Chapter 897: Zhang Xuan’s Methods (Part 1)

“Fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones? And five hundred large formations? What kind of dream are you having? Change your terms!” Elder Mi’s face darkened. That’s an outrageous demand.

Fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones—even if we turned the entire Master Teacher Academy upside down, we wouldn’t be able to produce that much! Besides, the Master Teacher Academy isn’t afraid of you; we merely worry about the devastation it would cause to living beings. If push comes to shove, we could mobilize all our forces and flatten Cloudmist Ridge just the same! However, that would result in immense losses for everyone and be against heavenly principles, so we prefer to avoid it if possible.

“Change the terms? No way! This is the only one. Accept it, or we continue to fight! To be honest with you, I haven’t even dispatched the flying spirit beasts yet. Once they’re unleashed, do you think your non-flying students can stop them? If we assault Hongyuan City, it won’t be as simple as a few dozen casualties. By then, let’s see how you explain it to your headquarters and to the common people!” The Golden Bear-Tiger Beast snorted coldly.

The Master Teacher Academy is responsible for protecting the safety of this region. If we truly allow their flying spirit beasts to rampage and slaughter within the city, the Academy’s credibility will undoubtedly be questioned and damaged. The human race’s faith in the Master Teacher Pavilion would also be shaken.

“You… are you threatening us?” Elder Mi’s gaze turned cold. To think that the esteemed Master Teacher Academy is being threatened by a group of Saint Beasts—it’s utterly preposterous! If it weren’t for the headquarters considering these Saint Beasts beneficial for honing students and instilling a sense of urgency in master teachers, motivating them to strive harder, they would have been exterminated long ago! Why would we ever let them act so arrogantly?

Master Teachers cannot be insulted. This is not an empty boast, nor is it false. If anyone dares to challenge this, we would not hesitate to erase them from the continent. Wasn’t the once-powerful Witchcraft Soul lineage wiped from the annals of history? Even the enigmatic Poison Masters dare not establish their Poison Hall openly, do they?

Just as he was about to burst into anger and fight to the bitter end, he heard the Principal’s telepathic message in his ear: “Find a way to ask where their flying spirit beast contingent is, and also let me come over!” Elder Mi was taken aback. “Why ask that? Go over? To see the flying spirit beast contingent?” However, since the Principal requested it, he could only frown and look at the Golden Bear-Tiger Beast before him: “Even if Cloudmist Ridge has flying spirit beasts, their numbers must be limited, right? The Master Teacher Academy has hundreds of Saints; blocking these would be nothing! If you want to threaten us, you need to present something with actual capability. Do you think I’d be scared by just words like that?”

“Limited numbers? Cloudmist Ridge has a full three thousand flying spirit beasts, and each one is incredibly fast in short-distance sprints! Even if the Master Teacher Academy has many Saint realm experts, it won’t be easy to stop them! Just a few hundred breaking through could cause immense destruction… We could even bypass the imperial capital and target some of the smaller surrounding cities. I doubt you have enough Saints to guard all of them!” The Golden Bear-Tiger Beast sneered, its menacing intent clearly evident.

“Three thousand?” Elder Mi scoffed. “They’re probably mostly early-stage Transcendent Mortals, or even below that. Just a rabble. No matter how many there are, what does the Master Teacher Academy have to fear?” While flying spirit beasts can fly, their effectiveness depends on their strength. What good are beasts that haven’t even reached Transcendent Mortal realm, or are only at the second or third stage of it, even if they can fly? The Master Teacher Academy could easily send a few students to shoot them down.

“Transcendent Mortal first or second stage? Elder Mi, it seems you’re unaware of Cloudmist Ridge’s true strength! All three thousand of my flying spirit beasts possess strength at Transcendent Mortal Seventh Stage and above! Do you still think the Master Teacher Academy can stop them?” the Golden Bear-Tiger Beast stated.

“Transcendent Mortal Seventh Stage and above? That’s quite a boast!” Elder Mi shook his head, a look of disbelief on his face. “Cloudmist Ridge isn’t that large. How could there possibly be so many powerful flying spirit beasts? There wouldn’t be enough resources! Moreover, there are countless other spirit beasts battling the students below. Can Cloudmist Ridge’s resources truly support so many powerful spirit beasts?”

“You don’t believe me?” The Golden Bear-Tiger Beast frowned. “How can I believe such an exaggerated claim… Since you’re not showing sincerity, I don’t see any point in continuing negotiations!” Elder Mi waved his hand, then paused: “Of course, it’s also very simple to convince me. You can just send a Saint Beast to take this student of mine to see for himself. If there truly are so many powerful spirit beasts, I will personally inform the other elders and even negotiate with His Majesty Yu Shenqing!”

“Since you won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin, very well. Black Panther, you take Elder Mi’s student to witness our flying spirit beast army!” With a flick of its massive paw, the Golden Bear-Tiger Beast snorted. Although it spoke fiercely, it was actually quite wary of the Master Teacher Academy. With so many master teachers cultivated there, a place full of hidden talents, it was confident only when dealing with students. If the teachers also joined in, even with the advantage of terrain, they would surely be annihilated! Furthermore… even if the teachers didn’t intervene and only let the students gain experience, they would still suffer heavy losses, destroying years of recuperation in an instant. It was precisely for this reason that they preferred to negotiate if possible.

“Roar!” The two Half-Saint level Black Panthers previously guarding the entrance responded and walked in. “Elder Mi, try to stall for time. Don’t engage in conflict with them, and protect yourself well…” With a telepathic instruction, Zhang Xuan rose and followed behind the Black Panthers, heading out.

“Understood!” Although he didn’t know the Principal’s true objective, Elder Mi still responded, then looked up: “My student will go and see now. If it’s truly as you claim, he will report the facts to the Academy, and then a decision will be made! If there truly is such a large spirit beast army, then the terms you proposed might not be impossible to agree to…”

“Oh? Elder Mi is much more reasonable. Then we shall wait…” The Golden Bear-Tiger Beast nodded. The other Saint Beasts also fell silent. It was naturally best if they could gain benefits without having to fight. Although they were powerful, they still dared not confront the Master Teacher Pavilion head-on. The cave immediately fell silent. Seeing that he had successfully stalled for time, Elder Mi couldn’t help but sigh in relief. At the same time, a silent question arose in his mind… What did the Principal want with the exact location of those flying spirit beasts? With so many spirit beasts, even if all the Master Teacher Academy’s teachers were dispatched, they would have a headache, let alone just one person.

Following behind the Black Panthers, Zhang Xuan exited the cave and immediately saw dozens of Half-Saint and True Saint-level spirit beasts patrolling the surroundings, watching him menacingly. “Sirs, my strength is rather weak… these Saint Beasts roaming around might be dangerous for me… Could you perhaps ask them to retreat for now?” Zhang Xuan shrank his neck.

“Roar!” Seeing an esteemed Master Teacher of the Chrysalis realm act so timidly, the two Black Panthers’ lips curled into sneers. “My teacher insisted on bringing me, but I’m truly scared. Going to see the flying spirit beasts isn’t something I want to do… Please, sirs, if you could just get them away from here, these two high-grade spirit stones are yours…” With a flick of his wrist, Zhang Xuan took out two high-grade spirit stones and threw them over, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, seemingly filled with insecurity.

Upon receiving the spirit stones, the two Black Panthers’ eyes immediately lit up. As mere Half-Saints, they didn’t enjoy many resources, so two high-grade spirit stones were already considerable wealth for them. “Roar!” After putting away the spirit stones, the two Black Panthers raised their massive paws and let out a roar. Hearing the command, the surrounding True Saint and Half-Saint spirit beasts retreated one after another, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye. Although the Black Panthers’ strength wasn’t the greatest among them, they were attendants to several of Cloudmist Ridge’s major kings, so no beast dared to disobey their words.

“Roar!” Seeing the beasts leave, the two Black Panthers raised their heads and looked at Zhang Xuan, full of pride, their meaning clear: “With such small guts, how did you become a Master Teacher?” “Heh heh!” At their mockery, Zhang Xuan chuckled lightly and flipped his wrist. An identical figure appeared beside him. The two figures simultaneously blurred, like phantoms, and in an instant, they were in front of the two Black Panthers, each delivering a punch!

*Bang! Bang!* The speed was too great; the two Black Panthers didn’t even have time to react before they were sent flying backward, landing on the ground and twitching uncontrollably. “Either submit to me, or… die!” The two Zhang Xuans stood before each Black Panther, their feet on the beasts’ heads, looking down with calm expressions.

“Roar…” The Black Panthers hadn’t expected this guy’s attitude to change so quickly. Despite being only at the Chrysalis realm, they, as Half-Saints, couldn’t resist him. They were utterly bewildered. After a few breaths, they made their decision: a drop of blood flew from each of their foreheads and landed before Zhang Xuan. The Black Panthers… submitted!

“Good. Now, call over all those Half-Saint and True Saint-level spirit beasts that were around earlier, one by one. Tell them the Golden Bear-Tiger Beast inside is summoning them!” Having tamed them, Zhang Xuan commanded. “Roar!” Daring not to disobey, the two Black Panthers nodded their massive heads and turned to walk outside.

Seeing them leave, Zhang Xuan’s spirit stirred, and the Violet Sun Beast and Golden Origin Cauldron appeared before him. “Ah Zi, Ding Ding, in a moment, help me beat these spirit beasts into submission…” “Yes, Master!” the Violet Sun Beast nodded. “Heh heh, I love this kind of thing, Master! For those who refuse to obey or submit, can I turn them into cinder?” The Golden Origin Cauldron’s voice was full of excitement. As the Master Teacher Academy’s protective Saint artifact, it had always been reserved and rarely had such opportunities for a good fight. “You may!” Zhang Xuan nodded. His purpose in coming here was to slaughter Cloudmist Ridge. Those who refused to submit… had only one path: death!

Before long, a True Saint-level spirit beast was called over by the Black Panthers. Two minutes later, it knelt before Zhang Xuan, completely submitting. A few minutes after that, three Half-Saint level spirit beasts submitted. Ten minutes later, all the numerous True Saint and Half-Saint beasts that had been circling earlier were completely obeying Zhang Xuan’s commands. “Alright, you all return to your previous positions, scattered around, and don’t let any other beasts notice anything amiss. Black Panthers, take me to the flying spirit beasts!” Having arranged everything, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. These True Saint and Half-Saint beasts were easier to tame than expected. Only two were disobedient and were instantly turned into cinder by the Golden Origin Cauldron. After this display of “killing the chicken to scare the monkeys,” the other spirit beasts dared not resist in the slightest and all obediently complied.

“Master, all the flying spirit beasts are gathered in the valley over there…” Having acknowledged him as their master, the Black Panthers were now diligently leading the way. Zhang Xuan put the Violet Sun Beast, his clone, and the Golden Origin Cauldron back into the Myriad Ants Hive, then followed behind them, striding forward.