Chapter 861: Who Is Your Teacher?

"That's right, the reason I haven't contacted you all these days is that I've reached a critical point in my breakthrough and couldn't be distracted!"

The Violet-Sun Beast said, "If it weren't for my master, I would still be at the peak of Saint 1-dan, with no possibility of breaking through!"

What it said was the truth.

During this time, besides being beaten, it was confined within the Myriad Ants' Nest, unable to even stretch its body. This intense anger was also the foundation for its successful breakthrough.

The Ethereal Soul realm is related to one's soul and state of mind. These days of dark humiliation had made its spirit even more resilient.

Without this experience, even with the inner core of the Great Ape Beast, whether it could have broken through would have been uncertain.

Everyone was speechless.

It's common for cultivators to seclude themselves for months or even years; the other party had only been in seclusion for half a month, which wasn't a long time.

"Senior Violet-Sun Beast was once the old principal's spirit beast. How much it contributed to the academy, I don't need to say, I'm sure everyone knows. Master Zhang painstakingly devoted himself to helping it break through... and yet you slandered him as an Otherworldly Demon! Lu Feng, if you can't explain yourself today, you definitely won't escape this charge of slander. Even if it goes all the way to the Qingyuan Empire, I will see it through!"

Raising an eyebrow, Zhao Bingxu was the first to challenge.

You claimed Master Zhang beat the Violet-Sun Beast and was an Otherworldly Demon. Now the supposed victim has come forward to refute it... What else do you have to say?

His face contorted, Lu Feng's body trembled, veins bulged on his forehead, and he felt so frustrated he could almost vomit blood.

He had thought that with this information, he would be absolutely certain to make Zhang Xuan's life a living hell, unable to live or die. He never dreamed there would be such a reversal...

Dong Xin, standing nearby, also trembled violently and was about to faint.

She had personally seen him direct his subordinates to mercilessly beat the Violet-Sun Beast. How could it, in the blink of an eye, become him helping it break through?

Is there a breakthrough that involves such reckless, life-threatening beating?

"No, could it be..."

Suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind.

Thinking of this, she quickly clasped her fists and said, "Master Mu, Senior Golden Origin Cauldron, Elders, I have an idea that I'm not sure if I should speak of!"

"Today is only about clarifying the truth; feel free to speak your mind!"

Master Mu nodded.

"I personally saw Zhang Xuan send people to beat Senior Violet-Sun Beast, but now the senior is speaking up for him... Could it be that it was threatened in some way, or has some unspeakable secret? Or perhaps the purpose of the beating was to make it submit?"

Dong Xin stated.

It had been beaten half to death just a few days ago, and now it not only had no hostility but had also acknowledged a master. No one would find that believable.

Such a rapid change, besides genuine submission, there's another possibility... insincerity!

"Are you suggesting coercion?" Master Mu frowned.

Many elders were also startled.

Such situations were not unheard of.

If it truly was coercion, and the words were not sincere, it would be difficult for them to discern, even as master teachers.

"That's right, everyone knows that Senior Violet-Sun has always been fiercely loyal to the old principal. There's no definitive news yet on whether the principal is alive or dead, and it has already acknowledged someone else as master. I, for one, don't believe it!"

Lu Feng's eyes lit up, and he glanced at Dong Xin with praise, then snorted.

The old principal went to the ancient ruin and never returned; the academy had classified him as missing, but it wasn't clear if he was truly dead.

If that were the case, it would be quite intriguing.

For a spirit beast to acknowledge another master when its original master's fate is still unconfirmed is simply inconceivable.

"Could it be that Zhang Xuan has some information and is coercing Senior Violet-Sun with the old principal's life or death to make it acknowledge him as master and speak for him? Or perhaps... he used some unknown special method?"

Chen Chengxun stood up.

He was on the same side as Lu Feng and could no longer back down.

Master Mu pondered.

If his old friend truly wasn't dead, and someone was using that as leverage, then given the Violet-Sun Beast's loyal nature, it was indeed possible that it might change its story.

"Since it's impossible to determine if it was coerced, therefore... Senior Violet-Sun Beast's words cannot be trusted!"

Lu Feng continued.

"You... nonsense!"

Unexpectedly, its personal refutation had turned into such an absurd argument. The Violet-Sun Beast's face flushed, and it angrily roared, "Every word I've spoken comes from my heart! How can it be untrustworthy?"

"Senior, please don't get agitated. Otherworldly Demons possess many methods, especially skilled in soul enthrallment. Until we can confirm whether you've been enthralled, it's truly difficult for us to verify your words!"

Lu Feng stated.

In ancient times, the Witch Soul Master profession had defected to the Otherworldly Demons. Thus, the latter had an extremely high mastery over souls. You were beaten just a few days ago, yet now you're speaking completely contradictory words. Anyone would find that hard to believe.

"Principal Lu, if this line of reasoning holds true, then can't I also suspect that you've been bewitched by an Otherworldly Demon and are intentionally trying to harm a master teacher who possesses the Eye of Discernment?"

Mo Gaoyuan, who had been silent since entering the room, suddenly spoke.

"Exactly! The immense importance of a master teacher with the Eye of Discernment to humanity is clear. Principal Lu has been constantly targeting him; could it be that he's already one of the Otherworldly Demons?"

Elder Mi stroked his beard and said.

You say the Violet-Sun Beast's words are untrustworthy. Well then... how trustworthy are your words?

"You all..."

He hadn't expected these two to turn the tables and throw the accusation back at him. Lu Feng was so choked he almost spat blood. He waved his hand and said, "Fine, we can drop this issue. But... Zhang Xuan having Otherworldly Demon subordinates, that can't be refuted, right? We all went to the scene where Senior Violet-Sun was captured. The aura and traces of Otherworldly Demons were so obvious, they couldn't possibly be concealed!"

According to Dong Xin's description, he not only beat the Violet-Sun Beast but also had a group of Otherworldly Demon subordinates.

This was the most crucial and important point.

Moreover, everyone present had investigated and knew what those traces signified.

Elder Mi, Principal Zhao, and the others were all speechless.

They had all seen the traces left by Lei Yuanfeng's combat, and considering Master Zhang's current cultivation, without assistance, he couldn't possibly be a match for Senior Violet-Sun.

Could he really have Otherworldly Demon subordinates?

If so, then it would indeed be troublesome.

Master teachers are forbidden from having connections with Otherworldly Demons; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to explain themselves, no matter what they said.

"Otherworldly Demon subordinates... are you referring to this?"

Knowing that if he didn't clarify today's matter, he would have a lifelong blemish, Zhang Xuan said no more. With a flick of his wrist, a puppet appeared before him.

"I trust your discernment can tell... this is a puppet refined from an Otherworldly Demon!"

"Indeed!"

"This is a puppet refined from a real person!"

Everyone was startled, then all nodded.

As high-grade six-star master teachers, unlike Dong Xin, they could easily distinguish whether it was a puppet or a real person with just a glance.

"Principal Zhao should know that before I came to the academy, I, along with Luo Qiqi, Princess Yu Fei'er, and others from the academy, entered an ancient ruin and were fortunate enough to obtain the inheritance of Senior Wu Yangzi!"

Zhang Xuan continued.

"Hmm!" Zhao Bingxu nodded.

He had already compiled this matter into a detailed record and informed others.

"These puppets were precisely refined by the senior with great skill; I merely obtained them through a fortuitous encounter!"

Zhang Xuan smiled, "Master teachers are not allowed to associate with Otherworldly Demons, but to refine them into puppets for human use, even if it's not a merit, it shouldn't be a fault, right?"

Everyone was stunned.

They had thought they were Otherworldly Demons, but they turned out to be puppets. Such things, without commands, were utterly incapable of harming anyone.

Subduing more of them would do no harm.

"These are indeed unconscious puppets, and their forging method is exquisitely brilliant, extremely similar to the legendary techniques of Wu Yangzi..."

After a careful look, Master Mu nodded.

These puppets were forged by Wu Yangzi during the lifetimes of the Otherworldly Demons, utilizing all sorts of rare materials and methods, making each one extremely valuable.

"However... these puppets still contain an aura of slaughter and retain the habits of Otherworldly Demons. Even Wu Yangzi himself might not have been able to subdue them while alive. How then are you able to make them obediently follow your commands?"

Seeing the crucial point, Master Mu frowned.

Although it was a puppet, the aura of slaughter within it was by no means weak, and it held a natural hostility towards humans.

Such powerful beings, let alone Wu Yangzi, even he himself might not have been able to subdue them. How did this young man, who was only at the One-ness realm, manage it?

Zhang Xuan frowned.

The reason they obediently followed his commands was due to the 'ruthless individual', but explaining the 'ruthless individual' would involve explaining the Heaven's Path Divine Art, which was his greatest secret.

Therefore... he simply couldn't say.

"Furthermore, these puppets must have had their body parts replaced one by one while the Otherworldly Demons were still alive, right? The absence of any rejection indicates... a subjective willingness to do so! Wu Yangzi's capture by the Otherworldly Demons back then caused a huge stir, with records at the Qingyuan Empire branch. If he truly possessed the ability to make these Otherworldly Demons willingly be refined or even obey, how could he have been captured and never returned?"

Master Mu continued.

As a seven-star master teacher with astonishing insight, he knew the methods for refining such puppets. Even if Wu Yangzi was incredibly powerful, success would have been difficult.

"Master Mu is right. Even if these are puppets, how were they successfully refined? And with your level of strength, how did you subdue them?"

Hearing Master Mu's words, Lu Feng's eyes lit up: "Unless you are an Otherworldly Demon King, capable of making puppets obediently follow commands and willingly face death, which is why they obey you even after death!"

Zhang Xuan's face darkened.

He was certainly not an Otherworldly Demon King, but the 'ruthless individual' was, perhaps even an emperor among them!

The reason Wu Yangzi was able to refine these Otherworldly Demons into puppets back then was precisely because of that individual.

However... if he were to elaborate, the secret of the library would be compromised.

"How they were successfully refined, I truly don't know; that was Senior Wu Yangzi's doing. As for subduing them..."

Zhang Xuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "My teacher, worried about my safety, specifically tamed them and gave them to me!"

"Your teacher?"

Lu Feng sneered, "Which master teacher is that? Tell us, I'd like to see which master teacher could tame so many unconscious puppets, who only pledge allegiance to an Otherworldly Demon King, to obediently listen to a four-star master teacher!"

"My teacher..."

His face filled with conflict, Zhang Xuan hadn't yet explained when a faint voice drifted in from outside the room.

"It's me!"

An extremely powerful aura instantly enveloped the space.