Chapter 1754: Yuan Tao Lifts the Altar
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
Zhang Xuan turned his head over and saw a silhouette on the towering altar conducting a lecture. His words were few, and they were extremely difficult to hear and comprehend at the start. However, as those words struck his consciousness, the doubts that he had harbored regarding cultivation seemed to suddenly clear up.
It was as if he had just spent years immersed within a sea of knowledge, bringing his comprehension of cultivation to a far profounder level.
"This…" Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up, and his eyes widened in surprise.
He could vaguely sense the intentions behind those indistinct words. They were the interpretation of Heaven's Path techniques verbalized in a concise and very understandable manner, such that any cultivator could easily assimilate it into their field of knowledge.
In imparting the wisdom contained within Heaven's Path techniques to others, it was clear that Kong shi had achieved a far higher level than him!
It was his belief that even though his cultivation was beneath Kong shi, his ability to impart knowledge did not pale too much in comparison to the latter. However, upon hearing the words of the silhouette, he realized that they were not even standing on the same level at the very start!
"This is Kong shi's Simple Words of Profound Wisdom!" Luo Ruoxin's voice suddenly appeared beside Zhang Xuan's ears.
Turning around, Zhang Xuan realized that Luo Ruoxin had come right beside him at some point in time.
"Simple Words of Profound Wisdom?" Zhang Xuan repeated Luo Ruoxin's words with a hint of confusion in his voice.
"It's using the simplest words to depict the most profound logic. His ability to impart knowledge reached a level comparable to the teachings of heavens," Luo Ruoxin said. "There's no denying that Kong shi is a person of great talent, perhaps even surpassing you!"
Zhang Xuan nodded in realization.
The words spoken by the silhouette were simple, but they contained the deepest understanding of the world. They brought epiphanies to their listeners, making them aware of things that they had never even considered.
The blue sky, the four seasons, so on, and so forth; there are many phenomena that are very natural to us, and we take them for granted. It's inevitable that we think that we know them very well, but when we try to explain why it is so, we find ourselves unable to verbalize them in a manner that's convincing and credible.
This was similar to the case of Heaven's Path techniques. Beneath their deceptively simplistic exterior, they contained innumerable transformations and profound logic in order to overwhelm any opponent with apparent ease.
Simplifying the profound had never been an easy task, and it would continue to trouble future generations of master teachers.
Yet, Kong shi actually managed to do it!
Finally making sense of what was going on, Zhang Xuan suddenly recalled a certain matter, and he turned to the young lady beside him and asked, "How were you able to come here?"
Even while he was imparting knowledge to the apricot trees, the latter would still attack whoever dared get close. How did Luo Ruoxin manage to come to his side?
"The phantasm left behind by Kong shi has started its lecture, and those apricot trees and leaves have gone to listen," Luo Ruoxin explained with a smile.
Only at that moment did Zhang Xuan realize that the apricot trees, which had gathered respectfully around him a moment earlier, were already standing beneath the towering altar. They swayed ceaselessly along with the slight breeze, and it was hard to tell whether they were shaking out of agitation or twitching.
"…" Zhang Xuan felt a suffocating sensation in his chest.
In the past, it had always been those who listened to his lecture that became uninterested in the lectures of others. But this time around, the tables had turned. Even after the long lecture that he had conducted, the apricot trees and leaves still left him for a couple of words from Kong shi.
Hualala!
Just as Zhang Xuan was feeling a little uncomfortable on the inside, the Otherworldly Demons and Hundred Schools of Philosophers in the area suddenly rushed forward and sat down on the round cushions in front of the towering altar.
"Is this the opportunity that they have been waiting for?" Zhang Xuan was stunned for a moment before realization struck him.
Ever since they entered the Apricot Pavilion, the Hundred Schools of Philosophers had opted to remain in the outer perimeters of the courtyard, refusing to step in as if they were waiting for something. From the looks of it, they had been waiting for Kong shi to begin his lecture.
"While the altar where Kong shi imparts his teachings from is made out of ordinary materials, years of Kong shi's lectures blessed the altar with his spirit and power, forming some kind of phantasm," Luo Ruoxin explained. "Rather than saying that the silhouette on the altar is Kong shi, it would be more accurate to say that it is traces left behind of him over time.
"At specific times, the phantasm activates, and it begins conducting a lecture. Even though these apricot trees and leaves have listened to this lecture many times over, they are still able to gain new insights from it each time around, thus filling them with anticipation each time it happens. This is also the greatest strength of Simple Words of Profound Wisdom!"
Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement.
This was also the greatest difference between Kong shi and Zhang Xuan's lectures. The crux of Simple Words of Profound Wisdom was not to tear down a concept into bite-sized pieces so that even a child could comprehend it. Rather, it served to deliver a profound concept in an easier to understand manner while still evoking deeper thoughts within one, allowing one to form one's own perspective and viewpoint.
On the other hand, Zhang Xuan's lectures were too explicit and direct, and as a result, they lost some of their meaning.
It was true that simplifying a concept would make it much more comprehensible, but if done to extremities, it would only encourage rote learning and stifle creativity.
"Your lessons are too detailed, and they're filled with your own interpretation of the topic," Luo Ruoxin said. "Other cultivators will adopt your line of thought strictly and emulate your cultivation style, effectively creating models made out of the same mold.
"On the other hand, Kong shi's Simple Words of Profound Wisdom encourage cultivators to formulate their own interpretation of a topic through the knowledge that he has imparted, and through doing so, he's able to nurture many different types of experts!"
Cultivation should not and must not be a process of emulation.
If a teacher imposed their system of cultivation and ideologies upon their student, they would be robbing their student of the chance to unleash their imagination and form their own interpretation of matters.
In truth, simple words were more than enough. What a student truly required was a spark to set them upon a path. Only when they were walking paths that they had selected themselves would they be more likely to reach heights that no other had ever reached.
"Un." Zhang Xuan nodded deeply in agreement. He could not help but turn to the young lady before him with a slightly complicated look in his eyes.
Despite the time that they had spent together, the young lady still remained a complete mystery to him. The more he came to know her, the more there seemed to be to her.
It was as if he was swimming across a vast ocean. No matter how far he swam, the shore was nowhere in sight.
Her words seemed to be casual, but often, they would point him in a direction, as if a mentor guiding a mentee quietly by the side.
He knew that she would not reveal her identity even if he probed her, so he sighed deeply inwardly before asking, "Aren't you going to listen to Kong shi's lecture?"
As Zhang Xuan cultivated the same Heaven's Path techniques as Kong shi, the lecture by the phantasm was not valuable to him. However, the same could not be said for Luo Ruoxin.
"This lecture is just the start. In a moment, we should be able to see some movements from Yuan Tao. If things go well, he might just be able to get something good out of this," Luo Ruoxin said.
"Alright!" Zhang Xuan nodded.
Previously, Luo Ruoxin had said that there was a chance that this would be a fortuitous encounter for Yuan Tao, but nothing had happened so far even after Kong shi's phantasm had started on a lecture. Most likely, the main show had not started.
Intrigued, Zhang Xuan scanned the area to look for Yuan Tao, only to see the latter walking silently toward the towering alter with a dazed look in his eyes.
"He has sealed his senses, so he's unable to hear Kong shi's lecture…" Zhang Xuan was first slightly stumped by Yuan Tao's bizarre actions before widening his eyes in realization.
There were so many experts there, and as soon as they heard Kong shi's voice, they immediately took their seats on the round cushions to listen obediently to the lecture. Despite that, Yuan Tao was still able to move. Most likely, this had something to do with his sealing of senses.
Since he was unable to hear Kong shi's voice, it was no wonder that he had remained unaffected.
Geji! Geji!
Walking up to the towering altar, Yuan Tao suddenly lowered his arms and exerted immense pressure upward. It seemed like he was trying to forcefully pry something out of the ground.
"This…" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
He had been wondering what Yuan Tao was up to, but to think that he was intending to take the entire altar!
"This is the altar where Kong shi imparts his teachings. It has long surpassed mortality, so ordinary zhenqi won't be able to faze it," Luo Ruoxin said. "As one who possesses the Emperor Bloodline, Yuan Tao boasts astonishing strength even without the augmentation of zhenqi. There's no better candidate than him to move the altar!
"As long as one is able to take this altar away, through Kong shi's phantasm, one will be able to produce generations of experts with ease…"
Hualala!
Yuan Tao's strength poured forth, and under the tremendous might propping it up, the towering altar shook nonstop. Eventually, it began to budge and rise from the ground.
Chapter 1755: Strike Down the Phantasm!
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
Weng weng!
Seeing the altar being plucked off the ground sent the apricot trees into a rage. In an instant, branches and leaves shot forth to strike down Yuan Tao.
"This is bad…" Zhang Xuan's face warped in horror.
He had witnessed the prowess of the apricot trees and their leaves earlier. Even he would have sustained severe injuries if he was struck, let alone Yuan Tao, whose cultivation was far lower than his.
Zhang Xuan wanted to dash forward to save him, only to be stopped by a tug on his wrist. Turning his head, he saw Luo Ruoxin shaking her head at him.
He was deeply conflicted within, but he knew that Luo Ruoxin had her reasons for stopping him. Trusting her, he chose to suppress his worries and watch how the situation unfolded.
Weng!
The branches and leaves had already arrived by Yuan Tao's side at that moment. In response to their assault, a light hum echoed from Yuan Tao's body as he seemed to have activated some kind of defensive barrier. A warm glow wrapped itself around his body and materialized in the form of light armor.
The armor was not too thick, but no matter how the branches and leaves struck the armor, they were unable to penetrate it.
"Is that the Panoply of Golden Words of the Ancient Sages?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.
He had heard of this before. Similar to the Golden Warriors of Mentor's Calligraphy, the Panoply of Golden Words was a kind of manifestation of an Ancient Sage's power in the form of armor that was impenetrable by anyone beneath Ancient Sage.
It seemed like the experts from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers had foreseen the dangers in retrieving the altar, so they had prepared such a trick in order to protect Yuan Tao.
Pipah!
However, under the furious lashing of the apricot trees, the Panoply of Golden Words shrouding Yuan Tao gradually faded. It was ultimately still a manifestation of energy, so it would eventually be depleted especially when placed under furious assault.
"Rise!"
Even though Yuan Tao's six senses were sealed, which made it nigh impossible for him to perceive his surroundings, he was still somehow able to sense the aggression launched against him. With a furious roar, he pushed his strength to its very limits.
Xiong xiong xiong!
The Emperor Bloodline coursing through his body ignited, and the avatar of a Longxi 1 manifested vaguely behind him. Its head was held high toward the sky, and its feet were pressed firmly into the earth.
The manifestation of the avatar seemed to have granted Yuan Tao even more strength. At the same time, the bottleneck in his cultivation was suddenly torn down amid the immense pressure that he was under, causing his cultivation to surge.
Even though he had awakened his Emperor Bloodline, his cultivation had been stuck at the Aureate Body realm for a very long time. However, due to the immense pressure that he was under, he was forced to his very limits, which eventually led to a breakthrough.
Geji! Geji!
Yuan Tao's strength grew along with the surge in his cultivation, allowing him to lift the altar significantly higher. It seemed like its connection with the earth would be severed very soon.
"Incredible…" Zhang Xuan complimented deeply.
Currently, Yuan Tao was relying on the solidity of the world to draw upon tremendous strength. As long as his feet did not leave the surface of the ground, it seemed like he would command boundless might.
Was this the true prowess of the Emperor Bloodline?
As long as he was grounded, no one would be able to breach his defenses or overcome his might, as if a true conqueror.
"The Emperor Bloodline is of the earth attribute. Tapping into the weight of the earth, those of the Emperor Bloodline are able to bring forth superior fighting prowess. If the bloodline was fully awakened, it would be no weaker than Wei Ruyan's Innate Poison Body or Zhao Ya's Pure Yin Body," Luo Ruoxin remarked with a nod of her head. "You have the Terra Qilin with you, right? Retrieve its blood essence."
"Un!" Zhang Xuan nodded.
He quickly established connection with the Five Monarchs in the Myriad Anthive Nest, and before long, a few droplets of blood essence were floating in front of him.
The Five Monarchs of the forest dimension corresponded to the Five Elements, and the Terra Qilin happened to correspond to the earth attribute.
"Infuse the blood essence into Yuan Tao's glabella," Luo Ruoxin instructed.
Zhang Xuan flicked his finger.
Wuwu!
The blood essence of the Terra Qilin immediately darted toward the fatty attempting to lift the altar and right into his glabella.
Huhuhu!
As soon as the blood essence fused with Yuan Tao's body, it seemed as if his bloodline had been set ablaze. The Longxi avatar floating above Yuan Tao seemed to have taken in some huge nourishment, and it swiftly grew larger and more tangible. As it stomped on the ground, it felt as if it could bear even the weight of the heavens on its shoulders.
Kacha!
The connection between the altar and the ground was finally completely severed. Yuan Tao successfully tore the altar away from the Apricot Pavilion!
An intense quaking in the surroundings quickly followed, and the voice coming from the phantasm on top of the altar faltered. The crowd listening to the lecture from the round cushions were jolted out from their trance states, bewildered by the happenings around them.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"You are seeking death!"
The Otherworldly Demons roared furiously.
Kong shi's teachings were all-encompassing, and the earlier lecture was beneficial to their cultivation. Yet, that fellow had actually lifted the altar and interrupted their cultivation. That was as good as stripping them of their opportunity to push for a breakthrough!
The Otherworldly Demons were mortal as well, and they desired to obtain greater strength and advance to greater heights! This was a fortuitous encounter for them, and they felt entitled to it!
"Stop them!" Yan Xue commanded calmly, and those from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers immediately took their stance around Yuan Tao to protect them.
It was their plan to have Yuan Tao prop up the altar and carry it away. They would not allow anyone to interfere with their plans at this crucial moment.
With both sides glaring at one another furiously, heavy tension drifted in the air. It seemed as if a battle would break out at any moment.
Kacha!
Zhang Xuan was not bothered about the conflict between the two of them, so he turned his gaze toward Yuan Tao. However, at that moment, the Panoply of Golden Words around Yuan Tao finally succumbed to the relentless assault from the apricot trees and shattered into fragments.
"Sh*t…" Zhang Xuan widened his eyes in horror.
Yuan Tao had been able to stand his ground due to the protection of the armor around him. However, now that it had shattered, would he not swiftly lose his life under the offense of the apricot trees and leaves?
"Don't worry, there's someone who is even more anxious than you…" Luo Ruoxin chuckled softly.
Right after those words were spoken, Yan Xue suddenly took out a huge cloak and tossed it toward Yuan Tao, wrapping the latter's body in it.
Weng!
Once again, the attacks from the tree branches and leaves were deflected from Yuan Tao's body.
"This is… an artifact left behind by the Ancient Sages?" Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes.
He could tell that it was a top-notch defensive artifact. Not even the Infernal Blacksaber would be able to shatter it in a single blow.
As expected of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers. The treasures that they had in their possession sure were numerous.
Kacha! Kacha!
With the protection of the cloak, Yuan Tao had even more time. Carrying the heavy altar in his hands, he toiled out of the Apricot Pavilion.
As the altar moved, the phantasm on top wavered unsteadily.
"This is the moment. Zhang Xuan, strike down that phantasm and insert it into Yuan Tao's body," Luo Ruoxin instructed.
"Alright!"
Zhang Xuan leaped past the Hundred Schools of Philosophers and Otherworldly Demons to arrive right on top of the altar.
Most cultivators from the Master Teacher Continent and perhaps even Otherworldly Demons as well would be filled with deference for the artifacts that Kong shi had left behind, but coming from another world, Zhang Xuan did not share their sentiments. With a thrust of his palm, the phantasm lost its balance and fell from the top of the altar.
Following which, Zhang Xuan wrapped the phantasm with his Heaven's Path zhenqi and guided its movements.
Hula!
Everything happened in an instant, so those from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers and the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe had no time to react at all. Before anyone could make a move, the phantasm was struck right into Yuan Tao's glabella.
There was a brief moment of absolute silence before a huge commotion broke out in the area.
"What the heck are you doing?" Yan Xue's goosebumps rose up from the sheer horror of what he had just seen, and he roared maniacally.
The reason that they had attempted to steal the altar was to acquire the phantasm, but the young man had actually struck the phantasm into Yuan Tao's body. Overwhelming indignation and rage flooded Yan Xue's mind, and he was actually lost for a moment.
It was completely ridiculous!
On the other hand, Zhang Xuan quietly landed on the ground and returned to where he had stood earlier.
However, he then saw Yuan Tao's body expanding furiously after accepting the phantasm. His plump body further swelled up into a balloon, such that it seemed as if he would rise into the air at any moment.
Geji! Geji!
In the blink of an eye, he had already become completely round. His height and width exceeded two meters, and he looked like a massive boulder.
"What is going on?" Zhang Xuan was stunned by the changes in Yuan Tao's body.
Never in his wildest dream did he think that something like this would actually happen.
Chapter 1756: Failure?
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
Zhang Xuan quickly turned to Luo Ruoxin, only to see her directing a smile of assurance toward him. It seemed like she had known that this would happen right from the start.
Knowing that this was not an unexpected development, Zhang Xuan internally heaved a sigh of relief before looking at Yuan Tao worriedly once more. The latter's body was still continuing to bloat up. In less than a minute, his height had already shot up to eight meters tall, and it seemed as if he would blow up at any moment.
Should worst come to worst, Zhang Xuan was prepared to step in at any moment to save his student.
"This is a trial for him. If he's able to take in the phantasm, he'll be able to rise above the rest," Luo Ruoxin said telepathically.
"Take in the phantasm?" Zhang Xuan was surprised to hear those words. A thought flashed through his mind, and he narrowed his eyes in shock. "Do you mean that… Yuan Tao is currently trying to assimilate the phantasm into his body?"
Zhang Xuan had wrapped the phantasm together with his Heaven's Path zhenqi before striking it into Yuan Tao's body. He had thought that he would only be temporarily storing the phantasm inside Yuan Tao's body, but based on what Luo Ruoxin was saying… Yuan Tao was trying to assimilate the phantasm.
The phantasm was a manifestation of Kong shi's many years of lectures! It was impossible to gauge how powerful it was in terms of energy, but the knowledge of cultivation and battle techniques that it boasted would leave anyone frenzied over it!
Just the lengths that the Hundred Schools of Philosophers had gone to in order to acquire the altar gave a good idea as to how invaluable the phantasm was!
Assimilating that trove of knowledge was a far greater fortuitous encounter than even advancing one's cultivation to Ancient Sage!
"The Terra Qilin is a beast tamed by Kong shi himself, and it serves as the crux of a portion of the Temple of Confucius. It shares a similar origin as the phantasm, thus allowing the phantasm to fuse flawlessly together with it. You have already done what you can as a teacher. As for how far he can go, that's something that he'll have to decide on his own!" Luo Ruoxin remarked as she gazed at Yuan Tao calmly.
Hearing those words, Zhang Xuan could not help but gulp down a mouthful of saliva.
His girlfriend sure was extraordinary! There was probably no one on the Master Teacher Continent would ever dream of violating a phantasm left behind by Kong shi. Yet, his girlfriend had actually designed a ploy to allow Yuan Tao to assimilate the phantasm into his body. This was really unthinkable!
Previously, he had thought that she was an expert from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers. However, from the looks of it, that was unlikely to be the case. There was no way an offspring from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers would treat Kong shi's phantasm in such a manner.
"Spit it out right now!"
At the same time, Yan Xue and the others finally managed to make sense of what was happening, and their faces reddened in fury. It looked as if they would explode at any moment.
They had put in great effort in order to bring the altar and phantasm over… But who would have thought that despite all their planning, the treasure would end up going into someone else's belly?
Hula!
Yan Xue was unable to take it anymore. He whipped out a sword and directed it toward the heart of the bloated Yuan Tao from behind.
As he drove his sword forward, it produced a metallic resonance in the air, as if he was weaving his sword through the surroundings. With each movement of his sword, it seemed to gain greater strength and speed, as if the very world was augmenting his swordsmanship.
Despite his young age, it seemed like he had comprehended Sword Quintessence… and just like Zhang Xuan, it seemed like he had grasped at least two of them!
"Humph!" Witnessing Yan Xue's attack, Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up, and he harrumphed coldly.
He drew the Dragonbone Divine Spear and darted in front with a swift flit, appearing behind his student in an instant. Raising his arm, he pushed the spear forward with astounding momentum.
With Zhang Xuan's soul cultivation having reached Intuitive Impulse realm consummation, he was already able to stand toe-to-toe with Sempiternal realm consummation cultivators without a problem.
Ding ding ding ding!
The tip of his spear met Yan Xue's blade. In the blink of an eye, they collided with one another multiple times. A frightening shockwave rippled into the surroundings, crushing everything in its path. Even space seemed to be creaking under barrage of attacks as small dimension rifts appeared in the area.
"Zhang Xuan, do you know what you are doing? Without Kong shi's phantasm sealing the area, the entire Temple of Confucius will lose its grounding! This space will swiftly be struck by a space-time turbulence, and we could be permanently stuck in the rifts of space-time, unable to return to reality!" Yan Xue bellowed furiously as he launched frenzied assaults one after another.
"Since you know the consequences, why did you still make my student steal Kong shi's phantasm?" Completely unfazed by Yan Xue's questioning, Zhang Xuan replied calmly as he fended perfectly against Yan Xue's attacks.
In the first place, it was the Hundred Schools of Philosophers who concocted the entire scheme to steal the altar, but when something did not go according to their plans, they immediately pointed their fingers to him instead. Was this how the descendants of the seventy-two Sages conducted themselves?
"I admit that we are the ones who first attempted to steal the phantasm, but we have other motives…" Before Yan Xue could finish, an overpowering aura suddenly swept across the area. It was as if huge tidal waves were crashing around the area, interrupting the battle between the two of them.
Sou sou sou!
Both Zhang Xuan and Yan Xue were forced to part and retreat a far distance away from one another.
Zhang Xuan quickly drove the Heaven's Path zhenqi through his body to heal his injuries before standing up to look at the very center of the overpowering aura. He saw that Yuan Tao's height had already risen beyond ten meters, and it seemed as if he was a giant who wielded peerless strength in the world.
Hula!
Raising his head and howling ferociously, Yuan Tao swallowed the avatar of Longxi above his head. The next moment, his aura began to surge steadily.
Aureate Body realm intermediate stage… Advanced stage… Pinnacle… Perfection… Consummation!
Intuitive Impulse realm intermediate stage… Advanced stage… Pinnacle… Perfection… Consummation!
Sempiternal realm…
In the blink of an eye, Yuan Tao had already reached Sempiternal realm consummation!
Even so, his strength was still surging, showing no signs of halting.
"Is he going to push for a breakthrough to Ancient Sage now?" Zhang Xuan narrowed his eyes in agitation.
He did not think that this would be such a huge fortuitous encounter for his student. At this rate, Yuan Tao could very well exceed Zhao Ya and the others and reach Ancient Sage!
"The energy required to reach Ancient Sage it simply too great. His accumulation is too low at the moment, so it'll be hard for him to do so." Luo Ruoxin shook her head with a deep look in her eyes. "Furthermore, the Aeon of Ancient Sage is required in order to push for a breakthrough, and there isn't such a thing here."
"Don't worry, I am here!"
Knowing that this was a rare opportunity for his student, there was no way that he would allow this chance to slip through his fingers. Without any hesitation, he flicked his finger and sent a jade bottle toward Yuan Tao.
Tzzzz!
As soon as the jade bottle came before Yuan Tao, its cap opened, and crimson droplets flowed into his mouth. Before long, tremendous energy was coursing through Yuan Tao's body, granting him the strength that he required to push for a higher realm.
Blood of the Ancient Sages!
Fortunately, he had acquired quite a few droplets of Ancient Sage blood after scheming against the Ancient Sage from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers. This was the ideal situation to use them.
At the same time, he opened the Canvas of Four Seasons and allowed the Aeon of Ancient Sage to flow out into the surroundings.
Kacha!
With these two factors in place, Yuan Tao's on-the-verge-of-exploding body seemed to have finally burst through the resilient bottleneck holding him back, and his aura surged once more.
His aura became so powerful that it seemed like clouds would billow and thunder would rumble at a wave of his hand. Even space did not seem to be able to restrain his might any longer.
Hong long!
A cultivation ordeal appeared.
Heavenly flame and lightning gushed down from the sky as if it was the end of the world.
Even Yan Xue and the others, who wanted to force Yuan Tao into spitting out the phantasm, did not dare approach him.
They could tell that Yuan Tao had just summoned the Ancient Sage Ordeal, the final trial that one had to undergo in order to push for a breakthrough to a higher level of existence. Death would swiftly befall them if they approached a power of this scale.
Kacha! Kacha! Kacha!
The relentless searing of the heavenly flame and the ceaseless tempering of the lightning bolts swiftly refined the rampaging energies within Yuan Tao's body, causing his figure to become compact once more. He returned from a height of ten meters to his usual size.
Lightning and flames appeared to crackle on the surface of his body, and it seemed like he was slowly learning how to wield these two frightening powers of nature. Even space seemed to cower in the face of his strength.
"The Ancient Sage blood has been fully depleted!"
However, very soon, Yuan Tao's growth sputtered to a stop. He was going to push through the final bottleneck that stood in between him and a true Ancient Sage, but the energy that he had proved to be insufficient.
The amount of energy required for a breakthrough to Ancient Sage was simply too great. Zhang Xuan had harvested quite a few droplets of blood from the Ancient Sage of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers earlier, but it was apparent that they were still lacking.
Huhuhu!
As the amount of energy in Yuan Tao's body swiftly depleted, the cultivation ordeal also seemed to slowly dissipate. However, it was not because Yuan Tao had cleared the ordeal but that it was abruptly terminated. In other words, his attempt to push for a breakthrough to Ancient Sage was a failure.
A chance to achieve a breakthrough to Ancient Sage was extremely hard-to-come-by, such that it could be said that it happened by sheer chance. If one failed to achieve a breakthrough, it was hard to tell when an impetus to make a breakthrough would come once more. It might not even come at all!
To make matters worse, the difficulty of the Ancient Sage Ordeal the second time around would at least be two times harder.
In other words, it was nigh impossible for a cultivator to successfully push for a breakthrough to Ancient Sage if they failed the first time.
It was a truly lamentable situation to fail due to a lack of energy.
"Will his effort be wasted just like that?" Zhang Xuan mumbled beneath his face with a livid look on his face.
Chapter 1757: The Appearance of the Prime Hall
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
Luo Ruoxin glanced at the young man in the sky and said, "His efforts won't be wasted. Haven't you realized that Yuan Tao is intentionally suppressing his cultivation so as to not achieve a breakthrough?"
"He's intentionally suppressing his cultivation?" Zhang Xuan frowned in confusion.
"That's right." Luo Ruoxin nodded. "It's true that it is much harder to achieve a breakthrough to Ancient Sage on one's second attempt. For this reason, most people are determined to succeed on the first try. However, this also makes for the weakest Ancient Sage!
"A breakthrough to Ancient Sage can be seen as an attempt to wrestle power from the heavens so as to become an existence equaling to the heavens themselves. Those who achieve a breakthrough on the first try are able to achieve this feat as well, but at the same time, the strength that they gain from the heavens is severely limited. The very attempt to oppose the heavens is a good opportunity to temper one's power and refine one's use of energy. Subsequent attempts to overcome the Ancient Sage Ordeal do become much harder, but if one can pull through, it makes the future progression of one's cultivation much easier!"
"This… Is it similar to Kong shi's superior breakthrough method to Great Sage? Is it some form of trial as well?" Zhang Xuan asked.
There was the Saint Ascension Decipher to achieve a breakthrough to Sainthood, as well as a superior breakthrough method to reaching Great Sage. They were much harder ways to push for a breakthrough, but those who succeed would attain power far greater than their peers. Could there be something similar for Ancient Sage as well?
Luo Ruoxin placed her hand behind her back as she looked into the distance with deep eyes. "You could put it that way. Pushing for a breakthrough to Ancient Sage is similar to having a huge tidal wave washing away the sand within one's body. The more times one confronts the Ancient Sage Ordeal, the finer and more condensed one's zhenqi will become.
"During his breakthrough, Kong shi held himself back three times when he was on the verge of breakthrough to Ancient Sage, and it was only on the fourth time that he finally succeeded. That was also how he managed to rise as the World's Teacher, becoming an existence that rivaled the world!
"Even though it might seem like Yuan Tao has failed to push for a breakthrough to Ancient Sage, his physical body has successfully assimilated the power of the Ancient Sage blood. In other words, he already possesses the body of an Ancient Sage. While he isn't a true Ancient Sage yet, the power that he wields is already sufficient to deal with nascent Ancient Sages!"
"This…" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
It was already plenty impressive that Yuan Tao wielded strength comparable to nascent Ancient Sages despite still being at Sempiternal realm consummation. Yet, Kong shi had actually held himself back three times before finally pushing for a breakthrough to Ancient Sage. If so, how powerful could he have been?
There was no cultivator in the world who did not desire to surpass their limits and become an existence that towered above the heavens. Yet, Kong shi had been able to overcome such temptation and calmly temper himself before finally surpassing his limits. From that, it could be seen that his mental resilience was extraordinary.
It was no wonder that he had led mankind to prosperity. Even though Zhang Xuan did not harbor the reverence that those of the Master Teacher Continent had toward Kong shi, he had to say that he was filled with respect for the latter.
Zhang Xuan suddenly froze on the spot. "Hmm? Wait a moment, there shouldn't be too many people who knew about this secret, right? Why would Yuan Tao do it?"
It was likely that not even Yang shi nor Sword Saint Xing and the others were aware of this fact. Knowing that Luo Ruoxin likely originated from some incredible power, it was not too surprising for her to be aware of all this. However, Yuan Tao had followed him from the Tianxuan Kingdom, so how did he know it as well?
The temptation to reach Ancient Sage was incredible. If one did not have such knowledge in advance, it was unlikely that one would take a gamble and forsake what could be said to have been their only chance to achieve a breakthrough.
"He has assimilated Kong shi's phantasm, so his understanding of cultivation probably surpasses even the seventy-two Sages at this point," Luo Ruoxin explained. "It's just that assimilating the phantasm makes one very susceptible to being influenced by Kong shi, and that would be extremely disadvantageous to your growth. Otherwise, I would have had you assimilate the phantasm instead."
Hearing those words, Zhang Xuan could not help but shake his head bitterly. "Disadvantageous to my growth?"
He had known that if he could make a breakthrough to Ancient Sage, there was hardly anyone in the world who would have been able to pose a threat to him. By then, what would he have to worry about growth?
"You are a Celestial Master Teacher as well, and you are destined to walk a different route from Kong shi. If you attempt to walk his route, all you will become is another one of the seventy-two Sages. You would never be able to surpass him," Luo Ruoxin said calmly.
Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment before nodding.
To surpass the predecessors, one had to first denounce their path.
If all one could do was emulate the actions of the predecessors, it would only eventually lead to stagnation.
For example, each of the seventy-two Sages were astoundingly talented individuals who achieved great things in their time. While it could be said that it was Kong shi who brought them to their eventual heights, ironically, it was very likely that Kong shi was their limitation as well. They had been so confined within Kong shi's heritage that they were unable to truly surpass themselves and discover their own paths.
In fact, this could also be why the Hundred Schools of Philosophers was unable to surpass their founders.
At the same time, to cast away one's heritage and attempt to search for one's own path could be considered an act of lunacy. It was a heritage that guaranteed a path to greatness, and casting it aside could condemn one to a life of mediocrity.
Ultimately, surpassing one's predecessors was an act easier said than done.
To tread on a path that was bound to greatness or to cast everything aside to struggle for an incredibly slim chance of overcoming one's limitations…
There was no right or wrong answer to this question, and this was a choice that one would have to make by oneself.
Kacha! Kacha! Kacha!
As Zhang Xuan was deep in thought, a brilliant ray of light suddenly rose from the altar ahead of him, soaring right into the heavens.
Following which, he saw another five rays of light converging from the distance as well. The tremendous energy pierced through the deep blue sky, and a pitch-black dimension rift slowly expanded from the point of convergence of the six rays.
Beyond the pitch-black dimension rift, the silhouette of a humongous palace came into sight.
"T-this… this is the Prime Hall! The Prime Hall of the Temple of Confucius has finally surfaced!" Ren Qingyuan exclaimed in agitation.
So far, the crowd had only explored the six Subordinate Halls, but none of them had found the Prime Hall. However, with all six Subordinate Halls activated, the energies that they released destroyed the final seal on the Temple of Confucius, causing the Prime Hall to appear.
The legendary artifact that was said to be able to dictate the fate of the Master Teacher Continent lay within the humongous palace right before them—the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn!
"Let's head over!"
Yan Xue took a look at the Prime Hall in the sky before turning to glance at Yuan Tao and Zhang Xuan. Even though he was deeply reluctant, he knew that there was nothing that he could do anymore. Thus, he beckoned the crowd from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers over before dashing toward the dimension rift.
The Otherworldly Demons also quickly made their way toward the dimension rift.
Seeing that Ren shi and the others were trembling in excitement, Zhang Xuan said with a smile, "You go on ahead!"
He knew that there was still some time before the entrance of the Prime Hall would be opened, so he was in no hurry to head over. Instead, he turned his attention to Yuan Tao.
At this point in time, his student had already reinforced his cultivation, and the Ancient Sage Ordeal had fully retreated as well.
"Teacher!"
Opening his eyes, Yuan Tao felt the strength coursing through his body, and he could not help but tremble in agitation. He swiftly walked up to his teacher and kneeled before him.
His six senses had initially been sealed, but the seal had broken as soon as he took the phantasm into his body. He knew that it was all thanks to his teacher's help that he possessed his current strength.
"Un!" Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.
This was truly a huge fortuitous encounter for Yuan Tao. To assimilate Kong shi's phantasm and push for multiple breakthroughs all at once, he had surpassed Yuan Tao, Wei Ruyan, and even Zhang Xuan in a single shot.
"Even though you possess the physical body of an Ancient Sage, your state of mind and soul are still slightly lacking. I have a cultivation technique and Bodhi Fruit over here that will do you much good!" Zhang Xuan said as he passed the Bodhi Fruit over.
While Yuan Tao had inherited Kong shi's phantasm, he still had to temper his state of mind a step at a time.
"Yes!" Taking the Bodhi Fruit, Yuan Tao quickly swallowed it, and the next moment, he could feel his state of mind swiftly reinforcing itself.
Had it been Zhao Ya or Wei Ruyan, they would still have had to make some preparations and condition their bodies before consuming the Bodhi Fruit. However, possessing the body of an Ancient Sage, Yuan Tao did not have such concerns.
Huhuhu!
After dealing with Yuan Tao, Zhang Xuan brought Zhao Ya, Wei Ruyan, Luo Qiqi, and the others out from his Myriad Anthive Nest.
"The Prime Hall has opened. Do you want to follow me to search for more fortuitous encounters or continue cultivating here?"
This was the first time that the Prime Hall of the Temple of Confucius had opened in dozens of millennia, and it was likely filled with both risks and opportunities. Even though he was their teacher, he felt that he should entrust the choice to them.
"I wish to enter the Prime Hall to take a look!" Zhao Ya said firmly.
"Me too!"
The other two replied in unison.
Meanwhile, Luo Ruoxin shot a glance over when she saw Luo Qiqi coming out of Zhang Xuan's Myriad Anthive Nest, and an inconspicuous frown crept onto her forehead. However, she chose not to say a word.
Chapter 1758: Ancient Sage Yan Qing
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
Noting the slight frown on the young lady's face, Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up in realization. He quickly rushed over and frantically explained, "I met her earlier in the Hall of Lull, so I brought her and Wei Ruyan out together…"
"Let's go!"
However, completely nonchalant to Zhang Xuan's explanation, Luo Ruoxin took the lead and headed to the Prime Hall first.
"This…"
Bewildered by Luo Ruoxin's reaction, Zhang Xuan quickly followed behind her.
The exterior of the Prime Hall was much grander than that of the Subordinate Halls. At that moment, the massive square in front of the Prime Hall was already completely filled with people.
Most of the experts who had been trapped in certain dimensions for one reason or another had made their way there, thus forming a crowd that numbered several thousand.
Even if they were unable to enter the Prime Hall, it would not have been a waste of a trip if they got to witness the mystical abilities of the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn.
"Master, I have already regained my memories. The six Subordinate Halls have to be opened in order for the gateway to the Prime Hall to surface…" Little Amulet's voice sounded in Zhang Xuan's mind. "I can get you in but not now. The Prime Hall has yet to fully open!"
"I see!" Seeing that the useless amulet had only managed to regain its memory after everything was in place, Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly. He walked up to Luo Ruoxin, and upon seeing that the latter's face was still as cold as ice, he shuddered a little as he tried to explain the situation. "This… That's really not it… We only met by coincidence…"
Luo Ruoxin turned to look at Zhang Xuan, but just as she was about to speak, an excited voice sounded by the side.
"Zhang shi, I knew that you would be here!"
Following which, a figure excitedly rushed up to him.
"Fei-er, you're here as well!" Luo Qiqi's eyes lit up as she quickly walked toward the approaching figure.
It was none other than her good friend, the princess of the Huanyu Empire, Yu Fei-er!
Spotting Luo Qiqi as well, Yu Fei-er gave her a warm hug and said in gratitude, "I already know that Ji laoshi took me in as his student because of you…"
She was only a small princess of the Huanyu Empire. To be able to catch the eye of Elder Ji Ruochen of the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters and even be accepted as her direct disciple… it went without saying that her good friend, the little princess of the Luo Clan, had played a part in that.
Otherwise, even if she was truly talented, there was no way that she would have been able to catch the eye of the upper echelons of the Master Teacher Continent from where she was.
"There's no need to stand on ceremony!" Luo Qiqi replied with a smile.
They swiftly caught up with one another before Yu Fei-er turned to look at Zhang Xuan with a smile. Her voice sounded firm and resolute as usual, but there was a hint of conflict that one could sense from her tone. "Zhang shi, it has been quite a while since we last met!"
She harbored some feelings for the young man before her, but she had already heard of what happened with Luo Qiqi, and that made her acutely aware that the two of them did not have a future together. She felt indignant, and she was reluctant to accept the truth as well. However, she was a prideful person, and she was not one to demean herself and cling to someone. Thus, she chose to put on a bright smile and greet the young man like normal.
"Yeah, it has been a while…" Zhang Xuan scratched his head as he turned to Luo Ruoxin awkwardly. "Look… it really is a coincidence…"
Luo Ruoxin shot a glance at the young man before her, who was flustered from trying to explain himself but was unable to find the proper words to do so, and her lips curled up slightly. Without saying anything, she continued looking ahead.
Unknowingly, the square in front of the Prime Hall was already divided into four clear factions. The Master Teacher Pavilion and the major clans of the Master Teacher Continent formed one faction, the Hundred School of Philosophers formed one faction, the Otherworldly Demons formed one faction, and those of the Beast Tribe formed the final faction.
The members of each faction were grouped close together, eyeing those of the other factions warily.
Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and carefully perceived the surroundings. It was vague, but he could certainly feel numerous powerful auras hidden in the surroundings.
Most likely, the reason that a delicate peace could be constructed between the four powers was due to the Ancient Sages restraining one another.
"Senior!"
Zhang Xuan was just about to consider if he should slice an Ancient Sage or two to procure some fresh blood when he heard a call not too far away. Turning his head, he saw Yang shi flying over with a smile on his face.
"You… have achieved a breakthrough to Ancient Sage!" Zhang Xuan was stunned for a moment before his eyes lit up in agitation.
The aura coming from the elder before him was as vague as ever, making it hard for one to gauge the depth of it. At first glance, it seemed like the other party was only slightly above him, but when he attempted to take a closer look, he realized that he was gazing into a boundless ocean. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like there was no end to his strength.
Without a doubt, it was apparent that this junior of his had stumbled upon some kind of fortuitous encounter, thus becoming the first cultivator to have successfully reached Ancient Sage.
"I had good luck!" Yang shi remarked with a light smile.
"There's no such thing as luck in cultivation," Zhang Xuan replied.
Yang shi had long reached Sempiternal realm consummation, and the reason that he had been traveling around the world was to find the Aeon of Ancient Sage, the final impetus required for him to achieve a breakthrough to Ancient Sage. It was due to his previous accumulation that he had been able to grasp the opportunity when it finally knocked on his door.
"Everyone…"
A crisp clear voice suddenly echoed in the air.
The crowd quickly turned their heads over and saw an elderly man standing in the air in front of the Prime Hall.
"It's an Ancient Sage from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers!"
The elderly man was wearing clothes identical to the Hundred Schools of Philosophers, so there was no question of which faction he belonged to.
"Since the Prime Hall has appeared, I don't see any reason for us to continue hiding in the shadows. Come out!" the elderly man said lightly, but his voice reverberated through the area.
"Indeed, there's no need for us to continue hiding!"
"It's clear that we all have the same goal. Since the Prime Hall has finally surfaced, there's no reason for us to continue lurking in the shadows!"
"Let's come out then!"
Boom!
As these voices sounded one after another, numerous figures swiftly appeared in the sky above the square. The number averaged out to around six to seven Ancient Sages for each faction.
"There are so many Ancient Sages here!" Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up in astonishment.
His initial estimation was that there would be around five to ten Ancient Sages in the Temple of Confucius, but in an instant, the area was already filled with twenty people.
The person whom he had injured previously was standing among the Hundred Schools of Philosophers' Ancient Sages.
While other cultivators could have gone there in seek of other fortuitous encounters, the aim of the present Ancient Sages was clear—the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn. Previously, when the Subordinate Halls were beginning to open, they had chosen to hide in the background in order to protect their descendants from others, as well as to avoid unnecessary conflicts with other factions.
However, the opening of the Prime Hall signified that they were swiftly approaching the finish line. At such a point in time, there was no point in them hiding anymore. It was time for them to lay out their cards.
"Having been through the six Subordinate Halls, I believe that we have gained a rough idea of how the Temple of Confucius works. The Prime Hall has indeed surfaced, but its entrance is still shut tight. There's another important process that we have to do in order to open it once and for all!" the elderly man said.
An Otherworldly Demon Ancient Sage harrumphed. "Ancient Sage Yan Qing, you are already the strongest one of us here. Stop beating about the bush and cut to the chase. What do you expect us to do?"
"Ancient Sage Yan Qing? Is he a descendant of Ancient Sage Zi Yuan?" Zhang Xuan frowned.
Ancient Sage Zi Yuan 1 was the leader of the seventy-two Sages, the First Senior of Kong shi's direct disciples. Yan Xue seemed to be his descendant, and it was very likely that Yan Qing was Yan Xue's predecessor.
"Junior, do you recognize that Ancient Sage Yan Qing?" asked Zhang Xuan in a telepathic message to Yang shi.
"I don't know him… While our Master Teacher Pavilion shares the same origin as the Hundred Schools of Philosophers, we rarely come into contact with one another," Yang shi, who had joined the Master Teacher Pavilion's group of Ancient Sages, replied telepathically.
"You don't recognize him, but those of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe are able to refer to him by his name so confidently…" Zhang Xuan frowned.
From what he knew, the Ancient Sages from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers had not appeared for tens of thousands of years, such that even the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters were not sure about the current situation within the Hundred Schools of Philosophers. Yet, for an Otherworldly Demon to be able to address the other party directly and even remark that the other party was the strongest of them all…
He could not help but recall the uncanny interactions that he had spotted between the Hundred Schools of Philosophers and the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe.
"I'll just make things clear. Since we are all here, I expect to get a share as well. So far, our Beast Tribe hasn't managed to obtain anything from the Subordinate Halls. If you wish to leave us behind, I can only say that you should be prepared to face our wrath!" a massive beast from the Beast Tribe uttered coldly.
This beast had also reached Ancient Sage, and the space around him seemed to be oddly firm.
"White Overlord, please calm down. The reason that I had everyone come out is to discuss the allocation of the slots for entry into the Prime Hall. As for what kind of fortuitous encounters those who enter will find within, that will depend on their own skills and luck!" Ancient Sage Yan Qing said with a smile.
Chapter 1759: White Overlord
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
"Alright, I'll listen to you what you have to say. However, I'll make things clear first. We of the Beast Tribe want at least two slots. If you can't satisfy our demand, you can be assured that we'll lay waste to everything here!" the beast known as the White Overlord sneered coldly.
The original body of the beast was a white fox that spanned a length of ten meters. Even without exerting any strength, its very presence seemed to send shudders through space.
If it really went berserk, it was likely that it could bring massive devastation upon at least half of the crowd in the square.
"To ask for two slots right from the start, don't you think you are being a little too greedy?" a middle-aged man floating above the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters sneered back.
"So what?" The White Overlord turned to look at the middle-aged man, and a malicious air burst forth from it, jolting onlookers' souls.
From the looks of it, it seemed like it was exceptionally skilled in soul offense.
"Try it then! Let's see if the sword in my hand agrees with that! If I recall correctly, a predecessor of our Zhang Clan, Zhang Yu, single-handedly subdued nine of your Ancient Sages with his sword twenty millennia ago!" the middle-aged man scoffed. "Let's see if I can achieve what he did today!"
"Zhang Clan? So, he's the Ancient Sage of our Zhang Clan." Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up.
Even though the Ancient Sage of the Zhang Clan had helped him previously while they were outside the Hall of Great Accomplishment, he had not met the other party in person. He knew that the other party was a very forthright person, but who would have thought that he would actually be able to stand on equal ground with the strongest Ancient Sage of the Beast Tribe!
Taking a closer look at the middle-aged man, he saw that the other party was dressed in a green robe, and he had eyebrows shaped like crescent blades. Other than a sword hanging by his waist, there were no ornaments to him. Yet, despite his seemingly ordinary appearance, he wielded strength that no one would dare to snub.
"He's the last Ancient Sage of the Zhang Clan, Zhang Hongtian! A man of great talent, he achieved a breakthrough to Ancient Sage at a very young age. At the same time, he has a carefree and righteous personality. He abhors evil to an extreme extent, such that he will never hesitate to stand up in the face of injustice. He was still very young when the Aeon of Ancient Sage first began fading from the world, and he should have been able to spend his youth happily and without much worry. However, he still made the choice to hibernate so that he would be able to protect mankind for as long as he could…" Yang shi sent a telepathic message to Zhang Xuan, explaining the background of the Ancient Sage of the Zhang Clan.
Rumor had it that the Ancient Sage had only been in his early five hundreds when he achieved a breakthrough to Ancient Sage. That was the age when most cultivators in the upper echelon started to settle down and make their own families, enjoying the prime of their lives. Yet, he unhesitatingly chose to bid farewell to his loved ones in order to go into hibernation.
There was no way such a decision could have been easy for him to make. Without a doubt, he was someone worthy of respect.
"You…" Not expecting Zhang Hongtian to snub it entirely, the White Overlord turned its massive fox head and harrumphed. "I admit that your Peerless Sword is formidable, but it won't be easy for you to kill me… And as long as you fail to kill me, you can be certain that I'll hunt down every single member of your Zhang Clan. I sure do want to see how many of your descendants you will be able to protect!"
"Hahaha! Sure, be my guest! If I recall correctly, there are quite a few communities of White Foxes around, and you have a fair number of descendants as well. Touch a single offspring of my Zhang Clan, and I'll slay ten of your foxes. Kill ten offspring of my Zhang Clan, and I'll massacre your entire race!" Zhang Hongtian scoffed with his back straightened.
"You lunatic! You dare…" the White Overlord roared with its teeth gritted tightly together.
"Try me then! I, Zhang Hongtian, have never feared doing anything ever since I started cultivating! Try asking that lot!" Zhang Hongtian spat calmly as he tilted his head toward the Otherworldly Demon Ancient Sages.
"Humph!" The Otherworldly Demon Ancient Sage who had spoken earlier harrumphed coldly in displeasure.
"That's probably Old Geezer Yu…" Zhang Xuan was able to vaguely recognize the other party from that harrumph.
He had already found the other party's voice familiar with they were dealing with Ancient Sage Yan Qing, but it was only upon hearing Zhang Hongtian's words that he finally put the two together. It was the Otherworldly Demon Ancient Sage that he had encountered in front of the Hall of Great Accomplishment!
"There's indeed nothing that you dare not do. I seem to recall that a large bunch of the White Overlord's descendants were tamed by an offspring of your Zhang Clan a while ago, back at the Apricot Pavilion?" Old Geezer Yu said with a cold sneer.
"Tame? What did you just say?" The White Overlord was visibly stunned for a moment before it growled menacingly.
Clearly, it was still unaware of this matter.
"If you don't believe me, you can take a look yourself. Are the offspring that you dispatched to the Apricot Pavilion still with you? Are you still able to communicate with them?" Old Geezer Yu replied calmly as he glanced at Zhang Xuan with a sinister smile.
The last time that human lad schemed against him, he had suffered a deep laceration. Since he had an opportunity to return the favor, it went without saying that he had no intention of allowing it to go to waste.
The White Overlord glared at Old Geezer Yu before turning around to relay commands to one of the Ancient Sage beasts behind it. A moment later, the Ancient Sage beast whispered something to the White Overlord's ear, and the latter's face immediately darkened as it turned its gaze in Zhang Xuan's direction.
Its eyes glowed like an inferno that would burn down anything in sight.
"How did I end up getting implicated here?" Zhang Xuan was rendered speechless.
He was an insignificant Aureate Body realm cultivator among the cluster of Ancient Sages, so why in the world did they pull him into this conflict?
Noticing the malicious intentions in the White Overlord's eyes, Zhang Hongtian suddenly recalled what had happened outside the Hall of Great Accomplishment, and he could not help but turn around and ask, "Did you tame its descendants?"
The beasts that Zhang Xuan had tamed outside the Hall of Great Accomplishment had not been all that strong, and they were not the White Overlord's descendants. However, those who had entered the Apricot Pavilion were very different.
Anyone who had investigated the Temple of Confucius in advance would understand the importance of the Apricot Pavilion. Those who had been selected to enter it were the top-notch talents from each power. Could it be that his descendant was able to tame even proud geniuses like that?
"Those are its descendants? I didn't know… Earlier, when I went into the Apricot Pavilion, I saw a bunch of beasts getting pummeled by the apricot trees. Seeing that they were on the verge of death, I quickly dived in to save them. Out of gratitude to me, they ended up submitting to me… However, I don't recall there being any white foxes among the group!" Zhang Xuan said.
The truth behind the submission of the beasts was due to his Beast Pummeling Taming Method, but of course, it was not a convenient moment to mention something as controversial as that.
"They submitted to you out of gratitude?" Unable to hold himself back any longer, Zhang Hongtian burst into laughter. "Hahaha! You did great!"
As an Ancient Sage, he could tell that Zhang Xuan was lying with just a single glance. The reason that he burst into laughter was because he suddenly recalled how haughty the White Overlord had been a moment ago, only to find out that its descendants had submitted to his the next instant.
This was such a timely face slap that words could not begin to describe how exhilarating it was to him!
Amid his laughter, Zhang Hongtian said, "White Overlord, since your descendants have already submitted to my descendants, why don't I give you a chance to submit to me as well? As long as you become my tamed beast, I'm more than willing to give you two slots!"
"You're courting death!" Hearing those words of ridicule, the White Overlord was unable to hold himself back anymore.
With a furious roar, he leaped forward to tear Zhang Hongtian apart.
A pitch-black claw imprint sliced across space, tearing dimension rifts open.
It was apparent that the White Overlord was extremely strong, even among the Ancient Sages.
"I could be courting death, but there's no way in hell will I ever die by your wretched hands…" Paying no heed to the rage of the White Overlord, Zhang Hongtian chuckled softly as he drew his sword and drove it forward.
Wuuuuu!
The whistling sword clashed together with the White Overlord's claws.
Boom boom boom!
A huge, spherical dimension rift was produced as a result of the collision. The White Overlord was forced to take a step back, but it immediately prepared itself to charge forth once more to launch a follow up attack.
However, at that moment, Ancient Sage Yan Qing suddenly stepped forward and stood in between the two of them. With a wave of his hand, he produced a barrier reminiscent of a cloth that prevented the two from getting close to one another.
"Enough. The urgent matter at hand is entering the Prime Hall, not fighting with one another. If you really wish to settle the scores between the two of you, I won't stop you once this matter is over. However, for the time being, I'll have to ask you to take a step back," Ancient Sage Yan Qing remarked calmly.
Chapter 1760: I Have Many Cruxes
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
Zhang Hongtian gave it a try, but he realized that the cloth-like barrier before him was frighteningly resilient. He immediately realized that the prowess of Ancient Sage Yan Qing was far above his, so with a cold harrumph, he turned around and said, "Since Ancient Sage Yan Qing has spoken up, I'll spare you for the time being!"
He flicked his wrist to return his sword back to his waist before regrouping with those from the Master Teacher Pavilion, standing quietly on the spot. It was as if he was completely unaffected by the conflict that had just occurred.
At the same time, it seemed as if the White Overlord knew that it was not a match for Zhang Hongtian or Ancient Sage Yan Qing, so it whipped its tail back and quietly returned to its group, not daring to utter a word of complaint.
"Given that the Prime Hall of the Temple of Confucius hasn't even opened yet, it's unwise for you to leap at one another to tear each other apart." Seeing that the two of them had finally calmed down, Ancient Sage Yan Qing retracted his palm and smiled. Turning to the crowd, he said, "Moving back to the topic at hand, since everyone knows how the Prime Hall is opened, let's discuss how we should allocate the slots to entering the Prime Hall!"
Hearing that the other party was raising the matter regarding the allocation of slots once more, Zhang Hongtian said with a frown, "I'm sure that you already have your own ideas. Feel free to state your suggestion. If we find it appropriate, there's no reason for us not to agree with it!"
"Indeed, I do have some thoughts in mind!" Ancient Sage Yan Qing admitted with a smile. "Having cleared the six Subordinate Halls, we know that even if the Prime Hall opens, we'll also have to bypass the seal that Kong shi has personally left on it. Without the corresponding Celestial Amulet of Legacy, there's no way that we will be able to enter!"
The crowd nodded in agreement.
They had tested the six Subordinate Halls, and there was indeed no way of bypassing the barrier without the corresponding Celestial Amulet of Legacy or unique constitution. This was especially with regards to Ancient Sages. If they attempted to forcefully tear down the barrier, they would only end up suffering a severe backlash!
There was no doubt that Ancient Sages were extremely powerful, but Kong shi was a man known as the World's Teacher. There was no way an ancient domain left behind by him could be breached through forceful means, even by Ancient Sages!
"To enter the Prime Hall, we'll need the Prime Amulet. All in all, the Prime Amulet can bring a total of fifteen people into the Prime Hall," Ancient Sage Yan Qing said.
Some discussions broke out amid the crowd shortly after. They were starting to plan their next moves.
The White Overlord harrumphed coldly. "We don't even know where the Prime Amulet is at the moment. If it's not in our hands, won't we be forced to watch in futility while others harvest the treasures in the Prime Hall for themselves?"
It was pretty much common knowledge who was in possession of the six Celestial Amulets of Legacy at this point in time, but the Prime Amulet had yet to make its appearance.
Most people thought that the reason that Zhang Xuan had been able to enter the Subordinate Halls without any problem was because he was in possession of the blood essence of his students. After all, the Subordinate Halls that he had entered were indeed the ones that corresponded to the unique constitutions of his students.
Furthermore, there was a widespread misconception that the Prime Amulet only granted one entry into the Prime Hall. No one, including the Hundred Schools of Philosophers, was aware that it granted passage into the Subordinate Halls as well.
"The reason I said such words is because I know where the Prime Amulet is!" With a light chuckle, Ancient Sage Yan Qing's eyebrows shot up proudly. "To be honest with you all, the Prime Amulet is currently in my hands!"
Right after saying those words, an amulet materialized right before him. He flicked it lightly, and an imposing air of authority suffused the area.
"That's the Prime Amulet?"
"What a formidable aura!"
"It's clearly much stronger than the other Subordinate Amulets!"
"We'll be able to enter the Prime Hall with that?"
A commotion broke out in the square as everyone turned to look at the amulet in the sky with a heated gaze.
That was the entrance ticket into the Prime Hall right in front of them! If they could acquire it, they would only be a single step away from the ultimate treasure of the Master Teacher Continent!
"That is…"
While the crowd was staring intently at the imposing amulet in the air, Zhang Xuan frowned slightly before shaking his head speechlessly.
He recognized the amulet in Ancient Sage Yan Qing's hands. It was the one that he had fought Yan Xue over at the White Creek Mountain. In other words, the Prime Amulet in the other party's hand was a fake!
Despite being an Ancient Sage, is he really unable to tell that the Prime Amulet in his hands is a fake? Zhang Xuan wondered doubtfully.
Ancient Sage Yan Qing was an individual who boasted strength even greater than Zhang Hongtian. Yet, he was unable to discern the authenticity of the amulet that he had in his possession.
Noticing Zhang Xuan's doubts, Luo Ruoxin sent a telepathic message over to explain. "The Prime Amulet was personally forged by Kong shi, and not even the seventy-two Sages saw its true form. Even I was unable to see through it when I first laid eyes on it, so how could he possibly be able to discern its authenticity?"
So far, it seemed like Yan Xue and the others still thought that they had taken the real Prime Amulet, which meant that the only ones who knew that the Prime Amulet was a fake were Zhang Xuan, Luo Ruoxin, and Wu Chen.
"You're right!" Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement as his lips crept upward. "This will be interesting. Even though their Prime Amulet's a fake, they are still making conditions. Let's see what they can come up with…"
The crowd had no choice but to follow the arrangements made by Ancient Sage Yan Qing because they thought that the Prime Amulet was in his hands. However, once the crowd realized that his Prime Amulet was actually a fake, there would surely be a huge uproar. In an instant, the Hundred Schools of Philosophers would draw the ire of everyone present in the square.
Zhang Xuan could not help but wonder how they would salvage the situation later on.
But other than that, there was also one thing that piqued Zhang Xuan's curiosity. If the Hundred Schools of Philosophers truly thought that they had claimed the real Prime Amulet, why did they declare their possession of it and even offer to share the slots with other powers?
Were they not simply asking for trouble?
"The Prime Amulet is the key to entering the Prime Amulet, so I believe that none of you will have any qualms with us taking away a third of the slots on the grounds that we are in possession of it, right?" Ancient Sage Yan Qing stowed the amulet back into his storage ring before turning to address the crowd.
"I have no objections to that." Old Geezer Yu was the first one to voice his approval.
"We are fine with it as well."
"Sounds rational to me."
The others hesitated for a moment before expressing their agreement as well.
Without the Prime Amulet, even if the Prime Hall opened, they would only be able to watch helplessly from the outside. It could be said to be a very fair arrangement for the Hundred School Philosophers to only take away a third of the total slots.
Seeing that he had everyone's agreement, Ancient Sage Yan Qing heaved a sigh of relief inwardly before continuing. "Since our Hundred Schools of Philosophers have taken away five slots, we'll first distribute a slot each to the four powers respectively as a token of goodwill so as to prevent any unnecessary conflict. It should be fine, right?"
"I have no issues with that," the White Overlord replied.
Considering how the Beast Tribe had obtained nothing so far, it would take anything that it could get.
The experts of the Master Teacher Pavilion also glanced at one another and hesitated for a moment before eventually nodding in agreement.
They were not in a good position to negotiate either, so they could only make do as well.
"Nine out of the fifteen slots of the Prime Amulet have been taken up so far. How do you intend to distribute the remaining six slots?" Old Geezer Yu asked.
"It's very simple!" As if expecting such a question, Ancient Sage Yan Qing chuckled softly before replying. "We will have to open the entrance of the Prime Hall in order to enter its premises, and in order to do so, we'll need the cruxes of the six outer dimensions. Each of these six cruxes will correspond to a slot. Whoever is in possession of a crux will be given a slot. I believe that none of you will have any qualms with such an arrangement, right?"
"This…"
"I guess it's fair."
"If we wish to enter the Prime Hall, we'll have to open it first. It's only right to reward those who have aided in the opening of the Prime Hall, so they are indeed entitled to a slot each…"
The Ancient Sages nodded in agreement.
In this negotiation, the only ones who had a voice were the Ancient Sages. Great Sage cultivators had no say in the matter at all.
A crux corresponds to a slot each? Zhang Xuan was taken aback. He scratched his head blankly as he pondered, I seem to have quite a few cruxes with me at the moment…
Chapter 1761: Cruxes
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97
Previously, he had been wondering why Ancient Sage Yan Qing, despite being the strongest Ancient Sage in the area and in possession of the Prime Amulet, would offer to distribute the slots, thus giving other powers the opportunity to lay their hands on the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn.
However, he swiftly understood why after hearing those words.
Even with the Prime Amulet in hand, it would be futile if the Hundred Schools of Philosophers was unable to open the entrance to the Prime Hall.
And the key to opening the Prime Hall were the cruxes of the six outer dimensions!
As far as he knew, it seemed like… he had obtained four of the cruxes all by himself.
"It seems like Little Amulet isn't completely useless after all!" Zhang Xuan widened his eyes in realization.
He had been rather perplexed when he heard that his parents had been teleported right to the vicinity of the Prime Hall due to the Celestial Amulet of Legacy in their possession. He had thought that Little Amulet was not working properly—there should not have been any reason for him to be teleported into the outer dimensions. However, when he looked back, there was indeed no mistake at all!
He had to enter the outer dimensions in order to obtain the cruxes because they were crucial to opening the Prime Hall. Otherwise, even with the Prime Amulet, he would only have been able to stand helplessly outside the Prime Hall, unable to do a thing at all.
"The Ancient Sages are restricted from entering any of the six outer dimensions, so I can't verify where the cruxes are at the moment. However, the fact that the Prime Hall has surfaced shows that the cruxes of the six outer dimensions have been taken away. I have no doubt that the cruxes are among us now. As long as you are willing to take it out, you'll be able to exchange it for a slot for your own power!" Ancient Sage Yan Qing announced.
Due to the restrictions on Ancient Sages, he was unable to travel freely within the Temple of Confucius, so he could not be certain who was in possession of the cruxes.
If Ancient Sage Yan Qing had been able to ascertain the whereabouts of the cruxes, he would have been able to approach the owners privately and strike deals with them. It was precisely because they could not ascertain the whereabouts that they had been left with no choice but to gather everyone in the square and propose an open distribution of the slots.
"Why don't I start first?"
Seeing that there was no movement from the crowd, Ancient Sage Yan Qing smiled lightly as he tapped his finger in front of him. A book materialized before him, and he flicked it lightly.
Wuuuuuuuu!
The book immediately flew for the Prime Hall. It fitted perfectly in one of the apertures by the side of the entrance before emanating a light glow, seemingly indicating that it was a correct fit.
Taking a closer look at the entrance, Zhang Xuan realized that there were three apertures on both sides of the entrance. All in all, they corresponded to the cruxes of the six outer dimensions.
"That is the crux of the book ocean dimension, which corresponds to the Great Kui Hall of Literature. Our Hundred Schools of Philosophers managed to obtain it, so we are entitled to another slot!" Ancient Sage Yan Qing said.
The Hundred Schools of Philosophers had five slots due to their possession of the Prime Amulet, and they had just obtained an additional one. With this, they had taken nearly half of all fifteen slots. In other words, no matter how the remaining slots were distributed, they would still be the greatest winner there, so there was no need for them to worry.
After slotting the book into one of the six apertures, Ancient Sage Yan Qing turned to the crowd and said, "Those who have obtained any of the other cruxes, I'll have to ask you to please take them out. Don't worry. With the Ancient Sages from the four major powers standing here, no one will dare rob you of your slot and possession. If you feel that your cultivation is lacking and would like to relinquish your slot, you can trade it for other resources. As long as it's within our means to do so, the Hundred Schools of Philosophers will fulfill your demands!"
"This…"
"Where are the remaining cruxes?"
"Argh! If I'd known in advance, I would have tried my best to search for the cruxes. At the very least, I would have been able to obtain at least a single slot for my power…"
"Who would have thought that the six outer dimensions would play such a crucial role?"
…
Intense discussions could be heard amid the crowd.
The cultivators present were glancing at one another, hoping to know where the cruxes were and who had taken them away.
Seeing that no one was stepping out from the crowd, an inconspicuous frown appeared on Ancient Sage Yan Qing's forehead, and he continued his persuasion. "Are you worried that we won't keep our promises? With so many Ancient Sages here, we can put our honor on the line to promise you that whatever artifact the crux is, we'll only use it to open the Prime Hall. Once the entrance to the Prime Hall opens, we'll return your possession to you!"
If only he had the cruxes in his possession, he would have activated the Prime Hall immediately. There would have been no need for him to waste his breath on this.
At this moment, an eerie voice suddenly sounded from the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe.
"I know where the cruxes of the forest dimension and desert dimension are…"
The person who had just spoken was none other than Old Geezer Yu.
Ancient Sage Yan Qing immediately shifted his gaze over and anxiously asked, "Where are they?"
If even a single crux was missing, they would never be able to open the Prime Hall and enter its midst. In other words, the expedition would come to a standstill.
"It's in the hands of the lad who tamed the White Overlord's descendants!" Old Geezer Yu harrumphed coldly.
"Him?"
Ancient Sage Yan Qing and the other Ancient Sages swiftly turned to Zhang Xuan.
"This…"
Seeing that everyone's eyes were upon him, he could not help but scratch his head awkwardly. He was still in the midst of assessing the current situation when Old Geezer Yu suddenly rooted him out.
"My young friend, may I ask if the cruxes of the forest dimension and desert dimension are really in your hands?" Ancient Sage Yan Qing asked.
Knowing that there was no way that he could hide it anymore, he honestly replied, "I believe so. However, the cruxes of the two dimensions are living beings, so I'm a little skeptical as to whether they can fit into the apertures there."
The crux of the forest dimension was the Five Monarchs, and the crux to the desert dimension was the tree root. Considering that both of them were living beings, how could they be stuffed into the aperture by the door?
"It doesn't matter whether they are living beings or not. As long as you take them out, they'll automatically fit into the aperture once they come into proximity with the Prime Hall," Ancient Sage Yan Qing replied.
"I see…" Zhang Xuan nodded contemplatively.
With a flick of his wrist, he took out the Five Monarchs and gestured them forward.
Hu!
As if attracted by some kind of mysterious force, the bodies of the Five Monarchs were drawn uncontrollably toward the entrance of the Prime Hall. At the same time, their figures kept contracting until they became something similar to the round plate of a Yin-Yang compass.
Kacha!
The round plate fixed itself onto the aperture and emanated a light glow.
"This…"
Surprised by the happenings, Zhang Xuan could not help being taken aback for a moment.
Seeing that it was working, Ancient Sage Yan Qing heaved a sigh of relief. "Since you are in possession of the crux of the forest dimension, you have just won an additional slot for the Master Teacher Pavilion. If the crux of the desert dimension is still with you at the moment, you should quickly take it out as well."
Zhang Xuan nodded in response.
With a flick of his wrist, a tree root appeared on his palm.
Similar to the Five Monarchs, it was swiftly drawn to the entrance of the Prime Hall before finally being embedded into one of the apertures. The light shrouding the entrance suddenly intensified, as if heralding the impending opening of the Prime Hall.
"Great!" Ancient Sage Yan Qing nodded in agitation. "We are still lacking the cruxes of the poison dimension, stone forest dimension, and four seasons dimension. May I invite those who are in possession of those cruxes to step forward and help us open the Prime Hall?"
His voice echoed across the square, but no one amid the crowd stepped forward. It was as if the cruxes of the three remaining outer dimensions had vanished without a trace.
"Could it be that the cultivators who have obtained the cruxes of those three dimensions didn't come to this square? Or perhaps, have the three cruxes not yet been obtained?"
"That's impossible. Without retrieving the cruxes, the gates of the six outer dimensions wouldn't have connected with one another!"
…
Seeing that no one was stepping forward, all of the Ancient Sages could not help but frown.
Taking a deep breath, Ancient Sage Yan Qing declared once more, "Allow me to reassure whoever's in possession of the cruxes that no one will make a move on you. I, Yan Qing, promise with the honor of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers that I'll ensure your safety, and anyone who dares to make a move on you will have to suffer my wrath!"
By then, a seed of worry had sprouted in the depths of his mind. Things were not going well. As long as those in possession of the cruxes refused to step forward, the Prime Hall would never be opened. At this rate, they might have to resort to other means.
Ancient Sage Yan Qing was just about to make one last reassurance when Zhang Xuan timidly raised his hand and said, "I think that the cruxes of the poison dimension and four seasons dimension might be with me as well!"
"They are with you? In other words, you have single handedly obtained the cruxes of four outer dimensions?"
Utter silence filled the surroundings.