Chapter 401: Paying Respects to Master Yang

Someone passed the assessment for master teacher... and refused the recognition of the ancestors?

You must be joking, right?

Is there... such a fierce person in the world?

"To receive the recognition of the ancestors is a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes. Refuse? Who on earth is it?"

After staring blankly for a long time, Hall Master Jiang nearly went mad on the spot.

Mo Hongyi received recognition from an ancestor, breaking a three-hundred-year record, and was bouncing with excitement.

He also felt it was a great honor, and in the future, in the master teacher halls of other kingdoms, he could hold his head high.

To be acknowledged, yet refuse...

Fortunately, Mo Hongyi wasn't here. If he learned of this news, would he spit blood and faint on the spot?

"This... impossible!"

Master Su and Master Ling were also completely baffled.

Recognition by the ancestors, obtaining a special aura that can increase one's mental state—such a thing, as long as one is a master teacher, no one could refuse. What... does this mean?

"Wait... headquarters said, if the Enshrinement Hall collapses, report immediately... The Enshrinement Hall here has collapsed!"

Realizing this first, Master Ling's face tightened.

They didn't understand "ancestor refused, bell chimes in mourning," but the headquarters asking about the collapse of the Enshrinement Hall was easy to grasp.

The people at headquarters weren't idle. Since they asked this way, the collapse of the Enshrinement Hall must be related to these eight characters.

"You mean... that person who refused the ancestors' recognition might be in this guild?"

Eyes wide, Master Su's voice was hoarse.

In the past few days, only Master Zhang and Master Mo had successfully passed the assessment. The former bowed, first Confucius's statue fell, then the entire Enshrinement Hall collapsed... Although it caused quite a stir, no one saw him refuse the ancestors' recognition, right?

"Let's ask!"

Full of confusion, Master Ling dipped his brush in ink and casually wrote: "What does 'ancestor refused, bell chimes in mourning' mean?"

Hum!

The characters disappeared, and soon a flash of light appeared. A new line of text emerged on the message wall, explaining the meaning of these eight characters in detail.

"Not absorbing the special aura bestowed by the ancestors, refusing their goodwill..."

Understanding this, the few of them trembled again.

Refusing the ancestors, causing their bells to chime in mourning...

How fierce must one be to achieve this?

They looked at each other, still shocked as to who had such courage and boldness, when the wall before them flashed again, and another line of text slowly appeared.

"Two days ago, at the hour of xu, he refused all the ancestral masters and also refused Confucius's intent, causing the statue to tremble... Under such circumstances, it is very likely to cause the Enshrinement Hall to collapse! If either the statue trembles or the Enshrinement Hall collapses, report immediately!"

"Two days ago at the hour of xu... that was around the time Master Zhang bowed and received recognition..." Master Su trembled.

"Yes, the statue trembled, the Enshrinement Hall collapsed... Could it be that the one who refused the ancestors and made their bells chime in mourning is... Master Zhang?"

Master Ling also swayed.

They had just been wondering which formidable person was so impressive, never imagining it was the one right beside them!

Really?

"It should be true..."

Thinking of something, Hall Master Jiang smiled bitterly.

"Oh?"

Seeing his certainty, the two four-star master teachers couldn't help but look over.

"Also two days ago, the ten thousand plaques in the Enshrinement Hall trembled... and the stone statue of Confucius also showed tremors..."

After a moment's thought, Hall Master Jiang recounted in detail what had happened two days ago.

"Ten thousand plaques trembling... Heaven-recognized master teacher? Confucius trembling, is that... Confucius taking a disciple, a sage's student?"

"And most importantly... he refused?"

Master Su and Master Ling were about to go mad.

Refusing the ancestors' recognition was already maddening, but on top of that, he also refused Confucius taking him as a disciple...

These things happening here—no doubt the super genius was in this guild.

In an instant, everyone's gaze converged, and a figure simultaneously appeared in their minds...

Zhang Xuan!

"It must be him!"

Lips trembling, Master Su jumped up in excitement.

A Heaven-recognized master teacher, someone Confucius wanted to take as a disciple... They had thought this trip would at most find a slightly more outstanding genius, never dreaming it would be someone beyond imagination, a figure of epic proportions.

"Quickly notify headquarters, have the hall master come personally to welcome..."

Excited and thrilled, Master Ling picked up his brush to write.

Not to mention Confucius wanting to take him as a disciple, just the fact of being a Heaven-recognized master teacher alone warranted the hall master coming personally to welcome him.

Across the entire continent, so far only Confucius had become a Heaven-recognized master teacher; no one else had achieved it.

"Master Ling, please don't rush..." Jiang Shu hurriedly stopped him.

"What's wrong?"

Frowning, Master Ling looked over.

"A Heaven-recognized master teacher is too terrifying... If we transmit this, I fear the news will leak and cause too much trouble. Moreover, Confucius being refused is not a glorious matter. I have already ordered others to keep silent. If we spread it now..."

Hall Master Jiang explained.

Although the Master Teacher Hall held great authority on the continent, there were still many potential enemies.

Moreover, with the Genius Tournament beginning, if other forces learned that such a formidable genius was participating, there would inevitably be many who would want to kill him in advance or poach him.

Better to be cautious.

"Hall Master Jiang is right. This matter cannot be communicated by message; it must be reported in person, and only to the hall master alone. The fewer who know, the better!" Master Su also realized this and said solemnly.

"Yes!" Master Ling came to his senses and nodded. Turning his brush, he replied on the wall: "None!"

Since it couldn't be said, he would reply like this for now.

"A Heaven-recognized master teacher, nearly becoming Confucius's disciple... If we didn't know, it would be one thing, but since we do, we must pay a visit!"

After replying, Master Su and Master Ling could no longer contain themselves.

Although they were four-star master teachers, they were still far inferior to a Heaven-recognized master teacher.

At most, they had received recognition from ancestors; he had received recognition from the Heavenly Dao...

Comparing the two, the gap was not small.

As long as he didn't fall, his future achievements would be limitless.

"We must certainly visit Master Zhang, but the urgent matter now is not visiting him, but... Master Yang!"

Master Su said solemnly.

"Right. To be able to teach a Heaven-recognized master teacher, and most importantly, one who refused Confucius taking him as a disciple—how formidable must this Master Yang be? If we could receive his teachings in person, even if only a half-teacher relationship, we would likely advance easily and greatly increase our strength!"

Master Ling also realized this and nodded.

A person can have many teachers in a lifetime.

But some people recognize only one teacher in their lifetime, unwavering until death.

For example, Confucius's disciples—even if they wanted to take another master, would anyone dare to accept?

For Master Yang, he even refused Confucius. How strong could this Yang Xuan be? Need it be said?

"Let's go!"

Without any hesitation, the two four-star master teachers quickly walked toward the courtyard where Zhang Xuan was staying.

...

Mo Hongyi's eyes were solemn, his gaze resolute.

A few days ago, when that Zhang Xuan appeared, his records were broken one after another, and his title as the number one genius was directly overturned.

Although he felt somewhat frustrated, he also knew that the other party relied on true strength. Since his strength was inferior, there was nothing to say; he could only keep improving, striving to surpass him one day.

"If I could become a disciple of either Master Su or Master Ling, and receive personal guidance from a four-star master teacher, perhaps I could catch up to his pace, or even... get ahead!"

His fist clenched.

Failure is not可怕; what is可怕 is losing the will to fight.

From the beginning of his cultivation, Mo Hongyi had been crowned with the title of genius. Being naturally intelligent and quick to learn was only part of it; more importantly, it was his unremitting effort.

Through these days of the two-star master teacher assessment, he knew he was far from the other party. If he relied solely on burying his head in study, catching up would be nearly impossible. The only way was to find a good teacher.

Wasn't Zhang Xuan so formidable precisely because he had Master Yang?

If he could become a disciple of either Master Su or Master Ling, his future achievements would surely not be inferior to the other's!

Although he had never met Master Yang, legend had it that he was at most three-star, maybe four-star, and might even be a notch below Master Su and the others.

"I must succeed..."

Straightening his attire, he silently encouraged himself.

"Sorry, Master Mo. Early this morning, Master Su and Master Ling went out!" Hall Master Jiang said apologetically.

Arriving at the Master Teacher Hall, he searched around but couldn't find them. After inquiring, he learned they had left shortly after dawn.

"Went out? Do you know where they went?" Mo Hongyi couldn't help asking.

"Oh, they went to Master Zhang's residence!" Hall Master Jiang said. "Is there something, Master Mo? Should I go and inform them?"

"No need, thank you for your kindness, Hall Master Jiang. I'll go find them myself..."

Knowing their whereabouts, he explained and turned to leave.

Zhang Xuan's residence was no longer a secret; many people knew it. It wasn't far from here. Walking quickly, he soon arrived.

Turning onto the street, he was about to walk over when he couldn't help but pause and stop abruptly.

"That is... Master Su, Master Ling?"

At the gate of Zhang Xuan's residence, two figures stood quietly at the entrance, looking respectful.

Who else could they be but the two big shots from the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance?

Hadn't they come early in the morning? Why were they still standing at the door, not going in?

And... most importantly, such a respectful attitude... what was going on?

They were four-star master teachers, renowned elders of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance. Even the king of the Xuan Yuan Kingdom would have to bow in greeting.

Yet now, like students, they stood at Zhang Xuan's door...

Mo Hongyi blinked, full of disbelief.

Creak!

Just as he was wondering, the courtyard gate opened, and a fat man walked out, looking casual: "You two have been waiting long. Our master has just returned; you may come in! Let me make it clear beforehand, the master doesn't like noise. Be quiet once inside the residence!"

"Yes!"

"Rest assured, we will be absolutely quiet!"

Master Su and Master Ling quickly nodded.

"Good, let's go!"

Waving his hand, the fat man walked in first.

The two master teachers followed closely behind.

"Holy crap..."

Mo Hongyi's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

What... is going on?

Two dignified four-star master teachers come here to find someone, and they need to pay respects?

And wait an entire morning?

A steward acting so arrogantly... how is he not afraid of being beaten to death?

Mo Hongyi's mouth twitched; he was about to go mad.