Chapter 239: Understanding Realm

Of course, Zhang Xuan knew this was impossible.

As an alchemist, he understood that even the most potent elixirs would develop resistance if taken excessively, let alone those that directly boosted cultivation.

After resolving the potential issues with a few individuals and completely defusing the conflict with Lu Xun, everyone was delighted. Just as he was about to announce the official start of the freshman competition, countless students swarmed forward, their eyes red with excitement, staring intently at Zhang Xuan like hungry wolves spotting food.

“Teacher Zhang, I wish to become your disciple. Will you accept me as your student?”

“Please, please accept me! Not only am I talented, but I can also make beds, fold quilts, and do housework…”

“I’ve actually always admired you. Even if I can’t be a formal student, an auditor would be fine…”

“Teacher, my family has plenty of money! If you accept me as your student, any amount is fine!”

“Money, money, what are you talking about? Get lost! Is Teacher Zhang someone who loves money? If so… my family also has a lot of money; please accept me as your student…”

His astonishing performance in the Teacher Qualification Exam, effortlessly solving problems that even the three teachers couldn't, drove all the students present into a frenzy. They could no longer hold back, desperate to become his disciples on the spot.

In an instant, the entire dueling platform erupted into a frenzy of discipleship applications.

All previous doubts and suspicions vanished. Countless students scrambled forward, terrified of missing the opportunity.

Many others were so regretful they wanted to jump off the building, wondering how they could have been so blind as to believe rumors and not seek discipleship earlier.

If they had pledged allegiance at the start of the semester, it wouldn't be Zheng Yang and the others basking in glory on stage now, but them!

It's worth noting that during the entrance exam, Zheng Yang and the others weren't particularly outstanding; Yuan Tao, in particular, came in last.

But now, the sight of Yuan Tao sending Teacher Lu stumbling back two steps with a single collision, and resisting him head-on, was still vivid in everyone's minds, thrilling countless people.

From the last-place student who barely scraped into the academy to someone who could stand against a cultivator of the Acupoint Opening Realm… all in just half a month. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn't have believed it.

“This…” Zhang Xuan was also startled.

Evidently, he hadn't expected such an enthusiastic reaction from them.

“Teacher… has truly been vindicated!”

As Zhao Ya and the others witnessed this scene, their fists clenched.

Ever since they learned that Lu Xun was going to challenge Teacher Zhang, they had held their breath, determined to bring glory and honor to their teacher. And now… they had finally succeeded!

Teacher Zhang's excellence was finally understood by everyone.

A sense of pride swelled within them.

It was as if they suddenly wanted to tell everyone, even to proudly declare in front of them…

Look, this is my teacher—

Zhang Xuan!

“I already have five students and don’t plan to accept more in the short term. However, since you are so enthusiastic, how about this: I can give you a basic cultivation knowledge class, which might be helpful to you!”

Knowing that accepting so many students would eventually exhaust him to death, Zhang Xuan hesitated, then came up with an idea and spoke.

Teaching just five students was already driving him to financial ruin and a bit mad. So many… he couldn't afford to support them even if he went begging!

“He’s not accepting more?”

“Even just listening to a class would be good…”

Seeing that he would not accept more students, everyone showed disappointment. However, upon hearing that he would give a lecture, they all became excited again.

How could a lecture from someone who enabled Zheng Yang and the others to make such rapid progress in a short time be simple?

“This basic class will be held tomorrow at noon, at this very location. Those who wish to attend can come early. For today, everyone should focus on the freshman competition!”

After giving instructions and calming the crowd, Zhang Xuan left the dueling platform.

If he didn't leave soon, he genuinely feared being devoured by these frantic students.

Besides, the main event today was the freshman competition; the Teacher Qualification Exam was just an appetizer. He couldn't let the appetizer overshadow the main course, or let the magpie take over the dove's nest.

Leaving the dueling platform, he had just returned to his classroom when he saw the three master teachers walk in.

“Senior Disciple Brother!”

The three of them clasped their fists in unison.

“Yes, please sit. I actually have something I need your help with!” Zhang Xuan smiled.

“You are Master Yang’s direct disciple; we are merely lecturers. As your senior, please just give us your instructions. To say 'trouble' is too much…”

Liu Ling gave an awkward smile.

Among students of the same teacher, there were differences in status. Direct disciples automatically held a higher seniority. Even if their cultivation was lower or they were younger, lecturers who were also students had to address them as Senior Disciple Brother.

Matters instructed by a Senior Disciple Brother naturally had to be followed.

“It’s like this!” Seeing them agree so quickly, Zhang Xuan nodded and said, “As you know, Master Yang travels widely and doesn’t concern himself with worldly affairs. Although he accepted me as his direct disciple, he only told me to study extensively and didn’t give me a proper identity… So, I wish to take the Master Teacher examination, and I might need to trouble you three!”

Accepting these few individuals as students was precisely for this purpose. Since 'Master Yang' couldn't conveniently speak on the matter, he had to.

“Oh, I thought it was something serious. This is simple,” Liu Ling chuckled. “To qualify for the Master Teacher examination, one must first be a Master Teacher Apprentice. Since Master Yang is in seclusion and cannot conveniently reveal his identity, the three of us can act on his behalf.”

As he spoke, he flipped his wrist, took out a jade token, and handed it over.

“This is an identity jade token imbued with our three auras. As long as you carry it, it signifies that you are a Master Teacher Apprentice whom we have tested and approved. Just drip your blood onto it to bind it, and you will be recognized by any Master Teacher Pavilion, allowing you to register for the Master Teacher examination.”

“Oh? It’s that simple?”

Casually taking the jade token, Zhang Xuan found it a bit hard to believe.

He had thought it would be complicated, but it turned out to be so easy.

“Becoming an apprentice assistant is easy; as long as a Master Teacher acknowledges you, even regular Star Teachers or Senior Teachers can do it. But qualifying for the Master Teacher examination itself is difficult!” Liu Ling said.

“Oh? Then… how does one qualify to become a Master Teacher?”

After dripping his blood to bind the token and putting it away, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

There were no Master Teachers in Tianxuan Kingdom, nor any records in the library about them. Although he had been impersonating a Master Teacher these past few days, he honestly had no idea how or where to take the examination; he was completely clueless.

“To qualify as a Master Teacher, one must possess sufficient external and internal conditions. The external conditions are: a recommendation from a Master Teacher, the status of a Master Teacher Apprentice, and at least one auxiliary occupation identity!”

Liu Ling explained.

“Understood!” Zhang Xuan nodded.

He had heard about this before, so it wasn't surprising.

“There are only two internal conditions!” Liu Ling continued. “They are: reaching the 'Mind Like Still Water' state, specifically the Mind of Discernment stage, and achieving a cultivation level of the Profound Connection Realm!”

“Mind of Discernment stage?” Zhang Xuan looked over.

He already knew that the second level of mental fortitude was 'Mind Like Still Water,' but what was the 'Mind of Discernment stage'?

Liu Ling said, “Mental fortitude is something every cultivator, and indeed every profession, must constantly refine. 'Mind Like Still Water' is just a general term, indicating that a person can control their mental state, allowing their mind to focus on a particular task without being influenced by external surroundings.”

Zhang Xuan nodded.

He was right. Alchemist Chen Xiao, Alchemist Meng Yan, and others, because they hadn't reached this state, imbued the Serenity Elixirs with their negative emotions during concoction, making the pills ambiguous and losing their original efficacy.

“If we were to divide it in detail, this 'Mind Like Still Water' state can be split into two: one for Master Teachers, and one for martial artists and other professions.”

“The reason for this division is simple: the 'Mind Like Still Water' state that Master Teachers must achieve is completely different from other professions. This is why Master Teachers are so special and revered.”

“For other professions and martial artists, 'Mind Like Still Water' merely requires a unified, unwavering state of mind. However, for Master Teachers, it demands the ability to comprehend principles, discern objects, and distinguish truth from falsehood!”

“Comprehend principles, discern objects, distinguish truth from falsehood?” Zhang Xuan was completely bewildered.

“Precisely. If it’s hard to understand, it’s simpler to explain it as two distinct types. The 'Mind Like Still Water' for ordinary people is called the 'Unity Stage,' where one only needs to focus on a single task. But for Master Teachers, the 'Mind Like Still Water' is called the 'Mind of Discernment Stage,' allowing one to analyze things, investigate the underlying principles of matters, and locate the core issues.”

Liu Ling explained, “This means that even if both reach 'Mind Like Still Water,' the Master Teacher’s version is different from an ordinary person’s. Only with 'Mind Like Still Water' at the Mind of Discernment Stage is one qualified to take the Master Teacher examination. This is also why some advanced academies have alchemy teachers, tea ceremony teachers, formation teachers, artifact forging teachers… yet these individuals are not Master Teachers.”

One could qualify for the Master Teacher examination by having an auxiliary profession. Elder Tian was a Tea Ceremony Grandmaster and a teacher at Beiwu Academy, and Zhang Xuan had previously wondered why he wasn’t a Master Teacher. Now he knew the reason.

Without 'Mind Like Still Water' at the Mind of Discernment Stage, one was not qualified.

“Then… how does one cultivate to achieve 'Mind Like Still Water' at the Mind of Discernment Stage?” Having understood so many mysteries, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

“How does one achieve it?” Liu Ling, Zhuang Xian, and the others exchanged glances and chuckled simultaneously. “It’s not something you can cultivate; it’s a talent! Those with the potential to be Master Teachers will naturally comprehend principles, discern objects, and distinguish truth from falsehood once they reach the 'Mind Like Still Water' state!”

“It’s similar to how an alchemist must have a wood-attributed physique. Without it, no matter how hard they cultivate, it’s useless! To put it simply, no matter how capable a man is, even if he masters every profession in the world, he cannot give birth. Without the innate talent, all the cultivation in the world is just futile effort!”

“Reaching 'Mind Like Still Water'… naturally leads to comprehending principles and distinguishing truth from falsehood?” Zhang Xuan’s heart thumped.

He had long since reached 'Mind Like Still Water,' so why hadn't he experienced this feeling?

“What’s the difference between the Mind of Discernment Stage and the Unity Stage?”

“To give the simplest example: with 'Mind Like Still Water' at the Mind of Discernment Stage, when observing someone practice a combat technique, you would automatically analyze the technique's principles and sequence, then deduce how to cultivate it for the best effect. Ordinary 'Mind Like Still Water' cannot achieve this.”

Liu Ling said, “Master Teachers prefer to take Star Teachers as apprentices, because their ability to make students willingly follow them suggests they definitely possess this talent.”

“Automatically analyze the principles and sequence of combat techniques?”

Zhang Xuan's body trembled.

What the hell? It's the same 'Mind Like Still Water'? Why didn't he have this feeling?

Could it be… he wasn’t suitable to be a Master Teacher?

If that were true, it would be utterly messed up.