Chapter 179: Teacher, You've Worked Hard!

Ignoring the two who were putting on airs, Zhang Xuan returned to the classroom.

"Teacher, you're back!"

All the students were there, and seeing him enter, they bowed.

"Not bad, it seems you've all been working hard these past few days."

Looking around and taking in everyone's cultivation levels, Zhang Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

In the five days he'd been away, the five students had all made tremendous progress. Wang Ying, Liu Yang, and Zheng Yang had all reached the peak of the first level of the Martial Artist realm, the Gathering Breath stage.

Although Zhao Ya was also at the peak without breaking through, her strength was much more profound than the others'. It seemed she was only one step away from the Dantian stage.

As for Yuan Tao, who had the weakest foundation, he had actually advanced from the early stage of Gathering Breath to the middle stage.

The Life Breath Pill combined with the technique he had taught indeed had excellent effects.

Now, even without his guidance, Zhao Ya should be able to easily defeat the Zhu Hong from before.

"Zhao Ya, Yuan Tao, come with me."

After checking the others' cultivation progress again and finding it satisfactory, Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

Entering the inner room of the classroom, Zhang Xuan took out the pills he had just bought. "Zhao Ya, this is the Yin-Breaking Pill, which can activate your constitution. Tonight, find a wooden tub, soak in it beforehand, and then take the pill."

He handed the Yin-Breaking Pill to her.

"Thank you, Teacher..." Although she didn't know the pill was worth millions, the fact that her teacher casually gave her a formal pill meant it was extremely precious. Zhao Ya accepted it with surprise, feeling grateful in her heart.

"Yuan Tao, do you know why I accepted you as my student?" After giving Zhao Ya the pill, Zhang Xuan looked at his chubby disciple.

"I..." Yuan Tao scratched his head.

In truth, he had been puzzled these past few days.

He had ranked last in the entrance exam. When Teacher Zhang accepted him, he had even wondered if it was because the teacher couldn't recruit any students and needed him to make up the numbers. Later, after witnessing Teacher Zhang's true abilities, he realized that wasn't the case at all.

How could someone with such great skills fail to recruit students?

Thus, although he had been working hard alongside Zhao Ya and Zheng Yang these days, he actually felt somewhat inferior inside.

He felt he would definitely hold everyone back.

Because of this, his previously shameless and roguish personality had also mellowed considerably.

"Don't think you're inferior to others. If you cultivate properly, you'll definitely go further than Zheng Yang and the others!" Seeing his doubts and fears, Zhang Xuan said.

The Dragon Rhinoceros bloodline, even among special constitutions, was extremely powerful. If fully activated, his cultivation would undoubtedly soar, surpassing Zheng Yang and the others with ease.

"Teacher... I... I can really go further?" Yuan Tao's face flushed with excitement.

These days, he had been worried that Teacher Zhang might abandon him, but he never expected the teacher to think so highly of him.

"Rest assured, Teacher never misjudges." Zhang Xuan waved his hand and looked at him with piercing eyes. "But... your talent is lacking. If you want to surpass others, you'll definitely have to endure more hardship. Are you willing?"

Having read the advanced collection in the Alchemist Guild, he knew that fusing Giant Rhinoceros Beast blood to activate a constitution was extremely painful. If one couldn't persevere, not only would they fail to advance, but they might even die.

Therefore, Zhang Xuan didn't directly give the item to him. Instead, he first motivated him to make up his mind.

Cultivation goes against the heavens. Without a resolve to face death without regret, one cannot stand out and progress rapidly.

"Teacher, as long as I can improve my cultivation and not hold everyone back, I'm willing to endure any hardship." Yuan Tao knelt down, his gaze filled with unshakable determination.

Coming from a background as a loose cultivator, he had experienced countless hardships and knew how difficult it was to find a good teacher. He would never give up this opportunity, even if it killed him.

"Good. This is something I've prepared for you. Tonight, return to your residence and apply it all over your body. The process may be extremely painful, but if you can endure it, you'll surely gain unexpected rewards. Are you willing to try?"

With that, Zhang Xuan handed over the Giant Rhinoceros Beast blood.

"As long as I can increase my strength, I'm willing to endure any pain!"

Yuan Tao gritted his teeth.

Although he seemed carefree and undisciplined, when it came to perseverance, he was probably number one among the five disciples.

"Applying this won't succeed in one go. After the pain subsides, continue applying. I'll give you five days. Return for the freshman competition, and I want to see your progress. Otherwise, don't come see me again!"

Zhang Xuan waved his hand, his voice stern at the end.

"Yuan Tao will not let Teacher down!"

Hearing this, Yuan Tao knew he had been given a military order. Taking the jade bottle, his eyes seemed to burn with fire.

Teacher Zhang hadn't given up on him because he was the weakest; instead, he had specially found something to help him advance. As a student, if he still hesitated, wouldn't he be betraying the teacher's hard work and deep affection?

Even if he died, he would complete it and not disappoint the teacher's expectations.

Yuan Tao gritted his teeth.

"Very good. You two go out and call Wang Ying in."

Seeing their firm and unwavering attitudes, Zhang Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

Before long, Wang Ying entered. This young girl was the same as before, blushing at the sight of people.

"Teacher, you called for me..."

"Mm, after using the Nourishing Body Liquid, how are your legs feeling?"

Zhang Xuan looked at her.

"Thank you, Teacher. My legs are completely healed. Teacher, this is... the money for the Nourishing Body Liquid that my father asked me to give you. He said that your teaching me is already a great kindness, and we can't let you spend more money..."

Wang Ying stepped forward and handed over a gold note, actually worth five hundred thousand.

The Nourishing Body Liquid was available at the Alchemist Guild, and the price was easy to find out. As a formal alchemist, Zhang Xuan could buy it cheaper, but for outsiders, it cost at least three hundred thousand gold coins per dose.

It seemed that after learning he had given his daughter a dose of Nourishing Body Liquid, Patriarch Wang Hong had specifically inquired about the price.

"Then I'll accept it." Zhang Xuan didn't refuse.

Teaching students couldn't mean the teacher always fronted the money. He had bought it only to save time for the teacher evaluation.

Of course, accepting it also relieved the Wang family and Wang Ying of any psychological burden, making the teacher-student relationship purer.

"Perform a set of punches for me to see!"

After accepting the gold note, Zhang Xuan instructed.

"Yes!" Wang Ying immediately extended her slender arms, moving with grace and force.

With his increased cultivation, many cultivation techniques and martial skills remained in his mind. Even without using the Library of Heaven's Path, Zhang Xuan could see that her legs were now completely fine.

Soon, she finished the martial skill, slightly sweating.

"These are leg techniques and movement techniques I specially created for you. Cultivate them well. I'll give you five days as well. No matter what method you use, you must reach the minor success level in these five days."

Zhang Xuan handed over two books.

They were the Heaven's Path Movement Technique and Heaven's Path Leg Technique he had comprehended from the kingdom's library, but he had simplified them. Though not as powerful as the originals, they were still top-tier martial skills. Once mastered, they would definitely greatly increase Wang Ying's speed.

"Thank you, Teacher Zhang..."

Opening the books and glancing at them, Wang Ying's breathing quickened with excitement.

After her leg injury healed, she had also sought out some leg martial skills in the Wang family. Those skills were said to be among the best in the entire Tianxuan Kingdom, but compared to what Teacher Zhang had given her... they were far inferior.

They weren't even on the same level.

Just from this, she knew how precious these manuals were.

"Go and call Liu Yang over."

Ignoring her gratitude, Zhang Xuan continued instructing.

Soon, Liu Yang came over.

Because he had practiced martial skills too early with insufficient true energy, he had left a hidden problem: his right hand's meridians were damaged, making it much weaker than his left hand. However, after being nourished by the Meridian Warming Pill, the injured area had now fully recovered.

After testing him and seeing that his punches had improved considerably, Zhang Xuan nodded with satisfaction and passed on the Heaven's Path Fist Technique he had comprehended from the kingdom's library.

Last was Zheng Yang.

After these days of cultivation, his Heaven's Path Spear Technique had become even more refined. Although it was just a simple move, it could already transform into countless variations, greatly increasing his combat power.

If fighting with a spear, even Zhao Ya might not be his match. Currently, his cultivation wasn't the highest, but he was definitely the strongest in combat among the five.

"Your spear technique is good, but your cultivation is still too low. Within five days, find a way to break through to the second level of the Martial Artist realm."

Zhang Xuan hesitated for a moment before speaking.

This student of his was indeed a spear genius. Although he had only taught him for a few days, he had already mastered the spear technique thoroughly. There was nothing more to say about the spear technique; the main issue was still his strength.

"Yes!" Zheng Yang nodded.

Normally, to go from the first level to the second level of the Martial Artist realm, one needed at least half a year of tempering. But for Zheng Yang, that wasn't necessary.

It wasn't that he had extraordinary talent, but that Zhang Xuan's explanations of the first level had reached the essence of the matter. These days of study and comprehension had given him a deep understanding of the first level. Coupled with the Life Breath Pill and the tailor-made cultivation technique, breaking through wasn't difficult.

"Go cultivate..."

After instructing all his students, Zhang Xuan could no longer resist his fatigue. Regardless of whether this was a classroom, he leaned back in his chair and fell asleep.

Soon, it was dark.

"Where's Teacher Zhang?"

After finishing their cultivation, everyone found it strange that Teacher Zhang hadn't appeared.

"Zhao Ya, go take a look..."

"Okay!" Zhao Ya, also curious, pushed open the door to the small room of the classroom and saw Teacher Zhang sleeping soundly, leaning back in his chair.

"Teacher... is asleep!"

Quietly retreating, Zhao Ya's eyes reddened.

Producing these medicinal herbs, teaching new fist techniques, movement techniques... Without a doubt, Teacher Zhang must have spent these days without sleep or rest doing these things.

No wonder she had noticed earlier that he looked unwell and his eyes were red.

"Teacher..."

Zheng Yang and the others also felt a pang in their noses.

For a Pihui acupoint realm expert, going two or three days without sleep was no problem. How exhausted must he be to fall asleep sitting up?

As students, having such a teacher was definitely the greatest fortune in a lifetime.

"Let's cultivate hard, fulfill the teacher's instructions, and win the teacher evaluation, so as not to disappoint Teacher Zhang's expectations." Zhao Ya gritted her teeth.

"Right, Teacher has already done so much for us. If we still lose, are we even human?" Zheng Yang also nodded.

With that, they all looked at the teacher who had fallen asleep leaning on the chair through the crack in the door. The five of them clenched their fists simultaneously, and a single voice echoed in their hearts...

Teacher, you've worked hard!