Chapter 802: I'm Not Selling!

"Guest elder?" Xue Zhenyang's eyebrows jumped, his eyes wide.

Although a guest elder lacks the real power of a regular elder, in terms of status, they are even higher.

Usually, they are invited to be held by some formidable figures to enhance the college's reputation and prestige.

For instance, the emperor of the Hongyuan Empire serves as a guest elder of the college, occasionally coming to give lectures to students, sharing insights and techniques in cultivation.

Making a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl a guest elder... isn't that a bit too exaggerated?

"No, she has the qualifications and ability!" Xu Changqing nodded solemnly.

This idea of his was naturally not random; it was carefully considered.

The content she taught pointed directly to the great path, concise and thought-provoking, and the cultivation methods were simple and easy to grasp.

If she could come to the Martial Arts College as a guest elder, it would surely attract more students to train here, and over time, the entire college would grow!

It might even surpass the Medical College, Beast Taming College, Formation College, and many others to become the top of the Master Teacher College—who knows!

The most important thing for a master teacher is to impart knowledge and resolve doubts. Many people do not value their own martial skills; moreover, martial arts cultivation is tedious and complex, requiring day-and-night hard training. Crucially, it doesn't count as a secondary profession and has nothing to do with improving one's master teacher rank...

Thus, despite being a powerful subject that enhances combat strength, very few choose it, ranking near the bottom of the entire Master Teacher College.

It only comes before niche subjects like the Artificer Academy, Calligraphy and Painting Academy, Sound Academy, and Jinghong Academy.

It's somewhat tragic to say.

All along, expanding the college has been his dream, and now that the opportunity has come, how could he not be excited?

"Alright, teacher, wait in the room first. Uncle Wang's lecture is almost over, and I'll bring them over. It's better for you to speak to them personally..." Xue Zhenyang nodded.

Teacher Zheng, Uncle Wang, and the others were all brought by him; if they could become guest elders of the college, he would also share in the glory.

With such backing, his position in the college would become increasingly stable. Teaching a newly arrived student a lesson would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?

Easy and pleasant?

"Mm." Xu Changqing stopped speaking, stood up, and walked into a nearby room. Before long, the door opened, and Xue Zhenyang led Wang Ying and the others in.

"Teacher Zheng, Uncle Wang, Uncle Liu, this is my cultivation mentor, Dean Xu of the Martial Arts College!"

Upon entering the room, Xue Zhenyang introduced both sides: "This is Teacher Zheng Yang, from whom I learn spear techniques. That is Wang Ying, Uncle Wang, whom you've already seen during the lecture. And this is Liu Yang, Uncle Liu!"

"Dean?"

Zheng Yang and the others exchanged glances, their eyes wide.

They had heard someone wanted to see them, but they never expected it to be the dean of the Martial Arts College himself. They were all startled.

"Everyone, don't be alarmed. I invited you here to ask if you would be willing to serve as guest elders of the college. What do you think?"

Xu Changqing smiled and said.

"Guest elders?"

Zheng Yang and the others were stunned.

A group of people who had barely attended school themselves, becoming guest elders of the prestigious Master Teacher College... was this real?

Wasn't this honor too great?

"Yes," Xu Changqing nodded. "Are you willing?"

"Of course we are!" Zheng Yang and the others nodded simultaneously, their faces full of excitement.

"That's good. I'll submit the application now, and by this afternoon at the latest, the tokens representing your identities will be delivered!"

Seeing their agreement, Xu Changqing couldn't help but nod.

After chatting for a while, Xu Changqing turned and left.

Soon, only Zheng Yang and the others remained.

The three looked at each other, seemingly still unable to believe it.

"This... we've become college elders, and Teacher Zhang is still a student... How should we explain this when we go back?"

After who knows how long, Wang Ying couldn't help but say.

"This..." Zheng Yang and Liu Yang scratched their heads.

To be honest, they didn't know what to do either.

Now, their teacher Zhang Xuan was still just a college student, while they had become elders—just thinking about it felt absurd.

"This... if we can't avoid it, let's put it off for a day..." After a moment of silence, Zheng Yang said.

"Alright!" Wang Ying and Liu Yang nodded simultaneously.

It wasn't that they wanted to hide it, but... they really didn't know how to say it.

It was just too unbelievable.

...

"What did you say? Dean Xu made those little fellows that Xue Zhenyang brought to lecture into guest elders?"

Dong Xin and Long Cangyue exchanged glances, nearly fainting.

They thought Dean Xu would go and reprimand Xue Zhenyang for his actions, but instead, he turned these guys into guest elders?

How was that possible?

Was he joking?

"It's true. Not only that, but I also heard that as soon as Dean Xu returned from the Zhenyang Society, he went into seclusion to cultivate and didn't come out until nearly dark. It's said he gained new insights into martial arts and defeated Vice Dean Chen in a single move during a spar..."

A student said.

"Defeated Vice Dean Chen in one move?"

"Although Vice Dean Chen is not as strong as Dean Xu, they are not far apart. They sparred some time ago and it took no less than ten moves. Now, one move..."

Dong Xin's beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief: "Could it be that the content those people taught is really that powerful?"

"Anyway, I heard that everyone who attended the lecture made breakthroughs to varying degrees, greatly increasing their strength," the student said.

"There's such a thing..."

Long Cangyue and Dong Xin clenched their fists: "It seems... from now on, we need to be careful of the Zhenyang Society!"

The same scene played out in other societies, and even many teachers were shocked.

Making three youths under twenty guest elders was something that had never happened in the entire Master Teacher College.

In an instant, it caused a stir across the campus, and many new students also learned about it.

However, they only knew about the guest elders of the Martial Arts College, not their exact names, and naturally had no idea about the backgrounds of these three.

...

The college was in turmoil, everyone shocked by the three guest elders. Meanwhile, Zhang Xuan finally returned to the college.

"Vice Dean You said within two days to bring the cloud mist flower; there's still time."

Entering the college, Zhang Xuan did not return to his residence in the elite district but went directly to the Medical College.

Although Wei Ruyan had been stabilized with soul nourishment and had no major problems for now, it wouldn't last long. She needed to be treated as soon as possible.

In other words, he had to obtain the Ten-Leaf Flower, to save her, and also... for the sake of the deceased Wei Changfeng!

Familiar with the path, he soon arrived at the Medical Tower, found Vice Dean You's residence, and knocked on the door.

The previous teacher, Sun Yuan, came out.

"You..." Seeing it was Zhang Xuan, Sun Yuan was surprised.

He knew very well the dangers of Cloud Mist Ridge; how could he have gone and come back unscathed?

"I'm here to see Vice Dean You."

Zhang Xuan said.

Knowing the dangers of Cloud Mist Ridge, this vice dean still sent Wei Changfeng to pick the cloud mist flower, probably with malicious intent.

Though somewhat angry, he held back for Wei Ruyan's sake.

The Ten-Leaf Flower, a holy medicine that could restore the soul, might only be available from this vice dean in all of Hongyuan City. Changfeng was already dead; he couldn't let his persistence and hope be in vain.

"Please come in..."

Sun Yuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and let him in.

Soon, he saw Vice Dean You.

"Vice Dean You, this is the cloud mist flower. As per your agreement, I obtained it within two days." Zhang Xuan did not beat around the bush. With a flick of his wrist, he handed over the flower that Wei Changfeng had obtained at the cost of his life.

"Obtained it?"

Vice Dean You was startled, took the jade box, and casually opened it.

A cloud of mist rose from the box, like smoke and dust, giving a refreshing sensation.

The cloud mist flower, even without being processed, provides an unusual enjoyment; otherwise, it wouldn't be so famous, even treasured by the Hongyuan royal family.

"It is indeed a cloud mist flower."

Vice Dean You nodded.

"Then... can you give me the Ten-Leaf Flower?" Zhang Xuan said.

"No."

Vice Dean You shook his head: "I wanted a fresh cloud mist flower for cultivation. Now you've given me one that has been picked and is already dead. How can I give it to you? How about this: if you really want the Ten-Leaf Flower, bring me a live cloud mist flower!"

"Live?" Zhang Xuan's face darkened.

When the other party proposed the exchange, he was right there, and he never mentioned anything about it being alive!

Now he was using this excuse; clearly, he didn't want to give him the Ten-Leaf Flower!

"Fine, live it is..."

Though somewhat angry, Zhang Xuan still nodded, took the jade box in hand, and with a thought, infused it with Heavenly Dao true energy.

At the same time, he activated his power, took a drop of Earth Vein Spirit Liquid from his ring, and quietly dripped it onto the root.

Although the herb had been uprooted for nearly a day and night, it had been kept in the jade box, preserving its freshness.

With the Heavenly Dao true energy, which could nourish all things, and the Earth Vein Spirit Liquid, it should be possible to revive it.

Sure enough, the somewhat wilted Ten-Leaf Flower, with the help of the true energy and Earth Vein Spirit Liquid, revived, standing proudly and emitting a startling fragrance.

"It's alive?" Sun Yuan couldn't help but be stunned.

Even Vice Dean You was frozen in place.

To be honest, he had never intended to sell the Ten-Leaf Flower; the talk of cloud mist flowers was just an excuse.

He thought that by asking for a live one, he could make the other back down, but unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, the guy had done it.

"Alright, the cloud mist flower is alive now. Vice Dean You can plant it!" Relieved, Zhang Xuan handed the jade box over again.

"Not bad, this thing is alive now, but... the Ten-Leaf Flower hasn't fully matured yet, so I can't give it to you either."

Vice Dean You shook his head again: "How about this: this herb will fully mature in about ten years, and then I can give you one..."

"Ten years?"

His eyes narrowed, Zhang Xuan was furious: "You said before that if I brought the cloud mist flower within two days, you would exchange. After I brought it, you said you wanted a live one. Now that the herb is alive, you say to wait ten years. If in ten years you make another excuse, then what?"

"What, you doubt me? As a student, doubting a teacher, no respect for elders, how improper! Hmph, with such character, how can I give you the Ten-Leaf Flower?"

Vice Dean You's face darkened, and he flicked his sleeve: "You may leave. I'm not selling!"