Chapter 752: I Am Master Yang Xuan

"You mean there are no credits?" Zhang Xuan was stunned by his words.

"Of course not!" Yuan Hong waved his hand. "Breaking a record requires notarization from the record passage. Now that it's collapsed like this, who knows if you used any artifacts in there, or how you managed to last for an hour?"

The record passage had its own self-authenticating capability. Otherwise, if people could use various artifacts simultaneously inside, lasting seventeen minutes wouldn't be impressive, and the record would lose its meaning.

Now that the passage is in such a disastrous state, utterly ruined, it naturally loses its ability to authenticate and prove anything. Who knows if you used artifacts, or how you managed to pass?

You wrecked the record passage as soon as you arrived at the Artifact Forging Academy. We haven't even had a chance to discuss compensation, yet you're asking for credits first? How could you even ask for that?

"This..." Zhang Xuan was dumbfounded.

He had thought that breaking a record would earn him credits, allowing him to smoothly pass the five-star artifact master assessment. But judging by the other person's tone, it seemed they were trying to default on them, refusing to give any.

If he had known this earlier, what was the point of all that trouble?

However, this challenge wasn't a complete loss. Not only did his Five Radiance Golden Body reach the second level, significantly boosting his strength, but his soul body also successfully broke through its ten-meter limitation.

"Since this doesn't offer credits... I'll go back in and try other challenges then..." Zhang Xuan said after a moment of hesitation.

He had gone to such trouble to come out, so he might as well finish the five-star artifact master exam before returning. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a wasted trip?

"Challenge what? Look at the state of the record passage; can you even continue challenging anything?" This time, Luo Yan couldn't help himself and stepped forward.

Half of it has collapsed and is completely useless. Even if you wanted to challenge other records, you wouldn't be able to!

"Then... what should I do if I want to earn credits?" Zhang Xuan scratched his head.

"The record passage represents the achievements of the Artifact Forging Academy. You're a new student who just arrived and damaged it so badly; forget about credits. You should be thinking about how to compensate us!" Luo Yan looked over sympathetically.

This structure was successfully built with immense effort and resources from both the Artifact Forging Academy and the Heavenly Craft Academy. It has stood here, challenged countless individuals, and you came and broke it! You're not thinking about paying for it, yet you still want credits?

How could you be so audacious?

"Compensation?" Zhang Xuan's face twitched. He hesitated for a moment, looking conflicted. "How much do I have to pay?"

Hearing this, Luo Yan turned to look at his teacher.

Given the damage, he was just a student and wasn't authorized to say how much compensation would be required.

"The Earth Flame Passage was jointly built by the Dean of the Artifact Forging Academy and the Dean of the Heavenly Craft Academy five thousand years ago. It cost four Geocentric Flood Rocks, plus various rare materials. Even after all these years of wear and tear, its total value still exceeds twenty high-tier spirit stones!"

After a moment of calculation, Yuan Hong spoke.

The academy isn't like other places or guilds, where a rare genius might emerge. If a genius broke something, they could report it, and headquarters would send someone to fix it.

Here, there are geniuses everywhere. If we don't hold them accountable, everyone will come causing trouble. If one person breaks one thing and another breaks another, how can we possibly maintain operations in the future?

Even if we sold the Dean, we couldn't afford the compensation!

"H-how much? Twenty high-tier spirit stones?" Zhang Xuan's body swayed, and he almost spat blood.

Are you kidding me?

If he had that many spirit stones, why would he bother earning credits? He could just buy his way in!

He believed that even though credits were valuable, at such a high price, many would be willing to sell them.

"You're a new student, and you didn't intentionally damage it, so you only need to compensate for half—that's ten high-tier spirit stones!" Yuan Hong said.

"Ten... I don't have them!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He only had one, which was a reward from the Master Teacher Grand Competition. He couldn't produce ten even if his life depended on it!

"I know you don't have them. How about this: you can work here for ten years, and that will count as compensation!" Yuan Hong waved his hand.

High-tier spirit stones are used by those breaking through to the Saint realm or by Saint realm experts. They are extremely valuable, and it's obvious a new student wouldn't have them. So, Yuan Hong had already figured out a plan: work to pay off the debt!

Many students in the academy had also gone through this.

Just like the girl, Li Xuan, whom he had met earlier, who was working part-time to earn credits.

He would simply be working to pay off a debt.

"Ten years of work-study to offset ten high-tier spirit stones? That's a huge bargain!"

"Yes, high-tier spirit stones are incredibly valuable; one is equivalent to ten thousand mid-tier spirit stones. For one year to offset one, Vice Dean Yuan is already being incredibly lenient by offering this condition!"

"Also, for master teachers in the academy, this punishment is more about setting an example. Otherwise, for ten high-tier spirit stones, many people couldn't afford to compensate in their entire lives!"

Hearing Yuan Hong's words, everyone nodded.

For cultivators, time means little. Some individuals can be stuck at the four-star peak for ten years and still not reach the five-star Master Teacher level.

To pay off the debt of ten high-tier spirit stones in such a short time was considered very accommodating.

"Ten years?" Unlike everyone else, Zhang Xuan's mouth twitched.

It was hard to say if he could even stay in this academy for half a year, let alone ten years.

If it really took that long, his innate fetal poison would kill him even without their intervention.

"That's too long; it's definitely not possible. I don't have the time!" Zhang Xuan shook his head, refusing.

"Not possible?" Yuan Hong's face turned ashen, and his eyes narrowed.

As the dignified Vice Dean, it was his first time encountering a student who didn't know his place, one who, after making a mistake, dared to bargain with him!

You wrecked the entire record passage like this; don't you have any idea how much damage you've caused?

Letting you work part-time to pay off the debt could be considered being extremely benevolent and righteous, and you still refuse? Do you think you're in a position to bargain?

"How about this: I'll go over and see if it can be repaired. If it can, then I won't have to compensate, right?" Zhang Xuan asked after much deliberation.

"Repair it? You?" Yuan Hong stared at him as if he were a monster.

Are you out of your mind?

This Earth Flame Passage was forged through the combined efforts of a six-star peak Artifact Forger and a Heavenly Artificer. Even he would find it difficult to repair, yet this guy actually said he wanted to fix it?

Who do you think you are? Grandmaster Artifact Forger Wu Yangzi? That's incredibly overconfident!

"Hmm!" Zhang Xuan nodded, hesitating for a moment. "If I can't fix it... I can offer you guidance on artifact forging or cultivation as compensation!"

"Guidance for me? How presumptuous!" Yuan Hong exploded.

He was an elder of the Master Teacher Academy, the Vice Dean of the Artifact Forging Academy, a six-star high-tier Master Teacher, a respected figure who usually guided others and accepted them as disciples. Yet a new student brazenly said he would offer him guidance on artifact forging or cultivation?

Do you even know what you're saying?

"Was this guy's brain just burned out by the Earth Flame?"

"Giving guidance to Vice Dean Yuan... what exactly is he thinking?"

Luo Yan and the others' eyes widened even further; they couldn't believe their ears.

Dude, remember your place! You're just a new student. Do you think you're the Dean?

Directing Vice Dean Yuan around? How could he be so absurd?

"Ah... I meant, my teacher could offer you guidance on cultivation!" Zhang Xuan was momentarily stunned by the rebuke, then realized his mistake, flushing with embarrassment.

He had been impersonating 'Teacher Yang' so much that he sometimes got carried away when distracted.

He was just a new student; claiming to guide a six-star high-tier Master Teacher, it would be strange if the man didn't lose his temper. But saying his teacher would offer guidance was different.

"Your teacher?" Suppressing his anger, Yuan Hong looked over.

"My teacher, Yang Xuan, once gave guidance to Hall Master Mo Gaoyuan, and Elder Mi also holds him in great admiration!"

Zhang Xuan smiled and flipped his wrist. "This is the token Elder Mi gave me!"

"Elder Mi... Dean Mi of the Beast Tamer Academy?" Yuan Hong glanced at the token, his eyebrows twitching.

As the Vice Dean of the Artifact Forging Academy, he naturally recognized this token. It was Elder Mi's personal item, rarely given away.

Possessing this token was no different from Elder Mi personally being there.

Although both he and Elder Mi were six-star high-tier (peak) Master Teachers, there was a significant disparity between them in both status and strength.

Leaving aside other things, the fact that Elder Mi was rated as one of the Ten Great Master Teachers meant he was incomparable.

And... what did this guy just say?

This Yang Xuan even gave guidance to Mo Gaoyuan? Mo Gaoyuan was the Hall Master of the Master Teacher Hall, a major official whose status was on par with the Ten Great Elders, significantly higher than his own. Guiding such a person surely implied that... this Yang Xuan was at least a seven-star Master Teacher?

His expression instantly became solemn.

Moments ago, he had wanted to strangle this ignorant fellow, but now, he felt a hint of reverence.

"Dean of the Beast Tamer Academy? He's a Dean?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"You don't know?" Seeing that Zhang Xuan didn't even know Elder Mi's true identity, and yet Elder Mi had bestowed his private token upon him, it likely meant that what Zhang Xuan said was true, and he indeed had a formidable teacher.

Otherwise, why would a dignified member of the Ten Great Elders give a token to a new student? That defied all logic.

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had only learned that Elder Mi was one of the Ten Great Elders from other people's conversations. He had never heard that he was also the Dean of the Beast Tamer Academy, so he was naturally unaware.

"It doesn't matter if you don't know. Elder Mi and I have known each other for many years. With his token, you won't have to repay the debt through work-study. However, compensation is still unavoidable." Yuan Hong said after a moment of hesitation.

Regardless of whether what Zhang Xuan said was true or false, holding Elder Mi's token indicated they had a deep relationship. He would grant what convenience he could, but when it came to rules, even a great Master Teacher couldn't violate them.

"Damaging this structure was my fault. Could you let me try to repair it? If I can't... then I'll compensate?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Since you have Elder Mi's token, he must have great trust in you. I can give you this opportunity!"

Yuan Hong nodded.

If it could be repaired, that would be for the best. If not, this fellow would probably give up hope.

"Elder Mi's token?" "Who exactly is this guy?" "His teacher even guided Hall Master Mo? When did such an amazing individual appear among the new students?"

Listening to their conversation, the surroundings erupted in an uproar.

Li Xuan and Luo Yan exchanged glances, looking even more startled.

Moments ago, both of them had been quite stern with Zhang Xuan, assuming he was just a new student of no consequence. They had never dreamed he possessed such a profound background!

To be honest, if he had taken out Elder Mi's token earlier, even if he hadn't broken the record, they could have helped him obtain some credits and wouldn't have offended him!