Chapter 437: A Single Word Drives Back a Million Troops (Part 2)

"Heavenly-bestowed teaching?"

Everyone was full of doubt.

Those with a bit of strength knew that heavenly-bestowed teaching was a unique ability of master teachers. As long as one's mental scale reached 3.0 or above, and the content taught pointed directly to the true meaning of cultivation without any error, there was a chance to trigger it, allowing listeners to have their inner energy circulate autonomously and enhance their strength.

This sounded impressive, but in reality, any master teacher could almost do it.

Since this Zhang Xuan was such a super genius and so formidable, it was no surprise that he could demonstrate this while lecturing!

"Heavenly-bestowed teaching may seem unremarkable and not powerful, but... if it reaches an extremely profound level, the effect is completely different!"

The "young master's" teeth chattered, as if he still couldn't believe it.

A thick flush appeared on his skin, comparable to Zhao Ya's.

"Extremely profound level?" The crowd grew even more confused.

"Elder Jin knows that since childhood, I have been in poor health and unable to cultivate, so I loved reading. I have read almost every book available. In an ancient text, I once saw someone mention that when heavenly-bestowed teaching reaches its highest level, one can fully expound the sound of the Great Way, which reaches straight to the soul. Even enemies who hear it will willingly submit, call you teacher, and dare not refute!"

Taking a deep breath to suppress his slightly rapid breathing, the "young master" couldn't help but speak.

"The sound of the Great Way?"

Everyone's eyes widened.

Such a thing existed?

If so, wouldn't it be heaven-defying?

No matter who it was, as long as they heard the lecture, they would submit—wouldn't that make everyone in the world his student?

No!

His face turning pale, Wei Yuqing suddenly thought of someone, his pupils contracting as he couldn't help but look over: "You mean... the Heavenly Man, Teacher Kong?"

It was said that when Teacher Kong opened his golden mouth, heaven and earth manifested strange phenomena, and everyone who heard his lecture called him teacher, convinced and willing. Even the most formidable person who wanted to kill him would be instantly transformed and unable to resist.

There was a long-circulated story: when Teacher Kong had not yet reached the level of a nine-star master teacher, a man named "Tui" bore him great enmity and wanted to kill him.

After inquiring, he learned that Teacher Kong often taught under a tree, so he hid in the dense foliage, prepared his weapon, and planned to ambush him.

As a result, when Teacher Kong came to the tree and began to lecture, this "Tui" listened to just a few sentences, felt deeply ashamed, jumped out from his hiding place, and called him teacher.

Because of this, Teacher Kong's name spread throughout the world, and he became the teacher of all under heaven.

Teaching without discrimination, turning people into disciples with a single word—this was a legendary ability only Teacher Kong possessed. Could it be that this Zhang Xuan could also do it?

"Exactly, I am speaking of Teacher Kong!"

Clenching his fists, the "young master" was both excited and tense, his face flushed: "Teacher Kong's heavenly-bestowed teaching reached this level. With a single word, heaven and earth follow; with a single phrase, wind and thunder stir. One word drives back a hundred enemies; one phrase breaks ten thousand troops!"

"Legend has it that the Alien Spirit Tribe once sent a large army to ambush him, meeting him on a narrow path. At that time, Teacher Kong was alone with one carriage and one horse, but he showed no fear. He began to lecture, his face unchanged even as blades and axes pressed upon him. Minutes later, the Alien Spirit Tribe scattered, killing each other, unable to resist..."

Saying this, his dark eyes stared fixedly down: "Don't you think what this Zhang Xuan did is very similar to that story?"

"Indeed, it is similar..."

Their faces pale, everyone trembled slightly.

"Do you mean... that Beast Tamer Zhang, no, Teacher Zhang, is likely lecturing on the spot to drive back these soldiers?"

Wei Yuqing's body swayed; he could hardly believe it.

Teacher Kong's deeds were widely circulated on the continent, most of them ambiguous and vague, many exaggerated and unfounded, hard to distinguish truth from falsehood.

Thus, many deeds were merely treated as idle tales, with few taking them seriously.

The story of lecturing to drive back the Alien Spirit Tribe was also heard as a legend, laughed off as a story. But today, seeing this Teacher Zhang directly lecturing those surrounding him, his heart also began to waver.

"I don't know either; I just suddenly remembered this story... Since Teacher Zhang is doing this, he must have his purpose. It can't be that he's just bored!"

The "young master" said.

Whether it was true or not, he wasn't a worm in Zhang Xuan's stomach; he couldn't guess either.

"If the young master hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have noticed. Explained this way, it's indeed possible. Look below!"

Still somewhat unconvinced, Wei Yuqing was about to continue asking when he heard Jin Conghai's voice.

At this moment, Jin Conghai's face was solemn, his eyes fixed straight on the altar below, his expression also full of disbelief.

Following his gaze, Wei Yuqing was stunned.

He saw that among the many soldiers who had been aggressively surrounding Zhang Xuan, more than half stood dumbfounded, as if they had obtained the best treasure, their faces full of joy.

The remaining minority had even thrown their weapons to the ground, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate according to the other's words.

In other words, the murderous scene from moments ago had instantly become harmonious.

"This... this... is it real?"

His mouth agape, eyes wide, Wei Yuqing's body was as if petrified. Just as he didn't know what to say, he heard a surge of rapid energy behind him.

Crackle, crackle!

Then sounds like popping beans arose.

Looking back, he saw Sun Qiang, who had unknowingly become immersed in the other's words, his inner energy circulating uncontrollably, breaking through the shackles of the Strength Tripod realm to become a Cave Opening realm expert.

"A single word breaking barriers? So it's true..."

Witnessing this, the "young master" and the others clenched their fists.

If they weren't sure before, now they were almost certain.

The cultivation barrier from Strength Tripod to Cave Opening, broken by a single word...

Only Teacher Kong's ability to drive back the Alien Spirit Tribe army had ever produced such an effect.

Even if other master teachers could cause inner energy to circulate autonomously, breaking through realms required accumulation and a certain amount of time, right? How long had it been since Zhang Xuan started lecturing?

Twenty breaths?

Thirty breaths?

At most, no more than forty breaths—in less than a minute, this Sun Qiang had not only become immersed and circulated his inner energy autonomously but also smoothly broken through the Strength Tripod realm...

This ability was far beyond what even the most powerful four-star peak master teachers they had ever seen could achieve!

"Look at those ordinary people watching the excitement..."

Gu Mu continued.

They looked again.

They saw that the ordinary people who had been watching the excitement around them had also sat down in large numbers, cultivating according to Zhang Xuan's words. Sounds like popping beans and firecrackers rang out continuously; who knew how many had broken through.

These people were native residents of the轩辕 Kingdom, with an unusual affection for the royal family.

Originally, they had deeply hated and detested this young man for charging straight into the altar and acting against the crown prince. But now, that expression had all turned into conviction and gratitude.

For independent cultivators, without guidance from a master teacher or powerful techniques, even a small level, let alone a major one, required immense effort.

But now, breaking through after hearing just a few words was something they could never have imagined before.

In other words, in the blink of an eye, hatred turned into admiration and gratitude.

Having received Zhang Xuan's guidance, they already had a half-teacher relationship.

"This... how is this possible?"

At the Green Leaf Tower, Tower Master Dai Feng gripped the window frame tightly, watching the strange changes before him, also feeling dizzy.

As a leader of an intelligence-gathering organization, he had naturally heard of such scenes of breaking through with a single word.

He had thought it was just a legend, but... it turned out to be true!

Such a formidable master teacher had come to the轩辕 Royal City, and they knew nothing...

The Green Leaf Tower might as well close down from now on!

"No, I must investigate personally—who exactly is this Zhang Xuan, and what kind of existence has Crown Prince Ding Mu offended?"

Thinking of this, his mouth twitched, and unable to stay any longer, he rushed downstairs.

For such a formidable figure to be completely unknown to the Green Leaf Tower, an intelligence agency, was a complete failure!

If he didn't investigate this person personally, he would definitely not sleep well.

...

"What are you doing? Don't listen to his nonsense, kill him!"

While the crowd was dazed, Crown Prince Ding Mu was somewhat frantic, shouting loudly.

He had deployed an army here, fearing that this young man would use that terrifying artifact.

Now the other party hadn't used the artifact, but as soon as he started lecturing, everyone was stunned. What was going on?

Go kill him, why are you listening to a lecture?

This isn't a classroom...

"I now command you, attack immediately..."

Gritting his teeth, Crown Prince Ding Mu continued to roar.

But before he could finish, he saw the many soldiers turn their heads simultaneously.

"Shut up!"

Boom!

United as one, their voices like a mountain.

So many well-trained Dingli realm and Pìxué realm experts, all shouting in anger at the same time, their voices like thunder from the nine heavens, tearing through the sky and crashing down overwhelmingly.

Pfft!

Struck by the sound waves, Crown Prince Dingmu hadn't even reacted before his ears rang and blood flowed from his mouth and nose.

Even his eyes were bloodshot, as if blood might spill at any moment.

Thousands of soldiers attacking together—even a Mortal Transformation expert would have to dodge, let alone a mere late-stage Supreme like him.

You... you...

Stumbling back a dozen steps, Crown Prince Dingmu felt like he was going mad.

These were his soldiers, fed by the royal household, trained for a thousand days, meant to be used in a moment of need... and now they had turned against him, attacking him!

What the hell?

His whole body twitched uncontrollably.

It's all you... all you!

Eyes bloodshot, he glared at Zhang Xuan, who was lecturing amidst the soldiers, clenching his teeth.

I only killed one of your students, didn't I?

Was it worth chasing me here, injuring a three-star master teacher and the head of the Master Teacher Hall, and even turning all my soldiers against me?

Damn it! Damn it!

Roaring inwardly, he was trying to think of a way to win the soldiers back and make them attack that guy.

When he saw the young man standing proudly in the center, pausing his lecture, looking around, and saying, "Pay your respects!"

Swish!

As the words ended, thousands of soldiers and countless onlookers knelt down in unison, showing reverence and piety.

Then... a voice rang out.

We pay our respects to the teacher!

...

It's the half-teacher ceremony! So many people willingly becoming his students...

On the back of the Roaring Heaven Beast, Mo Yu swallowed, her throat dry.

She had long known that this young man's talent as a master teacher far exceeded the ordinary, but she still hadn't expected that after a short lecture, the soldiers and civilians at the Altar of Sacrifice would willingly call him teacher.

The bond of a half-teacher, though not as deep as that of a full teacher-student relationship, still far surpassed ordinary ties; students treated him like an uncle, respectful and polite, not daring to contradict.

Looking down, she saw Zhang Xuan standing like an emperor, hands behind his back, calmly awaiting their obeisance, while Dingmu, undergoing his coronation, looked as ridiculous as a monkey wearing a hat.

Surrounded by thousands, he didn't flinch; he taught them and made them his 'half-students'... Zhang Xuan, perhaps you really will astonish the world in the master teacher competition!

Clenching her fists, Mo Yu's eyes reddened with excitement.

This was true genius—whoever didn't submit, there was only one way: crush them!

No matter if you're an expert, a strongman, or someone with immense power, in the face of absolute ability, it's useless!

It was foreseeable that if he really participated in the Ten Nations Union master teacher competition, he would stir up a storm and shock the entire union.

...

To make so many people willingly become his students after just a short lecture—not only did he have an extremely high mastery of Heavenly Voice of the Teacher, but more importantly... his mental state must be at least 12.0 to achieve this! That is to say... in terms of mental state, he's already on par with a four-star master teacher?

Luo Qianhong was different; her teeth chattered as if she had fallen into an ice cave, covered in frost.

Even if 'the young master' had read many books, he wasn't a master teacher after all, and his knowledge of many things was vague and inaccurate.

Heavenly Voice of the Teacher, though its requirements were low—as long as the content taught pointed directly to the true meaning of cultivation, it could make people cultivate on their own—but making so many people simultaneously immersed, breaking through, and calling him 'teacher' was no easy feat.

It required a very high mental state!

Not to mention anything else, the texture of the waves emanating from his words made people feel like they were bathed in spring breeze, involuntarily convinced... Just from this, one could judge that his mental state was at least above 12.0.

For master teachers, 3.0 is one level; a mental state above 12.0 means... he's no worse than a four-star master teacher!

A four-star master teacher under twenty?

What kind of monster is this?

Wasn't he supposed to be just a two-star master teacher?

Wasn't he supposed to be a reckless guy from some small place?

If I'd known he was this terrifyingly strong, I wouldn't have gotten involved even if you killed me!

Exchanging glances, Luo Qianhong and Bai Chen both saw fear and regret in each other's eyes.

They wished they could tear that Crown Prince Dingmu apart.

The worst thing was having a teammate like a pig; this time, that guy had really screwed them over...

Hall Master, what do we do now?

Suppressing his injuries, Bai Chen said with a mournful face.

Originally, after being beaten by him, they wanted revenge, but knowing that his mental state might exceed 12, they lost all such thoughts.

The hardest thing for a master teacher to advance was mental state; once it was achieved, with time, as his cultivation increased, becoming a four-star master teacher was practically certain.

Take revenge on a future four-star master teacher?

He really didn't have the guts!

Go back and prepare, let him challenge the hall... I just hope he fails, then there's still room for reconciliation. If he passes, we'll be at his mercy!

Looking dejected, Luo Qianhong shook her head.

If he fails, we can still do him a favor and gain his forgiveness. If he succeeds, he'll already be standing on the moral high ground, and even if we want to make amends, it'll be useless.

What a mess!

How did we end up offending such a guy?

His body stiff, he was about to say something when he saw the young man standing in the center, hands behind his back, coldly looking around, and speaking in a commanding voice.

Since you call me teacher, if I want to kill this man, will you still stop me?

After becoming a Heaven-recognized master teacher, Zhang Xuan had not only gained the Eye of Insight but also made great progress in Heavenly Voice of the Teacher.

Making these people successfully break through and become his students was very simple.

We wouldn't dare!

If Teacher doesn't want to dirty his hands, we students can do it for you!

Crown Prince Dingmu, though a crown prince, has many misdeeds. We've long wanted to act against him but never dared. If Teacher gives the order, we are willing to strike for you!

...

Clatter!

The surrounding crowd made way, and many shouted out.

As crown prince, Dingmu was militaristic, stubborn, and had committed many misdeeds. Many soldiers had been angry but dared not speak out. Now, having received the teacher's favor, they had no more scruples.

You...

Already feeling suffocated by the sudden betrayal of so many soldiers, Dingmu almost choked and fainted on the spot upon hearing this.

Other kingdoms raised soldiers who were invincible, loyal to the royal family, and unafraid of death—what kind of trash had he raised?

He told them to kill, and instead they became disciples and wanted to kill him, even offering to 'do it for him'...

Do it for you, my ass!

I am the crown prince, the future king of the Xuan Yuan Kingdom—how could I be killed by a bunch of garbage like you?

Want to kill me? Not so easy! Give me the crown...

Face twisted, Dingmu's features contorted.

My fate is mine to control—no one lays a hand on me!

With a roar, he rushed straight toward the old king Ding Chong on one side, snatched the crown, and placed it on his own head.

Now, ignoring all ceremony, rules, and laws, he took a few steps to the throne in the middle of the Altar of Sacrifice, turned, and sat down.

I am now the king of the Xuan Yuan Kingdom, appointed by the Ten Nations Union. Who among you dares to touch me?

Face contorted, he roared.

Wearing the crown and sitting on the throne meant he was now His Majesty the King of the Xuan Yuan Kingdom, protected by the Ten Nations Union. Not even a four-star master teacher could act against him without first consulting the Union!

Otherwise, if any monarch could be killed at will, what meaning would the Union have?

The Union maintained unity among the many kingdoms; internal strife was allowed, but one person slaughtering a country and killing its king was absolutely forbidden.

This...

This is bad!

The soldiers who had just offered to act for Zhang Xuan looked at each other, hesitating.

Killing a crown prince meant the king could appoint another heir, but killing a reigning king was tantamount to challenging the authority of the Ten Nations Union.

This...

Zhang Xuan's face also darkened.

He clearly hadn't expected that under pressure, this guy would be so shameless as to ignore the ceremony and directly crown himself.

Now that he was king, killing him would definitely cause a lot of trouble.

"Haha, I am His Majesty the King, granted my title by the Alliance of Ten Thousand Nations. Do you dare to lay a hand on me? Are you even qualified to do so?"

Seeing the crowd hesitate, Ding Mu burst into laughter, exuding undisguised smugness.

When pursued by the enemy, he had already planned an escape route, waiting for this very day.

You may be formidable—high talent, great strength, and a good teacher.

But I am no slouch either; behind me stand a titled kingdom and the Alliance of Ten Thousand Nations!

With such status, even if I am at fault, only the Alliance has the authority to investigate. You, a two-star master teacher...

are unworthy!

"And as for you people, you feast on the kingdom's offerings yet betray it—you all must die!"

Roaring again, Ding Mu's face twisted savagely.

"We..."

The faces of the crowd all turned pale.

Though the crown prince and the king are only one step apart, within a kingdom, that step is like an insurmountable mountain.

The crown prince has no right to execute so many soldiers, but the king does.

"Zhang Xuan, just now, Hall Master Luo wanted to negotiate, but you refused. And now... even if you want to negotiate, it's too late!"

After mocking Zhang Xuan, Ding Mu looked arrogantly at the crowd, adopting the attitude and demeanor befitting a king: "I am now giving you a chance to redeem yourselves. Kill this outsider, and I will overlook your previous insolence! I may even grant you promotions and titles, allowing you to enjoy boundless wealth and honor."

"What, do you still dare to defy me, to disobey the sovereign's command..."

Seeing the crowd hesitate, Ding Mu swept his gaze around, his kingly aura suppressing the entire scene.

Buzz!

Before his words faded, a jade token flew over, emitting rays of light that illuminated the surroundings and traced a massive pattern in the air.

On it were four large characters—Alliance of Ten Thousand Nations.

Then a deep voice rang out.

"Inheriting the throne requires prior notification and a complete ceremony. Ding Mu, ignoring the rules and usurping royal authority, the Alliance does not recognize this!"

The sound resounded everywhere, its force shaking even the clouds.

"It's... the special envoy's decree from the Alliance of Ten Thousand Nations!"

Someone in the crowd shouted out.