"Alright. That will be all for today's lesson," Zhang Xuan said, waving his hand lightly."Go back and carefully comprehend what was taught. If there's anything you don't understand, you may come ask me privately."
"Yes!"
The five students replied in unison and withdrew.
Though the lesson had been short—and repeatedly interrupted—the gains were enormous. Each of them could clearly feel that, so long as they continued to comprehend what they had learned today, their cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds.
Their hearts burned with excitement.
Just as they exited the classroom, Wang Tao suddenly grabbed Wang Ying's arm.
"Come. You're coming home with me."
"Going… home?" Wang Ying froze. "Brother, why do we have to go back now—"
"Hmph!" Wang Tao snorted. "You ignored my advice and acknowledged the worst teacher in the academy as your master. I've already informed Father. He'll speak to you personally."
"Father…"
Wang Ying's face instantly turned pale.
Their father—Wang Hong, Acting Patriarch of the Wang Family—was known for his rigid temperament and iron discipline. Even his own children feared him.
"Teacher Zhang isn't what you say," Wang Ying said hurriedly. "His lectures are truly—"
"Save that nonsense for Father," Wang Tao cut her off, already turning away. "Let's see whether he believes you."
Hongtian Academy wasn't far from the Wang residence. Before long, the siblings arrived at the Wang Family estate and were led directly to Wang Hong's study.
"Enter."
A cold, authoritative voice rang out.
"Yes…"
Wang Ying's slender body trembled as she clenched her fists and followed her brother inside.
Inside the study sat Wang Hong, his posture rigid and expression stern. On either side were several clan elders. A young man stood quietly to one side.
Wang Ying recognized him immediately—Wang Yan, grandson of the Second Elder.
They had entered the academy together. Wang Yan had acknowledged the renowned Teacher Lu Xun as his master.
She, on the other hand… had chosen Zhang Xuan.
"Father…"
The atmosphere was suffocating. Wang Ying barely dared to breathe.
"Kneel," Wang Hong ordered coldly.
Thud!
Wang Ying's knees hit the floor.
"Do you know what you did wrong?" Wang Hong asked, his voice icy.
"I—"
"Hmph!" Wang Hong interrupted sharply. "I repeatedly instructed you to acknowledge Teacher Lu Xun. Yet you ignored my words and instead chose Zhang Xuan—someone who ranked dead last in the Teacher Qualification Examination and caused students to suffer qi deviation! Tell me—what qualifications does such a man have to be your teacher?"
His voice rose with each word, shaking the entire room.
"I also heard that your brother ordered you to withdraw from his class, yet you refused. What exactly are you thinking?"
Wang Ying's face flushed white, then red. She clenched her teeth.
"Father," she said firmly, "Teacher Zhang is not what you think. His teaching is profound. He is simply low-key. I wish to attend his class, and I will not withdraw."
"Profound?"
Wang Hong laughed coldly. "A man who scored zero in the Teacher Qualification Examination?"
"Wang Ying, you must listen to the Patriarch," an elder said with a sigh."Teacher Lu Xun's students improve by forty percent after a single lesson. That's known throughout the academy.""Zhang Xuan's reputation is infamous across Heavenly Profound City. Are you saying everyone else is blind?"
Wang Ying raised her head.
"I don't know whether the examination was fair," she said calmly. "But I know this—Teacher Zhang cured my legs and guided my cultivation. My strength has increased by over one hundred percent."
The room fell silent.
Then—
"Hah!""What nonsense!""Your legs couldn't be cured even by Grandmaster Yuan Yu!""You expect us to believe a zero-scoring teacher did it?"
Mockery echoed from all sides.
"Then look for yourselves."
Wang Ying stood up, walked to the strength-measuring stone pillar, and kicked.
Bang!
Numbers flared.
205!
Everyone's pupils shrank.
Before anyone could react, Wang Ying clenched her fist and struck.
Buzz!
120!
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Patriarch Wang Hong shot to his feet, his breath shaking.
"Y-You're only at the Gathering Breath Realm initial stage. Yesterday, your strength barely reached fifty kilograms! How is this possible?"
The Gathering Breath Realm normally ranged from fifty to one hundred ten kilograms—even peak cultivators struggled to exceed that without breaking through.
Yet Wang Ying had done it without advancing realms.
This was no ordinary improvement.
"This is Teacher Zhang's guidance," Wang Ying said softly.
Wang Hong rushed forward, examined her legs—and froze.
They were completely healed.
"This… this…"
His voice trembled.
"Tell us," Wang Hong said urgently. "What exactly did he teach today?"
Wang Ying hesitated, then began recounting what she remembered.
She spoke only fragments—barely a tenth of the lecture.
Yet—
"This theory… how could Gathering Breath cultivation be explained like this?""If I'd heard this earlier, I wouldn't have stagnated for years!""This… this is Grandmaster-level insight!"
The elders sat as if struck by lightning.
Years of confusion unraveled in moments.
"This is not ordinary teaching," Wang Hong said hoarsely, eyes blazing. "This is the wisdom of a true master!"
"Father?" Wang Ying called anxiously.
Wang Hong snapped back to reality and looked at her solemnly.
"Ying'er, you must never withdraw from Teacher Zhang's class. You must study under him with absolute dedication."
"But… Father said earlier—"
"I didn't know," Wang Hong said bluntly. Then his eyes lit up with anticipation.
"Does Teacher Zhang accept more disciples?""Can Wang Yan and Tao'er also study under him?""Even if I become his student, it would be worth it!"
Before Wang Ying could respond—
"Patriarch!"
An elder stood up righteously.
"You are the head of the Wang Family. How could you acknowledge a low-rank academy teacher as your master? What face would our family have in Heavenly Profound City?"
Then he paused… coughed… and smiled awkwardly.
"Of course, I'm only an ordinary elder. I don't represent the family's dignity.""If necessary, I can resign.""Could you… help me ask Teacher Zhang whether he'd accept me?"
"..."
Wang Tao.Wang Ying.Wang Yan.Patriarch Wang Hong.
All fell silent.