Chapter 729: The Artifact Academy

Every martial technique has its own trajectory and method of true qi circulation. Many moves, even if they can be executed, cannot be used casually.

It's like being able to punch left and punch right, but if you try to punch right before finishing a left punch, you can easily strain your muscles and deplete your true qi.

This Wu Chan was now in exactly that situation.

The moves Zhang Xuan had just taught Ran Xiaoxiao were based on the newly opened acupoints of Ziwei and Yingtai, combined with her feminine physique and flexibility, allowing her to instantly unleash combat power beyond the ordinary, catching others off guard.

Wu Chan hadn't opened those two acupoints and was a man. I was teaching Ran Xiaoxiao, why did you have to follow along? Now look—before even fighting, you've crippled yourself...

Naturally, he was no match!

If Wu Chan knew what he was thinking now, he would probably cry on the spot.

Your master's teachings are so powerful, my mental state is already weak, and Ran Xiaoxiao's move was so strong. Even as a half-step five-star master teacher, I couldn't resist the temptation and wanted to try...

Seeing that of the three troublemaking prodigies, two had fallen and one was following Zhang Xuan's lead, Huang Xing and the others standing nearby nearly dropped their eyes.

This was too exaggerated!

The second, third, and fourth place in the grade competition came to cause trouble, and after just a few words, they were fighting each other to the death, all defeated...

Even seeing it with their own eyes felt like a dream!

Fortunately, they hadn't provoked this guy earlier, or they might be the ones lying on the ground.

No wonder Elder Mi personally arranged things—he indeed had this ability.

"Alright, you three, arrange for them..."

Seeing Ran Xiaoxiao excited after defeating an opponent she had never beaten before, Zhang Xuan knew staying here was pointless and waved his hand.

His current strength had reached the peak of the Bridge Heaven realm. Dealing with these first-year students would be bullying the weak, and if word got out, it wouldn't be honorable.

Pushing open the door and entering the courtyard, he immediately felt a surge of spiritual energy.

The courtyard was vast, with gardens, training grounds, and a secluded meeting hall, somewhat resembling a mansion.

No wonder these people all wanted this courtyard—the treatment for first place was indeed extraordinary.

Entering the room and closing the door, Zhang Xuan did not cultivate or continue investigating, but closed his eyes in contemplation.

With ten professions here and countless books, since he had come, he might as well visit all the academies and learn all the knowledge he could.

Once that was done, he would be about ready to take the six-star master teacher exam!

Reaching six-star master teacher meant truly entering the ranks of the strong in this world, with the ability to protect himself and handle any situation.

"But before that, I need to find a cultivation method for the higher realms!"

He only had the cultivation method for the Bridge Heaven realm. To break through to the Unity realm, he needed to find various secret manuals and form a Heavenly Path technique.

"Cultivation methods are all concentrated in the Technique Tower!"

On the way here, Luo Qiqi had explained the academy in detail, and he knew where the methods were—the Technique Tower.

It gathered the insights and experiences of countless experts over the academy's millennia, as well as various secret manuals left by brilliant talents.

If he could get in, he could definitely compile the Heavenly Path technique for the Unity realm!

Even higher levels could be completed.

"But to enter the Technique Tower and view Unity realm manuals, I first need to be a five-star master teacher and have... credits! Maybe I should take the five-star exam first?"

Although the Technique Tower had methods, it wasn't a place anyone could enter freely.

He was only a four-star master teacher now, so he could only view methods for the Harmony and Bridge Heaven realms. To view those for the Unity realm, he wasn't qualified.

Moreover, the key was that entering required spending credits.

He had just arrived at the academy and had zero credits. If he went, he'd be kicked out and see nothing.

"To take the five-star master teacher exam, I need five auxiliary professions at five-star. Right now, I only have appraiser at that level. I need to take exams in advance... That's troublesome!"

He rubbed his brow.

The master teacher exam required several prerequisites. Each level up required learning an auxiliary skill.

Because of this, many master teachers weren't lacking in ability but in auxiliary professions, preventing further advancement.

Currently, his five-star auxiliary professions were only appraiser. The rest were four-star array master, physician, calligrapher, beast tamer, and three-star alchemist.

As for professions like poison master or soul master, they couldn't be brought to the table, so even if he had them, they were useless.

Although he knew many professions, if their levels weren't high enough, taking the five-star exam wouldn't be easy.

"Since I have time, I'll go take a few auxiliary profession exams first!"

After thinking it over, knowing that with his current status he couldn't enter the Technique Tower, he settled for the next best thing: first take the five-star master teacher exam.

To take the master teacher exam, he first needed to take auxiliary profession exams. Since time wasn't pressing, he could take several here to avoid the trouble of visiting various guilds.

"There are ten academies here. I've studied artifact forging but have no rank. Since I have time, I'll go take the exam..."

After mentally reviewing the ten academies, he decided to go to the Artifact Academy first.

He had received Wu Yangzi's complete inheritance, combined with Heavenly Path artifact forging. Even a six-star peak artifact forger might not match him, so he could first get an artifact forger certification.

He also wanted to see the level of the Artifact Academy.

Once decided, there was nothing to hesitate about. He stood up, pushed open the door, and walked out.

Wu Chan and the others outside had already left.

Senior students who had been at the academy for years, humiliated so badly by a new student, had no face left to stay.

He found Huang Xing and the others, asked for directions to the Artifact Academy, and headed that way.

The Artifact Academy was the second largest among the ten academies, second only to the Alchemy Academy, with many auxiliary students. Before he even reached it, he saw a flow of people, with students everywhere.

"Unity realm, Void Step realm..."

He activated his Insight Eye and looked.

Among these students were many Unity realm and Void Step realm experts, and even some Cocoon Seal realm ones.

Reaching such a level, they could dominate the Featherfall Empire and were definitely heroes guarding a region even in the Hongyuan Empire.

Truly worthy of the Artifact Academy—fearsome indeed.

After walking around and asking for directions, he soon found the place for artifact forger exams.

The various departments of the Master Teacher Academy also had guild outposts, so exams taken here were recognized by the corresponding guilds.

That is, if he took the artifact forger exam here, even if he went to the Artifact Forger Guild, the badge would still be valid and recognized.

With over a hundred thousand master teachers in the academy, countless studied artifact forging each year. If they all had to go out for exams, the Artifact Forger Guild would probably collapse.

Rather than that trouble, it was better to set up branches here, convenient for everyone.

"Artifact Forger Guild, Hongyuan Academy Branch..."

Seeing the words above the tall building, Zhang Xuan shook his head and pushed open the door to enter.

Inside the spacious hall, people were everywhere. Glancing around, there were probably several hundred.

"Five-star artifact forger forging weapons, custom-made, spirit-grade mid-grade weapons, only half a credit!"

"I have a newly forged spirit-grade mid-grade peak longsword, one credit for sale. Miss this and you won't find such a bargain again..."

"Need one Gold Forest ore, willing to trade for two credits!"

"Three Flame Stones, one credit for sale..."

...

Entering felt like stepping into a trading market, with people offering forging services, selling weapons, buying ores, and selling various forging materials.

These people all wore master teacher robes and were likely academy students, earning credits through various items.

"Credits have such strong purchasing power..."

After walking around, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but click his tongue.

He had heard from Luo Qiqi that credits were important, but he thought they were at most equivalent to mid-grade spirit stones. Now it seemed their value was so high that even high-grade spirit stones could hardly buy them.

No wonder they had gone to the Featherfall Empire for just a few credits to find Wu Yangzi's underground palace. This stuff was indeed hard to earn. Otherwise, dignified five-star master teachers and five-star artifact forgers wouldn't be hawking like street vendors.

Treasures that were priceless in the Featherfall Empire and elsewhere couldn't even fetch half a credit here. Even seeing it with his own eyes, it was hard to believe.

"Senior, what do you need?"

Pushing through the crowded throng, he finally reached the front desk, where a woman smiled at him.

Through inquiry, Zhang Xuan learned that these service staff were also academy students, taking on work-study tasks to earn credits.

Though such tasks seemed inglorious, they were safe and required no special skills, suitable for weaker students.

"I want to take the artifact forger exam."

Zhang Xuan said.

"What star level would you like to take? I'll arrange it for you right away."

Hearing he wanted to take the artifact forger exam, the woman's eyes lit up as she hurriedly said.

Not knowing his year, she addressed him as 'senior' out of respect.

"I... I'll take the five-star exam."

After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xuan said.

With his understanding of artifact forging, taking the six-star exam was no big deal, but first, his cultivation wasn't high enough, and second, he was only strong in theory. If he had to forge himself, his skills would fall far short.

After consideration, he decided to take the five-star exam first. After all, his goal was to advance to five-star master teacher.

"Five-star?"

The woman nodded and smiled: "Please show me your four-star badge and student ID so I can register..."

"Badge? Student ID?"

Zhang Xuan's face reddened: "I don't have either..."

He had never taken an artifact forger exam before, not even one-star, so he couldn't produce a four-star badge. As for a student ID, he had just entered the academy, hadn't chosen courses, found a teacher, or even had his name entered into the academy roster, so naturally he didn't have one.

"You don't have?"

The woman was startled, frowned, and her smile vanished: "Then who are you, and what are you doing at the Master Teacher Academy?"