Chapter 63: Hong Yi Becomes an Apprentice

“Jade bottle?”

Elder Chen wore a puzzled expression.

Was the School Head trying to pin the failure on external factors, shirking responsibility?

Though he found it strange, he dared not disobey the School Head’s orders, and so he handed over the two jade bottles at once.

Lu Mingrong picked up the jade bottle that had just been used, pulled out the stopper, sniffed it, realized something, and his pupils suddenly constricted.

“This, this…”

His fist clenched tightly, he hurriedly picked up the other jade bottle, performed the same action, and then his body started trembling uncontrollably before he raised his head to look at Zhang Xuan not far away, his eyes filled with intense shock.

“School Head, is something wrong?”

Wu Yunzhou, the Vice School Head, couldn’t help but ask.

“I’ll tell you in a bit!”

After exhaling, Lu Mingrong calmed his emotions and carefully pocketed the two jade bottles. He then turned his head again to address Zhang Xuan, “Teacher Zhang, why don’t you try igniting it? If successful, it would also make it easier for everyone to recognize your true strength.”

“School Head…” Wu Yunzhou and the others suddenly became anxious.

If you couldn’t succeed, and he fails as well, wouldn’t that just offend him for no reason?

“I have my own measure!”

Lu Mingrong waved his hand and looked again at the Miscellaneous Duties Teacher, “What do you say?”

Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow, saying, “Helping to ignite it is no big deal, but he is not my student!”

“This…”

Stunned for a moment, Lu Mingrong turned his head to look at the new student, “What’s your name, and under which teacher do you currently study?”

“Reporting to the School Head, my name is Hong Yi, because… my talent isn’t very good, no teacher has taken me in… I can only attend public classes!” the new student Hong Yi said, his face flushing.

The Baiyan Academy had a limited number of teachers, and naturally, the students who could receive personal instruction were also limited. Therefore, not every student could successfully find a mentor, leading to a majority of the new students attending public classes each year.

Hong Yi was one such student. During the Source Pool evaluation, he had absorbed only a stream of Heavenly Mandate Qi and opened a Ninth-grade Source Pool. Plus, with no background to speak of, naturally no teacher favored him.

“Public classes? That’s easy then…”

Lu Mingrong looked again at Zhang Xuan, “Teacher Zhang, would you be willing to take him as a student? Don’t worry, his cultivation resources will be provided by the academy…”

Zhang Xuan frowned, looked at Hong Yi, and before he could ask anything, he saw the young man hastily stand up, excitedly kneeling on the ground, “Student Hong Yi, I greet my teacher!”

He was very much like Yuan Tao had been—seizing the opportunity and not letting go, otherwise he would not have dared to emerge from the crowd, risking having Elder Chen ignite his furnace for him.

Zhang Xuan did not immediately agree, but merely looked over indifferently, “I am merely a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher, and my teaching skills are not that great. Once you become my disciple, other teachers might refuse to accept you. Moreover, after becoming my disciple, you must obey my instructions, and you cannot refuse or retract your word.”

“Following the teacher’s orders is only right. I, Hong Yi, will never regret my decision!”

Hong Yi bowed deeply, his eyes showing not a hint of hesitation.

He clearly understood his own situation, no family, no talent, no resources… having a teacher at all was already more than good enough; regret was out of the question!

“Since you are sincere, I will take you as my disciple!”

Without further ado, Zhang Xuan agreed.

For him, when accepting disciples, he primarily looked at mental resilience and attitude, talent… was not important!

Rather than waiting for someone who might betray their teacher, it was better to accept a student with weak talent, yet willing to obey.

With Heavens’ Imperfections and Heavens’ Order, he could devise a way to make even a horse into an expert, let alone someone with poor talent…

“Thank you, teacher!”

Hong Yi nodded excitedly.

“Now that you’ve become my disciple, go sit over there so I can help you ignite the furnace!”

Since the other party had absorbed the essence of the Lingyun Beast, it couldn’t go to waste, and Zhang Xuan approached in two quick steps.

Hong Yi sat cross-legged in front of the formation. Just as he was about to close his eyes to cultivate, he saw Elder Chen approach: “I set up this formation. I’m going to take it away…”

Having said that, he began pulling up the formation flags one by one.

Zhang Xuan couldn’t be bothered to argue. Once the opponent was done, he flicked his fingers at Hong Yi—a thread of primordial energy immediately entered the other’s Source Pool.

“Teacher, what should I do now?”

Hong Yi had no idea that the qi was infiltrating his body and stood puzzled when he heard the teacher’s deep and stable voice slowly rise, “Three!”

“???”

Hong Yi was startled.

Aren’t you supposed to ignite my Furnace? What is this?

Not only his expression, but Lu Mingrong, Wu Yunzhou, and others were also stunned.

Normally, the other party would stop Chen Hao from taking away the formation flags and then keep poking Hong Yi’s stomach…

Why do nothing and just start counting here?

“Two!”

Ignoring everyone’s confusion, Zhang Xuan continued to speak.

“Playing tricks!”

Chen Hao sneered, “I’ve withdrawn the formation flags; without the formation’s assistance, I want to see how you manage to ignite the Origin…”

“The School Head couldn’t do it just now, how could a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher possibly manage it!”

A sycophant at his side nodded repeatedly.

Just then, Zhang Xuan had already shouted out the last count, “One!”

Boom!

A bewildered Hong Yi suddenly trembled all over; the dense Origin qi around him crazily surged into his body, instantly creating the sound of rushing waters, like a mountain spring flowing, chiming melodiously.

“Flowing Water Qi!”

“It’s also at the Peak of Pinnacle level…”

“Not only did he ignite it successfully, but he also controlled it to the second… This skill is too impressive!”

Seeing the flustered youth anxiously practicing, everyone around was dumbfounded.

The same Lingyun Beast Spirit’s Blood, Chen Hao tried it, the School Head tried it, both failed, but this person ignited it in a mere instant and precisely timed it… How terrifying is this ability?

Could it be that his ability to ignite the Furnace far surpasses even the School Head’s?

“He, he succeeded again?”

Liu Mingyue also widened her eyes.

Initially, she thought that the Cold-Backed Turtle’s blood essence in her body could ignite the Pinnacle Furnace because of her high talent; now it seems, it isn’t much related, but it has to do with this Miscellaneous Duties Teacher!

Lu Mingrong was too shocked to speak, his body slightly trembling.

If earlier he was still puzzled by what was going on, now he completely understood and looked back at the youth nearby, full of shock and excitement.

“Alright, he has successfully ignited the Furnace. Chen Hao, right? Do you still have anything to say?”

Zhang Xuan looked towards Chen Hao.

Even if the opponent was a student, the lesson he needed to be taught must still be given; otherwise, they would only push their luck further.

“I…”

Flushed with embarrassment, Chen Hao wanted to argue but couldn’t find the words, so he could only nod, “I accept the bet and agree to kneel and apologize…”

He took a step forward, and before his knees hit the ground, he was helped up.

Looking up, he saw his annoying teacher Zhang Xuan standing in front of him, his gaze carrying a hint of kindness.

“Zhang laoshi…”

Chen Hao was touched.

He did not expect that after offending him in such a manner, he could still be so magnanimous, this breadth of spirit…

As he was reflecting, Zhang Xuan’s voice rang out, “Forget kneeling! Just give me 500 Origin Currency, and that will be enough.”

“???”

All traces of being moved instantly dissipated, and Chen Hao’s eyes went wide.

The eldest son of the Chen Clan… only worth 500 Origin Currency?

Who are you mocking?