Chapter 945: Given you three minutes

Before they even arrived, they saw that the training grounds were packed with people. Nearly all the academy's students had gathered, and the crowd surged, making it even livelier than the succession ceremony.

The selection of Combat Masters was a grand event that occurred only once a century. It offered a chance to witness the strongest combat power at their level, and no master teacher would willingly miss such a spectacle.

Not only were there people from the academy and the Master Teacher Pavilion of Hongyuan Empire, but many master teachers from Pavilions in neighboring empires had also come to observe, each one visibly excited.

"Although Combat Masters are just an ordinary branch of the Master Teacher Pavilion," Zhao Bingxu explained, "those who are selected gain access to more resources and can cultivate much faster. Many wish to become a part of it."

Normally, Combat Masters do not hold a higher status than Master Teachers. After all, they primarily oversee battles and possess astonishing combat prowess, but they are not skilled in auxiliary occupations.

However, once they become a member, they receive specialized training and advance rapidly—making progress easier than for a regular Master Teacher.

For this reason, becoming a Combat Master is the dream of countless Master Teachers.

Unfortunately, the requirements are exceedingly strict, demanding exceptional combat talent. Among ten thousand Master Teachers, there might not even be a single one who qualifies.

"Does the principal have any interest in taking the Combat Master exam?" Mid-sentence, Zhao Bingxu suddenly remembered how formidable the principal standing before him was and couldn't help but glance over.

Among the academy's many students, he wasn't overly confident about most, but for the person standing before him, he could guarantee 100% success if he chose to take the exam.

"Me? No interest!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He aimed to emulate Master Kong, learning various professions to become a true Master Teacher who could educate and impart knowledge across the world.

If he became a Combat Master, focusing solely on combat, how would he resolve the innate fetal poison within him?

He genuinely had little interest in that profession.

"That's good..." Zhao Bingxu breathed a sigh of relief.

If the principal were to take the Combat Master exam and leave, the academy would likely fall back into chaos.

Finding another principal whom all ancestors approved of and all teachers and students admired would likely be impossible.

"Hello, Principal! Hello, Elder Zhao!" As they spoke, the two arrived before the training grounds. Seeing them, all the students bowed in unison, their eyes filled with respect.

"The principal is back!""I heard the principal went out this time to take the Six-star Master Teacher promotion exam. Is he back already because he finished it?""He must have finished it. Is there any question about the principal's strength? A Six-star Master Teacher is nothing to him!""Exactly! Forget the Six-star Master Teacher exam, I wouldn't be surprised if he took the Seven-star one right now..."

As the news spread, nearly all the students became aware of the principal's arrival, and their eyes shone with excitement.

While they might still hold some awe for the various elders, for this principal, who was even younger than them, there was only admiration, bordering on blind adoration.

Having personally witnessed the principal create miracles, they now found nothing he did too surprising; in fact, they considered it perfectly natural.

"Where are the other elders and the people from the three great academies?" After nodding to the enthusiastic students, Zhang Xuan frowned.

Although there were almost entirely students from Hongyuan Academy and many from the Master Teacher Pavilion, he did not see any students or elders from the other three academies.

"They are on that flying ship..." Zhao Bingxu said, pointing.

Following his gaze, Zhang Xuan immediately spotted a colossal flying ship suspended in the sky, supported by eight sacred beasts at both its front and rear. It was so vast it seemed to blot out the sun, exuding an invincible aura.

He had been focused on the numerous students earlier, and the ship was flying so high that he hadn't noticed it right away.

He focused his gaze and looked. He then saw three old men standing on the deck, their hands clasped behind their backs, appearing to survey the land with an air of authority.

As for Elder Mi and the others, they were hovering in front of the flying ship, seemingly engaged in a conversation with those on board.

"They haven't come down?" Zhang Xuan frowned, a hint of displeasure on his face.

They had arrived at the location but refused to disembark from their flying ship, clearly showing a lack of respect and a degree of disdain for Hongyuan Academy.

"Elder Mi is likely negotiating with them, but it's been half a day, and it seems... to no effect!" Zhao Bingxu's expression was also displeased.

To arrive at Hongyuan Academy not for a proper visit with their students, but instead to approach in a flying ship, was akin to riding a horse into someone's living room—a clear sign of extreme disrespect.

Before going to find the principal, he had already instructed Elder Mi and others to negotiate. Yet, the other party was still on their ship, and none of the elders had even managed to board the deck, indicating that their efforts had clearly failed.

"Tell them that I, the principal, invite them to come down and watch the selection from the spectator stands!" Zhang Xuan instructed.

"Understood!" Zhao Bingxu nodded, then added, "But... what if they still refuse to come down?"

Elder Mi and the others had tried and failed; even mentioning the principal's name probably wouldn't have much effect!

Frowning, Zhang Xuan held up a finger. "Give them three minutes!"

"Three minutes?" Zhao Bingxu was startled, and his mouth twitched.

From the principal's tone, this... this was definitely going to cause trouble!

But... among the four great academies, Hongyuan was the weakest. If trouble really broke out, they would certainly be at a disadvantage.

After a moment's hesitation, he quickly tried to dissuade him. "Principal, they have traveled a long way. If we make a move against them, we will easily face criticism..."

Guests from afar should be treated with courtesy. If they were beaten at their doorstep, wouldn't Hongyuan Academy suffer similar treatment when visiting them a century later?

"Make a move? You're overthinking it!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "We are Master Teachers; we are civilized people. How could we just resort to violence? Besides, all three of their principals are Seven-star Master Teachers. We'd have to be capable of defeating them first!"

With Seven-star Master Teachers among them, whose minimum strength was at Saint 2-dan, it would be impossible to win unless he deployed the Golden Origin Cauldron and the Violetglen Beast to besiege them.

And besides, constantly talking about fighting and killing—can't we be a little more refined?

We are all teachers, people of status. Regardless, we should act more maturely!

Zhang Xuan gave him a disdainful look.

"Cough, cough!" Seeing that look, Zhao Bingxu felt utterly dazed. He couldn't help but blurt out, "But the principal said... three minutes..."

If any other principal claimed to be civilized, he would believe them!

But this one... why was he so hard to believe?

A civilized person who instantly proposed a life-and-death duel? A civilized person whose single action turned the Physician Academy into ruins?

A civilized person who cleared Record Mountain and even dismantled the disobedient puppets into pieces?

Could he possibly be any more civilized?

"Oh, what I meant was, if they don't come down in three minutes, I'll use other methods to make them descend!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand. "Alright, go and do as instructed!"

"Uh, alright!" His brows furrowed in a knot, Zhao Bingxu was filled with apprehension, having no idea what method the principal intended to use.

However, since the principal had spoken, he could only obey. Without another word, he shot forward, flying directly towards the flying ship.

In the air, Elder Mi and the others looked at the three old men on the deck and the many students behind them, feeling utterly helpless.

Just as Zhao Bingxu had mentioned, they had been trying to persuade them for half a day, but the visitors refused to descend. As all were Master Teachers, they couldn't openly fall out, so they were simply stuck hovering there, wasting time.

"Elders, please descend first. We won't be accompanying you!" Wu Tianqiong said, stroking his beard with a smile.

"This..." Seeing that persuasion was truly futile, Elder Mi and the others were about to give up when Zhao Bingxu flew over.

"To the three principals, I am Elder Zhao Bingxu of this academy," Elder Zhao said, cupping his fists. "Our principal hopes that you and your students will come down for a gathering!"

"Your principal has arrived?" The three principals simultaneously looked down, hoping to spot the legendary new principal. However, there were simply too many people below, making it difficult for even them to identify him without prior knowledge.

"Yes!" Zhao Bingxu nodded.

"Since he's here, we won't make things difficult for you," Wu Tianqiong said. "Please pass on a message: tell him that when the competition begins, we will send our people down to participate, ensuring no delay to the Combat Master selection!"

"This..." Seeing that the other party clearly had no intention of descending, Zhao Bingxu grew anxious, recalling the principal's words. He couldn't help but blurt out, "Please, three principals, it would be best if you came down. Our principal... has a rather volatile temper and can be quite eccentric. I fear... if things turn unpleasant, it wouldn't be good!"

Although the principal hadn't specified his method, Zhao Bingxu harbored an ominous premonition.

What he said was sincere, but to the others, it sounded distinctly like a veiled threat.

"A volatile temper? Unpleasant? Has he become so arrogant just after becoming principal?" Shen Pingchao was the first to lash out, his face darkening. "Young people shouldn't assume that a few achievements mean they can look down on everyone! Our Luoqing Academy is not your Hongyuan, and I am not one of your elders who must obey his every whim! I won't descend today. Are you suggesting you can force me off this ship?"

"Principal Shen is right," Wu Ran added, his face turning ashen as he flicked his sleeve. "If we don't descend, will your Hongyuan resort to force? Tell your principal that young people should be cautious with their words and actions. We originally admired his achievements, but we never expected such arrogance. He shouldn't ruin his own future!"

"A bad temper, causing unpleasantness... are they easy to deal with?"

If true unpleasantness arises and our three great academies unite, it will be your academy that suffers, alright?

"I... I didn't mean that..." Zhao Bingxu hadn't expected his well-intentioned warning to be misunderstood. He wanted to explain but didn't know how to begin, and his anxiety grew.

The principal had only given three minutes, and given his personality, who knew what he might do?

What if he mobilized the numerous spirit beasts from Cloud Mist Ridge for a siege? Before the four great academies could even begin their selection, they might already be engaged in a fierce, life-or-death battle!

If that truly happened, the four great academies might well become the laughingstock of the entire continent!

"If that's not what you mean, then what is it?" Wu Tianqiong, with his keen insight, immediately discerned that Zhao Bingxu had something to say but was hesitating to voice it. He looked at Zhao Bingxu directly. "Tell us, then, what did your principal send you here to say?"

"The principal, he..." With a conflicted expression, Zhao Bingxu knew that concealment was pointless and would only lead to more chaos. He gritted his teeth and confessed, "He said to tell you to descend within three minutes, otherwise... he will use other methods to resolve this issue..."

"Three minutes?" They had expected the principal to send some polite words. Upon hearing this, Elder Mi and the others' vision swam. "It's over... this is going to escalate into a fight!"