Chapter 992: One Finger Defeats Master Zhuo

"Well? Am I qualified to call you Wu Rufeng?"

Seeing that he had finished confirming, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"I..."

Master Wu wanted to retort but found himself speechless, his face flushing red. He waved his hand, saying, "To earn respect, seniority means nothing. What truly matters is... the contributions one makes to the Master Teacher Pavilion and to humanity. Without contributions, no matter how powerful a teacher is, it's useless. Can a teacher really accompany you for a lifetime?"

"Make contributions?"

"Precisely. Only those who diligently and wholeheartedly make significant contributions to humanity are worthy of respect."

Master Wu raised his head. The standard for evaluating a Master Teacher isn't about who has a higher rank or greater power. For instance, You Xu, who was just executed, was a peak six-star Master Teacher, and considering his age... his status wasn't low. But how could someone who betrayed humanity be worthy of respect?

Seeing his face full of pride and his tone arrogant, Zhang Xuan asked, "Judging by your tone, you've dedicated a lot and made significant contributions to humanity?"

"Indeed! From the age of sixteen, when I slew my first Otherworldly Demon, I have now killed a total of forty-seven Otherworldly Demons at or above the Chrysalis Realm! All things considered, I have already accumulated exactly twenty-two contribution points for humanity!"

He let out a scoff, and Master Wu exuded the unique aura and power of a true master.

"That many?"

"Incredible!"

"As expected of Vice Hall Master Wu! With so many contributions, you must rank among the top in the Qingyuan Conferred Empire!"

"A peak seven-star Master Teacher... formidable!"

Hearing his words, Battle Master Liao, Battle Master Zhuo, Wu Tianqiong, and the others on the side all had their eyes light up, each showing signs of respect and admiration. Even Elder Mi, standing nearby, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, looking at Master Wu with newfound respect.

"Twenty-two contribution points? What does that mean?" Puzzled, Zhang Xuan looked towards Elder Zhao Bingxu, who was not far away.

"Killing an Otherworldly Demon counts as a contribution, and saving humans also counts... Contributions naturally vary in magnitude. To better distinguish and quantify them, the Master Teacher Pavilion specifically uses a point system to measure their value!" Seeing that the principal didn't understand, Zhao Bingxu quietly explained. This was a regulation set by the Master Teacher Pavilion Headquarters, which the Master Teacher Academy had not yet implemented. Therefore, there were no related introductions or books on the subject. Although the principal was well-read and knowledgeable, he wasn't entirely clear on this.

Zhang Xuan nodded. That made sense. According to information he had received earlier, contributions could be exchanged for treasures at the Master Teacher Pavilion. If there were no measuring standards, and everyone made contributions, how would one know whose contribution was significant and whose was minor? Even when exchanging for treasures, one would need to know the cost! You couldn't just do something minor and expect to exchange it for an invaluable treasure that couldn't be bought anywhere.

"How are these points... determined?" Understanding this, Zhang Xuan asked.

"Regarding how the points are determined, the Master Teacher Pavilion has a special criterion. I'm not entirely clear on the exact calculation, but... the principal's last feat of taming all the Saint Beasts and Spirit Beasts in Cloudmist Ridge, thereby averting a human crisis... when reported to the Master Teacher Pavilion, it was calculated to be... roughly five contribution points!" Zhao Bingxu thought for a moment and replied.

"Only five points?" Zhang Xuan gasped in astonishment.

The nine great kings of Cloudmist Ridge, each had reached the peak of Saint 1-dan. As for the Spirit Beasts at the Embryo Saint, Half-Saint, and Chrysalis Realm, their numbers were countless. Taming so many, and only five contribution points... In comparison, the other person's twenty-two points, calculated this way, were indeed quite frightening!

"Yes, indeed. Although the Spirit Beasts of Cloudmist Ridge are fierce, they have remained primarily on the mountain over the years, with only a few beast tides occurring. Moreover, with the Master Teacher Academy stationed there, the harm they posed to humanity wasn't significant. That's why... the contributions were fewer!" Zhao Bingxu felt a little awkward. Hearing that the principal only received so few contribution points for taming so many Spirit Beasts, he had specifically inquired about it, and that was the answer he received. The magnitude of a contribution isn't judged by what you did, but by what you did for the entire human race.

Zhang Xuan nodded. The Spirit Beasts of Cloudmist Ridge had hunted members of the Master Teacher Pavilion very secretly. Even Zhao Bingxu and the others knew little about it, believing the beasts merely stayed on the mountain and hadn't launched attacks. Later incidents involving the Azure Horned Dragon Beast and the ruthless individual were too complex, and Zhang Xuan hadn't allowed Elder Mi to disclose them. Since the Headquarters was unaware, it was natural that his merits were underestimated.

"Master Wu, Martial Uncle is young. With his talent and strength, making more contributions is only a matter of time. Besides, capturing You Xu and exposing his true nature reduced the number of 'moles' among humanity..." Seeing that the conversation had turned to contributions, Master Mu interjected to smooth things over. He wasn't aware of the Cloudmist Ridge Spirit Beast incident, but capturing You Xu, a traitor to humanity, also counted as a contribution.

"Capturing You Xu? Hmph, does that even count as one point of contribution?" Master Wu chuckled softly.

"Well... exactly one point!" Master Mu nodded.

"Heh!" Master Wu let out a scoff and looked at Zhang Xuan again: "Principal Zhang, you heard him. While your teacher is indeed formidable, to earn respect, one must either contribute to humanity or possess true strength... I think it's better if you stay here. This time, the ancient ruins are extremely dangerous; it's not a place for play... If you go, I'm afraid no one will be able to look after you if you encounter danger!"

"I..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head.

He was only at the peak of Embryo Saint, and going to ancient ruins where even seven-star Master Teachers could perish was indeed very dangerous. It was understandable that the other party didn't want to take him along. However... judging strength solely by cultivation realm was too arbitrary.

Thinking this, he smiled faintly and looked over: "I wonder... is Battle Master Zhuo qualified to go?"

"Battle Master Zhuo is a Centurion of the Combat Master Hall, and his personal strength has reached the Saint 2-dan Mind Comprehension realm. Naturally, he is qualified to go!" Master Wu nodded.

"Very well..." A smile played on his lips as Zhang Xuan turned to look at Zhuo Qingfeng, his face radiating a gentle smile: "Battle Master Zhuo, do you happen to be free? My cultivation recently had a breakthrough, and I'm looking for someone to spar with..."

"Me?" Zhuo Qingfeng was startled, then hesitated: "Since Principal Zhang has such an interest, I'd be happy to oblige..." To be honest, the Combat Master Hall had been completely dominated by this fellow's students these past few days, and he had long wanted to experience Principal Zhang's strength for himself. Unfortunately, he was as elusive as a dragon showing only its head and not its tail. Now that he had finally seen him and was even being asked to spar, he was instantly full of interest. He couldn't believe that he, a dignified Saint 2-dan expert, couldn't even defeat someone at the Embryo Saint realm!

"Very well then, let's begin!" Zhang Xuan smiled, his body flickered, and he appeared in the center of the hall.

"Here?" Zhuo Qingfeng was stunned: "This is the council hall. If our combat power clashes, I'm afraid the building might collapse..." This was the Elder Council's meeting hall. Although it appeared somewhat spacious, at his level of cultivation, if power were to leak, it could easily cause immense damage. It wouldn't be good if the place collapsed.

"Don't worry, the fight will be over quickly; nothing like that will happen!" Zhang Xuan smiled.

"Over quickly?" Frowning, Zhuo Qingfeng's expression turned a little grim. "Since Principal Zhang insists, then I shall respectfully obey!" With a light hmph, he flipped his wrist, and a long sword appeared in his palm.

"Shouldn't you take out your weapon?"

"Weapon?" Zhang Xuan shook his head: "No need for such trouble. Let's begin!" The golden prime spirit within him had transformed into a purple-gold one, more than doubling his combat power. Even if the opponent was at Saint 2-dan, it was nothing to him.

"Then I won't hold back..." Seeing this fellow was even more arrogant than his students, not even taking out a weapon, Zhuo Qingfeng's face darkened with anger. His long sword vibrated, emitting a whistle, and he thrust it forward first. This time, he didn't suppress his strength. The full power of his Saint 2-dan Mind Comprehension realm erupted, and in an instant, true qi surged throughout the room, roaring like muffled thunder.

"So powerful..." Zhao Bingxu, Elder Mi, and the others turned pale with fright. Even Wu Tianqiong and the others involuntarily had their pupils constrict. By rank, as principals of the Four Great Academies, their strength should be higher than Zhuo Qingfeng's. But if it came down to a real fight... they would certainly lose. Principal Zhang, being only at the peak of Embryo Saint, was so much lower in rank. How could he fight? They quickly looked up and saw Zhang Xuan, facing such a furious sword technique, not only showed no fear but stood motionless with a smile.

"Hmph!" Noticing his disdain, Zhuo Qingfeng's face darkened. His long sword spat out a cold gleam, darting towards Zhang Xuan's chest like a venomous snake. It was merely a sparring match, so he didn't aim for vital points. Nevertheless, even so, if he were hit, the sword qi and rampant true qi would surely inflict severe injuries.

"Heh!" Seeing the opponent's long sword approaching, about to strike him, Zhang Xuan finally extended two fingers and gently pinched it. Zhuo Qingfeng's brilliant sword strike was like a venomous snake caught by its seven-inch weakness; no matter how it struggled, it couldn't break free.

"This..." His pupils constricted, and Zhuo Qingfeng was startled. Grabbing a long sword with bare hands not only demanded exceptional eyesight and timing but, more importantly, immense strength. He was a Combat Master, inherently possessing formidable combat power. His most powerful sword strike was gently pinched by two fingers... How was that possible?

While still in shock, he saw the young man opposite him release the sword with his fingers and lightly flick the flat of the blade.

*Boom!*

Immediately afterward, he felt a colossal force surge along the blade. Zhuo Qingfeng's face turned pale, and he involuntarily retreated seven or eight steps. Each step left a deep footprint on the ground. Even after retreating, he still felt the immense power in the long sword. If he were to endure it directly, it would still be difficult to control, so he leaped back again. He leaped back too quickly, his back striking a pillar in the main hall, his face flushed red, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.

Only then did he feel much better. He hastily put away his sword, clasped his fists, and approached the young man: "Thank you, Principal Zhang, for showing mercy!" If the other party hadn't held back, that last move would probably have flattened him into a meat patty. No wonder he could teach freaks like Zheng Yang and Wei Ruyan... It turns out this teacher is even more of a freak! He had to experience it to know... A dignified Saint 2-dan expert truly couldn't defeat someone at the Embryo Saint realm...

"You're too kind..." He only intended to demonstrate his strength; his goal achieved, there was no need to continue the attack. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhang Xuan turned to Master Wu, who was nearby: "I wonder... with this level of strength, am I qualified to go?"