Chapter 316: Excited Young Master Ji Mo

“Teacher, why are you here?” Zheng Yang couldn’t help but ask, and the others looked over too.

They had searched everywhere, working hard, but hadn’t even seen a ghost. Yet, it turned out he was staying in the same inn as them.

It was truly a case of "darkness under the lamp" – what a situation.

“I only arrived in Tianwu Kingdom today. This place is closest to the city gate, so of course I’d stay here!” Zhang Xuan said with a smile.

Near the city gate, this was the only decent inn. Where else would he stay if not here?

“Only arrived today? Then…” Zheng Yang pointed at Physician Bai Chan, who was leaving, his face full of disbelief.

That guy had been so arrogant just now, acting as if he wanted to tear down the heavens. Yet, after Zhang Xuan beat him, he became as obedient as a grandchild. If Zhang Xuan claimed not to know him, no one would ever believe it.

Furthermore, the patrol team had also heard something and left with faces full of apprehension. How could someone who had just arrived make them so afraid? What was going on?

“Perhaps I beat him quite hard, and he got scared!” Zhang Xuan replied casually.

The matter concerning the Red Lotus Mountain Range involved the Grand Apothecary and the Poison Hall, creating numerous complications. Moreover, with professions like disguise masters, poison masters, and physicians involved, even if he tried to explain, it would be too difficult. It was better not to say anything. Besides, what made Bai Chan so wary wasn’t just the Grand Apothecary; more importantly, it was Princess Mo Yu’s identity. He had simply been leveraging someone else’s power. Even if he explained it, there would be nothing to brag about.

“Beat him quite hard?”

Everyone was speechless.

If beating someone until they hurt was effective, they would have done it themselves earlier. Why would they wait for him to arrive?

If he didn’t want to explain, he could at least lie more subtly. Saying something so obviously false was just too perfunctory!

“That’s just how this guy is…”

Huang Yu, standing to the side, rolled her eyes.

He had always been like this. It was fine not to say something if he didn’t want to, as everyone had their secrets. But to lie with a straight face and not even blush—it was bewildering.

“No matter the reason, Teacher is Teacher. No matter how big the problem, he can solve it!”

Unlike what others thought, Zhao Ya and the others still had fervent eyes.

Just now, they had been pushed to a desperate situation with no way out. The moment their teacher appeared, the tide immediately turned. What was more, the other party became obedient. Teacher was indeed Teacher; it seemed no difficulty could stump him.

Seeing that he didn't want to dwell on that topic, Liu Ling, stroking his beard, looked over. “Brother Zhang, if I’m not mistaken, you’ve already reached Half-Zongshi, haven’t you?”

Zhang Xuan’s Heaven’s Path True Qi concealed his aura so well that even a Supreme realm expert or a 2-star Master Teacher couldn’t discern his true cultivation. However, during the recent fight, his aura had been revealed, his power immense and his presence astonishing. Anyone who couldn’t tell his level now would truly be blind.

Even though he could tell, he still found it hard to believe.

Half-Zongshi, though not as difficult to break through as the Zongshi realm itself, was still a challenging step to overcome.

In Tianxuan Kingdom, there were hundreds of peak Tongxuan realm experts, but only Patriarch Shen Hong had truly reached Half-Zongshi, which showed how difficult it was.

Just a while ago, Zhang Xuan was only at the peak of the Tongxuan realm. Liu Ling had thought that even if Zhang Xuan could take this step, it would require two or three years of accumulation. He never dreamed that… after just a month apart, he had already reached it!

“Half-Zongshi?”

Everyone else was also startled, especially Lu Xun, whose eyes widened.

In the past month, Lu Xun had finally broken through to the Tongxuan realm. He had thought he could at least be at the same starting point as Zhang Xuan, but he never dreamed that… the other person had already advanced so much further!

“Mhm!” Zhang Xuan replied.

“A Zongshi is like the ocean, embracing all rivers, capable of founding a sect and establishing a lineage. It is the first major hurdle in the nine stages of martial cultivation. Half-Zongshi, though seemingly close, still requires significant accumulation and refinement. Without it, breaking through remains very difficult.”

Hearing Zhang Xuan’s confirmation, Liu Ling nodded.

Half-Zongshi, while sounding close to Zongshi, was merely a stepping stone. To truly leap across was incredibly difficult.

Shen Hong, himself (Liu Ling), Master Zhuang, and Master Zheng – which of them wasn't renowned in their youth?

Unfortunately, they had all been stuck at this stage for decades without success.

If it weren't for meeting Master Yang, they might never have broken through in their entire lives.

Therefore, even upon reaching this realm, if one didn’t cultivate diligently, maintain a proper mindset, and accumulate slowly, the Zongshi realm would remain distant, possibly even unreachable for life.

“Yes!” Zhang Xuan knew the other party was offering sincere, well-intentioned advice based on experience, and he nodded.

“Your talent is higher than mine, and you have a teacher personally guiding you, so breaking through should be much easier for you. I’m telling you all this simply because I hope you won’t be impatient or anxious, losing your composure. Being able to break through within three years would already make you a genius among geniuses,” Liu Ling continued.

This "Brother Zhang," having reached Half-Zongshi at such a young age, would inevitably feel proud. Liu Ling said this to caution him against arrogance and impatience, advising him not to pursue speed too much and lose his true self, which could lead to being stuck in an awkward position.

“Alright, we won’t keep you from meeting with your students any longer. We’ll go rest first!”

Knowing that Zhang Xuan and his many students hadn’t seen each other for a long time and would surely have much to say, Liu Ling smiled, clasped his hands in farewell, and turned to leave, followed by Huang Yu, Lu Xun, and the others.

“Teacher!”

After the three left, Zheng Yang and the others knelt on the ground, each filled with excitement.

Zhao Ya, in particular, was full of gratitude.

If Teacher Zhang hadn’t appeared in time, who knew what would have happened.

“Perform a set of fist techniques for me, so I can see your progress!” Zhang Xuan said. With a flick of his hand, he sat down and looked at everyone.

Since he was a teacher, he had to set an example and strictly oversee their cultivation.

“Yes!”

Everyone performed their fist techniques together.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The room immediately filled with whistling wind and powerful energy.

If it were anyone else watching five people perform fist techniques simultaneously, even if they could discern their cultivation, they definitely wouldn’t be able to pinpoint the problems.

Zhang Xuan was different. With a thought, his Library of Heaven’s Path instantly revealed their recent cultivation flaws.

“Not bad, you’ve all made progress in a month, but you’re still far from perfect.”

After observing their cultivation issues, Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow: “Zheng Yang, the cultivation technique I gave you was for cultivating the Lung Taiyin meridians. What are you doing cultivating the Three-Legged meridians? You’re ‘drawing legs on a snake,’ making it neither fish nor fowl. If you cultivate like this again, get out! Don’t waste your time here!”

“Liu Yang, even though your right arm has recovered, you still need to be careful when cultivating. Are you trying to cripple yourself again by forcefully using immense power to charge through?”

“Wang Ying…”

Soon, he enumerated the recent cultivation errors of all five disciples and then imparted some new cultivation methods.

While Zhang Xuan might be somewhat disorganized in other matters, when it came to teaching his students, he was never lax, always serious and earnest.

Boom! Crackle!

An hour later, everyone broke through one after another. Zheng Yang, Wang Ying, and the others were the first to break through the Skin-Bone realm, reaching the early stage of the Dingli realm. Immediately after, Yuan Tao also reached the peak of the Skin-Bone realm.

Among them, Zhao Ya made the greatest progress. She had only opened two acupoints before, but after Zhang Xuan’s guidance, she actually broke through ten acupoints within an hour, her strength surging.

Feeling such significant breakthroughs in such a short time, everyone was both excited and astonished.

Master Liu had previously said that they needed an opportune moment to break through, and it would take at least ten to fifteen days. Now that Teacher Zhang had arrived and given them some casual pointers, they had all made progress. Didn’t this prove that his methods were even more formidable than Master Liu’s?

Realizing this, their admiration grew even deeper.

“Alright, that’s all for today. Get some good rest and recuperate your spirits. Tomorrow, I still need to take the Master Teacher examination!” Zhang Xuan instructed.

After Zhao Ya’s incident, he knew that no matter how powerful one’s background was, it couldn’t compare to one’s own strength. Taking the Master Teacher examination was imperative.

***

“I have an urgent matter and need to see Young Master Ji Mo!”

From the Ji family, one of the three great families of Tianwu Kingdom, a figure rushed over.

If Zhang Xuan had been there, he would surely have recognized him: it was the leader who had been beaten to a pulp outside the city earlier.

At this moment, the leader still bore many injuries, but after treatment, he had recovered considerably and could at least move freely.

“How was it? Were you successful?”

The door opened with a creak. Seeing him approach, Young Master Ji Mo’s eyes lit up.

“Reporting to Young Master, although we suffered heavy injuries, we fortunately did not fail our mission!” The leader knelt on the ground.

“Hmm, good, good!”

Hearing the confirmed reply, Young Master Ji Mo’s eyes flashed with excitement.

That brat had made him lose so much face. If he didn't teach him a good lesson, how could he vent his anger?

“Quick, show me what’s recorded on the recording jade!” Young Master Ji Mo extended his hand, his face full of anticipation.

"Weren't you very arrogant before? Claiming to be at the third, fourth, and fifth stages, like some kind of juggling act, and even a 3-star Calligrapher-Painter... Once you’re hanging naked on a tree, let’s see how much pride you have left."

“Reporting to Young Master, the recording jade was destroyed during the fight!” The leader said, full of shame.

“Destroyed?”

“Yes, but we’ve now hung that brat on a large tree outside the city. Our other brothers are guarding him. Young Master can come with me; mocking him face-to-face will be much more satisfying!”

“Excellent! Mocking him face-to-face is what I like best!” Young Master Ji Mo chuckled, his eyes gleaming.

To have such an arrogant fellow stripped naked and hung on a tree, and not to witness it firsthand and mock him in person, would feel like a disservice to himself.

“Let’s go!” Donning his clothes, Young Master Ji Mo was about to head out.

“Young Master,” the leader advised, seeing him about to swagger out the main entrance, “after all, we’ve offended a 3-star Calligrapher-Painter. Even with the recording jade as our trump card, the other party might not dare to do much, but once some of the old-timers in the mansion find out, a scolding will likely be unavoidable. I suggest… perhaps you should change into night clothes, and we can leave quietly! It’s best not to alarm anyone or tell anyone, to avoid leaking the news and causing unnecessary trouble.”

“Indeed, your consideration is very thorough. Those old-timers should have been dealt with long ago. Once I become a 2-star Calligrapher-Painter, become renowned, and inherit the family head position, then I’ll deal with them!” Young Master Ji Mo nodded with satisfaction.

"See? This is the most loyal subordinate, someone who considers my well-being so thoroughly. Perhaps only I possess such personal charisma to make my subordinates work so devotedly."

Thinking of this, he was filled with excitement, feeling as if he were floating in the clouds.