Chapter 1185: Successfully Breaching the Hall!

"What, you don't accept that you're wrong? Fine, I'll explain it to you now!"

Seeing the other party's attitude—clearly making so many mistakes yet still unwilling to learn humbly—Zhang Xuan felt a bit displeased, his tone carrying a hint of lecturing: "Let's start with the biggest flaw. This set of techniques, Autumn Wind Entangling Hands, was created from observing autumn wind sweeping leaves. The autumn wind carries a sense of bleakness and killing intent, but yours only has entanglement, no artistic conception. Strength without intent is emptiness; intent without strength is void. If it were just a Spirit-level martial technique, it might be forgivable, but as a ultimate move that only Saint realm experts can execute, lacking any artistic conception at all—it's already inferior!"

"This..." Zhao Zhen was taken aback.

Saint-level martial techniques could be executed without artistic conception, but having it made them easier to comprehend and more powerful.

Strictly speaking, it was indeed a flaw.

When he first created this move, he had just passed the examination for Eight-Star Master Teacher. Seeing autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves, instead of feeling bleak, he felt joyful, which resulted in the move being powerful but lacking artistic conception.

"The second flaw: the move Golden Thread Entanglement releases true energy to bind the opponent, indeed restricting their limbs, but it only works against those of the same level or ordinary experts. If it were me, I would pierce the true energy here..."

Zhang Xuan moved his body, his palm grasping in the air, and true energy shot from his fingertips like silk threads, enveloping the surroundings.

"You..." Zhao Zhen's eyes widened.

He had never taught this move to anyone; he had only performed it once in front of the other party, and now he had learned it?

Could it be that fast?

"No, your move is somewhat different from the one I just performed..." Suddenly startled, he quickly interrupted Zhang Xuan's action.

Although the other party's move looked exactly like his Golden Thread Entanglement, there were subtle changes that couldn't escape him, the creator.

"Oh, I thought your move was too trashy, so I casually tweaked it!"

Zhang Xuan waved his hand: "Don't interrupt me; let me finish..."

"Too trashy? Casually tweaked it?"

His body trembled, and Zhao Zhen's consciousness wavered again. He hurriedly looked at the technique the young man had performed... It seemed indeed better than his own, more powerful...

Whoosh!

While still in shock, he saw the young man's other hand extend and lightly tap a certain spot.

Crash!

The entire network of true energy, as if struck at its most crucial node, instantly coiled up, and the surging true energy, as if frightened, rapidly rushed back.

"Golden Thread Entanglement causes true energy to contract upon contact with the enemy, preventing escape, but its flaw is also obvious: once this vital point is discovered, the opponent only needs a light tap to reverse the true energy flow, causing backlash! Instead of harming the enemy, you harm yourself first..."

Zhao Zhen's pupils contracted.

This move indeed had such a flaw, but... being able to spot it at a glance required at least an Eight-Star mid-grade or even high-grade Master Teacher... With such a master, he wouldn't use this move against them!

"The second move, Thread Rolling Wind and Clouds, shoots a silver thread to control the surrounding momentum and restrain the opponent, but... if the opponent holds a weapon, they can easily cut it, not only escaping but also injuring your soul..."

Zhang Xuan continued.

"Wait..."

Zhao Zhen staggered: "It seems... I haven't performed the second move yet, nor mentioned it. How do you know its name and flaw..."

"I told you not to interrupt me. Such a simple move—seeing one move, I deduced the rest; it's not difficult..."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand impatiently: "The third move, Falling Leaves and Cicada Chirps... The autumn cicada's cry is mournful. This is a sound wave attack with the most flaws—thirty-seven in total, eight of which are..."

He spoke in a measured tone, detailing each point thoroughly, describing the flaws in the martial technique, the methods of application, and ways to counter it. After hearing just a few sentences, Zhao Zhen knew everything was correct, as if the young man had immersed himself in this technique for years.

His mouth twitched, feeling weak all over, on the verge of collapse.

If not for being an Eight-Star Master Teacher with a steady mind, he would have gone mad.

Having only watched him practice one move, he deduced the subsequent moves, even the names being identical... How could this not feel like a dream?

"Alright, these are the flaws I mentioned. Do you understand? Do you admit your mistake?"

Just as he was stunned and at a loss, he heard the young man across from him finish speaking, his tone carrying a reprimand.

"I admit my mistake; I won't dare again..."

He answered casually, but halfway through, Zhao Zhen's face flushed red.

This guy had cast himself in the role of teacher, and he himself had fallen into the role of student...

He was an ancestor from over ten thousand years ago, generations older than the young man before him...

"Ahem!"

Stopping mid-sentence, Zhao Zhen looked dejected: "Say no more, you've passed..."

"Passed? It seems you still don't realize your mistake. As a Master Teacher from the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion, revered by countless people, is this attitude toward learning acceptable..."

Zhang Xuan frowned: "I've seen many students, but you're the worst I've encountered—not humble at all..."

"..." Zhao Zhen was exasperated.

I'm the examiner; since when did I become your student?

Pop!

Frustrated beyond endurance, his consciousness wavered and instantly vanished from the spot.

"Sigh!"

Seeing the other's consciousness disappear in shame, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

An Eight-Star Master Teacher with such little tolerance... No wonder the entire Qingyuan Empire was in a mess, and the Master Teacher Pavilion was chaotic.

Clearly knowing I was wronged, yet not letting me pass immediately... If not to talk you to death, then who?

Since I'm here to breach the hall, I'll make you all concede willingly.

...

Outside the Master Teacher Tower.

"The light on the second floor is on, meaning Master Zhang has encountered Master Zhao Zhen!"

Looking up at the light emanating from the tower, Master Wu speculated: "Master Zhao Zhen's mastery of martial techniques is astonishing. Even if Master Zhang can pass his assessment, it will likely take considerable time..."

As the deputy hall master of the Master Teacher Pavilion, having been here for centuries, he was very familiar with the levels of the Master Teacher Tower.

Whoosh!

Just as he was calculating, the light on the second floor immediately went out.

When breaching the Master Teacher Tower, encountering a level would automatically light up; once passed, the light would go out.

"This... passed?"

He couldn't help but be stunned.

He had just thought that even if he could pass, it would take a lot of time—never dreamed it would be this fast!

At most three minutes to pass... How could an Eight-Star Master Teacher be so easily convinced?

"Huh? Look, it's lit again?"

Someone shouted.

Looking up, Master Wu was stunned again.

The second floor, which had just gone dark, inexplicably lit up again.

A lit light meant not passed; could it be that Master Zhang didn't pass?

"No, that's the light from the third floor, Master Han's light—different color..."

Just as he was puzzled, he heard Gou Hall Master's voice.

Looking closely, Master Wu indeed noticed something off.

The light this time was different from before; earlier it was orange-yellow, now it was milky white.

"This is Master Han guarding the level. That's odd—Master Han, a Master Teacher from eight thousand years ago, though also Eight-Star lower grade, is much stronger than Master Zhao. He was supposed to guard the third floor; why is he appearing on the second?"

Gou Hall Master's voice continued.

Master Wu frowned.

Others were also puzzled.

"Normally, when simply breaching levels, once passed, the light goes out, and the level positions don't move..."

Also confused, Gou Hall Master suddenly stiffened, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Could it be... Master Zhao's consciousness on the second level has dissipated?"

"Consciousness dissipated?"

"Yes. Legend has it that once the consciousness of an ancestor guarding the Master Teacher Tower dissipates, the Master Teacher guarding the next level automatically takes over..." Gou Hall Master's throat went dry: "But breaching the hall is just an assessment; how could the consciousness dissipate?"

Ancestors dealing with hall breachers only assessed them; if they could pass, they wouldn't be too harsh...

Consciousness dissipating... what on earth happened?

Just as he was at a loss, the milky white light flickered and disappeared, followed by a pale blue light lighting up on the second floor.

"Master Han's consciousness has also disappeared..."

Gou Hall Master was stunned again, then suddenly jumped up: "Damn it, hurry up and stop Master Zhang from continuing... Our Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion, over ten thousand years, has only produced these few experts, leaving behind these few consciousnesses. If they all disappear, our Master Teacher Pavilion is truly finished..."

These ancestors' consciousnesses remained in the Master Teacher Tower; those at the peak level like them could learn from them if they had questions. If they all disappeared, the Master Teacher Pavilion would have nothing left, truly finished.

"Stop him? Master Zhang is breaching the hall, and the headquarters has approved it. Under normal circumstances, we're not allowed to stop him..."

Master Wu, also realizing the gravity of the situation, was anxious but knew the rules, and quickly said.

"I know we can't stop him... Then, can't we just admit defeat?"

Gou Hall Master was on the verge of tears.

"If our Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion admits defeat, acknowledging his successful hall breach, that should stop him..."

Gou Hall Master flipped his wrist, taking out his hall master token. He raised his palm, bit his fingertip, and pointed upward.

Buzz!

A beam of light shot into the sky.

Rumble!

Then a tremendous force surged from above the Master Teacher Pavilion, giving off an intense pressure.

Immediately, a grand voice slowly sounded.

"The Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion acknowledges Zhang Xuan's successful hall breach, voluntarily concedes. Please stop breaching the hall... Oh, no need, it's already over..."

Before the voice finished, with a "creak," Zhang Xuan walked out of the Master Teacher Tower, looking puzzled.

"What's going on with your Master Teacher Tower? Why are all the examiners piled up on the second floor?"