Chapter 919: Enjoy Beating Me

They had been wondering what aspect Master Zhang would choose to address with only three sentences.

If he wanted to showcase his abilities, whether it was alchemy, medicine, artifact forging, or demonic music, any of them would capture everyone's attention and earn immense admiration.

If he wanted to highlight his achievements, finding Master Wu Yangzi's body, selflessly contributing his artifact forging methods, reviving the Bodhi tree of the Hongyuan Empire's royal family, and taming all the spirit and saint beasts in Cloudmist Ridge—all were astonishing feats, no less impressive than those of any previous dean.

Even in teaching and nurturing talent, his direct disciples, though not immensely powerful themselves, possessed an understanding of cultivation and combat techniques far exceeding many six-star master teachers, to the extent that they were even invited to serve as guest elders at the Combat Techniques Academy.

Each of these accomplishments was exceptionally outstanding and capable of impressing countless ancestors... Yet, he remained silent about all of them, instead declaring his intention to beat people up.

"Brother, we are master teachers, not thugs!"

All the master teachers in the audience were stunned into silence. Countless elders tugged at their beards, drawing blood from their chins without even realizing it.

They had seen people praise themselves endlessly to show off, and they had seen people resort to every possible means, no matter how despicable, to gain power... But they had never witnessed someone summon their ancestors only to declare an intention to assault them.

And to top it off, he said it with such righteous indignation, such a noble and awe-inspiring spirit... "Master Zhang, are you truly not afraid that the ancestors will scratch you to death on the spot?"

Even if he didn't want to gain approval or become the dean, there was no need to act so recklessly.

Zhao Bingxu swayed, nearly falling off the high platform.

Elder Mi and the others also felt their jaws drop, their faces flushed crimson, looking as if they might explode at any moment.

"Beat us up?"

Everyone was dizzy with shock, and even the ancestral spirits on the platform exchanged glances, wishing they could die.

Having all become deans themselves, they had gone through this assessment and had assessed countless successors. They had seen candidates rack their brains to prepare three sentences for approval, but they had never encountered someone who immediately declared an intention to fight.

"Are you crazy?!"

Their faces all darkened. Ancestor Mu Kai frowned, "You only have three sentences. Think carefully about what you want to say; don't speak carelessly!"

"I've thought it over," Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Just let me beat you up!"

With a flicker, he appeared before Ancestor Mu Kai in an instant, turning his palm and pressing forward.

*Boom!*

His true qi surged, creating a powerful sonic boom. The moment he struck, it was clear his power was extraordinary; even a Half-Saint standing before him would likely be killed instantly.

"He's really fighting?"

"What is Master Zhang trying to do?"

"It's over! Once he strikes, he'll surely be accused of great disrespect. Even if they wanted to approve him, it would be impossible!"

The many master teachers in the audience were frantic, while Zhao Bingxu, Elder Mi, and the others felt their hearts twitching, on the verge of collapsing from shock.

Attacking an ancestor was no longer simply a matter of not wanting to be dean; it was a question of whether he could continue to exist in the Master Teacher Academy at all!

Or even in the master teacher profession itself!

"How dare you!"

"Such audacity!"

"You seek death!"

Seeing him attack, the deans all roared. Ancestor Mu Kai's face twitched as he hastily retreated, raising his palm to strike back. Zhang Xuan swayed, dodging the attack, then turned and stepped back.

Ancestor Mu Kai was about to continue his pursuit when his expression suddenly changed. As if realizing something, his pupils constricted, and he trembled involuntarily.

Seeing that he had understood, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and stopped.

However, though he stopped, the other deans did not. They charged forward furiously, their powerful, rebar-like energies aiming to ensnare him.

Seeing his disrespect towards the founding ancestor, everyone was enraged, wanting to teach this new dean a lesson.

"Stop!"

Just as the rebar-like forces were about to envelop Zhang Xuan, a loud shout rang out. It was none other than the founding ancestor, Mu Kai.

All the deans hesitated, then stopped, retreating to their original positions to wait. Several of them gazed intently at Zhang Xuan.

"Master Mu, this new dean shows no respect for seniority, ignores the rules, and dared to attack you. He has violated etiquette; please allow us to deal with him!"

"Master teachers have always valued etiquette. How can anyone be convinced if he is not punished?"

The deans were filled with righteous indignation.

Having served as deans for so many years, they had never seen anyone so audacious.

"Presumptuous!" Seeing the buzzing discussions, Ancestor Mu Kai's face darkened. "We are merely remnants of souls from the past. How could it be proper for us to discipline the current dean?"

Hearing Ancestor Mu Kai, who highly valued etiquette, say such a thing, everyone was stunned and looked over with confusion.

It seemed... you were quite eager to strike earlier yourself!

It was only because he dodged quickly that he wasn't hit... How is it suddenly "improper" now?

"What do we do now?" a dean finally couldn't help but ask.

"What else can we do..." Ancestor Mu Kai's eyes widened, and he waved his hand with a profound sense of righteousness. "Stand there and let him hit you..."

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

The many master teachers in the audience all stumbled, their legs giving out, and collapsed to the floor!

"Stand there and let Master Zhang hit you... What the heck?!"

"Are you sure you're not joking?"

The conscious forms of the deans also exchanged glances, looking as if they had seen a ghost.

Especially the second and third deans, who had deep connections with Ancestor Mu Kai, having been his students and grand-students, and thus understood his character well.

He was upright and unyielding, always placing great importance on etiquette. Yet, this new dean, so audacious and reckless, didn't anger him. Instead, he told everyone to wait to be beaten...

This... this was too absurd.

"Alright, hurry up. We can't stay out here for long, don't waste time!" Ignoring everyone's bewilderment, Ancestor Mu Kai waved his hand.

"Yes!" Seeing the ancestor's displeased expression, the deans gritted their teeth and stepped forward one by one, their faces showing an expression of resigned determination as they looked at Zhang Xuan. "Come, beat us to your heart's content!"

"Pardon me!" Zhang Xuan nodded without another word, stepping forward. His true qi, like a dragon, instantly enveloped everyone.

A moment later, the true qi dissipated, and Zhang Xuan took a step back to the edge of the platform, standing quietly as if nothing had happened.

As for the deans, their faces were pale, as if they had understood something profound. They looked at the young dean nearby with renewed respect.

"Alright, time is short. We shall now decide on his approval!"

Mu Kai said, "I am the first to agree and approve Master Zhang as the dean of the Master Teacher Academy. With him, the academy will surely flourish and advance even further in the future."

"I, the second dean of the Master Teacher Academy, also approve!"

"I, the third dean, agree!"

"I, the fourth dean, second the motion!"

"I..."

"I, the one hundred and second dean, agree with the views of all the preceding deans!"

One by one, the deans stepped forward, their voices like resonant bells, all approving Master Zhang Xuan without hesitation, not a single exception.

"Did I see that right? These deans were beaten up, and they all approved Master Zhang?"

"I'm also confused; I don't understand what happened!"

"Isn't striking a superior a great disrespect? In the past, wouldn't such a situation mean no approval at all? How could this happen?"

"I don't know either. Everything that happens with Master Zhang is just... bizarre."

The master teachers throughout the world were left speechless.

Among over a hundred past deans, only the founding ancestor had received supreme authority. Yet this fellow, after savagely "beating" the many master teacher spirits, not only gained their approval but a hundred percent of it...

How did he directly gain supreme authority...?

Were these deans' consciousnesses masochistic, disliking pleasantries and selecting talent not based on ability, but on a preference for being beaten?

"Since everyone has approved, and time is almost up, let's all return!"

Seeing that everyone had spoken, Ancestor Mu Kai nodded, then turned to look at Zhang Xuan, who was nearby. "Master Zhang, no matter how great your future achievements, I hope you never forget that you were once the dean of the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy!"

With a cupped-fist salute, he said, "Farewell!"

As his voice faded, the figures of the deans grew increasingly faint, simultaneously vanishing into thin air, likely teleported away by the formation.

*Phew...*

Seeing them depart and having received all their approvals, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but exhale in relief.

Knowing that having authority would allow him to read more books, he couldn't help but entertain the idea of obtaining supreme authority.

He had thought for a long time and knew that it would be absolutely impossible to gain 80% of the deans' approval with just three sentences.

Especially since his strength wasn't outstanding, and his master teacher rank wasn't high enough.

Unless... there was a reason they *had* to approve him.

Honestly, it would be difficult for anyone else to find such a reason, but he... actually had one!

A Celestial Master Teacher!

Who would dare deny a master teacher acknowledged even by Heaven itself?

However, this was a public occasion. Revealing his identity as a Celestial Master Teacher would inevitably attract countless assassins and dangers. Yet, he couldn't display it privately to just these few individuals with his current strength.

In desperation, he resorted to this last resort: fighting them, enveloping them with his true qi, and then releasing the aura of a Celestial Master Teacher.

Although it was a bit troublesome, under the interference of his Heaven's Path true qi, even someone hundreds of times stronger than him would find it difficult to detect when trying to investigate.

Having successfully revealed his identity... how could the deans dare utter another word of nonsense!

No matter how formidable, could they surpass Heaven itself?

A Celestial Master Teacher was a title akin to what Master Kong possessed!

Thus, the scene that had just unfolded occurred, and Zhang Xuan became the Master Teacher Academy's only master teacher, since its founding, to be approved by all past deans!

This matter could not be revealed, and since others were unaware of the true reason, they looked at Zhang Xuan again, finding him even more mysterious.

Many students and elders who had previously harbored doubts were now speechless.

With all the deans' approval, what right did they have to question him?

"Excellent. Since Master Zhang has received the approval of all the deans, we will proceed to the next item: forging the Dean's Token!"

Recovering from his shock, Zhao Bingxu looked around and said in a hoarse voice.

"However, before that, Dean Zhang, please give an open lecture!"