Chapter 740: Four Hundred Twenty-Two Over Forty Thousand Points?

"Yes, I am Zhang Xuan!"

Zhang Xuan scratched his head, utterly confused by the senior students' attitude.

I didn't even bring out my Violetglory Beast; I've been quite low-key. What's with those expressions? My score isn't even higher than Yu Cheng's.

Not only was he bewildered, but the other master teachers also exchanged confused glances, wondering what had gotten into these senior students.

"He is Zhang Xuan, Master Teacher Zhang..." the senior student suddenly exclaimed.

"What? He's Master Teacher Zhang?"

"So it's you! As expected, heroes emerge young..."

"Master Teacher Zhang, I'm Liu Chuang, a second-year student. It's a pleasure to meet you. If you encounter any difficulties at the academy, feel free to come directly to me..."

"I'm Ye Zhijun, a second-year student from the academy's Disciplinary Team. Are you free tonight? I'd like to host a welcoming dinner for you..."

"A welcoming dinner is too common, Master Teacher Zhang. I know you're a beast tamer, and I happen to have two thousand beast crystal stones here that I don't need. Please take them; don't be polite, or you're not treating me as a brother..."

"Beast spirit stones? What a joke! How can you even offer those? I have Beast Blood Pills here..."

Hearing the commotion, the senior students responsible for reviewing the other teams immediately abandoned their duties and rushed over. Each of them looked at Zhang Xuan as if he were a long-lost relative, their eyes gleaming with excitement, completely disregarding their dignity as master teachers.

"This..." Zhang Xuan rubbed his nose, feeling dizzy. He hadn't expected these senior students to behave this way just by hearing his name, completely devoid of their previous arrogance. Could it be that the news of him beating up the Violetglory Beast had leaked?

It shouldn't have! When he was beating it, he specifically told the 'ruthless guy' to watch the surroundings. No one should have found out. Under the ruthless guy's supervision, even Elder Mi wouldn't have been able to peek. Since the news hadn't leaked, why were these people acting so crazy?

He hadn't killed any high-tier spirit beasts upon arrival, nor had he displayed any strength; he looked quite ordinary... Could it be that, like a firefly in the dark, his apparent ordinariness could no longer conceal his dazzling brilliance? He couldn't help but glance down, noticing he was wearing a standard master teacher's robe, seemingly... nothing special! His aura... was also suppressed to the peak of the Harmonized Spirit realm, and with the Heaven's Path zhenqi, these people shouldn't be able to detect it...

While he was clueless, Yu Cheng, standing beside him, was about to go mad. Didn't I clearly win? I won the bet, and my score was over two thousand, making me outstanding... Yet you're not talking to me; instead, you're fawning over a loser, asking about his well-being, inviting him to dinner, giving him gifts... Do you have to be so obvious with your flattery? That's shameless!

Yu Cheng's lips twitched, his eyes turning red... Seriously, I'm the damn winner, I really won... Not this Master Teacher Zhang!

Feng Wu, on the other hand, was swallowing hard, almost going crazy. He had thought that by defeating Master Teacher Zhang this time, he could finally redeem himself and soar with excitement. The result... someone did soar, but it wasn't him; it was the other person! He was still stuck in the mud, unable to even lift his head.

"What's going on here? Why aren't you properly reviewing? Piling up like this, what kind of decorum is that?"

Just as everyone was feeling bewildered, a shout rang out, and a middle-aged man with stern eyebrows walked over.

"It's Master Teacher Bai Yang from the academy's Disciplinary Hall! He's always been very serious..."

"I heard Master Teacher Bai is Elder Mi's direct disciple. Although he's only a low-grade six-star master teacher, his status in the academy is quite high!"

"Direct disciple? Your information must be wrong. Elder Mi reportedly hasn't taken any direct disciples to this day; Master Teacher Bai is just one of his lectured students..."

"Whether direct or lectured, they are both people we must look up to..."

Hearing the reprimand and seeing the middle-aged man approach, a hushed murmur spread through the crowd. Master Teacher Bai's cultivation and master teacher rank weren't exceptionally high, but he was very well-known in the academy. His close association with Elder Mi led many to believe he was a direct disciple.

"Master Teacher Bai!" As expected, when the senior students saw him arrive, they were all startled and no longer dared to crowd around Zhang Xuan, promptly making way.

"Your teachers sent you here to conduct reviews because they value your diligence, conscientiousness, and hard work. Who told you to form private connections and cliques?" Master Teacher Bai's eyes widened, exuding authority without anger. The aura of a Transcendent Mortal Ninth-level expert emanated from him, creating an intense pressure. A five-star master teacher corresponds to the sixth, seventh, and eighth levels of the Transcendent Mortal realm. To become a six-star master teacher, one must possess at least Ninth-level strength! Although Master Teacher Bai was only a low-grade six-star master teacher, his personal strength had already reached the peak of the Transcendent Mortal Ninth-level, giving off an unfathomable impression.

"Yes..." Hearing the reprimand, all the senior students flushed and dared not utter another word.

"Now, get back to your reviews!" He waved his hand. The senior students, who had just been full of excitement, quickly returned to their positions.

"Hmph!" Seeing them leave, Master Teacher Bai finally relaxed. He looked at Zhang Xuan, no longer with his previous stern expression, but with a slight smile. He cupped his fist and bowed, saying, "Senior Brother Zhang, the teacher wishes to see you!"

"Senior Brother?"

"Master Teacher Bai called him Senior Brother? Could it be... Elder Mi intends to take Master Teacher Zhang as his direct disciple?"

"No wonder... these senior students were trying so hard to curry favor. Elder Mi is one of the Ten Great Elders; becoming his student would grant a status higher than some teachers. Not to mention Master Teacher Bai showing respect, he'd practically be able to walk sideways in the academy!"

"Yeah, he hasn't even officially entered the academy, just completed one assessment, and he's already being taken as a direct disciple... Why do I feel so dizzy?"

Hearing Master Teacher Bai's address and sudden reverence, everyone trembled in shock. For a six-star master teacher to address him this way indicated that Elder Mi already intended to take him as a direct disciple! But... didn't he just arrive? Hadn't he just undergone the entrance examination? How could he suddenly be favored by Elder Mi, who never takes disciples? His luck is too good!

"Elder Mi? Alright!" Seeing the increasing commotion and everyone's gaze fixed on him, Zhang Xuan knew that staying any longer would only draw more attention. He sighed, gave up on his idea of being low-key, and followed Master Teacher Bai forward. Moments later, they disappeared from view.

"Why? I clearly won, I clearly won..." Seeing Zhang Xuan leave, personally escorted by Master Teacher Bai, and with the possibility of becoming Elder Mi's direct disciple, Yu Cheng's eyes turned red. He had deliberately made a bet with a genius to push himself to achieve something astonishing! Even after being robbed by spirit beasts, he still managed to score over two thousand points, standing out so remarkably. Had Elder Mi not noticed? Why would he take someone who lost to him as a student?

"You won? Master Teacher Yu, do you even know Master Teacher Zhang's score?" Seeing him on the verge of a mental breakdown, a senior student couldn't help but look at him with sympathy.

"How much? Didn't you senior students just calculate it? 2580 points?" Yu Cheng couldn't help but ask. It had just been calculated, 78 points less than his and Feng Wu's combined score. Had they forgotten in the blink of an eye?

"2580?" The senior student scoffed, shaking his head. "If it were just that score, do you think he'd gain Elder Mi's favor and be specifically chosen as a student?"

"Then..." Yu Cheng blinked. Zhang Xuan came with him, they were reviewed together, so how could his score not be around two thousand?

"To tell you the truth, his total score is... forty-three thousand seven hundred and twenty-four points!" The senior student finished, a hint of terror still in his eyes.

"Over forty-three thousand points? This... this... How is that possible?" Yu Cheng was startled, nearly fainting. His lips trembled. "Didn't he just present the inner cores of some Luoyang Beasts, Green Smoke Beasts, and Seven-Whiskered Beasts? How could he possibly have such a high score?"

Not only was he confused, but the surrounding master teachers also looked over with doubt. They had all witnessed Master Teacher Zhang inspecting the inner cores. How did two thousand-plus points turn into over forty thousand? The difference was too enormous! Forty thousand points, with an early Bridging Heaven realm spirit beast being worth one hundred points, meant... he would need to hunt at least four hundred early Bridging Heaven realm spirit beasts to achieve that... How was that possible?

"How could it be so high? Master Teacher Zhang single-handedly rescued over two hundred trapped master teachers in the First-Line Sky and tamed over four hundred Harmonized Spirit and Bridging Heaven realm spirit beasts. How could he not get forty thousand points?" Seeing his disbelief, the senior student flicked his sleeve. "You should know that taming is much more difficult than hunting!"

"Tamed... over four hundred spirit beasts?"

"This... over forty thousand points? Could it be... this Master Teacher Zhang is the peerless genius the senior students were talking about, who returned this morning?"

Hearing the conversation, someone finally realized. They had previously heard these senior students mention that at noon, the highest score had appeared, so dazzling that it was hard to believe. They had thought two or three thousand points would be impressive, but it turned out to be a staggering forty thousand-plus! And it was this Master Teacher Zhang, who appeared so modest and unassuming!

"That's right, it's Master Teacher Zhang. His results were released at noon... Elder Mi and Hall Master Mo Gaoyuan were both vying to see him. You thought you could win with a mere two thousand points... Do you think that's possible?" Hearing everyone's words, the senior student nodded and scoffed again. Truly overestimating himself!

They had been saying "Master Teacher Zhang" all along, but no one had made the connection. After all, among over thirty thousand new students, there were at least eight hundred people surnamed Zhang, and everyone was a master teacher, so the title was common. However, when referred to as Zhang Xuan, specifically from the Illusory Feather Empire, it was different—there was only one such person! It was this powerful genius who had broken all records and utterly astonished Elder Mi!

To be honest, even now, when he recalled what happened at noon, he found it hard to believe. If Master Teacher Zhang were merely skilled in beast taming and strong in cultivation, that would be one thing! The most crucial aspect was his modesty, his reserved nature, and his indifference towards wealth, which earned him immense admiration.

Over two hundred master teachers, arriving with more than four hundred spirit beasts, each only wanting one point and refusing more, insisted on giving their numerous points to Master Teacher Zhang out of gratitude for saving their lives. Even now, recalling that scene was astonishing. And hearing the accounts from numerous master teachers only deepened their admiration. A master teacher who tamed so many spirit beasts, yet was neither greedy for credit nor arrogant, never demanding repayment from others, simply walked away after the deed was done, seeking neither reward nor fame! He didn't even leave his name behind. Such breadth of mind and attitude were beyond the reach of many master teachers throughout their entire lives!