Chapter 759: I Am Not Yet a Refining Master

"What happened?"

"Did you see? That kid cheated when he entered the Earth Flame passage! Not only did he damage the passage, but he also intentionally drew in the Earth Flame, blowing up the entire recording passage!"

"Is this guy crazy, or does he have a death wish?"

"I don't know either. In any case, it's none of our business. Let's just enjoy the show..."

The collapse of the branch hall caused such a massive commotion that it quickly alarmed many people. Master Teachers gathered in front of the ruins, each asking around, eager to know what had happened.

When they learned it was a newcomer who had caused such a big mess, they were all filled with sympathy.

This isn't how you court death!

This was the Master Teacher Academy, not some small, provincial place. To cause such a scene and be personally caught by Vice Principal Yuan Hong, who even intended to report it to the Principal... It was safe to say, he was completely finished! Even if he worked here for the rest of his life, he wouldn't be able to afford the compensation!

"Behave yourself!"

Staring coldly at the young man in front of him, Luo Yan's gaze was like lightning. Aware of his teacher's anger, he had dispatched eight masters to surround the guy. If it weren't for fear of negative repercussions, he would have long since given him a good beating! A newly arrived freshman, instead of staying quietly in the freshman area, had to come here and cause trouble. He was simply asking for death!

"I didn't mean anything else. I just wanted to go over and see if the other mechanisms within the passage could be repaired!" Zhang Xuan couldn't help but say, seeing that the other party was guarding him like a thief.

He was also full of apologies for the situation. He had truly only intended to take the five-star artificer examination this time, with no intention of causing trouble. This outcome was completely unforeseen. Who would have thought that such a rare treasure as the Earth Core Crimson Rock would be so fragile during cultivation? It collapsed just as his soul body broke through ten meters? Even more unexpectedly, the formation plate of the esteemed Artificer Guild, used to channel Earth Flame, was actually forged from cheap materials...

However, it was useless to say any of this now. The immediate priority was to see if there was any way to remedy the situation. Otherwise, if he really had to compensate over three thousand high-grade spirit stones, wouldn't he be worked to death?

"Repair? If you dare to say one more word, do you believe I can kill you in minutes?" Hearing this guy's unrepentant attitude and constant insistence on repairing it, Luo Yan nearly exploded with rage. His anger flared instantly, and he roared. "What the hell! If it weren't for your 'repair,' how could this place have ended up like this? If you don't have the ability, why pretend you do?"

"I really can repair it. What happened just now... was just an accident!" Zhang Xuan explained, "If you don't believe me, give me a better quality formation plate to channel the Earth Flame, and I'll repair the Earth Flame passage for you again..."

"You... are courting death!"

Seeing that this guy was still going on, Luo Yan let out an angry snort. His body swayed, and his aura surged like a dragon as he struck at this arrogant fellow.

Whoosh!

He was a peak five-star artificer, with a cultivation level at Transcendent Mortal 8-dan, Stepping on Air realm. With a single move, his power was immense; his True Qi gathered into a cloud, and the force seemed to rip through the air.

"Stop!"

Just as the palm was about to reach Zhang Xuan, encompassing him, a loud shout rang out. A figure flew over like lightning and, with a gentle grab, the condensed True Qi immediately dissipated into thin air.

Luo Yan's face flushed, and he couldn't help but stumble back several steps, his blood and Qi churning.

"Teacher..."

Recognizing the figure who had stopped him, Luo Yan was stunned. It was none other than his own teacher, who moments ago had wanted to strangle the guy. Wasn't his teacher furious with this guy? Why would he intervene when he was disciplining him? As he was puzzling over it and about to ask for clarification, he saw his teacher, who had just been fuming, suddenly turn around and look at the young man nearby with a beaming smile: "Are you... alright? Are you injured? Do you want me to teach this reckless fellow a lesson for you... to vent your anger?"

"Huh?" Luo Yan's body swayed, and he nearly went insane. "What's going on? Is this guy really his teacher? The dignified Vice Principal of the Artificer Academy? Didn't you want to strangle this guy just now? How did your attitude change so quickly..."

"Didn't you say Vice Principal Yuan was very angry?"

"The entire branch has been reduced to this state. Anyone would be angry, right? But this attitude doesn't seem like anger at all..."

"Not just not angry, I feel like he's trying to curry favor with this freshman?"

"Curry favor? That's an exaggeration! Vice Principal Yuan is a six-star high-tier Master Teacher and a peak six-star artificer. Is there anyone in the entire academy he needs to curry favor with?"

Not only was he going crazy, but everyone watching from the side, who had thought this freshman was doomed, was also dumbfounded. This guy ruined the branch to this extent. Shouldn't he be properly disciplined to understand the gravity of his actions? Why the beaming smile and the talk of disciplining Luo Yan? What's going on? This attitude, this smile... It feels as if he's trying to curry favor with this guy!

"Vent my anger... No need, I'm fine!"

Not only were the onlookers bewildered, but even Zhang Xuan himself was completely baffled. Weren't they going to report him to the Principal and deal with him severely? Why the sudden change in attitude?

"That's good to hear!" Sighing in relief, Yuan Hong turned to Luo Yan, who was nearby: "Aren't you going to apologize to Master Zhang?!"

He had rushed back immediately after leaving the Principal's office, afraid that something might go wrong. He didn't expect it actually would. Putting everything else aside, if that slap had actually landed on Zhang Xuan, this genius would surely have no good feelings left for the Artificer Academy. How could they possibly keep him then? The Principal intends to take him as a disciple. If Luo Yan were to drive him away with a slap, how would he explain it to the Principal? "What a good-for-nothing student!"

"Apologize? Me..." Luo Yan was exasperated, "Teacher, why should I apologize? He damaged the main hall, the recording passage..."

"Enough!" Before he could finish, Yuan Hong cut him off, waved his hand, and said with a furious expression, "Get down there and go into confinement for self-reflection! You are not allowed to leave until I say so! I told you to apologize, so apologize! Why all this nonsense? Are you not going to stop until you've ruined me?"

"Teacher..." Hearing that he was inexplicably punished with confinement for self-reflection, Luo Yan went crazy. The others around him also exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what on earth this Vice Principal was up to.

"You few, escort him away! Don't let him embarrass himself here!" Ignoring Luo Yan, Yuan Hong gave the order, then turned back to Zhang Xuan: "Master Zhang, weren't you here to take the five-star artificer examination? I'll take you to the Sea of Tools now!"

"Go to the Sea of Tools? But... I don't have any credits..." Zhang Xuan was also startled. "What's wrong with this guy? Disciplining Luo Yan was one thing, but now he wants to take me to the Sea of Tools? Isn't it true that one can't enter the Sea of Tools without credits?"

"No credits? Oh, that's not a problem! Luo Yan, don't leave just yet. Hand over your credit card and give two to Master Zhang..." Yuan Hong turned his head and said.

"I..." Luo Yan swayed, almost in tears. "Why? This guy made such a mess here; it's already good enough that he's not being punished. Why should he be given credits? And why should *I* be the one to give them?"

"Less nonsense, hurry up!" Yuan Hong raised an eyebrow.

"Yes!" Seeing his teacher's anger, Luo Yan didn't dare to resist and meekly handed over his credit card.

Credits could be traded or transferred between students. Zhang Xuan didn't even have a student ID yet, so naturally, he didn't have a credit card. However, this was no challenge for a dignified Vice Principal. With a flick of his wrist, Yuan Hong produced a blank card and transferred two credits from Luo Yan's credit card to it.

"Alright, Master Zhang, you have the credits now. Let's go!" After doing all this, Yuan Hong smiled and continued.

Zhang Xuan blinked, pointing to the ruins scattered everywhere: "This... I don't have to compensate for this?"

"This isn't your fault, so naturally, you don't need to compensate. I'll have people come and repair it..." Yuan Hong nodded.

"This... alright then!" Although he didn't know why the other party's attitude had suddenly changed so drastically, Zhang Xuan immediately felt relieved when he heard he didn't have to pay compensation. With a value of over three thousand high-grade spirit stones, he truly couldn't afford it. It was best if he didn't have to pay.

"This..."

"Is that really Vice Principal Yuan?"

"What on earth is going on?"

"What happened? Just now, the Vice Principal was vowing to strike him dead, but how did his attitude change so completely in an instant?" Witnessing this scene, the numerous Master Teachers all blinked wildly, on the verge of going crazy. This was the main hall of the Artificer Branch! This guy had turned it into such a mess, yet there was no blame, only such an attitude. What on earth had happened? This is highly unusual!

Especially among the crowd, Li Xuan, who witnessed this scene, trembled violently, almost fainting. She had been the one to receive this guy from the moment he arrived. Not only did he know nothing, but he was also incredibly reckless... Someone like that wouldn't be favored by Vice Principal Yuan and would surely be severely disciplined. What was this behavior all about...?

After thinking for a long time, Zhang Xuan still couldn't figure out why the person in front of him had undergone such a drastic change in attitude. He could only attribute it to Elder Mi and Hall Master Mo. With a helpless expression, he followed behind Yuan Hong towards the still-intact half of the hall.

Before long, they arrived in front of a wide doorway.

"Master Zhang, this is the Sea of Tools. If you want to take the five-star artificer examination, you just need to place your credit card and your four-star emblem on the stone platform in front of the door. This will open the gate, and you can enter the corresponding assessment area!" Yuan Hong smiled and pointed forward.

The Sea of Tools, like the previous recording passage, was also forged from countless mechanisms and special materials. To take the examination for a specific rank, one needed sufficient credits and the emblem of the previous rank. With both of these, one could open the passage, enter the corresponding checkpoint, and undergo the assessment, making it very convenient.

"I need a rank emblem too?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

"That's right, Master Zhang. Since you're specifically here to take the five-star artificer examination, I presume you've already obtained your four-star emblem? Don't worry, any emblem issued by an Artificer Guild can be used here, no need to be concerned!" Yuan Hong smiled and explained, thinking that Zhang Xuan was worried about emblems issued by other guilds not being usable.

"Um..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head, a bit embarrassed: "Do I have to use an emblem? What if I don't have one?"

"No emblem?" Yuan Hong was surprised: "What do you mean?"

"It's just... I'm not an artificer yet. I've never taken an examination before..." Zhang Xuan looked a bit embarrassed.