Chapter 1404: The Hall of Masters

"Speaking without head or tail..."

Seeing that the fellow had only spoken halfway and then turned to leave, Zhang Xuan couldn't help shaking his head.

He had thought that Master Yang's servant would be formidable and imposing, but it turned out he was just as unreliable.

When the other had grabbed him earlier, he suddenly felt some unusual movement from the congenital fetal poison. Fortunately, the heavenly true qi, carrying the power of thunder, had completely suppressed it; otherwise, if the poison spread and he was mistaken for a poison master, it would have been awkward.

"What did you mean by Elder Ge's compensation just now?"

Seeing that the other party was even faster than Luo Xuanqing and had already found traces, Zhang Xuan was too lazy to think further and turned to look at Sun Qiang.

"It's like this..."

Hurriedly transmitting his voice, Sun Qiang detailed the previous events.

"You... revealed your identity and passed the examination of the Seal Master Hall?" Zhang Xuan staggered, nearly fainting.

This subordinate of his was really bold!

Being a fake and yet making the real one speechless... it was a miracle he wasn't beaten to death on the spot!

"Well done..."

Although he knew that the other was stretching things further and further, making it hard to wrap up, since they were already riding the tiger and couldn't dismount, Zhang Xuan had to nod with a constipated expression.

"Master Zhang, about the thunder tribulation just now..." As soon as he finished sighing, Zhan Shi walked over.

To be honest, he was still dazed.

He had thought that with such a massive thunder tribulation, the Letter Hall would be destroyed or nearly so, but unexpectedly... the fellow had actually scared it away!

"This is a method passed down by my master to restrain thunder tribulations, but it also causes great damage to me, and I won't recover for a long time..."

His face turning pale, Zhang Xuan swayed as if about to fall at any moment.

Sun Qiang understood and quickly came over to support him.

"Passed down by the master? Why didn't he pass it to me?"

Feng Ziyi on the side also began to feel disheartened.

When he had undergone the Out-of-Body tribulation, he had barely survived and almost died, yet the master hadn't taught him, but had taught his senior brother... No, he must contact the master in the next few days and ask...

If that didn't work, he would learn from this senior brother!

Since they were from the same lineage, if the senior brother could learn it, he surely could too!

"This..."

His face twitching, Zhan Shi felt choked and unable to speak.

"By the way, Hall Master Zhan... I wish to enter the inner courtyard. May I ask what conditions are required?"

Knowing that the other could also tell he was faking, Zhang Xuan didn't say more and instead asked.

Through Sun Qiang's introduction, he also knew that this person was the acting hall master for this term, highly respected, so he was very cautious in his attitude.

Although he was the sole candidate for hall master, his strength was still insufficient, and he dared not flaunt his status; before the other, he was still just an ordinary student.

"Inner courtyard?"

Unexpectedly asked like this, Zhan Shi hesitated for a moment, then smiled slightly: "To enter the inner courtyard of the Saint Son Hall, two conditions are required: first, age not exceeding forty; second, one's most proficient profession must reach the eight-star level! Teacher Zhang is a registered master of the Master Hall, so to enter, you can only do so by reaching the eight-star level in the master profession!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

The most proficient profession the other mentioned refers to the fundamental profession. For example, Bi Hongyin likely relies on demonic sound, while a master, with only auxiliary cultivation, certainly wouldn't be qualified; only when the main profession also reaches eight stars can one enter smoothly.

"To assess as an eight-star master, one must have eight professions at eight stars. I've only assessed as an eight-star array master and spirit initiator so far. Physician, beast tamer, and demonic sound—I could get badges for those if I took the exams... I'm still short three full auxiliary professions!"

Calculating in his mind, he couldn't help but look over: "Hall Master Zhan, I want to assess as an eight-star master, but I'm still short three auxiliary professions. Is there a way to pass the assessment as quickly as possible..."

Now that his identity as Teacher Yang's student has caused such a stir, and Hu Yiwei has turned and left, barring any accidents, the real Teacher Yang will soon learn the news.

If he really comes before I've even become an eight-star master, just the charge of impersonation alone could land me in serious trouble.

Although I'm confident that with my talent, he would be willing to truly take me as a disciple... that's still the last resort; I don't want to entrust my fate to that.

Moreover, Luo Ruoxi was punished by her clan for revealing my matters, and I need to go rescue her as soon as possible. Entering the inner courtyard to find the savage's skeleton and let it quickly fuse is definitely the fastest way.

Of course, entering the inner courtyard might also allow me to see Luo Ruoxi. I can't let a girl bear everything alone.

"Quick assessment?"

Zhan Shi frowned: "Master assessments require various auxiliary professions, which is extremely troublesome. Normally, you can only advance by reaching each profession one by one... but there's always an exception. If you really want to rush through, there is a way, and that is... to challenge the Master Tower!"

"Master Tower?"

Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

He had read many books but found no introduction to this, so it was his first time hearing of it.

"The Master Tower has nine floors. The first eight floors will set professions based on the auxiliary professions you've studied in the past. Each floor is guarded by a Saint Son of the corresponding profession. If the challenger gains their approval and is allowed to pass, they can advance... The ninth floor is guarded by a young eight-star master from the Saint Son Hall. If you pass this floor too, you can directly obtain the eight-star master badge!"

Zhan Shi explained, then his expression turned serious: "However, each floor's assessment is extremely difficult, and passing is almost impossible. In the entire history of the Saint Son Hall, over tens of thousands of years, only three people have succeeded!"

"Three people? Who?"

Zhang Xuan was startled.

Facing a Saint Son and gaining their approval—needless to say, it's extremely difficult. That anyone could succeed under such circumstances is truly remarkable.

"The first is the seventh hall master of our Saint Son Hall. At thirty-two, after years of accumulation, he stormed through the Master Tower in three days and became an eight-star master... a celebrated tale!"

"The second is the current head of the Sage Zhang family, the Xingmeng Sword Saint. He also made a stunning debut, spending three days to conquer the Master Tower. He was also thirty-two."

"As for the last one..."

Speaking of the last, Zhan Shi shook his head with a wry smile: "Even more astonishing than the records of those two!"

"Astonishing?"

"Mm, from the first floor to the ninth in just two hours. All the Saint Sons in the assessments conceded directly, allowing him to smoothly obtain the eight-star master badge..."

Even though he already knew, Zhan Shi's eyes still flashed with awe: "Most importantly, when he accomplished this, he was only seventeen..."

"Seventeen?"

Zhang Xuan was taken aback: "A seventeen-year-old eight-star master? Who... is so formidable?"

He was already twenty and hadn't reached eight stars. The other was only seventeen and had achieved it—could his talent be even greater than mine?

"You've probably heard of..."

Zhan Shi smiled: "It's none other than the little princess of the Luo family!"