Chapter 549: Selection Begins

"You, you... are you Zhang Xuan, Teacher Zhang?"The young man shivered, tears streaming down his face, nearly fainting on the spot.

Although he had been complaining, he knew deep down that for Elders Su and Ling to hold Teacher Zhang in such high regard and recommend him so strongly, Teacher Zhang must be more than just a two-star master teacher. However, as a two-star master teacher himself, he was jealous that the other man could enter the selection while he could not. This envy led him to vent his frustrations to a stranger, something he couldn't do with people he knew.

Since they were strangers, he just spoke his mind, letting out his frustration and enjoying a good rant. He never expected to run into the very person he was complaining about, and to call him an idiot right to his face!Damn it! Aren't you supposed to be participating in the selection? Shouldn't you be with Young Master Ruohuan and Fu Xiaochen? What are you doing sitting here...?

The young man felt as if lightning was striking his brain; he almost wished he could die. What kind of luck was this? To just pick a random person to talk to, and it turns out to be Teacher Zhang, whom no one had even seen yet... This was just too unlucky!

Just as he was filled with worry, fearing the other would cause him trouble, he saw Teacher Zhang lift his foot and walk to the very front.

"He's not blaming me?" Seeing the other man leave without saying a word, the young man's mouth hung open, still unable to believe it. Master teachers highly value their status; insulting one to their face was akin to a complete breakdown of respect. If he were to be pursued for trouble, he would simply have to endure it. The fact that the other man left without a word showed a demeanor that most master teachers couldn't possess.

"I wonder if he... will be selected..." Suppressing the gloom in his heart, he looked forward.

"Is that the Zhang Xuan?""He looks even younger than the rumors!""Yes, he's barely twenty, and just a two-star master teacher. What qualifications does he have to participate in the selection?""That's not necessarily true. Although he wears a two-star emblem, he might not be just two-star. Not everyone likes to flaunt their strength.""That's true... If he didn't have some real capability, Master Su and Master Ling wouldn't have pushed so hard to recommend him. But even if he's more than two-star, given his age, he probably isn't too powerful!"

Everyone was astonished to see the young man walk forward. They had heard that Teacher Zhang was young and only a two-star master teacher, but seeing him in person made them realize he was truly excessively young. A master teacher must not only understand principles and discern objects, but, more importantly, possess a knowledge base far exceeding that of ordinary cultivators. Even if he were exceptionally talented, how much knowledge could he accumulate with ten fewer years of study than others?

"Since everyone is here, I will explain the rules of this selection!" Seeing Zhang Xuan arrive, Hall Master Kang nodded, then looked around and said, "The assessment consists of five stages, comparing various qualities of a master teacher! The first place will receive six points, second place five points, and so on, with the last place receiving one point.""After the five stages, the two candidates with the highest total scores will pass the selection and participate in the grand competition organized by the twenty-eight major powers!"After speaking, Hall Master Kang waved his hand. "Do any of you have questions?"

"No!" Everyone nodded quickly, and Jun Ruohuan and the others also responded.

"The stages have been designed by me and several elders, focusing on five aspects: state of mind, identification of cultivation techniques, memory, lecturing, and guidance." Seeing that no one had questions, Hall Master Kang exchanged a glance with the elders in the front row and nodded. "We will now proceed with the first stage of the competition: the assessment of your state of mind. Elder Wu, I'll trouble you with this."

"Hall Master, you're too kind. This is my duty!" An elder responded with a smile, came forward, and with a flick of his wrist, an ancient guqin appeared in his palm.

"I didn't expect Elder Wu to be in charge of the first stage!" Someone in the hall exclaimed."Why? Is there something special about Elder Wu?" someone next to him asked, puzzled."Of course! Elder Wu, like the Hall Master, is also a four-star peak master teacher. But... he has a very rare auxiliary profession that greatly aids in cultivating one's state of mind!" the first speaker, an informed person, explained.

"Oh? What profession could be useful for cultivating one's state of mind?" The second person asked, curious. The most fundamental aspect for a master teacher is their state of mind; the higher the state of mind, the easier it is to comprehend the path of a master teacher. What profession could Elder Wu possibly have that specializes in cultivating the state of mind and garners such praise?

"Demonic Musician!" the informed person replied."Demonic Musician? That special profession that can disrupt people's minds with music?" The second person was startled."Yes!" the informed person said. "Although Demonic Musician is considered a 'lower-ranked' profession, they can use music to bewitch people's hearts. They are insidious and terrifying. Our Myriad Kingdoms City doesn't have a Demonic Musician Guild, so Elder Wu's profession is truly unique!"

"Indeed, having a Demonic Musician test the state of mind makes this first stage incredibly difficult!" The second person exclaimed. Normally, master teachers are assessed using the "Jade Crystal of Enlightened Mind" to test their state of mind; a higher reading indicates a higher state of mind. But using a Demonic Musician for this competition clearly presented a much greater challenge.

As the two spoke, Elder Wu, holding the guqin, came to the front, gently placed the instrument on the table, and calmly looked at the candidates participating in the selection.

"For the first stage, we will assess your state of mind! As master teachers, your state of mind must not only be highly refined, but more importantly, it must be able to resist interference, allowing you to analyze and handle matters clearly even in complex environments! At the Hall Master's request, I will do my utmost to test your states of mind, and I hope you are all prepared."

After speaking, he swept his palm, and several circular iron plates appeared on the table.

"These are blank formation plates commonly used by formation masters. Soon, I will play the 'Demonic Frenzy Melody,' which interferes with the soul, and you will draw on these plates. When the melody ends, whoever has engraved the most patterns and the finest details will be the champion!" Elder Wu looked at everyone. "As a heads-up, my Demonic Frenzy Melody can only affect one person at a time. Who would like to go first?"

"What a twisted assessment!""The Demonic Frenzy Melody – I've read about it in books. It can muddle one's state of mind, making it hard to control oneself. An ordinary cultivator caught in it would be like a drunk person, their thoughts chaotic, unable to distinguish directions. Carving something in that state... it would definitely be a mess!""Exactly! In such a condition, let alone carving fine lines on a palm-sized blank formation plate, it's hard to say if one could even stand steady!""The most crucial point is that he's using three-star blank formation plates. Carving on them requires not only precise mental control but also extremely strong power control, otherwise, they can easily shatter!""This stage not only assesses the state of mind but also how to control power while one's mind is in disarray... It's difficult, truly too difficult!"

After hearing Elder Wu's explanation of the first stage, many master teachers below gasped. A Demonic Musician, though considered a 'lower-ranked' profession, must be formidable to have such renown! As cultivators, it would already be impressive to remain calm and prevent their mental defenses from being breached by the Demonic Frenzy Melody, let alone having to engrave on a blank formation plate...The difficulty was far from ordinary!Not to mention the candidates participating in the selection, even among the four-star elders in the front row, only a few could accomplish this.

"Demonic Musician? Engraving?" Unlike the shock of the others, Zhang Xuan frowned. The books he had read previously had briefly mentioned the profession of a Demonic Musician, but only in passing, without detailing their specific abilities. He had assumed it was like calligraphy or painting, involving an extreme mastery of music, but now it seemed far more complex.

Hearing Master Wu's instructions, Young Master Ruohuan smiled faintly and looked at his opponents, wanting to gauge their reactions. Fu Xiaochen's expression was calm, as if he had anticipated this assessment and was adjusting his state. The other candidates were also circulating their states of mind, their faces serious, except for one young man, who frowned with a confused expression.

It was Zhang Xuan, the one they had been waiting for for several days. "One look and you can tell he's never heard of a Demonic Musician!" Seeing his confused expression, Young Master Ruohuan knew this guy had definitely never heard of a Demonic Musician. The thought that he, a dignified member of the Four Young Masters and an early-stage four-star master teacher, had to compete with someone like this... just thinking about it made him feel depressed.

"Teacher Zhang, is it? Although you've made us wait for nearly ten days, you've come from afar, and you are our guest. How about this... you go first in this stage of the assessment!" With a slight smile, Young Master Ruohuan looked at him.

"Me?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Don't be so polite; you go ahead. I'll watch first!" Although he didn't understand Demonic Musicians, since it was a special profession, it certainly wouldn't be simple. Having never encountered it before, it was better to observe and see what it entailed.

"Watch first?" Young Master Ruohuan scoffed. "Do you think Elder Wu is currently full of energy and at his strongest, so going first means you'll face the most intense attack, like being the first to 'eat the crab'?""Since this assessment is about the state of mind, one should have the courage to forge ahead. Hesitating due to such concerns indicates worry and fear, meaning your state of mind already has a flaw. And you still expect to get a good score? What a joke!"

This stage assessed the state of mind, and going first or last was also a test. If one knew that going first would mean facing the strongest attack and then hesitated, it would mean their state of mind already had a flaw. And once a flaw existed, encountering the Demonic Frenzy Melody from a Demonic Musician would very likely allow them to exploit the weakness, making it impossible to resist. Young Master Ruohuan understood this principle and deliberately said those words to make Zhang Xuan suffer a bit. Since they were competing, they were naturally rivals, and he had no habit of holding back against his enemies.

"Since you're afraid, then I'll go first!" Striking another blow at Teacher Zhang, Young Master Ruohuan chuckled softly, walked up to the table, and was about to pick up a blank formation plate.

"Young Master Ruohuan, no need to rush. I think I'll go first!" Another calm voice sounded, and Fu Xiaochen walked over. He had already adjusted his state of mind; his eyes were serene, and his expression was one of composure.

"What? Are you trying to compete with me?" Young Master Ruohuan raised an eyebrow."Compete? You're overthinking it. With Elder Wu's strength, whether you go first, second, or even fifth or sixth, the effect of the Demonic Frenzy Melody will undoubtedly be the same. The order makes no difference... Your tactics for dealing with others won't work on me!"