Chapter 1574: Master Hall Apology (Part 2)

"Tens of millions of high-grade spirit stones, you're robbing us!"

The nine-star master teacher nearly exploded with rage, and the other nine-star master teachers glared furiously. High-grade spirit stones were extremely rare. Even the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters couldn't produce tens of millions of them all at once. This was simply outrageous.

"Robbery? How could that be? We are reasonable people; we never do such things..."

Yuan Tao chuckled and turned to address the others: "Elders of the Yuan Clan, friends from the Combat Master Hall, powerful cultivators from the Poison Hall, senior and junior martial siblings, if they genuinely can't produce the stones, my suggestion is to have them leave their storage rings as compensation. There's no need to strip them of their clothes, even though the master teacher robes they're wearing, custom-designed by the headquarters, are quite valuable... After all, we are reasonable people, not here to rob them!"

"You..."

Upon hearing this, the Master Teacher Pavilion members nearly fainted.

"This isn't robbery? Isn't this worse than robbery?"

Ren Qingyuan could no longer hold back. He looked up at the young man nearby and asked, "Master Teacher Zhang, is this what you intend?"

"Stop fooling around!"

Seeing his disciples being so mischievous, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, his face full of helplessness. "Nephew Qingyuan, my disciples are incorrigibly naughty. Please forgive their impertinence!"

"Nephew?" Ren Qingyuan was startled.

"The talk about storage rings was just a joke, but... they are absolutely right. Throughout my journey, I, Zhang Xuan, have always been open and upright; I embody great virtue, possess foresight; I am selfless and act for the common good; I have no regrets or shame, maintaining integrity and high morals. While I may not stand as tall as the heavens, I am absolutely clear in my conscience. I reflect on my actions three times daily and always hold myself to the standards of a master teacher, never once acting against master teacher ethics or conduct. Yet, now you accuse me of wanton destruction and breaking rules, and you intend to arrest me... If I were to let you leave just like that... it would not only go against the rules but also likely dishearten the many master teachers across the world who uphold these very standards!"

With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"You... Very well. This time, it is my fault. I am willing to accept punishment. Name your terms. As long as my Master Teacher Pavilion can afford it, we will not refuse!"

Although seething with rage, Ren Qingyuan knew that the other party was right. He cupped his fists and bowed his head.

"There's no need for compensation. I am someone who passionately loves learning and research. The Master Teacher Pavilion governs the world, and countless cultivation techniques and secret manuals have originated from it. Therefore, I have long admired your collection of secret manuals... If the Master Teacher Pavilion could copy all cultivation techniques from the Ethereal Realm to the realm before Ancient Sage and send them to me for perusal, I would be immensely grateful!" Zhang Xuan stated.

For him, no other form of compensation was as practical as cultivation techniques and secret manuals. With these, he could condense Heaven's Path cultivation techniques and make his strength advance by leaps and bounds.

"The Master Teacher Pavilion's cultivation techniques are highly confidential and cannot be given out casually. Please propose another condition!" Ren Qingyuan waved his hand dismissively.

The reason the Master Teacher Pavilion stood at the pinnacle of the continent was that many top-tier secret manuals could not be passed on to those without exceptional talent and good character. Furthermore, many powerful techniques were too profound. Without guidance, one could not master them and might even suffer qi deviation. Even nine-star master teachers had to study the notes of their predecessors with great care and caution to learn them... copying and giving them away was absolutely out of the question!

"I don't need techniques that are too profound or highly confidential. I only want those that can be freely disclosed; the more, the better!" Zhang Xuan said.

While master teachers preached across the land and taught indiscriminately, true core cultivation techniques were not something that could be casually imparted to just anyone. Techniques should not be lightly transmitted! Back then, Master Kong had three thousand students, but only seventy-two achieved mastery, and he taught them different methods; not everyone practiced the same techniques. His own cultivation methods, and those of Wang Ying, Zheng Yang, Zhao Ya, and the others, were also not entirely the same. From the very beginning, he taught them individually; only the most basic content was covered in a group setting.

"This..."

Hearing that he did not want overly confidential cultivation techniques, Ren Qingyuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Very well, but only secret manuals for Saint 8-dan and 9-dan... Beyond these realms, everyone's path is different, and there are no longer any referential techniques! Moreover, they are all locked within the Master Teacher Pavilion's Heavenly Scripture Pavilion. If you wish to read them, you must enter it yourself; no copies can be made!"

"This..." Hearing him say that, Zhang Xuan turned to look at Xing Jiansheng, who was to one side. Seeing him nod, indicating that it was likely true, Zhang Xuan then said with a helpless expression, "Very well!"

"We have quite a few Saint 8-dan secret manuals among us; we can give them to you now. However... the Saint 9-dan ones will need to be copied for you at the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters later!" Ren Qingyuan continued.

"Mm-hm!" Since the Master Teacher Pavilion had agreed, and given their status, they would naturally not go back on their word. Zhang Xuan immediately nodded.

"Everyone, please take out a copy of all the Saint 8-dan cultivation techniques you possess and give them to me..."

Seeing his agreement, Ren Qingyuan said no more and turned to give instructions.

"Yes, sir!"

Numerous nine-star master teachers promptly took out their secret manuals. Over ten master teachers found thousands of books.

Handing over the books, Ren Qingyuan flicked his sleeve. "Master Teacher Zhang, today's incident was my fault. After I return, I will resign from my position as acting pavilion master! Consider this my apology!"

The way things had turned out, the Master Teacher Pavilion had suffered a great loss of face. To regain its dignity and reputation, it would be necessary to announce to the world that the entire blame lay with him. With such a grave accusation, his position as acting pavilion master was certainly unsustainable. Rather than waiting to be censured, it was better to resign immediately.

"Farewell!"

After speaking, he bowed, then saluted Master Teacher Yang, and turned to leave with the others.

Unexpectedly, the other party actually intended to resign as acting pavilion master. Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly, then looked at Master Teacher Yang, who was not far away, in confusion. "Junior Martial Brother..."

He hadn't told Master Teacher Yang that he was keeping the Pavilion Master Seal, so how did the latter end up speaking on his behalf?

"A Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher can easily refine the Pavilion Master Seal. The fact that you didn't want to hand it over means you've likely already refined it, and it turned into a drop of water, disappearing into your palm, didn't it?" Master Teacher Yang transmitted his voice.

"Mm-hm!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

It seemed Master Teacher Yang already knew, saving him the trouble of explaining.

"By refining it, and with the help of that drop of water, you will possess invincible power below the Ancient Sage realm. Senior Martial Brother, do you perhaps feel that revealing your identity as a Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher to them no longer matters?" Master Teacher Yang continued his voice transmission.

Zhang Xuan hummed in acknowledgment, then looked over with a puzzled expression. "Why?"

The reason he dared not admit to being a Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher was that his strength was too low, fearing that the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe would hear the news and launch an encirclement. But now that he had refined the Pavilion Master Seal, as long as he integrated the drop of water, he would possess invincible combat power below the Ancient Sage realm, so revealing it shouldn't matter anymore! Even if he said directly that he had refined the Pavilion Master Seal, it shouldn't matter. Why intentionally conceal it?

"To tell you the truth, the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe's Emperor of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe has already arrived on the Master Teacher Continent!" Master Teacher Yang's expression was grave. "If my guess is correct, he very likely knows something. Once the news of a Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher is leaked, you will also be in danger!"

"In danger? What is the strength of this Emperor of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe?" Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask. He was already invincible below the Ancient Sage realm, so why still worry?

"His strength has reached..." Master Teacher Yang's expression was grave. "Ancient Sage!"