Chapter 1155: Spirit Initiator Headquarters Visitors

The Xuansuan Association, Wang Ying, and the others all suddenly understood.

They looked at Zhang Xuan again, filled with profound admiration. A teacher truly is a teacher, and a dean truly is a dean!

They had to convince two or three hundred combat masters, spending countless hours and using every possible method to achieve their goal. He, on the other hand, simply went directly to the Combat Master Hall headquarters and accepted all the combat masters as his students... His vision and methods were far superior to theirs.

Seeing the admiration on everyone's faces, Zhang Xuan's expression immediately darkened. He was about to reprimand them when this sudden realization struck them... The words he was about to say caught in his throat. At that moment, he, too, felt a constriction in his chest, truly understanding Hall Master Xing's profound vexation.

"No need to be so polite," Zhang Xuan said, waving his hand. "Don't you want to enhance your combat strength? This is the Xuansuan Association I founded; everyone can exchange insights here..."

"Yes, sir!" the combat masters replied, nodding.

"You all should engage deeply with them and learn much from your friends in the Combat Master Hall!" Zhang Xuan instructed. "While you may surpass them in combat awareness and overall combat prowess, your martial techniques, fist and palm arts, movement techniques, and even your mental fortitude are far inferior. You still need to exert much more effort!"

He had primarily focused on teaching combat awareness to the Xuansuan Association members. On this specific point, the Combat Master Hall members were indeed no match. However, when it came to fundamental skills and the strength of their physical bodies, the Xuansuan Association members were definitely inferior. Hongyuan Academy's foundations were still too weak; compared to a colossal entity like the Combat Master Hall, they were significantly lacking in every aspect.

"Are you members of the Xuansuan Association? I heard Xiao Qin and others have already joined you. Are you still taking new members?"

"If it weren't for these strict hall masters, we would have joined you ages ago!"

"I heard you're very strong within your rank? Interested in a spar?"

"I really want to see how you fight..."

The numerous combat masters and the members of the Xuansuan Association gathered together. Even with strict information blockades, news about Xiao Qin and the five hall masters had circulated, and everyone was already filled with curiosity about this organization from a first-tier empire. Knowing now that it was taught by Teacher Sun, they were even more excited.

Soon, sparring matches were arranged. Xiao Qin was the first to step forward, soundly defeating his peers from the Combat Master Hall who were of comparable strength. Those he previously couldn't even come close to defeating now couldn't withstand three moves against him. Even without Zhang Xuan's direct teaching, Wang Ying and the others had grasped the essence, and their diligent explanations yielded immense benefits for the members. Coupled with the fact that they were already combat geniuses, three days was not a long time, yet it allowed their strength to make remarkable progress, more than doubling their previous capabilities.

"We are willing to join the Xuansuan Association; please teach us..." Witnessing the rapid progress of their companions and the dramatic transformations of the combat masters who had joined the Xuansuan Association, everyone could no longer hold back.

"Alas, the Qingyuan Empire Combat Master Hall, established for tens of thousands of years, is unexpectedly falling apart in my hands..." Seeing the scene unfold, Hall Master Xing knew he could no longer stop them. Grief-stricken as if he had lost a parent, his heartache made it difficult to breathe. As a Hall Master, it was one thing that he hadn't managed to bring greater glory to the Combat Master Hall, but to allow it to join an organization from a first-tier empire... Even with prior mental preparation, he still found it difficult to accept.

"Hall Master, there's actually no need to be so disheartened," Feng Xun said. Feng Xun had walked over at some point. For three days, he had been in secluded training, awaiting the exchange meeting to showcase his formidable power. He never expected to witness such a scene upon emerging, and his heart was filled with shock. However, as he recalled the myriad wonders of Teacher Zhang, he suddenly had an epiphany, feeling a sense of profound fortune. Although he was unaware of the matter of consecrating a saint, the events at Qiuwu Palace were vivid in his memory. Following such a renowned master, their Combat Master Hall would undoubtedly develop at an accelerating pace, and surpassing other halls of the same rank would only be a matter of time.

"A good thing?" Hall Master Xing and Palace Master Liao looked over.

"Yes," Feng Xun confirmed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Zheng Yang, whom Zhuo Qingfeng brought to participate in the Combat Progeny assessment, is actually a direct disciple of Teacher Zhang Xuan... If he succeeds in the Combat Progeny assessment, he will become the Hall Master of the Combat Master Hall in the future... His status will be among the most prominent on the entire continent! And he... is also a member of the Xuansuan Association!"

"This..." Hall Master Xing and the others were stunned. They hadn't considered this point in detail before.

"Even if he doesn't become a Combat Progeny, the mere fact that he can participate in the selection process speaks volumes about his combat power. In the future, he will at least become an elder... With him on our side, who would dare mock our Combat Master Hall for joining the Xuansuan Association?" Feng Xun continued.

Hall Master Xing and the others fell silent. When put that way, it was indeed true. On the Master Teacher Continent, while seniority is respected, the principle of 'the capable are teachers' is valued even more. Regardless of age, if someone's strength and combat prowess far exceed yours, they are worthy of being acknowledged as a teacher. Far from being ridiculed, you would earn respect. Indeed, even Master Kong himself had once acknowledged many individuals weaker than him as his teachers! Acknowledging someone weaker than oneself as a teacher is not shameful. What is truly shameful is being incompetent yet pretending to be formidable, or having doubts but refusing to ask. Once Zheng Yang becomes a Combat Progeny and receives the Combat Master Hall's most formidable legacy, becoming a Hall Master will only be a matter of time. If the Hall Master himself is a member of the Xuansuan Association, what would be shameful about them joining? Even if he doesn't become a Hall Master in the future but becomes an elder, they would still be incredibly proud.

"I understand now!" Hall Master Xing finally breathed a sigh of relief, the knot in his heart untangled. He looked at Zhang Xuan, who was not far away, filled with renewed admiration. For someone barely in his twenties to willingly make their Combat Master Hall, which had stood for tens of thousands of years, submit, was indeed astonishing.

"I suppose his teacher must also be extraordinary!" he sighed with emotion.

"Indeed," Feng Xun nodded. "Teacher Zhang's teacher is said to be named Yang Xuan, whose strength has already reached an unfathomable realm..."

"Yang Xuan?" Hall Master Xing frowned, then paused, startled. "Could it be..."

"What? Hall Master, have you heard of this master teacher?"

"I believe I heard my teacher mention before... that at the Master Teacher Hall headquarters, there's a Master Yang, who is unparalleled throughout history, with strength that has reached an unimaginable level... However, whether that Master Yang is indeed named Yang Xuan, I do not know!" Hall Master Xing replied.

"The Hall Master's teacher? Are you referring to Combat Master Tong Qianqiu, the Eight-Star Combat Master known as the Redflame Vajra?" Palace Master Liao asked, looking over. Although Hall Master Xing had never explicitly spoken of his lineage, having been acquainted for centuries, Palace Master Liao had still managed to glean some information. Tong Qianqiu, the Redflame Vajra, was a super combat master renowned throughout the Imperial Alliance. His iron palms could suppress all directions, and he once personally slaughtered tens of thousands of Otherworldly Demonic Tribe members in a single battle, earning him immense fame.

"Yes," Hall Master Xing nodded.

"Combat Master Tong is incredibly powerful," Feng Xun said. "Since he mentioned it, I'm afraid this Master Yang truly is his teacher... No wonder Zhang Xuan possesses such strength and talent at such a young age; with guidance from such a formidable master teacher, his future is absolutely limitless!" Previously, Feng Xun had harbored thoughts of competing with Zhang Xuan, but such notions had long since vanished. There was no way he could compare, so why invite humiliation? Only by recognizing one's own capabilities can a person progress further. Being overly ambitious without a solid foundation will only lead to stagnation.

As the knot in their hearts untangled on one side, Zhang Xuan was also utterly swamped on his end. An exchange between two major organizations was not so simple. Finally, at everyone's request, he delivered a lecture, which left them all excited and deeply satisfied.

After the lecture, night had fallen, and Zhang Xuan decided to stay directly at the Combat Master Hall. He called Wang Ying and Liu Yang and gave them instructions. "These are the cultivation methods for fist techniques, palm techniques, movement techniques, defense, and soul cultivation that I've summarized over the past few days. You two, memorize them and cultivate diligently. When you have spare time, pass them on!"

In the preceding days, he had not only dedicated himself to study but also organized the texts he had read into a comprehensive set of cultivation methods suitable for ordinary people. Since Wang Ying and Liu Yang were present, he decided to impart these directly.

"Yes, sir!" Wang Ying and the others nodded. They opened the books, quickly memorized their contents, and then clapped their hands, thoroughly destroying them. Once these secret manuals were leaked, they would undoubtedly be coveted by others. By memorizing them and cultivating discreetly, with the Master Teacher Hall and Combat Master Hall offering protection, they would be much safer.

"If there's anything you don't understand, ask now!" Seeing that they had memorized the content, Zhang Xuan looked at them. Wang Ying and Liu Yang quickly began to ask questions. An hour later, the two had completely grasped the content.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Zhang Xuan was about to send them back to their residences when he saw Sun Qiang hurrying towards him. "Young Master, President Ruan of the Spirit Awakener Guild wishes to see you!"

"President Ruan? What is she doing here?" Zhang Xuan frowned. Could it be that the guild had disobeyed and secretly fled again...? That shouldn't be right; they had already signed a contract. It couldn't be that, could it?

"Let her in," Zhang Xuan said. Although he didn't understand her purpose, Zhang Xuan still waved her in. Sun Qiang withdrew, and soon, President Ruan entered, accompanied by a middle-aged woman. The woman appeared to be in her thirties, dressed simply, yet she carried a noble aura that commanded respect. Even before she fully approached, she exuded an intense pressure.

"What formidable strength... She has likely already surpassed Hall Master Xing!" Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted. Even without using his Eye of Insight, he could discern that her strength was extraordinary, considerably surpassing that of Hall Master Xing, who had just achieved a breakthrough. This meant the woman before him had at least reached Saint 5-dan, the Out-of-Body realm! When had the Spirit Awakener Guild produced someone so powerful?

"Teacher Sun... Oh no, greetings, Teacher Zhang!" As Zhang Xuan pondered, President Ruan had already approached him, speaking with a wry smile. When Zhang Xuan had been invited to the Combat Master Hall, she had been present and knew the situation very well. She just hadn't expected that such a talented "Spirit Awakener" was actually a dean from Hongyuan, a first-tier empire.

"President Ruan, there's no need to be so polite," Zhang Xuan said after exchanging pleasantries. "What brings you here so late?"

"To be honest, I reported the matter of Teacher Zhang and the Spirit Awakener Guild to our headquarters, and they took it very seriously..." President Ruan introduced, "This is Elder Wei, specially dispatched by our headquarters!"

"Headquarters? The Spirit Awakener Headquarters?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.