Chapter 589: Lu Chong Wakes Up

He had certainly been skeptical and planned to test the other person, but now that his intentions had been revealed to his face, he felt incredibly awkward. To think he had doubted such a formidable master teacher, even suspecting him to be a fake... It was fortunate that the master teacher had a good temper. Otherwise, if a master teacher truly unleashed their wrath, millions would perish, and blood would flow for a thousand li. Not only would he be doomed, but the entire Hongyuan Empire might face disaster.

“Hall Master Mo admitting he was wrong?”

“This… doesn’t this mean everything Master Yang said was correct?”

Hong Qian and Mo Chen exchanged glances.

The fact that Master Yang could discern so much simply by observing a set of punches indicated terrifying insight... This confirmed their suspicion: he was indeed an Eight-Star Master Teacher!

They trembled simultaneously. A master teacher of such caliber, not only in rank but purely in cultivation, could command mountains and rivers, subdue the world, and make countless individuals incapable of resistance.

“When he first appeared, his aura was completely absent, making him seem like an ordinary person, which naturally made me suspicious. It seems only a powerhouse of this caliber can truly achieve such a profound level of 'returning to simplicity,' to the extent that even Hall Master Mo couldn't detect anything!”

“Others with power are eager to display it, earning fear and respect from everyone. Perhaps only those who have truly reached the pinnacle would be so unassuming, with every movement indistinguishable from an ordinary person!”

Reflecting on this, he felt a deeper admiration for Master Yang. This is what a true master is! He appeared to be an ordinary person, yet he was truly a peak powerhouse. His serene demeanor, treating fame and fortune as mere dust, his elegant composure, and his enigmatic confidence... these were qualities countless others could never emulate. Indeed, he was indistinguishable from an ordinary person from head to toe; no one would recognize him in a crowd. Such a mastery of disguise made them feel utterly inferior.

No wonder the butler could be so arrogant. A prime minister's retainer might hold a seventh-rank official position; for the butler of an Eight-Star Master Teacher, who was well-traveled and knowledgeable, looking down on a Six-Star Master Teacher was hardly surprising. Moreover... it was possible that the strength they witnessed was merely a disguise, and his true cultivation was far beyond just the Mortal Transcension realm. Otherwise, how could a dignified Eight-Star Master Teacher, a super-powerful Saint-level figure, place such importance on an ant-like individual? Even entrust him with crucial responsibilities?

The thought sent a simultaneous chill down their spines. Fortunately, they hadn't been disrespectful to Butler Sun. Otherwise, had he truly acted, they might all be prostrate by now.

“There's no need to apologize to me. It's right for a master teacher to possess a spirit of inquiry. Indeed, some individuals impersonate high-level master teachers and engage in widespread deception. They must be thoroughly investigated to prevent them from blurring the lines between true and false, thereby defiling the reputation of our Master Teacher Pavilion!”

Upon seeing Mo Gaoyuan apologize, Master Yang, with no intention of pressing the matter, looked at him earnestly, adopting the tone of an elder instructing a junior.

“Master Yang's lesson is correct!”

Mo Gaoyuan quickly clasped his fists and stood up.

“Alright, you may withdraw. I don't wish for others to know about my presence here; you should know how to handle this!” Master Yang waved his hand.

“Yes!” Mo Gaoyuan nodded, then bowed and retreated with Hong Qian and Mo Chen.

As soon as they exited the courtyard, a collective sense of relief washed over them. They exchanged glances, each wiping cold sweat from their brows. Though Master Yang had emitted no astonishing aura nor raised his voice, his gaze was like a piercing x-ray, stripping away their superficial pretenses and leaving the three feeling utterly exposed, with no secrets hidden.

“Teacher, what should we do?”

After a long pause, once he had recovered, Mo Chen couldn't help but look at him.

“Let's go back!” Mo Gaoyuan waved his hand.

“Go back?” Mo Chen was stunned. They had flown for nearly half a month to get here, only to meet once and depart after a few words. This seemed far too quick!

“It's already confirmed that Master Yang is a master teacher far superior to me. Since that's the case, what reason do we have to stay?” Mo Gaoyuan shook his head. “To make ourselves unwelcome?”

Mo Chen paused, then quickly grasped his meaning. He was right. They had come specifically to confirm the other's identity. Now that they had their answer, it was better to leave immediately rather than linger and displease him.

“The Master Teacher Grand Competition begins tomorrow. Since Hall Master Mo and Master Mo are already here, might you be willing to stay and oversee the event?” Hearing that they were leaving, Hong Qian quickly clasped his fists. The competition was about to begin. If these two could be invited to officiate, the stature of the entire event would immediately multiply.

“Forget it, this is a matter for your Mirage Feather Empire's Master Teacher Pavilion; we won't get involved!” Mo Gaoyuan shook his head. The Mirage Feather Empire was merely a second-tier kingdom under the Hongyuan Empire. For him to personally preside would be tantamount to overstepping his authority, which would be inappropriate.

“To be honest, this time... Master Yang's direct disciple, Teacher Zhang, is also participating in the competition!” Hong Qian quickly said.

“Master Yang's direct disciple?”

Mo Gaoyuan frowned, but in the end, he still shook his head and said, “I still won't participate!” Since the Master Teacher Pavilion is structured by rank, I cannot overstep my authority. Otherwise, if other branches also sought my presence, I would be overwhelmed.

“However, although I won't stay, since Teacher Zhang is participating, I'll add some rewards for you!” With that, Mo Gaoyuan flipped his wrist, and a jade box appeared in his palm. He smiled faintly. “This is a high-grade spirit stone. You can award it to whoever wins the championship in this competition!”

“High-grade spirit stone?” Hong Qian's breathing quickened. One high-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones. Such a valuable item was useful even to Saints. He himself had never seen one before. For Hall Master Mo to casually produce it as a reward left him incredibly excited.

“Indeed, since Master Yang is having his student participate in the competition, it's clearly meant as a tempering experience. In that case, I might as well fan the flames and excite all the competitors, so we can truly see what level Teacher Zhang can achieve!” Mo Gaoyuan chuckled. Since Master Yang wanted to temper his student, he would simply add fuel to the fire. A high-grade spirit stone was insignificant to a high-level master teacher like Master Yang, but for master teachers within the Mirage Feather Empire, it was an absolutely priceless treasure! Using it as a prize would undoubtedly ignite fervor among countless talented participants, thereby serving to temper Teacher Zhang effectively.

“Yes!” Hong Qian also understood and carefully put away the jade box.

“Preside well, and once there's a result, inform me as soon as possible!” With a faint smile, Mo Gaoyuan beckoned, then mounted the sacred beast with Mo Chen. He turned to instruct, “Also, it's best to keep Master Yang's matter entirely to yourselves; do not speak of it carelessly! And warn those sects and factions participating in the competition: whoever dares to spread rumors, I will personally investigate and ensure their sect's annihilation!” By the end, his tone was stern. Since Master Yang did not wish for his presence to be known, strict secrecy was paramount. Otherwise, even Mo Gaoyuan himself could not withstand the repercussions, let alone anyone else.

“Yes!” Hong Qian quickly nodded.

Having given his instructions, Mo Gaoyuan didn't linger. With a flap of the sacred beast's wings, they quickly vanished into the sky.

Mo Gaoyuan and the others departed, filled with trepidation, completely unaware that inside the room, Master Yang, after seeing them off, also let out a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his brow. Disguising himself in front of a Six-Star Master Teacher was truly exhausting. Fortunately, the other party hadn't used the Eye of Insight, or perhaps hadn't even grasped it. Otherwise, his deception would undoubtedly have been exposed.

“It should be safe now!” Having successfully fooled them, even if they later realized something was amiss, his own strength would certainly be sufficient to handle the situation. With this hurdle cleared, it was unlikely anyone would dare cause trouble again anytime soon.

“Grandteacher, do you know where Teacher Zhang is? I have something urgent to discuss with him...” Just as he was breathing a sigh of relief and pondering his next move, an anxious voice spoke up. He looked up to see Wang Ying, who had approached without him noticing.

“What happened?” Zhang Xuan frowned.

“It's... this matter must be handled by Teacher Zhang himself...” Wang Ying said. Though a troubled expression clouded her face, her eyes were fixed intently on her grandteacher. Based on her previous judgments and analyses, she was at least eighty percent certain that Master Yang and Teacher Zhang were the same person. That was why she had come forward, deliberately asking for the latter; if Teacher Zhang could not appear, her theory would be 100% confirmed.

“You need me to handle it personally? Wang Ying, what is it, that's so mysterious?” Just as Wang Ying was intently watching Master Yang, eager to observe his reaction, she heard a faint voice. She turned to see Teacher Zhang walk in from outside, who then clasped his fists toward Master Yang and said, “Teacher!”

“Mm!” Master Yang nodded.

“This...” Her eyes wide, Wang Ying seemed dumbfounded. What was going on? Master Yang and Teacher Zhang appearing simultaneously? Weren't they... supposed to be the same person? Otherwise, how could the marks on their chins be exactly the same...? She was completely bewildered. She had confidently concluded that they were one and the same, but now, with both of them present, her quick mind struggled to comprehend the situation.

“Wang Ying!” Teacher Zhang looked over.

“Ah...” Only then did she react, her face flushing with shame. It seemed she really had been overthinking things. Teacher Zhang was Master Yang's student; how could they possibly be the same person? Perhaps... she truly had been injured that day, and her blurred vision had simply made her see things incorrectly.

“Reporting, Teacher, Grandteacher, Lu Chong has woken up...” Full of embarrassment, Wang Ying quickly clasped her fists. After Teacher Zhang's treatment with the Soul-Awakening Grass, and half a month of recovery, Lu Chong had finally woken up completely moments ago.

“Woken up?” Teacher Zhang's eyes lit up.

“Yes!” Wang Ying nodded.

“You go first, I'll be right there!” Teacher Zhang waved his hand.

“Yes!” Wang Ying retreated.

As soon as she left, Teacher Zhang and Master Yang exchanged glances, then both let out another breath. When his female student appeared, he immediately knew she would suspect his identity. With a swift thought, he quickly sent a message for his clone to come over. With the clone present, and both Master Yang and Teacher Zhang in the same room, she would surely dismiss her doubts and feel at ease.

“Alright, you go back to your room and rest. I'll go see Lu Chong!” Waving his hand to dismiss the clone, Zhang Xuan then changed his clothes, returned to his true form, and strode towards Lu Chong's room.

“Teacher...”

As soon as he entered the room, he saw a young man come forward and kneel. Who else could it be but Lu Chong!

“It's good that you're awake!” Zhang Xuan nodded. The young man had nearly died saving him... Fortunately, he was now awake! Otherwise, Zhang Xuan would have carried a lifetime of regret. All his efforts had not been in vain.

“Hm? Your strength...” He uttered a heartfelt remark, and just as he was about to speak, he glanced at Lu Chong's cultivation level and froze.