Chapter 397: The Statue of Master Kong Shattered

"Good!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

He was a Heaven-acknowledged master teacher, so even if he didn't need the recognition of his predecessors, it didn't matter. However, since he had come here, he also wanted to see if he could obtain their acknowledgment.

Taking two steps to the cushion, he took a deep breath, his knees softening as he knelt down.

"I, Zhang Xuan, pay my respects to all the former masters, and humbly seek your recognition!"

He kowtowed and performed the rites, exactly the same as Mo Hongyi had done before.

Everyone looked over in unison. Even Su Shi and Ling Shi, both four-star master teachers, couldn't help but feel a bit nervous, their fists clenching.

This fellow had created too many miracles; perhaps he could break Jiang Zijie's record.

The room was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. The statues filled the room, standing quietly in place, motionless, as if there were no reaction at all.

"Could it be... that not a single predecessor acknowledges him?"

After waiting for a long time with no movement, the many master teachers exchanged glances, seeing confusion in each other's eyes.

This Zhang Xuan had broken so many records in a row, and the students he taught had a trust level of ninety-nine. He should have earned the admiration of many strong individuals. Why was there no reaction at all?

It was too abnormal.

"Normally, if there's no movement within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it means no recognition has been obtained. The time has passed now, so it seems... he has failed!"

After waiting quietly for a moment, Hall Master Jiang calculated the time and was filled with disappointment.

Given their achievements, Mo Hongyi could get one predecessor to acknowledge him, and Teacher Zhang should have had many strong individuals recognize him. But the reality was that there was no movement at all, which made his mood somewhat low.

"Recognition from predecessors doesn't depend on talent or strength, but... on whether you are suitable to be their student."

After a moment, Su Shi spoke: "Perhaps it's because Teacher Zhang's talent is too high, putting pressure on these predecessors!"

Now, that was the only explanation. Otherwise, no one could understand why Mo Hongyi, with weaker talent, succeeded, while the more talented one failed.

"Yes, it must be that. Otherwise, how could there be not a single one acknowledging him?"

Hall Master Jiang nodded bitterly and was about to continue speaking when he saw Vice Hall Master Guan on the side, pointing forward with an anxious expression: "No, look..."

Everyone quickly looked up, only to see that the many spirit tablets in the room remained still, unchanged.

"Vice Hall Master Guan..." Jiang Shu looked over in confusion.

"Not these tablets, but..." Vice Hall Master Guan's face turned pale, his lips trembling: "But... the statue of Master Kong!"

Everyone was startled and looked at the tall statue in the center. They saw the clay sculpture embedded in the ground suddenly... shake!

"The statue is shaking?"

This time, not only the others were puzzled, but even Su Shi and Ling Shi were baffled.

In the past, they had only seen spirit tablets fall, but they had never heard of Master Kong's statue shaking!

"It's not shaking..."

Just as they were wondering, Hall Master Jiang suddenly realized something and let out a scream: "Teacher Zhang, be careful..."

Before he finished speaking, they saw the tall statue of Master Kong fall down with a creak.

Zhang Xuan was kneeling before the many spirit tablets, right in front of the statue. As it fell, it crashed toward his head.

"What the hell!"

Kneeling in place, waiting for recognition, Zhang Xuan never dreamed that such a large statue would fall. His face turned ugly, and there was no time to escape. He had to quickly stand up and raise his hands to meet it.

Bang!

His fist collided with the statue.

He was a peak Grandmaster, and his physical body was strong enough to withstand 9,999 ding. The falling statue of Master Kong, no matter how sturdy, was just a sculpture. How could it withstand the blow? With a boom, it exploded in the middle.

Clatter!

The moment the statue of Master Kong shattered, the many spirit tablets piled in the room simultaneously fell like popping beans, and then the Enfeoffment Hall also began to shake with creaks.

"Retreat quickly..."

His face pale, Hall Master Jiang shouted and dashed out with the many master teachers.

Zhang Xuan didn't hesitate either, following closely behind as he rushed out.

As soon as they left the room, they saw the hall in front collapse with a boom, dust flying, smoke rising like rolling waves.

"What... the hell is going on?"

Hall Master Jiang and the other master teachers were all dumbfounded.

They all looked at the bewildered young man not far away, wishing they could strangle him.

When others paid homage, they either gained recognition or didn't. But he, after bowing, dismantled the statue of Master Kong, and that wasn't all—he even collapsed the entire Enfeoffment Hall...

What the heck!

Master Kong, the teacher of the world, a figure revered by all. When his statue fell, even if it was about to hit you, you would at least catch it, right? But he threw a punch—what was that about?

Laying hands on Master Kong...

That was enough!

The many master teachers felt dizzy, watching the young man not far away, who kept scratching his head as he looked at the ruins: "Um... am I considered recognized?"

Recognition?

Recognize your sister!

Everyone was in tears.

You smashed the statue and demolished the ancestral hall—how can you still expect recognition?

The crowd was going mad, but Zhang Xuan was also collapsing inside.

Admit it or not, what did it mean for such a huge statue to fall?

Guaranteed to last a thousand years, this statue was almost as hard as stone. If he didn't dodge and it hit him on the head, even with his invincible physical defense, he would probably be severely injured.

"This old man must be taking revenge..."

He was utterly speechless.

Earlier, when Master Kong wanted to take him as a disciple, he refused. Now this was definitely deliberate revenge—otherwise, why would such a huge statue suddenly topple?

Even the Feng Master Hall collapsed?

Now there was no way to explain it away...

"No one is to speak of today's events!"

After a moment of silence, Su Shi glanced around and gave an order.

The statue of Master Kong shattered, the Feng Master Hall collapsed—it was like someone had dug up their ancestral grave... If word got out, others would surely laugh their heads off, and the prestige of their Master Teacher Hall would cease to exist.

The only thing they could do was impose a gag order.

Fortunately, only a few people were present, each with their own status, and presumably they wouldn't spread such a disgraceful matter.

"Yes!" Everyone quickly nodded.

"Alright, not being recognized is no big deal. Now that you two have become master teachers, I will introduce you to the responsibilities and duties of a master teacher!"

Knowing that discussing this matter would only bring trouble, Hall Master Jiang turned to them.

"A teacher is one who transmits the Way, imparts knowledge, and resolves doubts. As a master teacher, this is even more true. When Master Kong established the Master Teacher Hall and standardized the profession, his only goal was... that everyone becomes a dragon!"

"Everyone becomes a dragon?"

Mo Hongyi and Zhang Xuan both frowned.

"Indeed, the world you see now is calm and peaceful, with various professions shining brilliantly. But that is not the case."

Hall Master Jiang's expression turned grave: "In Master Kong's era, humans were not the sole rulers of the continent. There was another powerful race... the Spirit Race!"

"Spirit Race?"

"Yes, a very formidable race. They possessed power surpassing the Supreme from birth, incredibly mighty! At that time, once captured, humans could only become their vassals and be enslaved!"

Hall Master Jiang continued slowly: "Master Kong led humanity to eventually suppress them. To make humans stronger, he founded the Master Teacher Hall, teaching without discrimination and passing down knowledge to the world, with the aim of making us more powerful and capable of self-protection."

"This..."

Zhang Xuan was utterly shocked.

Although he had collected many books, these ancient secrets were recorded in none, and he had never heard of them.

He could never have imagined that such a powerful race existed, born with strength surpassing the Supreme.

"Do you know why poison masters are despised and not recognized by the nine mainstream professions?" Hall Master Jiang continued to look at them.

The two shook their heads.

"Under normal circumstances, poison masters, though they kill invisibly and inspire fear, also have great benefits and cannot be simply dismissed. Yet they are detested by countless professions—not out of fear or worry, but because in that era, they sided with the Spirit Race, aiding the tyrant and harming their fellow humans!"

Hall Master Jiang said.

The two understood.

Earlier, Zhang Xuan had also wondered why poison masters, though terrifying, didn't poison everyone they met, and why they were so guarded against, driven out of the royal city, and forced to dwell in the Red Lotus Mountain Range.

Only now did he realize it was because the various professions had never forgiven their past deeds.

Over time, though the hatred was forgotten, the habits remained, leading to the current situation.

Poison masters, within the normal professional sphere, were like rats crossing the street—though no one willingly offended them, they had no good reputation.

"Alright, you are only two-star master teachers, and these matters are long past. The Spirit Race has long vanished into the river of history, so there's no need to dwell on it!"

Hall Master Jiang smiled and dropped the subject: "Though the crisis of the Spirit Race is gone, the legacy of master teachers remains. Once you become a member, you must fulfill the duties of a teacher, strictly abide by the rules, and educate students!"

"It is by educating the world that the world grants master teachers their supreme status, not that becoming a master teacher gives one a lofty identity and position!"

Hall Master Jiang's expression turned serious: "If I ever learn that either of you has committed wrongdoing or disregarded the rules, even if I don't act, other master teacher halls will automatically purge you and expel you!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Xuan and the other nodded simultaneously.

"Remember, becoming a master teacher is not an honor or a status, but a responsibility and duty. Only by keeping students in your heart, truly educating them, and spreading knowledge throughout the world can you become a good teacher renowned across nations!"

Having finished his instructions, Hall Master Jiang waved his hand: "Alright, I've said all that needs to be said. Let's go to the reception hall. I'll also introduce you to Su Shi and Ling Shi!"

"Mm."

Everyone acknowledged and headed toward the reception hall of the Master Teacher Hall.

As they left, no one noticed that from countless memorial tablets and the statue of Master Kong, faint, special auras slowly emerged, converging into a massive torrent.

Since no one received it, it gradually dissipated after a short time, as if it had never existed.