Chapter 8: I Am That Useless Person

"Hmm?"

Zheng Yang was stunned, his face flushing crimson with embarrassment.

"I did have a secret crush on a girl, and then... I was humiliated in front of everyone. But what does that have to do with you, Teacher?"

He had once secretly admired a girl and excitedly gone to confess his feelings, only to be mercilessly ridiculed and scorned by her. This had deeply humiliated him. It was a secret, even Mo Xiao didn't know about it. How could this teacher know?

"Really? Zheng Yang, why didn't you tell me you were humiliated? Who did it?" Mo Xiao was surprised when Zheng Yang admitted it and quickly asked.

"We'll talk about this later!" Zheng Yang shook his head, clearly not wanting to discuss it further at that moment. He looked up at the teacher in front of him. "Teacher, this is my private matter. I don't know how you found out, but it has nothing to do with guiding my spear technique, does it?"

"Nothing to do with it?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "It has everything to do with it!"

"It does?" Zheng Yang was full of doubt.

He had only experienced a broken heart; how could that be related to the teacher guiding him?

"Your spear technique is strong and decisive, reflecting your personality: you charge forward in everything you do without considering the consequences. Originally, this was a good quality; a martial artist should be fearless and not hesitate," Zhang Xuan said calmly. "However, unfortunately, after that emotional experience, you've become somewhat fearful. You're afraid of rejection, afraid of failure, afraid of humiliation! Your spear technique now shows hesitation and doubt, and its power has greatly diminished because of this."

"You... you... you saw all this from my spear technique? You knew I had a broken heart? You knew my personality?"

Zheng Yang was startled.

It wasn't that the other person was wrong; on the contrary, he was absolutely spot on.

His personality was brave and decisive, and he used to be fearless in everything he did. It was precisely because of that emotional experience that he now hesitated and held back in everything.

To be able to discern all this just by looking at his spear technique, even his past heartbreak—what kind of insight was this?

How could the academy have such an amazing teacher?

He felt like he was going crazy.

Previously, he had sought out Wang Chao, who was reputed to be the top spear technique professor, and demonstrated his ultimate move. After watching, Wang Chao only said that his spear technique lacked the proper essence but couldn't explain why. Yet, this person in front of him took one glance and stated that he had experienced a broken heart, and that his emotional setback was causing his spear technique to falter. Could this teacher's insight... be even greater than Wang Chao's?

"There's nothing strange about it!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand, exuding the air of a profound master. "Spear technique represents one's state of mind. If the mind is clouded, the martial art performed will naturally be muddled! Your spear technique, though continuous, appears to be entangled by something, impossible to cut through, a tangled mess. Just one look, and I knew it had to be emotional turmoil!"

"This..."

This time, not only Zheng Yang was floored, but Mo Xiao, standing beside him, also gaped, wide enough to fit an egg.

Damn, was this real?

To see emotional entanglement in a spear technique, something that couldn't be cut and was a tangled mess... could these truly be human eyes?

Mo Xiao and Zheng Yang exchanged glances, both seeing disbelief in each other's eyes.

"Teacher, can you take a look at mine?"

After the initial shock, Mo Xiao suddenly stepped forward, his face filled with eagerness. Without waiting for Zhang Xuan's permission, he shook his long spear, and his moves flowed out.

Also wielding a spear, his techniques were clearly smoother and more powerful than Zheng Yang's.

Purely from a spear technique perspective, he was indeed superior, no wonder Teacher Wang Chao had chosen him and not Zheng Yang.

*Whoosh!*

With a whistling sound, Mo Xiao retracted his spear and stood still.

When the spear moved, it was like a world-shattering demon, its power dispersed, deterring gods and ghosts alike. When the spear was still, it was as serene as a maiden, as quiet as a statue.

Every move, every step, exuded natural grace.

Although his strength wasn't immense, still only at Martial Artist Realm 1, his spear technique was already quite formidable.

"Your stomach isn't well. If I'm not mistaken, you've been having diarrhea today!"

Zhang Xuan looked over with a calm gaze.

"Huh?" Mo Xiao shivered slightly. "Teacher, you saw that I have diarrhea from my spear technique?"

Just as the teacher said, his stomach wasn't very good; he had started having diarrhea yesterday, and it was worse today, even making him feel a bit weak.

However, this hadn't significantly affected him. With his spear in hand, he had performed in his most perfect state, which even Teacher Wang Chao had praised without reservation. Yet, this person in front of him had pinpointed his weakness immediately...

Was this real?

To discern even heartbreak and diarrhea from a spear technique—what kind of insight was this?

"Do you want my guidance? If so, then become my disciple!"

Ignoring their shock, Zhang Xuan looked at them calmly.

He had revealed their conditions in a single breath, astonishing them to the point of near madness, but to him, it seemed like nothing remarkable.

In fact, that was precisely the case. The moment they practiced their martial arts, their personal records automatically appeared in the Library of Heaven's Path. Their heartbreak and diarrhea were current flaws, all recorded there. Zhang Xuan merely had to glance at the information and recite it verbatim, making it effortless for him.

"Your disciple, Zheng Yang, is willing to become your student!"

Zheng Yang didn't hesitate, immediately bowing to the ground.

He was now completely convinced by Zhang Xuan.

With a teacher possessing such insight, how could his guidance be anything but profound?

"Good!" Seeing that he had only pointed out a single flaw and Zheng Yang immediately bowed down to acknowledge him as a teacher, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction. He took out a jade token representing his status and tossed it over. "Verify your identity!"

"Yes!" Zheng Yang didn't hesitate, immediately pricking his finger to drip blood and acknowledge the token's master.

Soon, the procedures were complete.

"Since you are now my student, I will give you some advice. To earn respect in relationships, you must first have sufficient strength. Without strength, how can others look up to you? Therefore, what you need to do now is not be depressed or sad, but to open your mind, cultivate diligently, and let that person know how foolish it was to reject you! You must prove with your strength..." At this point, Zhang Xuan suddenly remembered a boastful book from his previous life and smiled slightly. "Thirty years in Hedong, thirty years in Hexi; do not bully a young man for being poor!"

"Do not bully a young man for being poor?"

Upon hearing these words, Zheng Yang instantly felt his chest ignite as if with fire. His entire face flushed with excitement, and his body trembled slightly and uncontrollably.

As a genuine inhabitant of this different world, he had never heard such a saying!

In an instant, his entire being felt ignited with fighting spirit.

His previously despondent spirits, brought on by heartbreak, now shone as brightly as a diamond.

"Try your spear technique again!"

Seeing that he had let go of his emotional burden, Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Alright!"

Zheng Yang wasted no words. With the long spear in hand, his demeanor instantly changed, completely different from before.

*Boom, boom, boom!*

The spear tip swept across, an aura surged, and powerful energy spread throughout the room via the spear, filling it with roars.

*Thud!*

After finishing his spear routine, he struck horizontally, the spear tip thrusting straight towards the stone pillar.

A huge roar echoed, and a line of text appeared on the pillar.

235!

It was actually 235 kilograms!

Just moments ago, he had only managed 110 kg even with all his strength. With just one piece of advice from the teacher, his power had more than doubled!

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Seeing the number, Zheng Yang no longer had any doubts. He immediately knelt on the ground. At this moment, he was utterly convinced by the teacher before him, completely free of any reservations.

"Amazing!"

Staring intently at the number on the stone pillar not far away, Mo Xiao's face flushed involuntarily, and his body trembled.

He was happy for his good brother, who had found an excellent teacher, but he also felt a pang of loss.

Previously, Wang Chao had given him guidance, which only increased his strength by about thirty percent!

Yet, this teacher had directly increased it by more than a hundred percent!

If he had known this anonymous teacher was so formidable, he wouldn't have bothered putting so much effort into finding Wang Chao; he would have come straight here to become his disciple!

Thinking this, he felt a twinge of regret.

However, he also felt a little puzzled. How could such an amazing spear technique teacher have no reputation?

He couldn't help but look up. "Teacher, you've already accepted Zheng Yang as your student, but we still don't know your name..."

Hearing his question, Zheng Yang couldn't help but look over too.

He was completely impressed by this teacher, yet he didn't even know his name!

"My name is Zhang Xuan," Zhang Xuan said calmly.

"Zhang Xuan? That name sounds familiar..."

Hearing the name, Mo Xiao froze for a moment, then something clicked. His pupils contracted, and his lips trembled uncontrollably. "I think I remember... a worthless teacher who scored zero on the teacher qualification exam was also named Zhang Xuan. It seems you... have the same name as him!"

"Yes, I am that worthless one!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Ah..."

Zheng Yang and Mo Xiao were petrified on the spot.