Chapter 920: Donkey Gone Crazy

The process of "condensing the Dean's Decree" is a solemn and sacred act that gathers the collective will of all teachers and students of the Master Teacher Academy. Before this can happen, the new dean must deliver a public lecture.

This lecture allows the entire faculty and student body to evaluate his teaching ability. If his teaching fails to win over the multitude, it would be impossible to gather their collective will, let alone effectively channel it.

"Let's also listen to Zhang Shi's lecture!"

"If his students are so formidable, then their teacher must be even stronger..."

"Excellent! To be acknowledged by all the deans, I'm truly curious what his lecture will be like..."

Everyone's faces showed expressions of anticipation.

Zhang Shi's students could enthrall listeners even when explaining basic cultivation techniques; naturally, as their teacher, he would be even more impressive.

"Since that's the requirement, I'll give everyone a foundational lesson!" Zhang Xuan stepped forward to the edge of the high platform.

Elder Mi had already explained the inauguration ceremony procedures before he arrived, so Zhang Xuan knew a public lecture was mandatory and had no reason to refuse.

Furthermore, having grasped the Heart of a Master Teacher and deepened his understanding of the Way of Teaching, he knew that knowledge could only truly flourish when disseminated, so there was no need to hold back.

"Cultivation is akin to constructing a building; the more solid the foundation, the higher the structure can ascend. Without a firm base, it's merely a castle in the air, a fleeting reflection in a mirror! I will now explain how to break through from the Harmonious Spirit Realm to the Heavenly Bridge Realm..."

Zhang Xuan surveyed the audience, and his calm voice resonated.

Though he did not intentionally project his voice, his steady tones spread outwards, making his words perfectly clear to everyone present.

As he spoke, clusters of spiritual energy descended from the sky, converging to form dazzling white flowers in the air.

Words gathering spiritual energy, lotuses blooming from his mouth!

All the students listened, utterly enthralled and lost in the moment.

The streets outside the Master Teacher Academy were bustling with all kinds of goods—food, lodging, and daily necessities—having long formed a remarkably developed supply chain.

Master Teachers were the wealthiest profession on the continent; anyone who could establish a business here typically earned immense profits, becoming extraordinarily rich.

"Boss, for others, being near the Master Teacher Academy means making money is secondary; the most important thing is getting more exposure to Master Teachers. Once they receive guidance, their strength can significantly improve... So how is it that your strength hasn't changed at all in twenty years?"

Inside a small tavern, a dishevelled swordsman, holding a cup of fine wine, lazily looked towards the owner not far away.

He had visited twenty years prior, staying for several months, and the two had long become well acquainted.

The man standing nearby, around fifty, pot-bellied and appearing like a merchant, was in fact a famous and formidable swordsman decades ago.

However, for reasons unknown, he had retired from the martial world and came here to sell wine. Decades had passed, and while other merchants around him had changed hands repeatedly, he remained in the same spot, his strength showing no change whatsoever.

This left the swordsman feeling utterly perplexed.

"I, too, wish to improve my strength. Unfortunately, over the years, there have been at least eight thousand, if not ten thousand, Master Teachers who've had drinks here... and at least two or three thousand have given me guidance. But alas... my talent is limited to this point; I can make no further progress!"

The owner let out a bitter laugh and shook his head.

As a swordsman who had retired and hung up his blade, he naturally had his own unavoidable reasons for doing so.

He had suffered severe injuries, rendering him unable to cultivate further, his entire cultivation destroyed. He opened a tavern outside the Master Teacher Academy precisely hoping to receive guidance and return to his peak.

Unfortunately, over several decades, despite encountering numerous Master Teachers, not a single one could resolve his underlying physical issues and allow him to wield his longsword again.

He had initially held great hope, but over time, it turned into disappointment. His longsword was no longer as useful to him as a kitchen knife.

"Alas!"

The dishevelled swordsman, guessing the owner's helplessness, took a large gulp of wine, sighed, and was about to offer some comfort, when he suddenly felt all the spiritual energy around them rapidly surge towards the Master Teacher Academy.

"What's happening?"

He frowned.

"I heard today is the new dean's inauguration ceremony. According to standard procedure, he should be delivering a public lecture! For a six-star Master Teacher to gather spiritual energy with his words is nothing surprising..."

The owner glanced over and shook his head.

Master Teachers could gather spiritual energy with their words and cause lotuses to bloom from their mouths once they reached five stars, though the range would not be as broad.

Since the person was the new dean, it was perfectly normal for him to gather spiritual energy during a public lecture.

"Oh..."

The dishevelled swordsman nodded, picked up his wine cup, and was about to continue drinking when he heard a distant voice resonate in his ears: "Cultivation is akin to constructing a building; the more solid the foundation, the higher the structure can ascend..."

The academy's walls marked the voice's boundary. The tavern was right next to the wall, so they could hear it, though faintly and indistinctly.

"This... though the explanation is basic, it directly points to the essence of cultivation..."

After listening for a while, the dishevelled swordsman involuntarily set down his wine cup, his eyes growing increasingly bright. The true qi within his body, accompanying the speaker's words, pulsed uncontrollably, seemingly on the verge of a breakthrough at any moment.

"Amazing..."

To elicit such a reaction from him at such a distance, what level of strength and cultivation had this dean, currently lecturing at the Master Teacher Academy, truly attained?

This was no longer just a lecture; it was almost akin to comprehending the Dao!

"Boss, quickly, come listen..."

Seeing the owner mixing drinks, the dishevelled swordsman couldn't help but call out.

Since the owner's body was damaged and he couldn't continue cultivating, hearing such a lecture might repair his internal injuries and allow him to return to his peak.

"Listen to what? I've met the academy elders before; their specialized guidance couldn't do anything for my condition! What good would a public lecture do...?" The owner shook his head dismissively.

If even specialized guidance from Master Teachers couldn't cure his ailment, could a public lecture really enable him to cultivate again?

What a joke!

After so many years, he had long come to terms with it!

He no longer held Master Teachers in the same high regard as before.

"Really, just come and listen, it will definitely do you good..."

Seeing his disbelief, the dishevelled swordsman was filled with urgency.

He had traveled far and wide, encountered countless Master Teachers, and attended many lectures, but compared to this public lecture, they were miles apart—there was simply no comparison!

Even though he had only heard a few intermittent sentences, he had already benefited greatly.

"I don't believe it!"

The owner shook his head, continued mixing drinks, and didn't bother to come closer.

"Don't believe it? Look at that donkey..."

Seeing that he wasn't coming over, the dishevelled swordsman shook his head, unsure how to persuade him. Then he suddenly spotted something, his eyes widened, and he pointed to a donkey in the courtyard.

It was the donkey the owner used to transport his fine wines.

"A donkey?"

The owner frowned and looked. After just one glance, he involuntarily froze on the spot.

He saw the donkey, which had been his companion for many years, standing with its large ears perked up, pressed against the academy wall, listening intently, completely mesmerized. From time to time, it would snort and nod continuously, as if showing respect.

"A donkey listening to a lecture?"

His pupils contracted.

Legends claimed that powerful Master Teachers could teach without discrimination, imparting correct knowledge to humans and animals alike, enabling them to cultivate obediently.

However, those who could reach such a realm were exceedingly rare; at least, in all his years living outside the Master Teacher Academy, he had never witnessed such a feat.

Now, with the new dean's inauguration, a donkey was actually attending the lecture... What exactly was being taught?

As he pondered this, he saw the formerly ordinary donkey braying towards the sky, its aura rapidly ascending, its strength growing stronger and stronger.

Crack! Crack!

It broke through its realm, transforming from a common, untrained animal into a savage beast!

Owoo! Owoo!

Having broken through its realm, the donkey, now like a martial arts master, emanated a powerful aura and looked over with a challenging gaze.

It seemed as if the oppression it had suffered for years was finally liberated! It was ready to use its hooves to fight against the injustice of fate.

"Even a donkey can break through... Can't you? Surely you're not worse than a donkey!"

The owner's face turned pale.

This donkey he raised was just an ordinary one, without even a trace of savage beast bloodline, yet it broke through after only listening to the lecture for a while... How profound was what was being taught inside?

Perhaps listening for a while could truly resolve the shackles that bound him...

Just as he was about to approach the academy wall, he saw the rooster that was previously awaiting slaughter in the courtyard suddenly leap out of its cage, fly towards the sky, its wings flapping like a phoenix soaring proudly through the nine heavens.

A common domestic chicken, after listening to the lecture for a while, had actually transformed into a savage beast!

Immediately after, the pigs awaiting slaughter, the fish in the bucket... all leaped up one after another, each growing stronger, seemingly ready to escape the courtyard at any moment and flee their fate of being killed.

"This... this..."

The owner rubbed his eyes vigorously.

What exactly did this new dean in the courtyard lecture about? To make these creatures, almost destined to become dishes, all undergo such a complete transformation?

Cluck-cluck-quack!

Before he could recover, he heard a commotion of chickens squawking and dogs barking around him. Numerous wild animals along the street were rapidly advancing, their strength greatly increasing. Even many small vendors who were listening to the lecture felt invigorated and broke through their previous limitations.

In just a short while, the entire street was transformed, completely different from before.

"Quickly... I want to listen to the lecture too..."

Knowing it must be due to the lecture inside, the owner no longer dared to hesitate. He quickly pressed himself against the wall, his ear against it, eager to hear what was being taught inside.

After hearing a few sentences, his eyes glazed over, and he fell into a special state of profound insight, unable to extricate himself.

Boom!

After an unknown period, his cultivation, which had stagnated for decades, finally began to circulate again. With a thunderous roar, it broke through its shackles.

"I succeeded..."

Seeing that he could once again wield his longsword, the owner's body trembled with excitement. Though he didn't know who was giving the lecture, he couldn't help but kneel down, utterly convinced.

The same scene unfolded on all the streets adjacent to the academy.

Among those who listened to the lecture, especially those whose cultivation had reached a certain level, eight or nine out of ten benefited, with many even breaking through their personal limitations!

More commonly, ordinary animals broke through to become savage beasts.

Inside the Imperial City.

A white-haired historian wielded his brush, recording:

Hongyuan Empire, Divine Clarity Calendar, thirty-third year, spring.

Zhang Shi was inaugurated as the Dean of the Master Teacher Academy and delivered a public lecture. Spiritual energy descended, and heavenly flowers scattered. All official members of the Xuan Xuan Society broke through simultaneously, while countless other students also achieved breakthroughs.

To listen to the lecture, all savage beasts and spirit beasts pressed themselves against the Master Teacher Academy's walls. For a time, the streets were emptied of all animals, filled only with the braying of donkeys and the barking of dogs.