Chapter 909: The Ninth Floor

"Not at the Saint Ascendant peak?"

The puppet was stunned and couldn't help looking down, the power within his body instantly igniting.

Boom!

A powerful aura surged in all directions, forcing everyone to involuntarily step back a few paces.

"This... Saint Domain First Layer? I... how did I break through?" The puppet's face went blank.

He had been a puppet for four thousand years, always at the Saint Ascendant peak, never imagining his strength could still advance.

"If I'm not mistaken, it should be the Dean! He devoured the Earth Core Crystal in your body and incidentally helped you break through..."

Zhao Bingxu said.

Having experienced the sixth level, they knew the Dean possessed such an ability.

Perhaps feeling apologetic for devouring the Earth Core Crystal in the other's body, he also took the opportunity to modify its structure, making it smoother and more natural, thus granting a qualitative leap in strength.

"This..."

After hearing the explanations from the various deans, the puppet stood frozen.

Although the Earth Core Crystal was very important to him, it wasn't indispensable. Sacrificing a part of it to have his strength skyrocket to the Saint Domain was definitely a huge gain!

Only... with his strength increased, it would be even harder for later generations to pass the levels. Reaching this point would become a dead end, making it impossible to charge to the higher ninth floor.

For him, it was a good deed, but for later generations, it was a curse.

It was equivalent to completely blocking the path, so no one could succeed anymore.

"What exactly is on the ninth floor?"

Just as he was lamenting, Wei Ranxue looked over.

"The ninth floor... I don't know either. I only know that since the establishment of the Master Teacher Academy, no one has ever entered it. Perhaps... only the founder Mu Kai knows!"

The puppet shook his head.

The guardian of the ninth floor was a Saint Domain First Layer puppet, while the requirement for challenging Record Mountain was before the Half-Saint stage... That meant one had to cross three entire major levels to challenge a superior. Even he, in his prime, couldn't do it, let alone others!

In the ten thousand years since the Master Teacher Academy was founded, only this young man had achieved it.

"Whatever it is, there should be no danger. Record Mountain was created to select talents, so naturally, it wouldn't let talents die inside!"

Seeing everyone worried, the puppet said.

"Yes!" Everyone nodded.

Indeed, the purpose of the Master Teacher Academy was to select talents, and Record Mountain was no exception. Being able to pass the first eight floors indicated extraordinary talent, unparalleled through the ages. How could such a person encounter trouble on the last floor!

So there was no need to worry!

But even without worry... what exactly did the Dean experience on the ninth floor?

In an instant, Zhao Bingxu and the others were filled with curiosity.

...

Time went back a day earlier.

Having smoothly passed the first eight floors, Zhang Xuan looked at the puppet he had nailed to the ceiling, breathed a sigh of relief, and continued upward.

To be honest, he had still overestimated himself.

On the sixth floor, fighting against a Saint Ascendant-level puppet was already somewhat strenuous.

Although his strength had reached 65 million jin, comparable to the mid Saint Ascendant stage, his body had not yet transformed into a 'Saint'. Whether in reaction awareness or combat adaptability, the puppet far surpassed him. Even if his power exceeded the puppet's, winning was still difficult.

In other words, even with his formidable strength, the Half-Saint peak was his limit. To defeat a Saint Ascendant initial stage, he could only rely on the Library of Heaven's Path.

Thus, on the sixth floor, he gave the puppet guidance, allowing it to successfully take him as a master, and passed smoothly.

As for the seventh floor, the puppet didn't trust him. Unable to win in battle, he had no choice but to dismantle it into pieces.

If he could have won, he wouldn't have resorted to such a measure.

Dismantling the other into that state, even a ghost wouldn't recognize it... It was too embarrassing.

On the eighth floor, the puppet refined from Mo Liuzhen's ribs was even stronger. As soon as he entered, he was brutally beaten, leaving many large pits on the ground, and he was severely injured, spitting blood.

Just when he thought he couldn't pass this level, he suddenly discovered that this puppet was actually made using an Earth Core Crystal.

The Earth Core Crystal was a treasure necessary for cultivating the fourth level of the Five Radiance Golden Body. He had never found it before, and seeing it here, he was overjoyed.

However, if he openly stated that he needed this spirit stone, the other would surely turn hostile and beat him to death. Helpless, he had to use some small tricks.

With the power of the spirit stone, the Five Radiance Golden Body successfully broke through to the fourth level, causing his physical strength to surge again.

Previously, his physical strength alone was 16 million jin, and now it had doubled, reaching 32 million jin!

That is to say, relying solely on his physical body, his strength was now comparable to a late Cocoon Seal stage expert!

Combined with his true qi of 29 million jin and soul power of 20 million jin, his total strength had reached 81 million jin!

With such power, even a Saint Ascendant peak was far inferior. Without any psychological preparation, Mo Liuzhen's puppet was naturally punched flying, stuck to the wall, and knocked unconscious.

(Saint Ascendant initial: 60 million jin, mid: 65 million jin, late: 70 million jin, peak: 75 million jin!)

"Although I defeated the puppet on the previous floor, my actual combat strength still lags behind a Saint Ascendant peak."

Despite knocking out the puppet formed from Mo Liuzhen's ribs with one punch, Zhang Xuan was not arrogant enough to think he already possessed combat power comparable to a Saint Ascendant peak.

The reason he could do it so easily was that this fellow had fought him once before, and he was fully aware of the flaws and loopholes in his techniques. Coupled with the opponent's underestimation, he succeeded.

Once he encountered a Saint Ascendant peak who went all out, even if his strength was not inferior, winning would certainly not be so easy.

Better to be cautious.

This was also the reason he always wanted to keep a low profile.

The tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind; the bank that juts out from the shore is the first to be eroded by the waves.

Unfortunately, every time he wanted to keep a low profile, it backfired, leaving him melancholy.

Perhaps this is life! Often lonely like snow.

Even defeating a Saint Ascendant peak was difficult. To pass the ninth floor, there was probably no chance at all, unless... he could find a Cocoon Seal stage Heaven's Path technique and directly raise his strength to the Cocoon Seal peak.

But such a technique was clearly not available here.

"Since I've come this far, I might as well go up and take a look!"

Letting out a breath, without any pause, Zhang Xuan continued upward.

Having come all the way through the levels, if he stopped now out of fear, he would feel sorry for himself.

No matter what, he had to go up and see. At worst, he could admit defeat.

Pushing open the door to the ninth floor, a huge, empty room appeared before him.

Looking up, an old man came into view.

"Master Mu?"

Recognizing the man's appearance, Zhang Xuan frowned.

It was none other than the founder, Mu Kai.

He had seen the residual soul left by the other on the platform earlier.

"No, it's a Saint Domain-level puppet that Master Mu crafted in his own image!"

Although strange, he quickly identified the issue.

The one before him was not the real Mu Kai, nor his residual soul, but a puppet crafted in his likeness. From a distance, it looked just like a real person, so much so that he didn't recognize it at first glance.

"Without reaching Half-Saint, to come from the first level all the way here speaks volumes about your talent and strength!"

Seeing him approach, the Mu puppet looked over with a smile in his eyes.

"Greetings, Master Mu!"

Zhang Xuan cupped his fists and stepped forward.

Even if it was just a puppet, it surely contained Mu Kai's will, just like the eighth floor, and should not be underestimated.

"Mm!" The Mu puppet nodded with a smile. "I am currently at the Saint Domain First Layer initial stage. If you can defeat me, you will have passed Record Mountain and obtained the benefits I left behind!"

"Defeat you..."

Zhang Xuan looked troubled.

To be honest, relying solely on strength, the possibility of defeating the other was almost nonexistent.

However, if he used his dismantling skills, turning the other into a cripple and then into pieces, it should be quite simple.

But using such methods against the founding master was somewhat hard to justify and very embarrassing.

If others found out, as the Dean, mindful of his status, he would surely be shy.

"Don't worry. As long as you can defeat me, any means are allowed. No need to adhere to rules!"

Seeming to read his mind, Master Mu smiled. "To be honest, for me, a Saint Domain cultivator, to attack someone who hasn't even reached Half-Saint is itself a disregard for rules!"

"Are you sure?" Zhang Xuan looked at him oddly. "No need to adhere to rules?"

"That's right!" Master Mu smiled.

"Since you say so, then fine..."

Hearing that rules were not required, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, his mental burden eased, and he activated his mind.

Whoosh!

The Golden Origin Cauldron appeared before him.

"Cauldron, go and knock this fellow unconscious..."

Waving his hand grandly, Zhang Xuan was filled with heroic spirit.

"Don't worry, it's just Old Mu's puppet. I'll help the master refine it into slag right now..."

The Golden Origin Cauldron responded, shook its body, and was about to charge forward.

It was a sacred artifact left to the academy by the Master Teacher Pavilion. Having seen Mu Kai back in the day, it recognized him at a glance.

"Hold on..."

His mouth twitching, the Mu puppet nearly fainted and hurriedly shouted.

"What's wrong?"

Motioning for the Golden Origin Cauldron to stop, Zhang Xuan looked over in confusion.

You just said any means were allowed. Now that I've summoned the Golden Origin Cauldron, what's the problem?

"Ahem, what I meant by 'means' is that you can use your strength, techniques, and various auxiliary professions, not... rely on sacred artifacts. Otherwise, with the power of a sacred artifact, even someone at the Mortal Transformation first or second layer could charge through from the first level, and Record Mountain would lose its meaning!"

The Mu puppet's face reddened as he said.

It was his fault for not making it clear.

Record Mountain was meant to assess personal ability. If you brought out a sacred artifact, even if your strength was lacking, you could certainly sail through smoothly!

What was the point of the assessment then!

"This... I misunderstood!"

Zhang Xuan scratched his head, put the Golden Origin Cauldron back into the ring, and with a flick of his wrist, an ordinary top-grade spirit artifact long sword appeared in his palm, pointing straight at the other.

"Is this okay now?"

The Mu puppet nodded, smiled lightly, and was about to speak when he saw a sword light shoot straight out, like a meteor, dazzling and brilliant.