Chapter 848: Ziyang Acknowledges the Master

The Old Dean once told it that among Master Teachers, the most formidable kind is called a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher. When their state of mind operates, they gain the recognition of heaven and earth, instinctively making people feel an urge to become their disciple. Historically, only Master Confucius achieved this, and the person before it now…

"Exactly!"

Zhang Xuan nodded. "Do you think a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher could be a member of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe?"

"Certainly not..." The Ziyang Beast's enormous head immediately shook.

A Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher is recognized by the heavens themselves, just like Master Confucius. How could they be from the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe? The two are worlds apart, not even the same type of life form.

"Heaven and earth acknowledge me, yet when you saw me, you showed no respect and even attacked me... Did you have heaven and earth in your eyes? Did you have Master Confucius in your heart?"

Seeing it admit its identity, Zhang Xuan's expression darkened. To make the other party submit, he naturally couldn't admit his own mistake. He had to put the blame on them first. Besides, that creature truly was the first to strike. If not for his own capabilities, he might have perished then and there.

"I..." The Ziyang Beast's face flushed crimson. At the time, it thought the other party was merely a new student, arrogant and needing to be taught a lesson about the immensity of the world. It never dreamed... that he was actually a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher!

What kind of concept was that? Historically, only Master Confucius achieved this, not even his 72 Sages did... This showed how terrifying it was! In other words, it had attacked a Master Teacher whose status was a hundred times more noble than that of the Old Dean... It would be strange if he *didn't* teach it a lesson! Not being killed on the spot and dried into jerky was already showing great leniency!

Although the other party's cultivation was not high enough yet, with such status, let alone killing it, even if he destroyed the entire Master Teacher Academy and reported it to the Master Teacher Pavilion, no one would dare to hold him accountable. A Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher was already equal to Master Confucius. As long as one was a Master Teacher, who would dare to object?

"You were disrespectful to me, so I imprisoned you to teach you a lesson. Do you have any complaints?" Seeing the fear in its heart, Zhang Xuan pressed on while the iron was hot.

"None..." The enormous head nodded, and the Ziyang Beast quickly replied.

A Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher was the hope for the continued rise of Master Teachers. Let alone it, even the Old Dean wouldn't dare utter a word of complaint. This was both an ability and a privilege!

"Good that you don't. Since the misunderstanding has been resolved, I now give you two paths: First, acknowledge me as your master, and I will help you heal your injuries and find a way for you to achieve a breakthrough! Second, since you know my identity, to prevent its disclosure... I will have to kill you!" Zhang Xuan stated.

The identity of a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher could not be easily revealed. It would be fine if humanity knew, but once it reached the ears of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, he would certainly become a target for assassination. It was precisely for this reason that he had never made it public. He didn't even dare tell other Master Teachers, and everyone who knew was sworn to secrecy.

"This..." The Ziyang Beast's face twisted, like a bitter gourd. After a moment of hesitation, it clenched its teeth, revealing a resolute expression: "I am willing to acknowledge Master Zhang as my master!"

This choice wasn't out of fear, but because... since the person before it was a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher, his future achievements were bound to be limitless. Perhaps... he could avenge the Old Dean!

"Since you acknowledge me as your master, I also promise you here that once my strength is sufficient, I will definitely investigate the true cause of the Old Dean's death and avenge him!" Zhang Xuan said, as if seeing through its thoughts.

"Thank you... Master!" Hearing the other party agree before it even spoke, the Ziyang Beast's eyes reddened, and it prostrated itself. Immediately after, a drop of blood flew from its forehead and landed between Zhang Xuan's eyebrows. It was a Saint Beast acknowledging its master!

"Rise!"

Having resolved a hidden danger, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. He placed a hand on its body, and a surge of pure *zhenqi* flowed into its meridians. Before long, the heavy injuries on the latter's body were completely healed.

"This..." The Ziyang Beast's eyes widened. As a Saint Domain expert, it could clearly sense the peculiarity of the other party's *zhenqi*. Not only was it pure, but it also carried a majestic grandeur, giving a sense of loftiness and unattainability. It was like a deity looking down on all living beings.

"Could it be... this is a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher?" Fear rose in its heart.

"You must be wondering why these puppets, and the will that struck you down, were from the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe..." Unaware of the change in its mindset, Zhang Xuan recounted the matter of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe puppets and the Ruthless One. This Ziyang Beast was loyal to humanity, so there was nothing to hide. Besides, although these puppets were from the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, they now obeyed his commands and would not commit further evil. Keeping them by his side was not an issue.

"So that's how it is..." After hearing the full account, the Ziyang Beast's admiration grew even stronger. If not for the person before it, once that heart fully revived, all of humanity would likely suffer! Subduing it, while seemingly keeping members of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, was in fact equivalent to averting a disaster for humanity... his merit was immeasurable! If he were to use this merit to exchange for treasures at the Master Teacher Pavilion, even Saint artifacts could easily be granted.

"Submit to me, and as your master, I will not treat you unfairly. Here is an inner core from a Hongyuan Beast. Once refined, it should allow you to break through your current limitations and reach a higher realm!" With a flick of his wrist, Zhang Xuan threw over the Hongyuan Beast's inner core that he had obtained from Cloudy Mist Ridge. The Ziyang Beast was an ape-type Saint Beast, and so was the Hongyuan Beast. They had commonalities, so it should be able to refine it easily and thus increase its cultivation.

"Thank you, Master!" Clutching the inner core in its hand, and feeling the surging power within it, the Ziyang Beast's eyes reddened with excitement. Its master's guess was correct; this inner core would be of immense use to it. If properly utilized, breaking through to Saint Domain 2-dan would be effortless.

"Alright, it's quiet here, and no outsiders will disturb you. Go ahead and cultivate!" Seeing the eager glint in its eyes, Zhang Xuan knew it wanted to refine the inner core and increase its strength. He immediately said no more, stepped out of the formation, and returned to the courtyard.

The Ziyang Beast matter was resolved, putting an end to a concern. With the Old Dean's Saint Beast as his backing, the Master Teacher Academy would likely not dare to do anything to him in the future.

"Young Master, Miss Luo has arrived and is waiting in the living room!" Stretching lazily, just as he stepped out of the courtyard, Sun Qiang came to greet him.

"She's here?" His eyes lit up. Without hesitation, Zhang Xuan hurried towards the living room.

Although he had only met Luo Ruoxi three times so far, for some reason, he had a special feeling in his heart that no other woman he had met had ever given him. As for beauty, he had met many stunning women: Zhao Ya, Wang Ying, Shen Biru, Mo Yu, Zhao Feiwu, Luo Qiqi, Yu Fei'er, Hu Yaoyao... While slightly inferior to Luo Ruoxi, they were all of breathtaking beauty, capable of toppling kingdoms. Yet, for these women, he only felt ordinary teacher-student or friendly affection; nothing else stirred within him. He couldn't even explain what was going on himself. In any case, the thought of being able to spend time with her filled him with a faint sense of anticipation.

He hurried into the living room and indeed saw a figure in white standing in the spacious room. She appeared slender, yet she seemed to encompass all beauty, making it difficult to look away once one's eyes fell upon her.

"Master Luo!" With a gentle smile, Zhang Xuan walked up to her.

"Master Zhang!" Turning her head, Luo Ruoxi smiled softly, and it was as if a hundred flowers bloomed in the room.

"I came to find you because there's something I need your help with!" They took their seats as host and guest and chatted for a while.

"What do you need, Master Luo? Please don't hesitate to say. As long as it's something I can do, I will certainly not refuse!" Zhang Xuan said. She had saved him before; this debt of gratitude alone made it impossible to refuse.

"Master Zhang, you're too polite. This matter is something only you can do, because you possess the Eye of Discernment, and... if I'm not mistaken, you are also a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher, aren't you?"

"You..." Zhang Xuan was stunned, his eyes wide. He was a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher, a fact he had always concealed. Even a 7-star Master Teacher like Master Mu couldn't discern it, yet this person before him saw it at a glance... Was it real or fake? Currently, the only one capable of doing this was the Ruthless One. The Ruthless One was a super-powerful individual who had seen Master Confucius and even fought with him. It was normal for him to have keen insight. But how could this Master Luo, who was only a 6-star Master Teacher, possibly see it?

Noticing his shock, Luo Ruoxi smiled. "I already knew back then, in the Qingji Mountain Range. I just felt we didn't have much interaction, so I didn't say anything!" Recalling his silly appearance in the Qingji Mountains, she felt like laughing. From childhood to adulthood, she had met countless geniuses, but it was her first time seeing one so foolish.

"Alright..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head. Being a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher wasn't something shameful, he was just afraid of it spreading to the ears of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe. Since she had known all along but kept silent, it meant she was trustworthy.

"What is it that you need my help with?" Suppressing the questions in his heart, Zhang Xuan looked at her. He couldn't discern her strength, but she could easily see that he was a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher. Her insight, or whatever it was, was no weaker than Master Mu's! What kind of matter would require help from such a powerful person?

"To the Platform of Conferred Sainthood!"

"The Platform of Conferred Sainthood?" Zhang Xuan frowned. He had never even heard of this place.

"It's said to be where Master Confucius was conferred sainthood back then. I want to go see for myself and, while we're there, verify an idea!" Luo Ruoxi's brows furrowed in a serious expression.

"The place where Master Confucius was conferred sainthood?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

"That's right. It's said that Master Confucius's breakthrough to the Saint Domain was different from regular cultivators. He was a saint acknowledged by heaven and earth, which is what 'conferred sainthood' refers to. That place isn't some ancient ruin; it's a popular tourist destination, where countless Master Teachers pilgrimage annually."

"A tourist destination? If that's the case, what use would I be there?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback. Since it was a popular tourist destination, countless people must have visited it. Even the most formidable ruins would have been studied countless times. Even if he went, it probably wouldn't be of much use!

"You are a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher, and Master Confucius was too. Plus, you have comprehended the Eye of Discernment, so perhaps you can see something different..." Luo Ruoxi nodded. "Furthermore, Master Confucius's own handwriting is preserved there. Going to see it would be greatly beneficial to cultivators!"

"This..." Zhang Xuan hesitated. "How far is this Platform of Conferred Sainthood you're talking about from here?" If it was too far, given his current speed, it would be truly difficult to reach.

"It's not far, actually. If we take your Purplewing Skystrong Beast, the round trip would only be about six or seven days!" Luo Ruoxi smiled.