Chapter 863: I Recommend Zhang Xuan as Dean

Explaining how to tame these Otherworldly Demons would have taken a lot of effort and perhaps revealed sensitive information. Therefore, I thought of having "Yang Xuan" come to the rescue. I then mentally communicated with my clone, instructing him to disguise himself as "Yang Xuan" and appear.

I had only intended for him to slightly intimidate the crowd, but I never imagined he would go to such an extreme! Zhang Xuan covered his forehead, surveying the surrounding ruins. All I wanted was for my clone to disguise himself and prove I wasn't an Otherworldly Demon. Instead, he utterly demolished the Master Teacher Academy's entire Elder Council...

Such a powerful aura, I correctly surmised, must have been created by the formidable individual. That individual had once stated that giving him the personal calligraphy of Master Kong would purify his aura, eliminating any trace of the Otherworldly Demons' killing intent. The collapse of the Sealing Master Hall was likely due to the deterrent power of Master Kong's personal calligraphy. Even if Master Kong hadn't reached his peak strength when he left the writing, he was still Master Kong, and the wills of many ancient sages dared not oppose him. Regarding the Heaven-Recognized Master Teacher status, the clone's soul originates from the same source as mine and had also undergone Heavenly Recognition. With the formidable individual's assistance, achieving such an effect was relatively straightforward.

Their final disappearance wasn't a teleportation, but rather... they were absorbed into the Thousand-Ant Beehive. Being absorbed into a folded space is akin to entering another dimension, making them untraceable. The entire sequence of actions was seamlessly executed, but... wasn't such a grand spectacle a bit excessive? His sole intention was to create a minor diversion to dispel any suspicion. Now, however, everyone seemed to be filled with awe!

As he pondered his next move, Master Mu stepped forward, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply, exclaiming, "Martial Uncle!"

Snapping out of his dejection, Zhang Xuan merely nodded and replied, "No need for such formality!" As he had previously impersonated "Yang Xuan" and claimed to be his grand-master, this form of address was perfectly appropriate.

"Martial Uncle?" Lu Feng's mouth twitched, and he nearly fainted. Master Mu is a Seven-Star Master Teacher and a generation younger than Yang Xuan. If he addresses Zhang Xuan as "Martial Uncle," wouldn't that imply Lu Feng's own seniority has dropped, making him a disciple's grandson? Just moments ago, he was still "esteemed nephew"... Now, if he were to speak again, he would be addressing an "esteemed grandson"... What kind of situation was this!

Not only did his mouth twitch, but Dong Xin's expression also darkened considerably. She had previously mentioned to Long Cangyue that if they continued to cause trouble for Zhang Xuan, they would descend from being a disciple's grandson to a disciple's great-grandson... At the time, she had dismissed it as impossible, but now, it was undeniably proven... If her teacher, Lu Feng, had become a disciple's grandson, what else could she be but a great-granddaughter?

At the Master Teacher Academy, among the Four Great Guilds, Hu Yaoyao, who was the first to challenge him, ended up becoming his seated apprentice. Xue Zhenyang was the second, becoming a disciple's grandson. And she, the third to cause trouble... had become a great-granddaughter! Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes. If only she had known, she wouldn't have sought this trouble. Now, it was done... The next time she met Hu Yaoyao, she might even have to address her as Grandmaster...

"This..." Seeing Master Mu take the lead in addressing him as "Martial Uncle," Mo Gaoyuan and the others blushed, unsure how to address him.

"Have I cleared my name now? Surely, you no longer suspect me of being an Otherworldly Demon, do you?" Ignoring the expressions of those around him, Zhang Xuan looked at Master Mu.

"Certainly not!" Master Mu nodded hastily. "You are Master Yang's student, and Master Yang is a Heaven-Recognized Master Teacher; thus, it is impossible for you to be an Otherworldly Demon." Many other Master Teachers also nodded in agreement.

"Since that's settled, and there's nothing more to question, may I leave now?" Zhang Xuan pressed.

"Of course!" Master Mu affirmed with a nod.

"That's good..." Zhang Xuan responded. Given Lu Feng's current condition, he would undoubtedly face punishment even without Zhang Xuan's intervention. As someone of a senior generation, there was no need to bicker with a "grandson." If he were to relentlessly pursue the matter, the painstakingly established effect by his clone would certainly be undermined. In any case, even if he didn't pursue the matter, the other deans wouldn't let them off easily. It was better to give them free rein and make his exit first.

As he prepared to depart, Elder Mi stepped forward, blocking his way. "Master Zhang, please don't rush off!"

"What is it?" Zhang Xuan inquired, turning his gaze. He still held Elder Mi in high regard. Earlier, even before "Master Yang" appeared, Elder Mi had consistently spoken in his defense.

"It's like this: Master Mu once stated that whoever in the academy found Senior Zi Yang would become the Dean. Now that you have found Senior and even made him your beast pet... I propose that you assume the position of the academy's new Dean!" After his explanation, Elder Mi surveyed the surroundings. "What are your thoughts on this, everyone?"

The academy was currently in such disarray that someone needed to take charge. This Master Zhang was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate. While his strength might not yet be sufficient, his status and understanding of various professions made him the indisputable choice! Furthermore, having tamed Senior Zi Yang and with such a powerful beast pet supporting him, who would dare to object?

"Indeed, I had the same thought!" Zhao Bingxu nodded.

"I have no objection to Master Zhang becoming the Dean!" Wei Ranxue responded.

"I agree!" Jiang Qingqin nodded.

"I agree as well!" Xu Changqing of the Martial Arts Academy hesitated briefly before also nodding. Wang Ying and the others were guest elders at their academy. If their teacher became the Dean, they would undoubtedly dedicate themselves even more to their instruction. In the blink of an eye, half of the ten academies had voiced their agreement.

"Martial Uncle is himself a student of the Master Teacher Academy, and he fulfills numerous conditions. If he were to become Dean, it would naturally be a cause for universal celebration!" Master Mu's eyes lit up, and he nodded in agreement. "This proposal... I support it!" His purpose in coming from the headquarters was precisely to establish a new Dean. This Martial Uncle, though young and perhaps lacking in cultivation level, possesses an extraordinarily powerful background! Furthermore, with his extraordinary talent, it would likely take only a few years for him to become truly competent and lead the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy to new heights.

"And you?" Seeing Master Mu's declaration, Elder Mi turned his gaze to the deans of the remaining five academies.

"This..." Lu Feng and Chen Chengxun exchanged glances, looking as though they had been struck, on the verge of tears but unable to weep.

"Since Master Mu has agreed, I have nothing further to say!" Stated the Dean of the Calligraphy and Painting Academy.

"I also agree!" The Dean of the Heavenly Crafts Academy also nodded.

"My opinion aligns with theirs!" agreed Zhong Dingchun, Dean of the Medical Arts Academy.

"Alright, we also agree!" After only a brief resistance, Lu Feng and Chen Chengxun could only nod in assent. Even if they wished to object, they couldn't; eight of the ten grand elders had already agreed, and further protest would only make them seem disagreeable.

Hearing all the deans agree, Elder Mi was about to formally welcome Zhang Xuan when a voice rang out.

"To become the Dean of the Master Teacher Academy, one must at least be a Six-Star Master Teacher. This Master Zhang's current strength is still somewhat insufficient; I do not agree..." Jin Yuanding stated. As the academy's sacred artifact, it held a status even higher than the Dean, possessing veto power.

"Senior Jin Yuan, although Master Zhang is not yet a Six-Star Master Teacher, with his innate talent, he should succeed very soon..." Elder Mi couldn't help but interject. Everyone nodded in unison. They had personally witnessed this young man's heaven-defying capabilities; the entire Master Teacher Academy had been turned upside down. If such an individual could not pass the Six-Star Master Teacher examination, then no one else stood a chance.

"Even if he succeeds later, what then? Have you forgotten the selection three months from now?" Jin Yuanding questioned.

"Three months from now?" Everyone frowned.

"It seems too much time has passed, and you've all forgotten... In three months, it will be the once-in-a-century selection for the Combat Master Hall!" Jin Yuanding's voice resonated.

"The Combat Master Hall? Indeed... it has certainly been a hundred years!"

"In the Qingyuan Conferred Empire, the Combat Master Hall conducts its selection once every century. I wasn't the Dean last time, so my memory isn't as clear!"

"Once the selection begins, all four academies under the Qingyuan Conferred Empire will gather. It's a grand event that occurs only once every hundred years!"

"We can certainly wait for Master Zhang to become a Six-Star Master Teacher, but if he hasn't achieved it in three months, when the Combat Master Hall representatives arrive, along with the other three major academies... we truly won't be able to compete!" A silence fell over the group.

"Combat Master Hall selection?" Zhang Xuan asked, puzzled. He wouldn't be staying in the Hongyuan Empire for too long, so the position of Dean held little significance to him, and he wasn't particularly concerned about it. However, from the tone of the others, it seemed they were quite apprehensive about this so-called Combat Master Hall selection.

"Master Zhang, I presume you've heard of the Combat Master profession?" Elder Mi looked towards him.

Zhang Xuan nodded. Combat Masters are a branch of Master Teachers specialized in offense; each possesses astonishing combat prowess. While they are still Master Teachers, this profession doesn't require teaching or auxiliary cultivation assessments. Only strong combat power is needed to pass their assessment and be granted Master Teacher ranks. Almost every Combat Master can engage in battles beyond their cultivation level, making them the elite among the strong. He was once suspected of being a Combat Master back in the Illusory Feather Empire.

Seeing that he was aware, Elder Mi explained, "Every hundred years, the Combat Master Hall sends representatives to various academies to select young talents. Three months from now... is the day of that selection!"

"A selection held once every century?"

"Yes. During each selection, the four major academies under the Conferred Empire will gather. Because the number of available slots is limited... as an academy dean, one must first undergo a challenge to compete for the allocation of those slots among the academies..." Elder Mi seemed somewhat embarrassed. "If Master Zhang becomes Dean, he will inevitably have to participate in this challenge. I fear... you might find it difficult to contend with!"

To become the head of an academy, one's strength must be at least peak Six-Star, or even reach Seven-Star. Given enough time, Master Zhang could certainly achieve that level. However, with the challenge only three months away, it would be exceptionally difficult!

"I see!" Only then did Zhang Xuan truly understand. No wonder everyone was worried. Three months was indeed too short a period. He was currently only at the early stage of the Void-Realm, and still significantly far from being able to compete with the other deans.

"Actually, there's no need to worry. If I'm not mistaken, Teacher already has five auxiliary professions at Six-Star, correct? He only needs to pass one more assessment to become a Six-Star Master Teacher. Three months should be sufficient!" Jiang Qingqin interjected. Currently, Master Zhang possesses six-star or higher auxiliary proficiencies in: artifact forging, medicine, alchemy, astonishing light, and demonic music. He is only one step away from being assessed as a Six-Star Master Teacher. Given his extraordinary learning speed... achieving Six-Star should not be difficult!