Chapter 172: Catching Pigs?

"Master?"

Seeing Steward Sun suddenly lose his composure, everyone immediately understood that Yang Shi had returned. They all looked over in unison and indeed saw a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion looking over with confusion, not knowing what was happening.

"This is the master so many have been waiting for?"

Zhang Liao and Zhang Mo, standing to the side, felt dizzy.

This guy didn't have three heads and six arms, so how could he make the king and the renowned masters willingly wait at the door?

They hadn't returned to Tianxuan City for half a year and were unaware of the "Yang Xuan, the renowned master" who had been stirring up the surroundings.

"Xiao Qiang, what's going on?"

They were dizzy, but Zhang Xuan was even more bewildered. Seeing the crowd, he figured it out after a moment—these must be people who had accumulated over the past few days wanting him to solve their problems. But... Sun Qiang, you're brimming with tears, looking at me like a puppy seeing its owner—what the hell?

It's only been a few days since we last met, why are you so excited and thrilled...

"Master, you've finally come. These people are all here for you..." Sun Qiang hurriedly introduced, but before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"Yang Shi..."

Emperor Shen Zhui cupped his fists: "I am..."

"Did I ask you to speak?"

Just as he was about to learn what was happening from Sun Qiang, this guy interrupted. Zhang Xuan frowned.

Where did you come from? Don't you have any sense of timing? Can't you see I'm busy?

Good thing I have a good temper; if it were another renowned master, they would have beaten a clueless guy like you to death...

Thud! Thud!

Zhang Liao and Zhang Mo fell to the ground.

Too awesome, my brother. This is the king of Tianxuan Kingdom... and you just spoke to him like that...

Sun Qiang was also dumbfounded.

As expected of the master, truly fierce... he doesn't even put the king in his eyes...

"I..." Emperor Shen Zhui's face flushed red.

"You, continue..." After scolding this guy who interrupted randomly, Zhang Xuan turned back to the steward.

"Oh!" Sun Qiang sighed in admiration, then quickly said, "You've been away these past few days, and these people have come to visit you. There's King Shen Zhui, and also..."

"The king is here too?"

Zhang Xuan was startled.

He was almost done gathering the money; originally, he planned to return, return the mansion, and then slip away as Zhang Xuan. He didn't expect to have alarmed the king as well.

He couldn't help asking, "Where?"

Hearing this, everyone looked at him strangely, and even Sun Qiang stumbled...

After all this fuss, it turned out that his master didn't recognize the king. He had admired him for nothing...

"Ahem, it's me!" Emperor Shen Zhui coughed.

"You?" Zhang Xuan was so frustrated he nearly spat blood. He had just returned from their library, and now he was scolding them...

"Your subject Shen Zhui greets Master Yang. Let me introduce you: these three are Master Liu, Master Zheng, and Master Zhuang..."

Emperor Shen Zhui hurriedly said.

"Master Liu... what? Masters?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

Hadn't they said Tianxuan Kingdom had no masters?

When did three pop up? What had happened in the few days he was away?

"Liu Ling (Zhuang Xian, Zheng Fei) greets Master Yang!"

Master Liu and the others stepped forward, cupping their fists, while carefully observing the middle-aged man before them.

With just one glance, the three of them frowned simultaneously.

"Come inside with me first!"

Not knowing what the three seemed to have discerned, Zhang Xuan saw so many people crowded at the door, unable to speak. He rubbed his brow and waved his hand.

He couldn't very well keep the king and three masters waiting at the door.

"Brother Liu, what did you see?"

Following behind into the courtyard, Zhuang Xian couldn't help but transmit his voice secretly.

"He's disguised, not his true face. Looking at his skin and movements, he should be very young, no more than thirty, probably... not even twenty-five!" Liu Ling frowned.

Even Du Miaoxuan could see through Zhang Xuan's disguise, so how could a master not?

"Not even twenty-five? What kind of master could that be? Probably a fake..."

Zhuang Xian snorted coldly.

Masters, like learned scholars, are more valuable with age. Not daring to show his true face was one thing, but being under twenty-five... how could he be a master?

To become a master, one must pass various assessments, each requiring immense effort to learn. Limited by age and knowledge, it was impossible for someone in their twenties to succeed!

"Probably a fake. We'll find a way to expose him later."

Master Zheng also nodded.

After hearing Ling Tianyu's introduction, they had already harbored doubts. Wanting to verify with their own eyes, seeing Zhang Xuan's crude disguise confirmed it was fake.

If he weren't fake, why disguise himself?

If he weren't fake, how could someone in his twenties be so skilled that even they couldn't see through him?

"And did you notice? His eyes are bloodshot, his expression weary. If he were truly a master, how could this be?"

Liu Ling continued.

He not only saw through Zhang Xuan's disguise but also noticed his low spirits.

Observing more closely, he grew angrier, because no matter how he looked, this guy didn't seem real.

A fake who made them visit for five days straight—who wouldn't be angry, especially as masters?

Unaware that he had been seen through, Zhang Xuan arrived at the living room, sat in the host's seat, and looked up at the three before him: "May I ask what business the three masters have with me, Yang?"

"Oh, we heard that Master Yang is skilled in medicine and adept at helping others break through in cultivation. We have come presumptuously to seek your advice on a matter..."

Exchanging glances with the other two, Liu Ling spoke.

A direct hard approach definitely wouldn't work; if they wanted to expose him, they'd have to tear him apart completely.

"What is it? Out with it!"

What Zhang Xuan wanted most now was to earn another two million, quickly get the medicinal herbs he had bought, and find a place to sleep—he was too exhausted. So, dispensing with pleasantries, he waved a hand casually.

"Pretend, keep pretending!"

Seeing his indifferent attitude, Third Master's face turned green with anger, and his eyes narrowed.

Pretty good mental fortitude.

But no matter how well he pretended, it was useless. If they didn't expose him today, they wouldn't leave.

"I have some cultivation issues I'd like to consult you on,"

At the other two's signal, Zhuang Xian stood up, cupped his fists, and said, "I've reached the peak of the Tongxuan realm, only a step away from Half-Step Grandmaster. But I've clearly felt that the condensation of true qi in my body has slowed, and no matter what, I can't take that final step. I've tried every method, but I don't know why. I hope you can guide me."

"Peak of the Tongxuan realm?"

Zhang Xuan was exasperated.

His own strength was only at the peak of the Pìxué realm. How was the Tongxuan realm cultivated? What were its formidable aspects? He had no idea—how could he guide anyone?

"How about... throw a couple of punches for me to see!"

Knowing that in theory he couldn't match the other, Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Throw punches? Fine!"

Zhuang Xian knew that only by demonstrating martial techniques could one reveal problems. Without hesitation, he stood up and threw a punch.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The wind from his fist howled, his power sharp as a blade.

Truly worthy of a Tongxuan realm expert; true qi coiled like a dragon within his body, and the immense force of his punch compressed the surrounding air, causing a series of sonic booms.

Soon the fist technique ended.

Zhuang Xian, Liu Ling, and Zheng Fei all looked at the "Master Yang" before them, expecting to hear what he would say, but saw him staring blankly, as dumb as a wooden chicken, lost in thought.

"Please offer your critique!"

Seeing his attitude, Zhuang Xian's face darkened, becoming very unpleasant, and he even dropped the title "Master Yang."

Regardless, he was a renowned master. If you were truly many levels above them, that would be one thing, but a pretender putting on airs?

He made me throw punches and then just stood there in a daze... Could it be that he was stunned by the display and had nothing to say?

"You want my critique?"

Ignoring the other's displeasure, Zhang Xuan looked up at him.

"Yes!"

Zhuang Xian snorted.

He had already decided that as soon as the other spoke, he would find a flaw, expose him publicly, and make this fraud lose face.

Before confirming whether this person was real or fake, so many people outside had surged forward to queue up. By rights, they should have dissuaded them, but they hadn't, and they had their own reasons.

If he was real, driving those people away would certainly offend him, and the gain wouldn't outweigh the loss. If he was fake, they could expose him in front of so many people, ruin his reputation, and at the same time announce to the world that a renowned master must not be profaned or impersonated.

"The critique is simple, but I'm afraid you won't believe it..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Now he had no choice but to brazen it out; otherwise, once discovered as an impostor, he wouldn't even be able to escape. However, after so many days of pretending, he had become quite adept at it.

His face showed neither joy nor sorrow as he waved his hand and said, "How about this: do you want to break through from the peak of the Tongxuan realm to the Half-Step Grandmaster realm?"

"Of course I do!" said Zheng Yang.

Ridiculous—what cultivator didn't want to break through?

Who didn't want to reach a higher realm?

Physicians cannot heal themselves, and a renowned master cannot guide himself. Although he wanted to break through, he had been stuck for years and never succeeded.

Meanwhile, his two old friends, Liu Ling and Zheng Fei, had already broken through, leaving him anxious.

"I can make you break through within ten minutes, but..."

Zhang Xuan paused.

"Ten minutes... break through?" Zhuang Xian was startled.

Even Liu Ling and Zheng Fei on the side found it utterly unbelievable.

As friends, they had also examined him and knew a breakthrough was impossible in a short time. Yet this fraud before them claimed he could succeed in ten minutes?

"The opportunity is given to you. How you choose is your affair."

Zhang Xuan picked up the teacup on the table and slowly drank, his expression calm.

Ordinarily, this gesture would be extremely impressive, giving one a sense of lofty reverence. But now, with bloodshot eyes, sagging bags under his eyes, and dry, purple lips, he not only lacked the demeanor of a master but looked like someone who had been up all night indulging in pleasures—inexplicably incongruous and bizarre.

"I... alright, I want to break through. Please guide me!"

After hesitating, Zhuang Xian gritted his teeth.

If you really can make me break through as you said, then you're genuine and formidable. If not... then you're fake, a fraud!

"Decided?" Zhang Xuan's eyelids lifted slightly.

"Decided!"

Zhuang Xian waved his hand.

"Good. Xiaoqiang, go get a sack, then call a few guards, and have them all bring wooden clubs..."

Zhang Xuan began giving orders.

The three renowned masters and Emperor Shen Zhui exchanged glances, each wearing a puzzled expression.

A sack?

Guards?

Wooden clubs?

Weren't they supposed to help with a breakthrough? What was this... about to do?

Catch a pig?