Chapter 734: My Teacher, Yang Xuan

"You mean there are no credits?"

Hearing the other's words, Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

"Of course not!"

Yuan Hong waved his hand. "Breaking a record requires notarization by the Record Channel. Now that it's collapsed like this, who knows whether you used any artifacts inside, and how you managed to last an hour?"

The Record Channel had its own ability to notarize; otherwise, anyone entering could use various artifacts simultaneously and last seventeen minutes without issue, but that would defeat the purpose of the record.

Now that the channel had collapsed into such a miserable state, it had naturally lost its ability to notarize and certify. Who knew whether you used artifacts inside? And how did you pass?

As soon as you arrived at the Artificer Academy, you messed up the Record Channel. Before I even had a chance to discuss compensation with you, you're already speaking up... and asking for credits? Why don't you just fly to the sky?

"This..."

Zhang Xuan was dumbfounded.

He had thought that breaking a record would earn him credits to smoothly take the Five-Star Artificer exam, but from the other's tone, it seemed they were reneging and unwilling to give any.

If he had known this, why bother with all the trouble?

But... it seemed this challenge wasn't without gains. Not only had his Five Radiance Golden Body reached the second level, greatly increasing his strength, but his soul body had also successfully broken through the ten-meter shackle.

"Since this doesn't give credits... let me go challenge other events..." After hesitating, Zhang Xuan said.

Having finally come out, he might as well finish the Five-Star Artificer exam before returning; otherwise, wouldn't it be a wasted trip?

"Challenge what? Look at the Record Channel—can you still challenge anything?" This time, Luo Yan couldn't help but step forward.

This thing had collapsed on one side, essentially ruined. Even if he wanted to challenge other records, it was impossible!

"Then... how can I earn credits?" Zhang Xuan scratched his head.

"The Record Channel represents the achievements of the Artificer Academy. You, a new student, just arrived and made a mess of it. Forget about credits; you'd better think about how to compensate!" Luo Yan looked at him sympathetically.

This thing had cost the Artificer Academy and the Artisan Academy countless efforts to build. It had stood here and challenged countless people. You come and break it... and you still think about credits?

How can you be so thick-skinned?

"Compensation?" His face twitching, Zhang Xuan hesitated, full of entanglement. "How much do I need to pay?"

Hearing this, Luo Yan turned to look at his teacher.

For something like this, how to compensate—he was just a student and had no say.

"The Earthfire Channel was built five thousand years ago by the Dean of the Artificer Academy and the Dean of the Artisan Academy, using four Earth Core Blaze Stones and various precious materials. Even after years of wear and tear, its total value still exceeds twenty high-grade spirit stones!"

After calculating, Yuan Hong spoke.

The academy was not like other places or guilds, where if a genius broke something, they could report it and headquarters would send someone to repair it.

Here, geniuses were everywhere. If they didn't hold them accountable, everyone would come to cause trouble—you break one, I break one—how could they sustain it in the future?

Even if they sold the dean, they couldn't afford it!

"How... how much? Twenty high-grade spirit stones?" His body swaying, Zhang Xuan nearly spat blood.

What kind of joke was this?

If he had that many spirit stones, why bother earning credits? He could just take them out and buy whatever he needed.

He believed that even if credits were precious, at such a high price, many would be willing to sell.

"You're a new student and didn't intentionally damage it, so you only need to pay half, that is, ten high-grade spirit stones!" Yuan Hong said.

"Ten... I don't have them!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He only had one, which was the reward for winning the Master Teacher Tournament. Ten? He couldn't produce them even if killed!

"I know you don't. How about this: work-study here for ten years, and that will count as compensation!" Yuan Hong waved his hand.

High-grade spirit stones were used by those breaking through to the Saint realm or by Saint realm experts, extremely precious. It was obvious that a new student like him didn't have any. So before speaking, he had already planned: work to pay off the debt!

Many students in the academy had gone through this.

For example, the girl Li Xuan earlier was doing work-study to earn credits.

He was just working to repay a debt.

"Ten years of work-study to offset ten high-grade spirit stones? That's a great deal!"

"Indeed, high-grade spirit stones are extremely precious; one is worth ten thousand medium-grade spirit stones. One year for one stone—Vice Dean Yuan's condition is already very generous!"

"As a master teacher of the academy, the punishment only represents an attitude. Otherwise, ten high-grade spirit stones would be something many couldn't repay in a lifetime!"

...

Hearing Yuan Hong's words, everyone nodded.

For cultivators, time was nothing. Some people remained stuck at the peak of Four-Star for ten years without reaching Five-Star Master Teacher.

Such a short time to offset ten high-grade spirit stones was quite considerate.

"Ten years?"

Unlike everyone else, Zhang Xuan's mouth twitched.

He wasn't sure if he could stay in this academy for even half a year, let alone ten years.

If it really took that long, the innate fetal poison would kill him before anyone else acted.

"That long is definitely not possible; I don't have the time." Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan refused.

"Not possible?"

Yuan Hong's face turned iron-blue, his eyes narrowing.

As a dignified vice dean, this was the first time he had encountered such an arrogant student who, after doing wrong, dared to bargain with him!

Did you have any idea what you had done to the entire Record Channel?

Offering work-study to repay the debt was already the utmost kindness. If you still disagreed, did you think you had any room to negotiate?

"How about this: let me first take a look and see if it can be repaired. If it can, then I won't have to pay compensation, right?" After struggling for a long time, Zhang Xuan said.

"Repair? Just you?" Yuan Hong looked at him as if he were a monster.

Did he have no brains?

This Earthfire Channel was forged by Six-Star peak-level artificers and artisans working together. Even he couldn't do it, and this guy said he wanted to repair it?

Who did he think he was?

The Grandmaster Artificer, Wu Yangzi?

Too overconfident!

"Mm." Zhang Xuan nodded, then hesitated. "If I can't repair it... I can guide you in artificing or cultivation as compensation."

"Guide me? How dare you!"

Yuan Hong exploded.

He was an elder of the Master Teacher Academy, Vice Dean of the Artificer Academy, a Six-Star upper-grade master teacher, a respected figure. He usually guided others and took disciples. And now a new student dared to boast about guiding him in artificing or cultivation?

Did you even know what you were saying?

"Was this guy's brain burned out by the earthfire just now?"

"Guide Vice Dean Yuan... what was he thinking?"

Luo Yan and the others widened their eyes, unable to believe their ears.

Brother, remember your identity. You're just a new student. Do you think you're the dean?

Pointing fingers at Vice Dean Yuan?

How absurd could this get?

"Ah... I mean, let my teacher guide you in cultivation!" Hearing the rebuke, Zhang Xuan was also startled, then realized his mistake and felt embarrassed.

He had been pretending to be 'Teacher Yang' so much that he sometimes slipped into the role.

He was just a new student; saying he would guide a Six-Star upper-grade master teacher would naturally make him bristle. But mentioning his teacher was different.

"Teacher?" Suppressing his anger, Yuan Hong looked over.

"My teacher, Yang Xuan, once guided Hall Master Mo Gaoyuan, and Elder Mi holds him in high esteem!"

Smiling, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist. "This is the token Elder Mi gave me!"

"Elder Mi... Dean Mi of the Beast Taming Academy?"

Taking a look, Yuan Hong's eyebrows twitched.

As Vice Dean of the Artificer Academy, he naturally recognized this token. It was Elder Mi's personal item, rarely given out.

Having this token was no different from Elder Mi himself being here.

Although he and Elder Mi were both Six-Star upper-grade (peak), there was a huge gap in status and strength.

Not to mention other things, the fact that the other was rated among the Top Ten Master Teachers was something he couldn't match.

And... what did this guy just say?

This Yang Xuan had also guided Mo Gaoyuan?

Mo Gaoyuan was the Hall Master of the Master Teacher Hall, a high-ranking official on par with the Ten Great Elders, much higher than him. Guiding such a person meant... this Yang Xuan was at least a Seven-Star master teacher?

His face instantly turned serious.

If just now he wanted to strangle this ignorant fellow, now he felt some reverence.

"Dean of the Beast Taming Academy? He's also a dean..." Zhang Xuan was startled.

"You didn't know?"

Seeing that he didn't even know Elder Mi's true identity, yet the latter had given him a personal token, it seemed what he said was true—he really had a formidable teacher.

Otherwise, why would a dignified Ten Great Elder give a token to a new student?

It was too unreasonable.

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had only learned that Elder Mi was one of the Ten Great Elders from others' conversations; he had never heard that he was also the Dean of the Beast Taming Academy, so he naturally didn't know.

"It doesn't matter if you don't know. Elder Mi and I have been acquainted for many years. With his token, you don't have to work-study to repay the debt, but compensation is still unavoidable."

After hesitating, Yuan Hong said.

Regardless of whether what he said was true or false, holding Elder Mi's token indicated a close relationship. He could offer convenience where possible, but when it came to rules, even a great master teacher couldn't violate them.

"It's my fault for damaging this thing. Could you let me try to repair it? If it doesn't work... then I'll pay compensation?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

"Since you have Elder Mi's token, he must trust you greatly. I can give you this chance."

Yuan Hong nodded.

If it could be repaired, good; if not, this guy would probably give up.

"Elder Mi's token?"

"Who exactly is this guy?"

"His teacher also guided Hall Master Mo... When did such a formidable person appear among the new students..."

Overhearing their conversation, the surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion.

Li Xuan and Luo Yan exchanged a glance, even more startled.

Both had been harsh to this Zhang Xuan earlier, thinking he was just a new student of no consequence. They never dreamed he had such a deep background!

To be honest, if he had taken out Elder Mi's token earlier, even if he couldn't break the record, they could have lent him some credits, avoiding offending him!