Chapter 748: Spirit Materials Pavilion

"Looking for death!"

The last black-clad man, never expecting that they would be discovered while hiding here and even ambushed, his face turned ashen. True Qi surged within him, and the peak Void Step Realm aura shot out like a sharp sword, piercing through the air!

Whoosh!

His palm reached forward to grab.

True Qi surged like a tide, and the surrounding air immediately became viscous. Caught in this atmosphere, Zhang Xuan felt his Heaven's Path Movement Technique hindered, his speed greatly reduced.

Although his strength was not inferior to the opponent's, his understanding of nature and application of True Qi still fell short. In actual combat, he was at a disadvantage!

In other words, with his current physical body, True Qi, and soul power, he could still kill mid-stage and late-stage Void Step Realm experts, but against a peak expert, he was clearly outmatched.

"Break!"

However, even if victory was difficult, he would not sit idly by. Raising his brows, he channeled all his strength to the limit and kicked forward!

Crash!

With power exceeding 19 million cauldrons, he struck forward. The surroundings, constrained by the opponent's True Qi, shattered like a mirror.

Whoosh!

He activated Heaven's Path Movement Technique again and charged before the black-clad man.

Crash!

His fists were like steel, his entire strength churning like a furnace.

"Hmph!"

After one exchange, the black-clad man also saw the young man's cultivation—peak Bridge Heaven Realm. He had somehow borrowed some means to gain greater strength, but compared to him, a dignified peak Void Step Realm expert, he was still far inferior.

Victory would not be difficult!

He flipped his palm and pressed down with five fingers.

Crash!

Instantly, it felt as if a mountain peak was collapsing.

Spirit-grade high-tier martial technique, Mountain Palm!

With one palm strike, heaven and earth split apart. Even a same-level expert would be easily crushed under the palm.

It was one of his most powerful life-saving martial techniques. Seeing the young man's strangeness, he used it as soon as he struck.

He thought that once he executed it, this opportunistic fellow would surely be sent flying, either dead or half-dead. But unexpectedly, before the palm's power could fully manifest, he heard the other's excited voice.

"Excellent..."

Then he saw the young man slip like a fish to his left side.

"This..."

His pupils contracted, and the black-clad man was so terrified his soul nearly fled, almost fainting on the spot.

The position the other had taken was exactly the weak point of his Mountain Palm technique.

Normally, any technique has flaws. As long as one executes it quickly, even knowing the flaw is useless.

But this young man seemed to know the technique's problem in advance, anticipating the enemy's move, and waited at the weak point for his attack!

How thoroughly must one understand the Mountain Palm to achieve this?

However, there was no time to be shocked or to think. His twitching eyes saw the young man not far away extend a finger, swaying, from the weak point of the technique.

Pfft!

Blood spurted. Like the previous man, the black-clad man's True Qi reversed, and he flew backward, landing stiffly on the ground like a zombie.

The opponent's strike was not strong, but it hit exactly the convergence point of his True Qi circulation. In an instant, his meridians were mostly shattered. Even if he recovered later, he would be nearly crippled.

Feeling his condition, the black-clad man was on the verge of tears.

He had cultivated the Mountain Palm to perfection. Even if it had flaws, they were hard to find. How did this guy find them, and attack with such precision?

If he had known that using the Mountain Palm would lead to this, he would rather die than use it...

"Alright, bring these fellows over!"

Having knocked down or knocked out the four, Zhang Xuan sighed in relief and gave the order.

Roar!

The Purple Winged Sky Bear circling in the air heard the command and flew down.

"Young master, you're here!"

"Teacher!"

The commotion outside had already woken Sun Qiang, Zheng Yang, Wang Ying, and the others. They walked into the courtyard and came to greet him.

"Hmm. Did you cause any trouble?"

Sitting down, Zhang Xuan frowned.

"Trouble? No!"

Sun Qiang was puzzled.

"If no trouble, why are four Void Step Realm experts hiding around the courtyard, ready to charge in at any moment?"

Zhang Xuan said.

"Void Step Realm? Four?" Sun Qiang was startled. Before he finished speaking, he heard a series of thuds as several figures landed in the courtyard.

The Purple Winged Sky Bear had thrown them in from outside.

"Go see for yourself."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

After going out and returning shortly, Sun Qiang shook his head helplessly: "I don't recognize any of them..."

"If you don't recognize them, why are they hiding around?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head: "Bring them in!"

"Roar!"

In a moment, the four men, like mud, were thrown before him again.

Zhang Xuan looked at them.

In the dark, during the fight, he hadn't had time to examine them. Now, by the light, he could clearly see they were all middle-aged men in their forties, with dark skin and tall builds.

"Who are you, and why were you hiding around?"

Looking at the only conscious black-clad man, Zhang Xuan snorted.

"We were just passing by, no intention to offend..."

The black-clad man said.

"Passing by?"

Seeing the fellow still quibbling, Zhang Xuan didn't bother with nonsense. He waved his hand and ordered: "Kill them, throw the bodies outside the city."

He was already in a bad mood, and they dared to provoke him—courting death.

Though he rarely killed, it didn't mean he couldn't.

"Roar!"

Hearing the order, the Purple Winged Sky Bear nodded excitedly, roared, and brought its huge claw down on the speaking black-clad man.

If it landed, his head would be crushed on the spot.

"Don't kill me... I'll talk, I'll talk..."

Seeing that the young man, though young, was serious and would kill without hesitation, the black-clad man nearly fainted from fear and quickly spoke: "We were just following orders, please spare us, sir..."

This Sky Bear was not only strong but also seemed a bit dim-witted. If he didn't beg for mercy, he might really be crushed to death.

"Following orders? Whose orders?" Zhang Xuan said.

"The Spirit Materials Pavilion..."

The black-clad man said.

"Spirit Materials Pavilion?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

He had never even heard of this lousy place. Why would they come here?

"Are you from the Spirit Materials Pavilion?" Sun Qiang was startled, then cupped his fists and looked over: "Young master, the Spirit Materials Pavilion is a place in Hongyuan City that buys and sells treasures... I went there today!"

"You went?"

Zhang Xuan looked at him.

"Yes, since we're out of money... I thought selling the treasures you got in the Featherfall Empire would fetch a decent price, so I went to this Spirit Materials Pavilion."

Sun Qiang explained.

Zhang Xuan had obtained many treasures from the Curio Pavilion in the Featherfall Empire but hadn't sold them. Now that they were strapped for cash, Sun Qiang had to think of something.

He just didn't expect to be targeted and followed.

"I see!"

After hearing the explanation, Zhang Xuan understood.

This Spirit Materials Pavilion, though it sounded reputable, was actually a black market organization. Selling things there could get cash quickly, but it also invited covetousness.

Sun Qiang, Zheng Yang, and the others were not strong, yet they possessed a huge fortune. It was impossible not to attract attention!

These black-clad men were sent by the Spirit Materials Pavilion to investigate. Once they confirmed there were no experts, they would rob them clean!

"Daring to covet my things? Quite bold!"

His face darkened.

He hadn't even thought of coveting others, yet they dared to covet his—truly ignorant of death!

"Where is this Spirit Materials Pavilion?"

Raising his brows, Zhang Xuan turned and asked.

"Not far from here. On foot, it takes about ten minutes to get there." Sun Qiang nodded.

"Good. Prepare yourself. At dawn, we'll pay them a visit."

His eyes narrowed, Zhang Xuan ordered.

If he hadn't come back on a whim, these people would not only rob but might also kill for the treasure!

Zheng Yang and the others had followed him all the way, and he regarded them as family. Anyone who dared to target them would face his wrath!

As a dignified master teacher, if he couldn't even protect his own students and steward, what was the point of desperately advancing?

"Yes!"

Knowing that the young master's 'visit' was not a good thing, Sun Qiang hesitated for a moment but still nodded.

Having followed him all the way, he knew the young master's bottom line.

Usually, he was easygoing and could go along with anything, but when it came to people close to him and their lives were in danger, he would never tolerate it!

Like last time when Lu Chong was severely injured and unconscious, he single-handedly destroyed the Xuan Yuan Kingdom to avenge him.

Now, this Spirit Materials Pavilion dared to make a move on them, making the young master truly furious.

"What about these men?"

Pointing at the four black-clad men, Sun Qiang couldn't help asking.

"Cripple their cultivation, tie them up, and send them over as gifts at dawn."

Waving his hand, Zhang Xuan snorted.

"Yes!" Sun Qiang acknowledged and had the Sky Bear take the men away.

After they left, the room held only Zheng Yang and the other students.

He watched their training for a while, gave some pointers, and passed down the modified Bridge Heaven Realm cultivation technique for them to study. Then he sent everyone back. Alone in the middle of the room, he flipped his wrist.

Whoosh!

A tall ape-like magical beast fell to the ground.

Purple Sun Beast!

This fellow had been stuffed into the Thousand Ant Hive in the afternoon. Now that he had free time, he took it out to have a look.

"You... what do you want!"

The Purple Sun Beast, severely injured and tied up like a dumpling, barely alive, saw this 'king of the alien race' release it. Gnashing its teeth in hatred, it wished it could eat his marrow and flesh. Gritting its teeth, it roared: "If you want to kill me, kill me. Dream of making me betray my master!"

...

As the Purple Sun Beast was released here, in a spacious courtyard of the Master Teacher Academy, an old man suddenly stood up.

"Master Mu, what's wrong?"

As if finding his behavior odd, a faint voice sounded.

If the dean of the Alchemy Hall and others were here, they would surely recognize the 'junior' recommended by Master Mu—the girl named Luo Ruoxin.

"Reporting to Miss Ruoxin... I seem to have detected the aura of the Purple Sun Beast!"

Master Mu quickly said.

At this moment, he showed no sign of treating her as a junior; instead, he was full of respect.

It seemed that this Luo Ruoxin, as everyone guessed, was most likely a young lady from a saint clan out for experience.