Chapter 718: Repay Evil with Kindness

The room was completely silent.

Everyone looked at each other in silence, unable to utter a single word.

You claimed his physical body wasn't strong enough to guide the Dragon Rhino bloodline. Well, now he just stood there, letting you strike him, and you ended up with hardly a single bone intact in your body. What more could be said?

Everyone turned in unison to look at the young man, only to see him lying on the ground, his body unnaturally contorted, utterly unable to stand.

"You... you are qualified to be Young Master Tao's teacher..."

The young man was on the verge of tears.

Since he began cultivating his physical body, he had never encountered anything like this.

He had hit someone with all his might, yet the other person was completely unharmed; instead, his own bones were shattered. This level of defense was beyond him—even an elder couldn't achieve it!

Was he even human?

If he had known his physical defense was so formidable, he wouldn't have dared to provoke him!

He should have just quietly left earlier; at least then he wouldn't be injured. Now look... with all his bones shattered like this, what would he do in the future?

"Cultivation has no limits," sighed Elder Yuan. "Though we possess the Dragon Rhino bloodline, our physical bodies are not invincible. Teacher Zhang has certainly taught you a lesson, showing you that there's always a higher peak beyond the mountains, and always someone superior to others!" With a sigh, Elder Yuan flicked his finger, and a pill flew into the young man's mouth.

Elder Yuan had not stopped the young man from challenging Zhang Xuan earlier; in fact, he had harbored a desire to test Teacher Zhang's physical prowess himself. He just never dreamed he would be this formidable!

The pill dissolved instantly in his mouth. After a moment, the young man recovered slightly, struggling to his feet with sweat pouring down his forehead.

"You cultivate your physical body," Elder Yuan sighed, seeing his state. "Now that your bones are shattered, even pills will struggle to heal them. You will likely be unable to cultivate your physical body ever again!"

In physical cultivation, bone damage is the most dreaded. With nearly all his bones shattered, even potent medicine would likely fail to restore him to his original state.

It was safe to say that this battle had rendered his entire cultivation wasted, and it would be difficult for him to recover.

Although the clan possessed sacred healing medicines that could fully restore an injured person, the young man was not considered a core member, nor was his bloodline pure enough to qualify for their use.

"Yes!" The young man's face was filled with despair.

His abilities were already not highly regarded within the family; with his cultivation now lost, his future was undoubtedly destined for misery.

"Alright, consider this a lesson learned; it's not entirely a loss for you!"

Elder Yuan said no more, turning to look at Zhang Xuan with admiration in his eyes. "Teacher Zhang, to have cultivated your physical body to such a perfect state at such a young age is truly impressive! I wonder... would you be interested in joining my Yuan family? Given your understanding of physical cultivation and your age, it would only be a matter of time before you become a guest elder, provided you continue to work diligently!"

"Join the Yuan family?" Prince Huai, standing nearby, instantly widened his eyes and began to breathe rapidly.

While Teacher Zhang and the others might not grasp the full significance of the Boundless Yuan Family, Prince Huai understood it perfectly.

If he could go and become a guest elder, or even just an ordinary disciple, Prince Huai would undoubtedly accept without hesitation.

Just as he thought Teacher Zhang would immediately agree, he saw him shake his head, a look of disdain on his face. "Not interested!"

Prince Huai's body stiffened, filled with urgency. "Teacher Zhang, do you understand the true significance of being a guest elder of the Boundless Yuan Family?"

"Who cares what it means, I'm not interested!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand dismissively.

No matter how prestigious, it was still a subordinate role. He was destined to become a nine-star master teacher; families and powers were all but fleeting clouds to him.

Besides, becoming a guest elder for his own student would be too undignified!

"What a pity..."

Seeing Zhang Xuan refuse without hesitation, Elder Yuan shook his head and sighed, then looked over again. "Teacher Zhang, about our Young Master..."

How to decide Yuan Tao's fate was still up to Teacher Zhang; even with his profound strength, Elder Yuan could not go against his own Young Master's wishes.

"Sigh!"

With a sigh, Zhang Xuan turned to look at the young man nearby. "Yuan Tao, come here for a moment!"

"Teacher!"

Yuan Tao paused for a moment, then came forward.

Rubbing the chubby young man's head, Zhang Xuan's eyes showed a complex expression. "Go back to your family and cultivate diligently. Don't tarnish your teacher's reputation!"

"Teacher..."

His eyes reddened, and Yuan Tao fell to his knees with a thud. "I won't leave, I want to follow you..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Since the Yuan family possesses the complete inheritance of the Dragon Rhino bloodline, you should go with them. This way, your cultivation will advance more quickly, and your progress will be greater! Staying with me will only become a hindrance to you."

Yuan Tao stiffened.

"Alright, as my student, Zhang Xuan's, there's no need to be sentimental," Zhang Xuan said, waving his hand. "Once you're in the family, strive to activate your physique quickly, and let your teacher see your achievements!"

Although he felt reluctant in his heart, what must leave, must leave.

Students were like young birds; even if trained perfectly while staying by his side, it was no match for spreading their wings and soaring freely through the sky.

Because... that was his world!

Only by letting them fly freely could they go further, experience trials, and become true powerhouses.

"Yes!" Seeing his teacher's firm attitude, Yuan Tao gritted his teeth.

After settling Yuan Tao's matter, Zhang Xuan looked at Elder Yuan. "Elder Yuan, this student of mine is a bit mischievous. I'll trouble you to take good care of him in the future!"

"Teacher Zhang, please don't mention it..." Elder Yuan's expression became solemn, and he looked at the young man before him again, filled with admiration.

He had witnessed the bond between Zhang Xuan and Yuan Tao. Yet, even so, knowing his student had a better path, he had sent him away without hesitation. This breadth of mind and foresight were beyond what many master teachers could achieve!

As long as he didn't perish, this Teacher Zhang's future was absolutely limitless!

"Yuan Tao is my direct disciple. If I ever find out in the future that he has suffered any grievance or unfairness, I will personally come to the Yuan family!"

Having finished his instructions, Zhang Xuan's expression turned serious.

While his current strength might be limited, it didn't mean it would always be. If they truly dared to mistreat Yuan Tao, he wouldn't hesitate to personally investigate the Yuan family's true background.

"Don't worry," Elder Yuan chuckled. "Young Master Tao possesses such a complete ancient bloodline; the family will be too busy cherishing him to possibly mistreat him. They haven't seen such a complete Dragon Rhino ancient bloodline in tens of thousands of years. They would be too busy treating him as a treasure to ever allow him to suffer any unfairness."

"That's good then!"

Zhang Xuan nodded, then extended his hand and grabbed a wine cup from a nearby table. "I'll toast the Elder!"

"This..."

Although the act of grabbing the wine cup seemed unremarkable, Elder Yuan's pupils constricted, and his entire body trembled.

Zhang Xuan was about 1.5 meters from the table, yet he grabbed the cup with a single reach, without using any true qi. This indicated that his arm had instantly extended by at least half a meter!

His arm extended without relying on true qi...

"Could it be... that his bones and muscles have reached the Undying Realm?"

Elder Yuan's body stiffened.

Legend had it that when physical cultivation reached a certain realm, the body became not only incredibly hard but also extremely flexible.

Both bones and muscles could extend in ways that defied common sense, and even if flattened into a pulp, they could recover completely!

Therefore, this level was also known as the Undying Realm.

Although not truly immortal, the ability to freely stretch muscles and transform bones was already incredibly heaven-defying.

Even within their own family, only the legendary old ancestor had managed to achieve this feat!

This young man, without using any true qi, had extended his arm by over half a meter. Even if he hadn't fully reached this realm, he was undoubtedly close!

To have cultivated his physical body to its limits, reaching the Undying Realm, at merely twenty years old...

How was this possible?

What kind of monster was this person exactly?

No wonder the young man lost; even Elder Yuan himself was far inferior to this level of physical cultivation!

Previously, he had dismissed Zhang Xuan's claim about personally visiting the Yuan family as a mere joke, but now he no longer thought so.

Regardless of Zhang Xuan's cultivation level, if his physical body had reached the Undying Realm, his future achievements would be limitless. Even the Yuan family, a super-family with tens of thousands of years of heritage, might one day tremble before him.

Filled with shock, he looked again and saw that the young man had already finished the wine in his cup. Zhang Xuan then stepped back into the secret room he had just left, re-emerging moments later with his face once again calm and unruffled.

"Let's go!"

Calling out, Teacher Zhang strode towards the exit.

"He's leaving!"

Zheng Yang and the others glanced at Yuan Tao, then followed closely behind.

Having been fellow disciples and cultivating together for so long, they had formed extremely deep bonds. Their hearts were filled with reluctance at this sudden departure.

"Teacher Zhang..."

Seeing Zhang Xuan leave so decisively, without any hesitation, Elder Yuan was about to say something when he saw the young man's hand flick a short distance away, and a wine gourd flew towards him.

He casually caught it, and immediately heard the other's voice.

"Set the broken bones, then drink this bottle of medicinal wine. All the bones in your body will be completely restored, and it won't delay your cultivation!"

"This..."

Stunned for a moment, Elder Yuan hurriedly handed the wine gourd to the young man nearby.

The young man's bones had just been set with true qi. Knowing this medicinal wine could potentially heal his injuries, he didn't dare hesitate, tilting his head back to drink it.

Gulp, gulp, gulp!

As the medicinal wine entered his throat, a warm current immediately spread from his lower abdomen. The previously fractured bones instantly felt a tingling numbness. After just a few breaths, he could stand unsupported by true qi, his injuries completely gone, as if he had never been hurt.

"This..."

His pupils constricted, and the young man's eyes, red with excitement, trembled uncontrollably.

Elder Yuan's body also stiffened.

"A sacred healing... medicine?"

Medicine of this caliber was incredibly precious even within their own family. For the other party to casually toss it away like that—this favor was truly immense!

"Teacher Zhang... thank you very much!"

The young man, also aware of its immense value, could no longer restrain himself and immediately knelt to the ground.

Just moments ago, he had spoken harshly and clashed with Zhang Xuan, yet not only did Zhang Xuan not bear a grudge, he had even bestowed such precious medicine...

Repaying evil with good, with a magnanimity as vast as a valley!

This was the true demeanor of a master teacher!

No wonder Young Master Tao swore to follow him to death; such character and bearing commanded respect.

As the young man expressed his gratitude, Yuan Tao, standing nearby, also clenched his fists, tears streaming freely down his face.

It was his teacher who didn't disdain him for being the worst in the academy's assessment and took him as a student!

It was his teacher who transformed him from a rough man who had learned no cultivation techniques into a master of the Harmonious Mortal Realm!

It was his teacher who painstakingly exerted himself to find medicinal materials to activate his physique!

It was his teacher who stayed awake all night to modify his cultivation technique...

"Teacher... please rest assured. Once I return to the family, I will cultivate diligently and not let down your expectations of me!"

Yuan Tao made a solemn vow in his heart!