Chapter 232: Dumbfounded Liu Xun

Unaware of Shen Biru and the others' thoughts, Zhang Xuan was rubbing his brow, considering what needed to be done before leaving, when he saw a crowd of eyes surrounding him.

“Teacher Zhang, don’t abandon us…”

“You’re going to the Heavenly Martial Kingdom? Take us with you!”

“We want to go with Teacher…”

It was Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, and the others.

They had overheard Zhang Xuan’s conversation with Shen Biru and the others, and their eyes were filled with strong anticipation.

“Want to come with me?”

Zhang Xuan looked over: “You need to think it through. I’m going to a higher-level kingdom, not a game. There are many powerful people there, and many unknown dangers. One misstep could bring disaster, even death!”

“We know!”

Their faces were resolute.

Though their time with Teacher Zhang had been short, he had given his all for them, wholeheartedly and without expecting anything in return. In their hearts, they already shared a bond as close as family.

“Don’t rush to decide. Take the night to think it over, and give me your answer tomorrow!” Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

To be honest, not only them—after teaching these students for so long, he had grown attached. If he were to take them, he wanted them to be willing, not forced.

Moreover, even if he took them, he couldn’t have them follow behind. After all, the Red Lotus Mountain Range might be the lair of the Poison Masters, extremely dangerous. He could barely guarantee his own safety, let alone for these half-baked fellows.

“Teacher Zhang, I don’t need to think it over. Everything I have now was given by you. Wherever you go, I’ll follow!”

Yuan Tao shook his head, knelt directly on the ground, his gaze firm.

He was an orphan with no cultivation resources, originally the worst student in the academy. It was Teacher Zhang who had guided him step by step, giving him the best techniques, the best pills, the best instruction…

Only then did he gain his current strength.

So, no need to think—wherever Teacher Zhang went, he would go.

“Me too, Teacher Zhang. Please don’t drive us away. We’re willing to be your students… forever!” The second to kneel was the usually gentle Wang Ying.

“Please take us with you, Teacher Zhang!”

Then Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, and Liu Yang also knelt down, their gazes unwavering.

Seeing his five students, though young, showing a resolve to face death without regret, even Zhang Xuan, who had lived two lives, felt a tremor in his heart.

“I can take you away, but you can’t travel with me. I’ll have Teacher Liu and the others take you directly to the Heavenly Martial King’s City. After I finish my business, I’ll come find you.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Xuan said.

As long as he resolved the poison in his body, he would definitely go to the Master Teacher Hall in the Heavenly Martial King’s City to take the master teacher exam.

Sending them ahead, with Teacher Liu and the others looking after them, should be much safer.

“Thank you, Teacher!”

Hearing that he was willing to take them, the five were so excited their eyes turned red.

Little did they know that the decision they made today would bring about a tremendous shift in the continent’s landscape, and they themselves would reach heights and realms beyond imagination.

“Alright, go prepare. Once we leave the Tianxuan Kingdom, who knows when we’ll be able to return!” Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

“Yes!”

The five nodded simultaneously and withdrew.

After arranging for his students, Zhang Xuan returned to his residence. Seeing Liu Ling and the others still waiting, he told them he was leaving, which stirred a wave of melancholy.

Then he had them bring out their cultivation techniques and offered guidance. As a result, Liu Ling was the first to gain insight and break through to the Grandmaster realm.

Zheng Fei had just broken through not long ago, so it was hard to make further progress in a short time. However, Zhuang Xian had also improved greatly. With proper consolidation, he might succeed in冲击 Grandmaster within half a month.

After instructing the three teachers to take care of his “personal disciple,” Zhang Xuan finally called for Sun Qiang.

“Master, don’t abandon me. I want to follow you…”

As soon as he entered, Sun Qiang knelt down.

Like Yuan Tao, he had no impressive background. Before meeting Zhang Xuan, he was just a minor figure renting out houses at the Tianyu Trading Company, with no status whatsoever.

His current respectable position and identity were all brought by the man before him, and his heart was full of gratitude and reluctance to part.

“If you truly want to follow me, go to the Hongtian Academy and find Teacher Zhang Xuan. Serve him well. I’ll come back to check on you when I have time.” Zhang Xuan said.

Although Sun Qiang’s cultivation was low, he was skilled in business. Once Zhang Xuan became a master teacher and had more to manage, he would need someone to handle things. This fellow, with his known background, was suitable.

“Yes!” Hearing that his master didn’t intend to abandon him, Sun Qiang nodded excitedly.

“Your cultivation is still too low. This is a technique I created specifically for you. Cultivate it well. I hope next time we meet, you’ll have strength matching your status!” Handing over a manual, Zhang Xuan stared at the fat man before him, his expression serious: “Don’t disappoint me!”

“Master, I will work hard!”

Sun Qiang’s face tightened.

His master was right. His strength was the key issue. As a master teacher’s steward, being only at the Fourth Layer of Martial Artist, the Skin and Bone Realm, was far too weak.

If he had muddled through life before, that was one thing. But if he wanted to continue following his master, lacking sufficient strength would not do.

“You may go!”

After arranging everything, it was already late at night. There was still a public lecture to give tomorrow, so Zhang Xuan didn’t cultivate further and went straight to rest.

Though he was still troubled by the disappearance of the Heavenly Path Scroll, since he couldn’t find it, there was nothing he could do.

…

Liu Xun was the most outstanding figure among the younger generation of the Liu family, one of the four great clans of Tianxuan City. At twenty-three, he had already reached the initial stage of the Aperture Opening Realm. Most importantly, he studied under a one-star master teacher from the Jinyang Kingdom and had deep insights and comprehension of cultivation.

After studying abroad for three years, he traveled day and night. Just as dawn broke, he returned to the family estate. As he was about to push open the door and enter, he saw clan members rushing out in a hurry.

“Hurry up, or we’ll be late!”

“Yeah, let’s move!”

“This is a great opportunity. If we miss it, we’ll regret it for life!”

Those coming out were mostly the younger generation, along with some middle-aged members in their thirties. Each held notebooks and pens, their expressions anxious.

“What’s going on? Is someone causing trouble for the Liu family?”

Seeing this, Liu Xun frowned, circulating his true energy and quietly on guard. But the thought flashed through his mind and was dismissed.

If someone were truly causing trouble, the higher-ups would have come out, not just the younger generation. And most importantly… if they were going to fight, what use were notebooks and pens?

It’s not like they could splash ink on the enemy’s face with a brush!

“Cousin Liu Xun, you’re back!” While he was puzzled, a young girl approached.

“Yu’er, what are you all…”

Yu’er was his cousin, they had grown up together. She had reportedly just been admitted to the True Martial Academy and became a student of Teacher Lu Xun, with a bright future.

“Oh, Teacher Zhang Xuan is giving a public lecture. We’re all going to listen. Since you’re back, come along and listen too!”

Yu’er smiled.

“Teacher Zhang Xuan?” Liu Xun frowned. “That useless teacher you mentioned in your last letter? What’s so good about his lecture?”

Though he had been away from the Tianxuan Kingdom for a long time, he still knew much of what happened here.

Zhang Xuan’s unprecedented last-place ranking had been heard of even thousands of kilometers away.

“He’s not useless; he’s a true star teacher!” Yu’er tugged his hand. “Hurry up, or if we’re late, we won’t get good spots.”

“Good spots? A lecture this early in the morning?” Liu Xun grew more puzzled and couldn’t help asking.

“It’s not morning; it’s noon!”

“Noon?” Liu Xun nearly fainted.

If the lecture was at noon, they could go then. Why rush out at dawn? What was the point?

“Just listen to me. Move faster. I’ll explain on the way!” Yu’er said anxiously, heading toward the Hongtian Academy.

Seeing her and the clan members so urgent, Liu Xun couldn’t hold back and followed.

“Are those… the Bai family?”

After walking a short distance, he saw another group hurrying along.

There were even more people than his clan, including not only the younger generation but also some white-bearded elders, all with shining eyes, as if a great treasure awaited them.

With just one glance, Liu Xun recognized them as the Bai family, another of the four great clans.

“Is that… Patriarch Bai Ming? He… came too?”

Surprised, he looked at the person at the front. Recognizing his face, he was shocked.

It was indeed Patriarch Bai Ming!

He was leading the team in person, heading in the same direction as his cousin.

“Is that… Patriarch Wang Hong?”

Before his shock subsided, he saw another group appearing not far away, also heading to the Hongtian Academy. The leader was also someone he knew—Patriarch Wang Hong of the Wang family!

He had heard that Patriarch Wang Hong was always proud and strong. Among the four great clans, the Wang family usually took the lead. Why… had he come in person?

And he was also holding a notebook and brush…

“The Du family’s Du Miaoxuan? Du Yuan… and the younger generation of the Du family?”

After walking a bit further, he saw the Du family as well. Like his own clan and the others, they each held notebooks and pens, rushing forward with excitement.

All four great clans had gathered. Liu Xun felt dizzy, almost falling over.

“Yu’er, what is going on?”

Unable to contain himself, he looked at his cousin ahead.

“They’ve all come to listen to Teacher Zhang’s lecture!” Yu’er said.

“Listen to a lecture? Could it be that this Teacher Zhang… is a master teacher?” Liu Xun was utterly confused.

Aside from a master teacher, he couldn’t imagine who else could have such appeal, making the patriarchs of the four great clans personally lead their people to attend.

“He’s not a master teacher!” Yu’er shook her head.

“No? Then…”

Full of doubt, Liu Xun was about to ask how someone who wasn’t a master teacher could attract such a crowd, when the girl’s voice rang out.

“Though he’s not a master teacher, he is the master teacher’s…”

“Senior Brother!”