Chapter 18: The Old Fox and the Little Fox

Zhang Shen narrowed his eyes, the situation turning increasingly peculiar. He read the martial techniques and explanatory books. They were all authentic.

“I originally believed that the high-ranking members of these two families planned to sacrifice a portion of their offspring’s cultivation time to win my favor. But not all, these are indeed the basic methods kept in reserve by the Lin and Ye families.”

After pondering for some time, Zhang Shen found himself hesitant. Were they trying to use him as a test case for further collaboration among the three families?

The three families had been intimately close for centuries, but they were, after all, three different families. Even so, handling some affairs was not always particularly convenient.

The upper echelons of the three families had always nurtured the idea of strengthening the trilateral relationship. Arranged marriages were one approach, as was the joint establishment of schools. So now, were they attempting to further intensify the relationship among the three families?

Zhang Shen had no choice but to consider this possibility. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the Lin and Ye families to give him their foundational techniques.

Even if these were just Acquired Stage techniques, they weren’t items that could be shared casually.

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

He was a direct descendant of the Zhang family, his maternal grandfather was Lin Dongcheng, and his late grandmother was the sister of the Ye family leader. He had profound ties with all three families.

Being an individual with boundless potential, if he were not to fall prematurely, he was sure to become a pillar of the three families’ future. All things considered, he truly seemed the most suitable candidate for further collaboration between the three families.

Zhang Shen lamented. ‘These three old foxes are indeed farsighted.’

However, they hadn’t disclosed a word of their intentions to him. Yet, the benefits were tangible.

“I can’t cultivate them to earn experience points, but it doesn’t stop me from reading and comprehending to fortify my foundation.”

In preparation for the pupils from various families who would arrive for further studies in a few days, Zhang Shen had no choice but to stay up late perusing these technique manuals.

“Luckily, I have a solid foundation and have been fond of reading since childhood. Otherwise, in two days’ time, I wouldn’t even achieve a basic understanding.”

Two days later, Zhang Shen massaged his temples, alleviating his fatigue.

“I’ve roughly understood, and it’s just barely usable. To progress further, I’ll need to dedicate significant time to study.”

Ultimately, he had minimal exposure to the techniques of the Lin and Ye families. His rapid preliminary understanding was largely thanks to his accumulated knowledge over the years. Yet, pushing this understanding toward perfection wouldn’t be an easy task.

At that time, a number of elite youth from the Lin and Ye families had already assembled in front of the classroom. Each of them harbored an excited anticipation as they waited for Zhang Shen.

Upon pushing open the door, Zhang Shen emerged from the room. His tall and handsome figure, standing firm against the cold wind, exuded a powerful sense of intimidation.

Looking upon the restless, excited crowd, marked by a subtle undercurrent of envy, Zhang Shen no longer held back his aura and released it. In an instant, the overwhelming power of his Acquired 7th Layer aura commanded the entire area.

Upon feeling this undeniable power, the elite members of the three families trembled and had to exert all their effort to resist collapsing under the weight of Zhang Shen’s aura. The Black Armored Army, located not too far away, had already been pressured into kneeling on the ground.

Zhang Shen, satisfied, nodded. Among those gathered, there were only a few he recognized.

In the past, he had primarily spent his time on cultivation, having little interaction with others. Dispelling his aura with a wave of his hand, the elites and the members of the Black Armored Army finally had a chance to breathe.

“Good,” he began, “allow me to introduce myself. I am Zhang Shen, your teacher for the coming year. I trust you now have a basic understanding of me. Now, starting from the left and moving to the right, introduce yourselves one by one, names, cultivation levels, techniques, and so forth.”

He had only basic information about his students, anything beyond their names was unknown to him.

Zhang Shen, who had already guessed the schemes of the three families’ leaders, had no intention of simply going through the motions of teaching. Besides imparting advanced Acquired basic knowledge, he was determined to earnestly share some of his own wisdom.

As each of the individuals below introduced themselves, Zhang Shen committed their details to memory.

“Now, students, there’s something I need you to do,” he announced, gesturing to the two-story building behind him. “As you can see, apart from a lake and this building, there are no other structures here. In other words, there’s nowhere for you to live.”

A playful smile crossed Zhang Shen’s face.

“The sun has only been up for an hour, and there’s still some time before the moon appears. During this time, I am giving you permission to use any method necessary to build the homes in which you will reside for the coming year. The Black Armored Army, this applies to you as well.”

The twenty individuals below started to stir. This was a novel situation for all of them. The members of the Black Armored Army shared uncertain looks.

“Well, get started,” Zhang Shen said with a smile before turning to reenter the room. After two days of intense study, he needed a brief respite before resuming his cultivation.

This exercise was not part of Zhang Shen’s initial plan. Only at the last minute did he realize that apart from the two-story building, there were no other structures in the area.

The first floor was designated for teaching, and the second floor was his personal resting space, not intended for sharing. This meant that these individuals would have to take the initiative to resolve their own housing issues.

“Given they are all Acquired Stage martial artists, they should manage it,” Zhang Shen murmured, rubbing his chin. If anyone failed, he wouldn’t have minded enjoying the spectacle.

The first to spring into action was the Black Armored Army. This trained group immediately got in touch with their logistical department to bring in materials. Given their efficient action and cooperation, they were able to construct a simple base in less than half a day.

The twenty students were initially taken aback by this unusual request, but they quickly adapted. They each began to employ their resources and techniques to build their own houses.

Those with a Ye family background promptly summoned their subordinates for construction. The other two families were situated farther from this location, which meant a significant amount of time was required for their subordinates to deliver the necessary materials. Those maintaining good relations with the Ye family were able to benefit from their resources.

Some left the lakeside, gathered their money, and hired personnel for construction. Some solitary practitioners, who weren’t particularly demanding about their living conditions, pulled a few massive trees from the neighboring forest to erect a rudimentary dwelling. Some, more pragmatically, excavated an underground space next to the lake.

After a short while, Zhang Shen observed a bustling scene of construction from the window on the second floor.

“Not too shabby,” he noted, “at least there’s none so foolish as to question me.”

Once everything had settled down, Zhang Shen noted there was still plenty of time left in the day. He decided to wrap the day up in a satisfactory manner.

“Ye Lan, call all the students over,” he instructed the leader of the Black Armored Army, Ye Lan, who was an Acquired 4th Layer martial artist. His only drawback was his age, having already exhausted his martial potential.

Ye Lan saluted in acknowledgment.

During the winter, dusk approached swiftly. It wasn’t dinner time yet, but the sky was already growing dim. As the cold wind blew, Zhang Shen’s white robe billowed around him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the first day is nearly at an end. As your teacher, I cannot let a day pass without imparting some knowledge. So, let’s have a friendly spar. I will be your opponent. Rest assured, I will show no mercy and I will make sure you fully realize your own weakness.”