Chapter 245: Zhang Teacher, You Have Arrived

“A master teacher’s senior apprentice?”

It was confusing enough without an explanation, but after hearing it, Liu Xun felt even more bewildered, almost as if he was going crazy.

As a student, he was well aware of how high the status of a master teacher was.

Even the King of Tianxuan Kingdom, despite his status, wouldn't dare act presumptuously in front of one.

A single word could lay waste to a city, a single command could destroy a kingdom.

That's a master teacher!

And the senior apprentice of such a person?

Is this a joke?

When did such an incredible figure appear in Tianxuan Kingdom?

Instantly, his subconscious mind concluded that this person couldn't possibly be the same Zhang Xuan he knew.

The Zhang Xuan he knew was a good-for-nothing; how could he possibly compare to the senior apprentice of a master teacher?

With his mind racing, he continued to follow them into Hongtian Academy.

Upon entering, he saw countless people gathered in the academy, each holding paper and pens, excitedly heading towards the competition ground.

“Is that... Bai Song, the famed Lone Swordsman of Pine in the kingdom? Zhu Hongyi, the Blade Wielder Who Dared Laugh at the World? Old Master Zhao, whose single saber strike shook the heavens and earth? Ye Tianxiong, the One-Armed Man Who Shook the Eight Directions? Are you sure... all these people are here to attend a lecture?”

Recognizing many of them, Liu Xun's heart twitched, and he nearly fainted.

These were all legendary figures who had been renowned in Tianxuan Kingdom for ages. Even his own father, the Liu Clan patriarch, had to treat them with utmost respect and dared not be careless. Even the King would find it difficult to invite them, yet here they were, all holding brushes and notebooks, looking absolutely delighted...

Just what kind of public lecture was this?

“Yes!” Yu'er nodded, her face glowing with excitement. “Yesterday, Teacher Zhang said he would explain the basic knowledge of cultivation. The news spread widely, and that's why all these people came!”

“Wait a minute, you said... he's going to explain the basic knowledge of cultivation?”

Liu Xun stumbled, nearly choking.

Basic cultivation knowledge lectures typically covered how to cultivate, how to gather spiritual energy, and how to use it to temper the body... essentially, they were only useful for cultivators below the second level of Martial Artist. What on earth were these elders, patriarchs, and great experts of the Tongxuan Realm doing here?

“Are you sure they're here to listen to a basic knowledge lecture and not to commit murder and arson?”

“Yes, I was very close to the competition stage at the time and heard everything clearly!” Yu'er nodded, her thoughts drifting to Teacher Zhang's tall and heroic figure from yesterday, her heart filled with admiration.

A basic cultivation knowledge lecture, and countless great experts of the Tongxuan Realm were coming to listen?

Liu Xun found it utterly unbelievable.

“We're really late after all...”

As he was reeling in disbelief, his mind flooded with incredulity, he heard his cousin exclaim. He couldn't help but look up, and his pupils contracted once more.

The vast competition ground of Hongtian Academy, which could originally hold tens of thousands of people, was now packed. Many had even set up makeshift beds, seemingly having stayed there since yesterday.

“The ones crowded at the front are... the academy teachers?”

The people seated at the very front were indeed the academy's teachers. Although they hadn't set up beds, their clothes were heavy with dew, making it clear they had also waited there all night.

He had previously thought his cousin and the others were too eager, rushing over at dawn for a midday lecture. He never dreamed that even the academy teachers had waited an entire night just to attend.

“There's no place to sit, so we'll have to stand...” Yu'er said with a long face.

The front was already a human sea. Besides the teachers and students of Hongtian Academy itself, there were also representatives from various major powers in Tianxuan Royal City. If he hadn't known a lecture was taking place, he would have truly suspected a riot was brewing, aimed at overthrowing the kingdom's government.

“Yu'er, who exactly is this Senior Zhang Xuan, this venerable elder?” Liu Xun asked, forcing himself to suppress his shock as he looked at his cousin again.

His gaze had changed from confusion to fervent admiration.

“Senior? Venerable elder?”

“Yes!” Liu Xun nodded.

In his opinion, even his own teacher couldn't draw so many people to a basic lecture.

This Teacher Zhang was a master teacher's senior apprentice; even if he wasn't a master teacher himself, he must be quite old. Calling him "senior" or "venerable elder" couldn't be wrong.

“Ahem, Teacher Zhang Xuan is less than twenty years old; he's younger than you...” Yu'er's pretty face flushed as she saw his serious expression.

“Less than twenty?”

Liu Xun froze.

Less than twenty... a master teacher's senior apprentice... making so many people willingly wait an entire night just for one public lecture?

“This...”

Liu Xun felt his worldview completely shattered. Unable to resist, he finally asked, “Can you... tell me about this Teacher Zhang?”

“To talk about Teacher Zhang, it all started with the envoy's assessment, oh no, it began when his student suffered a cultivation deviation...”

Before she could finish, a commotion erupted directly ahead. He looked up and saw three old men striding forward, and as they passed, everyone respectfully made way for them.

“It's... Master Liu and Master Zhuang from Beixu Kingdom? And... Master Zheng from Hanwu Kingdom?”

Seeing the three figures, Liu Xun recognized them.

As a student of a master teacher, he had had the good fortune to meet these three once before. Even the master teacher who taught him had treated them with respectful courtesy, admitting inferiority.

He never expected them to come to Tianxuan Kingdom, and what's more...

“Could it be... they're also here to attend the lecture?”

The intense shock had left him somewhat dazed.

“Yes, Teacher Zhang is the senior apprentice of all three of them!” Yu'er nodded.

“Their...” Liu Xun almost cried. He had originally thought that after three years of studying under a master teacher, he could return and boast about it. Now he realized...

It counted for nothing.

Less than twenty years old, a star teacher, and even the senior apprentice of three master teachers...

What kind of person was this Teacher Zhang?

Zhang Xuan woke up; it was already close to noon. He asked Sun Qiang to prepare some food, enjoyed a good meal, and then strolled towards the academy.

He had expected few people to be there, thinking it was still too early. Upon arriving at the competition ground and seeing it completely blocked, he was immediately startled.

The previous day, too many people had requested to become his students. Having no other choice, he casually agreed to hold a public lecture.

He had thought few would show up, as it was merely a basic explanation, effective only for those below the True Qi Realm... What on earth was going on with this massive crowd?

“Excuse me, please, could you let me through?”

After walking around the competition ground in a wide circle without finding an entrance, Zhang Xuan finally couldn't help but tap a young man's shoulder.

“Get in? What? You want to cut in line? I've been queuing here since early morning! If you want to listen to Teacher Zhang's lecture, go to the back of the line!”

The young man waved his hand impatiently.

To be honest, Liu Xun was quite annoyed.

This guy was really lacking in discernment!

He and his cousin had been queuing since early morning and were still stuck on the outskirts. This person comes in the middle of the day and asks him to move aside... What a joke!

With so many people around, he chose *him* to make way. Did he think he was easy to bully just because he had recently returned?

Besides, even if he moved, could this person even get through?

“Go to the back of the line?”

Zhang Xuan's face was odd. Where did all these people come from?

“Exactly. Either come early or queue up. Coming at this time and still wanting to cut in line... Brother, don't say I didn't warn you. Even if I let you in, the people inside will beat you to death!”

Liu Xun said seriously.

After hearing Teacher Zhang Xuan's story, he was utterly impressed and finally understood why all these people had rushed here for the lecture.

A direct student of a master teacher above two stars had, in just half a month, enabled a student who was originally only at the first level of Gathering Breath Realm to contend with a peak Aperture Opening Realm expert... Any single one of these achievements was reason enough for countless people to come!

Even if they weren't here to learn, they could seize the opportunity to forge good relations!

If Master Yang could personally show up, that would be even more perfect.

In reality, to be frank, these Tongxuan Realm experts weren't here just to listen to a lecture; they wanted to find an opportunity to curry favor, or even see if they could establish a connection with Master Yang.

After all, a word from a direct disciple was far more effective than any steward or similar contact.

“Ahem, don't worry, they won't hit me!” Seeing that he had encountered someone who didn't recognize him, Zhang Xuan could only shake his head helplessly.

“They won't?” Seeing that the other person actually didn't believe his words, Liu Xun also became a bit annoyed. “I really don't know where you get your confidence! Fine, I'll let you in! Don't blame me if you get taught a lesson later and I didn't warn you!”

“Thank you...”

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief when the young man moved aside. He took a step forward, and just as he was about to continue, a girl directly ahead seemed to hear the commotion and turned her head.

“Ah, Teacher Zhang, you're here...”

The girl's face flushed.