Chapter 544: Not Enough Auxiliary Professions?

"Withdraw?"

Everyone looked over.

Having come first in four consecutive rounds, this Zhang Xuan had become the biggest dark horse of the selection. Why would he want to withdraw at the last round?

"You've participated in the first four rounds, and this is the last one..." Master Su said hurriedly.

"Oh, this selection chooses two winners to take part in the Master Teacher Tournament. With my current results, whether I participate in the fifth round or not, I'm already first. It's better to withdraw and leave some opportunities for them!" Zhang Xuan said calmly. "Otherwise... always coming first isn't very interesting."

"Always coming first isn't interesting?"

"Wow, that sounds so satisfying."

"Yes, but what Teacher Zhang says is true. He's been first four times in a row, accumulating 24 points. The next best is Young Master Ruohuan with 18 points, followed by Fu Xiaochen with 15, Feng Mosheng with 13, Luo Xi with 10, and Du Hu with 7. Even if Teacher Zhang withdraws this round and gets last place, earning one point, his total would be 25. If second-place Young Master Ruohuan gets first and adds 6 points, he'd only have 24... Indeed, whether he participates or not, it doesn't matter!"

"He can win first place without even taking the last round... Impressive!"

...

Hearing Zhang Xuan's explanation, everyone suddenly understood.

Since victory was already secured, why bother continuing and wasting time?

"This..." Hall Master Kang also realized this. He exchanged glances with Master Su and the others, then smiled wryly.

As expected of Teacher Zhang, truly domineering.

Others gave their all in every round, but this guy only needed four rounds to secure victory...

There really is a gap between people.

"In that case, withdraw if you must!"

Glancing at the others and seeing that they also didn't want to continue competing with such a freak, Hall Master Kang shook his head. "However, please don't leave yet, Teacher Zhang. After the last round is over, I will discuss the Master Teacher Tournament with you in detail!"

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Without him participating, the last round proceeded quickly. Before long, the results came out. As expected, Young Master Ruohuan took first place, securing the second spot.

"Alright, the competition is over. Now I announce that the Ten Nations Alliance will be represented by Teacher Zhang and Jun Ruohuan in the Master Teacher Tournament..."

After the assessment ended, Hall Master Kang looked around and announced the results.

"Hall Master, please wait!"

Before he finished speaking, Fu Xiaochen stepped forward. "I don't deny Teacher Zhang's abilities, but... if I remember correctly, there are minimum requirements to participate in the Master Teacher Tournament. At least a three-star master teacher is needed. Teacher Zhang is only two-star. With his level, I'm afraid he won't even pass the qualification review in the first round!"

Hall Master Kang frowned.

What the other said was correct. The Master Teacher Tournament indeed had level requirements; not just anyone could participate.

Three-star was the minimum standard.

If he couldn't even meet that, how could he stand out in the tournament?

Although Zhang Xuan had performed brilliantly in the previous rounds, his actual level was still only two-star, still some distance from the minimum standard.

"In the previous assessments, Teacher Zhang passed with ease. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he could directly apply for four-star master teacher!" Master Su interjected.

Young Master Ruohuan was a four-star master teacher, yet he was no match for Teacher Zhang. What difficulty would there be for him to apply for four-star?

"It's indeed not difficult for Teacher Zhang to apply for four-star master teacher based on his abilities. He might not even need to retake the assessment. But... the minimum requirement for a four-star master teacher is to have four auxiliary professions that have reached the four-star level! That... might not be so easy!"

Fu Xiaochen said.

Originally, if this Teacher Zhang hadn't appeared, he and Young Master Ruohuan would have participated in the tournament. Now that the spot had been taken from him, he naturally had to find a way to fight for it.

And auxiliary professions were precisely this Teacher Zhang's biggest weakness!

In his view, even if this master teacher had high talent, given his age, he couldn't be proficient in everything!

"That's true..."

"Auxiliary professions, like master teacher, require time to accumulate and learn..."

The crowd fell silent, and even Master Su couldn't speak.

Indeed.

Everyone had seen Teacher Zhang's talent and strength in master teacher, and couldn't refute it. But... becoming a four-star master teacher wasn't that easy; he also needed auxiliary professions.

Even the minimum standard of three-star master teacher required three auxiliary professions at the three-star level. This was the most basic requirement, like the mental state scale; without it, one wouldn't even have the qualifications for assessment.

"Teacher Zhang's achievements in painting and calligraphy have definitely reached four-star, or even higher. I can apply for that at the Painter-Calligrapher Guild. It's nothing!"

Elder Yun stepped forward.

This person could casually produce works of the sixth realm, showing that his skill in painting and calligraphy surpassed his own. For such a person, applying for a four-star painter-calligrapher was simple and easy.

"That's only one profession!"

Fu Xiaochen said.

Even if he applied for a five-star painter-calligrapher, it was still only one profession. He was at least two short.

Auxiliary professions... weren't so easy to learn, let alone reaching the minimum of three-star.

"Teacher Zhang, do you have any other professions that have reached three-star or above?"

Hall Master Kang looked at him.

"I..." Zhang Xuan was about to speak when he saw an apprentice hurrying over.

"Hall Master, Hall Master Han of the Beast Hall requests an audience!"

"Hall Master Han? What is he doing here?" Hall Master Kang was startled.

Han Chong, the hall master of the Ten Nations City Beast Hall, usually didn't interact much with him. Why would he suddenly come now?

"Show him in!" Despite his confusion, he waved his hand.

Although the Beast Hall was slightly inferior to the Master Teacher Hall, it was still a powerful force and couldn't be neglected.

"Yes!" The apprentice withdrew. Before long, two elders strode in. Zhang Xuan turned to look and saw it was Hall Master Han, whom he had met at Wenyan Ridge, and another, Guild Leader Sai of the Appraisal Pavilion.

"Hall Master Kang,诸位长老!"

Seeing so many people in the hall, the two were also a bit shocked, but they were people of status who had seen the world and wouldn't be too rude. They clasped their fists simultaneously.

"What brings Hall Master Han and Guild Leader Sai to the Master Teacher Hall?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Hall Master Kang looked at them curiously.

"Oh, actually, I came specifically to find Teacher Zhang!" Hall Master Han smiled. "I heard from Guild Leader Sai that he was here, so I hurried over!"

"Teacher Zhang?" Hall Master Kang blinked, and everyone else also looked over.

"What business do you have with me?" Zhang Xuan was also a bit puzzled.

Although they knew each other, they had only met once and had no deep relationship. Why would he come looking for him?

"Oh, it's like this. Teacher Zhang easily tamed the Yaochen Beast. I reported this to headquarters, and they promoted you to four-star beast tamer as an exception. I came this time to deliver your badge!" Hall Master Han laughed.

This Teacher Zhang had tamed the Yaochen Beast with a single word, showing that his beast taming ability surpassed his own. After returning, he had immediately applied to headquarters. Today, he received a reply and rushed over.

Normally, as a top-tier profession, beast taming had strict requirements on cultivation level. To become a four-star, one's cultivation had to at least reach the Mortal Transcendence Second Layer. This was definitely an exception.

"Four-star beast tamer?"

"Teacher Zhang is also a four-star beast tamer?"

Hearing Hall Master Han's words, the crowd erupted.

They had just said his auxiliary professions were insufficient, and now the other party had delivered a four-star beast tamer badge.

Combined with the previous painter-calligrapher, he already had two professions sufficient.

"Thank you..."

He hadn't expected the other party to help him apply for a four-star beast tamer badge. Zhang Xuan nodded and had just taken the badge in hand when he saw the apprentice who had left earlier hurrying over again. "Hall Master, Guild Leader Zheng of the Array Masters Guild from Honghai City and Guild Leader Meng of the Physician Guild... request an audience!"

"Show them in quickly!"

Hall Master Kang waved his hand again.

The two arrived.

Array masters and physicians were both top-tier professions, no less than beast tamers. The simultaneous arrival of two guild leaders made the other master teachers exchange glances, full of curiosity.

"May I ask you two..." Hall Master Kang clasped his fist and looked at them questioningly.

"Oh, to be honest with Hall Master Kang, I came this time to find Teacher Zhang!" Guild Leader Zheng said.

"Also looking for Teacher Zhang?" Hall Master Kang's eyes widened.

"Yes!" Guild Leader Zheng smiled and looked at Zhang Xuan. "Teacher Zhang, last time I only gave you a quasi-four-star array master badge. After you left, I reported the matter to headquarters, and they specially approved you as a four-star array master!"

That day, Zhang Xuan had used a sword, knife, and spear to carve a fifth-level spirit gathering array. Because his cultivation wasn't sufficient to become a true four-star array master, he had given him a quasi-four-star badge and reported the matter. A few days ago, he had also received a reply from headquarters, promoting him to a full four-star array master as an exception!

"Full four-star array master?"

The crowd blinked.

Another profession?

Before the shock subsided, they saw the other elder beside him smile and clasp his fist.

"Don't rush, there's me too!" The elder smiled. "Teacher Zhang may not know me. I am Zhang Mengqi, guild leader of the Ten Nations City Physician Guild!"

"Greetings, Guild Leader Meng!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Teacher Zhang broke through the Difficult Wall of Tianwu Kingdom and cured the Second Princess's congenital muscle weakness. Hall Master Han also told me about how you treated their injuries... Your medical skills are astonishing, truly a miracle. Therefore, I specially applied to headquarters and received approval. This is your four-star physician badge!"

Guild Leader Meng smiled.

After solving the Difficult Wall, he had received a reply from the Ten Nations City Physician Guild, specially hiring him as an elder of their guild. Only today did he meet the real person.

Truly a young hero, with an extraordinary bearing.

"Four professions..."

Hearing Guild Leader Meng's words, the crowd swallowed their saliva.

Especially Fu Xiaochen, who nearly fainted.

He had just said that although this guy was strong in master teacher, his auxiliary professions were insufficient to assess for three-star or four-star master teacher. Then Hall Master Han, Guild Leader Zheng, and Guild Leader Meng had delivered four-star badges. Wasn't this too exaggerated?

Even if they wanted to slap his face, they didn't have to do it so quickly...

Tears streamed down. If he had known this guy had such abilities, he wouldn't have said all that nonsense.

Just as he was feeling heartbroken and thoroughly crushed, he heard the previously arrived Guild Leader Sai's cheerful voice: "You top-tier professions are so troublesome, needing to apply to headquarters to determine levels. Look at our Appraisal Pavilion; we directly gave Teacher Zhang a five-star appraiser badge, no such hassle!"

"There's also a five-star appraiser profession?"

Thud!

Fu Xiaochen fell to the ground.