Library of Heaven’s Path 2: Eternal Destiny

Chapter 55: Public Lecture

The next day.

Sunlight filtered through the green foliage, casting a thin layer of silver frost on the ground. With a creak, the door slowly opened, and Zhang Xuan stepped out.

Dao Li had been uncooperative out of fear, and it took until very late to find its Source Pool. Without Heaven's Fate Energy, no assessment was done, but the thousand-mile horse's innate physical strength allowed it to directly absorb Source Energy, albeit very slowly. It seemed that finding some Heaven's Fate Energy to stabilize it was necessary.

Next was igniting the furnace.

Although Dao Li was not a lord of a world and could not contain Primordial Yellow Energy, lending it a bit of qi sensation to ignite the furnace was easy. It was similar to when he taught Zhao Ya and the others martial arts—while the normal version couldn't be cultivated due to the constraints of Heaven's Path, the simplified version worked fine.

Igniting the furnace, Dao Li indeed transformed into a Source Beast, albeit the lowest grade. Under his coercion, it successfully refined Source Energy, though with its complex meridians, only one out of hundreds was cleared after an entire night of effort.

Due to the lack of open meridians, its absorption rate was only about 10 strands of Source Energy per day, comparable to a low-grade furnace that used plants as its ignition source.

"The structure of a horse differs from that of a human, being larger, it should theoretically absorb faster... The slow rate must be due to incorrect methods..." Zhang Xuan was a bit frustrated.

However, there was no choice. The anatomy of Source Beasts differed greatly from humans. To improve its absorption rate, the meridians had to be fully cleared... He would have to find relevant books on this later.

Of course, if just one cleared meridian allowed it to absorb 10 strands of Source Energy overnight, fully opening its hundreds of meridians would result in an incredibly fast cultivation speed. The thought was quite exciting.

After finishing with Dao Li, Zhang Xuan didn't rest. He continued to heal and cultivate simultaneously.

Focusing on healing, his absorption rate wasn't fast, but over the long night, his Xuan World was filled with refined Source Energy, reaching the late stage of the Energy Storing Realm. Though his strength hadn't increased much, he had stored enough Source Energy to lay a solid foundation for future cultivation.

"You stay here and reflect on how to clear your meridians. I need to go to class now!"

After instructing Dao Li to reflect on clearing its meridians, Zhang Xuan walked towards the small courtyard's exit. He had only taken a few steps when he heard a pitiful cry from Dao Li, followed by a loud rumbling sound from its stomach.

"This..."

Zhang Xuan scratched his head awkwardly, realizing that the small courtyard didn't have any hay or feed for horses, and Dao Li must have been starving!

"I'll buy you some food after my class..."

He comforted Dao Li and continued walking to the classroom arranged by Dean Lu. Soon, he arrived at the location.

"Why are there so many people?"

Even before reaching the classroom, Zhang Xuan saw a huge crowd gathered. There were teachers and students, numbering in the thousands.

Why were so many people here for a class with just two new students? It looked like they were attending a concert.

"A newly recruited teacher's first class is always a public lecture. Didn't you know that, teacher?" a student couldn't help but explain upon seeing his confused expression.

"Public lecture?"

Zhang Xuan blinked. A public lecture, as the name suggests, is a class open to the entire school for observation. He was supposed to give a public lecture? He hadn't prepared for this at all!

"Never mind, I'll just go with it."

Zhang Xuan shook his head. As a teacher revered across ages, he was used to having tens or even hundreds of thousands of people watching his public lectures in his previous life. A thousand people was a small audience for him.

In a small building not far from the crowd, Dean Lu and others sat solemnly, each with a troubled expression, creating a gloomy atmosphere.

"To be honest, this decision was somewhat rash!"

Great Elder Ran Qingxu couldn't help but remark, "It's not that I don't believe in him, but having a high cultivation talent doesn't mean one is good at teaching. We've proven this many times before!"

"Exactly, he should have informed us earlier about the lecture so we could have shared some teaching experience with him! Or at least had him attend our classes to learn. Starting directly, especially with such an important course like igniting a furnace... If he fails, not only will he be criticized, but White Rock Academy will also face numerous doubts."

Second Elder Wu Liuyun nodded in agreement, looking equally troubled. They had encountered many super geniuses who weren't good at teaching. What these geniuses found simple could be incredibly difficult for ordinary cultivators. Their thinking wasn't even on the same level…

For this reason, when everyone heard that Zhang Xuan had just learned the cultivation method yesterday and was already planning to help someone ignite a furnace today, and that it was a public lecture, they all nearly lost their minds.

It was too reckless!

They had thought his frenzied absorption of Source Energy, almost creating a vacuum, was extreme enough. They never imagined he could do something even crazier...

"Should I go and suggest canceling this public lecture? If he can't help Yu Xiaoyu and Liu Mingyue ignite their furnaces, it will be a huge embarrassment," Third Elder He Qin hesitated before speaking.

"Let's not rush. The news has already spread, and canceling it now would only cause more controversy," Dean Lu Mingrong smiled bitterly.

Their energy had been drained by Zhang Xuan yesterday, and they only returned late at night. Upon leaving the library, they heard about this public lecture and felt as if the sky had fallen.

‘Can't we just cultivate quietly for a few days?’

In less than a day at the academy, Zhang Xuan had already caused three major disruptions. If this continued, they wouldn't be able to handle it!

Wu Yunzhou said, "What should we do then? Someone has deliberately spread this news. Not only does the entire academy know, but all of White Roc City is aware. If he fails, it will greatly affect your reputation, Dean, since you were the one who approved him as a teacher..."

Lu Mingrong replied, "I have considered that. Let's watch first. If he can't help Liu Mingyue and Yu Xiaoyu ignite their furnaces, we will intervene immediately and say that the ignition materials lacked vitality."

"That's the best we can do..." Everyone smiled bitterly.

Ignition materials vary in grade, and even high-grade ones are not guaranteed to ignite every time. Although this reason might seem weak, it was better than losing face outright and would at least preserve some dignity.

"Look, Zhang Xuan is here. The public lecture is about to start!"

Just as they were worrying, they saw Zhang Xuan arriving at the classroom entrance, where Yu Xiaoyu and Liu Mingyue were waiting.

Liu Mingyue's face had mostly healed but was still quite red. It was clear she had been hit, but no one dared to ask her directly. They could only wonder in private.

"Teacher Zhang!" The two girls cupped their fists simultaneously.

"Hmm! Have you prepared the ignition materials I asked for?" Zhang Xuan inquired.

Zhang Xuan nodded and asked directly, without any pretense.

"I prepared the blood of a Qingguang Beast," Yu Xiaoyu said, handing over the vial of Luozhi Bird blood that Adviser Liao had given her.

"I prepared the blood of a Lingyun Beast," Liu Mingyue said, handing over the vial of Hanbei Turtle blood.

"Qingguang Beast?"

"Lingyun Beast?"

"Those are Heaven's Fate Source Beasts! The City Lord's Mansion and the Liu family really went all out!"

"Miss Yu and Miss Liu are both super geniuses, so they need powerful ignition materials. It's for their own good!"

"Even if they succeed, it won't be because of that guy's skills!"

Upon hearing their words, the surrounding students and teachers were all shocked.

Both the Lingyun Beast and the Qingguang Beast were considered the pinnacle of ignition materials in White Roc City. As long as there were no accidents, igniting the furnace should be as easy as closing one's eyes.

"If Dad prepared such a treasure for Xiaoyu, and she still can't ignite a supreme-grade furnace, I'll make sure that guy pays!" Yu Feng clenched his fists in the crowd.

That was the blood of a Qingguang Beast!

Even he hadn't been given such resources.

As long as there were no accidents, a supreme-grade furnace was a certainty...

If it didn't happen, it would be proof of the auxiliary teacher's incompetence!