Chapter 1254: Diverting the Trouble

"We'll find out later!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Although Zhang Jiuxiao was not strong in combat and his talent was unremarkable... he was still reliable in handling matters. Since he spoke with such conviction, it probably wasn't baseless.

Moreover, regardless of whether the Qianchong Empire had spirit mines, as the top empire, with so many Nascent Soul experts, they must have a considerable number of high-grade spirit stones. If he could exchange or earn some, he might be able to break through to the peak of the Nascent Soul realm here.

Lost in thought, they arrived at a spacious hall. They took their seats according to rank. Hall Master Yue smiled and waved his hand: "Please invite the talents who passed the preliminary test!"

A mentor withdrew, and before long, a group of young people entered.

There were both men and women, all wearing mentor robes with seven stars embroidered on the chest.

Zhang Xuan looked around and nodded.

As Zhao Xingmo had said, these people were not weak. The weakest were at the same level as them, the mid Nascent Soul stage, while the strongest, like the previous Punishment Hall Master, had reached the pseudo-Nascent Soul stage.

Under thirty, not only becoming Seven-Star Mentors but also reaching such cultivation levels—geniuses were indeed everywhere, not much weaker than him.

"Teacher Zhao, traveling back and forth between empires must be exhausting. Today, we have specially prepared a banquet to welcome you. Consider it a day of rest. Tomorrow, we will conduct the re-examination. What do you think?"

Hall Master Yue smiled.

"Alright."

After a moment's thought, Zhao Xingmo nodded.

Although they were pressed for time, waiting half a day wouldn't hurt.

It would also give the talents taking the exam a chance to relax before facing the more grueling tests.

"Serve the wine and food!"

Seeing his agreement, Hall Master Yue nodded and waved his hand. A group of apprentices went out, and before long, various delicacies were brought in.

It seemed they had anticipated Teacher Zhao's arrival time and prepared everything in advance.

As expected of the top-ranked titled empire, the table was soon laden with fine wines and delicious foods, all made from nourishing sacred beast meat and rare herbs. The chef was likely a high-level gourmet, who not only made the food delicious but also fully brought out its spiritual essence. Eating it caused one's true qi to surge, greatly aiding the progress of the Nascent Soul.

"This table must be worth no less than a thousand high-grade spirit stones!"

Zhang Jiuxiao exclaimed.

"So expensive?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Back then, to earn a thousand high-grade spirit stones, he had expended no small amount of effort. Now, a single meal was worth that much... It was too shocking.

"Look at that golden tiger beast liver. Not only does it require hunting a Saint Realm level one golden tiger beast, but the accompanying ingredients include four Saint-level herbs... Chuanxi grass, pipa root, qingling flower, and wuwei cow leaf! These four are all about fifty years old, each worth over a hundred high-grade spirit stones. Combined with the gourmet's miraculous techniques, a thousand spirit stones might even be an underestimate!"

Zhang Jiuxiao explained in detail.

"You... have studied cuisine?" Hearing him speak so knowledgeably, Zhang Xuan realized it was true and grew curious.

Gourmet was a lowly profession, not a supplementary one. As mentors, almost no one studied it. He didn't expect Zhang Jiuxiao to know so much.

"I love good food, so... I've done quite a bit of research. The Zhang family also has dedicated gourmets who provide ingredients. I've learned from them in my spare time, so... I know a bit!"

Zhang Jiuxiao nodded and said.

In the eyes of ordinary mentors, cuisine was a minor path, but if properly combined, it could form medicinal meals with effects not much weaker than pills.

That he, a collateral member, could possess such strength at twenty-seven was certainly aided by this kind of food pairing.

"Impressive!"

Zhang Xuan praised.

Although he knew something about cuisine, it was limited to general knowledge like treasure appraisal and alchemy. He had never even read books on the profession itself, so he was far from proficient.

"With dishes, how can there be no wine?"

As the two were talking, they heard Hall Master Yue in the center laugh, flip his wrist, and produce a wine gourd.

"This is Tianchen Drunk brewed by Old Man Tianchen. Its preciousness goes without saying! I was fortunate enough to obtain a gourd and aged it for a full three hundred years. Today, with Teacher Zhao here, I've brought it out to share with you all. Does anyone want a taste?"

With a light smile, Hall Master Yue uncorked the gourd and poured a full cup.

The transparent wine, like amber or crystal, clung to the cup's walls, emitting a rich aroma that filled the entire hall. One sniff made one's mouth water.

"Good wine..."

Zhang Xuan nodded inwardly.

Though he hadn't tasted it, even from such a distance, the aroma was so strong. This so-called Tianchen Drunk was far superior in purity and flavor to any wine he had drunk before.

"Old Man Tianchen is a famous Wine Saint in the Empire Alliance. His wines are said to be able to intoxicate even Saint Realm level seven experts... Tianchen Drunk is his signature wine, rare and extremely precious. Countless people have spent fortunes to obtain a single cup but failed... And Hall Master Yue is bringing it out for everyone to taste?"

Breathing rapidly, Zhang Jiuxiao's eyes shone with excitement.

"Is this wine really that famous?"

"Of course it's famous... Absolutely priceless! Even ten high-grade spirit stones can't buy this one cup!" Seeing his confusion, Zhang Jiuxiao said.

"Ten... for a cup of wine?" Zhang Xuan's mouth twitched.

The War Mentor Hall of Qingyuan Empire had only ten spirit stones of that grade in total... enough to buy this one cup of wine...

Who would be crazy enough to do that?

"Don't doubt it! Although high-grade spirit stones are rare, they can still be obtained if there's a mine. But Old Man Tianchen's Tianchen Drunk can't be bought with money alone; it requires luck. If you're unlucky, you might not even see it..."

Zhang Jiuxiao shook his head.

Seeing him so excited and speaking so decisively, Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

He had no particular craving for fine wine; in fact, he felt that drinking too much led to trouble, so he rarely touched it when idle.

Seeing the other's attitude, it was clear that if ten high-grade spirit stones could buy it, he would pay without hesitation... This attitude left Zhang Xuan somewhat helpless.

Was this wine really so good that people willingly spent so much money?

"Teacher Zhang doesn't like drinking and isn't a gourmet, so it's normal that he doesn't know much. Just look at their reactions..."

Seeing his dismissiveness, Zhang Jiuxiao knew that some liked it and some didn't, and said.

"Them?"

Zhang Xuan looked up and realized that as Hall Master Yue filled the cup, the entire hall was buzzing. Everyone's eyes were red, fixed on the cup, as if ready to snatch it.

"Hall Master Yue, there are so many of us, but only one cup of wine. It's not fair to give it to one and not the others... Why not set a rule, and let everyone compete for it based on their abilities!"

After a commotion, a young man spoke.

"Teacher Yun is right. Old Man Tianchen's wine should be drunk by those worthy; otherwise, it's like casting pearls before swine, a waste!"

"No matter what the rule, I'm determined to drink this cup!"

"Don't brag; it's not certain who will get it..."

...

As the first young man spoke, everyone chimed in.

Tianchen Drunk was so precious that naturally not everyone could have a cup. Whoever wanted to drink it had to demonstrate skills that convinced the others.

"Quiet!"

Listening to the discussions, Hall Master Yue smiled and looked around: "Everyone is right. There's only one cup of wine, so it should go to the most capable person... Of course, there's no need to set rules or compete. I already have someone in mind for this cup. In my eyes, he is the strongest and most skilled."

"Oh?"

"The strongest? Who might that be?"

"To earn such praise from the Hall Master, I'd like to see if he's worthy..."

...

Hearing his words, everyone turned to look.

They were geniuses among geniuses, experts among experts. Without any competition, to say someone was the strongest among them—how could they accept that?

"This person's fame is not too prominent, but he came from a kingdom, successfully challenged two halls in a row, overthrew the Qingyuan Empire, and took many mentors as disciples... Though he rose to fame not long ago, every deed he has done is remarkable and admirable!"

Hall Master Yue said.

"Successfully challenged two halls in a row?"

"Overthrew the Qingyuan Empire?"

"Came from a kingdom?"

Everyone was stunned, and they all looked toward Zhang Xuan and Zhang Jiuxiao.

These two had arrived last, so they were naturally the geniuses from Qingyuan Empire.

"That's right, he is Teacher Zhang Xuan!"

Hall Master Yue pointed.

"This guy is quite good at using others to kill..."

Zhang Xuan frowned, even more displeased.

Deliberately bringing out fine wine to attract everyone's attention, then, after stirring up excitement, saying he wanted to give it to him...

On the surface, it was praise, deliberately elevating him, but in reality, it drew the hatred of others, arousing their resentment.

With one cup of wine, he had made countless enemies.

Truly insidious.

"Teacher Zhang, Song Xuan is my brother-in-law. He is somewhat reckless and may have made some mistakes when handling matters in Qingyuan Empire. Thanks to you for correcting him, averting a major disaster... I am very grateful for that. In such a short time, you identified the problem and handled it methodically, preventing turmoil in Qingyuan Empire and re-establishing the authority of the Mentor Hall... I couldn't have done it myself, and I admire you greatly. This cup is to you!"

With a light smile, he moved his hand, and the freshly poured cup of wine floated up.

Hearing these words, Zhang Xuan's expression turned somewhat ugly.

First acknowledging his relationship with Song Xuan, then expressing admiration... On the surface, it was open and aboveboard, leaving no room for criticism, but in reality, it diverted the trouble, drawing everyone's hatred toward him.

He neither left himself open to criticism nor put himself in a difficult position.

As expected of the Hall Master of the top titled empire's Mentor Hall, truly ruthless.

Indeed, when a mentor turns petty, they are even more terrifying than a true petty person!