Chapter 1175: Zhang Jiuxiao

Everything went dark, and Zhang Xuan nearly fell to the ground. He had thought she was truly conflicted, hesitant, and at a loss, never dreaming she had set a trap for him here. He was always the one laying traps for others; he never imagined… he’d be tricked by a young girl.

She had first asked many profound questions, and he had explained the importance of following one’s heart… Was *this* how she chose to follow hers?

“I like you too, and I like everyone in the Xuanxuan Society,” he said. “As a teacher, how could I teach properly if I didn’t like you all?”

With a face full of embarrassment, Zhang Xuan waved his hand dismissively. Being confessed to by a student… it was utterly humiliating.

“Teacher, you know what I mean. My ‘like’ isn’t that kind of like…” Luo Qiqi looked up.

“Go to the Combat Master Hall. I have things to do!” With that, he ignored her, turned, and flew toward the Master Teacher Pavilion.

Luo Qiqi giggled. Her teacher had always been composed; this was the first time she had seen him flee in such a panicked rush.

“Anyway, you said to follow your heart,” she thought. “Though I call you teacher, I haven’t truly become your disciple… As long as I’m not a direct disciple, it doesn’t matter!” Luo Qiqi raised her delicate brows, a smile playing on her lips. Before, she had always suppressed her feelings, believing the etiquette between teacher and student was unbreachable. Now, after her teacher’s “guidance,” she felt enlightened, and her smiles were more frequent than before.

She called Zhang Xuan “teacher,” but she hadn’t formally apprenticed under him. She was merely a student he had tutored in auxiliary occupations, not a “true” disciple in the strict sense. Since that was the case, liking him wouldn’t violate any rules!

“Phew… that was close!”

After flying for a while, Zhang Xuan stopped, beads of cold sweat on his forehead. Although he sometimes acted without scruples, students were still students. This was not something to trifle with; otherwise, he wouldn't be worthy of being a Master Teacher and a role model for others.

“Are kids these days all so bold?” He shook his head. When he confessed to Luo Ruoxi, it had taken him a great deal of effort and inner struggle for who knows how long before he could even utter the words. This girl, just a simple “I like you…” Oh my goodness, luckily he ran fast! Otherwise, wouldn't she have said even more embarrassing things?

“The world is degenerating, indeed degenerating…” Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan felt a wave of depression. He had always been scrupulous in his conduct, never getting overly entangled with women, yet he never expected to encounter such an awkward situation. Just thinking about it gave him a headache. How was he going to face Luo Qiqi in the future?

“Forget it, I won’t think about it anymore. I’ll go to the Master Teacher Pavilion first…”

His mind returning to a state of calm, like still water, Zhang Xuan was about to head to the Master Teacher Pavilion when he saw a beautiful figure swiftly approaching.

“Teacher Zhang!”

“Yu Fei’er? Didn’t you go back?” Zhang Xuan was startled.

It was Yu Fei’er, who had just left. At some point, the girl had changed into a fiery red, very form-fitting dress that perfectly accentuated her graceful figure. It had to be said, this fiery princess indeed had an excellent figure. Although she couldn't compare to Hu Yaoyao, her curves were very prominent, her figure shapely, and her legs straight and slender. She was definitely a rare beauty, one in ten thousand. Especially her chest; he didn’t know if it was deliberately enhanced or if he hadn’t noticed before, but under the compression of the tight dress, it was exceptionally full, forming a stunning curve.

“Teacher Zhang, I also have something to tell you…” Yu Fei’er gritted her teeth.

“Ahem, I have things to do. Another day, another day!” Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

“No!” Yu Fei’er huffed. “You can listen to Qiqi, why can’t you listen to me?”

“Uh…” Zhang Xuan’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. Even with his low emotional intelligence, seeing her deliberately change clothes and express herself so obviously, he could still guess what was happening.

“I only have one thing to tell you, Teacher Zhang,” Yu Fei’er said. “Wherever you go, I am willing to follow you, always…” She had always been fiery and decisive in her actions, but being able to say this was already her greatest effort.

“So that’s how it is!” Hearing this, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Alright then, become my disciple! Become my student, and I will always take you with me. Or… you could be my maid; then you could always follow me!”

“You…” Yu Fei’er gritted her teeth.

“Huh? You don’t want to become a disciple?” he quickly added. “Then we’ll have to discuss this later. I have things to do…”

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Xuan's Heaven's Path Movement Art was instantly employed to its limit, and he vanished from sight.

“Hmph!” Seeing him leave, Yu Fei’er’s clenched fists finally relaxed. She looked down briefly and smiled slightly. “I’d like to see who you’ll choose,” she murmured, “between me and Qiqi!”

“What kind of situation is this…”

After escaping to an empty alley, Zhang Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought it was just one awkward situation, but it turned out to be two. Being confessed to consecutively, the pressure was simply too immense. If his state of mind hadn’t recently surged, he probably would have lost his composure and thrown himself into a river out of despair.

“It seems I must find Ruoxi as soon as possible,” he thought, “and make it clear that I already have a girlfriend so they’ll give up hope. Otherwise, continuing like this is too passive!” Zhang Xuan shook his head. Being too outstanding brought such troubles. What a headache!

It seemed he needed to find Luo Ruoxi and declare that he was already taken. Otherwise, how could this continue? He definitely didn’t want to be confessed to repeatedly. He could still handle two in a row, but if there were a dozen or more, he wouldn’t even have time to cultivate.

“Next time, when I see a woman, I must take her as a disciple in advance,” he pondered, stroking his chin. “Absolutely cannot give her any fantasies…” If that didn't work, when he saw a beautiful girl, he would immediately take her as a disciple. Otherwise, having them obsess over him would be quite troublesome.

As he lamented, he continued forward, and soon he finally arrived at the Master Teacher Pavilion.

The Master Teacher Pavilion of the Qingyuan Empire was even more magnificent than the Combat Master Hall. Its towering buildings represented the status and dignity of the foremost profession. Even before arriving, he saw many Master Teachers entering and exiting, and countless cultivators coming to seek mentorship.

Finding an empty alley, he changed into his Master Teacher robe and put on his Master Teacher badge. Only then did Zhang Xuan stride inside. Seeing the six stars on his chest, no one blocked him, and everyone greeted him with utmost respect. A 6-star Master Teacher was not considered exceptionally powerful in the eyes of the most elite figures in the Qingyuan Empire, but among ordinary people, they were highly revered. Especially a 6-star Master Teacher so young; as long as he didn’t perish, becoming a 7-star was absolutely certain.

“Teacher Zhang, could you sign an autograph for me? Just sign it on my underwear…”

“I was first! Sign it on mine…”

“Get lost! Teacher Zhang is mine…”

Just as he stepped through the Master Teacher Pavilion’s main entrance, he saw a swarm of women charging towards him.

“I…” Zhang Xuan’s expression changed. He had seen fans before, but never rushing over so openly and asking for autographs on their underwear!

“Everyone, I can understand your excitement,” he said, raising his hand, “but… I am an upright person, and I have a girlfriend, so I don’t just give out autographs casually! Furthermore, when looking at a Master Teacher, I hope you care more about character than just appearance…”

His palm raised, waving repeatedly, Zhang Xuan spoke with righteous indignation. However, before he could finish, he saw the group of women rush past him, surging forward in unison.

“Crazy!” A woman came up to him, snorted with disdain, then, shaking her fleshy face and ample rear, she charged forward, shouting as she went, “Teacher Zhang… wait for me!”

Following the direction she rushed in, Zhang Xuan looked over and immediately saw a young man in white standing not far away. Seven stars shone on his chest as he looked apologetically at the crowd. “Everyone,” he said, “I have matters to attend to today. I’ll sign for you another day!”

“We want it now…” The swarm of women clamored.

“Alright, alright…” With a wry smile, the young man in white showed extreme composure. With a wave of his hand in the air, his strokes flowing gracefully, a name appeared.

“Writing in the void? This is… a 7-star Calligrapher-Painter?” Zhang Xuan’s eyebrow twitched.

Calligrapher-Painters were divided into many realms: Recording Reality, Spiritual Agility, Intentional Existence, Startling Grace, Spirit Transformation, Spiritual Wisdom, and Transcendent Spiritual Wisdom. Comprehending Transcendent Spiritual Wisdom meant one was a 6-star Calligrapher-Painter. For the first six stars, paper was required as a medium to paint or write characters. But upon reaching 7-star, one could write in the void, leaving traces without needing paper!

The young man in white before him, writing characters in the void with his brush, immediately made it clear that his comprehension of calligraphy and painting had reached the seventh realm—the level of a 7-star Calligrapher-Painter.

“Zhang Jiuxiao…” Seeing the name clearly, Zhang Xuan’s mouth twitched. So this young man was called Zhang Jiuxiao; no wonder they called him Teacher Zhang… He had thought it was him. That’s right; there were many people named Zhang in the world, and he wasn't the only Teacher Zhang. It’s just… his name was “Xuan” (hanging), like a grasshopper dangling a few feet off the ground, while the other's name, Jiuxiao (nine heavens), was like a great roc soaring through the sky… The connotations were worlds apart.

As he was musing, the three characters “Zhang Jiuxiao,” written in the air, floated, carrying a special charm and aura that made people linger and involuntarily become immersed with just one glance. This was precisely the unique ability of 7-realm calligraphy and painting.

“Alright, I’ll only write once today,” Zhang Jiuxiao said. “You can decide among yourselves who gets it. I have other matters, so I’ll take my leave first…”

After writing his name, Zhang Jiuxiao smiled with an elegant demeanor and turned to leave.

“He’s really too handsome…” The many women requesting autographs were utterly infatuated.

“As expected of Teacher Zhang, every time he returns, he attracts countless women,” one woman said. “When we follow, it’s like we don’t even exist!”

“Indeed,” another added, “the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion’s self-proclaimed top genius, unseen in 500 years… Plus, he’s so cultured and reasonable, how can anyone compare?”

“Indeed, there’s no comparison…” Behind Zhang Xuan, several Master Teachers walked past with wry smiles.

“Qingyuan City Master Teacher Pavilion’s top genius?” Zhang Xuan nodded. Reaching the 7-star level at such a young age and also being a Calligrapher-Painter was so dazzling; no wonder he could make countless women go crazy.

“Indeed, there are geniuses everywhere…” Zhang Xuan thought. “Although I am not weak, I must not become complacent!” Zhang Xuan secretly remained vigilant. Geniuses were everywhere. Even if he progressed quickly, he couldn’t afford to be arrogant.

As he was being vigilant, he saw the woman with the ample rear from before approach again. She cast a disdainful glance at him and snapped, “What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen a beautiful woman before?!”

Zhang Xuan was speechless.