Chapter 564: Stepping Through the Void

Before, the other side had clearly been somewhat wary, retreating after a few words from him. But now, it seemed they no longer cared about anything.

What on earth had happened to make these people disregard even the identity of a Four-Star Master?

"What are you up to? Stop playing dumb!"

Sect Leader Luo Huang sneered: "Where is Master Zhang? Tell him to come out immediately, or don't blame us for being rude!"

"Indeed, although the Master Hall has rules against casually attacking ordinary people, with our status, even if we cripple a steward and a few students... even if the headquarters investigates, they won't say anything!"

Raising an eyebrow, Sect Leader Bai showed a contemptuous expression.

Masters were not pushovers; otherwise, they could not have eradicated the profession of Sorcerers without batting an eye, and even driven the Alien Spirit race out of the continent.

These two feats alone had involved no small amount of bloodshed.

If these people didn't cooperate, crippling or even killing them wouldn't be a big deal. As Masters, they still had certain privileges, though it might affect their reputation a bit.

"The young master is in seclusion and cannot be disturbed. If you truly wish to see him... come back tomorrow!"

Knowing that the other party was telling the truth, Sun Qiang still gritted his teeth.

The young master had specifically instructed before that he must not be disturbed, unless he died before them. Otherwise, letting them barge in... absolutely not!

"Since you're asking for death, don't blame us!"

Unexpectedly, this fellow had quite a backbone. Sect Leader Bai raised an eyebrow and flicked his finger.

Bang!

A sword qi shot forth. Before Sun Qiang could react, he was struck in the chest and sent flying backward, spitting blood and severely injured.

Even Yao Chen Beast and Xue Yiyao couldn't withstand them; how could he? If not for the other party's restraint in not killing, that single blow would have already taken his life.

"Damn it!"

Zheng Yang and the others, eyes bloodshot and teeth gritted in fury, roared and charged forward.

But they hadn't even reached the Half-Step Mortal Transcendence realm; how could they possibly withstand the opponent? Sect Leader Bai flicked his fingers a few times, and they all fell to the ground injured.

Only when they realized that using all their strength couldn't harm the opponent in the slightest did they understand how insignificant their own power was.

Always under the teacher's protection, they had cultivated carefree without a worry. Now they understood that without the teacher, they were nothing.

Faced with real danger, they could do nothing but hold others back.

"Our patience is limited. Tell him to come out quickly, and we'll spare your lives!"

With hands clasped behind his back, Sect Leader Luo Huang's gaze was like lightning.

"I said, the young master is in seclusion and cannot be disturbed..."

Sun Qiang struggled to his feet, and Zheng Yang and the others also stood in front.

Though they knew they couldn't withstand it, they would never retreat.

Zhang Xuan was their young master, their teacher, and their life. To trouble him, they would have to step over their corpses.

"Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish. If I kill a few people in a row, let's see if he can still hide!"

Seeing these ant-like fellows daring to defy his authority and still resist, Sect Leader Luo Huang's face darkened, and murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

You won't come out while hiding, right?

Fine, I'll kill a few people today and see if you can still hold back.

Bringing his index and middle fingers together, a sword qi shot out from between them. Just as Sect Leader Luo Huang was about to strike down at the crowd, two figures rushed over rapidly.

The foremost was an old man, exuding a powerful aura, with an anxious look on his face.

"Sect Leader Luo, what is the meaning of this?"

Before he even arrived, a loud shout echoed throughout the courtyard.

"Master Zhang is a Master of Ten Thousand Kingdoms City. You come to his residence, injure his servants and students—are you openly declaring war on Ten Thousand Kingdoms City?"

His tone carried anger, like a sharp blade.

The Master Hall Master of Ten Thousand Kingdoms City, Kang Gan!

The middle-aged man following behind had an authoritative brow, clearly a long-time high-ranking official... the Alliance Leader of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance, Zhao Feiwu's father.

The commotion here was so loud that it was impossible to hide it from them.

But neither of them expected that so many super-strong experts from Sect Leader Luo would specifically come to trouble a newly promoted Four-Star Master.

The two had nothing to do with each other. Even if Zhang Xuan had performed outstandingly in the selection tournament, it was only at the level of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance. There was no reason for so many experts to come together!

"Declaring war?"

Seeing Hall Master Kang arrive, Sect Leader Luo Huang smiled lightly, retracted the sword qi from his fingertips, and clasped his hands behind his back: "Hall Master Kang, you overthink. The reason we came here is merely to handle a complaint of unfairness and deal with a disgrace among Masters. It has nothing to do with your Ten Thousand Kingdoms City Master Hall!"

"Deal with a disgrace? What do you mean?"

Eyes narrowing, Hall Master Kang's brows furrowed into a knot.

Sun Qiang and the others were also baffled.

These fellows came looking for Master Zhang as soon as they arrived, but wouldn't say what they wanted. Deal with a disgrace... what disgrace?

"It's simple. Someone came to us, claiming that this Master Zhang stole a treasure belonging to him. Not only that, but he also killed his family and destroyed his kingdom!"

Sect Leader Luo Huang raised his eyelids: "As a Master, without the Master Hall's consent, he wantonly disrupted a faction, violating order. So... as Half-Step Five-Star Masters, don't we have the right to come and ask?"

"This..."

Hall Master Kang was taken aback, utterly bewildered.

He had been busy preparing for the Famous Teacher Competition these past days and was unaware of many matters. Moreover, matters of the Xuan Yuan Kingdom had been suppressed by Zhao Feiwu, with almost no leaks. Luo Qianhong and the others, feeling deeply humiliated, had not reported it even now.

Even he did not know exactly what had happened.

"Seizing a treasure that belongs to him? I'm afraid it's not that simple!"

Alliance Master Zhao had heard some things from his daughter, but he only knew bits and pieces, not the full story.

"Not that simple? There's a witness here who can testify personally..."

Sect Leader Luo Huang waved his hand, and a one-armed elder walked over from behind the crowd.

Ding Hong!

Knowing that Zhang Xuan was staying in this courtyard, his eyes burned with intense hatred.

"My grandson Ding Mu was killed by this Zhang Xuan, my Xuan Yuan Kingdom was seized by his men, and even this arm was severed by him. He has made me a homeless dog, unable to return to my kingdom or my home..."

With a roar, Ding Hong shouted: "The reason he is so ruthless is because of a treasure... Master Kong's Manuscript!"

"Master Kong's Manuscript?"

Hall Master Kang's eyebrows jumped.

Although he didn't know what it was, anything involving Master Kong was priceless.

"Indeed, because of a Master Kong's Manuscript, he ruined my family and destroyed my kingdom. Is this the conduct of a famous teacher?" Ding Hong bellowed.

His words were highly suggestive, making anyone unaware feel that Zhang Xuan had harmed him for the sake of the manuscript.

In fact, his words were not wrong—it was indeed because of a manuscript that this result came about, but he deliberately reversed cause and effect.

"You... nonsense! It was your grandson who tried to seize it by force..."

Hearing him call a stag a horse and invert black and white, Zheng Yang was so angry his lungs were about to burst, and he shouted loudly.

"How dare you! When we speak here, is it your place to interrupt?"

Before he could finish, Sect Leader Luo Huang waved his hand.

Whoosh!

A force surged toward Zheng Yang, Sun Qiang, and the others, sealing their mouths so that no matter how hard they tried, they could not speak.

"What are you doing?" Hall Master Kang's face darkened.

"Nothing, just not wanting to hear others jabbering while I explain things!"

Sect Leader Luo Huang looked over calmly: "What, Hall Master Kang didn't hear clearly? As a peak four-star famous teacher, you should be able to easily tell whether this King Ding Hong is lying, right?"

A famous teacher can read expressions and discern truth from falsehood. Especially at the four-star level, if the speaker's cultivation is not too much higher, it is nearly impossible to lie without being detected.

For this reason, everyone present believed Ding Hong after hearing him speak once about the Master Kong's Manuscript.

Because they could easily judge that on this matter, the man had not told a single lie.

"This..."

Hall Master Kang could not refute.

Although the one-armed King Ding Hong spoke vehemently, Hall Master Kang had observed him carefully—his anger came from the heart, genuine and not feigned.

Teacher Zhang killed his grandson and destroyed his kingdom?

Because... he wanted to seize the Master Kong's Manuscript?

If it were any other item, he would not believe it, having known Teacher Zhang for some time and understanding his character.

He had casually given away a mid-grade spirit stone that Zhang Xuan had gifted him to Ruohuan—clearly not a greedy person.

But... the Master Kong's Manuscript was too significant.

No famous teacher could resist it. Could it really be because of this?

"Zhang Xuan, disregarding the etiquette of a famous teacher, seized by force, even killing and destroying a kingdom, violating the proper conduct of a famous teacher. Moreover, we half-step five-star famous teachers came to visit in a proper manner, but he not only refused to come out but also sent his servants to insult us. On this point alone, for disrespecting teachers and the Way, his famous teacher rank can be revoked and he can be handed over to the Punishment Hall for judgment!"

Seeing his hesitation, Sect Leader Luo Huang stepped forward and spoke in a clear voice.

His tone carried the soul interference of a Harmonious Spirit realm expert, making people involuntarily believe what he said was true.

"This matter is certainly not that simple. It's best to investigate thoroughly before speaking..."

Hall Master Kang still could not believe that Teacher Zhang would do such a thing.

"Investigate thoroughly? Is there a need? Just have him come out and check whether he has the Master Kong's Manuscript on him—won't everything be clear?"

Sect Leader Luo Huang flicked his sleeve.

"This..."

Hall Master Kang was speechless.

If Zhang Xuan really had the Master Kong's Manuscript on him, he would not be able to explain himself even if he tried.

"Enough, hurry up and hand over this Teacher Zhang. Are you going to keep us all waiting here?"

Raising his eyebrows, Sect Leader Luo Huang was about to continue speaking when suddenly he felt an extremely powerful aura shoot straight into the sky, followed by a cold, emotionless voice that boomed out.

"Openly seizing by force yet dressing up the reason so grandiosely—the famous teachers under the Huanyu Empire have truly shown me something!"

As the voice ended, a figure stepped through the air, robes fluttering, descending like an immortal.

"Flight? A S-sage?"

Sect Leader Luo Huang and the others' pupils contracted.