Chapter 1587: Hundred Schools of Thought

She didn't care about the greater good or the human race; anyone who dared to harm her child was an enemy she would fight to the death.

Her eventual agreement was precisely because of this persuasion.

As a mother, she naturally hoped her future child would achieve great things and bring honor to the family. With Master Yang personally taking action, coupled with her husband's various persuasions, she reluctantly agreed.

Otherwise, given her strength, even if Hu Yiwei was powerful, it would have been impossible for him to poison her so silently and successfully.

"And the second reason?" Knowing how difficult the mother's choice had been, Zhang Xuan sighed inwardly and looked at Master Yang again.

"Second," Master Yang continued, "because she once possessed the purest bloodline, in the future, as long as there's enough vital blood, you can borrow this unique family power without enduring the one-month period of exhaustion that comes with bloodline combustion!"

When a family bloodline is ignited, one's strength indeed increases dramatically, but there's also a one-month exhaustion period during which both cultivation and vital energy are significantly diminished.

However, for someone whose bloodline has been stripped away, borrowing the bloodline again does not result in this phenomenon. As long as there's sufficient vital blood, they can enhance their strength at will!

"This..." Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

If this was true, the benefits would be immense.

"Don't get too excited," Xing Jiansheng said. "Your previous bloodline was too powerful; there are almost no comparable bloodlines in the entire family. It took the collective strength of the whole clan to gather these three drops! Even without the exhaustion period, you must use them sparingly!" With a flick of his wrist, a jade bottle flew from his palm.

"Understood!" Holding the jade bottle, Zhang Xuan immediately felt a strong bloodline power within it. Knowing that the family must have expended considerable effort for these three drops of blood, he nodded. Just as he was about to speak, an idea suddenly struck him.

The Hall Master Token was refined from three drops of Confucius's blood. After refining it, one could possess invincible power below the Ancient Sage realm, but it also had a time limit... This seemed somewhat similar to igniting family blood.

Could it be that Confucius also had a special bloodline, and the prerequisite for borrowing it was... being a Celestial Master Teacher?

"It must be..."

Realizing this, he instantly understood.

No wonder no one had been able to truly refine the Hall Master Token since Confucius left the continent tens of thousands of years ago. Due to physical limitations, being able to exert even a tenth of its power was already considered impressive.

"It is said that to enter the Temple of Confucius, one also needs the Inherited Heaven Talismans left by Confucius. There are six of these in total. I wonder if they have all been collected?" Remembering something, Zhang Xuan suddenly asked.

Back then, the Emperor of the Otherworldly Demons, Qingtian, had painstakingly infiltrated the continent precisely to find these items.

He had hidden for many years, seeking them in vain. How many had the Master Teacher Pavilion found?

"One Inherited Heaven Talisman is at the Master Teacher Pavilion Headquarters, one at the Zhang Clan, and one at the Luo Clan. The remaining three are missing, with no trace of them to this day. Some say they were sealed by Confucius in an unknown mountain range, while others say they were taken by the Hundred Schools of Philosophers! As for the truth, even the Master Teacher Pavilion Headquarters hasn't been able to find any information!" Master Yang shook his head.

"The Hundred Schools of Philosophers?" Zhang Xuan looked at him, puzzled.

He had heard of Saint Clans, the Three Major Clans, and the Five Element Clans. But what were the Hundred Schools of Philosophers?

"Confucius once took three thousand disciples, seventy-two of whom achieved mastery, and all seventy-two reached the Ancient Sage level!" Master Yang explained.

"All Ancient Sages?" Zhang Xuan's body swayed, and his breathing quickened.

All students were Ancient Sages... How powerful must the human race have been back then?

No wonder the Otherworldly Demons feared Confucius as they feared death. With such immense power, capable of crushing all ages, no matter how strong the demons were, they could not prevail.

The Teacher of Ten Thousand Ages truly lived up to his reputation!

"They were titled the 'Philosophers,' and so their descendant families are also known as the Hundred Schools of Philosophers! After Confucius left, they gradually disappeared, which is when families like the Zhang and Luo clans rose to prominence. Otherwise, if the Hundred Schools of Philosophers were still present, even the Master Teacher Pavilion Headquarters would be wary and hold them in awe!"

Master Yang explained these unknown ancient historical facts in detail.

"The Hundred Schools of Philosophers are that powerful?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

Although the Master Teacher Pavilion had suffered a great loss at his hands this time, he understood that its foundations were unfathomable. If things truly escalated, even with Zheng Yang, Wei Ruyan, or even the Zhang Clan's help, he would still be no match!

Precisely for this reason, for tens of thousands of years, no one had dared to oppose the Master Teacher Pavilion, because... it was simply too terrifying!

No one knew how many Ancient Sages were slumbering, or when they might awaken.

Such a powerful entity actually feared the Hundred Schools of Philosophers...

"They are all legacies left by Confucius's direct disciples. Not only are their bloodlines powerful, but their knowledge also has no gaps. The Master Teacher Pavilion is naturally no match!" Master Yang shook his head. "However, they have long since disappeared into the vast continent and haven't been seen for tens of thousands of years. They likely won't reappear, so there's no need to be concerned!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Since they had disappeared just like Confucius, there was no need to worry. After a moment of thought, he continued, "Then... if the remaining three Inherited Heaven Talismans cannot be found, how can one enter the Temple of Confucius?"

With the Heaven Talismans not even fully collected, and preparations being made to enter the Temple of Confucius, even going so far as to arrange a marriage alliance, wasn't this a bit too rushed?

"According to previous accounts, if they weren't all gathered, entry would indeed be impossible. However, after years of research, the Master Teacher Pavilion discovered a secret! The Heaven Talismans back then were condensed from the blood of six special physiques collected by Confucius. If they truly cannot be found, activating three distinct special physiques can achieve the same effect!"

Master Yang stroked his beard.

"Special physiques?"

"Your student Zhao Ya's Pure Yin Physique, Yuan Tao's Dragon Rhinoceros Bloodline, Wei Ruyan's Innate Poison Body, Shui Qianrou of the Shui Clan's True Water Body... as long as they are fully activated, they can substitute for the Heaven Talismans!"

Master Yang nodded. "This is also why You Ruoxin was so eager to activate Zhao Ya's physique. If successful, the Glacier Palace would have an opportunity to enter the Temple of Confucius, the foremost holy site left by Confucius. The treasures and secret manuals there are simply irresistible! Missing this opportunity would mean a re-division of power on the continent, and even... it's uncertain whether the human race could survive!"

If the Otherworldly Demons found and entered the Temple of Confucius before them, the human race would certainly be in grave danger.

If the humans found it first, they might be able to break the shackles preventing them from advancing to Ancient Sage, and not remain in their current precarious state.

It could be said that entering the Temple of Confucius was a massive turning point for the great powers of the current era, and no one wanted to give up the opportunity.

"Alright, do you have any other questions?"

After explaining, Master Yang looked at him again.

"Not for now..." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

These were the only things he hadn't understood; after Master Yang's explanation, he now comprehended everything.

No wonder the Luo Clan was so determined to marry Luo Ruoxi to the young prodigy. With the Temple of Confucius involved, indeed, nothing could change their minds.

"That's good then..."

Seeing that he had no more questions, Master Yang said no more and sat down cross-legged.

Zhang Xuan also stopped asking questions and diligently consolidated his cultivation and newly advanced Soul of Witchcraft.

Three days passed in a flash. That morning, as the sun barely peeked above the horizon, a massive city appeared before their eyes below.

"Zhexu City, where the Luo Clan resides, has arrived!"

Xing Jiansheng came to the window and said.