Chapter 317: The Respectful Bai Chan

The one-star library was vast and spacious, housing an unknown number of books covering many professions and techniques.

Entering it, Zhang Xuan glanced around and couldn't help but be astonished.

This library was even grander than the previous kingdom's library, with more books and broader knowledge, encompassing everything from humanities and geography to savage beasts and elixirs, secret realms and treasures... nothing was missing, nothing was excluded.

"So many books, I must finish reading them all before tomorrow morning..."

He let out a breath.

Back in the kingdom's library, he had read for five whole days and nights, but at that time his reading method was too slow. Even though his speed had increased considerably now, finishing everything in half a day and a night was still a massive undertaking.

"Let's begin!"

Knowing he had no time to hesitate, he shook his body and started running again.

Having reached the Zongshi realm and with his mental state increased, unlike before, he wouldn't collapse after running for a while; he could last longer and move faster.

Swish, swish, swish!

Row after row of books were absorbed into his mind. Immersed in the ocean of knowledge, Zhang Xuan forgot the time.

...

Physician Bai Chan's heart was in turmoil.

He had found a mansion close to the Master Teacher Academy, but the price was terrifyingly high, costing almost all the money he had earned in his lifetime.

However, compared to saving his life, these external possessions meant nothing.

"Young Master Zhang Xuan is at the Master Teacher Academy? Is he going to take the master teacher exam too?"

After securing the mansion, he and Sun Qiang, who was supervising him, strode toward the Master Teacher Academy.

"Yes, the young master is the old master's student, so naturally he will take the master teacher exam..." Sun Qiang nodded. "Let's hurry; we might still see the young master display his talent and amaze everyone!"

"Amaze everyone?"

Physician Bai Chan shook his head. "The master teacher exam is not that easy, especially the five levels, each harder than the last. Although your young master is very capable, I think he is still a bit young. Passing smoothly might be possible, but amazing everyone? I'm afraid that's difficult! After all, there's Mo Hongyi above him, holding all the records!"

"Mo Hongyi?" Sun Qiang looked over.

Ever since arriving in Tianwu Kingdom yesterday, they had run into this fellow and then searched for a mansion, barely resting. He had never heard of this super genius's name.

"Yes, Mo Hongyi is the number one genius of our Tianwu Kingdom. Especially when taking the master teacher exam, he broke records continuously, hailed as the top person in a thousand years!"

Physician Bai Chan's eyes showed admiration. "His mental state even reached 6.0 or above, unparalleled in the world! Hall Master Jiang once stated that no one would surpass him within a hundred years."

"Mental state 6.0? Top person in a thousand years?" Sun Qiang was stunned.

He hadn't expected the kingdom to have such an expert.

The two chatted as they walked forward, soon arriving at the entrance of the Master Teacher Academy. Just as they were about to enter, they saw a guard approaching.

"Physician Bai..."

Seeing them, the guard's eyes lit up and he hurried over.

"Captain Yao, you're here too!" Physician Bai Chan nodded.

It was Captain Yao from last night.

Captain Yao no longer had the imposing manner of last night; his face was still swollen, but his eyes revealed an uncontrollable shock.

Thump!

When he reached them, his knees went weak and he knelt down. "Thank you, Physician Bai, for saving my life!"

"Saving your life?" Physician Bai Chan was baffled. "Captain Yao, what are you doing? What do you mean..."

When had he saved him?

"If not for your劝阻, I might have remained foolish, not knowing my place, and sought revenge against Master Zhang. Your words allowed me to escape disaster..."

Captain Yao sighed.

As the princess's guard, he had witnessed the entire process of Zhang Xuan's master teacher exam and was scared half to death.

Having a half-teacher relationship with the princess, being Hall Master Jiang's senior brother, having a teacher above three stars, about to become a two-star master teacher...

Any one of these identities or backgrounds was not something a mere guard like him could afford to offend.

If not for Physician Bai Chan's劝阻 yesterday, and he had stupidly gone to cause trouble for that person, he would probably have been killed on the spot, with no one to mourn him.

Too terrifying!

"Master Zhang?"

Bai Chan still didn't quite understand. "You mean... Young Master Zhang Xuan?"

"Yes, Master Zhang is incredibly formidable. He broke all of Mo Hongyi's records in the one-star master teacher exam, and even broke all records in the two-star exam. I was so blind that I wanted to take revenge on such a genius. I really want to die..."

"Broke Mo Hongyi's records? What happened?" Physician Bai Chan was dumbfounded.

"You don't know? Oh, you weren't at the Master Teacher Academy just now, so it's normal not to know. It's like this: today I was ordered to protect the princess..."

Captain Yao quickly recounted what he had seen.

"Trust level 85, auxiliary hall 130, puppet hall defeating an opponent in one move... on-site breakthrough to Zongshi, passing four levels of the two-star exam, Hall Master Jiang's senior brother..."

After hearing the account, Physician Bai Chan's eyes turned red, his body trembled, and he nearly cried.

What kind of monster had he offended?

He had just said it was hard to break Mo Hongyi's records, and not only were they broken, but they were also thoroughly crushed...

Originally, he had planned to turn hostile once the poison in his body was removed, using his connections to teach this kid a lesson. Now he realized that compared to the other, his connections were worthless, not even a hair.

A two-star master teacher, and also Hall Master Jiang's senior brother—if he gave an order, even the king would have to obey without daring to defy.

Ridiculous that he had been so bold as to flirt with the other's student...

He was really asking for death!

"Where is... Master Zhang now?"

With a mournful face, he couldn't help asking.

"The Master Teacher Academy gave him some task; he might leave the royal city soon!" Captain Yao thought for a moment, then clasped his fists. "I'll remember your kindness. I'll treat you to a meal another day. I have things to do, so I won't say more!"

With that, he turned and left.

"I said the young master would amaze everyone in the exam, wasn't I right!" Sun Qiang lifted his head.

"Yes, yes!"

Physician Bai Chan thought of something, his eyes lighting up. "Since Master Zhang has a task to do, his students are probably still here. I can take them to the mansion... and serve them well!"

After hearing about Zhang Xuan's many deeds, he no longer had any thoughts of defiance. The rift caused by his earlier flirtation with Master Zhang's student might be mended through this opportunity.

"Uh, alright!"

Sun Qiang nodded, and the two entered the Master Teacher Academy.

...

"Master Liu, Master Zhang asked me to tell you to find a place to rest and take care of the students for now. His two-star master teacher exam might take a while longer!"

Inside the Master Teacher Academy, an apprentice approached Liu Ling.

"Thank you for the message!"

After the apprentice left, Liu Ling looked at the others. "Since senior brother still needs some time, I think we should find a place to stay first!"

"Alright, but... where to stay? We're not familiar with Tianwu Royal City. If we stay too far away, what if the teacher can't find us when he returns?" Zhao Ya couldn't help saying.

"This..."

Liu Ling frowned. "If all else fails, we can stay at the previous place..."

Before he finished, a voice rang out.

"Master Liu, young masters, young ladies, I have prepared a mansion. Please follow me..."

Turning to look, they saw Physician Bai Chan, who had acted like a tyrant yesterday when flirting with Zhao Ya, now looking respectful, like a servant, with a humble smile on his face, as if afraid of displeasing them.

"..."

"What's going on?"

Liu Ling and the others were all stunned.

...

"What did you say?"

"Someone broke Mo Hongyi's records one after another?"

"Hall Master Jiang's senior brother? His teacher is a master teacher above three stars?"

"Passed the two-star master teacher exam?"

The events at the Master Teacher Academy spread like a hurricane, instantly reaching the ears of countless clan leaders.

Master teachers are the foundation of the nation.

The news that a two-star master—the pinnacle figure of the Tianwu Kingdom—had passed the assessment and broken all of the genius Mo Hongyi's records was too shocking to conceal, even if one tried.

"There's actually such a person within the kingdom? Someone, issue an edict: seal this Master Zhang as a Suspended King, granting him free access to the royal palace without needing an audience..."

On the tallest throne in the palace, a middle-aged man finished reading the memorial in his hand, a gleam flashing in his eyes, and immediately declared.

But before finishing his words, he hastily waved his hand: "Not so fast—those terms are too vulgar. Send someone to keep watch at the Master Hall at all times. As soon as Master Zhang appears, inform me at once. I want to pay my respects in person!"

"Pay respects in person? Your Majesty, this..."

Hearing his decision, the many ministers were all taken aback.

After all, he was the sovereign of a first-rank kingdom. Paying personal respects to a youth under twenty... wasn't that making a mountain out of a molehill?

"Say no more. My mind is made up!"

The middle-aged man snorted.

Although this Zhang Xuan currently appeared to be only at the early stage of a two-star master, with some assessments still unfinished, given his potential, becoming a three-star or even higher was merely a matter of time.

Such a person, wherever he went, would become an overwhelmingly powerful presence dominating the region. Even as king, he dared not be negligent.

"As you command!"

The others had no choice but to nod.

...

"With such excellent results, passing the two-star master assessment is absolutely certain. Quickly prepare a generous gift for me, and as soon as this Master Zhang appears, send it over..."

In a spacious mansion in the royal city, another middle-aged man also learned the news. He slapped the table and made a decision: "No, I will deliver it in person!"

"As you command!"

The guard before him nodded.

"By the way, has the young master been found?"

After giving his orders, the middle-aged man looked over.

"Reporting to the master: the young master has been found. He was hung on a tree outside the city, naked, and subjected to great humiliation..." The guard hesitated, then cupped his hands and reported.

"What? Someone dared to strip my son and hang him on a tree? Who? They're asking for death..."

His face livid, the middle-aged man seemed about to burst into flames.

As one of the three great families of the royal city, having the家主's legitimate son treated like this was tantamount to disregarding the Ji family's dignity and openly provoking them.

"The young master didn't say... Your subordinate does not know."

Seeing the master's fury, the guard was startled and quickly bowed.

"Bring him in to me!"

The middle-aged man waved his hand grandly.

"As you command!" The guard turned and walked out. Before long, a young man with a swollen face entered.

If Zhang Xuan were here, he would surely recognize him: it was the one-star calligraphy master who had competed with him in calligraphy and painting, Young Master Ji Mo.

Ji Mo now bore no trace of his former dashing elegance. His whole body was swollen and red, like a pig's head, and he wore a single garment. One could easily believe he had just returned from begging.

"Father, you must avenge me..."

As soon as he entered, Young Master Ji Mo burst into tears, fell to his knees, and wailed loudly.

"Rest assured. Whoever dares to challenge the Ji family's dignity and humiliate my son—be he even the god of heaven, I'll poke a hole through him!" Seeing his son's miserable state, the middle-aged man roared, his aura bursting forth wildly like surging river waters.

"Thank you, Father, for standing up for me!"

Hearing his father's words, Young Master Ji Mo's eyes reddened.

"Tell me, who beat you like this? I'll take people there right now and cut him into a human stump to avenge you!"

With a grand wave of his hand, the middle-aged man displayed the authority and bearing of the head of one of the three great families.

"It was those subordinates of mine—oh, no, the mastermind isn't them. It's a calligraphy master who just passed the assessment. He used some trick to make my subordinates betray me, hung me on a tree, and made a spectacle of me. I want him dead..."

Young Master Ji Mo was frantic.

"A calligraphy master? Hmph, a lowly profession dares to trouble our Ji family? I'll go find their guild leader right now and make him hand over that scoundrel!" The middle-aged man's eyes flashed like lightning, exuding a fierce dominance. "Our Ji family has kept a low profile for so many years. It's time to rise again and show everyone our foundation!"

"Exactly..." Hearing his father's words, Young Master Ji Mo felt his blood boil, his eyes reddening with excitement.

The Ji family had not acted for so many years that many had forgotten their existence.

Now it was time to let them know that in Tianwu Royal City, the Ji family was still a supreme giant. Even if the Calligraphy Master Guild was formidable, it was still just one of the lowly professions—what could it do to them?

"By the way, what's the name of the one who harmed you?"

The middle-aged man looked over.

"Reporting to Father, that scoundrel is called Zhang Xuan. He just passed the calligraphy master assessment and even calls himself a genius!" Young Master Ji Mo's eyes reddened. "When we catch him, I'll torment him thoroughly, make him wish he were dead..."

As he was roaring with a ferocious face, he suddenly noticed the room had gone silent. He looked up and saw his father, who had been so spirited moments ago, staring at him wide-eyed.

"Father, what's wrong..."

He was full of confusion.

Before he could finish, he saw a huge foot flying toward him, and the middle-aged man roared.

"What the hell? You worthless brat, why didn't you just die out there..."

Bang!

Before Ji Mo could react, he was kicked flying backward.

"Someone, tie up this beast and prepare to send him to Master Zhang as an apology!"

The middle-aged man's lips trembled.

"Apology?"

Young Master Ji Mo's mouth twitched, his vision went dark, and he couldn't help but cry.

Weren't you just saying you'd avenge me? Weren't you going to show the Ji family's might?

Kicking me flying and apologizing—what's that about?

Can someone tell me... what the hell is going on?

...

After half a day and a night of running, he had finally stored all the books from the one-star library of the Master Hall into the library.

By now, Zhang Xuan's face was full of exhaustion.

High-intensity mental exertion, even with a mental state of 10.1, was still hard to sustain.

He sat in place and recovered for half an hour before fully recuperating.

Looking inward with his spirit, he scanned the library and couldn't help frowning.

"There's no introduction about Confucius, no cultivation manuals for the Grandmaster realm..."

He had come to the library to look for records about the Celestial Man Confucius and to find cultivation manuals for the Grandmaster realm. As a result... neither was present.

"It must be that one-star masters aren't qualified to access figures like Confucius. As for techniques, one-star masters are mostly at the Tongxuan or Half-Grandmaster stage. Even if there were Grandmaster techniques, they'd be useless..."

After thinking for a while, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

It seemed he had been overthinking.

One-star masters, as the lowest level of the master profession, weren't qualified to access many secrets. Especially Confucius, known as the Teacher of Ten Thousand Ages and the foremost of masters—how could his deeds be casually placed in such a place for anyone to peruse?

Even if they were, they would likely be well-known stories, not records of congenital fetal poison.

"Forget it. Though there are no Grandmaster techniques, there are plenty of manuals for the Tongxuan and Half-Grandmaster stages. I can organize them and give them to Zhao Ya and the others to cultivate..."

There were no Grandmaster techniques, but the rest were abundant. Each level had at least several thousand different manuals stored. Given time to organize, he could certainly create a new set of techniques suitable for Zhao Ya and the others.

After reviewing the techniques, he focused his attention on the books about masters.

After reading for a while, he finally understood.

No wonder masters could become the foremost of all professions—they were indeed extraordinary.

Seeing others' flaws and weaknesses in techniques at a glance wasn't innate insight but the result of day-to-day practice and comprehension.

According to the books, there were hundreds of thousands of methods to judge whether someone's cultivation technique had problems. Like a physician diagnosing illness, one had to master these to detect what others couldn't, solve problems, and earn respect.

"These ten days are just right for studying hard..."

As a fake master casually giving guidance to others, he relied on the Heavenly Dao Library. He knew little about true master skills. These ten days of assessment were a perfect opportunity to learn more, supplement his knowledge, and make him, as a two-star master, more credible.

After scanning the books on masters, he scanned all the others as well.

Although the books in the Master Hall covered many categories, they were concentrated in a few common professions. Professions like poison master were not extensively described.

It seemed the Master Hall wasn't omnipotent. Even though masters had the mental state of the Mingli realm and could read and memorize faster than ordinary cultivators, one person couldn't learn all the professions in the world.

"Other professions are scarce, but there are quite a few books here on artifact refiners!"

His eyes stopped on a pile of books.

These were books on artifact refining, densely packed, tens of thousands in number.

When it came to artifact refining, he was completely ignorant.

He had never been to the Artifact Refiner Guild of the Tianxuan Kingdom, so naturally he had never read any related books.

"Weapons are divided into five grades: Divine, Saint, Spirit, Ghost, and Mortal. Each grade is further subdivided into four levels: lower, middle, upper, and peak..."

He casually opened a book, and it described in detail.

"Typically, weapons used by martial artists at the ninth level range between Mortal and Ghost grades. Spirit-grade weapons can only be forged by artifact refiners of four stars or higher..."

He flipped through lightly and finished reading quickly.

"I never expected weapons to have so many grades..."

Earlier, when he saw the puppets in the Master Hall were extremely powerful, he was full of doubts. Now he knew that these things belonged to Spirit weapons.

So-called Spirit weapons are weapons that possess spirituality.

For example, if a longsword gains a sword spirit, it can become a Spirit weapon.

Such weapons are far more powerful, surpassing Ghost and Mortal weapons.

However, they are too precious; even the entire Tianwu Kingdom might not have more than a few.

"Actually, not only weapons are divided into four types, but also techniques and secret manuals have grades!"

After reading about weapons, he recalled the techniques and secret manuals he had seen earlier.

These things are also divided into five grades: Divine, Saint, Spirit, Ghost, and Mortal, each with four levels: lower, middle, upper, and peak.

For instance, the Hongtian Ninefold Art, which all students of Hongtian Academy practiced before, was merely a Mortal-grade upper-level technique.

The techniques practiced by the Tianxuan royal family were only at the Mortal-grade peak level.

Such techniques are low in grade, slow to cultivate, and the true qi they condense is impure—they are considered the lowest level.

Because the Tianxuan Kingdom lacked higher-grade techniques, these grades were not detailed. Only after seeing the records in the Master Hall's books did he understand.

"I wonder what grade the Heavenly Path Technique is..."

Knowing that the techniques he had seen before were all very low grade, a thought flashed through his mind, and he recalled the Heavenly Path Technique he cultivated.

This technique was condensed by the Heavenly Path Library from countless techniques, summarizing all correct cultivation methods. Both its cultivation speed and effects far exceeded ordinary techniques.

Although he didn't know its grade, it was probably no lower than Saint grade, or even the higher Divine grade!

Because only such a powerful technique could make his Heavenly Path true qi so pure that any blocked meridians could be easily cleared.

"Alright, the books are all collected in the library; I can read them slowly. Now it's getting late; I should go to Tianwu Academy!"

He glanced outside through the window. The night had passed, and the sun had already risen. Stretching, Zhang Xuan strode out.

With so many books, he could read them slowly. Now the most important thing was to complete the final assessment for the two-star master.

"Master Zhang, the recruitment fair of Tianwu Kingdom is about to start. We should hurry!"

As soon as he walked out of the library, Mo Hongyi came up to him.

Mo Hongyi had now completely transformed into a different person, looking twenty-six or twenty-seven, with a grayish complexion, completely different from his previous handsome and cold appearance.

"Alright."

Knowing that today was exactly the recruitment fair of Tianwu Kingdom, and if he missed this opportunity, it would be hard to sneak in later, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Following behind him, they walked out the back door of the Master Hall, proceeded along the street for about half an hour, and then saw a huge campus appear before them.

Built against a mountain, surrounded by a river, it was spacious and imposing! Countless students were coming and going, with the sound of reading aloud, giving a sense of tranquility and ethereality.

Compared to this campus, the previous Hongtian Academy was like a rural school, not worth mentioning.

Arriving at the wide gate, the two stopped.

Tianwu Academy had arrived!