Chapter 180: Confident Ayun

His aura surged powerfully, several times stronger than before, having already broken through to the peak of the Tongxuan realm.

“Half-step… Grandmaster?”

Zhuang Xian’s mouth fell open.

The Eighth-stage Martial Grandmaster realm allows one to establish a sect, becoming the master of a domain. Although only a thin line separates it from the seventh-stage peak, it is as difficult to cross as a caterpillar breaking free from its cocoon to become a butterfly, or a carp leaping over the dragon gate.

This is the first major hurdle among the nine stages of martial arts, one that has trapped countless exceptionally talented individuals.

Half-step Grandmaster is precisely a buffer state between these realms. To aim higher, one must first reach this level.

The Old Ancestor of Tianxuan Kingdom, who had suppressed the nation for many years, possessed merely this level of strength.

Zhuang Xian himself was a master teacher. He had put in countless efforts to break through this realm but failed. How did he… break through after being beaten with a stick while blindfolded?

This… is too ridiculous, isn't it?

Liu Ling and Zheng Fei, who were standing nearby, also exchanged glances, their heads filled with confusion.

They had all observed Zhuang Xian’s situation and considered many methods. They had thought that with increasing age and declining physical strength, he would no longer be able to break through. They never imagined he would succeed after being haphazardly beaten.

Could it get any more absurd?

Is being brutally beaten also a method for breakthrough? If the two of them couldn't break through to Grandmaster, should they also find a group of people to ambush them?

Feeling strange in their hearts, they all uniformly looked at the man who was drinking tea, hoping to discern something from his face. But unfortunately, the man's expression was as normal as if he had done nothing, calm as water. Of course, his eyes were still red, his spirit still weak, and his eye bags still drooped.

If it weren't for the miracle that had just occurred, they would have suspected this guy had been out carousing last night.

“Teacher Yang… what exactly happened?” Seeing that the other party wasn't speaking, Zhuang Xian could no longer hold back.

His address changed from Yang Xuan to Teacher Yang once again.

“Are you no longer cursing my ancestors?” Zhang Xuan’s eyelids lifted.

“I…” Teacher Zhuang’s face flushed crimson, and sweat poured down him.

The other person was clearly helping him break through, yet he hadn't understood the good intention and even insulted him publicly. This was simply a prime example of repaying kindness with enmity.

Filled with embarrassment, Zhuang Xian could only lower his head and say, “Please forgive my ignorance…”

“It’s alright, I don’t blame you,” Zhang Xuan waved his hand. “When you performed your martial art just now, it was steady and balanced, neither spectacular nor flawed. This indicates that you studied diligently from a young age and had an excellent teacher.”

“Teacher Yang is right. My father was a one-star master teacher,” Zhuang Xian nodded.

“A solid foundation and ample strength are good things, but they are also shortcomings. Because your father was a master teacher, you knew from childhood that his guidance was always correct. This created a subconscious belief that you couldn't overstep, leading to a conventional and rigid habit. Martial cultivation is about defying the heavens, not adhering strictly to rules and conventions. While such cultivation might initially progress quickly, upon reaching the peak of the Tongxuan realm, it will become a hindrance when you try to break through.”

Zhang Xuan looked up, as if instructing a student: “Grandmasters, as the name suggests, establish sects. If one lacks their own thoughts and insights, and merely imitates predecessors, how can they succeed? A Half-step Grandmaster, while not a true Grandmaster, already embodies this essence.”

“Through years of cultivation and accumulation, the true qi and strength within you could have long broken through the shackles and reached the Half-step Grandmaster realm. Unfortunately, you harbored doubt and lacked confidence. If I'm not mistaken, your father probably never reached this realm in his lifetime, and might even have suffered some misfortune while attempting to break through it!”

“You… you…”

Zhuang Xian stumbled back repeatedly.

What the other party said was absolutely correct.

Although his father was a one-star master teacher, he never reached the Half-step Grandmaster realm, even until his death. And because he failed in his attempt, he suffered qi deviation, rendering his cultivation completely useless. He eventually died of depression, less than a year later.

Because of this incident, a shadow always lingered in his heart. Every time he attempted a breakthrough, he couldn't give it his all.

However, this was a secret in his heart, never uttered aloud. How did the other person know?

Was it just by watching his martial art?

“This fear prevented your breakthrough; no elixir or cultivation technique would have worked,” Zhang Xuan stood up and slowly walked to the center of the living room. “You asked for my guidance, and I knew that for you to succeed, you first needed to overcome your fear; otherwise, everything would be futile.”

“But this fear had been buried in your heart for many years. How difficult would it be to overcome? The only way was anger, to use this special emotion to counteract the inner panic. Therefore, I had someone blindfold you and arrange for you to be ambushed. Unaware of the reason, you would inevitably see it as an insult from me and despise me. This way, your fear would vanish. With years of accumulation and the indignation in your heart, breakthrough was to be expected.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Xuan stood quietly in the center of the living room. His figure, stretched by the incoming sunlight, appeared like a towering giant.

“This…”

Zhuang Xian stood rooted to the spot, carefully pondering the other's words. With each thought, he was involuntarily filled with shock.

This theory sounded simple. But in reality, to deduce it just by observing a martial art, and then prescribe the correct remedy, predicting the outcome without any flaw—its complexity was no less than cultivating to breakthrough to Grandmaster.

If they hadn't witnessed it themselves, they wouldn't have dared to believe it.

“Teacher Yang’s profound kindness, Zhuang Xian will never forget it.”

After the shock, Zhuang Xian prostrated himself.

At that moment, he was utterly convinced and showed no reluctance whatsoever.

“You’re no longer suspicious that I was pretending?” Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, a hint of amusement in his expression.

“Uh…” Zhuang Xian rubbed his hands together.

It seemed that his suspicions about the other party had been known by the other party all along, and the other party had simply been too lazy to bother with it.

Understanding this, he was filled with profound respect.

To see through something without exposing it, and even help him break through—this was the true demeanor of a master teacher, the style of a profound individual.

Seeing their friend's problem easily resolved, even Liu Ling and Zheng Fei, as foolish as they might have been, knew that the person before them, despite appearing young, was in fact a genuine master teacher.

If he wasn't a master teacher, how could he possess such profound insights into cultivation? How could he instantly identify the problem they couldn't solve and help Zhuang Xian break through? Even though this breakthrough… seemed a bit unorthodox…

However, regardless of whether it was orthodox or not, the successful breakthrough proved that the person before them possessed abilities far surpassing their own.

With no trace of disdain left in their hearts, they exchanged glances. Zheng Fei stood up and said, “Teacher Yang, I also have a cultivation problem that has troubled me for a long time…”

***

Outside the mansion.

“You mean the three master teachers have all come to visit this Teacher Yang? Could it be that he truly is as the legends say, having reached the two-star level?”

Seeing Emperor Shen Zhui and the three teachers enter the courtyard, the people standing outside couldn't help but converse among themselves.

No one knew what level this Teacher Yang was at, but for him to be visited by three one-star master teachers, it was likely not simple. At the very least, he had reached the two-star level.

“I don't know that either. A few days ago, I specifically visited Ling Tianyu, and he spoke of Teacher Yang with great admiration. We all saw his wife's illness before, and now she's completely recovered.”

“I also specifically visited Du Miaoxuan. His chronic illness from many years ago was not only cured, but his cultivation also reached the Tongxuan realm, just as the rumors claimed!”

“This Teacher Yang’s methods are truly profound and unfathomable; he is admirable…”

The several people quietly discussed, while also feeling a sense of awe.

“Actually, if everyone is truly confused, asking them should provide answers.” Suddenly, someone pointed forward.

Looking in the direction of the finger, they saw the guards of the three master teachers standing quietly not far away. A-Yun, as their leader, was holding a long sword, emanating a heart-stopping aura.

The master teachers and Emperor Shen Zhui had entered the courtyard. As guards, they were not qualified to enter and could only stand guard outside.

“Indeed, they are the three teachers' guards; they should know best…”

Everyone nodded simultaneously.

If anyone knew the most about this Yang Xuan, it would certainly be the three master teachers. And if anyone knew the most about the latter, it would undoubtedly be these guards.

By asking them, they would surely be able to obtain some useful information.

“Brother Yun…”

A middle-aged man walked forward and cupped his fist in greeting.

Clearly, he knew A-Yun.

As a top-tier one-star master teacher, Liu Ling was well-known in several kingdoms. Being his guard was also prestigious, with many people trying to curry favor.

“So it's Brother Liao.”

A-Yun recognized him as Liao Yongjin, a lone cultivator from Tianxuan Kingdom. Five years ago, he had specifically visited Teacher Liu to ask about cultivation problems.

“Just call me by my name; I wouldn't dare accept the title ‘Brother Liao’!” Seeing that the other party recognized him, Liao Yongjin was overjoyed. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he voiced the doubt in his heart: “Teacher Liu and the others specifically visited… have they perhaps learned Teacher Yang's true identity?”

“Visited?”

A-Yun scoffed. “To call it a visit is less accurate than to say they're going to expose his true nature.”

“Brother Yun, what do you mean by that?”

Liao Yongjin was startled and couldn't help but ask.

“It's simple. Teacher Liu and the others don't believe this Yang Xuan is a master teacher. On the contrary, he's highly likely to be an impostor and a swindler. So they came specifically to check and plan to expose him publicly.”

As Liu Ling's guard, he had been following closely these past few days. He had heard quite a bit of the conversations between the three teachers.

Although Teacher Liu and the others were astonished by the matters concerning Ling Tianyu's wife and Du Miaoxuan, they were actually more inclined to believe that this Yang Xuan was fake and merely putting on an act.

Otherwise, how could he easily handle problems that even they couldn't solve? And using incomprehensible methods at that?

It was ostensibly a visit, but in reality, it was an investigation.

“Teacher Yang… might be a swindler?”

As A-Yun's voice rang out, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

If that were true, it would be a huge mess.

They had painstakingly queued and waited only to visit a swindler…

“Don't worry, Teacher Liu and the others have been inside for a while. It shouldn't take long for them to prove it.”

With a flick of his hand, A-Yun said indifferently, a look of arrogance on his face.

If he wasn't a swindler, how could he have such a foolish butler, who said such idiotic things?

*Creak!*

No sooner had his words fallen than the tightly closed gate before them slowly opened, and several figures walked out.

“Brother Sun, please stop. Today has truly been very fruitful. We know Teacher Yang doesn't care for these things, but they are our three's heartfelt tokens. Please deliver them on our behalf.”

Teacher Liu stood at the doorway, chatting with Sun Qiang with a smiling face, while continuously placing items into his hands.

“Gah?”

A-Yun's body stiffened.