Chapter 231: Golden Book Reappears

“With a pure heart, noble character, and consistent moral conduct. As a teacher, one must first embody these eight qualities to truly earn students' admiration, absolute deference, and even their willingness to go through fire and water, fight for their teacher's honor, vindicate their teacher, and disregard their own lives.” Zhuang Xian’s lips trembled, his face filled with disbelief: “Legend has it that only Master Teachers of four stars or higher can achieve this level of influence during their lessons. He… he…”

He repeated “he… he…” twice, but found himself unable to utter a complete sentence.

The scene before him was too shocking, rendering all descriptive language pale in comparison.

“These students have only been taught for about half a month, and we specifically observed that he was absent for at least ten days during this period… In other words, he spent a total of only four or five days with the students… and he already has them willing to vindicate him? How… how did he do that?”

Zheng Fei swallowed hard.

“For students to be willing to clear his name, they must have an immense amount of trust in him. It seems… we truly underestimated Teacher Zhang Xuan!” Liu Ling said, full of emotion.

“Indeed,” Zhuang Xian said with a bitter smile. “Before, when Master Yang said he had taken him as a disciple, I felt a bit disappointed. But now it seems, even if he were to become our disciple, we would have nothing to teach him.”

To be someone’s teacher, one must have enough knowledge to impart. If you’re not even as good as your student, how can you teach?

Previously, they had felt somewhat uncomfortable that such a promising talent had been taken by Master Yang. But seeing Zhang Xuan’s students—whom he had only taught for half a month—willing to vindicate him and disregard their lives, they were all filled with embarrassment.

To build such immense trust in students in such a short time, to the point where they would willingly challenge opponents beyond their level—even they couldn't achieve that.

Fortunately, their attempt to recruit him as an apprentice failed. Otherwise, having an apprentice stronger than the master… would certainly be utterly humiliating.

While the three Master Teachers felt awkward, the audience below erupted in an uproar, each person dumbfounded.

Students challenging a teacher and asking, “Do you dare to accept?” was simply blatant provocation.

Especially for Lu Xun, this was a severe blow to his reputation.

He had failed the teacher evaluation and felt humiliated, so he wanted to crush Teacher Zhang in a cultivation match, seek satisfaction, and regain some face. But instead… his opponent’s students declared that he wasn't worthy to challenge their teacher and was only fit to compete against them…

However…

Doing this was a matter of pride and honor. “You are just newly enrolled students; even with some breakthroughs, you've only been studying for half a month at most. How could you possibly directly challenge the most famous star teacher of Hongtian Academy, a dignified Acupoint Opening Realm master?”

“Look at Zhao Ya!” A shout came from the crowd.

Everyone was wondering if these students' actions were too reckless when they heard someone in the crowd shout out. At the shout, everyone's gaze immediately fell upon the incredibly beautiful girl.

They watched as the aura around her body, like a sharp sword tearing through the sky, grew increasingly powerful and incisive.

Boom!

As her aura continuously intensified, her entire being seemed to undergo a transformation, becoming even more beautiful, spotless, and ethereal, like a celestial maiden.

“She’s… breaking through!”

“Peak Dantian Realm, True Qi Realm, peak True Qi Realm, Skin-Bone Realm… peak Skin-Bone Realm? How is this possible?”

“She broke through several levels in just a few breaths? How can someone advance so quickly?”

“Could it be… that she had deliberately suppressed her cultivation, or held back from breaking through until now, only to succeed in one go and shock everyone?”

“Very likely… Look, she’s already reached the Dingli Realm!”

Seeing Zhao Ya in the center of the stage, everyone felt as if they were going mad.

She was breaking through at an incredible pace!

“This… this…”

Opposite her, Zhu Hong stumbled and fell to the ground, his lips turning white with fear. He had previously thought about breaking through to the True Qi Realm to get revenge for last time, but in the end, he didn't get a chance to enter the match, which left him very frustrated. He had planned to find another opportunity to beat up Zhao Ya and the others, but upon witnessing this scene, he realized how childish and ridiculous his idea was.

Fortunately, it wasn't his turn to compete. Otherwise, given Zhao Ya's condition, wouldn't a single slap flatten him into a meat patty?

It was terrifying!

How exactly did Teacher Zhang teach?

To enable students to progress so rapidly?

Finally, Zhao Ya stopped at the peak of the Dingli Realm. Her entire being became even more ethereal and refined, every movement like that of a celestial goddess from the nine heavens, dazzling beyond compare.

“Is this the activated Pure Yin Physique?”

City Lord Zhao Feng and Butler Yao Han also had their eyes wide with shock at this moment, their fists unconsciously clenched. Although they had known for a long time that Zhao Ya possessed this physique, and Teacher Zhang had even specifically prepared a Yin-Breaking Pill to help her break through, they never dreamed it would be so terrifying and astonishing.

To advance to the peak of the Dingli Realm in an instant…

“Xiaoya truly met a good teacher!” After the initial shock, City Lord Zhao Feng sighed with emotion. As a father, he hadn't even known his daughter had the Pure Yin Physique, nor had he noticed her discomfort every day. This was truly his greatest dereliction of duty.

If not for meeting Teacher Zhang, let alone breaking through, she might have been tormented by this special physique and been unable to advance her cultivation.

“I’d long heard that once a special physique is activated, cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds, undergoing a qualitative change. I thought it was nonsense, but now… it seems it’s true. City Lord Zhao, you have an excellent daughter. Perhaps our Tianxuan Kingdom will have to rely on her for its rise in the future!” Emperor Shen Zhui, who was standing nearby, also couldn't help but exclaim.

When Zhao Feng arrived at the imperial city, the matter of his daughter Zhao Ya’s Pure Yin Physique became known. He had only thought she might be a bit more talented than ordinary people, but he never dreamed… she would be this prodigiously gifted.

In just half a month, she advanced from the peak of Martial Artist 1-dan Gathering Breath Realm to the peak of Martial Artist 5-dan Dingli Realm…

This can no longer be described as monstrous; it’s absolutely defying the heavens!

With such talent, it's only natural that she will grow to become a powerful figure, protecting one region! Perhaps the Tianxuan Kingdom will rely on this girl to support it and move towards greater glory in the future.

“You think you can challenge me?” Unaware of the crowd's shock, Lu Xun’s face twitched as he saw that his attempt to fight Zhang Xuan was blocked by the students.

If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have said anything.

Now he was stuck. If he didn't act, people would say he was afraid of them. If he did, it would inevitably be seen as bullying the young. The most crucial part was… winning would bring no glory, and losing would be even more humiliating!

The intense frustration was driving him almost insane.

“That’s right! Even if we can’t win, we will do it for Teacher Zhang’s honor, no matter the cost!” Zhao Ya and the others all showed an unyielding determination. Even Wang Ying, who had previously seemed somewhat frail, did not retreat in the slightest.

Teacher Zhang was the most sacred line of defense in their hearts. What had they been striving for all these days if not to bring him glory?

Today, the culprit who sought to trample his dignity was right here… they would not allow themselves to retreat a single step!

“Teacher Zhang, let us get justice for you!”“Teacher Zhang, let us clear away their contempt and humiliation!”

“These children…” Seeing their actions, even Zhang Xuan, whose mind was usually as calm as still water, felt his eyes well up.

He had recruited these students merely to avoid being expelled from the academy and to resolve the first crisis after his transmigration. He never dreamed that by planting a single seed, he would gain an entire forest.

He had no special teaching methods, nor did he deliberately seek their gratitude. All he did was dedicate himself wholeheartedly, simply not wanting to let anyone down, and… the result moved him deeply.

Recalling his earlier thoughts, where he often considered if it was “worth it,” he now understood that the human heart cannot be measured by money or material possessions. Only when you are sincere with them will they be sincere with you; there is no “worth it or not worth it,” “should or should not!”

“No wonder they practiced the combined attack formation. Even if Lu Xun hadn't challenged me, they probably would have sought him out to reclaim my dignity and vent their anger!” Moved in his heart, he finally understood what the information he’d seen in the library meant.

He had always been puzzled about why these youngsters were practicing the combined attack formation, but now it seemed it was all for this moment. Lu Xun’s challenge at the teacher evaluation forced him to accept, leaving him in a sorry state and damaging his reputation. His students had witnessed all of this. Even if Lu Xun hadn't provoked them today, they would surely have rushed over to confront him and challenge him to a match.

Even if they knew they couldn't win, even if they knew they were walking into a losing battle… they would still do it without hesitation.

All just to… prevent their teacher from being humiliated!

These youngsters…He never imagined…

His heart trembling, Zhang Xuan held back his tears.

“I can’t let them take such risks…”

Just as he was about to stand up and dissuade them, his mind jolted. On the deep bookshelf within his consciousness, a golden book appeared once more.

“This book… could it be related to the students' gratitude?” Zhang Xuan was startled to see the book form. He hadn't known when the previous golden book had formed, but now he had witnessed it firsthand: several students bravely putting themselves at risk for him. Could the formation of the golden book be related to his students?

The thought flashed through his mind, but he didn't dwell on it. Now was not the time to study this phenomenon. He stood up, intending to walk over and tell the students to retreat, when he saw them all turn their heads simultaneously.

“Teacher Zhang, this is a decision we've made, and we hope you won't interfere.” Zhao Ya looked at him with clear eyes, gave a slight smile, and her voice resonated around them, carrying an undeniable resolve. “You've given so much for us. We just want to do something for you, and we also want to demonstrate the credit for your guidance over these past days, to let everyone know…”

“Your honor… is inviolable!”“Your prestige… is unchallengeable!”

Seeing these youngsters, with their resolute gazes and rock-solid decisions, Zhang Xuan’s body tensed, and he couldn't help but stop.

“Please, Teacher, grant our wish!” Zhao Ya cupped her fists.“Please, Teacher, grant our wish!” The other four also spoke in unison.

“Alright, be careful. If you truly can't win, concede. Don't worry! With your teacher standing right here, no one dares to humiliate me, and no one can!”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows rose, and an immense aura burst from his body, soaring into the sky. Under the powerful aura, the surrounding tables and chairs immediately exploded into dust.

“Profound Connection Realm… peak?”

A chorus of gasps erupted.