Chapter 1129: Good at Competing

The Combat Master Hall was undoubtedly the most powerful guild in the entire Qingyuan Empire, surpassing even the Master Teacher Hall! For such a powerful organization to be so cautious, and based on the Hall Master's tone, it seemed they had encountered a life-and-death situation. Just thinking about it was frightening!

Of course, if it were a major disaster, whether involving the Soul Clan or anything else, the news would have spread widely by now. Since there's still no word, and Hall Master Xing even has time to come out and perform an Enlightenment, it must just be a minor issue, not a significant problem.

"May I ask, if it's convenient, what kind of trouble have you encountered? Though I am not particularly talented, my cultivation and other professions are quite decent, and I might be able to offer some significant help..." Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

The Combat Master Hall had agreed to his request for an exchange without hesitation, demonstrating their magnanimity and open-mindedness. Since they were in danger, he certainly wouldn't refuse to help.

"Thank you for your concern, Master Sun. This matter is something our Combat Master Hall prefers to handle ourselves. We only hope you can help me stabilize my primordial spirit so I can successfully pass the Heart Hall's inner demon test..."

Hearing the question, Hall Master Xing's face flushed, and he quickly waved his hand. If others knew that the great trouble he spoke of was merely an organization formed by a group of young people who had traveled from a first-rank empire... they would surely die laughing on the spot. It was better not to say anything at all.

"Understood... Very well!" Zhang Xuan nodded. Having mastered the Enlightenment profession, he could help the Golden Origin Cauldron recover at any time, which was no big deal. Since a Hall Master had personally made such a request, it was naturally difficult to refuse.

"Thank you so much, Master Sun!" Hearing him agree, Hall Master Xing was filled with gratitude. "Then... where should we begin?"

Enlightenment and soul stabilization required absolute quiet. Previously, these procedures were performed in the tranquil rooms of the Enlightenment Master Guild. However, with the guild now running wildly and potentially trampling people, it was definitely no longer suitable.

"This..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head. The guild's current state meant it would take some time to fully stabilize. Performing an Enlightenment here, even if unsuccessful, would be one thing, but if the guild went berserk and accidentally trampled the Combat Master Hall Master to death, Zhang Xuan might find himself held accountable in the Qingyuan Imperial Capital, unable to leave.

"Our Combat Master Hall's Heart Hall has a formation that isolates external interference. Why don't we go there?" suggested Hall Master Liao.

"That works!" Zhang Xuan nodded. He had intended to visit the Combat Master Hall anyway. Since they had extended an invitation, it was a good opportunity to investigate, gather experience for the exchange in three days, and prepare the members of the Xuanxuan Society psychologically. Otherwise, if those reckless youngsters caused trouble, as their dean, it would be difficult for him to explain.

Bidding farewell to President Ruan and the others, Zhang Xuan followed closely behind Hall Master Xing and flew towards the Combat Master Hall.

The Qingyuan Empire's Combat Master Hall branch was not far from their residence. It was a grand and majestic edifice that exuded an inviolable aura even before they arrived.

"Looking at the architecture... it's even more magnificent than the Enlightenment Master Guild..." Zhang Xuan was filled with awe, secretly wondering, "I wonder if it can be enlightened. If it succeeds, this huge structure would certainly run faster than the Enlightenment Master Guild..."

"Master Sun, this is the Combat Master Hall! The Combat Master Hall is divided into ten halls..." Seeing Zhang Xuan's slight confusion, Hall Master Liao offered an introduction, concluding, "I am the Hall Master of the Heart Hall!"

"The Ten Halls of Combat Masters..." After hearing the introduction, Zhang Xuan silently made a mental note. It seemed no one had mentioned these details before. When he met Young Master Ruohuan and the others, he would need to remind them to be cautious during the exchange.

"Movement Technique Hall, Weapon Hall, Palm Technique Hall, Fist Technique Hall... I can understand all of these. But what does the Heart Hall cultivate?" Zhang Xuan asked. Movement techniques, palm techniques, weapons... these were all understandable. But what was the purpose of the Heart Hall?

"Actually, the Heart Hall is the most important and formidable hall in the Combat Master Hall!" It was Hall Master Xing who spoke.

"Oh?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

"The primary purpose of Combat Masters is to resist the Soul Clan. The Soul Clan's killing *zhenqi* has a tremendous assaultive effect on one's will and soul. To combat them, one's psychological fortitude must surpass that of ordinary people! The Heart Hall was thus established for this very reason!" Hall Master Xing explained, "When two opponents meet on a narrow path, the brave one wins. In battle, there are countless instances of individuals with profound *zhenqi*, robust bodies, and strong soul power being defeated by someone seemingly inferior to them! Combat isn't just about strength and skill; more importantly, it's about the heart!"

"Indeed!" Zhang Xuan strongly agreed. Looking back at the opponents he had encountered, whether King Red Leaf, King Sky Leaf, or the recent Dao Kou, their *zhenqi* and soul power all far surpassed his. Yet, in actual combat, it was often his opponents who ultimately perished. This had nothing to do with the strength of *zhenqi*; what mattered was the heart. If one's mindset was weak or their psychological fortitude wavered, they could easily be swayed or misled, ultimately leading to their demise.

While body refinement, strength training, and power cultivation continually empowered practitioners, true strength was also reflected in a matching state of mind. Just like Wang Ying in the past: despite cultivating Heavenly Dao martial arts, she still lacked confidence and was directly defeated when fighting others. After that incident, he had always prioritized nurturing the mental states of his disciples. Now, although some still retained a shy disposition, they were at least far more decisive than before.

"Cultivating one's mental state and mindset is incredibly important. Combat Masters from the Heart Hall possess a more stable mental state than those from other halls, making them less susceptible to external temptations!" At this point, Hall Master Xing couldn't help but sigh with emotion. Among the over two hundred Combat Masters who had joined the Xuanxuan Society, none were from the Heart Hall. While many other hall masters were eager for action, the Heart Hall Master remained as steadfast as Mount Tai, and had even offered him advice! This was something only achievable when one's mental state cultivation reached a certain level. It seemed the Combat Master Hall would need to place greater emphasis on the cultivation of mental states in the future.

"The Heart Hall is divided into numerous stages, each containing inner demons of various levels. Only by frequently contending with these inner demons and undergoing their trials can one's mental state become increasingly composed!" Hall Master Xing continued.

Zhang Xuan nodded. His own mental state had significantly improved after being cleansed by the inner demons during his Conferred Saint tribulation. If that inner demon hadn't been so weak, he would certainly have gained even greater benefits.

"Since your Heart Hall has inner demons, may I try them out to temper my own mental state?" Remembering something, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

"Of course you can, it's no big deal!" Hall Master Xing replied with a slight smile.

"Thank you very much!" Zhang Xuan nodded eagerly. If one could withstand the tempering of inner demons, it would greatly aid in improving one's mental state. Since he had only encountered inner demons during his Conferred Saint tribulation, and this Heart Hall possessed them, it was an excellent opportunity to refine himself.

As they spoke, the group entered the Combat Master Hall. Behind the main structure was a complex of buildings, similar to the Master Teacher Academy, divided into ten areas, corresponding to the ten great halls. Hall Master Liao led the way, and it wasn't long before they reached the Heart Hall's precinct, where a tall, imposing building appeared before them. This building was entirely dark, oddly shaped like a heart, and constructed from an unknown material. From a distance, one felt their heart beat faster, as if some special emotion was being drawn out.

"This is the Heart Hall..." Hall Master Liao led the way, stepping inside first. Upon entering the grand hall, he immediately felt the abundant spiritual energy and a sense of calm.

"There's a special formation in here that not only gathers spiritual energy but also calms the mind, preventing distracting thoughts. Master Sun, perhaps you could stabilize the Hall Master's primordial spirit right here!" Hall Master Liao said, leading them to a room within the Heart Hall.

Zhang Xuan nodded. This place was indeed much quieter than the Enlightenment Master Guild and far more suitable for Enlightenment. If he could summon the Golden Origin Cauldron's slumbering sentience here, it should yield twice the result with half the effort.

"Hall Master Xing, please take a seat!" Finding a suitable spot, Zhang Xuan gestured forward.

"Understood!" Knowing this concerned the resolution of the Combat Master Hall's current hidden threat, Hall Master Xing didn't dare to waste words and sat down before him.

"Relax your mind and communicate with your primordial spirit!" Zhang Xuan instructed.

"Yes!" Hall Master Xing closed his eyes, communicated with his primordial spirit, and in an instant, entered a meditative state, like an old monk.

"Excellent!" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. The way his counterpart transitioned so quickly from a restless state to one of quiet introspection, making it impossible to perceive any prior emotions, demonstrated an astonishing strength of mind and mastery over his feelings.

"From the looks of it, Zheng Yang, Zhao Ya, and the others are still a bit too impetuous..." He sighed inwardly. Although Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, and the others had cultivated his Heavenly Dao cultivation techniques and martial arts, making them invincible among their peers, their mental states were still far inferior compared to this old master who had lived for countless years. While such a mental state might seem insignificant, it could very likely play a decisive role in actual combat. In an arena battle, at the same cultivation level, he was confident that Zheng Yang and Zhao Ya, with his guidance, would be unbeatable. However, if they were confined to a deserted island and had to compete to see who could survive the longest, they might not be able to surpass this individual before him. In typical combat situations, if Zheng Yang and Zhao Ya couldn't gain the upper hand within a few moves, they would panic, and various flaws would naturally appear in their techniques. This was unavoidable. They were too young; psychologically, they simply couldn't compare to Combat Masters who had lived for centuries and possessed vast combat experience.

"It seems I'll need to focus more on cultivating their mental states in the future..." He mused.

These thoughts flashed through his mind, but he knew it wasn't the time to dwell on them. Looking up at Hall Master Xing, Zhang Xuan focused his mind and gently pressed his palm against the floor. A circle of light enveloped Hall Master Xing. He activated the Enlightenment Master's cultivation technique within him, transforming his spirit into a fine thread that slowly entered the Hall Master's sea of consciousness. Enlightening an object differed from stabilizing a person's primordial spirit. The former merely required igniting the flame of sentience in the appropriate place, while the latter involved the spirit cautiously entering the target's primordial spirit, exploring to find and repair flaws and vulnerabilities in their cultivation.

"Far more formidable than King Sky Leaf..." Upon reaching the vicinity of the Hall Master's primordial spirit, Zhang Xuan was filled with astonishment. The primordial spirit before him, both in quality and volume, far surpassed that of King Sky Leaf, whom he had encountered previously. King Sky Leaf was a Leaving Aperture realm expert, yet Hall Master Xing, merely at half a step into that realm, was already more powerful than him. The sheer depth of his accumulation was terrifying.

"With such profound power, he should be able to withstand one-third of my strength at the same cultivation level..." Filled with shock, Zhang Xuan felt a surge of admiration and offered sincere praise. "How strong!"