Chapter 92: Whipping StrengthThat Zhang Xuan… seems to fit the description!
I've heard of First Grade Source Pools and even Saint Grade Source Pools absorbing hundreds of strands of Heaven's Fate Energy, but absorbing over 1,000 at once, and even having a horse that can absorb and transform into a Source Beast… This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing!
Could it be… that this guy is the "Chaotic Fate Practitioner" that Xu Xin mentioned?
It can't be that much of a coincidence, right?
"Should I report this?"
Just as Liu Tianzheng was about to speak up, he clenched his fist tightly. "No, I can't! Mingyue is still his student. If this man really is a Chaotic Fate Practitioner, Mingyue could be implicated and taken away as well… If that happens, our entire family would be doomed! The key is that we're still not certain if he really is one."
Thinking of this, Liu Tianzheng couldn't help but ask, "Aside from those traits, are there any other distinguishing characteristics?"
Xu Xin replied, "I'm not sure of the specifics, but it's said that these people are vicious and evil in appearance, easily recognizable at a glance. However, they're so rare that only one or two have appeared in the entire Source World over countless years. Even Lord Ling doesn't know much more than what he's read from ancient records."
Liu Tianzheng breathed a sigh of relief.
The Source World is vast, and the Hanyuan Dynasty, where he resides, is just a tiny speck in it. With such a huge place, only one or two have ever appeared over countless years—how likely is it that he'd encounter one?
His luck couldn't be that bad.
Based on what Xu Xin said, Zhang Xuan likely just used some special method to absorb more Heaven's Fate Energy. He probably isn't one of these rare Chaotic Fate Practitioners.
Besides, he seems rather kind and handsome, not like a vicious and evil person.
"What's the matter? Could it be that White Roc City really has one?" Xu Xin noticed Liu Tianzheng's odd expression and looked at him in confusion.
"Not at all. I was just thinking of my daughter, Liu Mingyue. She absorbed 24 strands of Heaven's Fate Energy during her Source Pool Assessment, so her talent isn't bad. Do you think she might have a chance to become a Fate Guardian like you?"
Liu Tianzheng awkwardly changed the subject.
"Twenty-four strands? A Fifth Grade Source Pool is not bad. What grade of Flame Furnace did she ignite?" Xu Xin asked, intrigued.
"With the help of the Lingyun Beast's blood, she managed to ignite a Supreme Grade Peak furnace," Liu Tianzheng replied.
Xu Xin's eyes lit up. "She's quite promising. You're lucky, Liu family head. If you have time, bring her to see me. If she's suitable, I might take her as my disciple."
"Thank you, Lord Xu!" Liu Tianzheng exhaled in relief.
If his daughter could become Xu Xin's disciple, then even if Zhang Xuan turned out to be a Chaotic Fate Practitioner, Liu Mingyue should be safe. It would be a precautionary measure.
"You're welcome!" Xu Xin waved dismissively. "I'm here on Lord Ling's orders and have brought three Destiny Disks with me. That'll be 10 million Source Coins."
Liu Tianzheng winced but quickly nodded. "Yes, of course."
That's daylight robbery!
Dean Lu sold him one for 2 million, while Xu Xin was charging 3.33 million for each of the three he bought.
But as expensive as they were, they were still better than having none. With careful planning, the investment could easily pay off and even bring significant profits.
Of course, as long as people like Zhang Xuan aren't allowed to interfere…
"Prepare a place for me to stay. I'll be here for about half a month. Also, get me some beautiful women. Following Lord Ling is a strict business—I haven't had any fun for days. This time, I intend to indulge a bit."
Xu Xin waved his hand nonchalantly.
The supposed search for Chaotic Fate Practitioners was just an excuse. Who would waste their time looking for such a rare individual in a backwater town like this? The real reason he was here was to take advantage of the situation, enjoy some authority, and relax.
"Of course, my lord. I'll see to it right away," Liu Tianzheng quickly nodded, just about to give orders, when a clan elder hurried over and whispered, "Patriarch, the young miss has been expelled from Teacher Zhang's class and is now kneeling at his classroom door…"
"What?" Liu Tianzheng's face darkened.
No matter what, Liu Mingyue represented the Liu family. To make her kneel outside a classroom was too much.
"You see to Lord Xu's accommodations. I'll go take a look myself in a moment," Liu Tianzheng instructed.
"Yes!" The elder nodded and left.
"I have to find a way to make money…"
After much thought, Zhang Xuan rubbed his forehead.
Helping others breakthrough is an easier way to earn. Still, given that his cultivation isn't yet established, and with no Master Teacher profession in this world, it could easily raise suspicion. Moreover, guiding breakthroughs require the individual to have accumulated enough power and to be capable of paying up to 2 million Source Coins in one go. Even if he found such people, trusting them would be a major challenge.
The simplest way would be to make money and then purchase the Destiny Disks from Dean Lu.
If he could get two or three more… perhaps he could break through to the Jade Bone Realm in one go!
With that kind of power, he might not be considered strong in the entire Source World, but at least he'd have some ability to protect himself.
Making money shouldn't be difficult for him. It wouldn't be too hard to borrow tens of thousands of Source Coins from Clan Leader Chen or City Lord Yu, but reaching the level of millions would be much tougher.
"Best to leave it to the professionals…"
He wasn't skilled at finding ways to make money, but he knew someone who was. If he could bring that person to the Source World, many problems could be easily solved, leaving him free to focus on cultivation and only stepping in when necessary.
Yes, that person was his chief steward… Sun Qiang!
"Let's head back to the residence."
Zhang Xuan knew that materializing someone here would scare Yu Xiaoyu and the others, and since Sun Qiang didn't have an identity in this world, he would likely need City Lord Yu's help.
Having made up his mind, Zhang Xuan stopped thinking about it and turned his attention to his two disciples.
The two of them were diligently training, streams of Source Energy continuously flowing into their Source Pools, converting into pure power that surged through their meridians, rapidly increasing their strength.
"Remember, training requires a balance of work and rest. It's been over an hour—go back and rest for a bit."
Seeing that they hadn't slacked off, Zhang Xuan was satisfied and waved them off.
"Yes!" Yu Xiaoyu and Hong Yi stood up and bowed, their faces full of excitement.
With Source Energy constantly flowing through their meridians, they could tell, even without a testing formation, that their strength had increased significantly in just an hour of training.
Training that yields results so quickly… Teacher Zhang's methods are terrifying!
"Teacher, we promise not to share this method with anyone, not even our parents," Yu Xiaoyu said earnestly as she approached Zhang Xuan.
Hong Yi might not understand the importance of this technique, but as the City Lord's daughter, Yu Xiaoyu knew that revealing it would attract countless people. Keeping it a secret was not only a way to protect Zhang Xuan but also herself.
Zhang Xuan nodded approvingly.
He had intended to remind them of this, but since she had brought it up herself, he didn't bother to say more.
"Teacher Zhang, it was my mistake." S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NʘvᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.
As they stepped out of the classroom, they saw Liu Mingyue still kneeling by the door, her dark eyes filled with determination, all traces of doubt gone.
"Once I set a requirement, it must be followed. If you didn't meet it, you should have expected this outcome…"
Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Leave. Our teacher-student relationship is over. Even if you kneel here until you die, it won't change."
"Teacher…" Liu Mingyue's face went pale, and just as she was about to say more, footsteps approached, followed by her father's displeased voice. "Mingyue, what are you doing?"
"I…"
Liu Mingyue trembled and quickly turned around, seeing her father, Liu Tianzheng, walking toward her with large strides, now standing just a short distance away.
"…"
Liu Mingyue lowered her head.
"Come home with me!"
With a cold snort, Liu Tianzheng glanced at Zhang Xuan in the distance. "Teacher Zhang, you may be talented and have the support of City Lord Yu, Dean Lu, and even Clan Leader Chen, but making my daughter kneel outside your classroom without acknowledging her—don't you think that's a bit much?"
"Father, it wasn't Teacher Zhang who made me kneel. It was my own choice…"
Seeing her father misunderstanding, Liu Mingyue hurriedly explained.
"You?" Liu Tianzheng was stunned.
Liu Mingyue nodded. "Yes, I didn't meet Teacher Zhang's requirement, so he won't take me as a student. I'm kneeling here to beg him to reconsider."
"Requirement?"
Liu Tianzheng frowned. "Are you talking about the note in the brocade pouch, the one that said your strength must double overnight, reaching 1.2 horsepower?"
"Yes." Liu Mingyue's face turned even more embarrassed.
Teacher Zhang had told her to open the pouch today, but her father had opened it last night…
Liu Tianzheng waved his hand in frustration, his voice full of anger. "Doubling your strength overnight? That's nonsense! He's just making excuses. You're too young and naive to see through it."
Before he could finish, Yu Xiaoyu stepped forward, her bells jingling. "Patriarch Liu, please think carefully before you speak! Just because you can't do it doesn't mean others can't!"
"Exactly! Since Teacher Zhang set the requirement, it's naturally achievable," Hong Yi added, not backing down.
They could tolerate being criticized by a senior, especially one who was the head of a major family, but questioning their teacher? That was something they couldn't stand.
"Are you saying someone can do this?"
Liu Tianzheng frowned.
"Of course! If you don't believe me, Patriarch Liu, I'll prove it to you right now. Yesterday, my strength was only 0.5 horsepower, weaker than Mingyue's, and many people witnessed that—it couldn't have been faked."
Taking a deep breath, Yu Xiaoyu stepped forward, lowered her shoulders, and furrowed her brows before throwing a punch.
Whoosh!
The force of the punch was so strong that the air crackled with sonic booms, like the crack of a whip.
"This is… whipping strength! Her physical power exceeds 1.5 horsepower! She's tripled her strength overnight. How… how is this possible?"
Liu Tianzheng's pupils constricted.
Even without a testing formation, he could tell that her strength had been condensed into a single, iron-hard strike with enough flexibility to exceed 1.5 horsepower!