"Cough cough, so you are President Zhang. I have long heard of your esteemed name. You are indeed a young hero!"
It took a long while before Wu Tianqiong and Shen Pingchao finally flew out of the rubble with awkward looks on their faces.
If only they had known that it would be so embarrassing, they would have disembarked from the ship straight away.
Now, he had fallen so hard. The image of an expert that he had painstakingly built up was completely gone. His illustrious reputation was ruined in a day.
"Junior pays respect to Pesident Wu and Principal Shen!"
Zhang Xuan bowed respectfully.
He was only a 6-star master teacher at the moment whereas the other party was a Seven Star master teacher. In terms of etiquette, he couldn't allow the other party to find fault with him.
"As fellow principals, we are of the same generation. There's no need for such formalities. President Zhang, it was indeed inappropriate of us to fly the flying ship into the academy. However … shouldn't you return those saint beasts to us? "
Wo Tianqiong waved his hand and said with a steely complexion.
The Cloudcliff Flying Ship was an artifact. While it would be slightly damaged from the fall, it was still acceptable. However, with so many saint beasts, no matter how wealthy their Yunxu Academy was, they wouldn't be able to afford it!
Besides, if they were to be abducted, how were they supposed to return home after the Combat Master Selection?
If they were to walk on foot, their hair would turn white by the time they reached home!
The Qingyuan Conferred Empire spanned a vast area, and the Four Great Master Teacher Academies were scattered all over the world. Given that the Cloudcliff Flying Ship had been in the air for more than a month, if they were to walk on foot, they would probably die of old age.
"It's not that I can't return them to you, but …"
After a moment of contemplation, a conflicted look surfaced on Zhang Xuan's face.
"But what?" Wu Tianqiong asked.
Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan said, "To tell you the truth, in order to prepare for the Combat Master Selection, our Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy hired a master landscaper to decorate the grounds. We designed many beautiful sceneries and innumerable valuable artifacts, and we are still in debt to date … Yet, your flying ship destroyed all of them. Yunxu College is rich and overbearing. Do you think … you can compensate us for our losses first before we talk about the sacred beast? "
The Cloudcliff Flying Ship descended from the sky, smashing out a large crater on the ground. Many of the academy's buildings had been turned into ruins, and it was a complete mess.
"Master gardener? Beautiful scenery? Treasure? "
The corner of Wu Tianqiong's mouth twitched.
On the airboat, Zhang Tie had seen the situation below. It was just an ordinary building. How could there be beautiful scenery? Treasure? Besides, when the airboat landed, he had seen that most of the places were squares and streets. He didn't need to pay a lot of compensation!
Despite such thoughts, the saint beast was still in the other party's hands. Thus, he could only clasp his fist and ask, "May I know how much it will cost?"
"I'm not too sure about the exact number either. As you know, I've only just become the principal of the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy not too long ago, so I'm not too sure about these matters. How about this? I'll ask around for you!"
Waving his hand, Zhang Xuan called out, "Elder Mi, can you calculate how much it will cost to restore all the buildings and treasures where Pesident Wu's flying ship crashed?"
"Yes!"
Hearing Zhang Xuan's question, Elder Mi nodded. He flew into the air and took a look before returning to Zhang Xuan's side. Through zhenqi telepathy, he said, "Reporting to Principal Zhang, the flying ship has destroyed a total of eight buildings and three ponds. In order to restore all of them, it will cost … two high-tier spirit stones!"
In the eyes of the rich, high-tier spirit stones were nothing. In reality, their purchasing power was still very strong.
The area where the flying ship crashed into wasn't particularly important, so ordinary craftsmen were more than capable of repairing it. Even without the expenditure of two high-tier spirit stones, they would be able to repair it perfectly.
"What did you say?" Zhang Xuan asked with a frown, seemingly having not heard what Zhang Xuan had said. "Twenty thousand high-tier spirit stones? Are you sure that this amount of high-tier spirit stones is sufficient to repair all of them? "
"Twenty thousand …" Elder Mi was stunned.
When did I say twenty thousand? I said two high-tier spirit stones …
"Not only were those buildings built by master gardeners, but they were also the result of the painstaking efforts of our predecessors. Their value is immeasurable, so you should calculate how much it will cost. Don't worry, as the head of the Four Premier Academies, Yunxu Academy won't go back on its words!"
Zhang Xuan said.
"Ah …" Elder Mi's lips twitched. With a hint of hesitation in his voice, he said, "How about … twenty-five thousand or thirty thousand?"
"Is thirty thousand enough?" Zhang Xuan asked.
"Thirty thousand … Is it enough? It's still not enough … How about fifty thousand? "Elder Mi's eyelids twitched uncontrollably, not knowing how he should respond.
"Fifty thousand? You actually need that much? Indeed, the heritage of our predecessors has been destroyed in my hands. This isn't something that can be measured with money! "
Sighing deeply, Zhang Xuan turned to Elder Mi and said apologetically, "Pesident Wu, you should have heard it as well. The damage to the academy is simply too severe. It will take at least fifty thousand high-tier spirit stones to repair it …"
Pesident Wu's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
Can you act any more fake than this?
Five high-tier spirit stones won't even be enough to repair this shabby place … and yet, you are asking for fifty thousand?
Do you take me for a fool?
However, he also knew that the other party was intentionally raising the price in order to put him in his place. After all, it was their fault for disrespecting him first.
Left with no choice, he could only shake his head and say, "Cough cough, President Zhang, it was my fault for driving the flying ship straight in. I hereby apologize to the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy. How about this? Our Yunxu Academy will repair the damaged areas, and I guarantee that it will be as good as before. What do you think? "
"Repair the damaged areas? Very well! It just so happens that our academy is still lacking a grade-7 spiritual energy gathering formation. If Pesident Wu is willing to help us set it up, we can do the repairs ourselves! "
Seeing that the other party was being tactful, Zhang Xuan chuckled.
Trying to act cool with me? To think that you would even get yourself a flying ship as soon as you arrived. To be honest, I just didn't want to act cool … Otherwise, I would have killed you!
"Grade-7 spiritual energy gathering formation?"
Wu Tianqiong's face twitched upon hearing those words.
In order to set up a grade-7 formation, not only did one have to invite a Seven Star formation master, the grade-7 formation flags were extremely valuable as well. To set up a formation that could envelop an entire academy and sustain it for many years, the cost was bound to be frighteningly huge!
However, judging from the other party's attitude, this was the least he could ask for. If he were to reject the other party's request, there was a good chance that he wouldn't be returning the saint beasts.
Sixteen Saint Beasts were a huge fortune for their academy. Furthermore, the selection process had not even begun yet. If they were to kidnap the Saint Beasts away, it would be a huge blow to their reputation. They could not afford to lose face!
After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, I'll agree to it!"
"Pesident Wu is indeed magnanimous. I am truly impressed …"
Zhang Xuan clasped his fist before turning to the saint beasts behind him. With a flick of his finger, he removed the master-servant contract and said, "Alright, you are all free now. You should return to Yunxu Academy!"
Roar roar roar!
Hearing those words, the faces of the saint beasts were filled with indignation. Reluctance could be seen in their massive eyes.
Possessing the Dragon Bloodline, they knew what it meant to be able to utter the Eight Notes of the Heavenly Dragon. There was a good chance that the young man before them was a Pureblooded Dragon … It had not been easy for them to acknowledge him as their master, and they had only just gotten a moment of pride when their contract was removed.
"Once you return to Yunxu Academy, I'll double your tribute!"
Seeing the expressions on those fellows' faces, Pesident Wu gritted his teeth and said.
"Roar!"
Hearing Zhang Xuan's promise, the sixteen saint beasts reluctantly returned to the Cloudcliff Flying Ship with reluctant looks on their faces.
Seeing the expressions on those fellows, Pesident Wu clutched his chest, feeling a little stifled.
To be honest, he had heard that President Zhang was an extremely sinister person, but after seeing it for himself, he realized that it was far more sinister than what he had heard.
He was truly a scammer!
Suppressing the stifled feeling in his heart, Zhang Xuan was just about to speak when he suddenly heard the young man not too far away sigh.
"If you really wish to follow me, you can always return discreetly after sending them back to the academy!"
Roar roar roar!
The sixteen saint beasts leaped in joy and roared frenziedly once more.
"…" Pesident Wu's body swayed weakly, and the pain in his chest intensified.
What the heck is this? You can't do this to me …
Otherwise, I fear that I will die from anger before I even make it to the Combat Master Selection …
When he first arrived at Yunxu Academy, he had been in high spirits, thinking that he would surely achieve a new record in the Combat Master Selection … Who could have thought that before the Combat Master Selection even began, he would be humiliated by the new principal of Hongyuan!
Just the thought of it left him feeling stifled.
"Alright, since the matter has been resolved, let's talk about the Combat Master Selection!"
Driving his zhenqi to suppress the pain in his chest, Wu Tianqiong said.
"Indeed. The reason why the Four Great Academies are gathered here is for the centennial Combat Master Selection!"
Shen Pingchao said. "Combat masters are the strongest fighting force of the Master Teacher Pavilion, and they are the strongest weapon we have against the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe. The safety of mankind is at stake here, so we must treat them well."
"Of course!" Zhang Xuan replied.
Zhang Xuan had only punished them for disrespecting Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, but now that the Combat Master Selection was on the line, they had to work together.
"The number of slots for the Combat Master Selection this year has doubled. Previously, the Four Great Academies would only accept fifty candidates across the five grades, but this time around, they are asking for a hundred!"
Speaking of the selection, Wu Tianqiong tossed aside the previous displeasure and explained with a grim expression.
"A hundred candidates?"
This was the first time that he had heard of the recruitment quota for the Combat Master Hall, and Zhang Xuan couldn't help but be astonished.
The Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy had a total of a hundred thousand students across the five grades. Even though the exact number of students from the other three Great Academies was unknown, it was clear that they were of a higher standing than Hongyuan.
In other words, the Four Great Academies should have at least four hundred thousand students, but they were only accepting a hundred!
The ratio was a frightening one in four thousand!
Had it been in the past, the ratio would have been even higher, reaching one in eight thousand. It was no wonder why the selection was so frightening. It was indeed one in ten thousand.
One must know that in order to be admitted into the Master Teacher Academy, one had to go through a huge selection.
"The number of candidates is indeed higher this time around, but the selection will be even stricter … I heard that it will even involve a Life-and-Death Duel!"
Shen Pingchao said.
"Life-and-Death Duel?" Zhang Xuan frowned.
"Un. Combat masters are different from ordinary master teachers. Their main purpose is to fight against the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe. Without going through life-and-death battles, how can they possibly display fighting prowess that far surpasses that of ordinary cultivators?"
Wu Ran said.
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