Chapter 755: Finding the Dean

Whoosh!

Dust billowed, and smoke swirled. The master teachers who had been watching were sent flying backward, like gourds tumbling across the ground.

Bang, bang, bang, bang! A series of crashing sounds followed as dozens of master teachers slammed hard against the walls, looking utterly disheveled.

Hastily steadying himself, Zhang Xuan looked forward and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Not only had the record channel completely collapsed, but half of the grand hall of the Artifact Forgers' Guild had also caved in. Smoke curled upwards from the rubble, making it look as if a bomb had struck.

If collapsing the Earth Flame Passage before was enough to drive people crazy, this was ten times worse!

The passage, countless mechanisms, formations, and half of the great hall were all completely ruined. Even if they could be repaired, the Artifact Forgers' College would become the laughingstock of the entire Master Teachers' Academy.

To challenge a record and end up with the entire guild branch in such a state—it was probably unprecedented!

Although many master teachers were not weak and were protected by their Zhenqi, sustaining no significant injuries, a single Earth Flame Passage was worth 20 high-grade spirit stones. How much greater was the current loss?

With his mouth twitching, Zhang Xuan felt dizzy and on the verge of tears.

His method of refining Earth Flame to replace Geocentric Flux Stone, which maintained the formation's stability and balance, was intrinsically flawless.

Logically, it should have been no different from before. This situation wasn't due to an error, but rather because the Azure Leap Stone and Kiln-Raising Crystal, though precious, couldn't withstand extreme heat.

They could endure the normal temperature of Geocentric Flux Stone. However, if a Saint Realm expert entered and the formation accelerated, generating even higher temperatures, they would naturally melt.

It was like an overloaded car in his previous life.

Operating at its normal load would extend its lifespan, even if it eventually broke down. But carrying too much weight would require more power than it was designed for, leading to easy damage.

If the formation plate used to draw the Earth Flame had been made of better materials, higher temperatures wouldn't have been an issue. But now, as soon as it began to melt, the hard-won stability would be lost, unleashing the furious Earth Flame, coupled with the energy boost... leading to the current situation: instant collapse!

In other words...

If it hadn't been Yuan Hong who rushed in, but him, Luo Yan, or anyone else, this situation would never have occurred!

This meant that Yuan Hong's strength was too great, while the formation plate used to draw the Earth Flame was too weak... which led to the accident.

This was something he had completely failed to anticipate!

Not just him, but even the senior who created this method likely never imagined that such intricate and complex linked formations would be constructed from such inferior materials.

"You really can't blame me..."

Tears streamed down Zhang Xuan's face, his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

He might think that, but others didn't. Luo Yan and the others, who had just stood up, gazed at the ruins before them and at Zhang Xuan nearby, their eyes filled with murderous intent, as if they wanted to devour him.

This was the foundation of their Artifact Forgers' College. With it in such a state, how could they forge artifacts in the future? How could they face other colleges with their heads held high?

"What exactly did you do...?"

Gritting his teeth, Luo Yan longed to strike the man down right there, but he restrained himself. He turned and instructed, "You two, watch him; don't let him escape. The rest of you, follow me and rescue the Elder..."

Now wasn't the time to deal with this fellow; the Elder was paramount.

"Yes!"

Hearing his command, two master teachers stepped forward, blocking Zhang Xuan from left and right, fearing he might escape.

The others then rushed towards the ruins.

This explosion had reduced the entire record channel and even the guild hall to ruins. Vice Principal Yuan, trapped at the center, had borne the brunt of it and was surely in worse condition than them.

However, before they reached the rubble, they heard a "Whoosh!" and a figure emerged from the dust. It was Yuan Hong.

Vice Principal Yuan's hair was largely singed, his face was ashen, like the bottom of a pot, and his eyes gleamed with fury, as if he were on the verge of madness.

"Cough, cough!"

As soon as he stepped out of the dust, he couldn't help but cough, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His body swayed involuntarily, seemingly unable to stand steadily.

"Elder..."

"Vice Principal Yuan..."

Everyone gathered around him, each filled with concern.

This was a six-star high-grade master teacher, a true Saint Realm expert. What kind of severe injuries would it take to leave him in such a state?

"I'm fine!"

Waving his hand, Yuan Hong's eyes flashed with fierce light. "Where is that guy?"

If he hadn't urgently suppressed it with all his might just now, not only half of the guild, but probably most of the entire Artifact Forgers' College would have turned into ruins!

Didn't you solemnly guarantee that nothing would happen?

Weren't you full of confidence?

What kind of situation is this?!

How could I have been so foolish as to listen to you...

The more he thought, the angrier he became. Yuan Hong's rage surged, wishing he could just crush that fellow to death.

"He's over there..."

Luo Yan pointed, and Yuan Hong turned to see the young man approaching, "escorted" by two master teachers.

"Who exactly are you? What are you doing here?"

Yuan Hong couldn't help but roar.

He now suspected this guy might be from another college, specifically sent to cause trouble.

Otherwise, how could a simple challenge create such a huge commotion? Such a massive mess?

"I just wanted to take the five-star artifact forger exam..."

Zhang Xuan lowered his head.

His intention was genuinely simple: to come and take the five-star artifact forger exam. Unexpectedly, he couldn't take it without academic credits, so he had no choice but to earn some. He thought it would be incredibly easy, but who would have imagined that instead of earning credits, he'd caused all this!

"Take the five-star artifact forger exam? Is that what you call an exam? You're here to deliberately demolish our college!"

Yuan Hong ground his teeth loudly.

When others come to be examined, we earn credits, earn money. But you... you're trying to take my life!

If his cultivation hadn't been higher and his reaction speed faster, he might have died inside!

Have you ever seen anyone take an exam and turn a guild hall into this?!

"I... I really didn't mean to. How about this, I'm willing to compensate..." Zhang Xuan's face flushed.

Although this outcome wasn't his intention, he bore significant responsibility. His only recourse now was reluctant compensation.

"Compensate? With what? Can you even afford it?"

Yuan Hong laughed in extreme anger.

The record channel and the grand building contained the painstaking efforts of countless predecessors. And you just say "compensate"? With your assets, you can't even produce ten high-grade spirit stones. Can you afford to compensate?

Even if we sold you, it wouldn't be enough!

"Just tell me... how many spirit stones are needed for compensation. I will work hard to earn money and find a way to pay you back..." Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth.

Even if it meant working more odd jobs in the future, or having Master Yang come out to treat patients and offer guidance, he couldn't be in debt.

Although this incident wasn't entirely his fault, he was largely connected to the current situation and could only grit his teeth and endure.

"Earn money?"

Yuan Hong scoffed.

You certainly are optimistic!

As merely a four-star master teacher, can you earn enough in a lifetime to compensate?

"Do you even know the extent of the damage?"

Yuan Hong's gaze was like lightning as he pressed on, "The channel had a total of thirty-seven records and thirty-seven mechanisms. Each one contained the painstaking efforts of countless predecessors, as well as countless rare treasures and ores that simply cannot be bought with money! Add to that half of the guild branch—altogether, three thousand high-grade spirit stones wouldn't be enough. And you talk about compensation? I ask you: how will you earn that money, and how will you compensate?"

Artifact forging is a profession built upon countless treasures. Every part of this place consumed an unimaginable amount of rare items.

Now, with it in this state, relying on earning money to compensate... not to mention you, even a seven-star low-grade master teacher would find it difficult!

"Over three thousand high-grade spirit stones?"

Zhang Xuan's body swayed.

He only had one high-grade spirit stone in total, and his entire net worth wouldn't exceed ten. Three thousand... that was simply impossible for him to produce!

Even if he disguised himself as Master Yang and went out to earn money, he certainly couldn't earn that much in a short time!

"What mechanisms are here? How about... I help you repair them one by one?" With a long face, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but suggest.

He definitely couldn't afford to compensate. If he could repair it and restore it to its original state, that would certainly be best.

"You..."

It would have been better if he hadn't heard that. Hearing it, Yuan Hong almost died of anger.

Just moments ago, this guy had sworn he could repair it. And what was the result?

From only one Earth Flame Passage collapsing, it became half of the guild branch collapsing!

Because of your "repairs," the loss escalated from ten high-grade spirit stones to three thousand, increasing by three hundredfold! He thought Zhang Xuan had understood his predicament, but instead, he was still ignorantly spouting nonsense...

Repair? Don't even talk about repairing!

If I let you keep repairing, I'm afraid not just this branch, but the entire Artifact Forgers' College, and even the Master Teachers' Academy, will be ruined by you! You'll literally play us to death!

Moreover, these passages aren't things an artifact forger can complete alone. They require countless Heavenly Craftmasters to cooperate. So what if you're proficient in artifact forging?

Without Heavenly Crafting skills, it's all nonsense!

"If Heavenly Crafting skills are needed, I can go take the Heavenly Craftmaster exam first..." Zhang Xuan quickly said, as if he had read Yuan Hong's thoughts.

"..." Yuan Hong swayed again.

The more you talk, the more you boast, don't you?

Take the Heavenly Craftmaster exam first? Do you think that profession is as common as cabbage? That you can just take the exam whenever you want?

"Keep a close eye on this kid..."

His face flushed with anger, Yuan Hong felt that continuing to talk to Zhang Xuan would literally kill him. He waved his hand, giving instructions.

"Yes!"

Luo Yan and the others quickly nodded, keeping their eyes glued on Zhang Xuan.

"I'm going to find the principal now to see how he resolves this matter. In the meantime, under no circumstances must you let him escape..."

Yuan Hong stated.

The current situation was beyond his scope of handling; it had to be reported.

At that point, whether this fellow was to be executed, severely punished, or otherwise dealt with, let the principal worry about it!

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison.

"Vice Principal Yuan, the principal asked me to find you. He wants you to go to his office as soon as possible."

Just as Yuan Hong finished his instructions and was about to leave for the principal's office, a master teacher hurried over.

"To his office? Why would he be looking for me at this moment?"

Yuan Hong was startled. "Could it be... he already knows about what happened here?"

Although the commotion here was immense, the Artifact Forgers' College was vast, and the principal's office was extremely far away. He shouldn't have received news yet, so why would he come looking for him in advance?