Chapter 1443: Researching the Hall Master's Order

Ever since I left the Saint Son Hall, I've been sneezing non-stop. The person who's thinking of me must be incredibly persistent!

"I still need to keep a low profile. Otherwise, if Luo Ruoxi finds out that so many people like me, she'll definitely be displeased..."

Zhang Xuan nodded to himself, a surge of emotion filling his heart.

To be honest, he truly had been more low-key lately compared to before. He had merely broken into the Master Teacher Tower...

Otherwise, would the Cultivation Art Forest, the Master Teacher Tower, and even the inner courtyard and Kuang Saint statue still be in one piece?

They would surely have been reduced to ruins long ago.

"Maintaining a low profile is so exhausting..."

He rubbed his forehead.

If he hadn't been aiming for a low profile, he would have long since acquired the Ruthless Man's sternum and caused an even greater sensation by challenging numerous Saint Sons. But to avoid attracting too much attention, he simply broke into the Master Teacher Tower and set a few records, which was incredibly difficult to restrain.

Still, it was for the best, as it aligned with his excellent quality of not liking to show off.

Having cultivated for so long, he had long understood the importance of maintaining a low profile. He was not like his clone, who enjoyed showing off.

After a moment of reflection, he flipped his wrist, and a token appeared in his palm. He looked down at it.

It was precisely the Hall Master Token that Kuang Saint had given him.

When he became an 8-star Master Teacher, one layer of the seal on it had been lifted. However, he hadn't had time to examine it closely then. Now, with some free time, it was the perfect opportunity to study it carefully.

The Hall Master Token now emitted a soft, warm glow. As his palm gently brushed over it, he immediately felt a surge of consciousness transmit from it. He remained seated, yet his mind felt as though it had been drawn into a unique space.

Kuang Saint's consciousness manifested before him, a faint smile gracing his face.

"To become an 8-star Master Teacher so swiftly, your rate of progress has truly exceeded my expectations!"

His voice was tinged with satisfaction and relief. "By the way, to what extent have you cultivated the Nine Nether Divine Eyes? Allow me to check!"

"Well... I haven't actually practiced it yet," Zhang Xuan admitted, a touch of embarrassment in his voice.

That eye technique contained too many flaws; he genuinely had no desire to cultivate it. He hadn't even bothered to look at it since he acquired it.

Kuang Saint frowned. "If you don't cultivate it, how will you break the seal and truly inherit the position of Hall Master?"

The primary requirement for becoming Hall Master was to possess the Eye of Insight. Without practicing the eye technique, one simply wouldn't be qualified.

"I really want to cultivate it, but this particular cultivation method is too... never mind. Do you perhaps have any other eye technique cultivation methods here that I could refer to?"

Fearing that listing too many flaws might cause the spiritual manifestation to dissipate, Zhang Xuan hesitated before speaking.

To learn it, he first needed to perfect it into a Heaven's Path cultivation method. Otherwise, he certainly didn't want to become colorblind or blind before even mastering it.

"Eye techniques are profoundly mysterious; only my teacher, Ancient Sage Bo Shang, possessed the ability to create them. How could there be any elsewhere?" Kuang Saint looked at him. "If there’s anything you don't understand, feel free to ask, and I will explain!"

"Not for now, thank you…"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

It seemed this Kuang Saint was not as capable as Ancient Sage Qiu Wu. The latter's spiritual manifestation was capable of communication, whereas this one clearly had no knowledge of their previous conversation.

"No need?"

Kuang Saint's face clouded with displeasure. "What kind of attitude is that? To become the Hall Master, you must learn the Nine Nether Eye Technique. I've spent countless years immersed in it, accumulating endless insights. Do you truly believe your understanding surpasses mine...?"

"Senior, please don't rush to discuss the eye technique. I actually have something I'd like to ask you about..."

Too disinclined to listen to the other party's insights on the eye technique, Zhang Xuan recalled something else and posed a question.

"Speak!"

Kuang Saint waved a hand, adopting the demeanor of a profound master.

"In the inner courtyard of the Saint Son Hall, within your stone statue, there appears to be the skeleton of an Otherworldly Demon… How did you manage to suppress its aura so completely that no one could detect it?"

He voiced the question that had been lingering in his mind.

Ever since he made that discovery upon entering the inner courtyard, he had been puzzled by it, but he hadn't managed to figure it out until now.

Since Kuang Saint's consciousness had reappeared, it was the perfect chance to get a clear answer.

"You... you know there's an Otherworldly Demon skeleton inside my statue?"

Kuang Saint's face went pale, instantly losing his composed demeanor. Instead, his eyes widened in utter disbelief.

"Yes, it appears to be the skeleton of an Otherworldly Demon from ancient times, one known as the Ruthless Man!"

Zhang Xuan chuckled.

As a grand-disciple of Confucius, Kuang Saint should certainly have heard of the Ruthless Great Emperor.

"You... you know the Ruthless Man?" Kuang Saint’s facial muscles twitched once more.

"You sealed his sternum within the stone statue. How did you manage to prevent any trace of its aura from leaking out...?"

"This…"

Seeing that Zhang Xuan spoke with such clarity, devoid of any speculation, Kuang Saint paused. "Since you've already discerned it, there’s no harm in telling you... That is indeed the sternum of the Ruthless Great Emperor! When I discovered it back then, it had already developed its own consciousness. To prevent its revival, I borrowed Master Teacher Kong's power to suppress it."

"Master Teacher Kong's power?"

"Yes, the inner courtyard happens to be at the core of the formation created by the five great halls—Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trust. With Master Teacher Kong's personal writings there, combined with the flourishing destiny of humanity, even the Ruthless Man’s powerful sternum is suppressed, leaving it with no capacity to resist!"

Kuang Saint explained slowly.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuan mentally reviewed the positions of the inner courtyard and the five great halls. Indeed, he realized that the inner courtyard lay at the core of a formation within the Saint Son Hall.

No wonder it possessed such dense spiritual energy and a cultural atmosphere so conducive to learning.

"When the Ruthless Great Emperor battled Master Teacher Kong back then, his strength had long surpassed that of an Ancient Sage; it was beyond my ability to contend with. To thoroughly suppress him and prevent his revival, this was indeed the only method…"

Shaking his head, Kuang Saint looked at him with a gaze full of bewilderment. "This sternum, sealed within the statue, has its aura suppressed to the extent that not a single trace can be detected. Your Eye of Insight is only at the third realm; how did you manage to perceive it?"

Throughout history, numerous Hall Masters whose comprehension of the Eye of Insight surpassed his own had failed to detect this skeleton under these very circumstances. Yet, this individual not only saw it but was also so certain. How did he manage it?

"It was merely a fortunate coincidence…"

Zhang Xuan offered no further explanation.

Given his own strength, he certainly couldn't suppress the Ruthless Man; he relied on the Heaven's Path Grimoire. This involved the Library of Heaven's Path, and even if the other party was merely a spiritual manifestation, there was no need to disclose it.

"Regardless of how you perceived it, I must warn you: absolutely do not tamper with it. Otherwise, even if you reach the Ninth Layer of the Saint realm, you might not be able to contend with it…"

Seeing his reluctance to elaborate, Kuang Saint ceased his inquiries but still imparted a crucial warning.

"What if I'm confident I can tame this sternum and prevent it from causing trouble? Would I then be permitted to remove it?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

Possessing the Heaven's Path Grimoire, along with the Ruthless Man’s heart and brain, he was absolutely certain he could subdue this sternum. His only concern was how to unseal it without disrupting the inner courtyard or the statue.

"Tame it?"

Hearing this, Kuang Saint paused, then shook his head. "You can tame the Ruthless Man? What a jest! Master Teacher Kong himself couldn't achieve that back then; do you truly believe you can accomplish it?"