Chapter 504: Second Heaven-Approved Master

What appeared before them was not a room or hall, but a place full of blooming flowers, with fragrant scents and drifting white clouds, making one feel as if they had returned to a mountain forest rather than underground.

"Could it be... an illusion array?"

Sai Guild Master and the others were also astonished.

In such a deep underground palace, vegetation could not grow, and white clouds and blue sky were even more impossible. Clearly, it was fake.

And the most likely explanation for this was an illusion array.

"It's not an array..." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

As an array master, if it were an array, he would definitely be able to tell. This place had no fluctuations of spiritual energy and felt incredibly real, as if they had truly entered another space—strange beyond words.

"Could it still be a mechanism? No, how could a mechanism produce such an effect!"

Mechanisms, in simple terms, were physical machines. But this place, with wildflowers, green grass, and flowing water... was definitely not something a mechanism could create.

"I'll throw a puppet to test it!"

Also full of doubt, Luo Zhu flicked his wrist, and a puppet appeared, walking forward along the passage.

Whoosh!

As soon as it left the passage, the puppet vanished instantly, as if it had never existed.

"What... is going on?"

Everyone was startled.

Previously, the arrays in the passage attacked, and even if the puppet couldn't withstand it, it would have exploded into pieces that could be seen, and sword qi could be detected. But now, as soon as it stepped out of the passage, it disappeared... How strange!

"Could it be... a teleportation array?"

Sai Guild Master's throat went dry.

Everyone looked at him in confusion.

"The teleportation arrays in the Ten Nations Alliance can only transmit text and messages, also known as communication walls or message walls!"

Sai Guild Master's voice trembled: "It is said that when such arrays reach level six or above, they can transmit materials, currency, and even weapons and treasures! And when they reach level eight, even living beings can be transmitted... meaning they can directly teleport humans from one place to another."

"Teleporting humans?" Everyone was stunned.

Zhang Xuan's eyes widened as well.

As a four-star array master, he knew more about teleportation arrays than Sai Guild Master. He had thought they could only transmit messages, but he never expected that at higher levels, they could even transmit living beings.

Teleporting humans already involved spatial changes.

The puppet had vanished directly—could it be that there was an array of this level before them?

If it truly reached such a level, it would be normal for a hidden space to go undetected.

Array masters were a top-nine profession, with extremely high requirements for cultivation. Without sufficient strength, one could not learn deeper knowledge. For example, even though he could carve a level-five array disk, he was only a quasi-four-star array master, unable to obtain even a four-star badge.

To be able to set up a level-eight array, one's cultivation must have surpassed the Ninth Layer of Mortal Transcendence and entered a higher realm... If such a person personally set up the array, how powerful must the master of this Witch Soul Tomb be?

Zhang Xuan thought of this, and the others also understood, their faces turning pale.

If it were just a Witch Soul master at the Third or Fourth Layer of Mortal Transcendence, they could still defend themselves even if possessed. But if it exceeded this realm, even if the person had died for countless years, their methods and abilities would be beyond imagination.

"Master Zhang... should we still go in?"

Everyone looked at him in unison.

Zhang Xuan pondered.

If his guess was correct, going forward would be extremely dangerous. Even with Heaven's Path true qi, it wouldn't be of much use.

In other words, advancing meant certain death.

But if he didn't go in... curing Lu Chong would take who knows how long.

"For me, his teacher, he didn't even fear death. Why should I shrink back?"

Recalling the young man standing before him, calmly facing death, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly, his gaze filled with determination.

For him, Lu Chong would give everything, even his life.

If he, as an elder, retreated in the face of danger, what right did he have to be a teacher and guide him?

"Wait here. I'll go alone. If... I don't come out in two hours, I'll have to trouble Guild Master Sai and Young Master Zhao to take my students and Sun Qiang out!"

Flicking his sleeves, Zhang Xuan gave his orders.

"Teacher, I won't go back. I want to go with you!" Zhao Ya stepped forward.

"Us too. Wherever Teacher goes, we go!"

Yuan Tao and the others also had determined looks.

Without Master Zhang, they would have been just unknown students in Tianxuan Kingdom. Now, each of them had become a Sovereign, with strength to move mountains.

Now that their teacher was risking himself for Lu Chong, how could they, as students, shrink back?

Zhang Xuan felt a warmth in his heart, but the place ahead was too strange, and letting them go would be too dangerous. After hesitating, he still shook his head and put on a stern face: "Stay here properly. What, won't you listen to your teacher's words?"

"Please don't send us away, Teacher. If you go into danger and we, as students, cannot take your place, even if we survive, we will be tormented by guilt day and night, unable to find peace!" Zhao Ya's gaze was firm.

"Yes, Teacher, please don't send us away. Even if it means defying your orders, I will follow!" Wang Ying said.

She was usually the most indecisive and weak-willed, but now her gaze was unwavering.

"Since you truly want to go, fine, come with me!"

Knowing they didn't want him to take risks alone and feared he might meet with misfortune, Zhang Xuan finally nodded.

"Teacher for student, student for teacher—this is true... teacher and student!"

Watching this scene, Zhao Feiwu and the others felt deeply moved.

Earlier, they had wondered why someone as capable as Master Zhang would bring along a group of weak, young followers. Now they understood: this was what true teachers and students were like.

A teacher could face danger for a student without retreating, and a student could remain unwavering for a teacher, no matter the danger.

All for one, and one for all!

Rumble!

Just as they were feeling moved, they suddenly sensed a powerful aura descending before them. A special force gathered from heaven and earth, neither spiritual energy nor true essence. Inhaling it made their thoughts race and their minds clearer.

This force surged straight toward Zhang Xuan like a torrent, making him appear taller and his aura more profound.

"It's... Heaven-Approved Master!"

Zhao Feiwu's pupils contracted, and his lips trembled in disbelief.

"Heaven-Approved Master? How... how is that possible?"

Jin Conghai was also startled.

Heaven-Approved Master meant that heaven itself recognized one's identity, automatically promoting them to master teacher without needing an examination. Throughout the continent's history, only Master Teacher Kong had achieved this. And now, Master Zhang had done it...

Could it be true?

"It is indeed Heaven-Approved Master... and it seems to be more than just two-star!"

Sai Guild Master's face also flushed red.

As the only guild master of the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion in the Ten Nations Alliance and a four-star peak appraiser, he had seen many master teachers, but he had never heard of one directly recognized by heaven.

Zhang Xuan had said he was a two-star master teacher. Even if heaven recognized him, it would at most be two or three stars. But the aura before them was thick and gave a natural sense of submission.

Without a doubt, it exceeded two stars. As for how many stars, since he wasn't a master teacher and had never experienced this, he couldn't tell.

But regardless of the star level, being recognized by heaven was astonishing and alarming.

"This..."

Unlike the others' shock, Zhang Xuan was also dazed.

He had agreed to Zhao Ya and the others without any other intention, just thinking that students couldn't always be sheltered under his wings; sometimes they needed to face danger.

Like saplings, if always protected by walls and never exposed to wind and rain, they would never grow into strong trees.

Having realized this, he agreed directly. Unexpectedly, this improvement in mindset triggered another Heaven-Approved Master.

He had encountered this situation once before. The special force continuously flooding into his mind made him a bit dizzy, but he knew it was a great opportunity for advancement.

Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged on the ground, focused his mind, and frantically absorbed the special force surging from the air.

Rumble!

Under the impact of this force, his mental cultivation level kept increasing, and his thoughts became faster and clearer.

...

Master Teacher Academy, Ten Nations City.

"This time, as the host of the Master Teacher Tournament, we must prepare well and strive for a good ranking..."

Hall Master Kang sat in his seat, looking around.

The room was filled with elders of the Master Teacher Academy, including Elders Su Fan and Ling Yuheng.

The Master Teacher Tournament was not held in a fixed location; the twenty-seven powers took turns hosting. This time, Ten Nations City happened to be the host.

In the past, poor results could be excused as playing away from home. But now, if they still performed poorly here, it would be truly embarrassing.

"Yes!" Everyone nodded.

"This time, our elders have recommended six candidates. I've reviewed their records, and they are indeed worthy young talents. However, we can only send two participants, so we need to select beforehand..."

Hall Master Kang continued, but before he could finish, his body stiffened.

All the elders also seemed to sense something, their pupils contracting as they looked in one direction.

"The master tablet trembles, and bells chime in harmony... Is this Heaven-Approved Master?"

After a long silence, Hall Master Kang spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Although Heaven-Approved Master appears at the corresponding guild, now that the prodigies of various powers have mostly arrived in Ten Nations City, it's very likely that one of them triggered it!"

"Yes, being recognized by heaven in Ten Nations City can cause our Master Teacher Academy to tremble... Quickly check how many prodigies are in the city..."

"It seems... this time's champion will definitely be this person!"

...

The elders, faces pale, murmured to themselves.

Heaven-Approved Master was even more terrifying than ancestor recognition. Only Master Teacher Kong had achieved it on the entire continent. No matter which power produced such a prodigy, there was no doubt... they would win this tournament!

"Could it be... him?"

Unlike the others' shock, Master Su and Master Ling exchanged glances, and a figure suddenly came to mind.

But then they shook their heads.

He had just passed the two-star master teacher exam, and his strength hadn't even reached Sovereign. Even if he could take a higher exam, how could he cause such a grand event as Heaven-Approved Master?

So... it definitely wasn't him!