Chapter 1083: You Are a Good Person

Though he didn't know the girl's true origin, and she had never spoken of it, since his rebirth, he had encountered many people. Yet, only with the girl before him did he feel that special connection, and he didn't want to lose this opportunity due to shyness.

Moreover, he wasn't shy.

"I..." Luo Ruoxi tensed up, not expecting him to suddenly say such things. "I... I need to consider..."

"You can take your time to consider, but I won't let go," Zhang Xuan said with a gentle smile, holding her hand as if clutching a precious treasure he didn't want to lose.

Luo Ruoxi's face flushed crimson with embarrassment. She hadn't even agreed, yet he declared he wouldn't let go. She tried to pull her hand back, but found his grip tightened even more. "You... let go!"

"No, if I let go, you'll ignore me," Zhang Xuan said, his gaze firm.

"Can't I just acknowledge you? Let go..." Luo Ruoxi glanced around. The other master teachers had already followed the Myriad Ants Queen Bee and were no longer nearby. In the entire mist, only the two of them remained. Her face still felt burning hot, and she didn't dare to look up.

"No!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"You're a... good person." Seeing the sincere, unwavering look in his eyes, the girl's heart suddenly felt warm.

"I'm not a good person, I'm a scoundrel, a big scoundrel!" Zhang Xuan quickly shook his head.

He certainly didn't want to be friend-zoned.

"Pfft!"

Luo Ruoxi burst out laughing, and her embarrassment instantly vanished.

This guy! When others confessed their feelings, they tried to present themselves as good people, but he went and directly called himself a big scoundrel...

Who confesses like that?

So silly!

"Let go!" Shaking her head, Luo Ruoxi continued.

"No, I won't let go even if you kill me!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Unless you agree to be with me!"

"You... how can you be so shameless..." Luo Ruoxi shook her head.

"I am shameless! No matter what you say, if you don't agree to be with me, I won't let go!" Zhang Xuan declared.

He could tell the girl didn't dislike him. Since that was the case, he decided to press on. Otherwise, if he missed this chance, he didn't know how long it would take to get another.

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi was caught between laughter and tears, never expecting him to be so persistent. She seemed to think of something, and a hint of sadness appeared on her face. "Actually, I... I don't dislike you, it's just... I have my difficulties. If you choose me, your painstaking efforts might not yield any results... Are you still willing?"

"I am!"

Zhang Xuan nodded. "I know you haven't revealed your identity or truly displayed your strength, and there must be a reason for it. I won't press you for answers. However, please believe me, if someone truly tries to stop us, even if it's Heaven itself, I will shatter it!"

Regardless of his past life or this current one, once he made a choice, he would never regret it. This was Zhang Xuan's belief: either don't do it, or if you do, then do it to the best of your ability.

No regrets, even facing a hundred deaths!

It was precisely because of this that, in less than a year, he had transformed from a humble ordinary teacher in Tianxuan Kingdom to the current six-star peak master teacher and dean of the Master Teacher Academy.

He was respected and admired by countless people.

"You..."

Hearing his unwavering conviction, even determination, Luo Ruoxi's eyes reddened. A trace of sweetness blossomed in her heart. After a moment's pause, she finally nodded.

"Okay! I'm willing to walk this path with you..."

What if the road ahead is unknown?

What if it's full of thorns?

As long as you're by my side... that's enough!

Even if I die, even if there's no outcome, at least I'll face it with you.

"Really?" Hearing her agreement, Zhang Xuan froze for a moment, almost not reacting. He then jumped up in excitement, sweeping the girl into his arms and spinning around twice.

"Really!"

The girl smiled, surprised by his childlike enthusiasm.

With her heart's burden lifted, she had no more worries.

He said he liked her the first time he saw her. And when she first saw him, didn't she also have a special feeling?

Those spiritual beasts came to repay their gratitude, but he mistook them for attackers. Despite his mediocre strength, he still rushed in, forcibly dragging her to escape, which was endearingly foolish.

Afterward, various experiences and events, especially when they went to the Conferred Seal Platform and she sought him out instead of others — wasn't that a yearning in her heart?

Now that everything that needed to be said had been spoken, she felt lighthearted and her heart was filled with joy.

"Let's go, if we don't leave now, it'll be too late..."

Zhang Xuan smiled as he gently set the girl down.

The Myriad Ants Queen Bee had found the exit and led everyone away. If they continued to dawdle here, they would likely be trapped and unable to leave.

"Mm!" Luo Ruoxi nodded.

Zhang Xuan didn't stop either, holding the girl's hand and striding forward.

This was an array he had set up, so he knew exactly where everyone was headed. After circling in place a few times, a portal-like opening appeared.

It was precisely the exit that the Queen Bee had found and torn open.

The two stepped straight through.

The next moment, they appeared before a waterfall. They quickly looked back and saw dense black dust and sand churning, realizing they had returned to the front of the Celestial Palace.

"They really did manage to escape..."

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Although he had suspected it before, he wasn't 100% certain. Only upon truly escaping did he feel a wave of relief wash over him.

The array within the Celestial Palace was simply too powerful; even he was helpless against it.

"That Celestial Palace... it's not real..."

"Indeed, how did we not notice earlier?"

Master Wu and the others' surprised voices rang out.

They had emerged earlier than Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi, and each of them stared straight ahead, dumbfounded.

Hearing their words, Zhang Xuan looked up, and upon seeing it, he too couldn't help but freeze in place.

The Celestial Palace they had been in was still floating not far away. However, unlike before, it now appeared to be hanging on the waterfall, like an oil painting.

"This is... a painting? We were inside a painting just now?"

Zhang Xuan's mouth hung open, and he was momentarily speechless.

The Celestial Palace they had just been in was actually connected to the waterfall, forming an ink wash painting.

"Legend has it that at the highest realm of cultivation for calligraphers and painters, they can create worlds within their paintings. Even the living beings within can reproduce and thrive, leading leisurely lives just like humans," President Han said. "I thought it was just a myth, but I never expected it to be real..."

President Han, who was in front, swallowed hard.

"Yes, if we hadn't experienced it ourselves and seen it with our own eyes, we wouldn't dare believe it..."

Master Wu's throat also felt dry.

As seven-star formation masters and seven-star master teachers, they were certainly well-traveled and experienced. Yet, before this Celestial Palace and this painting, they were like elementary school students who had never seen the world.

"Quick, look, isn't that King Redleaf?"

Suddenly, someone in the crowd cried out.

Zhang Xuan quickly looked and saw a tall Otherworldly Demon meditating cross-legged on a stone pillar outside the Celestial Palace, his eyes closed, seemingly searching for something.

"We set up an illusion array to obscure his sight and divine sense," Zhang Xuan explained. "He doesn't know we've escaped yet..."

Seeing that the other party remained seated and showed no sign of looking their way, Zhang Xuan immediately understood.

This Celestial Palace contained at least an eighth-grade array. Even if the opponent refined it, it would be difficult to activate with his half-step Ethereal Encompassment realm strength.

Precisely because of this, he certainly couldn't truly launch an attack to kill everyone. That's why he deliberately lured them into killing each other.

"He hasn't discovered us yet," Zhang Xuan said, stepping forward. "Everyone, find a place to hide first. I'll go over and see if I can find an opportunity to kill him..."

"Kill him? Master Zhang, I'll go with you!"

Master Wu and President Han stepped forward.

The two of them were the strongest and closest in power to King Redleaf. If a confrontation were to occur, they were likely the most probable candidates among the remaining group.

"No need, if you go, it'll only make things more complicated," Zhang Xuan replied after some thought. "I have a plan. If I really can't hold on, then you can come."

King Redleaf's strength was definitely more terrifying than King Jadeleaf's. Even if Master Wu and President Han were powerful, they would certainly be no match if he fought with all his might. Instead of everyone getting embroiled, it was better for him to go alone, as it would be less dangerous and allow for more flexibility.

"Alright!"

Knowing that the person before them was exceptionally resourceful, and since he dared to say so, he must already have a method. After a moment of hesitation, the two nodded simultaneously.

"Be careful!"

Luo Ruoxi also cautioned him.

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, instructed the Myriad Ants Hive to lead everyone into hiding, then with another faint smile, his body shifted. His bones crackled, and he transformed back into the appearance of King Purpleleaf.

Feng Xun was unaware that he had impersonated King Purpleleaf, causing King Stoneleaf and King Jadeleaf to fight each other. Therefore, Jiang Yuan didn't know, and neither did King Redleaf.

At this moment, disguising himself as King Purpleleaf was the most suitable approach.

He flew rapidly, quickly arriving at the stone pillar where King Redleaf was. His Eye of Insight subtly shifted as he peered over.

As he had suspected, this place was the core of the Celestial Palace. Controlling this spot meant controlling the entire array.

"King Purpleleaf? Why are you here?"

As he was secretly observing, he heard King Redleaf's voice.

"Reporting to King Redleaf, Emperor Qingtian sent me to the Poison Hall," Zhang Xuan replied. "I obtained a clue, and to avoid alerting the enemy, I had to operate under an alias. After a period of covert investigation, I finally made a breakthrough, which is why I rushed here!"

"Clue? What kind of clue?" King Redleaf frowned.

In King Redleaf's view, the group was trapped in the array and, despite using a seventh-grade illusion array to conceal themselves, they certainly couldn't escape. Thus, he didn't suspect that the King Purpleleaf before him was an imposter.

"It's about the map..." Zhang Xuan glanced around and lowered his voice.

"The map?" King Redleaf's pupils contracted, and he hastily stood up. "Where is it?"

"Don't be hasty, let me finish," Zhang Xuan said. "According to the information I obtained, what King Skylleaf got from the Poison Hall was just an introduction, not the complete map. The complete one was taken by Wu Yangzi more than two thousand years ago..."

"What you said is correct, King Skylleaf has already learned of this from Zhang Yinqiu and others!" King Redleaf nodded, seeing that what he said was identical to the intelligence he possessed.

"Zhang Yinqiu? The old dean of the Master Teacher Academy... he's not dead yet?"

Zhang Xuan's heart skipped a beat, but he showed no emotion on his face, only looking over with a slight hint of surprise.

"Of course he's not dead," King Redleaf shook his head. "That guy and King Skylleaf are both trapped in the deepest part of the ruin, unable to enter or exit. Without a map, they can only stay inside indefinitely..."

"King Skylleaf is also trapped? Then... earlier in the Poison Hall, wasn't he..." Zhang Xuan was stunned.

This King Skylleaf had gone to the Poison Hall recently, and he had even seen him just over ten minutes ago... How could he be trapped inside, unable to enter or exit?

"Knowing the danger here, King Skylleaf left a wisp of his consciousness outside before entering two years ago," King Redleaf explained. "Firstly, to protect his life, and secondly, to better transmit messages. All the information we have now was transmitted by him from inside!"