Chapter 1263: Zhang Shi Teaching the Class

At Master Yao's question, everyone turned to look. They had all heard Song Xuan's earlier words: not only would Master Zhang be crippled, but he would also be forced to apologize... Now that the tables had turned, they wondered how Master Zhang would handle the situation. Given Song Xuan's actions, whatever punishment Master Zhang chose would not be excessive. Song Xuan clenched his fists, eager to see how Zhang Xuan would deal with him. When a master teacher challenge is lost, the winner's demands are indisputable.

"Master Song's intent to execute meritorious individuals like Sun Qiang and Elder Xu was merely due to him being misled; it wasn't his true intention. I have no personal animosity or conflict with him. Frankly, it was my weapon that was overly forceful. Therefore, let's forgo any further punishment." Zhang Xuan waved his hand dismissively. Song Xuan had already suffered a significant blow and received his just deserts. To pursue further action would be meaningless and would only make Zhang Xuan appear petty and unforgiving.

"As expected of Master Zhang, truly a man of great magnanimity!""Indeed, both are Master Teachers of the Master Teacher Pavilion, yet their characters are worlds apart!""The difference is immense; they aren't even on the same level...""From now on, Master Zhang is my idol. Anyone who disagrees with that will have to fight me to the death!""Mine too..."

Hearing these exclamations, the entire crowd was filled with admiration. Even Yao Mantian couldn't help but nod in approval. It was no wonder Master Zhang, so young, had reached such a high level. His broad-mindedness alone surpassed that of ordinary individuals.

"While Master Zhang has shown great generosity, Song Xuan, as a special envoy, recklessly ordered executions without thoroughly investigating the incident's root cause, nearly causing a disaster. His culpability is undeniable! I will report this matter truthfully to the headquarters and let them decide on the punishment!" Yao Mantian declared. Even though Master Zhang chose not to impose a penalty as the winner of the challenge, Song Xuan had indeed made a grave error and still needed to be punished. Otherwise, the Master Teacher Pavilion would lose all semblance of order.

"Thank you, Master Zhang, thank you, Master Yao..." Hearing the verdict, Song Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Zhang Xuan with profound admiration. Before, he had been furious, wanting to kill Zhang Xuan after the weapon was ordered to cripple him. Now, however, every action Zhang Xuan took seemed purposeful and exemplified the identity and duty of a Master Teacher, making it impossible for Song Xuan to harbor any resentment. Perhaps... this was what a true Master Teacher truly was.

"Don't mention it!"

Seeing the matter resolved satisfactorily, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled faintly. He looked up, pointed at the numerous characters floating in the sky, and tapped them.

Boom!

The first character immediately burst apart, releasing a surge of rich spiritual energy that enveloped the entire Qingyuan Imperial Capital. In the blink of an eye, every living being in Qingyuan City heard a resounding voice, as if it resonated from the depths of their souls, drawing them into a state of profound enchantment.

A rapid succession of cracking sounds followed! As the characters exploded one by one, the sound grew progressively louder.

"The path of cultivation involves treating the body as heaven and earth, and the spirit as yin and yang..."

Upon hearing these words, both Yao Mantian and Song Xuan were stunned. Previously, merely seeing the characters had hinted at the complexity of the cultivation technique, but hearing them now, they truly understood its profoundness! Compared to the content being expounded, the cultivation techniques they practiced seemed as slow as snails, utterly negligible.

"Master Zhang is re-converting the Heavenly Sound written by the Heavenly Sound Brush into the Master's Impartation of Knowledge..." Suppressing a strong urge to begin cultivating immediately, Yao Mantian looked up. On the plaza, every visible cultivator had sat down cross-legged, one by one, and began circulating their true qi according to the cultivation methods described by the voice.

Crackles and pops filled the air! Soon, the area below the stage sounded like firecrackers as countless individuals achieved breakthroughs.

"What's that...?"

It was understandable that such a profound cultivation secret, when heard, would lead to immediate enlightenment and breakthroughs among cultivators. However, beyond the crowd, flocks of wild pheasants and countless birds in the sky were also experiencing soaring power and breaking through... This was utterly unbelievable!

"It's not just the birds... even the livestock and poultry seem to be breaking through!" Shocked, he extended his divine sense and immediately saw countless donkeys, wild horses, geese, and chicks also experiencing a surge in their auras, as if they had been cultivating. His mouth twitched. Just as he was about to retract his divine sense, he stumbled again, nearly losing his footing.

"Huh? Wasn't that iron pipe bent just a moment ago? How did it suddenly straighten?" He noticed some previously bent iron pipes in front of the platform had, at some unknown point, straightened completely, standing tall and resolute like soldiers, exuding an impressive aura. Even iron pipes could be straightened...? Swallowing hard, Yao Mantian looked at Master Zhang again, feeling as if he were going mad. This level of effect was far beyond simple Master's Impartation of Knowledge.

"It's the Heart of a Teacher..." Realizing this, Yao Mantian's eyes gleamed. Only the Heart of a Teacher possessed such incredible power! To think that someone so young had already grasped this concept... No wonder he could share these characters so unreservedly with everyone, always prioritizing the Master Teacher Pavilion's interests...

"If I could take such an extraordinary genius as a student..." A thought suddenly sprang to his mind. Although Zhang Xuan's talent was immense, the Qingyuan Empire was ultimately too backward, ranking as the lowest among the titled empires. If Yao Mantian could accept him as a student and bring him to the Imperial Alliance, providing him with the best resources and connections, it would undoubtedly minimize obstacles and allow him to progress rapidly. When he achieved great prominence in the future, she, as his teacher, would undoubtedly gain significant renown.

"I'll ask him later..." As the characters in the sky gradually dissipated and countless people around them achieved breakthroughs, Yao Mantian suppressed his urge to inquire, waiting for the Master's Impartation of Knowledge to conclude.

***

On the outskirts of Qingyuan City stood a blacksmith's shop. Inside a precisely structured room, the old blacksmith was diligently forging an item in his hands.

"Old Zhou, I still need eighteen iron pots. You absolutely must help me finish them today!" An elderly man approached him with a smile. The man before him was neither an artifact forger nor a Heavenly Craftsman; he was merely an ordinary blacksmith, making a living by forging pots, bowls, and pans.

"No need to rush; you can trust my work... I'll definitely finish the order today!" The old blacksmith chuckled. With a few strikes from his hammer, which seemed like a magic wand, the item in his hand instantly transformed.

"We've been friends for decades, of course I'm confident in your work..." The elderly man chuckled. Having known the blacksmith for decades, their relationship had long evolved from a business connection into a genuine friendship. The iron pots, ladles, and other items forged by the blacksmith were incredibly exquisite and aesthetically pleasing. When sold, they were quickly snatched up, making his business exceptionally good. Even princes and nobles vied to purchase his wares, which was why he always sourced his supplies here.

"Alright, you wait here. Once I'm done with my work this afternoon, we can even have some tea together..." The old blacksmith chuckled, his hammer poised to strike again, when he heard a series of clanging and rattling sounds from within the room. He couldn't help but look up. To his astonishment, the pots, bowls, and pans hanging on the walls were spontaneously moving, seemingly joyful, and lining up neatly to exit the room.

"What...?" Utterly disbelieving, the old blacksmith vigorously rubbed his eyes. These iron pots and ladles were inanimate objects. How could they suddenly run away?

"What's happening?" Seeing a pile of iron ladles rush out of the room, the elderly man who had just been speaking with him also looked bewildered and quickly asked for an explanation.

"I don't know either..." The old blacksmith's face was contorted in an expression that looked like he was about to cry. He had painstakingly hammered these out, spending countless hours and effort. If they escaped, where would he ever find them again?

His body swayed as he tried to block a pot, intending to stop it. But then he felt a sharp pain in the web of his hand as the iron hammer in his palm broke free and raced out of the room.

"Don't run!" That hammer had been with him for decades; it was his livelihood! Just as the old blacksmith was about to give chase, darkness enveloped his vision as the iron door in front of him swung back and struck him on the head, sending him sprawling. Before he could even react, he felt the entire house sway, then begin to rapidly chase after the hammer.

"The *house* ran away too?" The old blacksmith was on the verge of losing his mind. It was one thing for the pots and pans to run off, but the house itself? Where would he live now? How would he even continue his craft?

"Old Liang, don't you have a flying spiritual beast? Quick, go outside and see what's happening! What's going on with my house and all my forged ironware?" Unable to contain himself, the old blacksmith pleaded urgently.

"Alright!" Old Liang, who had just been speaking with him, nodded, quickly summoned a flying spiritual beast, mounted its back, and soared away.

It wasn't long before Old Liang returned, his face ashen, looking as if he had just seen a ghost.

"What happened? Did robbers come to steal my treasures?" The old blacksmith asked urgently. He had heard that some powerful bandits could snatch objects from afar, even without direct contact. Could it be that his spoons and iron pots had been affected by such a technique, causing them to defy his control and desperately flee?

"It's not robbers..." Old Liang swallowed hard, his voice dry and raspy: "It's... Master Zhang giving a lecture!"