Chapter 1414: You Impersonate

"Yang Xuan? You are... Tutor Yang's steward?" Elder Ge was startled, and his expression immediately changed. He had naturally heard the rumors about Tutor Yang Xuan, the First Grand Elder of the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters. He never dreamed that this person was his steward. No wonder he dared to be so arrogant and audacious; like a seventh-rank official at a prime minister's gate, he represented the prestige of a pinnacle Master Teacher.

"Indeed!" Stepping forward, Sun Qiang's plump face was filled with pride.

"Tutor Yang's movements are erratic; even the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters doesn't know his exact whereabouts. If you claim to be his steward, do you have proof?" After his initial shock, Elder Ge's eyebrows furrowed. It wasn't that he disbelieved the man, but his cultivation was simply too low. A strong general has no weak soldiers. For someone not even at the Saint realm to claim to be Tutor Yang's steward was truly unbelievable. Ancient Sage Qiuwu, as Confucius's attendant, possessed power unrivalled in the world. To have such a person as a steward... it just wouldn't do! After all, if a figure like Tutor Yang truly needed a steward, even a 9-star Master Teacher would find it hard to refuse the position. How could he choose a brute who hadn't even reached the Saint realm? And he didn't look particularly intelligent! Yet, with his keen eye, Elder Ge could clearly see that the man was speaking sincerely and not lying. This made it even stranger.

"Impudent!" His face sinking, Sun Qiang narrowed his eyes. "Are you questioning me, or are you questioning Tutor Yang?"

"I naturally wouldn't dare question Tutor Yang!" Elder Ge shook his head. "However... as a steward to a 9-star Master Teacher, you would surely carry his blessing. If it's convenient, let me see it. If it's real, I will immediately make my impudent disciple apologize to you. Otherwise, impersonating a 9-star Master Teacher's steward and openly insulting an elder of the Hall of Rites—for these two crimes, dying a hundred times would not be an exaggeration!" The Saint Son Hall was a subordinate force of the Master Teacher Pavilion. Elder Ge naturally wouldn't dare question the Grand Elder of the headquarters. It was just... he simply couldn't believe the person standing before him. A person he looked down upon, appointed as a steward by Tutor Yang... it felt utterly far-fetched.

"Blessing?" Sun Qiang was taken aback. He had met his master many times, but such a thing had never been mentioned!

"Given Tutor Yang's unfathomable strength, even a casual bestowal of a wisp of zhenqi would grant unimaginable benefits and power. If you were truly his executive steward, he would certainly have left a trace of his will within you. Otherwise... with such a low cultivation, you could easily be killed. How then could you properly serve him?" Elder Ge explained. As a steward handles miscellaneous affairs for a Master Teacher, the latter would naturally grant them a certain degree of self-preservation ability. Under normal circumstances, the retainers of pinnacle Master Teachers would receive such blessings to ensure their lives are not endangered. Since this person claims to be Tutor Yang's steward, he certainly should possess such a thing. Otherwise, if he died before even completing a task, it would also be a loss of face for Tutor Yang.

"I... my master naturally bestowed a blessing upon me too..." Sun Qiang's face twitched. He huffed, "It's just that his blessing isn't something to be casually shown to others! What if it frightens you, and you can't bear it?" His master had never given him a blessing, but having already committed, he couldn't back down now. He could only bite the bullet and claim he had received it. Anyway, as long as he didn't have to produce it, there shouldn't be any trouble.

"As long as you have the blessing, there's no need to produce it!" Elder Ge smiled. "A Master Teacher of Tutor Yang's caliber, both in identity and status, far surpasses ordinary Master Teachers. If you come with me to the Master Sealing Hall, we can use a special formation to illuminate you and immediately verify your authenticity!" "Master Sealing Hall?" Sun Qiang's face twitched. Although not a Master Teacher himself, he had visited many Master Teacher Pavilions and knew the significance of this hall in the hearts of Master Teachers. It contained the wills of countless predecessors, making it impossible for any demon or impostor to hide. He had no blessing from his master on him; if he went, his deception would immediately be exposed.

"There's no problem going to the Master Sealing Hall. It's just that doing so would disturb the wills of the ancestors, which would be extremely troublesome. My master has always taught me not to bother others with things I can resolve myself. Otherwise, if my master finds out, he will definitely punish me." Waving his hand, Sun Qiang spoke with righteous indignation, his face unflushed, his breath even. His past experience selling second-hand houses, with all sorts of tricks, had long since honed his ability to lie without batting an eye.

"It's no trouble at all. This concerns the reputation of a 9-star Master Teacher, and we cannot be careless. Otherwise, I will now report this matter to the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters and have them send someone to confirm it. I believe they have sufficient means and ability to verify your true identity, so I won't have to be in such a difficult position." Elder Ge continued. If before he had found the man highly confident and hadn't harbored much suspicion, his current prevarication made Elder Ge feel that something was amiss.

"Escort Tutor Yang's steward to the Master Sealing Hall!" Having said that, Elder Ge didn't wait for the other party to retort further and turned to give orders. "Yes, sir!" the young man responded, his body flickering as he appeared before Sun Qiang. With a surge of power from his palm, Sun Qiang was instantly locked in place as if bound by iron chains, unable to move an inch. He hadn't even reached the Saint realm; before this opponent, he was nothing. "Steward Sun, if you please!" With a faint smile, the young man's lips curled upward.

"I..." He had only come to inquire about supreme-grade spirit stones, but he was being treated this way! Sun Qiang's face turned red with fury, and he felt as if he might explode. "You're detaining a pinnacle Master Teacher's steward! If my master finds out, can you bear the consequences?" "Detain? You're mistaken. We are simply taking you to verify your identity. We are merely adhering to the rigor of Master Teachers. Even if Tutor Yang knew, he shouldn't say much!" Elder Ge waved his hand and strode out. The young man, escorting Sun Qiang, followed closely. Before long, they arrived at a spacious hall.

Inside the room, numerous spirit tablets were arranged, left by the distinguished predecessors of the Saint Son Hall. In the very center, a statue of Confucius stood tall, his eyes gazing at the sky with an expression of profound compassion. Beside it, a row of smaller statues was also arranged. The first one, with closed eyes, was precisely the founder of the Saint Son Hall, Ancient Sage Bushang. Next to him was Sage Kui. On the other side were the statues of the second hall master, the third... These hall masters' stone statues were noticeably much shorter than that of Confucius, as if they were listening to his teachings and comprehending the supreme dao.

"This is the Master Sealing Hall. If you have Tutor Yang's blessing, it will be very easy to tell!" Entering the hall, Elder Ge smiled faintly and powerfully waved his hand. Whoosh! Countless beams of light shot forth from the many spirit tablets and statues, enveloping Sun Qiang as if to detect any means left by a Master Teacher. The light vanished. "No blessing. Just as I suspected, empty boasting!" His eyes gleaming, the young man shouted. "Hmph, impersonating Tutor Yang's steward, how audacious of you..." Elder Ge's face also sank, his gaze sharp as lightning. CRACK! Before his words had even finished, suddenly, a spirit tablet cracked with a crisp sound and immediately exploded. Then, like a downpour, countless other spirit tablets began to crack and burst like firecrackers, vying to shatter before the others. In an instant, the hall was filled with flying debris and wooden fragments.