Chapter 230: You Dare Accept?【The Big Climax Arrives】

Chapter 219: Do You Dare to Accept? The Climax Arrives!

"Hmm?" Hearing an unusual sound, he quickly opened his eyes to look.

Upon seeing it, Patriarch Wang Hong also swayed and nearly fainted. This was simply too outrageous, wasn't it?

On the competition stage, Liu Yang stood with a raised fist, his face expressionless. Across from him, Bai Chao, known for his iron-like fists, was kneeling on the ground, his head drenched in cold sweat.

His fist was shattered, twisted like a pretzel, as if it had been struck by an irresistible force.

"Aren't you... the Iron Armor practitioner? How are you so weak?" Liu Yang withdrew his fist and looked at Bai Chao.

Yao Han had thoroughly investigated Zhao Ya's opponents in advance. He had already informed Liu Yang that this person practiced the Iron Armor technique, which allowed his fists to transform into the shape of a savage beast's hooves or claws.

"You knew..." Bai Chao's expression was as if he'd seen a ghost.

He had thought his provocative tactic had tricked the opponent, only to realize that the other party had known all along, and he had foolishly walked right into it.

"Of course I knew!" Liu Yang nodded, then asked, his face full of bewilderment, "Didn't they say your Iron Armor technique was incredibly powerful, capable of punching through steel? Why are you so weak?"

"Weak?" Bai Chao felt like crying. It wasn't him who was weak; Liu Yang was simply too strong! He admitted he could punch through half an inch of steel, but Liu Yang's punch could likely pierce through two or three inches.

"I get it, you didn't use your full strength, did you? Come on, let's exchange another punch..." After a moment of thought, Liu Yang's eyes gleamed.

Since mastering the Heavenly Dao Divine Fist, he had only practiced alone and didn't truly understand its terrifying power. When sparring with Zheng Yang and the others, he never dared to use his full strength, fearing he might injure his classmates. Having finally found someone with strong punching power, he couldn't let such an opportunity slip away.

Besides, he was also deliberately provoking him. Trying to secretly frame him? Liu Yang would make sure he never dared to entertain such a thought again!

"No..." Before Bai Chao could finish speaking, the young man in front of him grabbed his left hand, formed it into a fist, and slammed it forward.

*Crack!* His left hand fractured as well.

"Waaah..." Bai Chao felt like dying. He had only trained his right hand with the Iron Armor technique; his left hand was untrained! And besides... he had already said he wouldn't fight anymore! What kind of nonsense was it to grab his fist and shatter it?

Overwhelmed by intense pain and anger, he was about to curse the other party, but before he could utter a word, the young man's voice sounded again from across the stage: "Ah, have you perhaps trained your Iron Armor technique on your head too? Let me try it out..."

"Pfft!" Hearing those words, he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. Broken fists could be healed, but if his head was cracked open, he would truly be dead...

"I haven't trained it! Referee! I surrender! I surrender!" Fearing that Liu Yang would truly use his head for an experiment, Bai Chao stumbled backward in terror, screaming frantically. He only regretted not having another mouth, which would surely allow him to shout even louder...

"Surrender?" The referee teacher approached.

"Yes, yes!" Bai Chao nodded frantically.

"You've already lost two matches and tied one," the referee said. "If you lose this one, it means you've failed the Teacher Evaluation..."

"I know, I surrender!" Bai Chao hastily shouted. Losing was better than dying, wasn't it?

"Alright!" Hearing this, the referee knew the Teacher Evaluation had reached its conclusion. He couldn't help but shake his head as he announced, "Bai Chao surrenders! The Teacher Evaluation is over, Teacher Zhang Xuan is victorious!"

"Teacher Zhang won?""That's incredible! His students are truly amazing!""Yeah, except for Yuan Tao, the others are just too strong!""Zheng Yang's spear technique, Wang Ying's movement and leg techniques, Liu Yang's punching power—all terrifying!""They're freshmen, just like us, yet they're so powerful. Teacher Zhang must be an excellent instructor!""Hmm, once the grand competition is over, I'm definitely going to become his student...""Wait for me, I'll go with you..."

When the referee announced the results of the Teacher Evaluation, everyone erupted in an uproar.

Thanks to Yao Han's earlier efforts, many people already had a better impression of Teacher Zhang. Witnessing this scene now, their faces flushed with excitement.

What was the purpose of coming to the academy? Wasn't it to find a good teacher? Now, Teacher Zhang had utterly crushed Teacher Lu Xun. How incredible must his teaching abilities be?

Many students had already decided that once the freshman grand competition concluded, they would seek to study under Teacher Zhang.

"He... just won?" While the students were excited, Shen Biru, seated on the main platform, blinked in disbelief.

Ever since she entered the academy, her goal had always been to surpass Lu Xun. Yet, before she could accomplish that, he had been utterly defeated by someone with a consistently poor reputation.

That was Lu Xun, and all his students had even reached the True Qi realm...

"Biru, your judgment is truly excellent," Han Qiong said from the side, her beautiful eyes gleaming. "I'm interested in this Teacher Zhang now too..."

"Mind your status. What do you mean 'interested'?" Shen Biru frowned at her friend's words.

"Yes, yes! I'm interested. Do you think if I go to Teacher Zhang tonight to ask him some questions, he'll open the door for me?" Han Qiong chuckled, her charm indescribable.

"I think he'd beat you to death!" Shen Biru snorted, secretly cursing her friend's shamelessness.

To be honest, she was speechless. For a teacher to utter such words...

"Ask questions"? What questions couldn't be asked during the day that required a nocturnal visit?

"Heh heh, I think *you* might be the one to beat me to death!" Han Qiong laughed.

As the two women bickered, in the very center of the main platform...

"Did you see that?" Liu Ling looked at the other two.

"Indeed!" Zhuang Xian's eyes flickered with wisdom and insight. "Lu Xun's students, when participating in the matches, seemed to be merely completing a task. Winning or losing didn't matter to them, as long as they weren't injured. From this, it's evident that his relationship with his students is purely transactional. Even if he helps them improve their strength, in their hearts, it's merely an equivalent exchange, not an act of kindness."

"Yes," Zheng Fei nodded. "His intentions in helping his students improve weren't pure, so naturally, he wouldn't earn their genuine support."

When renowned teachers accept disciples, they don't just consider talent or teaching ability; they also observe the students' respect and affection for their instructor. While Zhu Hong's performance among Lu Xun's five students hadn't been seen yet, the attitudes of Kong Jie, Mo Xiao, Du Lei, and Bai Chao already revealed significant clues.

His teaching was too pragmatic, focused solely on winning the Teacher Evaluation rather than on his students' genuine development. While this approach could rapidly boost their strength and grant them True Qi realm power, it failed to earn their heartfelt loyalty or respect.

After all, who would respect someone who treats them merely as tools?

"Zhang Xuan's students are different," Liu Ling nodded, seeing that his two old friends understood. "They genuinely adore him and are willing to give everything for him."

If one only observed this single match, these subtleties might be missed. However, when combined with their "covert observations" over the past few days, much became clear.

Zhao Ya, Wang Ying, and the others weren't cultivating merely for the sake of cultivation, nor were they focused on their own individual progress. Instead, they shared a common goal in their hearts!

That goal was... to bring glory to Teacher Zhang and win honor for him!

Their thoughts were centered on their teacher, not themselves.

While both focused on cultivation and teaching, one side was driven by completing a task, while the other was motivated by bringing honor to their teacher, ensuring he wouldn't be disappointed or saddened. The difference was like night and day.

"No wonder Master Yang holds him in such high regard," Liu Ling mused. "Teacher Zhang truly possesses the qualities of a renowned master. It won't be long before he's truly on par with us!"

"Indeed!" His two old friends nodded in unison.

*Whoosh!* Just as the three of them were about to continue their reflections, Lu Xun stood up from the other side of the competition arena.

Having lost the Teacher Evaluation, there were two paths available to him: first, publicly apologize and pay compensation as per their previous bet; second, leave the academy and never return.

"What do you think Teacher Lu will choose?""I don't know, but I think he'll probably apologize!""Victory and defeat are common in battle. No one can guarantee a win!""Exactly, losing is losing, it's nothing! If he really leaves the academy, no matter how renowned a star teacher he is, he'll be like a fish without water or a rootless weed—destined to suffer sooner or later!"

Everyone around them lowered their voices.

Teacher Evaluations hadn't occurred in many years. Teacher Lu had provoked this one, only to suffer a devastating defeat, which surely weighed heavily on his heart.

Everyone was eager to see what he would decide.

If he merely admitted defeat and apologized, it wouldn't be a big deal. But if he truly left the academy, it would be a great loss.

Only with "students" could one be called a "teacher." If he left the academy and had no students, what kind of "teacher" would he be?

Furthermore, with the stain of having left the academy after failing a Teacher Evaluation, other academies would generally be unwilling to accept him.

"Teacher Zhang Xuan!" Lu Xun strode a few steps to the center of the competition stage, flicked his sleeve, and stood ramrod straight.

Zhang Xuan looked at him.

"I lost the Teacher Evaluation! You do have a knack for teaching students. However, in this world, ultimately it all comes down to one's own strength. No matter how well you teach, if you lack personal power, it's useless. I want to challenge you!" Lu Xun's fist clenched, radiating an undeniable resolve. Numerous acupoints on his body flickered, revealing his mighty Aperture Opening realm cultivation. Simultaneously, his resounding voice soared into the sky.

"Do you... dare to accept or not?" He had poured so much effort into this, preparing so thoroughly, only to suffer such a crushing defeat. He knew he could no longer remain at Hongtian Academy without losing face. Before he left, he intended to teach Zhang Xuan a lesson, to show him that everything else was superficial—true power was the only path!

"Challenge me?" Zhang Xuan hadn't expected his opponent to make such a decision and was about to speak when Zhao Ya stepped forward, blocking his path. She stood proudly, like a celestial maiden descended to the mortal realm.

"If you insult my teacher, I will fight you! Who is willing to stand with me?"

"Me!""Me!""Me!""Me!"Four voices rang out in succession as Wang Ying, Zheng Yang, Liu Yang, and Yuan Tao all stepped forward, each displaying undeniable resolve.

"You insult our teacher. We five are willing to fight you to earn him honor. Lu Xun, do you dare to accept?"

The voices of the five students, like muffled thunder, soared upwards, echoing throughout the entire academy.

"To rectify a master's name, to face life and death for a master's honor... Is this the highest level of teaching, the Rectification Realm?" Liu Ling's body trembled as he abruptly stood up.