Chapter 1160: Bail

"Sigh, I thought there would be some challenge..."

Leaving the Heart-Tempering Bridge, Zhang Xuan sighed.

He had thought that this bridge, as the other party had said, would be difficult to cross and would strongly test one's state of mind. But after actually walking it... he found it was nothing like that at all. He felt nothing, not even a ripple in his spirit.

Going to the Heart Demon Passage, the heart demon wouldn't come out; crossing the Heart-Tempering Bridge, he felt nothing. He couldn't even temper his state of mind... So lonely, so solitary!

Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan, full of regret, came to the room where Master Wu had spoken earlier, knocked, and entered.

Inside, he saw Master Wu sitting in the center, his face ashen and somewhat unpleasant.

"What happened?" Zhang Xuan asked curiously.

When he had parted from this man, he had been all smiles. How had he become like this in such a short time?

Hearing the question, Master Wu rubbed his brow: "Those two just now were from the Qingyuan Empire. They said they came on the emperor's orders, hoping to take away Prince Zhongqing. I just kicked them out!"

"Take away Prince Zhongqing?" Zhang Xuan frowned. "Doesn't this emperor know the crime of framing a master teacher?"

Although he was not a master teacher of the Qingyuan Empire and had not reached七星, he was still the dean of the Master Teacher Academy, backed by over a hundred thousand master teachers... The other party had framed him and been caught, yet before even being tried, they wanted to take him away. This emperor really thought too highly of himself!

If he let them take him away so easily, where would the dignity of the Master Teacher Pavilion stand?

"Regarding this matter, as soon as we arrested Prince Zhongqing, I sent someone to explain!" Master Wu said.

Prince Zhongqing was the first prince of the Qingyuan Empire. If the Master Teacher Pavilion mobilized its full force to arrest him without informing them, it would inevitably cause repercussions.

"Since everything was explained clearly, and this emperor still comes to demand the person, isn't he a bit too bold?" Zhang Xuan asked curiously.

A prince found a deputy hall master of the Poison Hall to come and cause him trouble. And now the emperor... knowing it would offend the Master Teacher Pavilion, still came to demand the person. What were the nobles of the Qingyuan Empire thinking?

Didn't they know that even the imperial family of a titled empire, without the protection of the Master Teacher Pavilion, could fall in an instant?

"I'm not entirely sure either, but I think the root must lie with Deputy Hall Master Tian..."

Master Wu was also somewhat puzzled and shook his head.

The deputy hall master in charge of authority at the Master Teacher Pavilion, before investigating clearly, went with a prince to frame a master teacher. This was clearly unwise. To be honest, even Master Wu thought it was a foolish move.

Of course, the reason they were fine was that they arrived in time. Otherwise, once caught, they would be like fish on a chopping board. If the other party used their methods, they might never clear their names.

He had seen many such cases.

Clearing a name was difficult, but framing someone was easy, especially when two of the most powerful people in the Qingyuan Empire joined forces.

"Hmm!" Zhang Xuan nodded. Just as he was about to share his speculation, they heard a knock at the door, and then a master teacher entered.

"Teacher, the emperor of the Qingyuan Empire, Chu Tianxing, requests an audience!"

"So soon? Let him in!"

Frowning, Master Wu waved his hand.

He had just kicked out the other party's envoy less than five minutes ago, and now the latter came to visit in person. It seemed he had been waiting outside earlier.

The master teacher withdrew. Before long, a middle-aged man in a yellow robe strode in.

This middle-aged man's strength was the same as Master Wu's, also at the Half-Step Nascent Soul stage. His eyes carried a dragon-and-tiger-like authority, clearly the unique aura cultivated from years of holding a high position.

"Master Wu!"

As soon as he entered, he quickly clasped his fists with a respectful attitude.

Although he was the sovereign of the Qingyuan Empire, compared to Master Wu, a deputy hall master of the Master Teacher Pavilion, his status was still somewhat inferior.

"Hmm, sit!"

Master Wu nodded and looked over calmly: "If Your Majesty has come to take Prince Zhongqing away, please don't bring it up! Framing a master teacher is a heinous crime. I have already reported this matter to headquarters. Not only him, but the entire Qingyuan Empire will be subject to review. Please think twice!"

Although the words were not harsh, they gave a feeling of extreme coldness and official formality.

As soon as he spoke, he blocked the other party's intended words in advance.

"Prince Zhongqing doing such a thing truly pains me. However... Master Wu also knows that if it weren't for him, I might have died long ago. So no matter how great his mistake, I am willing to compensate! I hope the Master Teacher Pavilion can give a chance. I will personally apologize to the wronged Master Zhang and beg for his forgiveness..."

Chu Tianxing did not sit down but clasped his fists with a sincere expression.

"Apologize? If apologies were useful, what would we need the Master Teacher Pavilion for?" Master Wu waved his hand: "See the guest out!"

"Yes!" The master teacher who had brought the emperor in nodded and came forward: "Your Majesty, please!"

"This..."

Chu Tianxing's face showed embarrassment. He wanted to say something, but seeing that the other party gave no chance to respond, he could only sigh. Just as he was about to leave the room, a faint voice sounded.

"Master Wu, don't rush to send him away. Didn't he say he wants to compensate? Let me hear how much he is willing to offer for this Prince Zhongqing!"

Turning his head, the speaker was a young man around twenty years old, wearing the attire of a six-star master teacher, sitting in a guest seat not far from Master Wu.

It was Zhang Xuan.

"Master Zhang..."

Unexpected that he would say this, Master Wu glanced at him curiously and then nodded: "Since Master Zhang has said so, tell us how you will compensate!"

"Master Zhang?"

Chu Tianxing immediately understood and came forward to bow: "Prince Zhongqing offended Master Zhang, blind as he was. If Master Zhang can forgive him, I am willing to build a new mansion for the many students of the Master Teacher Academy, unconditionally provide cultivation resources for 100 years! Moreover, from now on, any student of the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy who comes to Qingyuan City can receive a set of techniques and a gift, and will not leave empty-handed."

Knowing that the person before him was Dean Zhang, Chu Tianxing stated his conditions as soon as he opened his mouth.

Truly worthy of being an emperor, he knew what conditions the other party could not refuse.

Since he was a dean, he would surely consider the students. This condition could be said to be very generous.

With the strong support of a titled empire, it was only a matter of time before the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy became the top among the four academies.

"Not enough!"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"This..." Chu Tianxing was taken aback: "I hope Master Zhang will state clearly. As long as the imperial family can bear it, I will not frown even half a time!"

"Simple. Add to the previous conditions 100 high-grade essence spirit stones, and you can take Prince Zhongqing away directly!" Zhang Xuan looked over.

He was currently short of cultivation resources. If he could get them from the other party, it would be much better than detaining a prince.

After all, killing this guy would only take an instant, no big deal.

"100?" Chu Tianxing was stunned, then smiled bitterly: "Master Zhang is joking. Even if the imperial family sold everything, we couldn't come up with that many spirit stones..."

High-grade essence spirit stones were already rare. Even the War Master Hall, a place with no shortage of resources, only had about ten. The Qingyuan imperial family, no matter how strong, could not produce ten times that amount at once.

"Alright, I'll give you some leeway. 50! Bring them, and you can take Prince Zhongqing away. If not, please go back!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

He also knew the other party definitely couldn't produce 100. It was just a matter of asking a high price and settling for a lower one.

"This..."

Chu Tianxing's mouth twitched.

Fifty high-grade essence spirit stones were also beyond his means.

"Master Zhang, to be honest with you, our Qingyuan imperial family has accumulated over ten thousand years and only has 17 high-grade essence spirit stones... Originally there were many, but they were all bestowed upon princes or meritorious ministers. I will give you all 17, and replace the rest with rare herbs and ores, how about that?"

After hesitating, Chu Tianxing gritted his teeth.

He definitely couldn't produce 50 high-grade essence spirit stones, but... if the other party was willing, he could provide quite a few substitute items.

"Alright. Here is a list of ores and herbs I need. If you can gather them all, the 17 high-grade essence spirit stones are fine. Additionally, I want all cultivation techniques for Saint Realm Triple and Saint Realm Quadruple, the more the better. Copy everything from your imperial library for me!"

Taking out a brush, Zhang Xuan casually wrote a list and said.

He had been planning to upgrade the Golden Origin Cauldron and the Ice Rain Sword when he had the chance. He had the main materials but lacked many auxiliary items. Searching for them himself would take who knows how long. It would be best if this man could help.

"Alright..."

Taking the list and glancing at it, although some items were obscure, with the strength of their titled empire, they should be able to gather them in a short time. Chu Tianxing nodded, flipped his wrist, and first handed over the high-grade essence spirit stones.

"These are 17 high-grade essence spirit stones. Please check them, Master Zhang!"

With a sweep of his divine sense, Zhang Xuan knew the other party hadn't lied. He nodded and casually put them into his ring.

"Please wait a moment, Master Zhang and Master Wu!"

After speaking, Chu Tianxing turned and gave an order.

Truly worthy of being the emperor of the Qingyuan Empire, he moved very quickly. In less than two hours, all the ores and herbs Zhang Xuan had requested were gathered.

Even the books he wanted were all copied.

Many that hadn't been copied in time were brought as originals. Densely packed together, there were tens of thousands of Saint Realm Triple techniques and over ten thousand of Saint Realm Quadruple.

Putting all these items into his storage ring, Zhang Xuan nodded with satisfaction: "Alright, you can take Prince Zhongqing away!"

"Thank you, Master Zhang!"

Relieved, Chu Tianxing quickly looked at Master Wu. Seeing him nod in agreement with Master Zhang's words, he followed a master teacher toward the place where Prince Zhongqing was held.

"Master Zhang..."

Once the other party left, Master Wu looked over with great confusion, not knowing what Zhang Xuan was up to.