Chapter 309
Chapter 309: Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells
“How is it happening so quickly?”
“It hasn’t even been half an incense stick’s time since he entered, right? And he has started on the lecture… and already finished it?”
“What in the world did he lecture about?”
Upon hearing the chime, everyone in the crowd trembled.
After the Cultivation Technique Ocean passes a secret manual to the examinee, the examinee is given an incense stick’s time to browse through it before having to conduct the lecture.
It had only been a total of half an incense stick’s time since the very first examination began, but the Whilom Sage Bell has already chimed. Does he… not need to read the secret manual before beginning to teach?
Furthermore… to complete the lecture so quickly?
It is only after one finishes his lecture will the Whilom Sage Bell express its recognition or lack of through its chimes.
If it were anyone else, even if he were to earn the recognition of the Whilom Sage Bell, it would take at least three to four incenses’ time before it chimed. There was even a case where an examinee lectured for half a day before it chimed!
For it to start chiming after just half an incense stick’s time…
Putting aside whether they had ever seen this, they have never even heard of such an occurrence!
“Given how short his lecture is, his content must be lacking. I think a single chime must be the limit!” The elder behind Ling Xiaoxiao shook his head in pity.
Haste makes waste, this saying applies to everything in life.
Even if he is capable and can understand the technique swiftly… But to start lecturing right after glancing through the book is just too rash. In such a hurry, it is likely that he has missed out some parts. After all, no matter how simple a technique appears to be, it is the crystallization of our predecessors’ wisdom. The slightest mistake can lead result in a cultivation going amok and cause irreversible damage.
In this world, it wasn’t rare for a cultivator’s cultivation to go berserk. Most of the time, it was due to their erroneous understanding of a technique that resulted in a divergence in their cultivation.
It was one thing for Zhang Xuan to be unable to comprehend the technique completely, and it was another for his lecture to be short. It was highly likely that he missed out many important points given how brief his lecture was.
Most master teacher examinees would treat this test as a written examination. They would spew all of the knowledge they knew of and pray that one of the words that they spoke would turn out to be correct.
For the lecture to end so swiftly meant that the lecture was lacking in content. Even if the Whilom Sage Bell chimed, it was unlikely to chime more than once.
“Indeed. It seems that he’s still too young and impatient…” Apothecary Hong Yun nodded.
Zhang Xuan laoshi could be considered his benefactor, and naturally, he hoped that the other party would fare well. He hadn’t expected him to be so reckless. With this, it was likely that he wouldn’t obtain any stellar result.
“Even though it is a pity, he should at least learn from this incident. When he finally takes the 2-star master teacher examination, he probably won’t be so reckless anymore…” The elder nodded. He was still lamenting when the ground trembled once more, and a resounding chime sounded once again.
Dang! Dang! Dang!
It was three consecutive chimes. The ground could be seen trembling.
“Four chimes? Outstanding? Is his result on part with Mo Hongyi Mo shi?”
The elder and Apothecary Hong Yun glanced at each other, and they nearly vomited blood.
They had just said that the other party was too reckless and that his results would surely be poor, yet in the next moment, the bell chimed another three times… They felt a stinging pain on their faces as if someone had set them alight.
“Four chimes… that should be the limit, right?”
After four chimes, the entire hall fell silent and only then did the elder heave a sigh of relief. Looking at the door with a meaningful gaze, he was just about to continue speaking when another deafening chime assaulted his ears.
Dang!
The bell sounded once more.
“Five chimes, Flawless Comprehension… It’s a new record!”
Everyone became dumbfounded.
Since the establishment of the kingdom’s Master Teacher Pavilion several thousand years ago, the best result achieved that was ever achieved was Mo Hongyi’s four chimes… Yet, in just half an incense stick’s time, this Zhang Xuan induced five chimes from the Whilom Sage Bell… At this moment, he had become the new record holder!
“Genius! He is truly a genius! He is able to understand the technique right after picking the secret manual, allowing the bell to chime five times. Flawless Comprehension… I’m impressed, I’m…”
But before the elder could finish his words, the ground shook once more.
It was yet another chime.
“…”
The heck!
Are you done yet?
The elder was on the verge of tears.
Every single time he thought that the other party had reached his limits, the bell would chime… You must be doing it on purpose!
In other people’s cases, the bell would chime in a consecutive fashion only after they finished their lectures. There weren’t such long intervals between any chimes. Yet, why is it that when it came to you, the bell chimed so irregularly? Are you trying to scare us out of our wits?
“Six chimes, Perfection…”
At this instant, everyone’s face turned pale, and as if they were stone statues, they stood unmoving for a very long time.
…
“Vice Pavilion Master Guan, where is the pavilion master? Send someone to get him now!”
In a room located in the depths of the Master Teacher Pavilion, an elder rushed in with big strides.
“The pavilion master returned last night and is currently cultivating in seclusion. He gave the instruction that no one is to interrupt him if it isn’t anything pressing!”
Vice Pavilion Master Guan Zequan glanced at the elder doubtfully. “Elder Zhu, what in the world could have happened for you to become so flustered? Come, tell me about it. If it is something important, I’ll look for the pavilion master right now!”
“Cultivating in seclusion?”
Elder Zhu frowned. Then after hesitating for a moment, he started speaking, “It’s someone taking the 1-star examination!”
“Taking the 1-star examination?”
Vice Pavilion Master Guan chuckled before shaking his head, “Isn’t Wu Quan there? He should be more than capable of conducting the examination, there is no need to trouble the pavilion master over such a small matter. Don’t you know that the pavilion master sustained internal injuries and has to rest?”
“I know that it isn’t worth alarming the pavilion master over a 1-star master teacher examination, but… if you know what results the examinee has actually achieved and the ruckus it is causing, you won’t be saying such words!” Elder Zhu shook his head.
“Oh? Did it manage to create a commotion? Can he be a genius of Mo Hongyi’s caliber?”
Vice Pavilion Master Guan was taken aback.
“Mo Hongyi?” Elder Zhu shook his head. “I went to take a look only after hearing the Whilom Sage Bell, so I don’t know his result for the first three tests. All I know is that when I arrived, the Whilom Sage Bell was chiming ceaselessly…”
“Chiming ceaselessly? Do you mean to say that it chimed more than four times?” Vice Pavilion Master Guan’s eyebrows shot up.
“More than that…” Elder Zhu smiled bitterly.
“If it is more than four chimes, does it mean that… his result has reached five chimes? That is Flawless Comprehension! It means that there is zero mistake in his lecture…”
Pavilion Master Guan could no longer maintain his composure by this point. With a grim face, he stood up, “Infused within the Whilom Sage Bell is the knowledge of a 4-star master teacher. If he achieved five chimes, that means that the person’s lecture has gained their absolute acknowledgment… Are you sure that the person taking the test is undergoing the 1-star master teacher examination?”
“The one taking the test is undergoing the 1-star master teacher examination!” Elder Zhu nodded. “Furthermore… The chimes didn’t just stop at five!”
It wasn’t that Elder Zhu was reluctant to speak or that he was trying to keep the other party hanging, but that even until now, he was still unable to accept what he had just seen.
“Didn’t just stop at five…”
Vice Pavilion Master Guan’s hands shook in agitation, and through his quivering lips, spoke, “Can it be… six chimes? Six chimes represent Perfection, and it means that the person’s understanding of the technique is no different from that of a 4-star master teacher…”
Before he could finish his words, Elder Zhu exclaimed in a frenzied voice, “It’s seven chimes!”
Putong!
Vice Pavilion Master Guan’s knee caved in and he fell back onto his seat. At this point, his face had turned completely pale.
“Seven chimes, Approval of the Sages? How… How is this possible?”
Most people knew that six chimes represented Perfection, but very few knew that there was another level above it.
In such a situation, it means that the examinee has gained the approval of the Whilom Sage Bell!
In other words, he has gained the approval of a 4-star master teacher, and that he can be considered as an equal in terms of his understanding of the technique.
A fellow taking the 1-star master teacher examination has gained approval from the spiritual will left behind by the 4-star master teacher, such that it regarded him worthy as a peer?
Guan Zequan felt the blood draining from his face, and at this moment, his mind had gone into a turmoil.
After innumerable years as the vice pavilion master of the Master Teacher Pavilion, he had seen plenty of geniuses.
However, he has never even heard of such a monster!
“Seven chimes… Shouldn’t we invite the pavilion master?”
Elder Zhu wasn’t surprised by Vice Pavilion Master Guan’s reaction. Anyone who heard of this news would probably act in the manner he did.
“This… Of course, we should! However, I want to take a look personally to first ascertain the matter…”
Suppressing his shock, Vice Pavilion Master Guan exhaled deeply and flung his sleeves.
“Alright, let’s go!”
Elder Zhu nodded his head, and just as they walked out from the room…
Dang!
A resounding chime echoed throughout the entire Master Teacher Pavilion.
Previously, the chime resounded only within the examination hall, but this chime seemed to have caused the entire Tianwu Royal City to rattle for a moment.
The tremor was extremely violent and it felt as if the Whilom Sage Bell was trying to break free from the shackles of the Master Teacher Pavilion and open a path to heaven.
Under the powerful tremors, both Vice Pavilion Master Guan and Elder Zhu fell to the ground simultaneously. Their faces had turned pale and they spoke in disbelief…
“Is this… Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells… Admiration of the Sages?”
“This… What in the world is going on?”
…
“Admiration of the Sages? What does that mean? Why haven’t I heard of it?”
All of the bells chimed at once, and the deafening sound seemed as if it would rip apart the air. Ling Xiaoxiao turned to the elder behind her and yelled.
She had heard of one chime, two chimes, three chimes… all the way to six chimes, but she had never heard of seven chimes!
Not to mention, Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells… At this moment, she felt a splitting headache. She couldn’t understand what was going on.
“[Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells, Admiration of the Sages] means that… even if a 4-star master teacher were present, he would listen to the lecture obediently and quietly… In other words, Zhang Xuan’s explanation of the technique has already exceeded the level of a 4-star, reaching the level of a 5-star master teacher, or even higher…”
The elder trembled.
“What? Exceeded the level of a 4-star master teacher?”
Ling Xiaoxiao’s face paled.
That ignorant fellow’s understanding of cultivation and battle techniques surpasses that of a 4-star…
How is that possible?
Her body shuddered slightly, and she felt as if she was about to go insane.
“That’s right. However…”
At this point, the elder hesitated for a moment. Doubt could be seen within his fearful eyes.
“However what?” Apothecary Hong Yun has been standing beside the duo, and he had heard their conversation. Perplexed by the elder’s words, Apothecary Hong Yun asked.
“However… Under normal circumstances, the Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells should at least last for a tea’s time as a celebration. However, why would it only chime for just a short moment before coming to an abrupt end?”
(10-15 minutes)
“A tea’s time?”
“That’s right!” The elder nodded. “Seems like we will only know the answer after the master teachers come out!”
…
In the room where the Cultivation Technique Ocean test was conducted.
Every single 1-star master teacher who was here as an examiner was in a trance.
The explanation of Undulating Water Ripple Palm by the young man before them was too thorough. If they were to cultivate according to the way he explained, it wouldn’t take long before all of them master the skill.
Truly, it was at the level where everyone becomes an expert.
Dang dang dang dang!
Everyone was listening to his lesson attentively as if they were in a trance when the bells by the side, upon hearing such profound theories, chimed excitedly, and their resounding peals penetrated straight into the heavens.
“Shut up, are you done yet? When you chimed for the first time, the second time, and the third time, I did not make a fuss. And you have now climbed over my head, chiming together in such disorder. I’m not yet done with my lecture, why the heck are you chiming!”
With his eyebrows knitted into a frown, Zhang Xuan bellowed.
Wu!
The chiming of the many large bells silenced abruptly.
Chapter 310: This is Bad!
The Whilom Sage Bell was forged personally by 4-star master teachers, and their will were infused within it. The entire Master Teacher Pavilion, including the pavilion master, treated the bell as if it were their ancestral tablet. Yet, a lad who was taking the 1-star master teacher examination lashed out at it without hesitation…
Furthermore, with such fury and annoyance…
The hell!
At this moment, Wu shi and the others even had thoughts of dying.
Upon receiving the Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells, Submission of the Sages, they would definitely become so excited that they would even forget their own names.
On the contrary, this fellow thought that it was too noisy, and berated angrily as if he were scolding his own grandson…
Frick, frick, frick, frick (屮艸芔茻)!
Can you be any more arrogant and brazen than that?
This isn’t the most shocking part… The most shocking part of the entire affair is that the chiming of bell actually stopped after he bellowed at it!
In order words, the will of the 4-star master teacher infused within the bell has submitted to him…
The heck!
This is no longer admiration, but submission!
The faces of the master teachers turned green, and they could, they would have pulled off their own heads right on the spot.
As master teachers, they were all worldly veterans, but such situation nonetheless sent them into an uncontrollable frenzy.
Especially so for Jiang Chen.
He had always viewed the other party with hostility. Upon witnessing this sight, he nearly dived underground in fright.
Where did this monster come from?
To bellow at the will left behind 4-star master teachers and frighten them to the point that they don’t dare to chime any further…
The heck!
Even his father wasn’t as savage as that!
“I… I… won’t lose to you…”
Mo Hongyi’s body had stiffened. After a long while, he revealed a ferocious expression.
Ever since he started cultivating, he had been walking around with the halo of a genius. Regardless of occupation, cultivation technique, or battle technique, as long as he put his mind to it, he had always emerged to be the number one!
It was the same for the master teacher examination. He broke every single record in the Master Teacher Pavilion, and his name resounded throughout thirteen countries. But now…
All of his records were getting broken one after another by the person right before his eyes. A strong sense of humiliation sent him into a frenzy.
“I will go out now and take the 2-star master teacher examination!”
Mo Hongyi said with a determined gaze.
He could long have taken the 2-star master teacher examination, but in order to break more records, he had been holding back his attempt. However, after seeing Zhang Xuan hot on his heels, he no longer dared to rest.
“You might be formidable, but your Soul Depth is only 5.1. There’s still a long way before you can take the 2-star master teacher examination. By the time you are eligible, I would have widened the distance between us once more.”
Mo Hongyi’s confidence rocketed once more.
The other party achieved astounding results in the House of Trust, the Supporting Occupation Pavilion, the Puppet Hall, and the Cultivation Technique Ocean, but so what?
The Soul Depth is the basis of a master teacher, and Zhang Xuan only has 5.1.
To take the 2-star master teacher examination, one’s Soul Depth has to be at least 6.0. He wasn’t eligible to take the 2-star master teacher examination.
He might be a genius in the other aspects, but for Soul Depth, the only way is for him to progress bit by bit, step by step.
When he passes the 2-star master teacher examination, he will be able to retain his title as the number one genius. No one will be able to take it away from him!
…
Seeing the bells fall silent after berating at them, Zhang Xuan finally heaved a sigh of relief.
Say, is there something wrong with these bells? Just a single chime or two to express its recognition would have done, but for all of them to ring at once, and to ring non-stop at that… I have already given you much face.
Bastard.
If not for the fact that you’re a public property that belongs to the Master Teacher Pavilion, I would have disassembled you into pieces.
After lecturing for another short while, Zhang Xuan then paused and lifted his head to look at Wu shi.
“Me like this… is it considered as a pass yet? If I haven’t passed the test, I’ll continue…”
He was merely halfway through deciphering the battle technique, but he recalled Ling Xiaoxiao and Wu shi’s words, saying that it would be a pass as long as the bell chimes. Since the bell had chimed time and time again, he should have already passed the examination.
“You have passed…” Swallowing his saliva, Wu shi nodded.
He has already caused a Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells, Admiration of the Sages. If he didn’t give him a pass, the pavilion master would probably beat him to death the moment he stepped out from the room.
“Good!” Upon hearing that he had passed this test, Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief. “Since I have passed, let’s move on to the next test…”
After which, he walked out of the room.
…
In the examination hall.
“According to the records, the Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells should last for a tea’s time. Why would it stop after chiming after just a few breaths?”
At this moment, Vice Pavilion Master Guan and Elder Zhu had already arrived at the examination hall, and they were staring at the fourth door with a perplexed expression.
“Can it be that… the examinee was extremely lucky, and he picked an easy battle technique or cultivation technique which he had read about, and that’s why he managed to achieve the Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells, Admiration of the Sages? However, as it isn’t his original understanding and theory, the chiming lasted for only a short moment before ending abruptly.”
Elder Zhu contemplated for a moment before voicing his conjecture.
A master teacher should possess his own unique perspective. If one were to just copy from others, he cannot be considered as anything above mediocre.
If that is really the case, it is understandable why the Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells lasted for only a moment.
“Your conjecture seems plausible!”
With a grim expression, Vice Pavilion Master Guan was about to continue speaking when ‘Jiya!’ the door opened, and Zhang Xuan was the first the emerge.
Following immediately, the other master teachers stepped out of the room as well.
“Wu shi!”
Upon seeing that the group was out, Vice Pavilion Master Guan beckoned for Wu shi.
He was just about to speak to Zhang Xuan when he saw the vice pavilion master. Due to the esteemed standing the latter possessed, he had no choice but to attend to him quickly.
In the entire Tianwu Kingdom, there were a total of thirteen 1-star master teachers and three 2-star master teachers. Vice Pavilion Master Guan and Elder Zhu were two of the three 2-star master teachers.
Two 2-star master teachers had called for him, how could he possibly dare to keep them waiting?
“What was the secret manual picked for the examination just now?” Vice Pavilion Master Guan frowned as he voiced his doubts. “If it is Tianwu Nine Dan Formula, Air Revolving Palm, or such manuals, we might have to get the examinee to retake the examination…”
The Tianwu Nine Dan Formula and Air Revolving Palm were similar to the Hongtian Nine Dan Formula of Hongtian Academy. They were the two fundamental cultivation and battle techniques of Tianwu Kingdom, and virtually everyone knew it. If an examinee happened to have drawn a technique of this standard for the master teacher examination, it would mean nothing even if they were to receive the approval of the sages.
They were simply too shallow and explaining it can’t prove an examinee’s capability.
“Tianwu Nine Dan Formula? Air Revolving Palm?”
Wu shi didn’t expect the vice pavilion master to think this way, and he shook his head with a bitter smile. “It is… the Undulating Water Ripple Palm!”
“Undulating Water Ripple Palm? What… did you just say?”
Vice Pavilion Master Guan froze for a moment before his entire body shuddered.
“That set of incredible confusing and unfathomable battle technique?”
“He drew that?”
There were also a few others who shared the same thoughts as Elder Zhu, and they trembled upon hearing Wu shi’s words as well.
It was a known fact that it was one of the hardest battle technique to practice in Tianwu Kingdom. To pick that book and induce the Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells…
“If it is the Undulating Water Ripple Palm, then… why did the Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells chime for just a moment before stopping? Based on past records, shouldn’t it chime for a tea’s time straight?”
Elder Zhu couldn’t help but interject.
The crowd also turned to look at Wu shi, curious to hear his answer.
“It is…”
With a bizarre expression, Wu shi said, “Initially, the bell should have continued chiming, but Zhang laoshi thought that it was too noisy, so he reprimanded it…”
He described what he saw just now.
The other master teachers nodded their heads too. Even until now, they still had dazed expressions, and it appeared that they had yet to recover from their shock.
“Too noisy?”
“Reprimanding the Whilom Sage Bell?”
Upon hearing about the events that occurred within the room, Elder Zhu, Vice Pavilion Master Guan, and all the others in the hall nearly vomited fresh blood.
Other people would die just to have the bell chime a few times for them, yet this fellow thought that it was too noisy…
“Alright, since there’s no problem, let’s continue with the fifth test! I would also hope for another genius to emerge from our Master Teacher Pavilion!”
Upon confirming that there was nothing wrong with the test in the Cultivation Technique Ocean, Vice Pavilion Master Guan forcibly suppressed his astonishment forcibly and gave instruction.
It was an honor for him, as the vice pavilion master, to have a genius emerge from the Master Teacher Pavilion.
“Yes!”
Wu shi nodded. Then after scanning his surrounding, he jerked all of a sudden. “Where is Zhang Xuan laoshi?”
He was right before him a moment ago, how did he suddenly disappear in the blink of an eye?
“He has already entered the Unerring Pavilion!”
A person in the crowd said.
After Zhang Xuan came out, he saw Wu shi rush straight toward two elders. Since he had to take the fifth test sooner or later, he decided to enter the fifth room right away. In any case, the first four tests were just as how Ling Xiaoxiao has put them out to be, so he thought the fifth one shouldn’t be too different as well.
“He entered?”
Wu shi was taken aback. Seeing the tightly shut door of the fifth room, Wu shi was just about to say something when a thought appeared in his mind. His eyes narrowed, and his face paled, “This is bad…”
“What’s wrong? Isn’t he supposed to take the fifth test anyway? There shouldn’t be any problem, right?”
Seeing the other party’s face turn pale, Vice Pavilion Master Guan frowned.
He was supposed to enter anyway, why are you making such a big fuss?
“He is supposed to take the fifth test…”
Wu shi panicked, and a sliver of fear flashed across his eyes, “But… I haven’t told him about the rules of the Unerring Pavilion, and the things he should take note of…”
He was about to explain the fifth test to Zhang Xuan when the vice pavilion master called for him. By the time he had realized it, the other party had already gone through the fifth door.
He hadn’t gotten a chance to explain anything.
Meaning to say… the other party entered the Unerring Pavilion knowing nothing.
“It shouldn’t be a problem even if you didn’t explain the fifth test to him beforehand. Which of the examinee who came for the master teacher examination wasn’t aware of the five tests? Don’t worry about it, he would surely have made preparations for the tests in advance!” Vice Pavilion Master Guan initially thought that it was some grave matter, but after hearing Wu shi’s words, he waved his hands casually.
Which of those who came to take the master teacher examination didn’t know about the five tests?
Since they knew, they would surely have looked into the tests beforehand so that they can prepare for them in advance. This way, they wouldn’t panic and err during the tests.
“Made preparations? I would also like for him to have made preparations…”
Recalling Zhang Xuan’s performance in the previous few tests, Wu shi nearly burst out crying.
If that was the case, he wouldn’t have to panic.
But no matter how he looked at it, this fellow seemed to be an ignorant newbie.
If he were to know that the Harmonious Chiming of the Hundred Bells was the highest compliment, how could he possibly have berated the Whilom Sage Bell?
If he had known the tricks for the House of Trust, how could he possibly have brought students of his age over?
If he had known that the Puppet Hall has the ability of self-regeneration, how could he possibly have tried to fix the puppet inside despite having passed the test?
“He… he probably doesn’t know anything. The five tests of the master teacher are something that I just told him about… When I met him yesterday, he didn’t even know the location of our Master Teacher Pavilion!”
Hearing the conversation between the two, Ling Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but speak up.
In an instant, the entire crowd in the examination hall turned to look at her. Vice Pavilion Master Guan, Elder Zhu, and the others seemed to recognize her, and they didn’t get mad at her abrupt interjection.
Ling Xiaoxiao recounted the details of her meetings with Zhang Xuan yesterday and today.
“He came for the master teacher examination not having known about the tests, but he achieved such outstanding results nonetheless?”
After hearing her words, everyone flew into another frenzy.
They thought that this fellow must have been extremely familiar with the tests and had made sufficient preparations beforehand in order to achieve such results. Yet… the other party doesn’t even know the rules, simply strutting into the rooms for the tests!
To have achieved such results so easily…
How formidable is he?
Mo Hongyi’s body swayed violently, and he felt an urge to vomit blood.
He had spent countless hours preparing for the 1-star master teacher examination before he could achieve his results. Yet, he was unable to match up to the other party, who simply came without possessing the slightest idea…
If that was the case, why did he waste his time on those preparations!
“If he knows nothing at all, then he surely doesn’t know that the Unerring Pavilion… has two stages!”
After hearing Ling Xiaoxiao recount, Vice Pavilion Master Guan’s face darkened as well, and his body trembled in agitation.
“This…”
“That’s right. Furthermore, the two stages are just side by side…”
Upon recalling the matter, the others narrowed their eyes as well.
“What do you mean by two stages?”
Unable to understand the anxiety on the others’ faces, Apothecary Hong asked doubtfully.
“On the surface, the Unerring Pavilion consists of a puppet displaying cultivation technique and battle technique, similar to that of the Puppet Hall, but the two are actually completely different! In the Puppet Hall, the two puppets fight one another, and what one is tested on is his ability to guide another. On the other hand, in the Unerring Pavilion… not only is one tested on his ability to discern the flaws in a puppet, one is also examined on his cultivation!”
“That means to say… in the Unerring Pavilion, one has to fight with the puppet. Within an incense’s time, one has to find flaws and use it against the puppet to defeat it. If the examinee is unable to find them, the puppet will not stop its attacks, and it might even… kill him!”
“Kill him?”
Most of the apprentices here weren’t aware that the Unerring Pavilion was that fearsome, and they were startled.
“But those who take the master teacher examination would have to undergo this test, so there shouldn’t be any great danger…” Apothecary Hong Yun could not help but ask.
So many people have taken the master teacher examination, but he hadn’t heard of anyone getting killed during the test. Since those who came before him were fine, he should be the same as well.
“Others might be alright, but he is different…”
Wu shi’s mouth twitched, “There’s a total of two stages to Tianwu Kingdom’s Unerring Pavilion. The first stage is for the 1-star master teacher examination while the second stage is for the 2-star master teacher examination. If it were anyone else, they will definitely come out after completing the first stage. However, as I didn’t explain, it is highly likely that he doesn’t know. If he were to enter into the second stage… What he will be facing is a Zongshi realm puppet!”
“Zongshi realm puppet?”
Everyone was shocked.
Those who take the 1-star master teacher examination usually possess a Tongxuan realm cultivation, so the puppet they had to face was Tongxuan realm as well, in order to make it possible for them to defeat it.
However, if they were to face a Zongshi realm puppet…
Especially a Zongshi realm puppet with nearly no flaws!
This is no different from courting death.
The crowd’s faces turned pale.
This is a situation of absolute death!
Tongxuan realm and Zongshi realm were two completely different levels.
“Hurry up and stop him…”
Vice Pavilion Master Guan shouted.
It wasn’t easy for a genius to appear in their guild. If he were to fall due to his ignorance about the rules, the entire branch would be in deep trouble.
Weng!
Before he could finish his words, the door of the fifth test, Unerring Pavilion, quivered, and a brilliant light shone from it.
“He… He…”
Seeing the color of the light, Wu shi’s body trembled, and his vision turned gray.
“It’s too late… He-he didn’t go for the first stage, he went straight for the second stage!”
Frick, frick, frick, frick (屮艸芔茻)!
These four pitchforks are a slang word in Chinese. The pronunciation is ‘che cao hui mang’. It is a roundabout swear word. Grass is a homophone of a swear word in Chinese, and these four pitchforks refer to grasses in one way or another.
Chapter 311: Thirty Flaws
The air was still with silence.
The worst had really happened!
The first stage and the second stage of the Unerring Pavilion were just beside one another.
Under normal circumstances, before an examinee entered, Wu shi would inform them in advance on how they should trigger the first stage.
Even if he didn’t inform, as long as one was a master teacher apprentice in the Tianwu Kingdom, one should know the rules. Thus, no mishaps had ever happened.
Yet, this fellow just had to be the exception!
Furthermore, despite knowing nothing at all, he simply barged in!
It was one thing for him to barge him, but for him to disregard the first stage and head for the second one straight… Wasn’t his luck way too bad?
“Can’t we enter now to save him?” Apothecary Hong Yun enquired anxiously.
“Once the Unerring Pavilion is activated, it will not stop until there is a conclusion…” Wu shi’s face paled. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he added, “Unless… the pavilion master personally makes a trip down and uses the Pavilion Master Token to forcefully enter!”
“Alright! I will look for the pavilion master now. Let’s hope he can last until then…” Vice Pavilion Master Guan nodded before turning around to leave.
Zhang Xuan was a genius who has broken all of the records of the previous tests. If he were to fall here because of their mistake, the entire branch would have to suffer the wrath of the headquarters.
“Surviving until the pavilion master arrives… Is that possible?”
Wu shi’s face paled.
A Tongxuan realm would be destroyed in mere seconds before a Zongshi realm expert, how can he possibly last until the pavilion master arrives!
“At this point, we can only hope for the best…”
Knowing that there was no other way, Wu shi gazed at the door before him, praying from his heart for the young man’s safety.
…
In the room of the fifth test, Zhang Xuan stared intently at the puppet before him.
Ling Xiaoxiao was right, the first four tests did not differ much from what Wu shi said, so he thought that the fifth test would be the same as well. Seeing that the others were preoccupied with talking, he had pushed the door open and walked in alone.
However, upon entry, he was immediately hit with the realization that something was amiss.
A puppet had pounced at him the moment he stepped inside. Despite that, Zhang Xuan immediately crushed it on the spot, crippling it completely.
Then, a second puppet came rushing over at him as well, and it was clearly much stronger than the first one. If not for Zhang Xuan’s swiftness, he would have been injured by now.”
“A Zongshi realm primary stage puppet? As expected of the final test, it is indeed much more challenging than the previous tests!”
As the strength of the puppet dawned upon him, Zhang Xuan’s eyes narrowed.
In the third test, the two puppets who exchanged blows were only of Tongxuan realm cultivation whereas this fellow was at Zongshi realm primary stage. No wonder so many people were unable to pass the master teacher examination. They would surely be helpless before such a powerful enemy.
“However… this means nothing to me!”
A Zongshi realm puppet might be powerful, but it meant nothing to Zhang Xuan.
After reaching Half-Zongshi, his strength had increased to 1500 ding. In terms of strength, he was already above that of a Zongshi realm primary stage cultivator. Furthermore, when his overwhelming strength was coupled with unparalleled battle techniques like Heaven’s Path Movement Art, Heaven’s Path Fist Art, as well as the eyes of discernment to detect other’s flaws, even a Zongshi realm advanced stage would find it difficult to get the better of him, needless to say, this puppet.
Hu!
As Zhang Xuan immersed in his thoughts, the puppet before him had already rushed up to him.
Focusing his attention on the puppet, he immediately spotted seven to eight flaws on it. With a ghost of a smile, he retreated a step backward, then using his finger as a sword, he aimed and stabbed at a specific point in the air.
Peng!
Although little power was invested in this move, the massive body of the puppet fell backward involuntarily as though it had suffered a heavy blow.
“Continue!”
Successfully striking the other party, Zhang Xuan leaped, dashed forward, and pummeled the puppet’s flaws one blow after another without any hesitation.
Since this was called the Unerring Pavilion, this meant that one should strike at the weaknesses of the puppet. The more one struck the puppet’s weaknesses, the higher one’s results should be.
Previously, the first puppet had dashed over too suddenly and Zhang Xuan had sent it flying with a single slap before he could react. In comparison, this second puppet was significantly stronger, and it would serve as a good sparring partner.
Peng peng peng peng!
Fists, kicks, elbows, smashes… All kinds of attacks landed on the puppet’s body, causing it to retreat continuously.
Ever since his transcension, Zhang Xuan had not let loose and fight before. At this moment, unleashing all his strength, he could feel the zhenqi in his body gushing through his entire body, and an unspeakable sensation of pleasure assaulted him.
Pipa! Pipa!
As the flow of pure zhenqi coursed faster and faster through his meridians, a few bottlenecks which he had struggled with in his usual training was suddenly broken through.
“I actually broke through the final hurdle of Zongshi realm?”
Zhang Xuan’s eyes lit up.
He didn’t expect that this series of offense would allow him to break through the hurdles that kept him away from Zongshi realm. This effectively left him on the verge of achieving a breakthrough to the Zongshi realm.
Advancing to the Zongshi realm meant going up a level of existence. There would be a visible qualitative change in one, be it one’s longevity or stamina.
Despite the fact that Zhang Xuan could already sense himself nearing the attainment of the Zongshi realm previously, he knew that without several months of gruel training, it would be difficult for him to finally take the last step. Little did he know that this single battle would serve as the impetus for this breakthrough.
“This is a good opportunity. I should use this fellow to train for a bit longer first, I’m in no hurry to advance to the Zongshi realm anyway!”
Even though he was delighted at the unexpected gain, he wasn’t in a hurry to achieve a breakthrough.
Once he breaks through to the Zongshi realm, beating up this fellow would be as easy as crushing an ant. There would be no meaning behind it.
Rather, in his current state, he could refine his battle abilities as well as the ability to exploit the enemy’s flaws.
…
“Pavilion Master Hall, he’s not here…”
“Conference Room, he’s not here…”
“Where could the pavilion master be?”
Knowing that the genius was still trapped in the Unerring Pavilion, Vice Pavilion Master Guan rushed through the entire Master Teacher Pavilion without the slightest moment of rest. With the cultivation of a Zongshi realm pinnacle, his movement was as swift as a whirlwind.
Soon, he had looked through all the places where the pavilion master often visited, but there wasn’t a single sign of him.
He knew that the pavilion master had gone into seclusion to cultivate, but he didn’t think that… he wouldn’t be at the Master Teacher Pavilion.
“The backyard!”
Having searched through almost everywhere in the Master Teacher Pavilion, all that was left was the backyard.
At the back of the Master Teacher Pavilion was a gigantic residence, and it was split into numerous courtyards. There were numerous master teachers who lived here, and the pavilion master was one of them.
Moving swiftly, it only took him the span of six to seven breaths to reach the pavilion master’s courtyard. Just as he was about to enter, he heard the roar of a savage beast.
“Why is there a savage beast here?” Vice Pavilion Master Guan was shocked by the abrupt sound.
This is the Master Teacher Pavilion, not the Beast Hall. Where did the savage beast come from?
“Could the pavilion master be in danger?”
Overwhelmed by worry, the various formalities which included reporting his arrival deserted Vice Pavilion Master Guan as he barged in.
“Pavilion master…”
Yelling, he drove his cultivation, prepared to make a move. However, as his eyes fell on the scene in the courtyard, he was immediately stunned.
The pavilion master was in the courtyard, and a savage beast was present as well. But unlike what he thought, they weren’t battling at all. Rather, the former was grilling meat to feed the latter.
A gigantic savage beast was currently eating delightfully, and its pleasure was explicitly shown on its face.
“Guan shi, to come over in such a hurry, did something happen?”
Seeing how the other party barged in without reporting, the pavilion master frowned.
“Pavilion master, something bad had happened! A genius was in the midst of the master teacher examination when he accidentally entered the Unerring Pavilion…”
Vice Pavilion Master Guan knew that it wasn’t the time to be asking him about anything else, so he quickly summarized the situation.
“You mean to say that… he unwittingly triggered the puppet of the second stage?” Hearing those words, the pavilion master became anxious as well. “How foolish! Let’s go!”
Knowing that there wasn’t any time to be wasted, the pavilion master couldn’t be bothered about the savage beast now. He swiftly dashed out of the courtyard.
The two Zongshi realm pinnacle experts possessed exceptional speed. Like a whirlwind, they arrived at the examination hall in the span of just ten breaths.
Expecting anxious faces upon entering the examination hall, what greeted them was eyes widened in shock instead. The crowd stared blankly ahead, as though they had lost their souls.
“What’s going on?” The pavilion master asked in confusion.
Such an incredible genius has entered the Unerring Pavilion and triggered the second stage, shouldn’t the crowd be anxiously anticipating his arrival to save him?
Why wasn’t anybody worried at all? Why did it seem as though they had all turned dumb?
“Pavilion master… lo-look!”
Perplexed, Vice Pavilion Master Guan looked around when he suddenly saw something, and he pointed to something before him.
What he was pointing at was the door of the fifth test. A line of digits was shining glaringly.
“465… What is this?”
The pavilion master shuddered, and he nearly keeled over on the spot.
“This… this should be the score from the flaws he found…”
Vice Pavilion Master Guan swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
“The score from finding flaws?”
The pavilion master’s face darkened, and for a moment, he could feel blood welling up at the back of his throat.
Didn’t you say that this fellow was in danger and that he was about to be killed?
Didn’t you say that he was stuck in the Unerring Pavilion and that he needs to be saved?
What in the world is wrong with that score?
In the Unerring Pavilion, the first mistake found awards one with one point, the second mistake found awards one with two points, the third mistake found awards one with three points… so on and so forth.
If a genius was able to find six flaws and score 21 points, that would already be a groundbreaking feat, a record that would last for at least a century. Yet… 465?
The heck!
“465, which means to say… He has found thirty flaws of the puppet…”
Shuddering, the pavilion master’s face twitched uncontrollably. At this moment, he felt that the world has gone mad.
The movements displayed by the puppet in the Unerring Pavilion were vetted by 4-star master teachers. In other words, their blows were no different from a 4-star master teacher suppressing his cultivation.
Even if the 4-star master teacher unintentionally overlooked some flaws, there should only be at most one or two, needless to mention, it wouldn’t be easily detectable. Yet, this fellow…
Thirty mistakes, 465 points…
Was the puppet created by your family?
“Are you sure that… he triggered the second stage, not the first stage?”
The corner of the lips of the pavilion master twitched for a long while before he forced himself to calm down and ask.
A 1-star master teacher unintentionally barged into the second stage and found thirty flaws in the Zongshi realm puppet… Even a 2-star master teacher examinee wouldn’t be capable of such a feat!
“If it was the first stage, the door should shine blue, and if it was the second stage, it should shine red… When the test was triggered, I personally verified that it shone red. There is no mistake about it!”
Vice Pavilion Master Guan was dumbfounded as well.
He had anxiously pulled the pavilion master here for him to save a genius from losing his life. In the end… the other party was actually having fun inside.
Moreover, hadn’t it only been a while?
Yet, he had already found thirty flaws in the puppet?
Vice Pavilion Master Guan staggered.
Even if they were to gather all the master teachers in the Master Teacher Pavilion in there, they wouldn’t be able to find that many flaws!
After all, this was a puppet left behind by a 4-star master teacher. Unless one’s eye of discernment was above that of the other party, it was impossible to find so many flaws!
Jiya!
Just as the two of them were in a frenzy, the door opened and a young man walked out.
Upon seeing him walk out, Wu shi immediately rushed up to him. “Zhang shi, are you… alright?”
The other party had already passed the five tests, so he could be officially be considered a master teacher now. Thus, he changed his address for the other party from Zhang laoshi to Zhang shi.
“Why wouldn’t I be alright?”
Zhang Xuan stared at him with a confused expression. Then, his face slowly turned red and he said sheepishly, “However… I failed to control my strength and accidentally destroyed the puppet. It… should be capable of self-regeneration too, right?”
Chapter 312: 2-star Master Teacher Examination
“Destroyed the puppet?”
A dark line appeared on Wu shi’s head.
That was a Zongshi realm puppet! Yet, you, a 1-star master teacher examinee, not only found thirty flaws on it but even destroyed it…
If the 4-star master teacher who made the puppet were to learn of it, he would definitely spurt blood and faint on the spot.
This is way too much!
“Since you triggered the second stage, I thought that you would meet with danger. That’s why I asked you if you are alright…” Holding back his dismal, Wu shi explained.
“Second stage? The Unerring Pavilion… has stages?” Zhang Xuan stared at him doubtfully.
He had started fighting with the puppets from the very first moment he entered, yet he didn’t notice any stages inside!
Upon hearing his words and seeing his confused expression, all of the master teachers staggered. If not for their strong self-control, there would have been a blood rain in the room.
“You… only met with one puppet? You didn’t see anything else?”
Jiang Chen couldn’t resist asking.
“Puppet? Oh, I met with two. A puppet rushed at me as soon as I entered but I accidentally used too much force in my slap. It is currently lying over there, and I think that it is… destroyed as well! Could that be considered… as one of the stages?”
Zhang Xuan recalled.
The moment he entered the Unerring Pavilion, a puppet immediately rushed at him. Catching him off-guard, he reflexively slapped it with his full force. Little did he expect to cripple it with just a single blow.
Soon after, the second puppet appeared. As he was too engrossed in the battle, he had forgotten about this matter.
Could it be… the fellow who was destroyed in a single slap was considered as the first stage?
If that was the case, then wasn’t the first stage too easy?
“Destroyed in a single slap?”
“That is the test that you have to undergo for your 1-star master teacher examination…”
…
Everyone was thrown into a frenzy. Jiang Chen could only see the vision before him darkening.
Back then, when he took the master teacher examination, he had to expend all his effort just to match this puppet, and he even nearly lost his life to it. Yet, this fellow… To send it flying unintentionally…
Must there be that much of a difference between our situations?
More importantly…
That was the test you were supposed to take! To think that you would continue on ignorantly despite having sent it flying, do you have to be so boastful?
“Forget it…”
Wu shi was also speechless.
Brother, are you here to take the master teacher examination, or are you here to wreak havoc?
It seemed that you had already destroyed nearly all of the puppets in our Master Teacher Pavilion…
“Since you have passed all the five tests, you can now be officially considered to be a master teacher. However, you still have to pass the Question Symposium before the emblem can be presented to you!”
Taking a few deep breaths, Wu shi forcefully suppressed his dismal and announced.
“Alright!” Zhang Xuan nodded.
He had originally thought that the master teacher examination would be difficult, but to think that it would be so easy.
Given that he was already a 1-star master teacher, he could finally enter the library of the Master Teacher Pavilion to browse through their books!
At the same time, he could look into the history of Kong shi to look for the way to dispel the Innate Fetal Poison in his body.
Just as he was about to inquire directions to the library, he saw Mo Hongyi approaching him with astonishing confidence and haughtiness.
“Wu shi and Elder Zhu, I want to take the 2-star master teacher examination. Please open up the examination grounds for me!”
Seeing this fellow breaking all of his records, Mo Hongyi could no longer hold himself back. He decided to go through with the examinations immediately.
Only upon becoming a 2-star master teacher would he be willing to let today’s matter rest.
Otherwise, whenever others speak of him, they would also bring up this fellow who broke all of his records. In that case, how would he still have the face to go out and meet others?
As the number one genius of the kingdom, he couldn’t accept the fact that he was beneath anyone!
“Take the 2-star master teacher examination?”
“Mo shi only become a master teacher a few years ago, right? He is taking the 2-star examination now?”
“As expected of a genius. His cultivation speed isn’t something ordinary people like us can match up to…”
The crowd trembled.
It had been years since someone took the 2-star master teacher examination. To think that he would want to take the examination at this junction!
Even though they were taken aback by his timing, a number of people with a discerning eye easily saw through his intentions.
Mo Hongyi’s intention was to pit himself against Zhang Xuan and prove to everyone that he was the true number one genius in the kingdom.
“Alright!”
Elder Zhu and Wu shi hesitated for a moment before nodding their heads.
The Master Teacher Pavilion encouraged competition. Only with competition would one be motivated to work harder to improve oneself. On top of that, Mo Hongyi taking the 2-star master teacher examination served as good news to the branch as well.
“I will make the preparations now. You should be able to take the test by today!”
Elder Zhu said. Just as he was about to head off to make preparations, a faint voice resounded.
“That… Since it is possible to take the 2-star master teacher examination today, and it is troublesome to prepare it on two separate occasions, why… don’t I take it today as well?” Zhang Xuan peered over.
Since it was possible to take the 2-star master teacher examination today, Zhang Xuan decided not to waste his time and simply go through with it at one go.
Pu!
Upon hearing those words, everyone in the vicinity spurted blood. The bustling examination hall abruptly fell silent, and everyone stared at Zhang Xuan as though he was a monster.
Troublesome to prepare it on two occasions… Take it today as well…
The heck!
This is the 2-star master teacher examination! In the entire kingdom, there are only three 2-star master teachers… To take it for convenience sake…
You speak as though you are buying vegetables from a wet market.
You want to buy vegetables? I’ll buy it for you then since it is convenient for me…
The hell!
Can you be any more ridiculous than that?
Mo Hongyi’s body staggered.
After witnessing the other party trample over all of his records, he finally made up his mind to take the 2-star master teacher examination. Yet, the other party said that he wanted to take the examination ‘as well’…
A strong stifling sensation rose in his chest and left him on the verge of puking blood.
Are you intentionally doing this to embarrass me?
Fine!
Since you are so adamant on going against me, don’t blame me for getting nasty…
Harrumphing coldly, he gritted his teeth and glanced at Zhang Xuan, “Given the results of the past five tests, you do have the capability to take the 2-star master teacher examination… However, there are prerequisites for the examination. Have you fulfilled all those prerequisites?”
He hated to admit it, but it was clear that the fellow had the capability to become a 2-star master teacher.
But just possessing capability was insufficient.
There were conditions one had to meet to take the 2-star master teacher examination.
If one didn’t meet these conditions, one wouldn’t be eligible to take the examination.
“Oh?” Zhang Xuan glanced over.
“Just like for the 1-star master teacher examination, there is a requirement on one’s supporting occupation to become a 2-star master teacher. One must have at least 2 supporting occupations, and each of them must reach the 2-star tier!”
Mo Hongyi smiled confidently, “Despite my inability, I managed to become a 2-star apothecary, 2-star formation master, and 2-star blacksmith, so I meet the requirement! Do you meet this requirement?”
At which, he placed his hands behind his back and turned to Zhang Xuan. “Given that you’re only a 1-star apothecary, I doubt that you are qualified to take the 2-star master teacher examination!”
“The supporting occupation has to reach the 2-star tier? And there must be two of them?”
Zhang Xuan was taken aback. He didn’t think that there would be such a rule.
Liu shi seemed to have mentioned something like this before, but he wasn’t too clear on the matter, and Zhang Xuan wasn’t too concerned about it at that time.
“That’s right. If you don’t have the supporting occupations, I will have to ask you to leave…”
Since he had already opened fire, there was no need for him to put on an amiable front. Harrumphing coldly, he was just about to continue speaking when the young man before him suddenly flicked his wrist after a brief moment of hesitation. An emblem promptly appeared in his palm.
“This is the emblem of a 2-star painter. I have already passed the 3-star examination, but they said that they don’t have it with them at the moment and it would take ten days for it to arrive. Thus, they gave me a 2-star emblem to make do with it. To think that I would have a use for it!”
“2-star painter?”
“Will that do?”
The crowd spurted blood once more.
Mo Hongyi’s face warped as well.
He just said that the other party was only a 1-star apothecary, and didn’t have the qualifications to take the examination when the other party took out a 2-star emblem.
Did the slap have to be so quick and so hard?
“I need two supporting occupations, right? Here is another one…”
Flicking his wrist once more, another emblem appeared. It was the 2-star beast tamer emblem which he obtained at the Beast Hall back then.
The two 2-star emblems glimmered brightly in Zhang Xuan’s eyes.
“He really has two 2-star supporting occupations?”
“2-star painter and 2-star beast tamer… Not to mention, his fearsome pill forging skills…”
“It will be tough for Mo shi from now on…”
…
Seeing that Zhang Xuan was able to produce the required emblems right after Mo Hongyi challenged him on his lack of supporting occupations, everyone’s focus instantly shifted onto the number one genius.
They wanted to see what he had to say about this matter.
Sensing everyone’s gaze on him, Mo Hongyi’s face twisted. However, he had already come this far and it was impossible for him to back down now. Clenching his teeth, he pushed on.
“Even though you have sufficient supporting occupation, you need to reach the Zongshi realm before you can take the 2-star master teacher examination. Given your current strength, you aren’t qualified yet!”
Just like how one needed to be at Tongxuan realm to take the 1-star master teacher examination, there was also a requirement for the 2-star master teacher examination as well.
If one failed to attain the Zongshi realm, he would be ineligible to take the 2-star examination.
Hearing those words, everyone immediately turned to Zhang Xuan.
Due to the purity of the Heaven’s Path zhenqi, if Zhang Xuan does not propel his cultivation, no one would be able to tell his true strength.
However, the fact that he was able to defeat the Zongshi realm puppet in the Unerring Pavilion made everyone curious about his current strength.
“Zongshi realm… It’s true that I have yet to reach that level. I am only at Half-Zongshi!”
Upon hearing of the cultivation requirement for the 2-star master teacher examination, Zhang Xuan hesitated for a moment before displaying the full might of his cultivation.
Half-Zongshi!
“Even though Half-Zongshi is extremely close to Zongshi realm, it isn’t Zongshi realm…”
“Indeed. From the looks of it, he probably won’t be able to take the 2-star master teacher examination…”
“Still, to be able to find thirty errors on a Zongshi realm puppet and defeat it with the cultivation of a Half-Zongshi… His ability is indeed frightening!”
…
Upon seeing that Zhang Xuan’s cultivation was only at Half-Zongshi, the crowd shook their heads.
The criteria regarding supporting occupation and cultivation were fixed prerequisites that one had to meet to take the 2-star master teacher examination. If one failed to reach that level, they would be ineligible to take the examination. These were the hard rules determined by the headquarters that no one could change.
Half-Zongshi may seem as though it was just a step away from Zongshi realm, but there was a huge distance between the two. If one was lucky, one might be able to achieve a breakthrough within one or two years, but on the other hand, it was also possible for one to remain in this realm for their entire life.
Putting everything aside, if Liu shi and the others didn’t meet with Yang shi, it was highly possible that they might have remained at Half-Zongshi for the rest of their lives.
The conditions for the 2-star master teacher examination were harsh. Just the fact that there were fifteen 1-star master teachers (including Mo Yu and Zhang Xuan) in the Tianwu Kingdom but only three 2-star master teachers showed how difficult it was to become a 2-star master teacher.
“You aren’t eligible to take the examination since you aren’t at Zongshi realm yet. I advise you to drop the idea!”
Upon seeing that Zhang Xuan’s cultivation had yet to reach Zongshi realm, Mo Hongyi heaved a sigh of relief.
“That… Wait a moment!”
Zhang Xuan shook his head upon seeing the other party coming to a conclusion so swiftly. “Since the prerequisite for taking the 2-star examination is the attainment of the Zongshi realm, give me a moment!”
After which, he shut his eyes.
Wait a moment?
Mo Hongyi was stunned.
Wait for what?
Boom!
Before he could react, he suddenly felt the other party’s aura growing exponentially stronger, as though a bird soaring into the heavens.
Opening his eyes once more, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly, “Alright, I’ve attained the Zongshi realm.”
Chapter 313: Meeting Senior
Pu!
Mo Hongyi staggered.
He had him wait a moment, and… and he just achieved a breakthrough like that!
The heck!
Could there be anything more ridiculous than this?
Understanding the various schools of techniques and gathering their knowledge to form one’s own school, that is a Zongshi.
When people close their eyes and opened it, they were merely dozing off. Yet, after closing your eyes and opening them a few moments later, you claimed that you have reached Zongshi realm…
Screw it!
Did it have to be so ludicrous?
Did you have to be so arrogant?
In an instant, Mo Hongyi felt as though thousands of bolts of lightning had struck him, burning him all the way down to his core. At this moment, he even felt like dying.
“He has reached Zongshi realm?”
“It’s true, the aura around him is clearly that of a Zongshi realm expert!”
“He achieved a breakthrough just like that? Isn’t that too simple?”
…
The crowd looked as though someone had stuffed wool into their mouth and their eyes were widened to the point that their eyeballs threatened to fall to the ground.
They had seen people who strived hard and eventually reached Zongshi realm after gaining enlightenment.
They had heard of people who went into seclusion for innumerable years and eventually succeeded.
But… shutting one’s eyes for a moment and achieving a breakthrough… This was their first time seeing and hearing of it.
It felt like a joke.
This was Zongshi realm, the first big hurdle of a Fighter’s cultivation, the gates that shut innumerable people out their entire life…
To breakthrough just like that, am I going mad, or was there something wrong with the world?
“He has already achieved a breakthrough, but we’re still unable to find our way…”
Those master teachers who had been stuck at Half-Zongshi for countless years felt a fiery stinging sensation on their cheeks. If they could, they would like to find a hole to hide in.
Even if humans were born unequal… You didn’t have to make it so apparent!
Wasn’t the difference too great?
On the other hand, Liu Ling’s body swayed.
It was just yesterday night when he advised the other party to train diligently and accumulate experience, or else it would be impossible for him to achieve a breakthrough. Yet, the other party achieved a breakthrough right before everyone’s eyes today, not to mention, he did it just by shutting his eyes for a moment.
Senior, could it be that you already had the capability to achieve a breakthrough yesterday, but you intentionally suppressed your cultivation to spare my dignity?
If that was the case, you might as well not spare my dignity. The blow from this is much worse, alright…
Everyone harbored their own thoughts toward this matter, but one thing they had in common was their shocked gazes.
The actions of this youngster had destroyed their understanding of cultivation.
“Now that I am a Zongshi, I should be eligible for the 2-star master teacher examination, right?”
Actually, Zhang Xuan could have achieved a breakthrough while he was at Unerring Pavilion, but he intentionally suppressed it so that he could train himself against the puppet. All he did just now was to channel his zhenqi for his cultivation to immediately rise to the level of Zongshi realm.
Upon reaching Zongshi realm, his disposition became more refined, and his zhenqi became denser and stronger. Without testing, it was impossible to gauge how powerful he was, but based on the energy flowing through his body, it was likely that his strength had increased by two-folds.
The previous 1500 ding of strength had probably already reached 3000 ding!
Such strength was comparable to a normal Zongshi realm advanced stage!
If he were to meet with the Zongshi realm puppet once more, he would be able to destroy it with a single punch, just like what he did with the first puppet.
“You have reached Zongshi realm, so you do fulfill the condition!”
Elder Zhu nodded blankly in response to Zhang Xuan’s question.
The condition for taking the 2-star master teacher examination was to reach Zongshi realm. Since Zhang Xuan already reached that level, Mo Hongyi could no longer use it as a reason to stop him.
“So what if you have reached Zongshi realm? Your Soul Depth is only 5.1! As long as you don’t reach 6.0, you aren’t eligible!”
Mo Hongyi clenched his fists tightly.
Since he had already offended the other party, he might as well go all the way through!
“That… There is indeed a condition stating that one’s Soul Depth has to reach at least 6.0 before one can take the 2-star master teacher examination!” Afraid that the other party didn’t know of the matter, Elder Zhu explained.
“That’s true, I remember Liu Ling telling me about it!” Zhang Xuan nodded.
Back then, when he was still at Tianxuan Kingdom, Liu Ling and the others had raised the subject while they were talking about Soul Depth. They said that one’s Soul Depth had to reach 3.0 to take the 1-star master teacher examination, 6.0 for the 2-star examination, 9.0 for the 3-star examination, so on and so forth.
Zhang Xuan’s Soul Depth was only at 5.1, so he didn’t have the right to take the examination.
“Even though I am incapable, my Soul Depth has reached 6.0, reaching the minimum requirement for the 2-star master teacher examination.”
Finally triumphing over the other party on one aspect, Mo Hongyi heaved a sigh of relief. With a flick of his wrist, a Stone of Insight appeared in his hands. After a few moments, the number 6.0 appeared on it!
“His Soul Depth has really reached 6.0!”
“Fearsome! Soul Depth is the foundation of a master teacher, and if one’s Soul Depth is unable to keep up, it is useless no matter how high one’s cultivation is!”
“That’s true. It seems like Zhang shi’s miracles will stop here!”
“This is already a miracle in itself! Look at how old he is, he isn’t even in his twenties yet… To possess a Soul Depth of 5.1 at his age, it is just a matter of time before he reaches 6.0!”
…
Upon confirming that Mo Hongyi’s Soul Depth had reached 6.0, everyone burst into an uproar.
At the same time, they felt pity for Zhang Xuan.
He could take the tests for the supporting occupations beforehand, and he could achieve a breakthrough in his cultivation on the spot, but it was impossible for him to raise his Soul Depth all of the sudden!
There was no way around it.
“Alright, since you don’t meet the prerequisite, you should wait by the side. I have an examination to take now!”
After displaying his Soul Depth, Mo Hongyi placed his hands behind his back while displaying a haughty expression and calmly added.
“It is indeed a point for concern that my Soul Depth has not reached 6.0, but… don’t be in such a hurry, give me a moment…”
After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xuan said.
“Give you another moment?”
Hearing those words, Mo Hongyi staggered.
He was on the verge of going insane.
Is he for real?
Different to the case of one’s cultivation, Soul Depth could only be raised slowly with time. I don’t believe that a moment is sufficient for your Soul Depth to reach 6.0!
He glanced at the young man with unfriendly eyes, and this time, the young man didn’t shut his eyes. Instead, he surveyed the surroundings, as though looking for someone.
Raising one’s Soul Depth was an extremely difficult and lengthy process. It required one to put in hard work every day, year after year. It was impossible for Zhang Xuan to wait that long.
Since Elder Zhu was already going to prepare for the examination, it would be best for him to take it along with Mo Hongyi. Otherwise, he would have to make another trip here, and that would be troublesome.
Thus…
He thought of a way, the golden book!
This Book of Heaven’s Path could easily raise one’s Soul Depth, sparing one the trouble and time of doing so.
Initially, he intended to visit Tianwu Academy to accept a few students and induce their gratitude towards him. However, now that Zhao Ya and the others were here, he could simply call them over and find a way to form the golden page.
Just as he was surveying the area for Zhao Ya and the others, he suddenly froze. A familiar figure caught his eyes.
It was the master teacher he met in the mountains last night, Jiang Shu!
“He is also my student, and I have already won his gratitude and trust by helping him tame the Crimson Tiger. If I were to help him solve the hidden traumas in his body now, the golden page may just form!”
Such a thought flashed across Zhang Xuan’s mind. With a slight smile, he walked up and beckoned, “Jiang Shu, come here for a moment!”
Initially, Elder Zhu, Mo Hongyi, and the others were filled with curiosity about what Zhang Xuan was up to after asking them to wait for a moment. However, when they heard his words, all of them staggered, and blood nearly spurted from their mouths.
Jiang Shu…
That is the pavilion master of our Master Teacher Pavilion!
As a 2-star pinnacle master teacher, everyone here has to address him respectfully as Jiang shi. Yet, you called him straight by his name!
Is there something wrong with you?
Not only was the crowd astonished, Pavilion Master Jiang was taken aback as well. He had no idea why the other party was calling for him.
Perplexed, he was just about to walk over when Jiang Chen stepped in front of him.
“Zhang Xuan, what are you up to? My father is a 2-star pinnacle master teacher, the pavilion master of the Master Teacher Pavilion, who are you to order him about?”
This Jiang Chen is the son of Pavilion Master Jiang.
“He is your father?”
Zhang Xuan was taken aback. He didn’t expect this situation at all.
However, thinking about it, everything made sense.
As a 2-star pinnacle master teacher and a Zongshi realm pinnacle cultivator, even the emperor of Tianwu Kingdom had to treat Pavilion Master Jiang with the utmost respect. It was no wonder why even though Mo Yu clearly detested Jiang Chen, she didn’t dare to do anything about him. It was because Jiang Chen had a powerful background.
“That’s right!” Jiang Chen tilted his head upward proudly.
As a 1-star master teacher, he possessed an esteem standing in Tianwu Kingdom. Furthermore, despite the fact that he wasn’t much as compared to those who stand at the top echelon, because of his background, no one in the kingdom dared to disregard him.
Even the royal family held him in high regard.
He was extremely proud to have such a father.
Yet, this hateful fellow was actually commanding his father to come over. Naturally, he was displeased.
“You should go to the side first, I have something to talk to your father about!”
Although Zhang Xuan was surprised that Jiang Shu was the pavilion master of the Master Teacher Pavilion, and Jiang Shu was Jiang Chen’s son, he was quick to recover his composure.
The book compiled on Jiang Shu in the Library of Heaven’s Path only stated that he was a 2-star master teacher, it didn’t mention that he was the pavilion master of the Master Teacher Pavilion. Even so, there were only three 2-star master teachers in the entire kingdom. He had already met with Elder Zhu and Vice Pavilion Master Guan, so naturally, Jiang Shu had to be the pavilion master.
Zhang Xuan thought that he was lucky for the student he casually accepted to be the pavilion master of the Master Teacher Pavilion.
“You…”
Seeing the other party disregard him, Jiang Chen’s face paled. Just as he was about to continue speaking, he was pulled to one side.
“Alright, you should step aside for now!”
Jiang Shu walked up to Zhang Xuan and faced him.
At this point, he was sure he had never met the young man before him.
Yet, the other party addressed him by his name. He couldn’t help but feel slightly peculiar about the matter.
“May I know the reason why Zhang shi called me here?”
In spite of his slight displeasure towards Zhang Xuan’s rudeness, he upheld his etiquette.
“Did you acknowledge a master teacher named Yang Xuan as your teacher yesterday?” Zhang Xuan asked.
“How did you know?”
Jiang Shu’s body jolted.
He didn’t tell anyone about the events that happened last night. Yet, the young man knew of the matter. This shocked him.
“Pavilion Master Jiang has acknowledged someone as his teacher?”
“To become Pavilion Master Jiang’s teacher, doesn’t that mean that the person’s ability is above that of a 2-star pinnacle master teacher?”
“He is probably a 3-star master teacher…”
“When did such a formidable figure appear in Tianwu Kingdom?”
…
Hearing the pavilion master admit to it, a commotion immediately broke out among the crowd.
Pavilion Master Jiang was the most skilled master teacher in Tianwu Kingdom, yet he had acknowledged someone else as his teacher. How skilled must that Yang Xuan be for Pavilion Master Jiang to submit to him?
“It’s teacher!”
“It’s grand-teacher!”
Hearing Zhang Xuan’s words, the eyes of Liu Ling, Zhao Ya, and the others glowed.
“You are…”
After recovering from his shock, Jiang Shu asked carefully.
Since he didn’t tell anyone about this matter… then it was likely that the news got leaked by his teacher.
Could the person before him… be related to his teacher?
“I am Yang Xuan, Yang shi’s, direct disciple. Following the customs, you should call me…”
“Senior!”
Chapter 314: Soul Depth of Zero?
“Father’s senior?”
Jiang Chen spurted blood.
Are you for real? When did father acknowledge someone as his teacher?
Furthermore, you are his senior? If that’s true, then what am I?
Your junior nephew?
Jiang Chen’s face distorted in agitation. Frustration clawed at him as he teetered on the edge of losing his mind.
The others quickly turned their attention to the pavilion master, as though trying to spot any signs of him joking.
“You are Yang shi’s direct disciple?”
Ignoring the gazes from the surroundings, Pavilion Master Jiang took a moment to let this information sink in before he came to a realization. “It is no wonder you are so formidable despite your age. So you are teacher’s student…”
He would never believe it easily if someone were to appear and claimed that to be his senior. However, if the other party wasn’t Yang shi’s student, how could he have known that he had become Yang shi’s student?
And how could he possess such astonishing capability?
To be able to cause such a huge commotion just by taking an examination, he would never believe that Zhang Xuan didn’t have a formidable teacher behind him.
He just met Yang shi yesterday, and Zhang Xuan appeared today. Considering the coincidence in timing, he judged that it was unlikely for the matter to be a lie.
“Indeed. Teacher said that you have met with some trouble while cultivating and that had left traumas on you. He had entrusted me with a cultivation technique and said that as long as you cultivate accordingly, your traumas will be resolved. In fact, reaching Half-Zhizun will not be a problem at all!”
Zhang Xuan sent a telepathic message to Pavilion Master Jiang.
“What?”
Pavilion Master Jiang’s face flushed.
Yesterday, when Yang shi pointed out his problem, Jiang Shu thought that he would have to do several things for the other party before he would treat his affliction. He didn’t expect the other party to send Zhang shi to relay the solution to him.
“Listen carefully!”
After seeing what affliction Jiang Shu was suffering from through the Library of Heaven’s Path, he flipped through numerous books and finally found a solution to his problem. Since he wanted to obtain the gratitude of the other party to form the golden page, there was no reason for him to hesitate in telling him the solution.
Thus, he imparted the complete method without holding anything back.
Soon, he finished relaying the entire cultivation technique.
As a 2-star pinnacle master teacher, before Pavilion Master Jiang heard the entire cultivation technique, he could already tell that it would be effective on his affliction!
After hearing the complete formula, he trembled in excitement.
He could foresee that if he were to cultivate according to the other party’s formula, not only would his trauma be treated, his cultivation would also progress swiftly. Reaching the level of his dreams was no longer an impossible feat!
Pavilion Jiang’s knees caved in, and he kneeled onto the floor. Earnestly, he clasped his fist.
“Thank you, teacher, for the bestowment! Thank you senior for imparting this cultivation technique to me!”
The duo had been communicating through telepathy, so no one knew what the duo was talking about.
Just when they were perplexed over what was going on, Pavilion Master Jiang suddenly kneeled on the floor.
Everyone was shocked.
“Pavilion Master Jiang actually kneeled to this lad?”
“He isn’t kneeling to this lad, but his teacher… Which means to say, Zhang shi is really his senior!”
“Who in the world is Yang shi? How strong is he?”
“Who knows? But to be able to get Jiang shi to willingly acknowledge him as his teacher, he must be at least 3-star, or perhaps even higher…”
…
The crowd clenched their fists tightly.
The highest ranking master teacher in Tianwu Kingdom was Pavilion Master Jiang at 2-star pinnacle. Yet, someone who he was willing to acknowledge as a teacher suddenly appeared. Anyone who heard of this would surely find the matter unbelievable.
“Father…”
Jiang Chen cried.
He thought that the fellow was just bragging and that his father would destroy him. Yet… it was real!
Furthermore, his father even kneeled in submission?
Heavens, you shouldn’t play with me like that…
At the same time, Zhao Ya and the others flushed in agitation.
It was just awhile ago that they thought that since their teacher was able to send Physician Bai Chan running in fear and Princess Mo Yu to clasp her fist to him respectfully, it was just a matter of time before the pavilion master of the Master Teacher Pavilion greets him, yet… Not only did the pavilion master greet him, he even kneeled down…
As expected of their teacher, he was indeed incredible!
Just when everyone was dying from shock, Zhang Xuan’s eyes turned red with excitement.
As expected, diligence does not betray one. At the moment of Pavilion Master Jiang’s kneeling, Zhang Xuan’s mind jolted and the golden book appeared. Flipping it open, another golden page was in it.
Seemed like his previous conjecture was correct.
Only the earnest gratitude from a student could form the golden page.
“With this, I can finally raise my Soul Depth…” Zhang Xuan’s lips curled up.
Boom!
His head jolted, and the golden page immediately burnt into ashes. Immediately, Zhang Xuan felt as though his head was filled with something. All of his doubts from before suddenly cleared up, and his flow of thoughts hastened as well.
“So this is the State of Insight…”
Many confusing issues that he was stuck with previously suddenly seemed clear and orderly to him. Without even checking, Zhang Xuan knew that his Soul Depth must have increased.
The greater one’s Soul Depth, the easier it was for one to find and grasp the essence of something.
In the past, Zhang Xuan required the Library of Heaven’s Path to look for flaws. However, along with the increase in his Soul Depth, he found himself being capable of finding flaws without using the Library of Heaven’s Path, and he could even deduce the solution to them as well.
“My original intention was to use the page to assimilate the contents into my mind…”
Zhang Xuan shook his head.
He had recently collected a huge number of books in the Library of Heaven’s Path, so he intended to use the golden page to assimilate their contents into his head.
Even though he ended using the golden page for his Soul Depth, it was of no consequence now that he knew of the method to form those golden pages, he could just find a way to form more of those.
Calming his mind, Zhang Xuan exhaled deeply. Then, he turned to Elder Zhu and smiled, “Alright, my Soul Depth is sufficient now!”
“Your Soul Depth is sufficient now? What do you mean?”
Mo Hongyi looked over.
Even though he wasn’t present then, he had heard from the others that Zhang Xuan had tested his Soul Depth and it was at 5.1. Thus, he shouldn’t be eligible for the 2-star master teacher examination. Yet, after speaking to Pavilion Master Jiang for a moment, he turned around and said that his Soul Depth had reached the requirement…
What do you mean? Surely you don’t intend to say that… in this short period of time, your Soul Depth has exceeded 6.0?
If it was anyone else who said those words, Mo Hongyi would surely kill the other person on the spot. But… this fellow was different.
With a maximum score of 100, he was able to achieve a score of 130. Despite accidentally trespassing into the second stage, he was still able to find 30 flaws. Just by shutting his eyes for a moment, he was able to achieve a breakthrough to Zongshi realm…
He wasn’t something that common sense was applicable to!
“You… mean to say that… your Soul Depth… has reached 6.0?” Elder Zhu’s mouth twitched as he looked at Zhang Xuan doubtfully.
“I’m not sure…. But I think it should be enough. We can look for a Stone of Insight to test it now!” Zhang Xuan nodded.
The golden page was capable of raising his Soul Depth, his previous experience had proved this. However, he couldn’t confirm how much it would increase each time. After all, no one could guarantee that the previous increment of 5.0 wasn’t an exception.
Thus, Zhang Xuan didn’t dare to phrase it definitely.
When he said he wasn’t sure, the crowd went speechless again.
You don’t know?
Should be enough?
You don’t even know your Soul Depth? You must be joking!
At my age, I had seen countless monsters and geniuses, but this is my first time seeing such a peculiar and frustrating one!
“I have one here, take it!”
Holding back his urge to vomit blood, Elder Zhu took out a Stone of Insight and offered it to him.
Grabbing hold of it, Zhang Xuan focused his mind to enter Heart of Tranquil Water.
Weng!
A light buzz.
“Quick, how much is it?”
“It can’t be that it has really exceeded 6.0, has it?”
“Who knows? If it is anyone else, I will definitely think he is boasting. But this fellow…”
…
Everyone’s eyes were gathered on Zhang Xuan. They wanted to know the result of the test.
Even Mo Hongyi’s breathing hastened unknowingly.
Hu!
Zhang Xuan opened his palms expectantly and glanced downward. However, what he saw almost made him throw the Stone of Insight outward.
“This… What is going on?”
The glowing Stone of Insight had turned gray and lost its radiance. Moreover, there were no numbers on it.
No numbers?
Before he used the golden page, even his Soul Depth of 0.1 was reflected. Yet, nothing was shown on it now, not even a zero. What the heck was going on?
“Could it be…” Gedeng, Zhang Xuan’s heart leaped a beat, and his mouth twitched.
Could it be that while the Soul Depth could increase his Soul Depth, it could cancel it out as well?
The 5.1 which he had painstakingly accumulated has been canceled out?
If that was the case, then it was really darned…
He had just boasted about the matter when this happened… Would he be beaten to death by everyone here?
“No numbers?”
“I thought that he would really reach 6.0. Seems like he’s just bragging after all!”
“Indeed! How can it be possible for one to reach 6.0 from 5.1 in just an hour?”
…
Not only was Zhang Xuan stunned, the crowd was confused as well.
Didn’t you just confidently declare that you had met the requirement for the 2-star examination? Why does your test… reflect nothing at all?
“You sure know how to act. To think that I really believed you…”
“Seems like we’re just thinking too much into it. Soul Depth has to be slowly cultivated, how can it increase on one’s whim?”
Voices sounded from the crowd.
The matter of Zhang Xuan reaching Zongshi realm could still be attributed to his solid foundation. However, Soul Depth was different. The previous test had clearly reflected 5.1, so how could it reach 6.0 all of a sudden? Just the very thought of it was ludicrous.
“Since there are no numbers, this also means that your Soul Depth hasn’t reached 6.0 yet. As such, you aren’t qualified to take the examination. Elder Zhu, there’s no need to delay it any longer. Let’s begin!”
Seeing that the other party’s Soul Depth had not reached 6.0, Mo Hongyi heaved a sigh of relief, and slowly, he regained his confidence.
Continue acting!
Hmph, you screw it up this time, right!
Since your Soul Depth has not fulfilled the requirement, you aren’t eligible to take the examination. You wish to catch up with me? Try harder!
“Un…”.
Looking at Zhang Xuan’s Stone of Insight and noticing the lack of numbers on it, Elder Zhu shook his head. Just as he was about to speak, Pavilion Master Jiang walked over with a grim expression.
“Hold on for a moment!”
“What’s wrong?”
Elder Zhu was bewildered. It was the first time he had seen such an expression on the pavilion master’s face. The crowd also turned their gazes over as well.
Pavilion Master Jiang didn’t reply. Instead, he walked up to Zhang Xuan and picked up his Stone of Insight.
The moment his fingers came into contact with the Stone of Insight, kacha!
A crisp sound and the Stone of Insight was reduced to powder.
“This…”
Everyone froze.
Just like jade, the Stone of Insight was incomparably resilient. Pavilion Master Jiang didn’t even exert any force on his fingers, so why would it break?
“As I expected…”
As though having verified something, Pavilion Master Jiang nodded his head, and a bright gleam flashed across his eyes.
“Pavilion master, what is going on?”
Elder Zhu asked. The crowd also looked at him anxiously.
“As long as one possesses the State of Insight, when grabbing the Stone of Insight while in the state of the Heart of Tranquil Water, numbers should appear on it. All of you had personally witnessed Zhang shi’s Soul Depth reaching 5.1 so don’t you all think that it’s weird that there’s no result at all this time?”
Pavilion Master Jiang asked.
The crowd nodded.
This was indeed the case. As long as one possessed the State of Insight, there should be numbers reflected on the Stone of Insight. How could it be completely blank?
“There are only two possibilities for the Stone of Insight to not display a result. Firstly, one doesn’t possess the State of Insight. Secondly… one’s Soul Depth has surpassed the range which the Stone of Insight could bear. Thus… it isn’t that there isn’t a result, but that… it is unable to show it!” Pavilion Master Jiang explained slowly.
“Surpassed the range which the Stone of Insight could bear?”
Chapter 315: Soul Depth 10.1!
“The Stone of Insight that we use is known as the Inferior Stone of Insight, and it can only detect Soul Depth of 9.0 and below. That is to say, we can only check the Soul Depth of one below the level of a 3-star master teacher. Once it exceeds that level… the Stone of Insight will crumble.”
Pavilion Master Jiang nodded as he pointed at the powder on the floor. “Otherwise, given how resilient the Stones of Insight are, how could it possibly shatter upon contact.
“Now that you speak of it, it does make sense!”
Everyone was stunned once more.
As a precious jade, the Stone of Insight was extremely tough. It would be difficult for even a sword to leave a mark on it. Yet, it crumbled upon contact. The situation was indeed bizarre.
“Pavilion master means to say that… Zhang shi’s Soul Depth is possibly… above 9.0?”
Catching the gist of the other party’s words, Elder Zhu said in a quivering tone.
What did 9.0 mean?
It was the standard of a 3-star master teacher! A fellow who wasn’t even twenty yet had reached such a level?
Upon hearing those words, everyone immediately understood the underlying meaning behind this situation.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
The heck! Just moments ago, you were tested to have achieved 5.1, and it would already be astounding for you to breakthrough to 6.0. Yet, judging from Pavilion Master Jiang’s words, it wasn’t capped at that level…
“It is simple to check whether the conjecture is true or not. I have an Intermediate Stone of Insight with me. We will know the answer once we put it to the test!”
With a grim expression, Pavilion Master Jiang flicked his wrist, and a jade stone appeared in his hand.
Unlike the Stone of Insight Elder Zhu just passed him, it assumed a more brilliant and eye-catching appearance. The lines on its surface were much more compact and those with low cultivation would find themselves suffering severe vertigo from a mere glance at it.
Intermediate Stone of Insight! Every single one of those was incomparably valuable.
In the entire Tianwu Kingdom Master Teacher Pavilion, there was only one of it.
“Senior Zhang, I will have to trouble you to give it a test!”
Pavilion Master Jiang handed the Stone of Insight over.
After the cultivation technique was relayed to him, he had already affirmed Zhang Xuan to be Yang shi’s student. Thus, he began to call him senior.
The pavilion master of the Master Teacher Pavilion was a figure which could even disregard the emperor of the kingdom. If it was anyone else, he would definitely be troubled to have to call a fellow who was younger than his son as senior.
However, after personally witnessing ‘Yang shi’s’ fearsome abilities, coupled with the saying among master teachers that ‘Capability, instead of age, is what that determines one’s seniority’, he did not feel as awkward addressing Zhang Xuan as senior after addressing him once.
“Un!”
Zhang Xuan took the Stone of Insight and grabbed it in his hand. After which, he started to enter the Heart of Tranquil Water once more.
Weng!
Hearing a light buzz, Zhang Xuan glanced downward.
A bright radiance shot out from the Intermediate Stone of Insight, illuminating the surroundings. Slowly, a line of digits floated into appearance.
Upon seeing the numbers on it, everyone was stunned.
For a moment, the entire Master Teacher Pavilion went silent.
Then, an uproar broke out.
“Te-te… 10.1?”
“His Soul Depth is… 10.1?”
They had thought that the other party was bragging, but to think that… it had reached 10.1!
At 3.0, one was eligible for the 1-star master teacher examination. At 6.0, one could take the 2-star examination. At 10.1… It was more than sufficient for one to take the 3-star examination!
“Wasn’t it… 5.1 just now? Why…”
Mo Hongyi was on the verge of tears.
He felt as though the other party was here just to embarrass him.
Putting aside the fact the other party broke all of his records, more importantly, he refuted every single thing that he doubted. When he said that his supporting occupations didn’t meet the requirement, the other party took out his emblems. When he said that the other party hasn’t reached Zongshi realm yet, he achieved a breakthrough on the spot. And the worse part… when he said that his Soul Depth was insufficient, he showed him a Soul Depth that was sufficient for him to even take the 3-star master teacher examination.
Couldn’t you play fairly?
If there was a burrow in the ground, he would definitely dive in immediately. He didn’t even feel like living on anymore.
Lu Xun also felt a sweet sensation at his throat as he nearly spurted a mouthful of fresh blood.
When he reached Heart of Tranquil Water and his Soul Depth was tested to be 1.8, he was so excited that he couldn’t sleep for the entire night. He had thought that he was a genius and that he could wander around the vast world freely. However, when he saw Zhang shi’s Soul Depth, he realized that… the little bit of Soul Depth he had meant nothing at all.
He turned to Mo Hongyi and shook his head in sympathy.
This number one genius had suffered so much blows that… it would be a huge blessing if he could recover this trauma at all.
Zhang laoshi, that’s enough of you!
Even a powerful figure like Mo Hongyi had been reduced to such a state because of you.
Knowing that the gap between him and Zhang laoshi was irreconcilable, Lu Xun gave up on all thoughts of comparing with the latter.
“Reached 10.1?”
Zhang Xuan was also astonished for a moment before nodding in agreement.
Seemed like the golden page didn’t cancel out his previously accumulated Soul Depth. Instead, it was as impressive as before, increasing his Soul Depth by 5.0 once more.
“…”
“…”
Originally, everyone was already despondent from this situation, but after seeing Zhang Xuan’s look of realization, they spurted blood once more.
You didn’t even know your own Soul Depth… Can you not be so dense?
“Zhang shi, it is hard to raise one’s Soul Depth. This is…”
Suppressing his shock, Elder Zhu couldn’t hold himself back any longer and asked.
Soul Depth assumed a similar concept as one’s age. Even if one had a good method to cultivate it, one could only accumulate it bit by bit.
To increase it from 5.1 to 10.1 in an instant, wasn’t this a little too fast?
Furthermore, to not even know the extent of the growth of his Soul Depth…
Could you be any more foolish?
Upon hearing Elder Zhu’s question, everyone swiftly turned over to look, curious to know what had happened.
“This…”
Zhang Xuan hesitated for a moment, a look of difficulty apparent on his face, before he sighed, “Never mind, I doubt all of you will give up if I don’t account for it today. It is indeed true that I don’t know how much my Soul Depth had increased by. That’s because back then when I reached Heart of Tranquil Water, my teacher sealed my Soul Depth, and he sternly instructed me to only unseal it when my strength reaches a certain level… It must be because I had reached Zongshi realm and regained some of my Soul Depth that my Soul Depth experienced a sudden leap!”
Zhang Xuan couldn’t possibly speak about the golden page and the Library of Heaven’s Path, so he had conjured up an excuse beforehand and pushed the blame to that imaginary teacher.
“Sealed your Soul Depth? There is such a thing?”
“How strong must your Soul Depth be that it had to be sealed?”
A commotion broke out.
A sealed Soul Depth was unheard of. But if that wasn’t the case, then there was really no other way to explain the sudden increase by 5.0 of Zhang Xuan’s Soul Depth!
Shocked, they surveyed Zhang Xuan as though examining a freak.
How high must one’s Soul Depth be to require sealing?
And what master teacher rank had his teacher achieved to be capable of such a feat?
Initially, they had thought that Zhang Xuan was harboring some incredible method to raise one’s Soul Depth. However, after listening to his explanation, they realized that his Soul Depth was something that came with him since birth, and it was impossible for them to match up to him.
“Some people are indeed born with overwhelming Soul Depth. Rumor has it that Empyrean Kong shi possessed Innate Saint Soul Depth, which was comparable to that of a 9-star master teacher. From birth, he was already destined to be extraordinary. Eventually, he went on to climb to the peak of the world and achieved many great things!”
Pavilion Master Jiang said.
“Innate Saint Soul Depth? Comparable to a 9-star master teacher?”
Everyone was shocked.
Although they didn’t know how much Soul Depth one needed to become a 9-star master teacher, going by the 3.0 per rank convention, a 9-star master teacher should possess a Soul Depth of 27.0 or above.
A Soul Depth of 27 from birth?
“Kong shi wasn’t the only one. There was a genius in Xuanyuan Conferred Kingdom Master Teacher Pavilion that reached Heart of Tranquil Water at seventeen. During his first test, his Soul Depth had already reached a frightening level of 9.3, which is sufficient for one to take the 3-star master teacher examination.”
As the pavilion master, Jiang Shu was well-informed of a lot of secrets. “These talents may be rare, but they definitely exist! Even so, if one’s Soul Depth is too high and one’s cultivation is unable to catch up, it could possibly result in unwanted consequences. Perhaps it was due to this that your teacher chose to seal your Soul Depth.”
With this, he turned to look at Zhang Xuan in envy.
It was no wonder why a formidable figure like Yang shi would take him in as his student. Possessing such Soul Depth from birth made him a rare genius destined to be a master teacher. As long as he doesn’t die, he would definitely join the ranks of a 4-star master teacher.
“So that’s the case…”
“That’s true. Soul Depth is extremely hard to raise. One could only raise it by zero point something or one point something with decades of effort. If everyone were to start out the same as us, how could there possibly be 6-star, 7-star, or even higher ranked master teachers in the world?”
“Indeed. The world is big, and there are countless experts. Even though Tianwu Kingdom is the largest country among the thirteen surrounding states, we are only a countryside kingdom to the truly powerful countries.”
…
…
After hearing Pavilion Master Jiang’s explanation, everyone came to a realization.
The world was big and it was filled with countless experts. Many things that seemed illogical to them was simply because of ignorance from their lack of exposure.
Similarly, the thought of anyone possessing such high Soul Depth at birth had never crossed Zhang Xuan’s mind. Therefore, when he heard Pavilion Master Jiang’s words, he too was surprised.
However, since Pavilion Master Jiang had justified his case for him, he couldn’t be bothered to refute his words. With that, he turned to Mo Hongyi once more.
“Occupation, cultivation, and Soul Depth, I have fulfilled all them. Mo shi, is there any more prerequisites to taking the 2-star master teacher examination? Why don’t you list them all out at a single go, so that I can make preparations for them together?”
“There isn’t anything else…”
Mo Hongyi felt a burning sensation on his face. His body trembled, and his face was as bitter as a bitter gourd.
He wanted to stop the other party from taking the examination so that he could amaze others, yet… not only did he not amaze anyone, he only made a fool out of himself.
“Since there isn’t anything else, then… I should be able to take the 2-star master teacher examination, right?” Zhang Xuan’s eyes lit up.
“Of course…”
Mo Hongyi suppressed his urge to spurt blood.
He already knew how monstrous this fellow was, so why did he still pit himself against him for nothing? Not only did he lose his reputation as the number one genius of Tianwu Kingdom, he even became an egotistic laughingstock…
“Since the criteria are met, let’s start the examination now!”
Afraid that Mo Hongyi would commit suicide if Zhang Xuan were to continue asking, Elder Zhu hurriedly interjected.
“There are also five tests to the 2-star master teacher examination, and they consist of the same Supporting Occupation Pavilion, Puppet Hall, Cultivation Technique Ocean, and Unerring Pavilion, albeit with a higher level of difficulty. For example, in the Supporting Occupation Pavilion, an apothecary will have to guide the puppet to forge a grade-2 pill, and a painter will have to guide the puppet to create a fourth level painting!”
“These four tests are the same, and the only difference is the House of Trust!”
“The first test, House of Trust, tests the Trust Level of a master teacher’s students. In the 1-star examination, the chosen students can be under one’s tutelage for several years with no age limit. Thus, many people chose to circumvent the rules by bringing a student whom they’ve taught from young. Naturally, the student would be extremely close to them, making it easy for them to pass the test… However, the 2-star examination won’t be that easy.”
“For the 2-star examination, the examinee has to accept a student on the spot and within ten days, one has to establish a Trust Level of 40 with them.”
Elder Zhu explained the rules of the tests of the 2-star master teacher examination.
Chapter 316: The True Test of the House of Trust
“Accept students on the spot?”
“Have their Trust Level reach 40 within ten days?”
Mo Hongyi frowned.
Compared to the passing criteria of accumulating Trust Level of 50 for the 1-star master teacher examination, Trust Level of 40 sounds easier. However, in actual fact, the difficulty was several times greater.
For the 1-star master teacher examination, many examinees brought in young students whom they have taught for a minimum of three years to meet the Trust Level of 50.
But to pass the 2-star master teacher examination, they only had ten days to establish a Trust Level of 40 with their students. The difficulty of the matter was unimaginable.
“The House of Trust examination will be placed at the very last. Both of you can start with the other four tests now!”
After introducing the rules, Elder Zhu turned to Zhang Xuan and Mo Hongyi.
“Alright!”
Zhang Xuan nodded and took a step forward to enter the hall. However, he had barely taken two steps when Elder Zhu stopped him.
“Zhang shi, wait a moment…”
Intrigued, Zhang Xuan turned around.
“Ah… It’s like this. Can you take the examination after Mo shi? I’m afraid that… after you enter, something might happen to the puppets. If so… Mo shi wouldn’t be able to take the test!” Elder Zhu said awkwardly.
This fellow broke almost all of the puppets during his examination. Who knows how long it would take before those puppets could recover.
Elder Zhu was already dreading the aftermath. He was afraid that Zhang Xuan would wreak havoc and damage the 2-star master teacher equipment as well.
If that was the case, Mo Hongyi wouldn’t be able to take the examination.
“Ah… Alright!”
Zhang Xuan answered in embarrassment.
He didn’t think that he would leave such a bad impression on the other party after just one examination.
Of course, if he were to know that everyone thought of his act of taking the examination equivalent to challenging and wrecking a dojo, he would be even more speechless.
Mo Hongyi was indeed worthy of his title as a genius of Tianwu Kingdom. He managed to storm through all of the examinations within a mere two hours.
Even though he didn’t achieve astonishing results like Zhang Xuan, he did break several of the past records.
Then, it was Zhang Xuan’s turn.
It was a total mess. Almost all of the tests mechanisms were wrecked by the time Zhang Xuan walked out.
Looking at the destroyed Master Teacher Pavilion, Pavilion Master Jiang, Elder Zhu, Wu shi, and the others were on the verge of tears… Even though the Master Teacher Pavilion puppets had the ability of self-regeneration, resources had to be devoted to it. Considering all the puppets for the 1-star and 2-star master teacher examinations were destroyed, who knows what kind of heavy price they had to pay before they could revert them back to their original state.
“You have both passed the first four tests. For the final one, House of Trust, I will give both of you ten days to complete the task. You are allowed to accept one or several students, and as long as the Trust Level for any one of them in you is forty and above, you will officially become a 2-star master teacher!”
Elder Zhu began explaining the procedures for the final segment now that the duo had passed the other tests.
“One student is enough?” Zhang Xuan asked doubtfully.
“That’s right!” Elder Zhu stroked his beard.
“Ten days…” Zhang Xuan contemplated for a moment. “Can I just accept a student right now?”
Ten days for a 2-star master teacher examination was simply too long for him. If possible, he wanted to accept a student on the spot and raise his Trust Level to 40. Zhang Xuan had the confidence to do so.
“Calm down, there are some requirements to the student you accept!”
Elder Zhu shook his head. He quickly surveyed the surroundings and said, “For the 2-star master teacher examination, I have another mission to assign to Zhang shi and Mo shi so I will have to trouble all of you to return for now. In addition, they will be leaving Tianwu Kingdom and will be uncontactable for a short period of time! However, please be at ease, there isn’t any danger to this mission!”
“Another mission?”
“They need to leave the kingdom? Why haven’t I heard of it before?”
“It’s fine as long as there’s no danger to it!”
Not expecting the 2-star master teacher examination to be so complicated, the crowd was stunned with the additional mission that even required the duo to leave the kingdom. Nonetheless, despite their urge to inquire more about it, they could only shake their heads while leaving the examination hall with Elder Zhu having no intention to shed light on the matter.
Zhao Ya and the others also glanced at Zhang Xuan before walking out.
Soon, only Zhang Xuan, Mo Hongyi, and the three 2-star master teachers were left in the room.
“Alright, Elder Zhu, you should tell them about it now!” Pavilion Master Jiang gestured.
“Un!” Elder Zhu nodded. Turning to Zhang Xuan and Mo Hongyi, he said, “Actually, what I just told to the others about you having to go out of the city to complete a mission is a lie. This is so that the both of you can complete the House of Trust test without causing unnecessary trouble!”
Confused by the situation, Zhang Xuan and Mo Hongyi exchanged glances.”
“Just like what I previously mentioned, the House of Trust test requires you to accept new students and induce a Trust Level of 40 with them. However, both of you can’t use your current identity to carry out the test. Otherwise, there will surely be countless people who will be willing to come under your tutelage, and it won’t be difficult for you to reach the required Trust Level either!”
Elder Zhu said.
“This…”
The duo nodded.
Even though they didn’t want to admit to it, but what the other party said was true.
Having passed the four previous tests for the 2-star master teacher examination, they were currently potential 2-star master teachers. If they were to accept students now, countless people would definitely rush up to them, begging to be their students. It would then be a walk in the park for the two of them to induce a Trust Level of 40 in their new students.
“If we can’t use our current identity, then…”
Mo Hongyi asked doubtfully. He didn’t seem to be well-versed in the rules of the 2-star master teacher examination either.
“The Master Teacher Pavilion will assign you two new identities and alter your appearances before sending you two into Tianwu Academy as ordinary teachers. Within ten days, the two of you have to use your new identity to recruit students and bring their Trust Level up to 40 to pass the test. In this period of time, you two are not to reveal your identity or contact anyone. Otherwise… it will be taken as a fail!”
Elder Zhu said strictly.
“Hiding our identities and become ordinary teachers?”
“We are not to reveal our identities or contact anyone?”
Zhang Xuan and Mo Hongyi were taken aback.
They didn’t expect the 2-star master teacher House of Trust test to be so bizarre.
But after giving it some thought, it made sense.
The identity of a master teacher was a huge trust booster in itself. If they were to accept students using their current identity, it wouldn’t be too hard for them to pass the examination.
This was even more so for Mo Hongyi. As the number one genius of the kingdom, he would surely have many supporters. It would be a breeze for him to find a few people who had a Trust Level of 40 in him.
However, if they were to assume another identity for this task, it would be a whole new story.
If they were to start from scratch and still be able to raise their students’ trust in them to 40, it would show that they truly possessed outstanding aptitude toward teaching and that they were worthy of the position of a 2-star master teacher.”The reason why I intentionally told the others that you have to leave the city to accomplish a mission is so that no one will suspect anything even if two new teachers were to appear in the academy!”
Elder Zhu explained with a smile.
The duo immediately came to a realization.
With Elder Zhu announcing it, it probably wouldn’t take long before the entire capital knew that they had to leave the city to accomplish a mission. In that case, little doubt would be cast on their new identities when they enter Tianwu Academy.
If no one carries any doubt toward their new identity, naturally, their previous identity would be completely useless.
It would be no different from starting anew.
“Alright, the Master Teacher Pavilion had already prepared your new identities, and these new identities would be able to pass any identity check in the city. Tomorrow morning, following the departure of a few teachers, Tianwu Academy will be conducting a public recruitment to add new blood to their team. Both of you shall attend the recruitment… Just a heads up, none of the staff in the academy, including the principal, is aware of your true identities. Therefore, the two of you can only depend on yourselves. After ten days, you will bring your newly accepted students here. As long as their Trust Level reaches 40, you will be considered to have passed the examination, and we will present the 2-star master teacher emblem to you straight away. There won’t be any Question Symposium for the 2-star master teacher examination.”
Elder Zhu said as he passed two books over.
Grabbing one of the books, Zhang Xuan started browsing through it.
“Liu Cheng, an ordinary teacher who passed the teacher examination in Tianwu Kingdom’s Quanhai City. Twenty-four-year-old, Tongxuan realm primary cultivation, served as a relief teacher in Quanhai City for a year…”
The information of the person he had to disguise himself as was written in the book, all the way from his birth to his present state. The person he was disguising as couldn’t be considered as a genius, but he wasn’t mediocre either. He barely made it as a teacher, and even though there weren’t any fatal flaws on him, there weren’t any glorious achievements either.
Soon, he finished reading through the entire book and memorized everything regarding his assigned new identity.
The preparation made for the Master Teacher Pavilion examination cannot be underestimated. Liu Cheng was a true existent figure and anyone could easily uncover his background with little effort. However, no one knew where the real Liu laoshi was at the moment.
He probably signed some kind of agreement with the Teacher Guild, and in order to allow smooth progression of the examination, he hid himself up.
Turning to Mo Hongyi, the other party had also finished browsing through the book. The content of his book was probably also the identity and the history of the person he would be disguised as.
“Alright, here is a mask from our Master Teacher Pavilion. After wearing this, you will take on the appearance of the person you will be disguised as. The examination will start tomorrow. Within ten days, you must bring your students here to take the Trust Level test. Otherwise, it will be considered as a fail!”
Elder Zhu passed the duo a human skin mask each.
The moment Zhang Xuan placed the mask on his face, he felt a surge of coolness as the mask fuse fully into his skin, making it impossible to touch or see it.
Zhang Xuan didn’t know what his current appearance was like, but when he turned to Mo Hongyi, he realized that the other party’s outer appearance was completely different from before. It was as though he was an entirely different person. Even his aura had changed.
As expected of an object from the Master Teacher Pavilion, it was indeed formidable!
“There is still some time left today for both of you to make any necessary preparations. You can use this time to tie up any loose ends on your side. However, you mustn’t tell anyone where you are going and who you are disguising as!”
After which, Elder Zhu reminded them once more.
The duo nodded.
They were two potential 2-star master teachers for their Master Teacher Pavilion, and naturally, Elder Zhu hoped that they wouldn’t be disqualified due to their carelessness.
Zhang Xuan had no qualms on the requirements of this test. Instead, he felt thrilled.
It just so happened that his original plan was to head to Tianwu Kingdom to accept a few students and earn their gratitude so as to form the golden page. In a sense, this examination coincidentally aligned with his goals.
“Elder Zhu, I would like to read some books regarding master teachers. May I know where they are?”
Before heading to Tianwu Kingdom, he wanted to visit the library of the Master Teacher Pavilion to look for information on Empyrean Kong shi, as well as Fighter 8-dan Zongshi realm cultivation technique manuals.
Previously in Red Lotus City, he had already collected quite a number of Zongshi realm secret manuals. At this point, he only needed a few hundred more books to form the Heaven’s Path Divine Art before he could start cultivating.
In any case, he had ten days to spare. As long as he accesses sufficient cultivation technique manuals, he would be able to use this period of time to reach Zongshi realm pinnacle.
“You wish to browse through the books? The library is over there. However, you are only a 1-star master teacher, so you are only entitled to look through the 1-star library. The 2-star library is still out of limits to you!”
Elder Zhu casually pointed.
“Alright!” Zhang Xuan replied. Then, he started walking toward the Master Teacher Pavilion 1-star library.
Chapter 317: Respectful Bai Chan [2in1]
The 1-star library was vast. The colossal amount of information and techniques recorded in this extensive collection, spanning across the various occupations, was unimaginable.
With a mere glance, Zhang Xuan was filled with amazement.
This library was much larger than that of Tianxuan Kingdom’s Book Collection Vault. Not only were there significantly more books, the knowledge contained within them was also spread over a wider range. Geography, savage beast pills, secret realms, artifacts… It felt as though everything that one could know was in here.
“So many books! I have to finish reading through them before tomorrow morning…”
Zhang Xuan sighed.
Previously, he had spent five entire days to finish duplicating all of the books in Tianxuan Kingdom’s Book Collection Vault. Now, even with his new book duplicating method, it would take at least half a day of effort to finish copying the books in the 1-star library.
“Let’s begin!”
Knowing that he was lacking on time, he started into a sprint.
With the increase of his Soul Depth and attainment of Zongshi realm cultivation, his endurance was much higher than before. Unlike before, he was able to collect books at a faster speed for a longer period of time before needing to rest.
Hualalala!
Rows after rows of books formed in his mind. Slowly, Zhang Xuan lost track of time.
…
…
Physician Bai Chan was on the brink of a mental breakdown.
He had found a residence near the Master Teacher Pavilion, but the price was terrifying. He had to devote almost all of the money he earned in his lifetime for it.
However, in comparison to his life, what did these material possessions count as?
“Young Master Zhang Xuan is at the Master Teacher Pavilion? Is he taking the master teacher examination?”
After finding a residence, he followed his supervisor, Sun Qiang, to the Master Teacher Pavilion.
“Un! The young master is the direct disciple of the old master. Naturally, there is no occupation more fitting for him than a master teacher…” Sun Qiang nodded. “Let’s hurry. Perhaps, we might even see the young master amaze the crowd!”
“Amaze the crowd?”
Physician Bai Chan shook his head, “The master teacher examination isn’t easy. Each of the five tests is harder than the previous. Your young master may be incredible, but he’s still young. He may be able to pass the tests successfully, but it will be difficult for him to amaze the crowd, especially after Mo Hongyi had broken all of the previous records!”
“Mo Hongyi?” Sun Qiang glanced at Physician Bai Chan.
Yesterday, right after they arrived at Tianwu Kingdom, they had coincidentally bumped into this fellow. After which, he had busied himself the entire night looking for a suitable residence for the group. Thus, he hadn’t caught wind of the reputation of this famous genius before.
“That’s right. Mo Hongyi is the number one genius of our Tianwu Kingdom. When he took the master teacher examination, he broke all of the records, earning him the title of a ‘Once in a Millennium Genius’!”
Reverence was reflected in Physician Bai Chan’s eyes. “His Soul Depth even reached an unparalleled level of 6.0! Pavilion Master Jiang once said that it would be impossible for anyone capable of surpassing him to appear in a century.”
“Soul Depth of 6.0? Once in a Millennium Genius?” Sun Qiang was astonished.
He didn’t expect there to be such a genius in the kingdom..
The two chatted while they walked and soon, they arrived at the Master Teacher Pavilion. Just as they were about to enter, a guard walked over.
“Physician Bai…”
Upon seeing the duo, the guard’s eyes lit up and he hurried over to them.
“Squadron Leader Yao, you’re here as well!” Physician Bai Chan nodded.
The identity of the guard was Squadron Leader Yao whom they just met last night.
However, at this moment, Squadron Leader Yao didn’t have the authoritative aura he had yesterday. His face was still swollen, but in his eyes, one could see the irrepressible shock.
Putong!
Kneeling to the floor, Squadron Leader Yao said, “Thank you, Physician Bai, for saving my life!”
“Saving your life?” Physician Bai Chan was bewildered. He couldn’t understand what was going on. “Squadron Leader Yao, what’s wrong?”
When did he save the other party?
“If not for your advice, I might have arrogantly and foolishly tried to seek vengeance on Zhang shi. It’s thanks to your words that I avoided a crisis…”
Squadron Leader Yao said.
As the guard of the princess, he was able to witness the entire process of Zhang Xuan’s master teacher examination and he nearly fainted from shock.
Zhang Xuan was half a teacher to the princess, Pavilion Master Jiang’s senior, the direct disciple of a master teacher who was likely to be ranked above 3-star, an existence who was about to become a 2-star master teacher…
None of those identities was something a mere guard like him could offend.
If not for Physician Bai Chan’s advice, he might have really tried to wreak havoc with the other party. Moreover, even if he were killed by the other party, probably no one would cry for him.
This was too frightening!
“Zhang shi?”
Bai Chan was confused, “You mean… Young Master Zhang Xuan?”
“That’s right! Zhang shi is too incredible. Not only did he break all of Mo Hongyi’s 1-star master teacher test records, he even broke all of the records of the 2-star examination as well. How could I be so blind to even think of wanting to exact vengeance on such a genius? I must be tired of living…”
“Breaking Mo Hongyi’s records? What happened?” Physician Bai Chan was stunned.
“You don’t know? Oh, you weren’t at the Master Teacher Pavilion so it’s natural for you not to know of it. Today, I came under the orders to protect the princess…”
Squadron Leader Yao hurriedly recounted what he saw and heard.
“Trust Level of 85, a score of 130 at the Supporting Occupation Hall, defeating the puppet in the Puppet Hall with a single move… reaching Zongshi realm on the spot, passing the four tests of the 2-star master teacher examination, Pavilion Master Jiang’s senior…”
After hearing the other party’s story, Physician Bai Chan’s eyes reddened, and his body trembled. He was on the verge of crying.
What kind of monster did he offend?
He had just said that it would be difficult for the other party to break Mo Hongyi’s record… Not only did the other party did, he even did so with such gusto…
He had intended to immediately turn against the other party once he purged the lethal poison from his body. Given his connections, it should be easy to teach that fellow a lesson. But after hearing Squadron Leader Yao’s words, he realized that his connections meant nothing compared to Zhang Xuan!
With his 2-star master teacher and Pavilion Master Jiang’s senior statuses, even the emperor would have no choice but to obey his commands.
It was laughable that he even tried to take advantage of the other party’s student…
He had truly tightened the noose on himself… He must be tired of living!
“Zhang shi… Where is he now?”
With a tearful face, Physician Bai Chan asked.
“The Master Teacher Pavilion had assigned him a mission that might require him to leave the capital for a period of time!” Squadron Leader Yao contemplated for a moment before clasping his fist. “In gratitude for your assistance, I will treat you to a meal some other time. I still have something to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now!”
After which, he turned around and left.
“I told you that young master would amaze everyone in the examination, see?” Sun Qiang lifted his head proudly.
“Yes, yes!”
Physician Bai Chan suddenly thought of something, and his eyes lit up, “Since Zhang shi has a mission to attend to, his students will be free. I should bring them to the residence and… serve them properly!”
After hearing Zhang Xuan’s affairs, all thoughts of rebellion vanished from his mind. The tear in his relationship with the other party came from him trying to take advantage of his student, so he was considering of making use of this opportunity to mend the relationship.
“Ah, alright!”
Sun Qiang nodded and the duo walked into the Master Teacher Pavilion.
…
…
“Liu shi, Zhang shi told me to tell you all to find a place to rest first and take care of his students first. He might take some time for his 2-star master teacher examination!”
In the Master Teacher Pavilion, an apprentice walked up to Liu Ling.
“Thank you for relaying the message!”
After the apprentice left, Liu Ling turned to the crowd. “Since senior will still take some time, why don’t we look for a lodging first!”
“Alright. But… where should we live at? We aren’t too familiar with Tianwu Royal City and if we were to live in an area too remote, what if teacher is unable to find us after he returns?” Zhao Ya asked.
“This…”
Liu Ling frowned. “If nothing else works, we should just stay at the inn we stayed at yesterday…”
Before he could finish his words, a shout sounded behind them.
“Liu shi, young masters, and young mistresses, I have already prepared a residence for all of you. Please follow me…”
Turning around, they saw Physician Bai Chan, the person who had taken advantage of Zhao Ya and even acted haughtily in front of them the night before. Nonetheless, at this moment, he had assumed a subservient attitude of a servant, as though he was afraid he would incur their displeasure.
“…”
“…”
“What in the world is going on?”
Liu Ling and the others were stunned.
…
…
“What did you say?”
“Someone broke Mo Hongyi’s records consecutively?”
“Pavilion Master Jiang’s senior? His teacher is a master teacher ranked above 3-star?”
“Passed the 2-star master teacher examination?”
Like a hurricane, the events in the Master Teacher Pavilion swiftly blew onto the streets, and into the ears of the clan heads of the prestigious clans.
Master teachers were the foundation of a country.
And 2-star master teacher was an existence which stood at the zenith of Tianwu Kingdom.
Having passed the examination and broken all of Genius Mo Hongyi’s record, it would be impossible to conceal the news even if the Master Teacher Pavilion wanted to.
“Such a formidable figure actually existed in our kingdom? Men, send an edict to bestow this Zhang shi the name of King Xuan. He will be permitted to enter the royal palace freely without requiring a summon…”
At the topmost throne in the royal palace, a middle-aged man declared after reading the report in his hands.
However, before he could finish his words, he shook his hands hastily. “Wait, these seem too crude. Send someone to stand guard at the Master Teacher Pavilion, and as soon as Zhang shi appears, inform me. I want to greet him personally!”
“Greet him personally? Your Majesty, this…”
The officials were taken aback by the emperor’s words.
Regardless of the situation, he was the emperor of a Tier 1 Kingdom. To personally pay respects to a youngster who wasn’t even twenty yet… Wasn’t this making a big fuss out of nothing?
“Say no more, I have made up my mind!”
The middle-aged man harrumphed.
Even though this Zhang Xuan hadn’t passed the 2-star master teacher examination yet, given his potential, it was only a matter of time before he reached 3-star or even higher.
Such a figure would be a strong existence who wielded the power to reign supreme no matter where he goes. Therefore, despite him being an emperor, he didn’t dare to be impolite to him.
“Yes!”
The crowd could only nod in agreement.
…
…
“With such splendid results, he would surely pass the 2-star master teacher examination. Help me prepare a luxurious gift! Send it over to Zhang shi as soon as he appears…”
In a luxurious residence in the capital, a middle-aged man, too, caught wind of the news and quickly instructed.
Seconds later, he slammed on the table and added, “No, I will send the gift over myself!”
“Yes!”
The guard before him nodded.
“Right, have you found the young master yet?”
After issuing his instructions, the middle-aged man asked.
“Reporting to the old master, we had found the young master. Someone had stripped him naked and hung him on a tree outside the city…” The guard hesitated for a moment before clasping his fist and reporting on the matter.
“What? Someone dared to strip my son bare and hang him on a tree? Who is it? He is courting death…”
With a steeled face, the middle-aged man’s face turned crimson and looked as though he was about to burst into flames.
For the son of the clan head of one of the Three Great Clans of the capital to be humiliated like that, the person was disregarding the prestige of their Ji Clan and challenging their authority!
“Young master didn’t speak of it, so I don’t know!”
Frightened by the clan head’s sudden outburst, the guard bowed fearfully in haste.
“Bring him to me!”
The middle-aged man waved his hand.
“Yes!” The guard hurried out. Soon, a young man with a swollen red face walked in.
If Zhang Xuan was here, he would surely recognize the other party. He was the 1-star painter who had challenged him, Ji Mo gongzi.
However, the current Ji Mo was stripped of his carefree and dashing look. His body, covered with red swells, was only covered by a thin layer of clothes, draped over him. If he were to claim that he had just returned from begging for food on the streets, people would definitely believe him.
“Father, you have to exact revenge for me…”
Upon entering, tears immediately streamed down Ji Mo gongzi’s face. Kneeling on the ground, he wailed sorrowfully.
“Rest assured! Whoever it was who dared to challenge the authority of our Ji Clan and humiliate my son, even if he is a god from the heavens, I will make sure to leave holes in him!” Upon seeing the state his son was in, the middle-aged man roared furiously. A frenzied and powerful aura gushed out from him.
“Thank you, father, for standing up for me!”
Hearing his father’s words, Ji Mo gongzi’s eyes reddened.
“Speak, who is the one who left you in such a state? I will send my men over to tear him apart now!”
Waving his hands grandly, the middle-aged man displayed the majestic disposition of the clan head of one of the Three Great Clans.
“It’s those subordinates of mine. Oh, no, they aren’t the mastermind. The mastermind is a fellow who had just passed the painter examination. I have no idea what he did, but he made my subordinates betray me and hang me on a tree. I want him dead…”
Ji Mo gongzi howled furiously.
“A painter? Hmph! A mere member of the Lower Nine Paths occupation dares to challenge our Ji Clan? I will find their guild leader right now and have him hand this fellow over!” A furious gleam shone in the middle-aged man’s eyes as he exuded a domineering aura. “Has our Ji Clan has been keeping a low profile for too long that people are climbing over our heads? It’s time to show them our might!”
“Indeed…” Hearing father’s words, Ji Mo gongzi suddenly felt a gush of hot blood stream through his body. The excitement left his eyes red once more.
It had been long since the Ji Clan made a move in public and many people had already forgotten about its existence.
It was time to let them know that Ji Clan was still a huge existence in Tianwu Royal City. No matter how powerful the Painter Guild was, it was just an occupation of the Lower Nine Paths. What could they do to them?
“Right, what’s the name of the person who did you in?”
The middle-aged man asked.
“Reporting to father, that person is called Zhang Xuan. Despite having just passed the painter examination, he dares to call himself a genius!” Ji Mo gongzi’s eyes turned red. “Wait until I get my hands on him. I will show him what does suffering worse than death feels like…”
However, as he was howling ferociously, he suddenly felt that something was amiss. The room was too quiet. Turning around, he saw his father who was still shouting passionately a moment ago stare at him with widened eyes.
“Father, what’s wrong…”
He was perplexed.
Before he could finish his words, a gigantic foot came flying at him. The middle-aged man roared.
“What’s wrong your head! You profligate son, why don’t you die outside…”
Peng!
Before Ji Mo gongzi could react, he was already sent flying.
“Men, tie this beast up. Present him to Zhang shi as an apology!”
The middle-aged man’s lips quivered.
“Apology?”
The corners of Ji Mo gongzi’s mouth twitched. His vision turned dark and unable to hold himself back, he cried.
Didn’t you say that you would exact revenge for me? Didn’t you say that you would show them the might of the Ji Clan?
What did kicking me and apologize mean?
Can anyone tell me… What in the world is going on?
…
…
After half a day and an entire night of effort, Zhang Xuan finally managed to duplicate all of the books in the 1-star library of the Master Teacher Pavilion into the Library of Heaven’s Path.
Zhang Xuan was in a state of extreme fatigue.
He had expended his mental strength too vigorously. Despite his Soul Depth reaching 10.1, he still found himself on the brink of collapsing.
He had to rest on the spot for an hour before his fatigue alleviated.
Browsing through the Library of Heaven’s Path, Zhang Xuan frowned.
“To think that there isn’t any information on Empyrean Kong shi nor any Zongshi realm cultivation technique manuals…”
These were the two main purposes for Zhang Xuan’s visit to the library. Yet… he didn’t accomplish a single one of them.
“It must be because 1-star master teachers didn’t have the right to come into contact with a figure of Kong shi’s level yet. As for cultivation technique, 1-star master teachers mainly possesses Tongxuan realm cultivation. Half-Zongshi and Zongshi realm cultivation technique manuals are useless to them…”
After a short while of pondering, Zhang Xuan shook his head.
Seemed like he was expecting too much.
1-star master teachers stood at the very bottom of the master teacher occupation so it was natural that many secrets were out of their reach. After all, Kong shi was known as the greatest teacher in the world, the leader of all master teachers. How could the background of such an incredible figure be placed casually in such a place for the browsing of others?
Even if there were such books, it would only record his general details. It was impossible for the matter regarding Innate Fetal Poison to be recorded in it.
“Forget it. Even if I don’t have any Zongshi realm cultivation technique secret manuals, there are still quite a number of Tongxuan realm and Half-Zongshi realm cultivation technique secret manuals. I can modify them slightly and pass them to Zhao Ya and the others to cultivate.”
While there were no Zongshi realm cultivation technique secret manuals, there were thousands of manuals on the other cultivation realm. As long as he was given sufficient time to arrange the information, he would surely be able to create a set of cultivation techniques suited for Zhao Ya and the others to cultivate.
After which, Zhang Xuan turned his focus onto the books on master teachers.
After a brief look, Zhang Xuan finally understood why master teachers were able to stand at the zenith of all occupations.
Seeing through flaws and weaknesses in one’s cultivation technique weren’t abilities that a master teacher was born with. It was developed through continuous hard work and study.
According to the books, there were several hundred thousand of methods to determine whether there was a problem in a person’s cultivation technique. Similar to how a physician diagnosed his patients, there was a need for master teachers to know of all these to peer into what others couldn’t see and solve the problem.
Due to the high difficulty level of the occupation, they were granted utmost respect.
“I should study them in the next ten days…”
While Zhang Xuan had assumed the status of a master teacher and solved many problems, he mainly relied on his Library of Heaven’s Path to do so. In truth, he didn’t know much about the techniques a master teacher used. Thus, it would be good to use the next ten days to learn more about master teacher as an occupation and augment his knowledge, so that he could be more fitting of his position as a 2-star master teacher.
After glancing through the books on master teachers, he proceeded to scan through the various other genres as well.
Even though there were many types of books in the Master Teacher Pavilion, they were mainly focused on the common occupations. There were very few books on the sidelined occupations such as poison master.
Seemed like the Master Teacher Pavilion wasn’t omnipotent. Despite master teachers possessing the State of Insight, allowing them to learn and memorize things better than the average cultivator, it was impossible to them to be adept on every single occupation in the world.
“While there aren’t many books on the other occupations, there are quite a few of them on blacksmiths here!”
His eyes fell on a pile of books.
They were books regarding equipment forging and they added up to several ten thousands.
Zhang Xuan could be said to be completely ignorant to the field of smithing.
There was a Blacksmith Guild in Tianxuan Kingdom, but he hadn’t been there, so naturally, he hadn’t read any books on it.
“All equipment can be divided into five levels, God, Saint, Spirit, Phantom, and Mortal. Each of these levels can be split further down to four tiers, low-tier, intermediate-tier, high-tier, and pinnacle…”
Casually flipping open the book, Zhang Xuan read through the introduction.
“Cultivators of the 9 dans of a Fighter would usually use only Mortal and Phantom equipment. On the other hand, only blacksmiths of 4-star and above are capable of forging spirit equipment…”
Zhang Xuan swiftly browsed through the book.
“I didn’t know that there are so many levels for equipment…”
He had seen the puppet in the Master Teacher Pavilion, and he was perplexed over it as it was unlike any other equipment he had seen before. However, at this moment, he finally realized that it was a Spirit equipment.
Spirit equipment meant that the equipment possessed a soul.
For example, if there was a sword soul within a saber, it would be considered as a Spirit equipment.
The strength of this kind of equipment far surpasses that of any ordinary weapons.
However, due to their prohibitive value, there might not be more than a handful of them in the entire Tianwu Kingdom.
“This isn’t just applicable for equipment. Even cultivation techniques and battle techniques have different levels as well!”
After browsing through the books on equipment, he was reminded of the book he just read about cultivation techniques.
Cultivation techniques were also divided into five levels, God, Saint, Spirit, Phantom and Mortal, and they were divided into four tiers as well, low-tier, intermediate-tier, high-tier, and pinnacle.
For example, the Hongtian Nine Dan Formula of the Hongtian Academy was only a low-tier Mortal cultivation technique.
Most of the cultivation techniques of the Tianxuan Kingdom royal family were only at intermediate-tier Mortal as well.
Due to the low level of these cultivation techniques, the speed of cultivation would be slow, and the purity of the zhenqi would be poor as well.
As Tianxuan Kingdom didn’t possess higher level cultivation techniques, the differentiation between the tiers wasn’t apparent. Only after reading through these books did Zhang Xuan gain enlightenment on this issue.
“I wonder what level the Heaven’s Path Divine Art is at!”
Knowing that the cultivation techniques he had encountered in the past were lacking, Zhang Xuan suddenly thought about the Heaven’s Path Divine Art which he was cultivating.
This Heaven’s Path Divine Art was formed through the compilation of the correct cultivation method contained in innumerable books by the Library of Heaven’s Path. Regardless of whether it was his cultivation speed or the quality of his zhenqi, it was far superior to that of any ordinary cultivation technique.
Even though Zhang Xuan wasn’t too sure what level it was at, it was probably at minimum Saint level, or perhaps even God level!
It was because of this incredible cultivation technique that allowed him to cultivate the incomparably pure Heaven’s Path zhenqi, allowing him to easily clear up blocked meridians.
“Alright, since I’ve already duplicated these books in the Library of Heaven’s Path, I can slowly browse through them later on. It’s getting late now, I should make my way to Tianwu Academy!”
Glancing outside, the night had already passed, and the sun had risen. Stretching his back, Zhang Xuan walked out with widened strides.
His priority now was to pass the final test of the 2-star master teacher examination. He could take his time to browse through those books later on.
“Zhang shi, the public recruitment exercise of Tianwu Academy is about to start. Let’s hurry!”
The moment he stepped out of the library, he was approached by Mo Hongyi.
The Mo Hongyi at this moment looked like a completely different person. Around twenty-six to twenty-seven-year-old, his face was slightly ashen. There was a stark difference between his original cold but dashing face.
“Alright!”
Knowing that it would be hard to get into Tianwu Academy once he missed the public recruitment today, Zhang Xuan nodded.
After stepping out of the Master Teacher Pavilion, they walked along the streets for an hour before a majestic campus appeared before their eyes.
Built against the mountain and encompassed by a river, the academy was vast and grand! Countless students walked to and fro the gates, and the harmonious reciting could be heard. It had a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
In comparison to this academy, Hongtian Academy seemed no different from a countryside academy.
The duo stopped before the gates.
They had arrived at Tianwu Academy!