Chapter 1219: Spirit Element Pill

"Zhang Xuan?"

Hall Master Zhao Yi silently repeated the name, nodding inwardly. Since the Young Master of the Combat Master Hall held his teacher in such high regard, Zhao Yi resolved that if he ever met him, he must be respectful and polite, never overstepping his bounds.

As he was thinking this, a figure flew from a distance, landing directly nearby. The person stood with hands behind their back, gazing at the Young Master's illusory image in the sky, their eyes filled with a complex expression.

"Hall Master Xing, is this one of your people? The Combat Master Assembly Order was given; being late is one thing... but during the Young Master's address, not only does he not kneel, he shows no respect in his eyes at all. Is this the quality of combat masters in your hall?" Hall Master Zhao Yi's eyes narrowed, his anger flaring. The Young Master had just finished instructing everyone in the Combat Master Hall to respect his teacher, and then this brazen individual appeared. Did he have a death wish, or was something wrong with his brain?

"Oh, he's not a combat master from our hall. He's the president of the Xuanxuan Society I mentioned to you earlier, and the head of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, Zhang— Hall Master Zhao, what are you doing?" Hall Master Xing glanced over, a slight smile on his face, just as he was about to make the introduction. He then saw Zhao Yi stand up and take two steps towards Master Zhang, his gaze like lightning.

"I don't care if you're the president of the Xuanxuan Society or anyone else. This is an address from the Young Master of the Combat Master Hall. Please leave immediately, or don't blame me for being impolite!" The Young Master's address was confidential to the Combat Master Hall. The other party was not a member, yet stood there looking indifferent. Was he trying to steal military secrets?

"Impolite?" Zhang Xuan frowned. He had just flown back, curious about the results of the exchange, only to see Zheng Yang's illusory image. He was just thinking how his student had finally grown up and learned to appreciate his teacher's hard work... when he was suddenly threatened by this person.

"Yes—" Zhao Yi's face darkened, and just as he was about to speak, he saw a finger flicking through the air.

*Thump!*

A light flick. His expression changed, and before he could react, he was sent flying. His back slammed into the main hall of the Combat Master Hall, producing a loud crash.

He was watching his student progress step by step towards the pinnacle, feeling proud... At such a moment, Zhang Xuan did not want to be disturbed. If someone came to cause trouble, he would just flick them away! Having done so, Zhang Xuan clasped his hands behind his back and continued to look towards the sky.

Just as Hall Master Xing had said, when Zheng Yang first arrived, he was indeed just an ordinary young man who loved spear arts, and he had just gone through a breakup... Now, not only were his spear arts exceptional, but he had also become the Young Master of the Combat Master Hall! The profound changes within less than a year were truly remarkable.

"A teacher merely assists; what truly matters is... your own effort!" Zhang Xuan sighed inwardly, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. Although the simplified Heaven's Path Divine Art he taught was the most supreme cultivation technique, it would be useless if the individual didn't work hard and strive for progress. Just like Sun Qiang... never mind, it brings tears to his eyes. Among his direct disciples, Zheng Yang's talent wasn't the absolute best, but he possessed the most courage and drive. It was his dedication to spear arts and his passion for them that brought him to where he was today, not merely Zhang Xuan's excellent teaching.

"Damn it..." Crawling out from the shattered wall, Zhao Yi gritted his teeth. He had gone to reprimand this disrespectful fellow, expecting him to scurry away, but he never dreamed he would be directly beaten! To openly attack a hall master in the Combat Master Hall was an unforgivable offense! Just as he was about to rush over and teach the other party a lesson, Hall Master Xing flew over in a hurry.

"Hall Master Xing, this president of the Xuanxuan Society openly attacked me in front of the Young Master! I don't care if he's your guest, don't blame me for being impolite..." Zhao Yi's teeth ground together, his rage almost making him explode. His students couldn't beat their opponents because of this guy; he was even tormented by a girl... Honestly, he had long harbored a belly full of anger towards this so-called president. Now, with the Young Master's address as an excuse, if he didn't teach this person a lesson, he wouldn't be worthy of being a combat master...

"Listen to me, he's more than just a guest..." Hall Master Xing said urgently.

"I know your Combat Master Hall benefited from him, but his disrespect for the Young Master is an insult to our Combat Master Hall. If I don't act, what right do I have to command a branch?" Zhao Yi snorted and continued to walk forward.

"Alright then, go teach him a lesson..." Seeing that he couldn't stop the hall master, Hall Master Xing was also a bit displeased. He gave a slight bow with his sleeve: "By the way, I forgot to tell you, the name of this president of the Xuanxuan Society is... Zhang Xuan!"

"Zhang Xuan?" Zhao Yi's forward momentum immediately halted, and he shivered. "The Master Zhang... the Young Master just spoke of?"

"What do you think?" Without another word, Hall Master Xing turned and returned to his position, kneeling down once more. *What on earth... he just wouldn't listen! Go on, you're so tough, keep fighting!*

"He's... the Young Master's teacher?" Zhao Yi's vision went black, and he swayed, nearly fainting. No wonder a casual three-day guidance could leave them with nothing; he was the Young Master's teacher after all! Stiffening in place, unsure what to do, he watched as the Young Master's illusory image in the sky finished its instructions and slowly faded away. All the combat masters then stood up and turned to look at Zhang Xuan, their faces filled with admiration.

"They all know..." Zhao Yi's vision blurred again. He had really gotten himself into serious trouble. The Young Master had just said to be respectful to his teacher, and he had been about to be impolite to him... His face flushed red as he pondered how to apologize, when he saw Wei Qianshu and Liu Qinshan, who had appeared before Master Zhang at some point. Both wore respectful expressions: "Greetings, Master Zhang. Our Combat Master Hall members also wish to exchange insights with the Xuanxuan Society. Might Master Zhang be available?"

"We've also long heard of the Xuanxuan Society's great reputation and would like to exchange with them..." Zhao Yi's mouth twitched. These two guys were too shameless. Just like him, they had been displeased with this so-called president, but now, upon learning his identity, they immediately stepped forward to invite an exchange... Where was their dignity?

"You can discuss it with Hall Master Xing!" Seeing more and more people gathering, Zhang Xuan shook his head and turned to leave. Zheng Yang becoming the Young Master filled him with satisfaction. He was content to leave the exchange matters to others and was too lazy to deal with them himself. Not long after he returned to his residence, Hall Master Xing arrived.

"Master Zhang, under your guidance, our branch has secured all twenty slots... However, the rewards might take a few days to arrive!"

"How long approximately?"

"Although the headquarters uses special delivery methods, it will take at least ten days!" Hall Master Xing replied after a moment's thought.

"Ten days!" Zhang Xuan shook his head, filled with helplessness. He had been hoping to get the spirit stones immediately to quickly break through to the peak of the Embryonic Soul realm, but it seemed his wish wouldn't be granted. Cultivation... why was it so difficult? Thinking back, he truly missed the feeling of advancing a level in a single night.

"Master Zhang... do you still need high-grade refined spirit stones?" Seeing his expression, Hall Master Xing guessed his thoughts.

"Yes! Do you know where I might get some?" Zhang Xuan looked at him.

"I don't have any connections for spirit stones. But if Master Zhang is just cultivating... there's the Level-7 Spiritual Essence Pill. Its medicinal power is abundant, even beneficial to cultivators in the Spirit Severing realm. I wonder if it would be useful to Master Zhang?" Hall Master Xing explained.

"Spiritual Essence Pill?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

The Master Teacher Pavilion's records contained information about alchemy. He had indeed seen mentions of the Spiritual Essence Pill, a Level-7 medicine with effects similar to high-grade refined spirit stones, capable of boosting one's cultivation. However, he had never seen the actual pill or its formula, so he didn't know if it would be effective.

"I happen to have one here. Master Zhang can try it. If it works, you could go to President Wu; he should have quite a few." Hall Master Xing flipped his palm, and a jade bottle appeared in his hand. Zhang Xuan uncorked the bottle and indeed saw a scarlet pill suspended inside, emitting a rich spiritual aura. He casually took it out and placed it in his mouth. The spiritual energy immediately dissolved, and a gentle, warm power surged throughout his body. This pure energy slowly gathered in his dantian.

"It works..." Feeling the effect, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. Accustomed to cultivating with spirit stones, he hadn't immediately thought of other items. In fact, many treasures could serve as substitutes! Just like the Earth Vein Spirit Liquid he used before could replace mid-grade spirit stones, and even have better effects. Pills were also one of those substitutes. Although the spiritual energy contained in this Spiritual Essence Pill was far less than that in high-grade refined spirit stones, it was still quite useful to him, much more potent than ordinary spirit stones. If he had enough, he could also reach the peak of the Embryonic Soul realm.

"Master Zhang... you don't need to dissolve the medicinal power?" Seeing Zhang Xuan swallow the pill directly without even needing to cultivate, Hall Master Xing was utterly disbelieving. Even if he himself took a Spiritual Essence Pill of this level, it would take him a long time to fully dissolve it... But this person just ate it like that. Wasn't he afraid of an overload of spiritual energy causing his body to explode?

"It's already dissolved..." Zhang Xuan replied. It was just a small pill; he had just eaten it, and it was already completely digested. There was no need for dedicated cultivation.

"Dissolved?" Hall Master Xing's mouth twitched. He finally understood why this person's cultivation advanced so rapidly. Setting everything else aside, just this "digestion speed" alone was beyond what an ordinary person could compare to.

"Does the Apothecary Guild have many of these pills?" Zhang Xuan asked. If he intended to use these pills to advance, he would likely need more than a hundred of them. He wondered if the guild had such a large quantity.

"I don't know the exact quantity. You might have to inquire with President Wu..." Hall Master Xing replied. President Wu, Wu Huayu, was someone Zhang Xuan had impressed during the pill debate at the Master Teacher Academy, making him willingly hand over the Bone-Connecting Grass. Strictly speaking, they were old acquaintances.

"Alright, I'll go to the Apothecary Guild now!" Zhang Xuan declared. Luo Ruoxi was set to marry the genius from the Zhang clan next March. His cultivation could not be delayed, and he dared not waste any time. After bidding farewell to Hall Master Xing, he had just left his residence when he saw Luo Qiqi approaching.

"Teacher..." Seeing her, Zhang Xuan felt a headache coming on. He had a girlfriend, and being confessed to by a student was incredibly awkward. However, just running away would compromise his dignity as a teacher.

"Teacher, could you... spend one day with me?" Her complexion seemed a bit pale, and Luo Qiqi looked at him with her dark eyes, full of expectation: "Just one day!"