Chapter 651: War Master

"Fighting with eyes closed?" Ye Wentian and Wei Jiang were stunned simultaneously. "What kind of move is that? Is it... some secret technique?"

"Yes! His eyes were closed, and he looked troubled, as if sparring with everyone was too simple, and he was very reluctant. Then... with a single move, all nine Harmonizer Realm practitioners, even the less skilled ones, were lying on the ground..." The guard recounted everything he had just seen, in full detail.

Ye Wentian and Wei Jiang exchanged glances... "There's such a thing?"

A peak Clear-Turbidity Realm expert knocking down nine Harmonizer Realm individuals one by one with eyes closed, not only looking relaxed but also troubled because the opponents were too weak... Holy moly, you're not kidding, are you?

"It's true..." The guard's face flushed. He knew no one would believe it, but it was the truth.

"Challenging above one's rank with no pressure at all, could it be..." Wei Jiang's pupils contracted. "What did Master Wei think of?" Ye Wentian couldn't help but ask.

"Has Your Majesty ever heard of Battle Masters?" After a moment of hesitation, Wei Jiang slowly asked. "Are you referring to the Battle Masters among the Master Teachers, those who specialize in combat?" Ye Wentian was startled.

"Precisely!" Wei Jiang nodded: "Although Master Teachers are said to be invincible among their peers, their primary duty is to educate and nurture, producing countless experts to make humanity stronger and stronger. However... to fight against the Otherworldly Demons and protect humanity, it's impossible without the strongest combat power and the most formidable attacks. Battle Masters were born for this very purpose!"

"Battle Masters are Master Teachers who specialize in combat; strictly speaking, they are different from regular Master Teachers! Normal Master Teachers need an auxiliary profession for each higher rank they achieve, but Battle Masters don't. They only need to pass a combat strength assessment to advance to higher ranks... Of course, this combat strength assessment is extremely difficult! Perhaps only one in ten thousand Master Teachers can pass it, and they usually possess special physiques or bloodlines, born with the ability to challenge opponents above their own rank..." "Could this Master Zhang, who can defeat nine Harmonizer Realm experts while only being in the Clear-Turbidity Realm, possess the talent of a Battle Master?" Wei Jiang's eyes gleamed.

If Master Teachers are one in ten thousand, then Battle Masters are one in ten thousand *among* Master Teachers. Every single one is truly invincible at their own level, and can even fight above their rank. The Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy has existed for thousands of years, yet the number of Battle Masters selected to date is very small. If... one were to appear in the Phantasm Feather Empire, the entire empire would flourish because of him.

"When you put it that way... it really is possible!" Ye Wentian was stunned, his eyes widening. "Let's go take a look. Whether he is or not, it can only be a good thing for our Phantasm Feather Empire!" Wei Jiang stood up and hurried towards the Crown Prince's palace. Ye Wentian followed closely behind.

Letting out a breath, Zhang Xuan clapped his hands and couldn't help but shake his head. The nine Master Teachers from the Fengyuan, Qianfeng, and Zhuyue Empires were all lying on the ground, groaning. In truth, even without the Library of Heaven's Path, his own strength alone would have been enough; the nine combined would certainly not have been his match. However, since there were flaws he could exploit, he naturally wouldn't hold back.

"You lost..." Ignoring the injured, Zhang Xuan looked up at Luo Zhao and the others: "Now all five pool entrances belong to our Hongfeng Empire!" "..." Their bodies swayed, Luo Zhao, Feng Yu, and Chen Yue all felt they were going crazy. These were their top three! They had even specially purchased Harmonizer Pills to help them advance... Yet, the nine of them together couldn't even defeat one Clear-Turbidity Realm expert! In a competition they were confident of winning, they couldn't even touch the opponent's clothes... The three vassal states had allied, hoping to force the Hongfeng Empire to suffer a great loss, but in the end, they didn't even get a single pool entrance... What kind of situation was this?! The more they thought about it, the more depressed they became. If only they had known, they wouldn't have caused trouble or wasted all this effort. If it had simply been allocated, each vassal state would have gotten at least one pool entrance, right? Not only did they fail to steal the chicken and lose the rice, but now, from top to bottom, from old to young, everyone had been beaten up, their faces bruised and swollen beyond recognition. How would they explain this back home?

"Ahem, Master Zhang, Master Luo and the others didn't intend to make things difficult; they just wanted to secure a few more spots for their juniors. Besides, the Purifying Pool opens only once every ten years, and it also benefits the unity between the Phantasm Feather Imperial Capital and the other vassal states... See, could you perhaps concede two pool entrances? It would give them something to report back." Ye Qian, looking somewhat sheepish, finally spoke after holding back for a long time. Having specially come to allocate spots, only for the three vassal states to return empty-handed, without a single spot, was simply unreasonable. Neither his father nor Hall Master Wei would be able to explain it. But... it was a fair competition. Nothing was said before the match, and now that it was over and a conclusion reached, to speak up and persuade was extremely awkward.

"Concede two? Alright, just two. The Master Teacher from the imperial capital will also share with them. Our Hongfeng Empire, with three people, will take three pool entrances!" Knowing that if he took all the pool entrances, it would be difficult for the Crown Prince, Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement. For their top three, three pool entrances were enough; more would be a waste, and there was indeed no need to hog too many.

"Thank you!" Unexpectedly, the other party was so accommodating. Ye Qian nodded and waved his hand: "Go get my Golden Scale Armor!" "Yes!" A guard turned and left. It wasn't long before he returned with a suit of armor. "This is a peak spirit-grade, mid-tier armor, forged from the hide of a Transcendent Mortal 6-dan Blizzard Golden Scale Beast. Master Zhang and I are like old friends at first sight, so I'm giving it to you!" With a gesture, the guard handed over the armor.

"This... how can I accept this!" Zhang Xuan was taken aback. "Don't be modest!" Ye Qian waved his hand: "If you don't accept it, then I'll be embarrassed!" "Thank you, Crown Prince!" Knowing that this was compensation for giving up two pool entrances, and that refusing would be awkward, Zhang Xuan immediately nodded and stored it in his storage ring.

"Master Zhang, we are immensely grateful that you are willing to concede pool entrances. Here are two Harmonizer Pills, which we wish to present as a token of our gratitude. Please accept them!" Luo Zhao also came forward, offering a jade bottle. Since the Crown Prince had shown his appreciation, it would be utterly ungrateful of them to not follow suit; they would be beyond redemption. The three vassal states had purchased a total of eleven Harmonizer Pills; after using some to boost everyone's cultivation, two were left.

"Alright!" Taking the pills, Zhang Xuan casually put them away. One must honor a bet; a loss is a loss, and even if the other party was unwilling, there was nothing they could do. Giving them two pool entrances could be considered a great favor, so accepting two Harmonizer Pills as compensation was nothing. Moreover, accepting the items meant that their past grievances were settled, and the other party wouldn't owe him a favor, killing two birds with one stone.

"With the pool entrances and spots allocated, the banquet officially begins. I hope everyone enjoys themselves and has a good time!" Ye Qian waved his hand, and immediately, numerous graceful palace maids brought out countless delicacies. This Crown Prince indeed enjoyed pleasure; every dish served was incredibly valuable, and a single meal could bankrupt many wealthy individuals.

"Luo Xuan, Bi Jianghai, here are two Harmonizer Pills, one for each of you. Take them tonight when you return!" With a flick of his wrist, Zhang Xuan handed over the two Harmonizer Pills that Master Luo and the others had given him earlier. Although these pills could allow Harmonizer Realm experts to unconditionally advance by a small level, for him... their effect was minimal! As long as he collected a complete set of Heavenly Path cultivation techniques for the Harmonizer Realm, breaking through was no different from drinking water to him; taking the pills himself would be a waste.

"For us?" Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai were both stunned. They were well aware of how valuable these pills were, yet he didn't want any for himself and was directly giving them to the two of them. This...

"Yes, quickly improve your strength so that entering the Purifying Pool won't waste the spots I worked so hard to win for you!" Zhang Xuan said indifferently. "Thank you, Master Zhang!" Their eyes reddened, and both bowed in unison. Other top three contenders used various means to prevent competition, while Master Zhang was open-minded and treated people with sincerity... This made them feel gratitude from the bottom of their hearts. Previously, Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai had thought about competing with him after entering the Master Teacher Academy, but now they realized that not only their cultivation and insight, but also their breadth of mind, were far inferior to his; there was simply no comparison.

If Master Luo and the others across from them knew what the two were thinking, they would surely burst into tears on the spot. These two fools, *open-minded* and *sincere*? Sincere my foot! Didn't they see how miserably they had been treated? They got their own spots and pool entrances back, yet they were willingly and gratefully accepting them... Such shamelessness and baseness, perhaps only this one person possessed it...

Outside the Crown Prince's residence. "Your Majesty, Master Wei!" Seeing the two figures before him, the guard was startled. "I'll go report to His Highness and have him come out to greet you..." The two most influential people in the Phantasm Feather Empire arriving together so late would surely alarm anyone. "No need. You continue guarding. Master Wei and I will go in and see!" Ye Wentian waved his hand and strode inside with Wei Jiang.

"If... this Master Zhang truly possesses the talent of a Battle Master, what should we do?" As they walked into the courtyard, Ye Wentian couldn't help but ask. "What else can we do? We must immediately report it to the Master Teacher Academy and arrange for specialized training! You should know the importance of such talent to the Master Teacher Pavilion without me having to tell you!" Wei Jiang said with a solemn expression. "Indeed!" Ye Wentian nodded.

Although he wasn't a Master Teacher, as the ruler of a nation, he knew something about Battle Masters. Reputed as the kings of combat among Master Teachers, once confirmed, even the dean of the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy might not surpass them in status!

"However... Battle Masters require selection and a series of specific procedures. How can we confirm it by simply going like this?" Ye Wentian frowned. Confirming a Battle Master required special, troublesome methods; it wasn't something easily done.

"Well... let's see once we meet him first..." Wei Jiang hesitated, about to continue speaking, when he heard footsteps approaching from ahead. Three figures appeared not far away. Recognizing them, Ye Wentian quickly stepped forward: "Ye Wentian greets Her Royal Highness Sixth Princess! Master Luo and Master Xing are here too!" It was none other than Sixth Princess Yu Feier, Luo Qiqi, and Xing Yuan, who had changed their clothes and come to attend the banquet. "Oh, it's Emperor Wentian. I actually have something to ask you." Seeing it was him, Princess Feier raised an eyebrow: "How exactly is this Phantasm Feather Empire being governed? If you don't want to do it anymore, you can just say so..."