Chapter 228: Don't Toy with People Like This

Not long after his rebirth, having merged with his predecessor's soul, Zhang Xuan had reached the state of心如止水 (heart like still water).

All along, he had relied on the library to check flaws and find problems, never paying attention—could it be that his心如止水 wasn't of the明理 (understanding principle) realm?

If not, he couldn't qualify as a master teacher. What use was having such an awesome library?

This can't be true...

Zhang Xuan felt like crying.

But soon he understood.

When watching others practice martial techniques, the library would directly produce a book, and he would instinctively look at it. Anyone would do the same, not caring about the so-called order or sequence. It was impossible to tell based solely on that.

"This... how can I test whether it's the明理 realm or the如一 (oneness) realm?" he couldn't help asking.

"Oh, it's actually simple. I have a [Texture Stone] here. Hold it in your palm, adjust your mind to the state of心如止水, and if a number appears, it's the明理 realm; if not, it's the如一 realm."

Liu Ling took out a pale blue stone, its surface densely covered with various textures, dizzying to the eye.

"Of course, even within the明理 realm, there are distinctions. The larger the number, the higher the talent. Usually, reaching scale 3 qualifies one to take the one-star master teacher exam! Young as you are, with such excellent teaching results and being favored by Teacher Yang, your scale probably already reaches 4, 5, or even higher—far beyond what we, whose potential is exhausted, can compare to!"

Saying this, Liu Ling and the others looked at Zhang Xuan with envy.

The mental scale of the明理 realm was the standard for measuring master teacher talent. The higher the scale, the more thorough one's understanding of things, and the greater future progress.

The few of them had barely reached it. Though they had never stopped cultivating over the years, their potential was exhausted. Even if they became grandmasters, passing the two-star exam was uncertain.

The one before them, favored by Teacher Yang, surely had unlimited potential. In their eyes, his mental scale probably far exceeded 3, or even higher. That was why they willingly called him senior brother without any embarrassment.

"This Texture Stone... can you give it to me?"

"This item is a standard for testing when master teachers take apprentices, like the force-measuring pillar. I have several pieces here. If you want to use it, take it!" Liu Ling smiled. "But, senior brother, at your age, you probably haven't reached the state of心如止水 yet. No need to rush. Test it whenever you reach it!"

"Mm!" Taking the Texture Stone, Zhang Xuan looked down at it.

The textures on it were naturally formed, without any trace of carving, giving a special charm. Following them, he seemed to see the essence of all things and find their roots.

"By the way, where can I take the master teacher exam?"

Putting away the Texture Stone, Zhang Xuan looked up and continued asking.

"The master teacher exam is naturally held at the Master Teacher Hall. The nearest one to Tianxuan Kingdom is the branch in Tianwu First-Class Kingdom, where there are two-star master teachers and complete facilities. Not only can you take the one-star exam, but even the two-star exam is possible."

Liu Ling said, "Senior brother, when your mind reaches心如止水, you can come here and try. As long as conditions are met, you can register."

"Good!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Alright, senior brother, just give us orders for anything in the future. We'll take our leave today!"

After chatting a while longer, Liu Ling and the others stood up to leave.

Seeing them off, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist, and the Texture Stone appeared in his palm.

"Let me test whether my心如止水 is of the明理 realm..."

In this world, becoming a master teacher granted immortal status, making everything convenient and allowing the Heaven's Path Library to shine. Without such talent, he could only watch helplessly.

Placing the Texture Stone in his palm, he clenched his hands and entered the state of心如止水. Instantly, he felt neither joy nor sorrow, no longer anxious.

This state could suppress boredom and irritability, allowing one to analyze and handle matters with the utmost calm—a dream for any cultivator.

However, achieving it required extreme focus on things. In the entire Hongtian Academy, only the dean had accomplished it, showing its difficulty.

That was why Shen Biru had nearly fainted from shock when she saw Zhang Xuan had reached this state.

Buzz!

Upon reaching the state of心如止水, the Texture Stone in his hand shook, and a line of numbers slowly appeared.

Seeing the characters, Zhang Xuan relaxed.

Liu Ling had said earlier that the心如止水 of the如一 realm wouldn't show characters. Characters meant it was the明理 realm.

He had been worrying needlessly. He did have master teacher talent.

Previously, when others performed martial techniques, he never felt he could see the order or sequence, so he thought he lacked this talent. It seemed he had overthought it.

After all, he possessed the Heaven's Path Library, an extraordinary existence. How could he lack even such a small talent as master teacher?

Relieved, he opened his palm and looked at the Texture Stone.

Reaching 3 qualified one for the one-star master teacher exam. As a genius like himself, he should at least have 4 or 5, maybe even 6, 7, 8, or 9!

Otherwise, it wouldn't suit his status.

Feeling smug, the number on the Texture Stone finally stopped shaking and fully displayed before his eyes.

Just as he was excitedly fantasizing about taking the master teacher exam and showing off his prowess, he saw the characters clearly. In an instant, his eyes nearly popped out, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"This... is it real?"

His face twitching, he felt like crying.

On the Texture Stone appeared a dry number—0.1.

Don't toy with people like this.

From Liu Ling's tone, others had 3 or 4, and geniuses had 5, 6, or even 7. He thought even if he wasn't a genius, he should at least have the minimum passing scale of 3. What the hell was 0.1?

Bro, can you go any lower?

"I don't believe it..."

On the verge of tears, he placed the Texture Stone in his palm again.

After a moment.

Staring at the 0.09 on it, Zhang Xuan felt as if someone had slapped him hard across the face, his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

Damn, it really could go lower!

He had always thought himself a super genius, the genius among geniuses, but this reality was too much of a slap in the face!

With such a low scale, take the master teacher exam? Take a hammer!

He would probably be kicked out even if he applied to be an apprentice.

"I don't believe it..."

After several tries, Zhang Xuan finally understood that his mental scale was abysmally low, and each test consumed about 0.01 of the scale, leaving him with only 0.05 now.

"I'll have to ask Liu Ling and the others next time if there's a secret to increasing the mental scale. Otherwise, with such a low scale, even if I want to take the master teacher exam, it's useless!"

Suppressing the urge to faint, Zhang Xuan comforted himself.

Now he only hoped the Master Teacher Hall had methods to cultivate the mind. Then, with the Heaven's Path Library, he could compile a Heaven's Path manual, progress quickly, and grow fast.

Otherwise, with his current scale, he wasn't even qualified to be a star teacher, let alone a master teacher.

Just as he was pondering what to do about such a low mental scale, he heard a knock on the classroom door.

"Is Teacher Zhang Xuan in?"

"Your Majesty Shen Zhui?"

Recognizing the voice, he said directly, "Please come in!"

Creak!

The door opened, and two people walked in.

One was His Majesty Shen Zhui, and the other was a middle-aged man with a handsome appearance, bearing some resemblance to Zhao Ya.

"Teacher Zhang, this is Zhao Ya's father, City Lord Zhao Feng. He came specially to thank you for taking care of his daughter." Shen Zhui kept his posture low.

Although the other party wasn't yet a master teacher, he was a personal disciple of Teacher Yang and senior brother to Teacher Liu and others.

In front of such a person, even a kingdom's ruler dared not act arrogantly.

"I am Zhao Feng. Greetings, Teacher Zhang!" City Lord Zhao Feng stepped forward.

"Since you're Zhao Ya's father, no need to be so polite. Sit!"

Zhang Xuan invited them.

"I've heard from Yao Han about your care for my daughter these days. I'm truly grateful. Knowing your status and ability, you don't lack gold coins. So, I specially sent people to search and happened to obtain a [Mingli Jade Crystal]. Please accept it as thanks!"

After some polite exchanges, City Lord Zhao Feng handed over an item.

"Mingli Jade Crystal?" Zhang Xuan looked at the item with confusion.

"The Mingli Jade Crystal, like spiritual energy for cultivators, can restore consumed mental scale and slowly enhance it when stroked and absorbed. It's an item used by master teachers to cultivate the mind, very precious. In my entire White Jade City, with countless jade mines, I only found this one."

City Lord Zhao Feng explained.

"It can enhance the mental scale?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

A pillow just when he was feeling sleepy.

He had just been worrying about his low mental scale when City Lord Zhao Feng sent this Mingli Jade Crystal. Perfect!

"Such a precious item... how can I accept it?" Zhang Xuan felt a bit embarrassed.

The entire White Jade City had only one, showing its rarity. It couldn't be measured by money.

The other party had gone to great lengths to find it.

"Compared to your kindness to my daughter, a single jade crystal is nothing!" City Lord Zhao Feng said respectfully.

He had recognized Zhao Ya's special physique and spent a great deal to help activate it...

The favor was immense. Although the Mingli Jade Crystal was precious, it couldn't repay it.

"Then thank you!"

Knowing the other party genuinely wanted to give him something, refusing would cause anxiety. Besides, he needed it, so he nodded and accepted.

"Zhao Ya is my student. Guiding her cultivation and helping her improve faster is my duty, not a transaction, and doesn't require repayment."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand. "However, the Mingli Jade Crystal is indeed what I need. How about this: Zhao Ya once showed me your White Jade City's cultivation technique. I've modified it a bit. Let me copy it for you now. You can cultivate according to it in the future, as payment for this Mingli Jade Crystal."

"Cultivation technique? Modified... a bit?"

Zhao Feng and His Majesty Shen Zhui both widened their eyes, full of confusion.