Chapter 1197: I, Zhang Xuan, Break Into the Hall

"Hall Master Gou, Hall Master Xing of the Combat Master Hall and I witnessed this ourselves. The facts are undeniable and irrefutable..."

Hall Master Wu's anxious voice came through.

"Undeniable facts?"

The old man's voice continued, "As a Master Teacher, you should know that what you see with your own eyes isn't always true! You need to carefully ascertain and discern before drawing conclusions... Especially when a Vice Hall Master is involved! If we rule according to your judgment, a Vice Hall Master of our Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion framed a Six-Star Master Teacher from a first-tier empire... What authority will our branch still have to speak of?"

"This..."

Hall Master Wu's voice wavered.

The Master Teacher Pavilion guards the region, and its reputation is extremely important. If it gets out that a Vice Hall Master harmed someone of a lower rank, the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion branch would lose all face and bear a lasting stigma for who knows how long.

"Hall Master Gou, I'm stating the facts. The Master Teacher Pavilion should lead by example and be pragmatic. If we deliberately cover up for the sake of reputation, what justice will there be left?"

After a pause, Hall Master Wu continued.

Dealing with Vice Hall Master Tian Qing would indeed damage the branch's prestige, but if we don't, the news, once spread, would be even more damaging. The continent's foremost profession would lose all credibility regarding justice.

"Justice? Is that what you call justice? On the contrary, what I've heard is that Vice Hall Master Tian has been wronged!"

The old man's voice continued, "Tian Qing, tell us the events of yesterday again in detail!"

"Yes!"

Vice Hall Master Tian's voice resonated in the room.

"It happened like this: King Zhongqing, responsible for the city's defense, apprehended Ming Zhen, the Vice Hall Master of the Poison Hall from Hongyuan Empire. Using the information he provided, they annihilated the Poison Hall's Jingyuan City branch... Furthermore, from this Vice Hall Master, they learned there was another very powerful poison master named Sun Qiang hiding in the city, who could potentially endanger all the humans in the city... That's why he was arrested and interrogated. And this Sun Qiang is none other than Master Teacher Zhang Xuan's butler!"

"As a Master Teacher was involved, we naturally couldn't be reckless. King Zhongqing sought me out, and I had him send someone to invite Master Teacher Zhang Xuan... Upon arriving at the palace, Zhang Xuan not only refused to cooperate but also forcibly took Sun Qiang, and even attacked King Zhongqing and me..."

"Attacked you? Vice Hall Master Tian, Master Teacher Zhang Xuan's strength is only at the peak of Saint 2-dan, while you are at Half-Step Ethereal. To say he attacked you... isn't that a bit much?"

Hall Master Wu's eyebrows shot up, clearly displeased.

He couldn't reveal that Master Teacher Zhang was a Celestial Master Teacher, but if the other party intended to slander him, he would retaliate without mercy.

"What injured me wasn't Zhang Xuan, but a cauldron in his hand! This cauldron is a mid-tier Saint artifact, and its strength is comparable to mine..."

Tian Qing said.

"I find that even harder to believe. A Master Teacher, beaten by a mid-tier Saint artifact cauldron?" Hall Master Wu shook his head.

A mid-tier Saint artifact is powerful, but without someone to control it, it can't exert its full combat strength. To say it beat up a dignified Master Teacher... who would believe such a story?

"Believe it or not, if you insist I framed Zhang Xuan, then I ask you... What reason would I have to frame him?"

Vice Hall Master Tian snorted.

"This..."

Hall Master Wu was silenced.

"I am the Vice Hall Master of the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion. In terms of status, I am countless times more revered than him! As a Seven-Star Master Teacher, my rank also far surpasses his... Why would I risk destroying my career to deliberately target an academy principal who has nothing to do with me? Even if he were killed or stripped of his Master Teacher qualifications, it would have no bearing on me!"

Vice Hall Master Tian explained.

Hall Master Wu was speechless.

Indeed, there must be a motive for a crime. From every angle, Vice Hall Master Tian had no such motive. His identity was higher than yours, his status was higher than yours, and crucially, he was richer than you... Why would he target a country bumpkin like you? It made no sense!

"Wu Rufeng, what more do you have to say?"

Hall Master Gou's voice, which had spoken earlier, continued.

"I... although I don't know why Vice Hall Master Tian attacked Master Teacher Zhang, when I received Master Teacher Zhang's distress signal and rushed there, King Zhongqing and Vice Hall Master Tian were indeed attacking him. If I had arrived a moment later, he might have been killed. This is something many Master Teachers, Combat Masters, and I witnessed firsthand, Hall Master. If you don't believe me, you can inquire..."

Hall Master Wu continued, "Furthermore, the Poison Hall Vice Hall Master that Vice Hall Master Tian just mentioned can testify that King Zhongqing and Vice Hall Master Tian deliberately framed Master Teacher Zhang by threatening the members of the Poison Hall..."

"Are you referring to the poison master named Ming Zhen?"

Hall Master Gou's voice asked.

"Yes!"

"He died last night!" Hall Master Gou scoffed coldly.

"Dead? He was in the Master Teacher Pavilion... How could he have died?" Hall Master Wu seemed to disbelieve it.

"How would I know why he died? You brought him here, and then he died in the Master Teacher Pavilion, and you claim not to know... Do you think I'll believe that?" Hall Master Gou stated.

"Hall Master, are you... suspecting me?"

Hall Master Wu's tone conveyed disbelief.

"It's not that I suspect you, but rather, it makes one wonder! You told me that Chen Zhe had committed acts against Master Teachers and needed to be apprehended for interrogation. I didn't refuse, and as a result... he also died for no apparent reason! The Master Teacher Pavilion is heavily guarded; no one can approach him except you. If not for torture, trying to force a confession, how could he possibly have died?"

"I specifically investigated that Zhang Xuan. You two have shared life-and-death experiences, and your personal relationship is very deep. It wouldn't be impossible for you to be biased towards him or ask him to provide false testimony!"

Hall Master Gou scoffed, "You've just become a Vice Hall Master, and I understand that you want to gain merit and replace Tian Qing. But... whatever you do, you need evidence, right? When things turn out this way, how can I not be suspicious?"

"I have no desire for the Vice Hall Master position, nor have I harmed Vice Hall Master Tian..."

Hall Master Wu exclaimed anxiously, feeling his scalp tingle. He hadn't expected Hall Master Gou to suspect him of intentionally framing Tian Qing to take his place.

"Alright, I don't want to discuss this matter further. I don't care how you argue or scheme... just don't do anything that damages the branch's reputation!"

Hall Master Gou interrupted him, "I have been Hall Master for over five hundred years. Under my leadership, our Master Teacher Pavilion, though it hasn't flourished, also hasn't incurred any blemishes. I'm about to retire and don't want to be criticized, have headquarters come for an inspection, and become a laughingstock for other empire's Master Teacher Pavilions!"

"Hall Master, I truly am not trying to seize power... Although Master Teacher Zhang and I have shared life-and-death experiences, he doesn't take orders from me..."

Hall Master Wu hastily explained, shocked that Hall Master Gou, who usually paid no attention to worldly affairs, had immediately accused him so heavily upon his appearance.

"Enough! I've already told you, I don't want to deal with your messy affairs, but I don't want internal conflict within our Master Teacher Pavilion, making outsiders laugh at us!" Hall Master Gou's voice turned cold. "Did you not understand what I meant?"

"I... Yes!" Hall Master Wu clenched his teeth.

"Good, as long as you understand. So, send someone to bring that Zhang Xuan here and have him explain things clearly. If he's cooperative, fine. If not, simply by acting insubordinately and attacking a Seven-Star Master Teacher, he'll be ruined for life..."

Hall Master Gou gave his instructions. Before his voice faded, a faint voice spoke, and then the door pushed open as a young man slowly walked in.

"No need to send anyone, I'm already here..."

It was Zhang Xuan.

He had originally only intended to come for the Seven-Star Master Teacher examination, but upon hearing this, he was furious, almost to the point of exploding. He had thought Hall Master Gou was merely muddled, which was why he had entrusted important responsibilities to a petty person like Tian Qing. He hadn't expected him to be a dim-witted individual only concerned with a smooth transition.

"Master Teacher Zhang..."

Hall Master Wu jumped in surprise, his face filled with urgency. From the preceding conversation, he could tell that the Hall Master was clearly displeased with Zhang Xuan. If he appeared now and provoked anger, there would be no room for recovery.

"Hall Master, this is Zhang Xuan, the one who framed me, the principal of Hongyuan Empire's Master Teacher Academy!"

Tian Qing's eyes flashed, and he quickly spoke.

"You are Zhang Xuan?"

Hall Master Gou's eyes narrowed. "Seven-Star Master Teachers are discussing matters, and a mere Six-Star like you dares to eavesdrop outside... How audacious!"

"My apologies... My audacity isn't quite as great as yours!"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"What did you say?!"

Hall Master Gou slammed the table, his aura surging like a dragon, filled with fury.

He was the Hall Master of the Master Teacher Pavilion, a super powerful figure guarding a region. For a mere academy principal to dare speak to him like this was utterly disrespectful and lawless.

"Do you not know what I just said in your own mind?"

Facing the other party's rage, Zhang Xuan showed no concern. Instead, he looked over with a calm expression: "You've been acquainted with Hall Master Wu for so many years; I don't believe you don't know his temperament and character... This Vice Hall Master Tian framed me using a poison master and even targeted me, my students, and my butler... Such despicable acts, and instead of investigating, you're here blaming Hall Master Wu. Are you blind, or is there something wrong with your mind? How could the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion have such a foolish Hall Master as you?"

"Master Teacher Zhang..."

Hall Master Wu was terrified, almost frantic, unexpectedly seeing the usually mild-mannered Master Teacher Zhang confront Hall Master Gou so directly and speak such words. The Hall Master already had issues with him; now, it seemed there was truly no room for recovery.

"What incredible gall! A mere Six-Star Master Teacher, disregarding rules and insulting a peak Seven-Star Master Teacher, has already violated etiquette! Hall Master, I will now bring him to justice and cripple his cultivation..."

With a loud shout, Tian Qing didn't wait for the Hall Master to speak. He clawed with his hand and slapped at Zhang Xuan through the air.

"How dare you..."

Hall Master Wu's expression changed, and he quickly stepped forward, intending to block the attack.

"No need..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head, raised his palm, and gently slapped. Before Vice Hall Master Tian could react, he was sent flying backward by the strike, crashing into the wall and creating a large crater.

As if swatting away an ant, Zhang Xuan walked forward step by step, his gaze like lightning, his voice growing louder and louder, echoing throughout the entire Qingyuan Imperial City.

"From Tianxuan Kingdom, I've come step by step, dominating everywhere. When has anyone ever dared to frame me or speak to me like this!"

"I, Zhang Xuan, as a Six-Star Master Teacher, hereby apply to headquarters..."

"To challenge the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion!"

"Until death... or victory!"