Omake - Cultivation trip

This is a Birthday present for someone. So here it is. Happy Birthday.

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(3rd Person POV)

"Swindler! Great swindler!"

An enraged roar can be heard and the sound of footsteps on a bluestone pavement by someone escaping could be heard.

Zhang Xuan stretches out his both hands helplessly, "I am not a swindler, I am a teacher of the academy... I only want to make you my student! Besides that, do you have to add a 'great' while saying that I am a swindler? You make it sound as though I am some unpardonable criminal..."

After he finishes his muttering, he recalls the words of the director, "This is the 17th one already! If I still fail to find a student today, I would have to pack up and leave tomorrow!"

Zhang Xuan isn't a person from this world, but an ordinary librarian of a high school. He only remembers the blazing flames and then... There is no more then. When he woke up, he was already in this world. It was the classic reincarnation story that we all know but this time the main character has a very special ability, that not even he himself knows yet.

This world is just like the ones depicted in novels, the path of martial arts is respected and the strong reigns!

Initially, Zhang Xuan thought that after traversing, he would become a useless talent and end up rejected by his fiancee. Afterwards, he would strike back, slapping them in their face, and his life would proceed smoothly from then on... Looks like he had overthought it. After arriving here, he realized that he wasn't a student but a... teacher!

The most pathetic teacher in the entire academy!

The lectures of other people are always overflowing with people and many people find themselves without seats. On the other hand, there isn't a single person in his class. It was difficult for him to rope in a few students but they ended up labelling him as a 'swindler' and escaped!

As for the reason, ignoring the fact that the fellow whose body got taken over by him was the weakest teacher in the entire campus and his inability to pick out talents, the crux of it all is that... he even misguided a student, causing his cultivation to go berserk!

This was just like having a dead patient on your record! His reputation went down and he was despised by everyone else. Even the new students chose to stay away from him, afraid that they would end up in the same situation if they were to fall into his clutches.

A bad track record and his lack of students caused him to be ranked as the first from the bottom in the entire academy for the Teacher Qualification Examination last year. He even got the first and only zero marks in the entire history of the academy.

Depressed, he used alcohol to drown his sorrows. In the end, just as he wished, he died, providing an opportunity for Zhang Xuan to leap over.

At the start of a new term, the academy issued an ultimatum to him. If he were to be unable to recruit a single student to his lessons by this year, his qualifications as a teacher would be revoked!

Today, there were already 17 new students who passed by his classroom. In the end, the moment they heard his name, every one of them ran away, as though a young lady meeting a strange uncle, running as far as their feet could take them.

"Looks like I have to look for a way to coax one of them!"

As he is still thinking about how he should rope someone in, he sees the head of a man with an amused expression at the entrance.

"May I ask if this is the classroom of Teacher Lu Xun?"

He has a mature and elegant appearance, not to mention his sweet voice.

Teacher Lu Xun is the academy's star teacher. His lessons are always packed and innumerable people chose to come to the academy due to his fame. So when the young man came to ask for this famous teacher ...

"I will take him!" Seeing someone walking into his trap, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Recalling all kinds of methods to act cool from his previous life, he sat quietly on his chair and posed like an enlightened expert, "You want to become Lu Xun's student?", he asked like a teenager trying to impress a girl.

The young man nods his head slowly as an amused glint appears in his purple pupils, "I have heard that Teacher Lu Xun is the most incredible teacher in the Hongtian Academy. All of the students he taught are extraordinary and joining his class is an honour in itself!"

"Rumors may not reflect the truth. Teachers are just like shoes, what is important is whether they fit or not! No matter how well he lectures, if the theories are not suited to the skills you are practising, not only will you find it hard to advance, your strength might even regress! 

Even if a teacher isn't well-known, if his theories harmonize with yours, you can still improve swiftly and your cultivation will rise exponentially!"

.

"Is that something you read in a fortune cookie? Haha ... I have also read such profound words before!" 

The young man ponders for a moment, uncertainty appearing in his beautiful deep eyes. "However, I don't know what kind of lessons would suit me! Maybe ... you would know?", the man asked with a strange undertone. But Zhang Xuan didn't pick up on it.

Seeing that as a sign of the young man being on the hook, Zhang Xuan's eyes light up. He hesitates for a moment as memories of great men like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels flash through his mind. 

He feigns a look of predicament and says, "Our meeting could be considered as destiny as well. How about this, I am also a teacher at this academy. I will help you take a look at your bones, talents and personality and recommend a suitable teacher for you!"

"Haha. Then I will trouble you, mister!", the man nods his head slowly and with a smile. He apparently found this situation funny, but Zhang Xuan only saw an opportunity. 

"Display your cultivation first!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes are half-open, putting on a look as though this doesn't bother him in any way. 

"Sure"

Huuuuuuuuuuu!

The man used the knuckle of his middle finger and tapped the pole which was used to measure cultivation as well as strength and talent. 

For a short moment, the entire room vibrated and threatened to crumble from the shockwave of his light tap. Like a tsunami, giant wave after wave of spiritual energy flowed around the body of the man threatening to drown or crush anyone that came close. 

For his spiritual energy to spill out instead of being contained would normally mean that he has bad energy control ... but it was a bit different here. The Energy was so dense that when the man used the slightest amount, it spilt out and had that effect. Not to mention that the man didn't use his fist ... but only one FINGER.

It was a powerful but hidden display, showing that he had a great foundation. Well, that or he was ... powerful. But Zhang Xuan only saw the potential of the man and not the truth. He was blinded by his greed to have this young man as his student. 

"Alright, I can tell that you have been training diligently and arduously. Your foundations are solid and your talent is top-notch. You are a hard-to-come-by genius!" After the man finishes a punching routine, Zhang Xuan nods his head in satisfaction.

He is imitating fortune tellers from Earth. His words are slippery with a great range of interpretation. The ones listening are unable to find a flaw in his words and instead, they will be shocked by how accurate his comments are, due to not listening closely. 

"Especially the strength on your legs, they are just like a dragon. Every movement is just like the raging ocean, full of strength. As long as you were to train hard in the future, you would surely have a bright future..."

"Is that so? Well, aren't you a clever one? I wonder ... did you memorise those words? You see, I never even used my leg. How can you say that I have a lot of power in my legs? And by the way ... my leg is injured. The doctors said that it is as good as crippled..." 

The man interrupts Zhang Xuan's monologue with a look of suspicion and condensation in his eyes.

"Injured..." Zhang Xuan's face turns red. However, he is thick-skinned, so others can't really tell. He continues to bullshit, "Do you think that I can't tell? I knew it from the moment you exerted your strength! The reason why I said it is because... Through destruction will there be rebirth! Although your leg is injured, you were unexpectedly blessed with an opportunity that no one else expected. As long as you grasp it properly, your legwork will become your greatest strength! Others can only look on with envy!"

Anyway, he is just coaxing him. If he can convince the man by bullshiting, he will bullshit. The important thing is to get a disciple for himself first.

"Opportunity? Teacher, what kind of opportunity is it?" The man's eyes lit up.

After starting this farce, he was going to see it through. He was here for one thing and one thing only. But the logic of cultivation worlds was already affecting him it would seem. Quite dangerous. 

"This opportunity can allow you to soar to the top in one go. It won't be difficult for you to become the top of the new recruits this year. After all, your talents are extraordinary, a genius that has yet to appear in history. However..." Zhang Xuan's words go on and on. He doesn't appear to be stopping his monologue any time soon.

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(Zhang Xuan POV)

Upon hearing that he is a genius capable of becoming the first among the freshmen, the man's face blushes furiously and continues questioning me.

"However what?", he asks in a hopeful tone. 

"However..." Zhang Xuan sighs. It is a sigh of regret that a talent is about to be buried in the dirt. 

"The teachers who are able to spot such an opportunity don't number many in this academy! Including me, there are only three. The other two have already stopped accepting students from three years ago, so... It would be difficult for me to ask them as well..."

I try not to show it on my face but it is difficult to come up with such amounts of lies on the spot.

"Stopped accepting students?" Initially, the man had high hopes for it but after hearing those words, his expression turns gloomy. Then, he seems to recall something suddenly and says, "They aren't accepting students but teacher, are you... accepting?"

"Of course I am. Just that, you can also tell, I am indifferent to fame and fortune and I don't have much time to spare as well!" 

A look of difficulty appears on Zhang Xuan's face. "If it isn't a good seedling, I won't accept it easily even if our paths cross..."

"Pfft... *cough* I mean ... Oh no. Venerable teacher, I know that you are noble, but please accept me as your student! I will train diligently to not embarrass you!"

.

A surge of joy rushes into my heart, though my face still maintains a look of seriousness, "It has to be destiny that brought us together, just that... You can also tell, I like silence ..."

"Haha ... As your student, I promise to never interrupt the teacher unless it is an emergency!" Seeing that I am a little unwilling, the man immediately nods his head with a sincere look on his face. But he seems to be ... constipating. 

"I don't have many students, so the resources I have cannot be compared to other teachers. Also, you might be criticized by others..." I continue.

"Is that so... I have heard that training resources are important..." The man hesitates.

The amount of resources a teacher claims from the academy is related to the number of his students, their results and numerous other factors. Without sufficient resources, it is difficult to advance in cultivation.

"Cough cough, I only said that to test you. Since you are determined and sincere in acknowledging me as your master, I will reluctantly accept you!" Looking at the man's signs of hesitation, I interrupted him and said, "Your identity card!"

"So... so quickly?"

I can see that he didn't expect that I would change my mind as quickly as flipping the page of a book. The man is surprised as he grasps the token passed over by me which represents his identity as my student. 

Just as he is considering whether he should affirm the relationship, he sees the reticent Teacher Zhang pull his hand over and cut it with a sharp dagger ... or at least he tries to. Not even a drop of blood falls on the jade token.

"Ah...."

I am a little surprised at this. This should work. Am I so bad that I can't even cut the palm of this young man? What will he think of me? I have to try again. 

This time, it works thankfully and a drop of blood falls on the jade token. 

I can see the dumbfounded look on the student's face. He must be thinking to himself: Didn't the teacher say that he has to consider carefully about it? Indifferent to fame and fortune, was it? Why is his movement so fast and... even the dagger was prepared beforehand? And why was he unable to cut my palm?

"From now on, you are my student!" After the verification through blood, I heaved a sigh of relief. Then, I continued to assume my image as an unworldly expert, "What is your name?"

"Good sir, I am called Hades!", the young man says and thunder is heard for a short second. I look around but don't see any clouds. This is a very weird experience right now. 

"Un, take your identity token to claim your bedding and your books. Also, look for your lodging while you're at it! We shall begin lessons tomorrow. Meet me here!", I flick my hand.

"Sure sure!" Hades nods his head and turns around to leave with a smile on his face. 

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"Huu! I have successfully coaxed one in!", I say after he has left the room.

After confirming that he is his student, I heave a sigh of relief and smile.

It really isn't an easy task. If it wasn't for the techniques in acting cool that I learned from the internet, it would have been hard for me to succeed today.

With one student, I will be able to avoid the misfortune of being expelled. I feel the burden which was placed on me disappearing. In a moment, my spirit feels much more relaxed. The obsession that was lingering in my brain disappeared gradually.

"Rest easy, now that I am in your body, I will live properly in your stead!", I say to myself or the old Zhan Xuan. 

The previous Zhang Xuan died because he was unable to recruit students, so he held strong regrets in this world. Now that there is a student under him, his final obsession disappears. At this moment, I could be considered to finally gain complete control over this body.

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(3rd Person POV)

*Boom!*

After gaining full control of this body, he wants to continue coaxing a few more students over. However, he suddenly feels a tremor in his head as he hears the sound of ancient bells striking in his head.

{"The heaven and earth are callous, treating all beings like dogs..."

"The sun sets and the moon wanes, an imperfection appears in the heaven and earth..."}

*Boom!*

All kinds of profound sayings shocked him silly. Following this, a giant palace appears before him in his head. On it, four words glow brightly.

~~Library of Heaven's Path!~~

He opens the door and walks in. Countless bookshelves stand tall and mighty, filled with all kinds of books. The end can't be seen at a single glance.

"Could this be the gift pack for transcenders? A library? Damn it, I was a librarian in my previous life. It can't be that I would still be the same in this world as well!"

The gift packs of others are old grandfathers, systems, or all kinds of overpowered items. Yet, my gift pack is a library? Zhang Xuan could feel the sight before him turning dark, and he almost faints. A library? For what? It can't be that in my future fights when other people are throwing swords at me, I would be throwing books?

"Let me see what books those are."

Feeling helpless, Zhang Xuan reaches out to grab a book from a bookshelf so as to determine the purpose of this library. However, when he stretches out, his hand passes through the bookshelf, causing him to grab nothing but air.

"Are you playing with me? Giving me a library yet preventing me from grabbing and reading any book, what exactly do you want?"

Zhang Xuan is speechless. An urge to cry overwhelms him but no tears fall out.

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"Fascinating.", a voice says behind him. 

Zhang Xuan turns around and sees Hades, the young man he met before standing there. He is surprised at this but quickly regains his composure. 

"H-Hades ... what are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"Haha, you truly are funny. Did you think that your little act fooled anyone? Please, if you try to fool me, you have to try harder. But let's not talk about it. I am here for this ...", Hades says and spreads his arms. 

"This? What do you mean?"

"The Library of Heaven's Path allows the user to compile a book on a cultivator as long as the cultivator executes a battle technique in front of him or by touching a person who is unconscious. 

The compiled book would contain information about the cultivator's background, abilities, and flaws in his cultivation.

At the same time, the Library of Heaven's Path can compile books on ongoing processes such as an activated formation or a pill forging process through direct sight, and on artefacts or non-living objects through direct touch. 

Similarly, the book would reflect information concerning the ongoing process or the artefact, including its flaws."

"What?! That is ..."

"Fabulous. Amazing. Unbelievable. Inconceivable? Yes all of that. And it is also ... now mine!"

???

"What?"

"Did you think that I came to your room by coincidence? I was there for a purpose. I wanted to have this but I saw that you hadn't activated it yet, so I played along and now ... it is here. So thank you ... Zhang Xuan.", Hades said.

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Then Hades waved his hand gently and Zhang Xuang felt as if his soul was ripped apart and left his body. He slowly died there unable to comprehend just who it was that robbed him of the most valuable tool in this universe.