Chapter 87: Is He Really the Worst Teacher?

"When they teamed up, they couldn't defeat me at first. Then Teacher Zhang arrived. He taught them three moves of a fist technique, and somehow, each of them seemed to be divinely assisted. The first one to fight me was Yuan Tao..."

Zhu Hong recounted what had just happened, and he also demonstrated the three moves Zhang Xuan had taught, one by one.

Hearing his words and seeing the three moves he imitated, Lu Xun and Elder Hong Hao exchanged glances. Both wondered if their ears had deceived them, their faces turning incredibly grim.

"Are you saying... Yuan Tao, the one who ranked last in the entrance exam? With just these three moves, you... still couldn't defeat him?"

Are you trying to make fools of us?

We just investigated and specifically looked at Yuan Tao's profile. His parents died when he was young; he hasn't learned any martial arts or cultivation techniques. He's just thick-skinned and can take a beating. He even ranked last in the entrance exam. How could he possibly defeat you, a top-four ranked expert?

Must you exaggerate so much?

Besides, they had also seen these three moves. They were utterly worthless; how could they be called martial arts?

Even if used in reverse or switched left and right, they wouldn't amount to anything!

"He was despicable..."

With a pained expression, Zhu Hong elaborated on the battle.

"It seems your vital point was discovered. The three moves were just a diversion to draw your attention; the real target was here!" Only after hearing his account did Lu Xun understand.

His student was far too careless.

A vital point is where a cultivator's strength converges; it is fundamental to a cultivator. It must be protected well. To have it discovered like that was truly a grave oversight.

While discovering a vital point doesn't guarantee victory—after all, combat isn't simply one plus one equals two; it also involves reaction and adaptability—in a fight between two cultivators of similar strength, if one's vital point is discovered, it is still extremely dangerous.

"These students of his certainly couldn't have done it. To discover your vital point and exploit it, this Teacher Zhang Xuan seems to be extraordinary. I initially thought a match with him would be pointless, just a direct crushing defeat. Now it seems it won't be that simple; it's becoming more and more interesting!"

Lu Xun, as expected of the academy's star teacher, quickly analyzed the crux of the problem.

A vital point is a cultivator's weakness, usually well-protected and difficult to discover. Furthermore, even if discovered, without the ability to counter it, it's hard to win.

It's like giving an ordinary person a dagger. They might know that a stab to the heart is fatal, but they still can't defeat a boxing master.

If Zhang Xuan's students could have discovered it, they would surely have won the previous battles. Clearly, he discovered it and secretly informed them.

"However, no matter. I'll find a way to help you break through to Martial Artist Second Realm right now. Once successful, your vital point will naturally shift. It won't be too late to get your revenge then!"

Waving his hand, Lu Xun consoled him.

A cultivator's vital point is not fixed. It varies depending on the cultivation technique, realm, and martial skills practiced.

Zhu Hong's current vital point is on his waist. Once he breaks through to the Martial Artist First Realm, it will definitely shift to another location. At that point, their actions will be completely ineffective.

It's even rumored that cultivators with advanced techniques and formidable strength have no vital points or weaknesses at all. They cannot be found even if sought.

"Yes!"

Zhu Hong nodded.

Lu Xun looked at him and said, "In a moment, I'll go find Elder Shang Chen to finalize the list for the competition. Train diligently, and don't disappoint me. You'll have your chance to take revenge yourself then!"

"Thank you, Teacher Lu!" Comforted, Zhu Hong regained his confidence.

"Oh, Elder Hong Hao," Lu Xun couldn't help but turn his head, "aren't you on good terms with Elder Shang Chen? To deal with a useless teacher like Zhang Xuan, wouldn't it be better to go through the Disciplinary Office than me?"

Elder Hong Hao was a strong contender for the dean's position back then. Many elders were on good terms with him, and Shang Chen was one of them.

Logically, if there was a real conflict with Zhang Xuan, wouldn't it be much more convenient to have the Head of the Disciplinary Office handle it than for him to get involved?

"The Disciplinary Office isn't actually convenient," said Elder Hong Hao. "We can't just force his students to switch teachers, can we? If we really did that, and he complained to the Teacher's Guild about being suppressed, wouldn't that be even more troublesome?"

If students voluntarily become disciples, the Disciplinary Office has no way to force them.

The most important point was that, in his eyes, Zhang Xuan was nothing but a zero-scoring failure in the teacher qualification exam. Was it really necessary to involve the Head of the Disciplinary Office for him?

It would be overkill!

Of course, he couldn't say these words aloud; otherwise, Teacher Lu Xun would surely feel disrespected.

In fact, even if he didn't say it, Lu Xun, being as astute as he was, could probably guess.

If it weren't for two students being inexplicably poached, he wouldn't bother with such trivial matters, much less propose a teacher assessment!

As the two were conversing, they saw a young man striding towards them.

"Lu Xun..."

Before he even reached them, the person called out.

"Oh, Teacher Wang, what brings you here?" Lu Xun asked with a smile.

The newcomer was none other than another star teacher of the academy, Wang Chao!

He was the spear-wielding expert whom Zheng Yang wanted to apprentice under.

"Elder Hong Hao!" Upon arriving, seeing Hong Hao seated to one side, Wang Chao bowed. Then he turned to Lu Xun and asked, "Have you heard about the Disciplinary Office matter?"

"Heard what?" Lu Xun asked, full of doubt.

"You don't know? Elder Shang Chen has been dismissed and is under investigation!" Wang Chao said. "The Teacher's Guild just issued the order!"

"Elder Shang Chen dismissed and under investigation? What happened?"

Not only was Lu Xun incredulous, but even Elder Hong Hao was startled.

How could the dignified Head of the Disciplinary Office of Hongtian Academy be dismissed just like that, without any prior warning?

"Some say he framed a teacher and acted unfairly. Others say he was unjust during a Heart of Learning interrogation. In any case, the Teacher's Guild found out about it and dismissed him directly!" Wang Chao explained.

Cao Xiong's application for a Heart of Learning interrogation didn't create much commotion, and many teachers were unaware of it.

"Framed? Unjust? Which teacher is so formidable that they could bring down the esteemed Elder Shang Chen and even prompt the Teacher's Guild to intervene?" Lu Xun couldn't help but ask.

Although Elder Shang Chen was only the Head of the Disciplinary Office, he had powerful backing. Even elders of the Teacher's Guild were his friends. To bring him down so thoroughly should have been very difficult!

Elder Hong Hao also looked on, wanting to know who this formidable individual was.

"I heard it was the most useless teacher in our academy... Zhang Xuan!" Wang Chao said after a moment's thought.

"Zhang Xuan? How is that possible?"

Lu Xun and Elder Hong Hao simultaneously jumped up as if their tails had been stepped on, their eyes wide, feeling as if they had gone mad.

Eating a few dishes brought down a restaurant that had stood for over a decade; making students drop the class of the academy's top teacher; a few students he casually taught beat the fourth-ranked freshman into a pulp; and now he'd even brought down Elder Shang Chen, the Head of the Disciplinary Office...

Was Zhang Xuan truly the worst teacher in the academy?