Chapter 1329: Destroyer (Part 1)

After navigating several streets, I finally located the formation master assessment site.

Pushing open the door, I entered a deserted hall. There were only a few people inside, a stark contrast to the bustling Formation Master Guild outside.

"The Sage Son Hall doesn't recruit many people each year. Those who get in possess unique talents and abilities. Unless it's for an assessment, it's usually quiet here," Chen Leyao explained.

"Fewer people is better; I prefer peace and quiet!"

Zhang Xuan chuckled.

Previous assessments were always crowded, with long queues for everything. Even just to enter the assessment area, one had to qualify first, which was incredibly troublesome. Fewer people would save a lot of hassle.

This suited his quiet nature.

"Are you two here for a formation master assessment?"

As we approached the front desk, an attendant in his thirties, smiling, greeted us. A six-star formation master's emblem was embroidered on his chest.

"Yes, I'd like to take the eight-star formation master assessment!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Eight-star?"

The attendant was startled: "You?"

"That's right!" Zhang Xuan affirmed.

He had learned along the way that the Master Teacher Continent strictly regulated various secret manuals; only those who reached a certain level were permitted to study the corresponding texts.

To study level-eight formations, he first needed to pass the assessment.

Although he was currently only a seven-star formation master, he had long since integrated the knowledge, so passing the assessment shouldn't be difficult.

"My apologies, your age just surprised me!"

The attendant gave an awkward smile, then continued, "Did you bring your seven-star emblem? I'll help you register."

"Here!"

With a flick of his wrist, Zhang Xuan presented the seven-star formation master's emblem.

President Han had already applied for it on his behalf after he demonstrated his formation abilities at Qiuwu Palace.

The attendant took it, glanced at the name, and then opened a book to check. After a moment, he nodded, his eyes filled with doubt. "According to the records, Master Zhang, you passed the seven-star formation master assessment less than two months ago. You're assessing... for eight-star so soon?"

Others typically needed decades of accumulation to advance from seven-star to eight-star, or at least several years for the fastest. This fellow had just passed, less than two months ago, and was already attempting eight-star... Isn't that too quick?

"Indeed!" Zhang Xuan confirmed.

"Alright, I've registered you. Please follow me..."

After Zhang Xuan confirmed, the attendant, who had been busy for a moment, nodded, smiled faintly, and led the way.

Anyone entering the Sage Son Hall either came from an illustrious background or possessed exceptional talent. As a mere attendant, he dared not show any disrespect or neglect.

Soon, they arrived at a room. The attendant bowed to an elder within. "Elder Su, this is Master Zhang Xuan, here to assess for eight-star formation master!"

The elder wore a formation master's emblem on his chest, eight stars shining brightly. His cultivation was so refined that without him actively displaying it, one couldn't discern his specific level.

He was likely no lower than Saint Realm seventh layer.

"Master Kong once said, 'Teach without discrimination; all diligent scholars under heaven can become my students.' Therefore, the Sage Son Hall not only hosts Master Teachers but also various professionals. This elder, for instance, appears to be a pure formation master, not a Master Teacher," Zhang Xuan mused.

Having read the introduction on his identity jade tablet, he now understood a good deal about the Sage Son Hall.

While Master Teachers could pursue secondary professions, true mastery and peak achievement in a single field usually belonged to dedicated professionals.

For example, Branch Head Wu, though he had a minor in formation arts and wasn't weak in that path, was incomparable to the specialized President Han.

Every profession had its specialization; even Master Teachers couldn't be truly omniscient and omnipotent.

Especially at the peak levels.

Therefore, the teachers at the Sage Son Hall who instructed secondary professions were generally the top experts in those fields, not just Master Teachers.

This allowed students to learn with greater precision.

"You're assessing for eight-star?" Elder Su reviewed the documents and couldn't help but frown. "To assess for eight-star, your cultivation needs to reach the Domain Realm. You're only at the early stage of the Aperture Acupoint Realm; your cultivation isn't sufficient. How could you set up the corresponding formations?"

Formation arts, being one of the most esteemed professions, had extremely strict cultivation requirements.

Zhang Xuan hadn't concealed his cultivation, and the elder had recognized it instantly.

"Reporting, Elder Su," Chen Leyao interjected, "although Master Zhang is only at the early stage of the Aperture Acupoint Realm, his combat power is in no way inferior to someone at the early stage of the Domain Realm!"

"If he truly possesses such strength, I can consider it a pass for now. I'll take you to the formation staircase," Elder Su nodded.

Having been at the Sage Son Hall for so long, he had seen all kinds of geniuses. If the young man truly had such capability, allowing him to pass based on his actual power, despite his stated cultivation, was not an issue.

"Thank you, Elder. May I ask how you'll test my strength?" Zhang Xuan asked, relieved.

If he genuinely had to reach the early stage of the Domain Realm to be assessed, he would probably need to find high-grade spirit stones and cultivation techniques, which could take several more days.

"We originally had a specialized formation here for testing combat power!" the elder said, shaking his head with a helpless expression. "Unfortunately, that 'King of Destruction' came to assess just now and broke it. We haven't had time to repair it yet!"

"King of Destruction?" Zhang Xuan inquired.

"Indeed. He's a genius who entered a few years ago. In one year, he assessed for three secondary professions, causing chaos and destroying countless things. This is his third time here to assess for eight-star formation master. Sigh, when he comes, all the elders go over, fearing he'll even dismantle the formation staircase..."

Rubbing his temples, Elder Su seemed to have a severe headache over this 'King of Destruction'.

"Causing chaos and destroying things? How exactly does this 'King of Destruction' cause destruction?" Zhang Xuan asked, curious.

He himself used to cause a lot of destruction during assessments, but he was much more composed now. For instance, when he recently passed through the mountain gate, it remained perfectly intact, without any issues.

"How does he destroy things?" Elder Su's beard bristled. "I won't even go into other professions, but he's been here three times, and each time he's ruined at least one thing! The first time, he rendered a formation disk I painstakingly carved for two months completely useless. The second time, he destroyed a quiet room... This third time, I thought it was just a simple strength assessment, but he went and ruined the combat testing formation! He's absolutely the King of Destruction..."

"Destroying the same place three times... that really is infuriating!" Zhang Xuan's mouth fell open, dumbfounded.

While he also caused destruction, it was usually a one-time event in any given location—a hit-and-run approach. Three consecutive times was indeed excessive.

Even destruction had a certain dignity; to repeatedly wreck one place... If it were him, he'd definitely have a headache too.

"Exactly! An assessment is just an assessment, but he just has to tear things apart... I get furious whenever I see someone like that!" Elder Su huffed, waving his hand, and then slapped the table.

"I also strongly dislike those who intentionally cause destruction. Of course... if it's unintentional, then that's another matter!" Zhang Xuan sighed, feeling a sense of shared sentiment.

Intentional destruction was truly infuriating. Fortunately, his own past destructions had never been deliberate.

"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore!" The more he spoke, the angrier he became. Elder Su shook his head; if he weren't so enraged, he wouldn't be nagging a student like this, given his status.

After venting, his anger subsided. He looked back at Zhang Xuan and nodded in satisfaction. "You're quite good!"

Normally, when he spoke ill of the 'King of Destruction', other students would cower and not dare to breathe a word. This young man, however, seemed different; not only was he unafraid, but he openly expressed his dislike.

His favorable impression of Zhang Xuan greatly increased.

"Alright then... get ready. I'll test your strength now!" he said after a moment's thought.

"Test? Didn't Elder Su say the assessment formation was broken? How will you test me?" Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

"It's quite simple. I'll suppress my cultivation to the early stage of the Domain Realm. If you can withstand three of my moves in a spar, you pass!" Elder Su said with a smile.

Normally, with the strength-testing formation broken, assessments couldn't proceed. However... he found this young man quite agreeable.

It was a special concession.

"Sounds good!"

He had been wondering what kind of assessment it would be. Hearing this, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright then, let's do it right here!"

Standing up, Elder Su took a few steps to the center of the spacious hall.

The hall was wide enough for a simple strength test.

*Crack! Pop!*

His aura contracted, and Elder Su suppressed his cultivation to the early stage of the Domain Realm. With a sweep of his hand, he smiled faintly. "You can use your full strength. Although this is to test if you possess Domain Realm level power, it's still part of the assessment, so I won't go easy on you!"

"I'll do my best!"

Zhang Xuan nodded, his gaze solemn.

Although the elder had suppressed his cultivation, he was likely a powerful expert at Saint Realm seventh layer. Such strength, in terms of both insight and reaction, was incomparable to Zhang Yunfeng's and certainly not to be underestimated.

Stamping his foot on the ground, Zhang Xuan's figure swayed, forming a 'Z' shape as he swiftly darted towards Elder Su.

The 'Z' Movement Steps was a mid-grade Saint Realm martial art learned at the Combat Master Hall of Qingyuan Empire. It involved constantly changing position to prevent sneak attacks and counter incoming assaults.

This move was somewhat cumbersome and rarely used in normal combat against masters. However, under Zhang Xuan's feet, his speed was incredibly fast, and he darted left and right like a phantom.

"Very impressive!"

Elder Su's eyes lit up.

He had initially thought that claiming an early Aperture Acupoint Realm practitioner could rival a Domain Realm expert was an exaggeration. But seeing Zhang Xuan's movements, he realized the young man truly possessed such strength.

With a sigh of admiration, a special force emanated from his body, forming a domain approximately five meters in diameter.

The air crackled!

Enveloped by the domain, Zhang Xuan's 'Z' Movement Steps immediately slowed, as if he had fallen into a mire, losing all its previous agility.

"I'm going to make my move. First strike, Dragon Elephant Qi Blood Palm! It combines the power of dragons and elephants, and with the domain, its might is boundless. Be careful..."

Seeing that this young man listened to his complaints and clearly detested the 'King of Destruction', Elder Su was quite pleased. Although he wouldn't hold back in his attack, his words conveyed a subtle hint, hoping the other party wouldn't get injured.

"Don't worry, I'll go all out!"

Hearing that the elder's power was immense, Zhang Xuan's blood immediately surged. His figure flickered, executing the Boundless Traveler steps.

From his previous battles against true Domain Realm experts, he had gained an insight: a domain was a constraining force, like a rope. If force was habitually applied in one direction, the other directions would become slightly weaker.

He had deliberately used the 'Z' Movement Steps earlier to draw the elder's attention to his left and right. Now, combined with the Boundless Traveler, he unexpectedly appeared before Elder Su before the elder could even react, utilizing spatial manipulation.

With a flick of his wrist, he met the incoming attack with a palm strike.

The elder had mentioned the Dragon Elephant Qi Blood Palm's boundless power when combined with the strength of dragons and elephants. Zhang Xuan's counter-attack was the Great Despair Heaven Demon Palm.

*Boom!*

The two palms collided.

"What?!"

Elder Su hadn't expected Zhang Xuan to appear so quickly or unleash such a fierce palm strike. His pupils contracted, and before he could speak, he felt an overwhelming surge of power crash into him.

"How can he be so strong..."

Feeling as if he'd been struck by a meteor, Elder Su's mouth twitched. His entire skeleton felt as if it had been forcefully shattered, and he was immediately sent flying backward.

While in mid-air, he tried to unseal his suppressed cultivation, but Zhang Xuan's palm force continued to surge like a relentless flood. It struck him so powerfully that he couldn't even catch his breath, let alone attempt anything else.

*Boom!*

His back slammed violently into the hall wall, creating a massive crater.

*Crack! Crack!*

The impact was so ferocious that a thick crack spread upwards along the wall, reaching all the way to the roof.