Chapter 2099

“Liar! Big liar!”

An angry, sharp cry was immediately followed by the sound of footsteps retreating rapidly on the bluestone ground.

Zhang Xuan helplessly spread his hands. “I’m really not a liar; I’m a teacher at the academy... I just want you to be my student! And even if you call me a liar, why add ‘big’? You make it sound like I’m an unforgivable villain...”

After muttering to himself, Zhang Xuan remembered what the dean of students had said and rubbed his forehead. “That’s the seventeenth one! If I can’t even recruit one student today, I’ll be packing my bags and going home tomorrow!”

Zhang Xuan was not originally from this world; he was a librarian at a regular university on Earth. He only remembered a raging fire, and then... there was no ‘then.’ He woke up again in this world.

As described in novels, martial arts were supreme, and strength reigned.

He had thought he might transmigrate as a weakling, suffer a broken engagement, then stage a comeback and rise gloriously... It seemed he had thought too much. Upon arriving here, he discovered he wasn’t a student, but... a teacher!

The most pathetic teacher in the entire academy!

Other teachers’ classrooms were overflowing, too crowded to find a seat, but his classroom was empty. A few times, he managed to pull some students in, only for them to repeatedly curse him as a ‘liar’ before turning and fleeing!

The reason was that the original owner of this body, the one he had transmigrated into, was not only the weakest teacher but also had terrible judgment, unable to discern anything. Crucially... he even taught incorrectly, once leading a student to cultivation deviation!

This was like a death in a hospital; his reputation was severely damaged, and he was despised. Even new students avoided him, fearing they might fall into his hands and be taught half to death!

With no students and constant criticism, his teaching evaluation last year ranked him last in the entire academy, even receiving the only zero score in its history.

Feeling depressed, he sought solace in alcohol, and as he wished, he died, allowing Zhang Xuan to transmigrate into his body.

At the start of the new semester, the academy issued an ultimatum: if he failed to recruit even one student for his class this year, his teaching qualification would be revoked immediately!

Today, seventeen new students had already passed by his classroom. As soon as they heard his name, without exception, they all fled as fast as they could, like little girls encountering a pervert.

“Looks like I’ll have to find a way to trick someone!”

As he was pondering how to entice someone, he saw a dazed-looking girl peek her head through the doorway.

“Excuse me, is this Teacher Lu Xun’s classroom?”

Her voice was sweet and lovely, and her appearance was delicate and charming.

Teacher Lu Xun was the academy’s star teacher; his classes were always packed, with countless people coming specifically to attend them.

“She’s the one!” Seeing someone walk into his trap, Zhang Xuan’s eyes lit up.

Recalling all the pretentious tactics he had seen in his previous life, he calmly sat in his seat, adopting the posture of an otherworldly master: “You wish to take him as your teacher?”

The girl nodded repeatedly like a sparrow, her dark eyes filled with admiration: “I heard Teacher Lu Xun is the most powerful teacher at Hongtian Academy! His students are all exceptionally strong, and everyone considers it an honor to join his class!”

“Rumors aren’t always true. A teacher is like a pair of shoes; it’s about whether they fit! No matter how well he teaches, if it doesn’t align with your cultivation theories, you won’t just fail to progress, you might even regress! A teacher with less renown, but whose theories suit you, can still help you progress quickly and greatly increase your cultivation!”

“Is that so...? My brother also said something similar!” The girl paused, her beautiful eyes slightly confused: “But I don’t know what kind of class would suit me!”

Seeing her bite the bait, Zhang Xuan’s eyes lit up. He hesitated for a moment, then put on a troubled expression, as if great sages were appearing in his mind: “Since we’ve met by chance, how about this: I am also a teacher at this academy. I can examine your aptitude, talent, and disposition for free, and then recommend a suitable teacher for you!”

“Then I’ll trouble you, sir!” The girl was excited and nodded quickly, surprised that this randomly encountered teacher was so righteous.

“First, demonstrate your cultivation for me to observe!”

Zhang Xuan’s eyes were half-closed, appearing utterly unconcerned.

“Yes!”

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

In an instant, fist winds whistled through the room, and streams of vital energy surged like dragons through the girl’s body. Her aura was condensed yet not dispersed, powerful yet not overtly displayed, indicating an excellent foundation.

“Alright, I see it. You usually cultivate diligently and meticulously, your foundation is solid, and your talent is exceptional; you are a rare genius!” After she finished her set of punches, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

He had learned this from fortune tellers on Earth; his words were vague and broad, making it impossible to detect errors, yet subtly making people feel they were accurate.

“Especially the strength in your legs; it’s like a coiled dragon. Every movement is like a surging river, endless. If you cultivate well in the future, you’ll definitely have a bright future...”

“Teacher, my leg was injured, and the physician said it’s basically crippled...” The girl interrupted his eloquent speech, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

“Injured...” Zhang Xuan’s old face flushed, but being thick-skinned, others couldn’t tell. He continued to blather on: “Do you think I didn’t notice? I knew it the moment you demonstrated your strength! The reason I said that is because... nothing is achieved without breaking old habits! Although your legs are injured, you unexpectedly gained an opportunity no one else could imagine. If you seize it well in the future, your leg techniques will undoubtedly become your strongest combat power! You’ll leave others in the dust!”

Anyway, it was all about trickery; he’d say whatever he could to con a disciple first.

“Opportunity? Teacher, what kind of opportunity?” The girl’s eyes lit up.

After her leg injury, she had always felt inferior to others and developed an inferiority complex, never expecting that she might turn misfortune into a blessing.

“This opportunity can make you soar to the heavens; becoming the top new student wouldn’t be an exaggeration. After all, your talent is already excellent, you are an unparalleled genius rarely seen throughout the ages, but...” Zhang Xuan made grand claims one after another, practically on the verge of pulling out a ‘Buddha’s Palm’ manual.

Hearing that she could become the top new student and being praised as a genius, the girl’s face involuntarily glowed with excitement. She quickly asked, “But, what?”

“But...” Zhang Xuan sighed, feigning regret that a good talent might be overlooked: “There aren’t many teachers in the entire academy who can discern this kind of opportunity! Including me, there are only three. The other two stopped taking students three years ago, so... it’s not easy for me to recommend you to them...”

“Stopped taking students?” The girl, who had held high hopes, felt her eyes dim slightly upon hearing this. Then, realizing something, she suddenly jumped up: “If they don’t take students, then Teacher, do *you*... take students?”

“Of course, I still do, but as you can see, I’m indifferent to fame and fortune, and I don’t have much time!” Zhang Xuan showed a reluctant expression: “Unless it’s a true jade of fine quality, someone destined to be with me, I won’t easily agree...”

Plop!

Before he could finish, the girl knelt down: “I know you are noble, sir! Please accept me as your disciple! I will cultivate diligently and never bring shame upon your name!”

Zhang Xuan was ecstatic inwardly, but his face still showed reluctance: “We are indeed destined, but... as you can see, I prefer peace and quiet...”

“Your student promises not to disturb you unless absolutely necessary, Teacher!” Seeing his reluctance, the girl quickly nodded, her face earnest.

“I don’t have many students, so perhaps the resources might not compare to other teachers, and you might also face criticism from others...” Zhang Xuan continued.

“Is that so...? I heard resources for cultivation are very important...” The girl hesitated.

The resources teachers received from the academy were tied to various factors, such as their students’ performance and number. If resources were insufficient, cultivation progress would be difficult.

“Ahem, I was just testing you, that’s why I said that. Since your heart is firm and you sincerely wish to acknowledge me as your teacher, I will reluctantly accept you!” Seeing her hesitation, Zhang Xuan immediately interrupted and quickly said, “Let’s do the identity verification!”

“This... so fast?”

The girl was slightly taken aback, not expecting this teacher’s demeanor to change incredibly fast, like flipping a book. She took the token Zhang Xuan handed her, which represented identity, and was still considering whether to verify, when the previously calm Teacher Zhang had already taken her hand, pulled out a small knife, and lightly cut her finger. A drop of blood fell onto the jade token.

Light flickered.

“Ah...”

The girl was stunned.

Hadn’t this teacher just said he needed to consider it, and that he was indifferent to fame and fortune? Why was he so quick, and... he even had a knife ready?

“From now on, you are my student!” Only after the blood oath was complete did Zhang Xuan finally relax, resuming his master-like demeanor: “What is your name?”

“Reporting to Teacher, my name is Wang Ying!”

Knowing it couldn’t be changed, the girl said no more and nodded cutely.

“Alright, take your identity token and go collect your bedding and books, and find your lodging. Classes officially start tomorrow; just come here to find me!”

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

“Yes!” Wang Ying nodded and turned to leave.

“Phew! Successfully tricked one!”

Seeing her officially become his student, Zhang Xuan finally relaxed and smiled faintly.

It really wasn’t easy. If he hadn’t seen so many pretentious techniques online, he probably wouldn’t have succeeded today.

With one student, he was spared the fate of being expelled. As Zhang Xuan’s mood relaxed, he instantly felt a significant surge of clarity in his mind, and the lingering obsession of his predecessor, which had been circling in his thoughts, slowly vanished.

“Don’t worry, since I’ve transmigrated as you, I’ll live your life well!”

The original Zhang Xuan had died due to his inability to recruit students, filled with unwillingness. Now that he had a student, his final lingering persistence vanished without a trace. Only at this moment did Zhang Xuan truly gain complete control over this body.

Boom!

As he gained complete control of his body and was about to trick a few more students, Zhang Xuan felt his mind shake, and the booming sound of a great bell resonated within his thoughts.

“Heaven and Earth are impartial, treating all beings as straw dogs...”

“The moon waxes and wanes, Heaven and Earth are flawed...”

Boom!

Various profound words rattled him, making him feel dizzy. Immediately after, a huge palace appeared in his mind, with five large characters glittering on it.

Pushing open the doors, he stepped inside. Countless bookshelves stood tall, packed with an endless array of books, stretching as far as the eye could see.

“Is this the transmigration package? A library? Damn it, I was a librarian in my last life; don’t tell me it’s the same in this world!”

Other people’s packages came with an old mentor or a system, filled with all sorts of incredibly powerful good things, but his was just a library. Zhang Xuan felt his vision go dark and almost fainted.

A library? What the hell is it for? Am I supposed to throw books in fights while others throw swords?

“Let’s see what kind of books there are?”

With a sigh of helplessness, Zhang Xuan reached out to grab a book from the shelf, wanting to see what use this library had. But as he tried, his hand passed directly through the shelf, grasping nothing.

“Are you messing with me? You give me a library, but I can’t take any books, can’t read anything. What exactly am I supposed to do?”

Zhang Xuan’s face was full of exasperation, on the verge of tears.