Chapter 1198: He is called Zhang Xuan

Appraiser Guild.

“How are you feeling? My medicine worked quite well, didn’t it!”

In the main hall, Elder Qi smiled, looking at the young man before him.

Upon seeing his handsome reflection fully restored in the mirror, the young man finally let out a breath of relief. He cupped his fists and bowed, “Thank you, Elder Qi, for your miraculous elixir. Without it, I don’t know how long it would have taken to recover...”

“You’re welcome. A physician’s heart is like a parent’s; this is simply what I ought to do.”

Elder Qi nodded.

“Jiuxiao, when you appraise items in the future, do what you can. If you can’t, don’t push yourself. Otherwise, not only will you be disgraced, but your very identity as an appraiser could be ruined.”

President Mu, standing nearby, shook his head.

The young man was, of course, Zhang Jiuxiao.

Last night, after Zhang Xuan used poison to remove the durian from his head, the toxins weren’t fully eradicated. His face remained swollen, making him unable to appear in public, so he had no choice but to remain there.

By morning, with no improvement, they had to invite Elder Qi, the venerable president of the Physician Guild, to come over.

Though Elder Qi’s adversaries were powerful, no one would likely dare to harm him during the day at the Appraiser Guild, especially with the Master Teacher Guild nearby.

“Understood!”

Zhang Jiuxiao nodded.

Last night, relying on his status as a descendant of a prominent family and his extensive knowledge, he had intended to make a grand impression and earn everyone’s admiration. The result, however, was a humiliating defeat, utterly devastating.

Just thinking about it made his heart ache.

His handsome appearance, in particular, had been rendered unrecognizable. Fortunately, he was inside the Appraiser Guild and wasn’t spotted by his admirers, or he would have been too ashamed to show his face.

Of course, the most critical point was that an appraiser could only make three mistakes in their lifetime. While breaking a seal wasn’t technically appraising, it still occurred within the guild. If news of it spread, it would undoubtedly become a lifelong blemish on his record.

“It’s all Zhang Xuan’s fault... he clearly knew how to break the seal, yet he deliberately held back...”

Every time he recalled that fellow’s innocent smile, Zhang Jiuxiao’s anger flared.

Challenging the Mind-Refining Bridge had already caused him to lose face once. He had hoped this time he could redeem himself and hold his head high, but he never dreamed he would be humiliated even more severely.

“He must have done it on purpose...”

He appeared honest and unassuming, as if he knew nothing, but in reality, he deliberately made him look foolish.

“Elder Qi, you mentioned that the condition on my face is due to a poison?”

Regardless, as a Seven-Star Master Teacher with a formidable mindset, he suppressed his vexation and showed no outward sign of his true feelings.

“It’s a very potent poison, estimated to be at the Seven-Star level. Had I not been poisoned myself years ago and dedicated myself daily to researching detoxification methods, I likely wouldn’t have been able to resolve it!” Elder Qi explained.

After being severely poisoned back then, he had fallen into despair and fled to Jingyuan City. While it appeared to be an act of desperation, he had, in fact, prepared for such a possibility.

He had long heard rumors of a Poison Hall in Jingyuan City, which was why he went there to try his luck.

He spent twenty years there, and although he couldn’t completely eradicate the potent toxins from his body, he managed to suppress them, preventing their widespread diffusion.

It was precisely for this reason that he had survived to this day.

Long-term illness makes one a doctor. Though not a Poison Master, having been afflicted by severe poison for so long had given him extensive knowledge of toxins. He could now easily resolve poisons that weren’t exceptionally potent.

“Master Zhang gave me something to eat, and it turned out to be a poison... Could he be a Poison Master as well?”

Zhang Jiuxiao couldn’t help but blurt out.

Poison prescriptions are highly confidential, typically known only to Poison Masters. For him to write one so casually, could he truly be a Poison Master?

“I’m not familiar with the Master Zhang you’re referring to...” Hearing this, Elder Qi looked at him intently.

“Oh, he’s a Six-Star Master Teacher from the Hongyuan Empire, named Zhang Xuan,” President Mu explained.

“Ah, him! He’s my lifesaver! His medical skills surpass mine by an immeasurable degree... Most importantly, he possesses a benevolent heart and a warm, righteous spirit. How could he possibly be a Poison Master?!” Elder Qi shook his head emphatically.

“His lifesaver? And medical skills superior to Elder Qi’s?” Zhang Jiuxiao was taken aback.

He accepted that the fellow’s state of mind was superior to his.

He also accepted that his appraising abilities were greater.

And now, even his medical skills are superior... Is *he* the Seven-Star Master Teacher, or is it the other person?

Does he have to be so utterly disheartening?

“Fortunately, my Master Teacher rank is higher than his. In that aspect, I’m significantly stronger, otherwise I truly might have been outmatched...”

He secretly let out a breath of relief. Just as he was about to speak, a voice like rolling thunder suddenly boomed.

“I, Zhang Xuan, as a Six-Star Master Teacher, apply to the headquarters to challenge the Master Teacher Hall of the Qingyuan Empire, to the death... or until I succeed!”

“What?! Challenging the Hall?”

Zhang Jiuxiao’s body swayed, and he stumbled to the ground.

Challenging the Hall means a solitary individual taking on an entire Master Teacher Hall.

Whether due to a conflict or a perceived wrongdoing, a Master Teacher who has committed an error—provided it’s not treason against humanity—can avoid conviction and further investigation by headquarters if they successfully overcome the various restrictions and trials of the Master Teacher Hall.

He had just reassured himself that he still surpassed the other party in terms of Master Teacher rank and wouldn’t be disheartened, only for the news to hit... the other party was going to challenge the Master Teacher Hall alone...

Could that be true?

He quickly rushed out of the room and immediately saw a Master Teacher emblem soar skyward, hovering in mid-air.

From within the Master Teacher Hall’s Conferred Master Chamber, a pure aura surged heavenward, engulfing the emblem and slowly forming two large characters: “Approved!”

“The headquarters... approved it? A Six-Star Master Teacher challenging a Seven-Star branch... This is surely unprecedented!”

“More than just unprecedented; if he truly succeeds... the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Hall will lose all credibility and be unable to hold its head high again. Hall Master Gou, too, will become the laughingstock of all Master Teachers...”

President Mu and Elder Qi were dumbfounded.

“Teacher, Elder Qi, as a member of the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Hall, I must return to confront this challenge... Farewell!”

Zhang Jiuxiao cupped his fists and swiftly flew off in the direction of the Master Teacher Hall.

A Hall Challenge is akin to someone crashing a stronghold. As a Master Teacher belonging to it, he was obligated to go and defend it!

“Zhang Xuan, regardless of your talent, if you wish to challenge the Hall... you’ll have to get past me, Zhang Jiuxiao, first!”

His fists clenched, and Zhang Jiuxiao’s eyes narrowed into slits.

After being humiliated twice in a row, since things had come to this... he would openly return the favor!

Qingyuan Imperial Palace.

A middle-aged man, his face resembling a pig’s head, lay on the ground, gasping heavily.

Prince Zhongqing.

After being continuously beaten all night, although the poison in his body was temporarily suppressed, he was almost on the verge of collapsing. Had it not been for his refined cultivation, immense strength, and countless elixirs sustaining him, he would have perished long ago.

Due to the incessant beating, more than twenty guards had been rotated, each leaving with swollen palms and utter exhaustion.

“Your Highness, how are you feeling now?”

Steward Qin approached.

“I’m fine now... Oh, by the way, execute all twenty of those guards who beat me! I don’t want outsiders to know about my affairs!” Prince Zhongqing snarled, his eyes narrowed.

“Rest assured, Your Highness, I’ve already taken care of it...” Steward Qin quickly replied.

“Hmph!”

Struggling to sit upright on the ground, he meditated for a good while, feeling somewhat recovered. He then looked up again and asked, “Is there any news from Vice Hall Master Tian?”

“I’ve already conveyed the news of the Vice Hall Master’s imprisonment to Hall Master Gou, just as you instructed...”

At this point, Steward Qin hesitated, “Will Hall Master Gou truly rescue Vice Hall Master Tian? The charge of framing... a Master Teacher, I’ve heard, carries a severe penalty!”

“Don’t worry, he’ll certainly rescue him!”

Prince Zhongqing sneered, “As long as Vice Hall Master Tian is unharmed, I’ll be safe. We might even be able to launch a desperate counterattack! I’ll make sure Wu Rufeng and this Zhang Xuan regret this bitterly!”

“That’s good...” Steward Qin sighed in relief, though still somewhat perplexed. “Your Highness, what exactly is the background of this Zhang Xuan? A mere Six-Star Master Teacher, yet he not only left you in such a state, but even Vice Hall Master Tian has fallen?”

“No matter his background, offending Vice Hall Master Tian means he’s a dead man... Rest assured, he won’t be jumping around for much longer. He’ll likely be apprehended by the Master Teacher Hall today or tomorrow and die in prison...”

Prince Zhongqing waved his hand dismissively.

Before his words even finished, Zhang Xuan’s clear voice rang out, so powerful it caused the entire world to tremble.

“I, Zhang Xuan, as a Six-Star Master Teacher, apply to the headquarters to challenge the Master Teacher Hall of the Qingyuan Empire, to the death... or until I succeed!”

“Challenging the Hall? Haha, a Six-Star Master Teacher wanting to challenge the Hall? Isn’t that a death wish? Even an Eight-Star low-grade Master Teacher wouldn’t dare challenge the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Hall’s foundation... A Six-Star actually dares to try? Truly ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth...”

He paused for a moment, then Prince Zhongqing burst into laughter, tears nearly streaming from his eyes.

Any Master Teacher was well aware of the difficulty of a Hall Challenge; it was practically a death sentence, almost impossible for anyone to complete.

This fellow actually intends to attempt it; he’s truly seeking his own demise!

“Your Majesty!”

While still laughing heartily, he saw Emperor Chu Tianxing stride over and excitedly exclaimed, “That Zhang Xuan is going to challenge the Hall! It seems I won’t even need to intervene; he won’t live much longer...”

“I’ve heard of Hall Challenges before; they are indeed almost certain death...”

Chu Tianxing nodded, then looked over with a hint of doubt. “By the way, historically, has anyone ever succeeded in a Hall Challenge?”

“That... I’m not certain, but if we summon Master Bai, we’ll find out...”

Prince Zhongqing replied.

While the Master Teacher Hall generally didn’t meddle in imperial court affairs, powerful empires could still recruit independent Master Teachers for their own purposes.

Master Teachers formally recognized by the Hall were akin to official appointees, while scattered Master Teachers were considered private practitioners.

This Master Bai was none other than the Protector Master Teacher of the Qingyuan Empire.

Chu Tianxing nodded and dispatched someone to summon him. It wasn’t long before an elder arrived.

“Master Bai, I wish to inquire: in the history of our Qingyuan Empire, has anyone ever succeeded in a Hall Challenge?”

“Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I’ll ask a friend to look it up!”

Master Bai nodded.

As he was not currently a Master Teacher affiliated with the Master Teacher Hall, he couldn’t check directly and had to rely on a friend for the inquiry.

Shortly after, the jade tablet in his palm flickered. Master Bai glanced at it, then cupped his fists. “Reporting to Your Majesty, historically, there have indeed been successful Hall Challengers. A total of three...”

“Three?”

Upon hearing such a small number, Prince Zhongqing and Chu Tianxing simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.

From the inception of the Master Teacher profession to the present day, tens of thousands of years had passed, during which countless talented individuals had emerged, like fish in a river. With so many powerhouses, only three had succeeded, clearly demonstrating the immense difficulty.

It seemed that this Zhang Xuan would absolutely not be able to succeed.

“Who were they? Do you have their names?”

Prince Zhongqing asked.

“Yes... The first was Luo Tianyun, the second was Yuan Xi. One was the Old Ancestor of the Sage Clan Luo, and the other was the Old Ancestor of the Sage Clan Yuan...”

“And the third?”

Master Bai paused, looking at the name displayed on the jade tablet.

“He is called...”

“...Zhang Xuan!”