Chapter 1215: Battle Master's Hall Exchange Begins

Before Master Kong disappeared, he left behind six legendary Heaven Incantations. One was used to guard the Master Teacher Pavilion, but no one knew the whereabouts of the remaining five.

Legend had it that if all six were gathered, the Kong Temple could be opened, allowing access to the peerless secret manual he had left behind—the Spring and Autumn Canon!

For this reason, countless individuals had searched for tens of thousands of years, yet no trace of them had ever been found.

Or perhaps, someone had already acquired them, but no one dared to publicize it.

After all, anything related to Master Kong could drive even a Master Teacher to the brink of madness.

It was Emperor Qingtian who learned about these legendary Heaven Incantations from the Ruthless One. He spared no expense, orchestrating various schemes to find them.

"According to his memories, Qiuwu Palace should contain the key to finding the legendary Heaven Incantations, but... it seems there's nothing there..."

Through soul-searching, he learned that the other party's extensive efforts to find Qiuwu Palace were not without purpose. Various clues indicated that not only Master Kong's will remained there, but also the key to locating the Heaven Incantations.

If found, it could lead to the discovery of the Heaven Incantations, and even reveal the precise location of the Kong Temple.

The Kong Temple was personally established by Master Kong and concealed within the void, its exact location unknown to anyone.

"Perhaps... the legends are all false..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He was unfamiliar with other places, but he had already entered Qiuwu Palace twice and hadn't discovered any key!

There wasn't even anything remotely connected to it.

It seemed the information might not be accurate.

Of course, the key was merely a secondary means. Over two thousand years ago, it was said that a calligrapher and painter once witnessed a legendary Heaven Incantation, which cast Master Kong's shadow in the air.

Upon learning of this, Emperor Qingtian apprehended the calligrapher and painter for interrogation, but unfortunately, gained no information.

Three years ago, he accidentally discovered ruins left by the artist and found an eighth-realm painting there. He suspected it was related to the incantations, but unfortunately, it was sealed, making it impossible to decipher anything from it.

After extensive research, unable to find a method, he had no choice but to seek out President Mu of the Appraiser Guild for a collective effort.

Zhang Xuan knew everything that transpired afterward.

"Could it be... that the place I saw in the painting is where the legendary Heaven Incantations are located?"

Frowning, Zhang Xuan mused.

Even if the information about Qiuwu Palace was incorrect, he had personally witnessed Master Kong's illusory figure in that painting, so that part should be accurate.

"I'll go back and thoroughly investigate the location of that mountain range, then... go search for it..."

He mused inwardly.

Having finished reviewing all this information, Zhang Xuan also saw the list of spies within the Master Teacher Pavilion.

There were over a hundred names, spread across the entire Qingyuan Empire.

The Otherworldly Demonic Tribe members had exceptionally long lifespans, far surpassing the thousand years of Saint Realm experts, making it relatively easy for them to infiltrate and set up operations.

Even Master Teachers, despite their firm willpower and strong faith, often couldn't resist the corrosive allure of 'sugar-coated bullets,' eventually becoming puppets controlled by the enemy.

After copying all the names and transmitting them via a communication jade token, Zhang Xuan finally let out a sigh of relief.

With this information, Master Wu would be spared much trouble, and could even proceed with direct arrests.

"Ruthless One, I'm entrusting this to you..."

Having learned all he wanted to know, Zhang Xuan saw no need to prolong it. With a slight flick, he transferred Emperor Qingtian's warlock soul to the Ruthless One.

Having lived in human territory for two millennia, this Otherworldly Demon had undoubtedly caused the demise of countless Master Teachers. Simply devouring his warlock soul was letting him off easy.

"Thank you, master..."

The Ruthless One was filled with excitement.

Standing up, Zhang Xuan stretched, just as he was wondering how to earn high-grade spirit stones. Suddenly, his lips twitched as he recalled something.

"I promised Hall Master Xing I'd help him train the combat masters. The people from the other three Combat Master Halls are supposed to come for a challenge in three days..."

After training the combat masters and finalizing their training plan, he had come to the Master Teacher Pavilion, and as it turned out, he had been delayed for four days...

By his calculations, the combat masters from the other empires must have already arrived, and perhaps the exchange competition had even begun!

"I should go back and check..."

After leaving the Thousand Ant Hive, he realized it was already past noon on the fourth day.

Hall Master Xing had mentioned that if the training yielded good results, he would give him half the reward... He wondered what the outcome was.

He hadn't gone to check, so he had no idea if those fellows had seriously followed the training plan. If they lost, he would lose fifty high-grade spirit stones...

The thought alone made his heart ache!

Feeling anxious, he flew directly towards the Combat Master Hall.

At the Combat Master Hall, inside the Training Hall.

Countless combat masters were gathered around, watching the elevated platforms in the center.

On the grandstand at the front of the crowd, four elders were seated, one of whom was Hall Master Xing.

"Hall Master Xing, I heard that your combat masters have all joined something called the Xuanxuan Society? That's a first-tier empire organization, isn't it?"

The exchange competition hadn't even begun, but the three elders simultaneously turned to Hall Master Xing, their brows furrowed in unison.

They had arrived yesterday and were astounded to hear that the majority of the Master Teachers, who were supposed to be the most formidable combat force, had joined a first-tier empire's Master Teacher organization... Everyone was bewildered.

While the Qingyuan Empire Combat Master Hall had always been at the bottom and considered quite decadent, they couldn't possibly have fallen to such a state!

To stoop to the level of ordinary Master Teachers...

It completely disgraced the combat masters.

"Indeed!"

Hall Master Xing nodded.

With tens of thousands of Xuanxuan Society members residing in the Combat Master Hall, concealing the truth was impossible.

"It's not that I'm lecturing you, but for combat masters... to actually join a first-tier empire's organization? What were you thinking? Have you forgotten the dignity and identity of a combat master?"

An elder with a goatee beside him scoffed, his aura imposing.

This was Zhao Yi, Hall Master of the Chongyuan Empire Combat Master Hall.

"It's not what you're imagining. While the Xuanxuan Society is merely a student organization from a first-tier empire, their understanding of combat is far more profound than ours in the Combat Master Hall. Master Kong once said, 'Seek knowledge from the best, regardless of their origin or perceived strength...'"

"Enough, there's no point telling us this. The number of slots for the Sword Pond of the Qianchong Conferred Empire is limited, so naturally, we hope you're as weak as possible!"

The first elder interrupted him.

This was Liu Qinshan, Hall Master of the Haohai Empire Combat Master Hall.

"The Qingyuan Empire Combat Master Hall can choose to be decadent if it wishes, but don't provoke headquarters to such an extent that they dissolve you... At that point, as Hall Master, you would have shamed your ancestors!"

The third elder also shook his head.

This was Wei Qianshu of the Qianyun Empire.

Among the Eight Conferred Empires, the four relatively weaker ones were Chongyuan, Qianyun, Haohai, and Qingyuan!

Originally, Qingyuan ranked third, but unfortunately, due to the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe's catastrophe twenty years ago, it suffered immense losses and had yet to recover its strength. Both its national power and the capabilities of its Master Teacher Pavilion and Combat Master Hall now ranked last.

"Thank you for your concern, esteemed sirs. While our Qingyuan branch has not fully recovered, it has made significant progress and is no longer as it once was..."

Noticing the clear disdain in the three Hall Masters' words, Hall Master Xing frowned. Just as he was about to explain, a burst of cheers erupted behind him, signaling that the contestants had entered the arena.

"It certainly is different..."

Hall Master Zhao Yi sneered.

"Hall Master Xing, is this your beggar army? Are you truly expecting them to fight against the elites of our three Master Teacher Pavilions?" Wei Qianshu was also taken aback, his brows furrowing.

"A beggar army?"

Hall Master Xing looked forward in confusion, his lips twitching at the sight.

He saw Shi Hao still wearing his toilet-cleaning uniform and holding a feather duster. Jiao Tan held a fly swatter, Xiao Qin carried a birdcage, and Dong Rui had bumps all over his head...

They looked exactly like a group of starving, homeless beggars.

"Hall Master Liao, what... what's happening here?"

He quickly turned his head.

"Hall Master, Master Zhang left too many training tasks... They haven't completed them, but the competition is starting, so they had no choice but to go directly onto the stage..." Hall Master Liao quickly explained.

Master Zhang's training plan was extensive, making it impossible to complete in three days. Those individuals seemed to have been possessed or brainwashed; once they started training, they couldn't stop... Seeing the combat masters participating in the exchange competition in such a state was truly disheartening.

After hearing the explanation, Hall Master Xing's face fell.

If he had known they would look like this, he wouldn't have asked Master Zhang for training. Now, not only would the Combat Master Hall be disgraced, but they might also become the subject of ridicule for years to come.

Scrubbing toilets, swatting flies, catching birds, leaping from trees... What exactly did Master Zhang intend with these training methods? Were they truly reliable?

As he stood there, bewildered, a loud shout came from the front. A combat master from the Chongyuan Conferred Empire had already leaped onto the sparring platform, his gaze sharp and piercing.

"Challenging the Qingyuan Empire right at the beginning... They intend to assert their dominance..."

Hall Master Xing clenched his fist.

Originally, the rules of the exchange competition dictated a specific order for confrontations between the various empires. This individual, challenging the Qingyuan Empire immediately upon stepping onto the stage, clearly aimed to intimidate them.

And as the hosts, they had no choice but to accept the challenge.

"That would be me..." Jiao Tan leaped onto the elevated platform.

Jiao Tan, a prodigy from the Martial Skills Hall, had already reached the mid-stage of Saint Realm 2-dan. This level of competition was perfectly suited for him.

"You?"

Seeing him in a work uniform, still holding a fly swatter, Ling Xuan sneered, "Very well, let's begin! Allow me to witness the renowned techniques of the Qingyuan Empire's combat masters!"

Whoosh!

As he spoke, a powerful aura emanated from him, and his palms swirled as if concealing a thunderous force.

"That's the Chongyuan Empire's famous Rushing Thunder Palm, isn't it?"

"They say when that move is executed, it's like a surging thunderclap—extremely fast, virtually impossible for anyone at the same cultivation level to withstand!"

"Indeed, it's incredibly difficult to master; countless geniuses have been stumped by it. For Ling Xuan to have achieved it, striking with the force of wind and thunder and possessing immense power, he must have... already reached the Grand Completion realm!"

"More than just Grand Completion, I heard he's already reached Consummate Mastery! This Ling Xuan is the most gifted individual in the Chongyuan Empire Combat Master Hall's Martial Skills Hall. His comprehension of martial arts has broken records; he cultivated thirty-four different martial techniques before the age of thirty!"

"That powerful..."

Whispers spread throughout the audience.

Ignoring the chatter of the crowd, Jiao Tan stepped forward, still clutching his fly swatter.