Chapter 235: Xuanluo Mountain Range

"What's wrong?"

Seeing the three of them looking as if they had been struck dumb, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but look down—and was stunned himself.

On the jade stone, several clear numbers had appeared—5.1.

"5.1?"

Now, not only the others wore that expression, but even Zhang Xuan felt like fainting.

He had tested it many times yesterday, and the highest was 0.1. How had it suddenly become 5.1?

Could it be...

"That golden page increased my mental state scale by... 5.0?"

The corner of his mouth twitched.

His eyes nearly popped out.

He had known the Heavenly Book of Dao was formidable, but he had never dreamed it was this formidable!

All those mental cultivation techniques and Enlightenment Crystals were nothing but trash before this thing.

It had increased his mental state by 5.0 in one go...

If word got out, it would absolutely scare people to death.

"A scale of 3 qualifies one for the one-star master teacher exam, and a scale of 6 allows one to take the two-star exam... Having just comprehended 'Heart Like Still Water' and already reaching 5.1, I'm afraid that as long as he learns the cultivation method, within a few years he could even pass the two-star master teacher exam!"

Liu Ling and the others recovered from their shock, their faces flushed with excitement.

When they had first comprehended 'Heart Like Still Water,' their scales were only around 1.5, but this guy's was 5.1. With such talent, as long as he cultivated properly, within a few years he would leave them far behind and even be able to take the two-star master teacher exam.

Indeed, there was a gap between geniuses and ordinary people.

"Teacher!"

Just as they were in shock, Lu Xun parted the crowd and came before them.

Earlier, when Zhang Xuan was lecturing, he hadn't come to listen—not out of disrespect, but because he was at a critical breakthrough point and couldn't afford distraction.

"How did it go?"

Seeing him appear, Liu Ling and the others all looked over.

"Teacher told me yesterday that it's precisely because I'm too competitive and care too much about the pressure from my father that I couldn't break through to a heart as still as water. After thinking it over, I suddenly realized the truth, reconciled with my father, and sure enough, my sealed state of mind began to loosen, and finally... I successfully broke through!"

Saying this, Lu Xun's eyes regained their confidence.

All along, he hadn't been able to advance his state of mind or achieve a heart as still as water. He had thought it was because he hadn't accumulated enough, but under Teacher Liu's guidance, he understood that he was too attached.

Unexpectedly, after improving his relationship with his father, he indeed broke through as he had wished!

Reaching a heart as still as water in his twenties... that might even set a record in the entire Tianxuan Kingdom!

Having been constantly overwhelmed by this Zhang Xuan in front of him, now that he had taken the lead in breaking through to a heart as still as water, he should finally be able to hold his head high!

Standing straight, Lu Xun wore a warm smile.

"Have you tested it? What's the reading?"

Hearing that he had also broken through, Liu Ling was overjoyed and couldn't help asking.

"I've already tested it!" Lu Xun said with a light laugh, his eyes barely concealing his excitement. "Teacher said that upon first reaching a heart as still as water, achieving 1.0 or above indicates a fifty percent chance of becoming a master teacher in the future, and 1.5 or above means a seventy percent chance of success. As for me..."

He paused, looking around the room. "It's 1.8!"

With his hands behind his back, Lu Xun thought that after announcing his result, the three teachers would be greatly startled and beside themselves with excitement, after all, his value was even higher than theirs when they were young.

But to his surprise, after hearing him, they all just said "Oh!" and then ignored him, turning back to look at Zhang Xuan with intense fervor.

Seeing that even with such a high score he was being left out, Lu Xun was deeply frustrated.

Logically, shouldn't they be thrilled by the result, crowding around to praise him?

Why were they crowding around Teacher Zhang?

Puzzled, he couldn't help looking forward, and just then he saw the texture stone in Zhang Xuan's hand. At the sight, his whole body stiffened.

"5.1?"

His body twitched, and Lu Xun cried.

Damn it, wasn't this just offering his face to be slapped...

Poor me, I was so smug for so long, thinking I could finally show off...

...

The Xuanluo Mountains were vast and boundless, covered with tall trees and vegetation, and with ferocious beasts running rampant, it was hard to travel without strength.

"I've been on this path once before. It's very hidden. If you can't find it, once you get lost in the mountains, it will be hard to get out!"

Shen Biru walked ahead with a smile, leading the way.

Zhang Xuan followed closely behind.

After the open class, he entrusted Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, and the others to the three great masters, asking them to help bring them to Tianwu Royal City. Without further hesitation, Zhang Xuan and Shen Biru entered the Xuanluo Mountain Range where the Beast Hall was located.

The mountains were overrun with savage beasts and thick with vegetation. If not for Teacher Shen having been here before, he really wondered if he would have gotten lost, completely trapped, unable to leave.

After walking continuously for three days, he was utterly exhausted.

"The Beast Hall is hidden too deep. Don't they need normal lives?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

As long as one is human, they surely need interaction, need to purchase various supplies and food. If the Beast Hall is hidden deep in the mountains, even buying things would be inconvenient!

"People from the Beast Hall have flying savage beasts. For them, what took us three days is less than half an hour; it's nothing." Shen Biru shook her head.

The first time she followed someone else to the Beast Hall, she had felt the same way. Only after truly arriving did she realize how ridiculous that notion was.

"Moreover, when you get there, you'll know that the Beast Hall's location is not too far from the royal cities of Beiwu Kingdom, Hanwu Kingdom, and others. Many people come every day, so supplies and such are not lacking." Shen Biru continued.

The kingdom's library had maps of the surrounding countries. Zhang Xuan had studied them carefully these past few days and found that they were indeed not far apart. If not for the natural barrier of the Xuanluo Mountain Range, Tianxuan Royal City would not have remained so peaceful all these years.

"With so many savage beasts in the Xuanluo Mountain Range, why don't cultivators subdue one or two and instead go to the Beast Hall?"

There were many savage beasts in the mountains. In the past three days, they had encountered several groups. Fortunately, their strength was not weak, so they suffered no major harm.

Since there were so many savage beasts, they could easily tame one or two. Why go through the trouble of the Beast Hall?

"I had similar thoughts before. Not to mention whether savage beasts, with such wild nature, are easy to tame, but consider the flying savage beasts that can carry people—we haven't seen any along the way, have we?" Shen Biru chuckled.

Zhang Xuan hesitated, then couldn't help nodding.

Flying savage beasts capable of carrying people must be much larger than a person. The ones they had encountered these days were all running beasts, and none were very large.

"Such flying savage beasts are rare, and if they can't fight, they can fly away, making them hard to catch! Of course, that's not the most important thing. If you use force to make them submit, and they pretend to obey but then turn on you in the air, wouldn't that be disastrous?"

Shen Biru said.

"This..."

Zhang Xuan shrank his neck.

Flying savage beasts are different from others. If they carry you in the air and are not truly submissive, a single flip in the air would basically mean certain death.

"As a special profession, beast tamers can ensure that savage beasts are one hundred percent obedient, preventing such situations. That's why they are highly regarded and rank among the top of the upper nine professions. Otherwise, a beast turning against you would be extremely dangerous."

Even if a cultivator's strength reaches the Grandmaster realm, falling from a great height would mean certain death.

Therefore, without the skills of a beast tamer, it's best not to provoke flying savage beasts. Even if you manage to subdue one by force, if it intends to harm you, you can't escape.

"Beast tamers, like masters, are divided into many star levels. The higher the level, the more powerful the savage beasts they can tame! Before becoming an official beast tamer, one must also pass the assessment for beast tamer apprentice!"

Seeing that he knew little about beast tamers, Shen Biru explained: "Han Qiong, whom you met earlier, is actually a beast tamer apprentice. That's why she said she had connections in the Beast Hall. Last time I came here, it was with her."

"Mm!"

Zhang Xuan responded.

The kingdom's library had few records about beast tamers, but he knew these basics; they were no secret.

Beast tamer apprentices, like alchemy apprentices—the latter study the types, properties, and principles of medicines, while the former need to learn the types, attack power, and various habits of savage beasts...

Only by memorizing all of this thoroughly can one understand savage beasts inside out and have the opportunity to tame them.

Otherwise, if one flies out, you wouldn't even know what it is, let alone tame it. Worse, you might be killed by it because you don't know its strength.

Some ferocious savage beasts are basically very hostile to humans.

"Let's hurry up. It's less than a day's journey from here to the Beast Hall; it's not far!"

After a few more words, Shen Biru smiled. Just as they were about to continue forward, they heard a rustling sound from directly ahead.

Looking up, they saw a group of figures not far away.

There were seven or eight of them, crouching together as if discussing something. Most were at the Aperture Opening realm, with only one youth of twenty-seven or twenty-eight at the peak of the Strength Accumulation realm.

Although his strength was low, he seemed to be the leader of the group, carrying himself with an air of grace.

"Who goes there?"

They had not concealed their movements, so as they spotted the others, the others spotted them. With a loud shout, they all drew their weapons.

Knowing they were close to the Beast Hall and that encountering people was normal, Shen Biru did not panic. She stepped forward: "We are from Tianxuan Royal City and wish to go to the Beast Hall. We are passing through."

"Going to the Beast Hall?"

The youth glanced at the beautiful teacher, his eyes lighting up.

Shen Biru could be called the most beautiful teacher at Hongtian Academy; her appearance went without saying. Although three days of roughing it had left her slightly disheveled, it still could not hide her charm.

"We are also returning to the Beast Hall, but before that, we have something to do. As long as you don't disturb us, we can take you back with us!"

The youth waved his hand.

"No need. We can find our way to the Beast Hall ourselves!"

Shen Biru shook her head and continued forward with Zhang Xuan.

"Stop! You can't go ahead!"

After only two steps, the remaining few shouted simultaneously, and the sound of weapons being drawn rang out again.