Chapter 315: Mind State 10.1!

"The texture stones we use are called low-grade texture stones. They can only detect mind states below 9.0, meaning they can only test scales below three-star master teachers. Once exceeded... they can't withstand it and become waste."

Hall Master Jiang nodded, pointing to the powder on the ground, and explained: "Otherwise, normal texture stones are extremely hard. If the texture within isn't damaged beyond their capacity, how could they shatter at a touch?"

"That does make it possible!"

The crowd was stunned again.

Texture stones, being jade, are hard and tough. Even a hard strike with a long sword can barely damage them. Crumbling to powder at a touch was indeed strange.

"Hall Master means... Teacher Zhang's mind state scale might have exceeded... 9.0?"

Understanding the implication, Elder Zhu's lips went dry, and his voice trembled slightly.

What does 9.0 mean?

The standard for a three-star master teacher! A kid under twenty has reached that standard?

Hearing this, the surrounding crowd also understood, and they were all dumbfounded.

Damn, he just tested 5.0, and they thought breaking 6.0 was incredibly impressive. But from Hall Master Jiang's words, it seems there's more...

"To confirm whether it's true is simple. I have a medium-grade texture stone here. Test with it, and we'll know the result!"

Hall Master Jiang's expression turned serious. With a flick of his wrist, a piece of jade appeared.

This texture stone was clearly different from the one used before—more dazzling, with denser surface patterns. Those with low cultivation would feel dizzy and unable to bear it at a single glance.

A medium-grade texture stone! Each one is priceless.

The entire Tianwu Kingdom Master Teacher Hall had only one.

"Brother Zhang, I'll trouble you to test again!"

He handed over the texture stone.

Having heard about the technique, he was now certain that this Zhang Xuan was indeed Teacher Yang's student, so he changed his address to 'brother.'

For anyone else, the Hall Master of the Master Teacher Hall—a figure so powerful he could even ignore the king—calling someone younger than his own son 'brother' would be embarrassing.

But having witnessed the terror of 'Teacher Yang' firsthand, and given the saying among master teachers that 'age matters not; the accomplished are teachers,' the first address came out, and the rest felt natural.

"Mm."

Acknowledging, Zhang Xuan took the texture stone, closed his palm, and with a mental stir, his mind state began to operate again.

Hum!

A soft hum sounded again. He looked down.

Unlike before, where there were no numbers, a dazzling light shot out from the medium-grade texture stone, illuminating everything brilliantly. A line of numbers slowly emerged from it.

Seeing the numbers clearly, everyone froze, then erupted.

"Ten, ten... ten point one?"

"His mind state scale is... 10.1?"

They had thought he was boasting about having no mind state scale, but instead... he had reached ten point one!

Mind state 3.0 qualifies for one-star master teacher, 6.0 for two-star, and 10.1... is more than enough for three-star!

"Wasn't it... 5.1 just now? How..."

Mo Hongyi was on the verge of tears this time.

He felt that the other party had come specifically to slap his face.

Not only had he broken all the records he had set, but more importantly, as soon as he questioned his profession, he produced a badge; as soon as he said he hadn't reached grandmaster, he broke through on the spot; and most crucially... just when he said his mind state scale was insufficient, he not only reached 6.0 but also qualified for the three-star master teacher exam.

Can't we just have fun anymore?

If there were a crack in the ground, he would definitely crawl in and never want to live again.

Beside him, Lu Xun also felt a sweetness in his throat, nearly spitting out blood.

He had broken through to心如止水 (mind like still water) with a scale of 1.8, and was so excited he couldn't sleep, thinking himself a super genius who could roam the world freely. Seeing Teacher Zhang's mind state, he realized his own was nothing.

Turning his head, he couldn't help shaking it, full of sympathy for Mo Hongyi.

This number one genius was being so crushed that he could barely function in life.

Teacher Zhang, you've gone too far!

Even someone as formidable as Mo Hongyi was crushed like this. He knew that the gap between himself and Teacher Zhang was now a chasm, and there was no point in comparison anymore.

"It reached 10.1?"

While everyone was going crazy, Zhang Xuan was also startled, then nodded.

It seemed the golden page hadn't canceled out the previous scale; it was still as effective as ever, allowing him to increase by another 5.0.

"..."

Originally, everyone was already frustrated. Seeing him look so oblivious, as if he had just realized it, they nearly spat blood again.

You don't even know what level your mind state has reached... Can't you be a bit more considerate?

"Teacher Zhang, mind state scales are very hard to improve. How did you..."

Suppressing his shock, Elder Zhu couldn't help asking.

Mind state scales are like age; even with good cultivation methods, they can only be increased gradually through steady effort.

Jumping from 5.1 to 10.1 all at once—that's too fast!

And not even knowing how much your mind state increased...

Can you be any more clueless?

Hearing the question, everyone else also looked over, wanting to know what had happened.

"Well..."

Zhang Xuan hesitated, looking troubled. After a moment, he said: "Alright, if I don't explain, you probably won't be satisfied. The truth is, I don't know exactly what my mind state scale is, because when I first broke through to心如止水, my teacher sealed it and specifically instructed that it could only be unsealed when my strength reached a certain level... The reason it increased so much just now is that I just broke through to grandmaster, recovering some of it."

He couldn't reveal the golden page or the Heaven's Path Library, but he had already thought of an excuse: blame it on that nonexistent teacher.

"Sealing the mind state? Is that a thing?"

"How strong must a mind state be to require sealing?"

The crowd buzzed.

They had never heard of sealing a mind state scale, but if not that, there was no way to explain how the scale suddenly jumped by 5.0!

While shocked, they also looked at him as if he were a monster.

Just how high was his mind state that it needed sealing?

And what star level was his teacher to be able to do that?

Earlier, some thought he might have a powerful method to improve his mind state, but now they realized his mind state was naturally strong—nothing to compare with.

"Some people are indeed born with strong mind states. It is said that the ancient天人孔师 (Heavenly Man Confucius) was born with a mind state at the saint level, comparable to a nine-star master teacher. From birth, he was extraordinary, and eventually reached the pinnacle of the world, earning everyone's admiration."

Hall Master Jiang spoke.

"Born with a mind state at the saint level? Comparable to a nine-star master teacher?"

Everyone was startled again.

Although they didn't know the exact standard for a nine-star master teacher, if each star level required an increase of 3.0, it would have to be above 27.0.

Born with a mind state scale of 27?

"Not only Confucius, but the Master Teacher Hall of the Xuanyuan Title Kingdom also had a genius who entered the心如止水 realm at seventeen. On his first test, his mind state scale was a terrifying 9.3, enough to qualify for a three-star master teacher."

As Hall Master, he knew many secrets. Jiang Shu continued: "Such super geniuses are rare, but there have been precedents. However, if the mind state is too high and cultivation can't keep up, deviations can easily occur, leading to imperceptible variables. Perhaps that's why your teacher sealed your mind state scale."

Saying this, he looked at Zhang Xuan with envy.

No wonder Teacher Yang, such a formidable figure, took him as a student. Being born with such a mind state scale made him a rare master teacher prodigy. As long as he didn't fall, his achievements would surely be no less than a four-star master teacher.

"So that's how it is..."

"Indeed, mind state is hard to improve. Often, after decades of cultivation, one can only increase by a few tenths or a few points. If everyone started as low as we did, how could there be six-star, seven-star, or even higher master teachers?"

"Yes, the world is vast with countless experts. Although Tianwu Kingdom is the largest among the surrounding thirteen kingdoms, compared to truly powerful nations, it's still a remote corner."

...

After hearing Hall Master Jiang's explanation, everyone finally understood.

The world is vast with countless experts. Many things that seem unreasonable to them are only due to their limited experience.

Zhang Xuan hadn't expected that there were people born with such powerful mind states. He was slightly taken aback.

But since Hall Master Jiang had already explained for him, he didn't bother finding another excuse. He looked at Mo Hongyi.

"Profession, cultivation, and mind state have all been met... Teacher Mo, are there any other requirements for the two-star master teacher exam? If so, let's hear them all at once, so I can prepare."

"No more..."

Mo Hongyi felt his face burning. His body trembled, and his expression was bitter.

He had intended to stop the other from taking the exam to make a name for himself, but instead of making a name, he had only embarrassed himself.

"No more? Then... can I take the two-star master teacher exam?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

"Yes..."

Mo Hongyi suppressed the urge to spit blood.

If he had known this guy was such a freak, why would he have bothered to clash with him? Now, instead of gaining a reputation as a genius, he looked like a fool in everyone's eyes...

"Since you meet the conditions, you two may begin the exam!"

Afraid that Zhang Xuan would keep questioning and Mo Hongyi would jump off a building in frustration, Elder Zhu interrupted the awkwardness.

"The two-star master teacher exam also has five levels. Among them, the Supplementary Hall, Puppet Hall, Technique Sea, and Error-Free Hall are almost the same, only more difficult. For example, if the Supplementary Hall tests alchemy, you will guide the refining of second-grade pills. For calligraphy and painting, you will guide the creation of fourth-realm paintings."

"These four levels are the same. Only the first level, the Trust House, is completely different."

"The first level, Trust House, requires testing a student's trust level. The student can be one you've taught for years, of any age. Many people can take advantage by bringing a student they've raised since childhood, naturally having high affinity... But for the two-star exam, it's not that easy."

"For the two-star exam, the candidate must recruit a new student and be given ten days. During this time, the trust level doesn't need to exceed fifty; reaching forty is enough to pass."

Elder Zhu explained the rules for the two-star master teacher exam.