Chapter 1627: Various Schools of Thought Compete

"From the Hundred Schools of Thought?"

Zhang Xuan paused, then quickly looked up, seeing five figures floating above.

The speaker was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a bluish-gray beard and a long hat, giving the impression of an ancient Confucian scholar. His long robe was somewhat similar to a Master Teacher's robe, but it was tailored from black fabric, appearing rather somber from a distance.

"Just like the attire of the Otherworldly Demons who captured Zhao Ya and the others!" Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up.

This middle-aged man's attire was identical to that of the four Otherworldly Demons Zhang Xuan had previously seen on White Creek Mountain. It seemed they had intended to disguise themselves as experts from the Hundred Schools of Thought to blend in, and indeed they had deceived Little Talisman. However, under the attack of the Dragon Bone Divine Spear, their true forms were revealed.

The four individuals beside Nangong Yuanfeng were all young people in their twenties. Each of them exuded an aura like a dragon, carrying a chilling, murderous intent.

"They are all Grand Sages of the first realm, experts at the Undying Realm!"

Luo Ruoxi nodded, "This Nangong Yuanfeng is a descendant of Ancient Sage Zirong, a Confucian master from the Grand Confucian Hall!"

"Ancient Sage Zirong?" Zhang Xuan nodded. This Ancient Sage was one of Confucius's seventy-two direct disciples and a renowned sage. Although not as famous as Ancient Sage Ran Qiu, Ancient Sage Bu Shang, or Ancient Sage Yan Yan, he was still widely known and worshipped by countless future generations.

"Unexpectedly, this person is his descendant!"

"What is the Grand Confucian Hall?" After his initial shock, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"The Grand Confucian Hall is similar to the Master Teacher Continent's Master Teacher Pavilion. The Master Teacher Pavilion educates all beings, including ordinary people and cultivators. The Grand Confucian Hall, however, is different; it only teaches those who have deeply studied Confucianism and possess profound cultivation. Usually, one must reach the Grand Sage level to be eligible to enter!" Luo Ruoxi explained.

"Only Grand Sages are eligible?" Zhang Xuan clicked his tongue in surprise. He had thought the Saint Son Hall was the highest institution. He never expected that the Hundred Schools of Thought would also have a Grand Confucian Hall.

"Luo Qianzhen, acting family head of the Luo Clan, greets Senior Nangong. Please come in!"

Just as he was about to inquire further, he heard a voice from the Luo Clan. Immediately after, Luo Xuanqing's father, along with Luo Qingchen and many other elders, flew up and hovered in the air, each showing respectful attitudes.

"Please descend!" Seeing Luo Qianzhen come out to greet them, Nangong Yuanfeng returned the courtesy with a slight smile, then followed the Luo Clan members as they descended.

"People from the Hundred Schools of Thought coming at this time surely means something important. Let's go too!" Zhang Xuan transmitted his voice.

He had already known that people from the Hundred Schools of Thought had arrived on the Master Teacher Continent. He hadn't expected five of them to come at once. Their arrival at this crucial moment was likely greatly related to the opening of the Temple of Confucius.

"Mm!" Luo Ruoxi nodded.

Both of them were extremely powerful, so it was normal for them to escape the notice of ordinary Luo Clan members. Furthermore, Zhang Xuan was proficient in formations, and the Luo Clan was currently in some disarray. They walked all the way in without being discovered by anyone.

*Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!*

After walking for a while, just as he was about to ask someone where Luo Qianzhen and the others had gone, he heard an urgent bell ringing.

"That's the clan's emergency assembly bell. Something must have happened!" His eyebrows rose as Zhang Xuan followed closely behind the Luo Clan members, flying straight towards the direction of the bell sound.

It wasn't long before he saw a wide plaza, which was now packed with people. All Luo Clan members who heard the bell had rushed over at their fastest speed.

Through the crowd, Zhang Xuan looked forward and saw Nangong Yuanfeng and the others from the Hundred Schools of Thought sitting on the high platform in the center. Luo Qianzhen, Luo Qingchen, and others were prominently among them.

"My friend, what happened? Why the urgent assembly bell?" Seeing several Luo Clan disciples in core attire whispering in front of him, Zhang Xuan approached them. Anyway, with so many core and collateral branch members gathered now, it was impossible for them to all know each other.

"You are..." The core disciple paused, finding him unfamiliar.

"I am Luo Tianya, a collateral branch disciple!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Oh!" The core disciple nodded. "An expert from the Hundred Schools of Thought wants a treasure from the Luo Clan. The family head disagreed. So, he requested that the young people he brought with him compete against the Luo Clan's young generation, those no older than a hundred, in their comprehension of space. If they win, the Luo Clan will no longer be qualified to control this treasure and must hand it over to their Grand Confucian Hall for safekeeping! Conversely, if they lose, they will also present a treasure to the Luo Clan!"

"What treasure?" Zhang Xuan looked over. The treasure the Hundred Schools of Thought wanted was probably the Legacy Heavenly Talisman. Since treasures were the stakes, what the other party offered in return must also be extraordinary.

"It's a long sword once used by Ancient Sage Zirong!" The core disciple pointed forward, "It's that one..."

Following his finger, Zhang Xuan looked and indeed saw a long sword quietly suspended above the high platform. It gave off a sense of sharp coldness; even unsheathed, one could still feel the chilling aura it emitted.

"Although it's a treasure at the Grand Sage pinnacle level, since Ancient Sage Zirong used it, it's not much weaker than an ordinary Half-Ancient Sage divine weapon. However, compared to your Dragon Bone Divine Spear, it's quite inferior!" Luo Ruoxi glanced at it and transmitted her voice.

"Mm!" Zhang Xuan nodded. Although it was far away and he couldn't touch it, and he didn't know the sword's true level, with his eyesight, he could tell it was significantly inferior to the Dragon Bone Divine Spear. This divine spear was a peerless weapon used by Ancient Sage Ran Qiu even at his peak, renowned even in ancient times. A mere sword once used by Ancient Sage Zirong was naturally far from comparable.

Looking around, Luo Qianzhen's voice rang out, "Everyone, Senior Nangong Yuanfeng, an expert who has come from the Hundred Schools of Thought, has brought his juniors and wishes to compete with our Luo Clan disciples in the comprehension of space. Anyone under the age of one hundred may participate. Is there anyone brave enough to step forward and accept the challenge?"

His voice, though steady, carried a hint of anger. It seemed this so-called competition was not his original intention. He had likely had some unpleasantness and conflict with the people from the Hundred Schools of Thought earlier. It was simply that the other party was too powerful, and they had just suffered heavy losses, so they dared not refuse.

"Me!" With a loud shout, a figure flew straight up. Zhang Xuan looked; it was none other than his 'friend', Luo Xuanqing. However, because of Luo Qiqi's matter, even if he wanted to acknowledge the other party as a friend now, it wouldn't be possible.

"And me!"

"I am also willing to try!"

"To compete with the men of our Luo Clan in the comprehension of space! Hmph, I think you're looking for death—"

Three more youths flew onto the high platform. All of them were Luo Clan experts under a hundred years old, each exuding a powerful aura. Two of them had already become elders and, like Zhang Xuan, had reached the pinnacle of Saint 9-dan.

"Very good!" Seeing the few who had stepped forward, Luo Qianzhen nodded in satisfaction. He then turned to Nangong Yuanfeng, who was not far away, "Senior Nangong, please outline how the competition will proceed!"