Chapter 1804: Bell Tower Night Talk

Master Teacher Continent, Northern Reach. White snow drifted.

A dilapidated bell tower was packed with travelers.

This was the location of the Ice Sea Abyss, one of the six great abysses. It was usually rarely visited, but ever since the Spirit Race's large-scale withdrawal, it had become a strategic hub, attracting countless powerful cultivators daily.

Though a blood moon hung askew in the Abyss, and a dense aura of slaughter permeated the air, it could still grow vegetation that could not thrive on the Master Teacher Continent. These plants were exceptionally valuable, whether for medicinal use or as materials for weapons.

Previously, the conflict was intense, and no one dared to enter and search except for Master Teachers. Furthermore, the Master Teacher Pavilion maintained a strict blockade, prohibiting ordinary people from entering or exiting, so naturally, there were no business opportunities.

Now, with the Spirit Race retreated, many merchants of considerable cultivation were able to explore the area. As more of these items were brought out, they quickly became popular, drawing even more powerful individuals eager to seek out opportunities.

At this moment, those gathered in the bell tower were precisely these cultivators, hoping to find their fortune.

"The snowstorm outside is growing heavier," one person remarked. "Every time it gets like this, the Ice Snow Grotto automatically seals itself off. There's no way to enter, so we can only wait here for the weather to clear!"

"Yes, indeed," another agreed. "The Ice Snow Grotto is nestled within the Snow Mountain Ice Cave. When snow is falling, it's the coldest time of the year, making entry truly impossible!"

"Since we're stuck here with nothing to do, does anyone have any fresh news to share?" a third person asked. "It would be good for everyone to hear something new."

"Brother Wu, you just came from the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters. Have you heard any news?"

At the mention of "Brother Wu," everyone's gaze simultaneously converged on a middle-aged man sitting in the center.

This middle-aged man wore a Master Teacher's robe, and seven dazzling stars adorned his chest, indicating he was a Seven-Star Master Teacher. His cultivation had reached the fourth level of the Saint Realm, the peak of the Primordial Spirit stage, placing him among the more advanced Seven-Star Master Teachers.

Seeing everyone's eyes focused on him, Brother Wu paused, surveyed the group, and asked, "Do you know who the most talented Master Teacher in the world today is?"

"The most talented Master Teacher? It must be Feng Ziyi! I heard his teacher advanced to Ancient Sage, and his cultivation also skyrocketed, reaching a level beyond comprehension!"

"I think it's Zhao Moxuan. I've met him once; he's a prodigious genius, incredibly quick to grasp anything, mastering it instantly, with extraordinary wisdom!"

"I believe it's Jiang Feifei. Not only is she beautiful, but her mastery of the Heavenly Craftsmanship profession has reached an unparalleled level..."

"I heard it was..."

A hubbub of discussion filled the room.

Everyone had their own idol, whom they held in the highest admiration and praise.

Every name they mentioned resonated across the continent, revered by all.

"Have you forgotten... Zhang Xuan?"

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd.

"Zhang Xuan?"

Upon hearing this name, all the previous chatter fell silent.

"He is indeed the most talented Master Teacher; for tens of thousands of years, only Master Confucius could compare to him. However... colluding with the Spirit God of the Spirit Race, stealing the Spring and Autumn Grand Canon, and putting humanity in a vulnerable position – this single act alone... makes him unworthy of being a Master Teacher!"

"There cannot be such a disgrace among Master Teachers!"

"But I heard he didn't collude; he was deceived and didn't know the other party's true identity beforehand!"

"A true teacher must rectify themselves, their conduct, and their virtue. Even if he didn't know the identity initially, he should have severed ties after finding out. Since he neither stopped it nor retrieved the Grand Canon, this alone proves he is not a qualified Master Teacher!"

"Such a person shouldn't even be mentioned!"

Upon hearing this name, the discussions among the crowd grew even more heated.

"Haha!"

The rising chatter was abruptly cut off by a cold laugh that vibrated through the entire bell tower, making it seem as if it might collapse at any moment.

Hearing the powerful and fierce voice, everyone instinctively turned to look.

They saw that the one laughing was none other than Brother Wu, the strongest Seven-Star Master Teacher among them.

At this moment, Brother Wu's eyes were stern, devoid of his earlier smile. He stood up and looked at the crowd: "You say Master Zhang is unworthy of being a Master Teacher? Who gave you the audacity to say such a thing?"

"If he felt so guilty towards humanity that he committed suicide in shame before the Master Teacher Pavilion, isn't that precisely because he was unworthy of the Master Teacher title?" scoffed a middle-aged man with a scar on his face.

Ten days had passed since Zhang Xuan's self-termination before the Master Teacher Pavilion, and the news had already spread throughout the entire continent.

"Unworthy?"

Brother Wu's eyes narrowed. "I ask you, do you know why we can now easily enter the Ice Snow Grotto?"

"That... isn't it because the Spirit Race retreated?" the scarred middle-aged man questioned.

The others nodded in agreement.

Only with the Spirit Race's retreat did they dare to enter. Otherwise, going in would mean certain death, and no one was so foolish as to seek it.

"Retreated? Heh!"

Brother Wu sneered, "For tens of thousands of years, the Spirit Race has retreated from the Ice Snow Grotto not just hundreds, but perhaps a thousand times. Yet, why have ordinary people never been allowed to approach?"

"This..."

The scarred middle-aged man was speechless.

In conflicts between two sides, supplies and casualties are crucial factors for troop withdrawal. The Spirit Race had indeed retreated before, but the Master Teacher Pavilion had never allowed ordinary people to enter. Could there be some different significance to this retreat?

"Brother Wu, what exactly happened?" someone asked, no longer able to hold back their curiosity.

"A month ago, I happened to be at the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters on assignment and heard this news!" Brother Wu recalled. "The Spirit Race did withdraw, but they had gathered over a hundred thousand troops, preparing for a counterattack!"

"Over a hundred thousand troops for a counterattack?"

Everyone gasped.

They had deep experience with the Spirit Race's power. If such a large force launched a counterattack, it could cause unimaginable destruction, and the Master Teacher Continent might not be able to defend itself.

"That's not right... If they gathered so many troops, why was there no activity at all?"

Everyone looked simultaneously once more.

How could the Spirit Race cause such a huge stir without them hearing anything about it?

As for the Confucius Temple, that was a matter between the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters and important figures; it had nothing to do with them, and they weren't particularly concerned about it.

"Of course there was no activity... because one Master Teacher, single-handedly, broke into those hundred thousand-plus soldiers and annihilated them all!"

Brother Wu's eyes showed deep respect: "It was he who thwarted the Spirit Race's plot, forcing them to temporarily retreat and dare not approach again! It was he who repaired the seal, transforming the Abyss into a place we can freely explore, rather than an Asura Hell!"

"One person killed over a hundred thousand Spirit Race members?"

"I heard the lowest cultivation level among those Spirit Race members was Saint Realm Third Level..."

"How is that possible? Brother Wu, who exactly is this person?"

Unable to restrain themselves any longer, everyone looked over again.

"It's none other than the person you said was unworthy of being a Master Teacher..."

Brother Wu clenched his fist: "Zhang Xuan!"

PS: A new volume begins, continued support is appreciated.