Chapter 388: Sealing One's Lips

Silence!

Kong shi accepting a disciple was a major event that sent shockwaves across the continent. Regardless of whether one was a master teacher or merely a cultivator, anyone granted such an honor would undoubtedly be beside themselves with excitement. Yet, this person actually... refused outright, so decisively and resolutely!

Could someone tell me what exactly happened?

While the emergence of a Celestial Master Teacher was astonishing, refusing Kong shi's offer of discipleship was simply mind-boggling. All the master teachers in the Sealed Master Hall stood dumbfounded, as if struck mute, exchanging bewildered glances, their minds racing.

"This venerable figure, you may not want to be Kong shi's disciple, but I certainly do..."

"Why refuse? You could have just left the spot for me..."

"Hall Master Jiang, what exactly happened?"

After a long while, a master teacher finally couldn't hold back, turning to look at Hall Master Jiang nearby. The others immediately followed suit, their gazes fixed on him.

"I... I don't know either!"

At that moment, Hall Master Jiang was on the verge of a breakdown. He had rushed over after sensing an anomaly in the Sealed Master Hall, but who could have anticipated witnessing such a scene?

Refusing Kong shi... Such a thing would be terrifying, not just in Tianwu Kingdom, but even within the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance. Even a 9-star master teacher wouldn't dare do such a thing!

"Don't know?" The master teacher hesitated, then continued, "To become a Celestial Master Teacher, it means he hasn't yet received formal guild recognition. This implies he's either not yet an official master teacher, or he's currently undergoing an assessment for a higher rank! And in the past few days, only two individuals have been participating in assessments: Zhang Xuan and Mo Hongyi! Just tell us where they went, and if they are still in the Imperial City!"

The recognition of a Celestial Master Teacher only causes a stir in the nearest Master Teacher Pavilion, not across a wider area. Since an anomaly occurred in the Sealed Master Hall here, it must signify a breakthrough by a master teacher in Tianwu Imperial City! A moment's thought confirmed it had to be one of those two; there was no doubt.

"They..." Hall Master Jiang hesitated.

"Go on," Elder Zhu urged. "He has already been recognized as a Celestial Master Teacher, which means he's passed the assessment. Revealing his identity now wouldn't be a violation..."

"Yes!" Hall Master Jiang nodded. "They are still in the Imperial City, but they disguised their identities for the final assessment to become a 2-star master teacher!"

"Disguised?"

The practice of master teachers disguising their identities to accept students for the 2-star assessment was highly secretive. Many of the master teachers present were completely unaware of it, and even Jiang Chen was hearing it for the first time.

"It's like this!" Hall Master Jiang then proceeded to explain the final stage of the 2-star master teacher assessment.

"You mean... President Liu Cheng, renowned throughout the Imperial City... and Master Teacher Zhang are one and the same person?"

Upon hearing the explanation, everyone was stunned once more, utterly flabbergasted. For the past two days, the most renowned figures had been Zhang Xuan of the Master Teacher Pavilion and Liu Cheng, the President of the Physician Guild! Everyone knew them to be astonishing geniuses, envied by many, but no one in their wildest dreams had imagined... they were the same person!

"No wonder..."

Jiang Chen also froze in place. He had harbored some suspicions earlier but hadn't dared to believe them. Only after hearing his father's confirmation did it all become clear! No wonder he possessed such advanced alchemy skills, capable of enabling a 2-star alchemist to refine a fourth-grade pill!

During Zhang Xuan's assessment, even though he knew he was outmatched, he still harbored a competitive spirit, believing that if he continued to progress steadily and work hard, he would eventually catch up. But now he realized... the disparity was simply too immense to be compared. Forget catching up; he couldn't even see him! Not only was he exceptionally skilled in alchemy, but his prowess in various other professions—medicine, calligraphy, beast taming—was also far beyond reach. How could anyone possibly compare?

"Since both of them are in the Imperial City, the Celestial Master Teacher must be one of them. Once we confirm which one, we'll know who it is!" Suppressing his shock, a master teacher spoke.

"Indeed. Regardless, our guild has produced a Celestial Master Teacher, one who almost became a disciple of the Saint. We must identify him..." another master teacher added.

With the possibilities narrowed down to just two, the rest would be simple. Surely, the guild couldn't have someone so extraordinary emerge and not even know who he was, right?

"Everyone, please don't fret. I'll send an apprentice to investigate right away!"

Hall Master Jiang turned and walked out, returning a short time later. Liu Cheng and Sun Cheng were now well-known teachers at Tianwu Academy, so gathering information on them was straightforward.

"Well?" Elder Zhu couldn't help but ask, looking over.

"Mo Hongyi... appears to be ill and is currently in a coma," Hall Master Jiang reported. "As for Master Teacher Zhang, he is reportedly in secluded cultivation and is not seeing anyone..."

"Then there's no need to wonder; it must be Master Teacher Zhang..."

Everyone nodded simultaneously. Since one was in a coma, he certainly couldn't be the Celestial Master Teacher, nor could he have refused Kong shi. Thus, there was only one possibility: the one who had caused such an immense stir was none other than Zhang Xuan, who had produced countless miracles since his arrival.

"Since we know it's Master Teacher Zhang, should we report this news to the main headquarters?" A master teacher in the crowd suggested.

"No!" Hall Master Jiang shook his head. "If it were merely a Celestial Master Teacher, reporting it to the main headquarters would be no issue. However... Master Teacher Zhang just rejected Kong shi. If word of this gets out, the entire headquarters might just erupt..."

Everyone was stunned.

Indeed. Who was Kong shi? The greatest figure of all time, the revered teacher of heaven and earth... For such an individual to have his offer of discipleship rejected would undoubtedly cause immense upheaval! Furthermore, Kong shi's rejection was hardly a glorious matter. If it were to become public, and should Kong shi become angered... Even death a thousand times over wouldn't absolve them of responsibility.

"This matter has exceeded the scope of our control. It's best if we keep entirely silent about it..." Hall Master Jiang instructed after a moment.

"Yes!"

Everyone understood the gravity of the situation. Not daring to utter another word, they all nodded in agreement. Both the Celestial Master Teacher revelation and Kong shi's rejected offer of discipleship were beyond their comprehension. When faced with such matters, it was always best to remain silent, to speak nothing, know nothing, and hear nothing. Otherwise, they might not even realize how they met their end.

"Since that's the case, everyone, please swear an oath here before Kong shi's statue!" Hall Master Jiang spoke again.

"Yes!"

Soon, the oath was completed. Everyone immediately felt a unique power invade their minds, sealing the recent events within. Should they ever speak of them, they would face punishment.

Unaware that his desire for a low profile had been shattered and that his actions were now known throughout the Master Teacher Pavilion, Zhang Xuan pushed open the door of the small classroom and walked out. Although being recognized as a Celestial Master Teacher had increased his Mind Realm scale by a full 1.0 and allowed him to condense the Eye of Insight, it had not brought about any increase in his cultivation. He remained at the pinnacle of the Grandmaster realm, with his strength still hovering around 5000 ding.

"Teacher!"

Stepping out, he immediately saw a girl prostrate herself on the ground, utterly convinced by the teacher before her. It was Mu Xueqing.

At that moment, her aura was like a soaring dragon's; she appeared completely reborn! The accumulated medicinal energy within her body had been fully unleashed, allowing her to directly break through the limitations of the Aperture Opening realm and reach the initial stage of the Profound Connection realm! Her aura even subtly hinted that she could break through to the middle stage at any moment. Such a profound transformation and immense progress overnight was almost unbelievable even to her.

"Not bad!" Seeing her progress, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction. Having consumed pills since childhood, the sheer amount of accumulated medicinal power within her had reached an astonishing level, making such a rapid breakthrough entirely natural.

"Your cultivation has just advanced. Consolidate it thoroughly, and tomorrow, I'll take you somewhere!" Knowing that her trust in him had certainly surpassed 40, making it possible to conclude the Master Teacher assessment, Zhang Xuan gave his instructions.

"Yes!" Mu Xueqing nodded and stepped aside.

***

The Jade Pavilion was the most renowned pleasure palace in Tianwu Imperial City. The expenses for a single day there could easily bankrupt a minor family from a second-tier kingdom. Despite this, people still flocked there, with an unceasing stream of carriages arriving. Countless individuals dreamed of being able to spend their wealth there and become a regular patron. This was because it offered the strongest wines from the thirteen surrounding kingdoms, the most beautiful courtesans, unparalleled service, and the most luxurious environment imaginable. Any cultivator, male or female, who visited once would long to return, losing themselves in its allure and lingering indefinitely.

Before even entering, a rich spiritual energy washed over them, more than twice as potent as outside. Cultivating in such an environment would undoubtedly be more than twice as fast as anywhere else.

Early in the morning, a carriage came to a halt, and the young attendant driving it quickly placed down the mounting block.

"Young Master, we've arrived!"

"Hmm!"

With a flick of the curtain, a young man stepped out. The young man was richly dressed, his face as refined as polished jade. A subtle shadow occasionally flickered in his eyes. On his exposed skin, faint bruises were visible, indicating a recent injury that had yet to fully heal.

"Young Master, are we... truly going to seek out Young Master Lin Lang? I've heard that whatever he asks for comes at a steep price!" The attendant cast a hesitant glance.

"If not him, then who else can we turn to?" The young man's face was ashen. "My family has abandoned me; they insist on handing me over to that Zhang Xuan to appease his wrath! Only the Lin clan can guarantee my safety! What if Young Master Lin Lang steps in? What if Zhang Xuan successfully passes the 2-star master teacher assessment? Does he dare offend the Formation Master Guild and the Xuanyuan Kingdom?"

If Zhang Xuan had been there, he would have immediately recognized him: it was none other than Young Master Ji Mo, the calligrapher and painter his subordinates had stripped naked and hung from a tree! After learning that the one he had offended was the prodigious Zhang Xuan, no one in the Ji clan dared to protect him any longer. Even his own father, the Ji clan head, intended to personally bind him and send him over to apologize. Knowing that being handed over would inevitably lead to severe consequences, he seized an opportunity to escape and seek sanctuary. If anyone in Tianwu Kingdom could protect him, it would only be the Lin clan; no one else, not even the royal family, could accomplish it!

The head of the Lin clan was not only the president of the Formation Master Guild, but his daughter was also the Crown Princess of Xuanyuan Kingdom. Such a prominent status alone would command respect from Hall Master Jiang Shu, let alone a newly assessed Master Teacher Zhang Xuan.

As for Lin Lang, the person he mentioned, he was hailed as the First Young Master of Tianwu Kingdom! He was, in fact, the son of the Lin clan head and the younger brother of the Xuanyuan Kingdom's Crown Princess. Lin Lang was also considered a genius and, being the son of the head of one of the Imperial City's three great families, Ji Mo had been fortunate enough to meet and interact with him a few times. And this Jade Pavilion was personally established by Lin Lang.