Chapter 153: Full of Food, Full of Trouble

"Although the secret manual is genuine, the most important part has been destroyed, leaving it incomplete, which is why you are in your current state!" Zhang Xuan did not continue this topic. "Alright, I will now perform acupuncture on you to resolve the hidden dangers in your body!"

"Yes!" Du Maoxuan quickly stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist, took out the silver needles, flicked his finger, and a silver needle flew over.

The Library of Heaven's Path only contained basic introductions and flaws, not solutions. However, Du Maoxuan's problem was somewhat similar to Ling Tianyu's wife's—blocked meridians that prevented the Snow Wolf's blood from functioning properly.

To resolve it, he only needed to unblock these obstructions.

This kind of problem was extremely simple for Zhang Xuan. The true qi cultivated from the Heaven's Path功法 was as clear as water, and any blockage would be easily overcome upon impact.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Several dozen silver needles were inserted in succession.

Du Maoxuan felt a tingling sensation all over his body. The beastly nature that had been suppressed within him, driving him mad at all times, was suddenly released like a river, surging along his meridians and spreading throughout his body.

Creak! Creak!

As this power entered his body, his internal true qi leaped dramatically, producing a series of firecracker-like sounds as acupoints exploded on the surface of his skin.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

Countless spiritual energies descended from the sky, madly pouring into his body. In the blink of an eye, he broke through from the peak of the Strength Realm.

Initial stage of the Aperture Realm!

Middle stage of the Aperture Realm...

...

In an instant, he reached the peak of the Aperture Realm, and there was still no sign of stopping.

Boom!

His body shook, and finally, the rapidly increasing cultivation came to a halt. The beastly nature that had troubled him daily vanished without a trace.

Martial Artist Level 7, initial stage of the Mysterious Realm!

He had actually broken through from the peak of the Strength Realm to the Mysterious Realm, increasing by more than a full major level.

"I..."

Looking at the changes in his body, even with his firm resolve, his eyes reddened.

For ten whole years, this pain had tormented him, turning him into a beast covered in white fur every day. He had thought there was no hope in his lifetime, but he never dreamed that this Master Yang would resolve it in one go and even allow his cultivation to break through!

Plop!

Kneeling on the ground, Du Maoxuan was sincere, with no trace of pretense: "Thank you, Master Yang, for your grace of rebirth..."

Not only had he resolved his hidden danger, but he had also elevated his strength to the Mysterious Realm. Such kindness was truly akin to rebirth, comparable to that of parents.

Now, returning to his family, he would definitely rank among the top and no longer be looked down upon.

To achieve such a result, even kneeling for a day was worth it, let alone a year.

"Hurry up and bring out the items?"

Calming his emotions, Du Maoxuan looked at his son.

"Yes!" Du Yuan quickly took out a stack of gold notes from his bosom and handed them over.

Originally, Du Yuan thought his father was crazy for kneeling outside and offering so much gold, but now he knew his father was not only not crazy but also had great insight.

The Mysterious Realm...

Even if he had lost ten years of time, so what? With his current strength, if he competed for the position of family head again, he would undoubtedly be the first choice, and no one could surpass him.

Moreover, even if he didn't become the family head, with his Mysterious Realm strength, earning a few million gold coins would be much easier.

"This is the ability of a master teacher..."

Effortlessly elevating someone to the peak or plunging them into hell—this was the master teacher, a noble profession revered throughout the continent!

As he was marveling, he saw Sun Qiang step forward, take the gold notes, and say, "Master Du, Young Master Du, please. Our master needs to rest!"

"Yes, I have disturbed Master Yang today. I will visit another day!"

Knowing he was being dismissed, Du Maoxuan did not hesitate and left with Du Yuan.

Just as they reached the door, Zhang Xuan's faint voice sounded in their ears: "The missing pages of the Snow Wolf King blood fusion manual—whether it was intentional or accidental, you can find out."

"This..." Du Maoxuan's body stiffened, and he turned around again: "Thank you, Master Yang, for the reminder..."

With that, he turned and left.

Back then, Du Maoxuan had the qualifications to compete for the family head. With everything going smoothly, he suddenly practiced a dangerous technique in an attempt to reach the Mysterious Realm. If no one had instigated him or there was no other reason, no one would believe it.

Thus, Zhang Xuan deliberately reminded him before he left. Of course, what he did afterward was his own business.

...

"Du Maoxuan fell seriously ill ten years ago, causing his cultivation to plummet, and he could no longer compete for the family head... I'm afraid his kneeling here today is to ask this master teacher to help resolve his illness!"

Waiting outside, Luo Chong recalled many things about Du Maoxuan and couldn't help guessing.

"If Du Maoxuan's problem can be solved, my problem can definitely be solved too..."

Du Maoxuan's condition was one that even Master Yuanyu had been powerless against. Although he didn't know the specifics, he knew that many doctors had been consulted over the years, all to no avail.

If this master teacher could solve such a difficult problem, his own inability to focus on forging should be easily handled!

As he was pondering, the closed door creaked open again, and he saw Du Maoxuan and Du Yuan walking out.

"I wonder if his problem was resolved..."

He quickly looked over, uncertain. Suddenly, Luo Chong's eyes widened, and he stood frozen in place: "Mysterious Realm? This... this... how is it possible?"

When Du Maoxuan had entered, he had clearly seen that he was at the peak of the Strength Realm, Martial Artist Level 5. How could he have become a Mysterious Realm cultivator after less than ten minutes inside?

And most importantly, his demeanor was radiant, completely different from before.

What was going on?

Could it be true?

Even if a master teacher could guide someone to a breakthrough, there had to be a limit...

From the peak of the Strength Realm to the Mysterious Realm in ten minutes...

Luo Chong rubbed his eyes vigorously, afraid he had misseen.

He looked again and found... no problem at all. The other party was genuinely at the Mysterious Realm, and since he had just broken through, he couldn't suppress his internal energy, making it so conspicuous. Otherwise, a strong cultivator of this level, unless he revealed his cultivation, would be hard for even Luo Chong to detect.

"Farewell, Brother Sun!"

In his shock, he saw Du Maoxuan bid farewell to Steward Sun and turn to leave.

"Go ask..."

Unable to contain himself, he hurried after him.

"Elder Du..."

"Ah, Master Luo!" Du Maoxuan recognized him and quickly bowed.

"This residence is..."

Without wasting words, Luo Chong spoke directly.

"This is where Master Yang resides!"

Knowing what he wanted to ask, Du Maoxuan nodded in reply.

"A real master teacher?"

Luo Chong's pupils contracted.

"Master Yang is a man of great ability. If Master Luo has any doubts, you can seek his guidance. However... Master Yang has come to Tianxuan Kingdom to relax his mind and is not keen on being disturbed..."

Du Maoxuan said.

"Not keen on being disturbed?" Luo Chong's face turned somewhat unpleasant.

Although his status was not low, he dared not disturb a true master teacher.

"Actually, there's no need to worry. Master Yang said that anyone who wants him to solve a problem must first pay three million gold coins, and regardless of whether it can be solved, the fee is non-refundable."

Recalling Steward Sun's instructions before leaving, Du Maoxuan continued: "As a master teacher, Master Yang naturally looks down on such worldly possessions. He makes this requirement to set a threshold; otherwise, if everyone came to him for guidance, he wouldn't get any rest and would be busy to death..."

As he spoke, he marveled inwardly. Just the entry fee was three million. Truly, a master teacher was a master teacher—the speed at which they earned money was astonishing.

In all his years as an elder of the Du family, all his liquid and fixed assets combined amounted to only this much.

"That's true..."

Hearing that money could solve the problem, Luo Chong relaxed and nodded quickly.

Although three million was a lot, it was nothing to him, a master forger.

"Thank you for telling me. I happen to have something to consult about, so I won't keep you!" With that, Luo Chong walked toward the residence before him.

The residence was not luxuriously decorated; in fact, it was quite ordinary. If not for the confirmation from Du Maoxuan and others, he would never have imagined that a true master teacher lived here.

After handing over three million in gold notes, Luo Chong, led by Sun Qiang, entered the room and saw a middle-aged man sitting quietly inside. His aura was faint, almost imperceptible. If not for his eyes, Luo Chong would not have sensed him.

"Impressive!"

His pupils contracted.

Luo Chong was a Mysterious Realm cultivator at Martial Artist Level 7. For him to be unable to sense the other's cultivation meant only two possibilities: first, the other's cultivation was far superior; second, the purity of the other's true qi was extremely high, far surpassing his own.

Either way, it proved that the master teacher before him was worthy of his reputation.

Setting aside the pride of a forger, he approached and said, "I am Luo Chong. Greetings, Master Yang!"

"Mm, I heard from Xiao Qiang that you are a forger?" Zhang Xuan asked with some curiosity.

Forgers, like alchemists, were among the higher-ranking professions in the upper nine streams, holding a revered status. He hadn't expected such a person to come seeking his help.

"Yes!" Luo Chong nodded.

"What problem are you facing that you cannot solve?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Reporting to Master Yang, I have been failing at forging recently and cannot find the reason. I hope to receive your guidance!" Luo Chong spoke directly without concealment.

"Show me your forging!" Zhang Xuan said.

"Yes!" Luo Chong flicked his wrist, and a set of forging tools appeared in the room.

As a one-star alchemist and president of the Alchemist Guild, he always carried these items with him.

Lighting the fire, forging, fusing metals, quenching...

He performed each step in a fluid, seamless manner.

After about half an hour, a longsword appeared in his hand. However, just as the final step was about to be completed, the sword emitted a crisp sound and developed cracks.

Failure!

Just as he had said, the forging was unsuccessful.

Seeing that he couldn't even forge the simplest longsword, Luo Chong was filled with dejection.

This sword was only a mortal-grade item with no technical difficulty. Failing at this, he truly didn't know what was wrong.

He couldn't help but look up at the master teacher: "Please, Master Yang, enlighten me!"

"You want me to enlighten you?"

Zhang Xuan stood up, walked over to him, picked up the broken sword, glanced at it, and sighed: "If I'm not mistaken..."

"You are full of food, full of trouble!"