Chapter 553: The Shy Zhang Xuan

Stamping his foot on the ground, Hall Master Kang shot forward like a leopard, his arms shaking as true qi surged wildly within him, further boosting his speed.

Spirit-tier mid-grade martial technique—Eagle Soaring to the Sky!

This was a movement technique, if not the strongest in Ten Thousand Kingdoms City, then close to it. Once executed, it drastically increased speed, making it difficult even for an expert like Alliance Head Zhao to catch up.

Worried about his student's safety, Hall Master Kang unleashed his ultimate move and said, "Teacher Zhang, I'll go ahead first; just follow me... Huh? Where is he? Damn!"

As he moved forward, he turned to address Teacher Zhang, but before he could finish his sentence, his body stiffened, and he nearly lost control of his true qi, almost falling from the air.

Behind him, there was no one. Instead, ahead of him, a figure was sprinting wildly, already a tiny black dot on the verge of disappearing.

Wasn't that... Teacher Zhang!

He had been dashing at his top speed, thinking that Teacher Zhang, who was only at the initial stage of Mortal Transcendence Realm second layer, would hardly be able to keep up. So he had kindly said a word, but... before he could finish, the man was already out of sight!

His speed was more than twice as fast!

He himself was a peak Mortal Transcendence Realm fourth layer expert, and he had used his strongest movement technique... yet he had almost failed to even catch a glimpse of the other!

Even seeing it with his own eyes, he wondered if he was hallucinating or going crazy.

Is this still the second level of Mortal Transformation?

Even the fifth level wouldn't have this speed...

"No, he's not at the early second level? He's... at the late stage?"

He frowned.

Zhang Shi sprinted with all his might, his true qi leaking out without reservation, revealing his true cultivation... not the early second level of Mortal Transformation at all, but... the late stage!

How is this possible?

During the selection of renowned teachers, the other party broke through on the spot, witnessed clearly, impossible to fake. How could it be... that in just over half a month, he had advanced three minor levels and reached the late second stage?

This is the second level of Mortal Transformation... in such a short time, from the early stage to the late stage, and it seems his cultivation is stable, ready to break through at any moment...

How did he manage it?

This is too heaven-defying!

Moreover, even if he were at the late stage of Primordial Energy, compared to his peak of Turbid Clarity, that's still two major levels apart. How could he be faster than him? And at such speed, turning and leaping were all agile and nimble, far superior to the spirit-grade mid-tier martial skill Eagle Soaring Sky he practiced!

"Could it be... he has cultivated a spirit-grade upper-tier or even... supreme-grade martial skill?"

His heart stirred, and he was startled.

Martial techniques of this level could only be possessed by the empire; even as the head of the prestigious academy in Wanguo City, he could neither learn nor obtain them.

A Master Zhang who came from a kingdom that didn't even rank... had actually cultivated a martial technique of this level—how formidable must his background be...

"Those two, Su Fan and Ling Hengyu, definitely didn't tell the truth. I'm afraid... Master Zhang's origins are not simple! I must ask them thoroughly when I get back!"

A thought arose in his mind.

A person's abilities couldn't come from nowhere. With this Master Zhang being so formidable, how could his teacher be simple? And his family background?

Those two, Master Su and Master Ling, must have known something but just didn't say it.

Otherwise, they would never have recommended him so vigorously, sparing no effort.

"Master Zhang... wait for me!"

Suppressing the shock in his heart, he looked up and saw that Master Zhang's figure had already disappeared. Hall Master Kang hurriedly chased after him.

The Ice Source Palace was not large. The aura erupted by Palace Master Wu was only a few hundred meters away. After a few turns, they arrived at the spot. By then, Master Zhang had already reached and was standing in a spacious hall.

Palace Master Wu, Ruohuan Gongzi, and Zhao Ya were also there, along with several female disciples dressed in fiery red and white robes, trembling incessantly.

In front of them was a huge pool, a full twenty meters in diameter. The pool water was divided into two parts, spiritual energy churning, embedded with countless spirit stones, like a pool of pure spiritual liquid.

"Could this be... the Yin-Yang Pool?"

He had long heard of the Yin-Yang Pool, but even he had never seen it before. This was his first time witnessing it with his own eyes.

"No... I've heard that the Yin-Yang Pool is divided into yin and yang, one side scorching like fire, the other freezing like ice. But this one, though abundant in spiritual energy, lacks that burning and freezing sensation..."

He frowned.

The Yin-Yang Pool was famous throughout the world because it was divided into yin and yang: one side bitterly cold, the other unbearably hot. Yin and yang merged, creating a dual experience of ice and fire.

Cultivating in it, alternating between cold and heat, tempered by yin and yang qi, one's true qi became more consolidated, and strength improved faster.

Although the pool before him appeared divided into two parts, it only emitted ordinary spiritual energy fluctuations, without any cold or heat. Could it be... that this was not the so-called Yin-Yang Pool?

"Palace Master Wu, what happened?"

Seeing that his student was unharmed, Hall Master Kang breathed a sigh of relief and looked over with a puzzled expression.

What could have happened to make Palace Master Wu, who had reached the fifth level of Mortal Transformation, so angry as to emit such astonishing fury?

"There's a problem with the Yin-Yang Pool..."

Palace Master Wu explained, then looked at the female disciples before her: "Repeat what you just said!"

"Yes..."

The foremost female disciple stepped forward, her voice trembling: "As usual, we went to tend to... the Mother Water, but discovered... the yin-yang power within it had vanished completely, not a trace left, just like... the water in this pool..."

"The Mother Water is buried deep underground, its yin-yang power formed by connecting the earth veins and the ice field. How could it disappear?" Palace Master Wu refused to believe it.

"Reporting to the Palace Master... this is what we just drew from below. Please take a look..."

The female disciple turned her wrist, and a bucket appeared before her. Inside was a pool of clear water, its spiritual energy writhing, giving an impression of extreme vitality, but... it was merely ordinary spiritual energy, without the slightest cold or heat.

"Indeed, it has lost its yin-yang properties? What on earth happened?"

Palace Master Wu's eyes reddened.

The Yin-Yang Pool was tied to the very existence of the entire Ice Field Palace. If it were destroyed, her branch would be as good as finished.

As she went frantic, Zhang Xuan, who had been the first to rush over, twitched the corner of his mouth.

At first, he hadn't known what they meant by Mother Water, but upon seeing the contents of the female disciple's bucket, he immediately shuddered.

Wasn't this exactly what he had absorbed underground just now?

Could it be related to the Yin-Yang Pool?

"Palace Master Wu, what is this Mother Water you speak of? What's going on? If there's something difficult to say, feel free to speak up. Perhaps we can help solve it..."

Seeing the Palace Master in such a state, Hall Master Kang felt a premonition of doom and couldn't help stepping forward.

"This involves the greatest secret of the Ice Field Palace. I didn't want to tell you, but under these circumstances, if we can't find a solution, it probably can't be hidden any longer!"

Seeing his inquiry, Palace Master Wu hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help nodding.

Although these people were outsiders, they were all master teachers. Since she was at a loss, perhaps they might have a solution.

"This is the Yin-Yang Pool!"

Pointing at the vast pool before them, Palace Master Wu said: "Are you wondering why it doesn't match the legend—a pool divided into yin and yang, with cold and heat clashing?"

Everyone nodded.

Hall Master Kang, in particular, had noticed this upon arrival and was equally puzzled.

"The spiritual energy in the Yin-Yang Pool is formed from spirit stones, as you can see. But the yin-yang energy within it comes from... the Mother Water!"

"The Mother Water is created by the Ice Field Palace using a special method that fuses the heat of the earth veins with the extreme cold of the ice field. Normally, it is buried deep beneath the mountain range. Only when needed is the spiritual liquid drawn from it and poured into this pool..."

Palace Master Wu explained.

Though it was only the simplest introduction, not touching on the Ice Field Palace's most fundamental secrets, it made things clear.

The so-called Yin-Yang Pool was not natural but man-made, and... most importantly, the Mother Water was essential. Only by pouring this substance could the water's properties be completely transformed, creating a treasure land beneficial for cultivation.

This was like diluting a concentrated spiritual liquid; the most important part was not the diluted medicine but the original concentrate.

And now... the yin-yang properties of this original Mother Water had... vanished into thin air!

Without the Mother Water, the so-called Yin-Yang Pool was just a pool of spiritual liquid. Even if it were somewhat beneficial for cultivation, it would lack its former effects...

"This..."

Hall Master Kang twitched the corner of his mouth.

He had thought it was something simple that could be easily resolved, but now it seemed he was not qualified to intervene.

This involved the Mother Water, equivalent to the Ice Field Palace's greatest secret. How could it be casually leaked to him?

Moreover, even if it were leaked, even Palace Master Wu, who had immersed herself in this all her life, couldn't solve it. What could he do?

To be honest, his luck was too bad. He had thought getting the名额 would allow his students to greatly increase their cultivation, but he never dreamed something like this would happen.

"By the way, Teacher Zhang..."

Just as he was about to shake his head and tell her there was no solution, he suddenly remembered Zhang Xuan, who had repeatedly worked miracles. He couldn't help looking over. When he did, his brow furrowed.

At this moment, Teacher Zhang had a strange expression, as if he had done something shameful, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"Teacher Zhang, what's wrong with you?"

Seeing that the usually carefree Zhang Xuan, instead of trying to solve the problem, had this expression, Palace Master Wu couldn't help looking at him.

Hearing the question, the others also turned their attention to him.

Teacher Zhang's expression was indeed strange. Even Palace Master Wu felt something was off.

"I..."

Hearing the question, Zhang Xuan's face reddened, and he couldn't help scratching his head: "Well... Palace Master Wu, earlier in the Ice Fire Room, didn't I say... I was cultivating for a while?"

Seeing that instead of answering the question, he brought this up, Palace Master Wu and Hall Master Kang looked puzzled, but still nodded.

Earlier, he had said that he had delayed time cultivating in the Ice Fire Room, which was why he hadn't passed the assessment.

Scratching his head, Zhang Xuan said with great embarrassment: "Ahem... when I was cultivating, I used too much force and accidentally... absorbed all the yin-yang energy from your Mother Water..."