Chapter 150: Battle Learning Platform

Even if one learned the Path of Heaven spear technique, without the *qi* formed by the Path of Heaven divine art, its power would not be as great as his own. Besides, these moves were inspired by others' knowledge, so there was no harm in teaching them.

So, when Wang Chong made his request, Zhang Xuan agreed without hesitation. Of course, he couldn't teach the full version; the Path of Heaven spear technique was too formidable. Even a partial version would be considered unparalleled.

"I..." Wang Chong had mentioned it casually, not expecting an agreement. He trembled with excitement, his eyes reddening.

Most masters rarely passed on their techniques; they were not disclosed to anyone outside their direct lineage. Taking himself as an example, virtually no outsider knew the moves he had created, except for his son. Yet, this Master Zhang, with such advanced techniques, was willing to teach them so readily. This quality, this magnanimity...

"This move is extremely profound; I wouldn't learn it so easily," Wang Chong said after a moment of hesitation.

Even if the other party taught him, he couldn't simply learn it empty-handed. Such an action would be against all rules. It was like marrying someone's daughter; a betrothal gift was required. Where in the world was there a free lunch?

"Master Zhang wants to buy some pills, but he's short on gold coins. I think you should just give him some as tuition!" Ouyang Cheng interjected.

Zhang Xuan hadn't paid him for the herbs yet, and Ouyang Cheng knew he must be trying to find a way. Since his old friend wanted to repay Zhang Xuan, it would be simpler to just give him money directly. Otherwise, learning a martial technique from someone would, at the very least, create a semi-disciple relationship. If Zhang Xuan were to make any particularly difficult requests, Wang Chong would never be able to repay the debt. Leaving everything else aside, if Zhang Xuan asked to learn Wang Chong's own martial techniques, would he teach them or not?

"Good, good!" Understanding his old friend's intention, Wang Chong nodded repeatedly and turned to instruct his butler.

Soon after, the butler brought a stack of gold notes and handed them to Zhang Xuan.

"This is the tuition. Please, Master Zhang, accept it, or I'd truly be too embarrassed to learn," Wang Chong said.

"Uh?" Zhang Xuan blinked. This works? He had come to learn a spear technique; how had it turned into him teaching and earning money? However, looking at the stack of gold notes in his hand, worth at least two million, he really couldn't refuse.

After accepting the money, Zhang Xuan slowly demonstrated the spear technique once, meticulously explaining the method of *qi* circulation.

As expected of a spear master, although he hadn't grasped the true essence of spear intent, his research into spear techniques was deeply ingrained. Zhang Xuan only demonstrated it once, and Wang Chong had already almost learned it. While the power still differed significantly from Zhang Xuan's, there were no longer any issues with the moves or the *qi* circulation method.

"Thank you, Master Zhang, for your instruction!" Only after learning the move did Wang Chong realize its immense power. His heart filled with awe. It was foreseeable that if he continued to practice, he would likely grasp the true essence of spear intent within a year, leading to a significant increase in his strength. Regardless of whether he paid tuition or not, Zhang Xuan now held the status of a semi-mentor to him.

A "semi-mentor" relationship referred to someone who had their own cultivation methods but had learned only one or two moves from another, or had received guidance from them.

Once Wang Chong had learned, there was no need for Zhang Xuan to stay. He and Ouyang Cheng turned to take their leave.

"President Ouyang, please continue to keep an eye out for those pills for me. I'll come to collect them when they're ready!" Zhang Xuan said as they left the residence of Master Wang Chong.

"Don't worry!" Ouyang Cheng nodded repeatedly. Before, he had thought that this young man, by studying diligently, might become the first two-star alchemist in the history of Tianxuan Kingdom. Now, that thought had completely vanished. Someone who had never learned spear techniques, yet could effortlessly create moves that even Wang Chong admired after just an hour of observation, and could comprehend spear intent — such a person would undoubtedly soar to greatness and become famous throughout the land.

"The academy!" With the Body Nourishing Fluid, Vein Warming Pills, and Spirit Gathering Pills in hand, it was time to give these items to his students so they could accelerate their cultivation.

After bidding farewell to Ouyang Cheng, it wasn't long before he arrived at his classroom, only to find Wang Ying cultivating inside, while the other students were absent.

"Where are they?" Zhang Xuan frowned. He had gone to such lengths to help them rapidly improve their strength, yet these rascals weren't even coming to cultivate.

"They... they..." Wang Ying stammered, shrinking her neck in surprise, not expecting Teacher Zhang to appear at that moment. Yesterday, when Teacher Zhang left, he had said he was busy and wouldn't be able to teach for a while. How did he suddenly show up?

"Speak!" Zhang Xuan's face darkened. He had gone to such lengths, even taking alchemist examinations and impersonating a master teacher, all to earn money to stimulate their potential. Yet, they weren't even showing up. It was infuriating. If he had known this, why bother with all the effort? Was he merely preparing a wedding dress for someone else? If they didn't work hard themselves, no matter how much or how well the teacher prepared, they would never amount to anything. Like mud, they couldn't be uplifted!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, his face turning ashen.

"Teacher..." Wang Ying shivered. Her personality was already timid, and seeing Teacher Zhang's burning rage, she could barely speak.

*Creak!* Just then, the door suddenly opened. Before the person even entered, a voice shouted, "Wang Ying, hurry and help! A fight has broken out..." The words caught in his throat halfway through when he saw Zhang Xuan standing in the room, his face as dark as ice.

"Teacher Zhang..." The newcomer also trembled. It was the chubby Yuan Tao.

"A fight has broken out? And you're calling for help? I told you to cultivate; was it so you could get into gang fights?" Zhang Xuan's voice was like ice.

"We..." Yuan Tao's face turned pale.

"You've only learned a little, and you're already going out to fight gang battles? Do you think you no longer need me as your teacher?" To be honest, Zhang Xuan wasn't angry; he was heartbroken. Although he hadn't spent much time with these students, he already considered them his closest kin. He had made all sorts of efforts for them, yet they went off to fight gang battles, and when they couldn't win, they came back calling for help... This gave him a feeling of profound disappointment.

"Teacher Zhang, that's not it!" Yuan Tao's chubby face immediately showed anxiety.

"It's not? Then tell me, what's all this about fighting and calling Wang Ying for help? If there's a single lie, I'll expel you right now, and you'll never be allowed under my tutelage again!" Zhang Xuan flicked his sleeve. If these children weren't worth cultivating, he wouldn't bother. If he lost, he lost. At worst, he could leave Tianxuan Kingdom and Hongtian Academy. With the Library of Heaven's Path in his possession, the world was vast; where couldn't he go? The only reason he remained was due to his predecessor's attachment to this place as a teacher, and his own sense of responsibility towards these students.

"Yes..." Yuan Tao shivered, then gritted his teeth. "It's like this: today, the academy was distributing cultivation resources, and they said you were the worst teacher and not qualified to receive any! We were so angry that we went to argue with them, and that's why we got into a dispute..."

"Distributing resources?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback, then remembered. Each month, the academy would allocate a certain amount of cultivation resources to its teachers. The quantity depended on the number of students and the teachers' assessment scores, determined by a comprehensive evaluation. Teachers could either use these resources themselves or selectively reward them to students as encouragement. These were usually distributed by the Academy's Student Affairs Office.

The Student Affairs Office was where students were managed and assessed, controlling the distribution of resources for both teachers and students. Zhao Ya, having ranked in the top ten during her freshman admission, didn't have to live in a group dormitory; her accommodation was assigned by this very office.

"Take me there!" Knowing that they weren't fighting for no reason but were standing up for him, Zhang Xuan's heart warmed, and his anger subsided considerably.

These little rascals...

"Yes!" Yuan Tao didn't dare to waste words. He led the way, with Wang Ying following closely behind. The three of them walked out.

The Student Affairs Office.

"The Teacher's Guild has already cleared Teacher Zhang's name regarding that matter. Why is Teacher Zhou withholding the resources?" Zheng Yang glared angrily at the young man before him.

The teacher who had just been retained by the academy this year, Zhou Tian.

"Cleared his name? Has a document been issued? Is there an announcement?" Zhou Tian raised an eyebrow, a mocking expression on his face. "Since there's nothing, Zhang Xuan is still the worst teacher with zero points in the teacher assessment. Giving him resources would be a waste. Don't blame me for the lack of resources; blame yourselves for finding the wrong teacher!"

Wealth, companions, techniques, and land—resources and money come first, which demonstrates their importance.

This was precisely why Wang Ying had been hesitant when she enrolled, hearing Zhang Xuan say there weren't many resources.

Hongtian Academy distributed cultivation supplies to students and teachers every month, mostly low-grade pills. While these weren't very useful for teachers, they were excellent for new cultivators. Many relied on these items for rapid advancement.

Today was the day these items were distributed, but they were told there were none, so naturally, they came to inquire.

"Even if the Teacher's Guild document hasn't been issued, I recall that as a teacher of Hongtian Academy, no matter how poor one's performance, as long as they have students, they are qualified to receive the Breathing Powder, right? Why are you refusing to even give us that?" Zhao Ya stepped forward.

Breathing Powder was the most common cultivation material for lower-grade students, allowing those at the Qi Gathering realm to accelerate their comprehension of spiritual energy. This item wasn't considered a true pill; even someone like Wen Xue, who hadn't passed the apprentice examination, could easily prepare it. Its value was low, and any teacher with students was eligible to receive it.

You can make excuses for not providing valuable resources, but refusing to give even this item clearly shows you're deliberately causing trouble!

"The academy does have that rule, but there's also a clause: if students have no cultivation potential, resources can be withheld. Since you didn't follow the Student Affairs Office's arrangements and came here causing a ruckus, my refusal is perfectly reasonable!" Zhou Tian raised an eyelid.

"You..." Seeing that the other party was determined not to give them anything, Zhao Ya's breathing quickened in anger, and her pretty face flushed.

"What? Not convinced?" Zhou Tian's lips curled upward. "If you're not convinced, that's fine. There's a student battle stage over there. You can challenge the students under my tutelage. As long as you defeat all of them, I'll not only give you the Breathing Powder but also the Breathing Pills! Remember, these are Breathing Pills. Haven't you been clamoring for resources for Zhang Xuan? Although this item isn't a true pill, it's not far off. It's even useful for experts at the Aperture Opening realm. Ordinary teachers can only claim one a month. If you dare to challenge and succeed, I can give you three!"

A student battle stage was one way to resolve conflicts between students and teachers, second only to the teacher battle stage. Its meaning was simple: challenge the teacher's students, and if they could sweep them all, the teacher would have to proactively apologize.