Chapter 743: Sending Extra Points

"Hall Master Mo, please wait here for a moment. I'll arrange the new students, then I'll join you to gather the other master teachers!"

With Zhang Xuan's agreement, Elder Mi spoke, turned, and left. Mo Gaoyuan and Zhang Xuan were once again the only two left in the small pavilion.

"Master Zhang, I wonder if Master Yang... has arrived?"

After a moment of silence, Mo Gaoyuan couldn't help but look over. He had offered high-grade spirit stones as a prize for the competition and had specifically come to befriend Zhang Xuan, all in an effort to establish a good relationship with Master Yang.

"My teacher's whereabouts are always uncertain; I don't know his exact location!" Zhang Xuan casually explained, then looked at him: "My teacher mentioned that you had some issues opening your Sky-Seizing Acupoint. I wonder if they've been resolved now?"

"Speaking of that, I truly wish to personally thank Master Yang for his guidance!" Mo Gaoyuan's expression tightened, and he quickly cupped his fist. If Master Yang hadn't personally guided him, he might have strayed further and further in the wrong direction, making it impossible to advance to the second realm of Sainthood in his lifetime. But now, with his internal energy re-nourishing his acupoints, he could look forward to a breakthrough. It was precisely for this reason that he understood how formidable Master Yang was. With just a glance, Master Yang had discerned his problem, not only pointing it out but also enabling him to make progress while cultivating. Such power was far beyond what ten of him combined could ever hope to achieve. The so-called Ten Great Master Teachers of Hongyuan Academy would likely appear as ridiculous as children before him.

"No need to be so polite," Zhang Xuan smiled. "My teacher has always been detached from worldly affairs. The fact that he guided you shows that you two were fated. There's no need to be overly persistent!"

"Indeed!" Mo Gaoyuan nodded. Some highly skilled master teachers comprehend the creation of heaven and earth and believe in naturally formed destinies. Without such a destiny, guidance is impossible. If Master Yang chose to offer guidance, it was simply destiny coming and going, with no expectation of reward. Even if one wished to repay him, it would only matter if he deemed it worthy. If not... all efforts would be futile.

"Oh, by the way," Zhang Xuan asked, recalling something. "Since Elder Mi is a peak six-star beast tamer, why haven't I seen his beast companion? What kind of Saint Beast is it?" Although he was almost certain that the Purple Sun Beast was an infiltrator from the Spirit Tribe, he still harbored some doubts. After all, Lei Yuan Peak was so close to the Master Teacher Academy, and for such a powerful Saint Beast to reside on the mountain without being discovered was inherently very strange.

"It's a Fire Dragon Saint Beast!" Mo Gaoyuan replied, wondering why he would ask such a question.

"A Fire Dragon Saint Beast?" Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. Although he hadn't heard of such a Saint Beast before, it was good as long as it wasn't a Purple Sun Beast.

"Yes, that beast companion... *sigh*, never mind!" Mo Gaoyuan hesitated when he mentioned the Fire Dragon, finally shaking his head.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Xuan asked, looking at his expression with confusion.

"It's nothing, really. It's just that the Fire Dragon Saint Beast... I'm afraid its days are numbered!" Mo Gaoyuan sighed.

"Days are numbered?" Zhang Xuan grew even more puzzled. Spirit beasts generally have longer lifespans than humans, especially at the Saint Beast level. It's truly rare for them to die before their masters.

"Yes, the Fire Dragon Saint Beast... it has encountered some issues with its cultivation. Let's not talk about it." Mo Gaoyuan shook his head, unwilling to elaborate. In truth, he only learned this information when chatting with Elder Mi earlier. Otherwise, as a beast companion, it would be inexplicable for it not to be present when its master was here.

"Alright!" Seeing that the other party was unwilling to say more, Zhang Xuan stopped pressing the issue.

***

Hu Qing was a peak four-star master teacher from the Qingyuan Second-Tier Empire. His cultivation had only reached the late stage of the Murky-Clear realm, not even its peak. He came from an extremely remote, small place. To pass the assessment and arrive here, he had poured in immense effort and paid a great price. Especially during the Master Teacher Grand Competition, in the final match, he had fought desperately to advance, sustaining a full seventeen severe injuries before finally succeeding.

The reason he fought so desperately was that he was different from others. Others who couldn't enter the Master Teacher Academy could still remain in their local Master Teacher Pavilion and enjoy the highest benefits, but he... had no retreat! He suffered from a chronic illness, and only one specific medicinal herb could save his life. This item, however, could only be exchanged with Master Teacher Academy credits. In other words, only by becoming a student could he continue to live!

He had originally believed that no matter how difficult the entrance assessment was, he could succeed with effort, even if it meant fighting to the death... However, he reluctantly discovered that for this assessment, desperation was useless! He had wanted to hunt spirit beasts to pass, but unfortunately, he was ambushed by them, nearly losing his life. Although he managed to escape, he paid a heavy price, not only suffering severe injuries but also failing to obtain a single credit! Without any credits, it meant he couldn't become a member of the academy! It also meant he would no longer have any chance of obtaining that medicinal herb, and his chronic illness would soon flare up, leading to his death.

"No, I must succeed..."

Gritting his teeth against the intense pain, he struggled to his feet and took a few steps to approach Yu Cheng, the genius who had just been the center of attention. He had witnessed the earlier wager match and knew that the person before him had over two thousand credits. If Yu Cheng were willing to give him just one credit, he could become an academy student and his life would be prolonged.

"Brother Yu... I am Hu Qing, a master teacher from the Qingyuan Empire. If Brother Yu would grant me just one credit, allowing me to pass the assessment, I would willingly serve you like an ox or a horse in gratitude for the rest of my life..." He gritted his teeth and cupped his fist. His humble plea, though it compromised a master teacher's dignity, was necessary; as long as he could survive, he could endure any humiliation, no matter how great!

"Give you a credit? What are you?" Annoyed by his loss to Zhang Xuan, Yu Cheng's face darkened when this unfamiliar fellow came running up to demand credits. He only had around two thousand credits in total. He was still hoping that if he couldn't gain Elder Mi's favor, he might at least impress other elders. If he gave a credit to this person, others would surely come asking too. Should he give or not give? Once he started, wouldn't all his previous hard work be for naught?

"I..." His face flushed red. Hu Qing felt as if his dignity had been brutally torn away by the other party. With his head bowed to his chest, his knuckles white from clenching, he took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and knelt to the ground: "I only beg Brother Yu for one credit, just enough for me to pass. If you agree, I will do anything you ask, without a frown!"

"A nobody at the late stage of Spirit Severing Fourth Realm, not even reaching the peak! Even if you wanted to be my servant, you'd be useless. Get lost! Or do you want to find out if I'll throw you out right now?" Yu Cheng sneered, raising an eyebrow. What a joke! If a Spirit Harmonizing realm expert had come and said that, perhaps he might have considered it. But for a minor figure who hadn't even reached the peak of the Murky-Clear realm to try and negotiate with him? On what grounds? His own credits had cost him countless treasures, and he had even suffered humiliation from a Spirit Severing Seventh Realm spirit beast to obtain them. How could he just give them away casually?

"If you can't get credits, it means you lack skill and ability, and naturally, you're not qualified to enter the academy and become a student! Don't continue making a fool of yourself here..." Feng Wu also stepped forward. Compared to Zhang Xuan, they were nothing special, but compared to most other master teachers, they had already distinguished themselves, a source of pride and honor.

"Indeed, get out of here. You couldn't earn credits, and now you're begging for them? If it comes to this, it shouldn't be called the Master Teacher Academy, but the Beggar Academy!"

"If you have no credits, you can only blame yourself for not working hard, not others!"

"The Master Teacher Pavilion is not meant for you. Go... Don't disgrace the dignity of master teachers here!"

Some master teachers nearby also waved their hands dismissively. Such begging truly undermined the prestige of master teachers. If word got out, how could this foremost profession in the world possibly educate people and impart knowledge? Failing meant failing. Since Elder Mi had set the rules, they naturally couldn't be broken.

"Yes..." Knowing there was no longer any hope, Hu Qing stood up, his fists clenched, his body trembling slightly. In that instant, he felt his dignity completely swept away by the spring breeze, leaving nothing behind. Although master teachers were noble, people were inherently selfish. Wherever interests lay, so did human nature; no one could truly be selfless.

"Never mind..." Shaking his head, Hu Qing knew that even if he abandoned his dignity, no one would give him a single credit. Rather than that, it would be better to leave with some dignity intact.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard the whistling wind above. Elder Mi's figure appeared in the air, his resonant voice echoing across the surroundings. "A total of six thousand four hundred and eighty-seven people passed this assessment. Those with no credits have failed the assessment and are not destined for the Master Teacher Academy!"

"Not destined..." The faces of the over twenty thousand people who had failed the assessment all turned pale. Although they had long known the outcome, hearing Elder Mi's words with their own ears was still difficult to accept.

"However... there's no need for everyone to fret. Master Zhang of the Illusory Feather Empire, upon learning of this situation, specifically sought me out. He is willing to take his own credits and distribute them among everyone, allowing all of you to pass the assessment. This will make our Master Teacher Pavilion grow stronger and stronger!"

"After careful deliberation, I agreed!"

"Therefore, starting today, all of you will be new students of the Master Teacher Academy!" Elder Mi waved his hand grandly.

"Distribute his credits... among us?"

"Master Zhang is willing to give away his own credits?"

"This..." Everyone was stunned. Hu Qing, on the side, turned even paler, his body trembling uncontrollably, and tears streamed down his cheeks. He had begged others for a single credit, even kneeling, only to be refused! Yet Master Zhang was willing to give away his credits to everyone, allowing them all to pass... This was a true master teacher, broad-minded and caring for humanity!

"Master Zhang... thank you!" His entire body stiffened, his knees buckled again, and he fell to the ground, kneeling: "From now on, you are my benefactor. Whatever you ask of me, I will do, without a single frown!" Hu Qing gritted his teeth and swore an oath. This time, his kneeling... was truly willing!

"This..." Many who had failed were grateful to Master Zhang, while Yu Cheng and Feng Wu swayed, and their vision went black. They had just refused someone begging for credits, and now this guy was giving all his credits away, letting everyone pass... Did they have to be slapped in the face so quickly? Did it have to be so exaggerated? They hurriedly looked around, only to see countless new students looking at them with contempt, as if saying, "Both are master teachers, but what a huge difference!"

Unable to hold back any longer, old ailments flared up alongside new injuries, and Yu Cheng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Feng Wu also felt his vision go black, completely losing confidence from the blow. What kind of situation was this? Why did nothing good ever happen whenever they got involved with Zhang Xuan?