Chapter 1575: Continental Secrets

"Ancient Sage?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted, filled with disbelief. "Didn't you say that Ancient Sages couldn't break through?"

Previously, Teacher Yang had mentioned that it was extremely difficult for an Ancient Sage to advance, and even he was stuck at that level, unable to make progress, only able to wander the world seeking opportunities. If that were the case, how could this Spirit Emperor be so powerful?

"My estimate of him being at the Ancient Sage level is already the most conservative; his cultivation is likely even higher!"

Seeing his confusion, Teacher Yang's expression also turned serious. He paused before explaining, "It's true that Ancient Sages on the Master Teacher Continent find it very difficult to break through, but the Soul Oracles and humans have entirely different life structures and physiques! Their methods of breaking through are also different. As for whether they can break through, I'm not entirely sure, but... this Spirit Emperor definitely didn't achieve his breakthrough in the last ten thousand years!"

"What do you mean?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

If he didn't break through in the last ten thousand years, could it be that he reached the Ancient Sage level ten thousand years ago?

That couldn't be!

Although the Ancient Sage realm was profound, their lifespans weren't infinite. Otherwise, Kong shi and his many disciples wouldn't have disappeared.

"I even suspect that this Spirit Emperor is actually... the very one who once fought against Kong shi!" Teacher Yang's eyes narrowed.

"The one who fought Kong shi? Th-that's... Kong shi left the continent tens of thousands of years ago, didn't he?"

Zhang Xuan was startled.

Kong shi had left the Master Teacher Continent tens of thousands of years ago. Could the Spirit Emperor who fought him still be alive?

"Soul Oracles inherently possess long lifespans, and it's possible they also have certain temporal secret arts. It shouldn't be difficult for them to sleep for ten thousand years!" Teacher Yang explained. "There are actually many human powerhouses on the continent who have survived in this way!"

A tidal wave surged in Zhang Xuan's heart.

He had always thought that both cultivators and Soul Oracles could only choose death when their lifespan ran out... He never dreamed such secret arts existed!

Right, the Ruthless One was also a being who had fought Kong shi back then, and he too revived tens of thousands of years later.

The Spirit Emperor's status was only stronger, not weaker, than the Ruthless One's, so it was perfectly normal for him to possess a method to survive.

"This Spirit Emperor, who infiltrated the continent, is likely here for the Spring and Autumn Grand Ceremony. Even the Master Teacher Pavilion is completely clueless about his exact whereabouts! Therefore, it's best to be cautious in everything we do. A Celestial Master Teacher appears only once every tens of thousands of years. If he were to find out and charge in, given our current strength, we wouldn't be able to resist him at all!"

Teacher Yang's face was filled with worry.

"Understood!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

He had kept his identity as a Celestial Master Teacher hidden for so long; keeping it hidden a bit longer was nothing.

He just hadn't expected this Spirit Emperor to be so powerful.

"If he's that formidable, and there are no more Ancient Sages on the Master Teacher Continent, why don't they charge over and reoccupy the continent?"

Kong shi and his many disciples were no longer in this world, and the Spirit Emperor was an Ancient Sage powerhouse. It seemed only natural for him to lead the Soul Oracles back to conquer.

"They have charged many times, but suffered heavy losses. Otherwise, the Master Teacher Pavilion and the Combat Master Hall wouldn't need to be in a constant state of readiness." Seeing his confusion, Teacher Yang explained, "Furthermore, while no one on the Master Teacher Continent can break through to Ancient Sage now, that doesn't mean there are no Ancient Sages..."

"This..." Zhang Xuan blinked, growing increasingly confused.

If it was impossible to break through, how could there still be any?

"Didn't I just say? There are also many human powerhouses on the continent who have survived using temporal secret arts... The reason your Zhang Clan is able to be the foremost clan on the continent, with no one daring to bully you, and even the Master Teacher Pavilion showing you respect, is because... your clan also possesses such surviving powerhouses! However, they have been in a state of slumber and are only awakened when the continent truly faces danger!"

Teacher Yang stated.

"The Zhang Clan has... Ancient Sage level powerhouses?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

He had thought the strongest in the Zhang Clan were only Sword Saint Meng and First Elder Zhang Wuheng. He never expected them to possess such hidden secrets.

"Indeed. These are among the deepest secrets of the continent, and only true nine-star master teachers are qualified to know them. I hope Senior Brother will not spread this information..." Teacher Yang clasped his hands.

"Don't worry, I understand!"

Zhang Xuan replied.

"The Ancient Sages on the continent are mostly in slumber. Each time they fight, their lifespan is reduced, and eventually, they might perish completely. Therefore, it's impossible to awaken them to constantly protect Senior Brother. So, since the matter of the Celestial Master Teacher hasn't been leaked, don't be in a hurry to reveal it. Otherwise, no one knows what form this Spirit Emperor might take, or where he might appear, leading to unpredictable dangers."

At this point, Teacher Yang paused, his expression earnest: "Any of us can fall or die, but you, Senior Brother, cannot... You are a Celestial Master Teacher, an existence comparable to Kong shi. Whether humanity can prosper again and usher in another golden age filled with Ancient Sages depends solely on you!"

Zhang Xuan's heart trembled.

He hadn't expected this person before him to hold him in such high regard.

"I understand!"

Knowing the other's expectations, Zhang Xuan nodded, secretly feeling fortunate.

Fortunately, he was naturally low-key and hadn't widely publicized the matter of the Celestial Master Teacher. Otherwise, he probably would have long ago fallen victim to the Spirit Emperor's covetousness, dying without even knowing how.

"Junior Brother, you just mentioned that this Spirit Emperor is here for the Spring and Autumn Grand Ceremony. What exactly is going on?"

Zhang Xuan looked back at him.

The Spring and Autumn Grand Ceremony was legendary, said to be a supreme manual left behind by Kong shi, possessing world-shaking abilities. Previously, the World-Severing Heavenly Talisman that the Qingtian Royal Clan sought was precisely related to it.

"The Grand Ceremony is a supreme manual left by Kong shi that can alter spring and autumn and change time. After Kong shi left the continent, he placed it within the Kong Temple in Qufu. However... no one knows the exact location of the Kong Temple, and countless master teachers of later generations have been unable to find it."

"Legend has it that only by gathering all the World-Severing Heavenly Talismans can one open the path to enter the Kong Temple and find the Grand Ceremony... However, a year ago, for some unknown reason, space in Qufu became unstable, and some people seemed to vaguely glimpse the Kong Temple like a mirage. When this news broke, the continent was in an uproar. The Master Teacher Pavilion learned of it and immediately sealed off the source of information, but... the Soul Oracles still found out!"

"The Spring and Autumn Grand Ceremony is an unparalleled treasure. If humanity obtains it, our strength will undoubtedly increase greatly. But if the Soul Oracles acquire it, they are highly likely to break through their seals and return to the human world, and at that point, the world will truly be plunged into suffering!"

Teacher Yang's face was solemn.

"Since this is a treasure refined by Kong shi, why didn't he entrust it to the Master Teacher Pavilion for safekeeping? Why did he seal it away and place it in the Kong Temple?"

Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

Kong shi surely refined it to benefit humanity, so why keep it under lock and key like this?

"As for the specific reason, I don't know! Perhaps one can only find out by entering the Kong Temple!"

Teacher Yang said.