Chapter 211: Taking a Teacher (Part 2)

"To assess for two stars, besides having two auxiliary professions, one's cultivation must at least reach the Grandmaster realm. Given our age and cultivation state, we've visited many people but failed. Our only hope is Teacher Yang!"

Zhuang Xian also nodded.

Becoming a Grandmaster increases one's lifespan—a temptation no one can refuse. They had been stuck at half-step Grandmaster for who knows how long and had specifically visited two-star masters, but unfortunately, none could help them break through.

A few days ago, when they saw Teacher Yang successfully save Shen Hong, who was on the verge of death, and help him reach the Grandmaster realm, they could no longer sit still.

If Shen Hong could do it, they certainly could too!

However, the prerequisite was... Teacher Yang willing to teach.

"Regardless, let's try again. Maybe we'll succeed."

Zheng Fei said.

When the other party helped him break through to half-step Grandmaster, he had intended to take him as a teacher, but he didn't agree, so he didn't insist.

Now that even Teacher Liu and Teacher Zhuang were tempted, he naturally didn't want to lag behind.

"Alright, let's go take a look!"

With that thought, the three masters hesitated no longer and strode toward the mansion.

...

"Brother Lu, I've bought the medicine. Do you want to reconsider? Are you really going to use it?"

In Lu Xun's classroom, Wang Chao looked at his friend with concern.

These pills, though they could temporarily boost one's strength, also caused great harm to the body.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Taking the pills, Lu Xun hesitated for a moment but still gave instructions.

Before long, several students came over, exactly those on the teacher assessment list.

Zhu Hong, Mo Xiao, Du Lei, Bai Chao, Kong Jie!

"Teacher!"

They stood in place, their aura thick. In just half a month of training, like Zheng Yang and the others, they had all reached the second level of martial artist, the Dantian realm.

Although the first level, Qi Gathering realm, had no shortcuts, these students were different from Wang Ying and the others. Before taking a teacher, they were already at the peak of the first level, just one breakthrough away.

Even Kong Jie, who was slightly weaker, had successfully advanced with the infusion of various resources.

"Here is a pill. After taking it, it will expand your dantian, allowing you to break through tonight and reach the third level, the True Qi realm! That way, the teacher assessment will be foolproof, and you'll surely win."

Holding up the pill, Lu Xun looked around and didn't hide the drawbacks either.

"However, there's no free lunch. A pill that allows rapid breakthrough also has hidden dangers: after reaching the True Qi realm, your cultivation speed will slow down to only seventy percent of before."

"This hidden danger, once I become a master teacher, I will help you resolve, and I will also accept you as personal disciples, guiding your future cultivation."

"Of course... the choice is yours. I won't force you. If we truly lose, it only means our teacher-student fate has ended!"

After speaking, he put down the pill and looked around.

Although he had made the decision and even bought the pills, he left the choice to the students. Forcing them to take it, even if he desperately wanted to win, was something he couldn't do.

A teacher has a teacher's bottom line.

A teacher has a teacher's dignity.

After teaching for so many years, he couldn't resort to any means to win.

"I trust Teacher Lu." After a brief hesitation, Zhu Hong stepped forward.

Under normal training, breaking through to the True Qi realm would take at least two or three years. This pill could achieve it in one night—even if future cultivation was affected, so what?

Who can guarantee a smooth path in cultivation?

Moreover, once becoming a personal disciple, this problem would be nothing.

Being a student in a class and being a personal disciple were vastly different.

In a class, hundreds of students are taught simultaneously, unable to receive guidance tailored to their cultivation; they mostly grope forward alone. It's like a big pot of food—same seasonings, but the taste is barely palatable.

A personal disciple is different, like cooking in a small pot. The teacher guides constantly, offering individual instruction to ensure cultivation stays on track. Even if the pill slows progress, with such guidance, the future will be even brighter.

With that thought, he was the first to show his stance, took the pill, and swallowed it.

As the medicine entered his mouth, it immediately dissolved, forming a special force that surged through his body.

Seeing him decide so quickly, Lu Xun nodded in satisfaction, placed his palm on the other's back, and slowly infused his true qi to guide the force.

After an unknown time, with a roar, Zhu Hong suddenly stood up, exhaled a turbid breath, and his aura was like a rainbow.

Martial artist third level, True Qi realm!

Just as promised, taking this pill directly increased his cultivation by an entire level.

"So powerful... I want to try!"

Seeing his success, Mo Xiao, Du Lei, Bai Chao, and Kong Jie could no longer hold back and stepped forward one after another.

Zhu Hong had thought it through, and the others also understood.

If Teacher Lu truly became a master teacher, as his personal disciples, they would surely soar. This was a choice, nothing to agonize over.

Before long, they all broke through as well.

"Good, good!"

Seeing that all five students had reached the third level of martial artist, the True Qi realm, Lu Xun's eyes shone.

Not to mention new students, even among the old students who had been in the academy for two or three years, this strength would rank highly.

"Tomorrow will be my moment to shine. I will shock the entire academy and silence all the whispers behind my back!"

Clenching his fist, Lu Xun's confidence, which had been crushed during the day, was restored, and he was filled with ambition.

What was being a master of calligraphy and painting or being proficient in tea ceremony?

In teaching, I, Lu Xun... am not inferior to anyone!

Three masters, I will prove to you that I am the best choice for an apprentice!

...

"Master, the three masters have been waiting for half a day."

As soon as he returned to the mansion, Sun Qiang greeted him.

"They're here?"

He had been thinking of sending someone to fetch them later, but these three were even more eager than himself. Zhang Xuan smiled lightly.

Entering the reception hall, he indeed saw the three masters seated inside. Seeing him arrive, their eyes lit up with excitement.

"Liu Ling (Zhuang Xian, Zheng Fei) pays respects to Teacher Yang!"

The three quickly bowed.

"I wonder what brings the three here so late?"

Zhang Xuan sat down, had someone brew a cup of tea, took a slow sip, and then looked over with a calm expression.

After visiting the Tian residence and returning to the academy, it was already pitch dark; the hour was late.

"Teacher Yang, we sincerely wish to take you as our teacher. Please accept us!"

Liu Ling and the others quickly stood up, clasped their hands, bowed deeply, and looked at him nervously.

One learns the Way regardless of age; mastery is a matter of specialization. Although they were much older than Teacher Yang, he was clearly far more accomplished. Taking a teacher shouldn't be based solely on age.

"You want to take me as your teacher?"

Raising his teacup, gently brushing the floating tea leaves, Zhang Xuan's expression remained unchanged.

With days of experience in disguise, he was no longer the green youth who easily revealed his flaws. Every move now carried grace and authority.

The room fell silent.

"Yes. Though we are unworthy, we can serve by your side and share your burdens."

Liu Ling and the others breathed rapidly.

On previous visits, they had hinted at wanting to take him as a teacher but never said it outright. Now that they had directly stated it, if rejected, there would be no room for retreat.

"If I'm not mistaken, you want to take me as your teacher because your cultivation has hit a bottleneck and you can't break through. Once you become my student, you might be able to break through this final barrier and advance further."

Without looking up, Zhang Xuan's voice was as calm as ice, without a ripple.

"Uh... yes!"

Their purpose exposed, Liu Ling and the others blushed simultaneously.

"At least you're honest."

Seeing they didn't deny it, Zhang Xuan nodded.

"We beg Teacher Yang to grant our wish!"

Liu Ling and the others gritted their teeth.

Zhang Xuan didn't answer. He slowly set down his teacup, stood up, and walked to the center of the reception hall.

Just as the three masters wondered what he was about to do, his calm voice rang out.

"I, Yang Xuan, have traveled through many kingdoms. I prefer quiet and never reveal my identity. I assume you, coming from other kingdoms, have never heard this name before."

"Yes."

When they first heard the name Yang Xuan, they had investigated it. Indeed, no such person existed in the surrounding kingdoms. They had thought it was a pseudonym, but now it seemed Teacher Yang was simply low-key and unwilling to speak much.

"If I don't want anyone to know, no one will know I'm a master teacher. Even if you go to the Master Teacher Hall to check, you certainly won't find out."

Zhang Xuan continued: "But here in Tianxuan Kingdom, I revealed my identity and even gave guidance to others. Do you know why?"

He said this to give them a heads-up. "Yang Xuan" was indeed fake; of course, the Master Teacher Hall wouldn't find it.

But with this铺垫, if they still couldn't find it, they wouldn't think it was fake but would instead regard him with awe and admiration.

Even the Master Teacher Hall couldn't find him... how formidable must he be?

"We are ignorant."

Liu Ling and the others looked at him.

In fact, they had also wondered about this.

If such a powerful master teacher truly didn't want to be involved in worldly affairs, who could know of him?

Yet he had made himself known throughout Tianxuan Kingdom.

"Because while traveling here, I happened to meet a promising junior. I couldn't help but be delighted and accepted him as a personal disciple. However... I won't stay here long. Fearing he might suffer grievances, I intentionally revealed my identity to give him a name."

With his hands behind his back, Zhang Xuan stood straight in the center of the hall, towering like a mountain.

"A promising junior? Accepted as a personal disciple?"

Liu Ling and the others exchanged glances, suddenly thinking of something, and their pupils contracted simultaneously: "Could it be... that Teacher Yang's personal disciple is... Teacher Zhang Xuan from Hongtian Academy?"

If so, it all made sense.

A low-level teacher from a remote kingdom, capable of lecturing such profound theories, a master of calligraphy and painting, proficient in tea ceremony, and most importantly... when they, three masters, tried to recruit him, he was unwilling to agree.

Only as Teacher Yang's student could he have such ability.

Seeing that their reaction was quicker than he had anticipated, saving him further explanation, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Yes, Zhang Xuan is my personal disciple. If you also wish to enter my tutelage... he will be your..."

"...senior brother."