his wake...

Not only so, he even had the time to conduct lectures and establish the influential Xuanxuan Faction. Despite all he had done, he was still able to find time to make the breakthrough from Cosmos Bridge realm pinnacle to Perfect Harmonization realm pinnacle...

If he had devoted his time to just cultivating in itself...

Forget it, let's not think about it anymore! It will only make us feel worse anyway!

In comparison to the other party, their rate of cultivation was indeed not only slow. It was as if they suffered from a complete lack of talent!

As stifled as they were, recalling the unfathomable expert the other party had as a teacher, they could only accept what was before them.

Incredible talent paired with an unparalleled teacher. If the other party were to be on the same level as them, that would be truly embarrassing. He would be unworthy of his title as a genius!

After a long moment of silence, one of the elders spoke up. "Given Zhang shi's capability, reaching 6-star within three months shouldn't be a problem for him!"

"I think so, too." Words of agreement soon rippled through the group.

Three months wasn't a long time for a cultivator; it would be gone in one period of seclusion. But to the fellow before them, they dared not think what he could achieve within this limited period of time.

Perhaps, he might even be able to make the breakthrough to Saint realm!

"Then... since we have come to a consensus, let's not hesitate any longer. We shall conduct the inauguration ceremony in three days then!" Mu shi declared with a wave of his hand.

The inauguration of the principal of the Master Teacher Academy was a huge affair with great implications for the surrounding Tier-1 Empires and Master Teacher Pavilions.

The reason it was set for three days later was to allow for sufficient preparation time for the ceremony and to invite the guests.

Besides, they had to fix the Elder Hall and the Teacher Acknowledgement Hall first. Otherwise, if others were to see the tattered state the great Master Teacher Academy had been reduced to, they would probably laugh themselves to death.

Having decided on the matter, the others quickly nodded in agreement.

While the Golden Origin Cauldron did have a vote in the matter as well, given that even Mu shi had expressed his support for Zhang Xuan, it had no choice but to go along with the majority decision as well.

In any case, its standing wouldn't change regardless of who became the principal, so there was no need for it to go all out to oppose Zhang Xuan either.

Seeing how the group had come to a decision without him, Zhang Xuan's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

In your discussion, deciding whether I should be the principal or not, shouldn't you have asked for my opinion as well?

Perhaps noticing Zhang Xuan's thoughts, the Byzantium Helios Beast said, "Master, becoming the principal might be a heavy responsibility, but it comes with many privileges as well. For one, you can access the facilities of the school—the libraries and such—freely!"

Hearing those words, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

If he could gain access to all of the books in the academy freely, becoming the new principal was indeed nothing much.

After the confirmation of this matter, the group discussed, for another two hours, how best to allocate the various responsibilities for the preparations of the inauguration ceremony.

Nearing the end of the meeting, School Head Mo turned to Zhang Xuan and said apologetically, "Zhang shi, until the inauguration ceremony is over, we can't bring you into the principal's residence. Thus, we will have to ask you to remain in your manor for a while longer..."

Even though this matter was already approved by the Ten Great Master Teachers and Mu shi, Zhang Xuan still couldn't be considered the official principal until the inauguration ceremony was over. Thus, he couldn't use most of the authority he had as the principal just yet.

Understanding this, Zhang Xuan nodded in response.

In any case, it was just three days. It would pass in a flash.

In the discussion, it was decided that Zhang Xuan should focus his attention on raising his cultivation and clearing the 6-star master teacher examination, so most of the responsibilities of the principal would be distributed among the Ten Great Master Teachers for the time being.

Naturally, upon hearing those words, Zhang Xuan heaved a huge sigh of relief.

At that point, he suddenly recalled another matter he had to tend to, so he asked, "I need to forge a grade-7 pill, so may I borrow Senior Golden Origin Cauldron for a moment?"

It had been ten days since he had left Hongyuan City, and while he hadn't had the time to check on Wei Ruyan yet, her soul should have been sufficiently nourished at this point. It was about time for him to move on to the next step.

Thus, the urgent matter at hand was to forge the Grand Intermittence Pill.

The various medicinal herbs should have been gathered by now, and Apothecary Lu and the others should have achieved a certain level of mastery in the forging technique he had imparted to them. What he was lacking now was a proper cauldron to forge the Grand Intermittence Pill in.

"Cough cough..." His face flushed with anxiety, Zhao Bingxu hurriedly explained, "Zhang shi, Senior Golden Origin Cauldron is a weapon caldron, not a pill cauldron!"

It went without saying that there was a huge difference between a weapon cauldron and a pill cauldron.

As a 6-star blacksmith and apothecary, Zhang shi should have been more than able to tell the difference!

Why would he make such a bizarre request out of the blue?

"I understand, but the medicinal energy contained within a grade-7 pill is so great that I fear that Spirit-tier cauldrons will be unable to harness it. Most probably, only a Saint cauldron like Senior Golden Origin Cauldron will be able to do so," Zhang Xuan said.

Zhang Xuan was confident that Apothecary Lu and the others would be able to successfully forge the Grand Intermittence Pill if they were to follow his procedures strictly without incurring a cauldron explosion, but after his previous few experiences in pill forging, he understood that things wouldn't necessarily go as planned regardless of how thorough the preparations were.

If a Spirit-tier cauldron was used and it failed to confine the explosion, the entire Master Teacher Academy could possibly be reduced to rubble.

This was a risk he couldn't afford to take.

"This..."

Zhao Bingxu was perplexed. "There is a huge difference between a pill cauldron and a weapon cauldron. How are you going to forge a pill in him?"

"There's no need to worry. Even though Senior Golden Origin Cauldron is a weapon cauldron, he is still ultimately a cauldron. As long as I place a formation over him to alter his properties slightly, he will work fine as a pill cauldron as well," Zhang Xuan replied with a smile.

The main difference between a pill cauldron and a weapon cauldron lay in their temperature.

Weapon cauldrons were far better at retaining heat, thus allowing the temperature to rise to higher levels.

On the other hand, pill cauldrons could heat up and cool down swiftly, making it easier to manipulate the temperature.

Fortunately, this problem could be easily solved by implementing a formation on top of the cauldron, so it wasn't a huge issue.

Hearing that Zhang Xuan could alter the properties of a weapon cauldron into that of a pill cauldron with a formation, Zhao Bingxu hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"If you are confident, I will talk to Senior Golden Origin Cauldron on your behalf..."

However, at that moment, the Golden Origin Cauldron suddenly harrumphed. "I am a Saint weapon cauldron, and you expect me to forge a pill for you? Dream on!"

As a Saint artifact, it had its own pride. To it, making it forge a pill was like forcing a duck to lay chicken eggs, and it viewed it as a huge insult. How could it possibly agree to that?

Hearing those words, Zhao Bingxu clasped his fist and pleaded, "Senior..."

"Don't waste your breath, it's not like you are unaware of my temper. If you say another word, I shall swallow you and turn you into cinders!" the Golden Origin Cauldron bellowed with unconcealable pride in its tone.

"This..."

Hearing the obstinate tone of the Golden Origin Cauldron, Zhao Bingxu could only sigh deeply and shake his head helplessly. "Zhang shi, this... I'm afraid that I won't be able to help you on this. If Senior Golden Origin Cauldron refuses to help you, there is no way we can force him to help you."

If the spirit within a Saint artifact refused to cooperate, it would be impossible to use the artifact. If the Golden Origin Cauldron were to tamper with the forging process even in the slightest, the medicinal herbs could be easily turn to ash, resulting in a tragic failure.

"Let me try negotiate with him myself!" Zhang Xuan told Zhao Bingxu telepathically before walking up to the Golden Origin Cauldron.

It must be said that the Saint artifact was indeed massive, standing half a head taller than Zhang Xuan. It emanated a domineering aura that exerted immense pressure on those standing before it.

As expected of the Guardian Saint Artifact of the Master Teacher Academy, it indeed possessed fearsome prowess.

Even the Byzantium Helios Beast, despite its breakthrough, was no match for the other party.

The Golden Origin Cauldron harrumphed coldly. "You want me to forge pills for you? That is impossible, so you'd better kick that idea out of your mind. Otherwise, even if they have all nominated you to be the next principal, I will still reduce you to cinders."

"Senior, hold it for a moment. It won't be too late for you to make your decision after hearing my offer!" Zhang Xuan smiled confidently.

After which, he stepped closer and placed his palm lightly on the Golden Origin Cauldron. Following which, he circled around the Golden Origin Cauldron, smacking his palm on it intermittently as he walked by.

"Do you think that... Zhang shi will be able to tame Senior Golden Origin Cauldron?" School Head Mo asked School Head Zhao discreetly as he gazed at the sight before him.

Zhao Bingxu shook his head. "I think it will be difficult. It's not like you don't know Senior Golden Origin Cauldron's temper. He even snubbed the old principal back then, so I don't think Zhang shi will fare any better with him. To persuade him... unlikely. Truly unlikely!"

"I think so too..." School Head Mo sighed.

Just as he was about to continue speaking, a sharp sound suddenly echoed from the Golden Origin Cauldron, and its massive body jolted abruptly.

The next moment, it cuddled up to Zhang Xuan, as if a lapdog trying to please its owner, " Ding Ding 1 pays respect to master! Master, I will forge whatever you want me too! Isn't it just pills? How many do you need?"

"..." School Head Mo.

"..." School Head Zhao.

"..." The others.

Chapter 847: Yu Fei-er's Invitation

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

The Golden Origin Cauldron was a real Saint artifact, the guardian of the Master Teacher Academy. It was an extremely prideful existence, such that even though the preceding principals had the right to mobilize it in extreme situations, none had succeeded in taming it before.

Even the previous principal, despite having made a breakthrough to 7-star before he went missing, had been unable to make it submit to him.

To make things worse, the Golden Origin Cauldron was also extremely lazy. It preferred to spend its time dozing lazily, so nearly no one had been able to convince it to allow them to smith a weapon using it.

Yet, Zhang Xuan was asking it to forge a pill... Everyone thought that he would be disappointed, but who knew that such a godly twist was waiting for them!

Not to mention, what the heck is Ding Ding...

Ding your head!

You are a Saint artifact, the guardian of the Master Teacher Academy... Where is your pride and dignity?

On the other hand, Lu Feng felt as if he was going insane as well.

When he invited the Golden Origin Cauldron to the conference earlier on, it had acted extremely arrogantly, even threatening to reduce him to cinders. Yet, at this very moment, it was cozying up to Zhang Xuan in an attempt to fawn over him, as if fearing that the latter wouldn't allow it to help him...

How could there be such a huge difference in treatment even though they were both humans?

Having tamed the Golden Origin Cauldron, Zhang Xuan turned his gaze back to the crowd and smiled. "Done!"

Even though the Golden Origin Cauldron was a Saint artifact, it still had its fair share of flaws. Using the Library of Heaven's Path, Zhang Xuan had been able to find them easily, and he had corrected some of them on the spot. After building up his credibility, he had given his word to the other party that he would help it raise its tier.

With such an alluring offer placed before it, it was inevitable that the Golden Origin Cauldron would jump at it.

After a long moment of speechlessness, Zhao Bingxu could only raise his thumb and compliment him. "Incredible, my principal!"

It was impossible not to be impressed by him. Zhang shi had always managed to exceed their expectations each and every time. Under his lead, the academy just might reach unprecedented heights, perhaps even surpassing the other three to become the top Master Teacher Academy under Qingyuan Empire.

"Master, that fellow has gone to great lengths to do you in. Shall I reduce him to cinders for you?"

After pledging allegiance to Zhang Xuan, it immediately began thinking on his behalf as well. With an aura dripping with savagery, it glared at Lu Feng ferociously, seemingly threatening to devour him whole.

It had seen how the other party had gleefully tried to bring his master down. His master, as a grandteacher-like figure to the other party, could overlook his grandstudent's mistake, but as his master's loyal artifact, it couldn't do the same.

Hearing those words, Lu Feng's face immediately paled in fright. "Senior..."

Famed as the Master Teacher Academy's Guardian Saint Artifact, the Golden Origin Cauldron's standing could be considered equivalent to an old ancestor of the Master Teacher Academy. Even if it were to really reduce him to cinders, considering that this was an internal affair of the Master Teacher Academy, not even Mu shi would be in a good position to speak up on his behalf.

"Who are you calling senior? Call me your grandfather!" the Golden Origin Cauldron sneered coldly.

"I..." On the verge of tears, Lu Feng turned to Mu shi desperately to plead with him for help.

However, Mu shi shook his head and said, "Senior Golden Origin Cauldron is right. You framed an innocent master teacher and nearly ruined his reputation. I will report this matter to the headquarters as I have seen it. Not only will you lose your position as the head of the Apothecary School, there is a good chance that your master teacher license will be revoked as well!"

"My master teacher license will be revoked?" Lu Feng muttered in utter shock as he suddenly felt a surge of weakness through his body, and his knees fell to the ground.

He had known that this matter would result in the loss of his position as the head of the Apothecary School, but if he were to be stripped of his master teacher license as well, he would have lost everything that he had worked hard for over the past few centuries.

Seeing Lu Feng's defeated state, Mu shi sighed pensively. "As the role model of mankind, master teachers must remain upright at all times. You allowed your own emotions to get in the way of your judgement, leaping at an opportunity to frame a fellow master teacher without conducting prudent investigation beforehand. This is already against the moral code that we, as teachers, have to observe. I can't help you with this matter. You only have yourself to blame for your plight."

If he had really listened to Lu Feng's words and punished Zhang shi without giving him a chance to explain himself, he would have truly erred greatly.

A person like Lu Feng was like a black sheep among the master teachers. In order to maintain a righteous culture within the Master Teacher Pavilion, he would have to be expelled.

"I understand..." Lu Feng replied weakly.

Two hours ago, he had still been the influential stand-in principal of the Master Teacher Academy, a 6-star pinnacle master teacher, and a Half-Spiritual Perception realm expert. Alas, he had fallen from grace, and the authoritative disposition that he commanded before had withered into helplessness.

In this battle against Zhang Xuan, he had suffered a complete defeat.

After dealing with Lu Feng, Mu shi turned his sights to Chen Chengxun.

"Chen Chengxun, for blindly listening to the words of another, failing to discern right from wrong, you will be stripped of your responsibility as the head of the Formation Master School, and you are to await the verdict from the headquarters!"

While School Head Chen might not have played a huge role in this incident, he was still a culprit who had played a part in framing Zhang shi.

"I understand."

In that instant, Chen Chengxun seemed as if he had aged a decade.

"As for Dong Xin, as a student of the Master Teacher Academy, instead of working hard on your studies and acting as a role model for the freshmen, you got involved in the politics of the academy and became a tool for Lu Feng to frame Zhang shi. From today onward, you will be stripped of your position as a student... In other words, you are expelled from the academy!" Mu shi waved his hands.

With the accusations against Zhang Xuan proving to be unfounded, and that he was going to be the next principal of the Master Teacher Academy, those who had attempted to do him in had to be dealt with. Otherwise, if they were to set a precedent for leniency in such a matter, it might encourage others to do the same.

Furthermore, the authority and standing of the principal could not be sullied by just anyone.

While Dong Xin had said that she was just recounting that she had seen, it was due to her words that Lu Feng and Chen Chengxun had put the plan into motion. The words of a master teacher held great power, so it was imperative that they should be held accountable for their words. It was an unfortunate mistake, but it was a fact that she had unwittingly become Lu Feng's accomplice as well, so she had to be promptly punished, too.

With a darkened complexion, Dong Xin clasped her fist and bowed. "Yes!"

She had thought that having found a handle on Zhang Xuan, she could finally get one over him. But not only had she become of the same seniority as the other party's great grandstudent, she was even expelled from the academy...

While she was still a 6-star master teacher after leaving the academy, the connections she had built up in the academy over many years had gone to waste. On top of that, there was also a blemish on her record, making it difficult for her to advance further as a master teacher.

Of the four of us, it seems Hu Yaoyao is the wisest after all! Dong Xin sighed deeply.

Their four student factions had been competing with one another for several years, and thinking about the matter, it seemed like Hu Yaoyao was the one with the most foresight of the four leaders. As Zhang shi's apprentice, it would mean that she was a direct subordinate of the academy's principal... With such an identity, her prestige would skyrocket, and many would be eager to fawn over her, making it easier than ever for her to obtain resources and forge connections.

After dealing with the trio, Mu shi turned to Zhang Xuan and asked, "Principal Zhang, is this resolution fine with you?"

Even though Mu shi was a 7-star master teacher, Zhang Xuan was currently the principal of the academy. By addressing Zhang Xuan as Principal Zhang and consulting him on this matter, he was expressing his respect for the other party's authority, as well as to clear away any doubts that he might be siding with Lu Feng and the others.

"Yes, the resolution is fine with me." Zhang Xuan nodded in response.

Actually, in his view, as long as the trio were willing to contribute all of their spirit stones to him, he didn't mind dropping the matter altogether. In any case, those three were unlikely to be able to start anything anymore. Yet, not only were they removed from their current positions, some of them might even lose their master teacher license... What complaints could Zhang Xuan have of this?

"I still have matters to tend to, so I will be returning now... Ding Ding, let's go!" Leaving those words behind, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist and stored the Golden Origin Cauldron in his storage ring as he bade the others farewell.

After returning to his manor, he had Sun Qiang head to the Xuanxuan Faction headquarters to invite Apothecary Lu and the others over before making his way to the Apothecary School.

Back then, he had communicated with the headquarters, and the other party had said that they would bring the Grand Intermittence Grass over.

Walking through the Apothecary School, he soon reached the reception of the Apothecary Pavilion and found that the medicinal herb the headquarters had promised him had arrived several days earlier.

It was said that the man who delivered the medicinal herb had wanted to hand it over to him personally, but after waiting a day in futility, he could only leave in disappointment.

Having obtained the Grand Intermittence Grass, Zhang Xuan was just about to return to his manor to check up on Wei Ruyan's condition when he suddenly saw Luo Qiqi walking toward him.

Upon seeing Zhang Xuan, Luo Qiqi's eyes lit up. "Teacher, you're back!"

"Zhang shi!"

There were several others standing behind Luo Qiqi. They were Yu Fei-er, Xing Yuan, Wu Zhen, and Ye Qian.

Just like Luo Qiqi, they had all achieved a breakthrough in their cultivation, reaching the Perfect Harmonization realm.

It seemed like Zhao Bingxu's Meridian and Bone Cleansing was indeed extremely useful to them. In just a single period of seclusion, they had already made significant advancements in their cultivation.

"Not bad!" Zhang Xuan remarked with a smile.

Even though he had a conflict with the others previously, the experience they had shared in the underground chamber had forged a unique bond among them. Thus, he truly felt happy for them from the depths of his heart when he saw them achieving greater heights.

"Zhang Xuan, I told you that I will repay my debt to you. Here are three high-tier spirit stones, treat the remaining as extra compensation for that day!" Yu Fei-er stepped forward and handed him a jade box. Three high-tier spirit stones were lined up within it, and they harnessed such great energy within them that even the spiritual energy in the surroundings was disturbed.

She had gambled with Zhang Xuan on multiple occasions, but not once did a bet end in her victory, and she even became the other party's maid... though thinking about it now, she had never really fulfilled her 'responsibilities' as a maid.

Nevertheless, as a princess of Hongyuan Empire, and considering the fact that she had just made a breakthrough to the Perfect Harmonization realm, it wasn't too difficult for her to ask for a couple of high-tier spirit stones from the royal court.

"I won't stand on ceremony then..." If there was one thing Zhang Xuan always needed, it was spirit stones. With a flick of his wrist, he placed the jade box into his storage ring.

"Zhang shi, we have heard of your encounter in the academy. Did the school heads... make things difficult for you?" Xing Yuan and Wu Zhen asked anxiously.

From the moment they came out from their seclusion, they had been hearing about Zhang shi's affairs in the academy, how he crippled several schools and even challenged a vice school head to a Life-and-Death Physician Duel... It could be said that in just the half of month since Zhang shi's enrollment, the ruckus he had caused in the academy was greater than what the four of them had caused over the past few years.

Seeing that the others were sincerely worried for him, Zhang Xuan replied with a smile, "They didn't. Don't worry, I'm fine."

"That's good!" Hearing those words, the group heaved a sigh of relief.

At this point, Yu Fei-er stepped forward, and gritting her teeth, she hesitated for a brief moment before saying, "My father hopes to meet you."

"Your father? That is... the emperor of Hongyuan Empire?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Since Yu Fei-er was the Sixth Princess of Hongyuan Empire, naturally, her father must be the incumbent emperor.

"That's right." Yu Fei-er nodded.

"When?" Zhang Xuan asked doubtfully.

"He has asked me to invite you to the banquet tonight," Yu Fei-er replied.

"Why would he invite me to a banquet?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

He was only a 4-star master teacher. He might have caused quite a ruckus in the academy, but surely what he had done wasn't sufficient for the emperor of a Tier-1 Empire to extend an invitation to him?

"King Huai has gifted you a luxurious manor, and you once took me in as your maid as well. On top of that, you caused quite a huge ruckus in the academy and emptied out nearly the entire Spirit Emporium... Naturally, my father hopes to meet the mastermind behind all of that!" Yu Fei-er said.

At Zhang Xuan's current pace, it seemed as if he would tear apart the capital next. If Yu Fei-er's father hadn't heard of him after everything that he had done, he would truly be an incompetent emperor.

Not to mention, he had taken the other party's daughter as his maid at one point in time. Even though Yu Fei-er didn't mention it to him, he still had his sources to uncover that.

"This..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head awkwardly.

"Alright then. However, I need to forge a pill first. If I have time, I will make sure to drop by..."

Since he was staying in Hongyuan Empire for the time being, it would be impossible for him to steer completely clear of Yu Fei-er's father way, especially if the other party was intent on meeting him. Besides, there was nothing for him to fear either.

"It's settled then. I will meet you at the banquet. The location is the royal palace, and here is your invitation letter!" Seeing that she had received Zhang Xuan's agreement, Yu Fei-er passed a letter over with a smile.

"Un." Zhang Xuan took the letter and stowed it in his storage ring.

After bidding farewell to Yu Fei-er, Luo Qiqi, and the others, Zhang Xuan returned to his manor. However, as soon as he stepped through the door, Sun Qiang suddenly rushed up to him with an anxious look on his face.

"Young Master, bad news... the Ten-leafed Flower you have planted in the courtyard... has changed colors!"

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Chapter 848: Wei Ruyan's State

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"The color changed?" Taken aback, Zhang Xuan hurriedly made his way over the area where the Ten-leafed Flower was planted.

The Ten-leafed Flower was a saint herb. Upon reaching maturity, a different colored flower would bloom on each of its ten leaves, and each flower corresponded to a human's three hun and seven po. 1

Wei Ruyan's soul had been placed into it to be nourished.

Based on what his deduction, the color of the Ten-leafed Flower shouldn't change in the midst of the treatment, so what could be happening?

Soon, at the center of the courtyard, Zhang Xuan saw the Ten-leafed Flower. Its previously resplendent flowers had all turned pitch black, as if someone had tossed a bucket of ink over it.

"What happened?" Zhang Xuan's face darkened.

The ten colors of the Ten-leafed Flower were symbolic of its ability to nurture a soul. For them to have turned black, it was clear that some kind of mishap must have happened.

He had already promised the deceased Wei Changfeng to take good care of his daughter, so nothing could be allowed to happen to Wei Ruyan!

"Young Master, you told me take care of this flower, so I have been diligently watering it with some Earth Vein Spirit Essence every day. It had been growing well, and even when I checked it this morning before you returned, I didn't notice any anomalies. However, just two hours ago, the colors of its flowers suddenly turned pitch-black. I checked the surroundings carefully, but there were no signs of anyone coming by and tampering with it. I have no idea what happened," Sun Qiang explained anxiously.

"It suddenly turned pitch-black?" Zhang Xuan muttered with a frown.

He released the surrounding formation and studied the surroundings carefully, and indeed, just as Sun Qiang said, it didn't seem like anyone else had been there.

Since no one else had been there, Sun Qiang would have been the greatest suspect. However, Sun Qiang had been with him for some time now, and he trusted the other party deeply. Furthermore, Sun Qiang had no reason to harm Wei Ruyan. Just what could have happened?

Perplexed, Zhang Xuan walked up to the Ten-leafed Flower and studied it carefully with his Eye of Insight.

Previously nourished by the Earth Vein Spirit Essence and Heaven's Path zhenqi, the Ten-leafed Flower had been overflowing with vitality when he left Hongyuan City ten days ago. But in this instant, not only had the resplendent flowers turned black, even the leaves seemed to have become slightly withered, as if they were suffering from some kind of terminal illness that was sapping its life force away.

This feeling was particularly prominent when Zhang Xuan saw the decay on the exposed rhizome of the herb.

How could this have happened?

Under the constant nourishment of the dense spiritual energy from the Spirit Gathering Formation and the Earth Vein Spirit Essence, the saint herb should have flourished with time. How could it have been reduced to this state instead?

Zhang Xuan stretched his hand over to touch the Ten-leafed Flower and muttered "Flaws!" beneath his breath. The next moment, a book materialized in the Library of Heaven's Path, and he hurriedly flipped it open.

Upon taking a look, his complexion turned awful. It was indeed poisoned!

According to the details recorded in the Library of Heaven's Path, the reason the Ten-leafed Flower had been reduced to its current state was because it had been poisoned!

Wei Ruyan possesses the Poison Soul Constitution, which means that her soul contains lethal poison. The Ten-leafed Flower has the ability to nurture a soul, but after prolonged contact with her soul, it was inevitable that it would be poisoned. If not for the dense spiritual energy and the Earth Vein Spirit Essence nourishing it and sustaining its life force, it would have died several days ago...

A deep frown surfaced on Zhang Xuan's face as he analyzed the situation.

Wei Ruyan's Poison Soul Constitution was simply a formidable ability. The fact that it could suppress even the Innate Fetal Poison in his soul served as proof of its prowess!

The Ten-leafed Flower was a saint herb that possessed the ability to nurture a deficient soul, but even it was powerless before such a formidable poison, thus resulting in its current state.

Zhang Xuan had been single-mindedly thinking about nurturing Wei Ruyan's soul to rouse her consciousness and treat her body that he had neglected the potency of her Poison Soul Constitution!

If the Ten-leafed Flower died, Wei Ruyan's soul would lose its binding to the world and dissipate swiftly!

It was fortunate that Sun Qiang had noticed it early, or else she could have lost her life just like that.

I should take a look at how far her soul has been nourished first...

Not daring to waste any time, Zhang Xuan drew out his soul and observed the soul infused within the flower.

A moment later, his expression turned livid.

The nurturing of the Ten-leafed Flower could easily nurse even the weakest of souls back to perfect health within ten days, but Wei Ruyan's Poison Soul Constitution was simply too powerful. Putting aside how it had nearly poisoned the saint herb to death, it had also rendered its property to nurture souls nearly completely ineffective!

In other words, Wei Ruyan's soul might have recovered slightly over the ten days, but it was still in an extremely feeble state. It would take a lot more before she could regain her consciousness.

At the current rate, if I wish to bring back her consciousness, I will require... at least a hundred thousand Ten-leafed Flowers! Zhang Xuan clenched his fists tightly.

Just to obtain this Ten-leafed Flower, he had caused a huge ruckus and nearly crippled the Physician School for good. A hundred thousand Ten-leafed Flowers... Where in the world could he find that many?!

It clearly wasn't feasible!

It seems like... I will have to try looking for a higher tier saint herb than the Ten-leafed Flower! Zhang Xuan frowned.

While the Ten-leafed Flower was a saint herb, it was of the lowest tier. To put it in terms of human cultivation realm, it was only at Saint 1-dan. Naturally, its ability to counteract poison and its potency in nurturing souls would be weaker.

If a higher tier saint herb was used, the effectiveness of the treatment could be increased significantly, and he wouldn't have to go through so much trouble as to gather a mountain of saint herbs.

But... it was so difficult to find even a stalk of a living Ten-leafed Flower in Hongyuan City, could he really find a higher tier living saint herb that had the ability to nurture souls here as well?

For the time being, I should return her soul to her body first...

Knowing that it was futile to think about it at the moment, Zhang Xuan instructed Sun Qiang to carry Wei Ruyan's body over before drawing her soul out of the Ten-leafed Flower.

The extracted soul still looked extremely weak. Even after it was returned to its body, Wei Ruyan showed no sign of regaining consciousness.

Looking at the unconscious young lady before him, Zhang Xuan rubbed his glabella. I should just forge the Grand Intermittence Pill for the moment. By nourishing her body, her soul will be strengthened along with it, thus stabilizing her current condition... With that, I should be able to gain some time to find a higher tier saint herb!

An affliction that could render innumerable 6-star physicians helpless, Wei Ruyan's condition was clearly not as easy to treat.

Zhang Xuan had thought that everything would fall into place once he found a living saint herb to nurture her soul, but reality had shown that his thinking was too naive.

Putting everything aside, just the fact that her Poison Soul Constitution could render most saint herb ineffective was a tough hurdle to overcome.

Shaking his head grimly, Zhang Xuan drew out his soul and transferred his soul essence to Wei Ruyan to nourish her soul, stabilizing her condition for the time being.

After this was done, he heaved a sigh of relief.

While the Ten-leafed Flower had failed to bring back Wei Ruyan's consciousness, it hadn't been completely ineffective. At the very least, it had pulled her back from the brink of death for the time being.

As long as he could successfully forge the Grand Intermittence Pill and return vitality to her body, she should be able to last until he found a suitable saint herb to treat her.

"Young Master, Apothecary Lu and the others have arrived!" Sun Qiang reported.

Nodding, Zhang Xuan tasked Sun Qiang to take care of Wei Ruyan before heading to the main hall to meet Apothecary Lu and the others.

As soon as Zhang Xuan walked into the room, Apothecary Lu and the others hurriedly stood up and greeted him. "Zhang shi!"

"There is no need to stand on ceremony. I believe you should know why I gathered you all here today. I need your help in forging a grade-7 Grand Intermittence Pill."

Taking a seat, Zhang Xuan got straight to the point.

Even though they had an inkling of the reason when they made their way here, their faces still turned grim upon hearing those words.

As 6-star pinnacle apothecaries, they were more than confident in forging any grade-6 pills. However, to forge a grade-7 pill, not to mention, they would have to collaborate with people they had never worked with before... It was simply too difficult.

"Zhang shi, it is not that we are unwilling to help you, but we know our own limits, and... we fear that we might not be able to reach your expectations!" Apothecary Lu shook his head.

They had to admit that Zhang shi did possess an inconceivable talent for pill forging, but the Grand Intermittence Pill was one of the harder pills to forge even among grade-7 pills! It was impossible for them to succeed!

Noticing the lack of confidence among the apothecaries, Zhang Xuan reassured, "There is no need to worry, and you need not feel pressured as well. As long as you follow my instructions strictly, there shouldn't be much of a problem!"

He could understand why they would feel apprehension at having to forge the Grand Intermittence Pill.

The gap between each rank grew exponentially larger as one progressed up any occupation.

Similarly, there was a huge gap between forging grade-6 pills and grade-7 pills. They had seen many of their peers devoting their lives to pill forging, only to never step through the final threshold.

As such, it was unimaginable for them to forge the Grand Intermittence Pill, the difficulty of which ranked amid the top among grade-7 pills.

"But even so, I still don't think that we can do it..." Apothecary Lu shook his head.

"All of us have tried many times to forge a grade-7 pill, but never have we succeeded before. On top of that, we don't have any experience collaborating with one another, so I fear that it is nigh impossible for us to succeed!"

The other apothecaries also shook their heads grimly.

Seeing that the apothecaries had no confidence at all, Zhang Xuan frowned.

Skill wasn't everything to forging a good pill, one's spirit, soul, and essence must be in the right place as well. This was especially so for a pill like the Grand Intermittence Pill, which harnessed vitality so overwhelming that it could regrow broken limbs. If the apothecaries carried such a pessimistic attitude, even if they were to get all of the steps correct, they would still be unable to forge a proper pill.

This was a problem of spirit and faith.

This was similar to how in his 1-star apothecary examination, one of his invigilators, Apothecary Chen Xiao, had managed to successfully forge Tranquil Heart Pills in his Pill Debate, but due to his own condition, the pill harnessed a death aura, which not only rendered the pill ineffective but could cause one's cultivation to go berserk as well.

A grade-7 pill would be Saint-tier at the very least, which meant that it would possess a spirit of its own. If the apothecary forging the pill suffered from a lack of spirit, how could the pill forging be successful?

Zhang Xuan only had one set of medicinal herbs, so there would be no second chances. Failure was a luxury he couldn't afford!

"Since none of you have the confidence, then... pardon me!"

Seeing the state that the apothecaries were in, Zhang Xuan knew that it would be difficult for him to make them regain their confidence anytime soon. However, he didn't have the time to spare at the moment. Thus, he flicked his wrist, and the pile of medicinal herbs fell to the ground. These were the medicinal herbs that the apothecaries had prepared and entrusted Sun Qiang to pass to him.

After which, he took a deep breath and began speaking. "Let's get straight down to business. Here are the medicinal herbs. Apothecary Lu, extract the medicinal essence of the Goldsilver Burclover. Apothecary Qiu, process the Truebeard Flower under low heat. Apothecary Liu..."

Zhang Xuan issued instructions swiftly, and his words seemed to carry a unique rhythm to them, making it particularly pleasant to the ear.

The apothecaries were intending on refusing Zhang Xuan, but before they knew it, their bodies were already moving according to the other party's instructions.

Impartation of Heaven's Will?

Feeling how their bodies were moving against their will, the crowd narrowed their eyes in astonishment.

No matter how slow they were, it was obvious that the young man before them had used Impartation of Heaven's Will against them!

But they were 6-star pinnacle master teachers, Saint realm experts, and their Soul Depths could be considered among the highest in the Master Teacher Academy. Never had they thought that they would succumb to the Impartation of Heaven's Will of another so easily!

Even at the very least, his Soul Depth must have reached 21! they thought in shock.

To be able to make so many of them fall under his Impartation of Heaven's Will so easily, it meant that the other party's Soul Depth was significantly higher than theirs, very possibly reaching the level of a 7-star master teacher!

For a twenty-year-old freshman to possess a Soul Depth of 21... Such a genius was probably rare even within the Sage Clans!

Perhaps, under the young man's leadership, they might just be able to produce a miracle!

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Chapter 849: Pill Mist

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

In the tattered Elder Hall of the Master Teacher Academy, Mu shi and the others couldn't help but fall in a daze as they stared at the destruction before them.

The Elder Hall had many years of history to it, and countless precious antiques and relics from the predecessors had been stored in it. But now... it had all been reduced to rubble.

To be able to reduce the entire area to this state with just the aura he exuded, collapsing even the Teacher Acknowledgement Hall, Yang shi's prowess was too fearsome!

Wei Ranxue couldn't help but remark, "It seems like... Zhang shi's destructive capabilities were picked up from Yang shi!"

The other school heads nodded in agreement with bitter smiles.

Even though Zhang shi had destroyed quite a few of buildings since his enrollment, they could tell, that had happened due to a series of unfortunate coincidences, and it wasn't intentional. However, the matter with Yang shi was different. In a fit of rage, the entire Elder Hall just abruptly collapsed under his wrath...

That ability to destroy was clearly a level higher than Zhang shi's!

Tearing down walls and buildings without the slightest warning beforehand in the face of a disagreement...

It was truly fortunate that they didn't hurt his student!

If someone had really injured Zhang shi, wouldn't Yang shi tear down the Master Teacher Academy or even the entirety of Hongyuan City?

"It is really a blessing that there is a protective formation around the area which helped to conceal the destruction from the eyes and ears of others, and Yang shi seemed to have held himself back as well, so the destruction isn't too widespread. Otherwise, the Master Teacher Academy would become the laughingstock for the entire Master Teacher Pavilion for years to come!" Mu shi said.

"Indeed!" The others nodded in agreement.

It was clear that Yang shi had reined in his immense strength, choosing to destroy only the Elder Hall, Teacher Acknowledgement Hall, and the buildings in the region in order to strike fear into their hearts. Otherwise, given the other party's incredible strength, if he had wished to see blood, putting aside just the handful of them present at the scene, it was questionable whether even the full force of the Qingyuan Conferred Empire Master Teacher Pavilion would be able to stop him!

"Repair those buildings within a day, and send out news to the relevant powers in the region to inform them that the new principal has been chosen, and they are invited to attend the inauguration ceremony," Mu shi instructed.

The others nodded in acknowledgement to his instructions.

"Right. As for the matter regarding Yang shi, since we are all master teachers, I believe that you should know what to do even without me saying so. As per the norm, make sure to seal your lips tight. Anyone who fails to do so will be punished according to the crime of betraying humanity!" With his hands behind his back, Mu shi's eyes swept through the crowd with a gaze as sharp as a knife.

The whereabouts, appearance, and even students of a pinnacle master teacher like Yang shi were considered to be confidential secrets of the Master Teacher Pavilion. Juniors like them had no right to discuss such matters.

Otherwise, if news were to leak to the enemies of the Master Teacher Pavilion and some sort of mishap occurred, they would be unable to pay for their sins even if they were to die a thousand times over.

Mindful of the grave importance of the matter, the crowd nodded. "Understood."

After which, Mu shi's pressurizing gaze fell upon Lu Feng. "What about you, Lu Feng?"

Lu Feng had a grudge against Zhang shi, and it was also due to Zhang shi that he was going to suffer severe punishment from the Master Teacher Pavilion. If he were to attempt to exact vengeance on Zhang shi, it could potentially lead to dire consequences.

"It is my fault that the Elder Hall has been reduced to its current state. I will donate all my wealth to supplement the reparation cost for the destruction here. After which, I shall apply to become a guardian of the Subterranean Gallery!" Lu Feng said.

"You wish to go to the Subterranean Gallery?"

"This..."

Hearing this decision, everyone's faces darkened. Even School Head Mo, who had a poor impression of Lu Feng, frowned upon hearing those words. "Are you certain?"

"I have been reflecting on my deeds, and I realized that in my pursuit to become the principal of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, I have lost sight of what I stood for originally. Perhaps, I might be able to rediscover myself in the Subterranean Gallery. Even if death lies at the end of this path, I have no regrets!" Lu Feng nodded in determination.

When he looked back at his past, he realized that his aim had changed at some point in time. He had not started out as a person hungry for power, but under the intense rivalry amid the Ten Great Master Teachers and his desire to prove himself, the desire for the principal seat sparked in his mind, and before long, it had grown into a blazing flame.

And like a moth attracted to a flame, he found himself sinking deeper and deeper into his desire.

However, with Zhang shi decided as the next principal, the flame that had blinded his eyes vanished, and as if a man awakening from a dream, he suddenly realized how ludicrous and shallow his actions had been.

The reason Kong shi established the Master Teacher Pavilion wasn't to bask in the respect and glory of it, nor was it to serve as a tool to vie for power and claim supremacy. It was to guard mankind and bring it to greater heights.

But the allure of power was simply too difficult for any man to resist. Even the most steadfast of master teachers could stumble easily in its face and lose the faith they had held resolutely at the start of their journey.

"Since you have made such a decision, I will not report this matter to the headquarters for the time being and allow you to remain as a 6-star master teacher. However, I hope that you remember your promise. Don't let the Master Teacher Pavilion and yourself down anymore!" Mu shi said.

Hearing that Mu shi was willing to give him another chance, Lu Feng's eyes reddened in agitation. "Thank you, Mu shi!"

For a moment, he suddenly recalled the oath he had made when he first became a master teacher several centuries ago, and the surge of passion that he had felt back then ran through his old body once more.

Following which, Mu shi turned to School Head Zhao and instructed, "Zhao Bingxu, you will be in charge of liaising with the powers and inviting them to the inauguration ceremony. Remember not to reveal the matter of Zhang shi being the succeeding principal for the time being! He is still too weak at the moment, so it is necessary that we take such precautions to ensure his safety. Once he receives the Principal's Seal in the inauguration ceremony, there will be no need for us to worry about his safety anymore..."

"Understood!" Zhao Bingxu nodded.

"As for Mo Zhu and Wei Ranxue, you will be in charge of keeping a lookout on the internal state of the academy. Take note of the atmosphere in the academy and make sure to quell any unnatural movements that might not be conducive to the inauguration ceremony..." Mu shi continued.

However, halfway through his words, the ground suddenly began trembling, and a deafening blast reverberated from the distance.

Hearing the explosion, Mu shi narrowed his eyes. "What happened?"

Along with the other school heads gathered in the Elder Hall, he immediately headed in the direction of where the explosion originated from.

A short distance away from the academy, they saw an entire row of collapsed residences. It seemed like the explosion had originated from that area.

Mo Zhu's eyes narrowed, and he exclaimed in astonishment, "Isn't that... Zhang shi's manor?"

He had heard that King Huai had given Zhang Xuan a manor, and he had looked into the matter as well. Naturally, he knew where the manor was as well.

But this... why would it collapse out of the blue?

"It can't be that Zhang shi, in a fit of anger... decided to destroy his own manor as well?" Wei Ranxue gulped down a mouthful of saliva.

It was said that just for the renovations, King Huai had spent hundreds of high-tier spirit stones. Yet, in an instant, that extravagant manor was reduced to rubble along with dozens of residences in the surroundings.

This was an even greater tragedy than what had happened to the Elder Hall!

They had known that wherever Zhang Xuan went, destruction wouldn't be too far away, but to destroy his own manor as well... This was way too exaggerated!

They had seen people going on a rampage and punching others, but they had never seen anyone going on a rampage and punching themself!

"It doesn't seem like he has torn down his manor intentionally. Look!" At that moment, Mu shi abruptly pointed upward.

Hong long!

As if in response to his words, a violent jolt suddenly occurred from the direct center of the area of destruction, and a seven-colored mist abruptly burst forth, illuminating the surroundings.

"This is... Pill Mist?"

"Pill Mist? Legend has it that it will only appear when a grade-8 pill is forged..."

"The higher grade a pill is, the more potent it will be. Upon reaching a certain point, it has to suffer a backlash from the heavens as well. The Pill Mist is a form of heavenly tribulation that appears with the forging of grade-8 pills... Just what in the world is Zhang shi forging? How could Pill Mist appear here?"

...

Upon taking a closer look at the form of the mist, the school heads immediately recognized what it was, and they nearly lost their sanity.

Pill Mist, just as the name suggested, was a phenomenon that occurred in the midst of the forging of a grade-8 pill. For it to appear, didn't it mean that... Zhang shi was attempting to forge a grade-8 pill?

"No, it isn't a grade-8 pill. If that were the case, there would be a tribulation within the Pill Mist, but the fact that it is absent means that it is highly unlikely that the pill forged has reached grade-8 yet. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that it is a grade-7 pinnacle at the very minimum, and the chances are that it is an Inscribed Pill as well. Otherwise, such a phenomenon wouldn't have occurred!" Mu shi said with a frown.

He had once had the privilege of witnessing the formation of a grade-8 pill with his own eyes. Not only was there Pill Mist, even the apothecary himself had to undergo a lightning tribulation as well. Through the refinement of lingering lightning sparks, the pill would be further perfected, thus forming a sentient spirit within it.

However, the fact that there was only the Pill Mist but no lightning tribulation meant that the grade of the pill forged hadn't reached the mark yet.

"A grade-7 pinnacle Inscribed Pill?"

Everyone's mouths twitched in astonishment.

That was likely to be more valuable than most ordinary grade-8 pills!

Pills could be classified into four tiers of quality: Formation, Satiation, Perfection, and Inscribed Pill.

Even within their academy, Inscribed Pill was a thing of the legends. Only very few apothecaries had achieved it in their lifetime. Yet, to think that Zhang shi would manage to achieve this level of quality while forging a grade-7 pill...

Was this for real?

"Let's go over to take a look!"

Unable to hold back their curiosity, the school heads hurriedly flew over.

...

In Hongyuan Empire's royal palace, a middle-aged man was currently sitting before a golden table with a brush in his hand, browsing through memorials.

The emperor of Hongyuan Empire, Yu Fei-er's father, Yu Shenqing!

He had a dense layer of zhenqi shrouding around him, morphing into the forms of many beasts such as dragons and tigers, projecting an authoritative disposition that put others at bay.

Even though he wasn't driving his cultivation, judging by the aura he commanded by itself, it seemed that Yu Shenqing possessed strength on par with School Head Mo and the others—Saint realm 1-dan pinnacle.

A eunuch walked into the room and reported, "Your Majesty, we have completed the preparations for the banquet tonight!"

"Un!" Putting down his brush, Yu Shenqing pinched his glabella before asking, "What did Fei-er say? Did she manage to invite Zhang Xuan over?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Her Highness says that Zhang shi has received the invitation and that he will be here tonight!" the eunuch reported.

"That's good. I would love to see the young man who dares to make my daughter his maid!" Yu Shenqing harrumphed in displeasure.

"Your Majesty, that Zhang shi has caused quite a huge ruckus in the Master Teacher Academy, so he is likely to be a man with great capability... However, to make Her Highness his personal maid, he has indeed overstepped his boundaries!" the eunuch said.

"Indeed! I have doted on my daughter ever since she was born, and it pains me deeply to even chide or nag at her. And yet, he actually dared to take advantage of her... I sure would like to see how many heads that fellow has! I will make sure to teach him a lesson when he arrives later on so that he learns what humility is..." Yu Shenqing's gaze turned cold.

At that moment, the ground beneath him suddenly tremored violently.

Frowning deeply, Yu Shenqing instructed, "What happened? Go and take a look!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Hearing those words, the eunuch hurriedly rushed out of the palace.

Not too long later, the eunuch returned with a bizarre look on his face. "Reporting to Your Majesty, it seems like... Zhang shi has destroyed the manor that King Huai gifted him!"

"He destroyed his own manor?" Yu Shenqing was taken aback.

"That's right. That Zhang shi... When he went to the Blacksmith School, the Blacksmith School collapsed. When he went to the Physician School, the Physician School collapsed. When he went to the Apothecary School, the Apothecary School collapsed... Now, when he returned to his own manor, even his manor collapsed... He really brings destruction wherever he goes!" the eunuch remarked.

"Brings destruction wherever he goes?" Yu Shenqing's mouth twitched.

"This... Shall we cancel the banquet tonight then? Or... why don't we just cancel our invitation to Zhang Xuan! No, that won't do. It would be a breach of etiquette if we were to cancel the banquet or our invitation abruptly... Since that's the case, help me invite Formation Master Wu over and have him set up a dozen Fortification Formations in case anything happens!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The eunuch was slightly stunned for an instant before nodding and backing out from the palace.

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Chapter 850: Bodhi Saint Tree

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

When Mu shi arrived at Zhang Xuan's manor, they realized that Senior Byzantium Helios had wrapped everyone within his power, so no one had been injured in the catastrophe.

At this very instant, Zhang shi was standing before a towering cauldron, bellowing furiously.

"What did you guarantee me before the pill forging? To be unable to withstand even the medicinal energy of a mere grade-7 pill, how can you have the cheek to call yourself a Saint artifact? Saint artifact your head!"

He was indeed very infuriated by this incident.

That fellow had promised him that it would have no trouble forging a grade-7 pill. That was the reason he had gone to the extent of using the Impartation of Heaven's Will to control Apothecary Lu and the others so as to guarantee that there were no mistakes in the steps at all.

All of the medicinal herbs prepared were of excellent maturity, and there was no mistake whatsoever, so the pill was swiftly formed.

Yet... in the instant that the pill was formed, it turned out that the one who would drag his feet wasn't Apothecary Lu and the others but the Guardian Saint Artifact of the Master Teacher Academy, Golden Origin Cauldron!

Unable to properly hold in the rampaging energies harnessed within it, the lid of the Golden Origin Cauldron abruptly burst open, resulting in the energies destroying everything in the area.

It was fortunate that no one was injured, but his manor... It was gone just like that!

"I-I didn't know that you were going to forge such a potent pill either..." Berated by Zhang Xuan, the Golden Origin Cauldron tried to explain itself indignantly.

It was indeed a Saint artifact, but it was a weapon cauldron and not a pill cauldron. Even though a formation had been cast over it to manage the temperature regulation, its physical structure still wasn't optimized for pill forging. Forging an ordinary grade-7 pill was already stretching its limits, but the pill that Zhang Xuan was forging just had to be the Grand Intermittence Pill... It was already a huge blessing that it wasn't blown to smithereens on the spot!

"If you had been able to hold on, that pill would have surely reached grade-8! Look, due to your error, the final product is only a grade-7 Inscribed Pill. What a huge waste of those precious medicinal herbs!" Zhang Xuan harrumphed coldly.

He knew that the Golden Origin Cauldron couldn't be blamed for this matter, but he simply couldn't hold back his rage.

One must know that there was a huge qualitative difference between a grade-7 Inscribed Pill and grade-8 pill!

It was such a waste of Jiang Qingqin's Phoenix Timber Core and the high maturity medicinal herbs that the other old elders of the Apothecary School had prepared for him!

"Grade-8? Grade-7 Inscribed Pill?"

On the other hand, after hearing those words, Apothecary Lu and the others finally understood what kind of pill they had just forged, and their bodies wouldn't stop trembling in excitement.

Big Brother, the Grand Intermittence Pill is a grade-7 pill in itself. It is already an incredible feat to forge it to the level of an Inscribed Pill. There is no guarantee that 8-star pinnacle apothecaries would be capable of doing the same.

And yet, you were thinking of forging it to the level of a grade-8 pill?

Man, you are really about to break out of the atmosphere!

"Forget it. At the very least, the pill is fine. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to compensate for it even if I were to sell you off!" After berating the Golden Origin Cauldron one last time, he took a deep breath and released his anger before storing the pill in a jade bottle.

After which, he finally noticed the presence of Mu shi and the others. He clasped his fist and greeted, "Mu shi, school heads!"

Recognizing the pill, Mu shi asked, to verify the matter, "Senior Uncle... the pill that you have just forged, is it the Grand Intermittence Pill?"

"That's right." Zhang Xuan nodded.

"To be able to forge the grade-7 Grand Intermittence Pill to the point that Pill Mist is produced... Inconceivable, truly inconceivable!" Mu shi exclaimed. "The Grand Intermittence Pill has the ability to regrow limbs. If it isn't inconvenient, may I ask why Senior Uncle is forging this pill?"

As a pill overflowing with vitality, the Grand Intermittence Pill could heal even the most severe injuries and even induce the regrowing of limbs. It wouldn't be too far off to claim that the pill only fell short of bringing back the dead. Not to mention, the pill that Zhang Xuan had forged was just a step away from reaching grade-8.

"It is to save a junior," Zhang Xuan replied.

After which, he gestured for the Byzantium Helios Beast to bring Wei Ruyan over before taking out the jade bottle once more.

"Is this the person whom Senior Uncle hopes to save?" Mu shi frowned.

"That's right." Zhang Xuan nodded.

"This young lady's body is currently too frail. I fear that your Grand Intermittence Pill might be a little too potent for her current condition. The chances are that it could end up worsening her condition instead," Mu shi said.

As the common adage among physicians went, 'over-nourishment kills the frail'.

Even for a Saint realm 3-dan expert like him, it would be difficult to absorb and assimilate the overwhelming medicinal energy contained within that Grand Intermittence Pill fully, let alone an unconscious and frail young lady.

Most likely, her body would be utterly destroyed by the overwhelming medicinal energy before it could work its wonders.

"It's not a problem." Zhang Xuan waved his hands casually.

He uncorked the jade bottle, and a dense surge of spiritual energy immediately gushed into the surroundings. In the next instant, a pill abruptly surged into the air, attempting to flee.

At the level of a Grade-7 Inscribed Pill, the Grand Intermittence Pill possessed spirit, granting it the instinctive ability to avert danger. Even though it hadn't developed sentience yet, given sufficient time, it could develop sentience like the Golden Origin Cauldron. If it were allowed to continue developing, a day might come when it could even morph into a human.

"Trying to flee? Come back!"

However, Zhang Xuan seemed to have expected that the pill would react in such a manner. With a cold harrumph, he abruptly closed his fists, and a surge of energy suddenly emerged from the pill itself, sealing its movements.

Following which, the pill was forcefully pulled back to the ground by the surge of energy.

Having gone through the books in the library of the Apothecary School, Zhang Xuan knew that grade-7 pills possessed such a property, so he had left a hand in advance.

Using his zhenqi to support the Wei Ruyan's lower jaw, Zhang Xuan opened her mouth and fed her the Grand Intermittence Pill.

Tzzzzzzzz!

As soon as the pill entered her body, a sizzling sound reminiscent of searing metal coming in contact with iced water sounded. At the same time, Wei Ruyan's ghastly pale face gradually began to regain a healthy red glow. However, a short moment later, it stopped.

At this point, even though Wei Ruyan seemed to be in a better state than before, she was still in a deep sleep, and there was no sign of her regaining consciousness.

Zhang Xuan quickly placed his fingers on the other party's pulse before heaving a sigh of relief.

If it had been someone else, perhaps they might have succumbed to the overwhelming medicinal energy contained within the Grand Intermittence Pill and died.

However, Wei Ruyan was a unique case. Her unique constitution was so powerful that she could even poison a saint herb like the Ten-leafed Flower while unconscious. A grade-7 Inscribed Pill might contain immense medicinal energy within it, but most of it had turned into nutrients to feed her Innate Poison Body.

While the Grand Intermittence Pill wasn't enough to cure her affliction entirely, it did help her body to recover to perfect health. Even the trauma that she had suffered back in her mother's womb had healed as well.

With the recovery of her body, even if her soul remains unconscious for the time being, she shouldn't be in any danger... Zhang Xuan thought.

"To still remain unconscious despite having consumed the Grand Intermittence Pill... Senior Uncle, what kind of affliction is this young lady suffering from?" Mu shi asked in astonishment.

One must know that the Grand Intermittence Pill was so potent that it would be difficult for him to bear it! It was one thing for a frail patient to be fine after consuming it, but for her to remain unconscious after that, the affliction she was suffering from sure was fearsome!

"On top of her frail physical body, her soul has suffered some damage as well. Even though her body has recovered with the consumption of the Grand Intermittence Pill, her soul is still far too weak for her to regain consciousness," Zhang Xuan explained.

At that instant, he suddenly thought of something and asked, "Mu shi, do you know where I can obtain living saint herbs that can nurture souls? I need as many of those as possible!"

He didn't have any clue as to where he could find saint herbs to nourish Wei Ruyan's soul, but Mu shi might know where he could source them.

After a moment of contemplation, Mu shi shook his head. "I do know of a few places that sell saint herbs capable of nurturing souls, but all of them are dried. Living saint herbs... I really don't have any idea in mind."

"You don't know either?" Zhang Xuan sighed in disappointment.

He could easily find dried saint herbs in the Apothecary School and Physician School as well, but it was a pity that those were useless for Wei Ruyan's current condition.

For his treatment, the saint herb must be alive.

At this moment, Zhong Dingchun, who was among the group of school heads who had gone over to check out the situation, abruptly spoke up. "Zhang shi, if you really require a living saint herb, I do know of one in Hongyuan City!"

As the head of the Physician School, he maintained an intelligence network on medicinal herbs so that he could easily source them when he required them.

"Oh? Where is it?" Zhang Xuan asked anxiously.

"In the royal palace of Hongyuan Empire, there is a Bodhi Saint Tree. It is known to possess exceptional effectiveness in nurturing souls," Zhong Dingchun said.

"Bodhi Saint Tree?" Zhang Xuan frowned. He had never heard of such a tree before.

"Rumor has it that the tree was brought back from the wilderness by the ancestors of the current Hongyuan royal family. Knowing that it has the effect of nurturing souls, they chose to plant it in the royal palace to benefit the generations to come. This is the reason the royal offspring of Hongyuan Empire possess exceptionally powerful souls!"

After a moment of hesitation, Zhong Dingchun continued, "However, the tree is one of the most important treasures of the royal family, so I fear that they might not be willing to lend it to you!"

"I see..." Stroking his lower jaw, Zhang Xuan fell into deep thought.

"It happens that there is a banquet at the royal palace tonight. I should make use of the opportunity to take a look at the Bodhi Tree and determine if it will be effective on Wei Ruyan first. If it is, it will be worth giving it a shot.

"Anyway, thank you for your advice, School Head Zhong!" Zhang Xuan clasped his fist.

"There is no need to stand on ceremony, Zhang shi!" Zhong Dingchun hurriedly replied.

After which, Zhang Xuan tried asking for some more details regarding the Bodhi Tree, but it seemed like the others didn't know much about it either. Thus, he could only shake his head helplessly.

"Zhang shi, I will send some men to help you repair your manor," Zhao Bingxu said.

It would be truly tragic if the future principal of the Master Teacher Academy were to be rendered homeless, and such publicity could have adverse effects on the inauguration ceremony three days later.

"I will be depending on you, School Head Zhao!" Zhang Xuan nodded in gratitude.

If only he'd known that such a mishap would occur in the forging of the Grand Intermittence Pill, he would have surely taken the others to a clearing to conduct the pill forging. At the very least, he wouldn't have ended up destroying his own residence.

"Un!" Zhao Bingxu nodded.

After which, Mu shi and the school heads bade farewell and returned to the Master Teacher Academy.

It had already been afternoon when Zhang Xuan first returned to his manor from the Saint Ascension Platform. After which, he had attended the hearing at the Elder Hall and forged the Grand Intermittence Pill. Time passed swiftly, and unknowingly, the sun had already set, allowing darkness to permeate the sky.

Looking at the rubble, Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment before gently placing Wei Ruyan in the Myriad Anthive and instructing Sun Qiang, Wang Ying, and the others to spend their night at the residences in the Master Teacher Academy, which they were allocated as guest elders of the Martial Arts School.

After this was done, he was just about to make his way to the royal palace to attend the banquet when something suddenly caught his eye, and he stopped in his tracks.

His gaze swept across his surroundings, and he couldn't help but notice that the rubble around him seemed to be laid in a formation resembling a massive dragon prowling the grounds.

Is this... the earth dragon? Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed in astonishment.

Looking at this formation, he couldn't help but recall the clue that he had obtained from Wu Yangzi regarding the location of his treasure!

In his old residence, beneath Three Stars of the Earth Dragon!

If what he was seeing before him was the earth dragon in the clue, then... what could the three stars be?

Zhang Xuan immediately turned his gaze upward.

Countless stars scattered throughout the seemingly endless night sky came into sight.

How am I to know which three stars Wu Yangzi is referring to? Zhang Xuan frowned in frustration.

All he had received from the clue was 'Three Stars of the Earth Dragon'. There was no clue as to which three stars it was referring to, or even their general location!

He might have found the earth dragon, but without the three stars, he wouldn't be able to pinpoint the location of the treasure. Was he supposed to overturn every inch of ground in the manor to find the treasure?

Besides, if it was possible to find the treasure by doing so, it would have long been uncovered by someone else in the last two thousand years.

Thinking that it might be helpful to get a bird's eye view, Zhang Xuan executed the Red Dust Heaven Ascending Steps and leaped into the sky.

The collapsed rubble seemed to meander on the ground, connecting with the dark sky at the horizon, as if a massive dragon that was on the verge of soaring into the heavens.

Eye of Insight!

Knowing that it was impossible to find it just like that, Zhang Xuan activated his Eye of Insight before turning his gaze to the point where the earth dragon intersected with the dark sky.

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Chapter 851: Scarlet Firefly Fruit

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

At the point where the earth dragon and the dark sky intersected was a river that flowed along the walls of the academy and into the depths of the seemingly boundless darkness.

Looking along the body of the earth dragon, there were several ponds with flowers and trees by the side. It resembled patches of clouds, which further accentuated the image of a dragon rising to the heavens.

After studying the area for over ten minutes, Zhang Xuan's head was starting to spin from overusing his Eye of Insight. Shaking his head, he could only stop there.

From what he had deduced so far, it seemed like the three stars Wu Yangzi had referred to weren't literal stars or a figurative description of the geography. It didn't seem like he would be able to figure out what it was with just a quick glance, and a more thorough investigation was required.

Nevertheless, having found the earth dragon, he was already at the halfway mark to finding Wu Yangzi's treasure. As long as he were to put in some more effort, he should be able to find the three stars easily.

After all, if Wu Yangzi was willing to reveal the location of his treasure, he would have hidden it with the expectation that someone would be able to find it.

Thinking that he should head to the banquet first and continue his investigation after that, Zhang Xuan was just about to descend back to the ground when he saw a figure in the distance flitting swiftly toward the manor.

"Hu Yaoyao? What is she doing here at this time?" Zhang Xuan muttered under his breath.

The Eye of Insight could peer through the darkness, thus allowing Zhang Xuan to recognize the other party immediately. However, it didn't seem like she had noticed him in the sky, bypassing him and rushing straight to a vantage point amid the rubble.

Despite being a Chrysalis realm pinnacle expert, it still wasn't easy for her to find a person in the dark. Flicking her wrist, she took out a Night Illumination Pearl and began scanning the area carefully.

"Zhang laoshi!" she shouted.

As an apprentice, her relationship to Zhang Xuan was reminiscent to that of a teacher and a student, so she had changed the way she addressed him accordingly.

Zhang Xuan was just about to descend back to the ground to reply to her call when he suddenly noticed something. The faint glow of the Night Illumination Pearl in Hu Yaoyao's hand was reflected in a pond not too far away from where she stood, and from his point of view, it bore an uncanny resemblance to a star.

"Could it be..."

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly turned his gaze to the other ponds in the courtyard as well. As expected, as if resonating to one another, the faint radiance of the Night Illumination Pearl was reflected in their surfaces as well.

This addition to the formation created a picturesque sight of the earth dragon traversing across the night sky, journeying in the accompaniment of the stars.

Over the past two thousand years, the layout of the manor has gone through massive changes. Perhaps, at the very start, there might only have been three ponds... I will have to find the original three stars then!

There should only be three stars according to the message left behind by Wu Yangzi. If the light reflected in the ponds were the stars mentioned in the clue, he had too many of them at the moment.

However, this didn't necessarily mean that Zhang Xuan's direction was wrong. Too long a time had passed, so the layout of the manor could have undergone numerous changes.

Others might stumble before this problem, but this isn't an issue to me... Zhang Xuan smiled confidently.

It would be difficult for even Mu shi to decisively determine which of the current eight ponds were existent two thousand years ago, but this was a piece of cake for Zhang Xuan. With the Eye of Insight, he could easily tell how long each pond had been around for.

In just a few moments, he had already confirmed which the three ponds he was looking for.

After which, he swiftly mapped out the midpoint of the triangle formed by the three stars.

The resulting location was a towering ancient pine tree positioned just in front of the manor's main hall.

It seems like the treasure is hidden beneath the pine tree! Zhang Xuan thought.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Zhang Xuan descended to the ground and walked up to Hu Yaoyao.

"You were looking for me?"

"Zhang laoshi, you are fine! I really didn't expect you to go so far just to find Wu Yangzi's treasure..." Hu Yaoyao was visibly relieved for a moment after seeing Zhang Xuan before gesturing to her surroundings speechlessly.

Do you know how much this manor cost? If you do, how could you destroy it like that?

Even if it is to find Wu Yangzi's treasure, surely you didn't have to reduce the manor to this state?

Black lines streaked across Zhang Xuan's face as he heard those words. "I didn't do this to find the treasure. It was an accident..."

"It can't be that you came here to watch the commotion after hearing that the manor has collapsed?"

"N-no, it's not that... I have something that I need your help on!" Hu Yaoyao said.

She had heard about the treasure that Wu Yangzi had left behind, but many of her predecessors had already attempted to find it, to no avail. Thinking that there was little hope in that direction, she had decided to not pay it any heed.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Xuan asked with a frown.

While Hu Yaoyao was docile before him, she was still one of the most influential figures in the Master Teacher Academy, and she had many tricks up her sleeves as well. What kind of matter could it be that would require his help?

Hu Yaoyao hesitated for a moment before speaking. "To tell you the truth, Dong Xin, Long Cangyue, Xue Zhenyang, and I have found a treasure that can increase the chances of making the breakthrough to Half-Saint by twenty percent...

"Naturally, we are planning to obtain the treasure, but... there are two powerful beasts guarding it, and we aren't a match for them. Thus, we hope to seek your help for this matter!"

"A treasure?" Zhang Xuan fell into deep thought.

Back then, he had once followed Hu Yaoyao to a gazebo and overheard them speaking about some kind of treasure maturing by the end of the month, and looking at the current date, it did seem to be about time to harvest it.

"That's right. You possess both strength and knowledge, so we were unable to think of anyone more suitable to help us with this matter than you," Hu Yaoyao said.

Even though the four of them were powerful figures who no one dared to offend in the academy, for some reason, all of them had stumbled before him. She had become his apprentice, Xue Zhenyang had become his grandstudent, and Dong Xin, the most pitiful one of them, had not only become his great grandstudent but was expelled from the academy as well.

Long Cangyue, who had chosen not to take any action, was the sole survivor of their group.

Typically speaking, considering how three out of four of them had some kind of grudge with Zhang Xuan, they would be reluctant to seek his help. However, with that object's date of maturity swiftly approaching, they were pressed on time. They had to make a move soon or else those two huge fellows would have devoured it for themselves. By then, they would be left with nothing at all.

Thus, after some serious discussion, they had eventually decided to seek Zhang Xuan's help.

That fellow might be the God of Destruction, but he had proven that he was a capable individual on multiple occasions. Otherwise, the three of them wouldn't have been subdued by him either.

"To be able to increase the chances of making a breakthrough to Half-Saint by twenty percent, what kind of treasure is it?" Zhang Xuan asked curiously.

Back at the Saint Ascension Platform, he had seen many insights from the predecessors, and from that, he had gained a rough understanding of how difficult it was to make a breakthrough from Chrysalis realm to Half-Saint. To talents like that, twenty percent could make a huge difference.

Under the dim light of the Night Illumination Pearl, Zhang Xuan could see Hu Yaoyao biting her crimson lips together hesitantly before saying, "It is the Saint realm medicinal herb... the Scarlet Firefly Fruit!"

"Scarlet Firefly Fruit?" Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment before his eyes abruptly lit up.

He had heard of the Scarlet Firefly Fruit before. It was a saint herb with a scarlet exterior, and upon maturity, it would release a beautiful fluorescent light reminiscent of a firefly.

Growing by absorbing sunlight and moonlight, the fruit had a maturity period of a hundred years. On top of that, it was extremely rare and couldn't be artificially cultivated, thus making it very difficult to obtain.

While consuming the Scarlet Firefly Fruit wouldn't guarantee a breakthrough to Half-Saint, its ability to increase the chances at doing so was more than sufficient to make Chrysalis realm cultivators go insane over it. Even Zhang Xuan was moved by its effects as well.

Even though Zhang Xuan's cultivation was only at Ethereal Treading realm primary stage at the moment, around two realms away from reaching Half-Saint, given his current rate of cultivation, as long as he had sufficient high-tier spirit stones and the relevant cultivation technique, he should be able to reach it within six hours.

The compilation of insights from the Saint Ascension Platforms had already greatly boosted his chances at making a breakthrough, and the aid of the Scarlet Firefly Fruit could make his breakthrough go even more smoothly.

For one, as a cultivator of the Heaven's Path Divine Art, the spiritual energy he required to make a breakthrough was enormous. While he did obtain quite a lot of Earth Vein Spirit Essence from the Cloudmist Ridge, it was hard to tell if it would still be effective by the time he reached Chrysalis realm.

After all, the Earth Vein Spirit Vine was still slightly lacking in purity. However, if he could obtain the Scarlet Firefly Fruit... he could confidently say that Half-Saint was finally within sight!

"That's right. Based on our investigation, there is a total of ten Scarlet Firefly Fruits in the area. As long as you help us obtain them, we will split them equally among us, meaning that each of us will obtain two fruits!" Hu Yaoyao said.

"Two each?" Zhang Xuan stroked his lower jaw in contemplation before nodding slightly. "I am fine with that!"

Given that he hadn't participated in the scouting and the preparation work, it was indeed not bad that he was going to receive an equal share.

And of course, if he were to contribute more than proportionately to the obtaining of the Scarlet Firefly Fruits later on, he could always renegotiate the distribution then.

"So, you will help us?"

Honestly speaking, Hu Yaoyao had thought that Zhang Xuan would try to bargain for more favorable terms for himself, so she was slightly taken aback when she heard him agreeing to it so readily.

"Of course!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "When are we setting off?"

"We can set off now if you are ready. We will be riding on Dong Xin's tamed beast, and it will take roughly three days for us to arrive at our destination. So, even at the very minimum, our trip will take seven to eight days!" Hu Yaoyao said.

"Seven to eight days?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

His inauguration ceremony as the next principal of the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy was three days from now, so he couldn't afford to leave for such a long period of time now.

"That's right. We have made a rough calculation of when the Scarlet Firefly Fruit will mature, but we will be arriving earlier to give us some leeway in case it matures earlier. However, if it matures later than we expected, we might end up spending a few more days there," Hu Yaoyao said.

"You are saying that the trip could be even longer than that?"

Didn't that mean that he might spend nearly half a month away from the academy?

That was too long!

He could potentially raise his cultivation to Nascent Saint in half a month. To waste it for a mere Half-Saint was not worth the time and effort.

And most importantly of all, he would miss the inauguration ceremony as well.

"But the inauguration ceremony for the new principal of the academy is three days from now. If we leave now, we will definitely miss it," Zhang Xuan said.

"I have heard of the matter, too. According to the rumors, the reason Mu shi was sent to our academy was to nominate our next principal. I sure do wonder who our next principal is... I tried asking my teacher, but she refused to say anything about the matter. However, it should probably be either School Head Lu or School Head Zhao. They are the most respected elders in the academy, and they wield the greatest influence as well. Thus, the probability of them becoming the next principal should be the highest!"

At which, Hu Yaoyao smiled and reassured, "Don't worry, I have asked my teacher, and she has granted me the special privilege to skip on the inauguration ceremony to obtain the Scarlet Firefly Fruit. Besides, Zhang laoshi, you aren't a student of the academy now, so it shouldn't matter to you who becomes the next principal of the academy, right?"

As the leader of the Bewitching Devil Faction, she had heard about the conflict between School Head Lu and Zhang Xuan, and how the latter had been kicked out of the academy.

Given that Zhang Xuan wasn't even considered a student of the academy anymore, it shouldn't matter to him who became the next principal.

Naturally, he should have nothing to do with the inauguration ceremony.

"This..." A bitter smile surfaced on Zhang Xuan's lips.

It just so happened that he did have a role to play in the inauguration ceremony, and a huge one at that.

"You should quickly make your decision. The Scarlet Firefly Fruit will be maturing in the next few days, so we have to set off as soon as possible!" Hu Yaoyao urged.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Xuan proposed, "Since that's the case, let's set off straight later in the night then. However, instead of riding Dong Xin's tamed beast, I suggest that we ride on mine. We should be able to make a round trip within a day with that."

He still had to attend the banquet at the royal palace to determine whether the Bodhi Saint Tree could be used to save Wei Ruyan or not before heading out.

Considering Dong Xin's current cultivation realm, her tamed beast should also be at Chrysalis realm at the very most, so the speed of travel wouldn't be too fast. However, if they were to ride on Byzantium Lad, they should be able to cover the three days' journey within half a day.

That would save them quite a bit of time.

"Your tamed beast? You mean your Great Violetwing Beast?" Hu Yaoyao frowned. "But its speed is likely slower than Dong Xin's tamed beast, right?"

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Chapter 852: Wu Yangzi's Treasure

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: StarveCleric

The Great Violetwing Beast was only at Half-Chrysalis realm whereas Dong Xin's tamed beast was a Chrysalis realm intermediate stage spirit beast.

The former might be capable of flying at fast speed, but in terms of overall performance, the latter was definitely superior.

Given that Dong Xin's tamed beast would require three days just to make a one-way trip, do you really believe that your Great Violetwing Beast could make a roundabout trip in a day? You must be joking!

"It's settled then. Meet me at Leiyuan Peak at the Zi hour 1 tonight, we will set off from there!" Zhang Xuan noticed the doubtful expression on Hu Yaoyao's face, but since they would understand when the time came, he didn't think that there was any need for him to explain himself.

"... Alright then." Seeing that Zhang Xuan was unwilling to speak, Hu Yaoyao didn't ask on as well. Turning around, she returned back to the Master Teacher Academy.

After she left the manor, Zhang Xuan didn't rush off to the royal palace to attend the banquet. Instead, he made his way to the ancient pine tree in the courtyard.

Since this tree was located beneath the Three Stars of the Earth Dragon, the treasure should be in its vicinity.

Activating the Eye of Insight, he began to examine the pine tree carefully. However, despite scrutinizing every inch of it, he was unable to find anything peculiar at all.

But that was to be expected. If it could be found that easily, someone else would have claimed the treasure long ago.

Wu Yangzi mentioned that I have to put down three formation flags according to the Three Stars, and the items will surface automatically...

Recalling the words Wu Yangzi had mentioned back then, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist and took out three formation flags and a Night Illumination Pearl.

With a swift leap, he returned to the area where Hu Yaoyao stood previously and raised his Night Illumination Pearl up high. In an instant, three brilliant stars appeared in the three ponds scattered around the courtyard.

"Go!" With another flick of his wrist, Zhang Xuan tossed the formation flags into the air.

Sou sou sou!

The three formation flags fell directly onto the stars in the three ponds simultaneously.

Weng!

With a faint buzz, the ground suddenly started rumbling slightly, as if the earth dragon had come to life. Following which, the towering pine tree abruptly burst apart, revealing a medium-sized metal box within.

Zhang Xuan rushed over and grabbed the box.

"Is this the treasure Wu Yangzi left behind? It sure is well-hidden!" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up in excitement.

Even though the box sprung from the pine tree, he could tell that it was actually not hidden within the pine tree but a hidden space inside.

In other words, had Zhang Xuan not found the three stars and inserted the three formation flags, he wouldn't have been able to find the box even if he were to reduce the pine tree to dust.

Studying the pine tree carefully, it seemed like some kind of formation with a function reminiscent of a storage ring was set up around the area, and the center of the formation was where the pine tree was located. This was also the reason why Wu Yangzi's treasure remained unfound even after two thousand years later.

"This is a Celestial Designer Mechanical Container!" After analyzing the tree, Zhang Xuan turned his attention back to the metal box.

Each Celestial Designer Mechanical Container was exquisitely built using a unique blueprint designed by a celestial designer. Without an understanding of the structure of the box, it was impossible to unlock it.

However, this wasn't a problem for Zhang Xuan.

Muttering 'Flaws!' beneath his breath, a book materialized in the Library of Heaven's Path. He browsed through it quickly before tapping on sixteen different points on the box with his finger.

Kacha!

With a crisp click, a mechanism whirred into action, and the box was opened.

The first thing that Zhang Xuan saw inside the box was a pitch-black ore which was around the size of a fist. It emanated a bone-chilling frigid air.

"Since you found this box, it can only mean that I have met with some kind of mishap..."

Along with the whirring of the mechanism, a faint voice sounded in the air.

It was Wu Yangzi's voice.

You did meet with mishap... Upon thinking about how the number one blacksmith of Hongyuan Empire ended up being trapped within an underground cavern til his death, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but sigh deeply in lamentation.

Wu Yangzi thought that he was contributing to mankind by turning those Otherworldly Demons into puppets and killing them, but the truth was that Vicious was making use of his smithing capability to turn his subordinates into everlasting guards that could protect him until his comeback.

"Regardless of whether I have passed away or not, the fact that you were able to find my treasure means that there is fate between you and me. Contained in here are my most valuable possessions, so I hope that you can use them wisely.

"The ore in the box is known as the Black Goldcrystal Ore. I had to go to great lengths in order to obtain it. If you were to add even a pinch of it into the weapon you are forging, you will be able to raise its quality up a notch."

"Black Goldcrystal Ore? This is the Black Goldcrystal Ore?" Zhang Xuan's breathing hastened in agitation.

As a 6-star pinnacle blacksmith, he had a deep understanding of the various valuable ores in the world. Of those, the Black Goldcrystal Ore was definitely one of the most expensive and rarest ores

Putting everything aside, if he had added a pinch of it into his Half-Saint Glacier Rain Sword during its forging process, he would have been able to successfully raise it to Saint-tier!

This was how valuable it was!

Just a pinch of it could have such miraculous effects, and an entire fist of it was sitting right before him... Its price was inestimable!

It would be hard to tell whether one could afford it even with ten thousand high-tier spirit stones on hand!

It was no wonder why Wu Yangzi would regard it as one of his most valuable possessions!

"But of course, an object that only has the effect of raising an artifact's tier can't be considered my greatest treasure. The second item I have left behind here is the manual of my Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body!" the voice continued.

Zhang Xuan turned his gaze back to the box, and he saw a secret manual labeled 'Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body' on its cover.

As he had already obtained it back in the underground chamber, he wasn't particularly excited to see it.

"If you have obtained this cultivation technique from me elsewhere, the chances are that the cultivation technique you have received... is a fake! This is the only real version of Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body in the world, and only by cultivating this version will you be able to grasp the true essence of the technique. If you were to continue cultivating the other version, your cultivation will eventually go berserk..." the voice revealed.

"The one in the underground chamber is a fake?" Astonished, Zhang Xuan swiftly picked up the book, and a replica appeared in the Library of Heaven's Path.

He swiftly looking through the version in the Library of Heaven's Path, and a moment later, he shook his head.

The book contained within this box was indeed different from the one Wu Yangzi left in the underground chamber, containing far fewer mistakes in it. However, that made no difference to Zhang Xuan.

He had already resolved most of the flaws of the Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body with his Library of Heaven's Path back in the underground chamber when he first cultivated the technique. In other words... not only was the current version he was cultivating correct, it was even more perfect than the 'authentic' version in the box.

To Zhang Xuan, it didn't matter how flawed a book was. As long as it contained content that would contribute to the compilation of a perfected Heaven's Path manual, it would be useful to him.

Compile!

Zhang Xuan muttered as he compiled the two versions of Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body together before browsing through it once more.

With a swift glance, his eyes lit up.

It seems like I will be able to cultivate the Third Incandescence very soon...

Of the Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body he had compiled previously, with the exception of the First Incandescence, he required certain items to serve as a catalyst for him to cultivate the subsequent levels.

The Second Incandescence required the Earth Flame Heart whereas the Third Incandescence required the Origin Heavy Water.

He had learned the price of the Origin Heavy Water by eavesdropping on Hu Yaoyao's conversation. A bottle of it cost ten high-tier spirit stones, and he would require at least ten of them to successfully cultivate the Third Incandescence.

In other words, he would require a hundred high-tier spirit stones for it!

He didn't have the money for that, so he had been putting off the issue so far. However, after compiling the 'authentic' version of the Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body along with the one he currently had, even though he still required Origin Heavy Water to cultivate the Third Incandescence, the quantity required had decreased significantly.

From the initial ten bottles, he only needed one now!

"There are some changes to the Fourth Incandescence and Fifth Incandescence as well..."

While the 'authentic' version of the Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body wasn't able to resolve the remaining flaws contained in his current version, it did help to alleviate it by reducing the amount of each item required to cultivate the subsequent levels.

It seems like Wu Yangzi was still wary of the Otherworldly Demons after all... Zhang Xuan thought as he kept the manual into his storage ring.

It was fortunate that he had borrowed physical body cultivation technique manuals from Luo Qiqi, resolved its flaws, and imparted the correct version to Luo Qiqi. Otherwise, her cultivation might have very well gone berserk.

But thinking about it, Wu Yangzi didn't have any other choice but to remain wary either.

Surrounded by Otherworldly Demons, how could he possibly dare to leave behind a manual of his secret art without any reservations? If the Otherworldly Demon were to obtain his Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body and use it against mankind, wouldn't he become a huge sinner?

"The final treasure I have left behind is also the most important one of all. It is due to my possession of this that the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe had set their eyes on me. If you are an ordinary cultivator, I hope that you can hand it over to the Master Teacher Pavilion, and if you are a master teacher, I hope that you can deal with it carefully. Make sure that it doesn't fall into malicious hands..." the voice spoke grimly.

"Hand it over to the Master Teacher Pavilion?" Zhang Xuan muttered in confusion as he took out the remaining item in the box.

Taking a closer look, it was a piece of goatskin with countless years of history behind it. Resembling a map, it had many labels written in bizarre characters which he had never seen before.

"What is this?" Zhang Xuan muttered as he tried to analyze it with the Library of Heaven's Path.

While he did manage to compile a book on the map, it only contained details regarding the fabric used. The bizarre characters on it which seemed to be landmark labels on the map didn't have any flaws, so they were reflected how they originally were in the book.

Unable to derive anything conclusive from the map, Zhang Xuan could only keep the goatskin into his storage ring.

Even though he couldn't tell what the map was for, given how careful Wu Yangzi was with it and that the Otherworldly Demons were dying to lay their hands on it, it was definitely an extremely important artifact.

"If my descendants are still around, I hope that you can treat them kindly. The greatest regret of my life is to have implicated them in the mess that I got involved with..." After introducing the three treasures, the voice continued speaking in a melancholic tone.

Zhang Xuan could sense Wu Yangzi's conflicted emotions when he was recording this message. The latter seemed to have known that his possession of the map would result in his enemies going after his family as well, but standing in between the welfare of his family and mankind, he had no choice but to choose the latter.

"Don't worry, your descendant is currently my apprentice. I will take care of her well!" Zhang Xuan promised solemnly.

He had initially taken in Hu Yaoyao as his apprentice to uncover the location of Wu Yangzi's old residence, but after learning of the sacrifices that Wu Yangzi had made for mankind, he felt obliged to repay the favor to Hu Yaoyao.

Even if he didn't accept her as his direct disciple, he would at least acknowledge her as his official student and offer her some guidance in her cultivation and supporting occupations.

"Thank you!" As if responding to Zhang Xuan's words, the voice spoke these two final words before the whirring of the mechanism faded into silence.

There are two problems that I will have to address now. First, what is the map for? Second, why does the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe hope to lay their hands on it for? Zhang Xuan thought as he rubbed his glabella.

Hu Yaoyao's concealment of her heritage and Wu Yangzi's wariness, these seemed to be telling him that Hongyuan City wasn't as safe as it seemed.

Wait, perhaps Vicious might know a thing or two about it... Such a thought suddenly surfaced in Zhang Xuan's mind.

The map seemed to be an extremely old relic, and Vicious had lived since the ancient times. Perhaps, he might be able to read those words on the map and deduce what it was for.

Just as he was about to bring Vicious and his clone out from the Myriad Anthive Nest, he suddenly sensed something, and his eyebrows shot up. In the next moment, he saw a beautiful silhouette flitting through the night, headed in his direction.

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Chapter 853: Banquet

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

She was Luo Qiqi.

Upon seeing her, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. He quickly sent a telepathic message to her. "You came at a good time! I have found Elder Wu Yangzi's treasure!"

Flicking his wrist, he took out the metal box and the three artifacts.

Since he had received Wu Yangzi's heritage along with Luo Qiqi, and the latter was Wu Yangzi's direct disciple at that, she had the right to know what the treasures were and share possession of them as well.

"You've found it?" Stunned, Luo Qiqi turned her sight to the items in Zhang Xuan's hands.

Luo Qiqi widened her eyes in disbelief. "This is... Black Goldcrystal Ore?"

"You recognize it?" Zhang Xuan asked.

Due to the sheer rarity of Black Goldcrystal Ore, he had never seen it in person before, only learning of its existence from the books. It was due to Wu Yangzi's explanation that he was able to confirm its identity before using the Library of Heaven's Path, and yet, Luo Qiqi actually recognized it with a single glance. Could it be that her eye of discernment was beyond his?

One must know that even though he might not be the most capable blacksmith in Hongyuan Empire, he was definitely the most knowledgeable one. Even Zhao Bingxu, the head of the Blacksmith School, was far from a match for him in terms of knowledge.

"I have seen some before. However, the piece I saw was only the size of a walnut, and the price was already astronomical. Considering the size of this one, I can hardly even imagine how much it is worth," Luo Qiqi exclaimed.

"You have seen Black Goldcrystal Ore before?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Even if the piece she had seen was just the size of a walnut, it was sufficient to show that her background was anything but ordinary.

"Un!" Luo Qiqi nodded. After which, she turned her sights to the other two objects, and upon seeing the Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body, she nodded in realization.

"You should take the authentic manual for now. I will help to alter it to suit your constitution better when I have the time!"

After passing the correct Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body over to the other party, Zhang Xuan turned his gaze to the map and asked, "Do you happen to recognize the words on this map?"

Luo Qiqi shook her head. "I have never seen such words before."

"I see... Allow me to keep the map for the time being then. Once I figure out what the map means, I will get back to you and bring you there," Zhang Xuan said.

"As for the Black Goldcrystal Ore, I will try to find a way to melt it to forge a weapon for you."

"Thank you, teacher!" Luo Qiqi nodded in gratitude.

Each of the three items was incredibly valuable, but her teacher didn't hide them from her and take them for himself. That said a great amount about his character.

At this moment, Luo Qiqi finally recalled her aim for coming over, and she hurriedly said, "Oh right, teacher, I am here to invite you to the banquet at the royal palace..."

Yu Fei-er had invited her, Zhang Xuan, Xing Yuan, and the others to the banquet in the royal palace. Knowing Zhang Xuan's personality, she knew that he might attempt to skip the banquet, and she had also heard the news about his manor collapsing as well, so she specially made the journey here to take a look.

Knowing that he had to make the trip to the royal palace to take a look at the Bodhi Saint Tree, Zhang Xuan nodded. "Let's go."

Leaving the rubble of the manor, the duo got onto a carriage that Luo Qiqi had prepared beforehand and headed to the royal palace.

It didn't take them too long to arrive at their destination.

Befitting of its status as the center of authority of a Tier-1 Empire, Hongyuan Empire's royal palace was enormous. Before the towering gates stood two rows of guards, every single one of them possessing the cultivation of Transcendent Mortal 6-dan Cosmos Bridge realm. With several hundreds of them gathered in a spot, their presence exerted a huge pressure on those walking between them.

Stepping through the palace gates, Zhang Xuan noticed all kinds of formations in the area, and even the weakest of them was a grade-6 primary formation. Those who were unfamiliar with the layout of the royal palace would swiftly find themselves trapped within a labyrinth, unable to escape.

With traps potentially springing on one with each step, not even a Saint realm 1-dan expert would dare to casually step into the royal palace.

Handing over their invitation letters, a guard led them around the royal palace, and soon, they were standing before a huge palace.

"This is the place where the banquet is held," Luo Qiqi said.

At this moment, Zhang Xuan suddenly recalled this matter and asked, "Right, I forgot to ask. What is the occasion today? Why are we invited to the banquet?"

Even the royal family couldn't possibly hold such a grand banquet for no good reason.

"You don't know?" Seeing how her teacher came here without even knowing anything at all, Luo Qiqi was rendered speechless.

"You were also there when Yu Fei-er handed me the invitation letter. She didn't tell me anything, so how could I possibly know?" Zhang Xuan replied in bewilderment.

"..." Luo Qiqi slapped her forehead and shook her head.

Her teacher was a person of great capability, but his emotional quotient was truly lacking.

An esteemed princess of the empire invited you to a banquet; the least you could do was to ask around, find out what the occasion is beforehand, and make preparations accordingly! After all, this is the monarchy of an empire we are talking about! But this... if I hadn't gone to the manor to bring you over, would you still be loitering around the rubble, at a loss of what to do?

"Today is Yu Fei-er's... birthday banquet!" Luo Qiqi said. "His Majesty has invited the young talents from all over the empire along with her good friends to celebrate this occasion!"

"Birthday banquet?" Hearing those words, Zhang Xuan's eyelids began twitching.

"That's right. Don't tell me that you didn't even prepare a present?" Luo Qiqi stared at her teacher with a frustrated look.

"Am I supposed to prepare one?" Zhang Xuan returned her a blank stare.

None of you told me that it would be a birthday banquet, how was I supposed to know that I had to prepare a present?

I don't even know what an appropriate gift for a lady would be; how am I supposed to pick one out for her? Besides, I have been busy the entire day, so I wouldn't have had the time to find one either.

"You..." Luo Qiqi shook her head, not knowing what she could say to enlighten that blockhead of a teacher she had.

Even if you didn't know that it is Yu Fei-er's birthday, that is a personal invitation from the emperor that you have over there. Shouldn't you prepare some gifts to at least avoid leaving an unfavorable impression? To arrive empty-handed... you are probably the only one who dares do such a thing!

"Forget it. I have some items here; you can make do with them for the moment..."

Flicking her wrist, Luo Qiqi took out a few items that most ladies would fancy.

There was a massive pearl, a hair ornament embedded with precious gems, a fragrance pouch with a unique aroma... They were all fairly expensive accessories.

"It's fine! If it comes down to it, I will just leave the banquet. Don't worry about it!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

In the first place, he wasn't really interested in the banquet. The main reason he wanted to come to the royal palace was to take a look at the Bodhi Saint Tree and see if it could be used to save Wei Ruyan. If he was going to be snubbed for not bringing a present, there didn't seem much point remaining at the banquet then.

"Leave the banquet?" Luo Qiqi frowned, but seeing the serious look on her teacher's face, she could only give up on persuading him otherwise. "Alright then..."

As close friends, she knew Yu Fei-er's personality and temper very well. The latter wasn't one to care about gifts. As long as Zhang shi was present at her birthday banquet, she would be satisfied.

Thus, the both of them stepped into the palace and began making their way over to the main hall.

The corridor linking the entrance of the palace to the main hall had a particularly tall ceiling that made one feel minuscule in comparison. There were various extravagant ornaments placed along the corridor, which gave it a dignified and regal air. A thick red mat of around half a chi wide stretched from the entrance of the palace all the way to the main hall. There was a pleasantly soft and springy sensation stepping on it.

Activating his Eye of Insight discreetly, Zhang Xuan took a brief look into the main hall. To his astonishment, he saw countless formations laid out inside the main hall. Some were for defensive purposes and some were for offensive purposes, but most of them were for the sole purpose of fortifying the room.

Grade-6 pinnacle Stabilization Formation, grade-6 pinnacle Grand Monolith Formation, grade-6 pinnacle Castle Fortification Formation... Why would the main hall of the royal palace require so many Fortification Formations? Zhang Xuan wondered in bewilderment.

As the center of Hongyuan Empire, the royal palace was constructed by the most capable of craftsmen, so there was little to question about its stability. It wouldn't collapse even in the face of a massive earthquake, so it was baffling to see so many Fortification Formations in the room.

Forget it, it's not like it's any of my business anyway... Zhang Xuan shook the thought out of his head, deciding not to think deeper into it.

He was only there to attend the banquet, so the formations in the area shouldn't matter to him.

"Qiqi, Zhang shi, you are here!" Just as they were standing before the entrance of the main hall, they suddenly saw Xing Yuan and Wu Zhen walking over.

They were dressed in brand-new master teacher robes, and it seemed like they had specially dressed themselves up for the occasion. There was an air of nobility around them, and they seemed extraordinarily spirited.

"Has the banquet begun yet?" Luo Qiqi asked.

"Not yet. Not all of the guests have arrived yet," Xing Yuan said with a smile.

Hearing that, Luo Qiqi heaved a sigh of relief. "That's good!"

As an entire group, the four of them stepped into the main hall.

The main hall was around eight hundred square meters large, and it was supported only by the four pillars at the corners. There were countless Night Illumination Pearls embedded in the tall ceiling, making the hall brightly lit as if it was day.

After taking a seat, Zhang Xuan took another look around the room and noticed that there were eight elegantly-dressed young men in their twenties already in the hall.

Judging from their movements and gestures, they seemed to be from the upper society.

"These are the offspring of the empire's nobility," Xing Yuan informed Zhang Xuan through zhenqi telepathy.

Zhang Xuan nodded in response.

He had expected such a sight when he learned that it was a birthday banquet earlier on.

Most likely, the emperor had invited those young men in order to pick out a suitable husband for Yu Fei-er.

With the extended lifespan that Transcendent Mortal cultivators possessed, it was uncommon for cultivators to marry in their twenties. However, Yu Fei-er's marriage had political implications. If she could bring in a powerful ally to the royal family earlier on, it could help to further affirm the royal authority.

Even though most of these youths weren't students of the Master Teacher Academy, they possessed extraordinary strength. The strongest of them had a cultivation equaling Hu Yaoyao and the others', Chrysalis realm pinnacle, a single step away from reaching Half-Saint.

To possess such capability in their twenties, they could be considered top-notch geniuses even when placed against the students of the Master Teacher Academy.

"Xing Yuan, you seem to have quite a few competitors here?" Luo Qiqi teased.

As his good friend, she knew that Xing Yuan was interested in Yu Fei-er and had been courting her for some time. However, it was a pity that the latter didn't reciprocate his feelings.

"This..."

Xing Yuan's face reddened as he subconsciously shot a glance toward Zhang Xuan. With an awkward smile, he said, "I know that I am not good enough for Yu Fei-er, so I have already given up those thoughts..."

He did like Yu Fei-er, but the latter was uninterested in him. On the other hand, she seemed to possess some inexplicable feelings for Zhang shi. After some consideration, he felt that it would be better for him to give up on this futile pursuit.

Putting aside the fact that Zhang Xuan had saved all of them, his accomplishments in the Master Teacher Academy were also not something he could ever hope to match.

On top of that, the other party was also the respected leader of the powerful Xuanxuan Faction.

If he really were to attempt to compete with the other party, he just might end up making enemies out of several tens of thousands of students in the Master Teacher Academy as well. How could he possibly match that?

"I advised you to give up long ago, but you just wouldn't listen. Well, it's still good to see you getting over it," Luo Qiqi replied.

She knew very well how her close friend viewed Xing Yuan, so she had tried to advise him on the matter several times privately, but the latter had refused to listen.

He might have already spent many years courting Yu Fei-er, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing for him to give up on it now.

"Xing Yuan, the two people beside you look unfamiliar. Why don't you introduce them to me?"

Just as they were speaking, they were interrupted by a masculine voice. Following which, a smiling young man in his mid-twenties walked over with a wine glass in his hands.

That young man had eyes as sharp as lightning, and he carried a dignified disposition fitting of nobility, which seemed to further accentuate his good looks.

Of the youths gathered at the banquet, he was the strongest of them all, possessing a cultivation of Chrysalis realm pinnacle.

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Chapter 854: Shen Jun

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"It's Young Master Shen Jun, I see..."

Upon seeing the other party, Xing Yuan's face darkened in displeasure. Nevertheless, he still made the introduction. "They are students from the Master Teacher Academy as well, the schoolmates of Princess Yu Fei-er. He is Zhang shi, and she is Luo shi!"

"So, it's Zhang shi and Luo shi! Pleased to meet you, I am Shen Jun!" The young man clasped his fist and greeted them before raising his wine glass to offer a toast and drinking it in advance.

Zhang Xuan and Luo Qiqi also raised their wine glasses and drank in reciprocation.

"That young man is Shen Jun, the young master of the Shen Clan, one of the Four Great Clans of Hongyuan Empire. Young and talented, he has contributed greatly to the royal court and was conferred the position of a general of the empire. He is currently Xing Yuan's greatest rival, and in their past clashes, Xing Yuan has suffered a fair bit due to him," Wu Zhen discreetly informed Zhang Xuan after noticing the confused look on his face.

"Four Great Clans?" Zhang Xuan replied.

"Un. Other than the royal family, the strongest powers in Hongyuan Empire are the Four Great Clans. Those clans either possess great influence in the royal court or command numerous experts, so even the royal family has to tread carefully around them. Other than the Shen Clan, there is also the Xing Clan, which Xing Yuan is from, my Wu Clan, and the Liu Clan. In terms of standing, the Shen Clan is first, and following closely behind is the Xing Clan, and finally the Liu Clan and the Wu Clan," Wu Zhen said.

Hearing that Wu Zhen was from the Four Great Clans too, Zhang Xuan was astonished. "So, you are an offspring of the Four Great Clans?"

There was a huge difference between Xing Yuan and Wu Zhen in terms of their disposition and the artifacts they had, so he had always thought that Wu Zhen had come from a humble background.

"I am an offspring from the branch family of the clan, so naturally, my standing is different from an offspring of the main family like Xing Yuan," Wu Zhen explained awkwardly.

Bloodline was viewed to be of the utmost importance in the succession of large clans, resulting in a vast difference in the standing between that of the main family and the branch family.

For one, just because Xing Yuan was from the main family, he had a high standing in the clan, and the clan devoted many resources to grooming him.

As Wu Zhen and Zhang Xuan had communicated telepathically, their exchange might seem long, but it had occurred in just a brief moment.

After Shen Jun put down his wine glass, he turned to Xing Yuan and smiled. "I have a request to ask of you all, but I am not sure if it is appropriate to raise it."

"Since you aren't sure whether it is appropriate to speak of it or not, you might as well keep quiet."

Seemingly aware of what Shen Jun was going to say, Xing Yuan rejected him flatly.

Disregarding Xing Yuan as if he was only throwing a tantrum, Shen Jun began to speak elegantly. "From the moment I met the Sixth Princess when I was twelve, I knew that she would become my life goal. So that I can be worthy of her, I have worked hard to achieve the standing and strength I possess today. As master teachers, you should be able to tell how much effort I have put in over the years. Even so, the thought of giving up has never crossed my mind. I knew that this was all necessary if I wanted to be qualified to stand beside her one day..."

The topic of his speech was his past history with Yu Fei-er, and the feelings he harbored for her.

Upon hearing those words, Xing Yuan's face turned livid.

Even though he had made up his mind to give up on courting Yu Fei-er, how could he let go of those emotions that he had held dearly for many years? To confess his love to Yu Fei-er before him, it was clear that Shen Jun was trying to humiliate him.

After introducing his history, Shen Jun requested with a smile, "... Thus, I intend to propose to take the Sixth Princess's hand before His Majesty later on, so I would be honored if you can speak on my behalf when that time comes."

"Speak on your behalf? Dream on!" With his teeth clenched tight, Xing Yuan looked as if he was going to explode at any moment.

"Now now, there is no need for you to get mad. I didn't expect to count on you in the first place!" Shen Jun chuckled lightly in response to Xing Yuan's rage.

Turning his gaze to Zhang Xuan and Luo Qiqi, he continued, "I hope that the both of you can help me with this matter... Putting aside that, I do hope to become friends with you two. Here is a token of sincerity from me, I hope that you can accept it!"

After saying those words, Shen Jun raised his hand and beckoned, and a young man walked up from behind. With a flick of his wrist, he took out two jade boxes and placed them on the table.

Opening the box, spiritual energy immediately gushed into the air, bringing a refreshing breeze to everyone's face. Astonishingly, there were two high-tier spirit stones in each box.

To gift them two high-tier spirit stones each on their first meeting, Shen Jun sure was generous.

However, this also reflected how extreme his means were. There were no cultivators who could possibly reject high-tier spirit stones, but if they were to accept them, they would no longer be in a good position to voice their objections to Shen Jun's proposal.

As expected of the young master of the Shen Clan, he sure knew how to deal with people.

"You are giving us four high-tier spirit stones to speak up on your behalf? Young Master Shen sure is generous! Qiqi, since he has offered them to us, it would be impolite for us to turn him down. Take them!" Zhang Xuan replied enthusiastically with a smile.

Four high-tier spirit stone was a huge sum of money. It would be a huge waste not to take them, especially since the other party was giving them to him for free.

"Yes!" Luo Qiqi, of course, knew that her teacher was not one to fall for such cheap trickery like that. The chances were that he already had an idea in mind. Thus, she stepped forward without any hesitation and stowed the high-tier spirit stones into her storage ring.

Shen Jun's mouth twitched for an instant before he swiftly covered it up naturally with a chuckle. "Haha, Brother Zhang sure is a straightforward man. We will definitely get along well!"

His address toward Zhang Xuan had changed from 'Zhang shi' to 'Brother Zhang', as if to symbolize how close they were, and he shot a provocative glance toward Xing Yuan before returning to his seat.

Truthfully, Shen Jun also didn't expect that Zhang Xuan would actually accept the four high-tier spirit stones. After all, his loyalty to Xing Yuan was on the line here.

"Zhang shi..." Xing Yuan panicked after watching Zhang shi actually accept Shen Jun's high-tier spirit stones despite the latter's provocation.

Seeing that Xing Yuan had lost his composure over this matter, Zhang Xuan calmly pointed out, "There is no need to worry. After all the time you have spent with Yu Fei-er, do you think that she is the sort of person to bend to mere words?"

"This..." Those words washed away Xing Yuan's doubts in an instant.

If the lady he was interested in could be moved easily with words, he wouldn't have been unsuccessful despite years of effort.

Yu Fei-er was a person with her own thoughts, and she was extremely obstinate about them. Once she had made a decision, even a hundred bulls couldn't hope to reverse it.

It was also due to this obstinacy that she would rather serve as Zhang shi's maid than accept Xing Yuan's goodwill.

How could a person with such a personality be moved by mere words?

"Since our words won't sway Yu Fei-er's decision, why should we reject a free gift that he offered us?" Zhang Xuan flashed him a meaningful smile. "Even to an offspring of the Shen Clan's main family, four high-tier spirit stones should still a huge sum."

"This..." Xing Yuan's eyes widened as realization struck him.

His Xing Clan didn't pale too much compared to the Shen Clan, and his standing in the Xing Clan was also nearly equivalent to Shen Jun's.

Considering how it was difficult for Xing Yuan to access the high-tier spirit stones of the clan with his current standing, even with Shen Jun's higher cultivation realm, it was unlikely that his plight would be much better than his own...

Thus, despite the generous exterior that Shen Jun had put up, his heart was probably bleeding when Luo Qiqi stowed the four high-tier spirit stones into her storage ring.

Most likely, Shen Jun was just making use of this opportunity to humiliate Xing Yuan and sow discord among them, but who could have known that Zhang Xuan would shamelessly accept his spirit stones...

Shen Jun had already said that those spirit stones were for them, and as the young master of the Shen Clan, he would be a laughingstock of the city if he were to go back on his word...

Most likely, his heart must be filled with regret and remorse at this very instant.

Having understood all of this, Xing Yuan's eyes lit up, and the negative emotions he had accumulated from the encounter with Shen Jun earlier dissipated without a trace.

Turning his eyes to Zhang shi once more, he couldn't help but feel deep respect and admiration for the other party.

And the truth was that Zhang Xuan was right. Young Master Shen's heart was indeed bleeding at this very instant.

He had taken out those four high-tier spirit stones to oppress Xing Yuan, but who would have thought that the other party would be so shameless as to accept them...

Furthermore, the other party accepted them so candidly, without the slightest hint of hesitation at all.

Are you sure you are Xing Yuan's friends?

Where did your loyalty to your friends go?

Just as Shen Jun returned to his seat, a young man before him secretly sent a telepathic message to ask, "Brother Shen, who is that fellow?"

The young man was an offspring of the Liu Clan, one of the Four Great Clans as well.

Shen Jun harrumphed coldly. "A greedy fellow!"

"Greedy?" Liu gongzi was baffled by Shen Jun's response.

Judging from the 'greedy fellow's' clothes, he seemed to be a master teacher.

Aren't master teachers upright and incorruptible? How can he be greedy then?

...

The encounter with Shen Jun was only a small matter, so Zhang Xuan didn't pay much heed to it. At this moment, his attention was focused on uncovering the details of the Bodhi Saint Tree and determining if it would be effective at healing Wei Ruyan's soul.

Thus, he turned to Xing Yuan and asked, "I heard that there is a Bodhi Saint Tree in the royal palace that has the effect of nourishing one's soul. Is that true?"

"Bodhi Saint Tree? Now you mention it, I think I have heard of such a matter before!" Xing Yuan nodded.

As the offspring of the Four Great Clans, he was privy to some of the deep secrets in the royal palace.

Hearing that Xing Yuan knew of its existence, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up as he continued his questioning. "Then, do you know where in the royal palace it is located?"

"If I recall correctly, it should be in the emperor's sleeping chamber," Xing Yuan said. "This is a secret of the royal family, so I am not really sure about it either."

If it had been someone else, there was no way Xing Yuan would have revealed these secrets so easily. However, he was indebted to Zhang Xuan for saving his life, and he believed in the latter's integrity as well.

"Sleeping chamber?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

He wasn't too sure where the emperor's sleeping chamber was, but it shouldn't be too difficult for him to find it if he were to search thoroughly.

The emperor's sleeping chamber must be in the location filled with powerful defensive formations and patrols in order to ward away assassins. As long as he moved in that direction, he should have no problem finding it.

I have to find an opportunity for my soul to slip away and take a look around, Zhang Xuan thought.

Given his current cultivation, it would be impossible for him to slip under the radar of the experts in the royal palace and find the emperor's sleeping chamber, unless he were to move as a soul.

With the intangible property of a soul, as long as he didn't encounter any Saint realm experts specializing in the study of souls, he should be able to avoid detection.

With this thought in mind, Zhang Xuan turned to ask the young lady seated beside him, "Qiqi, when does the banquet start?"

Luo Qiqi took a look around the surroundings before replying. "Not all of the guests have gathered yet, so I would estimate... around an hour!"

"That's plenty of time. I just had a sudden spurt of inspiration, so I would like to cultivate for a moment. Stand guard for me, don't let anyone interrupt me!" Zhang Xuan instructed.

"You want to cultivate here?" Luo Qiqi widened her eyes in shock.

We are at a banquet, a place where people drink, sing, and make merry... and you want to cultivate?

"Un." Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Alright then..." Hearing those words, Luo Qiqi couldn't help but feel awed by her teacher.

With his diligence, it was no wonder her teacher was able to improve so swiftly. There were very few who could go to this extent.

"Thank you."

Closing his eyes, Zhang Xuan slipped his soul out of his body.

Having studied both demonic tunes and terpsichorean arts, his understanding of souls had deepened. This had granted him the ability to better conceal the presence of his own soul, allowing him to slip away from the main hall without catching anyone's attention.

After slipping out of the main hall, he didn't dart around randomly to search aimlessly. Instead, he flew to a greater altitude and activated his Eye of Insight.

In an instant, the many formations set up throughout the royal palace appeared right before his eyes.

The place with the highest concentration of formations is there...

Soon, he narrowed down his search to a certain residence.

If it had been before, even in his soul state, he wouldn't have dared to venture into an area filled with grade-6 formations. However, after going through the books in the Formation Master School, there was currently no one in the territory of Hongyuan Empire who could match him in the field of formations. No matter how powerful or profound the formations in the royal palace might be, they were no different from unclothed ladies, their secrets lying bare for him to see.

After maneuvering skillfully around numerous sentries, mechanisms, and formations, he soon arrived at the residence.

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Chapter 855: Thousand Tempering Soul Refinement Art

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Origin Convergence Formation?

Standing on the wall of the residence, Zhang Xuan frowned. A grade-7 formation?

This wasn't the largest residence within the entire royal palace, but it had the most formidable formation of all—a grade-7 formation.

A formation of that grade had already surpassed Hongyuan Empire's level.

It seems like that is the most important place in the royal palace. The Bodhi Saint Tree must be inside! A glint flashed through Zhang Xuan's eyes.

According to what Zhong Dingchun said, the Bodhi Saint Tree was the foundation to the royal family's power, so it must be very tightly-guarded. This residence met that requirement perfectly.

Whether it would be able to save Wei Ruyan or not, he would just have to enter and take a look for himself.

Zhang Xuan began studying the grade-7 formation with his Eye of Insight, but a moment later, he shook his head.

With my current cultivation, it will take quite some time to decipher a grade-7 formation...

It was possible for him to find the Life Gate and slip in discreetly without alarming anyone, but based on his estimations, he would need at least two hours to work it out.

Considering the dangers lurking within the royal palace and that the banquet would be starting in an hour's time, he couldn't afford to take that much time.

I have no choice then!

With a thought, Zhang Xuan used his soul energy to pick up a tree branch and toss it into the residence.

Weng!

Like a rock tossed into calm water, the formation immediately whirred into action, and a series of crisp sounds echoed throughout the area.

Countless swords flashed across the air, and in an instant, the tree branch was reduced to shreds.

It was a powerful Slaughter Formation!

In the moment that the formation activated, Zhang Xuan immediately muttered softly, "Flaws!"

The Library of Heaven's Path wasn't able to compile books on formations when they were in their dormant stage. Thus, he had to activate it before he could see the problems with it.

A book materialized in the Library of Heaven's Path, and Zhang Xuan swiftly flipped through it.

After gaining an understanding of the formation, he immediately headed to the center of the formation and kicked it forcefully.

Hu!

The formation came to an immediate halt.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Zhang Xuan hurriedly made his way into the residence.

Other than the Slaughter Formation set up outside, it didn't seem like there was anything special about the residence. Perhaps due to the banquet, there was not a person in sight. Zhang Xuan swiftly scanned the entire premises, but the Bodhi Saint Tree was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he found several ancient tombstones.

Was I mistaken? Zhang Xuan frowned.

According to the information he had received from Zhong Dingchun, the Bodhi Saint Tree was likely to be of the utmost importance to the royal family. However, there was nothing resembling a tree to be found in the courtyard... Perhaps, the safest place wasn't the most tightly-guarded place?

But assuming that was the case, why would a grade-7 formation be set up there?

In order to protect those tombstones?

Or could it be that... those tombstones were more valuable than the Bodhi Saint Tree?

Perplexed, Zhang Xuan headed to the closest tombstone to take a closer look.

Judging from the severe wear and tear, the tombstone was extremely old, possibly having existed for thousands of years. There were several large characters inscribed on it.

These words were unlike those of a painter; there wasn't any form of unique intent that could be felt from it. In fact, the handwriting was only an inch away from being classified as hideous. However, for some reason, just by looking at it, Zhang Xuan felt his soul being drawn in by some kind of inexplicable force.

Thousand Tempering Soul Refinement Art!

These large words were inscribed on the top of the first tombstone.

Is this a soul cultivation technique? Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up in excitement.

It was well-known that the soul was the hardest to cultivate, and this was especially so after the soul oracles went extinct. It was significantly easier and more effective to cultivate one's zhenqi, so there were very few soul cultivators in the world. As such, there weren't many soul cultivation technique manuals existent in the world.

This was also the reason his soul had reached a bottleneck at Perfect Harmonization realm pinnacle, unable to advance any further.

He had come to this residence thinking that he would find the Bodhi Saint Tree, but who could have known that he would stumble upon a soul cultivation technique instead!

That might not have been much to others since cultivating one's soul was an arduous process with disproportionate returns, but this was definitely a treasure to him.

He had received the Transcendent 1-dan to 9-dan cultivation techniques of the soul oracle from Mo Hunsheng, but there were many flaws in the later portions, making them unsuitable to be cultivated. Perhaps, with this Thousand Tempering Soul Refinement Art, he might be able to resolve those flaws.

"Flaws!" Zhang Xuan turned his sight to the tombstone, and a book materialized in the Library of Heaven's Path.

After the previous experience at the Saint Ascension Platform, he knew that he could replicate written content into the Library of Heaven's Path through his sight even if it wasn't a book.

He quickly did the same for the other tombstones before heaving a sigh of relief.

As he was still within the royal palace, and danger was lurking around him, this wasn't the place for him to process his newfound knowledge.

For the time being, he had to get out of the area as soon as possible.

However, just as he was about to leave the residence to continue his search for the Bodhi Saint Tree, a bellow suddenly reverberated across the room. "Who's there?"

Following which, an immense might came crushing toward his soul.

"This is bad!" Alarmed, Zhang Xuan hurriedly moved away, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth.

After which, he turned around and saw a middle-aged man staring at him intently.

The middle-aged man seemed to be in his mid-forties, and he was dressed in posh clothes. He harnessed a powerful aura, which commanded subservience from others.

In his eyes, Zhang Xuan could see vortices that seemed to reflect his existence.

An expert specializing in souls... Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed in alarm.

With a swift glance, he could tell that the other party, rather than really seeing him, was able to sense his presence, similar to Wei Ranxue back then.

It seemed like it wasn't for no reason that the royal family was able to maintain a tight grasp of power over a country as powerful as Hongyuan Empire. It was filled with experts who could fend off even the elusive soul oracles.

"Which brazen vermin dares to barge into the royal palace?" The middle-aged man harrumphed coldly as he sent a punch over.

An overwhelming might of a Saint 1-dan pinnacle swiftly tore through space to strike its target.

An expert of that caliber was indubitably ranked amid the top power tier in Hongyuan Empire.

"Flee!" Zhang Xuan immediately dove out of the residence decisively, knowing that he wouldn't be a match for the middle-aged man.

"Trying to flee? Do you think that the royal palace is a place where you can come and go as you please?" Sensing the presence hiding within the room attempting to flee, the middle-aged man's eyebrows shot up, and he swiftly raised his hand and grabbed firmly.

Hong long!

A huge palm print fell from the heaven, sealing all of Zhang Xuan's paths of escape.

He might not be able to see me, but having cultivated his soul, he is able to sense my presence... If this goes on, I might just lose my life here... Trapped, Zhang Xuan's soul tensed anxiously.

He was in far greater danger currently than when he had encountered Wei Ranxue previously.

At the very least, Wei Ranxue seemed to be trying to apprehend him for investigation back then, so she had held back in her attacks. However, this middle-aged man had gone all out from the start, seemingly determined to vanquish him from the face of the world.

Considering that he was an 'unidentified intruder' in a seemingly important area of the royal palace at the current moment, it was natural that the other party would be uneasy.

Zhang Xuan swiftly moved to dodge the palm strike, but he was still nicked at the edge of his soul, inducing fiery pain upon him.

No, this won't do. I won't last long like this. But despite his anxiety, Zhang Xuan didn't allow panic to cloud his rationality. Instead, he swiftly analyzed his current circumstances.

His soul cultivation was only at Perfect Harmonization realm pinnacle, and against a Saint 1-dan pinnacle opponent, he couldn't possibly hope to stand his ground.

But if all he did was evasive maneuvers, he would only be gradually worn thin and die.

A glint flashed across Zhang Xuan's eyes as an idea surfaced in his head. The Slaughter Formation!

With his current strength, it would be impossible for him to defeat the other party. His only hope lay in the Origin Convergence Formation set up around the residence.

Having compiled a book on it in the Library of Heaven's Path, he had gained a clear grasp of the formation's layout and flaws. To escape, he would have to borrow the strength of the formation.

Having made up his mind, he immediately darted to the core of the formation. At the same time, the middle-aged man also sent another palm strike at him.

With his life on the line, Zhang Xuan dared not hesitate. He immediately kicked the core of the formation forcefully. "Activate!"

Hong long!

The halted formation immediately came to life, and an abrupt burst of mist shrouded the middle-aged man in an instant.

This is my chance! Zhang Xuan thought as he quickly darted out of the residence.

Considering that the middle-aged man was able to enter the residence as well, it was likely that he was able to control the formation. In other words, it was only a matter of time before he disabled the formation and came after him.

Knowing that he had to get as much distance between him and the middle-aged man as possible, Zhang Xuan fled as fast as he could.

"Damn it!"

On the other hand, the middle-aged man didn't expect that the intruder would be able to control the formation as well, and he bellowed in frustration. By the time he stepped out of the formation, he was unable to detect the other party's presence anymore.

"Just what could it be?" Standing in the air above the residence, the middle-aged man pondered with a livid expression.

The content inscribed on the tombstones was profound, and without proper guidance, it was impossible to comprehend it. As such, he didn't fear the soul cultivation technique being leaked out. However, to be able to enter the royal palace freely and even control their grade-7 formation... this was way too exaggerated!

Had he not sensed the formation in the residence being halted and come to investigate the matter, it was unlikely that the intruder would have been found at all.

"It seems like it's about time to step up the security of the royal palace..." the middle-aged man muttered.

Regardless of whether the intruder was a saint beast or a human, the only thing he could do now was augment the defenses of the royal palace and eliminate the intruder the next time he struck.

...

That was a close shave!

After fleeing some distance away from the residence, Zhang Xuan dove into a nearby building to conceal himself and decide on his next move.

He could easily see through the flaws of the formation in the building, so he was able to slip through them easily.

Having escaped so far, he should already be out of the other party's detection range by now, and he heaved a sigh of relief.

The royal palace of Hongyuan Empire sure was impressive. To think that there would be soul experts in the palace as well!

But giving the matter some thought, considering that the Bodhi Saint Tree had the ability to nourish souls, the members of the royal family should possess extraordinarily powerful souls. Paired with some soul techniques, even if they were still far from matching up to the soul oracles, they would still be an incredible force to reckon with.

It seemed like the search for the Bodhi Saint Tree wouldn't go smoothly after all.

Forget it, the banquet should be starting soon. It's about time for me to make my way back now.

With his presence exposed, it was likely that the royal palace would tighten its guard on the Bodhi Saint Tree. His safety would be compromised if he were to continue searching for it. Thus, after a moment of hesitation, he decided to return to the banquet for the time being.

In any case, Wei Ruyan's condition had been stabilized, so she wouldn't be in danger in the short term. There was no need for him to take such a huge risk at the moment.

Thus, he discreetly made his way up to the roof, stared at the countless resplendent buildings and residences that stretched all the way to the horizon, and scratched his head blankly.

So... where is the main hall again?

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Chapter 856: Advancement in Soul Cultivation

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Fleeing frantically for his life, he did not have the luxury of choosing his path. Thus, he just moved according to his instincts, heading to wherever it brought him to.

To make things worse, the royal palace was massive, and there were many buildings that resembled one another. Staring at the countless buildings in the area, he couldn't help but fall into a daze.

To think that the esteemed Principal Zhang of the Master Teacher Academy... would actually get lost!

If he was in close proximity to his body, he might have still been able to sense it. However, putting aside the fact that he was quite a distance away at the moment, the royal palace was filled with formations and experts, resulting in a multitude of auras permeating the area, making it nigh impossible for him to sense his physical body.

Perhaps, he might be able to find his way around if he were to fly to a sufficiently high altitude, but after the previous incident, he knew that there were soul experts around the royal palace. With his presence made known, he couldn't guarantee that there weren't soul experts keeping a lookout over the airspace as well.

On top of that, the middle-aged man was likely still looking for him at the moment. He didn't have the confidence to be able to flee from the other party once more.

He had been able to catch the other party off-guard with the Slaughter Formation earlier, but such a trick was unlikely to work twice.

As long as I head in single direction persistently, I should be able to get out of the royal palace...

Unable to find his direction and daring not to fly high, Zhang Xuan could only resort to the most unsophisticated method in the book.

He had once heard that if a person found themself lost inside a completely dark cave, the best way out was to continue advancing forward along the wall. No matter how deep the cave might be, one should eventually be able to find a way out.

This was the very method he had decided to employ. With all of the buildings identical to one another, if he were to attempt to return via his original route, putting aside the fact that he could very well bump into the middle-aged man once more, it was questionable whether he would be able to find the main hall or not.

Thus, the best option lying before him was to simply continue advancing in a single direction all the way to the end.

The royal palace was large, but he should eventually reach its end. Once he left the royal palace, he should be able to determine his location and find his way back to the palace entrance and the main hall.

Alright, this direction then! Having made up his mind, Zhang Xuan decided on a direction and began to move.

As a soul, he could float over the walls easily. As long as he didn't go too high, it shouldn't be easy for the soul experts in the royal palace to sense him.

What was troublesome were the formations in the courtyard and the occasional patrols in the area, so he had to move carefully.

However, it was fortunate that he possessed the Eye of Insight, and the soul cultivation technique he cultivated was the Heaven's Path Soul Art too, allowing him to conceal his aura. Unless it was a Saint realm expert specializing in the study of souls, he should be able to bypass most patrols without an issue.

After passing by six residences, a bizarrely large residence suddenly appeared before him.

What is this place?

What had caught his eye about the residence was the immense Breath Isolation Formation set up around the area to conceal what was within.

Is there some kind of unspeakable secret concealed inside? Or... could it be that the Bodhi Saint Tree is in there?

The main purpose of the Breath Isolation Formation was to cast a barrier over the auras within, making it impossible for those outside to sense what was inside. For the ground to be protected by a Breath Isolation Formation instead of the usual defensive formations for the other residences, it seemed like there was something really important inside that the royal family was trying to hide.

Curious, Zhang Xuan slipped through the Breath Isolation Formation and began scanning the area.

This seems to be some kind of trial grounds. Am I already out of the palace?

The first thing he noticed was that there were many Strength Measuring Rock Pillars scattered throughout the courtyard, reminiscent of a training ground.

But the royal palace had its own barracks for soldiers to train at. Why would there be so many Strength Measuring Rock Pillars in this large residence?

Intrigued, Zhang Xuan wandered around the residence to take a look, and at the other end, he saw two walls lined side by side to form a narrow alley. Closing in, there seemed to be some sort of inscription on two walls.

"There are seven conventional ways that one can cultivate one's soul. First, conception of intention. Second, facing one's negative emotions. Third..."

There were various pieces of knowledge concerning the soul written on the two walls.

These are the bare basics to soul cultivation? Zhang Xuan thought.

The content contained on the walls was extremely simplistic, involving only the very basics of soul cultivation. It couldn't even be compared to the Soul Guiding Method, which he had learned from Mo Hunsheng back then.

They were only useful to Consonant Spirit realm cultivators, who had just barely begun to start cultivating their souls.

The inscriptions extended from one end of the wall to the other. Reading on, Zhang Xuan began to inch deeper into the alley.

It seems like the cultivation techniques here are slightly more profound, Zhang Xuan remarked.

The knowledge contained on the portion of the wall deeper into the alley was slightly more profound than what he had read earlier on. Even though they still paled greatly in comparison to the cultivation techniques of the soul oracles, there was no doubt that they did have the effect of enhancing one's soul energy if practiced diligently.

Staring into the depths of the long alley, Zhang Xuan curiously wondered, Does the content get more and more profound the further one proceeds into the alley?

Taking a few more steps in, he realized that the content became even more profound yet again. Perhaps, if he were to travel deep enough, the knowledge there could help to resolve the flaws existing in his Heaven's Path Soul Art!

I still have some time before the banquet begins... Let's do it then!

So far, it had only been ten minutes since he had left the main hall. He could still afford to explore a little longer.

Thus, he proceeded forward.

The content on the walls did get more and more profound the further he progressed. Even though it was still useless to him, it was at the level where an ordinary cultivator would consider it as a treasure.

Hmm? Why do I feel a slight pressure on my soul?

Proceeding slightly deeper, just as the end was in sight, he suddenly realized that there was some kind of force in his surroundings exerting pressure on his soul.

However, it was extremely weak. If he wasn't paying any notice to it, he wouldn't have even felt it.

Regardless of what it is, I should finish reading through the content on the walls first!

Knowing that there were profound soul cultivation techniques ahead of him, Zhang Xuan proceeded forward without any hesitation.

To him, the number of flaws in a soul cultivation technique didn't matter. As long as he could gather a sufficient number of them to form a Heaven's Path Soul Art, that would be enough. Thus, he took in all of the inscriptions on the wall without discriminating among them.

Wherever his gaze fell, the writings inscribed in the area would appear in the Library of Heaven's Path in the form of a book.

By the time he reached the end of the alley, the complexity of the cultivation technique was already nearing the level of the Thousand Tempering Soul Refinement Art. It still wasn't particularly profound, but at the very least, it wasn't as unseemly as those he had seen earlier on.

At this point, the truth finally dawned on Zhang Xuan. From the basics to the advanced, this should be an area where the offspring of the royal family cultivate their soul...

The content at the very start of the alley was aimed at those who had just started cultivating their souls, and the profoundness deepened gradually the further one advanced. At the very end, the knowledge had begun to overlap with the stone tablets he had seen earlier.

Those who had reached this point should have already achieved a deep understanding of souls, not to his level perhaps, but at least on par with the middle-aged man he had encountered earlier.

Considering that these were valuable and rare soul cultivation techniques, it was no wonder the stone tablets he had encountered earlier were guarded by a grade-7 Slaughter Formation, and this residence was concealed a Breath Isolation Formation.

After reading the final writing on the wall, Zhang Xuan shook his head in disappointment. But still, these soul cultivation techniques are still far too basic...

Ordinary cultivators might find these soul cultivation techniques profound, but as one who had inherited the heritage of the soul oracles, they were still too basic.

To make an analogy, it was like a college student taking on a junior school student's work.

Nevertheless, one thing praiseworthy about it was that even though the cultivation techniques were simple, they were well-structured and complete, and it was definitely possible to cultivate a powerful soul expert through it.

It must have taken the royal family quite a lot of effort to gather and organize this.

Turning his gaze away from the walls, Zhang Xuan saw an average-sized round door at the end of the alley. Seemingly fortified by some kind of power, it stood tightly-shut.

He moved over to the door and attempted to push it open, only to find that it wouldn't budge.

Humph! With a frown, Zhang Xuan gathered his soul energy and pushed forcefully.

Kacha!

The round door was blasted open, revealing a vast hall ahead.

Curious, Zhang Xuan moved into the hall.

Hong long!

As soon as Zhang Xuan entered the premises, he immediately felt a massive force crushing down on his soul, threatening to tear it apart.

Humph!

Zhang Xuan immediately drove his Heaven's Path Soul Art and a golden glow rippled across his soul, significantly reducing the pressure exerted on him.

With his discomfort alleviated, he began to scan the room, and he swiftly found the culprit behind the crushing force on his soul—four glowing statues.

The statues were tall and powerfully-built. Two wielded swords while the remaining two wielded massive sabers. They emanated a powerful aura around them that exerted a huge pressure on those who entered the room. Those who were lacking in their soul cultivation might just find their souls dissipating in the face of that immense force.

One thing that Zhang Xuan swiftly noted about the hall after his recovery was that the spiritual energy in the area was extremely concentrated, to the point that it was nearly tangible. It was similar to the sensation he had felt when he first entered the Lake Eye of the Cleansing Lake.

Wait... This spiritual energy has the property of nourishing souls? Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up in excitement.

As souls tended to be more fragile compared to physical bodies, they needed to be nourished by more soothing spiritual energy. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so troubled over Wei Ruyan's illness.

But while this spiritual energy can nourish souls, given that Wei Ruyan is still unconscious at the moment, even if I were to bring her here, she wouldn't be able to absorb it either...

While the spiritual energy had the ability to nourish souls, Wei Ruyan couldn't absorb and assimilate it into her soul given her lack of consciousness. This was also the reason why Zhang Xuan eventually chose to transfer her soul to a saint herb to nourish it.

But while she is unable to do so, I can. If I can strengthen my soul before treating her, I will be able to raise my chances of saving her!

With a stronger soul, he would be able to utilize his means as a soul oracle more effectively, which would be vital in rousing Wei Ruyan's consciousness.

I should first see if I can compile the subsequent levels of the Heaven's Path Soul Art first... With such a thought in mind, Zhang Xuan immersed his consciousness into the Library of Heaven's Path.

Compile!

With a silent command, he compiled the soul oracle cultivation technique he had obtained from Mo Hunsheng with the numerous books that he had just collected.

Flipping it open, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. A perfect Ethereal Treading realm Heaven's Path Soul Art...

By compiling the Thousand Tempering Soul Refinement Art and the other soul cultivation techniques here along with Mo Hunsheng's soul oracle cultivation technique, he had successfully produced the Transcendent Mortal 8-dan Heaven's Path Soul Art!

With a dense concentration of spiritual energy optimized for a soul's absorption in the area, this was a good opportunity for him to raise his soul cultivation from Perfect Harmonization realm pinnacle. Thus, without any hesitation, he immediately sat down.

Driving the Ethereal Treading realm Heaven's Path Soul Art, his massive soul seemed to have turned into a Spirit Gathering Formation in an instant. The surrounding spiritual energy was swiftly drawn around him and disappeared into his soul.

Gugugugu!

Zhang Xuan's soul cultivation swiftly rose.

Hong long!

Before long, with a crisp echo, he had managed to achieve a breakthrough to Ethereal Treading realm.

Ethereal Treading realm intermediate stage.

Ethereal Treading realm advanced stage.

Ethereal Treading realm pinnacle!

Half an hour later, his cultivation had already reached Ethereal Treading realm pinnacle, and his strength rose to 20,000,000 ding!

Great!

With the breakthrough in his soul cultivation, his analytical ability had been enhanced, and his spirit had grown even more lively. By the time he looked at his surroundings once more, he realized that he had devoured nearly all of the spiritual energy in the room.

The four statues before him had also lost their glow, seemingly on the verge of breaking apart after being deprived of their energy source.

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Chapter 857: Who Is the Principal?

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

In Hongyuan royal palace, two young men dressed in lavish clothing were walking side by side.

Both of them seemed to be in their early twenties, and their cultivation was both at Perfect Harmonization realm as well.

"Fifth Brother, are you challenging the trial today as well?" the younger of the duo asked with a smile.

"Sixth Sister has managed to clear four trials after her previous breakthrough. As her elder brother, how can I lose out to her? If I can't match her at the very least, Father might just start looking down on me!" the man addressed as Fifth Brother replied with a glint in his eyes.

The older of the duo was the Fifth Prince of Hongyuan Empire, Yu Hong, and the younger was the Eighth Prince, Yu Zheng.

"Even the most talented of us siblings, our Third Brother, only managed to clear the third trial when he was at Perfect Harmonization realm. Yet, Sixth Sister managed to clear the fourth trial. She sure is amazing! In fact, it is after hearing about her matter that I came over today to see if I can surpass my previous limit and reach higher grounds!" Yu Zheng nodded.

"The Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway works wonders in tempering one's soul, but it also exerts immense pressure on it as well. Without a resilient mind, it could result in loss of consciousness or even a trauma in one's soul. You have been dispatched to guard the borders until recently, so it must have been a long time since you have cultivated your soul. If you find yourself reaching your limit, don't force yourself to continue. You can always try again another time," Yu Hong advised.

"Don't worry, Fifth Brother. I might have been guarding the border, but I haven't slacked on my training either. Even if I can't clear the third trial, I think I should still be able to get pretty far," Yu Zheng said confidently.

Yu Hong nodded. "That's good."

...

Soon, the duo arrived at the 'alley' that Zhang Xuan had gone through previously.

"Let's start then!"

Exchanging glances, the duo stepped into the passageway simultaneously with grim expressions. However, in just a few steps, they could already feel an overwhelming pressure crushing their soul, and their bodies began to sway unsteadily. Cold sweat began flowing down their backs.

"Hold on!"

The duo exchanged glances before clenching their teeth and pushing onward. As they ventured deeper into the passageway, their bodies began shaking more and more intensely.

Pu!

Yu Zheng was the first one to cave in. Spurting a mouthful of blood, his body abruptly fell to the ground. Sighing deeply, he said, "Fifth Brother, I can't go on any further. I guess I am still stuck on the second trial for the time being... Good luck!"

"Thanks!" Yu Hong squeezed out through his clenched teeth before trudging forward arduously.

Inscribed on the walls of the passageway were soul cultivation techniques, but if one wanted to read them, one would have to endure the increasing pressure on their soul from the passageway. Each trial was roughly five meters, and there was a total of nine trials in the passageway.

If a Perfect Harmonization realm could clear the third trial, he could already be considered a talented soul cultivator.

Pu!

A few more steps later, Yu Hong's face paled. His knees caved in, and he fell to the ground as well.

Even though he had been diligently cultivating his soul day and night, he was still unable to clear the third trial!

"I am still too weak..."

The two princes looked at one another and shook their heads in frustration.

Hearing that the Sixth Princess had managed to clear the fourth trial had motivated them to give the Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway another try, but their results still didn't live up to their expectations. This passageway was simply far too difficult!

After resting for a moment and feeling the stabbing pain in their heads disappear, they stood up and left the premises.

"It seems like we are still too weak... I guess the current record holder is still Sixth Sister, right?" Yu Zheng asked.

"I would think so. Let's go and take a look..." Yu Hong nodded.

The duo walked up to a wall outside the passageway, and Yu Hong placed his palm on it lightly.

This wall was known as the Wall of Records, and it detailed the results of the current record holder of the passageway's challengers.

Weng!

With a slight buzz, a few words appeared on the Wall of Records—First Trial: Two Breaths!

"Two breaths? Sixth Sister cleared the first trial in two breaths? That is unbelievable!" Yu Zheng widened his eyes in astonishment.

"That is impossible! Even if she can reach the fourth trial, it shouldn't be possible for her to clear the first trial in two breaths... Let's take a look at her result for the second trial..." Yu Hong frowned in bewilderment as he swiped his hand on the wall.

Weng!

Yet another row of words appeared—Second Trial: Two Breaths!

"Two breaths again?"

The duo stared at one another in disbelief. They hurriedly swiped the wall once again.

Weng!

Third Trial: Two Breaths!

Fourth Trial: Two Breaths!

Fifth Trial: Two Breaths!

Sixth Trial: Two Breaths!

...

All the way up to the ninth trial, the recorded challenger had only used two breaths.

"Someone managed to clear the ninth trial... and in two breaths for all of them at that?"

The two princes exchanged glances, and they could see sheer horror reflected in the other's eyes.

Was this for real?

They couldn't even clear the third trial, and yet someone managed to clear all of the nine trials in two breaths each, no more and no less?

Was the person strolling instead of challenging the trials?

"The person who made the existing record didn't leave their name behind," Yu Zheng noted.

After a moment of contemplation, Yu Hong said, "Let's call Uncle Bai here. He is in charge of this passageway, so he probably has some way of finding the person who left the record!"

"Alright!"

The duo left the passageway hurriedly, and not too long later, they returned with a middle-aged man following behind them.

If Zhang Xuan were there, he would surely be able to recognize the middle-aged man as the Saint 1-dan pinnacle expert he had encountered back in the residence filled with stone tablets.

"What happened for you two to call me over so anxiously?" Uncle Bai asked with his eyebrows knitted tightly together.

He was in the midst of pursuing that intruding soul, and he didn't have time to waste with these two princes.

"Uncle Bai, did you or my father challenge the Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway in the last two days? How do you expect us to break the record you left there?" Yu Hong asked with a bitter smile.

"What are you saying? Why would we challenge the Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway?" Uncle Bai replied with a deep frown.

He had been spending his time studying the ancient stone tablets in recent years, so how could he have the time to spare to challenge the Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway.

This was even more so for Yu Shenqing, the emperor of Hongyuan Empire. With an endless stream of work on his hands, he couldn't possibly find the time to challenge the passageway either.

"But... if isn't my father or you, who else could have left that record?" Hearing Uncle Bai deny the matter, Yu Hong hurriedly placed his palm on the Wall of Records once more.

Weng!

The records reflected previously appeared again.

"T-t-two breaths?" Uncle Bai's body staggered weakly, and he nearly fainted from shock.

"Even with His Majesty's and my cultivation, we can only reach the eighth trial. Furthermore, beyond the sixth trial, every single step made will take us a very long time, and it could easily take up to an hour for us to clear the trial. To succeed in just two breaths... J-just who could it be?"

Uncle Bai was in disbelief as well.

The Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway was created by an old ancestor of the Yu Clan to challenge the later generations. The pressure emanated by the passageway had the astounding effect of tempering souls, and it was due to this that the Yu Clan was reputed for its soul cultivation amid the many Tier-1 Empires.

Countless outstanding geniuses had emerged in the Yu Clan over the years, but still, no one had succeeded in clearing the ninth trial to enter the hall... So how could there be a record reflected for the ninth trial?

Not to mention, two breaths?

If he recalled correctly, there wasn't such a record when Yu Fei-er challenged the passageway yesterday after coming out of her seclusion...

"Could it be..." Uncle Bai's eyes narrowed as he recalled the soul he had encountered earlier.

"No, I have to check the hall..." Realizing what could have happened, he quickly circumvented the passageway and headed to the hall lying behind it.

As the manager of the Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway, he had the authority to enter the hall even without clearing the passageway itself.

Pushing open the door, he rushed into the hall, and what he saw left his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

The dense concentration of spiritual energy that should have been inside the hall had disappeared without a trace, and the four ancestral sculptures that were used to temper the souls of later generations had lost their glow. With a touch, 'huala!', the sculptures crumbled to the ground.

"Damn it... Just who is that fellow?!" Uncle Bai felt as if he was going insane.

Harnessed in this hall was the overwhelming aura of their ancestors, and had he not been the manager of the Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway, he would have never dared to enter the grounds. Who could the intruder have been to be able to enter the hall and reduce it to such a state?

To be able to achieve this feat, just how powerful must his soul be?

"No, I must report this matter to His Majesty immediately..."

Alarmed, Uncle Bai hurriedly rushed to the main hall, where Yu Shenqing was.

...

In a majestic assembly room of the royal palace, Yu Shenqing had just finished going through the reports and was currently closing his eyes for a short rest.

An old eunuch walked into the room and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Master Teacher Academy has sent a notice saying that the inauguration ceremony for the succeeding principal will be held in three days, and they have invited Your Majesty to witness the ceremony!"

"Un, understood. Tell them that I will be there!" Yu Shenqing nodded.

Even though the Master Teacher Academy was located within Hongyuan Empire, in terms of standing and influence, he could be said to be beneath the academy's principal.

Upon becoming the principal of the Master Teacher Academy, that person could be said to have become the number one figure of Hongyuan Empire. Even he, despite being the emperor of Hongyuan Empire, wouldn't dare to treat the principal with the slightest disrespect.

The old eunuch nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Right, did they mention who the succeeding principal will be?" Shen Yuqing asked.

"Your Majesty, they didn't reveal who the succeeding principal will be, but they did mention that Mu shi from the headquarters will be overseeing the inauguration ceremony personally!" the eunuch replied.

"Mu shi? You are referring to 7-star master teacher Mu Yuan?" Yu Shenqing's eyes lit up in agitation.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"If he is going to be overseeing the ceremony personally, the principal must be either Lu Feng or Zhao Bingxu. Send someone in to ask about the identity of the succeeding principal so that we can prepare an appropriate gift in advance!" Yu Shenqing waved his hands.

Lu Feng and Zhao Bingxu had different main supporting occupations, so their interests differed as well.

If it was Lu Feng, they would have to prepare some valuable medicinal herbs. If it was Zhao Bingxu, they would have to prepare some precious ores.

The fate of Hongyuan Empire was intricately linked with the Master Teacher Academy. If he could win the favor of the new principal, he might be able to consolidate the royal authority that the Yu Clan wielded.

The old eunuch frowned. "But Your Majesty, since they didn't reveal the identity of the succeeding principal in the notice, I am afraid that we might not be able to receive an answer from them."

If the other party didn't reveal to them who the new principal was, it could only mean that they had a reason for doing so. Since that was the case, the result would be the same no matter how many times they asked for it.

Yu Shenqing waved his hands casually. "Tell them that it is a personal request from me, the school heads should at least give me some leeway. Besides, it's no big deal to learn of the identity of the next principal in advance."

As the emperor of Hongyuan Empire, even if his standing couldn't be matched with the principal, he could at least be considered an equal to the Ten Great Master Teachers. If they were to ask under his name, the other party should speak.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the old eunuch nodded.

"Right, has Fei-er's birthday banquet begun yet?" Yu Shenqing suddenly asked.

"As Your Majesty is still here, we dare not start the banquet yet..."

"I see. Tell her I will be heading over now..." Yu Shenqing said as he stood up from his throne. "Right, is that Zhang Xuan fellow here yet?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Zhang shi is currently seated in the main hall!"

"Has he caused any trouble yet?" Yu Shenqing asked with a frown.

"He has been sitting quietly ever since his arrival. He must be lying low, knowing that he is currently in the royal palace..."

The old eunuch knew that Shen Yuqing was interested in Zhang Xuan, so he had been keeping an eye out for his affairs.

"Good!" Shen Yuqing nodded. "Let's go over to take a look!"

Thus, he began making his way toward the main hall, where the banquet was held.

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Chapter 858: Zhang Xuan, Rejected!

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

I am finally out!

After cultivating his soul to the Ethereal Treading realm, Zhang Xuan had left the residence and continued moving straight, and soon, he managed to escape from the royal palace.

Upon leaving the palace, he scanned his surroundings and swiftly deduced where he was.

After which, he suppressed his aura to the bare minimum and swiftly made his way through to the main entrance of the royal palace and then the main hall where the banquet was held.

As soon as he entered the main hall, he immediately darted back to his body before heaving a huge sigh of relief.

In his short journey, even though he failed to find the Bodhi Saint Tree, he did manage to compile the Ethereal Treading realm Heaven's Path Soul Art, so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

Also, he managed to get an insight into the layout and security of the royal palace, especially regarding the existence of soul cultivators in the palace. With this knowledge, he would be able to better plan his movements the next time.

Seeing Zhang Xuan open his eyes, Luo Qiqi, who sat beside him, asked, "Teacher, are you done cultivating?"

She'd had the scare of her life when her teacher started cultivating. Not only did his breathing stop, even his heartbeat had disappeared as well. If he hadn't told her that he was cultivating in advance, she would have thought that he was already dead.

"Un." Zhang Xuan nodded. "Has the banquet begun yet?"

"Not yet, but it should be starting soon. All of the guests have arrived," replied Luo Qiqi.

Coincidentally, at that moment, a eunuch outside suddenly announced, "Her Highness has arrived!"

Everyone swiftly turned their gazes to the doorway, and they saw a beautiful figure slowly making her way in; it was Yu Fei-er.

She was dressed in a purple dress embedded with innumerable gemstones, and it glowed beautifully beneath the light of the Night Illumination Pearls.

She had light make-up on, which further accentuated her beautiful facial features, sending the hearts of men leaping uncontrollably.

She was simply too beautiful!

"Your Highness!" A fiery passion lit up in Shen Jun's eyes upon seeing Yu Fei-er, and he hurriedly rushed forward to greet her.

However, Yu Fei-er paid him no heed, walking straight past him. Her beady eyes scanned the hall swiftly, and before long, she found Zhang shi's figure.

"Zhang shi, Qiqi, you are all here!"

With a delighted expression, she rushed up to the group excitedly.

Even though she had sent an invitation letter to Zhang shi, she wasn't sure whether he would really come. After all, considering the latter's personality, he would probably have no qualms snubbing even the royal family.

Thus, upon seeing him, she heaved a sigh of relief.

"Fei-er, you are really beautiful today!" Luo Qiqi complimented earnestly.

In terms of beauty, the both of them could be considered equal, each possessing their own unique charms. However, Yu Fei-er had dressed up meticulously today, allowing her to grab the spotlight as soon as she stepped into the room.

"Brother Shen, isn't that the greedy fellow you spoke of?" Liu gongzi asked Shen Jun doubtfully.

Didn't you talk to him earlier?

Why does it seem like Princess Yu Fei-er is more concerned with him than you?

"Humph!" Shen Jun's expression turned livid.

Even without Liu gongzi pointing it out, he could see it clearly.

Privately, he had already viewed Yu Fei-er as his woman, and he had been destroying all rivals who dared stand in his path. Even Xing Yuan had been utterly defeated by him, so where did this fellow pop up from?

He had thought that that fellow was just an insignificant figure, but from the looks of it now, that wasn't the case!

"Sixth Princess, it has been too long since we last met. Knowing that it's your birthday, I specially prepared this for you..."

Concealing his displeasure in the depths of his heart, he put on a warm smile before walking up to Yu Fei-er once more and presented a jade box to her.

Weng!

A dense concentration of spiritual energy gushed out from within, leaving those standing before it feeling energized and spirited.

"This is... the inner core of a Saint 1-dan Water Serpent?" someone amid the crowd exclaimed in shock.

"The inner core of a saint beast?"

"What an incredible gift!"

Hearing that voice, a commotion broke out in the main hall. Everyone was shocked.

Relishing the shocked expressions of the crowd, Shen Jun chuckled lightly and explained gleefully, "Indeed, this is the inner core of a Saint 1-dan Water Serpent. I heard that it has the ability to nourish a cultivator's body, and if one wears it frequently, it can help to calm their state of mind and enhance their cultivation speed. As such, I specially made the trip to the depths of the ocean to obtain one for Your Highness!"

The Water Serpent wasn't a member of the Dragon Tribe; it was only a unique saint beast living in the deep oceans. Nevertheless, its inner core was a highly sought after artifact due to the incredible properties it possessed.

If a cultivator wore it on them often, it could increase their rate of cultivation and strengthen their body.

As such, its inner core was easily worth hundreds of high-tier spirit stones.

As expected of Shen Jun, his hand was indeed amazing. In an instant, the gifts that the others had prepared for the princess seemed to pale in comparison.

"Thank you..."

Yu Fei-er also hadn't expected Shen Jun to present her with such a valuable gift. Nevertheless, she gracefully took the gift and stowed it in her storage ring.

As the princess of Hongyuan Empire, she had seen plenty of treasures in her time. The inner core of a Water Serpent might be valuable, but it wasn't enough to make her lose her nerve.

"It is my pleasure!" Seeing Yu Fei-er accept his present, Shen Jun's lips curled up in delight. He turned his gaze to Zhang Xuan and asked, "Today is Her Highness's birthday. May I know what gift Brother Zhang has prepared for her?"

In an instant, all gazes fell upon Zhang Xuan.

They had also noticed that the princess had walked straight up to this Zhang shi after entering the hall. No matter how slow they were, it was clear that Shen Jun was challenging his 'love rival'.

"Me? I didn't prepare one." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had only learned that it was Yu Fei-er birthday right before stepping into the main hall, so how could he have the time to prepare a gift in advance?

He had always been poor, so he couldn't afford a treasure like the other party's Saint realm Water Serpent's inner core. Besides, even if he had such a treasure in his possession, he also couldn't bring himself to give it to Yu Fei-er anyway. After all, his relationship with her wasn't as close as with Luo Qiqi.

Since it was a fact that he had no gift, he might as well admit it candidly.

"You didn't prepare one? Cough cough!" Shen Jun had prepared lines in advance to put Zhang Xuan down as soon as he took out his gift, but upon hearing Zhang Xuan's words, he nearly choked on his own words.

He had thought that by putting down Zhang Xuan's gift, he could quash the latter's pride while highlighting his own sincerity, but who could have known that the other party hadn't even brought one?

The crowd was dumbfounded by the revelation as well.

To think that there would be a person who didn't prepare anything while attending the princess's birthday banquet... Are you sure that you aren't teasing us?

Recovering from his surprise, Shen Jun sneered coldly, "Brother Zhang, your joke isn't funny at all! It is out of sincerity that Her Highness has invited us to her birthday banquet, so it is natural that we should reciprocate with a gift... and yet, you arrived empty-handed. Don't you think that this is greatly disrespectful to Her Highness?"

Yu Fei-er's face darkened upon hearing Shen Jun's words. "Shen Jun, what do you mean by those words? Zhang shi is my guest!"

Seeing that the princess was speaking up for Zhang Xuan, Shen Jun felt his blood boiling in rage. "Your Highness, it is your birthday today, and we have all prepared gifts for you. Yet, Zhang shi chose to come empty-handed. It is clear that he is disrespecting you!"

"He..." Yu Fei-er was just about to say that she hadn't told Zhang Xuan that it was her birthday banquet when she saw Zhang Xuan waving his hands casually.

"Does a gift truly signify respect for a person? Does the value of a gift really signify how much respect one has for another? So... are you implying that the reason Her Highness invited everyone to this banquet is to demand gifts from everyone?" Zhang Xuan asked with a sharp glint in his eyes. "In your eyes, is Her Highness a petty person who pursues little gains?"

"This... That is not what I mean!"

Not expecting the other party to twist his words in such a manner, Shen Jun's complexion turned awful. "What I am saying is that the fact you chose to arrive empty-handed signifies your lack of respect for Her Highness..."

"So, in other words, you are saying that my lack of gift signifies a lack of respect, and your valuable gift signifies a great deal of respect. In the end, aren't you still implying that Her Highness is only interested in the gifts and not the people giving them?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head grimly and said, "To insult Her Highness like that, just what malicious intentions do you have?"

"Stop spouting nonsense! When did I insult Her Highness?"

Seeing that Zhang Xuan was pinning such a huge sin on him, Shen Jun turned to Yu Fei-er anxiously and said, "Your Highness, don't listen to his words. This isn't what I meant..."

On the other hand, Luo Qiqi, who had been watching the farce from the side, nearly burst into laughter.

Her teacher's mouth sure was a formidable weapon.

It is one thing for you not to bring a gift to a Fei-er's birthday banquet, but to think that you can still take pride in it, arguing unabashedly that the other party was insulting Fei-er by bringing a gift here...

The crowd was also dumbstruck by the turn of events.

They had all prepared gifts of their own as well, but given the current circumstances... if they were to present them, it would look as if they were implying that the princess was a superficial person who was only interested in material gains. Yet, if they didn't present them, it would seem as if they were being disrespectful... Conflicted, their faces scrunched up tightly as if they were suffering from constipation.

Interrupting in Shen Jun's apology, Yu Fei-er flung her sleeves and harrumphed. "Alright, that is enough. I have invited everyone here today just to get together. If anyone dares to present me with another present, I will ask you to leave and never return. I, Yu Fei-er, will not welcome you in the royal palace!"

"I..." Shen Jun's face turned livid, and he clenched his fists tightly together.

After going through so much trouble to obtain such a valuable gift, he had thought that he would be able to win the princess' fancy. Who would have thought that not only did his gift not delight her, it even incurred her ire instead!

What was this?

He had truly made a huge loss this time around.

It's all that fellow's fault! Glaring at Zhang Xuan coldly, Shen Jun flung his sleeves furiously and returned to his seat.

He was currently in a disadvantageous position. The more he talked, the deeper he would err. As such, he decided to back down silently for the moment. In any case, as long as the fellow remained in Hongyuan City, he would surely be able to find a chance to teach him a lesson in the future.

To think that a day would come when he, despite being the successor of the Shen Clan and reaching a Chrysalis realm pinnacle at such a young age, would suffer such a setback in the hands of a twenty-year-old brat.

Just the thought of it left him incredibly stifled inside.

...

Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan ignored the infuriated Shen Jun and turned his eyes to Yu Fei-er and asked, "Are you currently cultivating your soul?"

While he snuck around the royal palace in his soul form earlier, even though he had failed to find the Bodhi Saint Tree, he did notice that the royal family seemed to pay quite a bit of attention to the cultivation of the soul. Since Yu Fei-er was a member of royalty as well, she should have dabbled in soul cultivation.

"I did cultivate my soul for a while." Yu Fei-er nodded as she gazed at Zhang Xuan doubtfully, unsure of what he was up to.

"I learned from Xing Yuan earlier that your royal family specializes in soul cultivation, so I spent some time a moment ago to tailor a soul cultivation technique for you. Consider it my birthday gift to you!" Zhang Xuan told her telepathically.

He had secretly learned the soul cultivation secret arts of the royal family and devoured an entire hall's worth of spiritual energy dry... Given that he had taken so much from the other party, it was imperative that he returned the favor.

"A soul cultivation technique tailored for me?"

"Un, I came up with it while musing over the quintessence of demonic tunes and terpsichorean arts. It has a high affinity with your constitution!" Zhang Xuan replied.

His inheritance of the soul oracle's heritage was a secret that he couldn't reveal, and he couldn't possibly tell the other party that he had secretly learned their soul cultivation secret arts either. Thus, he could only try to cover it by using his high mastery as a demonic tunist and terpsichore as a front.

In any case, he stood at the peak for those two occupations in the Master Teacher Academy, so there was no one who was sufficiently qualified to question him.

"This..."

After a moment of hesitation, Yu Fei-er clenched his teeth and said, "I... don't want it!"

"You don't want it?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Since the cultivation technique was from him, there was no doubt about its prowess. At the very least, it was several times stronger than the Thousand Tempering Soul Refinement Art!

Yet, the other party said she didn't want it!

To think that an impartation from the principal of the Master Teacher Academy... would actually be turned down!

This... what was going on?

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Chapter 859: Yu Shenqing's Suspicions

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"I am delighted that Zhang shi has specially tailored a cultivation technique for me, but... I can't accept it!" Yu Fei-er shook her head.

Zhang Xuan asked with a frown, "You do understand how valuable a cultivation technique from me is, right? As long as you cultivate it, your soul cultivation will potentially increase manyfold!"

Those were not empty words. Even if it was a simplified of Heaven's Path Soul Art, the essence of demonic tunes, terpsichorean arts, and the Thousand Tempering Soul Refinement Art were infused into it. If Yu Fei-er were to study it, her soul cultivation would surely rise by leaps and bounds.

It would just be a matter of time before she surpassed the emperor or even the middle-aged man from before.

"It is precisely because I know that it is valuable that I can't accept it," Yu Fei-er said hesitantly. "Why don't I buy it from you instead?"

If she were to accept Zhang Xuan's cultivation technique without giving anything in return, it would be equivalent to acknowledging Zhang Xuan as her half-teacher. In the Master Teacher Academy, traditions were extremely important, and the order between a teacher and a student had to be respected. If she were to become Zhang Xuan's student, everything else that she hoped for would become a pipe dream.

However, it would be a different matter if she were to purchase it from Zhang Xuan.

Upon Yu Fei-er's insistence, Zhang Xuan eventually nodded. "... Alright then!"

He lifted his forefinger and tapped the other party's forehead.

Weng!

Yu Fei-er's body jolted, and a complete set of cultivation techniques emerged in her consciousness.

"This..." With just a single glance, her eyes bulged from their sockets, and she couldn't stop her body from trembling in agitation.

The set of cultivation techniques she had just received was simply too profound. It was far stronger than the one she was currently cultivating!

"This is simply too valuable; I don't think I can afford it. I will report it to my father and have him compensate you duly..." Yu Fei-er hurriedly said with her face flushed.

She had thought that no matter how powerful the set of cultivation techniques Zhang Xuan came up with was, it couldn't possibly be more formidable than the secret arts passed down in their lineage. However, from her very first glance, she realized that before Zhang Xuan's set of cultivation techniques, her clan's secret arts were nothing at all. Even if she were to hand the secret arts to him, he might not even be willing to spare them a single glance.

This was how big the difference was.

"I'm fine with anything." Zhang Xuan waved his hands, indicating that he wasn't bothered.

Raising his soul cultivation could boost his chances at saving Wei Ruyan, so he had made the decision to absorb the spiritual energy within the mysterious hall in the royal palace. Nevertheless, he felt guilty about the matter, so he had decided to repay the favor by imparting a set of soul cultivation techniques to them.

As for how the other party decided to deal with this matter, that was no longer under his control.

While they were discussing this matter with one another, Shen Jun's face was progressively turning darker and darker, and it looked as if he would explode at any moment. At this very moment, he felt as if a grassy field had sprouted above his head. 1

As the duo were communicating telepathically, he had no way of telling what they were saying. However, there was a moment when Zhang Xuan had struck Yu Fei-er's forehead lightly, and the latter's face had turned red in embarrassment...

How could they flirt so openly before him, treating him as if he were invisible?

"Damn it, damn it! Liu Quan, look into the background of that fellow when we return later!" Shen Jun spat through gritted teeth as he crushed the wine cup in his hand with immense force.

He had only returned to the capital not too long ago, so he wasn't aware of the recent happenings. On top of that, Zhang Xuan's full name hadn't been revealed in the introduction, so it was inevitable that he wasn't able to recognize him.

"Alright!" Liu Quan nodded. "Since he is a student of the Master Teacher Academy as well... When I left earlier, my father told me a new principal will be inaugurated at the Master Teacher Academy in three days, and he said that he would take me to watch. We can make use of that opportunity to bring in a few men to pummel that fellow so as to teach him a lesson!"

"That's a good plan. It is decided then; I will bring a few of my men there as well. I swear that I will pummel him until he is forced to crawl on the floor to search for his fallen teeth..." Shen Jun sneered viciously.

...

Right after leaving the residence, Uncle Bai headed right for the assembly room where Yu Shenqing should have been.

However, when he arrived at the assembly room, a eunuch walked up to him and said, "Reporting to the Seventh King, today is the Sixth Princess's birthday, so His Majesty has gone to the main hall to attend her banquet."

"Alright, I will head there now."

Not daring to waste a single moment, Uncle Bai rushed all the way to the main hall, and finally, at the main hall's entrance, he caught up with the emperor and his entourage.

"Brother..." Uncle Bai hurriedly called out.

"Mubai, for you to be in such a rush, what's wrong?" Yu Shenqing frowned.

Uncle Bai's full name was Yu Mubai, and he was the Seventh King of Hongyuan Empire, as well as Yu Shenqing's blood-related younger brother.

"The matter is like this. I went to the stone tablets earlier in order to decipher them..." Knowing that this matter was of grave importance, Yu Mubai hurriedly explained everything that he had encountered in detail.

"You are saying that a soul-like object has appeared in the royal palace, and the Soul Tempering Hall has been destroyed? On top of that, someone managed to clear the ninth trial of the Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway, using only two breaths for each of the trials?" Yu Shenqing's body staggered as he shook his head in disbelief.

As the emperor of a Tier-1 Empire, he had heard of many huge matters throughout his life. Yet, when he heard the other party's account, he felt as if his head was unable to keep up.

As the head of the Yu Clan, he knew full well how difficult the Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway was.

Even with his prowess, in the face of that crushing pressure, he was still unable to clear the eighth trial

Yet, someone had managed to clear even the ninth trial in just two breaths... and that wasn't all. That person had even rushed into the Soul Tempering Hall and absorbed all of the spiritual energy contained in the area, causing the ancestral sculptures to shatter...

How powerful must that person's soul be?

"That's right!" Yu Mubai nodded as he looked at Yu Shenqing worriedly. "Your Majesty, shall we activate the Great Palace Defensive Formation to capture that fellow?"

The Great Palace Defensive Formation was capable of stopping even Saint 3-dan experts. Even if the enemy they were facing was intangible, they were certain that they could trap him with it.

Yu Shenqing shook his head. "That won't do. The moment that we activate the formation, pandemonium could very possibly break out in the royal palace. Furthermore, considering that his presence has been exposed, chances are that he has already gotten away."

Unless the empire was on the brink of destruction, the Great Palace Defensive Formation shouldn't be activated. Otherwise, putting aside the pandemonium in the palace, it could cause huge unrest among the populace as well, knowing that the country was threatened. If so, not even he, as the emperor, could shoulder the responsibility.

Besides, until this point, they were still unsure of what they were dealing with. Even if they were to activate the formation and trap that fellow, considering the size of the royal palace, it wouldn't be easy to find him either, considering the limited clues they had.

"What should we do then?"

After a moment of contemplation, Yu Shenqing said, "Increase the number of patrols in the royal palace, and if they find any suspicious individuals, we will send in experts immediately to apprehend that person!"

"Alright!" Yu Mubai nodded.

"For the time being, don't tell anyone of this matter. The moment you receive any news, report to me immediately. That will be all. I have to attend Fei-er's birthday banquet now." Yu Shenqing waved his hands.

He was enraged that someone had barged into the Soul Tempering Hall and destroyed their ancestral sculptures as well, but as the emperor of a nation, he couldn't allow his emotions to supersede his rationality.

After leaving behind those words, he turned around and continued making his way to the main hall. At that moment, he noticed that the old eunuch beside him had his eyebrows tightly knitted together.

"If you have any thoughts in mind, feel free to speak!" Yu Shenqing said nonchalantly.

The old eunuch had been with him for many years now. He knew that on top of being a Saint realm expert, the old eunuch possessed keen intellect, which allowed him to see through many matters as well.

"Your Majesty, wherever Zhang shi has gone, pandemonium ensued. Even his manor wasn't spared from his antics... He also happens to be in the royal palace tonight, so could it be possible that... he has something to do with that matter?" the old eunuch asked.

There was simply something bizarre about Zhang Xuan.

Wherever he went, destruction and misfortune seemed to follow right behind... Knowing that he would attend the banquet tonight, they had invited several formation masters in to prevent any accidents from occurring...

But who could say for sure that it was foolproof?

Take this matter for example, while the main hall had been spared, the Soul Tempering Hall had been destroyed instead... Could Zhang Xuan have had something to do with this?

"Him?" Yu Shenqing frowned.

The old eunuch's words were groundless and seemingly ridiculous, but when supported by the various rumors regarding Zhang Xuan that they had heard earlier, this hypothesis wasn't completely illogical.

The mess that fellow had caused over the past half a month could leave even his eyebrows twitching uncontrollably.

If there was a person who could accomplish what Yu Mubai had just described, that fellow was definitely a huge suspect!

"But didn't he arrive an hour and a half ago, and he hasn't left his seat since then, right?" Yu Shenqing asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. However, he was sitting in a daze on his seat for more than an hour in that duration!" the eunuch replied.

"He was sitting in a daze on his seat?"

"That's right, Your Majesty. If what the Seventh King said was true, and the intruder is truly a soul, could it be that Zhang Xuan drew out his soul in the hour that he was in a daze..." the eunuch said hesitantly.

"He drew out his soul? Are you suspecting him of being a soul oracle?" Yu Shenqing's face immediately turned livid.

"Your Majesty, this is just a hypothesis on my part," the old eunuch replied with a lowered head.

"The soul oracles should have been completely eradicated by the Master Teacher Pavilion for siding with the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe long ago, so their heritage should have disappeared from the face of the world. As a master teacher, Zhang Xuan should know better than to dabble in an occupation like that," Yu Shenqing said with a deep frown.

"Actually, Your Majesty, we can uncover the truth with a simple test," the old eunuch said.

"Un." Yu Shenqing nodded grimly.

Flinging his sleeves, he walked into the main hall with widened strides. Just a moment after he stepped through the doors, he saw his beautifully-dressed daughter standing before a certain young man, serving him wine with a bent back.

His face immediately turned black.

How could there be a fellow so arrogant as to allow his noble daughter to serve him wine?

"Your Majesty, that person is Zhang Xuan, Zhang shi!" the old eunuch quickly informed him.

"He is Zhang Xuan?" Yu Shenqing muttered as he glared at Zhang Xuan with a wintry gaze.

He was already prejudiced against Zhang Xuan after hearing about everything the latter had made his daughter do when he encountered such a sight. In an instant, rage filled his mind.

"Fei-er, what are you doing?"

Yu Shenqing rushed forward and stared at his daughter grimly. "As a princess, how can you stoop down to serving another wine?"

The fact that the other party took you in as his maid is a form of insult to you and the royal family. How can you take it for real?

Zhang Xuan is just a mere 4-star master teacher! He might possess some extraordinary means, but he is far from qualified to have you serve him wine!

"Father, you are here!" Upon seeing Yu Shenqing, Yu Fei-er hurriedly stood up and bowed in greeting.

"Shen Jun (Liu Quan, Xing Yuan...) pays respect to Your Majesty!"

The others in the room also quickly stood up and bowed.

Following the others, Zhang Xuan also stood up, and after taking a glance at the authoritative middle-aged man before him, he clasped his fist and bowed as well.

He might be the succeeding principal of the Master Teacher Academy, which would put his standing above that of the other party, but due to his unique circumstances, it was inconvenient for him to reveal his identity ahead of the inauguration ceremony. Thus, it was still best for him to follow the formalities.

"You are Zhang Xuan?" Yu Shenqing asked with a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Indeed, it is me." Zhang Xuan nodded in response.

Yu Shenqing assessed Zhang Xuan for a moment before turning around and heading to the main seat in the hall.

While he was dying to test out whether that fellow was a soul oracle or not, as the emperor of the nation, he couldn't possibly make a move directly.

Not only would he be stooping beneath his standing, if his assumption proved to be false, he would have no way of accounting for this matter to the Master Teacher Pavilion.

On top of that, he could incur the hostility of his daughter too.

"Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for attending my young daughter's birthday banquet!" Upon sitting down, Yu Shenqing scanned the surroundings and chuckled lightly. His movements were casual, but it carried a regal disposition that only emperors commanded.

"Since today is a joyous occasion, how can we go without music? Luo Fu, summon Musician Bai in to play a tune for us!"

"Yes!" Understanding the hidden meaning behind Yu Shenqing's words, the old eunuch nodded and backed out of the room.

"Musician Bai? Could it be the renowned 6-star demonic tunist guest in the royal palace? It would truly be a great honor to listen to her playing!"

Upon hearing that Musician Bai would be playing for them, everyone's eyes lit up in excitement.

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Chapter 860: Clash of Demonic Tunists

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"Musician Bai?" Sensing the excited atmosphere in the room, Zhang Xuan turned to Yu Fei-er with a questioning look.

"Musician Bai is a demonic tunist whom my father specially invited as a guest to our royal palace. It is said that her proficiency has already reached 6-star pinnacle, and her playing resonates deeply with one's soul. Ordinarily, only esteemed envoys of the empire have the honor of hearing her play," Yu Fei-er replied with an agitated look.

As a 6-star demonic tunist, Musician Bai's standing in society was generally lower than her apothecary and blacksmith peers. However, the set of skills she possessed made her more desirable in royal palaces and the manors of nobility.

For one, having such a talented musician in one's home could better reflect their high standing. On top of that, Musician Bai's playing had the effect of nurturing one's soul if one were to listen to it frequently.

"It seems like she is a performance-type demonic tunist," Zhang Xuan noted.

Demonic tunists could be divided into two main categories—offensive and performance.

Take School Head Jiang Qingqin for example, as a master teacher, he shouldered the responsibility of protecting mankind and warding against the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe. Naturally, his field of specialty for his demonic tunes focused on the offensive aspect. His playing could rattle the souls of his enemies, rendering them powerless.

On the other hand, performance-type demonic tunists aimed to elevate their level of playing for non-offensive purposes. Their playing tended to possess some kind of benefit to those listening to it, and even ordinary humans could enjoy their music.

Otherwise, if all demonic tunists were to leave behind a field of feathers each time they played, just like Zhang Xuan, those envoys in Hongyuan Empire would probably rush back to their empires and incite a war between both countries after listening to the playing.

For those gathered in this main hall to be excited at the opportunity to listen to Musician Bai's playing, it went without saying that she was a performance-type demonic tunist, whose playing could sooth and pleasure one.

Seeing that his daughter was still acting so intimately around that Zhang shi, Yu Shenqing said in displeasure, "Fei-er, come over!"

"Yes, Father!" Nodding, Yu Fei-er stood up and took the seat beneath her father's.

A short moment later, the old eunuch, Luo Fu, returned with a beautiful, white-robed lady behind him.

Her appearance might pale in comparison to Yu Fei-er and Luo Qiqi, but her face was still one that few could tear their gazes away from.

"Demonic Tunist Bai Xuan pays respect to Your Majesty, Sixth Princess, and the fellow young talents here!"

Upon stepping into the main hall, Musician Bai immediately bowed deeply and greeted everyone present. Her voice was melodious, reminiscent of a zither, leaving a numbing sensation in one's heart.

"Not bad!" Zhang Xuan nodded in approval.

To be able to evoke the melody of a zither through her voice and not harm anyone despite playing a demonic tune, she did have some skills.

"Musician Bai, there is no need to stand on ceremony. Today is my daughter's birthday, so I would like to request a song from you to celebrate this joyous occasion!" Yu Shenqing said with a smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Musician Bai nodded.

Sitting by the side, she flicked her wrist, and a zither materialized before her.

Upon seeing her zither, an excited commotion broke out amid the crowd.

"This must be Musician Bai's Feathered Eagle Zither!"

"Legend has it that Musician Bai's tamed beast, Green-tailed Eagle, died in the midst of trying to save her. In gratitude to her tamed beast, she forged a zither out of its feathers and even composed a song in remembrance of it. It is said that the melody harnesses the heart wrenching sorrow she experienced upon its death, and it can evoke the same emotions in the listeners as well!"

"I have heard of this before, too! It's said that on the day she finished composing the song, countless divine cranes wept in sadness. It was after that incident that Musician Bai's reputation spread far and wide. Countless experts in the capital considered it an honor to have heard her playing then!"

"I didn't think that His Majesty would invite her over for Princess Yu Fei-er's birthday. I will be able to brag about this matter for the next three days when I return!"

"Three days? This is sufficient for me to brag for the next three months!"

...

Everyone could hardly keep their exhilaration in check.

Offensive-type demonic tunists usually only displayed their prowess in battle, so they tended to be less famous. On the other hand, performance-type demonic tunist could easily win the hearts of others through their euphonious music, thus granting them widespread fame.

Hearing the discussion of the crowd, Musician Bai chuckled lightly before placing her slender fingers on the zither and plucking on a string slightly.

Trringg!

It was an extremely deep sound that seemed as if it had come from the ancient past, and it reverberated right within their souls.

Zhang Xuan's eyes immediately lit up.

As a skilled demonic tunist himself, he could easily tell whether the other party was truly skilled or not. While Musician Bai's level of playing might be slightly beneath that of School Head Jiang's, she had embarked on a completely different path than him. Zhang Xuan couldn't help but anticipate what was going to come.

Triinnnggg tangg!

Under the light touch of Musician Bai, melodious music drifted from the zither. In the blink of an eye, the crowd found themselves standing before a vast plain. Countless birds were chirping harmoniously in the surroundings, and the aroma of flowers wafted in the air. It was a pleasurable sensation.

Unknowingly, everyone began to close their eyes to feel the music with their hearts.

Even Shen Jun had his eyes shut, immersed in the world carved out by the music.

An occupation that had been passed down through the ages, even if it was a Lower Nine Paths occupation, should never be underestimated.

Even a seemingly powerless painter, upon reaching the zenith, could bring out a fearsome army of millions at the tip of their brush, leaving powerful cultivators in despair.

...

Seeing that she had captured everyone within her music, Musician Bai chuckled softly before turning her sights to Zhang Xuan.

Before entering, she had already received the emperor's edict to test this young man.

Tring tang, trriiing tannngg!

There was an abrupt twist in the tune.

It was still a euphonic melody to the ears of others, but beneath this exterior, a powerful surge of soul energy was creeping swiftly toward a certain target.

Zhang Xuan was listening to the music carefully, trying to identify the main differences between a performance-type music and an offensive-type music, when his soul abruptly jolted.

An offensive edge had suddenly emerged amid the music to assault his soul.

How brazen!

Zhang Xuan swiftly dispelled the attack with his soul energy before directing a sharp gaze to Musician Bai to assess her.

As a 7-star demonic tunist, he could tell that the previous assault was an intentional act from her.

But... this was the first time the two of them had met, so there shouldn't be any grudges between them. Why would the other party attack him?

Could it be that... she knew that he was the succeeding principal of the Master Teacher Academy and she was trying to assassinate him?

I can't discount this possibility. Too many people have told me that Hongyuan Empire isn't as peaceful as it seems, and even the elders of the Master Teacher Academy have chosen to conceal my identity until the inauguration ceremony in order to protect me as well... Perhaps, danger is closer to me than I thought! Zhang Xuan thought grimly.

Luo Ruoxin had told him one of the pathways between the Master Teacher Continent and the other worlds lay in Hongyuan City, and the Otherworldly Demons could exploit it to invade this land. The main purpose for the existence of the Master Teacher Academy was to keep a lookout on the passageway.

Besides that, the powerful Wu Yangzi being captured by Otherworldly Demons and Hu Yaoyao concealing her own lineage... All of these events simply pointed to treacherous currents lying beneath the surface of Hongyuan City. It seemed there were many unspeakable secrets hidden in the depths of this place.

Musician Bai might be a respected figure in Hongyuan City, but to assault him abruptly in the midst of her performance, there was no doubt that she was up to no good!

Humph! You might stand a chance if you fight me directly, but to attempt to deal with me through demonic tunes... you have just sealed your own doom! Zhang Xuan's eyes turned cold.

He was only an Ethereal Treading realm primary stage cultivator at the moment, so if the other party had fought him in a normal battle, unless he were to bring out the Byzantium Helios Beast to fight in his stead, he would be utterly crushed. But... of all things, the other party had chosen to launch her attack through demonic tunes. She was courting her own death!

Even the powerful School Head Jiang has acknowledged me as his teacher! Yet, a performance-type demonic tunist like you dared to provoke me... You must really be tired of living!

Zhang Xuan slowly closed his eyes, acting as if he was immersed in the music like everyone else. However, his hands were moving elegantly to raise a wine gourd and wine cup before pouring the wine from the gourd into the cup slowly.

Swoooshhhhh!

It was a sound reminiscent of a stream flowing down the towering mountains or a river flowing through a peaceful valley. It wasn't too loud, but mixed amid the zither melody, it caused the other party's assault to dull.

"Hmm?"

Sensing that the sound was perfectly timed to interfere during the pauses of her melody, Musician Bai swiftly realized that she was facing a skilled demonic tunist. Her eyebrows shot up, and she abruptly changed her playing style.

Tring tang tring trang ting tring!

Her playing hastened.

In an instant, the listeners felt as if a huge cavalry troop was charging across the vast plain. Dust rose in the horizon of the trembling earth as dark ominous clouds began to set in.

Come at me!

Having guessed that she would respond in such a manner, Zhang Xuan chuckled softly. Placing the gourd and cup on the table, he picked up a chopstick with his right hand and tapped it lightly on the cup, gourd, and plates intermittently.

Ting!

Even though they were all ceramic, so the music sounded a little monotonous, due to the food and wine in the dishes, cup, and gourd, Zhang Xuan was able to play different tones.

Ting ting tang, ting ting tang!

Limited by the tools at hand, the music Zhang Xuan played wasn't as rich as the other party's melody. However, each tap he made coincidentally landed on the brief pause in between each note of the zither melody, thus causing her tempo to go into chaos.

If one were to compare the zither playing of a demonic tunist to ripples in a body of water, Zhang Xuan's every tap would be timed perfectly at each trough of the wave. Not only did he manage to interfere in the other party's playing through this, even her bodily functions, such as her breathing and her heartbeat, began moving to his rhythm.

Shit, the other party is a true expert!

It was at this instant that Musician Bai realized what kind of opponent she was facing, and her face paled in fear.

Despite the seemingly calm showdown, a clash of demonic tunes was actually incredibly dangerous. The slightest carelessness could cause one side to lose their cultivation or even die!

As the saying goes, 'it is the silent dog that bites'. The more elegant an occupation seemed to be, the more treacherous it usually was.

Taking master teachers for example, they sought to become role models and bring enlightenment to the world, a truly noble occupation. However, if one were to incur their wrath, they could become an unstoppable force that even the heavens would pale in fear before.

The same went for demonic tunists.

The fact that the other party could generate such power with just dining tools showed that the other party's comprehension of demonic tunes far exceeded hers, reaching a height she couldn't have imagined.

If it had been on any other occasion, she would surely have clasped her fist and admit defeat before fleeing as far away as she could. However, it seemed she had gone too far in provoking the other party, such that the other party was no longer willing to let her off. The intermittent taps had already harmonized perfectly with her zither music, and she could no longer stop the fight of her own accord anymore.

The moment her playing stopped, the momentum that had built up in the clash of their demonic tunes would come crashing down on her like a tsunami, and she could very well suffer a permanent impairment that would prevent her from playing another demonic tune in her life. In the worst-case scenario, her heart might even leap out of her throat, resulting in her immediate death.

Damn it!

Panicked, Musician Bai stood up and hastened her playing in an attempt to shake off the other party's intermittent taps. Due to her driving her zhenqi too fast, white smoke was puffing out of her head.

You want to go all out? Sure, I will grant your request!

Seeing the other party's playing getting even more intense, Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed. He grabbed another chopstick with his left hand and began tapping it on the table.

Dong dong dong!

The table had been crafted out of a unique lumber that produced a deep and powerful note reminiscent of a drum.

Even though he had only added a chopstick to his offense, the prowess he could exert was increased by more than twofold.

Pu!

From the very start, Musician Bai was already struggling under Zhang Xuan's counterattack. Now that Zhang Xuan had abruptly raised the intensity of his offense, how could she possibly withstand it? Her face paled, and a mouthful of blood spurted from her mouth. Her body flew back and struck a stone pillar in the hall.

Attempting to retreat? Try it if you can!

With a forceful strike on the plate, Zhang Xuan produced a reverberating sound reminiscent of the chiming of a bell.

Pu!

As if someone had struck her squarely on her chest, Musician Bai felt the zhenqi in her body running amok, and she spurted another mouthful of blood. Under the immense impact, the pillar behind her reached the limits of its durability and collapsed, and dust fell from the ceiling.

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Chapter 861: He Is the Principal?

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

The pillar might have collapsed, but as the hall had been fortified by numerous formations, it was still holding steady for the time being.

"What happened?"

"How was Musician Bai injured?"

"What happened?"

In the very brief period of time since their clash started, Musician Bai had been severely injured, crashing into a pillar and causing the entire hall to shake. Due to the huge disturbance, the crowd awakened from their trance and stared at one another with dazed expressions, confused by the situation before them.

There didn't seem to be anything wrong with Musician Bai's playing, so why would she abruptly spurt blood and break a pillar?

She had always been famed for her good-tempered and gentle nature; did a screw fall from her head today?

What happened? Taken aback, Yu Shenqing swiftly turned his gaze to Zhang Xuan.

As the one behind the matter, he knew that Musician Bai's bizarre actions definitely had something to do with the young man's use of chopsticks to tap on cups and plates.

Are they fighting with one another? Yu Shenqing frowned doubtfully.

Didn't I instruct Musician Bai to check if Zhang Xuan possesses any exceptional means to do with souls?

Why did they suddenly start fighting with one another instead?

Wait a minute... Could it be that Zhang Xuan is a demonic tunist as well?

As the only ones who knew that Zhang Xuan had taken the demonic tunist examinations were the student worker at the Demonic Tunist Aula, School Head Jiang, and Vice School Head Ning, this piece of news was missing from the intelligence Yu Shenqing had received from his men.

However, with Zhang Xuan knocking on the table and the plates, the truth couldn't be any more apparent to him.

Yu Fei-er turned to Yu Shenqing and said anxiously, "Father, Zhang Xuan is my guest. If anything happens to him, it will reflect badly on the royal family..."

Even though she had no idea why Musician Bai would make a move against Zhang Xuan, she knew that her father was definitely involved in this matter.

"Un." Knowing that his daughter's words rang true, Yu Shenqing nodded grimly. Turning to Musician Bai, he said, "Musician Bai Xuan, please stop!"

Yu Shenqing was unaware of the dangers involved in the clash of demonic tunes, so he thought that Bai Xuan was still carrying out his orders, oblivious to the fact that she was in a desperate situation herself.

"I..." Hearing Yu Shenqing's words, Bai Xuan was just about to explain the situation to him when the sound of Zhang Xuan's tapping sounds assaulted her once again.

Under the furious onslaught, she had to put her everything into playing her zither just to fend off Zhang Xuan's offense, leaving her with no additional energy to speak.

Deng deng deng deng!

The immense pressure she was placed under left her retreating uncontrollably, and every step that she took left a half chi 1 deep footprint in the ground.

Peng!

Eventually, she found herself backed against the wall of the main hall. The Fortification Formation behind her glowed, obstructing her path, and her footsteps came to a halt.

"Hmm?"

Feeling the support behind her, Bai Xuan heaved a sigh of relief. In that instant, an idea suddenly came to a mind.

With her back pressed against the wall, a smile emerged on her face as her crimson lips parted.

"His blue robe flutters in the wind; my heart wanders into the distance. Even if fate permits me not to be with you, is silence the only word you offer me?"

It was a song filled with remembrance. Even though it was filled with nostalgia, leaving one in a pensive trance, Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up, and he abruptly got to his feet.

The other party was already on the verge of collapsing to his demonic tunes, but with the support of the Fortification Formation cast on the room, the other party had actually managed to neutralize his offense.

To put it simply, formations could be defined as the gathering of spiritual energy in specific positions in order to produce unique effects such as calling forth sword qi to attack one's opponents or a mysterious fog to beguile others.

The essence of Fortification Formations lay not in making an infrastructure stronger but by neutralizing the attacks conducted on it, similar to a sponge.

Once the force was neutralized, naturally, the object fortified wouldn't suffer any damage.

By hiding within the Fortification Formation, Zhang Xuan's offense would be weakened by it, which gave the other party room to counterattack!

As the saying goes, 'the sorrow of fond remembrances breaks the soul.'

If Zhang Xuan couldn't counter the other party's singing, he could lose his life!

In just a short moment, by utilizing the Fortification Formation, the other party had managed to turn the tables on him, and he fell into an extremely disadvantageous position.

Indeed, there is no occupation that should be underestimated!

But even though Zhang Xuan was in a disadvantageous position, there wasn't the slightest trace of anxiety or nervousness to be seen from him. Instead, with a light chuckle, he smacked the table, and the cup filled with wine flew up.

"A fine song indeed! Allow me to propose a toast to Musician Bai!"

His voice was also infused with the power of a demonic tune, instantly neutralizing the other party's singing. The next instant, he flicked the wine cup with his finger.

The direction the wine cup was heading toward wasn't Musician Bai but the wall beside her.

Dang lang!

Upon coming into contact with the wall, the wine cup immediately burst apart, shattering into numerous pieces before falling down. However, what was astonishing was that instead of falling to the ground, the broken shards suddenly stopped in midair.

Weng!

In the next instant, as if someone had stopped them at their cores, the Fortification Formations in the main hall suddenly came to a halt.

When Zhang Xuan had first arrived in the room, he had already taken a look at the various formations using his Eye of Insight, so he knew where the weaknesses of the formations were.

The wine cup he had flicked over was infused with his zhenqi, and even though it might seem as if the broken shards had parted in random directions, it was actually all under his control. Through manipulating the shards precisely, he managed to stop all of the Fortification Formations simultaneously.

It followed the same principles as his Formation Destroying Kick.

The formation has been halted? This is bad... Noticing the changes in the room, Yu Shenqing was alarmed.

He had been waiting for Musician Bai to stop when the latter abruptly started singing. Before he could process what was going on, Zhang shi had already stood up and thrown the wine cup, and the formations had come to a sudden stop right after.

As if a déjà vu had struck him, he immediately stood up to intervene in the matter. But again, before he could do anything, Musician Bai, with the loss of the support from the Fortification Formation, succumbed to Zhang Xuan's assault, and with a frenzied spurt of blood, she was sent flying backward once more.

Hong long!

This time, without the additional protection from the formation, how could the wall behind her endure such immense force? In the blink of an eye, it had already collapsed into a pile of rubble.

Jiyaya!

The main hall was only supported by four pillars. It had lost one just a moment ago, and with another wall face collapsing, the entire room's support became extremely unstable. With a loud rumbling, the ceiling came crashing down.

Damn it! Yu Shenqing felt as if he was losing his mind.

That fellow was really a God of Destruction, collapsing everything that he came into contact with...

He had gone to the extent of inviting formation masters to heavily fortify the main hall, but it eventually still met with such an outcome!

Are you here to attend Yu Fei-er birthday banquet or to demolish our buildings?

But knowing that this wasn't the time for that, he exerted his powerful zhenqi to hold up the collapsing ceiling so as to protect those in the room.

As a Saint realm 1-dan pinnacle expert, even if he was unable to undo the damage done to the building, he could at least break the fall of the collapsing rubble.

No matter what, it was his daughter's birthday. The main hall might have collapsed, but he couldn't allow any of those young talents to be injured due to it. Otherwise, what would this say about the royal family?

"Pardon me!"

After knocking Musician Bai out, Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief and clasped his fist elegantly.

If the other party had fought with him as a cultivator, he might have suffered a tragic loss. But to challenge him to a battle of demonic tunes... that was pure foolishness!

After that, Zhang Xuan turned to Yu Shenqing and said with a righteous aura, "Your Majesty, I am a master teacher recognized by the Master Teacher Pavilion, and yet, Musician Bai over here secretly attacked me during her playing. It is clear that she is up to no good. I suspect that she is involved with the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe! I ask of Your Majesty to apprehend and interrogate her for the safety of the citizens of Hongyuan City!"

Otherworldly Demonic Tribe? Hearing those words, Yu Shenqing nearly keeled over.

I am the one who asked her to test you, how did the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe get into the picture?

Furthermore, I haven't settled the grudge with you for messing up my daughter's birthday banquet, how can you be so shameless as to dare speak up in such a righteous tone?

"If Your Majesty doubts my word, I beseech you to allow me to invite Pavilion Master Mo over to look into the matter!" Seeing Yu Shenqing's silence, Zhang Xuan thought that the other party might be doubting his words due to his long years of friendship with Musician Bai, so he made another suggestion.

On the other hand, hearing that Zhang Xuan was going to involve even the Master Teacher Pavilion in this matter, Yu Shenqing nearly erupted in rage.

Musician Bai was only testing you to see if you are a soul oracle by my order. Not only did you knock her out, you even destroyed my building, so how can you still speak so boldly?

Flinging his sleeves furiously, Yu Shenqing harrumphed coldly. "Today is my daughter's birthday banquet, but you messed up this joyous occasion with your antics. Regardless of whether Musician Bai attacked you or not, the royal palace welcomes you no more. Leave!"

Even though Yu Shenqing was so angry that he could kill, in the face of the crowd before him, he still had to uphold his bearings as an emperor. Furthermore, the other party was a master teacher, so he dared not go overboard.

"You are asking me to leave?" Not expecting the other party to not interrogate the culprit who had attacked him and instead order him to leave, Zhang Xuan frowned in displeasure.

"That's right! From today on, I prohibit you, Zhang Xuan, from stepping onto the grounds of the Hongyuan royal palace. You are no guest of our royal family!" Yu Shenqing bellowed authoritatively.

If he could, he would have issued an even harsher punishment. However, Zhang Xuan had a close relationship with several school heads of the Master Teacher Academy, so he dared not go too far.

"Father..." Not expecting such a situation to evolve out of her birthday banquet, Yu Fei-er hurriedly turned to her father to plead with him.

"Speak no more. I have made up my mind!" Yu Shenqing waved his hands decisively.

"What are you waiting for? Did you not hear His Majesty's words?"

Seeing that Zhang Xuan had incurred the emperor's anger, Shen Jun almost burst into laughter. He swiftly stood up and bellowed at Zhang Xuan, making use of this opportunity to vent his anger.

"... Fine!" To think that he would be asked to leave like that, Zhang Xuan had no other words to say.

He would have already left had it not been Yu Fei-er's birthday banquet. Shaking his head, he turned around and walked out.

"Teacher, wait for me!" After shooting a glance at Yu Fei-er, Luo Qiqi quickly followed behind Zhang Xuan.

"Zhang shi..." Not expecting an unpleasant event like this to happen at her birthday banquet, Yu Fei-er's complexion turned awful. Clenching her jaw, she rushed forward to Zhang Xuan's side as well.

"Fei-er!" Seeing his daughter leave with Zhang Xuan, Yu Shenqing's expression turned so livid that it seemed as if one could squeeze ink from it.

Rage clouded his mind, and just as he was about to command his subordinates to capture Yu Fei-er and bring her back, the old eunuch standing by the side of the room, Luo Fu, suddenly flicked his wrist and took out a jade token. Taking a look at it, his face suddenly warped in astonishment.

Luo Fu immediately rushed up to Shen Yuqing and called for him with lips quivering in fright. "Your Majesty..."

"What's wrong?" Yu Shenqing asked impatiently.

"We have just received news regarding the identity of the succeeding principal of the Master Teacher Academy..." Luo Fu told Yu Shenqing telepathically, not daring to speak aloud.

"Who is it? Lu Feng? Or is it Zhao Bingxu?" Yu Shenqing asked anxiously in response.

Yu Fei-er's matter might be important, but getting on good terms with the succeeding principal was even more so. After all, the latter concerned the future of the Yu Clan, whether it would rise to greater heights or fall into decline.

"Your Majesty, it is neither of them! The succeeding principal is Zh... Zhang Xuan!" Luo Fu's voice was shaking in fear.

"Zhang Xuan? The man who has just walked out... Zhang Xuan?" Yu Shenqing suddenly felt as if the sky had collapsed on him.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Luo Fu hurriedly nodded.

Without any hesitation, Yu Shenqing got his feet and rushed out of the room. "Zhang shi, don't leave! I think there is some kind of misunderstanding between us..."

"..." Shen Jun.

"..." The crowd.

Chapter 862: Yu Shenqing's Regret

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

Hong long long!

Shortly after Yu Shenqing left, the zhenqi propping the ceiling up disappeared, and the room collapsed entirely. Debris flew randomly in the area, and a cloud of dust rose in the air.

The young talents swiftly rushed out of the room. Glancing at the rubble and the emperor who was busy running as he shouted "Misunderstanding!", they found themselves completely stupefied.

"What has happened... to His Majesty?" Liu Quan muttered in a daze.

It was just moments ago that he had domineeringly commanded for the other party to leave the royal palace and never return, but in the blink of an eye, he was suddenly chasing the other party, claiming that it was all just a misunderstanding...

Could anyone have a change of mind faster than him?

"How would I know?" Shen Jun was bewildered by the bizarre turn of events as well.

When he'd seen Yu Shenqing lashing out at Zhang Xuan, he had stood up to berate the other party as well. However, with Yu Shenqing abruptly changing his mind, his actions suddenly became a joke. Placed in an awkward position, he had no idea whether he should stay or just leave.

"So... are we still going to teach that fellow a lesson?" Liu Quan asked hesitantly.

Even the emperor had chased the other party, screaming that it was a misunderstanding... Was it really fine for them to teach the other party a lesson?

"Of course! However, just in case, we shall find a few outsiders to do the job for us. As long as they can't trace the matter back to us, it will do!" Shen Jun said with a glint in his eyes.

If Yu Shenqing had maintained his hostility toward Zhang Xuan, he wouldn't have viewed the latter as a threat to him.

Ultimately, as a princess of Hongyuan Empire, Yu Fei-er's marriage was still dictated by her father. As long as her father opposed it, there was no way she could get together with Zhang Xuan, no matter how close the two of them were.

However, Yu Shenqing had suddenly changed his attitude and run out to pursue Zhang Xuan, seemingly seeking reconciliation with the latter. In that instant, he felt the weight on his shoulders intensifying.

Since that was the case, he would have to make sure to pummel the thought of marrying Yu Fei-er out of Zhang Xuan first.

...

While the duo was discussing how they should deal with Zhang Xuan, Yu Shenqing had already reached the entrance of the royal palace. There, he only saw Yu Fei-er and Luo Qiqi standing in the vicinity, and Zhang Xuan was nowhere to be seen.

Yu Shenqing rushed forward to ask, "Where is Zhang shi?"

He might be the emperor of Hongyuan Empire, but Zhang Xuan, as the principal of the Master Teacher Academy, possessed far greater influence than him.

If he were to really offend Zhang Xuan, all the other party had to do was declare that the Master Teacher Academy would no longer protect the royal family, and the era of the Yu Clan would come to an end in less than half a month.

The main reason the Yu Clan had been able to retain control over Hongyuan Empire for so many years wasn't due to its strength but in deference to the Master Teacher Academy. Under the watchful gaze of the Master Teacher Academy, there was no one who would dare to brazenly initiate a coup d'état!

On top of that, while the presence of the Master Teacher Academy had raised the national power of Hongyuan Empire, it had also made Hongyuan Empire reliant on it. Out of a hundred officials possessing a cultivation level at the Ethereal Treading realm or above in the royal court, ninety-nine would be indebted to the Master Teacher Academy in one way or another. If a falling out were to occur between the Master Teacher Academy and the royal family, most would choose to side with the former!

As such, even though he, as the emperor, possessed an unparalleled standing in Hongyuan Empire, he still dared not cross the principal of the Master Teacher Academy.

This was reality!

He had thought that Zhang Xuan was only an insignificant figure in the Master Teacher Academy. Even if the latter had won the admiration of several school heads, there was still no need to fear him as his standing was equivalent to the Ten Great Master Teachers... But who could have known that he would be the succeeding principal!

Furthermore, he was nominated unanimously by the Ten Great Master Teachers and Mu shi!

Realizing what he had just done, Yu Shenqing immediately rushed out to seek reconciliation with Zhang Xuan.

"Teacher said that he has matters to attend to, so he left first..." Luo Qiqi said.

"He has left?" Yu Shenqing was stunned.

"Father, Zhang shi is my benefactor. Just how did he offend you that you had to send Musician Bai after him?" Yu Fei-er questioned her father angrily, unable to stand it any longer.

The others in the room might not be aware of what had happened, but as a talented soul cultivator, she was able to tell that it was Musician Bai who had made the first move, and Zhang shi had only retaliated out of rage.

It was clear that her father was behind this matter, otherwise there was no way that Musician Bai would dare make a move on a guest!

"I..." Yu Shenqing had no idea how he should explain this matter to his daughter.

After a moment of silence, he decided to come clean. "Before the start of the banquet, someone cleared our Thousand Tempering Soul Passageway at an unprecedented speed, devoured all of the spiritual energy within the Soul Tempering Hall, and destroyed our ancestral statues. I suspect that it was Zhang shi's doing..."

"Impossible! Ever since arriving at the royal palace, Teacher has been with me, so how could he have caused destruction in the Soul Tempering Hall?" Luo Qiqi shook her head.

"I suspect that the culprit behind the destruction in the Soul Tempering Hall is a soul. Didn't Zhang shi fall into a daze earlier on?" Yu Shenqing asked.

"The reason he was in a daze was because he had just found out that today is my birthday, and he was creating a soul cultivation technique for me..." interjected Yu Fei-er upon hearing her father's words. Upon recalling this matter, her eyes couldn't help but redden.

As she hadn't informed Zhang shi that it was her birthday, the latter had probably only learned of it after arriving at the main hall. Yet, he still devoted his effort to creating a cultivation technique for her as a gift. But... he was still misunderstood like this!

In fact, he had even been assaulted in the midst of the banquet...

Wouldn't his heart break from indignation?

"Creating a cultivation technique?" Yu Shenqing was surprised to hear those words.

"That's right. Let me write down the cultivation technique for you so that you can see for yourself whether or not a person who created such a cultivation technique within a few hours could still have the time to wreak havoc in the Soul Tempering Hall!"

Gritting her teeth, Yu Fei-er took out a brush and a book and swiftly wrote down the set of cultivation techniques that Zhang shi had imparted to her.

Taking the book, Yu Shenqing had barely read half a page when his body suddenly stiffened. Embarrassment flooded his face in the form of a crimson glow.

The set of soul cultivation techniques detailed in the book was extremely formidable, even more powerful than their Thousand Tempering Soul Refinement Art!

Even for a master teacher of Mu shi's caliber, it would take at least several decades to compile a technique like that. To create it on the spur of the moment, the other party must have put a lot of effort into it...

And yet, he had actually suspected the other party of destroying the Soul Tempering Hall!

In that instant, he felt as if he was an ingrate.

"This cultivation technique is tailored perfectly for the constitution of our Yu Clan..." After browsing through the entire book, Yu Shenqing felt so ashamed of himself that he was tempted to dive into a burrow.

The cultivation technique was built upon the special constitution that the members of the Yu Clan possessed, so outsiders were incapable of cultivating it. Thus, it was not even a possibility that this set of cultivation techniques had been taken from elsewhere.

If the members of their clan were to cultivate such a profound cultivation technique, the overall prowess of the Yu Clan would be raised by at least thirty percent!

Putting aside a Soul Tempering Hall, the value of this cultivation technique was worth at least a half of the entire royal palace!

In order to create such a profound cultivation technique, it was inevitable that the other party would have to fall into deep thought... Yet, he doubted the other party and had someone test him out, even demanding that he leave eventually...

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had gone overboard.

Yu Shenqing turned around and commanded, "Luo Fu, didn't Zhang shi's manor collapse? Send the best craftsmen in the empire to fix it immediately. Before daybreak, I want to see a manor that is even grander than the royal palace!"

"Yes!" The old eunuch hurriedly left to have the matter done.

A huge manor like Zhang Xuan's would surely cost a bomb to repair and refurbish, but so what?

As long as they could repair their relationship with Zhang Xuan, it would be worth the expense!

...

Oblivious to Yu Shenqing's intentions, Zhang Xuan finally reached Leiyuan Peak.

The mountain peak was covered in a thick layer of snow, creating a chilling atmosphere.

He entered the straw cottage where he first met the Byzantium Helios Beast and sat down.

It was still some time before the Zi hour 1 , and Hu Yaoyao and the others hadn't arrived yet. He could make use of this time to impart the Ethereal Treading realm Heaven's Path Soul Art to his clone to allow him to raise his cultivation as well.

The clone appeared in the room and called out, "Main body!"

"What happened back then when you were disguising as Yang shi? How did the Teacher Acknowledgement Hall collapse as well?" Zhang Xuan asked.

The last time Zhang Xuan had met his clone was when the latter had appeared as Yang shi. As everything had happened too quickly, he didn't have time to process everything his clone had done before the latter was returned to the Myriad Anthive Nest, thus breaking the telepathic connection between them.

As such, there were still certain aspects of the incident back then that he was unsure of.

"It was an effect created by Vicious through the use of Kong shi's writing," the clone responded.

In that instant, Zhang Xuan seemed to see everything fall into place.

His deduction hadn't been too far off. Through utilizing Kong shi's handwriting, Vicious had not only strengthened his aura, he had also managed to conceal the killing intent in his aura, converting it into a more orthodox and righteous form.

It was through borrowing Vicious' strength that his clone suddenly became so formidable, suppressing Mu shi and the Ten Great Master Teachers to the point that they dared not utter a word.

With a flick of his wrist, Zhang Xuan took out of the Book of Heaven's Path, where Vicious was sealed, and Kong shi's writings.

"I performed well, didn't I? See, I wasn't lying when I said that I would definitely be of great help to you if you were to let me devour Kong shi's writings..." As soon as Vicious saw Zhang Xuan, he immediately began claiming credit for his accomplishment.

"Devour Kong shi's writings? Dream on..."

Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan opened up the scroll containing Kong shi's writings when he abruptly froze. Astonished, he exclaimed, "What is this?"

In the bamboo scroll, several hundred words of the initial three thousand had gone missing, leaving behind a smooth surface in their place. It was as if those words had never existed at all.

But he had definitely seen those words before, even undergoing the Soul Tempering of a Mentor's Calligraphy due to them...

"If you didn't let me devour those words, how could I possibly have produced such a powerful aura capable of destroying even formations and buildings?" Vicious replied.

"Devour... You devoured those words?" Zhang Xuan felt the world spinning around him.

He had known that his clone was not a person he could rely on, but who knew that the other party would allow Vicious to do something like that?

That is Kong shi's personal handwriting! On top of that, a cultivation technique is hidden within it... With a portion of it devoured by this fool, how am I going to uncover the secret hidden within it?

"That's right!" Vicious nodded blankly, not understanding why Zhang Xuan was making such a huge fuss.

On the other hand, hearing Vicious admit to the matter, Zhang Xuan was on the verge of tears.

There was no master teacher who wouldn't treasure Kong shi's handwriting as if it was their life and pass it down to their descendants as a family heirloom. Yet, Vicious had actually devoured it... How he was supposed to face Kong shi if he were to meet the other party again in the future?

Just what was with this matter?

But what was done was done. There was no use blaming those two anymore.

Furthermore, the situation he had been facing then was extremely tricky, and there was no guarantee that he would have been able to get out of it without Yang shi's appearance.

Sighing deeply, Zhang Xuan turned his gaze back to the bamboo scroll. Around a third of the words had disappeared, which meant that he could recreate the effect back in the Elder Hall another two times!

Forget it, it shouldn't matter anyway... Zhang Xuan shook his head as he consoled himself.

Kong shi's cultivation technique might be formidable, but as the cultivator of the Heaven's Path Divine Art, it didn't matter whether he obtained it or not.

Stowing the bamboo scroll and Vicious back into his storage ring, Zhang Xuan imparted the Ethereal Treading realm cultivation technique to his clone before leaving his clone to cultivate using the Earth Vein Spirit Essence.

Once this was done, Zhang Xuan found himself with some additional time on hand, so he decided to take a look at his current strength.

At the moment, his soul cultivation had already reached Ethereal Treading realm pinnacle, granting him a might of 20,000,000 ding. Factoring in the 17,000,000 ding from his zhenqi and 8,000,000 ding from his physical body, he wielded a total might of 45,000,000 ding.

In other words, his strength was on par with a Half-Saint primary stage cultivator!

For an Ethereal Treading realm primary stage to be able to rival a cultivator two realms stronger than him, probably not even the famed combat masters were capable of such a feat!

While checking on his body, he also noticed that his soul, with the recent breakthrough, was getting a little too powerful for his body, so he would have to slow down his soul cultivation for the time being.

After waiting a moment longer, Zhang Xuan heard the sound of aerial spirit beasts outside. Knowing that Hu Yaoyao and the others had arrived, he quickly hid his clone in the Myriad Anthive Nest and left the Byzantium Helios Beast at the back of the straw cottage before heading to the entrance to meet the others.

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Chapter 863: Sabertooth Spirit Tiger

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"Zhang shi!"

As soon as he headed back to the entrance of the straw cottage, he saw Hu Yaoyao, Xue Zhenyang, and the others stepping off the back of a massive spirit beast.

Half a month ago, they had still been the domineering and powerful leaders of the four most powerful student factions in the academy. However, at this moment, as if little chicks meeting a mighty eagle, they were devoid of the arrogance that they held before, and a hint of fear could be felt from their body language.

They might still be considered rivals from before, but at this instant, they had become nothing more than juniors to him. They couldn't pull their weight before him even if they wanted to.

"Zhang shi, are you ready to set forth now?" Hu Yaoyao asked.

"Un." Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Great. Let's get on the spirit beast then!" Hu Yaoyao beckoned Zhang Xuan onto the spirit beast that they had been riding on a moment ago as she prepared to leap on herself.

"Let's ride on another one, that one over there is too slow..." Zhang Xuan shook his head as he sent a signal through his mind. A moment later, an ape-like saint beast emerged from the back of the straw cottage.

"Senior Byzantium Helios?"

"The old principal's tamed beast?"

"Didn't Senior Byzantium Helios go missing?"

Hu Yaoyao, Xue Zhenyang, and Long Cangyue leaped in shock as they stared at the young man before them as if they were gazing at a monster.

They were all direct disciples of the school heads of the Master Teacher Academy, so they were privy to the news regarding Senior Byzantium Helios's disappearance as well... How could he be with Zhang shi?

Furthermore, from the looks of it, the relationship between the two of them didn't seem to be simple.

In contrast to the shock of the others, Dong Xin remained composed.

She had personally seen how Senior Byzantium Helios had addressed him as master, and she also knew that the Ten Great Master Teachers and Mu shi had nominated the young man before her as the next principal as well.

However, due to the grave importance of this matter, she didn't reveal it to anyone.

"If we ride on him, we should be able to obtain the Scarlet Firefly Fruits and return within three days!" said Zhang Xuan, before turning to the Byzantium Helios Beast and instructing, "Byzantium Helios, we will be counting on you."

"Yes, Master!" the Byzantium Helios Beast nodded.

With crisp echoes from the bones throughout its body, its physique immediately grew threefold, turning its originally large physique into something resembling a mini mountain.

After which, it walked forward to take the room on top of Dong Xin's spirit beast and placed it on its back.

"Let's set off!" Zhang Xuan said as he leaped onto the Byzantium Helios Beast's back.

On the other hand, watching as the old principal's saint beast of the academy turn into a mount, Hu Yaoyao, Xue Zhenyang, and Long Cangyue were completely flabbergasted, and they couldn't help but think that either the world had gone mad or they hadn't awoken from their dreams yet.

They had heard of how prideful Senior Byzantium Helios was, so it was hard to believe that not only would he acknowledge Zhang Xuan as his master, he would even... willingly serve as a mount! Even though they were witnessing the sight personally with their own eyes, they couldn't help but find it inconceivable.

Even after they had entered the room on the Byzantium Helios Beast's back and soared into the clouds, they were still unable to recover from the blow.

After a long moment of silence, Xue Zhenyang suddenly recalled something and exclaimed in astonishment, "My teacher told me that the person who found Senior Byzantium Helios would be the next principal of our academy!"

His teacher, Xu Changqing, was the head of the Martial Arts School. The other party had once told him that Mu shi had spread the word that he would decide the succeeding principal based on whoever found the Byzantium Helios Beast first. For the Byzantium Helios Beast to have acknowledged Zhang Xuan as its master, could it be that...

"I was forced into it. Sigh, I wouldn't have accepted it if there was any other way around it!" Seeing that Xue Zhenyang had figured it out, Zhang Xuan thought that there was no need to hide the matter from them, so he shook his head with a sigh.

If it wasn't for the principal's privilege to access all of the books available in the academy, he would have never accepted this troublesome role.

As the principal, his actions would be publicly scrutinized, and any problem that occurred in the Master Teacher Academy would be attributed to his incompetence.

It was not as if this was anything good, so there was no need to make a huge fuss over the matter.

"You were... forced into it?"

"You wouldn't have accepted it if there was any way around it?"

Hu Yaoyao, Xue Zhenyang, and Long Cangyue rolled their eyes upon hearing Zhang Xuan's words.

It is actually possible to be forced into becoming the principal of the Master Teacher Academy?

Why can't such fortune come to us instead?

We would have loved to be forced into it as well...

...

Putting the matter aside for the moment, Zhang Xuan turned to Hu Yaoyao and instructed, "Hu Yaoyao, show me your battle technique!"

Since he had promised Wu Yangzi to take care of his descendant, he had no intention of reneging on his words.

"Alright!" Knowing that Zhang Xuan was going to offer her some pointers, Hu Yaoyao nodded and began executing her strongest battle technique.

A moment later, after gaining a thorough understanding of the flaws in Hu Yaoyao's cultivation, Zhang Xuan began offering her some pointers.

It must be said that Hu Yaoyao was a rare gem. Not only was she knowledgeable, she possessed extraordinary talent, and the foundation of her cultivation was extremely stable as well. With Zhang Xuan's guidance, she improved swiftly, especially in the field of terpsichorean arts. With her alluring figure, even a Half-Saint expert could be left in a trance after watching her dance.

Hu Yaoyao's rapid improvement had left the others with an itch in their hearts, and eventually, they could no longer hold back the urge to consult Zhang Xuan.

Zhang Xuan also offered them his pointers without any reservations, and the other three improved swiftly as well.

While they were still a significant stretch from making the breakthrough to Half-Saint, they did manage to further reinforce their cultivation. In their current states, as long as they were to obtain the Scarlet Firefly Fruit, it was almost a certain that they would be able to make a breakthrough.

...

Half a day passed in a flash.

By the time they were arriving in the vicinity of the Scarlet Firefly Fruit, the sun had just begun to rise from the eastern horizon.

Even though it was in line with Zhang Xuan's estimation, he still couldn't help but be amazed by the Byzantium Helios Beast's speed. As expected of a Saint 2-dan spirit beast, its speed and endurance were truly on a different level from spirit beasts.

"Let's stop here!"

Under Dong Xin's directions, the Byzantium Helios Beast landed right outside a mountain valley.

"Senior Byzantium Helios, I think it would be best for you to remain here. The Scarlet Firefly Fruit is guarded by two spirit beasts, and if they sense your presence by any chance, I fear that they might destroy the fruit out of desperation after realizing that they won't be able to maintain possession of it," Dong Xin said.

The instincts of a spirit beast should never be underestimated. The moment they sensed the Byzantium Helios Beast's presence, they might choose to take a position close to the Scarlet Firefly Fruit and hold it hostage, threatening to destroy it should they approach.

That would put them in an extremely disadvantageous position.

"I also don't think that it is a feasible plan to get past those two spirit beasts by brute force. Due to our lower cultivation, they won't view us as a huge threat and will be less wary around us. Our best shot at obtaining the fruits is to exploit their possible negligence toward us to sneak past their defense and obtain them discreetly," Long Cangyue said.

This was the plan they had derived after many rounds of discussion based on the intelligence they had gathered. Otherwise, they could have simply invited any of the elders over to help them overpower those two spirit beasts. There was no need for them to seek help from a nemesis.

"I am confident at masking my presence such that they won't be able to find me," the Byzantium Helios Beast said assuredly.

As a Saint 2-dan saint beast, it was an easy feat for it to conceal its aura from spirit beasts.

"It isn't that easy... Take a closer look at the valley ahead!" Dong Xin said grimly.

"The valley?" Zhang Xuan and Byzantium Helios Beast turned their sights to the valley ahead.

The valley was extremely narrow, reminiscent of a sealed box. Perhaps due to the presence of the Scarlet Firefly Fruits, it was rich in spiritual energy, reminiscent of a blessed land.

The first thing that the duo noticed upon looking into the valley was that it was filled with a particular flower. The flower carried a tinge of red, as if embarrassed to be looked at.

A certain plant surfaced in Zhang Xuan's mind, and deep frown emerged on his face.

"Are those Crimson Coy Flowers?"

The Crimson Coy Flower was similar to the mimosa in his previous life. Upon coming into contact with foreign objects, it would change its color depending on the strength of the intruder.

In other words, it would change into a differing color should a Saint approach the valley.

This was also why this flower was a common ingredient in formulating medicine used to gauge the cultivation of an individual.

"Indeed, those are Crimson Coy Flowers!" Dong Xin said with a bitter smile.

"I see..." Zhang Xuan nodded.

The Crimson Coy Flowers were extremely sensitive plants. Even if the Byzantium Helios Beast was able to conceal its aura perfectly, the flowers might still be able to gauge its true strength through its movements and other aspects.

Of course, it was unlikely for the two spirit beasts to destroy the Scarlet Firefly Fruits just because a Saint realm expert was in the area, but this was a risk that they couldn't afford to take.

After getting a clearer glimpse of the situation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand and instructed, "Byzantium Helios, you should rest for the time being then. Don't worry, nothing bad will happen. Besides, it won't be too late for you to make a move if we really encounter danger."

"Yes, Master!" the Byzantium Helios Beast replied.

After which, it flew into the distance, and once it was out of sight, it returned to the Myriad Anthive Nest.

Given Zhang Xuan's current strength, there was no cultivator beneath Half-Saint that was a match for him. Besides, he could keep the Byzantium Helios Beast by his side via the Myriad Anthive Nest and release it immediately if they encountered a difficult situation, so there was nothing to worry about.

"Let's enter!"

Without any hesitation, the group began heading into the valley.

As soon as they stepped into the valley, a ripple of color began to spread across the Scarlet Coy Flowers, as if transmitting information of some kind.

"What are the spirit beasts guarding the Scarlet Firefly Fruits?" Zhang Xuan asked as the group advanced deeper into the valley.

"They are both Chrysalis realm pinnacle Sabertooth Spirit Tigers!" Hu Yaoyao replied.

"Sabertooth Spirit Tigers? No wonder..." Zhang Xuan nodded in realization.

It was not without reason that the Sabertooth Spirit Tiger was famed as the strongest spirit beast beneath Half-Saint. Even though they were Chrysalis realm pinnacle experts as well, Hu Yaoyao and the others were hardly a match for a single Sabertooth Spirit Tiger, let alone two.

Defended by those two spirit beasts, it would indeed be extremely tricky to get to the Scarlet Firefly Fruits.

Of course, this wasn't a problem for Zhang Xuan.

If a fight were to really occur, he could easily settle it with two punches.

"That isn't the only problem. Those two Sabertooth Spirit Tigers are very cunning too. Regardless of whatever happens outside, one of them will always remain behind to guard the Scarlet Firefly Fruits. If anything were to happen, that Sabertooth Spirit Tiger might choose to destroy the entire tree... Thus, we can't just rely on brute force for this matter. We have to find a way to lure the both of them out simultaneously," Dong Xin said.

She had spent some time in this valley gathering intelligence for the operation, so she had gained a rough understanding of the habits of the two Sabertooth Spirit Tigers.

"Lure the both of them out simultaneously?" Realizing how tricky this matter was, Zhang Xuan frowned.

"That's right. Thus, we prepared the Origin Heavy Water that they are extremely fond of. However, due to our limited resources, we were only able to procure four bottles," Dong Xin said with a bitter smile.

Usually, when freshmen enrolled in the academy, their student factions were able to earn sufficient spirit stones to purchase even several dozen bottles of Origin Heavy Water. However, the freshmen this year had all chosen to join the Xuanxuan Faction, so they had failed to earn anything at all. On top of that, they even had some of the senior students in their factions betraying them for the Xuanxuan Faction...

As a result, they'd had to fork out from their own pockets, and altogether, they only had sufficient money to acquire four bottles.

"Four bottles of Origin Heavy Water?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

If he could acquire just one of those, he would be able to cultivate the Third Incandescence of his Quintuple Incandescence Golden Body.

"How do you intend to use the Origin Heavy Water?" Zhang Xuan asked.

After a moment of hesitation, Dong Xin revealed her plan. "The Sabertooth Spirit Tiger is extremely sensitive to the scent of Origin Heavy Water. Our plan is to open a bottle to lure the first Sabertooth Spirit Tiger out. Once the first one leaves, we will use the same trick to lure the second one out as well...

"Of course, we will have to ascertain that the Scarlet Firefly Fruits have matured first. Otherwise, our efforts will be futile."

Zhang Xuan shook his head. "It is unlikely that your plan will work.

"Once the Scarlet Firefly Fruits mature, even if the two Sabertooth Spirit Tigers don't consume them directly, they will surely harvest them and escape swiftly. Ultimately, no matter how alluring the Origin Heavy Water is to them, it can't compete with an opportunity to achieve a breakthrough to Half-Saint. Besides, I think you are underestimating the intelligence of the Sabertooth Spirit Tigers. They already possess intelligence on par with humans, so it is unlikely that they will fall for such a simple ploy."

With only a step away from reaching Half-Saint, those two Sabertooth Spirit Tiger were more than capable of keeping their instincts in check. It would be difficult to get past them with such a crude plan.

"What should we do then?" Dong Xin asked anxiously.

The others turned their gazes to Zhang Xuan as well.

"I do have a plan in mind, but I will need your Origin Heavy Water," Zhang Xuan said.

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Chapter 864: Someone Before Us

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

"Zhang shi has an idea in mind?" Hu Yaoyao and the others traded glances, and their eyes lit up simultaneously.

As valuable as Origin Heavy Water was, its value couldn't match the maturing Scarlet Firefly Fruits. As master teachers, they could tell that their plan was unrefined, but limited by their cultivation and the resources they had at hand, they were unable to find a better plan.

If Zhang Xuan had an idea, that would be for the best.

"Of course!" Zhang Xuan nodded affirmatively.

"That is great!" Recalling how the young man before them was able to tame over four hundred spirit beasts in two hours, as well as the master of the Byzantium Helios Beast, the four of them couldn't help but tremble in anticipation.

"Here you go!" Dong Xin and the others flicked their wrists and took out a jade bottle each.

It seemed that they had all agreed on purchasing a bottle each and gathering them together after arriving in the valley.

Taking the jade bottles from them, Zhang Xuan uncorked the lid of one of them, and he immediately felt the rich water attribute energy contained within. He could feel his cells quivering in excitement, seemingly desiring the fluid within the bottle to cultivate the Third Incandescence.

"Just wait and see, I will lure those two fellows out!"

However, knowing that this wasn't the time for him to cultivate, Zhang Xuan stowed the jade bottles into his storage ring.

Given how valuable the Origin Heavy Water was, it would be a huge waste to use it to lure the Sabertooth Spirit Tiger away. In any case, he did have another plan in mind to lure out the spirit beasts that wouldn't require the Origin Heavy Water.

In fact, if he wanted to, he could easily sneak in and make it out with the entire tree as his soul.

Since that was the case, there was really no need to waste good Origin Heavy Water on this matter. It could be put to better use in his hands.

But of course, he would make sure to compensate the four of them properly for the Origin Heavy Water too. A compilation on the insights of achieving a breakthrough to Half-Saint to guarantee them a successful breakthrough should be sufficient.

Considering that they were using the Origin Heavy Water to bet on the possibility of obtaining the Scarlet Firefly Fruit, which only raised the possibility of achieving a breakthrough to Half-Saint, a compilation that could guarantee them a successful breakthrough was definitely worth more than the price of the Origin Heavy Water.

After putting away the Origin Heavy Water, Zhang Xuan asked, "Right, can you share your full plan with me? I can help you analyze it to determine its feasibility!"

"Our plan is actually rather simple. After luring those two fellows out, we will trap them in a formation, quickly obtain the Scarlet Firefly Fruits, and leave," Dong Xin said.

"Trap them in a formation? If you want to trap a Chrysalis realm pinnacle Sabertooth Spirit Tiger, the formation must at least be grade-6. On top of that, it must be capable of activating swiftly... Do you have such a formation plate on hand?" Zhang Xuan asked doubtfully.

"Un. Just in case an accident occurs, the four of us have prepared a formation plate each, namely a Confinement Formation, Illusory Formation, Beguilement Formation, and Slaughter Formation!"

Since they were going to collaborate with one another, there was no need to hide this matter from Zhang Xuan.

Zhang Xuan shook his head. "It should be possible to trap the Sabertooth Spirit Tiger with the grade-6 formation plates you have on hand, but it isn't a foolproof measure. You will have to pump your zhenqi into the formation to sustain it, but considering the overwhelming strength of the Sabertooth Spirit Tigers, you won't be able to hold on for long under their thrashing... It is uncertain if you will be able to buy sufficient time to procure the Scarlet Firefly Fruit and escape before they break out, so the plan doesn't seem to be particularly reliable."

The main advantage that a formation plate provided was that even those who didn't understand formations could activate and use it as well. However, it had its fair share of disadvantages compared to typical formations, too. Unless one could create a compound formation of it with a Spirit Gathering Formation, one would have to activate and sustain it using one's zhenqi.

The amount of zhenqi a cultivator possessed was limited, so while formation plates might be useful in alleviating dire situations temporarily, their effectiveness was limited in the long-term.

The Sabertooth Spirit Tigers possessed extraordinary strength, so it was hard to say whether or not the formation plates could stall them long enough to obtain the Scarlet Firefly Fruits.

It was no wonder they eventually chose to find him. With this plan, their probability of success was probably even less than twenty percent.

On the other hand, hearing Zhang Xuan's words, their faces turned red.

They also knew that there was a problem with their plan, but there was no alternative they could think of.

After a moment of hesitation, Hu Yaoyao spoke up with gritted teeth. "Zhang shi, if we obtain these Scarlet Firefly Fruits, we are willing to take only one each, and the rest will go to you..."

The other three nodded in agreement.

They knew that it would have been extremely improbable for them to succeed, so they felt embarrassed to share an equal split of the Scarlet Firefly Fruits with him.

In any case, their goal was just to make the breakthrough to Half-Saint. As long as they could succeed, it mattered not whether they obtained one Scarlet Firefly Fruit or two.

Zhang Xuan shook its head. "Let's obtain them first before talking about that..."

It was impractical to be talking about the distribution when they hadn't even obtained them yet.

Understanding this logic, the others nodded, and the group continued proceeded forward.

"The area where the Scarlet Firefly Fruits are located is just around this bend. Let's proceed carefully," warned Dong Xin as she took a look at the surroundings.

The others nodded as they advanced with bated breaths.

While the Sabertooth Spirit Tigers would know that there were intruders due to the presence of the Scarlet Coy Flowers, as long as the intruders didn't possess strength beyond them, they were unlikely to be alarmed. As long as they were to conceal themselves well and figure out a perfect opportunity to strike, they would still have a shot at success.

Advancing for a little longer, just as they were about to reach the end of the narrow path in the valley, Zhang Xuan's eyebrows suddenly shot up in alarm. "Something's wrong!"

Seeing Zhang Xuan come to an abrupt halt, the others swiftly stopped in their footsteps as well.

"What's wrong?"

However, Zhang Xuan didn't reply to their questions. Instead, he walked over to a nearby boulder and squatted down.

A moment later, he gestured them over and said, "Take a look at this..."

Hu Yaoyao and the others headed over with doubtful expressions, and behind the boulder, they noticed slight traces of fresh soil that was slightly different from its surroundings. It was barely discernible; they wouldn't have noticed it if they weren't paying close attention, but the fresh soil didn't seem to belong to the valley.

"This is..." The others were slightly perplexed by the sight before them.

"This valley seems to be suffering from dry weather, as we can tell from the dry soil in the area. However, these bits of soil carry a slight bit of dampness with them... If I am not mistaken, I believe that someone has entered the valley ahead of us!" Zhang Xuan revealed his deduction.

He had been keeping a lookout on his surroundings using the Eye of Insight, and as inconspicuous as the traces of fresh soil were, he was still able to easily find them and determine their origin.

"Someone has entered the valley ahead of us?"

On the other hand, hearing Zhang Xuan's words, the faces of the others immediately warped in shock.

The main reason they were so persistent about the Scarlet Firefly Fruits here was because there was no one else aware of their existence. If the news regarding them had spread somehow, it would complicate things.

"Un." Zhang Xuan nodded. "Judging from the soil, it seems there are two of them, and it has been less than ten minutes since they passed this point. Also, the stronger of the duo seems to be... a Half-Saint realm cultivator!"

"You are able to tell their cultivation just by these soil traces?"

Everyone was stunned.

Was he a fortune teller?

It might be possible to gauge the time when the soil was left behind by its dampness, but how in the world did he manage to deduce the strength of those who had entered too?

"I have been paying close attention to the surroundings, and I didn't notice any such soil traces behind us. In other words, the other party must have flown in and landed here. I can still feel slight traces of his zhenqi in the surroundings, and through that, it is not impossible to deduce his cultivation," Zhang Xuan replied.

At Half-Saint, a cultivator had already comprehended the ability of basic flight. However, having yet to open the Zhukong acupoint, their flight would be unstable, and zhenqi would leak from their acupoints as well.

If the other party had not stopped here, the leaked zhenqi might have been so faint that it would have been nigh impossible to discern anything. However, as the other party had landed here, a trace of his zhenqi lingered in the area, allowing one to deduce his cultivation.

"Incredible..."

The crowd couldn't help but be awed.

Even though they were master teachers as well, in terms of their meticulousness and analytical ability, they were still far too lacking compared to Zhang Xuan.

Xue Zhenyang's face suddenly turned grim. "If a Half-Saint is here... will the Sabertooth Spirit Tigers destroy the fruits?"

If a Half-Saint was there, the Sabertooth Spirit Tigers would surely have been alarmed. If the spirit beasts were to destroy the fruits out of desperation, they would have made the trip in vain.

Hu Yaoyao shook her head. "I think we should focus our attention on figuring out the identity of those who came earlier than us. If they obtain the fruits before us, it would be no different from them being destroyed to us..."

There was some truth in her words.

If the other party were to obtain the Scarlet Firefly Fruits before them, were they supposed to snatch the fruits from the other party's hands?

As master teachers, they had to conduct themselves appropriately. If they were to be found guilty of snatching a treasure from the hands of another, they would be severely punished by the Master Teacher Pavilion.

The others nodded in agreement as they continued to advance discreetly. After turning at the end of the meandering path, a vast plot of land suddenly unfolded before them.

It was at least several thousand square meters, as if someone had forcefully dug out this space in the midst of the valley. At the end of the path, lying against the cliff face, was a massive cavern. The Scarlet Firefly Fruits were inside it.

Through the Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan could see dense spiritual energy congregated within the cavern, puffing out from time to time.

"There is indeed someone ahead of us!" Dong Xin frowned.

Following her gaze, there were two silhouettes hiding behind a boulder outside of the cavern, seemingly fiddling with something in their hands.

"A Half-Saint and a Chrysalis realm expert!" Upon discerning the cultivation of the duo before them, the four of them couldn't help but glance at Zhang Xuan in admiration once more.

It was exactly as he had deduced.

"The clothes that they are wearing... are those master teacher robes? But why are they different to ours?" Xue Zhenyang frowned.

It was after Xue Zhenyang's remark that everyone turned their attention to the clothes of the duo. Unlike the normal loose-fitting master teacher robes, the gray robes they wore seemed to be tighter and more fitting. From their side profile, they could vaguely make out a master teacher emblem pinned on their chest, but unlike the usual soothing and magnanimous aura it carried, the emblem they donned felt sharp and aggressive. It seemed as if their eyes would be pricked if they were to stare at it a moment longer.

After a moment of contemplation, Long Cangyue said, "Even if their robes are different from ours, I can still sense that they are master teachers from the unique imprint on their emblems... However, it doesn't seem like they are from Hongyuan Empire. I know nearly all of the experts of their caliber in the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy and Master Teacher Pavilion, but neither looks familiar to me."

"Un." Xue Zhenyang and the others nodded in agreement as well.

As elites of the Master Teacher Academy, they'd had the privilege of meeting many of the top master teachers in Hongyuan Empire. If those two had been from Hongyuan Empire as well, they should have been able to recognize them. Since they couldn't, chances were that they were from a foreign land.

In any case, the mountain range they were in was already beyond Hongyuan Empire's territory, so it wasn't surprising to see foreign master teachers in the area.

"The convention among master teachers regarding the distribution of artifacts is on a first come first serve basis. Once someone has obtained the treasure, the others are not to snatch it by force. Even if they really wish to obtain the treasure, they will have to do so via proper means," Dong Xin said.

In a scenario where many master teachers were going for the same artifact, regardless of means, the first one to obtain it would be considered its owner.

Malicious actions such as killing the person in possession of the item to snatch it were strictly forbidden.

Otherwise, if master teachers were to wrestle one another to death over artifacts, what right would they have to preach to others?

Of course, the side that failed to obtain the artifact could negotiate with the one in possession of the artifact regarding its distribution by offering something in exchange for it or through an official duel... However, if the one in possession of the artifact were to reject all negotiations, there was nothing that could be done.

"It will be over once they lay their hands on the Scarlet Firefly Fruits, so we have to obtain the fruits before them..." Hu Yaoyao said with a grim expression.

A moment later, Hu Yaoyao's eyebrows shot up and she asked doubtfully, "What are they doing?"

Ahead of them, the duo seemed to be in no hurry to rush into the cavern either. The stronger of the duo had lit up an incense and was discreetly manipulating his zhenqi to blow the incense toward the cavern.

"If I'm not mistaken, that item should be Soulshock Incense!" Dong Xin said.

"Soulshock Incense?" Hu Yaoyao and the others asked doubtfully.

"Un. The smoke produced by the incense contains a substance that can beguile a soul with hallucinations. They must be using it to incapacitate the Sabertooth Spirit Tigers before stealing the Scarlet Firefly Fruits!" Dong Xin explained.

"However, that item doesn't discriminate between friend and foe... If they fill the cavern with the smoke, aren't they worried that they will fall under the effects of the Soulshock Incense as well?"

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