Chapter 59 The Crazy Students

"I've already found an excuse for Grandpa. Teacher Cao Xiong has a student named Liu Yang, who was coerced by Zhang Xuan into becoming his student. Teacher Cao Xiong has already applied for tomorrow's [Academic Mind Trial]. As long as Grandpa steps in, revoking his qualification will be a piece of cake!"

Shang Bin said through gritted teeth.

Cao Xiong had told him it was enticement, but he changed it to coercion. A difference of two words, yet they were worlds apart.

Enticement only meant the teacher had a character flaw, but coercion was a matter of morality.

"Coercion? Are you sure?" Elder Shang Chen was taken aback.

"I'm sure!" Shang Bin nodded.

"If that's the case... well, tomorrow I'll invite Elder Mo from the Teacher's Guild to come and witness. If the Academic Mind Trial really proves that this Liu Yang is not genuinely his student, it might be possible to revoke his teaching qualification." After hesitating for a moment, Elder Shang Chen said.

"Thank you, Grandpa!" Shang Bin's eyes flashed with excitement.

Since there were teachers, naturally there was an organization to assess and protect their status—the Teacher's Guild.

It could review teachers' actions and revoke their qualifications. From the perspective of Zhang Xuan's previous life, it functioned much like the Education Bureau.

Teachers, as models of virtue, must impart knowledge to students who are willing. If coercion caused student dissatisfaction, their qualification could be revoked.

The Academic Mind Trial was the fairest method to determine whether a student was genuinely willing to be taught by a teacher.

"Brat, go ahead and be smug now. Tomorrow, when you lose your teaching qualification, let's see how arrogant you can be!"

Thinking about avenging his humiliation tomorrow, Shang Bin unconsciously clenched his fists, feeling a surge of satisfaction from head to toe.

...

Unaware that someone had already plotted against him, Zhang Xuan, after a night's rest, was full of energy. Looking in the mirror, his body, tempered by the Heavenly Dao Golden Body, had smooth, fair skin like a baby's, with no scars left behind. He looked much younger; if one didn't know his identity, they might mistake him for a student.

"Not bad," he remarked, then strode toward the classroom. Upon arriving, he saw that the five students had already cleaned the room inside and out, even boiling drinking water.

Wang Ying, Liu Yang, Zheng Yang, Zhao Ya, and Yuan Tao were all in high spirits, looking at Zhang Xuan with admiration and excitement.

These students had initially felt cheated, apprenticing themselves to someone ranked last in the teacher assessment. But after yesterday's lesson, they all knew that this man, despite his poor reputation, was genuinely formidable.

Wang Ying, in particular, had recounted some of the teacher's theories to her father and the family elders. Even they were full of praise, unable to fully grasp some points, and even insisted on bringing Wang Tao to become his student! This showed his level of expertise!

How could they not be excited to have such a teacher?

"Mm, everyone's here early today. Zhao Ya, grind this medicinal herb into powder and take it with water. Also, this is a cultivation technique I just wrote out. Practice it, and you should recover in about three days."

Seeing the look in their eyes, Zhang Xuan knew what they were thinking. He nodded, then handed over the Cold Sun Mother Herb he had bought last night and a book.

Zhao Ya's condition was caused by cultivating a pure yin attribute technique. Yesterday, after reading all the books in the teacher's library, he had found a solution through the Heavenly Dao Library. Although this technique was far inferior to his Heavenly Dao Divine Art, it was derived from compiling dozens of secret manuals and was extremely valuable.

It still had flaws, but they didn't affect the overall outcome.

"Yes!" Zhao Ya put the herb in her bosom and casually flipped open the book. The ink was still fresh, clearly just written. After reading for a while, her pupils contracted, and she looked at him in disbelief: "Teacher Zhang, although I've only been at the academy a short time, I've heard of all the famous techniques here. This one... is several times more powerful than the White Jade Maiden Art I was practicing. How come... I've never heard of it? And... why doesn't it have a name on the cover!"

As the city lord's daughter, Zhao Ya had countless books at home and had seen many techniques. Her discernment was sharp. The book in her hand was far superior to the White Jade Maiden Art she had practiced before, but... why had she never heard of it?

Every technique, no matter how copied, should at least bear the founder's name. But this book was bare, with nothing, leaving one puzzled.

"Oh, I summarized this yesterday based on your constitution and just wrote it out. It never had a name. If you find it inconvenient to refer to, you can give it any name you like," Zhang Xuan said.

The techniques formed by the Heavenly Dao Library summarizing the correct parts of manuals inherently had no names. He was too lazy to name them, so he just wrote it out and brought it. He didn't expect Zhao Ya to ask, so he explained casually.

"What? Teacher... wrote it himself? This is... a technique created by Teacher?"

Not only Zhao Ya was startled; the others also had their pupils contract, nearly fainting.

Those who could create techniques were all master-level figures, legendary experts who left their names in history! This unknown teacher of theirs could actually create a technique... and of such a high level—was it real or fake?

"You could say that."

The Heavenly Dao Library was inexplicable, and these books appeared out of nowhere. Claiming them as his own creation wasn't unreasonable. Zhang Xuan didn't think much of it and nodded casually.

"That's amazing..."

"The White Jade Maiden Art was created by a Martial Artist Eighth Layer Grandmaster from our family. Teacher can casually create something of a higher level—what level of strength has he reached?"

...

Seeing him admit it, the five students nearly went crazy.

Creating a technique—in the hundred years since Hongtian Academy was founded, only a handful had achieved this, and they were all renowned figures. Their teacher could do it; they were almost fainting from admiration.

And... most importantly, what had Teacher Zhang just said?

He said, "If you find it inconvenient to refer to, you can give it any name you like"...

Holy crap!

Masters who could create techniques all labored over them, treasured them like gems, and would only pass them to direct disciples!

But this Teacher Zhang, after creating a technique, casually gave it away, didn't even bother to name it, and let the student name it...

Whoever named it might be remembered by future generations, while the creator would be forgotten.

He didn't care about such a legacy that would last through the ages...

He was so indifferent to fame and fortune, so noble and virtuous!

No wonder Teacher Zhang, despite being so capable, remained unknown at the academy and even bore the bad reputation of the worst teacher. It turned out he was so lofty, treating fame and fortune like dirt...

"Teacher Zhang..."

Thinking of this, the five students' eyes reddened, and they were moved to tears.

"What's wrong with you?"

Seeing the students, who had been fine a moment ago, now with red eyes, Zhang Xuan was completely baffled.

Had these students... all gone crazy at the same time?