Chapter 148: The Learning Battle Platform

If the Heavenly Dao Spear Technique is not combined with the true qi formed by the Heavenly Dao Divine Art, even if one learns it, its power will not be as great as mine.

Moreover, the technique was assembled by borrowing someone else's books, so teaching it to others is not a big deal.

Thus, when Wang Chong made the request, Zhang Xuan agreed without any hesitation.

Of course, he could not teach the complete version either; the Heavenly Dao Spear Technique was too terrifying, and even if a part were excised, it would still be unparalleled in the world.

"I..."

Wang Chong had mentioned it casually, never expecting an agreement. He trembled with excitement, his eyes turning red.

Ordinary experts rarely passed on the techniques they created, not even to non-direct disciples. For instance, the techniques he himself had created were known to almost no one outside his son.

This Master Zhang, with such brilliant techniques, was willing to teach them just like that—such character, such magnanimity...

"This technique is extremely profound; I won't learn it lightly either..." After hesitating for a moment, Wang Chong said.

Even if the other party taught him, he could not learn it empty-handed. Doing so would violate the rules in every way.

It was like marrying someone's daughter—one must offer a bride price. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

"Master Zhang wants to buy pills but lacks gold coins. I think you might as well give him some as tuition fees!" Ouyang Cheng interjected.

Zhang Xuan had bought medicinal herbs from him but had never paid. He knew that Zhang was trying to find a way. Since his old friend wanted to repay him, it would be simpler to just give money.

Otherwise, learning martial skills from someone at least established a half-teacher bond. If there were any special difficult requests, they could never be repaid.

For instance, if he asked to learn the martial skills he created... would he teach them or not?

"Good, good!"

Understanding his old friend's intention, Wang Chong quickly nodded and turned to instruct the steward.

Soon, the steward brought a stack of gold notes and handed them to Zhang Xuan.

"This is the tuition fee. I hope Master Zhang will accept it; otherwise, I would be too embarrassed to learn..." Wang Chong said.

"Eh?" Zhang Xuan blinked.

This works?

I came to learn spear techniques, how did it turn into... teaching and... making money?

However, looking at the stack of gold notes in his hand, at least two million, he really couldn't refuse.

Putting the money away, Zhang Xuan slowly demonstrated the spear technique once and explained the method of channeling energy in detail.

As expected of a spear technique master, though he had not comprehended the spear intent, his research on spear techniques had penetrated to the bone. Zhang Xuan only needed to demonstrate once for him to almost learn it. Although its power was far inferior to Zhang's, there were no problems with the moves and energy circulation.

"Thank you, Master Zhang, for teaching!"

After learning this technique, Wang Chong realized its power and was filled with admiration. He could foresee that if he kept cultivating it, he would probably comprehend true spear intent within a year, greatly increasing his strength.

Regardless of whether he paid tuition, this Zhang Xuan had a half-teacher bond with him.

The so-called half-teacher bond meant having one's own cultivation method but learning only one or two moves from someone else, or receiving their guidance.

Having taught him, Zhang Xuan had no reason to stay, so he took his leave with Ouyang Cheng.

"President Ouyang, continue to keep an eye on those pills for me. I'll come to pick them up when the time comes!"

Leaving the mansion of the spear technique master Wang Chong, Zhang Xuan said.

"Don't worry!" Ouyang Cheng nodded repeatedly.

Earlier, he had thought that this young man, if he studied hard, might become the first two-star alchemist in the history of Tianxuan Kingdom. Now, that thought had completely vanished.

Having never studied spear techniques, after reading books for an hour, he effortlessly created a move that even Wang Chong admired, and comprehended spear intent... This kind of person would inevitably soar and become famous across the land.

"Back to the academy!"

With the Nourishing Body Liquid, Warm Vein Pill, and Spirit Gathering Pill in hand, it was time to give these things to those students and let them speed up their cultivation.

After parting with Ouyang Cheng, he soon returned to his classroom, only to find Wang Ying cultivating alone inside, while the others were absent.

"Where are they?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

He had been trying to help them improve quickly, but these guys, on the contrary, didn't even come to cultivate.

"They... they..."

Not expecting Teacher Zhang to appear at this time, Wang Ying shrank her neck and stammered.

When he left yesterday, Teacher Zhang had said he was busy and couldn't teach for a while. How had he returned so soon?

"Speak!"

Zhang Xuan's face darkened.

To earn money to help them activate their physiques, he had not hesitated to take the alchemist exam, impersonate a master teacher, and rack his brains for solutions. Yet they didn't even bother to come—it was truly infuriating.

If he had known this, why bother with all these efforts? To make a wedding dress for others?

If one doesn't work hard, no matter how much the teacher prepares or how good it is, they will never amount to anything—like mud that cannot be lifted!

The more he thought, the angrier he became. Zhang Xuan's face turned iron-blue.

"Teacher..." Wang Ying trembled.

She was timid by nature, and now, seeing Teacher Zhang's blazing anger, she could barely speak.

Creak!

Just then, the door suddenly opened. Before the person entered, a voice shouted: "Wang Ying, come quickly, a fight has broken out..."

But halfway through the sentence, he saw Zhang Xuan standing in the room with a face as gloomy as ice, and his voice died in his throat.

"Teacher Zhang..."

The newcomer also shuddered.

It was Fatty Yuan Tao.

"A fight? Calling for help? I told you to cultivate, not to come here for a gang fight!" Zhang Xuan's voice was as cold as ice.

"We..." Yuan Tao's face turned pale.

"You've only learned a little, and already you're out fighting? Do you think you no longer need me as your teacher?"

To be honest, Zhang Xuan was not angry but hurt.

Though he had not spent much time with these students, he had already regarded them as his closest people. He had worked hard for them, and yet they went out to fight, and when they couldn't win, they came back to call for help...

It gave him a feeling of frustration—like iron not becoming steel.

"Teacher Zhang, it's not like that..." Yuan Tao's chubby face immediately showed anxiety.

"Not like that? Then tell me, what's the meaning of fighting and calling Wang Ying for help? If there's a single lie, I'll expel you right now, and you'll never enter my tutelage again!"

Zhang Xuan flicked his sleeve.

If these children were not worth cultivating, he would stop bothering. If he lost, so be it; he could leave Tianxuan Kingdom and Hongtian Academy.

With the Heavenly Dao Library in hand, anywhere in the world was accessible.

The reason he stayed was because of his predecessor's attachment to this place as a teacher and his own responsibility to these students.

"It's..." Yuan Tao shuddered and gritted his teeth: "It's like this: today the academy distributed cultivation resources, saying you are... the worst teacher and not qualified to receive them! We couldn't stand it, so we went to argue with them, and that's how the dispute started..."

"Distributing resources?"

Zhang Xuan was taken aback, then remembered.

Every month, the academy distributed certain cultivation resources to teachers. The amount depended on the number of students and the teacher's assessment results.

These resources could be used by the teacher themselves or given to students as encouragement, usually distributed by the academy's Student Affairs Office.

The Student Affairs Office managed and assessed students, and handled the distribution of resources for teachers and students.

When Zhao Ya entered the academy in the top ten, she didn't have to live in group dormitories; it was this office that arranged her accommodation.

"Take me there!" Knowing they hadn't fought for no reason but to stand up for him, Zhang Xuan felt a warmth in his heart, and his anger subsided considerably.

These little brats...

"Yes!"

Yuan Tao didn't dare to waste words and led the way, with Wang Ying following closely behind. The three of them walked out.

...

Student Affairs Office.

"Teacher Zhang's matter has been cleared by the Teacher's Guild. Why are you, Teacher Zhou, withholding the resources?"

Zheng Yang looked angrily at the young man before him.

A teacher who had just stayed on this year, Zhou Tian.

"Cleared? Has the document come down? Is there a notice?" Zhou Tian raised an eyebrow, revealing a mocking expression: "Since there's nothing, Zhang Xuan is still the worst teacher with a zero assessment score. Giving resources to him is a waste. If you have no resources, don't blame me; blame yourselves for choosing the wrong teacher!"

Wealth, partners, methods, and land—resources and money came first, showing their importance.

Because of this, when Wang Ying enrolled and heard Zhang Xuan say resources were scarce, she hesitated.

Hongtian Academy distributed some cultivation materials to students and teachers every month, mostly low-grade pills. They were of little use to teachers but excellent for beginning students.

Many people made rapid progress relying on these items.

Today was the day for distribution, but they were told they had none, so naturally they came to inquire.

"Even if the Teacher's Guild document hasn't come down, I remember that as a teacher of Hongtian Academy, no matter how poor the performance, as long as you have students, you are entitled to receive Life-Gathering Powder! Why are you withholding even that?"

Zhao Ya stepped forward.

Life-Gathering Powder was the most common cultivation material for junior students, helping those in the Gathering Breath realm accelerate their perception of spiritual energy.

This item wasn't a pill; even someone like Wen Xue, who hadn't passed the apprentice exam, could easily prepare it. It was of low value, and any teacher with students could claim it.

If you refused to give valuable resources, you could make excuses, but withholding even this was deliberate obstruction!

"The academy does have that rule, but there is also a clause: if the students have no cultivation potential, distribution can be withheld. You didn't follow the Student Affairs Office's arrangements and came here to make a scene. Even if I refuse, it's reasonable!"

Zhou Tian raised his eyelids.

"You..."

Seeing that he was determined not to give, Zhao Ya was so angry her breathing quickened and her pretty face flushed.

"What? Not convinced?"

Zhou Tian curled his lips: "If you're not convinced, there's the Learning Battle Platform over there. You can challenge my students. If you beat them all, I'll not only give you Life-Gathering Powder but even Life-Gathering Pills! Remember, these are Life-Gathering Pills. Though not true pills, they are close and useful even for Acupoint Opening realm experts. Ordinary teachers can only get one per month. If you dare to challenge and succeed, I'll give you three!"

The Learning Battle Platform was one of the ways to resolve conflicts between students and teachers, second only to the Teacher Battle Platform. Simply put, if you challenged and defeated that teacher's students, the teacher would have to apologize.