Chapter 1123: The Lord Also Betrays [Contains Major Spoilers]

"Recruited?""What does that mean?"

Most people frowned, and even Hall Master Xing looked utterly confused.

"The more than two hundred combat masters who went to challenge them have all joined the Xuanxuan Society..." said Palace Master Zhen Ying.

"Joined the Xuanxuan Society?"

Everyone was stunned. They quickly understood, and each felt a sharp pain in their chest, struggling to breathe. Hall Master Xing, in particular, nearly fell off his seat in the middle. He had just confidently stated that this exchange visit would be an excellent opportunity for the Combat Master Hall to recruit new members and expand the Qingyuan branch. Now, hearing this news, it was as if they hadn't even had a chance to "steal the chicken" before the "rice was already lost"... How infuriating!

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense! What kind of conduct is this? A group of combat masters actually joining an organization from the countryside... Tell them to return to the Combat Master Hall immediately, or they will be expelled. From today onwards, they will no longer be qualified to be members of the Combat Master Hall!" a Palace Master stood up and rebuked angrily. It had always been the Combat Master Hall's practice to select people from various regions; never had anyone poached from them.

"Is it really appropriate to tell them that? Our Combat Master Hall doesn't restrict members from joining other organizations or learning other professions..." a Palace Master interjected, raising an objection. While the Combat Master Hall wasn't as loosely structured as the Master Teacher Pavilion, it also didn't impose overly strict requirements for absolute obedience. Was it going too far to demand their immediate return and threaten them?

"The Combat Master Hall may not restrict it, but if all combat masters act this way, who will remain a combat master? Who will protect the safety of our human race?"

"Exactly, this precedent absolutely cannot be set, or where would our reputation be?" Two more Palace Masters shouted in disapproval.

Everyone fell silent. They were right. Although the Combat Master Hall didn't impose restrictions, this kind of precedent couldn't be allowed. Otherwise, military discipline would crumble, and how could they possibly achieve victory in every battle, conquering all? If morale disintegrated, leading the team would become impossible! The Combat Master Hall had no such precedent, though many empires did. Combat masters were like soldiers protecting an empire; without strict discipline, how could they instill fear in outsiders and deter invasion?

"Alright, I'll inform them right away..." Palace Master Zhen Ying paused, then nodded and tapped his communication jade token, sending a message.

A moment later, characters reappeared on the jade token. Palace Master Zhen Ying glanced at it and stumbled again.

"What's wrong now?" Seeing his expression change again, everyone grew anxious. The Palace Master of the Martial Arts Hall was usually very composed in everything he did. What was happening today, with one thing after another? What news could make him so agitated?

"My people just informed Xiao Qin and the others... and the reply was that if forced to withdraw from the Xuanxuan Society, they would rather quit the Combat Master Hall and no longer be combat masters..." Palace Master Zhen Ying's lips twitched as he read the characters aloud.

"Quit the Combat Master Hall?"

"How is that possible? After just one encounter, they want to join the Xuanxuan Society... What kind of charm does this Zhang Xuan possess?"

A commotion erupted, and everyone stood frozen in place, their expressions no better than Palace Master Zhen Ying's. Becoming a combat master was something countless cultivators dreamed of; it represented honor and responsibility... Now, after only one encounter with the Xuanxuan Society, this group was willing to give up being combat masters just to join. What on earth had happened?

"What kind of mind control did that Zhang Xuan use on them?! No, I must go there and teach these ignorant fellows a lesson!" An elder stood up, filled with righteous indignation. It was Chen Zhuqing, the Palace Master of the Fist Arts Hall! He was the most impetuous of the ten Palace Masters, and hearing that his subordinates had been swayed by a small organization from a mere first-tier empire made him so furious he was almost exploding.

"I'll go with you!" Another elder stood up. It was Lu Wangqiu, the Palace Master of the Movement Arts Hall. The two were close friends. Since they were going to investigate what had happened to these combat masters, they might as well go together and confront the culprits.

"It's best not to cause a conflict! Although Zhang Xuan is just an academy head from a first-tier empire, he has a good relationship with Master Wu and others from the Master Teacher Pavilion. Furthermore, he's said to be talented and is even Zheng Yang's teacher... Just give him a slight lesson to make him understand his place; there's no need to blow things out of proportion!" Hall Master Xing instructed, seeing the two Palace Masters about to go retrieve the combat masters. They were all master teachers, and they were here for an exchange; there was no need to cause an open rift, as it wouldn't be good for anyone. Moreover, he was the teacher of that super genius, Zheng Yang! A genius like Zheng Yang was rare, seen only once in ten thousand years, and highly likely to succeed in the combat-son assessment. As Zheng Yang's initial teacher, Zhang Xuan's status would undoubtedly rise in the future. It was best not to offend him if possible, to avoid awkwardness later. Although Zhuo Qingfeng and others had mentioned that Master Zhang was extraordinary, Zhang Xuan rarely made a move, so they didn't have much information and didn't believe he could be stronger than a genius like Zheng Yang. A teacher's primary role was to impart knowledge, guide learning, and resolve doubts. It wasn't unheard of for a teacher's combat strength to be surpassed by their disciple's.

"Don't worry, Hall Master!""We'll act according to the situation!"

The two Palace Masters turned and walked out.

After they left, the room fell silent, the atmosphere so oppressive no one could speak. The invincible Combat Master Hall being outshone by an organization from a small place was something they had never dared to imagine before.

"Actually, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Our Combat Master Hall has grown accustomed to its superiority; this could be a good opportunity to temper some of that arrogance..." Hall Master Xing smiled, seeing that everyone was in low spirits.

"Yes!" everyone nodded. They were right. The Combat Master Hall had always been accustomed to its superior standing. An incident like this could make many realize that even combat masters weren't invincible or unbeatable.

"While Palace Master Chen has a somewhat volatile temper, Palace Master Lu is dependable in his actions, so nothing major should happen... Once they bring those young ones back, we can also find out exactly what they experienced that made them willing to give up being combat masters just to join this Xuanxuan Society!"

"If it was done through honorable means, that would be one thing. But if it involved various forms of manipulation and enticement... Hmph, we must report this to the Master Teacher Pavilion and ensure these troublemakers are properly dealt with!"

"It has always been our Combat Master Hall poaching from others. For someone to poach combat masters from us, this Zhang Xuan truly has remarkable audacity." Hall Master Xing offered reassurance, and only then did the gloom in everyone's hearts dissipate, though their faces remained grim as autumn frost.

"They've arrived at the location and are currently negotiating with the Xuanxuan Society members..." After chatting for a while, Palace Master Zhen Ying took out his communication jade token, glanced at it, and nodded. It was a message from Palace Master Chen, who had just left.

"Tell Palace Master Chen to bring that group directly here shortly. I want to personally ask them what happened!" said Hall Master Xing.

"Alright!" Palace Master Zhen Ying nodded, just about to say something when the jade token in his hand flashed again, and another line of text appeared. He lowered his head to look. Just like before, after only a glance, his entire body stiffened for the third time, and he stumbled.

"You... what's wrong now? Did even the two Palace Masters going in person not bring them back?" Hall Master Xing's face clouded with a murderous aura. For the two Palace Masters of their Combat Master Hall to go personally, and for the other side not to release anyone, was simply too disrespectful.

"No..." Palace Master Zhen Ying's lips trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Palace Master Chen and Palace Master Lu, they... they also joined the Xuanxuan Society, and they're not coming back for now..."

"Pfft!""What did you say?""They also joined... the Xuanxuan Society?"

Everyone's faces contorted in disbelief. Those who went to cause trouble joined, and those who went to call them back also disappeared... What kind of mystical power did this Xuanxuan Society possess that made everyone linger and not want to leave?

"Say that again?" Hall Master Xing trembled all over, unaware that a large patch of his beard had been pulled out. He knew Palace Master Chen and Palace Master Lu very well; they were upright and detested such matters. How could they... after going there themselves, also join that Xuanxuan Society?

"This..." Seeing the Hall Master's rage, everyone exchanged glances, not daring to breathe.

"Everyone, come with me. I want to see with my own eyes what kind of magic this Zhang Xuan possesses!" After a moment, Hall Master Xing suppressed the anger in his heart and flicked his sleeve.

"Alright!" everyone nodded in unison. To be honest, they were also quite curious why all the combat masters who went there chose to stay!

Leaving the main hall, everyone swiftly flew towards the manor, quickly arriving above it.

"Look, they're all down there..." Before they even got close, they saw Palace Master Chen, Palace Master Lu, and others scattered among a crowd. In front of Palace Master Chen was a teenager who looked only sixteen or seventeen.

"Among them, which one is Zhang Xuan?" a Palace Master couldn't help but ask.

"I've seen the portrait left by Zhuo Qingfeng; Master Zhang doesn't seem to be among them..." Hall Master Xing shook his head. As soon as he arrived, he had swept his divine consciousness across the entire area but found no trace of Zhang Xuan. If that fellow wasn't here, why were everyone willing to stay?

"Don't rush down yet. Let's see what they're actually doing..." Hall Master Xing waved his hand, stopping those who were about to descend. With furrowed brows, he looked down. As he focused his attention, a faint voice slowly entered his ears.

"Little Chen, your fist art is actually not bad. The reason you can't beat me is because you have too many distracting thoughts. Fist art requires concentrating all your essence, energy, and spirit to unleash at a single point! With your current approach, it's simply impossible to defeat me!" the teenager said.

"Little Chen?" The others also heard this, and they all exchanged glances, their lips twitching. It was one thing for a sixteen or seventeen-year-old kid to speak with a teaching tone, but to call him "Little Chen"...

"How about this: you suppress your cultivation to Half-Saint peak, and I'll show you a full-powered punch!" the teenager continued.

"Alright!" Suppressing his strength to Half-Saint peak, Palace Master Chen threw a punch in mid-air, his aura roaring.

"This is... Palace Master Chen's strongest fist art, Dragon Fighting in the Wild?""That teenager is in for it!"

Seeing Palace Master Chen unleash his strongest ultimate move, intimidating all directions, everyone's expressions tightened.

Their fists collided. Palace Master Chen flew backward.

"Cough, cough, I couldn't hold back again. I used too much force, my apologies..." the teenager scratched his head.

"..." Everyone.