Chapter 621: The Crown Prince's Mansion

"Let's go!"

Ignoring the respectfully seeing-off guild leader and others, as well as the girl crying her heart out, Zhang Xuan beckoned Yuan Tao and Sun Qiang and strode out.

If there were time, he would definitely read all the books in this guild. Since there wasn't, he had to let it go and maybe come back another time.

Leaving the Alchemist Guild and returning to the carriage, Zhang Xuan took out the jade bottle and handed it to Yuan Tao.

"Apply a portion to your skin each time, wait until it's absorbed, then apply the next... Cultivate well, and it will significantly boost your strength in a short time!"

"Thank you, teacher!"

Taking the jade bottle, Yuan Tao was filled with excitement.

Having followed him for a day, he knew very well the preciousness of the medicinal liquid. Teacher had spent so much effort for this, and the debt of gratitude was immense.

"Take these spirit stones; you'll need them for cultivation!"

Then he handed over several dozen mid-grade spirit stones.

The medicinal liquid could only activate the physique; to break through, a large amount of spiritual energy was needed. Since he had just swindled that Sixth Miss, he wasn't short of them.

Understanding his teacher's intention, Yuan Tao continued to accept them.

"Sun Qiang, take these spirit stones. Once the Purification Pool opens, I might be cultivating for several days and won't have time to look after you... Keep these stones and distribute them to whoever needs them among you, Zheng Yang, Wang Ying, and Liu Yang. Don't delay!"

Then Zhang Xuan took out about two hundred spirit stones and handed them to Sun Qiang.

Once the Purification Pool opened, he would definitely cultivate inside. These spirit stones were for the others to use, to help them progress quickly.

"Don't worry, young master, we will cultivate diligently!" Sun Qiang quickly nodded.

"The others are fine, but the key is you..."

Hearing his confidence, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He wasn't worried about Zheng Yang and the others; the problem was this guy, who loved to slack off and would stop training if not watched. Getting him to improve quickly was truly a headache.

"Uh..."

Knowing what his young master meant, Sun Qiang was very embarrassed.

"Alright, these are the treasures from the Qizhen Pavilion. Distribute them among yourselves. If anything is useless, have someone sell it for me and exchange it for spirit stones!"

Flipping his wrist, he handed over the storage ring that Gan Yiping had given him.

From the Qizhen Pavilion, he only kept the [Ice Rain Sword], an upgradable artifact. The rest were dispensable and better sold for spirit stones.

"Yes!" Taking the treasures, Sun Qiang acknowledged.

Leaving these matters to him was nothing to worry about, so Zhang Xuan said no more.

Knowing they were pressed for time, the carriage sped along and returned to the residence after about an hour.

As they arrived at the door, they saw Master Hong already waiting anxiously, with Bi Jianghai and Luo Xuan following behind.

The Purification Pool had three slots per vassal state, only open to the top three of the Master Teacher Competition.

Since tonight's banquet was to reallocate the slots, these two naturally had the right to go and see what method would decide their fate.

"Master Zhang, you're finally here. Nothing happened, right? If something did... you must tell me in advance, so I can ask my teacher to help resolve it..."

Seeing him finally return, Master Hong was so excited he almost cried.

After returning from Luo Zhao and Feng Yu, he came to find Master Zhang, but... waited for three or four hours without seeing a trace.

He was really worried that Zhang Xuan had gone somewhere to cause trouble and wouldn't make it.

This wasn't like the 28 kingdoms or the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance, where his strength could easily solve things... In the imperial capital of Huanyu Empire, it was better to keep a low profile. Otherwise, if trouble arose, he could only ask his teacher, Hall Master Wei Jiang, for help.

"Don't worry, I just went to the Alchemist Guild to refine some pills. Nothing happened!"

Seeing him worried about this, Zhang Xuan explained helplessly.

What was this all about... What kind of impression did you have of me?

Was I really someone who liked to stir up trouble?

After all, I was a master teacher, mindful of my status. Unless provoked, how could I go around causing chaos? The way you talked, it was like I was a destroyer, never at ease anywhere...

If Master Hong knew what he was thinking, he would nod tearfully.

Weren't you a destroyer? My Ghost Domain Phantom City, my Heavenly Star Chess, my Taohe Book, my hard-caught Otherworldly Demon...

Better not think about it; if I do, my heart might give out...

"Since nothing happened, the banquet is about to start. Let's hurry over!"

Knowing there was no time to dwell on it, Master Hong stopped fussing and beckoned the four of them to walk toward the nearby Crown Prince's mansion.

The Eastern Palace where Crown Prince Ye Qian lived was only a few hundred meters away. They soon arrived and took out the invitation.

"Please, come in!"

Seeing the invitation, the soldier guarding the door led the way.

"Young man, may I ask if Master Feng of Fengyuan Empire, Master Luo of Qianfeng Empire, and Master Chen of Zhuyue Empire have arrived?"

Following behind, Master Hong asked.

Master Luo of Qianfeng Empire was the one he had extorted earlier, Luo Zhao. As for Master Chen of Zhuyue Empire, he was the old man who had been with Luo Zhao.

These two, along with Feng Yu, were the heads of the Master Teacher Pavilions in the four major vassal states, like him, the hosts of the Master Teacher Competitions in their respective domains.

"They arrived half an hour ago..."

The soldier nodded.

"Half an hour?"

Master Hong's mouth twitched.

He thought they hadn't arrived yet and that he could gain an advantage in time, but they had been there for half an hour.

So long—had they already decided on the slots?

"Has the banquet... already started? I'm not late, am I? If I'm late, it would be bad to disturb the Crown Prince..." Hesitating, Master Hong said awkwardly.

"The banquet hasn't started yet. The Crown Prince went to invite the Sixth Princess, wanting them to attend the banquet as well. He hasn't returned yet."

The soldier shook his head.

"Not started? That's good!"

Relieved, Master Hong flipped his wrist and handed over a spirit stone: "Thank you, young man!"

"You're too kind!"

Seeing his generosity in giving a mid-grade spirit stone, the soldier's eyes lit up. He quickly pocketed it, and his attitude toward them improved. He leaned in and lowered his voice.

"I heard that this banquet is to confirm the slots for the Purification Pool..."

"I wonder what rules the Crown Prince has set, and whether we can get them..." Master Hong shook his head with a bitter smile.

"I don't know the specific rules, but... I heard the main purpose of this banquet is to welcome the geniuses from Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, and also to let the geniuses from the vassal states meet their seniors."

"Welcome? Do you mean... those four will also come?"

Master Hong was startled.

He had heard from Luo Zhao that the four slots the Crown Prince wanted to take were reserved for the geniuses from the Master Teacher Academy.

He thought this banquet was only to resolve internal issues among themselves, but unexpectedly, those four were also invited.

"Could it be... that the method for selecting the slots is related to them?"

His body shook as Master Hong suddenly thought of something.

"I don't know, but I guess if they speak, the Crown Prince wouldn't dare refuse... The Masters Luo and the others who arrived earlier have prepared many gifts to get acquainted in advance. I suggest you prepare something too, just in case..."

The soldier glanced around and lowered his voice.

"Gifts?" Master Hong's face turned pale.

His entire fortune had been mostly destroyed by that reckless guy behind him during the Master Teacher Competition. Even if he wanted to give gifts, he had nothing to offer!

After all, the other party was from the Hongyuan Empire, with high standards. Ordinary treasures wouldn't catch their eye.

Not noticing his expression, the soldier nodded with feeling: "Yes, you can't go wrong with being polite. Preparing some treasures will definitely increase goodwill, and then the slots will be easier... Alright, the banquet hall is ahead. I'll stop here!"

"Thank you!"

Knowing that the spirit stone he had given had worked, prompting the soldier to share so much, Master Hong quickly cupped his hands.

No matter when or where, money was never wasted.

Knowing this information was much better than charging in blindly without knowing anything.

But... knowing the reason brought new worries.

"Gifts? What can I find that will impress them? If only the Taohe Book were still here... or the Otherworldly Demon..."

Rubbing his forehead, Master Hong's face was full of bitterness.

If those treasures from before hadn't been destroyed, he could have taken out any one of them and guaranteed to catch the eyes of even people from the Hongyuan Empire. But now...

"Master Hong, what's wrong?"

Seeing his grim expression, Zhang Xuan walked over.

"Nothing..." He quickly shook his head.

The things were already destroyed; thinking more was useless. The priority was to do as the soldier said and build a good relationship with those four seniors.

"Are you worried about gifts?" Luo Xuan asked from the side.

"Yes!" Master Hong nodded.

"Gifts? I shouldn't have given that stuff to Sun Qiang..."

Seeing him worried about this, Zhang Xuan couldn't help shaking his head.

He thought it was something serious. Gifts—he had just cleaned out the Qizhen Pavilion, so he wasn't short of them. But... he had just given the things to Sun Qiang. He didn't know if it was too late to get them back.

"Actually, there's no need to be so fixated. Selecting slots must be related to a master teacher's ability. If gifts were effective, everyone would be scheming and no one would study anymore!"

Those who could enter the Purification Pool would definitely go to the Master Teacher Academy. Since three slots had to be decided, it must involve master teacher content. So-called gifts were just icing on the cake; they shouldn't have much impact!

"I hope so!" Master Hong knew this too, but still felt uneasy.

"By the way, Master Hong, when you went to trouble Master Feng and the others, did you get any useful information?" Suddenly remembering the matter they had discussed earlier, Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

"Oh, I did get some information, about those four geniuses from the Master Teacher Academy..."

Nodding, Master Hong was about to tell him about the Sixth Princess and the others when they heard footsteps, followed by a voice.

"Hong Qian, is this the genius you selected? Doesn't look like much!"

Then a figure walked out from the hall ahead. It was Master Luo Zhao of Qianfeng Empire.