Chapter 1341: Sage Family Hierarchy

Even knowing that Jian Qinsheng's sword philosophy differed from his own, he still wanted to go and see. What if he could find the missing elements needed for the Three Swords of Lingxu? Then he could easily challenge the A-ranked alley and condense a Heavenly Dao-level Out-of-Body cultivation technique.

Besides, everyone's cultivation methods are different. Only by finding common ground while respecting differences can one truly integrate knowledge and achieve greater progress!

"Let's go!"

Seeing his intention, Senior Sister Shui nodded, greeted Qingyu, and the two walked out of the Hall of Righteousness.

"Later, if his sword intent doesn't approve and the elder asks you to leave, it's best to turn around and go without a word! If you harbor any hope or say unnecessary things, I'm afraid you'll suffer the consequences!" Senior Sister Shui transmitted this message as they walked.

"Most sword cultivators have temperaments like swords—sharp, fierce, and straightforward. I understand that!"

To cultivate sword arts to the level of true comprehension means integrating one's entire being—essence, qi, and spirit—into it. This often changes one's personality accordingly.

Such individuals despise procrastination.

Just like the Sword Elder's remnant soul, he was decisive in his actions, even disappearing so quickly without any lingering attachment!

"Good that you know!" Senior Sister Shui sighed in relief.

To possess such strength at his age and comprehend sword arts to such a degree, his background must be extraordinary. She didn't want her good intentions to end up displeasing both parties.

Thinking about his identity, she couldn't help but feel curious: "Your name is Zhang Xuan... When did the Zhang Clan produce such a genius? I've never heard of you before."

"I am not from the Zhang Clan!"

Seeing that he had been misunderstood again, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"You're not?" Senior Sister Shui sounded a bit incredulous.

Not from the Zhang Clan, which means... he has no bloodline power. How did he achieve such strength at such a young age?

"I came from the Qingyuan Empire. The reason I'm somewhat strong is because I'm very... diligent!" Zhang Xuan explained.

"This..."

Considering that this guy had cleared eight alleys in less than two quarters of an hour, and now wanted to learn sword arts... Senior Sister Shui couldn't help but nod. "To reach such strength at such a young age as a rogue cultivator, you truly are dedicated!"

"Senior Sister Shui, you just used your bloodline power. Are you... also from a Saint Clan?"

Zhang Xuan also voiced his question.

"You... don't know me?"

Shui Qianrou was truly speechless.

Although her strength was only at the peak of the Out-of-Body realm, she was renowned in the outer court of the Saint Son Hall due to her status and beauty, considered a prominent figure. Yet, this guy didn't even know her origin... Was he serious?

"This is the first time I've met Senior Sister Shui today, so how would I know you..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"First time meeting?" Senior Sister Shui finally reacted, her beautiful eyes widening. "Don't tell me you're one of the students who passed the entrance exam today?"

"That's right!"

"You just passed the exam, then immediately came to challenge the Hall of Righteousness, clearing eight alleys in one go?" Swallowing, Senior Sister Shui's face twitched uncontrollably.

These new students are ridiculously impressive, aren't they?

She, who had been studying here for so long, couldn't even get past a C-ranked alley, yet this guy cleared eight as soon as he arrived?

"Oh, I finished my exam around noon. First, I went to the Hall of Wisdom, took the Eight-Star Formation Master exam, and after passing, I set up an Eighth-level formation. Then I chatted with someone for an hour, returned to my residence, took a bath, and only then came to the Hall of Righteousness..."

Recalling the events, Zhang Xuan said.

Senior Sister Shui's body stiffened.

The Eight-Star Formation Master exam was incredibly difficult to pass; even the Little Princess of the Luo Clan's elder brother failed it twice in a row... Yet, judging by this guy's tone, taking the exam was as simple as going for a stroll?

The most crucial part was... even for a formation master of that level, setting up an Eighth-level formation would take at least three to five months to complete... He became a Saint Son Hall student at noon, completed setting up a formation, chatted, and arrived at the Hall of Righteousness all by afternoon, before nightfall...

His speed was simply too fast!

"How long... did it take you to pass the Eight-Star Formation Master exam?"

She couldn't hold back anymore and asked.

"Well..." Zhang Xuan frowned, recalling carefully for a long moment. "If you don't count the assessment of my strength... maybe five or six minutes! Mainly, Elder Su delayed things a bit; otherwise, it would have been faster!"

"Five or six minutes..."

She swayed again, feeling utterly devastated by the blow.

She also wanted to take the Eight-Star Formation Master exam, but unfortunately, her cultivation was too low and she wasn't qualified, so she had never succeeded. Yet, this person, with even lower cultivation than hers, passed the exam in mere minutes...

The more she thought about it, the more disheartened she became, feeling a sharp pain in her chest and struggling to breathe.

"Oh, right, you still haven't answered me: Are you from a Saint Clan?"

Seeing the girl's face alternate between red and pale, then clutching her chest, looking almost deranged, Zhang Xuan frowned and asked.

"My name is Shui Qianrou, and I am from the Saint Clan Shui!"

Forcing down the shock in her heart, Senior Sister Shui Qianrou replied.

"The Saint Clan Shui?"

Zhang Xuan paused, then remembered something and asked with curiosity: "I once knew someone from the Saint Clan Mu who cultivated wood-attributed techniques. Water, wood... Are there clans related to the Five Elements among the Saint Clans?"

Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that the Shui Clan cultivates water-attributed techniques and the Mu Clan cultivates wood-attributed power?

"The Five Element Clans are first-tier clans among the Saint Clans. You... don't even know this?"

Shui Qianrou was truly speechless.

Although the Five Element Clans are first-tier, they have always been closely united, acting as one, making even the Zhang and Luo Clans wary of them... Yet, this person, who has already been admitted to the Saint Son Hall, has never heard of this?

How incredibly ignorant!

However, a moment of thought brought understanding.

The Qingyuan Empire was a small, remote place; it was normal for it to lack records about Saint Clans.

You can't discuss ice with a summer insect, nor the ocean with a frog in a well, nor the Dao with a mortal!

The same principle applied.

Thinking this, she shook her head and said, "Saint Clans are divided into several ranks. You... must have heard of that, right?"

"Mm!"

Within the Eight Great Empires, there were also Saint Clans, like the one Xue Ning, the Third Young Master Xue, belonged to, but they were all third-tier.

"Saint Clans are divided into four ranks. First are the Super Clans, whose status, while not quite matching the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters, is still a cut above the Alchemist Guild headquarters and the Artifact Forger Guild headquarters! They hold absolute authority and esteemed positions on the continent... These are the Zhang, Luo, and Jiang Clans!"

Shui Qianrou explained, "Second are the first-tier clans, which include the Five Element Clans. The Shui Clan and Mu Clan are among them! Some major powers are also in this category, such as the Glacial Palace and the Alchemist Guild..."

"Oh!"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

He had always known that the Zhang and Luo Clans were formidable super-behemoths, but he hadn't realized they were first-tier clans, holding even higher status than the Alchemist Guild headquarters.

No wonder Master Wu and the others had been so worried when they heard he was fond of the Little Princess of the Luo Clan.

"Third are the second-tier clans, whose status is comparable to that of the Empire Alliance! There are many clans of this rank, over a hundred. As for the third-tier clans, they are similar to the Conferred Empires, scattered everywhere, and their numbers are too vast to count precisely."

Shui Qianrou briefly but thoroughly explained the four ranks of Saint Clans.

With this explanation, he understood.

If Super Clans like the Zhang and Luo Clans were compared to a Conferred Empire like Qingyuan, then the Five Element Clans would be like a first-tier empire such as Hongyuan, second-tier clans akin to a second-tier empire like Huanyu, and third-tier clans like the Xue Clan would be comparable to a Kingdom Alliance.

It seemed that the Saint Clans also had a strict hierarchical structure.

"One of my... friends is from the Saint Clan Yuan. I wonder what rank the Yuan Clan is?"

Since the Glacial Palace was comparable to a first-tier clan, he wondered what rank the Yuan Clan was. If it was too low... he should consider bringing him back.

Seeing that he truly knew nothing, Shui Qianrou's face filled with helplessness. "For the Five Element Clans, the Mu, Shui, and Jin Clans all have surnames corresponding to their element. The Fire Clan's surname is Chi, so the Saint Clan Chi is the Fire Clan among the Five Elements! And the Earth Clan's surname is Yuan. If your friend is from the Saint Clan Yuan, then they are indeed the Earth Clan of the Five Elements!"

"The Earth Clan of the Five Elements? A first-tier clan?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

He hadn't expected the Yuan Clan to be so powerful.

"That's right, and not only that, the Yuan Clan is the most powerful among the Five Elements, with immense, formidable strength and unrivaled defense..." Shui Qianrou said.

Although the Shui Clan's cultivation techniques and bloodline power could encompass all things and overcome hardness with softness, their offensive power was still too weak!

Among the Five Elements, the Jin Clan had the strongest offensive power, but in terms of formidable power and defense, the Yuan Clan was second to none.

"That's good then..."

Hearing how powerful the Yuan Clan was, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Since that was the case, he no longer needed to worry about Yuan Tao.

Such a powerful clan would certainly have ways to help him improve quickly. It was even possible that his cultivation was now on par with Zhao Ya's.

"This is my teacher's residence. Try to speak as little as possible later..."

As she was speaking, Shui Qianrou stopped her explanation and sent a telepathic message.

Looking up, he realized they had walked quite a distance and arrived at a spacious courtyard. Before even entering, he felt sword intents swirling, as if he had returned to the Sword Pool.

"So this is where Elder Jian Qinsheng lives? Truly extraordinary!"

Zhang Xuan's expression turned serious.

As expected of a grandmaster of sword arts no weaker than the Sword Elder, even Zhang Xuan, who had comprehended the true essence of sword arts, felt his aura suppressed upon suddenly arriving, making it difficult to circulate his energy.

"There's a sword qi at the entrance that blocks ordinary students. I'll go in first to inform my teacher and have him let you in, then we can talk about the rest..."

Taking a deep breath, Shui Qianrou approached the courtyard gate. Just as she was about to step inside, she saw a wisp of sword qi spinning erratically at the young man's fingertips, trying to escape but unable to.

"Sword qi? You mean this one?"