Chapter 1108: One Move Cannot Be Defended

"The Zhang Clan?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"That's right, the Saint Zhang Clan. Among the Saint Clans, they are definitely ranked in the top three. They are one of the most powerful families on the entire Master Teacher Continent. Their core disciples have pure bloodlines that, once activated, allow them to break through to the Saint realm before they are sixteen, and become super experts surpassing the Ethereal Opening realm before they are twenty! Truth be told, the Luo Clan's standing on the continent is even lower than that of the Zhang Clan!" Master Wu exclaimed with emotion.

"That powerful?" Zhang Xuan was astonished.

"Yes. If you truly choose Master Luo, you might face these two great clans. Of course, with your talent and progress, surpassing the Saint Clans won't be difficult for you, Master Zhang. However, it's best not to let them know beforehand. After all, a Celestial Master Teacher and Celestial Saint are too astonishing. Once the news leaks, it could easily attract siege from the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, making it impossible to guard against, and not all Master Teachers are good people. Alright, we've told you what we needed to say. How you decide is entirely up to you, Master Zhang!" Master Wu smiled, "If you truly choose to resist, please call upon us. No matter how difficult it becomes, we will stand by your side!"

"Indeed, Master Zhang, no matter what, we will support you unconditionally!" President Han also smiled. As long as this person doesn't fall, his future achievements will be limitless. While the Saint Clans possess immense foundations, in a few hundred or a thousand years, they might not even warrant a glance from this individual. However, it's best to handle things discreetly for now, otherwise, the trouble would be too great.

"Many thanks!" Knowing their good intentions, Zhang Xuan clasped his fists, filled with gratitude. He had long known Luo Ruoxi's identity wasn't simple, but he hadn't expected it to be this complicated. No wonder she was initially reluctant and said it would be difficult to be with her. Facing two prominent Saint Clans would likely double anyone's pressure.

"Master Zhang always acts with prudence and considers things more deeply than us. We won't say more. We will await your arrival in Qingyuan Empire. With that, we'll take our leave!" Master Wu, President Han, Liu Mo, and others bid their farewells.

"Master Zhang, we are returning directly to the academy. This time, we owe it all to you; otherwise, we might have been completely wiped out..." Wu Tianqiong and others also approached.

"Master Zhang, we are heading back to the Combat Master Hall now to prepare well and await your academy students for the exchange!" Jiang Yuan, Feng Xun, and others from the Combat Master Hall also nodded and took their leave.

Soon, everyone parted ways, leaving only Zhang Yinqiu, Ji Yan, Tan Qing, and Luo Ruoxi.

"Let's return to the academy!" The group flew straight towards Hongyuan Academy.

"Dean Zhang, I heard Feng Xun say that our academy students are going to the Combat Master Hall for an exchange. What's that about?" Standing on the back of the sacred beast, Zhang Yinqiu hesitated, then came forward. Exchanges are typically conducted between equal powers, just as they frequently take students to places like Yunxu Academy and Luojin Academy to learn more under the guise of exchange. As for the Combat Master Hall... every individual there can fight across cultivation levels. For their students to go there for an exchange... wouldn't they just be asking for a beating?

"When I was still a student, I created the Xuanxuan Society and specifically trained them for a few classes. Many students' combat power improved somewhat. Knowing the Combat Master Hall's formidable strength, I wanted to take them to broaden their horizons," Zhang Xuan said with a smile.

"What use are a few training sessions?" "The combat masters in the Combat Master Hall are too powerful. I'm afraid going there for an exchange will completely destroy our students' confidence..." Ji Yan and Tan Qing were also stunned and couldn't help but shake their heads. Master Zhang was still too young. He was a Celestial Saint, immensely powerful, defeating Feng Xun and others with ease, like cutting vegetables. But most of the students were just ordinary people; compared to the Combat Master Hall, they were far too weak. If they really went for an exchange, it might very well crush everyone's confidence.

"It's just to broaden their horizons, nothing more! Win or lose, what does it matter? If I don't take them out, how will they know there are always greater heights to reach?" Zhang Xuan said.

"This... alright!" Having journeyed with him, they knew Zhang Xuan handled matters with good judgment, so the others didn't say much more. The flying sacred beast was extremely fast. A few days later, Hongyuan City came into view once again, a colossal city appearing before them.

"You all head back to the academy first. I need to go back to my residence for a bit..." He clasped his fists and bid farewell to Zhang Yinqiu and the others. He wanted to return to his residence first to check on Wang Ying and the others' cultivation progress. As for the academy, with Elder Mi and the others there, there would certainly be no chaos, and with former Dean Zhang Yinqiu and others returning, many acquaintances would meet, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him to interject.

Back at the residence, he checked their progress. Wang Ying and Liu Yang had both progressed rapidly, having already begun cultivating the Sealed Saint Giải, with powerful True Qi and full combat strength. He divided the treasures obtained from the ruins between them, instructed them to continue cultivating, and then called for his butler, Sun Qiang. After more than ten days, Sun Qiang seemed to have put on more weight, and his overall strength was not much different from before, as if he hadn't focused on cultivating at all. Zhang Xuan reprimanded him, filled with the frustration of seeing a promising talent wasted. His students were all quite reliable; only this butler was simply not diligent enough in his cultivation.

While he was guiding his students and lecturing his butler, Ji Yan and the others arrived above the academy.

"Although Master Zhang himself is very strong, he is still too young and has a youthful temperament. An exchange with the Combat Master Hall... is truly too childish!" "Exactly! Every combat master in the Combat Master Hall is incredibly powerful, invincible at their own level. Competing against them could easily cause our students to lose confidence. Not only would it fail to motivate them, but it might also backfire!" Zhang Yinqiu, Ji Yan, and the others sighed with emotion.

When the difference in skill level is small, comparisons can be motivating. But if the gap is too large, it can be so discouraging that it completely shatters confidence. It's like comparing an ordinary person's excellence with that of an emperor; they are clearly not on the same level.

"How about this: let's go visit the Xuanxuan Society and, while we're there, remind them to mentally prepare for the Combat Master Hall's strength, so they won't be caught off guard later!" After a moment, Ji Yan suggested.

"Exactly! Let them know how formidable combat masters are. This exchange is purely for learning. If they approach it with a humble mindset from the start, they won't be too disheartened!" Tan Qing also nodded. The three quickly came to an agreement. Master Zhang was now the Dean, and he had arranged this exchange with the Combat Master Hall, so it couldn't be called off. However, they needed to inform the students beforehand that this visit was for learning, a chance to adopt a humble stance, not an equal exchange. With this psychological preparation, even if they lost, they wouldn't be too affected.

"Let's go!" They had already inquired about the location of the Xuanxuan Society headquarters on their journey and, without much delay, flew straight there. Zhang Yinqiu, being in the form of an Otherworldly Demonic Tribe puppet, remained on the beast's back. Ji Yan and Tan Qing quickly approached, but before they could enter, they were stopped by a few students.

"Who are you looking for?" One student asked.

"We're looking for the person in charge of your Xuanxuan Society..." Seeing that these students didn't recognize them, Ji Yan said. Most members of the Xuanxuan Society were freshmen from Zhang Xuan's year. Although these two Vice Deans held esteemed positions, they had been missing for two years, so many people didn't know them.

"The person in charge? I'll go get them right away..." Seeing the extraordinary demeanor of the two elderly men, the student didn't hesitate, quickly went back, and before long, Young Master Ruo Huan and Song Chao came out. The two were the founding contributors of the Xuanxuan Society; when Zhang Xuan was not present, they were usually in charge.

"May we ask why you are looking for us?" Seeing two extremely powerful old men, Young Master Ruo Huan and Song Chao exchanged a glance. Not daring to offend them, they respectfully clasped their fists.

"We heard you're going to have an exchange with combat masters?" Ji Yan didn't hide his purpose and spoke directly.

"That's right. Everyone in the Xuanxuan Society has been diligently cultivating recently, aiming to give the Combat Master Hall a harsh lesson and a taste of their own medicine!" Song Chao chuckled. This was no longer a secret; everyone in the academy knew about it, and everyone was preparing, so there was nothing to hide.

"A harsh lesson?" "Teach them a lesson?" Ji Yan and Tan Qing exchanged glances, their brows furrowing even more. The Combat Master Hall was full of monsters, and they were talking about teaching *them* a lesson... Wasn't that suicidal? They truly didn't know their place!

"Alright then, since you're so confident, the two of us will suppress our cultivation and have a match with you..." Ji Yan said after a moment's hesitation.

"A match?" "That's right. The people in the Combat Master Hall are extremely powerful; it's not simply a matter of saying you'll fight them. If you can defeat us with our cultivation suppressed, then going for an exchange won't be an issue. But if you can't... we hope you'll approach it with a learning mindset, otherwise, you might not be able to withstand the blow!" Ji Yan stated.

"Alright then, we won't bully you..." Seeing the request, Young Master Ruo Huan hesitated, then turned to a student sweeping the floor nearby: "You... come here! Spar with these two seniors. Be careful, go easy, don't injure them..." Ji Yan and Tan Qing stared in disbelief. Seeing this guy not step forward himself but casually call over a sweeping student, and then, at the crucial moment, tell *them* to go easy... The two Vice Deans nearly exploded with rage on the spot.

"Are freshmen this arrogant nowadays? Very well, I'll see what kind of strength you truly possess!" Gritting his teeth, Ji Yan suppressed his cultivation to the same level as the sweeping student and gestured, "Begin!"

"Master, Dean Ji and the others are fighting..." In the air, the Purple Sun Beast said to the old Dean on its back.

"Don't worry, Dean Ji and the others know their limits; they won't go too far..." Zhang Yinqiu smiled and nodded. Just as he was about to speak again, he heard a rush of wind, and then saw Ji Yan and Tan Qing fly back in. The two experts, who had reached the Primordial Spirit realm, had broom marks all over their faces and dirt all over their clothes, appearing utterly disheveled.

"What happened?" Zhang Yinqiu was startled, not expecting them to return so quickly.

"We were beaten..." The two looked incredibly awkward.

"Beaten?" Zhang Yinqiu's eyes widened in disbelief. Two Vice Deans, and so powerful, beaten? How could that be?

Seeing his surprised expression, the two looked utterly ashamed: "We couldn't even take a single move..."