Chapter 233: Teacher Zhang, You're Here

"The senior disciple of a renowned teacher?"

Not only did the explanation fail to clarify, it left him even more bewildered. Liu Xun felt like he was going crazy.

As a student, he knew very well how high the status of a renowned teacher was.

Even the king of a kingdom like Tianxuan wouldn't dare to be presumptuous in front of one.

A single word could massacre a city; a single phrase could annihilate a nation.

That was a renowned teacher!

The... senior disciple of such a person?

Was there a mistake?

When did Tianxuan Kingdom produce such an awesome figure?

For a moment, his subconscious mind assumed that this couldn't be the same Zhang Xuan he knew.

That one was a waste, while this one was the senior disciple of a renowned teacher—how could they compare?

Lost in thought, he continued following behind into Hongtian Academy.

As far as the eye could see, countless people had gathered in the academy, each holding paper and pens, eagerly heading toward the competition grounds.

"Is that... the famous lone ranger, White Pine the Cang Song Swordsman? The bold swordsman Zhu Hongyi who dares to mock the world? Old Master Zhao who shakes heaven and earth with one slash? Ye Tianxiong who shakes the eight directions with one arm? Are you sure... these people are here to attend a lecture?"

Recognizing quite a few of them, Liu Xun's heart twitched, and he nearly fainted.

These were all super figures renowned in Tianxuan Kingdom for ages. Even his father, the patriarch of the Liu family, had to treat them with formality and not take them lightly. Even the king would find it hard to invite them, yet here they were, holding brushes and notebooks, overjoyed...

What level of public lecture was this?

"Yes!" Yuer nodded, her face excited. "Yesterday, Teacher Zhang said he would give a basic lecture on cultivation. The news spread widely, and all these people came!"

"Wait, you said... he would give a basic lecture on cultivation?"

Stumbling, Liu Xun nearly choked.

Basic cultivation lectures usually covered how to cultivate, how to gather spiritual energy, how to use it to temper the body... They were only useful for people below the second level of martial arts. What were these elders, patriarchs, and Tongxuan realm masters doing here?

Are you sure they came to listen to a basic lecture, not to commit murder and arson?

"Yes, I was very close to the competition stage at the time and heard it clearly!" Yuer nodded, recalling Teacher Zhang's heroic posture from yesterday, her heart still racing.

A basic cultivation lecture, with countless Tongxuan realm masters coming to listen?

Liu Xun found it utterly unbelievable.

"We're really late..."

Just as he was stunned to the point of ecstasy, unable to believe it, he heard his cousin's exclamation. He couldn't help but look up, and his pupils contracted again.

The originally vast competition grounds of Hongtian Academy, capable of holding ten thousand people, were now packed with people. Many had even set up bedrolls, apparently having stayed here since yesterday without leaving.

"Are those at the front... the academy teachers?"

Sitting at the very front were the academy's teachers. Although they hadn't set up bedrolls, their clothes were heavy with dew, clearly showing they had also waited here all night.

Earlier, he thought his cousin and the others were too anxious, rushing over at dawn for a noon lecture. He never dreamed that the academy teachers had waited an entire night just to attend.

"There's no place to sit, so we'll have to stand..." Yuer said with a grimace.

The front was packed with a sea of people. Besides the teachers and students of Hongtian Academy, there were also visitors from various major forces in Tianxuan City. If he hadn't known someone was giving a lecture, he would have suspected a riot aimed at overthrowing the kingdom.

"Yuer, this Senior Zhang Xuan... what kind of person is he?"

Suppressing his shock, Liu Xun looked at his cousin again.

His gaze had shifted from confusion to fervor.

"Senior? Old man?"

"Yes!" Liu Xun nodded.

In his view, even his own teacher couldn't get so many people to come listen to a basic lecture.

This Teacher Zhang was the senior disciple of a renowned teacher. Even if he wasn't a renowned teacher himself, he must be quite old. Calling him senior or old man wouldn't be wrong.

"Ahem, Teacher Zhang Xuan is under twenty, younger than you..." Seeing his serious expression, Yuer blushed.

"Under twenty?"

Liu Xun froze.

Under twenty... the senior disciple of a renowned teacher... making so many people willingly wait all night just to attend a public lecture?

"This..."

Liu Xun felt his worldview was being shattered. He couldn't help but ask, "Can you... tell me about this Teacher Zhang?"

"Speaking of Teacher Zhang, we have to start from the envoy assessment. Oh no, from when he taught a student who went into qi deviation..."

Before she could finish, a commotion arose from the front. Looking up, they saw three old men striding over, and the crowd parted to let them pass.

"Are those... Teacher Liu and Teacher Zhuang from Beixu Kingdom? And... Teacher Zheng from Hanwu Kingdom?"

Seeing the three figures, Liu Xun recognized them.

As a student of a renowned teacher, he had been fortunate enough to meet these three once. At that time, the renowned teacher who taught him treated them with respect and admitted inferiority.

He never expected them to come to Tianxuan Kingdom, and...

"Could it be... they're also here to attend the lecture?"

The intense shock left him somewhat dazed.

"Yes, Teacher Zhang is their senior disciple!" Yuer nodded.

"Their..." Liu Xun almost cried. He had thought that after studying abroad for three years under a renowned teacher, he could come back and boast. Now he realized...

He was nothing.

Under twenty, becoming a star teacher, and the senior disciple of three renowned teachers...

What kind of person was this Teacher Zhang?

...

Zhang Xuan woke up close to noon. He had Sun Qiang prepare some food, ate heartily, and then strolled toward the academy.

Thinking it was still early and few people would be there, he was startled to see the competition grounds packed to the brim.

Yesterday, too many people had demanded to become his disciples, so he had casually agreed to a public lecture.

He thought few would come, since it was only about basics and useful only for those below the True Qi realm... What was going on with this crowd?

"Excuse me, could you let me through?"

After circling the competition grounds without finding an entrance, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but tap a young man's shoulder.

"Get in? What, trying to cut in line? I've been queuing since morning. If you want to hear Teacher Zhang's lecture, go to the back!"

The young man waved his hand impatiently.

To be honest, Liu Xun was annoyed.

This guy had no sense of propriety!

He and his sister had been queuing since morning and could only stand at the edge. This guy shows up at noon and asks him to move aside... what a joke!

With so many people around, why pick on him? Did he think he was easy to bully because he had just returned?

And even if he moved aside, this guy couldn't get in anyway!

"Go to the back?"

Zhang Xuan looked puzzled. Where did all these people come from?

"That's right. Either come early or queue up. Showing up now and trying to cut in line... brother, don't say I didn't warn you. Even if I let you in, the people inside will beat you to death!"

Liu Xun said seriously.

After hearing Teacher Zhang Xuan's story, he was filled with admiration and finally understood why these people had rushed to attend the lecture.

A personal student of a renowned teacher above two stars, who in just half a month had enabled a student at the first level of Gathering Breath to stand against a peak Acupoint Opening realm expert... either achievement was enough to draw countless people!

Even if not to learn, they could take the opportunity to build a connection!

If Teacher Yang himself could come, that would be even better.

In fact, these Tongxuan realm masters weren't here to attend the lecture but to find a chance to curry favor, or even see if they could get in touch with Teacher Yang.

After all, a word from a personal disciple was far more effective than that of a mere steward.

"Ahem, don't worry, they won't hit me!" Seeing someone who didn't recognize him, Zhang Xuan had no choice but to shake his head helplessly.

"Won't?" Seeing that the other didn't believe him, Liu Xun was a bit displeased. "I don't know where you get your confidence. Fine, I'll let you in! But don't say I didn't warn you when you get taught a lesson!"

"Thanks..."

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief as he moved forward. Just as he was about to continue, he saw a girl ahead turn around, apparently having heard the argument.

"Ah, Teacher Zhang, you're here..."

The girl blushed.