Chapter 530: He Is a Heaven-Recognized Master!

Plop!

"Pour water?"

"He wants the hall master to pour water?"

Hearing this, Su Fan and Ling Hengyu's mouths twitched, and they both swayed, two dignified Hall Masters at the fourth level of Mortal Transcendence nearly collapsing to the ground.

When they entered just now, they had repeatedly urged him to be careful with his words, not to be abrupt, since the hall master was serious... Who would have thought this fool would directly give orders, as if scolding a servant...

Damn it!

Are you crazy?

We begged and pleaded to get this slot—was it easy? You won't stop until you mess it up, will you?

Tears streaming, they expected the hall master to fly into a rage and turn hostile on the spot, but instead they saw the usually stern hall master hastily stand up, respectfully respond with a "Yes!"

With that, he turned, lifted the hot water from the stove, took out his treasured tea leaves, filled a cup to the brim, and handed it over.

"Holy crap!"

"What... is going on?"

The two four-star masters and fourth-level Mortal Transcendence elders twitched and looked exasperated.

This man was the unsmiling, awe-inspiring Hall Master Kang of Ten Thousand Nations City. Even if Alliance Leader Zhao himself came, he wouldn't be worthy of tea brewed by him. Yet this Master Zhang, speaking so rudely, was not only obeyed but treated with such an attitude...

What on earth had happened?

"It's... Master's Heavenly Mandate!"

Suddenly, Master Su remembered something and trembled as if struck by a seizure.

The strictest obedience to another's words among masters, without daring to defy—this was the most likely explanation!

Just now, this Master Zhang's words contained heavenly sounds, and his mental power fluctuated... Since it wasn't directed at them, they thought he was analyzing the illness, never imagining... he was using this thing!

Using Master's Heavenly Mandate on Hall Master Kang... and succeeding!

Holy moly!

Master Su and Master Ling exchanged glances, each feeling like they wanted to die.

Hall Master Kang, with a mental scale over 14.0, the top master in Ten Thousand Nations City, was bewitched by Master's Heavenly Mandate, and most crucially... the one using it was just a two-star master under twenty... If this got out, it would absolutely scare a huge crowd to death.

"Hmm?"

As the two were shocked, Hall Master Kang also came to his senses, his eyes bulging, his face twitching, nearly spitting blood.

The mightiest master of the Master Hall, bewitched by a two-star master using Master's Heavenly Mandate, willingly serving tea and water...

Just thinking about it drove him crazy.

Just as he wondered what to do next, he saw the young man before him take a sip of tea, then calmly turn his head: "Let's talk about the second question!"

"The second..."

Hall Master Kang's eyes twitched.

For the first question, the other had directly used Master's Heavenly Mandate, making him lose control. If he asked another, would the same thing happen?

"No need. The three questions were to test whether you qualify for the challenge. Your answer to the first was more reasonable than ours, proving your ability. The remaining two are unnecessary!"

With a serious expression, Hall Master Kang spoke with great righteousness.

The three-question test was meant to gauge his understanding of the master path. A problem that took him five steps to solve was solved in one step by the other, who even bewitched him with Master's Heavenly Mandate... That alone was enough to qualify for the selection!

Since that was the case, continuing to question was pointless. It was better to be magnanimous, lest he be bewitched again and suffer even more embarrassment.

With a wave of his hand, Hall Master Kang turned: "Elder Ling, go ring the assembly bell now and have everyone gather at the Master Hall for the selection!"

"Yes!" Elder Ling nodded and withdrew.

After a moment, the bell rang loudly. All masters in the Ten Thousand Nations Alliance had to assemble urgently upon hearing it.

"Someone, take Master Zhang to the Master Hall. Master Su and I will be there shortly!"

Hearing the bell, knowing the Master Hall would soon be packed, Hall Master Kang waved his hand. At the command, the young man waiting outside entered, respectfully glanced at Zhang Xuan, and led the way.

Knowing he was going to the Master Hall for the selection, Zhang Xuan did not decline and followed behind.

Once they left, the room fell silent, leaving only the hall master and Elder Su Fan.

Looking at his old friend of decades, Hall Master Kang hesitated for a long time before finally asking: "Don't you have anything to say about this Master Zhang?"

"He is a two-star master from the Tianwu Kingdom region, still under twenty this year..." Master Su said.

"That's not what I'm asking!" Hall Master Kang's face darkened, suppressing his anger: "I want detailed information and your reasons for recommending him so strongly!"

What a scam!

If it were just such a resume, how could you, a dignified elder of the Ten Thousand Nations City Master Hall, not recommend your own student but insist on him?

Master Su had a student who had also reached the peak of three stars, brilliant and outstanding, no less than Fu Xiaochen.

"This..."

Master Su hesitated: "Can we go to the confidential room?"

The confidential room was a chamber with a special formation, where even the most powerful could not eavesdrop or spy, ensuring no secrets leaked.

"Come along!"

Hall Master Kang's expression tightened as he stood up.

As the hall master of the Master Hall, managing a region and handling countless secrets, he had such a confidential room in his own quarters. Pushing the door open, he activated the formation, and the two immediately entered an absolutely quiet environment.

"Speak!"

Once seated, Hall Master Kang looked over.

Elder Su's solemnity showed the matter was extremely important. Now, he too calmed down, his eyes sharp as lightning.

"Over twenty days ago, the headquarters experienced the rejection of the former masters and the mournful bell tolling... Does the hall master still remember?" Master Su said.

"Such a big event, how could I forget? I've notified all subordinate master halls to investigate thoroughly, but... I've received no news, making me suspect it might be a master from another faction attending the grand competition!"

Hall Master Kang nodded.

At that time, they were holding an elder meeting when the Sealing Master Hall trembled incessantly and rang long. Though he suppressed the news, as a party involved, how could he not remember?

"You sent a message to the Tianwu Kingdom Master Hall, saying... if either the statue trembles or the Sealing Master Hall collapses, report immediately..." Master Su continued.

"Yes! The rejection of former masters and the mournful bell tolling... The most direct manifestations are the statue shaking and the Sealing Master Hall collapsing. Once such an event occurs in any master hall, we can confirm the exact location of this genius..."

Responding, Hall Master Kang suddenly thought of something and breathed rapidly as he looked over: "Over twenty days ago, you were in Tianwu Kingdom. Could it be... the Sealing Master Hall there collapsed?"

"Yes! But the matter was too significant, and fearing a leak, I didn't report via the communication wall but had them reply with 'none'!" Master Su clasped his fists: "I hope the hall master will not take offense!"

When the headquarters sent the inquiry, it was he who demanded the reply of 'none'.

Otherwise, once this got out, Master Zhang would likely be in danger.

"A leak would expose the master who caused this, leading to countless troubles... You did the right thing!" Hall Master Kang nodded.

If he had been there, he would have done the same.

As a master, it was his duty to protect talented juniors from harm.

"When the Tianwu Kingdom Sealing Master Hall collapsed, it was... during Master Zhang's two-star master examination!" Master Su continued.

"He... Are you saying he might be the genius who rejected the predecessors' recognition and caused the mournful bell?" Hall Master Kang's pupils contracted.

Only now did he understand why these two had recommended him so fervently. To have so many former masters acknowledge him, and crucially, to reject them... How strong must his talent be?

"Not only that, but I suspect... this Master Zhang is also very likely a... Heaven-Recognized Master!"

Master Su couldn't help but say.

In fact, he should have reported this to the hall master upon returning to Ten Thousand Nations City. The reason he didn't, and neither did Elder Ling, wasn't intentional concealment but... inability to confirm!

These days, they had been constantly consulting relevant books.

Unfortunately, the Heaven-Recognized Master had only been experienced by Master Kong himself, with no specific details available. Even after spending over ten days, both he and Elder Ling were still in the dark.

"What did you say?"

Hall Master Kang's pupils shrank.

"When Master Zhang took the master examination, not only did the Sealing Master Hall collapse, but Master Kong's statue also shattered simultaneously. Aside from a Heaven-Recognized Master or a sage's disciple, I can't think of any other explanation!" Master Su recounted in detail what he had heard in Tianwu Kingdom.

"This, this..." After hearing about the various strange phenomena at the Tianwu Kingdom Master Hall, Hall Master Kang's lips went dry.

Though he couldn't confirm it, this Master Zhang was nine times out of ten the culprit behind these events, a... Heaven-Recognized Master!

"Ten days ago, the Heaven-Recognized Master appeared again. Could it still be him?"

Suddenly, a thought surfaced in his mind.

Ten days ago, the Master Hall had also experienced a phenomenon of 'ten thousand plaques shaking, bells chiming in harmony,' which historical records indicated was a sign of a Heaven-Recognized Master.

Unfortunately, after ten days of investigation, no useful information had been found in Ten Thousand Nations City.

Since this Master Zhang might be a Heaven-Recognized Master, could it... still be him?

"I wouldn't know. Ten days ago, he probably hadn't arrived in the royal city yet..." Master Su shook his head.

Master Zhang wasn't in the royal city, so whether it was him couldn't be confirmed.

"Whether or not... the possibility of being a Heaven-Recognized Master alone qualifies him for this grand competition without issue. It's just a pity..."

Hesitating, Hall Master Kang shook his head: "He's too young, and his cultivation is insufficient. He may not be able to surpass the others."

Though he had strong confidence in a Heaven-Recognized Master, this Master Zhang was too young.

Those who could participate in the grand competition were mostly close to thirty, the youngest being twenty-eight or twenty-nine. A gap of ten years, no matter how great the talent, would make it difficult to truly compete.

"Forget it, let's not dwell on it. You did the right thing—keep it secret and tell no one!"

Shaking his head, Hall Master Kang stood up: "The bell has rung; the masters should be in place. Let's hurry over!"

"Yes!" Master Su stood up as well. After taking two steps, he saw the hall master stop nearby, looking at him with an awkward expression.

"Um... about my being bewitched just now... I hope you can keep it a secret and not tell anyone!"

"..."

Master Su.