Chapter 864: Zhang Dean

Jiang Qingqin had personally witnessed Teacher Zhang's learning speed. The first day he knew nothing, but by the second day, his demonic tune had reached seven stars. Learning another profession wouldn't take much longer.

"I'm not worried about the auxiliary occupations," Zhao Bingxu said. "The key is strength. Teacher Zhang is only at the One-realm, but the minimum requirement for a six-star assessment is Peak Silkworm Chrysalis realm..." Five-star master teachers encompass the Bridging Heaven, One-realm, and Stepping Void realms. To be assessed as a six-star master teacher, one's cultivation must be at least Peak Silkworm Chrysalis realm. When Teacher Zhang competed with You Xu, he had revealed his cultivation to be only at the One-realm. This was two major realms away from the minimum requirement, and breaking through in three months... was practically impossible.

"When I was out these past few days, I accidentally broke through. I'm now at the Stepping Void realm!" Zhang Xuan said.

"Accidentally?" Everyone's eyes widened. Others spent countless efforts and countless treasures to break through to the Stepping Void realm, yet he broke through accidentally, and his voice even carried a hint of grievance... Can't he be serious? In truth, they had truly misunderstood Zhang Xuan. He genuinely did break through accidentally, and he had been depressed about it for quite some time.

"Broke through to the Stepping Void realm?" Unlike the others' vexation, Elder Mi froze on the spot, his mouth twitching. "Teacher Zhang... was only at Peak Spirit Integration realm when he took the student entrance exam. He broke through to the Bridging Heaven realm to save someone..." During the entrance exam, he had heard reports from students that Zhang Xuan had used a secret technique to save someone, directly advancing one major realm from Peak Spirit Integration to Peak Bridging Heaven. At the time, he had worried it would leave hidden dangers in his body and told him to deal with it properly... How had he reached the Stepping Void realm after just a few days?

"From the entrance exam until now... it hasn't even been twenty days, has it?" Someone mumbled. Immediately after, everyone stared intently at the young man before them, as if seeing a monster. From the start of the semester until now, by all accounts, it had been a little over half a month. He had gone directly from Mortal V Spirit Integration realm to Mortal VIII Stepping Void realm... An increase of nearly four major realms... Was he cultivating, or just playing around? Even with empowerment, it wouldn't be this fast! Didn't he need to consolidate his cultivation? Didn't he need various insights?

As they were still in shock and feeling exasperated, they heard Zhang Xuan sigh from not far away, a look of shame on his face: "Yes, recently I've mainly been focusing on taking auxiliary occupation exams, so I haven't had much time to cultivate. That's why my progress has been slow..." He had originally planned to finish ten auxiliary occupations from ten academies in ten days, then spend five or six days breaking through to Saint 1-dan, so he could leave in about half a month. As it turned out, seventeen or eighteen days had passed, and he was still only at early Stepping Void realm, with only five auxiliary occupations completed... There was really nothing to be proud of.

Everyone swayed again, almost spitting blood. Damn it! This is slow? If this is slow, then what about us, who take decades to break through a single cultivation realm? Aren't we as slow as dirt? Besides, why are you ashamed? If anyone should be ashamed, it should be us!

Although their chests ached with vexation, everyone knew he was speaking the truth. This person, before going out, had completed exams for five professions in seven days, exceeding expectations in each one and causing quite a stir... Not only that, but in his free time, he also lectured, engaged in life-and-death duels, and even established the Xuanxuan Society. Despite all this, he still broke through from Peak Bridging Heaven to Peak One-realm... Never mind, stop thinking about it. The more they thought, the worse they felt! Compared to him, their own cultivation couldn't just be described as "slow"; it was simply pathetic!

Although vexed, they suddenly understood when they thought of his unfathomable teacher. With a heaven-defying teacher and his own formidable talent, it would be an embarrassment if he were like them. How could he then be called a super genius?

"Three months, I think with Teacher Zhang's capabilities, passing the six-star assessment should be quite easy!" An elder, who had been feeling a chest pain for an unknown duration, couldn't help but say. "I think so too..." Someone quickly nodded. For others, three months of secluded cultivation would pass with minimal improvement in strength. But for this guy in front of them, who knew what he could accomplish? He might even break through to the Saint realm!

"Then... let's not hesitate. The succession ceremony will be held in three days!" Master Mu waved his hand decisively. The selection of a dean for the Master Teacher Academy was a major event that would send shockwaves through the first-tier empire; it could not be taken lightly. Setting it for three days later was precisely to allow time for preparations, inviting guests, and arranging the venue. Besides, they also needed to repair the Elder's Council building first. Otherwise, if people saw the dignified Master Teacher Academy looking like it had been hit by a demolition crew, they'd die laughing.

With the decision made, the others stopped speaking and all nodded in agreement. Although the Golden Origin Cauldron could veto, it was still just a Saint artifact. Since no one else found it inappropriate, there was no point in it interrupting further. In any case, no matter who became dean, its status wouldn't change.

Seeing everyone's cheerful decision, Zhang Xuan's eyelids twitched. You're electing me as dean, but I, the person involved, haven't even agreed yet...

The Violet Sun Beast seemed to read his thoughts and couldn't help but say, "Master, as dean, you can enter and exit the academy's library at will, and read whatever you want!" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. As long as he could read books, being dean for a while wouldn't be so bad.

Once the discussion was over, the remaining matters were simple: assigning tasks, various procedures. It took nearly an hour before it concluded.

"Dean, the succession ceremony hasn't started yet, so for now, you can't move into the separate residence. You'll have to make do with staying outside for the time being..." Elder Mi said apologetically after the discussion. Although the ten elders and Master Mu had agreed, without the formal ceremony, he wasn't yet the true dean and couldn't exercise his authority. Zhang Xuan nodded. It was only three days anyway, so he wasn't in a hurry.

After chatting for a while longer, Zhang Xuan, using the excuse of preparing for the six-star master teacher assessment and needing to quickly improve his cultivation, offloaded all the so-called dean responsibilities onto Dean Zhao, Elder Mi, and the others. Only then did he sigh in relief: "I want to refine a seventh-grade pill. Could I borrow the Golden Origin Cauldron, senior?" Ten days had passed. Although he hadn't had time to check, Wei Ruyan's soul should have been nourished by now, allowing the next steps to proceed. Therefore, the immediate priority was to refine the Soul Reconnection Pill. He assumed that after these past few days, Master Lu and the others would have learned all the techniques he had given them.

"Cough, cough... Dean, Senior Golden Origin Cauldron is an artifact forging cauldron, not a pill cauldron!" Zhao Bingxu's face flushed red as he hastily explained. There was a significant difference between an artifact forging cauldron and a pill cauldron. As a six-star artifact forger and alchemist, couldn't he tell?

"I know," Zhang Xuan said, "but seventh-grade pills are too potent. I'm afraid a spirit-grade pill cauldron wouldn't be able to withstand it. Only Senior Golden Origin Cauldron, a Saint artifact of its kind, can handle it!" While strictly following his steps would certainly produce the Soul Reconnection Pill without the cauldron exploding, his previous experiences with alchemy taught him that procedures were one thing, and execution was another. If a spirit-grade pill cauldron couldn't withstand the explosion, the entire Master Teacher Academy would be practically ruined. He dared not take that risk.

"This..." Zhao Bingxu was full of doubt: "Pill cauldrons and artifact cauldrons are very different. How would you refine pills in it?"

"Don't worry," Zhang Xuan smiled. "Although Senior Golden Origin Cauldron is an artifact cauldron, it's also a sealed cauldron. By adding a conversion formation on it, it can be used perfectly as a pill cauldron!" The biggest difference between a pill cauldron and an artifact cauldron is the internal temperature. The latter maintains a higher and increasingly intense heat over time. The former allows for rapid changes in temperature, making it easier to control. This can be solved by simply adding a formation; it's not too difficult.

"If you're confident, I'll discuss it with Senior..." Hearing that he could convert an artifact cauldron into a pill cauldron, Zhao Bingxu hesitated. Just as he was about to discuss it with the Golden Origin Cauldron, he heard a disdainful snort from the Saint artifact. "I am a dignified Saint artifact responsible for artifact forging! Let me refine pills? Don't even think about it!" A Saint artifact for forging had its own pride. Asking it to refine pills was like asking a duck to lay eggs; it would be strange if it agreed!

"Senior..." Zhao Bingxu's face became awkward, and he hastily clasped his fists. "Don't waste words! You know my temper. If you dare say another word, believe it or not, I'll swallow you and smelt you into slag!" With a cold snort, the Golden Origin Cauldron's voice boomed, carrying an undisguised arrogance.

"This..." Hearing that the other party left no room for negotiation, Zhao Bingxu's face paled, and he could only shake his head: "Dean, this... there's really nothing we can do. If Senior doesn't agree, even with all your methods, it will be useless..." If the artifact spirit of a Saint artifact refused to cooperate, trying to use it would be like dreaming. Any slight mishap could turn the medicinal ingredients into ash, a complete waste!

"I'll see if I can discuss it with it!" Ignoring Zhao Bingxu, Zhang Xuan took a few steps to stand before the Golden Origin Cauldron. It had to be said that this Saint artifact was very large, half a head taller than him. Its sacred aura emanated, giving off an intense pressure. No wonder it had become the Master Teacher Academy's treasure. Its power was indeed formidable. Even the advanced Violet Sun Beast was no match for it.

"You want me to refine pills for you? No way! I advise you to forget whatever you're thinking. Otherwise, even if they agree to make you dean, I'll smelt you into slag..." Seeing him approach, the Golden Origin Cauldron snorted coldly.

"Senior, I just came to discuss something with you, no need to get angry!" Standing before it, Zhang Xuan gently stroked the Golden Origin Cauldron with his palm. Then he walked around it, speaking while patting its body a few times.

"Do you think... Teacher Zhang can convince Senior Golden Origin Cauldron?" Seeing him walk over, Elder Mi approached Dean Zhao. "It's very difficult. You know Senior Golden Origin Cauldron's temper. It didn't even give face to the old dean back then, let alone Teacher Zhang. To convince it... is almost impossible!" Zhao Bingxu shook his head. "I think so too..." Elder Mi sighed, about to continue speaking, when he saw the Golden Origin Cauldron suddenly emit a sharp roar.

Immediately, its enormous body swayed violently and pressed close to Zhang Xuan, who was not far away, like a pug seeing its master: "Dingding greets Master! Master, whatever you want me to refine, I will refine! It's just pills, how many do you want to refine?"

"..." Elder Mi."..." Dean Zhao."..." Everyone else.