Chapter 1179: His Name Is Zhang Xuan

The Appraiser Guild.

"Well? My medicine is quite effective, isn't it!"

In the hall, Elder Qi smiled as he looked at the young man before him.

Seeing his handsome face restored in the mirror, the young man finally breathed a sigh of relief, clasped his fists, and bowed: "Thank you for your miraculous medicine, Elder Qi. Otherwise, I don't know how long it would have taken to recover..."

"You're welcome. A healer's heart is like a parent's; it's what I should do."

Elder Qi nodded.

"Jiuxiao, from now on, when appraising, do what you can. If you can't, don't force it. Otherwise, not only will you embarrass yourself, but you might even ruin your identity as an appraiser!"

President Mu, standing to the side, shook his head.

The young man was naturally Zhang Jiuxiao.

Last night, after Zhang Xuan concocted a poison to remove his durian-like hair, the toxicity hadn't been completely eradicated. His face was swollen, making it impossible to go out, so he had stayed here without leaving.

By morning, there was still no improvement, so he had to invite Elder Qi, the former president of the Physician Guild, over.

Although Elder Qi's enemies were powerful, coming to the Appraiser Guild during the day, with the Master Teacher Guild nearby, presumably no one would dare to do anything to him.

"Yes!"

Zhang Jiuxiao nodded.

Last night, relying on his status as a descendant of a great family and his extensive knowledge, he had wanted to shine and impress everyone, but instead... he suffered a humiliating defeat, as miserable as could be.

Just thinking about it filled him with frustration.

Especially his handsome appearance, which had become unrecognizable. Fortunately, it happened within the Appraiser Guild and wasn't discovered by his fans; otherwise, he wouldn't have the face to see anyone.

Of course, the most critical point was that an appraiser could only make three mistakes in a lifetime. Although breaking the seal wasn't considered appraising, it happened in the guild. If the news spread, it would become a lifelong stain.

"It's all that Zhang Xuan... He clearly knew how to break the seal but kept silent..."

Whenever he thought of that innocent smile, Zhang Jiuxiao couldn't help but get angry.

He had already embarrassed himself on the Heart-Tempering Bridge. He thought this time he could regain his dignity and hold his head high, but he never dreamed he would be hit even harder.

"He must have done it on purpose..."

He looked honest and seemed to know nothing, but in reality, he deliberately made him lose face.

"Elder Qi, you said the poison on my face is a type of toxin?"

Regardless, he was a Seven-Star Master Teacher with a strong mind. Although frustrated, he suppressed his feelings and didn't show them on his face.

"It's a very potent poison, probably at the Seven-Star level. If I hadn't been poisoned myself over the years and studied detoxification methods daily, I might not have been able to solve it!" Elder Qi said.

Back then, after being poisoned, he was utterly despairing and fled to Jingyuan City. It seemed like a desperate move, but he had actually prepared for it.

He had heard that Jingyuan City had a Poison Hall, so he went there to try his luck.

In the twenty years there, although he hadn't completely eliminated the poison in his body, he had suppressed it and prevented it from spreading widely.

That was why he was still alive today.

Prolonged illness makes the patient a doctor. Having been poisoned for so long, even though he wasn't a poison master, he knew a great deal about poisons. Poisons that weren't particularly strong could be easily dealt with.

"The medicine Master Zhang gave me was actually poison... Could he also be a poison master?"

Zhang Jiuxiao couldn't help but say.

Poison recipes were highly confidential and generally held by poison masters. For him to casually write one out, could he be a poison master?

"Who is this Master Zhang you speak of..." Hearing his words, Elder Qi looked over.

"Oh, he's a Six-Star Master Teacher from the Hongyuan Empire, named Zhang Xuan." President Mu said.

"Him! He is my lifesaver, and his medical skills are far superior to mine... Most importantly, he is benevolent and kind-hearted. How could he be a poison master!" Elder Qi shook his head.

"Lifesaver? Medical skills even higher than yours, Elder Qi?" Zhang Jiuxiao was stunned.

He could accept that this guy had a higher mental state than him.

He could also accept that his appraising skills were stronger.

But now his medical skills were also superior... Was he the Seven-Star Master Teacher, or was the other one?

Did he have to be so discouraging?

"Fortunately, my master teacher rank is higher than his. In terms of master teacher abilities, I am much stronger. Otherwise, I would really be outshone..."

He breathed a silent sigh of relief and was about to speak when a thunderous voice suddenly rang out.

"I, Zhang Xuan, as a Six-Star Master Teacher, apply to the headquarters to challenge the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Academy, to the death!"

"What? Challenge the academy?"

His body swayed, and Zhang Jiuxiao fell to the ground.

Challenging the academy meant single-handedly taking on a Master Teacher Academy.

Whether there was a conflict or a problem, as long as a master teacher who had made a mistake hadn't betrayed humanity, if they could pass through the various obstacles of the Master Teacher Academy, they couldn't be convicted, and the headquarters would no longer pursue the matter.

He had just thought that he still had the advantage over the other in master teacher rank and wouldn't be discouraged, and now the other was going to single-handedly challenge the Master Teacher Academy...

Was this for real?

Rushing out of the room, he saw a master teacher badge soaring into the sky, suspended in the air.

From the Master Teacher Academy, the Seal Master Hall, a pure aura shot up to the heavens, enveloped the badge, and slowly formed two words: "Approved!"

"The headquarters... approved it? A Six-Star Master Teacher challenging a Seven-Star branch... This is going to overturn history!"

"It's more than overturning. If he really passes... the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Academy will lose all face, unable to hold its head up, and Guild Leader Gou will become a laughingstock among all master teachers..."

President Mu and Elder Qi were dumbfounded.

"Teacher, Elder Qi, as a member of the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Academy, since someone is challenging it, I must return to face the challenge... Farewell!"

Zhang Jiuxiao clasped his fists and hurriedly flew toward the Master Teacher Academy.

When someone challenged the academy, it was like someone crashing the venue. As a master teacher there, he had to go and defend it!

"Zhang Xuan, no matter how talented you are, if you want to challenge the academy... you'll have to get past me, Zhang Jiuxiao, first!"

Clenching his fists, Zhang Jiuxiao narrowed his eyes.

He had been slapped in the face twice in a row. Since that was the case... he would slap back openly and honorably!

...

Qingyuan Imperial Palace.

A middle-aged man with a face like a pig's head lay on the ground, gasping for breath.

Prince Zhongqing.

After a night of continuous slapping, the poison in his body was temporarily suppressed, but he was nearly worn out. If not for his pure cultivation, strong strength, and countless pills to sustain him, he would have died long ago.

Because of slapping him, over twenty guards had been rotated, each with swollen palms and exhausted bodies.

"Your Highness, how do you feel now?"

Steward Qin approached.

"I'm fine... By the way, kill all twenty guards who slapped me! I don't want outsiders to know about my affairs!" Squinting, Prince Zhongqing snorted.

"Rest assured, Your Highness, I've already arranged it..." Steward Qin quickly said.

"Mm."

Struggling to sit on the ground, he regulated his breathing for a while. Feeling somewhat recovered, he looked up again: "Any news from Vice Hall Master Tian?"

"I have already passed the news of Vice Hall Master Tian's imprisonment to Guild Leader Gou, as you instructed..."

At this point, Steward Qin hesitated: "Will Guild Leader Gou save Vice Hall Master Tian? The crime of... framing a master teacher is said to be quite serious!"

"Don't worry, he will definitely save him!"

Prince Zhongqing sneered: "As long as Vice Hall Master Tian is safe, I'll be safe. We might even be able to turn the tables and make Wu Rufeng and this Zhang Xuan suffer!"

"That's good..." Steward Qin breathed a sigh of relief, then asked curiously: "Your Highness, what background does this Zhang Xuan have? A Six-Star Master Teacher not only turned you into this but also made Vice Hall Master Tian fall?"

"No matter his background, offending Vice Hall Master Tian means he's dead for sure... Don't worry, he won't last long. He'll probably be arrested by the Master Teacher Academy today or tomorrow and die in prison..."

Prince Zhongqing waved his hand.

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Xuan's clear voice rang out, shaking the entire world.

"I, Zhang Xuan, as a Six-Star Master Teacher, apply to the headquarters to challenge the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Academy, to the death!"

"Challenge the academy? Haha, a Six-Star Master Teacher wants to challenge the academy? Isn't that suicide? The Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Academy's foundation is such that even an Eight-Star lower-grade master teacher wouldn't dare to challenge it... A Six-Star wants to challenge? He really doesn't know his place!"

Stunned for a moment, Prince Zhongqing burst into laughter, tears almost coming out.

The difficulty of challenging the academy was well known to all master teachers. It was a near-certain death, almost impossible to accomplish.

This guy was going to do it—truly seeking death!

"Your Majesty!"

As he was laughing, he saw Emperor Chu Tianxing approaching with large strides. He quickly called out excitedly: "That Zhang Xuan is going to challenge the academy. It seems that even without my intervention, he won't live long..."

"I've heard of challenging the academy before; it's indeed a death sentence..."

Chu Tianxing nodded, then looked at him with some confusion: "By the way, in history, has anyone ever succeeded in challenging the academy?"

"This... I'm not sure. But if we summon Master Bai, we'll know..."

Prince Zhongqing said.

Although the Master Teacher Academy didn't interfere in court affairs, some powerful empires could recruit scattered master teachers for their own use.

Master teachers in the academy were like those on the payroll, while scattered master teachers were like private hires.

This Master Bai was the guardian master teacher of the Qingyuan Empire.

Chu Tianxing nodded and sent someone to summon him. After a while, an old man walked over.

"Master Bai, I'd like to ask, in the history of our Qingyuan Empire, has anyone ever succeeded in challenging the academy?"

"Your Majesty, wait a moment. I'll have a friend check."

Master Bai nodded.

He was not currently a master teacher of the Master Teacher Academy, so he couldn't check himself; he had to rely on a friend to inquire.

Hum!

After a moment, the jade slip in his palm flickered. Master Bai glanced at it and clasped his fists: "To report to Your Majesty, in history, there have indeed been people who succeeded in challenging the academy—three in total..."

"Three?"

Hearing such a small number, Prince Zhongqing and Chu Tianxing both breathed a sigh of relief.

From the inception of the master teacher profession to the present, tens of thousands of years had passed. The geniuses that had emerged were as numerous as carp crossing a river, countless. Among so many strong individuals, only three had passed, which showed the difficulty.

It seemed that this Zhang Xuan absolutely could not pass.

"Who were they? Do they have names?"

Prince Zhongqing asked.

"Yes... The first was called Luo Tianyun, the second was Yuan Xi. One was the ancestor of the Luo Sage Clan, the other was the ancestor of the Yuan Sage Clan..."

"And the third?"

Looking at the name displayed on the jade slip, Master Bai paused.

"His name is..."

"...Zhang Xuan!"