Chapter 532: The Selection Begins!

"You, you... are Zhang Xuan, Teacher Zhang?"

The young man shuddered, tears streaming down his face, nearly fainting on the spot.

Though he had spoken bitterly, he actually knew that being recommended with such strong support by the two elders, Su and Ling, this Teacher Zhang was certainly no mere two-star master teacher.

But... being both two-star, the other could enter the selection while he could not, and out of jealousy, he had vented to a stranger, unable to speak so freely to acquaintances.

Since he didn't know the person, he casually complained to vent his frustration and get a bit of satisfaction, never expecting... to run into the very person and call him an idiot to his face!

Damn it!

Aren't you supposed to be in the selection? Shouldn't you be with Ruohuan Gongzi, Fu Xiaochen, and the others? Why are you sitting here...

The young man felt thunder roaring in his head and wished he could die.

What kind of luck was this... casually picking someone to chat with, and it turned out to be this Teacher Zhang, whom no one had ever seen... How unlucky could he be!

Just as he was full of worry, afraid the other would cause trouble for him, he saw this Teacher Zhang walk toward the front.

"He's not blaming me?"

Seeing the other leave without a word, the young man's mouth hung open, unable to believe it.

A master teacher values status; calling someone an idiot to their face is like tearing apart all pretense. If he wanted to cause trouble, the young man could only endure... But the other left without a word—such magnanimity was not something ordinary master teachers possessed.

"I wonder if he... will be selected..."

Suppressing his frustration, he looked ahead.

...

"Is that the Zhang Xuan?"

"He looks even younger than the rumors say!"

"Yes, under twenty, and only a two-star master teacher—what qualifies him to participate in the selection?"

"Not necessarily. Though he wears a two-star badge, he might not be only two-star. Not everyone likes to flaunt their strength on their chest."

"That's true... If he didn't have real skill, Teacher Su and Teacher Ling wouldn't have recommended him so strongly. But even if he's more than two-star, given his age, he probably isn't that formidable."

...

Seeing the young man step forward, everyone found it unbelievable.

They had heard that this Teacher Zhang was young and only a two-star master teacher, but seeing him in person... he was simply too young.

A master teacher must not only understand principles and recognize objects but, more importantly, possess knowledge beyond that of ordinary cultivators.

Even if this person had exceptional talent, having ten fewer years of study than others, how much knowledge could he have accumulated?

"Since everyone is here, I will now explain the rules of this selection!"

Seeing Zhang Xuan arrive, Hall Master Kang nodded, looked around, and said, "The assessment consists of five rounds, comparing various aspects of a master teacher. First place gets six points, second gets five, and so on; last place gets one point."

"After five rounds, the two with the highest total scores will pass the selection and participate in the grand competition organized by the twenty-eight major powers."

After speaking, Hall Master Kang waved his hand: "Does anyone have questions?"

"No!"

Everyone quickly nodded, including Jun Ruohuan and the others.

"The rounds have been designed by me and the elders, covering five aspects: mental state, recognition of techniques, memory, teaching, and guidance."

Seeing no objections, Hall Master Kang exchanged glances with the elders in the front row and nodded: "Now we proceed to the first round: assessment of mental state. Elder Wu, I'll trouble you."

"You're too kind, Hall Master. It's my duty."

An old man smiled in acknowledgment, stepped forward, and with a flick of his wrist, a guqin appeared in his palm.

"I didn't expect the first round to involve Elder Wu!" someone in the hall remarked.

"What? Is Elder Wu special?" a person beside him asked, puzzled.

"Of course he's special! Elder Wu, like the Hall Master, is also a four-star peak master teacher, but... he has a very rare auxiliary profession that greatly aids in tempering the mental state!" the first speaker, who seemed informed, said.

"Oh? What profession can be useful for tempering the mental state?"

The second person was curious.

For a master teacher, the most fundamental thing is the mental state. The higher the mental state, the easier it is to understand the essence of a master teacher. This Elder Wu actually had a profession skilled in tempering the mental state—what could it be to earn such praise?

"A demon sound master!" the informed person said.

"A demon sound master? That special profession that uses music to disturb people's minds?" the second person was startled.

"Yes!" the informed person said. "Though the demon sound master is a lowly profession, it can use music to bewitch people's hearts, making it hard to guard against and extremely terrifying. Our Ten Thousand Kingdoms City has no demon sound master guild; Elder Wu's profession is unique here."

"Indeed. Having a demon sound master test the mental state—this first round will be very difficult!"

The second person sighed.

Normally, master teachers are tested with a clarity jade crystal to measure mental state; the higher the value, the higher the mental state. Using a demon sound master for the competition is clearly more challenging.

...

As the two conversed, Elder Wu, holding the guqin, came to the front, gently placed the instrument on the table, and looked calmly at the participants.

"The first round tests mental state! As a master teacher, mental state is not just about a high level; more importantly, one must be able to resist interference, analyze and handle matters more clearly in chaotic environments! At the Hall Master's request, I will test your mental state, and I will do my utmost. I hope you are prepared."

With that, he brushed his hand over the table, and several circular iron plates appeared.

"These are blank formation plates commonly used by formation masters. In a moment, I will play the 'Mad Demon Tune,' which disturbs the soul. You will draw on these plates. When the tune ends, whoever carves the most lines with the finest detail will be the champion!"

Elder Wu looked at the group: "Let me say in advance, my Mad Demon Tune can only affect one person at a time. Who will go first?"

"What a harsh assessment!"

"The Mad Demon Tune—I've read about it in books. It can confuse the mind and make it hard to maintain composure. Ordinary cultivators caught in it will be like drunkards, their thoughts chaotic, unable to tell north from south. Carving something in that state... it will definitely be a mess!"

"Yes, in that state, let alone carving fine lines on a palm-sized blank formation plate, just standing steadily would be difficult!"

"Most importantly, the plates he brought out are three-star blank formation plates. Carving on them requires not only controlling one's spirit but also having strong control over one's power; otherwise, they can easily shatter!"

"This round tests not only mental state but also how to control power when the mind is in chaos... Difficult, extremely difficult!"

...

Hearing Elder Wu's description of the first round, the many master teachers below all gasped.

Though the demon sound master is a lowly profession, it has such a reputation for a reason—it's no simple matter! For a cultivator, staying calm under the Mad Demon Tune and not having their mental defenses breached is already commendable, let alone carving on a blank formation plate...

The difficulty is extraordinary!

Not to mention these participants, even among the four-star elders in the front, few could do it.

"Demon sound master? Carving?"

Unlike the shocked crowd, Zhang Xuan frowned.

The books he had read mentioned the demon sound master profession only briefly, without detailing its abilities.

He had thought it was like painting and calligraphy, requiring extreme mastery of music, but now it seemed not so simple.

Hearing Elder Wu's instructions, Ruohuan Gongzi smiled faintly and glanced at his opponents, wanting to see their reactions.

Fu Xiaochen looked calm, as if he had known about this assessment and was adjusting his state.

The others also focused their minds, looking serious, except for one young man who frowned with a confused expression.

It was Zhang Xuan, who had kept them waiting for several days.

"One look and you can tell he's never heard of demon sound masters!"

Seeing his confused expression, Ruohuan Gongzi knew this guy had never heard of demon sound masters. He himself was one of the Four Great Young Masters, a four-star initial master teacher, yet he had to compete with someone like this...

Just thinking about it was frustrating.

"Teacher Zhang, right? Though you kept us waiting nearly ten days, since you've come from afar, you are a guest. How about this: you go first in this round!"

Ruohuan Gongzi smiled lightly and looked over.

"Me?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "No need to be polite. You go first; I'll watch first."

Though he didn't know much about demon sound masters, since it was a special profession, it must be no simple matter. Having never encountered it before, he wanted to see what it was all about first.

"Watch first?"

Ruohuan Gongzi sneered. "Are you worried that Elder Wu is at his peak energy now, and going first means being the first to taste the crab, receiving the most intense attack?"

"Since this round tests mental state, one must have the courage to forge ahead. Hesitating out of such concerns shows fear and worry, meaning your mental state already has a flaw. Do you still think you can get a good result? What a joke!"

This round tested mental state, and going first or later was itself a test.

If one hesitated knowing that going first would face the fiercest attack, then the mental state had a defect.

And once there was a defect, encountering the demon sound master's Mad Demon Tune would make it easy for the tune to exploit the weakness, making it impossible to resist.

Ruohuan Gongzi knew this principle and deliberately said that to make Zhang Xuan suffer.

Since they were competitors, they were naturally enemies. He had no habit of showing mercy to enemies.

"Since you're afraid, I'll go first!"

Having struck at this Teacher Zhang again, Ruohuan Gongzi smiled lightly, stepped up to the table, and reached for a blank formation plate.

"Ruohuan Gongzi, don't rush. I think I should go first!"

Another calm voice sounded as Fu Xiaochen walked over.

He had already adjusted his mental state, his eyes calm and expression indifferent.

"What? You want to compete with me?" Ruohuan Gongzi raised his eyebrows.

"Compete? You overthink it. Given Elder Wu's strength, whether first or second, or even fifth or sixth, the effect of the Mad Demon Tune will be the same. Going first or later makes no difference... The methods you use against others won't work on me."

Fu Xiaochen said calmly.