Chapter 1114: Spirit Awakener

Elder Wang, like the others, was a nine-star poison master. His strength had reached an astonishing level, even without relying on poison. To be killed in a single strike, with his primordial spirit unable to escape, indicated a power so immense that crushing them would be as effortless as slicing melons and dicing vegetables.

Possessing an innate poisonous body, a poison soul, and such formidable power, it was hard to imagine anyone other than the Grand Master himself.

Not only did Shen Que and Elder He collapse to their knees in terror, but every poison master in the entire Poison Hall also turned pale, not daring to utter a single word.

"I do not wish for anyone to question me again. Should anyone harbor ill intentions, Elder Wang will serve as a stark example!" The girl snorted, waved her hand, and turned to "look" at Shen Que and the other, her face devoid of expression. "Sacrifice your souls, and your lives will be spared!"

"Yes!" Shen Que and Elder He dared not waste another word, swiftly offering up their souls. The one before them had slain Elder Wang with the ease of dispatching a chicken, and killing them would be no more difficult.

"Gather all nine-star poison masters in the Poison Hall to help me awaken my constitution; I need to recover my strength as soon as possible…" After accepting their sacrificed souls, thereby gaining complete control over their lives and fearing no further defiance, she gave her instructions and then sent a mental message to Lin Jianghai.

"Understood!" Lin Jianghai had just heard a detailed account from his student, Bai Ting, and without much hesitation, he immediately summoned all nine-star poison masters in the Poison Hall to help the girl activate her constitution and control her poisonous body.

Having accomplished this, the girl once more settled onto the ground, her eyes closed as she resumed her slumber. However, after the events that had just transpired, everyone who looked at her was filled with profound admiration and awe, and no one dared to harbor any ulterior motives.

All the nine-star poison masters of the Poison Hall collaborated to help activate and suppress the innate poisonous constitution.

Three days later, Wei Ruyan awoke. She sat on the highest throne, representing the Hall Master of the Poison Hall, gazing into the distance, her delicate fists clenched.

Though she had been unconscious for these past days, she was perfectly aware of everything her teacher had done for her: daring to enter the Poison Hall, even pre-calculating all the dangers she would face after being sent there, and leaving behind a mental imprint to help her overcome them. The magnitude of his kindness was so vast that she felt she could never repay it, even if she were to perish in the attempt.

"Teacher, Ruyan will not fail to live up to your expectations…" Recalling her teacher's gentle smile and refined demeanor, Wei Ruyan's eyes reddened as she made a silent vow in her heart.

She had always believed that her mother's death at her birth, her father's subsequent absence, and her constant suffering, never knowing a single good day, were all a punishment from heaven. Now, however, it seemed it was merely so she could encounter such an excellent teacher. This was a true teacher — one who genuinely cared for their students and was willing to give everything! With such a teacher, what more could one ask for?

"I never expected that mental imprint to actually be used. The Poison Hall is indeed more dangerous than I had imagined…" As the flying vessel landed just outside Qingyuan Imperial Capital, Zhang Xuan sensed that the mental imprint he had left within Wei Ruyan's body had been completely expended, and he couldn't help but shake his head.

He had initially left the mental imprint and the Book of Heaven's Path as a precaution against potential trouble from the Poison Hall. Unlike the Master Teacher Pavilion, which upheld strict rules, the Poison Hall operated on power; only the most formidable methods commanded respect there. It now seemed fortunate that he had made those preparations, otherwise, his student might very well not have survived. Although he was too far away to know the precise details of what had transpired, he was certain that with the Book of Heaven's Path activated, Wei Ruyan would be safe. Once that item was revealed, it could deter not only nine-star poison masters but likely even nine-star master teachers, making it simple to subdue everyone at the Poison Hall headquarters.

"Dean, Battle Master Feng and Battle Master Jiang have arrived…" While he was deep in thought, Young Master Ruohuan approached. Zhang Xuan looked up and indeed saw Feng Xun, Jiang Yuan, and others flying towards them. Zhang Xuan went forward to greet them.

After more than a month, Feng Xun had successfully broken through to the Primordial Spirit realm. His power was now more stable and profound than before, clearly showing the effort he had put in during this period. Jiang Yuan had also fully consolidated his cultivation at the early stage of the Primordial Spirit realm, and his mental fortitude had become significantly more resilient. It seemed that after being possessed by King Tianye, he recognized his soul as a weakness and had deliberately focused on strengthening it.

"Dean Zhang, you've finally arrived!" Feng Xun exclaimed with a smile. The flying vessel they had traveled on was enormous, and their flying sacred beasts were not particularly high-ranked, so their speed naturally couldn't compare to his. This was, however, quite advantageous. Over the past month, everyone in the Combat Master Hall had learned of Hongyuan Academy's experiences, and they had all prepared in advance, their enthusiasm for cultivation reaching an unprecedented peak. In just over a month, the overall combat strength of the entire Combat Master Hall had surged considerably, much to the satisfaction of the Hall Master.

"The Combat Master Hall has prepared a resting place specifically for you; let's head there now!" Jiang Yuan said."Alright!" Controlling the sacred beasts, the flying vessel slowly ascended once more. Before long, guided by Jiang Yuan and the other, they arrived at a sprawling estate, vast in area and covering hundreds of acres. Although Zhang Xuan had brought a large number of students, they could all be comfortably accommodated.

"Dean Zhang, the exchange meeting is set for three days from now. At that time, our Combat Master Hall will host a grand welcoming ceremony to greet your arrival!" Feng Xun stated after everything had been arranged."Then I'll leave it to you, Battle Master Feng," Zhang Xuan replied with a nod.

His many students were weary from their long journey and the arduous travel, so they certainly needed a few days to rest. The fact that the other party had provided a three-day buffer period indicated that they, too, wished to make preparations in advance.

Once the date for the exchange was finalized, Feng Xun and the other excused themselves and departed. After they left, Zhang Xuan called Elder Mi over.

"Have the students cultivate diligently and adjust their state to prepare for the exchange in three days. I will be stepping out for a while." The primary goal of engaging with the Combat Master Hall was for the students to broaden their horizons; even if they were to lose, it would not be a significant setback. Whether in cultivation or any other pursuit, it was impossible to always have smooth sailing and constant victories. Occasional failures could also help temper and refine one's mental state. Not to mention others, even he himself frequently suffered crushing defeats at the hands of his clone, didn't he? Despite numerous contests, he had never once emerged victorious, yet he had not lost confidence; on the contrary, he remained full of fighting spirit, gaining even greater motivation.

Hearing that he intended to go out, Elder Mi nodded, then looked at him with some concern. "Dean, this is the imperial capital of the Qingyuan Conferred Empire, a place teeming with experts. You must exercise extreme caution when you go out and avoid any recklessness. Otherwise, if you stir up trouble, there will be nothing we can do…" They were acutely aware of their Dean's proclivities; despite his unparalleled talent and upright character, he consistently acted impulsively. In the Hongyuan Empire, with their high positions, they could usually cover up any incidents, but here, their status counted for nothing. It was best to proceed cautiously; they were merely here for an exchange, and they certainly didn't want to cause any major problems that would be difficult to resolve.

"Don't worry, I'm only going out to find a way to heal the Golden Origin Cauldron; I absolutely won't cause any trouble!" Seeing the worried expression on Elder Mi's face, Zhang Xuan shook his head, feeling a little speechless. He always handled matters with careful consideration, so how had he managed to leave such a terrible impression on Elder Mi, making him seem like a constant troublemaker?

"That's good then…" Elder Mi sighed in relief and said nothing more. Although he didn't entirely believe the answer, the other party was, after all, the Dean. As an Elder, he had fulfilled his duty by offering a reminder; to say anything further would be overstepping his bounds.

Stepping out of the estate, Zhang Xuan inquired about the exact location of the Artificer Guild and headed in that direction.

The Golden Origin Cauldron had fallen into a deep slumber after saving everyone, and it had not yet awoken. As its master, he naturally felt compelled to find a way to revive it.

Before he even reached the Artificer Guild, a peculiar building appeared before his eyes, soaring skyward like a tall tower. Its pinnacle, in particular, was remarkably slender and curved downwards, resembling a swan's graceful neck.

"The Spirit Awakener Guild? What exactly is a Spirit Awakener?" Zhang Xuan glanced at the plaque on the building, filled with curiosity. He was familiar with many professions but had never heard of a Spirit Awakener.

"Young master, do you have any items that require spirit awakening? For just ten mid-grade spirit stones, I can serve as your guide and introduce you to the finest Spirit Awakener, ensuring you don't waste your money…" While he was still contemplating, a young attendant approached him. The boy was sixteen or seventeen years old, with only a cultivation of Mortal Transcendence realm 1, but his dark eyes were remarkably astute.

Zhang Xuan casually tossed him ten. Mid-grade spirit stones were no longer significant to him, and he wouldn't mind spending more. Since this attendant seemed knowledgeable, he could take the opportunity to ask him. "Is a Spirit Awakener… also a special profession?" he inquired after a moment's thought.

"Young master, I can tell just by looking that you're not from the Qingyuan Empire, are you?" the attendant chuckled when Zhang Xuan asked."I'm from the Hongyuan Empire!" Zhang Xuan confirmed with a nod."That explains it. Many people who are new to the Qingyuan Empire don't know what a Spirit Awakener is, or have never even heard of one."

The attendant smiled and explained, "Strictly speaking, a Spirit Awakener isn't classified as a special profession. However, it's one of the most sought-after professions in the Qingyuan Empire. Countless people travel here just to visit, and even members of the Master Teacher Pavilion come to consult them; it's quite a bustling place!"

Zhang Xuan was curious. "What exactly can this profession do?" If even Master Teachers visited them, then despite not being a designated 'special profession,' it must possess unique capabilities. It reminded him of the herb cultivators he had encountered previously: though they hadn't yet formed an official professional lineage, they were remarkably skilled, possessing unique abilities in cultivating medicinal herbs, which made them incredibly valuable and indispensable to pharmacists and alchemists.

"A Spirit Awakener, as the name implies, awakens the spirits of all things!" the attendant explained. "For example, some cultivators, upon reaching the Turbid-Clear realm, find it difficult to enter the Spirit Harmonization realm because their cultivation is too powerful. At such times, by seeking out a Spirit Awakener for guidance, they can quickly grasp the knack and advance to a higher level. Also, when certain weapons lose their spirituality, a Spirit Awakener can help reawaken them, allowing them to recover… It's essentially an auxiliary profession that can help individuals enter unique states of mind, making it easier for their souls to be refined and grow stronger!"

"This… are you saying this profession can reawaken the spirits of dormant weapons?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

"Of course. When a weapon's spirit falls dormant, other professions are helpless, but a Spirit Awakener can most certainly reawaken it. Their research into souls is exceptionally profound!" the attendant explained.

"Alright then, lead the way!" Zhang Xuan quickly nodded. His original intention for going to the Artificer Guild was to help the Golden Origin Cauldron regain its spirit. Since a Spirit Awakener could accomplish this, there was no longer any need to go to the Artificer Guild.

"Young master, do you have a weapon whose spirit has fallen dormant?" the attendant asked, observing Zhang Xuan's eager demeanor. A weapon's spirit, much like a witch soul, can diminish or even vanish over time or through intense combat, severely reducing the power of many formidable weapons. While re-forging could imbue it with new sentience, it would compromise the original structure and might even cause its grade to regress, making it far less potent than before. Alternatively, some powerful spirits might refuse to submit to their masters, requiring them to be eliminated and replaced with a more compliant one. In such instances, it was always best to consult a Spirit Awakener to help reawaken the weapon's sentience, thereby restoring its power without any loss of performance.

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan confirmed with a nod."What level of weapon is it? Different levels require different grades of Spirit Awakeners…" the attendant inquired, looking at him."A mid-grade Saint artifact!" Zhang Xuan replied.