Chapter 1314: Want to Be the Hall Master?

"When you teleported, you used your Eye of Insight, which caused fluctuations in the formation, sending you here!" Seeing his confusion, the elder explained.

The Saint Son Hall's teleportation formation can transport individuals to different locations for specialized assessments based on their strengths. As soon as this young man entered the formation, he activated his Eye of Insight and was naturally sent here.

The first trial, a mirage formation, was designed to test the extent of his innate ability's application. Only after breaking through it could he meet the elder.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood. It wasn't surprising that such a powerful teleportation formation could be set up, capable of detecting the active and unconcealed Eye of Insight.

"You just said my Eye of Insight has reached the state of 'meticulous precision, accurate to the slightest detail'... What does that mean?" Zhang Xuan asked, looking over.

Since acquiring the Eye of Insight, he had focused on cultivation, never mentioning it to others or actively showing it off, so he didn't realize it had different cultivation realms.

"The Eye of Insight is a rare ability that automatically awakens in some gifted individuals when they reach the Six-star Master Teacher realm. Throughout the history of the continent, such individuals have been few. Depending on the degree of recognition and power, it is divided into different levels!"

The elder stroked his beard: "The first realm allows one to discern truth from falsehood, to break through illusions and see through all disguises, except those deliberately concealed by treasures!"

Zhang Xuan nodded. Indeed, when he first awakened his Eye of Insight, all disguises were useless before him. It was precisely because of this that he was able to see Luo Ruoxi's true appearance and be captivated by her beauty.

"The second realm, as I just mentioned, is 'meticulous precision, accurate to the slightest detail'! Upon reaching this realm, simply observing any object allows one to analyze its weight, size, material, and so on, with absolute accuracy. One can also easily discern the strengths and weaknesses of martial arts and techniques!" the elder continued.

Zhang Xuan understood, his eyes filled with curiosity: "Is there a third realm? What is it?"

At this moment, even without special effort, simply using his Eye of Insight, he could indeed achieve meticulous precision down to the slightest detail. It seemed he had reached this realm. However... why did he feel like his Eye of Insight already possessed this ability from the moment it first appeared?

"The third realm is 'returning to simplicity, seeing through concealment, finding the origin, tracing the essence'! Upon reaching this realm, one can perceive the most fundamental aspects of treasures and martial arts. Even faint, vanished traces can be easily discerned. For example, if someone flees, no matter how well they hide, traces will remain, and with the Eye of Insight at this realm, they can be easily seen!" the elder said.

"Uh..." Zhang Xuan blinked. He had been somewhat puzzled moments ago, but now he fully understood... This ability was present as soon as he acquired the Eye of Insight, so it wasn't a big deal, was it? This was the so-called third realm? How did he possess it as soon as it activated?

"Upon reaching this realm, there are almost no secrets that can be hidden from you among those of the same cultivation level. With a glance, you can tell if someone is speaking truthfully or intentionally concealing something, and you can even discern the strengths and weaknesses of cultivation techniques. As long as you don't perish, achieving Nine-star Master Teacher status at this realm won't be too difficult!" The elder nodded.

Zhang Xuan remained silent. The elder was right. His rapid progress was partly due to the Path to Heaven cultivation technique, but his Eye of Insight was also a crucial factor. Without this ability, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to advance to his current level.

"Then... is there a fourth realm?" he continued to ask. He had already reached the first three realms. Was there a so-called fourth realm? If there was, considering an upgrade for his Eye of Insight would be a good idea.

"Of course there is. Upon reaching this realm, one can cultivate 'Eye Techniques,' forming formation patterns within the eyes to unleash power comparable to or even exceeding martial arts! According to my teacher's understanding, this realm is called 'Vajra's Furious Gaze, Subduing Tigers and Demons.' Once mastered, wherever one's gaze falls, the sky itself can be torn apart, its power limitless, no less potent than Ancient Sage Qiu Wu's Spatial Derivations Heavenly Tome!" The elder's expression was solemn, his gaze filled with pride.

"Comparable to the Spatial Derivations Heavenly Tome?" Zhang Xuan was astonished.

He didn't know about other things, but he had cultivated the Spatial Derivations Heavenly Tome. Its five realms became progressively profound; mastering them all was equivalent to controlling space itself, allowing one to traverse it and move long distances without teleportation formations. This ultimate skill was the most exquisite he had ever encountered, far more powerful than the 'Sealing the Sage's Explanation.' If it could be perfected into a Path to Heaven cultivation technique and fully comprehended, even a peak Spirit Origin Realm practitioner could easily overpower cultivators at Saint Realm Sixth or Seventh Dan. Back then, Ancient Sage Qiu Wu relied on this ultimate skill to seal the Otherworldly Demons for tens of thousands of years, preventing their entry into the continent and ensuring humanity's peace. A 'Pupil Technique' comparable to such a peerless skill would indeed be extraordinarily powerful!

"Eye Techniques... May I ask who your esteemed teacher is?" Unable to contain his curiosity, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask. He had heard that Ancient Sage Bu Shang, one of Confucius's direct disciples, possessed the Eye of Insight and had created Eye Techniques, capable of obliterating thousands of Otherworldly Demons with a single glance. Could this elder, who also spoke of Eye Techniques, have some connection?

"My esteemed teacher is Ancient Sage Bu Shang, one of Confucius's Ten Sages! My teacher established the Saint Son Hall and then departed. I was the first head of this academy, and the rules for challenging the mountain gate were set by me!" Seeing his reaction, the elder smiled.

"The first head?" Zhang Xuan's eyes widened. He had thought it was just a residual soul passing by, but unexpectedly, it was the first head!

"I heard that to become the head of the Saint Son Hall, one must possess the Eye of Insight... Does this mean, Senior, that you also possess this talent?" he couldn't help but ask.

"That's right, I also possess the Eye of Insight. At my peak, I cultivated it to the fourth realm, achieving the 'Vajra's Furious Gaze, Subduing Tigers and Demons' state! Requiring the Eye of Insight to become the head was indeed my rule. My purpose is simple: my esteemed teacher left Confucius's teachings to be passed down to the world, and I also wish to leave my teacher's legacy, so that the world may know of such a selfless Ancient Sage!" The elder nodded, looking at him with a calm expression: "Therefore... historically, any student who enters this academy and possesses the Eye of Insight will be directed here to undergo my assessment!"

Zhang Xuan understood. No wonder he hadn't seen anyone else; his assessment must be entirely different from others.

"I don't yet know your esteemed name..." Realizing this, Zhang Xuan respectfully clasped his hands. This elder, by lineage, was a grand-disciple of Confucius, a true historical figure, and the first head of the Saint Son Hall, who had greatly expanded its influence. From every perspective, he deserved profound respect, and Zhang Xuan dared not show the slightest disrespect.

"My name is ancient and not worth mentioning. At that time, the world respectfully addressed me as Ancient Sage Kui!" The elder nodded.

"This junior, Zhang Xuan, greets Ancient Sage Kui!" Zhang Xuan clasped his hands. He had always held a reverent attitude towards such ancient sages and luminaries. Just as when he faced Ancient Sage Qiu Wu, he had earnestly discussed the merits and demerits of cultivation techniques with him, without holding back any knowledge.

"Mm!" Ancient Sage Kui's spirit form continued: "You easily discerned and broke through the mirage formation I left, which indicates that your Eye of Insight has reached the realm of 'discerning truth from falsehood, breaking through illusions.' And you accurately determined the weight of the iron pestle and formulated the dissolving medicine, which shows you've reached the second realm... However, to become a candidate for the Head, you must at least reach the third realm, 'returning to simplicity, seeing through concealment'!"

"Head candidate?" Zhang Xuan blinked. He had only come to assess students; how did the conversation shift to assessing a Head?

"Indeed. Every head of the Saint Son Hall throughout history has needed to possess the Eye of Insight. Because of this, over tens of thousands of years, there have been multiple periods without a true head. Since my time, there have only been eight in total. You possess this talent, making you eligible to be a candidate... Oh, I haven't asked yet, do you wish to become the tenth head of the Saint Son Hall?" Ancient Sage Kui's spirit form looked at him.

"Naturally!" Zhang Xuan nodded quickly. Once he became the head, his status and position would be worthy of Luo Ruoxi, and the Luo family would have to seriously consider his proposal of marriage.

"That's good. However, being the head isn't just about possessing the Eye of Insight. You'll also need to undergo various assessments of your strength, character, and comprehension! Only by passing these will you be qualified." Ancient Sage Kui's spirit form said.

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded. He had previously heard that Master Teachers with the Eye of Insight were extremely rare, but he hadn't realized they were *this* rare. Since the elder's time, there had only been eight others... If each sage lived for a thousand years... that meant the Saint Son Hall had been without a true head for most of its existence. No wonder he was teleported here as soon as he entered to undergo this trial; it seemed they had finally found a Master Teacher with the Eye of Insight and naturally wished to cultivate him into a head.

"How will the assessment be conducted?" he couldn't help but ask.

"As I said earlier, to become a candidate for the Head, your Eye of Insight needs to reach the third realm. I will assess you on that now. Only if you achieve it can we proceed to the next assessment!" Ancient Sage Kui's spirit form smiled: "The third realm of the Eye of Insight is 'returning to simplicity, seeing through concealment, finding the origin, tracing the essence'! I have an item here; I will give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to observe it. If you can describe its essence with absolute accuracy, you will pass."

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan nodded. Identifying items was his forte; he hadn't failed once since leaving Tianxuan Kingdom.

"Very good!" Ancient Sage Kui's spirit form nodded, then lightly grabbed something, and a small earthenware pot appeared before Zhang Xuan.

"You just need to tell me what is contained within this earthenware pot!"

"Contained what?" Zhang Xuan frowned. The earthenware pot looked quite ordinary, made entirely of fired pottery with nothing special about it. However, it had special talismans affixed to it, preventing divine sense from probing it.

Taking a deep breath, countless patterns swirled in his eyes, and Zhang Xuan couldn't help but gaze towards the pot's opening. As his Eye of Insight operated, the earthenware pot before him seemed to come alive, emitting an astonishing aura, like a giant sun radiating light. This made it impossible to see clearly, let alone discern what might be hidden within.

"How am I supposed to see this?" His brow furrowed. The intense light made his eyes ache, and he couldn't see anything at all! He couldn't even find clues or make deductions.