Chapter 590: Zhao Feiwu's Analysis

"Master Zhang..."

Approaching, Ruohuan hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth: "I have a favor to ask!"

"Please speak!"

Seeing this most arrogant young master of Wanguo City come to him, Zhang Xuan smiled slightly.

The two had some misunderstandings at first, but they had been resolved during the trip to the Ice Plain Palace. Moreover, as fellow contestants of the Wanguo Alliance, if he could help, he certainly wouldn't refuse.

"Originally, I had no hope for the top ten, but... now that I've made it to the top sixteen, I can't bear not to fight for it..." Ruohuan's face reddened.

He had drawn 'A1' and automatically received a bye, meaning that from the start of the competition until now, he had not undergone a single match and had still entered the top sixteen.

People have desires. If he had stopped earlier, he wouldn't have been conflicted. But now that he was in the top sixteen, one more victory would put him in the top ten. Who wouldn't be tempted?

"...My opponent is Qin Lei of Baiyang Sect!"

After explaining the situation, Ruohuan looked worried: "I'm not confident I can win!"

"Qin Lei? The one ranked third on the Potential Ranking?" Zhang Xuan looked at him.

That name was on the roster Hall Master Kang had given him earlier. A super genius of Baiyang Sect, a Four-Star Peak Master Teacher and a peak Transcending Mortality Fourth Layer expert, ranked just behind Luo Xuan of Liuyun Sect and Liao Wuzhi of Hanqi Sect on the Potential Ranking. He was a highly favored contender for the championship in this grand competition.

"Yes!" Ruohuan nodded.

"If it's him, winning won't be easy!" Zhang Xuan frowned.

Although Ruohuan had improved greatly recently and his strength had reached the peak of Transcending Mortality Fourth Layer, he was still far behind a sect disciple like that.

The foundation was there; it couldn't be made up for by a month or two of last-minute cramming.

"So, I wanted to ask Master Zhang for guidance... Whether I win or lose afterward, I will be eternally grateful!" Ruohuan said hastily.

This Master Zhang had been too dazzling in this grand competition, even overshadowing the most popular Luo Xuan and Liao Wuzhi.

If there was anyone who could bring him closer to success, it was not his teacher Hall Master Kang, but the person before him.

"Guidance is no problem, but..."

Unexpectedly, he had this idea, Zhang Xuan shook his head: "But... you don't even know what the competition will be about. How can I guide you?"

In the Master Teacher Grand Competition, the content varied widely. As the lowest-ranked alliance in the last competition, the Wanguo Alliance had no right to choose and could only passively accept. Without knowing what kind of competition the opponent would choose, how could he guide?

Even if he really wanted to win, he had to know what cards the opponent would play first. Without knowing the cards, even a true Six-Star or Seven-Star Master Teacher would be powerless.

He wanted to help but couldn't!

"In the previous round, his opponent was Wu Qing of Zhenxi Sect. The two were not far apart in any aspect, so he proposed a teaching competition and won that way. Facing me... I think he definitely won't bother with that; he might directly choose a martial competition!"

Ruohuan hesitated and said.

Wu Qing was also a top-ten master teacher on the Potential Ranking, but unfortunately, he had bad luck meeting this Qin Lei and was eliminated in the first round.

The two were evenly matched in strength and other skills, so Qin Lei proposed a teaching competition.

However, facing him, he certainly wouldn't go through such trouble; he would most likely propose a martial competition.

Although both were at the peak of Transcending Mortality Fourth Layer, he had just broken through while the opponent had been immersed in it for who knows how long. Moreover, the sect's martial techniques and control over strength were more profound, making victory easy!

Therefore, if his guess was correct, the opponent would definitely use a crushing method when facing him.

"This..."

Zhang Xuan scratched his head.

If it was a martial competition, it would be easier. With his guidance, he could improve Ruohuan's strength within half an hour. But... what if it wasn't?

Wouldn't all the preparation be in vain?

"Master Zhang, Ruohuan, come down and eat something to regain your strength!"

Just as he was about to say something, Hall Master Kang's voice rang out.

Turning around, he saw that after a full day of competition, many people were tired and had stepped down from the round platform to rest, eat, and drink.

"Let's go down first!"

Knowing that without knowing what the opponent would challenge, discussing more was useless, the two stepped down from the round platform.

The Alliance Lord's Mansion had prepared various foods, very abundant, including many spirit beast meats that could greatly replenish energy.

It must be said, seeing these foods, Zhang Xuan really felt hungry.

"What were you discussing just now?"

Zhao Feiwu looked over with a smile.

"Oh, Ruohuan is going to face Qin Lei of Baiyang Sect in the next match and wants my guidance, but we don't know what kind of competition the opponent will choose."

Zhang Xuan said while eating.

"What kind?" Zhao Feiwu rested her chin on her hands, sitting to the side, hesitated, and said: "I think... it should be about understanding of cultivation."

"Understanding of cultivation?" Zhang Xuan, Ruohuan, and the others looked over.

They had guessed a martial competition just now; why was her guess completely different?

"Understanding of cultivation? That's quite complicated, and judging it is very troublesome. Few people choose this kind of competition!" said Master Su.

Understanding of cultivation could be interpreted from several aspects: explaining the same martial technique or explaining the same cultivation method... But whichever, it was time-consuming and laborious. Most importantly, everyone had their own opinion; unless the explanation stood out and exceeded others by a lot, it was hard to determine a winner.

Everyone was a Four-Star Peak Master Teacher, and their understanding of cultivation methods was not far apart. Choosing such a troublesome competition would probably be something no one wanted!

"Let's hear it!"

Knowing that the princess before him, though not highly cultivated, had read extensively since childhood and possessed many clever ideas, Zhang Xuan asked.

"Oh, it's simple: see what he wants most in this competition!"

Zhao Feiwu smiled.

"What he wants?" Ruohuan Gongzi was taken aback. "In a competition, naturally one wants to be champion..."

Since it was a master teacher competition, who wouldn't want to be champion? This Qin Lei was a top contender; of course he wanted it.

"Exactly. And now, what is the biggest obstacle on the path to champion?" Zhao Feiwu's eyes curved into crescents, her fair face turning toward the young man not far away.

"Of course... Teacher Zhang!"

Ruohuan Gongzi didn't need to say it; everyone knew.

Zhang Xuan's performance in the selection matches could be described as overwhelming, too extraordinary. In the duels, his once-weak cultivation had also shone brilliantly, making him the hottest favorite for champion, even more so than Luo Xuan and others.

If anyone was the biggest obstacle for Qin Lei to win the championship, it was undoubtedly him.

"Right, since it's Teacher Zhang, you are naturally not his target—meaning... he doesn't even consider you on the same level!" Zhao Feiwu said.

Ruohuan Gongzi's face reddened.

Though the words were somewhat discouraging, he knew they were true.

Given the other's strength, he indeed had no capital to win, not enough to be feared.

"You're also from the Ten Nations Alliance. His goal is to defeat Teacher Zhang and win the championship... so he will surely use Teacher Zhang's forte to defeat you as a provocation."

Zhao Feiwu continued.

"My forte?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

"Mm, in the selection matches just now, though you were impressive in temperament, wisdom, and other aspects, the most stunning were definitely your comprehension and the Heavenly Teacher's Revelation!"

"Right!" Hall Master Kang nodded.

Though Teacher Zhang's performance was varied, the most memorable were these two.

The Heavenly Teacher's Revelation had driven the alien tribesman to suicide; his high comprehension had made the Tianxing Chess puppet admit defeat and collapse at a single glance.

As for reciting over twenty thousand books, that was due to a good background and acquiring the Divine Sense Reading Method; its shock value was less than these two.

"Heavenly Teacher's Revelation involves soul power; even if he thinks he can win, it's not glorious and won't cause a stir. But... comprehension is different! High comprehension means deep understanding of cultivation. Using this to compete, he can not only defeat Ruohuan Gongzi but also overshadow Teacher Zhang. Such a great opportunity to shine—how could he not choose it?"

Zhao Feiwu smiled slightly, laying out her analysis: "As for the martial duel you mentioned, I think it's inferior. A dignified master teacher fighting and killing—even winning isn't glorious!"

"Exactly!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Zhao Feiwu had thoroughly fathomed the other's psychology, analyzing it clearly and logically, far more reliable than Ruohuan Gongzi's earlier words.

"That analysis is good, but does it mean we need to find a cultivation technique or manual to analyze?" Ruohuan Gongzi looked troubled.

Comparing understanding of cultivation, the most direct method is to explain the same manual, but... where to find such a book? Whose would be fair?

"Understanding of cultivation isn't limited to analyzing manuals. If I remember correctly... there's a competition called 'Defect Pointing'!" Zhao Feiwu smiled.

"Defect Pointing? You mean... the method where both sides each perform a martial technique, then have the other comment and point out flaws, and whoever finds more problems wins?"

Ruohuan Gongzi was stunned: "But... this requires extremely high insight and knowledge. A higher level pointing out flaws to a lower level is fine, but him pointing out flaws to me..."

Though he didn't finish, his meaning was clear.

At the same level, for him to point out flaws—wasn't this guy too arrogant?

"Right, this is also a form of competition on cultivation understanding. Rest assured, this Qin Lei, wanting to steal the spotlight, make you admit defeat willingly, and overshadow Teacher Zhang, will definitely choose this!"

Zhao Feiwu laughed.

Since this fellow wanted to be champion, he had to break Zhang Xuan's psychological pressure on him, and Ruohuan Gongzi, coming from the same place, was the perfect stepping stone.

Trampling him in the most glorious way would highlight his own strength and match Teacher Zhang's momentum.

"..."

Ruohuan Gongzi's face fell like a bitter gourd.

What kind of situation was this?

He had thought his strength would attract attention, but after all this, he was just a tool to be stepped on.

"Damn it, I'll take him down!"

The more he thought, the angrier he got. Gritting his teeth, he turned to Zhang Xuan not far away: "If it really comes to this kind of competition, does Teacher Zhang have any good way for me to win?"

Competing on the spot, pointing out flaws in a peer's technique... that would indeed shock the world. If it came to that, he surely couldn't beat the other.

He could only rely on this young man who created miracles.

"What to do?" Zhang Xuan also frowned, thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up with a strange expression: "There is a way, but it's not very convenient to do."

"Oh? As long as I can beat him, I'll do it no matter how hard!"

Hearing there was a way, Ruohuan Gongzi's eyes brightened, and he looked over earnestly: "Please teach me, Teacher Zhang..."

"Uh... all right then."

Zhang Xuan casually picked up the half-finished meat soup: "Take this and splash it in his face."

"Huh? Splash his face..."

Ruohuan Gongzi's eyes went wide.