Chapter 317: Meeting Teacher Zhang

"You are very loyal. I will reward you generously when I return!" After praising the leader, Young Master Ji Mo changed into night clothes and quietly left the mansion through its most secluded corner, following behind the leader.

They moved discreetly, and indeed, no one was alerted. Before long, they arrived at a small grove outside the city.

"Young Master, it's here..." The leader pointed forward.

"Good!" Hearing that Zhang Xuan, the one who had caused him such public humiliation, was inside, Young Master Ji Mo's body trembled with excitement as he stepped in.

"Where is he?" Entering the grove, he looked left and right, finding nothing. Just as he was wondering, his vision suddenly went dark as a tattered sack was instantly pulled over his head.

"What are you doing...?" Startled, he tried to break free, only to feel a sharp pain on his face as fists, sticks, and stones rained down on him. A flurry of punches and kicks landed on him. Before Young Master Ji Mo could react, he was knocked to the ground, countless bones in his body shattered.

"Wuwuwu!" His lips were so swollen from the beating they resembled fried dough sticks. Young Master Ji Mo still had no idea what was happening. Wasn't he supposed to be watching Zhang Xuan suffer humiliation? How did he end up getting beaten himself?

After an unknown period, the pain in his body finally subsided. The sack was torn off, followed by his clothes, which were stripped away. A pain in his palm brought him back to reality; he was already strung up in a tree. The midnight breeze swept over his naked body, making him shiver from the cold.

"What do you want?" At that moment, he finally saw clearly the faces of the people who had beaten him. They were precisely the five subordinates he had sent to track Zhang Xuan.

"Young Master, we had no choice. Who told you to offend someone you shouldn't have? You got us involved..." The leader said, while injecting his *zhenqi* into a recording jade crystal, capturing the entire scene before them.

"You... Pfft!" Seeing his naked body being recorded, Young Master Ji Mo was consumed by shame and rage, spitting out a mouthful of blood. What in the world was this...? Weren't these people his subordinates? When did they betray him and join the other side?

He had finally devised a good plan to make the opponent suffer without daring to complain, but instead... it had all been unleashed upon himself! It was laughable that he had previously thought they were loyal... They were indeed loyal, but their loyalty wasn't to him...

"I always thought that someone who attracts so many beautiful women must be very strong, but I never expected him to be so small!"

"Yeah, so small. It's my first time seeing something this tiny..."

"Me too, what an eye-opener!"

Filled with utter despondency, he heard the hushed discussion from the people below. *You're small, your whole family is small...* Taking a long breath, Young Master Ji Mo could no longer hold it in. He spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.

The night passed without incident.

Zhang Xuan awoke, the fatigue from continuous travel completely gone. After washing up, he stepped out of his room to find Liu Ling and others staring at him as if he were a monster.

"You... just gave them some pointers, and they all broke through?" Pointing at Zheng Yang, Zhao Ya, and the others, Master Liu still couldn't believe it.

Waking up that morning and seeing all these people making rapid advancements and achieving breakthroughs, he was so shocked he nearly dropped his teeth. Just a few casual pointers, and they broke through... This breakthrough was too easy! Previously, he had always felt that although this "senior brother" hadn't yet passed the Master Teacher assessment and possessed unique insights in guiding students, he was still inferior to himself. Seeing this scene, he finally understood... There was indeed a gap between them; the other person had left him far behind...

"Oh, yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "It's nothing major. Let's go to the Master Teacher Pavilion."

Hearing this, the others stumbled once more. Helping people break through wasn't a big deal? Seeing how casually he spoke, Master Liu and Lu Xun felt a profound sense of melancholy. Others struggled immensely, exhausting all their knowledge to guide breakthroughs, often without success. Yet, for him, it was as easy as sleeping... Indeed, there was a vast difference between people.

Checking out of the inn, they rented two carriages and headed directly towards the Master Teacher Pavilion. An hour later, a massive building appeared before them, its three grand characters radiating a majestic aura, symbolizing inviolable authority!

The Master Teacher Pavilion!

Although the Master Teacher Pavilion was a branch of the Teacher Guild, it was far more powerful. Those who gained a certain title within it held extremely high status. Master Liu showed his identity badge and easily led the group inside. The main hall was vast and spacious, exuding an air of grandeur.

"Zhang Xuan? You're here!" As he entered, just as he was about to ask where to go for the assessment, he heard a voice. Turning, he saw a girl approaching with an old man.

"It's you?" It was none other than Ling Xiaoxiao, the Master Teacher apprentice he had met upon first entering Tianwu Royal City!

"Yes, you're here for Princess Mo Yu's Question and Answer session, right? It's about to start, and almost all the Master Teachers are here. Let's hurry over!" Although she wasn't particularly fond of this clueless fellow, he was an acquaintance after all, so Ling Xiaoxiao smiled.

"Everyone's here? Alright, let's go take a look!" Since all the Master Teachers were present, it seemed no one would attend to his assessment requests. He might as well go see how the Q&A session worked to prepare himself.

Hearing that someone was undergoing a Master Teacher Q&A assessment, Master Liu and the others were also very interested and followed him to a room. Like some theoretical classrooms, it was filled with various tables and chairs. Many people, at least a hundred, were already seated in front. A row of dignified-looking elders and middle-aged men sat prominently at the very front.

"I didn't expect this guy to be here..." Looking around, a familiar figure suddenly caught his eye. It was Captain Yao of the patrol team from last night. This fellow was actually standing in a corner, performing guard duty. If it weren't for his still red and slightly swollen face, one might suspect he had a twin brother.

After a glance, it seemed Mo Yu hadn't arrived yet, so everyone found a random spot and sat down.

"He really came!" Zhang Xuan saw Captain Yao, who also saw him. The patrol team was responsible for security within the royal city. Normally, the Master Teacher Pavilion's security wouldn't fall to him, but since Princess Mo Yu was undergoing her assessment this time, he was temporarily assigned here.

Originally, due to his injuries, he had wanted to find someone to replace him. But then he thought of the princess's assessment; if that person truly had a connection with her, he would surely come. If he didn't come, or if he met the princess and didn't recognize her, it would mean Physician Baichan hadn't told the truth. Having been beaten so badly, he wouldn't blame himself; he would find a way to get revenge.

With this goal in mind, he endured his injuries and stood to one side, never expecting that he would indeed show up.

"Hmph, I'd like to see how well the princess knows you..." Snorting, Captain Yao took his position and subtly observed.

Zhang Xuan and the others settled down.

"Tianwu Kingdom has a total of thirteen 1-star Master Teachers and three 2-star Master Teachers. The Q&A session is the final stage of the Master Teacher assessment, and no 2-star Master Teachers have come for it." Knowing that the person in front of her was completely clueless, Ling Xiaoxiao kindly explained.

Zhang Xuan clicked his tongue in amazement. Tianxuan Kingdom didn't even have a single 1-star Master Teacher, yet here there were thirteen 1-stars and three 2-stars. The sheer number of Master Teachers alone indicated the disparity in national power. As expected, it was the most powerful among the thirteen surrounding kingdoms. With so many Master Teachers lecturing, how could the younger generation not be formidable, and how could the overall strength not be powerful?

"Who are the 2-star Master Teachers in the kingdom?" After his initial shock, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

Hearing that he didn't even know such basic common knowledge, Ling Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes again: "The most formidable is naturally Hall Master Jiang, who is said to have reached the peak of 2-star, only a matter of time away from becoming a 3-star Master Teacher. The remaining two are Master Wang and Master Mu. Master Mu has only been a 2-star Master Teacher for less than two years, making him the newest."

"Oh!" Zhang Xuan nodded, then looked back: "Has the super genius you mentioned earlier, Mo Hongyi, arrived?"

"Of course he has, and among these Master Teachers, he holds the highest status. He's the one in the very center!" Ling Xiaoxiao pointed.

"The one in the very center?" Zhang Xuan looked up. Indeed, in the middle of the front row of Master Teachers sat a young man, appearing to be twenty-five or twenty-six years old. His aura was as profound as an abyss and as vast as the sea, exuding a strong sense of pressure.

Grandmaster pinnacle! Not only was his strength formidable, but his dark eyes also seemed to possess a special power, wise and confident, as if nothing could stump him.

"Amazing!" With just one glance, Zhang Xuan knew that all the geniuses he had encountered before were like dregs compared to this person. There was no comparison whatsoever. Even Princess Mo Yu paled significantly in comparison.

"His State of Mind probably reached at least 60!" Master Liu also focused his attention and transmitted a message.

"60?" Zhang Xuan gasped. A State of Mind exceeding 30 was sufficient for a 1-star Master Teacher assessment; 60 was enough for a 2-star. To possess such an incredible State of Mind and powerful cultivation at just twenty-six years old, his reputation as a genius was indeed well-deserved.

"Princess Mo Yu is here!" While observing, Ling Xiaoxiao's voice rang out. Looking up, he indeed saw a girl walking in. Who else could it be but Mo Yu!

At this moment, Mo Yu was wearing a long, crimson robe. Both her hair and face were meticulously styled, making her appear even more beautiful and captivating, perhaps even rivaling Zhao Ya in her current state. Truly worthy of being called the Tianwu Kingdom's number one beauty, she lived up to her reputation; the moment she entered, she captivated everyone's attention.

Entering the room, Princess Mo Yu scanned her surroundings. Her eyes suddenly stopped at one spot, and she couldn't help but light up. She was already the center of attention, and this expression immediately drew everyone's notice. They all looked in the direction of her gaze, expecting to see some extraordinary individual, only to find an ordinary-looking young man.

Seeing her looking his way, Zhang Xuan was speechless for a moment. *You, a dignified princess, looking at me like this, you must be doing it on purpose...* Just as he was feeling frustrated and wondering what to say, he heard excited, enthusiastic voices beside him.

"Princess Mo Yu is looking at me! She actually noticed me..." Ling Xiaoxiao's pretty face was flushed with excitement, and she was on the verge of screaming.

"Uh?" Zhang Xuan shook his head, looking at the starry-eyed girl in front of him. However, this opportune misunderstanding also helped him avoid an awkward situation.

"The Question and Answer session begins!" With the arrival of the main participant, and accompanied by Mo Hongyi's announcement, the final stage of the Master Teacher assessment, the Q&A session, commenced.

The Q&A session was somewhat similar to the Pill Debates in alchemy. Each 1-star Master Teacher present would ask a cultivation-related question, usually not exceeding the Grandmaster realm.

"When *zhenqi* is blocked at the final acupuncture point and cannot successfully reach the Tongxuan realm, are there any solutions?" a Master Teacher asked.

"There are two methods. First, the *zhenqi* acupuncture point stimulation method: gather a large amount of *zhenqi* and concentrate it around the acupuncture point to stimulate it. Second, the medicinal enhancement method: while first-grade pills like the Meridian-Nourishing Pill are effective for the Aperture Opening realm, they have limited effect on long-standing breakthroughs. One can use a second-grade pill, the Meridian-Clearing Pill..." Princess Mo Yu spoke fluently and with ease.

After listening for a while, Zhang Xuan looked utterly bewildered. Although he had impersonated a Master Teacher and helped many break through, it was all based on his Heaven's Path *zhenqi*. Many of the methods Princess Mo Yu described were things he had never even heard of. If he were truly asked to answer, he could honestly say... he knew none of them!

"It seems after I pass the 1-star Master Teacher assessment, I'll need to read some books. Otherwise, I definitely won't pass this Q&A stage..." He shook his head. He couldn't just say, "a silver needle and a wisp of *zhenqi* will do!" if someone asked how to break through. If he really said that, he would surely be directly kicked out.

After listening for a while longer, finding it utterly incomprehensible as if listening to divine scriptures, he couldn't help but look at the girl beside him: "What are the different stages of the Master Teacher assessment?" Although he was there to take the Master Teacher assessment, he had absolutely no idea how it worked.

"You don't even know this?" Ling Xiaoxiao was getting a little frantic. If she hadn't personally seen his apprentice badge, she would have wondered if he bought it with money. These things... they were all basic knowledge. If he didn't know this, how could he even attempt to become a Master Teacher? What was he even thinking?

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Alright!" Defeated by this guy, Ling Xiaoxiao explained helplessly: "There are five stages to the Master Teacher assessment!"

"Five stages?"

"That's right. First, the Trust Chamber. It assesses the students' trust level. A trust level exceeding fifty is considered a pass. If you have no students or no trust, you are considered unqualified.

"Second, the Auxiliary Occupation Hall. This is an assessment of auxiliary professions. To become a 1-star Master Teacher, you must possess at least one auxiliary profession and have reached the official level.

"Third, the Puppet Hall. During this assessment, you will be presented with a pair of battling puppets. These puppets are forged using special methods, employing completely different techniques and cultivation methods, yet their strength is comparable, making it impossible for either to defeat the other. You must provide live guidance to one of them, enabling it to win, in order to pass.

"Fourth, the Sea of Cultivation Techniques. The Sea of Cultivation Techniques contains countless cultivation methods. To pass, you need to randomly select one and deliver a lecture on it. During the lecture, not only will numerous Master Teachers be present to evaluate, but most importantly, there's also the Sage's Bell!"

"The Sage's Bell?"

"Yes, the Sage's Bell is a spiritual treasure within the Sea of Cultivation Techniques, almost a spirit weapon. It is imprinted with the ancient sages' understanding and mastery of cultivation techniques. If your explanation of the knowledge doesn't satisfy it, the bell won't ring, and you won't pass!"

Zhang Xuan was stunned. He hadn't expected such an incredible item to exist in the world.

"Once the first four stages are passed, you reach the final stage, the Flawless Hall! In the Flawless Hall, puppets will demonstrate cultivation techniques, combat skills, and even your chosen auxiliary profession. The demonstrations will contain errors, but they are very well hidden and almost impossible to find. You must find at least one error within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to pass; otherwise, you fail."

Ling Xiaoxiao explained each stage, seemingly very familiar with the Master Teacher assessment. The Trust Chamber, Auxiliary Occupation Hall, Puppet Hall, Sea of Cultivation Techniques, Flawless Hall... Five major stages, each more difficult than the last.

"Wait, isn't there also a Q&A session?" Zhang Xuan asked, puzzled. Wasn't the Q&A session said to be the final stage of the Master Teacher assessment? Why wasn't it included?

"The Q&A session, though known as the final stage of the Master Teacher assessment, is actually the simplest. As long as you pass the previous five, it's virtually negligible, a guaranteed pass. Therefore, once you clear the first five stages, you've passed the assessment and can be called a Master Teacher. This session is merely a formality, essentially to introduce the new Master Teacher to the others," Ling Xiaoxiao explained.

Zhang Xuan nodded, feeling a wave of frustration. So, this stage was just a simple formality... yet, he understood absolutely nothing, as if listening to divine scriptures. It seemed that becoming a Master Teacher wasn't as easy as he thought.

As the two conversed, the Q&A session above was nearing its end.

"Congratulations, Master Teacher Mo Yu!"

"Here is your rank badge. From now on, you are a 1-star Master Teacher!"

The Master Teachers seated at the front offered their congratulations. Receiving her Master Teacher badge and special attire, Princess Mo Yu was also filled with excitement. Although there was only a slight difference between an apprentice and a Master Teacher, their statuses were worlds apart. Only by becoming a Master Teacher could one truly be considered a leading figure.

"I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first!" Handing the badge and attire to Mo Yu, Mo Hongyi nodded and turned to leave. Mo Yu didn't seem upset, apparently quite familiar with his character and temperament.

After finally exchanging pleasantries with everyone, Mo Yu lifted her foot and walked towards their direction. Seeing her approach, Ling Xiaoxiao's face flushed with excitement, and she became somewhat incoherent.

"My idol is coming! Does she really know me? Quick, check, is my hair neat?"

"Uh... it's not messy!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"That's good then..." Ling Xiaoxiao quickly stood up.

"Apprentice Ling Xiaoxiao greets Master Mo!"

"Mm!" Princess Mo Yu nodded, then disregarded her and turned to look at Zhang Xuan. Seeing the princess, a newly certified 1-star Master Teacher, focus her gaze on an unknown young man who had appeared out of nowhere, silence fell over the entire area. Ling Xiaoxiao was even more dumbfounded, almost fainting. She had thought her idol came specifically for her, never dreaming that after a mere nod, she would turn to the person beside her. Wasn't this guy just a clueless little apprentice? Coming specifically to see him... What the heck?

"Could it be... Physician Baichan was telling the truth?" Captain Yao, who had been observing the commotion from the side, immediately found his breathing quicken when he saw Princess Mo Yu actually approach that person. It seemed Physician Baichan had been truthful. Otherwise, the princess wouldn't have come specifically for him. Fortunately, after hearing his words earlier, he hadn't continued to act arrogantly. Otherwise, he wouldn't even know how he died...

"However, the princess has always maintained her purity. If she truly has a connection with this guy, many people will surely find out soon..." He muttered to himself, just imagining how this news would shock many of her suitors, when he saw Princess Mo Yu, not far away, cup her fist and bow, performing a courtesy typically reserved for a student meeting a teacher.

"Student Mo Yu, greets Teacher Zhang!"