Chapter 246: Marking past three?

Zhang Xuan nodded and walked forward.

The girl's loud voice attracted the attention of many. Hearing that the lecturer had appeared, they collectively cleared a path.

"He... he... is Teacher Zhang?"

Liu Xun's mouth twitched uncontrollably as he watched the young man he had "admonished" walk step by step toward the competition stage.

"Wasn't Teacher Zhang supposed to be nearly twenty? How could he look so young..."

More importantly, for such a large public lecture and important occasion, he should have at least dressed formally. Instead, he was in casual clothes, worth less than a single gold coin from head to toe... This was far too casual!

Liu Xun felt like crying when he remembered accusing him of cutting in line.

If he hadn't gone in... what lecture would their group be listening to? They would have been left out in the cold.

However, he didn't dwell on it for long, as Teacher Zhang's lecture in the middle of the competition stage had begun.

His voice, amplified by True Qi, reached every corner of the plaza, which held tens of thousands of people. Each word was as clear as if spoken right beside them.

At first, Liu Xun wasn't particularly impressed. After all, he had been attending lectures by renowned masters for three years and was well accustomed to them. However, it wasn't long before his face flushed, and his eyes sparkled as if he had tasted divine nectar.

Although Teacher Zhang on stage was only explaining the most basic levels—the Gathering Breath and Dan Tian realms—his explanations were profound yet easy to understand. His words directly addressed the true essence of cultivation, and upon hearing them, their True Qi would naturally be stimulated, instinctively circulating according to his instructions.

After circulating for a short while, they would feel utterly refreshed, and their cultivation, which had previously been difficult to improve, would slowly increase by a trace.

Although it was only a tiny amount, it was equivalent to several days of arduous effort.

Just by listening to basic knowledge, one could increase cultivation... If he hadn't witnessed it himself, he wouldn't have believed it. Even his own teacher's lessons couldn't achieve this.

Stunned, he involuntarily looked at the others and discovered that almost everyone was utterly engrossed in the lecture. This was especially true for people like Yu'er, whose cultivation was only at the Gathering Breath realm; as they circulated their internal energy according to his words, spiritual energy flowed toward them, and each person made significant progress.

Many who had reached their critical points broke through their bottlenecks.

"Could it be... the legendary Heavenly Impartation by a Master's Words?"

Liu Xun's pupils contracted, and his fists suddenly clenched.

Legend had it that when some high-star renowned masters lectured, their content aligned with the most fundamental essence of cultivation, creating a special aura. Within this aura, students would instinctively circulate their internal energy according to the master's words, thereby making progress without even realizing it.

He had heard his teacher mention this once, but unfortunately, even his teacher had never managed to achieve it.

It was said that even three-star or four-star renowned masters found it difficult to achieve, yet a star teacher under twenty had done it? This... I must be mistaken!

"That's right, it's Heavenly Impartation by a Master's Words. Although it's only the simplest rudimentary form, it's real."

While he couldn't believe it, Liu Ling and the others at the front suddenly stood up, their pupils constricted, and their white beards trembling uncontrollably.

"Heavenly Impartation by a Master's Words is not an ability unique to renowned masters. For this to occur, two conditions must be met. First, the content of the lecture must directly address the true essence of cultivation, without any error! Second, the lecturer must possess a tranquil mind at the Insightful Realm, and their mental scale must reach level 3 or higher!"

Master Zhuang also gaped.

Heavenly Impartation by a Master's Words differs from the deceptive techniques found in martial arts. It doesn't involve enticing people to cultivate through persuasion; rather, the words naturally align with the true essence of the Great Dao, thereby activating unseen forces between heaven and earth.

This ability is the primary reason why renowned masters are so respected. Their words become law, their pronouncements become rules.

To evoke Heavenly Impartation by a Master's Words, merely knowing the true essence of cultivation is not enough for the lecturer. It must also be accompanied by a mental scale of level 3 or higher in the Insightful Realm; without reaching level 3, it would be impossible to mesmerize so many people.

"Could it be... that he has already achieved a tranquil mind, and... reached level 3?"

Zheng Fei's eyes widened, feeling a little dizzy.

Just yesterday, he had discussed mental states with him, and the fellow knew nothing about it. Yet... in the blink of an eye, he had broken through and even reached level 3 or higher...

While the standard for assessing a renowned master was a mental scale of level 3, not everyone achieved this level immediately upon breakthrough.

For example, when they first broke through, their mental scale was only around 5. It took them a long time, training under renowned masters, to slowly advance and gain the qualification to be assessed.

This guy, on the other hand, only learned about it yesterday, and today he broke through... Does he really have to be this fast? For others, breaking through is as agonizing as committing murder, but for him, it's as simple as eating and drinking...

"With his mental state reaching level 3, and his abilities as a calligrapher-painter and alchemist, it seems our Senior Brother is already qualified to be assessed as a renowned master!" Liu Ling exclaimed, full of excitement.

Previously, they had thought that even if Zhang Xuan could be assessed, it would take a considerable amount of time, as mental states require accumulation and refinement over time. They never imagined that after just one night, he had not only achieved a tranquil mind but had also increased his mental scale to level 3 or higher.

This is what you call a true genius.

Compared to him, all the powerful figures they had seen before seemed utterly insignificant.

No wonder he could become Master Yang's direct disciple; his talent was truly astonishing.

While the few were astonished, the crowd below remained entranced. After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Xuan stopped speaking.

"Thank you, Teacher Zhang, for your lecture!" The crowd awakened from their unique trance, realizing they had greatly benefited. They uniformly bowed to the ground.

From that day forward, Teacher Zhang, standing before them, had earned their half-master's respect. This was a bond that could never be forgotten throughout their lives. Otherwise, they would be condemned by morality and scorned by all.

Zhang Xuan hadn't expected such profound results, so different from when he had lectured Zheng Yang, Zhao Ya, and others. He nodded in satisfaction. As soon as he stepped off the competition stage, he was surrounded by Liu Ling and the others.

"Senior Brother, may I... check your mental scale?"

Liu Ling's body trembled with excitement.

"My mental scale?"

Zhang Xuan was utterly embarrassed, blushing and wishing he could disappear, not expecting that to be the first thing the other party asked about.

"Forget it, my scale... it's too low. Let's not make a fool of myself..."

If the few people in front of him knew his scale was only 1, they would surely burst into laughter. It was better not to make a spectacle of himself.

"Too low?" Liu Ling and the others swayed slightly. Over a level 3 scale was considered low?

"And what did that embarrassed expression mean? Did he think achieving a level 3 scale was insignificant? My goodness, other renowned master apprentices would immediately be overjoyed and float on air if they had a scale of 3 or higher, considering themselves once-in-a-century geniuses, wanting the whole world to know. But you, you're actually ashamed... I'm sorry!"

"Senior Brother, your standards are far too high!"

"Being able to evoke Heavenly Impartation by a Master's Words means your mental scale must certainly be over 3. I want to see... exactly what Senior Brother's scale is!" Liu Ling couldn't help but say, suppressing the urge to spit blood.

"What's Heavenly Impartation by a Master's Words?" Zhang Xuan blinked his eyes.

Liu Ling and the others staggered, tears streaming down their faces. People truly couldn't be compared.

These renowned masters had worked diligently their entire lives and couldn't achieve it even once, yet this guy had done it without even realizing it himself... Suppressing the frustration in his heart, Master Zhuang explained it in detail. Only then did he see the young man opposite him widen his eyes, full of disbelief.

"You mean... my mental scale has reached at least level 3 or higher?" Zhang Xuan was dumbfounded.

He had just tested it yesterday, and it was only 1. How could it suddenly be 3 or higher?

"Yes, Senior Brother. Didn't you check your mental scale when you achieved a tranquil mind?" Liu Ling and the others were speechless at this Senior Brother who seemed to know nothing.

Others would eagerly announce their breakthroughs and let everyone know, but this guy remained clueless, not even aware of his own achievement. He was far too modest!

"Could it be... the golden page?" Ignoring their expressions of admiration, Zhang Xuan's heart stirred as he remembered something.

The golden page had disappeared yesterday, but he hadn't noticed any use for it. Could it be... that it had increased his mental scale? That was very likely.

It was the Book of Heaven's Path; if it could allow him to assimilate so much knowledge from the library, then increasing a mental scale might not be difficult at all.

Thinking this and seeing the expectant faces of the crowd, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist and took out the veined stone. He activated his spirit.

A line of text appeared on the jade stone. Before he could read it, he saw Liu Ling and the others around him staring, utterly dumbfounded, as if looking at a monster.

"Senior Brother, your... your mental scale..." Liu Ling, Master Zhuang, and Zheng Fei trembled all over, as if having a seizure.