"That's true!"
Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement.
In order to become stronger, one had to experience life and death situations.
Without the fear of death, it would be difficult for one to achieve a breakthrough in one's state of mind.
Even though he hadn't been cultivating for too long, the reason why he was able to reach his current level of strength was because he had gone through countless life and death situations. It was impossible for anyone to reach such heights overnight without putting in a single effort.
The fighting prowess of master teachers was already formidable, so naturally, the fighting prowess of a combat master was even more fearsome. In order to achieve such strength, one had to put in several times the effort of an ordinary cultivator.
Take Zhang Xuan for example. In order to advance his Origin Core, it took him two months to advance from Half-Saint primary stage to Half-Saint pinnacle … If he had cultivated an ordinary Heaven's Path Divine Art instead, he would have been a Saint realm expert by now.
This was the price of hard work!
"May I know how the Combat Master Hall conducts its selection test? Have the three principals heard of it? "Zhang Xuan asked.
"I'm not too sure about the exact rules, but it is usually a competition among the various academies, and those who are ranked in the top hundred will be selected," Wu Tianqiong replied.
Even though the rules of the selection test differed from year to year, there was only one requirement for the selection test — strength!
Regardless of the means used, as long as one was able to defeat his opponent without using any artifacts or spirit beasts of the same cultivation realm, he would be considered a victor.
"Duel?"
Zhang Xuan nodded.
This was indeed the most direct selection method, and it was also the most convincing one. The only downside was that, just as Shen Pingchao had said, it was a matter of life and death.
Under such circumstances, if one were to use one's full strength, it would be difficult to control one's strength, and the chances of death would increase significantly.
"Indeed. Right, since those from the Combat Master Hall aren't here yet, why don't we have the candidates from the Four Great Master Teacher Academies meet each other first so that we can prepare ourselves in advance so that we won't be flustered during the duel!"
Recalling something, Wu Tianqiong said with a smile.
"Indeed. Let them display their strength first. This way, they can gain a better understanding of their strength. "
"Master teachers should interact more with one another in order to improve themselves. Keeping to one's own pace will only make one short-sighted!"
Shen Pingchao and Wu Ran nodded in agreement.
"Alright then." Since three of the Four Great Master Teacher Academies had agreed to it, Zhang Xuan had no right to reject the proposal.
Besides, he also wanted to see the strength of the other side's students so that his students could be mentally prepared.
Hearing the agreement, the principals quickly issued a series of instructions, and soon, several hundred students walked out of the flying ship. There were cultivators of all realms from Consonant Spirit realm to Chrysalis realm.
Just like Hongyuan Academy, each academy would select 20 people for each grade. Five grades would make a total of 100 people.
Three hundred young geniuses from the three great academies walked over in unison, giving off a different aura.
Activating his Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan began assessing the students.
Every single one of them had tight muscles and vigorous True Qi. They could be considered to be the cream of the crop among their peers.
"School Head Mo, why don't you summon our students too?"
Zhang Xuan instructed.
School Head Mo nodded. Not too long later, the hundred candidates from the Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy walked out as well.
This was the first time he had seen these students. After comparing them to those from the other three academies, he couldn't help but shake his head.
Even though they were of the same cultivation realm and were around the same age, their disposition and zhenqi seemed to be slightly weaker than the other party.
If they were to fight, the number of them who would be able to clear the selection would be pitifully small.
It was no wonder the Ten Great Master Teachers were able to forget about such a grand occasion, even requiring Jin Yuan Ding to remind them. It seemed like the Combat Master Selection wasn't a big deal to Hongyuan Academy. On the contrary, it was an embarrassment that no one was willing to think about.
As time went by, they eventually forgot about it.
"I am a Grade 1 student from Yunxu College, Wei Chang!"
The four hundred students who were participating in the selection walked up to the dueling platform and sat down. A student from Yunxu College leaped onto the dueling platform, and with a jolt of his arms, a powerful aura burst forth from his body. His acupoints began to emit a whimpering sound, reminiscent of a whistle.
Even though his cultivation was only at Consonant Spirit realm, he felt as if he could pierce through the heavens.
"How powerful!"
"Indeed. With such strength, there are probably very few Grade 2 students who can match him."
"If I were to meet him, there's no way I would be a match for him …"
"Incredible! The number one Yunxu College is indeed no match for him!"
…
Upon seeing Wei Chang's display of strength, the Grade 1 students beneath the dueling platform turned grim.
Even though they were all at Consonant Spirit realm, the other party was clearly much stronger than them. Putting aside Grade 1 students, even Grade 2 students wouldn't be a match for him.
With just a single move, he had already intimidated all of them.
Zhang Xuan frowned.
Even though he couldn't find any fault with the other party's display of strength, it could easily create psychological pressure on his students.
It seemed like the other party was intending to use his students to regain his dignity.
"I am a Grade 1 student from Luoqing Academy, Zhang Lin …"
"I am a Grade 1 student from Qingzhu Academy …"
…
Soon, the students from the other three academies leaped onto the dueling platform. Even though they were only at Consonant Spirit realm, their fighting prowess was exceptionally high.
There were even a few who possessed unique bloodlines that would allow their fighting prowess to be multiplied by several folds upon awakening. They were no weaker than Wang Ying and the others when they were still at Consonant Spirit realm.
On the other hand, the students on his side were much weaker. Not only were their fighting prowess weak, their comprehension of battle techniques was also lacking as well. If they were to really fight, it would be difficult for them to emerge victorious. In fact, they might even be severely injured.
Of the twenty Grade 1 students, only one or two were barely passable. As for the rest, they couldn't be compared at all.
But that was to be expected. It took at least three months for them to be selected. Furthermore, they had been personally guided by a Seven Star Master Teacher along the way, so it was impossible for their fighting prowess to not rise.
On the other hand, Zhang Xuan had just returned from Xuanyuan Empire, and this was the first time he was meeting these students. He hadn't even had the chance to offer them any pointers, so how could he possibly compare to them?
Even though Zhao Bingxu, Elder Mi, and the others had personally guided them, they were still limited by their eye of discernment. Thus, they were unable to match up to the guidance of a Seven Star Master Teacher.
"This … How are we supposed to fight them?"
Zhang Xuan rubbed his glabella.
Just the comparison was enough to shatter the confidence of his students. In a real duel, they wouldn't be able to withstand more than a few blows.
Following which, the Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, and Grade 5 students displayed their prowess, and Hongyuan Academy's performance was even worse.
Yunxu Academy was the strongest of the twenty students, and almost every single one of them was capable of challenging opponents beyond their cultivation. This wasn't something that Zhang Xuan's students could match up to.
"If only Xue Zhenyang, Long Cangyue, and the others hadn't achieved a breakthrough …"
These few students had received his guidance, and after the incident at Wu Xu and Lu City, their fighting prowess had soared significantly. If they were the ones who had made a move, Zhang Xuan might still have been able to obtain a few slots … But it was a pity that they had already achieved a breakthrough to Half-Saint, so they were no longer qualified.
Even though they had received lessons from the Xuanxuan Faction as well, they had just joined the academy this year, and their starting point was still too low. There weren't many of them who had reached Consonant Spirit realm, so they were still lacking compared to the seniors who had been in the academy for several years.
Most of them had failed the selection.
"President Zhang, your students … don't seem to be doing too well!"
Taking a look at the prowess, Wu Ran frowned.
As a Seven Star Master Teacher, he possessed exceptional eye of discernment. Naturally, he could tell that the students of Hongyuan Academy were slightly weaker than the three of them.
Under such circumstances, it was simply too difficult for them to obtain a placing.
"Un." Zhang Xuan shook his head. He turned to Wu Tianqiong and the others and said, "Since those from the Combat Master Hall aren't here yet, can I make use of this opportunity to impart some combat techniques to these students?"
"Impart some combat techniques? Right now? "
Hearing those words, Wu Tianqiong and the others were taken aback.
While last-minute preparation might be effective, based on the news that we have received, those from the Combat Master Hall should be arriving within two hours. There shouldn't be any point in imparting a lesson now, right? "
"That's right." Zhang Xuan nodded.
Given the current situation of these students, if he didn't make any changes, putting aside a hundred, even if there were two hundred or three hundred of them, there wouldn't be many who would be able to pass the selection.
Thus, the only thing he could do was impart some combat techniques to them so that they could comprehend them as soon as possible.
"President Zhang, there's nothing wrong with imparting pointers to the students of your academy. However, the selection is about to begin, and if you were to impart them now, I fear that not only will their confidence waver, they might even regress instead!"
After a moment of hesitation, Wu Ran advised.
The fact that they were able to pass the selection meant that they were all geniuses who had already developed their own combat system.
If they were to impart a lesson to them now and fail, they could very well end up in a situation where not only would they fail to improve, their fighting prowess might even fall instead.
"I understand. Let's give it a try then."
Knowing that the other party meant well, Zhang Xuan chuckled. He had Elder Mi gather the hundred students who were participating in the selection and set up a soundproof barrier around them before turning his gaze to the crowd.
"Is there anyone who doesn't wish to become a combat master?"
Zhang Xuan asked as he scanned the crowd around him.
Combat masters were a formidable fighting prowess, but there were quite a few who were unwilling to become one.
"No!"
The crowd shook their heads in unison.
Since they had passed the selection, they must have already made up their minds.
"Since all of you wish to become a combat master, it means that all of you wish to raise your fighting prowess further."
Seeing that no one was unwilling to become a combat master, Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes and said, "Very well then. I'll impart some techniques to raise your fighting prowess as well as your comprehension of combat. I hope that you can focus on your studies! "
It was already too late for them to raise their fighting prowess, so the only way to raise their fighting prowess was to raise their understanding of battle techniques and their adaptability in battle.
"Yes!"
Hearing that their principal was going to impart a lesson to them personally, the eyes of most of the students lit up in excitement.
The confidence that they had lost after witnessing the prowess of the students from the other academies was reignited once more.
Even until now, they could still remember the commotion that their principal had caused during his inauguration ceremony. Back then, he had imparted the lesson to the entire academy, and even though he wasn't targeting anyone specifically, the effect was still astounding.
What would happen if he were to impart a lesson to them personally?
Needless to say, they were already excited.
"The purpose of a battle technique is to better utilize the zhenqi in one's body so as to make one's strength purer. Thus, in order to make one's battle technique stronger, one must first possess a pure heart, a state of mind that surges forward bravely, unwilling to admit defeat …"
Seeing that the crowd had already prepared themselves for the upcoming battle, Zhang Xuan didn't hesitate any longer. His impassive voice sounded.
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