Chapter 1612: 师字 Golden Soldiers

"Yes!" Hearing the command, the many elders behind him nodded simultaneously and flew out in unison.

Mastering the true essence of spatial confinement meant comprehending space at its absolute peak. With such a powerful expert leading them, the family would surely flourish again, facing no further impediments.

Most importantly, the humiliation they had just suffered—the loss of face from the public annulment of the engagement—could also be redeemed.

It would make everyone realize how foolish it was for that fellow, Zhang Xuan, to reject the Luo Clan.

"Zhang Xuan, you've insulted the dignity of my Luo Clan. You never imagined one of our own could achieve such a breakthrough so quickly, did you!" Luo Qianzhen's eyes glinted coldly. "Once we find this person and confirm them as clan head, I will certainly make you pay for this!"

Mastering the true essence of spatial confinement was equivalent to holding the Luo Clan's most crucial technique. Once this person's cultivation reached the appropriate level, what would the Zhang Clan's young genius amount to?

"Yes, if we don't kill that fellow, the hatred in my heart will never be quelled!" Luo Xuanqing's expression also turned grim.

He had considered him a friend, yet the other party had so brazenly trampled upon the Luo Clan's dignity!

Whoosh!

Before long, the many elders who had gone to search flew back again.

"Reporting to the Acting Clan Head, all experts within the clan whose cultivation has reached the Cosmos Realm or above have been thoroughly checked, and none have mastered the true essence of spatial confinement!"

"Acting Clan Head, all disciples in the Ethereal Realm have also been questioned, and no one has grasped it!"

The many elders relayed all the information, each one filled with disappointment.

The ancestral statue had personally bowed, indicating that someone must have grasped it; there could be no mistake. Yet, all cultivators within the clan had been questioned, and no one reported any abnormality, which made the situation perplexing.

"None? How is that possible? Spatial laws have always been difficult to comprehend, and confinement-type ones are even harder. Without the Luo Clan's bloodline and heritage, it's difficult to grasp even a superficial understanding..." Luo Qianzhen found it hard to believe.

The reason Ancestor Luo Tianyun succeeded back then was due to a fortunate coincidence where he acquired the Still Void Pearl and received the inheritance of Ancient Sage Qiu Wu... If it wasn't someone from their own clan, who else could have encountered such fortune?

"We even summoned and questioned the cultivators in secluded meditation... Could it be that this person isn't from the Luo Clan?" Luo Qingchen asked, looking over.

If it truly were a Luo Clan member, they would certainly know what mastering such a true essence represented; they would appear on their own without needing to be sought out. Since there's no movement whatsoever now, it's likely that this individual, who commanded the reverence of so many ancestors, does not belong to the Luo Clan.

"Search now! We must find this person. Once found, we must find a way to bring them into the Luo Clan, even if it means..." Luo Qianzhen's eyes glinted coldly. "Marriage!"

"Marriage?" Luo Xuanqing was stunned.

"Indeed. With the mastery of the true essence of spatial confinement, all the Luo Clan's secrets concerning space will be laid bare before them. If we fail to bring them into the clan and they become an enemy, wouldn't the Luo Clan face ruin? So, as long as they agree to join us, we can accept any condition, even if it means marrying your sister, I will not object!"

Luo Qianzhen waved his hand dismissively.

"But..." Luo Xuanqing's face was filled with anxiety.

"There are no 'buts.' Your sister and that Zhang Xuan have long since broken up; there's no possibility between them anymore. Since that's the case, it's better to find someone who has mastered spatial comprehension. This way, we can also put pressure on the Zhang Clan and let them know that my Luo Clan... doesn't need to marry into their family to stand at the peak of the continent!"

Luo Qianzhen's eyes glinted coldly: "More importantly, we can also use him to strike a heavy blow against Zhang Xuan, making him realize that my daughter is not someone who can be casually bullied!"

Luo Xuanqing fell silent.

Although he worried about his sister's unhappiness and felt this was unfair to her, it was indeed the best way to strike at Zhang Xuan and make him realize the immensity of the world. The Luo Clan could also, in turn, recover their damaged dignity from the annulled engagement.

The ability to master the true essence of spatial confinement, combined with his sister's ability to use the Still Void Pearl, did indeed make for a more fitting match.

"Alright, it's decided then. Dispatch people to search at once! As soon as they are found, report back immediately. I will personally go to invite them!"

Luo Qianzhen flicked his sleeve and said no more.

"Yes!"

The many elders flew out one after another.

Unhindered by the space sand, their progress was extremely swift. Before long, the three arrived in front of the palace and landed.

Walking up the towering steps in front of the palace, Zhang Xuan looked up.

On either side of the palace were two stone statues in the likeness of young boys, with long topknots and simple, ancient robes. They were bowed low, as if greeting those who arrived.

On the plaque directly above the entrance, three large characters hung in the air, exuding a sharp aura. A single glance made one feel as if they would at any moment wield a spear and charge, tearing intruders to shreds.

The bowing boy statues and the murderous characters created a sense of "courtesy before force."

"Ran Zi Hall!"

Wu Chen, who was beside him, read it aloud.

"It must have been written personally by Ancient Sage Ran Qiu..."

Zhang Xuan exclaimed with emotion and nodded.

The calligraphic skill of these three characters wasn't exceptionally high, yet they conveyed a sense of profoundness and grandeur. With his discerning eye, Zhang Xuan couldn't fully comprehend their depths, suggesting they were indeed left personally by this Ancient Sage; otherwise, they wouldn't possess such profound mystique.

Shaking his head, he bowed to the characters and the boy statues before him.

Of Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trust, "Propriety" (Li) was even ranked before Wisdom and Trust, showing how much importance Master Kong placed on it. Since they had come to the ruins left by an Ancient Sage, it was best not to overlook these protocols.

As soon as the formalities concluded, a tremor passed through the left stone boy statue, and it slowly opened its eyes, looking over with a gentle smile.

"To be able to reach Ran Zi Hall demonstrates your strength and capability. However, simply arriving here does not mean you can enter! To gain entry, you must pass a test..."

The stone boy statue said indifferently.

"What kind of test, may I ask?"

Zhang Xuan clasped his fists.

"Ancient Sage Ran Qiu dislikes all kinds of tedious formalities, so the requirement is simple: one person challenges one, and if you can defeat them at the same cultivation level, you may enter! Otherwise, please return the way you came..."

With a huff, the boy statue raised its hand.

Clang!

The three large characters on the horizontal plaque descended from the air to the ground. With a gentle shimmer, they transformed into three soldiers, identical in appearance and clad in golden armor.

"This..." Zhang Xuan was filled with surprise.

With his discerning eye, he could tell that these three were neither puppets nor treasures, but rather transformed from the three characters themselves. From within, they exuded the same razor-sharp edge that had shone from them earlier.

"These are Teacher-Character Golden Soldiers!"

Seeing his confusion, Luo Ruoxi, who was beside him, explained.

"Teacher-Character Golden Soldiers?" Zhang Xuan was filled with doubt.

He had heard of "Teacher's Impartation of Heavenly Mandate" and "The Heart of a Teacher," but what were Teacher-Character Golden Soldiers?

"According to legend, formidable master teachers can preserve their essence, qi, and spirit in the form of written characters. These characters, under special circumstances, can transform into Golden Soldiers to fight... Because they were left by that powerful expert, the Golden Soldiers possess the expert's combat experience and techniques, making them incredibly difficult to contend with!"

Luo Ruoxi said.

"Possessing this expert's combat experience and techniques... These are characters left by Ancient Sage Ran Qiu, doesn't that imply they possess his combat abilities?"

His pupils contracted, and Zhang Xuan was utterly aghast.