Chapter 178: Grabbing Pigs?

"Master?"

Seeing Butler Sun's sudden loss of composure, everyone immediately understood that Master Yang had returned. They all looked over in unison and indeed saw a middle-aged man with a yellowish complexion looking back with a puzzled expression, unsure what was happening.

"This is the Master so many people are waiting for?"

Zhang Liao and Zhang Mo, standing to the side, felt dizzy.

This guy doesn't have three heads and six arms, so how can he make a king and renowned masters willingly wait at the door? Having not returned to Tianxuan City for half a year, they were unaware of "Renowned Master Yang Xuan," who had been causing a stir in the vicinity.

"Xiao Qiang, what's going on?"

While they were dizzy, Zhang Xuan was even more utterly bewildered. Looking at the crowd, he soon understood: these must be people who had accumulated over the past few days, seeking his help to solve problems. But… Sun Qiang, why are you tearing up, looking at me like a puppy seeing its owner? What the hell?

We've only been apart for a few days; is there really a need to be this excited and thrilled?

"Master, you're finally here! These people are all looking for you..." Sun Qiang excitedly began to introduce, but he was interrupted before he could finish.

"Master Yang..."

Emperor Shen Zhui cupped his fist and said, "I am..."

"Did I tell you to speak?"

Just as he was about to find out what was going on from Sun Qiang, he was interrupted by this guy, and Zhang Xuan's brows furrowed. Where did you come from? You have no discernment at all. Can't you see I'm busy? Fortunately, I have a good temper. If it were any other renowned master, they would have beaten an unperceptive person like you to death by now...

Thump! Thump!

Zhang Liao and Zhang Mo stumbled and fell. My brother, that's incredibly bold! This is His Majesty the King of Tianxuan Kingdom... to speak to him directly like that...

Sun Qiang was also dumbfounded. As expected of the Master, he's truly fierce... He doesn't even show respect to His Majesty the King...

"I..." Emperor Shen Zhui's face flushed.

"You continue..." After reprimanding the person who had interrupted, Zhang Xuan turned back to the butler.

"Oh!" After a brief sigh, Sun Qiang hastily said, "You've been away for the past few days, and all these people have come to visit you. There's His Majesty Emperor Shen Zhui, and also..."

"The King is here too?"

Zhang Xuan was startled. He had almost gathered enough money and was planning to return the mansion and revert to being "Zhang Xuan" to escape, but he hadn't expected to alarm His Majesty the King.

He couldn't help but ask, "Where is he?"

Upon hearing this, everyone had a strange expression, and even Sun Qiang staggered... After all this, it turns out his Master doesn't even recognize His Majesty. And here he was, admiring him for so long...

"Cough, cough, it's me!" Emperor Shen Zhui coughed.

"You?" Zhang Xuan was so frustrated he nearly spat blood. He hadn't expected to scold the very person whose library he had just returned from...

"I am Shen Zhui, it's an honor to meet Master Yang. Allow me to introduce these three: Master Liu, Master Zheng, and Master Zhuang..." Emperor Shen Zhui hurriedly said.

"Master Liu... what? Renowned Masters?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback. Didn't they say there were no renowned masters in Tianxuan Kingdom? When did three of them appear? What exactly happened in the few days I was gone?

"Liu Ling (Zhuang Xian, Zheng Fei) greets Master Yang!"

Master Liu and the others stepped forward, cupped their fists, and simultaneously scrutinized the middle-aged man before them. With just one look, all three frowned.

"Let's go inside first!"

Unaware of what the three seemed to have discerned, and seeing so many people gathered at the entrance making it impossible to talk, Zhang Xuan rubbed his temples and gestured with a wave of his hand. Surely, he couldn't make His Majesty the King and three renowned masters wait at the door.

"Brother Liu, did you notice anything?"

As they followed behind into the courtyard, Zhuang Xian couldn't help but secretly transmit his voice.

"He's in disguise, not his true self. Judging by his skin and demeanor, he should be very young, certainly no older than thirty, perhaps... not even twenty-five!" Liu Ling frowned. If even Du Miaoxuan could see through Zhang Xuan's disguise, how could a renowned master not?

"No older than twenty-five, what kind of renowned master could he be? He's probably a fake..." Zhuang Xian snorted coldly. Like seasoned scholars, renowned masters are considered more valuable with age. It's one thing to hide one's true appearance, but to be under twenty-five... how could he possibly be a renowned master? To become a renowned master, one must pass various assessments, each requiring immense time and effort to learn. Limited by age and breadth of knowledge, it's impossible to succeed in these assessments in one's early twenties!

"He's probably a fake. We'll find a way to expose him later." Master Zheng also nodded. Upon hearing the introduction from Ling Tianyu and the others, they already had doubts. Now, seeing Zhang Xuan's crude disguise with their own eyes, they immediately knew he was definitely a fake. If he weren't fake, why would he disguise himself? If he weren't fake, how could someone in their early twenties be so skilled that even they couldn't see through him?

"Furthermore, did you notice his bloodshot eyes and tired expression? If he were truly a renowned master, how could he be in such a state?" Liu Ling continued. Not only did he see through Zhang Xuan's disguise, but he also noticed his lack of energy. After observing carefully for a while longer, he grew increasingly angry because, from every angle, this person did not seem genuine. Any person would be furious if a fake made them visit for five consecutive days, let alone a renowned master.

Unaware that his disguise had been mostly seen through, Zhang Xuan arrived in the living room and sat in the main seat. He looked up at the three individuals before him: "May I ask why the three esteemed masters are looking for me, Yang?"

"Oh, we heard that Master Yang is proficient in medicine and skilled at helping others break through their cultivation. We have presumptuously come with a matter we wish to be advised on..." After exchanging glances with the other two, Liu Ling spoke. Coming on too strong would certainly not work. Since they intended to expose him, they had to strip him bare of all his pretenses.

"What is it? Speak!" All Zhang Xuan wanted to do now was earn another two million, quickly get his purchased medicinal herbs, and then find a place to sleep. He was simply too exhausted, so he didn't bother with pleasantries and just waved his hand dismissively.

"Keep pretending, go on!" Seeing his indifferent attitude, the three masters' faces turned green with anger, and their eyes narrowed. "His psychological fortitude is quite good." However, no matter how good he was at pretending, it was useless. They would not leave today until they exposed him.

"I have some issues with my cultivation that I wish to consult you about!" At the subtle signal from the other two, Zhuang Xian stood up, cupped his fists, and said, "I have now reached the peak of the Tongxuan realm, just one step away from Half-step Zongshi. However, I distinctly feel that the speed at which the vital energy condenses within my body has slowed down. No matter what I do, I cannot take that final step. I have exhausted all methods, but I don't know why. I hope you can provide some guidance."

"Peak of the Tongxuan realm?" Zhang Xuan felt depressed. His current strength was only at the peak of the Pixue realm. He had no idea how to cultivate the Tongxuan realm, what it meant to reach such strength, or what its advantages were. How could he possibly give guidance?

"How about this... throw two punches, let me see!" Knowing that he definitely couldn't outdo the other party in theoretical knowledge, Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Throw two punches? Alright!" Zhuang Xian knew that performing a martial skill would allow Zhang Xuan to see the problem. Without hesitation, he stood up and unleashed a punch. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The punch generated strong winds, and its power was like a blade. As expected of a Tongxuan realm expert, vital energy coiled within him like a swimming dragon. The immense force of his punch caused the surrounding air to roar and produce sonic booms. The boxing display quickly concluded.

Zhuang Xian, Liu Ling, and Zheng Fei all looked towards "Master Yang" simultaneously, eager to hear what he would say. However, they saw him with a blank expression, like a wooden chicken, seemingly lost in thought.

"Please offer your critique!" Seeing his attitude, Zhuang Xian's face darkened, becoming very displeased. He couldn't even be bothered to address him as "Master Yang" anymore. No matter what, he was a renowned master. If you were truly many levels higher than us, that would be fine, but you're a disguised fake, what are you showing off for? You asked me to punch, and now you're just staring blankly... Did you get dazed and can't say anything?

"You want me to critique?" Ignoring the other party's displeasure, Zhang Xuan raised his eyes and looked over.

"Indeed!" Zhuang Xian snorted. He had already decided: as soon as the other party spoke, he would find flaws, expose him publicly, and humiliate this imposter. They hadn't yet confirmed if this person was real or fake, but so many people were already queuing outside. Logically, they should have discouraged them, but they had their own reasons for not doing so. If he were real, sending these people away would certainly offend him, leading to more harm than good. If he were fake, it would be an opportune moment to expose him in front of so many people, ruining his reputation and simultaneously announcing to the world that renowned masters must not be blasphemed or impersonated.

"Critique is simple, but I'm afraid you won't believe it..." Zhang Xuan shook his head. He had no choice now but to grit his teeth and push through; otherwise, if his disguise were discovered, he wouldn't be able to escape. However, he had grown quite adept at disguising himself over the past few days. With an unreadable expression, he waved his hand and said, "How about this: do you want to break through the peak of the Tongxuan realm and reach the Half-step Zongshi realm?"

"Of course!" Zhuang Xian said. It was a ridiculous question. As long as one was a cultivator, who wouldn't want to break through? Who wouldn't want to reach a higher realm? A healer cannot heal himself, and a renowned master cannot guide himself. Although he yearned to break through, he had been trapped for years, unable to succeed. Meanwhile, his two old friends, Liu Ling and Zheng Fei, had already broken through, leaving him to watch anxiously.

"I can help you break through within ten minutes, but..." Zhang Xuan paused.

"Ten minutes... break through?" Zhuang Xian was stunned. Even Liu Ling and Zheng Fei, who were standing nearby, were filled with disbelief. As friends, they had also looked into his situation and knew it was impossible for him to break through in a short time. Yet, this imposter before them claimed... he could succeed in ten minutes?

"The opportunity has been given to you; how you choose is your business!" Zhang Xuan picked up the teacup from the table and slowly drank, his expression nonchalant. Normally, this gesture would have been incredibly cool, giving off an aura of an unassailable master. But now, with his bloodshot eyes, sagging eye bags, and dry, purplish lips, he not only lacked the demeanor of an expert but instead looked bizarre and out of place, as if he had spent an entire night on some questionable health treatment.

"I... Alright, I want to break through. Please guide me!" After a moment of hesitation, Zhuang Xian gritted his teeth. If he could truly help him break through as he claimed, then he was genuine and very powerful. If not... then he was a fake, an imposter!

"Are you sure?" Zhang Xuan's eyelids slightly lifted.

"Yes!" Zhuang Xian waved his hand.

"Alright then, Xiao Qiang, go get a sack, and then call a few guards. Tell them to bring wooden sticks as well..." Zhang Xuan began to give instructions.

The three renowned masters and Emperor Shen Zhui exchanged glances, each with a strange expression on their faces. A sack? Guards? Wooden sticks? Wasn't he supposed to help with a breakthrough? What was this... for? Was he going to catch a pig?