Chapter 939: Zhang Xuan's Tall and Heroic Bearance

Upon hearing the command, the Ziyang Beast swayed and dived straight down, reaching the outskirts of the plaza in front of the Alliance in the blink of an eye.

He had once competed in a grand competition on this very plaza, battling against geniuses from over twenty first-tier kingdoms to earn qualifications to enter the Master Teacher Academy. Although only a few months had passed, recalling it now felt like a lifetime ago.

Back then, he was full of youthful vigor and boundless energy, his aura soaring to the heavens, unmatched by anyone. Now, he was clearly much more composed.

"So, Teacher came from here?" Luo Qiqi asked, her face full of curiosity as she looked at the massive plaza before them.

In her eyes, her teacher was a person of exceptional talent; even among the younger generation of Sage Clans, few could compare to him.

It was incredible that such a figure was not from a prominent family, but had emerged from such a small place.

Although this plaza seemed spacious, it paled in comparison to the sacred mountains and spiritual lands of true Sage Clans; they were simply not on the same level.

Not to mention anything else, the spiritual energy concentration here was simply too poor, incredibly sparse; a month of cultivation at the Master Teacher Academy would likely surpass a year of cultivation here.

Knowing her thoughts, Zhang Xuan smiled and did not reply.

If it hadn't happened, he might have also lived a mediocre life and ended his days in Tianxuan Kingdom.

But... there are no 'ifs'; their destinies had changed, and they could only move forward step by step, without retreating.

After having the Ziyang Beast wait in the air, Zhang Xuan and the others walked along the street towards the plaza.

The plaza was now packed with people, countless cultivators standing in place, all looking straight ahead where a massive stone statue was slowly being erected.

"What's going on here?" Zhang Xuan wondered, full of doubt.

This plaza was usually very quiet, being close to the Alliance Leader's Residence and the Master Teacher Pavilion of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance. Why were so many people gathered here? What was all this about?

"Look, that's Master Zhang!"

"Indeed, he's so handsome and exceptionally dignified!"

"Of course," one said, "Master Zhang is my idol. My greatest goal in life is to achieve even one ten-thousandth of what he has."

"It's not just you," another chimed in, "everyone here takes Master Zhang as their idol!"

"Yeah! I heard Master Zhang went to the Master Teacher Academy. I wonder when he'll come back and teach us another class..."

"Being able to hear his lecture is something countless people dream of. Don't even think about it; it's your fault you didn't come last time!"

"You talk as if you were there... Weren't you absent too?"

Before even reaching the plaza, they heard the crowd buzzing with discussion. Countless young people, men and women, looked towards the center of the plaza, their eyes filled with excitement and admiration.

"Excuse me... who is this Master Zhang you're all talking about?"

Hearing the discussions and key phrases like "Master Teacher Academy," Luo Qiqi couldn't help but ask. She stepped forward, looked at a young man, and inquired.

"You don't even know Master Zhang? How ignorant can you be..."

Hearing that someone didn't even know Master Zhang's name, the young man was about to scold her, but when he saw Luo Qiqi's appearance, he immediately stopped, his face flushing crimson and looking flustered. "Oh, you're asking? Master Zhang, his given name is 'Xuan' (悬), and he's the greatest master teacher the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance has ever known..."

Luo Qiqi's beauty was enough to captivate countless men anywhere. The fact that this young man could still speak after suddenly seeing her showed that his self-control was quite good.

"Xuan? As in the 'xuan' (悬) for hanging?"

Hearing that they were discussing him, Zhang Xuan's face was full of odd expressions. After the other person confirmed it, he couldn't help but ask, "Zhang Xuan? When did he... become your idol?"

He had been gone for several months now, so why were they talking about him?

An idol, the greatest master teacher... What was going on?

"How presumptuous! How dare you call Master Zhang by his full name and utter such disrespectful words? Who gave you the nerve?"

Just as he was about to ask more questions to understand what was happening, a loud shout rang out.

Immediately, a proud young man walked over.

He looked sixteen or seventeen, dressed in luxurious clothes, and as he walked, he carried a powerful aura, indicating his high status.

The moment he appeared, coupled with his loud voice, immediately drew the attention of many. They all looked over, and after a quick glance at Zhang Xuan, they were drawn to the four beautiful women beside him.

Yu Fei-er, Luo Qiqi, Hu Yaoyao, Dong Xin... Each of them was a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. For four such women to appear at once and be with one young man, anyone would find it strange.

"His Eighth Highness has always been a philanderer. Seeing so many beautiful women, he must want to show off in front of them!"

"He can't even find trouble when he looks for it. Isn't he just walking into a trap? Daring to call Master Zhang by his full name... he's truly got some nerve!"

"Master Zhang is an idol worshipped by countless young people in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance. Especially His Eighth Highness, who takes him as his lifelong goal... And he even said 'xuan' as in 'hanging by the neck'... What the hell! He's so tactless, he deserves whatever trouble he gets into!"

"He's asking for death; no one else is to blame!"

Those who knew the full story all sneered, waiting to watch the show.

This young man was the eighth son of Alliance Leader Zhao of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance, the younger brother of Zhao Feiwu, and only sixteen years old.

Although young, his reputation wasn't very good.

He was greedy for beauty, arrogant and unruly, conceited, and his conduct was disgraceful...

However, his behavior had improved a few months ago. It was said that his sister had lectured him severely, and he vowed to take Master Zhang as his role model, cultivate diligently, and strive to become a powerful expert like him. Because of this admiration, he detested anyone speaking ill of Master Zhang.

This fellow directly asked if it was the 'xuan' (悬) for 'hanging by the neck'... This was simply disrespectful to Master Zhang. No wonder this guy got angry. And with so many beautiful women around, it would be strange if he didn't put on a show of temper.

"Wait... don't you feel that this young man... looks familiar?"

Some people discussed it, and others found it strange. The young man surrounded by the four beauties looked somewhat familiar, as if they had seen him somewhere before.

"I also feel he looks familiar, but I can't quite place him..."

With that said, the crowd echoed the sentiment, and many frowned.

"Disrespectful? How is it disrespectful? Can't I even say the name 'Zhang Xuan'?" Zhang Xuan was dumbfounded and couldn't help but shake his head.

His own name had become a taboo, making him not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Of course you can't!" The young man narrowed his eyes. "Normally, if you were a bit rude, it might be forgivable, but do you know what day it is today?"

"What day?" Zhang Xuan was even more puzzled.

It was already strange enough that he couldn't say his own name, but now even the date mattered?

"Today is the day Master Zhang's statue is erected! As a citizen of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance, how can you not know? What kind of etiquette is that?"

Hearing that he didn't even know what day it was, the young man instantly bristled with anger.

Others were also full of doubt. Even if he didn't know the date, he could surely see so many people on the plaza! To claim ignorance of such a grand event of the Alliance—was this intentional contempt, or dissatisfaction with the Alliance?

"Master Zhang's statue being erected?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned and immediately looked towards the statue he had seen earlier.

Before, he had only glanced at it without paying much attention. Upon closer inspection, he saw the statue was dressed in a Master Teacher robe, one hand behind its back, the other holding a writing brush. Its gaze was directed towards the heavens, as if piercing through ancient and modern times, spanning a thousand years. Its entire being exuded an inspiring righteousness that made it impossible to look directly at.

Beneath it was a phoenix, ridden astride, with its wings spread wide, giving the impression that it could soar into the sky and fly through the nine heavens at any moment.

"That's me?"

Zhang Xuan's eyebrow twitched, his mouth quivered, and his face trembled. "Good heavens... that's ugly!"

The statue in the center of the plaza was tall and majestic, with exquisite craftsmanship. The materials used were also very rare. From any perspective, it was excellent; one could tell at a glance that it was the work of a master sculptor...

It just had some subtle differences from his actual appearance. Especially in terms of temperament, it was too grand and imposing, depicted as heroic and handsome, with an awe-inspiring aura. This made it feel less like him.

And... a phoenix? When had he ever ridden one of those? He hadn't tamed any spirit beasts or saint beasts that looked like that!

He had tamed so many savage beasts, spirit beasts, and saint beasts. The closest one was the Azure Eagle Beast, which only resembled an eagle and had no connection to a phoenix whatsoever!

Sitting cross-legged on the phoenix's back, soaring into the sky—so majestic and ostentatious—was that really him?

Why did he find it so hard to believe?

If they hadn't told him it was supposed to be him, he wouldn't have guessed it even after looking at it all day.

When had he become so tall and imposing?

Was this sculpted according to Master Kong's standards?

Otherwise, that compassionate gaze, that benevolent and loving aura in its eyes... What the hell was that?

It wasn't just him; Luo Qiqi and the others also twitched their eyelids upon seeing the statue. Especially Hu Yaoyao. Others might hold Master Zhang in high regard, but she had personally experienced his true nature.

A master who would con people without batting an eye, and the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance actually sculpted such a tall statue for him? More importantly, the depicted temperament and demeanor were too far from his actual self!

Shaking off his vexation, Zhang Xuan said, "As far as I know, this Master Zhang isn't dead yet, is he? So why erect a statue?"

Erecting statues and building ancestral halls are things done after one's death. He was still alive and well, so what was the point of this?

"You dare to curse Master Zhang?"

It would have been better if he hadn't said that. Upon hearing it, the young man trembled with rage. "Master Zhang's lecture benefited millions in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance simultaneously," he retorted. "They collectively honored him as their teacher... What's wrong with erecting a statue for him and worshipping him constantly?"

"Lecture?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned. Only then did he remember that after the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance Grand Competition, he had given a lecture. At the end, he had even taken out a writing brush, drawn a phoenix, sat on it, and flown away...

Could it be that the statue depicted that scene?

If that were the case, he truly had ridden a phoenix. But at the time, it was just for show and to add to the grandeur. He never expected the Alliance people to take it seriously and actually sculpt him like this, for constant worship...

Wasn't this too much of a joke?

Zhang Xuan's face was full of conflicted emotions.

Telling these people he wasn't that majestic would be like slapping their faces. But if he didn't say anything, he felt a bit ashamed.

It truly was a difficult choice to make!