Chapter 779: Establishing a Society

"Ap-prentice?"

"Zhang Xuan's apprentice?"

Xue Zhenyang and the others stood dumbfounded, looking as if they had seen a ghost.

What was going on?

Hadn't you been clamoring to teach Zhang Xuan a lesson? How did you suddenly become his apprentice?

There were two types of apprentices: one was a newcomer just entering the profession, who hadn't even passed the first-star assessment and followed behind a formal professional to learn.

The other was a low-level professional serving as an apprentice to a high-level professional.

Supposedly to learn knowledge, but in reality, they were even inferior to disciples, responsible for running errands and doing chores.

Each of them had such apprentices, like the girl named Xinru not far away.

Because they differed little from servants, to distinguish them from the first type of apprentice, they were also called seat apprentices.

Hadn't you wanted to make Zhang Shi submit?

How, in the blink of an eye, did you become his apprentice?

"I failed. I am no match for Zhang Shi... Please, all of you, go back!"

After introducing herself, Hu Yaoyao said no more and waved her hand.

"This..."

Having come to celebrate, upon hearing this, Dong Xin, Xue Zhenyang, and the others were left with flushed faces and had no choice but to withdraw.

"What happened?"

Leaving the courtyard, the three looked at each other, utterly bewildered.

"It seems... she didn't teach this Zhang Xuan a lesson; instead, she was taught one by him!" Dong Xin couldn't help saying.

Based on her understanding of Hu Yaoyao, this was the only explanation.

"It looks that way..."

Xue Zhenyang scratched his head: "This is Hu Yaoyao! I've crossed hands with her several times and come off worse. To lose to a freshman and even get herself roped in..."

"This freshman is really uncanny... But for some reason, the more uncanny he is, the more interested I become!"

Long Cangyue's eyes flickered as she spoke.

They were all super geniuses, outstanding figures who had emerged from the Master Teacher Academy. When had they ever feared anyone?

A freshman who, upon arrival, stole the spotlight and even snatched their business was utterly audacious.

"To be honest, I'm quite interested too."

Dong Xin smiled, then recalling something, turned to Xue Zhenyang: "Didn't you say you'd sent people to cause trouble for those freshmen? How's that going?"

"I thought Yaoyao would succeed today, so I sent people ahead to rein in those unruly freshmen... By my estimate, they should have given them a good thrashing by now!"

Xue Zhenyang said.

"I'm quite confident in your subordinates' strength, but... these freshmen rely on this Zhang Xuan as their backing. Doing this, I'm afraid we'll offend him directly and invite more trouble?"

Dong Xin pondered for a moment, then said.

"Offend him directly? So what? Ever since he ruined our business, he's been an enemy. Do you expect an enemy to be merciful? What a joke! Besides, my people challenged them openly and fairly, in accordance with academy rules. Even if this Zhang Xuan is unhappy, what can he do to me? As long as it's within the rules, even Dean Mi or Dean Zhao can't say anything!"

Xue Zhenyang chuckled lightly, his face brimming with confidence: "Unless... he can defeat my subordinates in martial techniques, otherwise, he'll just have to take the beating!"

"You challenged them in martial techniques?"

Long Cangyue was taken aback, then laughed: "That's right. You're the undisputed senior brother of the Martial Techniques Academy, the dean's prized student! Your understanding of spear techniques has reached unfathomable depths. Those subordinates, having received your guidance and instruction, have a top-notch grasp of martial techniques as well. This Zhang Shi may be talented, but at most he excels in artifact forging and beast taming. When it comes to martial techniques, which require time to hone and achieve unity of mind and body, it's still very difficult for him!"

Martial techniques, unlike special professions, require daily accumulation and relentless practice to show results.

Although Xue Zhenyang was hot-tempered and straightforward, his understanding of martial techniques, especially spear techniques, was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

It was said that he had already comprehended the heart of the weapon, reaching the realm of unity between man and spear.

"Yes, we may be master teachers, but we are also martial artists. If we don't show these freshmen the might of the seniors, they might think we've wasted our years at the Master Teacher Academy!" Xue Zhenyang stood straight as a spear, his face radiating an irresistible confidence.

When it came to schemes and tricks, he couldn't outdo Hu Yaoyao and always fell for them, but in terms of real combat strength, she was no match for him.

His long spear moved like a swimming dragon; few even in the fifth year could defeat him.

"Right, connections are just support; strength is the true king! Let's go see how you teach those freshmen a lesson!" Long Cangyue smiled lightly.

"Alright..." Xue Zhenyang nodded.

The three strode together toward the freshman dormitory area.

...

Leaving Hu Yaoyao's residence with Luo Qiqi and returning to the elite district, Zhang Xuan saw Ruohuan Gongzi standing anxiously outside the door.

"Zhang Shi, Senior Qiqi!"

Seeing them approach, his eyes lit up and he hurried over.

"I was just about to look for you!" Zhang Xuan snorted.

"Looking for me?" Ruohuan Gongzi was startled.

"Did you give away the faculty course guides for free?" Zhang Xuan said.

This guy had given away those things, and as a result, he, completely unaware, had become the target of many societies. It was like trouble descending from heaven while lying at home... He hadn't even settled accounts with him yet, and this guy dared to come find him. Quite bold.

"It was what I should do! Zhang Shi, don't take it to heart!"

Thinking it was something else, Ruohuan Gongzi said magnanimously, then waved his hand: "I came today because I need Zhang Shi's help..."

What he should do?

Don't take it to heart?

Zhang Xuan nearly choked on his saliva.

You've caused me so much trouble, and yet you act like you've done a good deed and want to remain anonymous?

Though frustrated, seeing the other's serious expression, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but look over: "What happened?"

"Because we didn't buy those society faculty course guides, seniors have been coming to challenge us these past two days. Today, three experts showed up, speaking very harshly. The others were indignant and fought them, but... they were badly beaten. Many students were injured!"

Ruohuan Gongzi couldn't help saying.

"Challenges?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

Most freshmen were at the Mortal Transcendence Fourth Layer, with few reaching the Fifth Layer, while seniors were at least at the Bridge Heaven realm. How could they fight?

"They suppressed their cultivation to match their opponents and fought purely with martial techniques..." Ruohuan Gongzi said.

"Martial techniques?" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Suppressing cultivation to match the opponent meant it wasn't bullying the weak. Then fighting depended on each person's control and application of martial techniques. That wasn't unreasonable.

"Yes, they're blocking the dormitory entrance, saying that if anyone can defeat them within the day, they'll leave on their own; otherwise, they'll beat us until we dare not come out!"

Looking up at the young man before him, Ruohuan Gongzi's face was full of distress: "They also said that if... no one can defeat them within the day, they want you, Zhang Shi, to... publicly apologize, and then all freshmen must repurchase the faculty course guides!"

"Public apology? What does that have to do with me?" Zhang Xuan was speechless.

If they wanted to challenge freshmen, fine, but what did that have to do with him?

Why should he apologize?

"Well..."

Ruohuan Gongzi scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed: "You see, joining a senior's society requires paying membership fees. We just entered the academy, so where would we get the money? So... we all joined the society you organized..."

"The society I organized? What did I organize?" Zhang Xuan's eyelids twitched.

When had he ever organized any society?

"Zhang Shi gave away so many points for free, with an intention to recruit. I thought you must want to build a power. Besides, all of us freshmen admire only you and are willing to follow your lead. So, after discussing among ourselves, we established a society, with you as the president..."

Ruohuan Gongzi said.

"President?" Zhang Xuan was going crazy.

Without knowing anything, he had been made president... This was too much!

"Yes, Zhang Shi, please don't refuse. Without a society, it's hard for freshmen to stand out in the academy. In fact, they'll be constrained in everything they do. Among thirty thousand freshmen, only you have the prestige to earn everyone's admiration! If you don't become president, who will?"

At this, Ruohuan Gongzi looked anxious: "Besides, the seniors, relying on their long time in the academy, do as they please and oppress us wantonly. If we don't unite now, we'll be at their mercy!"

"This..." Zhang Xuan paused.

What the other said was true.

Without a society, freshmen would indeed find it difficult to move forward.

Because of the free faculty course guides, many seniors already harbored hostility toward this year's freshmen. If they didn't unite, they would likely face obstacles and struggle.

"When you gave away the faculty course guides for free, did you already foresee this situation?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't help looking at him.

This guy, along with Song Chao and Luo Xuan, had given away what he had given them for free. As a master teacher, how could he not know that doing so would offend the seniors?

"At the time, we were indignant that the seniors deliberately inflated prices and maliciously sold the guides. Many freshmen who refused to buy were beaten! Not only that... buying from one society meant offending another, and they would also be bullied. So... after discussing, we felt it was better to take the initiative than wait to be bullied, so we distributed the guides you gave us to everyone."

Ruohuan Gongzi's face reddened: "I hope Zhang Shi can forgive us. We were forced into it!"

"Ah..."

Zhang Xuan sighed.

That made sense.

During the open class, he had been stopped by someone from the Zhenyang Society, and their attitude had been very arrogant, as if not buying their goods meant offending them.

For freshmen without any power or background, it was indeed difficult to stand out under such circumstances.

He had gained Dean Mi's attention upon arrival and was assigned to the elite district, so many seniors dared not trouble him. But it was different for others; they probably had to form a society to fight back.

"Alright, since a society has been established and I'm the president, I should at least know what our society is called, right?" Understanding this, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"The Zhenyang Society was named because the president is Xue Zhenyang, and the Cangyue Society because the president is Long Cangyue... So, our society is also named after you, for easy understanding!"

Seeing that he wasn't too resistant, Ruohuan Gongzi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said.

"After me? The Zhang Xuan Society?"

Zhang Xuan looked at him.

"No, it's..."

Ruohuan Gongzi said excitedly: "The Xuan Xuan Society!"