Chapter 68: Meeting Teacher Zhang Xuan

"Grandpa, I’ve heard of Patriarch Wang Hong. He’s a legendary figure on the Master Potential List, ranking among the top ten. His cultivation has already reached the peak of Martial Artist Seven, just half a step away from becoming a true Master! Why would such a powerful individual visit you?” Shang Bin’s eyes gleamed with disbelief.

In the Tianxuan Kingdom, to know the royal family is to know the Four Great Clans. As the strongest master of the Wang Clan, Patriarch Wang Hong’s strength has long reached the peak of Martial Artist Seven, and his reputation is formidable. Ordinarily, one couldn't even curry favor with someone of his stature, yet today he’s made a special trip to visit Grandpa. If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, it would be truly unimaginable!

"Haha, it must be because of Wang Tao!" Elder Shang Chen chuckled.

"Young Master Wang Tao?"

"Precisely. Wang Tao is Patriarch Wang Hong’s eldest son and will certainly inherit the Wang Clan someday. I accepted him as my student and even helped him successfully advance to Martial Artist Four, the Skin-and-Bone Realm. I assume the Patriarch learned of my tutelage and has come specifically to express his gratitude!” Elder Shang Chen stroked his beard, a look of profound satisfaction on his face.

“Wang Tao is... his student?” Zhang Xuan, standing nearby, couldn't help but be taken aback by the conversation.

He had long known that Wang Ying’s brother had been accepted as a disciple by an elder, but he never dreamed it was this very person.

"Yes!" Shen Biru nodded, her expression grim. "You should really think about what to do. Elder Shang Chen is clearly targeting you, and now that he has the backing of the Wang Clan, his prestige will only grow. Even if you remain in the academy, you certainly won't have an easy time of it!"

"We'll see about that later!" Zhang Xuan said dismissively.

If the other party truly intended to target him, he wasn't a pushover either. At worst, he could reveal his strength and stand his ground! With the Library of Heaven’s Path, he could discern all weaknesses. It was hard to say who would emerge victorious.

"You..." Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Shen Biru stomped her foot in frustration. She was worried for him, yet he seemed completely unconcerned. It was infuriating!

"Come, let's go welcome them!" Elder Shang Chen, beaming with pride, quickly stepped forward, leading Shang Bin and the others toward the main gate.

For the patriarch of one of the Four Great Clans to personally arrive was a significant event; greeting him outside the academy would have been worthwhile, let alone just at the door. If he could truly foster a good relationship and forge a strong connection, the position of Vice Dean next year might very well fall into his lap!

"Elder Shang!" Before they even reached the gate, a group of seven or eight people strode forward. The leading figure was a middle-aged man whose brows exuded an imposing aura, immediately revealing his long tenure in a high position. It was the Patriarch of the Wang Clan, Wang Hong!

Trailing behind him were several elders, whose every movement betrayed strength of at least the Aperture Opening Realm; they were clearly Wang Clan elders. At the very back were two young men: one was Wang Tao, and the other, Wang Yan, was the grandson of the Second Elder who had just joined the academy this year. It was rumored that Wang Yan had become a disciple of Teacher Lu Xun and was exceptionally talented and well-regarded.

"Patriarch Wang, your personal visit truly flatters me. If there was anything you needed, you only had to say the word. To come in person like this, it's truly... a great honor!" Elder Shang Chen said, flustered.

"Not at all," Patriarch Wang Hong chuckled. "To be honest, I truly do have something I need to discuss with you here..."

"Patriarch Wang, please speak freely!" Elder Shang Chen promptly urged. If he could be of assistance, he would surely secure the powerful backing of the Wang Clan.

"The young lady Wang Ying, I presume Elder Shang is already aware of her. I heard she has become a student of a teacher named Zhang Xuan..." Patriarch Wang Hong began slowly.

"Zhang Xuan? Patriarch Wang, are you here to confront him?" Shang Bin's eyes flashed, and he was so excited he nearly leaped.

He had previously seen Young Master Wang Tao outside Zhang Xuan’s classroom and knew that Wang Ying had been "deceived" into becoming Zhang Xuan’s student. He had assumed the Wang Clan wouldn't approve, but he never imagined they would act so swiftly, with even the Patriarch arriving in person! Clenching his fists, Shang Bin inwardly cackled.

So what if you won the Teacher's Heart Inquisition? This is the Wang Clan! One of the Four Great Clans of Tianxuan Royal City! Offend them, and it won't matter that you're just the academy's worst teacher; even a teacher like Wang Chao would face severe misfortune! As Shang Bin considered this, Cao Xiong evidently had the same thought, trembling uncontrollably with excitement, almost as if he were having a seizure.

"Silence! You have no business speaking!" Elder Shang Chen immediately reprimanded his grandson for interrupting Patriarch Wang. Although he was the Dean of Instruction, he had so many responsibilities that he only knew Zhang Xuan had recruited five students, but not their specific identities. He was completely unaware that Wang Ying was one of them.

"It's fine..." Patriarch Wang Hong waved his hand, just as he was about to continue speaking, Wang Tao approached from behind. "Father!"

"What is it?" Patriarch Wang Hong frowned.

"That's Teacher Zhang Xuan!" Wang Tao said, pointing. Having entered the Hall of the Heart-Asking Pagoda, he immediately recognized Zhang Xuan.

"He is Teacher Zhang?" Patriarch Wang Hong turned to look, his eyebrows raising slightly.

"Yes, this is Zhang Xuan from our academy!" Elder Shang Chen's eyes flickered, thinking how audacious this Teacher Zhang was to even dare to deceive Wang Ying. He introduced Zhang Xuan with a smirk.

"Heh heh! Now he’s in for it. Patriarch Wang is decisive and ruthless, unlike our teachers who are bound by rules..." "Serves him right. How dare he deceive the Patriarch’s own daughter? He’s far too audacious..." Seeing Patriarch Wang Hong look directly at Zhang Xuan upon his arrival, Shang Bin and Cao Xiong both inwardly cackled. Which patriarch among the Four Great Clans wasn't ruthless and cunning? As the academy’s worst teacher, enticing the patriarch's daughter was simply courting death!

Just as the two were convinced that Zhang Xuan was doomed and about to face severe misfortune, they suddenly witnessed an unbelievable scene. Patriarch Wang Hong took two steps toward Zhang Xuan. Instead of the anticipated fury or an immediate confrontation, he... with an excited expression, bowed deeply, filled with extreme deference: "Wang Hong greets Teacher Zhang Xuan!"

He bowed as if meeting a high-ranking dignitary, wary of uttering anything impolite or offensive that might displease the other party.

"What the..." "Did I see that correctly? This... how is this possible?" Shang Bin and Cao Xiong gasped in unison, nearly collapsing on the spot.

What on earth was happening? The script wasn't supposed to go like this! Shouldn't Patriarch Wang Hong have harshly reprimanded Zhang Xuan and then given him a good beating? Why was he bowing and saying "greets"... Even if it was merely a formality, his own grandfather, Elder Shang Chen, hadn't received such respect just moments ago... What qualifications did a person with a zero score on the teacher qualification assessment have to warrant such a display?

"Patriarch Wang Hong, please calm your anger; it harms the liver to be upset. The academy's worst teacher isn't worth your ire... Hmm? Cough, cough..." Elder Shang Chen, who had intended to play the peacemaker and feign dissuasion, was only halfway through his sentence when he witnessed the scene. His smile instantly froze, as if he had swallowed a dead rat, and he nearly choked on his own saliva. Wasn't Zhang Xuan supposed to have tricked Wang Ying into being his student? Wasn't Patriarch Wang supposed to be here to cause trouble? Someone tell me, what in the world is happening?