Chapter 156: Eating Out of Boredom

“The secret manual is real, but the most important parts were destroyed, leaving it incomplete. That is why you are in your current state!” Zhang Xuan did not continue the topic. “Alright, I’ll perform acupuncture now to help you resolve the hidden dangers within your body!”

“Yes!” Du Miaoxuan quickly stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist, took out silver needles, and with a flick of his finger, one needle flew out.

The Library of Heaven’s Path only provided basic information and flaws, without solutions. However, Du Miaoxuan’s problem was somewhat similar to Ling Tianyu’s wife’s: blocked meridians preventing the Snow Wolf Beast’s blood from functioning properly.

To solve it, he simply needed to clear these blockages.

For Zhang Xuan, this problem was extremely simple. The True Qi cultivated through the Heaven’s Path Divine Art was clear as water, and any blockage could be easily resolved with a gentle impact.

Dozens of silver needles were inserted in quick succession.

Du Miaoxuan felt a tingling sensation all over his body. The bestial nature that had previously oppressed him, driving him to distraction, instantly surged like a released river, coursing through his meridians and spreading throughout his body.

As these energies entered his body, his True Qi immediately surged. A series of crackling sounds, like firecrackers, erupted as acupoints on his body opened up.

Countless spiritual energies descended from the air, pouring into his body. In the blink of an eye, he broke through from the peak of the Dingli realm.

Early Acupoint Opening realm! Mid Acupoint Opening realm! In an instant, he reached the peak of the Acupoint Opening realm, showing no signs of stopping.

His body trembled, and finally, the rapidly increasing cultivation stopped. The bestial nature that had plagued him daily also vanished without a trace.

Martial Artist Seventh Layer, early Tongxuan realm! He had actually broken through from the peak of the Dingli realm to the Tongxuan realm, gaining more than a full major cultivation level.

“I...” Seeing the changes in his body, even with his firm resolve, his eyes reddened.

For ten years, this pain had tormented him, making him behave like a wild beast with white fur all over his body every day. He had thought there was no hope in his lifetime, but he never dreamed that Master Yang would resolve it in an instant and even allow his cultivation to break through!

Falling to his knees, Du Miaoxuan sincerely thanked him, without a hint of falsehood: “Thank you, Master Yang, for your grace of rebirth...”

Not only had he resolved his hidden dangers, but he had also elevated his strength to the Tongxuan realm. Such a kindness was truly akin to rebirth, comparable to that of parents.

Now, back in his family, he would undoubtedly be ranked highly, and no one would dare to look down on him again.

To achieve such a result, kneeling for a day, or even a year, would be worth it.

“Why aren’t you getting the money out quickly?” Calming his agitated emotions, Du Miaoxuan looked at his son.

“Yes!” Du Yuan quickly took out a stack of gold notes from his embrace and handed them over.

Du Yuan had initially thought his father was crazy for kneeling outside the door and suddenly offering so many gold notes. Now he realized his father wasn't crazy at all, but rather had excellent foresight.

The Tongxuan realm... So what if he lost ten years? With his father's current strength, if he wished to compete for the family head position again, he would undoubtedly be the primary candidate, unrivaled by anyone.

Moreover, even if he couldn't become the family head, earning several million gold coins would be much simpler with his Tongxuan realm strength.

“This is the ability of a Master Teacher...” Easily raising someone to the peak and just as easily casting them into hell—this was a Master Teacher, a noble profession revered across the entire continent!

As he mused, Sun Qiang approached, took the gold notes, and announced, “Elder Du, Young Master Du, please leave. Our master wishes to rest!”

“Yes, we have disturbed Master Yang enough for today. I will visit again another time!” Knowing he was being dismissed, Du Miaoxuan did not hesitate and exited with Du Yuan.

Just as they reached the door, Zhang Xuan’s faint voice echoed in his ear: “The secret manual for merging Snow Wolf King’s blood is missing a few pages. Whether it was intentional or accidental, it can be investigated!”

“This...” Du Miaoxuan’s body stiffened. He turned back again. “Thank you, Master Yang, for your guidance...”

After speaking, he turned and left.

Back then, Du Miaoxuan had the qualifications to compete for the family head position. With things going so smoothly, he suddenly began cultivating a dangerous cultivation art, attempting to reach the Tongxuan realm. If no one had incited him, and there were no other reasons, no one would believe it.

Therefore, Zhang Xuan intentionally offered a hint before he left. Of course, what Du Miaoxuan did next was his own business.

“Ten years ago, Du Miaoxuan suffered a severe illness that caused his cultivation to plummet, making him unable to compete for the family head position. Perhaps kneeling here this time is to ask this Master Teacher to help resolve his illness!” Waiting outside, Luo Chong recalled various things about Du Miaoxuan and couldn’t help but speculate.

“If Du Miaoxuan’s problem can be solved, then mine can definitely be solved too.” Du Miaoxuan’s condition was one that even Master Yuanyu couldn’t do anything about. Although Luo Chong didn’t know the exact details, he knew that Du Miaoxuan had consulted many healers over the years, all to no avail.

If this Master Teacher could solve such a difficult problem, then his own sudden inability to calmly refine artifacts should be easily handled!

As he pondered, the tightly shut door “creaked” open again, and then he saw Du Miaoxuan, Du Yuan, and others walk out.

“I wonder if his problem has been solved...” He quickly looked over, uncertain, when Luo Chong’s eyes suddenly widened, and he froze in place: “Tongxuan realm? This... how is this possible?”

He had clearly seen Du Miaoxuan enter as a peak martial artist of the fifth layer, the Dingli realm. How could he come out as a Tongxuan realm expert in less than ten minutes?

More importantly, he looked radiant and completely different from before.

What was going on? It couldn’t be true, could it?!

Even if a Master Teacher could guide someone to a breakthrough, there had to be a limit... From peak Dingli realm to Tongxuan realm in ten minutes...

Luo Chong rubbed his eyes vigorously, afraid he had seen wrong.

He looked again, confirming there was no mistake: the man was genuinely in the Tongxuan realm, and likely had just broken through, unable to suppress his internal aura, making it so obvious. Otherwise, it would be difficult even for someone of his own strength to detect such a powerful cultivator unless they revealed their cultivation.

“Brother Sun, I must take my leave!” In his shock, he saw Du Miaoxuan bid farewell to Steward Sun and turn to leave.

“I’ll go ask...” Unable to hold back any longer, he quickly chased after them.

“Elder Du...”

“Master Luo!” Du Miaoxuan recognized him and quickly bowed.

“This residence is...”

Knowing what he wanted to ask, Du Miaoxuan nodded in response.

“Is he truly a Master Teacher?” Luo Chong’s pupils constricted.

“Master Yang is a person of great ability. If Master Luo has any confusion, you may ask for guidance. However, Master Yang came to Tianxuan Kingdom to relax his mind and is not very keen on being disturbed,” Du Miaoxuan said.

“Not keen on being disturbed?” Luo Chong’s expression soured slightly.

Although his status was not low, he still dared not disturb a true Master Teacher.

“Actually, there’s no need to worry. Master Yang just said that anyone who wishes for his help to solve a problem must first pay three million gold coins. This fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether the problem is solved.” Recalling Steward Sun’s instructions before they came out, Du Miaoxuan continued, “As a Master Teacher, Master Yang naturally doesn’t care for such worldly possessions. The reason for this requirement is to set a threshold; otherwise, if everyone came to ask for his guidance, he wouldn’t get any rest and would be busy to death.”

As he spoke, he inwardly marveled. A three million gold coin entry fee—Master Teachers truly lived up to their name, their earning speed was simply too fast. He had been an elder of the Du family for so many years, and all his liquid and fixed assets combined barely amounted to that sum.

“That’s true...” Hearing that money could solve the problem, Luo Chong sighed in relief and quickly nodded.

Although three million was a large sum, it was not much for him, a Master Artificer.

“Thank you for the information. I have something I need to consult him about, so I won’t delay you further!” Luo Chong said, then walked towards the residence before him.

The residence was not luxuriously decorated; in fact, it was quite ordinary. If not for Du Miaoxuan and others’ confirmation, he wouldn’t have dared to imagine that a true Master Teacher lived there.

After handing over three million gold notes, Luo Chong, led by Sun Qiang, entered the room and saw a middle-aged man sitting quietly. His aura was almost imperceptible; if Luo Chong hadn’t seen him with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have noticed his presence.

“How formidable!” His pupils constricted.

Luo Chong was a martial artist of the seventh layer, a Tongxuan realm expert. For him to be unable to sense the man’s cultivation, there were only two possibilities: first, the man’s cultivation was far superior to his own; second, the purity of the True Qi he cultivated was extremely high, far exceeding Luo Chong’s.

Either possibility indicated that the Master Teacher before him was truly worthy of his title.

Setting aside his artificer’s arrogance, he stepped forward: “This humble one is Luo Chong. Greetings, Master Yang!”

“Hmm, Little Qiang mentioned you’re an artificer?” Zhang Xuan was slightly puzzled.

Artificers, like alchemists, were among the most respected professions within the Nine Upper Streams. Their status was venerable, and he hadn’t expected someone of that caliber to seek him out.

“Yes!” Luo Chong nodded.

“What problem have you encountered that you can’t solve?” Zhang Xuan asked.

“Master Yang, I don’t know why my artifact refining has consistently failed recently, and I can’t find the reason. I hope to receive your guidance!” Luo Chong spoke directly, without any concealment.

“Show me your artifact refining!” Zhang Xuan said.

“Yes!” Luo Chong flicked his wrist, and a set of artifact refining tools appeared in the room.

As a Master Artificer, he usually carried these items with him.

Lighting the fire, forging, blending metals, tempering... He executed each step in a continuous flow, giving a sense of smooth fluidity.

After about half an hour, a long sword appeared in his hand. However, just as the final step was about to conclude, the long sword let out a crisp crack and developed a fissure.

Failure! Just as he had said, the forging was unsuccessful.

Seeing that he couldn’t even forge the simplest long sword, Luo Chong was filled with dejection.

This sword was merely an ordinary item, with no technical complexity. The fact that he couldn’t succeed even with this made him truly wonder what was going on.

He couldn’t help but look up at the Master Teacher before him: “Master Yang, please enlighten me!”

“You want me to guide you?” Zhang Xuan stood up, walked a few steps to the man, picked up the broken long sword, glanced at it, and sighed. “If I’m not mistaken...”

“You’re simply suffering from an excess!”