Chapter 1269: Zhang Xuan's Secret Technique (Part 1)

"A personal assessment?"

Zhang Jiuxiao's face turned pale, and he nearly stumbled. He understood Zhang Xuan's intention: to have the two young men injured and unable to fight, so he could easily claim the spot directly. But he never dreamed that the person before him, disregarding his status, would personally take action! If even the two auditing students were so formidable, how could Zhang Jiuxiao possibly withstand this envoy if he truly made a move, given his own strength?

Zhang Xuan frowned, "As an envoy, wouldn't it be bullying a junior to take action against him?"

"Don't worry, I will suppress my cultivation to the middle stage of the Spirit Ascension realm, matching your strength!" Zhao Xingmo looked at him.

"This..." Zhang Xuan paused. "Still, if he can withstand three moves, he passes?"

"Correct!" Zhao Xingmo nodded. His internal power surged, and in moments, he suppressed his cultivation to the middle stage of the Spirit Ascension realm, making it almost identical to theirs.

Zhang Xuan frowned. To be honest, even if the other party suppressed his cultivation, his insight and experience were still vastly superior. For Zhang Jiuxiao to fight him and withstand three moves would be extremely difficult, perhaps even impossible.

"Thank you for your concern, Teacher Zhang. If I can't pass, it's because my cultivation isn't high enough and I haven't worked hard enough. I'm not qualified to enter the Temple of Sages!" Seeing Zhang Xuan continuously speak up for him, Zhang Jiuxiao was deeply moved. He smiled and took a step forward. Losing was losing; as a descendant of the Zhang Clan, he wouldn't be unable to accept such a defeat.

*Boom!*

A surge of power erupted from him. Although still somewhat inferior to the two auditing students from earlier, it carried an unwavering determination, devoid of any fear.

"Hmm!" Zhao Xingmo nodded. His mere presence brought immense pressure, and for Zhang Jiuxiao to withstand it and face him directly showed considerable courage. Of course, to become a student of the Temple of Sages, courage alone was not enough. More importantly... strength! Without strength, everything was in vain.

"Wait..."

Having made his decision, Zhang Jiuxiao tensed, ready to act at any moment, when he heard Zhang Xuan's voice again.

"What is it now?" Zhao Xingmo frowned. *So many things happening.* "You passed by yourself, isn't that enough? Are you so close to this Zhang Jiuxiao that you absolutely must get him to pass too? A normal master teacher would keep out of such affairs. Don't you know... what kind of person you are currently bargaining with?"

"Teacher Zhao is in a hurry, but surely not so much that you can't spare ten or twenty minutes?" Zhang Xuan chuckled, walking closer.

"Hmm?" Zhao Xingmo didn't understand his meaning.

"It's like this: I just had a battle and I'd like to share my insights with him..." Zhang Xuan looked over. "Teacher Zhao, as an envoy, you should at least allow us a moment to exchange experiences, right?"

"Very well!" Zhao Xingmo frowned, a hint of displeasure on his face, but he still nodded. Ten minutes or so wouldn't provide much help, no matter how much experience was shared. If strength were that easy to improve, everyone would be a master.

"Thank you... Jiuxiao, come over here!" Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

Knowing that Zhang Xuan was doing this for him, Zhang Jiuxiao didn't hesitate and immediately stepped forward. Just as he was about to speak, his pupils suddenly constricted. He saw a massive cauldron descending from above, aiming directly for Zhao Xingmo.

Zhang Jiuxiao's face went white; he nearly died of fright. *Who is this person? He's the envoy from the Temple of Sages, with cultivation no lower than Saint 6-dan... Even if he suppressed his cultivation to the middle stage of the Spirit Ascension realm, he's not someone you should sneak attack!*

Just as he was about to shout, he saw Zhang Xuan's body flicker. An immense power radiated from him as he charged forward, like a long sword, thrusting directly as if to tear Teacher Zhao apart!

"It's over..." Zhang Jiuxiao's body trembled, and he almost cried. *If I don't pass, I don't pass, but you don't have to kill the envoy for me, do you? If he actually succeeds, he'll definitely become a wanted criminal by the Master Teacher Pavilion, and his reputation will be ruined forever.*

This scene not only left Zhang Jiuxiao speechless with fright but also nearly made Hall Master Wu and Yao Mantian faint. *Attacking Teacher Zhao... that's too reckless! If he gets angry, not only will Zhang Jiuxiao lose his spot, but yours might be revoked too...*

However, the incident happened too suddenly for even them to intervene.

"Hmph!" Zhao Xingmo's eyebrows shot up. His True Qi surged within him, and he formed a sword with his fingers, striking out. Although his cultivation was also suppressed to the middle stage of the Spirit Ascension realm, his single move displayed his profound insight, knowledge, and understanding of combat. The point his finger-sword targeted was precisely Zhang Xuan's blind spot in his attack. It could not only block Zhang Xuan but also intercept the cauldron above, killing two birds with one stone. To accomplish this in an instant, utterly unprepared, showed such sharp perception and rich combat experience that even Zhang Xuan felt a sense of inferiority.

*Whoosh!*

However, before his finger-tip reached Zhang Xuan, Zhang Xuan's figure flickered. He appeared beneath the airborne cauldron, raised his hand, and cradled it in his palm with a single hand. His action was not an ambush; it was... a rescue!

"My apologies, Teacher Zhao. This cauldron of mine has been spoiled rotten by me; it acts impulsively without thinking. It suddenly attacked, and I didn't expect it. When I saw it just now, I was scared stiff, which is why I rushed over to save you... You weren't hurt, were you?" Zhang Xuan collected the cauldron into his storage ring and looked over, full of embarrassment.

"Save me?" Zhao Xingmo was speechless with indignation. *Transforming his body into a sword, power like a dragon, ready to erupt at any moment... is that how you save someone? This wasn't a rescue; it was an attempt to kill! If I hadn't reacted quickly, I would probably have been cut in half! And this cauldron, just sitting down on my head, utterly ferocious... You think you can end it with a simple "I didn't expect it"?*

"Yes, that's right. I'm the dean of the Hongyuan Empire's First-Grade Master Teacher Academy. This cauldron is the academy's treasure, constantly protecting me, its dean. It sensed Teacher Zhao's strength, perceived it as a threat, and thought I was in danger, which is why it attacked. I hope Teacher Zhao can be magnanimous..." With a face full of apology, Zhang Xuan hastily clasped his fists.

"Alright, quickly impart your experience. I'll give you ten minutes!" Zhao Xingmo's face was ashen, and though he was inwardly fuming, he waved his hand. The other party had, with a single explanation, completely cleared himself of responsibility, pushing everything onto the weapon. Zhao Xingmo couldn't possibly get into a dispute with a mere cauldron, could he? As a dignified envoy from the Temple of Sages, it would be too humiliating to beat up someone's owner just because he was angry at a weapon. Moreover, this cauldron was the treasure of an academy, guarding a Master Teacher Academy, meaning it must have accumulated countless merits. Even as a high-level master teacher, he couldn't easily destroy it.

Zhang Xuan nodded and returned to Zhang Jiuxiao's side. His expression turned serious as he transmitted his voice.

"Even with his cultivation suppressed, you cannot defeat Teacher Zhao with your current strength. However, it shouldn't be difficult to withstand a few moves. I will now teach you three moves... Learn them carefully. When you make your move later, regardless of what techniques he uses, simply apply these repeatedly... Do you understand?"

"Yes!" Zhang Jiuxiao nodded. As the other party was a Celestial Master Teacher and so dedicated to helping him, Zhang Jiuxiao naturally had no doubts.

"I will explain them in detail. Just mentally rehearse them a few times; don't perform them, or he'll be on guard..." Zhang Xuan continued. The opponent's strength and perception were not comparable to Zhu Hong's back then, who couldn't even retaliate when taught techniques face-to-face and was beaten black and blue by Zhao Ya and the others... These three moves were merely improvised to exploit the opponent's weaknesses and catch him off guard. Once seen and anticipated, they would be useless. Knowing this, Zhang Jiuxiao listened intently to the explanation. He quickly gained a clear understanding of how True Qi should circulate for these three moves and their attack angles. He subtly circulated True Qi within his body while continuously rehearsing in his mind. These three moves were very simple, not as profound as martial arts techniques, and easy to grasp. Within a few minutes, he had mastered them completely, as if he had practiced them for over a decade.

"Teacher Zhao, please calm your anger. Teacher Zhang's cauldron is indeed reckless. This morning, it just castrated Teacher Song Xuan from the Qianchong Empire..." Seeing Zhao Xingmo's displeased expression, Teacher Wu stepped forward to help explain. Although he didn't know why Teacher Zhang tried to ambush Teacher Zhao and then stopped at the critical moment, based on their relationship, he had to help cover it up, no matter what.

"Castrated?" Zhao Xingmo was unaware of the morning's events. He frowned and looked over.

"Yes..." Teacher Wu recounted the morning's incident in detail. Although he hadn't been present, he had heard about it from other master teachers since his return. He described it vividly, as if he had witnessed it himself.

"This cauldron... is indeed quite reckless!" After listening, Zhao Xingmo shook his head. For a mere weapon to directly cripple a quasi-8-star master teacher, its audacity was far beyond ordinary. Of course, even more audacious was Teacher Zhang himself... He dared to openly confront a quasi-8-star master teacher, and in the end... nothing happened to him, while the other party was actually punished...

"We've finished exchanging. Teacher Zhao, we can begin the trial now..." Just as Zhao Xingmo was about to ask for more stories about Zhang Xuan, he heard Zhang Xuan's voice from the side. He turned his head and saw Zhang Jiuxiao, at some point, had moved to the center of the hall, his internal power accumulated to its peak, creating an imposing aura.

"Very good. Let me see what experience he imparted to you!" Zhao Xingmo calculated the time. It had only been five or six minutes. He looked on with a slight sense of wonder. The other party deliberately delayed just for this short amount of time. What kind of experience was so valuable that it needed to be imparted?

"Teacher Zhao, if I offend you in a moment, please be understanding!" Zhang Jiuxiao clasped his fists, full of apology.

"Offend? Use whatever strength you have. If you can withstand three of my moves... I will consider giving you an additional spot!" Zhao Xingmo nodded.

"Thank you, then I'll make my move..."

*Whoosh!*

Before his words finished, Zhang Jiuxiao immediately moved. He rushed forward, abruptly lifted his right leg, and kicked directly between Zhao Xingmo's legs.

"You..." Zhao Xingmo's face instantly turned green, having not expected this fellow to immediately aim for his lower body. *I just finished hearing about that cauldron crippling Teacher Song... and now you're using this move? Could it be that Zhang Xuan's shared experience was for you to hit me here?*