Chapter 370: Unwilling to Be Your Student

To become a renowned teacher, one must undergo various assessments. Only after passing them can one gain recognition from the Hall of Renowned Teachers, receive a badge, and earn respect.

This is the most standard procedure.

However, there are also some super geniuses who, from birth, possess abilities that countless renowned teachers lack, drawing everyone's attention.

Their abilities are too high; they cannot follow the step-by-step assessments, and naturally, they cannot be graded.

Just like Teacher Kong, who founded the Hall of Renowned Teachers. Since he created the hall, who is qualified to assess his level?

Such individuals comprehend nature and gain recognition from heaven and earth, automatically being granted the status of a renowned teacher—this is the so-called [Heaven-Recognized Renowned Teacher]!

A Heaven-Recognized Renowned Teacher is recognized by heaven and earth. Even without undergoing assessments, they automatically become renowned teachers, recognized by others, and even... hold a higher status!

After all, if heaven itself recognizes them, who would dare to deny it?

Such geniuses exist only in legends. It is said that only Teacher Kong achieved this in his time. No one expected that someone in their guild would succeed!

A Heaven-Recognized Renowned Teacher is already terrifying, something countless people dream of. Now, Teacher Kong's statue is even trembling...

This is even more maddening!

Books record that Teacher Kong left a trace of his will on the statue. Whenever he encounters someone he wishes to take as a disciple, the statue trembles.

All Halls of Renowned Teachers regard this statement as a precept and strictly adhere to it.

Unfortunately, over countless years, not a single instance has occurred. That is, no one has ever gained Teacher Kong's recognition, nor become his disciple.

No one expected that at the moment of 'Heaven-Recognized Renowned Teacher,' the statue would shake, meaning... Teacher Kong recognized this person and wished to take them as a disciple!

Teacher Kong taking a disciple means... a Sage's student!

The Celestial Teacher Kong took countless disciples in his lifetime, said to number three thousand.

However, these people, with the passage of time, have long since passed away. Even the most powerful nine-star renowned teachers are likely descendants of descendants, juniors among juniors.

Becoming a Sage's student, in terms of status alone, even a nine-star renowned teacher would have to respectfully address them as senior or ancestor!

Their guild actually produced such an extraordinary person...

Once the news spreads, it will absolutely drive the entire world into a frenzy.

Who could it be?

Mo Hongyi? Zhang Xuan?

Or someone present?

The guild's Seal Teacher Hall only displays the message; it cannot confirm who specifically it is.

Therefore, even though everyone is shocked, they cannot know who is so fortunate as to gain Teacher Kong's favor.

"But... the Sage taking a disciple will shake the world. I'm afraid this matter cannot be concealed..."

Hall Master Jiang muttered to himself.

Even if they don't know who it is, the news will certainly be hard to hide.

When a Sage takes a disciple, it initially causes a stir in the corresponding guild. Once confirmed, it is immediately announced throughout the world, and all kingdoms and all Halls of Renowned Teachers will receive the message.

At that time, there will definitely be a scene of ten thousand kingdoms paying homage and billions of sects coming to celebrate.

If that happens, that person, even if they want to hide, won't be able to.

"Yes, our guild is probably about to become famous throughout the world..."

"Incredible! Teacher Kong has been gone for so many years, and now he wants to take a disciple again?"

...

Many renowned teachers couldn't help but have their eyes shine, their excitement hard to contain.

However...

Before they could finish speaking, the statue of Teacher Kong in front of them suddenly stopped shaking, trembled violently, and with a 'crack,' split open from the middle.

Seeing this, everyone was stunned again, and Hall Master Jiang's eyes widened even more.

"This is..."

"Teacher Kong wanted to take a disciple, but was... rejected?"

Dead silence.

Everyone wore expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

A teacher can choose a student, and a student can also choose a teacher.

Even if Teacher Kong is the teacher of the world, a celestial being, when taking a student, he must see if the other party is willing. If not, he cannot force it.

The statue trembled, indicating agreement to take the other as a student, but then it shattered... meaning the intention to take a disciple was rejected by the other party!

Refuse to be Teacher Kong's student?

Damn!

Who is this awesome person?

Not even willing to be his student—can you be any more awesome?

...

Inside the small classroom.

Zhang Xuan's spirit was highly concentrated, frantically absorbing the special power descending from the sky.

This power entered his body and perfectly merged with his soul, allowing him to see things from a higher perspective and with greater clarity.

"This is the reward of understanding principle..."

Through reading the books in the Hall of Renowned Teachers, Zhang Xuan understood.

It was not spiritual energy, not true energy, but the power of understanding principle!

To become a renowned teacher, one must have the mindset of the Understanding Principle realm.

And to increase one's mindset scale, one needs to absorb this special power of understanding principle.

Back then, Zhao Ya's father, Zhao Feng, gave him a Understanding Principle Jade Crystal, which contained this energy. By absorbing it, he restored his depleted mindset scale back to 0.1.

"Absorb!"

Though shocked in his heart, he did not stop.

He had used golden pages to increase his mindset scale without cultivating any so-called secret manuals or techniques, nor had he absorbed much of this substance, but he knew its value.

For a renowned teacher, it was absolutely priceless.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle!

The power of understanding principle pouring down was continuously absorbed into his body, and his mindset scale slowly increased.

After an unknown amount of time.

His body shook, and he stopped.

"It's gone..."

Looking around, he knew that the surging power from before had been completely absorbed. Zhang Xuan exhaled, flipped his wrist, and a texture stone appeared in his palm.

He moved his mind.

A line of text appeared on it.

11.1!

"Absorbed for so long, and only increased by 1.0 scale?"

He curled his lips.

He had thought that absorbing so much understanding principle energy would allow his mindset to advance by leaps and bounds, increasing by ten or eight points. How could it only increase by 1.0?

Too weak!

If others knew this thought, they would definitely come and strangle him to death.

Others spend countless efforts and cultivate for many years just to increase 0.1 scale.

He increased by 1.0 in one go and still wasn't satisfied...

Of course, if they knew that he used golden pages to directly advance by 5.0 or 5.0, they probably wouldn't think that way.

Shaking his head, he set aside his frustration. Zhang Xuan slowly opened his eyes and looked forward.

Streams of texture flowed in his eyes, revealing the most fundamental nature of everything before him.

A long blade on the weapon rack, under his gaze, turned into a mass of steel, followed by a phantom continuously forging, slowly changing its shape and form.

It seemed that with one glance, he could know the forging process, grade, and flaws of this blade.

Behind the table not far away was a tall tree phantom, then it was cut down and made into something...

"This is..."

A name popped into his mind. Zhang Xuan's eyes widened, and his fists clenched!

Understanding Principle Eye!

It is said that powerful renowned teachers, by consuming mindset power, can possess the Understanding Principle Eye, seeing through the essence of things, and even the strengths and weaknesses of martial techniques and cultivation methods.

For example, when he used a human skin mask to disguise himself as 'Liu Cheng,' even a sovereign might not be able to see through it, but with the Understanding Principle Eye, one could see through it at a glance and recognize his true appearance.

Because of this, the higher the level of a renowned teacher, the more terrifying they become.

Even with just one meeting, they can easily see the problem or crux and provide guidance.

But...

"Isn't it said that one must at least reach six-star renowned teacher to have the qualification to comprehend this? What's going on?"

He confirmed it was the same as the Understanding Principle Eye recorded in books, but he was also puzzled.

According to records, only upon reaching six-star renowned teacher does one have the qualification to comprehend this powerful talent.

How could he possess it when he wasn't even two-star yet?

Boom!

Just as he was wondering, his vision blurred, and his consciousness seemed to be pulled by a vast force into a chaotic space.

Then an old man with a snow-white beard walked over, and a kind voice appeared in his mind.

"I wish to take you as my student. Are you willing?"

"Take me as your student?" Zhang Xuan was startled, then shook his head: "Unwilling!"

Ridiculous! With the Library of Heaven's Path, he could find the crux and flaws of anything. In his eyes, a teacher was unnecessary.

Even a four-star or five-star renowned teacher—could they match the Library of Heaven's Path in guidance?

In cultivation, could they match the Heaven's Path techniques?

Besides, the other party silently invaded his mind. Who knew if it was good or bad?

Better to be cautious.

After all, someone had just poisoned his tea, trying to harm him.

Whoosh!

As soon as this thought emerged, his body shook again. He found himself still in the small classroom, having gone nowhere. The scene just now seemed like a dream.

"Illusion array? No, there's no array here; otherwise, the library would have detected it long ago... Could it be something like the trust stone?"

Coming to his senses, Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

When Zhao Ya and the others tested trust, they would, like just now, have their consciousness enter an illusion and experience various things to test their cooperation with the teacher.

Had he just encountered something similar?

Otherwise, why would some random fool appear out of nowhere wanting to take him as a student?

What nonsense! If you want to take me as a disciple, at least tell me who you are, right? Silently trapping him in an illusion like that was too unethical!

With a cold snort, he categorized that old man as shameless.

Of course, if he knew that this old man was the Celestial Teacher Kong, intending to take him as a student, and that if he had agreed just now, his status and position would have undergone a qualitative change...

Who knows if he would be so depressed that he'd spit blood and die.

"Now, even without taking the assessment, I am a true renowned teacher, and no one can refute that..."

Putting aside that unethical old man, Zhang Xuan hid his Understanding Principle Eye and clenched his fists in excitement.

Through reading books, he knew that he had inadvertently comprehended the true meaning of 'teacher and student,' thereby gaining the recognition of heaven and earth and becoming a Heaven-Recognized Renowned Teacher!

That is, even without passing the subsequent tests, he was a true renowned teacher and no longer needed to pretend.

"But... a Heaven-Recognized Renowned Teacher is too conspicuous. I'll just follow the step-by-step assessment. After all, there's only one step left..."

Though excited, he knew it was best not to let others know.

A Heaven-Recognized Renowned Teacher was too shocking. Once the news spread, there would be no shortage of trouble.

Keeping a low profile is the way to go.

In any case, I, Zhang Xuan... have always been very low-key...