Chapter 181 Lu Xun's Visit

Just as Zhao Ya took the Po Yin Dan and began to cultivate, in a small forest behind Hongtian Academy, Yuan Tao finally adjusted his state and stared intently at the jade bottle before him.

He was a loose cultivator, and his entrance exam results were too poor. Unlike Zhao Ya, who had a private apartment, he had to share a dorm with others. According to Teacher Zhang, applying the substance in the jade bottle was painful and dangerous, so the dorm was out of the question. After much thought, he came here.

It was quiet, free from beast attacks, and perfect for cultivation.

"Let's begin!"

He had made up his mind before coming, with no hesitation. Raising his brows, he uncorked the jade bottle.

Buzz!

A thick, bloody scent rushed toward him, followed by a violent force that made his skin tremble.

He quickly stripped off all his clothes, poured out the liquid from the jade bottle, and applied it evenly.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle sizzle!

As the bright red liquid touched his skin, Yuan Tao felt as if his entire body was being pricked by needles. A tearing pain assaulted him, as if trying to rip off his skin.

"Ah..."

Under the intense pain, he collapsed to the ground.

This pain surpassed the sum of all the pain he had ever endured, like a sharp knife peeling him from head to toe.

His face quickly lost color, turning deathly pale. Cold sweat dripped from Yuan Tao's forehead, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

"It hurts so much..."

His vision blurred, and he could barely hold on.

After all, he was just a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old child. Though his past experiences had tempered him, under absolute pain, he still felt like retreating.

"Maybe... forget it... I'm doing fine now, why bother increasing my strength?"

A thought emerged, constantly invading his mind.

"If I give up... will Teacher Zhang scold me?"

Just as his will weakened and he was about to break down, a figure seemed to appear before him.

Teacher Zhang!

He was looking over calmly, frowning with displeasure.

"No, I can't let him down..."

Seeing Teacher Zhang seemingly angry, Yuan Tao shuddered and regained boundless fighting spirit.

Before meeting Teacher Zhang, he was a joke to everyone—fat as a pig, stupid as an ox, and weak in cultivation. He had visited ten teachers and was turned away by all, ignored by everyone.

He thought his life would be mediocre and pass like that, but then... he met Teacher Zhang.

It was Teacher Zhang who didn't mind his obesity, didn't mock his low strength, and even created a special technique for him, staying up days and nights to find the liquid, allowing him to improve and break through!

He owed him a debt of gratitude for recognizing and nurturing him.

If he couldn't even endure this pain, how could he face him again?

Teacher Zhang, rest assured, I will not disappoint you. I will persevere and earn your praise!

A tenacity arose in his heart. He opened his eyes, and the heart-wrenching pain seemed to fade somewhat.

After an unknown amount of time.

The pain subsided. Looking down, he saw that the red liquid he had applied had been completely absorbed by his body, and a thick layer of armor, like scales, had grown on his skin.

Though he didn't know what it was, he knew his defense had increased several times over.

"Teacher Zhang said applying this isn't a one-time thing. Continue!"

Seeing there was still plenty of liquid left in the jade bottle, Yuan Tao took it out again and applied it all over his body.

Each application brought a round of pain. At first, he was a bit afraid, but thinking of not disappointing Teacher Zhang, Yuan Tao grew more determined.

Finally, the red liquid in the jade bottle was completely used up.

"I am..."

Looking down, Yuan Tao realized that after fully absorbing the red liquid, a thick layer of cuticle, similar to scales, had formed on his body surface.

"Let me try..."

Curious and eager, he charged headfirst at a small tree nearby.

Crack!

With a crisp sound, the tree, as thick as a bowl, was snapped in two, while he felt nothing more than an itch, without any pain.

His pupils contracted.

How strong was this defense? How great was this power?

"Teacher... I succeeded..."

Remembering the pain he had endured, Yuan Tao clenched his fists, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

Finally, he hadn't let down his teacher's expectations...

Teacher Zhang, what you asked me to do, I have done!

...

At the same time, Wang Ying, Zheng Yang, and Liu Yang were also training hard.

Having received the leg techniques and body techniques from Teacher Zhang, Wang Ying didn't hesitate and began training immediately at home, steadily increasing her strength.

Zheng Yang kept charging toward the second level of martial artist, striving to reach the Dantian realm within five days.

Liu Yang also started practicing the Heavenly Dao Fist, with whistling fist winds roaring.

All five disciples were busy cultivating. As for their most admired Teacher Zhang, he finally stretched and woke up.

“How did I fall asleep here?”

Opening his eyes, he realized he was sleeping in a temporary rest area in the classroom. There were no bedding, yet he felt no chill. At some point, clothes had been draped over him.

There were men's clothes, women's clothes...

They were actually the jackets taken off by five students, afraid he might catch cold.

“These little rascals...”

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had been too tired yesterday and fell asleep on a stool. These students must have carried him here, afraid to disturb his rest, and then covered him with their clothes.

He must have been truly exhausted; otherwise, with his strength, he wouldn't have been unaware of being moved.

After waking up, he felt all his fatigue swept away.

Looking outside, he saw it was already late—it was noon the next day.

“Since I've taken the money, I should go back and check...”

This “famous teacher” had taken over eighty million from others, and yesterday he was too exhausted to bother. Now that he had recovered, he should at least give them some guidance.

Otherwise, he would feel guilty.

Returning to the mansion, he saw Sun Qiang with tears in his eyes, eagerly waiting.

After eating something, he had Sun Qiang call in those who wanted to see him, in the order they paid.

These people were mostly at a bottleneck in their cultivation, wanting to break through.

Inability to break through in cultivation is like a stagnant river—it's blocked ahead. With the Library of Heaven's Path, it was easy to see where the blockage was, and then using silver needles and pure true qi, it wasn't hard to help them break through.

After all, these people had cultivated for countless hours and accumulated enough power; they only needed that final push.

All Zhang Xuan had to do was help them take that step through the door, like opening a small gap in a canal—once a breach was made, the powerful current would surge through and tear the gap wide open.

Of course, it was easy to say, but for other famous teachers, it would be very difficult.

Each person's physique, cultivation technique, and habits were different, and the blockages in their meridians were also completely different. Like leaves, no two were the same, and the same principle applied to blockages in cultivators.

Without the Library of Heaven's Path to see the flaws, not only would it be impossible to help them break through, but even the problems themselves might not be visible.

...

Outside the mansion.

Sun Qiang pushed open the door and walked out, looking around: “Next...”

“Sorry, excuse me, please.”

Before he finished, a voice rang out, and two young men strode up.

They were Lu Xun and Wang Chao, who had come from Hongtian Academy specifically to see Teacher Yang.

Seeing them dressed in teacher's attire, although the crowd was displeased with this queue-jumping, they still made way.

“Steward Sun, we are...”

Wang Chao stepped forward and quickly cupped his fists.

They had already waited over a day, thinking that with their status as star teachers, they would surely impress Teacher Yang and be summoned inside. But...

Teacher Yang hadn't appeared all day, and when he did, he directly called people in without accepting visiting cards, making them somewhat anxious.

“Get lost!”

Before he could finish, Sun Qiang frowned: “Do you think this is your home? Rushing straight in? Go to the back of the line!”

“I...”

Being scolded by a steward who was only at the Skin and Bone realm, Wang Chao's face flushed red, and he nearly exploded.

As a star teacher, he was respected wherever he went. In Tianxuan Kingdom, without any famous teachers, he and Lu Xun were almost the most popular people. He never dreamed that when they came to the front and stated their identities, they would be told to get lost by this fat steward before they could even finish speaking.

“What, you don't want to follow the rules?”

Sun Qiang waved his hand: “Believe me, with just one word from me, someone will throw you out without me lifting a finger.”

Little punk, where did this country bumpkin come from?

Trying to cut in line at the gate of a famous teacher's mansion—truly ignorant of the world.

Although he wasn't a famous teacher, these people had come to seek favor; if he said one more word, someone would surely be willing to act.

Hearing this, Wang Chao trembled with rage.

Such a small figure, elsewhere he could swat him dead without anyone daring to say a word, but now he was being told to get lost and threatened with being thrown out...

His face flushed red, fists clenched, though angry, he dared not say a word.

They had come today to gain Teacher Yang's favor and become his apprentice. If they offended the steward before even meeting the man, there would be no hope for what came next.

“Steward Sun, please don't be angry. I am Lu Xun, a teacher from Hongtian Academy. I wish to pay respects to Teacher Yang and would appreciate your introduction...”

Pulling his friend back, Lu Xun stepped forward with a smile.

“Teacher Lu Xun?”

Sun Qiang was startled.

Although he was just a merchant, he had long heard of Teacher Lu Xun's reputation—the only son of Grand Teacher Lu Chen, the person most likely to become a famous teacher in all of Tianxuan Kingdom.

Not only that, but he was under twenty-five and had already reached the Acupoint Opening realm, with talent ranking among the top in the entire kingdom.

Because of these identities, even martial artists at the seventh level, the Profound Passage realm, treated him with courtesy, afraid of slighting him.

And just now... he had told him to “get lost”?

Cough, what terrible luck.

Having just offended three famous teachers, now he had offended a future famous teacher...

Watching the master wave his hand and scold whoever he wanted, so easily—why was it so hard for him?