Chapter 923: Looked Once

This was somewhat terrifying. He cultivated the Heaven's Path cultivation technique, excelling in body tempering and witch soul cultivation. The opponent also possessed such combat power; could it be that, like him, their soul and physical body were equally strong?

Zhang Xuan secretly warned himself, "Never underestimate any cultivator!"

Since his reincarnation, he had encountered countless powerful cultivators of his age, whom he could easily overwhelm. Over time, a sense of superiority had formed in his heart. Now it seemed true geniuses existed, and they were just as powerful; he simply hadn't met one before.

"Does the Dean want to give it a try?"

Elder Mi asked.

He was quite expectant regarding the person before him. He wanted to see who would have superior combat strength between this new Dean and the former Dean Mo Liuzhen, under similar circumstances.

"Mhm!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

His current strength was 65 million Ding, only comparable to a Half-Saint middle stage cultivator. It was unknown if he could pass the seventh floor. If he could give it a try, he certainly wouldn't decline.

Besides, it was also related to the six-star master teacher assessment.

"I'll take the Dean there!"

His eyes lit up, and Elder Mi hurriedly led the way.

Record Mountain was located near the Elder's Guild. It was built according to the contours of the mountain range, looking like a towering peak from a distance.

"Our Master Teacher Academy's Record Mountain was originally built by Dean Mu Kai, modeled after the Combat Master Hall's Combat Master Pagoda," Elder Mi explained. "Each level is guarded by a specialized puppet. They represent the strongest combat power that can be exerted at that specific level. It's not easy to clear them!"

Arriving before Record Mountain, Elder Mi continued, "These levels demand high combat strength and battle awareness from a person, and they are extremely dangerous. Dean, you must be careful!"

"Dangerous?"

"Yes, because the levels are guarded by puppets that don't know how to hold back. During combat, a slight carelessness can easily lead to danger. Every year, a considerable number of master teachers are severely injured or even die while attempting to clear the levels!"

Elder Mi's expression was solemn.

Record Mountain was not easy to clear. If it were simple, countless people wouldn't be deterred from attempting it. It had been one or two months since the start of the semester, yet hardly anyone had visited it.

"After the Dean enters, if you encounter danger and cannot cope, you must surrender in advance. As long as you shout it out, the puppet will automatically retreat and will not attack again..."

Elder Mi explained further.

Although he had high hopes for this new Dean, his personal strength was, after all, too low. He would definitely encounter danger, so it was better to explain things clearly beforehand.

"Alright!"

Nodding, Zhang Xuan had nothing to hesitate about. He lifted his foot and walked towards the entrance of Record Mountain.

Soon, he arrived at the first room, an empty space several hundred square meters in size. As soon as he stepped in, a puppet greeted him.

The puppet at this level only possessed the strength of a Silkworm Chrysalis realm late-stage cultivator. As soon as it attacked, the wind howled, and it possessed over 30 million Ding of strength.

"Finally, another challenger has arrived, heh heh!"

With a cold snort, the puppet chuckled. Its entire body creaked as it stomped its massive foot on the ground and charged straight forward.

"It's a creation from the Heavenly Craftsman Guild," Zhang Xuan mused. "Although it hasn't reached the Saint-tier standard, it has been endowed with sentience; not bad!"

Knowing that the opponent's strength was far inferior to his own, Zhang Xuan wasn't nervous; instead, he smiled faintly.

This puppet, as he had guessed, was specially refined by the Heavenly Craftsman Guild. However, it was clearly more advanced than the one he had encountered during the two-star master teacher assessment. Although there was still a certain gap before it reached the level of a Saint artifact, it already possessed sentience and even self-awareness.

If more of these could be refined, they could certainly form an army with extremely strong combat power. However, due to limitations in materials and techniques, it would definitely be difficult to achieve.

Two breaths later, the puppet lay on the ground.

Zhang Xuan lifted his foot and walked towards the second floor.

The puppet on this floor possessed the strength of a Silkworm Chrysalis realm pinnacle. It was also no match for him and was easily defeated.

The third floor, as Elder Mi had said, indeed possessed the strength of an early-stage Half-Saint. Zhang Xuan, having just achieved a breakthrough, could defeat a Half-Saint level combat master like Lu Cheng, so this was naturally even easier.

Level after level, Zhang Xuan encountered no hindrance.

At the foot of Record Mountain, Zhao Bingxu, Wei Ranxue, and others heard that the Dean was going to clear the levels, and one by one, they all came forward.

Although most of them hadn't witnessed Master Zhang's combat power firsthand, they knew it must be extraordinary.

This could be seen from students like Wang Ying and Zheng Yang.

How could a teacher who trained such powerful students be simple?

"How many levels do you think the Dean can clear in one go?" Wei Ranxue asked.

Dean Xu Changqing of the Martial Arts Academy stroked his beard and said, "There's no need to doubt the Dean's strength. Just his understanding of martial arts, and his mastery of spear techniques, fist arts, and legwork, far surpasses powerful cultivators of the same rank. If my guess is correct, since former Dean Mo Liuzhen could reach the eighth level, he will definitely be even stronger!"

He had specifically studied Zheng Yang's spear techniques, Wang Ying's legwork, and Liu Yang's fist arts. The conclusion he reached was: peerless among those of the same rank! It could be said that no martial art could compare.

How could a master teacher capable of imparting such powerful martial arts be weak himself?

Even Dean Mo Liuzhen, despite his unparalleled talent, hadn't gained the recognition of all the deans, nor had he condensed a perfect Dean's token. Master Zhang, being able to achieve this, would certainly not have lower achievements in Record Mountain than the former.

"Yes, as we expected, he should be able to clear the eighth level and break Dean Mo Liuzhen's record!"

Zhao Bingxu nodded with a smile.

Previously, they had harbored considerable doubts about the Dean's abilities. However, every prediction they made failed, resulting in them being thoroughly proven wrong.

This time, hearing that he was going to challenge Record Mountain, each of them was filled with excitement, hurriedly looking over. They wanted to witness with their own eyes how Master Zhang would break records and leave behind new legends.

"I think so too..."

Dean Jiang also nodded: "I just want to see how long it will take our teacher to reach the ninth level!"

Others might not know his strength, but he certainly did. Putting aside everything else, just his zither music, which possessed the mastery of a seven-star demonic sound master, could completely achieve killing enemies beyond his level, leaving people utterly unprepared.

With such combat power fully unleashed, clearing the levels would be as simple as walking or eating.

"The former Dean Mo Liuzhen, when he reached the seventh level, took a total of one hour," Zhao Bingxu chuckled. "I think our Dean can finish it in half an hour!"

Dean Zhong Dingchun of the Physician Academy said with a wry smile, "Half an hour... I don't think it will even take that long. Given the Dean's usual style, he might clear eight levels in ten minutes, or worse, destroy the entire Record Mountain..."

"This... is actually quite possible!"

Hearing this, everyone was speechless. They suddenly felt that letting him challenge Record Mountain might be a mistake.

During Master Zhang's time at the academy, he had cleared numerous levels. Wherever he went, nothing remained intact; every place was left in a terrible state. Even they couldn't bear to look directly.

Record Mountain was a relatively important place in the academy. Letting him challenge it... what if he also left it collapsed and shattered? How would they explain it to their ancestors?

After a moment, Dean Song Danqing of the Calligraphy and Painting Academy couldn't help but say, "The previous pandemonium was because he was a student. But now that he's the Dean... he should rein it in a bit, right?"

"Let's hope so..."

Everyone wore expressions of disbelief as they looked towards Record Mountain before them.

Record Mountain hid its levels within the mountain range. From the outside, it was impossible to tell how many levels had been cleared. One could only know by entering or when the challenger emerged.

Numerous elders, knowing the new Dean's formidable strength, guessed it wouldn't take long, and all stood outside to wait. Who knew that once they started waiting, a long time passed.

Half an hour!

One hour!

Two hours...

A day later.

Surprisingly, there was no movement inside, and no one appeared.

"Elder Mi, are you sure the Dean went inside?"

Unable to hold back, Wei Ranxue asked.

"Yes!"

Elder Mi nodded.

He had brought him here yesterday and personally watched the Dean enter; there was no mistake.

"Then why hasn't he come out yet?"

"Given the Dean's strength, he shouldn't be trapped for a day, right?"

"Yeah, did something happen?"

Although they hadn't seen Zhang Xuan personally act, considering his talent in numerous professions, clearing Record Mountain should be easy and pleasant. How could it be that a day had passed, and not even a shadow was seen...

"I'm afraid something really did happen..."

Zhao Bingxu's expression turned grim.

When challenging Record Mountain, if you could pass, you passed; if not, you would come out. But someone staying inside for an entire day upon entering had never happened before.

Even Hu Yaoyao and the others from last time hadn't stayed for so long.

It was clearly not normal.

"Then what do we do?"

Hearing Elder Zhao say this, Wei Ranxue's face was filled with anxiety, and she couldn't help but look over.

The Dean had just taken office and had created such a huge sensation. If something happened because he challenged Record Mountain... that would be truly insane.

"What else can we do?" Elder Mi suggested, "My suggestion is to go in and check... If something really happened to the Dean, we'll rescue him. If nothing happened, we can also find out exactly what did happen!"

"I agree!"

"I agree too!"

The numerous deans nodded simultaneously.

Ordinary students challenging the levels would emerge after two or three hours at most. For a Dean of such high talent not to show up for an entire day, it would be a lie to say they weren't perplexed.

It was simply too unbelievable.

Master Zhang clearing to the eighth or ninth level in half an hour, they could accept. Him turning the entire Record Mountain into ruins in ten minutes, they could also accept... But for him to be inside for an entire day with no activity, as if he had disappeared, made it impossible for them to believe.

"Alright then, let's go in!"

Having made their decision, the elders didn't hesitate. Holding their Elder's tokens, they pushed the door open and walked in. They soon arrived at the first room.

The puppet that had charged at Zhang Xuan upon his arrival was now leaning against the ground, eyes wide, seemingly unable to believe what had happened, even after a day.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing its appearance, Zhao Bingxu couldn't help but ask.

"I lost..." The puppet's eyes were fixed blankly, seemingly so shocked that its sentience felt like it could dissipate at any moment.

"Victory and defeat are common in battle. It's just the first level, it's normal to lose!"

Seeing its state, everyone exchanged glances and shook their heads.

As the puppet of the first level, its strength was the weakest. Anyone who came to challenge could defeat it; there was no need to be so dejected, right?

Offering a word of comfort, Elder Mi seemed to notice something and couldn't help but ask, "You don't seem to have any injuries on you. How were you defeated?"

Hearing this, the puppet's mouth twisted, revealing an extremely wronged expression. "He just looked at me..."