Chapter 521: Second Recognition by a Celestial Master

What appeared before their eyes was not a room or a hall at all, but a vibrant, flower-filled place. A fragrant scent permeated the air, and white clouds drifted overhead, making them feel as if they had returned to a mountain forest instead of being underground.

"Could this be... an illusion array?"

Pavilion Master Sai and the others were also filled with surprise.

It was impossible for vegetation to grow in such a deep underground palace, let alone for there to be white clouds and blue skies. Clearly, it was fake. The most likely explanation for this situation was an illusion array.

"It's not an array..." Zhang Xuan shook his head. As an array master, he would certainly be able to tell if it were an array. Yet, there were no spiritual energy fluctuations here; it felt incredibly real, as if they had truly entered another dimension—a phenomenon beyond explanation.

"Could it still be a mechanism? No, how could a mechanism create such an effect!" Mechanisms were, put simply, physical machinery. What they saw before them—wild flowers, green grass, murmuring streams—could absolutely not be created by a mechanism.

"I'll throw a puppet in to test it!" Filled with doubt, Luo Zhu flipped his wrist, and a puppet appeared, walking forward along the passage. The moment it left the passage, the puppet instantly vanished as if it had never existed.

"What in the world... is going on?" Everyone was startled. Previously, even if the puppet couldn't withstand the array attacks in the passage, it would explode into dust that could be seen, and sword qi could be detected. But this one simply vanished the moment it stepped out of the passage... it was far too strange!

"Could it be... a teleportation array?" Pavilion Master Sai's throat went dry. The others looked at him, puzzled.

"The teleportation arrays in the Alliance of Ten Thousand Kingdoms can only transmit text and messages, which is why they're called message walls or communication walls!" Pavilion Master Sai's voice trembled. "It's said that if such an array reaches Level Six or above, it can transport materials, currency, even weapons and treasures! And at Level Eight, even living beings can be transported... meaning, it can directly teleport a human from one place to another."

"Teleport humans?" Everyone gasped in astonishment. Zhang Xuan's eyes widened too. As a four-star array master, Zhang Xuan knew more about teleportation arrays than Pavilion Master Sai. He had always thought they could only transmit messages, but he hadn't realized that at higher levels, they could even transport living beings. Teleporting humans already involved spatial manipulation. The puppet had simply vanished. Could it be... that there was such a high-level array here? If it truly reached that level, it would be normal for space to be hidden and undetectable.

Array masters were a top-tier profession, with extremely high cultivation requirements. One couldn't learn deeper knowledge without sufficient strength. Just like himself, even if he could design a Level Five array disk, he was only a quasi-four-star array master and couldn't even obtain the four-star emblem. To set up a Level Eight array, one's cultivation must surely have surpassed Grandmaster Nine and entered an even higher realm... If such a person personally laid out this array, how powerful must the owner of this Witch Soul Tomb be?

As Zhang Xuan thought this, the others also understood, their faces turning pale. If it were merely a Witch Soul Master at Grandmaster Three or Four, they might still have some ability to protect themselves even if their bodies were seized. But if it was someone beyond that realm, even if they had been dead for countless years, their methods and abilities would be beyond their imagination.

"Teacher Zhang... are we still going in?" Everyone looked at him in unison.

Zhang Xuan fell into deep thought. If his guess was correct, moving forward would undoubtedly be terrifying, and even his Heavenly Dao Zhenqi wouldn't be of much use. It could be said that going forward meant certain death. But if they didn't go in... who knew how long it would take to cure Lu Chong again.

"He doesn't even fear death for me, his teacher. What do I have to shrink back from?" Remembering the young man calmly stepping in front of him, ready to die, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, and determination appeared in his eyes. For him, Lu Chong could give everything, even his life. If he, as an elder, were to retreat upon knowing the danger ahead, what right would he have to be a role model and Lu Chong's teacher?

"You all wait here. I'll go alone. If I don't come out in... two hours, I might have to trouble Pavilion Master Sai and Young Master Zhao to take my students and Sun Qiang out!" With a wave of his hands, Zhang Xuan instructed.

"Teacher, I'm not going back! I'm coming with you!" Zhao Ya stepped forward.

"Us too! Wherever Teacher goes, we go!" Yuan Tao and the others also had firm gazes. Without Teacher Zhang, they would merely be unknown students in Tianxuan Kingdom. But now, each of them had achieved the rank of Supreme, capable of uprooting mountains. Now that their teacher was risking his life for Lu Chong, how could they, as his students, shrink back?

A warmth spread through Zhang Xuan's heart. However, the path ahead was truly too strange and dangerous for them to follow. After a moment's hesitation, he shook his head, his expression stern. "Stay here obediently. What? Are you not listening to your teacher anymore?"

"Please, Teacher, don't send us away. If you enter danger, as your students, we cannot simply let you go alone. Even if we survive later, we would be tormented by our consciences day and night and never find peace!" Zhao Ya's gaze was resolute.

"That's right, Teacher, please don't send us away. Even if it means disobeying your orders, I will follow!" Wang Ying said. She was usually the most indecisive and had a relatively weak personality, but now, her eyes were firm and unwavering.

"Since you truly want to come, alright, come with me!" Knowing that they didn't want him to take risks and feared for his safety, Zhang Xuan finally nodded.

"A teacher for their students, and students for their teacher. This is true... mentorship!" Witnessing this scene, Zhao Feiwu and the others were deeply moved. Previously, they had wondered why Teacher Zhang, such a capable person, would choose to bring along a group of less powerful, younger individuals. Now they understood that this was what true teachers and students were like. A teacher could face danger for their students without retreating, and students could remain unwavering for their teacher, no matter how perilous the situation.

All for one, and one for all!

Boom!

Just as they were marveling inwardly, a powerful aura suddenly descended before them. A unique energy gathered between heaven and earth; it was neither spiritual energy nor true essence. Just a whiff made one's thoughts race and mind become clearer. This energy converged directly onto Zhang Xuan, who was in front, like a torrent. It made his entire being seem taller and his presence more profound.

"It's... a Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher!" Zhao Feiwu's pupils constricted. He thought of something, and his lips trembled in disbelief.

"A Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher? Th-this... how is this possible?" Jin Conghai was also startled. A Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher meant that Heaven itself recognized one's status, automatically promoting them to Master Teacher. They would be acknowledged even without taking an examination. Throughout the continent's history, spanning countless years, only Master Kong had succeeded. Yet, Teacher Zhang had actually done it... Could it be real?

"It truly is a Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher... and it seems to be more than just a two-star one!" Pavilion Master Sai's face also flushed red. As the only Pavilion Master of the Appraiser Pavilion in the Alliance of Ten Thousand Kingdoms and a four-star peak appraiser, he had met many Master Teachers. But he had never heard of anyone directly acknowledged by Heaven. The other party had said he was a two-star Master Teacher. Even if Heaven acknowledged him, it should at most be two-star or three-star. Yet, the aura before them was incredibly potent, inspiring an instinctive sense of deference. It was clearly beyond two-star, but as for what specific star level it reached, they couldn't tell, not being Master Teachers themselves and having never witnessed such a phenomenon. Nevertheless, regardless of the star level, to receive Heaven's acknowledgment was astonishing and caused panic.

"This..." Unlike the others' shock, Zhang Xuan himself was somewhat bewildered at this moment. When he had just agreed to Zhao Ya and the others, he hadn't had any other intentions. He simply felt that students couldn't always remain under their teacher's wing; sometimes, they too needed to experience danger. Like a sapling constantly sheltered by a wall, without experiencing wind and rain, it would never grow into a strong tree. Understanding this, he had agreed directly. Unexpectedly, the improvement in his state of mind had once again triggered the Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher phenomenon. He had encountered this situation once before. Although the special energy continuously pouring into his mind made him somewhat dizzy, he knew it was an excellent opportunity for advancement. Immediately, without any hesitation, he sat cross-legged on the ground, concentrating his mind and frantically absorbing the special energy pouring down from the air.

Boom! Under the impact of this energy, his Mind Scale continued to rise, and his entire thought process became even faster and clearer.

***

In the Master Teacher Pavilion of Myriad Kingdoms City.

"As the hosts of this Master Teacher Tournament, we must prepare thoroughly and strive for a good ranking..." Hall Master Kang sat in his seat, surveying the room. All the elders of the Master Teacher Pavilion were seated in the room, including Elder Su Fan and Elder Ling Yuheng. The location for the Master Teacher Tournament wasn't fixed; the twenty-seven major powers hosted it in turns. Myriad Kingdoms City was simply hosting by coincidence this time. In the past, if their performance was poor, they could attribute it to being on foreign ground. But now, if they did poorly here, it would be truly shameful.

"Yes!" the others nodded.

"This time, our elders have collectively recommended six candidates. I've reviewed their resumes, and they are indeed deserving young talents. However, we can only send two participants to the competition, so we need to hold an early selection..." Hall Master Kang continued, but before he finished speaking, his body suddenly stiffened. All the elders also seemed to notice something, their pupils contracting as they uniformly looked in one direction.

"All the plaques are vibrating, and the bells are chiming... Is this a Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher?" After an unknown period, Hall Master Kang finally exclaimed in a dry voice.

"Although a Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher phenomenon usually appears in the corresponding guild, most of the unparalleled geniuses from various major powers have already arrived in Myriad Kingdoms City... it's highly likely that one of them triggered it!"

"Yes, receiving Heaven's acknowledgment in Myriad Kingdoms City could certainly cause our Master Teacher Pavilion to tremble... Quickly, go investigate how many geniuses are currently in the city..."

"It seems... this time's champion will undoubtedly be this person!" Many elders murmured to themselves, their faces pale. A Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher was a phenomenon more terrifying than even the acknowledgment of ancient predecessors. Throughout the entire continent, only Master Kong had achieved it. If such a genius appeared in any faction, there was no doubt... they would certainly secure the championship in this tournament!

"Could it be... him?" Unlike the general astonishment, Teacher Su and Teacher Ling exchanged glances, and a figure suddenly popped into their minds. However, they immediately shook their heads. He had just finished his two-star Master Teacher examination, and his cultivation hadn't even reached the Supreme realm. Even if he could take a higher-level examination, how could he possibly cause such a grand phenomenon as a Heavenly Acknowledged Master Teacher? Therefore... it absolutely couldn't be him!