Chapter 625: Famous Teacher Challenge

"What does that mean? Did he fall off the beast? Or did the spirit beast itself plummet?"

These spirit beasts were specially tamed by the Illusion Feather Empire's royal family. Even those who weren't beast tamers could ride them, the goal being to form an aerial combat legion. How could Feng Yu and the others, who were at least four-star master teachers—not lower in rank than me—simply fall? Zhuang Qin was full of doubt.

"Don't worry about it for now; let's head back to our lodging!" Master Hong knew that explaining this would be a waste of breath, as no one would believe him, so he said no more. "Yes!" Seeing that Master Hong wasn't speaking, Zhuang Qin didn't press further and quickly led the group forward.

Their lodging wasn't far from their current location. It was a spacious manor, large enough to accommodate the many people who had arrived. Zhang Xuan, along with Sun Qiang, Zheng Yang, and the others, requested an independent courtyard. This provided quietness and ensured they wouldn't be disturbed when guiding their students.

After everyone was settled, Master Hong and Master Zhang discussed for a long time. Then, Master Hong angrily stormed out of the courtyard. Those scoundrels had schemed against him; he had to get his revenge!

Not far from the manor where Zhang Xuan and the others were staying, in a spacious room, two elders looked at the young man reporting to them, their brows furrowed. "What did you say? Hong Qian and his group have arrived and are already settled?" "Yes!" The young man nodded.

"That's impossible! Didn't Feng Yu go to stop them?" one elder couldn't help but say. "Could it be that they didn't encounter each other? No, that's not right... There's only one road from the Magnificent Abundance Empire; they would definitely meet upon entering the city. What exactly happened?" The other elder also seemed disbelieving.

"This... I don't know either. I've already sent people to investigate, and we should have news soon!" the young man replied. He had been present when Master Feng consulted with the two elders. Under normal circumstances, they should have been able to stop Hong Qian's group from entering the imperial capital for a day. Yet, they had received no news, and the other party had already arrived... Even he found it unbelievable.

"Alright, investigate quickly! What happened with Feng Yu?" The first elder waved his hand. The young man left and returned shortly, rushing, as if the news he had received was too shocking to fully process.

"Did you find out? What happened?" the first elder asked.

"Master Feng and Master Hong Qian's group did encounter each other outside the city. However, for some unknown reason... the spirit beasts Master Feng and his companions were riding suddenly lost control and fell from the sky..." The young man recounted the news he had just heard. Even as he spoke, he himself didn't believe it.

"Fell? Spirit beasts lost control? How is that possible?" The two elders stared at each other in disbelief.

What kind of joke is this? These are spirit beasts meticulously selected and trained for who knows how long by the Illusion Feather Empire! Even in an emergency, they would safely deliver their riders to the ground. Directly falling from the sky? You must be joking!

"The news just came in, and it's absolutely true... Coincidentally, someone happened to be passing by and recorded the scene with a recording jade crystal!" The young man flipped his wrist and produced a crystal. "Our people encountered them and bought it!" Upon seeing Master Hong and his group appear, he had sent people to gather information. They happened upon a merchant caravan from the direction of the Magnificent Abundance Empire, inquired, and thus obtained this item.

He had to admit, their luck was exceptionally good.

"Open it quickly and let's see!" The first elder urged. The young man nodded and infused spiritual energy into it. With a hum, dozens of flying spirit beasts appeared within. The recording was from a great distance, so nothing could be heard, but it was faintly discernible that the two parties were in a standoff.

"It's Master Feng and Master Hong!" After a glance, the first elder recognized them. They had been acquaintances for many years and were quite familiar with each other.

"Chen Mo made his move..." The image flickered, showing a young man on the back of a spirit beast taking out a guqin and playing it. Immediately after, Master Hong made a move, but it was ineffective.

"It was just as planned; there were no issues. So why weren't they stopped...?" The first elder was full of doubts, pondering what could have gone wrong, when he saw Master Feng and the others in the footage plummeting straight down before they could even react, then... dust rose from the ground like a mushroom cloud.

"This..." Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.

What... what exactly happened?

"Where's Master Feng? How is he now?" After the initial shock, the two quickly looked over. This was a fall from thousands of meters high; such a direct impact would create a huge crater. Surely, he wasn't... dead on impact, was he?

"I've already sent people to pick him up... He should be here soon!" The young man nodded rapidly. Before he had finished speaking, Master Feng was carried in. Master Feng was completely wrapped in bandages, resembling a mummy, his face covered in dirt and blood. His three wispy whiskers were mostly gone. Far from looking like an immortal, he'd be lucky not to be mistaken for a beggar if thrown outside.

"Master Feng, what happened to you...?" The first elder couldn't help but ask.

"I... I'll kill Hong Qian, kill that brat..." Feng Yu roared frantically. Before his roar had even finished, a cold voice rang out, "Kill me? Alright, I'm here, standing right here, waiting for you to kill me!"

Everyone quickly looked towards the source of the voice, only to see an elder angrily striding forward. Who else could it be but Master Hong Qian!

"Master Hong..." Seeing the person in question appear, the two elders' mouths twitched simultaneously.

"Hong Qian, you..." Feng Yu gritted his teeth.

"Hmph!" Ignoring Feng Yu's shock and anger, Master Hong flipped his wrist. A five-star master teacher emblem appeared in his palm. With a tap of his finger, a drop of blood materialized on it. "I, Hong Qian, in the name of a five-star master teacher, hereby apply for a Master Teacher Challenge, effective immediately. I hope you will grant it!"

A brilliant light flashed on the emblem, and two large characters slowly appeared in the air: "Granted!" When master teachers had irreconcilable conflicts, they could apply for a Master Teacher Challenge. This request could be submitted to headquarters via their emblem, and headquarters would then make a judgment based on the challenger's specific strength. Usually, as long as the ranks were similar, challenges were permitted. Master teachers also needed to fight to improve; in fact, headquarters even encouraged such peer-level contests. That's why, as soon as the application was made, the word "Granted" was sent back.

"Master Teacher Challenge? Granted?" Seeing the two words appear, Feng Yu's vision swam, and he burst into tears. He was currently wrapped up like a zongzi, with who knew how many broken bones and severe injuries. To challenge him now... did Master Hong have no conscience?

"Headquarters has already granted it, Master Feng. Stop pretending; let's start directly and decide who's superior with our fists!" Master Hong flicked his sleeve, his eyebrows raised.

"I..." Feng Yu, leaning on a crutch, stood up from the stretcher. "I'm severely injured; how can I fight you...?"

"Severely injured? Master Feng, that's not funny at all. I've inquired, and an hour ago, when you left the imperial palace, you were full of vigor, even giving pointers to a guard. You didn't fight anyone, so how could you be injured? A dignified five-star master teacher, afraid to spar with me and feigning injury as an excuse—is that worthy of the master teacher title?" Master Hong spoke righteously.

"You..." Feng Yu's mouth twitched uncontrollably, and he was close to tears. His interception of Hong Qian's group was done secretly, without the knowledge of the royal family, as it was a dishonorable tactic that would severely damage his reputation if exposed. Who knew the other party would use this as an excuse to claim he wasn't injured... How could they be so shameless? Don't you know whether I'm injured or not? I didn't fight anyone, but being forced down from such a height by you all, simply surviving is a miracle. How can I possibly fight?

"I hope Master Feng doesn't decline!" Master Hong scoffed. "If you don't accept, I'll immediately send word back to headquarters, stating that you fear the challenge and are unworthy of the five-star master teacher title."

"Alright, alright, I accept... Can't I just accept!" Feng Yu gritted his teeth, tears streaming down his face.

If only he had known what he was getting into. Now, with a Master Teacher Challenge, there was no refusing without a special reason... If he claimed injury, headquarters would surely investigate a five-star master teacher's injury, and his attempt to obstruct them would be exposed, potentially leading to even more severe punishment! In other words, the other party had come to challenge him, fully confident that he wouldn't dare refuse! What kind of mess was this...?

"Since that's the case, let's begin!" With a furious roar, Master Hong's figure flickered, and he delivered a kick.

Before Feng Yu could even react, he was sent flying straight up into the sky. Thud! He flew dozens of meters high before plummeting to the ground, spitting up large mouthfuls of blood. The slight recovery he had gained from the healing elixir dissipated again, his face turning deathly pale, his vision constantly blurring.

"I..." Struggling to stand, he tried to speak again but saw a massive fist crashing towards him. Feng Yu was sent flying backward once more. Crack! Splat! With a flurry of punches and kicks, Feng Yu was no longer recognizable.

Master Hong's every move was measured, ensuring that his opponent suffered but without causing excessively severe injuries.

A dignified five-star master teacher, having been schemed against, if he didn't vent this anger, wouldn't he be bullied daily in the future? Master teachers are human, not Buddhas; it's impossible for them not to fight back when beaten! If they lacked even this much spirit, how could they protect the Master Teacher Continent from being occupied by the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe? A good temper is useless; to truly defend and expand territory, one must rely on combat and force.

Bang bang bang bang! After an unknown period, Master Hong finally calmed down. He clapped his hands and cupped a fist. "Master Feng, I concede!" By this point, Feng Yu was much like Chen Mo and the others, barely breathing, on the verge of collapsing at any moment.

"You... very well, very well, Hong Qian. I, Luo Zhao, in the name of a five-star master teacher, hereby apply for a Master Teacher Challenge, effective immediately. I hope you will grant it!" Master Hong had beaten Master Feng using the Master Teacher Challenge, adhering to principles and rules, so others couldn't say anything. Now, seeing the "match" conclude, the first elder took out his emblem and couldn't help but declare.

He wanted to vent his anger for Feng Yu!

"My apologies, but I just finished a battle with Master Feng and have sustained significant qi depletion. I won't be able to fight for ten years, so I must decline the challenge!" Master Hong stood with his hands behind his back, radiating arrogance.

"You..." The three of them staggered simultaneously, almost in tears.

Brother, could you possibly be any more shameless...?