Chapter 1148: Sanctuary Second Level Heavenly Dao Cultivation Method

“What...?” Hall Master Feng was utterly bewildered, watching the most brilliant geniuses in his hall one by one bowing before that young man. What on earth had happened?

"Aren't the combat masters of our Combat Master Hall all incredibly arrogant, refusing to submit to anyone? In such a short span, how did they end up bowing to him like a teacher?"

"Elder Qi, what exactly is going on here?" Hall Master Xing could no longer contain himself and quickly stepped forward.

"Master Sun just explained some techniques for applying martial arts... and they were incredibly insightful!" Elder Qi's face was flushed, and his fingers twitched incessantly, as if even he had gained significantly and was struggling to suppress the urge to apprentice himself.

"Just a few martial arts application techniques made them react like this?" Hall Master Feng found it hard to believe.

"Our Martial Arts Hall has meticulously researched countless techniques for applying various martial arts, yet we've always had differing opinions without ever reaching a consensus. This Master Sun, after explaining just a few techniques, managed to impress everyone so profoundly... isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"

"You didn't hear what he explained... No, it's too much to explain. You should find a combat master later and ask them yourself!" Without hearing the lecture firsthand, it was impossible to grasp its profundity. Elder Qi, no longer paying attention to Hall Master Feng's bewildered expression, quickly stepped forward to Zhang Xuan with a look of reverence.

"Thank you, Master Sun, for saving my life. We meet again..." Although Master Sun had altered his appearance, his voice was not disguised. Just a single sentence was enough for Elder Qi to confirm his identity.

"It's you! What are you doing here?" Zhang Xuan was momentarily taken aback.

This strange old man, who had been tormented by severe poison and on the brink of death back in Jingyuan City, now had a ruddy complexion and formidable strength. If he hadn't addressed him directly, Zhang Xuan wouldn't have recognized him.

"Master Sun detoxified me, restored my health, and recently, I gained some insights and had a breakthrough... That's why I decided to return and seek revenge!" Elder Qi explained.

Zhang Xuan understood. Someone must have been responsible for his poisoning back then. After suffering for such a long time, now finally free, how could he possibly let the culprit go unpunished?

"It was merely a small effort, and I also received your medicinal herbs as compensation, so it's no big deal!"

Zhang Xuan smiled, "Alright, I won't keep you. Hall Master Wei, I just defeated the puppet and passed the assessment. I should be allowed into the library now, shouldn't I?"

"Of course!" Hall Master Wei's mouth twitched slightly as he quickly nodded.

Passing the assessment granted access to the library; that was the rule, and there was no need to trouble Hall Master Feng further. Besides, given the state Hall Master Feng was in, if other combat masters found out, he would be completely disgraced. They would avoid him like the plague, so why would he step forward to cause a fuss over such a trivial matter?

Following Hall Master Wei, he quickly entered the library.

Once he had left, Hall Master Xing and the others quickly gathered.

"Elder Qi, is he... the Sun Qiang you spoke of?" Elder Qi's urgency in coming over was precisely to confirm if the man before him was indeed his benefactor from back then.

"Yes, he's my lifesaver, but it seems he's not the Zhang Xuan you mentioned!" Elder Qi confirmed with a nod.

He had met Master Sun in Jingyuan City, and Master Sun was from the Hongyuan Empire. There was absolutely no need for him to disguise his identity, so he couldn't be Principal Zhang Xuan.

"That's good then..." Hall Master Xing let out a sigh of relief, feeling a great weight lifted.

"What's wrong? Does Principal Zhang have a conflict with you? In the Hongyuan Empire, his reputation is immense; I've never heard of any misconduct from him. How could he possibly offend the Combat Master Hall?" Elder Qi wondered, observing his attitude.

The name Zhang Xuan resonated like thunder throughout the Hongyuan Empire, even more renowned than Emperor Yu Shenqing, and he was an idol worshipped by countless young people. As the Principal of the Master Teacher Academy, he had numerous legendary experiences, and there had never been any rumors of misconduct. So, why would he make Hall Master Xing so apprehensive?

"No, we don't have any conflict..." Realizing he had somewhat lost his composure, Hall Master Xing quickly waved a hand.

"Hall Master, since he isn't Zhang Xuan, and given Master Sun's exceptional talent and profound understanding of martial arts... what if we could have him represent our Combat Master Hall and engage with... the Suspended Society?" Hall Master Liao proposed, stepping forward.

"This..." Hall Master Xing blinked.

Indeed, the Suspended Society was quite formidable. Even though he had broken through and cultivated a secret heart realm technique, it would still be challenging to impress them in terms of martial arts and other aspects.

However, Master Sun was different! In martial arts, he could defeat Hall Master Feng with a single finger using a recently learned technique; his heart realm was so profound that he could make a sect founder willingly hand over the Glazed Heart Refining Sutra; his true qi was so immense that he could split ten stone tablets with one palm; and in actual combat, he could successfully escape while being besieged by the three of them...

From every perspective, Master Sun was a powerhouse among powerhouses, absolutely invincible at his level!

If he could represent the Combat Master Hall and engage with the Suspended Society, the Combat Master Hall's reputation would undoubtedly soar, and they would no longer be in such a passive position.

"This is a good idea!" After a moment of contemplation, Hall Master Xing said, "However... he isn't a member of our Combat Master Hall, after all. If we let him represent us, and the news gets out, might it... damage our reputation?"

"There's no harm in it. Let him represent our Combat Master Hall and compete against Zhang Xuan. If he wins, the members of the Suspended Society will join our Qingyuan Empire Combat Master Hall... If this succeeds, our Combat Master Hall will undoubtedly flourish even more. We'll all be part of the same hall, and our reputation will not only be unharmed but will grow even stronger!" Hall Master Liao argued.

"That's true!" Hall Master Xing nodded.

That was indeed the case. If all the members of the Suspended Society could be persuaded to join the Combat Master Hall, their Qingyuan Empire branch would grow increasingly powerful, and dominating the alliance would be effortless. Even if outsiders spoke of it, it would merely be an internal matter that wouldn't affect the larger picture.

"But... what if he loses?" Hall Master Xing remained somewhat uneasy.

Although Master Sun was very powerful, Principal Zhang Xuan was reportedly no pushover! After all, he had personally cultivated extraordinary talents like Zheng Yang, who could contend for the title of Combat Child... and he had made the Suspended Society so formidable in such a short time! To claim he was weak was something even Hall Master Xing himself couldn't believe.

"If we lose... we'll just have to accept it! At worst, our entire Combat Master Hall will join the Suspended Society!" Hall Master Liao declared.

"This..." Hall Master Xing's mouth twitched.

"There's no other option now. If the members of the Combat Master Hall found out that Hall Master Zhou, Hall Master Lu, and the others had already gone to interact and join them... it would surely cause an uproar, and then even more combat masters would become members of the Suspended Society!" Hall Master Liao said with a bitter smile.

This course of action was born of helplessness. Although the members of the Suspended Society weren't highly powerful, their understanding of martial arts and combat was incredibly profound and astonishing. If they could truly join and engage in exchanges and learning, it would undoubtedly lead to a qualitative leap for the Combat Master Hall. The critical issue now was who would seize the initiative and ensure the Combat Master Hall didn't lose face or become a laughingstock.

"Very well, we'll do it this way. When Master Sun comes out, I'll discuss it with him!" After a long deliberation, Hall Master Xing sighed.

Being forced into such a situation by a minor force from a first-tier empire felt rather pathetic. Yet, for him, there was no alternative. Master teachers joined the Combat Master Hall precisely to pursue greater combat power and strength. The members of the Suspended Society possessed such exquisite combat techniques that, let alone the other Hall Masters, even he felt a strong inclination to learn from them. Had it not been for the dignity of the Combat Master Hall, he would have surely gone there to study diligently long ago.

"This is the Martial Arts Hall's library? So many martial arts..." Oblivious to the thoughts of Hall Master Xing and the others, Zhang Xuan entered the library, and his eyes immediately lit up as he surveyed the vast collection.

True to its reputation as the Martial Arts Hall of the Combat Master Hall, it contained a myriad of martial arts techniques, countless in number. While the two hundred techniques for the assessment were mostly Saint-grade, there were tens of thousands more below that level.

"With all these martial arts, the Grand Nirvana Heaven Demon Palm might finally be integrated into a Heaven's Path cultivation technique..."

His eyes gleamed with excitement. What he lacked currently were high-level martial arts manuals. With such a vast collection, his understanding of martial arts would undoubtedly improve significantly, reaching a higher realm.

"Defect!" With a faint smile, he pushed aside other thoughts and focused his gaze on the rows of bookshelves before him.

*Swish!* In the blink of an eye, countless books from the shelves rapidly flowed into his mind.

Ten minutes later, every single martial art technique had been fully absorbed.

"As expected, there are also quite a few cultivation manuals for Saint Realm stages one and two." After reviewing the martial arts, his gaze fell upon the last few rows of bookshelves. They were indeed filled with various true qi cultivation techniques, with hundreds of books specifically for Saint Realm stages one and two.

There were also a few for stages three and four, though far fewer in number—only about four or five books in total.

He scanned them, collecting all of them as well.

"Perfect!" he murmured, and in the blink of an eye, three books materialized before him, corresponding to Saint Realm stages two, three, and four.

He quickly opened them.

"The Saint Realm stage two truly has no more defects..." His eyes brightened, and he let out a sigh of relief.

Of these three books, the one for Saint Realm stage two was now perfect, while those for stages three and four still contained defects, preventing normal cultivation.

Even so, he was quite satisfied.

"This will do!" Seeing the library was empty and quiet, Zhang Xuan, too lazy to search for another place, found a corner. With a flicker of his body, he entered the Myriad Anthill Nest.

His cultivation had reached a profound accumulation; once he broke through, it would undoubtedly cause a massive commotion. It would be awkward if he were to damage the library in the process.

It was safer to cultivate here.

Upon arriving at the designated cultivation area within the beehive, he set up a Level Seven Spirit Gathering Array. Only then did Zhang Xuan toss thousands of high-grade spirit stones into it and sit down cross-legged.

For him, the effectiveness of high-grade spirit stones had diminished; he now needed to rely on the Spirit Gathering Array to amplify their effects. Otherwise, even absorbing them wouldn't lead to a breakthrough.

With everything prepared, Zhang Xuan meticulously reviewed the Heaven's Path cultivation technique for Saint Realm stage two in his mind. All his pores opened wide, absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy, while the true qi within his body slowly circulated.

Saint Realm stage two, the Divine Sense realm, allowed one to perceive things more broadly and meticulously. While it didn't greatly increase raw power, the ability to observe subtleties significantly enhanced combat strength.

"Divine sense can only be generated by opening the fetal eye... Let's begin!"

Closing his eyes, Zhang Xuan's consciousness slowly entered his dantian, settling upon the primordial embryo in its center, which resembled a golden core.