Chapter 156: Resounding Through the Royal City

"You say even President Luo Chong was full of praise?"

"Du Miaoxuan knelt for an entire day, and when he left, not only was he in high spirits, but his cultivation had also increased?"

"It seems we were all wrong. This Yang Xuan is definitely a true master teacher!"

"Only a true master teacher could make Du Miaoxuan kneel willingly and earn the admiration of President Luo Chong..."

"Quickly prepare a name card—I must go pay my respects!"

"What? The Yang residence is not receiving anyone? To see Master Yang, one must first pay three million gold notes, and they are non-refundable?"

"That's only right. Everyone wants to see a master teacher. If he saw everyone, he'd have no time for anything else. A threshold keeps out those with ulterior motives..."

...

Similar scenes played out in nearly every major family in the royal city.

Everyone was stunned.

Those who had previously thought him a fraud fell silent one by one.

...

After who knows how long unconscious, Zhang Xuan opened his eyes again.

"This..."

Upon waking, the first thing he noticed was that countless pieces of knowledge had appeared in his mind. The books that had been enveloped by the golden book had all their knowledge imprinted in his brain, indistinguishable from his own.

"This golden book can convert the knowledge in the library into mine?"

Zhang Xuan could hardly believe it.

Previously, the Library of Heaven's Path could only be used for browsing and consulting; the knowledge remained in the books, not imprinted in his mind. But now, it was all clearly etched into his head, becoming part of his memory, inseparable.

In other words, even without using the Library of Heaven's Path, he now had a clear understanding of alchemy, cultivation, and the like—he was a genuine alchemist.

"What about that golden book?"

Focusing his mind, he quickly looked into the library. The golden book was still there, but when he opened it, it was empty, and the single blank page had vanished.

"This..."

Zhang Xuan blinked.

The golden page had disappeared, and he had gained so much knowledge for no reason. It seemed the golden page indeed had this effect.

"I wonder how this golden book came to be. This way of transferring knowledge is incredibly fast..."

Even though learning in the Library of Heaven's Path was quick, it would have taken months, or even a year or two, to read and memorize the hundreds of thousands of books he had collected. But now, with a single flash of the golden page's light, all that knowledge had become his, making learning effortless.

"Hmm? I've been unconscious for an entire night?"

Coming out of the joy of acquiring knowledge, he looked outside and couldn't help but feel speechless. He had been unconscious for a whole night.

Stretching lazily, he was about to find something to eat when the steward Sun Qiang walked in.

"Master, the Alchemist Guild President Ouyang Cheng and Alchemist Chen Xiao have come to visit."

"Ouyang Cheng? Alchemist Chen Xiao?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

He was now the master teacher Yang Xuan, not the alchemist Zhang Xuan. He didn't know them at all—why were they here?

"Yes, and... they've been waiting outside for two hours already!" Sun Qiang said helplessly.

This master really could sleep. He had gone to bed as soon as it got dark yesterday and didn't get up until the sun was high in the sky... It was baffling.

He hadn't dared to disturb him and had told the visitors that the master was resting. Unexpectedly, they insisted on not being disturbed and waited outside for over two hours... They certainly had patience.

"Master, Alchemist Chen Xiao has also paid the three million gold coins. What do you think..."

"Let them in!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

Sun Qiang left, and before long, President Ouyang and Alchemist Chen Xiao walked in.

"Greetings, Master Yang!"

Not daring to act presumptuously, the two bowed as they entered.

Alchemist Chen Xiao had originally planned to come alone, but thinking his influence was too weak, he deliberately brought Ouyang Cheng along.

"No need to be polite. The two of you came to see me early in the morning. If I'm not mistaken, it should be... that Alchemist Chen Xiao is nearing the end of his life and seeks a solution, right?"

Wondering why they had come, a flash of insight struck Zhang Xuan.

This Chen Xiao was entangled by the death aura of a curse, with little time left. During the alchemy debate earlier, Zhang Xuan had felt that Chen Xiao had betrayed his trust and wasn't worth saving, so he hadn't said anything. Now, it seemed the man couldn't find a solution and had come upon hearing of a master teacher.

This was good. He could make him bleed a little, avenging the one who had entrusted him.

He suddenly recalled this, but Ouyang Cheng and Alchemist Chen Xiao, upon hearing his words, were so shocked they nearly fell to their knees and fainted on the spot.

A master teacher—shouldn't he first demonstrate martial skills or alchemy, or at least take a pulse to see the problem?

How could he tell just by meeting them?

Was this even eyesight? Even fortune-tellers weren't this impressive!

While astonished, Alchemist Chen Xiao's face turned pale, and his heart trembled.

Seeing it at a glance—how serious was his illness?

Could it be he wouldn't even live until tomorrow?

"That furnace? Have you discarded it? Also, you promised someone something but didn't follow through, thinking they were dead so you could renege. That's beneath an alchemist's dignity, isn't it?"

Not noticing their shocked expressions, Zhang Xuan recalled what he had read in the books and continued.

When no one answered, he looked up and saw Ouyang Cheng and Alchemist Chen Xiao ashen-faced, frozen like statues.

The latter, in particular, trembled as if having a seizure, and unable to hold back, his knees gave way as he knelt.

"Master Yang, save me... I beg you, save me..."

Alchemist Chen Xiao was terrified out of his wits.

No one knew about his acquisition of the furnace. Even Zhang Xuan back then had only deduced that he had obtained a treasure from a dead man, not the specifics. But this man, without taking a pulse or even looking at him, spoke of it outright...

Were you a god?

Otherwise... how did you know?

"Is everything Master Yang said true?"

Though he didn't know exactly how Alchemist Chen Xiao had come into contact with death aura, seeing his expression, Ouyang Cheng knew that Master Yang's words were absolutely correct.

He couldn't help but feel utmost admiration.

Without needing anything, just one look, and he knew the illness, symptoms, and even the cause... It was incredible!

"Uh..."

Seeing their horrified expressions, Zhang Xuan remembered that he was the master teacher Yang Xuan and didn't know them. Clearing his throat to cover his embarrassment, he said, "Saving you is simple. First, bury that furnace together with your old friend, then fulfill the task he entrusted to you... Finally, take plenty of spirit-rich pills and recuperate for half a year. That should be enough!"

In truth, the problem wasn't hard to solve. He wasn't really going to die; it was a curse. As long as he earnestly completed the tasks and stopped contacting the furnace, the curse's power would fade, and he would recover over time.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master Yang!"

Hearing that he could be saved, Alchemist Chen Xiao nodded eagerly without a hint of doubt.

Someone who could see the crux at a glance and said it could be solved—it surely could.

Knowing the method, the two had no reason to stay longer and turned to leave.

Even after walking out the gate, Alchemist Chen Xiao felt as if he were dreaming.

The matter that had troubled him for days, forcing him to sell off his assets and move his entire family... was resolved just like that?

"Don't overthink it. A master teacher's words are worth a thousand gold. Though his words sounded simple, they were precisely the right remedy. No one else could imitate it!"

Seeing his confusion, Ouyang Cheng looked back with admiration and sighed.

...

Alchemist Chen Xiao and President Ouyang Cheng had entered the courtyard and then left, once again becoming the focus of the major powers.

"These two alchemists were inside for less than five minutes and came straight out? Could it be their problem wasn't solved? Investigate thoroughly. What kind of problem could two esteemed alchemists have that they need to consult a master teacher?"

"You say... Alchemist Chen Xiao had already held a funeral at home, written a will, and planned to sell his assets... but after seeing Master Yang, he immediately changed the white cloth to red, celebrated, and acted as if nothing was wrong?"

"He was gravely ill and could die at any moment, but after seeing Master Yang for less than five minutes, it was resolved..."

"It seems we were all wrong. All we knew was the title and reputation of a one-star master teacher. But this Master Yang is so formidable... Could he be above one-star?"

"Above one-star master teacher?"

The news spread, shaking the entire city.

The name of Yang Xuan, today—

Resounded through the royal city.