Chapter 723: Someone Wants to Make a Bet

Back in Myriad Kingdom City, the first time I met many master teachers, there were only about a thousand of them in total. Yet, when the Master Teacher Academy opened, there were thirty thousand individuals who had reached half-step 5-star or peak 4-star.

The sheer number was frightening!

However, understanding the geographical scope of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy made it clear.

This academy was the only master teacher institution under the Conferred Kingdoms. It recruited students not only from Hongyuan Empire but also from other first-tier empires.

With dozens of first-tier empires, countless sects, and Master Teacher Pavilions, talented master teachers were naturally abundant.

No wonder places like Tianxuan Kingdom were called ancient lands. They didn't even have a single master teacher, which truly indicated their backwardness.

“We didn't form an alliance with other powers. For these students to pass the assessment, we're relying on you, Master Teacher Zhang…”

Master Teacher Feng, Master Teacher Luo, and others approached.

Although they had previous conflicts with Master Teacher Zhang, they were all master teachers from the same power. The stronger he was, the stronger Phantasm Feather Empire would be. After these past few days, they had come to terms with it.

“Don't worry!”

Zhang Xuan glanced at the many students around them and nodded.

This time, Phantasm Feather Empire had sent fifty master teachers, including him. Most were at peak 4-star, with strength around the Turbid Clarity realm.

This level of strength was indeed not outstanding among the thirty thousand new students. To stand out and have everyone pass, it was simply… extremely difficult!

It was precisely because of this that they had discussed forming an alliance with the second-tier Jin Hai Empire. They had initially thought that even if they didn't win, the difference wouldn't be significant, allowing for fair competition without a primary or secondary role. Unexpectedly, the other party was so strong that Phantasm Feather Empire was utterly defeated and almost became their human shield.

Fortunately, Master Teacher Zhang had saved the situation.

Without an alliance, they could only place their hopes on Master Teacher Zhang. They hoped he could lead everyone to pass the assessment and avoid being eliminated midway.

“Thank you!”

Master Teacher Luo, Master Teacher Feng, and the others cupped their fists.

If it had been anyone else, given how they had obstructed him, they would surely have been made to suffer. Yet, Master Teacher Zhang showed no such inclination; neither his character nor his demeanor was something they could match.

Recalling their past actions, they felt nothing but shame and profound embarrassment.

“You're welcome!” Zhang Xuan smiled upon seeing their expressions. Just as he was about to say a few polite words, he heard a faint voice from not far away.

“Is this the one who defeated you?”

Turning his head, he saw Brother Feng, the defeated one from Jin Hai Empire, walking over behind a young man.

The speaker was the young man himself. He was tall, with long limbs and dark skin. His eyes held a cold indifference, as if electricity flowed within them.

“Bridge Heaven realm?”

Zhang Xuan's eyebrows furrowed.

The other party did not conceal his aura. The power of the Bridge Heaven realm emanated from him, like a scorching sun, exerting immense pressure.

In the Bridge Heaven realm, a bridge between spirit and nature forms, allowing for greater closeness and integration with nature. While the Spirit Unification realm was not weak, it was insignificant before such a powerful individual.

Although he had reached the Bridge Heaven realm, comparable in strength to Luo Qiqi and others, the badge on his chest was still 4-star.

For 5-star assessment, the Bridge Heaven realm was only the most basic requirement. One also needed five auxiliary occupations at 5-star and a Mind Tempering value of 15.0.

Therefore, many first-year students at the Master Teacher Academy already had sufficient strength, but because they couldn't meet the other conditions, they were stuck, unable to break through.

The one before him was clearly such a case.

Even so, he was still formidable.

Not yet thirty, and having reached this level of strength before entering the Master Teacher Academy, he could be considered a genius among the many new students taking this assessment and was certainly capable of standing out.

“Yes!” Brother Feng nodded.

“This…”

Hearing his confirmation, the young man's brows furrowed.

He had known “Brother Feng” for a long time. He had thought that the person who had repeatedly "abused" his friend would at least be in the Bridge Heaven realm, with extraordinary strength and exceptional demeanor. But… what on earth was this?

Filthy all over, as if he hadn't bathed in days. His eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating a lack of rest. Although his head and face had recovered, there were still bruises from his injuries…

If he guessed correctly, the man had probably just been beaten beyond recognition not long ago…

Most crucially, though his strength was at the peak of the Spirit Unification realm, he gave off no sense of power. In any other place, he wouldn't even spare a glance at someone looking like this. Could such a person truly have crushed his friend into such a slump, making him lose all confidence?

“Brother Yu, don't underestimate him. Master Teacher Zhang… his strength is extraordinary; he defeated me with a single finger!” Fearing the other party wouldn't believe him, Brother Feng explained. However, by the end, he himself felt somewhat dazed.

Was it really this guy who injured me?

Why does it feel like I lost to a beggar…?

“A single finger?”

“Brother Yu” shook his head, his gaze like lightning as he looked over. “Are you Master Teacher Zhang Xuan? You defeated Feng Wu; do you dare to have a match with me?”

“A match?” Zhang Xuan shook his head, about to say he was busy and had no time. Then, remembering something, his eyes lit up, and he looked over, asking, “Are there any stakes?”

He was a bit short on cash; he didn't even have money for rent. If someone wanted to gamble and send some money his way, that would be great.

The treasures he had obtained at the Pavilion of Treasures had not been sold by Sun Qiang before they arrived here. Now, being unfamiliar with Hongyuan City, he definitely couldn't sell them anytime soon. All things considered, he barely had any savings left.

“Stakes?” “Brother Yu” was stunned.

“Exactly. If you want to compete, how can you do so without putting up stakes?” Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

He had no time for pointless pleasantries. If there were no tangible benefits, why would he waste so much time on a match?

“You… do you even know what I want to compete on?”

His eyebrows furrowed, and “Brother Yu's” face darkened.

No matter what, they were all master teachers, people of renown. To immediately ask for stakes seemed too crude and mercenary!

Moreover, you're merely in the Spirit Unification realm; it's one thing not to fear me, but to demand stakes without even knowing what we'll compete on… are you sure you'll win?

Arrogant!

Presumptuous!

He already had a poor impression of this fellow, and in the blink of an eye, it plummeted to its lowest point.

“I don't care what we bet on, as long as there are stakes, anything goes!”

Ignoring the other party's attitude, Zhang Xuan waved his hand dismissively.

“Since you're so confident, I'll indulge you!”

With a cold huff, “Brother Yu” flipped his wrist, and a pile of spirit stones appeared before them. “These are 1,000 mid-grade spirit stones. If you win, they're yours!”

“1,000 spirit stones?” Zhang Xuan looked over.

“Indeed! With your strength, I suppose you haven't seen this many spirit stones before, have you? But don't worry, if you lose… I won't ask for your spirit stones. All I require is that you apologize to me in front of all the new students for your earlier impoliteness…”

“Brother Yu” smiled coldly, his hands clasped behind his back, a proud expression on his face.

Phantasm Feather Empire was not among the top second-tier empires. Coupled with the other party's shabby appearance and constant talk of stakes… it was obvious he was a pauper. A thousand mid-grade spirit stones would certainly be an enormous sum for someone like him, something he'd never seen in his life.

“Apologize? You're overthinking it…”

Seeing the other party rambling on, Zhang Xuan interrupted, waving his hand. “One thousand mid-grade spirit stones are too troublesome. How about we bet on just one?”

“One? One mid-grade spirit stone is considered a bet? I spend more than that on my servants…”

Hearing that the proposed stake was only one, “Brother Yu” scoffed. Before he could finish his sentence, he felt “Brother Feng” Feng Wu, beside him, push him. He looked over in confusion, his eyes landing on Master Teacher Zhang's hand, and his eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets.

He saw that a spirit stone had appeared in the other party's hand at some point. It was sparkling and dazzling, emitting a light that made one dizzy.

“S-s… supreme-grade spirit stone?”

His lips trembling, “Brother Yu's” body swayed.

“Yes, one supreme-grade spirit stone!” Zhang Xuan looked at him indifferently.

“…” “Brother Yu's” vision went dark, and he almost fainted.

Although he was quite wealthy, he only possessed mid-grade spirit stones. Supreme-grade spirit stones were items only Sages could trade, yet this person casually took one out as a stake… Are you really in the Spirit Unification realm? Are you really from Phantasm Feather Empire?

Just seeing this guy, all filthy and like a beggar, he had thought him a penniless wretch. He never dreamed that he would pull out a supreme-grade spirit stone right away… Are you crazy?!

“What? You don't have one? What kind of bet are you trying to make if you don't have money? Go play somewhere else; I don't have time to waste on your nonsense…”

Seeing the man's face twitching, Zhang Xuan curled his lips in disdain.

He didn't even have a supreme-grade spirit stone; what was he pretending to be, a big shot?

Seeing him like this, both “Brother Yu” and Feng Wu were so enraged their eyes went dark.

What kind of situation was this? They had come to cause trouble and embarrass the other party. How did they end up embarrassing themselves after all this fuss?

Especially that expression, as if to say, 'You're all paupers, and I disdain competing with you…'

“Fine, we'll bet!” Gritting his teeth in anger, “Brother Yu” flicked his sleeve and huffed.

“Alright then, where's your supreme-grade spirit stone? Show it to me. Otherwise, if you try to renege, there's nothing I can do! These days, there are plenty of people who pretend to be rich when they have no money!” Zhang Xuan said.

“You…”

“Brother Yu” clenched his fist, knowing that getting angry at the other party was asking for trouble. He turned his head to Feng Wu: “Bring me your Sky Strike Talisman!”

“Brother Yu, that thing…”

Hearing that he was asked to fetch it, Feng Wu's eyebrows twitched, his expression changed, and he quickly waved his hand.

“Don't worry, do you think he can defeat me?” “Brother Yu” scoffed, his hands clasped behind his back, a look of strong confidence on his face.

“Uh… alright then!”

Considering Brother Yu's identity and the content of this assessment, Feng Wu hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He flipped his palm, and a jade talisman appeared in his hand, which he handed over.

“Brother Yu” took the jade talisman and held it in his palm. “This Sky Strike Talisman was crafted by a Sage and can withstand one attack from a first-level Sage without taking damage! Its value is absolutely equivalent to one supreme-grade spirit stone!”

“Sky Strike Talisman?”

Zhang Xuan stretched out a finger, touched it, then nodded in satisfaction. “This item is indeed worth one supreme-grade spirit stone. Good, I'll bet!”

“Alright then, we'll bet on… whose score is higher in the upcoming trial!”