Chapter 888: What a Sin!

These were only part of the many treasures; most importantly, there were also multiple inner cores of sacred beasts.

Although sacred beasts lived longer than humans, they would eventually die. Coupled with battle injuries, over the years, the number of sacred beast inner cores in the storage ring had reached an astonishing level—several hundred!

Each one was invaluable; if sold, they would fetch an astronomical price.

After examining all the treasures, Zhang Xuan was filled with amazement.

Compared to this guy, his previous so-called wealth was no different from a country bumpkin's—so poor he couldn't face anyone.

“You’ve done a great job gathering all these goodies! How should I reward you?”

Delighted, Zhang Xuan looked at the Golden Origin Cauldron not far away.

This storage ring definitely hadn't been carried on him; if not for this guy's interrogation, he might have missed it. The Golden Origin Cauldron was usually noisy and brash, but at critical moments, it was quite reliable.

“Hehe, as long as Master remembers to help me improve my strength…”

The Golden Origin Cauldron said.

“Don’t worry!” Zhang Xuan nodded.

This guy was only a saint-grade low-level weapon; as long as his artifact refining skills improved, he could help upgrade its level.

The reason he had managed to tame it smoothly back then was also due to this promise; otherwise, even if Zhang Xuan knew its weakness, the sacred artifact of the prestigious Master Teacher Academy wouldn't have agreed so easily!

Only with threats and benefits can subordinates remain loyal. If there are only threats without hope and prospects, they will eventually develop second thoughts over time.

Walking out of the cave with the Golden Origin Cauldron, he saw the kings, including the Crimson Flame Lion and Tiger-Head Beast, approaching.

“How is it?” Zhang Xuan looked over.

“Reporting to Master, all the spirit beasts that were fighting have been assembled and are waiting at the foot of the mountain for you!”

The Crimson Flame Lion quickly replied.

After what had happened before, they were completely devoted to this young master and dared not harbor any disloyalty.

“Let’s go take a look.” Zhang Xuan nodded and strode toward the foot of the mountain.

The spirit beasts of Cloud Mist Ridge were neatly lined up at the foot of the mountain, densely packed, numbering tens of thousands. When Zhang Xuan arrived, it immediately caused a stir; they widened their eyes, bewildered.

They had been fighting the Master Teacher Academy when they were summoned here. They had no idea what had happened or how the kings had negotiated with the humans.

“To improve their strength, spirit beasts not only need to absorb the essence of the sun, moon, and spiritual energy, but also need to learn from humans and cultivate…”

Arriving before them, Zhang Xuan wasted no words and spoke in a resonant voice.

…

While he was at the foot of the mountain, Elder Mi finally reached Thunderclap Peak.

Nearly two hours had passed since the two had gone to Cloud Mist Ridge for negotiations. Elder Zhao Bingshu had already gathered all the students and brought over Master Mu and several other elders.

Seeing that only he had returned, with no trace of the dean, everyone’s faces darkened.

Zhao Bingshu couldn’t help but approach: “Where is the dean? How is he?”

“Mi Zhu, how could you let the dean take such a risk? If something happens, how can you face all the teachers and students?” Wei Ranxue glared, wishing she could devour Elder Mi.

When Zhao Bingshu returned and said the dean had gone to Cloud Mist Ridge to stop the battle and reduce student casualties, everyone went crazy, nearly scared to death.

What kind of place was Cloud Mist Ridge?

A place where spirit beasts and sacred beasts roamed freely; humans who entered basically never returned. Now that they finally had a new dean, if he were to die there, they would all be sinners in history, beyond redemption.

“I…” Elder Mi smiled bitterly.

If the dean wanted to do something, could he stop him even if he tried?

“Alright, stop it. Why did you come back? Where is the master now? How is the situation at Cloud Mist Ridge?”

Interrupting everyone’s questioning, Master Mu looked over: “I heard that the ten kings of Cloud Mist Ridge are no pushovers and are hostile toward humans. Going there rashly to negotiate must have caused a lot of trouble, right?”

The others also stared at him.

“Trouble…” Elder Mi didn’t know how to begin.

There was trouble, but not for them.

After hesitating for a while and organizing his words, Elder Mi spoke again.

“Here’s the situation: The ten kings met us in a cave to discuss how to settle matters. The dean… went out for a while, and then, then… nine of the ten kings became his spirit pets… and the three thousand flying spirit beasts all acknowledged him as master! In other words, except for the spirit beasts currently fighting, all the sacred beasts, quasi-sacred beasts, and half-sacred beasts of Cloud Mist Ridge are now the dean’s private property…”

Before he finished, noticing the silence around him, he looked up in confusion and saw all the elders and Master Mu with eyes wide open, their eyeballs nearly popping out, as if mad.

Anyone hearing this news would probably have the same expression.

Going back to negotiate and taming all their spirit beasts and sacred beasts…

Really?

This isn’t negotiation; it’s raiding their lair!

Isn’t this too exaggerated?

“That’s how it is…” Knowing they didn’t believe him, Elder Mi looked helpless.

To be honest, if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, even he wouldn’t have believed it was true.

The hidden danger of spirit beasts on Cloud Mist Ridge had existed ever since the Master Academy was founded. Countless deans had tried to find a solution, but all returned empty-handed.

But this Dean Zhang, before even attending his inauguration ceremony, had already wiped out their lair!

Not only had he eradicated the root, but he had also tamed all the spirit beasts and sacred beasts, adding a great boost to the Master Academy.

Combined with the power of the entire Cloud Mist Ridge, the academy's overall strength rose sharply, possibly improving its ranking among the four academies under Qingyuan Empire.

"Where is the dean now?" After hearing such a legendary tale, Zhao Bingxu's eyes spun.

"He told me to come back first and arrange the students, while he stayed behind on Cloud Mist Ridge!" said Elder Mi.

"Zhong Dingchun, take these students to the Physician Academy for treatment; Xu Changqing, have the Martial Academy students ready for battle at any moment. The rest of the elders, come with me to Cloud Mist Ridge!"

Knowing that his uncle was still on Cloud Mist Ridge, Master Mu gave orders.

The severely injured students needed urgent care, and the Physician Academy had no excuse to shirk responsibility. At this time, if the spirit beasts attacked again, the Martial Academy, with its strongest combat power, would have to charge forward.

"Yes!" Zhong Dingchun and Xu Changqing nodded simultaneously.

"Let's go!" Master Mu nodded and flew straight toward Cloud Mist Ridge with the elders.

"Look, what's that?"

Before they even arrived, everyone saw countless spirit beasts piled at the foot of the mountain, lying on the ground with gentle eyes, no longer fierce or ferocious.

At the very front of the spirit beasts, a youth stood on the back of a Saint Domain King, his faint voice scattering down as spiritual energy gathered around, like flowers falling from the sky, enchanting the spirit beasts.

The ability unique to a Five-Star Master: gathering spiritual energy with words, speaking lotus blossoms!

"Is this... lecturing to spirit beasts?"

The masters were stunned.

They had seen lectures given to students and cultivators, but never to spirit beasts.

Most crucially, these spirit beasts were actually listening attentively, and some were even taking notes with their noses, hooves, and claws on the ground...

"...Alright, today's lesson ends here. You may all disperse!"

Just as they were shocked, Zhang Xuan's voice came through.

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

Hearing this, the spirit beasts did not disperse but instead raised their heads, their cries piercing the sky. Then, one by one, they rose from the ground, a drop of blood appearing on each of their foreheads, flying straight toward Zhang Xuan.

"Holy crap..."

Seeing the sky filled with blood about to bury him, Zhang Xuan swayed and nearly fainted.

I was just casually lecturing, I didn't ask you to acknowledge me as master...

Besides, even if you want to acknowledge me, you don't have to rush like this. Nearly a hundred thousand spirit beasts, each with a drop of blood... enough to fill a swimming pool...

He was exasperated, but Master Mu and the elders were even more frantic.

The dean had not only subdued the ten kings but also tamed all the spirit beasts on Cloud Mist Ridge.

With a hundred thousand spirit beasts under his command, even a first-rate empire like Hongyuan Empire would fall in an instant!

"Making so many spirit beasts acknowledge him as master at once, resolving such a huge hidden danger... this, this... the merit is immeasurable. I must report to the Beast Hall!"

Elder Mi trembled.

With one lesson, all the spirit beasts on Cloud Mist Ridge acknowledged him as master—unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated... the merit was simply too great!

Coupled with taming the ten kings, countless Saint Ascenders and Half-Saints, and resolving the academy's hidden dangers...

If before he was just an ordinary Seven-Star Beast Tamer with no contributions, now his merit was... too immense to contemplate!

Truly, when he didn't act, nothing happened; when he did, he drove everyone crazy!

"Thank goodness I was smart and applied for the Seven-Star Beast Tamer certification on his behalf, so he didn't come for the exam. Otherwise, the entire Beast Taming Academy... who knows what it would have become!"

Amidst the shock, Elder Mi also breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing the tragic state of the Artifact Refining Academy, Physician Academy, and Alchemist Academy, he feared the new dean would come to assess the Beast Taming Academy, so he applied in advance. Now it seemed this was the wisest decision.

Otherwise, if all the spirit beasts and sacred beasts in the entire academy acknowledged him as master... the other beast tamers would surely go berserk!

"Let's go over..."

Suppressing their shock, everyone flew over in unison.

When they arrived, they saw the youth with a face full of tears.

"Greetings, Dean!" Everyone clasped their fists.

"You're here... Have these spirit beasts gone mad? They insist on acknowledging me as master... Elder Mi, you're the dean of the Beast Taming Academy. Is there any way to stop it?"

As if seeing a savior, Zhang Xuan looked over with reddened eyes.

He really was just lecturing, trying to make these creatures obedient—he never intended for them to acknowledge him as master!

"Stop it? No..." Elder Mi quickly shook his head.

These spirit beasts—others would find it hard to tame even one—and he tamed them all at once, yet still wore that expression... Dean, doing this will get you killed by other beast tamers!

Hearing there was no way, Zhang Xuan's face filled with grief. He felt a mouthful of blood about to spew out, and a cry of anguish couldn't help but escape.

"What a sin!"