Chapter 224: Shocked Qian Chao

Qian Chao, son of Minister Qian, had planned to take the day off to relax, but his father had dragged him out early in the morning, leaving him seething with resentment.

"Dad, for this teacher assessment, all you need to do is have someone inquire about the results and report back. There's no need for you to come in person!"

Qian Chao's face was etched with resentment and a sense of profound injustice. "No matter what, you're one of His Majesty's most valued officials. You didn't even go to the martial arts contest between Marquis Huainan and General Jifeng last time. What's there to see in a student's competition?"

He truly couldn't understand what had gotten into his father.

As a dignified Grand Secretary, his father didn't even need to bow when meeting the King, and he avoided the disputes between first-rank officials at court. Yet, he insisted on attending a mere student competition. While a teacher assessment might involve a teacher's reputation, it was really just a few students competing. For something of this magnitude, one could simply send a servant to observe and report back. Did the Chief of Intelligence really need to make a personal appearance? Wasn't he afraid of scaring everyone away?

"This is a three-star event; I must attend in person," Minister Qian said, waving a hand.

"I know it's a three-star event," Qian Chao retorted dismissively, curling his lip. "It automatically gains a star because it involves the academy, and Teacher Lu Xun is a celebrity teacher, adding another star. So, it's really just a one-star event."

A one-star event was typically optional to report. If his father personally attended matters of this level, wouldn't he eventually drop dead from exhaustion?

"It's not that simple!" Minister Qian snorted.

"How much more complicated can it be?" Qian Chao scoffed. "I refuse to believe a student competition could be ranked higher than the one between Marquis Huainan and General Jifeng. Remember, twelve officials of the second rank or higher attended that event. It was definitely one of the most prominent competitions of the year…"

Qian Chao remained unconvinced. Marquis Huainan and General Jifeng were both first-rank officials in the kingdom, and their martial arts contest had been widely publicized, attracting many powerful spectators. Yet, his own father had adamantly refused to attend, claiming the event's star-rating wasn't high enough. Now, his father was rushing to watch a few students fight, which made Qian Chao question if the old man was losing his mind.

"This morning, I received news that Patriarch Wang Hong of the Wang family, one of the four great families, has arrived at the academy. Patriarch Bai Ming of the Bai family is also here. The personal presence of the heads of these two great families clearly shows the importance they place on this competition. Now tell me, do you think I needed to come personally?" Minister Qian said.

"Patriarch Wang Hong is a peak Comprehension Realm expert, whose strength is renowned throughout the royal city," Qian Chao stammered. "And although Patriarch Bai Ming isn't as strong, he's a genuine alchemist, highly respected... They came to the academy to watch a few students compete?" Qian Chao found it hard to believe.

Though these two patriarchs held no official government posts, their true status was no lower than that of first-rank court officials. How could such formidable individuals possibly come to watch a group of students compete?

"See for yourself…"

The two turned a corner and arrived at the combat arena of Hongtian Academy. The surrounding spectator stands were already packed with people. Minister Qian pointed casually.

"I don't think there'll be many people in the VIP section… Huh?" He mumbled, then couldn't help but glance towards the VIP seating area of the arena. The moment he saw it, his body instantly froze.

"Patriarch Wang Hong and Patriarch Bai Ming are actually here… And that's… President Ouyang? How did President Ouyang of the Alchemist Guild also come? And Master Alchemist Meng Yan, Master Alchemist Lin Mu, Master Alchemist Jin Chen… This, how is this possible?"

He had assumed a student competition couldn't possibly draw much attention. Yet, he now saw not only two patriarchs from the four great families but also nearly ten alchemists, and even their President, were present. What on earth was happening?

Alchemists, as one of the most esteemed professions, were incredibly noble. Someone like President Ouyang, in particular, was so distinguished that even Emperor Shen Zhui might not easily gain an audience with him. Yet, here he was, watching a group of children compete… It made his head spin; he couldn't believe his eyes.

"It's not just them; look over there!"

Before his shock could subside, Minister Qian pointed once more. Following his father's gaze, Qian Chao trembled again, momentarily speechless.

"The kingdom's foremost physician, Master Yuanyu? And that's… Elder Tian? He even declined to attend His Majesty's last birthday banquet with an excuse, so why… why…?" Just moments ago, he had thought his father was making a mountain out of a molehill, but now… he was so utterly shocked that he nearly fainted.

Master Yuanyu was such a formidable figure that even the King treated him with the utmost deference and dared not make excessive demands! And Elder Tian, not to mention, was so reclusive that His Majesty couldn't even get a cup of tea from him. How incredibly prestigious must he be? Yet, these two incredibly eminent individuals were sitting motionless in the audience, seemingly waiting for something with bated breath…

Who could tell him what on earth was going on? Was this even real?

"Who are those people? Why are so many people giving up their seats for them?"

Just as he was utterly overwhelmed by shock, he heard exclamations from students nearby. He looked up, and stumbled back once more.

"The three… Grandmasters? They… they've also come?" Three elderly men had appeared before his eyes. If the sight of the previous individuals had merely been stunning, what appeared now was utterly astonishing.

These were the Three Grandmasters! Not only him, but even his father, Minister Qian, might be ignored if he sought an audience with these supremely powerful figures. And such people… were actually sitting in the audience like everyone else today…

However, his astonishment was far from over. Immediately afterwards, he saw two middle-aged men also take seats.

"Is that… that's… Emperor Shen Zhui and City Lord Zhao Feng of White Jade City?" His throat went dry. Just moments ago, he had thought his father was lowering his status by being here, but he never imagined… even His Majesty and City Lord Zhao Feng would come in person.

White Jade City was the second-largest city in the Tianxuan Kingdom, and its City Lord's status was second only to the King himself! Was this truly just a student competition? Even a duel between princes wouldn't attract such an impressive gathering!

"Actually… the highest-ranking person among the crowd isn't His Majesty or the Three Grandmasters. It's that person over there!" Seeing his son so utterly terrified, Minister Qian spoke.

Qian Chao quickly looked and then spotted a completely inconspicuous stout man.

"He is…?" Knowing his father had extensive sources of information and wouldn't speak idly, Qian Chao couldn't help but ask.

"He is… Master Yang's steward, Sun Qiang! His presence here represents Master Yang…" Minister Qian said slowly.

"Represents Master Yang?" Qian Chao swallowed hard. "The Master Yang who even Emperor Shen Zhui was denied entry to?" He had already heard about Master Yang in recent days—how Master Liu and others had willingly sought an audience and admitted their inferiority, and how Emperor Shen Zhui himself had been left waiting outside his door…

Such an incredibly powerful Grandmaster, sending his own steward… Qian Chao's body trembled. He simply couldn't fathom what kind of competition this was.

"This… is this truly just a three-star event?"

"It was previously rated as three-star, but now, it seems it might already be… a five-star event!" Minister Qian's expression was grave. Perhaps only a five-star event could command such a grand scale and attract so many powerful figures.

"Could it be… Teacher Lu Xun?" After thinking for a long time, Qian Chao couldn't hold back and asked in a trembling voice. Lu Xun was a celebrity teacher, his fame echoing throughout the kingdom. Could it be that his participation in the contest was what attracted so many people? He had single-handedly elevated a three-star event into a five-star one!

"Him? I'm still puzzled. Although he's famous, I don't think he's qualified enough to draw such a crowd. I'm now wondering if it's actually that Teacher Zhang Xuan." Minister Qian hesitated before replying. While Lu Xun's reputation was indeed significant, it could at most draw individuals like Wang Hong and Bai Ming. It was certainly not enough to compel President Ouyang and a group of alchemists to attend. Not to mention Emperor Shen Zhui, Elder Tian, Master Yang's steward Sun Qiang, and the others. Since it wasn't him, then naturally it had to be the other contestant in the competition. This… once notorious Teacher Zhang.

"Zhang Xuan…" Hearing this name, which was both strange and vaguely familiar, Qian Chao was dumbfounded. If his father's guess was true, and this person could draw so many formidable figures to attend in person… How on earth had this person managed it?

Not only was Qian Chao almost driven mad by shock, but many of the academy's teachers were also pulling at their hair, their faces contorted in disbelief. "Are you sure this isn't the dean competing against someone? Otherwise, how could even His Majesty the King, the Three Grandmasters, Elder Tian, Master Yuanyu… all these formidable individuals be here?"

Zhang Xuan, having returned to his original appearance, led Zhao Ya and the others to the combat arena. Seeing the distinguished guests seated in the VIP section, and Emperor Shen Zhui's excited face among them, he too wore a peculiar expression.

"Lu Xun and I are just having a teacher assessment. What are these fools doing here?"