Chapter 609: Master Hong's Conditions

Severely depleted vitality, injured...

Injured my ass!

Did you even call that a fight with Master Feng just now?

I'd call it a beating. You didn't even break a sweat, so how could your vitality be so depleted that you can't fight for ten years?

The one truly depleted is Master Feng lying on the ground, isn't it?

Look at him... his eyes are starting to roll back...

And you, after beating him, you're refreshed and cheerful, grinning from ear to ear...

"Whether you're injured or not, we both know the truth. Just say whether you dare to accept the challenge!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Master Luo Zhao gritted his teeth and roared.

"If you truly disregard the ethics and dignity of a master teacher and want to take advantage of someone's weakness, I suppose I could agree. But let me set the rules for the contest."

Master Hong glanced over calmly: "Each of us will ride a flying spirit beast and fight at an altitude of at least a thousand meters. Do you dare... or not?"

"You..."

Luo Zhao staggered.

Aerial combat?

The scene he had just witnessed from the recording crystal was still vivid. If he really fought this guy in the air, he would probably end up like Master Feng on the ground—falling half to death, then... getting charged at and beaten again...

Forget about teaching him a lesson; it would be hard just to survive.

"Scared?" Master Hong glanced at him, full of contempt: "If you're scared, don't issue a challenge. A dignified master teacher, challenging an injured man, yet too afraid to accept the fight—how disgraceful!"

"..."

His face flushed red, and Luo Zhao nearly spat blood in anger.

Master Hong used to seem normal, but now he was so shameless?

"Alright, since you don't want to challenge me, I won't pursue it further. The only reason I came here is this: you blocked me in the air, undermining fairness and justice. You must give me an explanation!"

Master Hong snorted and continued.

His purpose in coming was to seek an explanation. Now that he had beaten Feng Yu, half his anger was gone. He thought... maybe he could still salvage some justice.

Originally, after arranging for the others, he had planned to come straight here, but Master Zhang stopped him and chatted for a while.

Now it seemed Master Zhang's method was effective.

Otherwise, with his original plan—rushing over, cursing them out, and leaving—he wouldn't have made them learn their lesson, nor would his own anger have subsided.

In fact, if they joined forces, he might even suffer.

Now, by using the principle of a master teacher's challenge, he had suppressed them into silence. Then, by proposing aerial combat on flying spirit beasts, he made them too afraid to accept. Even if they wanted to counterattack, they were at a disadvantage.

"An explanation? You still want an explanation?"

Luo Zhao and the other master teacher exchanged glances, nearly dying of anger.

You come here, beat Master Feng until he's nearly dead, and then ask us for an explanation?

"Simple: you used despicable means to obstruct us, so you must compensate! I won't ask for much—500 mid-grade spirit stones, and this matter is settled. I won't report it to the teacher or His Majesty. Otherwise, I'll take this up and let everyone judge!"

Master Hong waved his hand.

He was full of confidence. Master Zhang was someone whom even Hall Master Mo of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy was willing to befriend with high-grade spirit stones. If this matter were brought up, these three would definitely be punished.

"500... mid-grade spirit stones?"

The two staggered.

Although they were five-star master teachers, they didn't have many mid-grade spirit stones on hand. Being able to produce one or two hundred was already a lot. Asking for 500 at once... was nothing short of robbery!

But they were indeed in the wrong.

According to their original plan, this guy, trapped for a day and having lost all three slots, would surely be too ashamed to show his face and would leave immediately. Even if he spoke out, it would be because he lacked skill...

Who would have thought he'd come out unscathed, seize the moral high ground, and make it impossible for them to refuse?

They were so frustrated they wanted to vomit blood.

"We were indeed a bit rash in this matter, but Hong Qian, don't push too hard. Besides, we didn't really do anything to you, did we? Leave some leeway for future dealings. There's no need to be so ruthless!"

Luo Zhao flicked his sleeve.

"Exactly. We're all five-star master teachers with reputations. You've hit and beaten him; what more do you want? Are you going to cling to us?"

The second elder's face also flushed with anger.

"What, you don't want to pay? Or can't afford it?"

Master Hong clasped his hands behind his back.

"Hmph, mid-grade spirit stones are precious even for us five-star master teachers. Can you produce five hundred at once?"

Luo Zhao snorted.

"If you can't produce them, that's fine. I heard that the Crown Prince is hosting a banquet tonight to discuss how to resolve the issue of the three slots. You came to the capital so early; you must have found out the details. Just tell me the solution and your agreed countermeasures, and this matter is over!"

Master Hong waved his hand.

Five hundred mid-grade spirit stones were impossible for a five-star master teacher to produce. He was just asking high and bargaining low!

The urgent matter now was to know how the Crown Prince planned to resolve the three-slot issue, so he could prepare in advance and avoid being caught off guard.

"This..."

Luo Zhao and the other elder exchanged glances and shook their heads simultaneously.

"The Crown Prince holds a high status. He hasn't revealed how the selection will be conducted. We truly don't know..."

"If we had known what the assessment would be, we wouldn't have resorted to such a low tactic as blocking you."

Although the Crown Prince was a junior, he was an outstanding student of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy. Even they couldn't guess his intentions, nor dared to press him directly.

"You don't know?" Master Hong frowned.

"Yes."

Luo Zhao replied.

Seeing them say this, Master Hong shook his head helplessly.

True, if they had known the rules and prepared in advance, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to intercept him and give him leverage.

"Well, I don't know what the Crown Prince's assessment will be, but... I can tell you in advance about Princess Fei'er and the four slots. We found out after much inquiry."

Luo Zhao hesitated for a moment, then said.

"Good. As long as you tell me, the past is settled!" Master Hong nodded.

Master Zhang and the others would eventually go to Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy. Since this Princess Fei'er was from the academy, knowing some things in advance and building a good relationship would be helpful.

"Well, Princess Fei'er is the sixth princess of the Hongyuan Empire. At a young age, she was found to have exceptional talent for master teachers. Now twenty-four, she has already successfully become a five-star master teacher!"

Luo Zhao said.

"Twenty-four... five-star master teacher?"

Master Hong's pupils contracted.

Having become a five-star master teacher himself, he knew the difficulty. It required not only talent but also mastery of at least five professions, each at the five-star level.

It had taken him over 160 years to achieve that. For her to do it at twenty-four...

If he hadn't heard it with his own ears, he would hardly believe it.

"Such talent is probably only comparable to Master Zhang!"

He sighed, full of bitterness.

Undeniably, true geniuses were beyond the comprehension of someone like him.

"Yes, that's why Crown Prince Ye took the initiative to befriend her and had His Majesty offer four slots!" Luo Zhao nodded.

When he first learned this news, he was also shocked. If not for his strong mental fortitude, he might have collapsed.

A twenty-four-year-old five-star master teacher... something he had never dared to imagine before.

"Princess Fei'er is only one person. Why does she need four slots?"

Master Hong looked at him.

He had wanted to ask Zhuang Qin earlier, but his status was low and he couldn't find out such things. Asking would have been useless, so he didn't. Since the other party was willing to talk, now was a good time to clarify.

"The princess is one person, but she also has a friend and two classmates from the master teacher academy. They seem to be on some mission in Qingshi Mountain. That's why the Crown Prince invited them. Otherwise, why would a princess of the Hongyuan Empire condescend to come here?"

Luo Zhao said.

Master Hong nodded.

The Hongyuan Empire, a first-class empire, could be considered a major power on the Master Teacher Continent. It governed hundreds of second-class empires like Huanyu. If not for special circumstances, why would she condescend to come here?

Even if the Huaqing Pool was miraculous, it was only useful for the souls of He Ling and Qiao Tian realm experts. In a resource-rich first-class empire, such effects could be replaced by many treasures. There was no need to travel an unknown distance and endure hardship to come here.

"Have you found out the names and identities of these people?"

Master Hong asked further.

"Princess Fei'er's friend is called Luo Qiqi, said to be a princess of some first-class kingdom. As for her specific identity, she didn't say, and we don't have the authority to investigate. However, her master teacher rank seems no less than Princess Fei'er's, and her cultivation is even stronger. From my estimation, even all of us combined might not be her match!"

Luo Zhao looked grave.

Although he had only met this Luo Qiqi once, he could tell that her strength was unfathomable.

At least, it was beyond his ability to contend with.

"As for the other two, they are classmates of the princess, both male. Their cultivation and strength are also formidable, not inferior to the princess. Most importantly, they both carry the aura of noble offspring. If I'm not mistaken, their identities are also not simple. As for their names..."

Luo Zhao thought for a moment, then said: "One is called Xing Yuan, and the other seems to be called Wu Zhen... I don't know the specific details."

"Luo Qiqi, Xing Yuan, Wu Zhen?"

Master Hong nodded.

Since they came from a master teacher academy, they must all be master teachers. Being in the same class as Princess Fei'er meant they were likely all five-star level.

Students of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, sent out on some mission—these people would undoubtedly have limitless potential.

Such an opportunity for connection was something the Huanyu Empire naturally wouldn't let slip.

No wonder Crown Prince Ye was so enthusiastic.

"Oh, by the way, Princess Fei'er has a bad temper, and that Luo Qiqi is extremely cold. If you encounter them, it's best not to offend them, or even the Huanyu Empire won't be able to bear the consequences!"

Remembering something, Luo Zhao quickly added.

"Offend them? Don't worry, we won't run into them, and we certainly won't offend them!"

Master Hong smiled, looking sincere: "We're honest folks!"