Chapter 226: A Godlike Man

"Big... Big Senior Brother?"

"Teacher Liu and the others call Zhang Xuan big senior brother?"

"He's not even twenty, and the youngest of the three teachers is at least sixty or seventy... how on earth does that work?"

"I don't know, but... it doesn't seem like the three teachers are faking it. Could this Teacher Zhang have some other formidable identity?"

Everyone was struck by lightning again.

Today's shocks came like waves, one after another, wave upon wave, until they could barely take it—oh, their hearts couldn't take it.

"He... he is the big senior brother of Teacher Liu and the others? Could it be..."

His pupils contracted, and King Shen Zhui thought of something, his body trembling.

The three renowned teachers lived in the palace, interacting daily, so he knew what they were thinking.

They had been eager to take Yang Xuan as their teacher, and now they called Zhang Xuan big senior brother—even a fool would understand something.

"Teacher Zhang Xuan is... a student of Teacher Yang, and moreover, a direct disciple!"

His breathing immediately quickened.

Teacher Yang had helped the dying Shen Hong break through, his methods so impressive that they commanded respect. According to Teacher Liu and the others, he was likely at least a three-star, or even higher, super-renowned teacher.

Such a figure was like a divine dragon in the heavens, showing only a glimpse now and then, perhaps disappearing in a few days, never to be found again.

With Zhang Xuan as his direct disciple, things became easy—through this bridge, he could bind him to the chariot of the Tianxuan Kingdom.

Even if he couldn't bind such a great power, with Teacher Liu and the others successfully taking him as their teacher here, they certainly couldn't refuse him.

The kingdom's rise was only a matter of time!

If earlier he felt that being a generation lower was somewhat shameful and depressing, now his eyes shone with light, and he felt it an honor.

Taking Yang Xuan as teacher, this Zhang Xuan becoming a renowned teacher was only a matter of time. Even if he had to call him uncle, or even grandfather, what did it matter?

As a ruler of a nation, standing tall among the world's powers, he had long learned to view things through the lens of benefit. So-called status and seniority were just titles.

Moreover, Teacher Liu and the others were already on equal footing with his grandfather Shen Hong. This Zhang Xuan was their big senior brother. If you thought about it carefully, even calling him uncle was a great bargain.

"B-B-Big... Big Senior Brother? The big senior brother of the three teachers?"

Like everyone else in a daze, Lu Xun's mouth trembled, unable to say anything.

The reason he had deliberately targeted this Teacher Zhang was to compete for the chance to become a disciple of the three teachers. But as it turned out, the other party not only didn't care, but was also their big senior brother...

For a moment, he felt like a clown.

He had made such a fuss, but the other party didn't mind at all. With just a casual reveal of his identity, he could crush him half to death.

Calligraphy and painting grandmaster, tea ceremony master, formal alchemist (with so many alchemists coming to the academy to support, Wang Chao and he both knew Zhang Xuan's alchemist identity), brother of his father, senior brother of the three teachers...

Any one of these identities would allow him to strut across the Tianxuan Kingdom, and now they were all concentrated in an unremarkable teacher at the academy... Under the intense shock, he was filled with confusion.

He had always considered himself a super genius, able to make his own way without relying on his father's power. But now he realized that his so-called talent was nothing compared to the other party.

To be honest... he was so crushed that he began to doubt life itself!

Just as he was at a loss, he heard Teacher Liu's voice in his ear.

"Teacher Lu is indeed a dragon among men. I heard of him back in the Bei Wu Kingdom, and I did come with the intention of taking him as a disciple. Since Big Senior Brother has spoken... Lu Xun, are you willing to become my disciple?"

Liu Ling smiled as he looked over.

If he couldn't take Zhang Xuan, taking this Lu Xun as a disciple would still be a great gain. Besides, seeing that Big Senior Brother intended to resolve the conflict, he was happy to help.

"I am willing..."

Coming to his senses, Lu Xun's body trembled, his whole body stiff with excitement.

All his efforts had been for this. He had thought that after losing the evaluation and the competition, there was no hope. He never dreamed it would come so suddenly.

"It's... Zhang Xuan, oh no, Uncle Zhang... Teacher!"

But he also knew that the reason Teacher Liu had agreed without much thought was partly because he had heard of his name, but mainly because of Teacher Zhang's face.

Despite how he had treated him, he could still overlook past grievances and recommend him, hoping Teacher Liu would take him as a disciple!

What kind of magnanimity was this?

Clenching his fists, Lu Xun's eyes reddened.

"This is the demeanor a teacher should have. Xun'er, you should learn more from Grandmaster Zhang in the future!"

Lu Chen on the side also sighed with emotion.

From Huang Yu, he knew how much trouble this unfilial son had caused the other party. Yet the other party had not a single word of reproach, and instead helped introduce him to become a disciple of a renowned teacher. Such broad-mindedness was not something ordinary people possessed.

"Yes!" Lu Xun nodded.

Only now did he realize how ridiculous his previous struggles and actions had been.

He had been thinking about how to become a disciple of the three teachers, but the other party was already their senior brother. He had been thinking about how to become a calligrapher and painter, but the other party was already a grandmaster. He had been thinking about how to break through to the Acupoint Opening realm, but the other party was already at the peak of the Tongxuan realm...

This was the gap, impossible to compare.

"Teacher Zhang, I was foolish before, not knowing my place. I hope you can forgive me!"

"It's good to recognize your mistakes and correct them. I hope you will study hard under Teacher Liu and strive to become a true renowned teacher as soon as possible!" Seeing his awakening, Zhang Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

In truth, he bore no great malice toward this Lu Xun.

From what his predecessor knew, since entering the academy, this fellow had taught many outstanding students and had almost no misdeeds. It was just his strong-willed nature, eager to surpass his formidable father, that led him to make many mistakes.

"Yes!" Lu Xun nodded obediently, then quickly stepped forward to Liu Ling: "Teacher Liu, may I ask a favor?"

"Speak freely!"

Teacher Liu stroked his beard and smiled.

Seeing that Lu Xun was genuinely repentant, he was also very pleased.

"These students of mine, to help me win, took the 'Mad Demon Power-Breaking Pill' and may have lingering effects. I hope Teacher Liu can help resolve it."

Lu Xun knelt down.

"Teacher..."

Clenching their fists, Zhu Hong and the others all had red eyes.

Saying this openly would certainly have a great impact on Teacher Lu's reputation, but for the sake of their future, he did it without hesitation, with an open heart. This sincerity was admirable.

Mo Xiao, who had previously wanted to take Zhang Xuan as his teacher, saw this and was deeply moved. After a moment of thought, he looked at Lu Xun again and made a new decision in his heart.

A formidable teacher chooses students, but a talented student also chooses a teacher.

Earlier, he had wanted to take Zhang Xuan as his teacher because Teacher Lu's recent behavior had disappointed him. Seeing this scene, he knew that the old Teacher Lu, who once dominated Hongtian Academy and thought himself unmatched, had returned.

With an open heart, one can be invincible.

Suddenly, his desire to become Zhang Xuan's disciple faded.

"Mad Demon Power-Breaking Pill? That's a banned substance that forcibly increases cultivation. Those who take it may gain power in the short term, but the residual toxicity settles in the meridians, slowing cultivation speed and affecting future progress! To win, taking such a thing is equivalent to ruining these children's futures... Lu Xun, you were foolish!"

Liu Ling was taken aback, then shook his head.

"Yes, I know I was wrong. I hope Teacher Liu can help!"

Lu Xun was utterly sincere.

He knew the consequences of taking that pill, but after the humiliation of yesterday, he had been too eager to win, blinded by greed, and thus made a mistake.

"The Mad Demon Power-Breaking Pill forcibly boosts one's potential, like overdrawing life force. Even I have no way to resolve it!"

Liu Ling sighed.

If the side effects of such a drug could be resolved, who wouldn't buy some to speed up cultivation?

It was precisely because there was no solution that it was called a banned substance.

Even as a renowned teacher, he was powerless.

"No way to resolve it?"

Lu Xun's face turned pale.

He had thought that once he became a renowned teacher, the problem would be solved. Now it seemed he had been too naive.

If even Teacher Liu couldn't solve it, didn't that mean he had ruined these people's lives for his own selfish desires?

Intense self-blame surged in his heart.

"Did you take the Mad Demon Power-Breaking Pill?"

Zheng Yang overheard their conversation, hurried to his friend's side, and looked at him anxiously.

"Yes!" Mo Xiao nodded.

"You..." Zheng Yang clenched his fists.

He had also heard of the Mad Demon Power-Breaking Pill. Those who took it gained strength in the short term but would find it hard to progress thereafter.

It was definitely a drug that promoted growth at the expense of the future.

This friend had grown up with him, sharing the same dedication to cultivation. Seeing him slow down and become ordinary was unbearable.

"Teacher Zhang, please save Mo Xiao!"

Gritting his teeth, he came before Zhang Xuan and knelt.

In his heart, Teacher Zhang was all-powerful. Even if Teacher Liu couldn't do it, he surely could.

"Save him?"

Seeing his student speak, Zhang Xuan nodded: "Alright!"

During the teacher evaluation earlier, when Mo Xiao and the others used martial techniques, he had already spotted the problem. The lingering effects of the Mad Demon Power-Breaking Pill were due to drug toxicity remaining in the body. For others, even three-star or four-star renowned teachers would be powerless, but he was different.

His Heavenly Dao true energy was as clear as water. Although these toxins were potent, once his true energy was infused, they could be easily cleansed.

He could even suppress the freely evading and expelling toxic gas; some pill toxins were nothing.

"You can save him?"

Seeing him agree so quickly, Teacher Liu and the others were all startled.

Without explaining, Zhang Xuan had Mo Xiao come forward. With a grab of his hand, a stream of true energy flowed along the other's meridians. Before long, all the drug-induced toxins were resolved.

Feeling the change in his body, Mo Xiao trembled with excitement.

After taking the pill, he had clearly felt as if something was binding his body. Now that binding was completely gone, and there was no longer any shackle on his cultivation.

"Thank you, Teacher Zhang, for resolving the problem!"

Knowing that the side effects of the Mad Demon Power-Breaking Pill were completely gone, Mo Xiao knelt.

"Resolved?"

Liu Ling seemed unable to believe it. He hurried over and channeled his true energy into the other's body. After a look, his eyes widened: "It's... true!"

A problem he couldn't solve, and Teacher Zhang solved it with a wave of his hand...

What kind of ability was this?

No wonder he was favored by Teacher Yang and became their big senior brother. Such methods were too extraordinary!

Lu Xun also hurried over. After a moment, he knelt before Zhang Xuan: "Please, Uncle Zhang, treat the others!"

This time, he called "Uncle Zhang" willingly, without any resistance.

"Mm!"

Treating these people didn't require much effort. Zhang Xuan nodded, and before long, the problems of the others were completely resolved.

Only Zhu Hong took a bit more trouble. Since he hadn't fought earlier and hadn't formed a book, Zhang Xuan had him practice some boxing techniques again before finding the root cause.

Looking at the students who had regained their vitality and would not be affected in their future cultivation, Lu Xun once again looked at this Teacher Zhang with genuine admiration.

There are indeed some people in the world who, even if they start from the same point, are on a different level!

They are destined to be looked up to, never to be caught up.

Clearly, this Teacher Zhang was such a man... a godlike man!

Just as he was filled with admiration and resolved to spend his life chasing this genius, he saw this godlike man approach with a fawning smile.

"Um... Teacher Lu, do you have any more of this Mad Demon Power-Breaking Pill? Or... where did you buy it? Could you help me get a few? If it can raise one's cultivation by a level in a short time, would taking several pills cause a rapid succession of breakthroughs?"

"..." Lu Xun.

"..." Liu Ling and the others.