Chapter 1109: Big Trouble

Hall Master Xing stood frozen, not quite catching what was said.

"Beating what?"

"The guild..." Lowering his head for a glance, Hall Master Liao reconfirmed the content on the jade slip in his palm, then spoke.

"Guild? What guild?" Hall Master Xing's eyes widened. "President Ruan offended some other guild?"

"No, it's about watching someone beat their own guild... It seems, it seems the Spirit Awakener Guild was successfully awakened by someone and came to life!"

Hall Master Liao said.

"Awakened by someone?"

Hall Master Xing's eyes bulged.

Though not a spirit awakener, he knew the guild was an inanimate object, and its size made awakening far more difficult than for weapons. For this thing to be successfully awakened... just which spirit awakener was so heaven-defying?

"It's said to be a spirit awakener from elsewhere, named Sun Qiang!" Hall Master Liao continued.

"Sun Qiang?" Hall Master Xing shook his head.

He knew little about spirit awakeners, and this name was unheard of.

"By the way, this Sun Qiang can even awaken something as inanimate as a guild. If he helps stabilize my primordial spirit, would the effect be even greater?" Hall Master Xing's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Not bad!"

Hall Master Liao quickly nodded.

He knew President Ruan and the others' strength well; they absolutely couldn't awaken such a large guild. Since Sun Qiang could do it, it meant he surpassed them in the spirit awakener profession.

If they could get him to help, the hall master might truly pass the assessment, obtain the inheritance, and resolve this crisis.

"Let's go take a look!"

Filled with excitement, the two stopped lingering and quickened their pace.

Before long, they indeed saw the tall building of the Spirit Awakener Guild standing not far away, with a young man suspended in midair, pointing at it angrily and shouting loudly.

The former, in turn, looked utterly wronged, lowering its long neck and occasionally rubbing its huge head against the hem of the latter's clothes.

"This..."

Though they had heard the news of the Spirit Awakener Guild being awakened, seeing it with their own eyes still filled them with shock.

Such a massive building kept twisting its body, with coatings and sand falling off in layers, dust flying, a terrifying sight.

Most critically... this huge thing was actually fawning over a young man, showing all kinds of affection, and looking utterly aggrieved... Hall Master Xing and Hall Master Liao both felt their worldview collapse.

"President Ruan, Vice President Chen, Vice President Xu!" Approaching, Hall Master Liao introduced, "This is Hall Master Xing of our War Master Hall."

"I've long admired your reputation..."

The three strong members of the Spirit Awakener Guild quickly bowed.

"We're in the same city, yet I've never come to pay my respects. I'm ashamed..."

After exchanging pleasantries, Hall Master Xing looked forward. "This Spirit Awakener Sun Qiang seems unfamiliar..."

"He just arrived in Qingyuan City, and his awakening art makes us look up to him. If the hall master truly wants to purify his soul and rapidly advance his cultivation, seeking his awakening will surely yield better results!" President Ruan said.

This hall master of the Master Teacher Hall was too strong; having her perform the awakening would put great pressure on her.

"I'm afraid I'll have to trouble the president to introduce me..."

Hall Master Xing quickly nodded.

"I've only just met him. If he's unwilling, there's nothing to be done..."

President Ruan acknowledged.

"By the way, President Ruan, may I ask why this Spirit Awakener Sun Qiang was beating the guild?" Hall Master Liao asked from the side.

This matter baffled him completely.

Since he had successfully awakened it, why was he teaching it a lesson?

"The Spirit Awakener Guild, having just been awakened, lacks judgment. It directly trampled two people to death just now, which enraged him," President Ruan said with a wry smile.

"Trampled people to death?" Hall Master Liao and Hall Master Xing were both startled.

"Yes, the Ji'bei Twin Heroes, Cang Xu and Dao Kou, were both crushed on the spot..." President Ruan recounted the incident in detail.

"The Ji'bei Twin Heroes were notorious, killing countless people. Who would have thought they'd die here..."

After hearing the account, the two war masters stood stunned, then smiled bitterly.

The Ji'bei Twin Heroes were quite infamous; if not for their strength and hiding in the swamps, they would surely have been killed long ago and wouldn't have survived until now.

Last time, the Qingyuan Empire's royal family sent people to encircle them, but they escaped, and the matter was dropped.

Who would have thought they'd dare come to Qingyuan City, only to end up... trampled to death by a building... truly a fitting retribution.

As they were sighing, the young man's scolding voice rang out ahead.

"Alright, stop playing the victim here. Sign a contract with President Ruan!"

Zhang Xuan was furious.

A sapling won't grow straight without trimming; a person won't behave without discipline!

It had just been awakened, its intelligence too low. Without proper discipline, wouldn't it go around killing people?

He never liked causing trouble and always acted prudently—how did he end up with such a creature?

He was disappointed that it didn't live up to expectations!

Seeing him angry, the guild dared not resist anymore. Full of grievance, it stretched out its long neck and came before President Ruan.

Soon, the contract was signed.

"Thank you, Master Sun!"

Having tamed the guild, President Ruan breathed a sigh of relief and clasped her fists to the young man.

"No need to be polite..." Zhang Xuan quickly waved his hand. "This fellow is stubborn and hard to reform, killing people at will. You'll have to take great care in the future!"

"The Ji'bei Twin Heroes had a poor reputation; their deaths were deserved. Rest assured, we in the Spirit Awakener Guild will handle the aftermath. Master Sun need not worry," President Ruan said with a smile.

Killing two Primordial Spirit realm experts so openly would indeed cause panic, but for the Spirit Awakener Guild, it might not be a bad thing.

Even though spirit awakeners relied on the rules of the Master Teacher Hall and no one dared trouble them, their combat strength was weak, inviting covert covetousness. But with the guild having just trampled two Primordial Spirit realm experts, once the news spread, it would deter countless schemers.

For them, this was entirely beneficial.

"Regardless, they died because of me. Here are two thousand high-grade spirit stones. If there's a chance, give them to their descendants or disciples."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Though he hadn't intended to kill the so-called Ji'bei Twin Heroes, they died because of him. Even if they deserved it, it was still indirectly by his hand, and he felt uneasy.

Causing trouble was not his wish.

He only wanted to be a quiet handsome man, yet trouble kept coming. The thought was disheartening.

"This... very well, we'll handle this matter properly." Seeing his attitude, President Ruan hesitated for a moment, then took the spirit stones and nodded, admiring the young man even more.

Taking responsibility—that was a true master teacher.

Not to mention others, it was said that back then, Confucius also caused many troubles, yet he made countless people submit and became the teacher of all ages.

"Then I'll trouble you..."

Relieved, Zhang Xuan remembered something and added, "By the way, you see, I'm a low-key person and don't want many people to know about this. Please, President Ruan, minimize the impact..."

"Low-key?"

President Ruan's face twitched.

Coming here and turning the entire guild into this, killing two Primordial Spirit realm experts on the spot... this was called low-key?

Probably no one could be more high-profile than you!

Still, since he made the request, she nodded. "Rest assured, Master Sun, we'll warn the surroundings and impose a gag order to keep it from spreading..."

Keeping the news from spreading also benefited them, making people think the guild had a super expert in awakening, making it safer.

"By the way, Master Sun, let me introduce you."

After a few more exchanges, President Ruan pointed not far away. "These two are Hall Master Xing Tianming of the War Master Hall and Hall Master Liao Bujin of the Heart Hall."

"Hall Master of the War Master Hall?"

Zhang Xuan was startled.

The most important thing in coming to Qingyuan Empire was to lead the Xuanxuan Society members to exchange with the War Master Hall. He thought they'd meet in three days, but here they were.

"Yes. Hall Master Xing, Hall Master Liao, this is Spirit Awakener Sun Qiang. Additionally, he is also a master teacher," President Ruan said.

"Master teacher?" Hall Master Xing looked over. "May I ask which Master Teacher Academy Master Sun belongs to?"

"I..." Just about to say he came from Hongyuan Empire, Zhang Xuan stopped himself.

Saying that would reveal his identity, and his earlier lie about being Sun Qiang would be exposed on the spot, making things even more awkward.

"I study under my teacher and haven't joined any Master Teacher Academy branch yet... I only took the rank assessment at a first-rank empire's Master Teacher Academy."

He quickly changed his words.

This wasn't entirely false.

He indeed hadn't joined any Master Teacher Academy, learning on his own and growing to where he was now.

"I see..."

Hall Master Xing's expression turned serious.

There were many wandering master teachers across the continent who didn't join academies; it wasn't unusual.

But without joining an academy, relying solely on studying under a teacher, to be so young and possess such strength, and to master the spirit awakener profession so profoundly—this teacher of his must be extraordinary!

"I've heard of Master Sun's profound mastery of the spirit awakener profession, so I've come specifically to ask you to help stabilize my primordial spirit..."

After some small talk, Hall Master Xing looked at him expectantly.

"Me?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Through his studies, he knew spirit awakeners had this ability, but he hadn't expected the first to come to him would be... this hall master of the War Master Hall.

"Yes. If Master Sun can agree, I would be extremely grateful..."

Hall Master Xing hurriedly said.

"It's nothing really, quite simple. However... one of my weapons has fallen into slumber and needs awakening. If Hall Master Xing can wait, how about I awaken it first, then help you?"

Zhang Xuan said.

Since the other party had come so sincerely to ask for help, stabilizing his primordial spirit was no big deal... a mere trifle.

Of course, the priority was to revive the Golden Origin Cauldron first.

"This..."

Exchanging glances, Hall Master Xing and Hall Master Liao both frowned.

Awakening the spirit of a sleeping weapon—they had heard even spirit awakeners found it difficult, and most critically, it consumed immense energy. Once performed, it might render them unable to awaken for many days, while their matter couldn't be delayed.

"Master Sun, may I have a word in private?"

After a moment's hesitation, Hall Master Xing said.

"You two talk. I've just signed a contract with the guild and need to get familiar with it..."

Hearing this, President Ruan knew they had important matters to discuss. Tactfully smiling, she clasped her fists and left.

Vice President Chen and Vice President Xu also followed, walking away.

"What matter is so mysterious?"

Seeing the dignified hall master of the War Master Hall want to speak privately, Zhang Xuan shook his head, waved his hand to form a soundproof barrier around them, and looked over.

"I apologize, but our War Master Hall has recently encountered some trouble. I need to purify my primordial spirit as soon as possible to pass the Heart Hall's demon trial and rapidly enhance my strength to face the danger... Otherwise, we'll face great trouble! So... I hope Master Sun can perform the awakening for me first. Whatever you need, the War Master Hall will not refuse!"

Hall Master Xing gritted his teeth and said.

"Great trouble..."

Zhang Xuan was startled, then horrified.

What kind of situation, what kind of enemy, could make even the hall master of the War Master Hall so anxious?

The person capable of creating such trouble must be incredibly heaven-defying!

In an instant, Zhang Xuan was filled with utmost admiration for this person.