Chapter 240: Not Playing Tricks Like This

Not long after his reincarnation, Zhang Xuan merged with the soul of his previous body and reached the State of Tranquil Heart.

He had always relied on the Library of Heaven's Path to find flaws and identify problems, never paying much attention to his own cultivation. Could it be that his Tranquil Heart was not the Clarity level?

If it wasn't the Clarity level, he wouldn't be able to qualify as a master teacher. What good was such an incredible library then?

This couldn't be true...

Zhang Xuan felt like crying.

However, he soon understood.

When others practiced martial arts, the library would directly produce books, and he would instinctively read them. Anyone in his position wouldn't pay attention to whether there were underlying principles or sequences. It was impossible to distinguish based solely on this.

"This... how can I tell if it's the Clarity level or the Unity level?" He couldn't help but ask, thinking of this.

"Oh, that's actually quite simple. I have a Texture Stone here. Just hold it in your palm and adjust your mental state to reach the State of Tranquil Heart. If it displays a number, it's the Clarity level; if it doesn't, it's the Unity level!"

Liu Ling took out a light green stone, its surface covered with dense, intricate patterns that were almost dizzying to look at.

"Of course, even within the Clarity level, there are distinctions. The higher the number, the greater one's talent. Typically, reaching a score of 3 allows you to qualify as a 1-star master teacher! Senior Martial Brother, given your young age, excellent teaching results, and the fact that Master Yang values you, your score has probably already reached 4, 5, or even higher, far surpassing those of us whose potential has been exhausted!"

As he spoke, Liu Ling and the others looked at Zhang Xuan with eyes full of envy.

The mental state score for the Clarity level was the standard for measuring a master teacher's genius. A higher score indicated a more profound understanding of things and greater potential for future progress.

The few of them had only barely reached it. Although they had continuously cultivated over the years, their potential had been exhausted. Even if they became grandmasters, it was hard to say if they could pass the 2-star examination.

This individual before them, favored by Master Yang, surely possessed limitless potential. In their view, his mental state score probably far exceeded 3, or was even higher. It was precisely for this reason that they willingly addressed him as Senior Martial Brother without the slightest embarrassment.

"This Texture Stone... could you give it to me?"

"This item is a standard tool used by master teachers when accepting apprentices, similar to a strength testing pillar. I have several of them here. If Senior Martial Brother wants to use it, please take it!" Liu Ling smiled. "However, given Senior Martial Brother's age, you probably haven't reached the State of Tranquil Heart yet, so there's no need to rush. You can test it whenever you achieve that state!"

"Understood!" Taking the Texture Stone, Zhang Xuan looked down at it.

The patterns on it were naturally formed, without any trace of artificial carving, giving it a unique charm. Looking along them, it felt as though one could perceive the essence of all things and find their roots.

"By the way, where can I take the master teacher examination?"

Putting away the Texture Stone, Zhang Xuan looked up and continued to ask.

"To become a master teacher, you naturally need to go to the Master Teacher Pavilion. The closest one to Tianxuan Kingdom is the branch in Tianwu First-Tier Kingdom. It has a 2-star master teacher overseeing it and complete facilities. You can not only take the 1-star examination but even the 2-star one there."

Liu Ling said, "Senior Martial Brother, once your mental state reaches the State of Tranquil Heart, you can come here and try. As long as you meet the requirements, you can register."

"Okay!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Alright then, Senior Martial Brother, if you need anything in the future, just give us the order. We'll take our leave for today!"

The four chatted for a while longer, then Liu Ling and the others stood up to bid farewell.

Seeing them leave, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist, and the Texture Stone appeared in his palm.

"Let's test if my Tranquil Heart is indeed the Clarity level..."

In this world, only master teachers held an esteemed position, making everything much more convenient and allowing for greater influence. Without this talent, one could only stare blankly.

He placed the Texture Stone in his palm, clasped his hands, and with a shift in his mental state, he instantly entered the State of Tranquil Heart. Immediately, he became devoid of joy or sorrow, completely free from anxiety.

This state could suppress irritation and restlessness, allowing one to analyze and handle matters with utmost calmness, making it a state cultivators yearned for.

However, reaching this state required one's focus on matters to be at its extreme. In the entire Hongtian Academy, only the headmaster had achieved it, which showed its difficulty.

It was precisely for this reason that Shen Biru was so shocked she nearly fainted when she first saw Zhang Xuan reach this state.

As he reached the State of Tranquil Heart, the Texture Stone in his hand vibrated slightly, and a line of numbers slowly appeared.

Seeing the characters, Zhang Xuan finally relaxed.

Liu Ling had previously mentioned that the Unity level of Tranquil Heart would not display any characters. The presence of characters indicated it was the Clarity level.

He had been needlessly worrying; he did possess master teacher talent after all.

Previously, when others performed martial arts, he had never felt any sense of principles or sequences, making him think he lacked this talent. It seemed he had been overly concerned.

Regardless, he possessed a powerful ability; how could he lack even a small master teacher talent?

Breathing a sigh of relief, he opened his palm and looked at the Texture Stone.

Reaching a score of 3 would allow one to qualify as a 1-star master teacher. A genius like him should logically have a 4, 5, or even 6, 7, 8, or 9!

Otherwise, it wouldn't fit his identity.

Feeling triumphant, the numbers on the Texture Stone finally stopped vibrating and fully displayed before his eyes.

Just as he was excitedly imagining himself displaying incredible power during the master teacher examination, Zhang Xuan clearly saw the characters on the stone. In an instant, his eyeballs nearly popped out, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"This... is this real?"

His face twitched, and he felt like bursting into tears.

The Texture Stone displayed a dry, stark number: 0.1.

This was no way to play with someone.

From Liu Ling's tone, others had scores of 3 or 4, with amazing geniuses reaching 5, 6, or 7. He had thought that even if he wasn't a genius, he should at least meet the minimum score of 3 for the master teacher examination. But 0.1... what on earth was that?

Brother, could you possibly go any lower?

"I don't believe it..."

Wanting to cry but having no tears, he placed the Texture Stone in his palm again.

A moment later.

Staring intently at the 0.09 displayed, Zhang Xuan felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face, his lips twitching uncontrollably.

Damn, it actually dared to go even lower!

He had always believed himself to be a super genius, a genius among geniuses, but the reality... was simply too much of a slap in the face!

With such a low score, how could he possibly qualify as a master teacher? He couldn't qualify for anything!

He probably wouldn't even be accepted as an apprentice; he'd be kicked out.

"I don't believe it..."

After several consecutive attempts, Zhang Xuan finally understood that his mental state score was shockingly low, and each test consumed approximately 0.01 of the score. As a result, he now only had 0.05 left.

"I'll have to ask Liu Ling and the others next time if there are any secret techniques to increase mental state scores. Otherwise, with such a low mental state, even if I wanted to qualify as a master teacher, it would be useless!"

Suppressing the urge to faint, Zhang Xuan comforted himself.

Now, he could only hope that the Master Teacher Pavilion had secret techniques and methods for cultivating mental states. With their help, he could then compile a Heaven's Path cultivation technique, rapidly progressing and growing.

Otherwise, with his current score, he wouldn't even qualify as a celebrity teacher, let alone a master teacher.

As he pondered what to do about his shockingly low mental state score, he heard a knock at the classroom door.

"Is Teacher Zhang Xuan in?"

"Emperor Shen Zhui?"

Recognizing the voice, he immediately said, "Please come in!"

Creak!

The door opened, and two people walked in.

One was Emperor Shen Zhui, and the other was also a middle-aged man with a handsome appearance. On closer inspection, he bore some resemblance to Zhao Ya.

"Teacher Zhang, this is Zhao Ya's father, City Lord Zhao Feng. He specifically came to thank you for taking care of his daughter." Emperor Shen Zhui spoke with great deference.

Although the young man was not yet a master teacher, he was Master Yang's direct disciple and the senior martial brother of Master Liu and the others.

Before such a person, even a ruler of a kingdom dared not presume.

"I am Zhao Feng, I greet Teacher Zhang!" City Lord Zhao Feng stepped forward.

"Since you're Zhao Ya's father, there's no need to be so polite. Please, have a seat!"

Zhang Xuan gestured.

"I've heard from Yao Han about Teacher Zhang's care for my daughter these past few days, and I am truly grateful. I know that with Teacher Zhang's status and abilities, you are not short on gold coins. So, I specifically sent people to search these past few days and managed to acquire a Clarity Jade Crystal, which I'd like to present to you as a token of my gratitude!"

After some pleasantries, City Lord Zhao Feng handed over an item.

"Clarity Jade Crystal?" Zhang Xuan looked at the item handed to him with a confused expression.

"A Clarity Jade Crystal, similar to spiritual energy for cultivators, can be absorbed by touching it. It not only restores depleted mental state scores but also gradually enhances them. It's an extremely precious item used by master teachers to cultivate their mental states. Despite countless jade mines in my entire White Jade City, I've only found this one."

City Lord Zhao Feng explained.

"It can enhance mental state scores?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

This was truly a timely help.

He had just been fretting over his low mental state score and wondering what to do, and now City Lord Zhao Feng had presented him with this Clarity Jade Crystal. This was truly perfect!

"Such a precious item... how can I accept it?" Zhang Xuan felt a little embarrassed.

The fact that there was only one in the entire White Jade City showed its immense value, which could no longer be measured by money.

The other party had specifically searched for it, indicating considerable effort.

"Teacher Zhang's kindness to my daughter far outweighs a mere jade crystal!" City Lord Zhao Feng said respectfully.

Identifying Zhao Ya's special constitution and expending great effort to help activate it...

The kindness was immense; although the Clarity Jade Crystal was precious, it was insufficient as repayment.

"Then thank you!"

Knowing that the other party genuinely wanted to give him the item and that refusing would only make them uneasy, and also because he indeed had a use for it, he nodded and accepted it immediately.

"Zhao Ya is my student. Guiding her cultivation and helping her improve faster is my duty, not a transaction, and it requires no repayment."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand. "However, the Clarity Jade Crystal is indeed something I need. How about this: Zhao Ya showed me your White Jade City's cultivation technique before. I've made some modifications to it. I'll transcribe it for you now, and you can cultivate according to it in the future. Consider it payment for this Clarity Jade Crystal!"

"Cultivation technique? Modified... it?"

Zhao Feng and Emperor Shen Zhui both widened their eyes simultaneously, full of confusion.