Chapter 545: Yin-Yang Pool

"Top-nine professions are almost never granted rank exceptions. Only those with unparalleled talent can receive such treatment. I thought Master Zhang's mastery of the mentor profession was astonishing enough, but unexpectedly... he is no less in other professions!"

"Indeed, three of the most supreme top-nine professions have all been exceptionally approved for four stars... This can no longer be described by the word 'genius'!"

"Too strong..."

Everyone in the room fell silent.

Excelling far beyond ordinary in one profession might be called genius; in two, it's monstrous. This young man, though young, was no weaker in other professions... They had no idea how he learned.

Compared to him, one felt despair from the depths of their heart.

"Other professions can grant badges exceptionally. Why can't our Mentor Hall? Master Zhang's performance also qualifies!"

Master Su couldn't help saying.

"Yes!" Master Ling immediately added: "Now that Master Zhang has five professions above four stars, even if his cultivation is insufficient, I think he deserves to be granted the identity of a four-star mentor!"

A four-star mentor requires not only four auxiliary professions reaching four stars but also the cultivation of Mortal Transformation Second Layer.

Although Master Zhang's cultivation was insufficient now, other top-nine professions could exceptionally grant badges. Why couldn't the Mentor Hall, which serves as a model for all, do the same?

"This..." Hall Master Kang hesitated.

Indeed, other professions had the courage to grant badges exceptionally. Why couldn't the Mentor Hall?

"How about this: I will immediately apply to headquarters..." After a pause, Hall Master Kang said.

"Wait. Now that I have so many auxiliary professions but cannot be granted four-star mentor status and need to apply to headquarters, is it because my cultivation is insufficient?"

Before he finished, Zhang Xuan asked doubtfully.

"Mm," Hall Master Kang nodded.

"Since it's so troublesome, I'll just break through directly. It's no big deal, why bother agonizing over it?" Zhang Xuan said.

"Break through directly? Cough, cough..."

Master Su and Master Ling were stunned.

Even if you are at the peak of Mortal Transformation First Layer, Life Extension Realm, breaking through to the Vital Energy Realm is not that easy. After all, this realm involves converting all true energy into vital energy, making power more integrated with nature.

"Master Zhang, don't rush. Breaking through to the Vital Energy Realm must be done carefully. The higher the quality of vital energy, the more helpful it is for future cultivation. You'd better study more and master more knowledge first..."

Hall Master Kang tried to dissuade, but before he finished, he saw the young man frown.

Boom!

A sound like an egg breaking came from within his body. The cultivation barrier was instantly shattered, followed by a surge of majestic aura rising from him.

"Vital Energy Realm..."

Hall Master Kang's body trembled, his words stuck in his throat.

He could clearly feel that the other party had successfully broken through...

Others breaking through this realm needed to find a place for secluded cultivation, with various protections and state adjustments... This guy, on the other hand, just broke through while talking... Did he have to be so ruthless?

"Alright, no need to agonize. I am now at the Vital Energy Realm and meet the conditions!"

Having broken through successfully, Zhang Xuan said calmly.

He had been on the verge of breaking through while in the Witch Soul Tomb. Just now, in Hall Master Kang's room, he had gathered many cultivation techniques for Mortal Transformation Second Layer, forming the correct Heavenly Dao technique. The so-called breakthrough was merely a thought away.

It was nothing.

"Alright..."

Seeing that this guy broke through as soon as he said it, without any bottleneck pressure, everyone in the hall was speechless.

Fu Xiaochen was trembling so much he couldn't say a word.

Question his insufficient auxiliary professions? The heads of top-nine professions rushed to report to headquarters to get him level badges. Think his cultivation was insufficient? He immediately broke through to show you...

You couldn't talk to such a person, or he would slap your face in an instant, and it would be the kind that left you utterly defeated and unable to refute.

With everything in place, the rest was simple. Before long, a badge representing his identity fell into Zhang Xuan's hands.

Now, he was truly a four-star mentor recognized by the Mentor Hall.

"Master Zhang, Ruohuan, come with me. I'll tell you the details of this mentor competition."

With everything settled, Hall Master Kang called out.

Leaving the hall, the three entered a room.

"Mentor competition, since you two have been selected, you must know something about it," Hall Master Kang began.

"Mm," the two nodded simultaneously.

"The mentor competition is organized by the Mentor Hall of Huanyu Empire. The content of each assessment is different. Those ranked in the top ten will not only receive rewards of mid-grade spirit stones but also have the opportunity to study at the Hongyuan Mentor Academy!"

Hall Master Kang said.

"Hongyuan Mentor Academy?" Jun Ruohuan's breath quickened.

"Mm," Hall Master Kang nodded.

"Is this academy famous?" Seeing their excitement, Zhang Xuan asked in confusion.

"Famous is an understatement..."

Hall Master Kang shook his head with a wry smile: "Hongyuan Mentor Academy was established by the first-class Hongyuan Empire in conjunction with the Mentor Halls of over a hundred subordinate second-class empires. It is a place dedicated to recruiting and training mentors, a cradle for four-star mentors. Six-star mentors personally teach and answer questions. If I could enter and study there, it would be like stepping onto the broad road to becoming a five-star mentor! There would be little deviation."

"A place to train mentors?" Zhang Xuan was astonished.

His disguised identity, Yang Xuan, was mistaken for a six-star mentor. In reality, he had never even seen what such a high-level mentor looked like.

However, even if he hadn't seen one, the strength of someone at that level was terrifying beyond imagination.

Receiving guidance from such a person would lead to leaps in both cultivation and strength.

Not to mention others, Mo Husheng, trapped in the lotus, was only a six-star witch soul master and was already so formidable, let alone a mentor of this level.

"Previously, I only hoped our Mentor Hall would achieve a good ranking. But with Master Zhang joining, I hope... you can strive for a spot in the top ten!"

Hall Master Kang said solemnly.

Before, he only hoped that this competition wouldn't end with the last place like before. But after seeing Zhang Xuan's performance today, a hope he could hardly suppress arose in his heart: that the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance might break into the top ten!

If successful, he, as hall master, would go down in history and might even be transferred to the Huanyu Empire Mentor Hall, obtaining better cultivation conditions.

"Top ten?"

Ruohuan clenched his fists.

"However, the top ten is not easy. Although other forces have come to the royal city, they have kept the identities of their participants very secret. Even I haven't learned much!"

Despite his desire, Hall Master Kang knew the difficulty: "But based on past experience, mentor ability is part of the assessment, and cultivation is also part. To make the top ten, it's almost impossible without the strength of Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer mid-stage!"

"Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer mid-stage?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"Correct. So I hope that in the nearly two months, you can train hard and strive to improve your strength further!"

Hall Master Kang looked at them with burning eyes: "Therefore, I plan to take you to... the Yin-Yang Pool for cultivation starting tomorrow!"

"Yin-Yang Pool? Teacher, do you mean the Yin-Yang Pool in the Source Fire Ice Plain?"

Jun Ruohuan quickly looked at him.

"Correct. Where else would there be a Yin-Yang Pool if not the Source Fire Ice Plain?" Hall Master Kang nodded.

"But... aren't the people of the Source Fire Ice Plain always at odds with our Ten Thousand Kingdoms City? Would they agree to lend us the Yin-Yang Pool for cultivation?" Jun Ruohuan asked doubtfully.

"Don't worry about that. I have already negotiated with their ancestor. As long as you pass their selection and assessment, you can enter and cultivate there! The Yin-Yang Pool contains both yin and yang attributes. One side is bone-chillingly cold, the other like a torch. Cultivating inside helps regulate internal power, making it easier to comprehend realms and accelerate cultivation. It is especially helpful for those with special physiques like pure yin or pure yang."

Hall Master Kang said.

"Pure yin and pure yang physiques?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

"Yes. The Yin-Yang Pool, divided into yin and yang, can easily activate the physiques of those with pure yin or pure yang, greatly boosting their cultivation. Unfortunately, these two physiques are extremely rare. Otherwise, entering it would surely break barriers and lead to rapid progress!"

Hall Master Kang sighed.

"This..." Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Pure yin and pure yang physiques were indeed rare, but... Zhao Ya was the former!

Her physique was only 20% activated, yet she was already so powerful. Since this Yin-Yang Pool was so effective, could it help her break through?

As for himself... he really didn't care. After all, with the Heavenly Dao technique and enough spirit stones, cultivation was as simple as eating and drinking for him. Not to mention Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer; if these two were sufficient, he could break through to the Ninth Layer in a day without issue.

"However, the Yin-Yang Pool is in the southernmost part of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance, extremely far from here. Even with a peak four-star flying beast, a one-way trip would take at least ten days. Adding cultivation time, this trip will take at least forty days. Therefore, if you have no issues, we'll set out early tomorrow morning and must return here before the mentor competition."

Hall Master Kang looked at them solemnly.

"No problem!" Zhang Xuan and Jun Ruohuan nodded simultaneously.

Hall Master Kang had described the Yin-Yang Pool as wonderful, and he actually wanted to see it. More importantly, since this place greatly benefited Zhao Ya, if he had the chance to take her there, it might activate more of her physique and make her cultivation soar.

"Alright, you two go back and prepare today. Assemble here early tomorrow morning!"

Having said everything, Hall Master Kang said.

"Okay!" The two nodded.

Leaving the room, Zhang Xuan went straight back to his residence and called Zhao Ya over.

"Master will take you to a place tomorrow that will help activate your physique. Get ready!"

After instructing her, Zhang Xuan returned to his own quarters. This trip would take over a month, so the priority was to improve his cultivation, first reaching the peak of the Vital Energy Realm!

Activating the spirit-gathering array disk, he sat cross-legged inside. With a flick of his wrist, a mid-grade spirit stone appeared before him.