Chapter 340: Students Gone Silly

Everyone knew she cultivated quickly and was a genius.

What they didn't know was that due to her family background, she had consumed too many elixirs over the years, leaving a significant amount of toxins in her body, which made subsequent cultivation extremely difficult. Otherwise, she would have applied for graduation upon reaching the Aperture Acupoint realm instead of remaining in the academy all this time. Even her previous teachers hadn't noticed this condition. For someone to accurately describe it the moment he stepped in was terrifying! Could it be... he wasn't a violent teacher after all, but someone truly capable?

Mu Xueqing's delicate body trembled. If this weren't the case, how could he have instantly seen that seven of her meridians were completely blocked by turbid true qi, and that the Profound Connection realm would be a major obstacle for her? Meng Tao was also stunned that the teacher revealed so much with just a few words. Even though he attended classes with Senior Sister Mu every day, he was unaware of these details. He froze, speechless, unsure how to respond or even defend her.

"Senior Sister Mu ranked tenth in the last academy competition. Everyone knows she's a renowned genius here. How can she not be considered one?" a female student protested.

"A true genius isn't just someone whose strength improves quickly in a short period; it's someone who can go further! While her young age and attainment of the Aperture Acupoint realm indicate rapid progress, the excessive pill toxins in her body and her psychological dependence mean that even if she continues to improve, her potential will be limited!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Since he was the class teacher, the academy naturally provided basic student profiles. A quick glance was enough for him to identify the girl, whose beauty rivaled Wang Ying's, as Mu Xueqing, the strongest student in the class. Once he knew her name, a brief inquiry revealed her background and family history. The girl's father was a renowned two-star alchemist, meaning that what were invaluable elixirs to others were readily available to her. This was both an advantage over her peers and a significant disadvantage for her future cultivation.

While it wasn't a direct use of cultivation, his Eye of Insight had reached 10.1. He was adept at observation and deduction, and given his familiarity with alchemists, he could instantly discern whether there were pill toxins accumulated in one's body. After all, he was a two-star master teacher who had passed his assessment based on genuine ability. If he couldn't even spot such a minor issue, he wouldn't be worthy of the title.

Mu Xueqing's current cultivation was indeed commendable. Unfortunately, her excessive reliance on elixirs had created a significant impediment to her future progress. All medicines carry some toxicity, and elixirs are no exception, unless they reach the pill-mark level. Even perfectly formed elixirs, regardless of their fullness or apparent perfection, still contain numerous impurities. Without the cleansing of refined true qi, these medicinal toxins can easily obstruct meridians, gradually slowing one's progress. For this reason, most cultivators rarely chose to consume elixirs unless they faced a critical bottleneck in their cultivation that they genuinely could not overcome otherwise. It's like being ill; if one can recover naturally, they'll avoid medication, even if they know taking it would speed up their recovery.

While her current cultivation speed was impressive, backed by a two-star alchemist father who helped lay a solid foundation, her progress might not be as rapid a decade from now. Even reaching the Profound Connection realm would prove to be a significant challenge. Beyond the pill toxins, a more critical issue was her psychological dependence, which had eroded her confidence in breaking through cultivation barriers without the aid of external elixirs.

"She is no genius. On the contrary, you are quite promising!" After addressing Mu Xueqing, Zhang Xuan turned to the girl who had spoken. "Though your cultivation is only at the early Skin and Bone realm, you've thoroughly tempered your physical body, and your state of mind is exceptionally stable. If I'm not mistaken, there must be a beast tamer in your family who used the essence blood of savage beasts to enhance your cultivation. While this method bears some resemblance to consuming elixirs for strength enhancement, it is not entirely the same. The essence blood of savage beasts is more compatible with the human body; far from creating an impediment, it can make muscles denser and boost overall strength! If I'm not mistaken, you should be capable of fighting opponents beyond your cultivation level. Even at the early Skin and Bone realm, you can contend with those in the middle stage!"

"I..." The girl nearly jumped out of her skin in fright. Her father was a one-star beast tamer. When she broke through to the Skin and Bone realm, she had indeed consumed savage beast essence blood, which granted her extraordinary physical prowess, enabling her to fight across cultivation levels. She had only confided this information to a few close friends, and the academy was certainly unaware. Yet, this teacher had simply glanced at her and casually revealed it... It was simply terrifying!

"However... while savage beast essence blood is indeed excellent, there's a saying: 'A weak vessel cannot hold a strong tonic.' While this approach might pose fewer risks for a boy, your female body is inherently more delicate. Though the essence blood can temporarily boost your physique and power, prolonged reliance will inevitably lead to various hidden dangers. It's akin to a bedridden patient consuming a thousand-year-old ginseng; not only might their illness remain uncured, but it could even prove fatal!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. The girl's flushed skin and vigorously coursing blood indicated practices similar to certain secret techniques used by beast tamers. Even without documented records, discerning this was no challenge for him with even a little attention.

"And you!" After addressing the two girls, Zhang Xuan's gaze landed on Meng Tao. "You have a shy, scholarly demeanor. The calluses between your thumb and middle finger are clearly not from cultivation. Furthermore, your sleeve is stained with ink. If I'm not mistaken, you must enjoy calligraphy and painting, and you frequently practice copying them! Unfortunately, your gaze is unfocused; you lack the ability to grasp the essence and find the spirit in anything you observe. Even if you can paint, your achievements will be limited, let alone creating works with true vibrancy or profound meaning!

"As for you, you must be very fond of the tea ceremony! There's a clear, refreshing tea fragrance about you. However, you haven't truly grasped its profound essence, and the time you spend immersed in tea ceremonies far exceeds your cultivation practice, leading to stagnant progress and unstable power. If I'm not mistaken, you haven't advanced your cultivation in a year. Furthermore, your resolve in cultivation is weak; you disregard your teachers' instructions, spending more time fantasizing—a classic case of losing ambition to trivial pursuits."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Xuan continued, identifying four more students in succession, each observation perfectly accurate. The entire group was struck dumb, a hushed silence falling over the classroom.

What exactly was going on? Just moments ago, they had conspired to intentionally ask him questions about other professions, hoping to stump him. Yet, before they could even open their mouths, he had merely glanced at them and eloquently expounded on numerous professions! Could it be that this teacher... was proficient in every profession? If not, how could he possibly deduce Meng Tao's fondness for calligraphy and painting from just a stain of ink on his sleeve, or the second boy's love for tea from his scent alone? This... was simply terrifying!

"Alright, the rest of you, demonstrate a set of fist techniques for me!" Seeing that he had thoroughly unnerved the students, Zhang Xuan turned his attention to the remaining few. The preceding cases were quite obvious, and Zhang Xuan was relatively familiar with those professions, which enabled him to identify them instantly. However, discerning the skills and interests of the remaining students proved a bit more challenging.

A large institution like Tianwu Academy differed from smaller schools like Tianxuan. Many students, in addition to their cultivation studies, took elective courses to learn a preferred profession. Although many would never reach the apprentice or even formal professional level in these auxiliary paths, it was still considered a hobby and a form of experience for them, much like how Teacher Liu and others had once studied the tea ceremony under Elder Tian. Their understanding of the tea ceremony also didn't reach the apprentice level, but that didn't detract from their enjoyment of the hobby. Similarly, these students' auxiliary professions were all learned superficially; they were still a long way from becoming true apprentices.

"Yes, sir!" Intimidated by the teacher, the others hesitated no longer. They all stood up and began to perform their fist techniques. In an instant, the classroom filled with the whoosh of air.

A moment later, Zhang Xuan nodded. It had to be said that the overall caliber of students at Tianwu Academy far surpassed those from the Tianxuan Kingdom. Their martial techniques, cultivation methods, and understanding of other professions were all on a different level, incomparable to individuals like Zhu Hong or Mo Xiao.

"The martial technique you practice, 'White Bird Clear Sky,' appears powerful with swift moves, but your footwork lags, and your true qi is insufficient. Against a slightly stronger opponent, they would only need to stand their ground and target your armpit to utterly defeat you! This isn't due to a lack of diligence in your cultivation. If I'm not mistaken, you must have minored in the artificer profession! Artificers need to purify various minerals and metals, which demands immense physical strength for wielding heavy hammers. Over time, the strength in your right arm has significantly surpassed that of your left, leading to an imbalance. For 'White Bird Clear Sky,' a bird with one strong wing and one weak one, it would be surprising if no issues arose!

"You likely enjoy treasure appraisal, but alas, it's a costly profession. Although you're wearing a school uniform, it's severely worn, at least six months old. This suggests your family's financial situation isn't prosperous. How can you learn treasure appraisal without funds? What treasures could you possibly find?

"As for you, your singular devotion to martial arts, without choosing any auxiliary profession, is commendable. However, have you noticed that despite your diligent cultivation, your progress hasn't been significant? This isn't due to a lack of effort or poor talent, but because you've cultivated in the wrong direction! You are clearly suited for expansive, exhaling cultivation methods, yet you've instead practiced timid, breath-holding techniques..."

As he moved among the students, each casual remark Zhang Xuan made invariably caused one of them to turn pale, cold sweat beading on their forehead. This Teacher Liu, simply by observing their martial techniques, precisely identified their cultivation deficiencies and issues within their auxiliary professions, without missing a single detail! His discerning eye was terrifyingly sharp. It was, to put it mildly... utterly horrifying!

Though their proficiency in these auxiliary paths was rudimentary, barely scratching the surface, they encompassed seven or eight different professions. For him to instantly articulate such precise details, echoing what their actual auxiliary teachers might say, was beyond the capabilities of any ordinary martial cultivation instructor. Indeed, it felt as though even some master teachers might not possess such keen insight!

"Th-this..." Mu Xueqing, standing to the side, was utterly dumbfounded. Only moments before, she had confidently asserted to everyone that by challenging the new teacher with questions about various other professions, he would surely retreat in embarrassment. Yet, the outcome... Before they could even speak, he had already laid bare everyone's secrets, exposing them completely and undeniably!

Weren't you just a violent man who only resorted to corporal punishment? Weren't you just an ordinary teacher, not even a star teacher? How do you know everything? Proficient in everything? This... What kind of... monster had the academy truly sent?