Chapter 79: Apprenticeship Craze

Just as Teacher Zhang had said, missing an opportunity would mean taking much longer; falling behind by one step meant falling behind by many. He certainly didn't want to spend his life chasing after others.

Although he still harbored some doubts about what was said, with so many teachers present, he reasoned that Teacher Zhang wouldn't allow him to suffer another cultivation deviation.

"Excellent. You'll be grateful for this decision!"

Nodding, Zhang Xuan looked around, retrieved a box of silver needles, and then instructed: "Sit cross-legged and clear your mind. I will use silver needles to clear your acupoints, increasing the speed at which spiritual energy gathers. You only need to proceed steadily and break through to the Dantian realm!"

"Yes!" With his decision made, Zhao Yanfeng sat down cross-legged without much hesitation.

Zhang Xuan stepped forward, took out a silver needle, aimed it at one of Zhao Yanfeng's acupoints, and thrust it straight in, simultaneously channeling a surge of zhenqi into it.

He cultivated the Heaven's Path Divine Art, and the quality of his zhenqi was already like clear water. As soon as it entered the other person's body, the blockages in the acupoints were immediately cleared.

An ordinary person's acupoints are like small holes filled with mud, and turbid zhenqi is like murky water, making it almost impossible to flush them clean. Top-grade zhenqi, however, is like clear water. Acupoints that others might spend two years trying to clear were effortless for him.

As soon as the acupoints were opened, the surrounding spiritual energy immediately surged in with incredible force.

His hand moved like the wind, continuously inserting eight more silver needles into Zhao Yanfeng's body.

The nine silver needles opened nine acupoints on Zhao Yanfeng's body. Previously, the spiritual energy in his body was like a trickling stream; now, it instantly became a surging river. His body rumbled with a surging roar as several streams of spiritual energy poured into his Qi Sea.

Boom!

Zhao Yanfeng felt as if his head had instantly exploded. His previously dormant Dantian in his lower abdomen was suddenly burst open by the spiritual energy, becoming like a vast pool that continuously absorbed the converging spiritual energy.

"What...?"

Suddenly standing up, Zhao Yanfeng pressed his palm onto the nearby strength-testing pillar.

Boom!

150 kilograms!

Martial Artist Second Realm, Dantian Stage initial phase!

"I... I..."

Seeing the number displayed, Zhao Yanfeng was utterly stunned. Originally, it would have taken him at least half a year to successfully break through, yet now, with Teacher Zhang's help, he had succeeded instantly...

It seemed like less than half an hour had passed...

"Thank you, Teacher Zhang!"

Thud!

With no more doubts in his heart, Zhao Yanfeng immediately knelt before Zhang Xuan, repeatedly kowtowing.

At this moment, he confirmed from the bottom of his heart that the other person truly had his best interests at heart!

How could a teacher who could casually enable someone to break through possibly teach erroneous theories and cause him to suffer a cultivation deviation?

He had actually doubted and even insulted such a good teacher...

He was truly worse than a beast!

To be honest, he had been blind back then, leaving this teacher to study under Teacher Lu Xun. If he had the chance, he would definitely drop Lu Xun's class and come back...

"Did he really break through?"

"He made someone break through from Martial Artist First Realm in just over ten minutes..."

"Am I seeing things? Just a few needles were enough? How did he do it?"

While Zhao Yanfeng's heart was filled with conflicting emotions and regret, Patriarch Wang Hong, Elder Mo, and the others, witnessing this scene, were utterly dumbfounded, almost losing their minds.

Originally, they hadn't taken Zhang Xuan's bold declaration seriously, believing it was impossible to succeed. But seeing it with their own eyes, the powerful visual impact almost brought them to tears.

Looking at him again, their eyes were all filled with fervent admiration.

Back when they broke through the First Realm, they struggled desperately. But for him, it was as easy as eating and drinking...

Why didn't they meet Teacher Zhang back then...?

"Teacher Zhang, please accept me as your student..."

Wang Yan, who had come with Wang Tao and the others, stepped forward and immediately knelt down.

He too had previously thought Teacher Lu Xun was superior and had been dismissive of his patriarch's and grandfather's actions. But seeing Teacher Zhang enable Zhao Yanfeng to break through in just over ten minutes, he could no longer resist the temptation.

"Hm?" Zhang Xuan blinked.

"I know Yan'er's talent is ordinary, but please don't decline, Teacher Zhang!" The Second Elder of the Wang family stepped forward, smiling broadly: "As long as Teacher Zhang accepts him, I can also become your student. Accepting a student at the Acupoint Opening realm will ensure Teacher Zhang's fame skyrockets, and no one will dare question you anymore!"

"Second Elder, have you no shame? Still thinking of 'buy one, get one free'? Truly shameless!" The First Elder flicked his sleeve and looked over respectfully: "Teacher Zhang, please ignore them. The Second Elder has always been unruly! *Cough, cough*, look at me, I am already at the peak of the Acupoint Opening realm, and I also wish to acknowledge you as my teacher. If you feel my identity as an Elder of the Wang family is inconvenient, I can resign..."

"What's there to argue about?" Patriarch Wang Hong interjected righteously. "You old geezers are old enough to be someone's grandfather, yet you still insist on becoming his student? Aren't you ashamed?"

Scolded by the patriarch, both their faces reddened.

Indeed, their age was considerable, and their bone structure had long since set. It would indeed not be easy for them to break through.

Wang Tao and Wang Yan, meanwhile, looked over with expressions of adoration.

See? The patriarch still possessed composure and boldness, discerning the problem at a glance.

However, before their admiration could fully settle, they saw Patriarch Wang Hong turn his face, full of smiles, towards Zhang Xuan: "Teacher Zhang, you see, I'm still young; I'm only forty-two this year. Can I also become your student...?"

"..." Zhang Xuan.

"..." Everyone else.

"Ahem, let's discuss becoming a student later!" Finally, Zhang Xuan interrupted the chaotic scene before him and looked at Zhao Yanfeng again: "Do you still believe I can't teach, and that I'd cause you a cultivation deviation?"

"It's all thanks to Teacher's guidance! I was ungrateful; please forgive me, Teacher Zhang!"

Zhao Yanfeng quickly bowed down to the ground.

"Mm!" Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction and looked at Elder Shang Chen on the side again: "Elder Shang, do you have anything more to say now?"

"I..."

Elder Shang Chen's face was ashen.

The matter of the teacher assessment couldn't be explained away. As for the cultivation deviation incident, even Zhao Yanfeng himself believed Teacher Zhang was helping him cultivate. What more excuses could he possibly have?

It was equivalent to being slapped in the face again! And the kind that made his face swell!

"Impossible... this is impossible. How could he just casually make someone break through..."

Cao Xiong, standing to the side, looked like an idiot, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

This Teacher Zhang had entered the academy with him, and it had always been he who was more outstanding. When did he become so formidable?

Moreover, making someone casually break through—even the academy's elders or dean couldn't do that, could they? How did he do it?

"Teacher Cao Xiong has wantonly slandered a colleague and corrupted teaching ethics," Elder Mo declared. "I will now report you to the Teachers' Guild to revoke your teaching qualifications! At the same time, immediately execute one hundred divine slaying rods!"

With the dust settled, Elder Mo waved his hand.

"Yes!" Cao Xiong gritted his teeth.

Although he didn't want to admit it, he knew the outcome was already decided.

"Shang Bin, as a teacher, you deliberately framed someone for personal gain. You are now suspended pending investigation!" After dealing with Cao Xiong, Elder Mo looked over. "As for Shang Chen, as an Elder and Director of the Academic Affairs Office, not only did you fail to consider the teacher's well-being, but you deliberately made things difficult and even altered teacher assessment results. You are hereby dismissed from your positions as Elder and Director of the Academic Affairs Office, reported to the Guild, and await your punishment!"