Chapter 562: Return to Wanguo City

"Yes!"

Though unwilling, the crowd had no better option.

If they made a big scene, the Master Teacher Hall of Wanguo City would surely dispatch people. Before Zhang Xuan could arrive, the headquarters' people would come first, which would only work against them.

Swish!

They came quickly and left just as fast. Seeing them all leave, Sun Qiang felt his legs go weak and sat down directly on the ground.

He was the steward of Master Teacher Yang Xuan and could not lose face, but his own cultivation was only at the first level of Mortal Transcendence. Facing so many strong individuals was still a great pressure.

"You... aren't afraid of death?"

Recalling the danger just now, Zhao Feiwu couldn't help but approach.

Telling so many Harmonious Spirit realm experts to get lost—even her father wouldn't dare say such a thing. Where did this fat, seemingly unremarkable steward get his confidence?

"Of course I'm afraid!" After a long while, Sun Qiang finally recovered, stood up, and shook his head.

"Afraid... then why did you..."

Even Garden Master Xue was puzzled.

Afraid, yet still daring to say anything?

If that Sect Master Luo Huang had actually struck just now, he would have been killed on the spot without even a chance to resist.

Even if Teacher Zhang later returned to seek justice, what good would it do?

He would already be dead!

"The master has been immensely kind to me, raising me from a mere True Energy realm nobody to where I am today, earning me the respect and trust of countless people... As long as I am steward, I have the right and duty to uphold the master's dignity, even at the cost of my life!"

Sun Qiang's gaze was firm.

If not for the master, he would still be a small-time merchant scraping by in the trading company. How could he have met so many master teachers? How could he have attained a status that even the princess of the Ten Nations Union dared not belittle?

The master had given him a second life. As steward, if he could not even preserve the master's authority, even living would be a dereliction of duty.

This was his conviction, his persistence.

That was why, in times of danger, he could stand at the front, righteous and unyielding, without fear.

He might lack strength, his cultivation might be insufficient, but... the dignity of a senior master teacher's steward must not be lost!

"This..."

Zhao Feiwu was full of admiration.

This fat man seemed a bit sleazy and unreliable, but unexpectedly, he had something he insisted on in his heart.

And... it seemed that everyone around Teacher Zhang was stranger than the last, yet they united without reservation, without any conflict or scheming.

Perhaps... that was the so-called charisma.

"The master you speak of—is it Teacher Yang? Where exactly is he?"

After a silent sigh, she looked over again.

She had heard of this Teacher Yang long ago; he was Teacher Zhang's teacher, but she had never met him.

"The master is always elusive, appearing and disappearing unpredictably. I don't know exactly where he is either!"

Speaking of Yang Xuan, Sun Qiang was full of admiration.

"Don't know where he is?" Zhao Feiwu was puzzled. "Then... won't he come for Teacher Zhang's participation in the Master Teacher Tournament?"

For his disciple's first time competing among so many master teachers, wouldn't the teacher show up?

"This... I don't know either, but... he should come, I think!"

Sun Qiang paused, then nodded.

So many people had come looking for Teacher Zhang with ill intent. If Teacher Yang didn't appear, they might not hold out.

But... master, where exactly are you?

...

Ah-choo!

Zhang Xuan rubbed his nose.

He naturally didn't know that Ding Hong had already arrived in Wanguo City and had even incited the strongest from fourteen factions to come to his residence looking for him. At this moment, he stood on the back of a flying spirit beast, gazing at the rolling buildings below, his eyes growing brighter.

After more than half a month of flight, Wanguo City... had arrived!

"Finally back. The Soul Awakening Herb should be nearly ready. Tonight I can refine the Soul Awakening Incense and find a way to wake Lu Chong!"

The Soul Awakening Herb couldn't be stored in a storage ring, so he hadn't brought it. Now, after nearly fifty days away, under Wang Ying's care, it should be almost mature and ready for refining into Soul Awakening Incense.

With this, Lu Chong should be able to come back to life, settling a major concern.

Boom!

A violent fluctuation of spiritual energy came from not far away, accompanied by a powerful aura.

"Breakthrough?"

Turning his head, he saw Ruohuan Gongzi open his eyes.

Now, his eyes were clear, his entire being radiating energy like a dragon or tiger, giving a sense of vigor and boundless strength.

Peak of the fourth level of Mortal Transcendence, Clarity Realm!

Under Zhang Xuan's guidance, with the help of medium-grade spirit stones, he had indeed reached the peak of the fourth level of Mortal Transcendence within half a month.

"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Zhang!"

Standing up, feeling the power in his body much greater than before, Ruohuan Gongzi clasped his fists in gratitude.

Without him, he might still be at the early stage of the fourth level of Mortal Transcendence, far from the peak.

"It's what I should do."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

Having fused with a strand of his true qi, the other's originally turbid true qi had become pure. Breaking through several minor levels was quite easy.

If he couldn't even do that, he wouldn't be worthy of being called a genius.

"Teacher Zhang, your cultivation..." Hall Master Kang looked over.

Seeing Ruohuan Gongzi's gradual progress these days, he was very happy, but also quite puzzled.

Teacher Zhang guided others so quickly, why didn't he improve himself faster?

He was still at the peak of the second level of Mortal Transcendence, not even reaching the third. With such strength, participating in the Master Teacher Tournament would be very disadvantageous.

"Don't worry, I'll do my best to advance to the peak of the Yin-Yang Realm, or even break through to the Clarity Realm, before the tournament."

Knowing his concern, Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

His breakthrough required medium-grade spirit stones. Without them, relying solely on absorbing spiritual energy from the air to reach a higher realm was too difficult.

It was better to wait until he reached the royal city and acquire some spirit stones.

"Mm."

Seeing Teacher Zhang's assurance, Hall Master Kang nodded and looked down. "We've arrived at your residence..."

"Mm, I'll take my leave here. Don't look for me recently; I'll appear during the Master Teacher Tournament."

Arriving at the door of his room, Zhang Xuan turned and instructed.

In the next few days, he planned to go out and acquire some medium-grade spirit stones, likely appearing as Teacher Yang. He himself would often be absent. These were all four-star master teachers and were familiar with him; if they came looking, it would be easy to expose his identity. It was better to say it in advance.

"Alright."

Thinking he was going into seclusion to cultivate, Hall Master Kang nodded and had the spirit beast descend.

Zhang Xuan said no more, leaped off the beast's back, and bid farewell to Hall Master Kang and the others.

As soon as he returned to the residence, he saw Sun Qiang hurrying to greet him.

"Young master!"

"Has anything happened while I was away?" Seeing his expression was off, Zhang Xuan looked at him.

"People from the fourteen factions, including Flowing Cloud Sect, came looking for you..."

Sun Qiang recounted what had happened earlier.

"What do they want with me?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

He had never met these people, didn't even know them. Why would they come looking for him?

"Next time they come, notify me in advance..."

Just as he was thinking about how to go find these people and coax some spirit stones out of them, they had come to him instead. That was perfect; it saved him the trouble of seeking them out.

"Yes." Seeing that the young master was not at all tense, Sun Qiang also relaxed and couldn't help asking, "Young master, where is the master now? When will he come?"

"Teacher?"

Zhang Xuan paused. "Teacher informed me; he might come in a few days... Alright, I have something to discuss with Wang Ying. Where is she?"

He waved his hand casually.

In the next few days, he would definitely appear as Teacher Yang, so he gave a heads-up in advance.

"She's still tending to the Soul Awakening Herb. Young master... are you planning to revive Young Master Lu Chong?" Remembering something, Sun Qiang's eyes lit up.

As steward, he knew well about Wang Ying tending the herb. The young master sought her out as soon as he returned, so he must be planning to treat Lu Chong.

"Mm." Zhang Xuan nodded. "Reviving Lu Chong involves the soul and requires absolute silence; no one may disturb me."

Sun Qiang acknowledged, then looked puzzled. "By the way, young master, didn't Miss Zhao Ya leave with you? Why hasn't she returned?"

Zhao Ya had left with Teacher Zhang; why had he come alone this time?

"She went elsewhere and won't be back for a while..."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand without explaining and walked toward the room where the Soul Awakening Herb was cultivated.

"Teacher!"

Entering the room containing the herb, Wang Ying approached.

Zhang Xuan nodded and looked at the Soul Awakening Herb in the middle of the room.

Swaying in the breeze, it had grown half a person tall, emitting a mesmerizing aura that seemed to draw one's soul into it at a glance.

The Soul Awakening Herb could contain soul power, intoxicating the mind.

"You've worked hard these days. Go rest now."

Seeing that the herb had grown so vigorously without any damage, Wang Ying's contribution was undeniable.

"Mm."

Praising her, Wang Ying's face reddened, and she turned and walked out.

"Begin!"

Having waited so long for this herb to fully mature, Zhang Xuan's mind stirred, and his soul flew out from his body.

His hand gently grasped the Soul Awakening Herb, and powerful energy circulated, refining it.

With his previous strength, refining the Soul Awakening Herb would have required various preparations and methods. But now, his soul, having been baptized by yin and yang qi, was stronger and more condensed, allowing him to refine it easily even without other methods.

Soon, the entire herb changed form, becoming like a pool of liquid flowing.

With a flick of his finger, the liquid slowly coalesced into a solid lump of incense.

Soul Awakening Incense!

When lit, it could awaken a sleeping soul and gather the spirit.

"According to Mo Hun Sheng's introduction, to increase the likelihood of waking Lu Chong, it's best to split off a portion of one's soul and merge it into the incense."

To make the Soul Awakening Incense more potent, one needed to drive soul power, which had to be infused into the incense beforehand so it could be released when burned.

"Split!"

His expression solemn, his mind moved, and a small part of his soul was split from his body. Zhang Xuan's face turned pale.

Although his soul power had reached the peak of the fourth level of Mortal Transcendence, forcibly separating a part was still hard to bear.

But as long as it could save Lu Chong, even a greater sacrifice was worth it.

The separated soul quickly merged with the incense, and before long, a long incense stick appeared before him.

Soul Awakening Incense, complete!

"Excellent, let's begin..."

Seeing the incense successfully refined, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. His soul returned to his body, and he approached Lu Chong.