Although Wang Ying's leg injury did not affect her ability to walk, it tormented her cultivation like poison eating into bone.
For half a year, she had scarcely laughed from the heart even once.
Because of this hidden pain, she had gradually become withdrawn, wary of people, and unwilling to speak. What once had been a lively girl was now quiet and timid, her confidence worn away day by day.
She had long believed this injury would follow her for life.
Never—never—had she imagined that the teacher everyone mocked as a waste would say, so casually, "A trivial matter."
For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard.
If Zhang Xuan had spoken without explaining anything, she would have dismissed it as empty boasting. But he had calmly identified the cause, timing, and mechanism of her injury with precision—exactly matching what Grandmaster Yuan Yu had once said.
Hope, long buried, quietly rekindled.
"I asked you to come in alone because I intend to treat you," Zhang Xuan said indifferently. "Relax your body."
From a cabinet in the room, he took out a small jade box. With a gentle motion, he opened it. Inside lay rows of silver needles of varying lengths, neatly arranged.
Martial artists were frequently injured during cultivation. For this reason, every classroom in the academy was equipped with such tools, used to dredge meridians and temporarily alleviate injuries.
"Yes…"
Seeing how calm and composed Zhang Xuan was—without a trace of arrogance or exaggeration—Wang Ying herself did not understand why, but she trusted him instinctively. She exhaled softly and relaxed her body.
Whoosh!
Zhang Xuan did not move from his seat. With a flick of his fingers, a silver needle shot forward.
A soft cry escaped Wang Ying's lips as the needle, infused with True Qi, flew straight toward her leg and embedded itself with perfect accuracy.
"T-this is… Zephyr Acupuncture?!"
Her eyes widened, her delicate body trembling.
Zephyr Acupuncture was an advanced needle technique that required no physical contact with the patient. Using precise control of True Qi, the practitioner guided the needle through the air and pierced the correct acupoint directly.
It was often used when treating female patients, avoiding unnecessary contact—but the difficulty was terrifying.
A slight deviation in force would cause failure. A single mistake in judgment could lead to severe complications.
Grandmaster Yuan Yu had once said that to perform this technique, one must at least reach the Fifth Layer, Cauldron Strength Realm.
But Zhang Xuan was rumored to be only at the Third Layer, True Qi Realm.
Impossible…
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
Before she could recover from her shock, several more silver needles flew out in rapid succession.
Each landed at the exact same depth.
Perfect.
That level of control could only be described as masterful.
Zhang Xuan swept his palm forward. True Qi surged through the needles, drilling inward.
"Ah—!"
A numb, aching sensation spread through her leg as the sealed acupoint shattered instantly.
"T-this… this True Qi…"
Wang Ying felt it clearly.
The True Qi flowing into her body was pure—clear as flowing water, without the slightest impurity.
This was…
Upper Three Grades True Qi.
Only divine or sacred-grade cultivation techniques could produce such purity. Across the entire Heavenly Profound Kingdom, she had never heard of anyone possessing it.
And yet—
The academy's most infamous teacher…?
Had she been wrong all along?
"Done."
Zhang Xuan withdrew the needles.
Wang Ying felt her legs grow light—incomparably light.
Since her injury, although she could walk, her legs had always felt stiff, as if bound by invisible shackles. Now, that restraint vanished completely.
She stood frozen.
"My leg…"
It was cured.
Completely cured.
"Teacher… thank you…"
Her knees gave out as she knelt heavily on the floor, tears welling in her eyes.
She had waited for this day for far too long. She had nearly given up hope—yet the incurable injury that had haunted her was resolved in mere moments.
By the teacher everyone despised.
He isn't incompetent…
He's simply low-key.
If he wanted fame, he could have achieved it long ago. Why else would someone with such ability remain obscure, even ranking last in the Teacher Qualification Examination?
Her heart firmed.
She bowed deeply, without hesitation.
"I will not withdraw from your class."
Zhang Xuan waved his hand lightly. "Since your injury is healed, cultivate diligently. If any problems arise, come find me."
Then he added, "Call Liu Yang in."
"Yes!"
Wang Ying exited the room, her entire face glowing with excitement.
Outside, the remaining students were waiting.
"Later, I'm withdrawing from this class," Liu Yang said coldly. "Anyone coming with me?"
His chest burned with humiliation.
As a top-100 entrance examinee, he had countless options—yet he had lost a bet and ended up under the academy's worst teacher.
Unacceptable.
"I… I might withdraw too," Yuan Tao muttered. "But what if Teacher Zhang gets angry and teaches you a lesson?"
"Angry?" Liu Yang sneered. "What can he do to me? I'm not risking Qi deviation under his guidance."
"Qi deviation?" Zheng Yang frowned.
Liu Yang nodded. "Don't believe me? Watch Wang Ying come out—she'll look miserable, guaranteed. Teacher Zhang's level is clear to anyone who's investigated. If he were capable, would he be mocked by the entire academy?"
Creak.
The door opened.
Wang Ying stepped out.
Smiling.
Radiant.
Liu Yang froze.
The others stared in disbelief.
That joy—genuine, uncontrollable joy—was something even famous teachers could rarely evoke.
Could it be…?
"Liu Yang," Wang Ying said brightly, "Teacher asked you to go in."
"I'll go," Liu Yang clenched his teeth. "I want to see what he can really teach."
If he fails—even once—I'm withdrawing.
With that thought, he stepped into the room.