Chapter 697: Get Out of Here!

The Prince Huai's residence was vast and boundless, with layers upon layers of buildings stretching endlessly out of sight. Countless golden-armored guards shuttled back and forth, giving one the feeling that even with a mighty army, it would be impossible to storm the place.

No wonder Master Hong had been so worried before coming; this place was truly a den of dragons and tigers.

These soldiers move in a way that subtly aligns with a formation; their combat power is extraordinary!

As a formation master, it was easy for him to see that although the soldiers appeared to move randomly, there was actually a pattern to their steps, and their movements combined to form a coordinated attack formation.

Once someone attacked, they could immediately counter, unleashing astonishing combat power and strength.

They should be fine. If the other side truly wanted to harm them, they could simply send a single squad over, and no one in the Phantom Feather Empire could withstand it. There would be no need for such a complicated scheme...

Seeing how formidable the residence was, Zhang Xuan actually felt relieved.

If they wanted to deal with them, they only needed to send a few of these soldiers, and Master Hong and the others would be unable to resist. Why go to the trouble of inviting them to stay?

In the face of absolute force, too much explanation only invites trouble.

Master Zhang, please wait here. I will go and inform the prince immediately!

Before long, they arrived at a pavilion. The guard greeted him and then turned and walked forward.

Zhang Xuan knew the protocol and was not anxious. He accepted the tea handed to him by a maid and sipped it slowly.

It had to be said that the hospitality of Prince Huai's residence was impeccable. The tea leaves were freshly picked, fragrant and refreshing, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

While drinking tea, Zhang Xuan took the opportunity to activate his Eye of Insight and observe secretly.

After watching for a while, he couldn't help shaking his head.

Although this residence was well laid out and the soldiers were strong, under the illumination of the Eye of Insight, there were many flaws.

If not for Yuan Tao and the others, even with his current strength, he could easily enter and leave without being detected.

Master Zhang!

Just as he was looking around, he saw the guard who had just entered hurrying over. "The prince requests your presence!"

Mm.

Withdrawing his gaze, Zhang Xuan's face once again became calm and unruffled. He stood up and followed the guard forward.

After passing through several corridors, a spacious and lofty hall appeared before him.

Your Highness, Master Zhang has arrived!

Entering the hall, the guard clasped his fists and withdrew. Zhang Xuan then looked forward.

In the spacious room, a middle-aged man with a dignified brow sat in the center. On one side of the guest seats sat a white-haired elder, and behind him stood a young man.

There were only three people.

The middle-aged man carried the aura of one who had long held a high position; he should be the so-called prince. As for the white-haired elder, his face was indifferent, making it hard to gauge his depth. The young man, on the other hand, had his internal energy fully exposed, revealing him to be a super expert at the early stage of Mortal Deity Realm Level 8!

A Mortal Deity Realm Level 8 in his twenties!

Even in the Hongyuan Empire, he would be among the very top.

After a quick glance, Zhang Xuan came to the center of the room and clasped his fists. "Master Teacher Zhang Xuan pays respects to Prince Huai!"

So you are Zhang Xuan?

Before the middle-aged man could speak, the young man's eyes shot out like lightning as he coldly stared at him.

Seeing that this fellow was not at all polite, Zhang Xuan ignored him. Without waiting for an invitation, he turned and sat down on the guest seat opposite.

I'm talking to you. Didn't you hear me?

Although he stood behind the elder, as a Mortal Deity Realm Level 8 expert, he was a prominent figure wherever he went. To have his question completely ignored—this was simply too arrogant.

I heard you.

Then why didn't you answer?

Prince Huai, I believe you can guess the purpose of my visit.

You...

Seeing himself ignored again, the young man's vision went dark, and he nearly fainted.

I'm talking to you! Are you even listening?

Answer my question first! Then the prince will answer yours!

Fine!

Zhang Xuan nodded. "Go ahead."

I asked if you are Zhang Xuan!

Zhang Xuan looked at Prince Huai again. "I heard that several of my students have been invited here by Your Highness. I've come today to take them back."

...

The young man staggered, nearly fainting from anger.

By now, he realized that the other party was toying with him and had no intention of answering his question!

How dare you mock me! Do you know who I am?

Although his cultivation was not as high as Ye Wentian's, his energy seemed even more profound. Especially when angry, his body seemed to double in size, and the muscles bulging from his exposed skin twisted together, giving him a ferocious appearance. It was clear that his physical body was extremely strong.

You?

Seeing the other party's anger, Zhang Xuan's expression remained unchanged. He lifted his eyelids. "I don't care who you are! I am a master teacher appointed by the Master Teacher Pavilion, who has single-handedly fought against the Otherworldly Demons. Wherever I go, I am entitled to respect and reverence. And you, a mere martial artist, dare to act arrogantly before me? Who gave you the nerve?"

As he spoke, he activated his state of mind, his voice carrying the power of Heaven's Mandate, combined with the innate aura of a Heaven's Mandate Master Teacher, giving him an inviolable dignity.

It made one feel that to blaspheme him was to blaspheme the gods.

I...

The young man was stunned.

Master Teacher, known as the number one profession in the world, was not just a lofty title; it commanded a sufficiently high status. All professionals and all martial artists had to show respect.

To offend one was to challenge the Master Teacher Pavilion and the entire human race!

This was the dignity of a master teacher, the respect that this profession deserved.

It was like an emperor: if someone dared to curse him to his face, no matter who you were, your entire family would be executed.

Although master teachers were not so severe, it was not a position where anyone could shout and yell. Otherwise, how could the Master Teacher Pavilion establish its rules and pacify the world?

The young man had only thought about the other party's weak strength and wanted to intimidate him, but he had forgotten this. Confronted directly, and with the added effect of Heaven's Mandate, he was at a loss for words, his face turning pale.

Seeing that he was suppressed by his state of mind, Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows and continued before the young man could react. "Prince Huai's residence—I am a guest. The prince has not yet spoken, and you, a mere attendant standing to the side, shout and yell. Do you have any regard for the prince? Do you have any regard for the elder before you?"

I...

When he had heard that the other party was Zhang Xuan, he had only thought about teaching him a lesson, forgetting that the elder was still in front and that he was a guest in Prince Huai's residence. Indeed, he had overstepped his bounds.

Disregarding seniority, disregarding rank, not knowing your place, not knowing your standing... You are not welcome here. Get out of here!

Zhang Xuan flicked his sleeve.

I, I...

The young man was speechless, his face growing uglier by the moment. After a moment's hesitation, he turned and walked out.

Zhang Xuan's current state of mind had reached 19.1, far stronger than that of an ordinary six-star master teacher. Although the young man was a Mortal Deity Realm Level 8 expert, compared to him, he was far inferior.

A few consecutive sentences, each striking home, had caused him to lose himself.

This...

The middle-aged Prince Huai and the seated elder had not expected that this Master Zhang could, with just a few words, bewilder the young man into not knowing what he was doing and turn to leave. They exchanged glances, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Wasn't he said to be a four-star master teacher?

How could even a Mortal Deity Realm Level 8 expert fall for it?

Enough!

Helplessly, the elder shook his head.

Boom!

The sound was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap exploding in the ear.

The young man's body stiffened, and his mind, which had been bewitched by Zhang Xuan's Heaven's Mandate, immediately recovered. He spun around and glared at Zhang Xuan, as if he wanted to devour him.

He was going mad.

A dignified Mortal Deity Realm Level 8 expert, who had intended to intimidate this Zhang Xuan and teach him a lesson, had instead been bewitched by two sentences and walked out. The intense frustration made him want to explode.

I'll kill you!

With a roar, the young man stamped his foot and was about to charge forward.

Enough! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?

The elder frowned.

Yes!

With a jolt, the young man's aura dissipated instantly. He retreated to the back and said no more, but his eyes still looked at Zhang Xuan as if he were a mortal enemy, wishing he could tear him limb from limb.

Zhang Xuan ignored such a gaze.

Although he was no match for the other party, if they met elsewhere, he could kill ten or eight of him in no time.

The many Saint Realm puppets in his possession were not to be trifled with.

Ignoring the young man, his eyes fell on the elder.

He knew very well the power of his Heaven's Mandate. Once bewitched, it was hard to recover. Yet this elder had restored the young man with just a single word. His strength was terrifying!

He was probably stronger than anyone he had ever met, even surpassing the previous Master Mo Gaoyuan.

Master Zhang's students are indeed guests in my residence. I will have them brought here immediately.

Seeing the tension between the two sides, the middle-aged Prince Huai smiled awkwardly and quickly turned to give an order.

A servant hurried away.

Then I thank Your Highness!

Hearing that they were indeed guests and that nothing seemed to have been done to them, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, but was also full of doubt. "My students are a bit unruly. I hope they haven't caused any trouble for Your Highness. If they have offended in any way, I, Zhang Xuan, am willing to bear full responsibility."

Trouble? How could that be! Your students are exceptionally talented. I like them too much to...

Knowing that it was impossible to hide the truth from a master teacher, Prince Huai shook his head and stopped with the pleasantries, directly stating the reason. "To be honest, the reason I invited your students here was at the request of Elder Yuan."

Elder Yuan?

Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

What Elder Yuan? He didn't even know him. Why would he invite his students?

I am Yuan Cheng, a humble elder of the Yuan family of the Boundless Empire.

You are Elder Yuan? The Boundless Empire?

Zhang Xuan was startled.

On the way here, Yu Fei'er had told him about the various first-class empires of the same rank as the Hongyuan Empire, as well as the subordinate second-class empires.

But this Boundless Empire—he had never heard of it.

Could it be... a titled empire?