Chapter 906: 造孽啊

These were just a portion of the many treasures. Most importantly, there were also numerous inner cores of Saint Beasts. While Saint Beasts lived longer and more ancient lives than humans, they eventually died. Coupled with damage from battles, the Saint Beast inner cores in the storage ring had accumulated over many years, reaching an astonishing number of several hundred! Each core was incredibly valuable; if sold, they would undoubtedly fetch an astronomical price.

After examining all the treasures within, Zhang Xuan was filled with astonishment. Compared to this collection, his own previous ‘wealth’ truly felt no different from a country bumpkin’s meager possessions. He was too poor to even show his face.

“You’ve managed to get so many excellent items; your contribution is considerable! How would you like me to reward you?” Filled with delight, Zhang Xuan looked towards the Golden Origin Cauldron nearby.

This storage ring was certainly not carried openly. Had it not been for the Golden Origin Cauldron’s interrogation, it might have been overlooked. While usually a bit boisterous, the Cauldron proved quite reliable in crucial moments.

“Hehe, as long as Master doesn’t forget to help me enhance my power…” the Golden Origin Cauldron replied.

“Rest assured!” Zhang Xuan nodded. This artifact was merely a low-grade Saint-tier weapon. As long as his artifact-forging skill improved further, he could absolutely help upgrade its rank. The promise to upgrade it had been a key factor in his successful subduing of it. Otherwise, even if Zhang Xuan knew of its weaknesses, a dignified Saint Artifact guarding the Master Teacher Academy would not have agreed so easily! Both threats and incentives are necessary to secure unwavering loyalty from subordinates. If there are only threats without prospects or expectations, disloyalty will inevitably emerge over time.

As he exited the cave with the Golden Origin Cauldron, he immediately saw the Redflame Lion, Tiger-Head Beast, and other Beast Kings approaching.

“What’s the situation?” Zhang Xuan asked, looking at them.

“Reporting, Master! All spirit beasts that were engaged in battle have now assembled at the foot of the mountain, awaiting your command!” The Redflame Lion promptly replied. After the previous events, they were all utterly devoted to their young master, no longer daring to entertain any rebellious thoughts.

“Let’s go see!” Zhang Xuan nodded, then strode towards the base of the mountain.

The spirit beasts of Cloudmist Ridge were neatly arranged at the mountain’s base, tens of thousands of them densely packed. Zhang Xuan’s arrival immediately caused a stir, and they all widened their eyes, unsure of what was happening. They had been in the middle of fighting the Master Teacher Academy when they were summoned here, completely unaware of what had transpired or how the Beast Kings and humans had negotiated.

“To enhance their strength, spirit beasts must not only absorb the essence of the sun and moon and spiritual energy, but also learn from humans and cultivate…” Upon reaching them, Zhang Xuan wasted no words. His resonant voice rang out.

As he approached the mountain’s base, Elder Mi finally arrived at Thunderfar Peak. Nearly two hours had passed since Zhang Xuan and Elder Mi went to Cloudmist Ridge for negotiations. Elder Zhao Bingxu had already gathered all the students and brought along Master Mu and several other prominent elders. Seeing only Elder Mi return, with no sign of the Academy Head, everyone’s expressions turned grim.

Unable to restrain himself, Zhao Bingxu stepped forward, “Where is the Academy Head? Is he alright?”

“Mi Zhu, how could you allow the Academy Head to take such a risk? If anything happened, how could you face all the teachers and students?” Wei Ranxue’s beautiful eyes widened, her glare so intense it seemed she wished to devour Elder Mi on the spot.

Upon hearing Zhao Bingxu’s report that the Academy Head had gone to Cloudmist Ridge to halt the battle and minimize student casualties, everyone was beside themselves, nearly scared to death. What kind of place was Cloudmist Ridge? It was a place teeming with spirit beasts and Saint Beasts; humans who entered rarely returned. Now that they finally had a new Academy Head, if he were to be lost there, they would undoubtedly be historical sinners, a stain no one could ever erase.

“I…” Elder Mi offered a bitter smile. Even if he wanted to, could he truly stop what the Academy Head intended to do?

“Alright, enough talk. Why are you back? Where is Martial Uncle now? How is the situation in Cloudmist Ridge?” Interrupting the barrage of questions, Master Mu looked at him. “I’ve heard that none of Cloudmist Ridge’s Ten Kings are easy to deal with; they are all filled with animosity towards humans. Going there for negotiations so rashly must have led to considerable trouble, didn’t it?” The others also looked on in unison.

“Trouble…” Elder Mi hesitated, unsure how to begin. There was trouble, but not for them. After a moment of struggle, organizing his thoughts, Elder Mi finally spoke again.

“The situation is this: The Ten Kings met us in a cave to discuss how to resolve the conflict. The Academy Head… stepped out for a while, and then… then… nine of the Ten Kings became his tamed beasts… and three thousand flying spirit beasts also acknowledged him as their master! In other words, currently, apart from the spirit beasts still fighting, all the Saint Beasts, Sub-Saints, and Half-Saints in Cloudmist Ridge are now the Academy Head’s personal property…”

Before he could finish, he noticed the sudden silence around him. He looked up in confusion to see all the elders and Master Mu staring with wide eyes, their jaws agape, looking utterly bewildered. Anyone who heard this news would likely have the same reaction.

He went back to negotiate, and ended up taming all their spirit beasts and Saint Beasts… Is that even real? That wasn’t a negotiation; it was a raid on their stronghold! Does it have to be so exaggerated?

“That’s exactly how it is…” Knowing they wouldn’t believe him, Elder Mi wore a helpless expression. To be honest, if he hadn’t witnessed it himself, even he wouldn't have dared to believe it. The latent threat posed by the spirit beasts of Cloudmist Ridge had persisted since the Master Teacher Academy’s establishment. Numerous Academy Heads had attempted to resolve it, only to return without success. Yet, this Academy Head Zhang, even before his succession ceremony, had already neutralized their stronghold! He not only eradicated the root of the problem but also tamed all the spirit beasts and Saint Beasts, essentially providing a massive boost to the Master Teacher Academy. With the combined might of Cloudmist Ridge, the academy’s overall strength would see a direct surge, perhaps even elevating its standing among the four major academies under the Qingyuan Empire.

“Where is the Academy Head now?” After hearing such a legendary tale, Zhao Bingxu’s head spun.

“He instructed me to return first to organize the students, while he remains in Cloudmist Ridge!” Elder Mi replied.

“Zhong Dingchun, you take these students to the Physician Academy for treatment immediately. Xu Changqing, instruct the students of the Martial Skills Academy to be ready for battle at any moment. The rest of you elders, come with me to Cloudmist Ridge!” Knowing his Martial Uncle was still in Cloudmist Ridge, Master Mu gave his orders. The severely injured students urgently required treatment, a duty that fell squarely on the Physician Academy. Meanwhile, if the spirit beasts were to attack again, the Martial Skills Academy, possessing the strongest combat power, would undoubtedly have to lead the charge.

“Understood!” Zhong Dingchun and Xu Changqing nodded in unison.

“Let’s go!” Master Mu nodded, then led the numerous elders as they flew directly towards Cloudmist Ridge.

“Look, what’s that?” Before they even arrived, they saw countless spirit beasts gathered at the base of the mountain, each one lying on the ground with gentle eyes, completely devoid of their previous ferocity and menacing demeanor. At the forefront of the spirit beasts, a young man stood atop the back of a Saint realm Beast King. His gentle voice flowed outwards, spiritual energy converging around him like scattered flowers falling from the sky, leaving the many spirit beasts utterly mesmerized. This was the ability only Five-Star Master Teachers possessed: words that gathered spiritual energy, speeches that were like lotuses blooming from the mouth!

“Is this… a lecture for spirit beasts?” The many Master Teachers were dumbfounded. They had witnessed lectures given to students and cultivators, but this was their first time seeing a lecture for spirit beasts. Most crucially, these spirit beasts were actually listening intently, some even using their noses and hooves to take notes on the ground…

“…Alright, today’s lesson concludes here. You may all disperse!” As they stood in shock, Zhang Xuan’s voice drifted over.

“Roar!”“Roar!”

Upon hearing this, instead of dispersing, the many spirit beasts all raised their heads, their roars piercing the sky. Then, one by one, they rose from the ground, a drop of fresh blood appearing on each of their foreheads, flying directly towards Zhang Xuan.

“Oh my…” Seeing the sky filled with drops of blood, threatening to engulf him, Zhang Xuan’s body swayed, and he nearly fainted. *I merely gave a casual lecture; I didn’t ask you to acknowledge me as your master… Besides, even if you wanted to acknowledge me as your master, why the rush? Nearly a hundred thousand spirit beasts, one drop of blood each… that’s enough to fill a swimming pool…*

While he was exasperated, Master Mu and the other elders were absolutely stunned. The Academy Head had not only subdued the Ten Kings but had also tamed all the spirit beasts in Cloudmist Ridge. One hundred thousand spirit beasts, with a single command, could instantly overwhelm even a first-tier empire like the Hongyuan Empire!

“To make so many spirit beasts acknowledge him as master at once, resolving such a massive hidden threat… this, this… his contribution is immeasurable. I must report this to the Beast Hall!” Elder Mi trembled. After a single lecture, all the spirit beasts of Cloudmist Ridge directly acknowledged him as their master. Such an achievement was unprecedented and likely impossible to replicate… his merit was truly immense! Coupled with taming the Ten Kings and countless Sub-Saints and Half-Saints, he had completely resolved the academy’s hidden threats… Before this, he was merely an ordinary Seven-Star Beast Tamer with no remarkable contributions. Now, however, the sheer scale of his merit was almost inconceivable! He truly remained inactive until he acted… and when he did… he left everyone utterly flabbergasted!

“Fortunately, I was clever enough to help him apply for Seven-Star Beast Tamer and prevented him from coming for the assessment. Otherwise, the entire Beast Tamer Academy… who knows what state it would be in!” Amidst his shock, Elder Mi also let out a sigh of relief. Having witnessed the sorry state of the Artifact Forger Academy, Physician Academy, and Alchemist Academy, he had feared that this new Academy Head would come to assess Beast Tamers, which was why he applied in advance. Now, it seemed this had been the wisest decision. Otherwise, if all the spirit beasts and Saint Beasts in the entire academy acknowledged him as their master… the other Beast Tamers would be in an uproar!

“Let’s go…” Suppressing their astonishment, they all flew over in unison.

Upon reaching him, they saw the young man sporting an expression as if he were about to cry.

“Greetings, Academy Head!” they all said, cupping their fists.

“You’re here… Have these spirit beasts gone mad? They insist on acknowledging me as their master… Elder Mi, you’re the head of the Beast Tamer Academy; is there any way to stop this?” As if seeing a savior, Zhang Xuan looked at him, his eyes tinged with red. He truly had only intended to lecture, simply wanting these creatures to be obedient. He genuinely hadn’t intended for them to acknowledge him as master!

“Stop it? No…” Elder Mi quickly shook his head. These spirit beasts were so difficult that others struggled to tame even one. Yet he had tamed them all at once, and still wore this expression… Academy Head, if you continue like this, other Beast Tamers will want to kill you!

Hearing there was no solution, Zhang Xuan’s face was filled with grief and indignation, feeling as though a mouthful of fresh blood was about to spurt out, and a miserable cry involuntarily escaped his lips.

“This is a calamity!”