Chapter 353: Herbal Medicines Arrived

Zhao Ya's injuries were much more severe than expected. If not for her robust constitution, she might not have even made it back on her own.

Liu Ling was startled to see them return from the academy with such injuries. He quickly went to meet them.

"What happened?"

"She was injured by a wicked woman," Zheng Yang said. "Please, Master Liu, help treat her!"

"Hmm!" Liu Ling glanced at her, then breathed a sigh of relief. "Her zhenqi was just a bit shaken. It's not a big problem; she'll recover after about half a month of recuperation."

"Half a month? No, that won't do. She has a match with that woman in three days…"

Zheng Yang paused, about to finish his sentence, when he saw Master Liu wave his hand. Master Liu then cupped his fists forward and announced, "This is your Grandteacher, Master Yang. Come and pay your respects!"

"Grandteacher?"

"Master Yang?"

It was then that Zheng Yang and the others noticed Zhang Xuan, who was seated in the center of the room.

This Master Yang had created countless legends in the Tianxuan Kingdom, and their own teacher was his direct disciple.

They had only heard the legends, never seen him.

Upon hearing this, they all trembled, respectfully knelt, and bowed deeply.

"Your grandchildren Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, Wang Ying, Liu Yang, and Yuan Tao greet Grandteacher!"

"Hmm."

Zhang Xuan nodded, then frowned as he looked at Zhao Ya. "What happened?"

He was surprised that she had been beaten to such a state after only one day. Who dared to do such a thing?

"Reporting to Grandteacher, I was slightly injured in a fair spar. It was due to my insufficient cultivation," Zhao Ya replied.

"A fair spar?" Zhang Xuan's eyebrows knitted together.

If she lost in a fair spar, it simply meant her skills were inferior. Even if he were the opponent's teacher, he couldn't play favorites.

"Come here!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Yes!" Zhao Ya stepped forward.

He placed a finger on her wrist, and pure zhenqi immediately surged through her meridians.

Crackling sounds filled the air!

Nourished by his Heaven's Path zhenqi, Zhao Ya's chaotic zhenqi quickly regrouped, and the injuries within her body visibly recovered.

"Thank you, Grandteacher, for healing Zhao Ya!" Feeling her body energized and robust once more, Zhao Ya's eyes gleamed with excitement.

This Grandteacher was indeed as formidable as the legends said. With just a casual touch, not only were her injuries fully healed, but her cultivation also felt agitated, giving her an impulse to break through.

"Incredible!"

Witnessing this, Liu Ling was once again filled with admiration for his teacher.

He had seen Zhao Ya's injuries earlier—they were the result of forcing power, causing a backlash that displaced her internal organs and dispersed her zhenqi. Even if not life-threatening, healing them would normally take at least ten days to half a month.

Yet, his teacher had completely healed her by simply placing a finger on her pulse for a few breaths. This method was truly unfathomable; it was hard to believe without witnessing it firsthand.

"You mentioned a match in three days. What does that mean?"

Waving his hand to interrupt their gratitude, Zhang Xuan frowned and looked at them.

What was wrong with these youngsters? Why did they get into a fight as soon as they arrived, and even set up a duel?

"Reporting to Grandteacher," Yuan Tao quickly interjected before Zhao Ya could answer, "we were strolling outside when we encountered an arrogant woman who openly slandered our teacher. Zhao Ya couldn't stand it and stepped in to teach her a lesson, but who knew that woman wasn't weak and beat her to this state!"

Hearing his words, everyone was startled.

Many master teachers disliked their students causing trouble.

Getting into fights with others was wrong to begin with, and he seemed unrepentant, even stating it so brazenly. It might be okay to say such things to Teacher Zhang, but saying them to a super master teacher above three stars would surely displease him and might even get their own teacher reprimanded…

Thinking of this, everyone glared at Yuan Tao, filled with anxiety, afraid that Master Yang would get angry.

"Insulted your teacher?"

Master Yang's eyebrows rose. "Excellent. Students must uphold their teacher's dignity. You did very well!"

"Did very well?"

They had expected a lecture, but Master Yang praised them directly. Everyone was stunned, and even Liu Ling swayed slightly.

Didn't that mean he was encouraging them to fight?

His teacher's ideas were too… extreme!

"However, to teach someone a lesson only to be injured by them, that is utterly disgraceful!" Zhang Xuan snorted.

"Actually…" Zheng Yang hesitated. "Zhao Ya's cultivation isn't weak at all; it's just that the opponent's martial arts were too formidable…"

The opponent won not because her strength was superior, but due to an advantage in martial techniques.

Tianwu Kingdom was a first-class kingdom, while Tianxuan Kingdom was merely an unrated state. There were two levels separating them, so naturally, their martial arts had a world of difference.

The fact that Zhao Ya managed to avoid outright defeat already indicated her strength was not weak.

"Martial arts?"

Zhang Xuan then remembered that he hadn't taught Zhao Ya any martial arts.

Wang Ying had been taught the Heaven's Path Leg Art and movement techniques, Zheng Yang the Heaven's Path Spear Art, and Liu Yang the Heaven's Path Fist Art. However, Yuan Tao and Zhao Ya hadn't received any martial arts instruction after activating their special constitutions, so it was no wonder they were at a disadvantage in combat.

"Since your teacher is currently undergoing the two-star master teacher examination and won't be back anytime soon, I'll teach you a set of martial arts in his stead. Are you willing to learn?"

Thinking this, Zhang Xuan looked at the girl before him.

"I am willing!" Hearing that her Grandteacher was going to personally teach her martial arts, Zhao Ya quickly cupped her fists.

It was no joke; this was her teacher's teacher. Any martial art he taught would surely be exceedingly profound.

"You've used a sword since childhood, so I'll teach you a set of sword techniques!"

After a moment of thought, Zhang Xuan said, "However, my sword techniques are quite sharp. Since you're newly injured, you're not suitable for practicing them yet. Rest and recuperate today, and I'll impart the sword art tomorrow!"

With Zhao Ya's Pure Yin Constitution activated, fist arts and leg arts weren't suitable for her. Since she had practiced sword arts since childhood, teaching her sword arts was the most appropriate choice.

"Yes!" Zhao Ya nodded.

Indeed, it wasn't ideal for her to learn powerful sword techniques right after being injured. Only by adjusting to her optimal state could she unleash their full potential.

"Alright, you can all leave for now. Sun Qiang, send someone to the Master Teacher Pavilion to fetch Jiang Shu. Tell him I need to see him!"

Having promised Zhao Ya, Zhang Xuan said no more and waved his hand.

He had read many books in the Master Teacher Pavilion, and naturally, there were many martial arts like sword techniques. However, most were quite profound, and directly teaching them might make it difficult for her to master. It would be better to learn them himself first, test their power, and then consider how to impart them.

Otherwise, if he rashly taught something he hadn't even practiced, any problems that arose would be significant trouble.

Sun Qiang worked efficiently. In less than half an hour, Pavilion Master Jiang arrived.

Seeing Zhang Xuan seated in the main seat, Jiang Shu excitedly stepped forward and bowed. "Jiang Shu greets Teacher!"

This person before him had not only helped him subdue a powerful savage beast but had also bestowed cultivation techniques upon him, resolving hidden dangers and old injuries within his body. His heart was already full of gratitude.

"I need two herbs: Golden Leaf Fire Root and Nine-Worm Flower. Can you find them?"

Without preamble, Zhang Xuan looked at him calmly.

"Golden Leaf Fire Root and Nine-Worm Flower? Reporting to Teacher, I happen to have them right here!"

Jiang Shu hesitated for a moment, then with a flick of his wrist, two herbs appeared in his palm—exactly what Zhang Xuan was looking for.

"Hmm!" Zhang Xuan casually took the herbs and waved his hand. "I won't take advantage of you. Tell me how much these two herbs cost, and I'll have Sun Qiang pay you later!"

"Teacher's kindness to your student is as vast as a mountain. These are just two herbs; consider them my filial offering to you…"

Jiang Shu hurriedly said.

Without his teacher's cultivation technique, the hidden injuries in his body would eventually flare up, threatening his life. But now, not only had he subdued a powerful savage beast, but the underlying danger had also been completely resolved. Forget two herbs; he would willingly go through fire and water for his teacher.

Without such genuine gratitude, the Library wouldn't have produced golden pages.

"I accept students based on destiny, not to take advantage of them, am I?" Zhang Xuan frowned, exuding an imposing aura. "Pay what they're worth!"

Seeing his teacher's insistence, Jiang Shu secretly admired him.

See?

This was the true magnanimity of a master teacher.

It made one utterly convinced.

"Yes!" He nodded, then thought carefully. "I acquired these two herbs from the Great Medicine King, and they are both over a hundred years old. If purchased with gold coins, they would collectively cost twenty million!"

"Twenty million… *cough, cough*!"

Just as he was about to grandly wave his hand and give the money, Zhang Xuan coughed, nearly spitting blood and fainting.

Twenty million? Gold coins?

Damn!

He wouldn't even be worth that much if he sold himself!

He had thought they would only cost a few million at most, and he could grandly pay for them. He never dreamed these two herbs alone would be more expensive than everything else he had bought combined.

What kind of freaking herbs were these…?

He had only wanted to take on a student to quickly boost his strength and gain their trust, but he never imagined it would instantly bankrupt him…

This was too much of a rip-off!

"Money is but an external thing. As a master teacher, constantly thinking about money… will affect one's state of mind!"

Blushing, Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

Jiang Shu was utterly bewildered.

*I* was the one who didn't want to take the money, and *you* insisted on giving it. Why, after hearing the price, are you now saying that thinking about money affects one's state of mind?

Seeing Jiang Shu's bewildered expression, Zhang Xuan felt a bit awkward and waved his hand again. "How about this: you take some time to prepare yourself. I'll make time in the coming days to guide you in breaking through… Consider that the payment for these two herbs!"

He had promised money but couldn't deliver, and he was too embarrassed to back down, so he could only promise benefits instead.

"Guide me in breaking through?"

He had been wondering why his teacher suddenly changed his attitude, but upon hearing this, Jiang Shu was so excited he nearly jumped up, immediately bowing to the ground.

"Thank you, Teacher…"

He had been stuck at the peak of the Grandmaster realm for countless years. If he could break through and reach Half-Step Saint, both his lifespan and strength would significantly increase.

"You may also leave now!"

With the herbs acquired, Zhang Xuan didn't intend to stay longer. He greeted everyone, "I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave first. I will return tomorrow!"

After speaking, he strode out.

Leaving the residence, he changed back into Teacher Liu's appearance once he confirmed no one was watching, and headed towards Tianwu Academy.

The residence that White Toad had found was located between the Master Teacher Pavilion and Tianwu Academy, so the distances were short. It wasn't long before he returned to his classroom.

Before he even entered, Meng Tao came forward to greet him. "Teacher, you're back! Please help Senior Sister. She… she's injured!"

"Mu Xueqing is injured?"